I am looking for some info on this telephone. Many thanks....Doug
That looks like an early GPO 706.
Larry
Check here, I was just asking the difference between 706 and the newer 746.
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19790.0
A beauty in RED!
Terry
thanks Guys....looks like a WE500 soft plastic color. I have no idea on Foreign phones, when was it made and would it's value be like a soft plastic 500 set..Doug
There is probably a date on the bottom along with other information. It is very unlikely worth as much as a soft plastic WE phone in North America. The market among collectors for these here seems to be somewhat limited. I doubt that it would get more than $30-$40 in auction in the US.
Larry
Thx Larry....it's a keeper, just looking for some background on it. Love the red with matching finger wheel....Doug
It certainly is stylish. I have a red 746, but I prefer the look of the 706. I would guess that yours was made in the mid 1960s.
Larry
Definitely a 706, and one which hasn't been refurbished.
In 1968 letters went out of use and after that as 706s were refurbished they were fitted with plain rings around the dials and the figures were put below the holes in black on an 'Antique Silver' background. At the same time the coloured dials were replaced with clear ones, see below. Of course various non-standard combinations of parts were fitted either during their service lives or at the hands of latter-day dealers/collectors.
The button marked "PRESS" would be Recall button. Pressing that connected one leg of the line to earth. This was needed on switchboards and Party (Shared Service) lines. Sometimes an On/Off switch was fitted in the same place for the bell.
The 746 came out in 1967 and a very few had lettered rings (some modern dealers fit them to give a more 'vintage' look) but they all had clear dials with figures below the holes from new.
Thanks for all the info. The press button would be for a ground start line? Like on an old PBX, you had to bring ground across the line before you got dial tone. ....Doug
If it's old enough, it could have Diakon plastics, but, looking at the picture it's looking more like a later ABS phone (Diakon didn't last long, it was quite brittle and fragile), other than that, not much to go on with just the one pic... :)
I will post more pics when I receive it....thanks for all the info....Doug
I received the phone today in great shape. How do I open it? I only see toe screws in the cradle. Dial card is off center, how do I remove the plastic cover? Really a sharp looking phone. I appreciate your help....many thx....Doug
Take the two screws out by the cradle and the body will lift forward over the dial.
As for the protector, on the coloured wheels you can put a screw-driver under it at the right-hand side, between 1 and 0, and twist it. Failing that, or if you're worried about damaging it, you can use the technique that has to be used the later clear finger wheels, and reproduction coloured ones: get a strip of sticky tape, fold to over glue-to-glue but leaving the ends loose and stick these to the protector — like and up-side-down T — and pull on the double part.
These are the official GPO instructions:—
Removal of label protector
The label protector must not be released by levering at the edge. The edge consists of a thin lip which will break easily. Warning notices are being included in the dials bought under the first contracts, and all staff who will be concerned with the dials should be instructed in the correct method of removal of the label protector. These warning notices should be removed when the dial centre label is fitted.
The easiest method of removal is to use an Extractor No. 29 which is a rubber suction disk with a finger grip. This item [Small Stores, Rate Book Section 5 (T-B)] should be requisitioned from the Supplies Dept. and issued from Section Stock one to each installation and maintenance officer concerned. Unit of issue from the Supplies Dept. is 50. The Extractor No. 29 can be released from the label Protector by lifting one edge of the rubber with the finger nail.
An alternative method of removing the label protector is to insert a Screwdriver No. 1 radially between the finger plate and the number ring at the 13 o'clock position on the dial. The screwdriver will then enter a slot in the finger plate and, by turning the screwdriver beneath the pip in a thin metal plate which is under the label protector, the protector will be ejected. Care must be taken to ensure that the end of the screwdriver is under the metal plate and not between the plate and the label protector. It is advisable to hold two fingers over the protector to restrain it during ejection. It is always advisable when replacing the protector to locate it so that its three Dips are clear of the slot provided for the screwdriver, otherwise subsequent removal might prove difficult.
Excellent advice, I will give it a try. It is such a cool phone!...many thanks....Doug
Another way to take the shell off if you're not feeling too confident is to remove the fingerwheel, this will remove the restriction that makes it harder to pop the shell off, but once you do it a few time, you find it easier to remove the shell with the fingerwheel in place... :)
Quote from: ThePillenwerfer on February 12, 2018, 04:38:07 PM
Take the two screws out by the cradle and the body will lift forward over the dial.
As for the protector, on the coloured wheels you can put a screw-driver under it at the right-hand side, between 1 and 0, and twist it. Failing that, or if you're worried about damaging it, you can use the technique for the later clear ones: get a strip of sticky tape, fold to over glue-to-glue but leaving the ends loose and stick these to the protector — like and up-side-down T — and pull on the double part.
