Got this today. It doesn't have a brand or date on it externally.

I believe it is model 232 from the 1940s.

I don't collect phones as such but I wanted this one because it's the same model as was in my father's office in York St, Sydney, back in the early 1950s, connected to the number BX 3702.

It can still make and receive calls, and it's fun calling a mobile on it!

I think these were the standard British telephone or a copy of it. The dial would be the same as the ones fitted to Australian AWA and STC models.

Yes, I believe our 232 was based on the British version 162 and 232, but with modified circuitry and enclosed bell set.

Nice looking phone. I've always liked the pyramid style bakelites. They are just that bit classier than the more recent ones.

Mark

Certainly more classy than what Telstra offer as the standard phone these days.

I have a telephone like that, but yours has been modified to work on the AXE/Pulse system that is in use today. Mine is exactly like yours, but has not been modified in any way, all external cords are individually wrapped in a cloth type insulation and then braided, connecting the telephone body with it's hand piece Rec/Trans and a 36" cord to the original 1pair wall block. The code on the bottom are 25 CB. P.M.G -36, and the hand piece code is G.P.O. C35/234 No.164.

Regards Nobby.

This is in fact a 100 series APO and GPO issued phone - or a 162 - with the skinny cradle - issued up until 1938 - however in 1936 the 232 was issued - with an updated ATSIC and fat cradle enabling the whole unit to be picked up

Best way to date it as the cradle may have been incorrectly fitted to a later phone - is pull the crown off from the bellset - if the main terminal block is 6 terminal then she is a 162 - if an 8 terminal (all 8 terminals used) then she has the later ATSIC and is a 232.

Either way - a well sought after unit

Thanks for that info.

The block has 6 terminals, so I guess that makes it model 162, so it's even older than I thought.

Photobucket's pixel override settings quite often don't work correctly. I've overridden it with some extra HTML.

I've overridden it with some extra HTML.

Thanks, I've taken note of those for the future.

GTC,

Your phone is a 232AT and from the moulding mark near the induction coil, it was made by AWA 1937 - 1941. The dial is not the original No.10 but may have fitted in a PMG Workshops at some time. It has the older style 162AT cradle which would be very brittle now so it would be risky to pick up the phone by the cradle. Also if the two bolts holding the cradle to the switch mechanism are more than finger tight there is a good chance that the cradle will crack due to different rates of expansion between the metal bolts and the bakelite. (This was noted in a PMG technical instruction dated 1938.)

The code '25 CB. P.M.G -36' on the base translates as
Bellset No.25, (Property of the) Postmaster Generals Dept, 1936 which means that it was from a earlier 162AT. The code 'G.P.O. C35/234 No.164' on the handset translates as (British) General Post Office (design), (made by) GEC (in Coventry,UK), 1935, No.164 Mark I. It would have been fitted to a Tele 162 or 162AT. Later handsets had just a two-digit code for the year and '164' as the type.

Regards,
Andrew

Thank you for that detailed information. I can't see any code on the base like Oldfella quoted in his post.

The handset says "164 61". I gather the 61 is 1961? This phone having been through some sort of repair/restoration (as evidenced by the business card) is probably a bitzer.

Thanks for the tips about the fragility of the cradle. I will be sure not to pick the phone up by that.