Orginal Ivory Bakelite table phone in great condition

An original GPO 328f  telephone in excellent condition. No chips or cracks apart from tiny crack to earpiece which is not noticeable. Brass dial front, (please note i am not sure if this is an original GPO dial and not an earlier dial used for its brass front, most GPO phones from this period had bright plated dial fronts) but who knows - will include a genuine GPO dial anyway just in case. Enamel finger plate. Both original braided cloth cords(which need a clean). Will polish to superb finish.

Allthough a 328 (bell on bell off) it has a 'call main' plate - sometime in the past someone has gold plated the buttons, plate and dial front. Will include a new 'bell on bell' off plate. 

This is a very pretty phone which can be converted to use on a normal telephone line and has the original bells which will ring when converted.

Guarantee this is an original GPO telephone and not one of the many repros about. Very nice deep matching colours to body and handset, ear and mouthpiece, which is unusual to find. Has original drawer and clear cellulose dialling information hinged sleeve in excellent condition. 

Will make a brilliant addition to a collection or fabulous xmas present. 

Postage at cost v. careful packing free. Prefer paypal.

Thanks for looking in.

have just noticed a tiny chip to back edge of body - it isn't noticeable as it is on back of phone and very small. Can be filled by someone who knows how to do it.

Have seen many coloured bakelite phones over the years which have been filled with coloured resins and there are very few that have not been filled - there is no filler in this phone. Try to be as honest with the description as possible. This is a very nice ivory 300, all original with matching shades to all parts. Very hard to find now in this condition. Have seen others sold recently that have mismatched shades, faded to white, repro handsets of different shade, etc. etc. 

To answer some questions:

The handset is the one that would have been issued with the phone, it is original GPO 164-57 which is moulded into the oval and not a repro, it matches the body exactly, The mothpiece and earpiece match exactly and have not been repaired or filled. The original carbon granule microphone is in place and the diaphragm is present in the earpiece. In other words it is as it should be and no clumsy conversion with modern TXs etc.

The numbers on the base = 328f  PL.57/2A. (Somebody with the relevant n diagram might tell us if this was 'call main' which would explain plate).

I think the call main plate is original as it is plan 57 but you can have my last (unissued) bell on/ off plate if you want.

Yes the gold plating is unusual allthough i have seen it before on hard wired ( ie as they were issued) phones. Whether this was an official option at some time or some sort of status symbol for the boss done locally who knows. The gold plating is worn so polish back to original chrome or have it redone.

This could be the reason for the brass dial front as gold is difficult to plate to polished stainless. Will include a GPO s/s dial for those who want.   

The cords are original white cotton braided and are in fair condition for age. They can be cleaned but do it carefully - don't stick them in the washing machine and complain that they don't work afterwards. 

The phone has not been converted and has all the original interior mechanism and parts including the correct 328 switch block and bells. It can be converted for use on a normal phone line but will not neccessarily work with digital systems - so if you want to use it at work check first. I haven't converted it - i don't have the time. If you want it converting i can give you the phone no. of a very capable engineer who will do it properly and retain original parts but cannot be responsible for his work or postage etc. 

No i don't have any more coloured bakelite phones - i used to collect phones many years ago and apart from a very nice polished Western Electric monophone of 1932, which will be listed shortly, have nothing left. There are very few phones now that are available just as they were taken out and this has got to be one of the last ivory 300s in such condition. With a bit of work this will make a stunning piece of working 'deco'. Have had all the colours at one time - red, green, brown, blue 200s/ 300s - ivory allways looked the best.   

Thank you for your interest and i will post some more photos as soon as i can get some charge into this cheap digi camera - i suspect it needs a new battery.