UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post

mickjjo · 27th Jan 2006, 5:57 pm

When I worked for the "GPO", at the long gone London Test Section in Islington, I recall there was a Materials section that used to subject bits of 700 type phones to all manner of abuse with chemicals, ultra violet light and impact testing to determine the quality and durability of plastics used by the various manufacturers. As this was some 30 years ago, I expect all this work has been lost in the mists of history.

. I doubt if cleaning can do much to restore the colour changes that seem to occur with time. A similar problem happens with those U.S. Catalin radios, apparently reds turn brown, blues fade to dark green, and all those yellow and butterscotch colours started out as white!

.
Some interesting 700 phone colours here:-

http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/phones_1960-80.htm

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/freshwater/t706cols.htm

Regards, Mick.

27th Jan 2006, 5:57 pm	#6
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: How do you clean telephones. When I worked for the "GPO", at the long gone London Test Section in Islington, I recall there was a Materials section that used to subject bits of 700 type phones to all manner of abuse with chemicals, ultra violet light and impact testing to determine the quality and durability of plastics used by the various manufacturers. As this was some 30 years ago, I expect all this work has been lost in the mists of history. . I doubt if cleaning can do much to restore the colour changes that seem to occur with time. A similar problem happens with those U.S. Catalin radios, apparently reds turn brown, blues fade to dark green, and all those yellow and butterscotch colours started out as white! . Some interesting 700 phone colours here:- http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/phones_1960-80.htm http://web.ukonline.co.uk/freshwater/t706cols.htm Regards, Mick.