POST PA No. 1

The Post PA No. 1 was introduced to the UK around 1933.  It was made by Ericsson and would be part of a Police system that was installed around a Town.  In the Police Station there would have been a switchboard and the Posts were wired away to strategic positions.  Phones could also be wired off these posts and would be inside premises as subsidiary phones. These strategic positions were on corners and in places were a person had a good view of the Post.

The Post is made of Cast iron and had a triangular head.  The head has three doors:

1. Public door - Sprung loaded so it shut after use.  Inside this door was a loudspeaker, with a microphone placed in the middle, covered by a metal grill.  The door had a pin which located on a switch.  Whist the door was open, the light on the top of the Post would be illuminated, so that patrolling Policemen could see that the post was in use and can to assist.
2. Police door - Fixed by means of a Yale type lock, the Police had there own telephone for speaking to the station in this compartment.  The door had a writing table fitted to it.
3. Engineers door - Fixed by means of triangular bolts, which would be removed by the use of a Keys, Pillar.  Through this aperture the whole mechanism could be removed.

There are two other doors:

1. Electrical Intake - this door is on the enlarged foot of the post and is fixed with triangular bolts.  It houses a mains fuse box.
2. First Aid - this door located in the body of the post itself and holds first aid equipment for public use.

Most Posts were withdrawn in the early 1960's as the Police changed over to radio communication.

Go to the PA150 page for an overview of the complete system.

Post Pa No. 1 showing the first aid compartment.  The door on the left is the locked Police door and the right hand door is for the public.	Engineers door open.  The side of the Police phone is showing to the right.
Engineer working on the post	Member of the public using the post

Click here for more information on Posts

I have no confirmation of where the pictures were taken, but I understand it was 1935 and the town was St. Albans, Herts (it looks to me like the post is on the roundabout in the town centre).  If you recognise anything - please advise.

Last revised: October 23, 2003

FM