Strange telephone - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

JohnBHanson · 27th Jan 2019, 11:07 pm

I have been sent this picture by a friend of mine. I don't know where he got it from.

It looks a little like a loudspeaking telephone eg LST4D but without the microphone and speaker. Can anyone shed any light on what this actually is and some history behind it?

Just to satisfy my curiosity...

19Seventy7 · 28th Jan 2019, 1:53 am

This looks to be from the same person I bought my TV off - judging by the table and wall.

If you would like, i could give you his contact details (from his online auction page) and you could ask him if he knows anything about it.

JohnBHanson · 28th Jan 2019, 3:33 am

Probably best to PM the details, thank you.

Dave Moll · 28th Jan 2019, 8:39 am

Just a guess, but I wonder whether it is a variant of the LST4E (LST4D was the rotary-dial version) with the transmitter and receiver behind the top and front grilles respectively instead of the usual positioning on either side on the front.

nutteronthebus · 28th Jan 2019, 11:07 am

The last time I has a look at one of these was 35 years ago as a GPO sub's line and app eng the were then rare as hen's teeth then ( rented from GPO as they did not sell phones then)

Dave

19Seventy7 · 28th Jan 2019, 6:17 pm

PM sent

OscarFoxtrot · 28th Jan 2019, 7:26 pm

I wonder if it's a non-GPO variant produced for PBX use.

My headmaster at secondary school had an LST4 off the PMBX, until it was replaced with a Kirk.

Pellseinydd · 28th Jan 2019, 11:46 pm

Quote:

I wonder if it's a non-GPO variant produced for PBX use.

Most GPO equipment had 'private' variants often differing slightly from the GPO/PO/BT variants. There was a separate microphone and loudspeaker units the could be used with the LST4D and possibly this unit if it was used on a PAX rather than PABX.

See http://www.britishtelephones.com/lst4.htm for the related BT documents all about the BT variants.

27th Jan 2019, 11:07 pm	#1
JohnBHanson Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Worthing, Sussex, UK. Posts: 661	Strange telephone I have been sent this picture by a friend of mine. I don't know where he got it from. It looks a little like a loudspeaking telephone eg LST4D but without the microphone and speaker. Can anyone shed any light on what this actually is and some history behind it? Just to satisfy my curiosity... Attached Thumbnails

28th Jan 2019, 1:53 am	#2
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: Strange telephone This looks to be from the same person I bought my TV off - judging by the table and wall. If you would like, i could give you his contact details (from his online auction page) and you could ask him if he knows anything about it. Attached Thumbnails

28th Jan 2019, 3:33 am	#3
JohnBHanson Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Worthing, Sussex, UK. Posts: 661	Re: Strange telephone Probably best to PM the details, thank you.

28th Jan 2019, 8:39 am	#4
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Re: Strange telephone Just a guess, but I wonder whether it is a variant of the LST4E (LST4D was the rotary-dial version) with the transmitter and receiver behind the top and front grilles respectively instead of the usual positioning on either side on the front. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

28th Jan 2019, 11:07 am	#5
nutteronthebus Hexode Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Glossop, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 487	Re: Strange telephone The last time I has a look at one of these was 35 years ago as a GPO sub's line and app eng the were then rare as hen's teeth then ( rented from GPO as they did not sell phones then) Dave __________________ Any tool can be used as a hammer but a screwdriver makes the best chisel

28th Jan 2019, 6:17 pm	#6
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: Strange telephone PM sent

28th Jan 2019, 7:26 pm	#7
OscarFoxtrot Heptode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 805	Re: Strange telephone I wonder if it's a non-GPO variant produced for PBX use. My headmaster at secondary school had an LST4 off the PMBX, until it was replaced with a Kirk.