700 series telephones

In the 1960s around 20% of the population of the UK had a home phone. There was only one way to get a telephone: rent one from the General Post Office (GPO).

US telephone users got smart new phones from the design studio of Henry Dreyfus in the 50s and several stylish new modern telephones were being developed in that decade. In the UK, the GPO only offered the choice of two basic designs, one dating from 1929 and the other from 1936. However, all this changed in 1959 with the 700 series telephones, or what the GPO preferred to call the 'Modern Telephone', arrived. The modern age promised by the Festival of Britain had finally arrived for Britain's telephone subscribers, as the GPO preferred to call them.

706 telephone

The 706 telephone was a design by the British Ericsson Company. It was inspired by the Western Electric 500 from the US and probably also the 'Centenary Neophone' by Siemens (UK) from 1957. Both these phones had gentle organic curves, but retained the classic telephone shape established by the 332.

746 telephone

The 746 telephone was the standard phone that most people opted for in the 70s. It was available in red, ivory, two tone green, two tone grey, blue, yellow or black.

You could also get this telephone as a wallphone.

Read more about the 746 telephone and how to buy a good one.

776 Compact telephone

As an alternative to the standard 746 phone, the GPO offered a compact telephone, the 776. There was a special commemorative version for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

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Using a telephone in the 60s

Using the telephone in the 60s was very different from today. Read more about the GPO Telephone Service in the 60s.