Traditional Red Telephone Booth (UK)
Scott, Giles Gilbert
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Alternative Title
UK Red Telephone Box
Date
2014-12-23Description
K6 model; The first telephone booth in London, England was probably installed near the Staple Inn in High Holborn in May 1903. It was operated and located by the Grand Central Railway. Scott's most ubiquitous design was for the General Post Office. He was one of three architects invited to submit designs for new telephone kiosks. The invitation came at the time Scott was made a trustee of Sir John Soane's Museum. His design was in the classical style, topped with a dome reminiscent of the mausoleum Soane designed for himself in St Pancras Old Churchyard, London. It was the chosen design and was put into production in cast iron as the GPO's "Kiosk no. 2" or "K2". Later designs adapted the same general look for mass production: the Jubilee kiosk, introduced for King George V's silver jubilee in 1935 and known as the "K6" eventually became a fixture in almost every town and village. From 1926 onwards, the fascias of the kiosks were emblazoned with a prominent crown, representing the British government. The red phone box is often seen as an iconic British symbol throughout the world. The telephone company BT is presently steadily removing public telephone kiosks from the streets of Great Britain. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 8/2/2014)
Type of Work
telephone boothSubject
architecture, engineering and industrial design, manufacturing, Twentieth century
Rights
Rights Statement
Licensed for educational and research use by the MIT community only