Re: @steelpillow and ImAlrightJack
>Before the GPO was privatised you had a choice of two types of telephone - a big black Bakelite one or a flipfone.
Actually there were dozens, a choice of colours and none were Bakelite. I think you might be confused by the fact there were standard designs and differences were subtle - many manufacturers produced them. Still have several of ours all working beautifully - have a 746 connected in the hall as the bells can be heard from the bottom of the garden.
There's a reasonably exhaustive collection here:
http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/phones_1960-80.htm
