Community Corner
London Calling: Glenview Auctioning Off British Phone Booths
Find out why the village has them and what the starting bids are. Plus, tell us what you'd do with one of these cultural artifacts.
GLENVIEW, IL—Back in the 1990s, Glenview bought six classic British telephone booths, giving a continental feel to making a call from these working public pay phones.
But it's 2016, and the chances of finding anyone needing to use a pay phone booth—British or domestic—are about as good as finding someone who still knows who Benny Hill is and thinks he's funny.
Find out what's happening in Glenviewfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
So what's a village to do with six English phone booths that were decommissioned in 2016?
Officials did the natural thing: They put out a call to collectors and placed the six K6 telephone booths up for auction beginning July 8.
Find out what's happening in Glenviewfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"At the Village Board of Trustees' direction, Glenview residents will have the first opportunity to purchase these highly-sought historical items before they are offered to the general public," according to the village's auction site. "These booths are approximately 8 feet tall, 35 inches wide and 35 inches deep, and weigh over 2,000 pounds."
Bids begin at $500, and one booth has a top bid of $600 while another is at the opening bid.
For history buffs, the K6 phone box was created in 1935 to celebrate the silver jubilee of King George V, and it became wildly used outside London. While not warmly received initially, this model eventually became a national icon.
And just so there's no confusion, the K6 phone box is not simply a red version of the TARDIS, the traveling headquarters of the time-traveling Doctor in the popular BBC series Doctor Who. That's a blue police kiosk or callbox.
The auction runs through July 22. After that, officials will open up the auction to non-residents. Potential buyers can bid online at a special page on the village's website.
YOUR TURN: What would you do with one of these British phone booths? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments or on Glenview Patch's Facebook page.
PHOTO: One of the red British phone booths Glenview is putting up for auction. (Village of Glenview)
Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
