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In this section you will be able to explore our extensive historical collection of technology and ephemera which takes you on a journey from the earliest forms of communication through to the latest smart phones of today. You can also read about specific historical events or technological developments by accessing a range of articles we have published and in the events section you can find out about the conferences and other commemorative events that we have organised.
Technology Collection
Explore our extensive range of technology artefacts and ephemera
Telephones
All telephones including vintage rotary dial, special edition, modern push button, novelty and cordless.
Marketing
A look at some of the many different ways in which companies have marketed communications, including our Buzby collection!
Whilst this part of the website is being developed, some of the above links will take you to our old web site.
Historical Articles
This section contains a collection of artciles that describe the history and evolution of different areas of telecommunications. Each article can be read online or downloaded as a pdf copy. Click on the title to access the paper.
Buzby - make someone happy
An article that describes the origins and success of the BT Buzby marketing campaign and reviews a selection of the many items of memorabilia that were produced.
Orange HSCSD Videophone - Pushing the limits
An article describing the development by Orange of an early videophone designed to work over a High Speed Circuit Switched Data Service; a revolutionary concept for the late 1990s.
Telepoint – the mobile phone that wasn't fully mobile!
An article that examines the development of the Telepoint service within the UK that was intended to offer people alow cost entry into owning a mobile phone.
Mercury one2one, a World's first . . .
An article that covers the launch of Mercury one2one, the world's first 1800MHz GSM mobile network and examines the innovations that it brought to the market.
World War One - A Revolution in Military Communications
An article examining how World War One transformed and highligthed the importance of military communications.
Before the Phone
An article exploring the history of the electrical telehraph from Wheatstone and Cooke to Samuel Morse.
A history of point to point digital microwave radio systems
An article examining the evolution of point to point digital microwave radio systems over the last quarter of a century.
GEC and the Telephone
An article that looks at the role of GEC in manufacturing the telephone and includes a history of the Peel Connor Telephone works in Salford.
Events
Celebrating 30 years of the mobile phone in the UK
A one day conference being held on Saturday 12th Sptember 2015 by the University of Salford celebrating 30 years of the mobile phone in the UK. It was on 1st January 1985 when the UK's first mobile network opened for service. Now, 30 years later, the mobile has morphed into the smartphone and evlved from a luxury item to an essential part of modern day life. Come and find out more about the many developments that have taken place in that relatively short time.
The Archaeology of Communications Conference
A conference that was held as part of the 2012 Manchester Histories Festival which considered the physical evidence that remains of the various communications technologies that have transformed our society including canals, railways, printing, radio, television, the Internet and mobile phones. You can watch a video of each of the presentations given at the conference.
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