700 Series (706, 746, 8746)

The 700 series heralded the arrival of the modern telephone, in its most familiar and recognisable form. The 700 series is split into two main models – the initial 706 (1959), and the 746 (1967). Both fit into the ‘Chunky Bakelite’ category, with a subtle smoothing of the lines differentiating the two models.

The 706 was introduced in 1959, and was the first British telephone to be made of a material other than Bakelite. Improved industrial techniques now allowed the phone to be constructed from thermoplastic acrylic plastics (Daikon). This material allowed for a lighter phone, smoother curves and a greater variation in colour than is possible with Bakelite. The design was a collaboration between the GPO, Ericsson, and the “Council of Industrial Design”. The 706 comes as both a desk and a wall-phone, and can be found in good condition in a wide variety of colours.

The 746 was an updated version of the 706 that was introduced in 1967. The styling retained a similar overall shape and feel but with smoothed out lines to differentiate. The internal components were somewhat improved, and a later model – the 8746 was later produced with the new style of BT plug lead, and a high impedence bell designed to work on the new system of BT wiring introduced in 1979.

Advice for collectors

Available colours: black, ivory, red, Concorde Blue (a greyish blue), Topaz Yellow, two-tone grey, and two-tone green. There is no discernible difference in rarity.