Groundspeak Portal

The old-fashioned British red telephone box (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_telephone_box ) is as famour a symbol of the United Kingdom as the classic London taxi or Big Ben.  Most of them were taken out of service in the 1980s, and a surprising number have since popped up in various unique locations in the world.

I think it would be cool to waymark as many of these as possible.  I'm open to suggestions as to whether the category should exclude:

- All RTB's in the UK

- RTB's in the UK which are still being actively used as telephone boxes

- Nothing

This waymarking newbie awaits your comments!

I have found two RTB's  here  in my local area and have a couple of pics and gps coords as well. I think it would be interesting to see just how many are still  standing and how far around the globe they have managed to travel.

Let's think GLOBAL.  I'm all for RTB's anywhere they can be found.  One variable could be for condition of the RTB, and another if it works or not.  Heck you could even ask if there is a phone in it!

 

• Mint condition
• Good condition
• Fair condition
• Shoddy condition

 

Looks like the Group is open.... http://www.waymarking.com/groups/details.aspx?f=1&guid=d2eeb387-cfe7-4152-92c3-457a9b8be010

BQ

Psssst... sTeamTraen.... you need to promote me (return to your Group page, and click on regular members to promote them)

I agree with global. I know of one RTB in California and one in Brazil.

One variable (optional?) you might want to have is whether the box is privately owned.

I know there's one that is privately owned not far from my house.

I found one of these in Wyoming, believe it or not!  Waymarked it too - just in case, you know.

There is one collecting cobwebs and a small cache about 20 miles from me.   I'll head back there and get a picture in order to Waymark it!

There's one outside Charing Cross station in London that's painted black!  Just thought I'd mention that.

I imagine some spoilsport (not me, honest!) would come up with the complaint that it's redundant because there's already a payphones category.  However, without wishing to seem to criticise another category I think this has plenty of wow factor all of its own.  I've seen them in all kinds of odd places. 

 

Team Sieni:

There's one outside Charing Cross station in London that's painted black!  Just thought I'd mention that.

I imagine some spoilsport (not me, honest!) would come up with the complaint that it's redundant because there's already a payphones category.  However, without wishing to seem to criticise another category I think this has plenty of wow factor all of its own.  I've seen them in all kinds of odd places. 

BLACK?  What did some bloke think he was painting, a London taxi instead of a phone box?

Seriously though, I think it is a good category.  I like the global nature.

I also like the idea for the category. Be prepared for the possibility of it not flying due to the redundancy issue. but try it and see.

I don't think the payphone category will be an issue if the description includes a little history about the old red boxes and talks about how some are now being used for things other than just telephones - I saw one that was turned into a terranium of sorts one time.  This category would be more about the box itself than its use as a place to make a call - which is what the other one is more about.  Although, a variable as to whether it can be used to make a call still might be fun.

Of course there will always be those folks who delight in voting no, and don't take the time to read the category description, however they seem to be in the minority.

I know of a couple of RTBs in Alberta.  One for sure in Calgary and another in Edmonton.  Seems that they do get around a little.

 

KE

Well, group membership is open...

http://www.waymarking.com/groups/details.aspx?f=1&guid=d2eeb387-cfe7-4152-92c3-457a9b8be010

sTeamTraen:

Well, group membership is open...

http://www.waymarking.com/groups/details.aspx?f=1&guid=d2eeb387-cfe7-4152-92c3-457a9b8be010

 

sTeamTraen,

 

Sorry about Sunday afternoon my time, Sunday evening yours.  I will try to help you with the category and group thing since you are new to this side of Groundspeak stuff.  If you can send me a reminder this weekend through my email I will get it.  Saturday or Sunday, up to you.

 

BQ

I have just noticed this possible new category, do you realise how many red phone boxes there are in Devon, thousands, this category is going to keep me very busy!! Here's one in the pay phone category.

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM245R

I think there is a green one somewhere on Dartmoor, I will have to keep my eyes open for it.

Hi,

Is this potential cat still being considered.  I noticed you only have two officers so far.

I think it's a good idea, RTBs are a design classic; many have been in situ for decades and almost grown into their corner; where they have moved abroad or been used for other things, it's often in unusual places where they really stand out.

There are still quite a few in rural areas of UK but their numbers are still decreasing, along with phone boxes generally as cell phones take over the world.  There was a report on the news this week where BT said that quite a large number of their boxes hadn't been used for over a year, and did they really have to keep them going.

I'd be happy to help if you still want to give it a go.

Cheers

Came across another here in Central California while Waymarking last weekend.    Good cat, I think there are more of them out there than we think.  Just passed them by without notice in the past...

Saw this on the news today: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7228184.stm

Interesting article about the decline of phone boxes, and some info about red ones too.

The category is ready for peer review!  Vote early, vote often!

 

What kind of phone boxes are you looking for? If they cant be pay phones, what are they supposed to be?

saopaulo1:

What kind of phone boxes are you looking for? If they cant be pay phones, what are they supposed to be?

They mainly want red telephone boxes that formerly were pay phones. 

We now want both... relocated or not, with operational phone or not.  Just gimme!

BQ