Working History — 1965
Telephone
The Trimphone (Tone Ringer Illuminated Model Phone) was launched by the GPO in 1965. The first example was presented to a newly-wed Hampstead couple in May 1965 by the Postmaster-General Anthony Wedgwood-Benn to mark the ten millionth telephone installed in Britain.
Designed by Martyn Rowlands of Standard Telephone and Cables Ltd, the Trimphone was intended as a luxury companion to the GPO's standard 700 series phones. The Trimphone won the Design Council Award in 1966. At the time customers could not buy telephones, but had to rent them from the GPO. The Trimphone, as an upmarket telephone, cost more to rent on a quarterly basis.
The Trimphone was marketed as a stylish and futuristic telephone for bedroom use. Its illuminated dial was designed so it could be seen in the dark. This example is a hybrid of a model 712 base and a later model 722 handset.
- Category:
- Working History
- Object ID:
- 2003.2/245
- Object name:
- telephone
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1965
- Material:
plastic, metal
- Measurements/duration:
- L 205 mm, W 105 mm, H 115 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
BT Connected Earth
- Copyright holder:
BT
- Image credit:
© BT Heritage
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.