GPO Telephones - Type 332

Type 332

The 300 series equipments were introduced in 1937. The Tele. 332 ASTIC, Handset Micro Telephone, again available as either L (with dial) or CB (without), was the standard telephone instrument issued by the GPO from 1937 until 1959, although 242Ls continued to be supplied for pay-on-answer kiosks. Essentially it was a redesign of the 232/bellset 26 combo. The ASTIC indicates the use of the advanced Anti Sidetone Induction Coil, to filter only a small, controlled amount of speech back to the talker's ear, so as not to waste power. It continued in production until the mid-1960s. This was usually only available in black although ivory, red and, the especially rare, green were also produced. Although 332 is the generic for this model, by dint of superior numbers, there were four other models in the range. The glossy, sharp styled 332 gestated from the much poorer quality 330. Though similar, the quality and finish of the 330s moulding was poor, by comparison. Then there were the button phones. A 332 with the facility for one button is a 312, two buttons a 328 and three buttons a 314. For this reason, in the photos below the instrument on the left is, strictly speaking, a 314 and the one on the right a 312, despite the fact that their full potential is not being utilised. The Tele. 332L shown on the left is a bedside extension from an Extension Plan 1A. Note the addition of the BELL ON - BELL OFF push buttons, forward of the switchook cradle. The centre button position is filled with a blanking stud and only a 2 way label is installed. The instrument on the right is a Tele 312, but has its single button hole fitted with a blanking stud. The label screws are sitting redundant in their holes.

• 332 Telephone, Plan 1A extension

• 332 Telephone from the Director ENTerprise exchange which was in New Southgate, London. This telephone was manufactured in 1946 and factory refurbished in 1963 at the GPO Factory, Cwmcarn, Wales shown by F.W.R. on the base. Interestingly a label attached indicates that the exchange had just converted to all figure dialling as opposed the letters and numbers as indicated by the dial label.