K1 type GPO phone kiosk

[John Candy]

In the early 1920's, the GPO introduced the first of a long line of designs for public telephone kiosks .
The earliest examples were designated "K1" and of cast concrete, with wooden doors. The design was not popular and was, in 1927, superseded by the cast iron K2 design. The K2 set the basic visual style for the next 40 years, spanning K2 through to K6.

The K1 came with detail variations (mainly to the window layout) and the files here produce the final "236" version, introduced in 1925.

The design incorporated some metal "frippery" on the top, in the style of a spear head and scrolls (sprouting from the top ball), plus metal plates announcing, "Telephone" . These will need to be added in brass, since they are too fragile to be printed.

Reference see https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-top-k-telephone-box-uk-earliest-model-standard-kiosk-replica-original-was-accidentally-destroyed-image82685538


The concrete was painted white, with the wooden doors and metal window frames finished in either red or green.

There are 6 SCAD files covering base slab; sides; front(door); back; the roof (in two parts for ease of printing). The two sides are identical.

http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_Top_square_base.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_Top_pyramid.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_sides.scad (2 x prints required)
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_Front.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_back.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_base.scad

It is recommended that the file K1_236_Top_square_base.scad be inverted for printing (so the widest section forms the base and removes the need for temporary supports).

My Snapmaker is currently printing the first example.

Happy New Year!
John.

[John Candy]

IMPORTANT

If you have downloaded files

http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_back.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_sides.scad
BEFORE seeing this message, then please download again (there was an error in the original upload).

John.

[John Candy]

When you have printed and assembled your phone box, all those windows make it easy to see inside, so
you won't want it to be void of equipment!

I offer you two types of pay phone, suitable for non-automatic (i.e. not Strowger equipped) exchanges, where all calls went via the operator.

If you are old enough to remember the type of pre-payment box with "A" and "B" buttons, the first design appeared in 1924 and is the basis of the file
http://gauge3.info/openscad/prepay.scad

Prior to the introduction of the pre-payment (A / B) type, the post-payment system worked via the operator asking you to insert coins to be connected (she knew how much you had paid via audible tones sent to the exchange by the coin box sensors).
This type of equipment is the basis of the file
http://gauge3.info/openscad/postpay.scad

The mouth piece and ear piece are printed individually and need fixing to the wall panel component.
Here is a useful guide to these early pay phones https://www.britishtelephones.com/bcc13.htm

John.

[John Candy]

The "236" design, as in previous posts, was the final K1 type.
I have now prepared the files for the earlier 234/235 designs (main obvious difference from 236 being window arrangement) but it may suit some to model the 234, since it was devoid of the iron work on the roof, which was fitted to the 235 and 236.

The only specific parts for 234/5 are the sides and front (door).
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_234_front.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_234_side.scad





All other parts are same as for the 236.
Photo is of the 236 awaiting painting, glazing and internal fitments .... the roof is loose and will be the last bit to be glued on.





John.

[John Candy]

Two types of equipment suitable for 1920's K1 payphone kiosks.

The pre-payment type (with A + B buttons) dates from 1924, while the post-payment type (on right) is the earlier type.
Both were for use in areas with manual exchanges and are thus without the self-dialling facility which came with the introduction of Strowger-equipped exchanges.

The early type is in my K1 - 234 type box and the later type in the 236 boxes.

Boxes now just need door-pulls and glazing, before the roof is glued on.

John.

[John Candy]

One of the completed K1 (234 type) kiosks with the signage now applied to the glazing.

This particular box is destined for Sussex along with other "goodies" to decorate a new station!

The K1 (236 type) boxes will soon receive their metalwork ornamentation.

John.

[John Candy]

Although I had completed the K1 (type 234) kiosk, completion of the K1 (type 236) was delayed by the fancy ironwork on the roof.

Initially I had planned to make it from brass but kept putting it off (I wasn't convinced it was possible with the tools at my disposal ... I guess a watchmaker would probably have been able to handle it).

The (square) sign panels would be easy; the scroll-work possible but (being so small) very fiddly; the spear finial with x-shape cross-section of would be excruciatingly difficult (owing to the very small dimensions).

I produced a couple of the diagonal brass scroll sections but it took about an hour (I didn't anneal the brass since it is very thin and would have been left without any strength). They were "O.K." but I wasn't entirely happy with them since it was difficult to "coil" the scrolls as tightly as I would have liked.

The finials were the real problem. The only two ways to make them from brass would be to fabricate from sheet brass and solder (the parts would be too small to clamp and solder) or file from a chunk of square brass (again very small size would be a problem, the spear being just 12mm x 5mm extreme width).

I wasn't convinced that the parts (being very small and thin) could be 3D printed but in the spirit of  "necessity being the mother of invention", I bashed away on the keyboard.

I was pleasantly surprised at the results. The scrollwork and the "spear" finial printed successfully.
As soon as I have painted and fitted the ironwork to the roof, the files will be uploaded to gauge3.info, so anyone can have a go at printing the K1 (236) kiosk.

John.

[John Candy]

....and there you have it, a pair of K1 (236) kiosks, ready to adorn the station forecourt.









The only parts not 3D printed are  the glazing, signage transfers plus a short piece of brass wire (which connects the spear finial to the ball base).
The main components have previously been uploaded to gauge3.info and the new ironwork files are below.

These I am uploading as .STL files, rather than the .scad versions.

Square signs panel http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1236_signs.stl
Scrolls (there are two versions with complementary rebates to cover the diagonal crossover point where they fit over the ball)
 http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1236_scrolls1.stl
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1236_scrolls2.stl
Finial http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1236_finial.stl

The complete set of .scad files for the main components of K1 (236) :

http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_Top_square_base.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_Top_pyramid.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_sides.scad (2 x prints required)
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_Front.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_236_back.scad
http://gauge3.info/openscad/K1_base.scad

Get printing!!
John.


NOTE: NOTE : These telephone kiosk kits are now available in G scale and 16mm from Thatchworks Model Buildings see catalogue.thatchworks.co.uk