1990 Northern Telecom Black Field Trial Rubber Coated Priority Test Sample.
Received on August 30, 2025, from the private collection of
BNR Industrial Designer Cliff Read.
Signed by Cliff on November 04th 2025.

This telephone is a 1990 field trial sample produced by Northern Telecom (Nortel) as part of its ongoing product development and testing program. Identified as a Priority Test Sample, the set features a distinctive black rubber coated exterior, an uncommon finish within the company’s commercial product lines.
Field trial units such as this were issued in limited quantities and distributed to controlled environments where engineers, technicians, and select users could evaluate durability, performance, and user response. Unlike production models, these samples were not sold to the general public. Their primary purpose was to inform design refinements and determine the viability of new materials and finishes.
The rubberized coating was intended to provide a non-slip surface and added resilience under heavy use. Although this design did not advance to full-scale production, it demonstrates Northern Telecom’s willingness to explore alternative materials at a time when the telecommunications industry was rapidly evolving toward digital systems.

As Received.

Dismantled, Cleaned and Reassembled.

Signed by Cliff Read November 04th 2025