TELEPHONE No. 1


Standard GPO wall telephone for use in C.B. exchange areas.  It was originally called the "Telephone, Wall, C.B. 3 terminal" or the "Telephone, Wall, C.B. 5 terminal".

Made by British Western Electric (originally their Model No. 265) and also used by the National Telephone Company (their Telephone No. 4).  The GPO inherited the NTC's telephone estate and therefore a large number of NTC Telephone No. 4's.

Wooden cased telephone fitted with a sloping writing desk.  Fitted with a Bell Receiver, 1000 ohm bell, Induction Coil and solid back transmitter.

The 3 terminal type was superseded by the 5 terminal type.

The telephone should be fixed to the wall, the lower edge 40 inches from the floor.

This telephone superseded the Instrument, Subscribers, Wall N.T. No. 13.

This telephone was in the 1928 Rate book but not available in the 1946 Rate Book.

Telephone Mark 234 includes (1928):-
1 x Receiver, Bell No. 1A.
1 x Bell No. 1A, Unmounted.
1 x Coil, Induction No. 4.
1 x Cord, Flexible 2/22B, Brown, 33".
1 x Arm, Transmitter No. 1.
1 x Frames, Notice No. 1.
1 x Glass No. 3.
1 x Hook, Receiver F.
1 x Transmitter No. 1.
2 x Cord, Flexible 1/16E, Black, 12".
1 x Label No. 43.

Mark N.T. No.13:-
1 x Coil, Induction, No.3.
1 x Condenser, M.C. No. 6.

Mark N.T. Nos. 14 and 16:-
1 x Coil, Induction No.3.
1 x Condenser, M.C. No. 2.

Additional Information
Early Type - 3 Terminal (Type 2607):-
1 x Coil, Induction No. 4.
1 x Bell No. 11A.
1 x Condenser MC No. 2.

Later Types - 5 Terminal:-
1 x Induction, Coil, No. 4.
1 x Bell No. 1A, Unmounted.
1 x Condenser MC No. 3.
1 x Hook, Receiver F.

Early Telephone No.1's were in fact NTC badged.  NTC bought the phones from British Western Electric who made them in Antwerp, Belgium.  The B.P.O continued to purchase from the British Western Electric Co. and this was their model No. 312.

Some may have been made by British Ericsson, their mode N1460.

Superseded by the Telephone No. 101.

Circuit diagrams - N101 and C.B. 518.

A discussion on the Telephone No. 1

How to convert to Plug and Socket
 
 

Labels for the notice frame

GPO Label (Circa 1911)

NTC Label
 


Additional Pictures

Incomplete telephones (Supplied without receivers)
NTC models are either side of the central GPO model
Picture dated 1911
 
A Telephone No. 1 fitted with an automatic dial
 
3 Terminal type (Picture dated 1901)
 
NTC wall set
Known as the GPO Telephone No. 1 Mark NT 14

  

 
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Last revised: January 04, 2024

FM