Telephone Collection

MS. MAGAZINE, 1972. Cover of the first issue of Ms. magazine, spring 1972

Telephone box in 1926 BL28503
TELEPHONE BOX, Ladbroke Grove, Kensington, London. An example of a new-issue K2 telephone kiosk in Ladbroke Grove. This style of telephone box was introduced in 1926

After World War Two - Heathrow Airport Facilities
After World War Two - The rather basic Heathrow Airport Reception and Communication Facilities. Date: 1946

Stonehenge ahead FL01500_02_003
STONEHENGE, Amesbury, Wiltshire. A car drives past an a box towards Stonehenge. Photograph 1930, from the Ministry of Works Blue Album

Police Public Call Box in the snow, London
A Police Public Call Box, on a London street on a snowy day. The Metropolitan Police introduced police boxes throughout the London area between 1928 and 1937

Smithfield Market J940533
SMITHFIELD MARKET, City of London. Interior view of Grand Avenue with red K2 and K6 type telephone kiosks

Bakelite telephone. Dial telephone with bakelite casing. Bakelite, the first plastic to be used for widespread commercial purposes

Cobham Air Routes Poster
Poster, Cobham Air Routes, offering flights to Guernsey in 2 hours. With a map of the south coast. 20th century

The Beastie Boys leaving Capital Radio in a car, Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock), Michael Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Yauch (MCA). London, 28th May 1987

US Steel Works
The blast furnaces and rolling mills of the Homestead Steel Works, Pittsburgh. From a stereograph. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Major fire in Wandsworth Road, Clapham SW8
London firefighters and the London Salvage Corps (in the long coats) at the scene of a fire involving shops and dwellings in Wandsworth Road, Clapham, SW8, on 9 September 1959

Red telephone box sculpture Out of Order by David Mach. Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Dover Castle Wartime Tunnels J950001
DOVER CASTLE, Kent. Hellfire Corner. The reconstructed Second World War telephone and telex exchange in the Secret Wartime Tunnels

Telephone Box
A rare example of a K4 telephone kiosk, designed 1927 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Frodsham, Cheshire. IoE 436820

Liverpool manager Bob Paisley pictured on the terraces at Anfield shortly after taking over from Bill Shankly. 20th July 1974

Picture No. 11772293
Dog Parson Jack Russell with mobile phone in mouth Date:

Kings Cross station, London, British Railways, c1949-1950
Kings Cross station, London, British Railways. View along the busy platform 10, with the 10.00 service to Edinburgh (the Flying Scotsman) preparing for departure. c1949-50

Keep Mum - The World Has Ears. American World War II poster for the Thirteenth Naval District of the U. S
WORLD WAR II POSTER, c1942. Keep Mum - The World Has Ears. American World War II poster for the Thirteenth Naval District of the U.S. Navy, c1942, warning against the dangers of careless talk

Pleasure Flights Poster, Portsmouth, Southsea & Isle of Wight Aviation Ltd, Bembridge Farm Aerodrome at any time by arrangement at the farm

Policeman at a police call box
A policeman on the phone at a police public call box on a London street

Police Public Call Box, London
A police officer using a Police Public Call Box on a London street. The Metropolitan Police introduced police boxes throughout the London area between 1928 and 1937

Telephone Switchboard
New Scotland Yard switchboard

Red letterbox and telephone box in the snow, Highlands, Scotland, UK, Europe

Switchboard Girls / 1930S
Girls working on a telephone switchboard, watched over by a stern-looking supervisor

Paddington Telephone Exchange, London, 1906
An image of a female operator connecting callers to the railway system at Paddingtons Telephone Exchange, London, 1906

Brochure illustration, W Barratt & Co Ltd, Northampton, showing the Footshape Works where the boots and shoes are made, with addresses of branches below, in London, Bradford, Brighton and Leicester

Tatler front cover, 9 March 1960
Front cover of the Tatler featuring a photograph of a woman, eating breakfast while arranging to meet friends over the telephone. 1960

