My GPO Rotary Telephone Collection

[alexhoovers94]

Fail, that horrific photo that you made actually features a Westerm Electric 500, not a GPO 700 series.

Some things never change, sigh.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I wouldn't call it a collection, but

I have many phones. My aunt worked in Manhattan for New York Telephone. She had phones everywhere. I now have them: rotary, slimline, wall, desk, etc. They were so well built.

 

[seamusuk]

GPO - BT Film Archive.......

Hi Alex

Have a look through the film archive....

Seamus

http://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/BTsHistory/BTfilmarchive/home/

 

[alexhoovers94]

Thanks Seamus, very interesting bit of heritage there.

Gottahaveahoove - yeh they really were well built, I don't think we will ever see that same engendering like that again.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Never in a million

years

 

[alexhoovers94]

Here are a couple more additions to my phone collection...

PO Trimphone (with famous buzzer ringer)

 

[alexhoovers94]

And my...

BT Contempra

 

[delaneymeegan]

 


 


Remember these phone plugs?  We had about 4 of these in our house.


 


Then they switched to the new modular plugs, still in use today, around 1978.


 


Also, the copper wires they used back then, in the walls, was like three times the gauge they use now.  


 


 


 


What's with the laughing baby videos?  Someone spikes their kids milk with Brandy, puts a video camera on the kid, posts the vid, and get a ba-Jillion views.

 

[vacerator]

Knott's Landing (1978-ish)

baby kidnapping episode scene:
A red Western electric desk phone rings as Joan Van Ark's hand hovers over it, shaking, and her voice quivers, "the babies".

 

[alexhoovers94]

Are those American types?

Our phones were always hard wired into the wall until BT came about in 1981 and it was changed to a modular type plug, not sure on the proper name of it but it was commonly know as the BT plug.

I believe those GPO 700 type phones that were used in commercial applications could have the option of having a metal pin plug so they could be easily removed, similar to the metal pins that operators used to connect you to a line back in the day, but prior to 1981, all UK domestic phone lines were hard wired.

This is what the 1981-present, BT plug looks like.

 

[vacerator]

Yes,

the clear small plastic plug is the modular later type. Four prongs went out about after 1976.

 

[delaneymeegan]

 


Knot's (one 'T') Landing didn't start until 1979.


Valene didn't lose her babies until 1984.


Abby had her two kids, Brian and Olivia, kidnapped by their Father Jeff.  Maybe that's what you're referring to?



http://https//sites.google.com/site...s/story-retrospectives/the-stolen-babies-saga

 

[delaneymeegan]

 


 


 


Phone plugs have been around even longer than I realized.  It's not uncommon even today, to see homes built in the 50s and 60s, that still have the old style plug.


 


It was common in upper scale restaurants to offer phone service at the table, if there was a call for someone.  The staff would bring the phone, plug in, and let the customer use the phone, then remove the phone when done.


Also, people with pools and patios would typically have one or two weather proof phone jacks outside, so they could talk while sitting at the pool.  The phone of course, would be easily removed during inclimate weather.


 


The British jack looks like an ethernet plug.


 

 

[vacerator]

Yes Delaney,

though I saw many episodes, the exact dates are a blur to me, as are some of the 80's contemporary styles, and cars. Little changed that decade, like the boxy ugly Ford Fairmont's used on the show, etc.
I did not like the Ewing's house décor, but I favored the Fairgates.
I even had Karen's station wagon (Colony Park) as a company car for a year. In fact one of my personal dreams then was to own a car dealership, but then I became an ethical person after learning how many of them operated.
Abbey's house was also ugly. Too stark for my taste. But all in all, we've gotta Love middle class America, or at least as it was then.

 

[delaneymeegan]

lol

 


 


You had a Colony Park !?   Oh wow.  That's how bizarre I was.  That was one of my favorite cars when I was 15.   Along with the Audi 4000, the Volkswagon Rabbit, and the Lincoln Town Car.  LOL.


 


Did you have an LS or GS?


 


I loved those carriage lights.  In fact my first car, as a 19 year old, was a 4 year old, 1983 Grand Marquis LS Sedan (sibling to the Grand Marquis Colony Park wagon).  It was white with a blue leather interior.  


fond memories.   I wouldn't be caught owning a beast like that today, but still.....


 


Yes, Abby's house was 70s, San Fernando Valley bland.   Back then, that house literally had a stone/gravel roof.  Presumably the stones stayed in place with a healthy topping of tar as a base.  


 


I liked Laura and Richards, the way it was then.  It's been painted a much lighter color now and that takes away from the way it was- a French Tudor inspired design with wood shingles.  


 


When I lived in Northridge California back in 1986, I was literally a 15 minute bike ride from Crystalaire Plc., and didn't even know it.   LOL.


 


I'm still not sure which Kenmore canister Karen had.  I haven't been able to locate the episode where Diana is taking it out of the closet, planning to take it to Abby's, but Karen stops her because, well........ you can guess.  lol


 


 



http://https//youtu.be/SRCPD1oyQKE

 

[vacerator]

Delaney,

the Colony park I drove was the larger '78 model. I was relieving a supervisor who had to take a medical leave. That was some wagon! Lincoln smooth, and the same 9 or 10 m.p.g. city. 460 4 barrel.
I thought Karen had that one at the beginning of the show. Maybe not. Sid drove a 60's Mustang also. I can't believe I missed the Kenmore vac! Richard or Laura drove a Mustang, yes? Or was it Abbey? Seems I only remember Richard and Laura's kitchen or dining area, but their house had more style than Abbey's for sure.
Later on in the series, when Kevin Dobson appeared, did he drive a Jeep Cherokee?
Julie Harris went to high school with a friend of mines parents in Grosse pte. Mi.

 

[rugsucker]

--Colony Park--some wagon--Lincoln smooth--

One of the great wagons along with Town & Country,Vista Cruiser and others.Ford built at least one Colony Park wagon with Lincoln trim and different style wood as a show car.

 

[vacerator]

For sure.

Buick Estate wagon, and Olds Custom Cruiser also. There is a cherry '91 Country Squire around the block from me.

 

[delaneymeegan]

'78 Ford wagons were true, petroleum loving beasts.  No fuel injection.  They were heavy.  A relative had a couple of the 70s models- Country Squires. The new, and last, wagon design by Ford, that started in 1979, was some 1000 pounds lighter and about a foot shorter in length.  And yet, we'd still consider the likes of the Grand Marquis a "big car", but it got 18 MPG.  lol.


 


Richard had  blue mustang. Diana's murderer boyfriend Chip, borrowed a mustang from Karen's dealership.  Not sure what Sid's jalopy was. 


 


Yes, Kevin's character drove a Cherokee. Julie recently passed.  Still remember here fresh face in East of Eden. 


 


 


 

 

[alexhoovers94]

Another addition to my collection...

Ivory GPO 746, I will need to convert this one with the new BT plug though, just look how unscathed the colour is! No sun damaging at all.