You may remember Tim Hunkin's wonderful series of programmes on Channel 4 in the late 80's/early 90's, The Secret Life of Machines, where he'd take things apart and show you how they worked, and described their history.
I was just watching his programme on the telephone, and realised that it might interest folk on here.
Although I've got copies downloaded off the net (as encouraged by Tim Hunkin himself on his own website), they also appear to be on YouTube.
Here's the links to the programme about telephones, though all his shows are good
part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpNG4s04Dfgpart 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0twYRgSQN0part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxu6UYRWNz4and Mr Hunkin's own site. He now mostly makes unusual slot machines, which you can try out at his permanent exhibition on Southwold Pier in Suffolk.
http://www.timhunkin.com/Ian