Preserving our Heritage...

The THG aims not only to preserve 'old phones and relics from the past' but, also to actively seek out and retain the vital information of how and why the equipment, procedure or system was installed, used and maintained. In this way the skills and knowledge from the not so distant past will be kept alive for future generations.

"As you are aware, I have been striving to change the THG events, and enhance our swapmeets and to this end have come up with a list of proposals for the future. We have a large erudite articulate membership with a wide range of interests and an extremely broad base. What we should be doing is sharing this knowledge..."

There are lots of ways to research the wide spectrum of  Telecommunications in all it's different aspects.  Check out the lists below and see what you are able to contribute.

"... Let's do this together, and bring a greater fund of knowledge and enjoyment to the THG and ensure that our enthusiasm for Telecommunications is carried on into the future, beyond the Millennium!"

Where do we start ?

The New Events & Study Day Proposals 

The THG has produced an exciting portfolio of suggested study topics. Click on the link, read through the list and choose your favourite specialism. Then return to this page and decide how you want to develop and share the information...

Do a short talk/ presentation at a THG event

Could you talk for twenty minutes on one aspect of Telecommunications history? Could you put together some pictures, sounds, slides, video film ? Now is the time to show off all those latent skills, dredge up that past knowledge and formulate it into a short presentation. You are not going to be addressing hundreds of hostile people- you have a ready made, warm friendly audience, who are hungry for just this kind of thing. Help to bring alive the next THG event.  

Open your own site on the World Wide Web

If you have a personal e-mail address, it's likely that you also have upwards of 10Mb of web space just waiting to be put to good use. You don't have to learn HTML to be able to produce a straightforward text site; all you need is a publishing program, such as Microsoft Frontpage or other editors which are available on the web. You'll also need an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program such as Cute FTP to publish them to the site. However, remember to check for copyright on anything that you intend to make freely available.

Write an article for our journal or website

If you are involved in a research project or simply want to write a few lines about what you are doing, or anything that may be of interest to us, then send in a contribution to

Telecoms Heritage Journal or Telecoms Heritage Web.

THE TELEPHONE MUSEUM MILTON KEYNES

The THG has strong links with the Telephone Museum Milton Keynes (formerly known as the Museum of Rural Telecoms) which is based within the site of the Milton Keynes Museum (formerly known as the Museum of Industry & Rural Life, Stacey Hill Farm, Milton Keynes). Among the larger exhibits is a working Strowger MNDX (Mobile Non-Director eXchange). The MNDX No.127 was first used in Scotland in 1966 as just one of the 200 mobile exchanges that were built and used between 1950 and 1970 when demand for telephone service far exceeded the available exchange equipment.

The Telephone Museum is always looking for THG volunteers or anyone with a knowledge of Strowger to help out. Contact Phil Goodwin if you are interested.

The site is collectively recognised as the Milton Keynes Museum for which a major development plan has been formulated to make it a premier attraction for the Millennium and beyond. 

BLETCHLEY PARK

Is the place where the German Enigma Codes were deciphered. A replica of the Colossus computer ( used to break the codes) has been constructed. The THG also has strong links with this very large site which is still in its early development, as a living tribute to all kinds of electronic marvels. Visit Bletchley Park and see for yourself.

LIBRARY RESOURCES

There are probably more museums and sources of research material than you had realised. Check out the Museums List and start your own project now !

YOUR OWN COLLECTIONS

If you come across any Telecoms items: technical journals, old phones, exchange equipment,  whatever, don't throw it out ! If you haven't started your own collection it's worthwhile beginning now as today's seemingly mundane items will become tomorrow's rarities. If you don't have room for any more, the THG will attempt to find it a good home, so let us know !

If you do have your own collection, why not write an article or do a presentation at a THG event?

The THG can't do it all alone, it simply doesn't have the resources but, collectively it can achieve a great deal. Please make an effort to share your wealth of knowledge so that everyone can benefit. And remember, although it might only be a hobby, let's do it professionally and have some fun in the process!

The New Events & Study Day Proposals

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