Admiralty Telephones

Admiralty Pattern (AP) Telephones

There are a number of telephones used aboard UK Royal Navy ships. They can be either both CB and Automatic versions, normally with a metal 'dial label'.

Many are sound powered and require no power.

The Bakelite cased 'table' type is often mounted on a wall bracket and uses Gecophone cases (GEC) with an internal circuitry made by AEI Ltd at Spennymoor.  TMC also made many of the sound telephones used by the Admiralty.

Most patterns have elaborate clips for restraining the handset in heavy seas.

Colours: Black (table telephone), grey (wall telephone).

User:   British Royal Navy.

Why use sound powered telephones?

AP12687	AP12932

So-called 'Ships Gecophone' made by AEI	So-called 'Ships Gecophone' made by AEI

 

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AP12687

Slim version of the all metal telephone.  Handset is well located on the frame to hold in place during stormy weather.

Made by TMC.

Uses a handset AP12690

 

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AP12688

Made by AEI and used some GEC components.

The Handset is numbered AP12691.

 

 

Handset removed exposing the Handset retaining mechanism

 

Close up of the Handset retaining mechanism in the unlocked position

 

Circuit diagram for telephone above Click here for how to convert to UK PST system

 

Handset AP12691

This handset was used on many of the Admiralty telephones

 

 

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AP12932

Alfred Graham & co of Halifax, England is (or was) one of Britain's oldest telephone makers, having started in the 1880s as far as one can recall.  Early on they found a niche market in making telephones for shipboard use and supplied most of the navy's warships between 1890 and 1914.

The pictures below show an Alfred Graham model, which is a model AP12932 with AP12933 internals and a AP12691 handset.

 

Handset AP13220

This sound handset which was used on Admiralty telephones.

Most were supplied with a brass hook, so they could be hung from the hook switch on certain models.

Note the cord restraint.

AP13231

Mark 15 Admiralty telephone.

The phone in the pictures below shows a plate below the glass lens saying `MK XV AP13231 A TELE. MFG. Co. LONDON (TMC).  On the very top there is a plate saying GWR.  There is also an engraved number on the box stating AP 12570.   The phone weighs nearly 7kg and the dimensions are around 8" wide x 9.5" high x 8" depth.

This is a sound phone and requires no power to speak or ring.

Front view showing the model number plate

Looking down from the top at the plate on the top

Case open

 

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AP 13233

 

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AP13235

Mark 18 Admiralty telephone.

The phone in the pictures below shows a plate above the glass lens saying `MK XVIII AP13235 AP TELE. MFG. Co. LONDON (TMC).

Sound phone with no generator for making outgoing calls.

The handset is a AP 15220.

 

 

 

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AP197855

Mark 26 Admiralty telephone.

Produced by STC this wall phone was made in 1968.  This phone is called the Mark No. 26.

The handset is held in place by two spring assisted levers, shown just above the dial.

 

 

 

 

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Mark 11

Mark 11 Admiralty telephone.

Made by TMC, their model No. L33. 

 

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Mark 13

Mark 13 Admiralty telephone.

Made by TMC this model has lever to operate the generator.

 

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Mark 15

Made by TMC in 1950 this telephone has makings on the case of "HJM 1950 S49797LM 6M".

The handset has pins sticking out on each side.  These locate on the handset cradle to ensure the handset is secure.