Recent Ebay sales for color 500s:
Rose Beige: $620 July 1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121374121733
Mahogany Brown: $525 BIN June 8
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161331795423
Aqua Blue 500U: $649 June 27
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171365720587 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/171365720587)
This phone had a revealed right front corner crack and an unrevealed huge chunk out of the mushroom cap mounting area.
Rose beige 500DR-55
Sold for $302.51 on June 25. Relisted and sold for $250 Buy-it-now on June 27:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Radio-Phonograph-TV-Phone-/29832/m.html?item=121373634587&ViewItem=&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&_ssn=jillandconniesjewels&_sop=3
The second auction revealed a hairline crack in the front of the phone that was re-sold (but no picture of it).
Am I the only one who's struck dumb by the amount these damaged phones are bringing?
Nope, sure not. But what'ya gonna do? Silly in my book also.
Quote from: jsowers on July 03, 2014, 12:12:04 PM
The second auction revealed a hairline crack in the front of the phone that was re-sold (but no picture of it).
Am I the only one who's struck dumb by the amount these damaged phones are bringing?
Just proves what I've always said:
Some people have more dollars than sense!
Recent eBay sales for color 500s:
$224.72 May 14: 1957 aqua blue Western Electric 500D: http://www.ebay.com/itm/151297402205
$224.72 May 15: 1963 pink Western Electric 500U: http://www.ebay.com/itm/231226591240
Both of these surprised me for obvious reasons.
500D-57 Mediterranean Blue, May, 1954
"Neutral" cords
Black number plate as originally furnished
Sold for $500 Buy-it-now on June 8, 2014
one repaired crack
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231253612234
Lime Green Stromberg for $236.49???
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1970s-Stromberg-Carlson-BRIGHT-LIME-GREEN-Rotary-Phone-WOW-/331241596266?roken=cUgayN
I was expecting this to go for FAR less. I know it's not technically WE, but that just makes it more absurd.
How recent would you like these to be? I payed around $100.00 (includes $74 purchase price + 18% online buyer premium + shipping) from Proxibid for my 12-55 Mahogany 500 in April 2012.
Quote from: Brinybay on July 04, 2014, 07:50:18 PM
How recent would you like these to be? I payed around $100.00 (includes $74 purchase price + 18% online buyer premium + shipping) from Proxibid for my 12-55 Mahogany 500 in April 2012.
You got a great deal!
No limits on the date sold.
Mahogany brown 500DR-54
Sold for $325 buy-it-now on July 8, 2014:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-BROWN-Western-Electric-500-desk-telephone-the-real-thing-/281381023827
Aqua blue 500 dated 10-57. Is it all original? Is that a "neutral" (dark gray) mounting cord? This may have been added in the field at the time of the installation.
Sold today for $42 Buy it now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131248474431
Quote from: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 09:33:27 PM
Aqua blue 500 dated 10-57. Is it all original? Is that a "neutral" (dark gray) mounting cord? This may have been added in the field at the time of the installation.
Sold today for $42 Buy it now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131248474431
did you believe it was aqua?
Here's another aqua blue that ended on Sunday, as a BIN for $49.95. It's odd in that the base is dated 7-56, which is before aqua blue was released. It could be an early refurb, but doesn't look painted. The plastics look to be soft plastic (you can even see the housing date stamp in the base shot).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141353287450 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/141353287450)
These BIN auctions are sometimes hard to catch. They come up and then disappear as soon as the phone is bought.
Quote from: unbeldi on July 21, 2014, 10:57:01 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 09:33:27 PM
Aqua blue 500 dated 10-57. Is it all original? Is that a "neutral" (dark gray) mounting cord? This may have been added in the field at the time of the installation.
Sold today for $42 Buy it now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131248474431
did you believe it was aqua?
In some photos the mounting cord looked black; in the bleached out photo it looked dark gray.
Update: rec'd the aqua blue phone today, and it is an all dates matching 10-57 set with 13 foot dark gray D3BG mounting cord dated 1957. I'm guessing the installer didn't have any 13' aqua mounting cords stocked on his truck yet.
Here's one that ended two days ago and it may be some kind of record. A yellow soft plastic 500U, from 9-58. Some parts were made in 8-58, which made it a birthday phone for me. I bid, but got left in the dust big time. It went for $1005.01. It's the only yellow 500U I've ever seen aside from the Once Upon a Honeymoon short movie, made for the Bell System.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291193354612 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/291193354612)
It was the seller's grandmother's phone. I'm sure the seller was very happy with the outcome, once they picked her up off the floor. :) It sat at $250 for a week until the last few seconds.
