The AA phone Box

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RoadCar
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The AA phone Box

Post by RoadCar »

I have an AA key that I got from a second hand shop. I wondered if the key would still work in the remaining boxes? It is a Yale key.
trigpoint
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by trigpoint »

An AA box at Devils Bridge was featured in Great British Car Journeys on Channel 4 last Saturday. It is now disused but a listed building.

They did not open it which makes me think that the lock has been changed.

I still have a key, or 2, so maybe I should take it next time I go that way.
RoadCar
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by RoadCar »

I saw the programme it was that what prompted me to think about it. I only got the key because I liked the style of it, but if I could use it I would. Nearest one to me is near York I believe.
PhilC
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by PhilC »

I was a member of the RAC for years and was issued with a key which would open both RAC and AA phone boxes. I only ever used an RAC box once, on the A38 in Somerset when I had a radiator hose burst. In my experience there was never a box anywhere near where you were if you needed one.

It was only when I moved house about three years ago that I took the key off my key ring. I must have been carrying the key round for years without realising there were no boxes to use it in. One of those things that you don't notice slowly disappearing I suppose.

I think at one time a five shilling deposit was charged for the key, to be refunded if you ceased to be a member. When my father stopped his AA membership in the early 1960s he asked for his key deposit back. He was given a credit note to be redeemed against any future membership. Needless to say it went in the bin.
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Glen
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by Glen »

The AA withdrew the service in 2002.
The remaining ones on trunk roads were taken over by the relevant trunk road authorities, operating as regular emergency phones and ones on other roads were abandoned.

By then most were modern designs, but there are about twenty of the traditional wooden boxes still in situ, many of which are listed buildings, but in various states of (dis)repair.


https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/ind ... _telephone

From the SABRE Wiki: Motoring organisation telephone :

Motoring organisation telephones are telephones at the roadside which were installed by the motoring organisations the AA and the RAC.

AA phone Glen Dye Box.jpg

The AA installed the first roadside sentry boxes in 1911, they were originally to provide shelter for their patrols who travelled on bicycles, and later motorbikes, while they were out on the road. They had phones installed to allow patrols to contact base.

In around 1920 members were

... Read More
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OLD GIT
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by OLD GIT »

Glen, I can't find it on the list, but it did exist some years back. Somewhere on the banks of Loch Ness, close to a hotel. Does it still exist ?
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Glen
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by Glen »

That's Brachla, the third on the list.
It's still there and still functioned as an emergency phone until a modern one was installed next to it a few years ago.

https://goo.gl/maps/FVanM3oYuCA2
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by RoadCar »

Bit of a thread resurrection.

I did go to the AA phone box at Garrowby Hill last year. Can’t remember what the lock was like but my AA key didn’t fit. The phone box looked to be a bit run down.
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RichardA626
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by RichardA626 »

I've been intrigued about the Police Box on the Barnet Bypass which was kept in use for almost a decade after the Metropolitan Police wound down their police box network. I presume it was so broken down motorists could still call for assistance as well as road patrols to call back to base if they were having radio trouble.

The Doctor Who production team wanted to use it in Tom Baker's last story but between scouting it out & filming it was vandalised so they had to make do with a Tardis prop at a similar looking lay-by on the A40 near Gerrards Cross, which now has the M25 crossing on a flyover on the same spot.
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RoadCar
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by RoadCar »

That’s interesting Richard.

The only police box I know of is one on the Scarborough seafront. Not a Doctor Who type. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it open. I’m not sure if they moved it?
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by SteelCamel »

There's a Police Box in Sheffield.
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/EoPgdcNyd8bYkhPV9
Listing details: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/ ... ry/1405185

It looks nothing like the TARDIS of course - each police force had their own design, and the TARDIS is (disguised as) a Metropolitan Police box.
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by RichardA626 »

SteelCamel wrote: Wed Jun 23, 2021 19:28 There's a Police Box in Sheffield.
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/EoPgdcNyd8bYkhPV9
Listing details: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/ ... ry/1405185

It looks nothing like the TARDIS of course - each police force had their own design, and the TARDIS is (disguised as) a Metropolitan Police box.

Glasgow & Edinburgh had Tardis like boxes, but usually painted red.
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Vierwielen
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Re: The AA phone Box

Post by Vierwielen »

RichardA626 wrote: Wed Jun 23, 2021 22:00
SteelCamel wrote: Wed Jun 23, 2021 19:28 There's a Police Box in Sheffield.
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/EoPgdcNyd8bYkhPV9
Listing details: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/ ... ry/1405185

It looks nothing like the TARDIS of course - each police force had their own design, and the TARDIS is (disguised as) a Metropolitan Police box.

Glasgow & Edinburgh had Tardis like boxes, but usually painted red.
The original TARDIS was in fact an imitation Met. Police box that was discovered in the BBC's "attic". The producers of "Dr No" had a limited budget so they purloined it for use as a TARDIS.
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