These are the official GPO instructions:—
Removal of label protector
The label protector must not be released by levering at the edge. The edge consists of a thin lip which will break easily. Warning notices are being included in the dials bought under the first contracts, and all staff who will be concerned with the dials should be instructed in the correct method of removal of the label protector. These warning notices should be removed when the dial centre label is fitted.
The easiest method of removal is to use an Extractor No. 29 which is a rubber suction disk with a finger grip. This item [Small Stores, Rate Book Section 5 (T-B)] should be requisitioned from the Supplies Dept. and issued from Section Stock one to each installation and maintenance officer concerned. Unit of issue from the Supplies Dept. is 50. The Extractor No. 29 can be released from the label Protector by lifting one edge of the rubber with the finger nail.
An alternative method of removing the label protector is to insert a Screwdriver No. 1 radially between the finger plate and the number ring at the 13 o'clock position on the dial. The screwdriver will then enter a slot in the finger plate and, by turning the screwdriver beneath the pip in a thin metal plate which is under the label protector, the protector will be ejected. Care must be taken to ensure that the end of the screwdriver is under the metal plate and not between the plate and the label protector. It is advisable to hold two fingers over the protector to restrain it during ejection. It is always advisable when replacing the protector to locate it so that its three Dips are clear of the slot provided for the screwdriver, otherwise subsequent removal might prove difficult.
Screwdriver worked like a champ. Took all of a minute. Got the cover off with ease. It cleaned up wonderfully....many thanks....Doug
Quote from: Doug Rose on February 13, 2018, 10:08:46 AM
It cleaned up wonderfully....many thanks....Doug
Proof is coming soon? :)
Terry
O ye of little faith 8)
it has the orangy red color of a WE Red 302....Doug
I'm liking it though I have to admit I like any phone that reminds me of an AE 80 in any way! Another beauty for your collection Doug?
To our "GPO in the Know" members: What is the likely button function? I note the number card possibly indicating two separate lines and/or the phone potentially being an extension on a phone system/plan?
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on February 13, 2018, 10:37:28 AMTo our "GPO in the Know" members: What is the likely button function? I note the number card possibly indicating two separate lines and/or the phone potentially being an extension on a phone system/plan?
The button will most likely be a ground-loop recall button, used for shared lines to signal to the exchange that you want to use the line, or behind a PABX to do things that I'm not too clear on so won't even attempt to guess... ;D
A member said it brought earth to the line. As an old PBX guy, sounds like bringing ground to a ground start line. Whadayathink?
Yes a keeper, first new phone of the year for me. No more sales for me, so what I buy now.....I keep. I think a got a good deal $30 plus shipping.....Doug
https://tinyurl.com/y99um6ay
Well I've heard lots about phones on PBX's over there using a ground splash at the phone to seize an outside line as opposed to the normal "Dial 9" over here. The ground may have been on much older systems than what this phone is and I know of one old PBX over here many years ago that used a ground at the extension phone to select an outside line. Not to be confused with the term "Ground Start Line" used on more modern PBX's which is a method that the PBX uses to get Dial Tone on a CO Line once an extension dials 9.
Terry
I'd say $30 would be a good price in England (for the buyer!) so definitely a bargain in America.
thanks again for your help....Doug
doug -
you certainly don't hang about on cleaning up your acquisitions.... really a lovely phone in great condition, original f/w, + back-painted translucent number ring.
i wonder how it found its way from cranleigh in surrey to sweet grass, montana.
the base markings show a 1967 model, PLA is the manufacturer's code = plessey of ilford, essex (east london). http://www.britishtelephones.com/manucode.htm
edit...... hope you can get it working, these have a really nice bell sound.
Thanks David.....it just needed a little polish as it was in really nice shape. I have more time on my hands as I am out on disability. I will be the proud owner of a new right hip on 2 28....Doug
On the plus side, you'll soon be allowed into that exclusive club, The Hip Joint... ;D
But not through airport scanners....
Terry
I had a hip done a couple of years ago. Best thing I ever did! I did go through an airport after and did not set off any alarms.
Two weeks to go and I am in agony! A flight of stairs terrorizes me. I knelt down to get to a bottom shelf in the Phone room and I could not get up. Really! I crawled to the door and used the door knob to hoist me up. I feel every one of my 64 years.
Harry ....I do hope you are right....Doug
Doug, I was in the same condition, after a work day I could not walk or even get out of the car.
Changed my life.
Nice phone. And one of the less common colours.
My favourite plastic phones are the 706 and 711. I love the dials on them.
I have a 706 in Ivory dated 1964. Prices range from £25 to whatever the seller dreams up. I've seen them advertised for about £150 but I'm not sure they sell/sell quickly for that.
I think your questions have mostly been answered re date etc, and the button is the party line button.
:)
I am a bit late to this, but your red 706 looks great, you certainly polished it up well!
Being a 1967 it is from the final year of production.