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Click here for Stainless style Kiosks TELECOMMUNICATIONS INSTRUCTION
D INLAND SERVICES OPERATION
5 Special Services and Facilities
H0013
Issue 2, Feb 1973
TYPES OF KIOSKS, DESIGN AND DECORATION
TYPES OF KIOSKS
The standard kiosk in the 1970's was the Kiosk No. 8 which was introduced in 1968 to a design of Mr Bruce
Martin. There are five other types of Kiosk in existence but no further supplies of these will be
obtained. Particulars of each type are shown below and they are illustrated below.
Kiosk No. 1
Concrete structure with pyramidal roof (1921) (Engineering Department).
After 1927:-
Inside and outside treated with two coats of cream Snowcem or one coat of stipple
paint.
Window
frames and whole of door painted in Red 539.
There are three variants, the Mark 234, 235 and 236.
The Mark 236 has 6 panes of glass in the door, whilst the Mark 236 has 8 panes.
Click on the picture for further information.
Kiosk No. 2
Cast iron structure (1926) (Sir G. G. Scott).
Inside and outside was painted in Red 539
with a final coat of Varnish, Weatherproof.
Underside of roof, down to the top of the
curve in the transom was painted in white enamel.
Click on the picture for further information.
Kiosk No. 3
Concrete structure with domed roof (1929) (Sir G. G. Scott).
Inside and outside treated with two coats of cream Snowcem or one coat of stipple paint.
Window
frames the exterior surrounding was painted in Red 539 with a final coat of
Varnish, Weatherproof.
Click on the picture for further information.
Kiosk No. 4
Cast iron structure incorporating a posting box and
stamp selling machine (Engineering Department) (1928).
Inside and outside as for Kiosk
No. 2.
Click on the picture for further information.
Kiosk No. 5
There is no Kiosk No. 5 officially.
Made of steel and wood this
Kiosk was transportable.
Click on the picture for further information.
Kiosk No. 6
Cast iron structure (1936) (Sir G. G. Scott)
Inside
and outside was painted in Red 539
with a final coat of Varnish, Weatherproof.
Underside of roof, down to the level of the
ventilator openings, was painted in white enamel
Click on the picture for further information.
Kiosk No. 7
This kiosk was a prototype (1962) (Neville Conder)
expected to replace the Kiosk No. 6.
Made of aluminium it quickly turned into a
disaster due to the English weather.
Click on the picture for further information.
Kiosk No. 8
Cast iron structure with aluminium door (1968)
(Mr Bruce Martin).
Inside and outside painted in Red 539.
Inside of roof painted in white enamel.
Sill
and roof ring in black.
Click on the picture for further information.
COLOUR
The question of the colour of telephone kiosks was reviewed in 1948 in conjunction with
the Royal Fine Art Commission, Ministry of Town and Country Planning and the Councils for
the Preservation of Rural England and Wales. After a detailed investigation of the problem
and an examination of suitably sited kiosks painted in certain suggested alternative
colours (Standard Post Office Red, Deep Brunswick Green, Black, Light Battleship Grey and
Dark Battleship Grey) it was unanimously agreed that:-
Red should continue to be the standard colour for kiosks. The primary reason for
choosing red is that a kiosk must be readily distinguishable from its surroundings so as
to be recognised from a distance by a stranger in the stress of an emergency and
uniformity of colour is essential if this object is to be achieved.
In certain places of very exceptional beauty, where objection is raised to red, one
alternative colour only should be permitted, viz, dark battleship grey with the glazing
bars "picked out" in red. This scheme is not suitable for Kiosks No. 8. The
alternative colour scheme acceptable for Kiosks No. 8 is battleship grey (BS632) with a
red top casting (except for the lettering panels); if desired, the grey of the base and
the red of the top casting may be separated by a relieving band of black or white.
Similar arrangements have been agreed with regard to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The procedure for dealing with objections to the use of the standard colour, Red 539,
is given in Appendix 1. Where a kiosk of either type No. 1 or No. 3 is situated (a)
alongside another type painted red or (b) in a dirty or industrial area, the whole of the
kiosk should be painted red. In certain districts the exterior of the window frames and
the door of Kiosks Nos. 1 and 3 have, by agreement with the Local Authority, been painted
in other than the standard colour. This practice may continue unless it is apparent that
the Local Authority desire to revert to Post Office red. If these kiosks are replaced the
Local Authority concerned should be persuaded to accept the standard colour; if they
object, the matter should be dealt with in accordance with Appendix 1.
REPLACEMENT OF KIOSKS
When the question of the replacement of a kiosk arises for any reason consideration should
be given to the need for its retention or whether it should be moved to another site (see
H0011). The new kiosk should be of the No. 8 type whenever it is necessary for
architectural reasons or because vandalism is high. In other situations Kiosks No. 6
should be re-used if they are available.
