Prop Telephones and Associated Equipment

These items are available for free loan to amateur theatre groups (subject to conditions). Some of these items are very heavy and most are breakable so you will need to cover the cost of insured postage or arrange to collect and return them to south-west Birmingham.

Most of these items are GPO / BT products and are referred to by their GPO / BT name. They are only available in the colours / variants shown below.

I can advise on the suitability of these items for your particular use and give more details information relating to their use and operation. If the item needs to ring I can supply a manually operated ringing converter, and appropriate cable and connectors.

Telephones

Telephone 232 "Pyramid" Period: 1934 Status: Dummy Deposit: £100	Telephone 232 and Bellset 26 Period: 1934 Status: Prop Deposit: £110
Telephone 328 Period: 1948 Status: Prop Deposit: £60	Telephone 332 Period: 1937 Status: Prop Deposit: £60
Telephone 706 Black Period: 1960 Status: Prop Deposit: £30	Telephone 741 Ivory Period: 1972 Status: New Deposit: £20
Telephone 746 Black Period: 1969 Status: Prop Deposit: £20	Telephone 746 Blue Period: 1969 Status: Prop Deposit: £20
Telephone 746 Red Period: 1969 Status: Prop Deposit: £20	Telephone 776 "Compact" Brown Period: 1978 Status: Prop Deposit: £30
Telephone 8746 Brown Period: 1981 Status: Prop Deposit: £20	BT Freeway Period: Status: Prop Deposit: £10

Answering Machines

GMTC Period: Status: Dummy Deposit: £10	PhoneMate Period: Status: Dummy Deposit: £10
BetaCom Period: Status: Prop Deposit: £10	BT Answering and Recording Machine 203A (Kingfisher) Period: 1986 Status: Dummy Deposit: £20
BT Response 80 Period: Status: Dummy Deposit: £20

Exchange systems

Key and Lamp Unit 2A Period: Status: New/Dummy Deposit: £40	Planphone A Period: c 1970 Status: Prop Deposit: £40
House Exchange System No 4 Period: Status: Prop Deposit: £50	Marquis 1B TX64 Period: c 1980 Status: Prop Deposit: £20
PMBX 2 Period: 1954 - 1994 Status: New/Dummy Deposit: £100

Miscellaneous

Amplifier Set 5 Period: Status: Dummy Deposit: £10	Autodial 201A Period: 1970 Status: New/Dummy Deposit: £50
Loudspeaking Unit 1400 Period: Status: New/Dummy Deposit: £50	Bellset 26 (modern variant) Period: Status: Prop Deposit: £10

Key to notes

Period

Indicates the earliest date the item was available for general use according to GPO or BT documentation.

Status

• Prop: Suitable for use on stage, can be made to ring and ringing stops when handset lifted. Not necessarily fully functional, so not suitable for connection to the public network or a switchboard.
• New: Suitable for use on stage, can be made to ring and ringing stops when handset lifted. Should be suitable for connection to the public network only.
• Dummy: Suitable for use on stage for visual purposes, but practical limitations mean it is not suitable for connection to the public network or a switchboard.

The status of these items is not representative of their condition (unless listed as "New") as they may have been in service for many years. Some original parts may have been replaced with modern alternatives.

Deposit

Amount required as a deposit for loan of the item, the actual replacement value may be much higher. Some of these items have antique value and may be difficult or impossible to repair or replace.

Conditions of Loan

1. These items are offered on loan to drama groups and schools for amateur productions free of charge.
2. The loan period will not usually exceed ten days.
3. The condition of these items is not necessarily perfect and they are not guaranteed to be fully working but their condition it adequate to be used as stage props.
4. A deposit is required for every item loaned.
5. Any existing damage, missing parts, etc, will be noted and agreed when the item is collected / delivered.
6. Cables and connections must not be removed, cut or modified.
7. Some or all of the deposit will be lost if any item is returned damaged or incomplete.
8. The full replacement cost will be due for any item lost or significantly damaged.
9. You will be required to give details of the production, dates, times and location of the performances where the items are to be used.
10. You must make it explicitly clear if the item is required to ring realistically so that you are given a suitable item.
11. You are advised not to connect any of these items to any public or private telephone network. No responsibility can be taken for misuse of the items in this way.
12. A brief acknowledgement in the production programme is usually required.
13. Additional conditions may apply to certain items.

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