Imperial arrived

[Pourme]

My first Imperial arrived today! I am pleased what I got for $25.00 + shipping. I watched this phone for a entire week and no one placed a bid. Min bid was $25 and I placed it at the last 10 seconds with a max bid of $30. I was the only bidder.
Entirely original 1956.
H/set cord H3P 111/56, Line cord D4U 1/56, 6D dial 11/55, Receiver element 10/13/55, Trans 11/28/55
Body and handset shows a little wear but nothing excessive. extremely happy with this purchase!
I bought a '59 pink WE 500 all original from the same buyer the week before for $30.00.

[poplar1]

Can you provide photos or list of dates for the pink phone? Earliest reported here are 1957.

[Pourme]

Can you provide photos or list of dates for the pink phone? Earliest reported here are 1957.

Sorry, my mistake, it is a '59. I have corrected my post. A '56 would have been a valuable piece!

[HarrySmith]

Cool find. I like the Imperials and that one looks to be in great shape! The body looks better than a lot I have seen. Be careful cleaning it!

[Pourme]

Cool find. I like the Imperials and that one looks to be in great shape! The body looks better than a lot I have seen. Be careful cleaning it!

Thanks Harry,

I will not harm the gold finish, my special car wax is all I intend to use on it, for sure!

[Pourme]

Can you provide photos or list of dates for the pink phone? Earliest reported here are 1957.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/371755500789

Is this a '56 pink 500?

[jsowers]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/371755500789

Is this a '56 pink 500?

The insides are from 1956 but the plastics are from the early 1960s. So no, it's not a 1956 pink 500. It was not born pink, so to speak. Look at the center holes in the handset caps and the circular stamp incised in the housing, on the inside near the switchhook. These are later parts. It's a refurb made about 1960-64. As David said, pink wasn't in the color lineup until late 1957 when they introduced all the pastel colors.

All the date on the bottom tells is when the insides were made. It's the same for Imperials, which are all refurbs. The housing was made in the 1930s and then refinished in 1955-56 and the handset parts are usually from the 1950s too.

[Pourme]

When I saw that listing this conversation came to mind first thing.. I saw the stamp but couldn't decipher it....
Thanks!