Telephone

The Trimphone (Tone Ringer Illuminated Model Phone) was launched by the GPO in 1965. The first example was presented to a newly-wed Hampstead couple in May 1965 by the Postmaster-General Anthony Wedgwood-Benn to mark the ten millionth telephone installed in Britain.

Designed by Martyn Rowlands of Standard Telephone and Cables Ltd, the Trimphone was intended as a luxury companion to the GPO's standard 700 series phones. The Trimphone won the Design Council Award in 1966. At the time customers could not buy telephones, but had to rent them from the GPO. The Trimphone, as an upmarket telephone, cost more to rent on a quarterly basis.

The Trimphone was marketed as a stylish and futuristic telephone for bedroom use. Its illuminated dial was designed so it could be seen in the dark. This example is a display 'dummy' and was constructed using cannibalised spares from various models. The handset is taken from an early 712 model, the base is from a later model 722, which was introduced in 1971.