1,000 telephones to b-ring bidders to Lichfield auction

Sale date Monday 6th October

A STAFFORDSHIRE auctioneer is hoping for a ringing success when approximately 1,000 telephones go under the hammer next month.

Bidders are invited to dial in to the sale with Richard Winterton Auctioneers on Monday, October 6, at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Fradley Park.

The quirky collection spans almost a century of telephone design, focussing on iconic models from the 1930s through to the 1980s and continuing into 1990s and 2000s developments in communication.

Included are classic Bakelite designs, GPO rotary dial bell-ringers, elegant candlestick telephones and retro Trimphones, plus fun novelty shapes such as a leaping Jaguar mascot and Pepsi drinks machine.

As well as domestic models there are office phones, warehouse phones, a military field telephone, telecom engineer’s GPO tester and even two large telephone exchanges plus other smaller examples, alongside a multitude of spare parts.

Catalogued across more than 100 lots, much of the collection is UK-manufactured but there are also Belgian, Danish, Italian and American telephone designs.

Brands include GPO, Bell, Ericsson and Siemens Brothers.

There is also a small archive of black and white photographs of telephonists dating back to the early 20th century, an array of typewriters, a 1950s copying machine and a range of computer equipment.

Auctioneers hope the collection will fetch £5,000 under the hammer on October 6.

It was accumulated by a vicar from Longnor in the Staffordshire Moorlands, Reverend John Charles Baines.

Rev Baines, who was unmarried, passed away suddenly earlier this year from a heart defect at the age of 56, just 10 days shy of his 57th birthday.

His elder brother Michael Baines, from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, said: “He was fanatical about telephones.

“It is a complete mystery why he started – he should have worked for British Telecom!”

A spokesperson for Richard Winterton Auctioneers added: “We expect this wonderful collection to have a great reception at auction.

“It is an impressive archive spanning a century of communication and encapsulating the history of telephone development and design.

“Telecoms enthusiasts and collectors, fans of retro design and anyone looking for original props for film, television or the stage will all find plenty to interest them.

“So phone a friend and dial in to the sale!”

The collection goes under the hammer at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, WS13 8NF, in the Antique & Home Sale on Monday, October 6, starting at 9am.

Viewing in person takes place on Friday, October 3, between 10am and 4pm.

The catalogue goes live a week beforehand and can be viewed via our Auction Calendar.

Bidding takes place online, live in the room and – fittingly – on the telephone by prior request.

For more information, to arrange a free valuation of all types of collectables, or to enquire about a home visit for large collections or house clearances, email office@richardwinterton.co.uk or call 01543 251081.

Pictured top of page: James Winterton with some of the collection.