The Trimphone sparked another revolution in telephone design when it was released in the UK in 1964, designed by Standard Telephones and Cables. It was offered as a more stylish and luxurious alternative to the standard rotary desk-phone that was available from the GPO (the precursor to British Telecom). Although the model numbers (712, 722) implied that it belonged to the existing 700 series of designs, the Trimphone was very much a new and independent design.
TRIM stands for Tone Ring Illuminator Model, referring to the new kind of ringer that was pioneered with the phone, but the trim also alludes to the slender shape of the phone, and its reduced footprint, which made it more suitable for the bedside rather than the desk. The ‘Illumination’ of the name referred to the luminous dial, which glowed in the dark, an effect achieved through the addition of a small amount of the radioactive element Tritium, which is largely harmless.
Cultural significance
The very first Trimphone in public use was presented in May 1965 by Tony Benn – the then Postmaster General – to a newly wed couple, in a ceremony celebrating the ten millionth telephone to be installed in Britain.
Advice for collectors
There are now plenty of reproduction Trimphones on the market. An original should be obvious from a cursory inspection – look for a heavier phone, built out of solid materials, with the sort of wear and tear marks that you might associate with a 40-year-old item.
Available colours: Green, Ivory, Blue, two-tone brown, red, purple, and many others. Reconditioned and reproduction trimphones are available in all sorts of “retro” colours and coverings – such as leather or suede.
