Phone ID - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Martin Bush · 30th Jul 2017, 8:44 am

Hello

My dad picked up the phone pictures on his travels.

He was the it was from Scotland Yard. A tall tale perhaps, but the numbers on the dial seem to back that up. Does anyone know of any other ways to confirm where it may have been during its working life?

Martin

Station X · 30th Jul 2017, 8:48 am

WHItehall 1212 would predate the introduction of All Figure Numbers AFN) in the mid 1960's , but this phone has no letters on the dial!

The dial centre label is obviously home made. In practice it would have been a proper printed one.

Martin Bush · 30th Jul 2017, 9:10 am

Odd isn't it. I don't know why someone would go to the trouble of making a dial centre like that but badly.

He didn't buy it because of its supposed history, he just bought it as a phone.

Station X · 30th Jul 2017, 9:45 am

There's probably a date of manufacture stamped in white on the bottom of the phone.

davidw · 30th Jul 2017, 9:58 am

It's a 746 so must be post 1967.

I'd have a look at the other side of the label, it may be the original just turned over.

russell_w_b · 30th Jul 2017, 12:11 pm

It's one of the later 746 instruments with an improved case: modified so the handset stays on-rest.

Graham G3ZVT · 30th Jul 2017, 2:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Bush

Odd isn't it. I don't know why someone would go to the trouble of making a dial centre like that but badly.

Not really, I'm sure it wasn't an attempt to give it false provenance, Just a dealer with a sense of humour.

Graham.
G3ZVT

Pellseinydd · 30th Jul 2017, 3:47 pm

But couldn't get the number correct for the date of the telephone!! Scotland Yard's number wasn't WHI 1212 in 1967 - under 'sectorisation'/all figure numbering, the code for 'Whitehall' exchange was changed from 944/WHI to 230 by 1967. So Scotland Yard would have been 230 1212 by the time the Tele 746 was introduced !

Graham G3ZVT · 30th Jul 2017, 8:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pellseinydd

But couldn't get the number correct for the date of the telephone!!

So not only comedy, but ironic comedy.

Graham.
G3ZVT

30th Jul 2017, 8:44 am	#1
Martin Bush Octode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,910	Phone ID Hello My dad picked up the phone pictures on his travels. He was the it was from Scotland Yard. A tall tale perhaps, but the numbers on the dial seem to back that up. Does anyone know of any other ways to confirm where it may have been during its working life? Martin Attached Thumbnails __________________ Is it live, or is it... no, it's live actually...

30th Jul 2017, 8:48 am	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,287	Re: Phone ID WHItehall 1212 would predate the introduction of All Figure Numbers AFN) in the mid 1960's , but this phone has no letters on the dial! The dial centre label is obviously home made. In practice it would have been a proper printed one. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

30th Jul 2017, 9:10 am	#3
Martin Bush Octode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,910	Re: Phone ID Odd isn't it. I don't know why someone would go to the trouble of making a dial centre like that but badly. He didn't buy it because of its supposed history, he just bought it as a phone. __________________ Is it live, or is it... no, it's live actually...

30th Jul 2017, 9:45 am	#4
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,287	Re: Phone ID There's probably a date of manufacture stamped in white on the bottom of the phone. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

30th Jul 2017, 9:58 am	#5
davidw Heptode Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 643	Re: Phone ID It's a 746 so must be post 1967. I'd have a look at the other side of the label, it may be the original just turned over. __________________ Dave G1AGK. My perception is my reality!

30th Jul 2017, 12:11 pm	#6
russell_w_b Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: Phone ID It's one of the later 746 instruments with an improved case: modified so the handset stays on-rest. __________________ Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI.

30th Jul 2017, 3:47 pm	#8
Pellseinydd Heptode Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Flintshire, UK. Posts: 707	Re: Phone ID But couldn't get the number correct for the date of the telephone!! Scotland Yard's number wasn't WHI 1212 in 1967 - under 'sectorisation'/all figure numbering, the code for 'Whitehall' exchange was changed from 944/WHI to 230 by 1967. So Scotland Yard would have been 230 1212 by the time the Tele 746 was introduced !