Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone

Cigar/cigarette lighter adaptor charging cable for Vodafone

Cigar/cigarette lighter adaptor charging cable for Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone

Cigar/cigarette lighter adaptor charging cable, number 0352321001, for Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone. This allows the battery pack to be charged from the car battery. The battery pack can also be charged from the car radio unit.

More

This object is an example of the first mobile telephones for sale in the UK. It is bulky, unwieldy and certainly would not fit in your pocket. It was previously owned by a member of the landed gentry, representative of one of the relatively few owners of mobile telephones like this, which was sold at over £7,000 in 2018 currency and, as such, was a luxury commodity.

There is also a stark contrast to be made between the ubiquitous ownership of mobile telephones in the UK now and their first users in the 1980s. The manual explains “you can use your VODAFONE for automatic telephone calls from your car, boat, or office.” Boat-owners were the target market. Indeed and as mentioned previously, this mobile phone was sold at over £7,000 in today’s money. The objects is significant because it charts a change in mobile ownership from the wealthy to the masses.

Measurements:: overall: 50 mm x 200 mm x 160 mm,

Materials:: plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)

Object Number:: 2019-360/1

type:: cable and mobile phone accessory

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone

Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone, number 594875

Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone, number 594875, including: Vodafone transceiver unit ME 50 T, Class 1/2, Serial number 01/00/00/05715 made in Finland for Racal-Vodac, Newbury Berks, Ltd.; battery pack (rechargeable), Mobira model VT 501 (UL50T); and antenna.

More

This object is an example of the first mobile telephones for sale in the UK. It is bulky, unwieldy and certainly would not fit in your pocket. It was previously owned by a member of the landed gentry, representative of one of the relatively few owners of mobile telephones like this, which was sold at over £7,000 in 2018 currency and, as such, was a luxury commodity.

There is also a stark contrast to be made between the ubiquitous ownership of mobile telephones in the UK now and their first users in the 1980s. The manual explains “you can use your VODAFONE for automatic telephone calls from your car, boat, or office.” Boat-owners were the target market. Indeed and as mentioned previously, this mobile phone was sold at over £7,000 in today’s money. The objects is significant because it charts a change in mobile ownership from the wealthy to the masses.

Measurements:: overall: 430 mm x 310 mm x 200 mm,

Materials:: plastic (unidentified)

Object Number:: 2019-360/2

type:: mobile telephone

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Car mount unit for Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone

Car mount unit for transceiver, made in Finland for Racal-Vodac

Car mount unit for Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone

Car mount unit for transceiver, made in Finland for Racal-Vodac, type 4624720 CT53T; and car mount unit for handset, made in Finland for Racal-Vodac, type 4624772 AT53, for Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone.

More

This object is an example of the first mobile telephones for sale in the UK. It is bulky, unwieldy and certainly would not fit in your pocket. It was previously owned by a member of the landed gentry, representative of one of the relatively few owners of mobile telephones like this, which was sold at over £7,000 in 2018 currency and, as such, was a luxury commodity.

There is also a stark contrast to be made between the ubiquitous ownership of mobile telephones in the UK now and their first users in the 1980s. The manual explains “you can use your VODAFONE for automatic telephone calls from your car, boat, or office.” Boat-owners were the target market. Indeed and as mentioned previously, this mobile phone was sold at over £7,000 in today’s money. The objects is significant because it charts a change in mobile ownership from the wealthy to the masses.

Measurements:: overall: 300 mm x 280 mm x 140 mm,

Materials:: plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)

Object Number:: 2019-360/3

type:: mobile phone accessory

Battery charger for Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone

Racal-Vodac (Vodafone) battery charger for Vodafone

Battery charger for Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone

Racal-Vodac (Vodafone) battery charger for Vodafone transportable (mobile) telephone, model VT 601, for mains use.

More

This object is an example of the first mobile telephones for sale in the UK. It is bulky, unwieldy and certainly would not fit in your pocket. It was previously owned by a member of the landed gentry, representative of one of the relatively few owners of mobile telephones like this, which was sold at over £7,000 in 2018 currency and, as such, was a luxury commodity.

There is also a stark contrast to be made between the ubiquitous ownership of mobile telephones in the UK now and their first users in the 1980s. The manual explains “you can use your VODAFONE for automatic telephone calls from your car, boat, or office.” Boat-owners were the target market. Indeed and as mentioned previously, this mobile phone was sold at over £7,000 in today’s money. The objects is significant because it charts a change in mobile ownership from the wealthy to the masses.