Heemaf 1955 PTT - Analogue telephone - Bakelite

Very beautiful and probably still functioning analog telephone. The phone was used in the Netherlands by the PTT (Post, Telegraph and Telephone), the former Dutch state-owned company for telephony. The phone is of the Heemaf 1955 type, and was manufactured in the Netherlands (Enschede) by the company Heemaf. This happened in June 1963 (see the numbers at the bottom (photo)). The first of this type was produced in 1955. Production was scaled down from 1965, and the phone was replaced by the more modern T65 type.

From 1950 there were three companies that made the well-known black phones for the PTT: the Dutch branch of Ericsson in Rijen, the Dutch Standard Electric Maatschappij in The Hague, and Heemaf in Hengelo. The phones from these three companies look very similar, but are different.

The height of the unit is 13 cm, the width of the earpiece is 25 cm and the base measures 115 cm x 19 cm. The weight is 2.3 kg.

This phone is still entirely made of Bakelite. The color is black. It has probably not spent much time in sunlight, as the color has not faded much. Early versions of this unit were still equipped with the old-fashioned linen cables. This later example has the more familiar curled and plasticized cord connected to the handset (see photos).

A notable detail of this unit is the earth/ground button. The earth button was used in conjunction with a home telephone exchange. If during an external call one pressed the earth button, the call was put on hold and one heard the internal dial tone, allowing an internal conversation (ruggespraak). This button was informally also called the 'ruggespraak button'. The earth button is visible in the photo as the white button on the unit, large enough to accommodate the PTT logo.

The phone is probably still in working order, but this has not been checked. It is an iconic device that blends old elements (black Bakelite) with newer elements (more modern execution). Although the phone is over 60 years old and was in use for many years, it still looks excellent. On the front there is a strip of Bakelite broken, and on the side a small piece as well (see photos). Furthermore, the top where the handset rests also has a tiny chip (see photo). These kinds of signs of use are very common with this material; Bakelite is inherently brittle. The damage on this unit is hardly visible. A very nice touch is the sticker with important phone numbers on the rotary dial. It was probably affixed in the late 1960s or 1970s. It shows that the phone was used in Purmerend (see photos).

It is a typical vintage unit that fits into any kind of interior and that you can take back to days gone by. It is certainly a conversation piece!

The phone will be carefully packed and insured for shipment.