Telephone

Black plastic telephone, PO model 162L. This telephone is an example of the late-1920s 'combined handset' telephone, with a letters/figures dial for use on an automatic exchange in London. The design of this handset makes the most of the potential of new plastics that were available by this time. Destined to supersede the candlestick model, it too required a separate bell unit. The style was derived from Siemen's proprietary 'Neophone' model, and was available in a choice of colours. The dial label is early 1930s and incorporates letters. This system of using letters was introduced in the late 1920s, when lengthy and difficult to remember telephone numbers were repackaged to include the first three letters of the exchange name.