pay phone story

Name	Eircom Coincall Payphone SOLITAIRE 6000
Date	C. 2003
Manufacturer	Solitaire Rathdown The Solitaire was made by GN Rathdown Ltd, a UK-based telephone equipment manufacturer

Development of Eircom Coincall Payphones

Solitaire payphones were used in Ireland mainly as private or semi-public coin telephones, rather than as standard Eircom street payphones. They were commonly suited to locations such as pubs, hotels, hostels, restaurants and other commercial premises where customers required access to a telephone. Solitaire was principally a British payphone range, with models produced by companies including Rathdown and Landis & Gyr. Irish versions could be programmed for local charging arrangements. Interestingly, surviving examples are clearly marked “eircom coincall”, indicating that Eircom operated or supported Solitaire equipment through its Coincall service. They remained useful where installing a conventional public kiosk was unnecessary.