BT Bronze
Celluar Phone and Charging Unit
1986 (made)
1986 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In the early 1980s the first cellular phones appeared, no longer reliant on a wire connection to the telephone network. There were three types: hand portable, transportable (like this one, intended to be carried in a case) and car phones. This is similar to the 'Steel' model of 1987 which cost around £2000 and was aimed at business users. At this time the network for mobile phones was limited and they were unreliable outside the main urban centres.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Title | BT Bronze (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Polycarbonate and steel |
| Brief description | Cellular phone and charging unit, 'BT Bronze', Mitsubishi for British Telecom, Japan, 1986 |
| Physical description | Black transportable phone with carry handle and charging unit. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | [Gallery 76]
11. MOBILE PHONE: ‘BT BRONZE’
1986
Although mobile telephones installed in cars had existed for a number of decades, handheld mobile phones only appeared in the 1970s. Heavy, ‘transportable’ phones, such as this 1980s model, had to be semi-stationary, because of the weight of the battery. The devices were aimed at wealthy, urban business clients, and network coverage did not extend far outside of major cities.
Japan
Manufactured by Mitsubishi for British Telecom
Steel and plastics
Given by British Telecom
Museum no. W.18-2003
(2015) |
| Credit line | Given by British Telecom Ltd. |
| Object history | In 2001, BT began the dispersal of its collection of historic telecommunications artefacts and documentation, through the Connected Earth Project. This project was established to dispose of BT's collections to the professional museums sector, and to make available the history of British telecommunications via a 'virtual museum' (www.connected-earth.com). The majority of specialist collections was dispersed to 9 partner museums (including the Science Museum and the Museum of London). The rest of the material was offered to the museums sector (including the V&A) on a first come, first served basis. This telephone is one of those given to the V&A [2003/167]. |
| Association | |
| Summary | In the early 1980s the first cellular phones appeared, no longer reliant on a wire connection to the telephone network. There were three types: hand portable, transportable (like this one, intended to be carried in a case) and car phones. This is similar to the 'Steel' model of 1987 which cost around £2000 and was aimed at business users. At this time the network for mobile phones was limited and they were unreliable outside the main urban centres. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.18:1, 2-2003 |
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| Record created | July 22, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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