Not a Tardis

This is a Metropolitan Police Call Post - it served the same purpose as the famous Tardis Call Box of Dr Who fame. They were phased out when the Met introduced personal radios or 'talking brooches' to officers in the 1960's. I'm not that old but I have used one of these call posts in my Service in the 1980's in the West End of London. There was a fixed point for an officer outside the Swan & Edgar store at the junction of Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus. It was easier because of the traffic noise to phone the Reserve at Vine Street Nick rather than use the radio. There was a direct line telephone behind the White glass door for public use and if the station wanted to contact the officer they pressed a button and the lighthouse light on the top flashed. Antiquated but great fun and it made me smile when I saw this relic outside the Met Collection mini museum at Earls Court today.