The Rob Grant (Vaguely British) Telephone Identifier

Section 6 – Automatic Telephone and Electric Company

Introduction

The Automatic Telephone and Electric Company began life as the Telegraph Manufacturing
Company making telegraph and telephone equipment from a small building in Helsby back in
1884.

The company moved to Liverpool in 1892 and to the Strowger Works, Edge Lane in 1912
(now the headquarters of Plessey Telecommunications). By then it had become known as
The Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company (ATM).

In 1936 ATM became the Automatic Telephone and Electric Company (ATE) and in 1961
merged with Ericsson's Telephones Ltd as part of the Plessey Company.

ATE produced telephone equipment for the Post Office from as early as 1912 and this
includes telephone instruments... they supplied 200 type, 300 type and 700 types
instruments. They also made telephones for their own private systems for use in factories
and offices. The late 1920's saw the 'Strowgerphone' - a pressed metal cased instrument
with bakelite handset. In the 1930's ATE produced the Monophone which was based upon
the American 'French Telephone' style of the late 1920's (which were themselves based
upon the French models of the early 1920's). They also produced strange versions of the
700 type with dials which had dimples instead of finger holes!, and a strange coffin shaped
wall phone with 700 type handset.

Communications Systems later became the private systems supply and rental division of
ATE.

A.T.E./Communications Systems Ltd

Issue 3 Section 6
 The Rob Grant (Vaguely British) Telephone Identifier

|====|====|===========|======|===============================================================|
|Manu|Xref| Type | Fig | Comments : AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE AND ELECTRIC COMPANY SECTION 6 |
|====|====|===========|======|===============================================================|
|H | | Strowger- | 6-01| (TI) metal case, simple circuitry, buzzer or bell. cradle |
| | | phone | | switch under embossed plate inside cradle. |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H | | Strowger- | | (WI) metal case, wall version of the above |
| | | phone | | |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H | | Monophone | 6-02| (TI) requires separate bell-set, also known as 'Strowgerphone'|
| | | | | 'French phone' 'Hull phone'. Two basic types available with or|
| | | | | without main induction coil. Produced around 1932/34 |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H |0999| Monophone |sim | (WI) version of monophone - similar to SIE type 311 |
| | | | 9-08| but round chrome plungers instead of bakelite bar. |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H |0232| T4072 | 6-06| (TI) ATE version of 232 - type 24 dial [ad IPOEEJ V26 p iii] |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H |0232| T4072 | 6-03| (TI) as T4072 with bell-box Unit T4058 [ad IPOEEJ V26 p iii] |
| | | | 6-07| (T4058 bell box is shown in figs 6-09a & b) |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H |0332| L11560C7 | 6-05| (TI) ATE version of 332 |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H |0706| 6 | 6-10| (TI) ATE version of BPO tele 706, xmission cct as tele 332, |
| | | | | round plungers, single 1650 ohm bell coil, |
| | | | | dial (ATE No 5) with dimples |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H | | | 16-08| (WI) |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H | | | 16-11| (WI) |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H | | | 16-12| (TI) |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H | | | 16-09| (WI) |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|H |0993| | 6-04| (WI) Push button in dial plate. Metal back part of case |
|----|----|-----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|CS |0706| | 4-02| (TI) CS version of BPO tele 706 (HER 6/33). |
| | | | | cut-down circuitry ie no regulator cct etc. |
|====|====|===========|======|===============================================================|

Note: fig 6-08 shows two views of the dial No 24C which was used as an alternative by
AT&E on some instruments up to and including the 300 types. A.T.E. also manufactured the
type 10 and more usual trigger type dials (look for code H on rim of dial ie:- 10 H44 means
type 10, AT&E 1944). AT&E type 24C dials usually had a black finger plate which look quite
impressive!

Communications Systems was the private systems supply and rental division of ATE.

A.T.E./Communications Systems Ltd

Issue 3 Section 6