Should it be necessary to install a new kiosk en suite or in close proximity to other
kiosks of obsolete types it will normally be desirable on aesthetic grounds to provide for
all the kiosks to be of the No. 8 type. Head/District Postmasters should be advised.
APPENDIX 1
Procedure for dealing with applications for painting in a non-standard colour
APPLICATION BY PLANNING AUTHORITY
If the Planning Authority objects to the use of Red 539 it should be told of the reasons
why this colour was adopted and the support given to the Post Office to use it:-
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If the Planning Authority persists after this explanation, the TM should report to
the DTR.
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If the DTR is disposed to agree with the Local Planning Authority that the alternative
colouring of grey and red should be adopted he may authorise it.
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If the DTR considers the standard red colour is appropriate, or if he is doubtful, he
should refer the matter to the Regional Controller of the Department of Environment.
The Regional Controller will endeavour to settle the case and may consult local amenity
societies but if he is unsuccessful he will refer the case to his headquarters after
telling the DTR. At this stage the DTR should refer his papers to THQ/SvD/Svl.2.
The Department of Environment will ask the Council for the Preservation of Rural
England (or Wales) for its recommendations. The Council will make recommendations to the
Department after consultation, if thought desirable, with the Royal Fine Art Commission.
The Department, on receiving the recommendation of the Council and (where applicable) the
Royal Fine Art Commission, will report the result to THQ/SvD/Svl.2.
Any further correspondence will be conducted between THQ and the Department and the DTR
will be advised of the result so that the TM can inform the Local Planning Authority.
APPLICATION BY AN AMENITY SOCIETY
If the Planning Authority has agreed to the standard colour but objections are raised by a
local amenity society, before or after the kiosk is erected, the Telephone Manager should
inform the objector that the standard colour has been agreed for general use by the
Department of Environment, the Royal Fine Art Commission and the Council for the
Preservation of Rural England (or Wales), and that its application to this particular
kiosk has been agreed by the Local Planning Authority. The objections of local amenity
societies will tend to find their way to the Headquarters of the CPRE (or W) where the
Executive Committee will examine every application on its merits and will recommend the
use of the alternative colour only in very exceptional cases. In such cases the Council
will report its views to the Headquarters of the Department of Environment who will advise
THQ whether they consider that the circumstances justify the use of the alternative
colour.
NOTE:
The Scottish Home and Health Department and the Ministry of
Health and Social Services are the appropriate authorities for consultation in Scotland
and Northern Ireland respectively in place of the Department of Environment.
Kiosk Paint
Kiosk Red
For many years Post Office vehicles (and kiosks
and other red-painted hardware) were painted in the shade
referred to as BSS 381C shade No. 538 Post Office Red, but
from late 1968 or early 1969 a brighter shade BSS 381C shade No. 539 Postal Service Red was used for new vehicles and on
repaints, in an effort to brighten the image.
Sources of supply
BSS
(British Standards shade) colours are still current and
specialist automotive paint suppliers will be happy to make
aerosol spray cans or mix tins of brushing cellulose or
synthetic enamel on request. Remember to state whether you
need a gloss or satin finish. For your nearest supplier look
in Yellow Pages under the keyword 'Motor Factors'.
Andrew
Brade adds:
Advice I can offer is to obtain paint
from an industrial paint supplier. I've used Cromadex air
drying enamel applied with a brush to good effect over grey
primer. Post Office red is no longer sold as that name - they
now call it Cherry Red, but they assure me it is the same
colour and indeed looks exactly right. I have the BS number
for it at home - if you are interested I will provide it to
you. You'll find it a real pain to paint all the glazing
bars, but I've done it with glass in and I suppose it would
be better and quicker done unglazed. I think I paid about
£30 total for five litres of each top coat and primer. You
won't need that much, but Cromadex would not sell it in one
litre tins.
Cromadex are the manufacturers. The
company is part of the International Paints organisation now
owned by Akzo Nobel UK Ltd. They have an office based
in Silvertown, London E16, (020) 7473 7000. They also have
branches in Tilbury and Portsmouth (01375) 851024 and
(01705) 201356 respectively, and here in Leeds (0113) 276
0653. However, there are bound to be other manufacturers
locally who may give you a suitable equivalent. The Cromadex
paint uses a xylene-based solvent (observe safety
instructions) and special thinners are needed, but are not
expensive.
The paint colour I referred to
yesterday is BS 381C shade 538, now known as Cherry. The
paint itself is simply known as fast air drying gloss.
BS 4800 is a colour standard, but it
does not include the Post Office Red colour, although there
are some shades close to it - as Laurence Rudolf points
out the correct standard is BS381C, shade 538. Both British
Standards are paint standards, but BS381C covers
architectural and building services, BS4800 is used for
machinery and other things. Post Office Red has to be called Cherry now - not
sure why something legal I think, but it's the same colour. |