Preserved Mobiles

Mobile telephone exchanges were once produced in the hundreds, but today only a handful have survived as working examples.

Photo: MNDX No. 127 and MAX 12 No. 29 at Milton Keynes Museum © LSA April 2014.

Overview

The very first Mobile Automatic eXchange (MAX) type 12 was brought into service in 1938 by the Postmaster General, Major G.C. Tryon, M.P. who made the inaugural call from Post Office Headquarters to the chairman of Essex County Council in Chelmsford. After the ceremony, the exchange was then put to work in North Weald, Essex where it replaced a small manual exchange.

Mobile Non-Director eXchanges (MNDXs) were based on standard 2000-type selectors and main exchange equipment.

The MNDX details were correct at the date the photographs were taken. Thanks to the owner(s) for allowing details to be shown. Restoration condition and ownership may have changed since this page was last updated.

MAX 12 No. 29
	MAX 12 No. 29, serial T 9404. (1948) Photo: MAX 12 No. 29 at Milton Keynes Museum © LSA April 2014.
MNDX No. 81
	MNDX No. 81, serial T 13415. (1965) Photo: MNDX No. 81 © D.Edwards 2014.
MNDX No. 127
	MNDX No. 127, serial T 205409. Photo: MAX 12, No. 29 and MNDX No. 127 at Milton Keynes Museum © LSA April 2014.
MNDX No. 295
	MNDX No. 295, serial 71 830 0104. Equipped in the Post Office Telecommunications Regional area of Scotland in 1971. Photo: MNDX No. 295 © Chris Barlow 2002.
MNDX No. 313
	MNDX No. 313, serial 7x 830 00xx. MAX 24. Photo: MNDX No. 313 © K Brooker 2008.
MNDX No. 323
	MNDX No. 323, serial 7x 830 00xx. This MNDX was found in a BT car park near Blackburn in November 2002. BT didn't even know it was there, but eventually they agreed to donate to a preserved railway. Photo: MNDX No. 323 © Chris Barlow 2004.
MNDX No. 331
	MNDX No. 331, serial 71 830 0030. At Avoncroft Museum of Buildings. Photo: MNDX No. 331 © Mike Fletcher March 2002.
MNDX No. 341
	'Martin's Mobile' MNDX No. 341, serial 72 830 0042. Photo: MNDX No. 341 © Martin Loach, circa 2000.
MNDX No. 368
	MNDX No. 368, serial 71 830 0080. Trailer only survives. Exchange was equipped at the Post Office Telecommunications Enfield factory in 1971. Photo: MNDX No. 368 © Martin Barnett 2015.
72 830 0063
	MNDX serial no. 72 830 0063. On the Kent & East Sussex Railway the MNDX was stripped out and fitted with UAX Strowger kit. Photo: MNDX serial No. 72 830 0063 © Nick Wellington 2003.

Others

The remaining mobiles exist only as storage vans or have been converted to other uses: MNDX No. 318 (71 830 0023), 71 830 0098, 72 830 0051, 72 830 0074 have been seen at Ardrossan, Ayrshire. One was seen painted in 'Business Systems' dark blue.

Acknowledgements

Telephony by Atkinson; Chris Barlow; David Edwards, Phil Goodwin, Mike Fletcher; Martin Loach; Peter Walker; Martin Barnett; K. Brooker; Post Office Telecommunications Journals; Telephone Museum, Milton Keynes; Post Office Vehicle Club; THG; Teletalk, staff newspaper of EAD; BT Heritage.

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