M 55

Siemens & Halske in 1955 introduced the device named M55 (ie Modell 55) codenamed Fg Tist 282. It was quite innovative both in design due to the fact that the handset was perpendicular to the seat-shell and ergonomics. At the exhibitions he won all the awards for design, innovation, etc. In addition, this device was one of the first plastic phones in Europe and was available in six colors: black, gray, brown, white, purple and green. One detail that few know is that the S-M-55 was the first gray telephone device. Until now the basic colors were black and ivory. The S-M-55 was the evolution of the Fg Tist 261 telephone device. Herbert Oestereich was the designer of this device as well as the predecessor of the Fg Tist 261. The main innovation implemented was the placement of electrical components not on the base of the telephone. but in a separate zinc intermediate chassis. It is the beginning of the removal of the placement of the components in the base of the phone. Since 1970 (with code Fg Tist 282cb) the intermediate chassis is made of plastic, ie it is the same that is used in the Siemens H63 phone. At the bottom of the base there was an accessory that regulated the volume of the bells. The first versions had a plastic braid in the shade in which the device was painted. Used spiral cables since 1970 and for as long as it is manufactured. In addition to office equipment, a wallphone model was introduced in 1957. It was also made as a magnetic phone in gray and black (with code Fg Tist 285c). He was facing two problems. Firstly because the processing of the plastic was at an early stage as well as the creation of solid colors, with the slightest contact it was filled with scratches. There was also a change in the quality of the color after some time and so it lost its original hue. And secondly the handle after some time opened in the seam. In Greece, the device was distributed to telephony subscribers by OTE in the late 1950s in all colors. We will find a variety of black, ivory, gray and brown shades. In purple and green color is rare. It was in operation until the mid-1990s, mainly in Public Services.