Old Telephones

Andrew Emmerson is a writer by profession and is just old enough to remember old candlestick telephones in use. His serious interest in telephones and telegraphs dates from the 1960s. Since then he has assembled a varied collection of old instruments and books about them. When he began collecting, old telephones were not fashionable and instruments could be bought cheaply, but although collectors have to pay more these days he feels that old technology deserves wider appreciation.When he is not writing and broadcasting on the subject of today's high-tech wizardry, Andrew Emmerson enjoys discovering the history of the inventions which came before this, also restoring and reviving equipment based on these older technologies.

• Introduction How telephones work The story of the telephone in Britain Types of telephones Technical design and progress Users of telephones Kiosks and other telephone apparatus Post Office manufacturer codes Markings inside telephonesFurther reading Places to visit