Australian Rental Telephones 1901 - 2015
Typical Australian rental telephones since Federation
The following images show a selection of typical PMG/Telstra (rental) telephone types used in Australia since Federation in 1901. Not every model and/or iteration is shown and the PMG also retained earlier phones "inherited" from colonial administrations, sometimes for a decade or more after Federation, so there were others out there that don't necessarily "fit the mould".
The following images show a selection of typical PMG/Telstra (rental) telephone types used in Australia since Federation in 1901. Not every model and/or iteration is shown and the PMG also retained earlier phones "inherited" from colonial administrations, sometimes for a decade or more after Federation, so there were others out there that don't necessarily "fit the mould".
Expanded information on the iconic 800 series telephones (1962- ) here
Ericsson (Sweden factories) production numbers 1878 -1952
production_numbers_for_ericsson_telephones_1.pdf | |
File Size: | 169 kb |
File Type: |
An interesting resource showing more images and descriptions of Australian telephones can be found at:
https://www.prosoundeffects.com/pdf/telephony-equipment-list.pdf
https://www.prosoundeffects.com/pdf/telephony-equipment-list.pdf
The 800 series telephone 1962 -
The iconic 800 series telephone served the PMG through to Telecom Australia for more than three decades. It is the phone most likely remembered by the "Baby boomer" and its following generation in Australia. The article below, published in the "Exchange" newsletter in early 2021, summarises the 800 series. Similar content by this writer also appears in a text produced in Germany, "Europe's Colourful Telephone Family" by Christoph T. M. Krause. More information on the early 800 phones here.
An interesting insight into 1960s Australia can be seen on the following Youtube video of the one millionth telephone installed in NSW in 1969. It was the current 801 model.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDQYKEuB_Tc
The iconic 800 series telephone served the PMG through to Telecom Australia for more than three decades. It is the phone most likely remembered by the "Baby boomer" and its following generation in Australia. The article below, published in the "Exchange" newsletter in early 2021, summarises the 800 series. Similar content by this writer also appears in a text produced in Germany, "Europe's Colourful Telephone Family" by Christoph T. M. Krause. More information on the early 800 phones here.
An interesting insight into 1960s Australia can be seen on the following Youtube video of the one millionth telephone installed in NSW in 1969. It was the current 801 model.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDQYKEuB_Tc
800_thg.pdf | |
File Size: | 632 kb |
File Type: |
References and Acknowledgements
This writer wishes to acknowledge the following sources for some of the above images and information:
Ref 1. http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/online_science/explore_our_collections/objects/index/smxg-32963
Ref. 2 http://www.telephonecollecting.org/Bobs%20phones/Pages/BI&H/BI&HPhones.htm
Ref. 3 http://www.ericssonhistory.com/products/the-telephones/Ericssons-wall-telephone-set-the-pulpit-telephone-from-1882/
Ref. 4 http://www.telephonearchive.com/phones/ae/ae-step-base-stick.html
Ref. 5 http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/company-overview/history/tele-communications-timeline/
Ref. 6 http://www.telephonecollecting.org/Bobs%20phones/index.htm Bob Estreich (1949-2011). Much of the information and some images in this article were derived from this author’s website.
Acknowledgement from Bob’s website: Most images where not otherwise attributed are from Telecom Australia 1989 Payphone Services review. Most of the information is from Post Office Engineering Instructions, and from Jim Bateman's book "History of the Telephone in New South Wales" (1980)
This writer wishes to acknowledge the following sources for some of the above images and information:
Ref 1. http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/online_science/explore_our_collections/objects/index/smxg-32963
Ref. 2 http://www.telephonecollecting.org/Bobs%20phones/Pages/BI&H/BI&HPhones.htm
Ref. 3 http://www.ericssonhistory.com/products/the-telephones/Ericssons-wall-telephone-set-the-pulpit-telephone-from-1882/
Ref. 4 http://www.telephonearchive.com/phones/ae/ae-step-base-stick.html
Ref. 5 http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/company-overview/history/tele-communications-timeline/
Ref. 6 http://www.telephonecollecting.org/Bobs%20phones/index.htm Bob Estreich (1949-2011). Much of the information and some images in this article were derived from this author’s website.
Acknowledgement from Bob’s website: Most images where not otherwise attributed are from Telecom Australia 1989 Payphone Services review. Most of the information is from Post Office Engineering Instructions, and from Jim Bateman's book "History of the Telephone in New South Wales" (1980)