Skip to the content

September 2015
This site has been archived. Many of the links have been preserved but lead to old web pages that may no longer exist. Please send any problems to the Salford University webmaster. Thanks.

Computer Networking and Telecommunications Research

GPO 700 Series Telephones

GPO 700 Series TelephonesThe GPO 700 series of telephones was introduced in 1959 with the 706 design.   This, together with the later 746 design (1967) became the standard offering for subscribers and remained so through until the 1980s.  However, it remained the policy that you rented your telephone from the GPO; they were not available for purchase.

GPO 706L Two-tone brown rotary dial telephone

GPO 706L Two-tone brown rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by Phoenix Telephones, Hendon, London (PX) in 1962 (62/2). Letters and numbers on dial and surround.

GPO 711L Black, wall-mounted rotary dial telephone

GPO 711L Black, wall-mounted rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by the General Electric Company, Coventry (C) in 1964 (64/1)

GPO 706 Black rotary dial telephone

GPO 706 Black rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by GEC Telecommunications, Glenross, Scotland (AEG) in 1966 (66/2A). Modified by the GPO Factory in Cwmcam, Wales (FWR) in 1973 (73/2A).

GPO 706 Two-tone green rotary dial telephone

GPO 706 Two-tone green rotary dial telephone
The version was manufactured by Plessey (PLA) in 1966 (66/2A)

GPO 706L Cream rotary dial telephone

GPO 706L Cream rotary dial telephone
This model was manufactured by GEC Telecommunications, Glenross, Scotland (AEG) in 1966 (66/2A). Letters and numbers on dial surround.

GPO 706L Red rotary dial telephone

GPO 706L Red rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by GEC Telecommunications, Glenross, Scotland (AEG) in 1966 (66/2A) Letters and numbers on dial and surround

GPO 706 Two-tone grey rotary dial telephone

GPO 706 Two-tone grey rotary dial telephone
This 706 model is labelled N1900E244. Manufacturer and date unknown.

GPO 746F Concord Blue rotary dial telephone

GPO 746F Concord Blue rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by Denis Ferranti Meters Ltd., Bangor, North Wales (DFM) in 1969 (69/1).

GPO 746F Cream rotary dial telephone

GPO 746F Cream rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by Plessey, Speke, Liverpool (SPK) in 1969 (69/1). This model is fitted with an earpiece amplifier.

GPO 746F Two-tone green rotary dial telephone.

GPO 746F Two-tone green rotary dial telephone.
Manufactured by Plessey (PLA) in 1969 (69/1)

GPO 746 case design

GPO 746 case design
When originally released, the 746 telephone case had a shallow recess for the handset as shown on the right of this picture. However, problems were encountered with the handset not sitting properly and therefore not depressing the 'on hook' buttons fully. In later models the case was redesigned with a more pronounced recess as shown on the left of the picture. Here the handset sits firmly within a more square cut recess.

GPO 746 Black rotary dial telephone

GPO 746 Black rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by PYE Telecommunications (CW) in 1971 (/71). This version is fitted with an original style 746 case with the broad, shallow handset recess. It also has a ringer control lever at the front which was used to adjust the loudness of the bells.

GPO 746 Ivory rotary dial telephone

GPO 746 Ivory rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by the Telephone Manufacturing Company, Airdrie (TMA) in 1971 (71/1)

GPO 746F Reed rotary dial telephone

GPO 746F Reed rotary dial telephone
It is assumed that this model was manufactured by Plessey for it carries the manufacturer's code of PLU. It was manufactured in 1971 (71/1).

GPO 746 Brown rotary dial telephone

GPO 746 Brown rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by Foster's Machine Tool and Engine Company (FM) in 1973 (73/1).

GPO 746F Internal circuitry

GPO 746F Internal circuitry
This example was manufactured by Denis Ferranti Meters Ltd - Bangor, N. Wales (DFM) in 1973 (73/1).

GPO 746F Two-tone green rotary dial telephone

GPO 746F Two-tone green rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by Plessey, Speke, Livepool (SPK) in 1973 (73/1)

GPO 764F Topaz rotary dial telephone

GPO 764F Topaz rotary dial telephone
Manufactured by Denis Ferranti Meters Ltd., Bangor, North Wales, (DFM) in 1974 (74/1).

GPO 746 extension telephone

GPO 746 extension telephone
This two tone grey version of the GPO 746 telephone came without a rotary dial. Therefore it could receive incoming calls but had no means of making out-going calls. Typically these telephones were used as extra extensions. It is labelled S538164

GPO 746 grey rotary dial telephone

GPO 746 grey rotary dial telephone
This model was manufactured by Pye, Aidre (GNA) in 1975 (75/1)

Pair of GPO 746 cream rotary dial telephones

Pair of GPO 746 cream rotary dial telephones
The one on the left is a 746F and was manufactured by Denis Ferranti Meters Ltd (DFM) in 197? (7). The one on the right was manufactured by Pye, Aidre (GNA) in 1975 (75/1)

GPO 8746G cream hotel rotary dial telephone

GPO 8746G cream hotel rotary dial telephone
The 8746 telephone is a version of the 746 with modified circuitry to make it suitable for use with a plug and socket interface. This one came from St. Pierre Park Hotel, Guernsey. The telephone was manufactured by Denis Ferranti Meters (DFM) in 1982 (82/2). It has a light to indicate if a message is waiting for the customer.

GPO 8746G two tone green rotary dial telephone

GPO 8746G two tone green rotary dial telephone
The 8746 is a 746 telephone modified to work on the plug and socket interface. This one was modified to the 8746 version by the GPO Factory in Cwmcam, Wales (FWR) in 1982 (82)

A 746 Telephone Cover

746 Telephone Cover
Changing the cover on your mobile phone is a recent trend. Here is a much earlier example of a cover for your GPO 746 telephone!

GPO 8746G Two tone grey rotary dial telephone

GPO 8746G Two tone grey rotary dial telephone
This two tone grey example is presented with a lighter grey handset and dial surround compared to the more usual darker brown colouring. It is a type 8746G indicating that it has modified circuitry to make it suitable for use with a plug and socket interface. It was manufactured by STC Consumer Electronics - Cwmcarn (FWG) in 1985 (85/1).