Press-Button Trimphones

Press-Button TRIMPHONES

Press-Button Trimphone-The Trimphone with the modern touch, so read the publicity leaflet of August 1980.

This was version was much better than the dial Trimphone, it didn't slip about so much! But then again, it didn't have a luminous dial to glow in the dark.

Early versions were loop-disconnect or pulse dialling, otherwise known as SC (self-contained) needing no external power source. MF or DTMF (dual-tone, multi-frequency) were to come later as the electronics caught up with the small sized case.

At last, numbers could be entered into the keypad as quickly as you could press the buttons. But alas, the pulsed digits were only sent to the line at 10 i.p.s to allow the Strowger exchanges time to step the selectors.

Here we look at the early press-button types, through to the Phoenixphones of later years...

Style

Leaflets | TRIMPHONE |

Press-Button Trimphone introduces press-button calling to the Trimphone.

It is light, elegant and easy to handle. The handset rest is cleverly designed as a carrying handle. The press-button facility - arranged in the internationally agreed layout for telephones-has a separate button for each digit and is simpler, neater and clearer than the conventional rotary dial. The Press-Button Trimphone has a silicon chip contained within the telephone under the press-buttons - the result of technological advances in micro-electronic techniques. This operates like a miniature computer. Press the telephone number into the phone and its clever little memory, which momentarily stores the number you have called, then transmits it at normal dial speed.

Tone Caller

Instead of a conventional bell, a tone caller is fitted which produces a pleasant intermittent warbling note.You can adjust the volume of the warble to soft, loud or a centre position which allows the volume to build up from soft to loud.

Where will the Press-Button Trimphone work?
On exchange lines, direct extensions from most types of Private Branch Exchange and most extension plan arrangements.

		Colours Three colour combinations are available - light grey, green or blue. In each case a combination of two tones is used with the handset taking the darker tone. Your Telephone Sales Office will gladly supply any further information or details of any changes in the information in this leaflet since it went to print. You will find the address and telephone number in the front of the telephone directory. For charges see separate list.
Please Note We do our best to supply our customers with the apparatus they ask for but we may have to provide apparatus which does not accord exactly with the descriptions and illustrations in this leaflet. British TELECOM-part of the Post Office PH 2902/8/80 Printed by Uniprint (London) Ltd

Technical Details

TI Refs B4 B0152 and D7 C2230

Phoenixphones

Phoenixphones were simply 700 type phones and Trimphones refurbished in an 'exciting range of colours.' This was an early attempt to capture the new 'decorator market', for stylish designs, at the start of the UK liberalization which had begun with the introduction of the 'new phone socket' system of plug-in phones in 1981.

Scan: PH3128 3/82 printed by Collier/Searle Ltd., Harlesden, NW10, London.

Design, images and text compiled by © Light-Straw. Page last updated 5th March 2011. Checked June 2021.

All logos and trade marks are the property of their respective owners and are used on the Light Straw site(s) for review only. Students and researchers are recommended to make their own independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information contained therein.