Advert for using a telephone
It pays to telephone ! Remember - a telephone in your home saves you time, money, and worry, and minimises inconvenience, anxiety, and loneliness

Early fire brigade street alarm
Early fire brigade alarm system. Historical artwork of a fireman testing a 19th-century combined telephonic and telegraphic street fire alarm system

SONG SHEET COVER, 1925. Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue Foxtrot: American song sheet cover, 1925

Heath Robinson Bedroom 4 of 4
Heath Robinson Does Away with Servants - Patent Applied for by " The Sketch" in the Bedroom. A bedroom, which is a typically Heath Robinson design, with a system of pulleys

Policeman and Call Box
A police officer on the beat south of Pall Mall, central London, reports back to the station using a police call box

Telephone Exchange 1929
Londons new Automatic Telephone Exchange, showing an engineer testing the new revolutionary system, whereby subscribers were connected without an operator

Red telephone box sculpture Out of Order by David Mach. Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A line of four red telephone boxes at Charing Cross, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Tabby Cat - on office desk with files & phone
JD-18386 CAT - Tabby kitten on office desk with files and phone John Daniels Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Police Box in Use
A police constable using the telephone at a police box

Ericsson Table Phone - 3
A table instrument by the Ericsson Company of Stockholm. There is no handle to alert the exchange, perhaps this is done with that knob : the bell is very noticeable

Automatic Phone Exchange
Automatic telephone exchange of the British Post Office, which at that time managed the telephone network

Transatlantic communications: telephoning London to New York
How the London telephone subscriber will " get" New York: the wonders of transatlantic telephony, as explained by The Illustrated London News in 1927. Date: 1927

Red telephone box and The Shard, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Red telephone box, on a frosty morning in early light, Snelston, Hartington, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Rosalind Russell in George Cukors The Women (1939)
Rosalind Russell

Overgrown telephone box, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Advert promoting the Post Office Telephone Service. Date: 1932

Roy Tempest, Theatrical Agent, London, 21st April 1964

The New Magic: Sending Pictures by Wireless and the Unescapable Telephone, c1935. From Our Wonderful World, Volume II, edited by J.A. Hammerton. [The Amalgamated Press, Ltd. London]

Manchester, England - Piccadilly Gardens
Manchester, England - the busy Piccadilly Street and Piccadilly Gardens showing shop fronts, cars, and businesses. circa 1910s

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Connecting the Past and Present: The Evolution Communication" In a world where communication is constantly evolving, let's take a moment to reflect on the humble beginnings of the telephone. From its iconic presence on the cover of Ms. Magazine in 1972 to the snowy streets of London with its famous Police Public Call Box, this device has woven itself into the fabric of our lives. Imagine standing amidst the ancient wonder that is Stonehenge, only to be reminded that even centuries ago, humans sought ways to connect with one another. Fast forward to 1926 when a quaint telephone box stood proudly on British streets, serving as a lifeline for those seeking connection. The Bakelite telephone became an emblematic symbol of progress and innovation during its time. Its sleek design captured not only functionality but also style - a testament to human ingenuity. As air travel began taking flight, Cobham Air Routes Poster showcased how telephones were bridging distances between far-flung destinations. No longer bound by physical boundaries, conversations could transcend borders effortlessly. Brochure illustrations from W Barratt & Co Ltd remind us that telephones were not just tools for personal use; they played an integral role in business and commerce too. They facilitated connections between companies and customers alike, propelling economies forward. Even major historical events like US Steel Works or Kings Cross station in London bear witness to how telephones shaped societies across continents. In times of crisis such as Wandsworth Road fire in Clapham SW8, these devices served as vital links for emergency services and individuals seeking help. From Ms. Magazine's empowering message to Stonehenge's timeless allure, each image tells a story about our collective desire for connection through technology. As we navigate today's digital landscape filled with smartphones and video calls, let us remember that every call made or received carries with it echoes from decades past – reminding us that despite all advancements made over time, at its core, the telephone remains a symbol of human connection.