Detail

The 1905 Electrophone Table. Courtesy British Telecom

British Telecom has announced its top ten telecommunications treasures of the past as it launches an extensive online catalogue of historic artefacts for Museums and Galleries Month.

The catalogue, available through BT’s Connected Earth website, brings together some 3,500 objects from museums across the UK. BT’s Top Ten picks range from an 1858 transatlantic submarine telegraph cable to the world’s largest telephone and the K4 ‘Vermillion Giant’ telephone box.

Many of the items have been in storage and not seen by the public before, and the catalogue is the only communications-specific catalogue in the UK.

It provides a comprehensive record of telecommunications throughout the years, aiming to show how communication techniques have helped shape the world.

Hughes' Printing Telegraph was an alternative to using Morse code. Courtesy British Telecom

“The only way people could access the items before was actually to go in person to the museums, which for many people was simply not possible,” said David Hay, head of BT Heritage.

“The collection should appeal to a wide range of people,” he added. “Visitors will be able to use this fantastic tool to find out which artefacts are held in which museum. The catalogue can be used as a teaching aid, and students will be able to learn more about the history and development of the telecommunications industry.”

The Connected Earth website is a key part of British Telecom’s Heritage Policy, which aims to safeguard its heritage by maintaining an archive of historical documents and to promote access to its physical artefacts online and at museums throughout the UK.

BT's Roadphone - used for events and charity fundraising throughout the 1980s and 90s. Courtesy British Telecom

BT’s top ten telecommunication artefacts in full:

Electronic Table (1905) – used to listen to live opera, theatre and church services down a telephone line, before the advent of public radio broadcasting.

K4 Kiosk (1927-1935) – the K4 ‘Vermillion Giant’ telephone box combined a K2 kiosk with stamp machines and a letter box to form a ‘24-hour post office’.

Manual Switchboard (1976) – switchboard used to make the last manually connected call in the UK in October 1976.

Hughes Printing Telegraph (1858-c1920) – David Hughes’ invention to send and receive text rather than Morse code.

250,000th Manchester Telephone (1953) – the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s telephone was the 250,000th connected by the Post Office in the Manchester area.

The UK's last manual switchboard, which had its last call in 1976. Courtesy British Telecom

Cook & Whetstone Portable Double-Needle Telegraph (1838) – early emergency communication from the railway lines.

Roadphone (1983-1990s) – the largest working telephone in the world, used by BT for charity fundraising and exhibitions.

Cable Test Desk from Taplow (1926-1960) – high specification instrument as accurate as today’s cable testers.

Elevation Screw from Uther (1968-2005) – Uther was the second antenna at Goonhilly, the world’s largest operational satellite station.

First Transatlantic Submarine Telegraph Cable (1858) – a small cross-section of the original cable laid from County Kerry to Newfoundland.