KCOM lifts lid on archives with treasure trove of memorabilia for 120th anniversary
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
KCOM has given a glimpse inside its treasure trove of telecoms memorabilia as it celebrates its 120th anniversary.
The Hull-based broadband provider has put on a display of artefacts, documents, phones from across the decades, directories and rare equipment at its Carr Lane headquarters for its employees to enjoy.
The collection, much of which is usually kept hidden away in storerooms, provides a window into the unique telecoms history of Hull and East Yorkshire while also providing an invaluable slice of local social history.
KCOM CEO Tim Shaw, said: “To see such an amazing range of memorabilia on display really brings it home just what a rich history and heritage KCOM has.
“Some of the items on display – such as the early examples of phone handsets – are incredibly rare and important artefacts in the history of telecoms in general.
“We also have a huge amount of documents, books, engineering drawings and even the original plans for buildings like Telephone House, in Hull city centre, that show not just how we as a business have evolved down the years, but also what an important part we have played in the social history of Hull too.
“It’s an honour to be part of a company celebrating such as major milestone.”
This week KCOM welcomed Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture at Hull City Council, and Coun Mark Ieronimo to the museum to survey the artefacts.
“It’s really great to see it on display,” said Coun Pritchard. “There are some fascinating items here and it really brings back some memories of Hull’s history.”
Among the more unusual items unearthed during a search through KCOM’s stores include Captain Karoo – a long-forgotten company mascot – a KCOM-branded push bike, original vinyl recordings of the Hull Telephone Department’s phonelines and, stored in a darkened closet, a painting by acclaimed artist Leonard Rosoman.
The painting, presented to the then-Kingston Communications by the Flemings Art Collection in July 1999, on the company’s flotation on the London Stock Exchange, is entitled Figures in a Painted Room and has now been moved to a new location more befitting its status.
KCOM is now investigating options to make the collection more accessible to the public and to preserve it for generations to come as an important piece of Hull’s history.
For a look across KCOM’s 120 year history visit https://www.kcom.com/about-us/history/
