pay phone story

Payphone Story – Global History of Payphones and Phone Booths

Danish Payphone- GNT F-79 Payphone — Denmark, 1979

The GNT F-79 was introduced in Denmark in 1979, combining push-button dialling with a robust coin-operated mechanism for public use. Manufactured by GNT-Automatic, it reflected Denmark’s move toward modern electronic payphones while retaining a compact, serviceable metal cabinet. The model also demonstrated GNT’s growing expertise in export-oriented telecommunications equipment worldwide.

Name	GNT F-79 Payphone — Denmark, 1979
Date	1979
Manufacturer	GNT Automatic in Denmark. Used in Sweden Model used in Australia

GNT AY-2 Multi-Coin Payphone — Norway, c.1970s–80s

GNT F-79 Payphone — Denmark, 1979

The GNT Automatic F-79 was a compact Danish push-button payphone introduced in 1979. Unlike large street payphones with substantial coin vaults, it occupied an intermediate position between an ordinary tabletop telephone and a fully secured public payphone. It was suitable for cafés, hotels, workplaces, institutions and other supervised locations.

The yellow and red examples shown are characteristic F-79 variants. A coin was inserted through the top opening, the call was dialled on the twelve-button keypad, and unused money could be recovered through the control marked “Mønt retur”—Danish for “coin return.” The pictorial instruction strip made operation understandable with minimal written explanation. Its moulded plastic casing and integrated keypad gave it a much more domestic appearance than the steel AY-2 series.

However, these photographs appear to show two related but different GNT instruments. The black telephone branded daxSon includes a “Restbeløb” display—meaning “remaining balance”—and tariff adjustment buttons. Most importantly, its underside plate appears to identify it as GNT type AY3-10620, rather than an F-79. It was therefore a more sophisticated electronic payphone, capable of displaying remaining credit and accommodating variable charging.

Together, the instruments illustrate GNT’s progression from simple compact coin telephones to programmable electronic payment phones during the late 1970s and 1980s. (Post & Tele Museum)

GNT Automatic F-79 Payphone — Denmark/Sweden, c.1979–84

The GNT Automatic F-79 was a compact Danish electronic coin telephone introduced around 1979. Manufactured by GNT Automatic A/S, a company closely associated with L.M. Ericsson, it was marketed in Sweden through Ericsson and produced in versions adapted for Televerket, the Swedish state telecommunications authority.

The F-79 occupied a niche between an ordinary telephone and a heavily protected street payphone. It was particularly suitable for supervised locations and emerging deregulated private-payphone markets. Features included push-button dialling, an ABS plastic housing, coin-return control and adjustable receiver volume. Swedish Televerket examples were produced in red and black and carried Swedish operating instructions and the crown-and-lightning emblem.

Later versions included a small “Restbelopp” display showing the caller’s remaining credit. Documented examples include model DMAA 10101/01, dated May 1982, and DMAA-10102/02, manufactured in November 1984.

The telephone connected to a conventional two-wire analogue line. However, its complete charging system relied upon metering signals transmitted by the exchange. These signals instructed the telephone to deduct tariff units and update the credit display. Without them, it could make ordinary calls but could not perform its full coin-charging function.

Related GNT variants were exported to Australia and Spain, adapted for local currencies, tariffs and network requirements.