#35

A highly unusual Siemens Brothers manufactured G.P.O. telephone No 162 in the original “Mahogany” colour.  This is either one of the first 200 mahogany phones produced by the GPO or perhaps even the original colour sample phone referred to in the attached 1930 GPO correspondence. The colour is solid and not mottled.

The first order by the GPO for 200 coloured 162 telephones was described in GPO correspondence as being “in hand” in December 1930. There is no mention of Mahogany in the GPO’s 1931 rate book and it would appear that by that stage it had been retired and replaced with a “Walnut” coloured GPO 162, which is the official GPO name for what collectors sometimes refer to as “mottled brown”.

The telephone has all matching parts and appears to be un-issued. The transformer cover, base, and handset are all date stamped S-30. The finger wheel is also made of Bakelite. The handset cord is smooth cotton covered as it should be for the coloured telephones in 1930.

The phone has cast metal internals as well as a metal dial insert, consistent with the early prototypes Siemens 82s/GPO 162s.

The line cord is plaited and goes into a wood terminal block. Both the cords are red which goes with the reddish colour of this mahogany telephone.

#F9

This phone needs the correct caps and base to complete it.  If you come across these then please let me know and I will put you in touch with the phone’s owner.

The owner of the phone has identified this as green Bakelite rather than the standard 162 green urea.

#F1

This material has not aged well and the shrunken phone is now too small for the bell-set.  If anyone has the missing parts for this phone then please let me know and I will put you in contact with the owner.

This is unlikely to be the same material used in the original 1930 colour sample as it took the GPO until 1934 to stabilise their urea resin red 162 for production, and this 1933 example is likely a prototype of this.

#F2

#F11

#F12