GPO No 150

[LarryInMichigan]

I recently won an auction for a GPO No 150 candlestick.  I paid about $30 including shipping.  For that price, I was expecting a replica, but the phone appears to be the real thing.  Both the transmitter and receiver work well, but the phone obviously needs some restoration.   I have not seen pictures of these in any color but black, so I expect that I will strip the white paint and paint it black.  Should I also paint all of the brass parts black?  Should the finger wheel be black or chrome?  Where can I find appropriate cords?  Suggestions will be appreciated.




Larry

[Wallphone]

The one that I have isn't a #150 but it looks the same as yours except mine is all brass, including the finger wheel.

[LarryInMichigan]

The finger wheel on this one, I believe, is stainless steel. 

Here is another picture of the other side of the transmitter mount.  Do the markings indicate that the phone was made in 1930 by Plessey?



Larry

[Russ Kirk]

Hi Larry

This is an excellent site for English telephones.
http://www.britishtelephones.com/candle1.htm

I have two similar GPO candlesticks. You got yours for a fantastic price.  I needed a receiver cord and just sent some of the web masters for the English telephones a message.  One got back to me and sold me a NOS cord for $30USD and it came in a few days.  Aren't telephone collectors great!!??  Contact a total stranger on the other side of the planet and they will gladly help.

You are correct, yours is a Plessey from 1930 - if my memory is correct.  Check out the web page it is a great resource and should answer all your questions.

Here are the codes.
http://www.britishtelephones.com/manucode.htm


Russ...

[gpo706]

I think someone has been rather enthusiastic with the white paint, it looks like a standard chrome dial wheel underneath it. (12A?).

[AE_Collector]

Larry:

It looks like someone has been using the receiver to drive nails?

Terry

[gpo706]

Larry - looks like a refurb/customised set. I think the dial is a 12 series, standard on bakelite models:

http://www.britishtelephones.com/dial1.htm#d12

The TX is a later red-capped one (1981!), the original would have been a slide-off steel disk on magnets.

http://www.britishtelephones.com/menutran.htm

Also, I think most of the brasswork would have been painted over black rather than exposed, but pictures here show one with the neck unpainted.

http://www.britishtelephones.com/t150.htm

Still a steal, and a nice set Larry, just get the paint stripper out!

[LarryInMichigan]

The dial is stamped: "88.10.E 38/236A. PAT. 178936".  It is definitely a #10 as shown on the web page referenced.  The parts look like those shown below (from the web page).  It is interesting that this dial can be easily configured for 11 digit operation by moving the finger stop and the "forked stop" on the rear.

The transmitter is printed: "No. 13 8-38/1", so I am guessing that it is the number 13 mentioned on the web page and that 8-38 is the manufacture date.

Larry