Does this telephone unit have a name or description? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Sparks · 21st Jun 2020, 9:16 am

Please excuse the poor quality of the photo - it's a photo of a picture in a book.

There's a Jack 84 in the bottom left-hand corner and several push buttons for what I assume are direct lines. You can just make out the early British Telecom logo in the top right-hand corner. Perhaps made by GEC, Plessey or a similar company. It was built into a desk in the old control tower at Heathrow Airport during the 1980s.

Thankyou.

AC/HL · 21st Jun 2020, 12:42 pm

It's a modular system, possibly custom made for this particular location. The red colour could signify emergency use, possibly fire or some other priority service.

Sparks · 21st Jun 2020, 2:17 pm

Thanks Bill. I've seen the same device in use in the control tower at Stansted Airport so National Air Traffic Services would have been the customer. I haven't seen one on any of the popular telephone websites so quite likely to be a special rather than off the peg.

AC/HL · 21st Jun 2020, 5:03 pm

An aviation focussed forum may be more likely to furnish more information. There must be an ex controller somewhere who would know at a glance!

Sparks · 23rd Jun 2020, 2:34 pm

I did think of asking on PPRUNE but came here first as it's essentially a telephone question. A Tels engineer from an airport or control centre should know what it's called, purpose etc but I concur its red colour suggests an emergency angle. I've seen another one with one of these handsets plugged in.

Sparks · 23rd Jun 2020, 2:38 pm

Red handset no.3 with PO420 plug.

21st Jun 2020, 9:16 am	#1
Sparks Heptode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 597	Does this telephone unit have a name or description? Please excuse the poor quality of the photo - it's a photo of a picture in a book. There's a Jack 84 in the bottom left-hand corner and several push buttons for what I assume are direct lines. You can just make out the early British Telecom logo in the top right-hand corner. Perhaps made by GEC, Plessey or a similar company. It was built into a desk in the old control tower at Heathrow Airport during the 1980s. Thankyou. Attached Thumbnails

21st Jun 2020, 12:42 pm	#2
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Does this telephone unit have a name or description? It's a modular system, possibly custom made for this particular location. The red colour could signify emergency use, possibly fire or some other priority service.

21st Jun 2020, 2:17 pm	#3
Sparks Heptode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 597	Re: Does this telephone unit have a name or description? Thanks Bill. I've seen the same device in use in the control tower at Stansted Airport so National Air Traffic Services would have been the customer. I haven't seen one on any of the popular telephone websites so quite likely to be a special rather than off the peg.

21st Jun 2020, 5:03 pm	#4
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Does this telephone unit have a name or description? An aviation focussed forum may be more likely to furnish more information. There must be an ex controller somewhere who would know at a glance!

23rd Jun 2020, 2:34 pm	#5
Sparks Heptode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 597	Re: Does this telephone unit have a name or description? I did think of asking on PPRUNE but came here first as it's essentially a telephone question. A Tels engineer from an airport or control centre should know what it's called, purpose etc but I concur its red colour suggests an emergency angle. I've seen another one with one of these handsets plugged in.

23rd Jun 2020, 2:38 pm	#6
Sparks Heptode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 597	Re: Does this telephone unit have a name or description? Red handset no.3 with PO420 plug. Attached Thumbnails