Remember phone boxes? The Extra Tall K6 here stands as a reminder of a time before mobile phones. It is a symbol of British design. The K6 is more than just a phone box. It is a piece of history.
The K6’s story began in 1935. It was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. He also designed Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral. The K6 was created to celebrate King George V’s Silver Jubilee. It quickly became the standard phone box across the UK.
The General Post Office commissioned the K6. They needed a design suitable for everyone. Earlier models like the K2 were too large. The K3 was too brittle. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott delivered a triumph with the K6.
The K6 is made of cast iron. Its door is teak wood. The phone box stands on a concrete base. Each side has window panes. The top features an illuminated telephone sign. A molded Royal crown sits above.
Originally, the phone boxes were painted red. This made them easy to spot. Some people complained that the red stood out too much. The Post Office considered other colors. But the red became iconic.
The K6 was not the first phone box design. There were five earlier versions. The K1 was made of concrete. The K2 was too expensive for mass production. The K6 combined the best features of its predecessors. It was elegant and durable.
The design of the K6 evolved over time. Early models had problems with glass theft. The design was modified in 1939 to make it more secure. Brass dowels replaced screws. This made it harder to remove the glass.
By 1960, about 60,000 K6 phone boxes existed. But the General Post Office wanted something more modern. The K7 was designed as a replacement. But the K6 remained popular. It has been voted one of Britain’s favorite designs.
Many K6 phone boxes have been adopted for new uses. Some have become libraries. Others are art galleries. Some even house defibrillators. This gives them a new lease on life.
The Extra Tall K6 here is something special. Unicorn Kiosk Restoration joined two K6 boxes. It stands twelve feet tall. Inside, it features Italian marble and black velvet drapes.
The K6 phone box is a symbol of British identity. It stands alongside the London bus and the letter box. The Extra Tall K6 offers a unique twist on this classic design. It reminds us of a time when communication was less instant but still vital.