Avebury 1939

The instrument was rented. It was provided by G.P.O. Telephones and had to be wired in at your premises by a G.P.O. engineer. It was the same as your neighbour's phone, if your neighbour was a subscriber. The cost prevented many households from such luxury. Thus it was democratic because the instrument was the same for everybody, and you could not jump the queue for getting one put in, but it was a high cost item and limited to those with deep pockets.
The photograph shows a 332 telephone. It was standard issue from 1937 to 1959. The subscriber could have it in black. Other colours are rare.