Thorn-Ericsson 'Astrofon' telephone, 1981

'Astrofon' telephone, 1981, specially finished and inscribed to mark the inauguration of British Telecommunications on 1 October 1981, made by Thorn-Ericsson, Scunthorpe, England, 1981

'Astrofon' telephone, 1981, specially finished and inscribed to mark the inauguration of British Telecommunications on 1 October 1981, made by Thorn-Ericsson, Scunthorpe, 1981.

The Astrofon was one of the first generation of phones to use the standard phone socket when it was first introduced in November 1981. This standardisation allowed customers to purchase any type of phone they wished, as long as it met BT specifications, instead of the previously restricted range. The Astrofon was designed with an easily changeable top cover, allowing different colours and printed logos. This Astrofon was specially finished for the inauguration of British Telecom. The inscriptions reads 'This is one of limited edition of 100 commemorative telephones produced to mark the inauguration of British Telecom 1 October 1981'.