A highly unusual Siemens Brothers manufactured G.P.O. telephone No 162 in the original “Mahogany” colour.  This is either one of the first 200 mahogany phones produced by the GPO or perhaps even the original colour sample phone referred to in the attached 1930 GPO correspondence. The colour is solid and not mottled.

The first order by the GPO for 200 coloured 162 telephones was described in GPO correspondence as being “in hand” in December 1930. There is no mention of Mahogany in the GPO’s 1931 rate book and it would appear that by that stage it had been retired and replaced with a “Walnut” coloured GPO 162, which is the official GPO name for what collectors sometimes refer to as “mottled brown”.

The telephone has all matching parts and appears to be un-issued. The transformer cover, base, and handset are all date stamped S-30. The finger wheel is also made of Bakelite. The handset cord is smooth cotton covered as it should be for the coloured telephones in 1930.

The phone has cast metal internals as well as a metal dial insert, consistent with the early prototypes Siemens 82s/GPO 162s.

The line cord is plaited and goes into a wood terminal block. Both the cords are red which goes with the reddish colour of this mahogany telephone.

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