Telephones collection is ringing success at Lichfield auction

Phones get a great reception

A LARGE collection of telephones dialled up more than £5,500 at auction in Lichfield.

The quirky collection spanned 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.

Catalogued across more than 100 lots, the collection sold with Richard Winterton Auctioneers today (Monday, October 6) at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Fradley Park, for a total hammer price of £5,572.

Included were 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 were 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.

A particular highlight was Lot 812, pictured top of page, two jade green GPO (General Post Office) telephones sold at £1,100.

Both with rotary dials, one was a 1957 Model No. 328L with three plungers to the top and a drawer to the base; the other a 200 series pyramid phone with drawer.

Much of the collection was UK-manufactured but there were also Belgian, Danish, Italian and American telephone designs.

Brands also included Bell, Ericsson and Siemens Brothers.

The collection also included 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.

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!”

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.