Over 1,000 historic BT Archive images from the 1860s onwards can now be downloaded thanks to Telefocus - the new BT Archives Image Gallery. The gallery offers an insight into the history of telecommunications through images. David Hay, BT’s head of heritage and corporate memory, said: ““As the world’s oldest communications company and guardian of the UK’s telecommunications legacy, we recognise and attach great value to our long and rich history. We are particularly proud to encourage greater accessibility to these fascinating images through Telefocus. In doing so we are opening up BT’s heritage to a whole new audience”.

Website: Telefocus

Press Release

150 YEAR OLD PHOTOS ON NEW ONLINE GALLERY

www.bt.com/archives-telefocus

Over 1,000 historic BT Archive images from the 1860s onwards can now be downloaded thanks to Telefocus - the new BT Archives Image Gallery. It’s the first time the images have been open to the public online.

The gallery offers a fascinating insight into the history of telecommunications through images, including the oldest image in the collection of a Birmingham telegraph lineman complete with top hat which was used to keep his tools in - circa 1860.

Professor Teal Triggs, University of the Arts London said: “This collection is a real asset to the design community. A whole history of communication has been revealed and it gives us the opportunity to see how culture has influenced the development of design”.

Photos from the gallery include Teal’s favourites;

·      circa 1900 – How to hold telephone receivers correctly

·      1939 – Advertising the telephone in the modern house

·      circa 1943 – Wartime publicity poster, ‘The Airman depends on the Telephone’

·      1944 – Public Information poster, ‘Stop! Think twice before making any trunk calls’

·      1960 - You can have a coloured telephone. Customer information promoting the 700 type telephone.

·      1966 –, BT Tower and red telephone kiosk, London

·      1969 - Visionphone/videophone, a projected image of telephone future

The Lord Chancellor has designated BT Archives as an ‘official place of deposit’ for Public Records prior to BT’s privatisation in 1984. BT Archives is also a partner in Connected Earth, BT’s innovative collaboration with some of the UK’s leading national and independent museums which gives the best possible care and access to BT’s collections of historic artefacts, linked by the award winning Connected Earth website.

David Hay, BT’s head of heritage and corporate memory, said: ““As the world’s oldest communications company and guardian of the UK’s telecommunications legacy, we recognise and attach great value to our long and rich history. We are particularly proud to encourage greater accessibility to these fascinating images through Telefocus. In doing so we are opening up BT’s heritage to a whole new audience”.

As a result of this diverse collection, experts have chosen to explain why the images that make up part of the Archives are so significant. Social history specialist, Professor Jack Lohman, Director of the Museum of London, Dr. Tilly Blyth, Curator of Computing and Information at the Science Museum whose specialty is telecommunications and design expert Professor Teal Triggs, at University of the Arts London , have been chosen as leaders in their respective fields.

Each expert has selected their own personal top 10 images from the BT Telefocus photo gallery, explaining why these images are so significant in illustrating the progress and innovation within their respective fields. These selections and their rationales can be viewed on www.bt.com/Telefocus10 . Members of the public can also upload their own 10 favourite images onto the website and, as part of limited time introductory offer, can purchase images from www.bt.com/archives-telefocus for as little as 10p!

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