Quote from: jsowers on July 26, 2014, 10:27:19 AM
It sat at $250 for a week until the last few seconds.
Amazing! The starting bid asked was $250. The first bidder went in at $252.52 about an hour after it was listed. Only five bidders but the last 4 of them came in with one bid within 18 seconds of the auction ending. I'll bet the seller did hit the floor when that happened.
Well, I have always had the impression that good Tenite yellow (-56) 500s, 1954-1959, are harder to find intact than blue. To find a 500U in this condition is exceptional. The set doesn't even seem much discolored.
Northern Electric Light Gray 591BW-61
1962
Sold for $44.63 on July 29, 2014 (WA)
Northern Electric 500 aqua blue 1959
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111416197812
sold for $57.97 + 28.70 from Canada on 2014-07-30
Western Electric light gray 500
500DR-61--network and ringer dated 1-58, transmitter dated 2 19 60
Sold for $69.95 May 15, 2014 (MO)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251531611120
Western Electric Red 500
500DR-53 dated 1956--note 6 hole caps
Sold for $24.97 on July 9, 2014
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261522577144
Western Electric
500DR-53
All original dated 8-56 (other than 505A plug)
Sold for $159.82 on July 10, 2014 (CA)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161358274613
Mediterranean Blue 500
500DR-57 Dated 7-57
Sold for $400 after 12 bids
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291184101721
It was Auction #124 on this forum:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12234.30
Light Gray WE 500
500DR-61
Base 10-59; housing and handset dated 1-60
Sold for $67 June 29, 2014. 10 bids (CA)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251567405735
Here's another aqua blue that ended on Sunday, as a BIN for $49.95. It's odd in that the base is dated 7-56, which is before aqua blue was released. It could be an early refurb, but doesn't look painted. The plastics look to be soft plastic (you can even see the housing date stamp in the base shot).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141353287450
These BIN auctions are sometimes hard to catch. They come up and then disappear as soon as the phone is bought.
I was the winner of this auction. I've been waiting patiently a long time to score a soft aqua blue that's not faded. I can finally say I have one! It's an odd one. Judging by the dial it was originally a Med Blue. Plastics are from late 57 and late 58 almost a year apart? With the exception of the rest on the base and the filth the phone is in great shape. Last shot shows how good the color of the phone really is...
Quote from: AE40FAN on August 05, 2014, 09:37:42 AM
Here's another aqua blue that ended on Sunday, as a BIN for $49.95. It's odd in that the base is dated 7-56, which is before aqua blue was released. It could be an early refurb, but doesn't look painted. The plastics look to be soft plastic (you can even see the housing date stamp in the base shot).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141353287450
These BIN auctions are sometimes hard to catch. They come up and then disappear as soon as the phone is bought.
I was the winner of this auction. I've been waiting patiently a long time to score a soft aqua blue that's not faded. I can finally say I have one! It's an odd one. Judging by the dial it was originally a Med Blue. Plastics are from late 57 and late 58 almost a year apart? With the exception of the rest on the base and the filth the phone is in great shape. Last shot shows how good the color of the phone really is...
Sorry, I don't quite understand your post. Are these pictures of the same phone as in the auction?
What's all that crud inside?
Seems rather discolored, the plastics are a mix of different kinds.
Crud is mold. It's not discolored just bad lighting. Aqua is hard to photograph in night time lighting. Last shot shows handset/cord as compared to inside of body. Color matches. Auction photo is a better way to judge color....I'll take better photos once phone is cleaned up...
Quote from: AE40FAN on August 05, 2014, 10:25:53 AM
Crud is mold. It's not discolored just bad lighting. Aqua is hard to photograph in night time lighting. Last shot shows handset/cord as compared to inside of body. Color matches. Auction photo is a better way to judge color....I'll take better photos once phone is cleaned up...
Sometimes it is really useful to photograph in 'bad' lighting. It reveals material, surface and color differences that the human eye has a hard time with. This is especially true for blue, as the eye cannot focus well in blue light.
Quote from: unbeldi on August 05, 2014, 11:02:10 AM
Quote from: AE40FAN on August 05, 2014, 10:25:53 AM
Crud is mold. It's not discolored just bad lighting. Aqua is hard to photograph in night time lighting. Last shot shows handset/cord as compared to inside of body. Color matches. Auction photo is a better way to judge color....I'll take better photos once phone is cleaned up...
Sometimes it is really useful to photograph in 'bad' lighting. It reveals material, surface and color differences that the human eye has a hard time with. This is especially true for blue, as the eye cannot focus well in blue light.
Unbeldi...wait for the after clean up reveal before you continue to question. Thanks:-)
Better photo in daylight. iPhone 4S camera is horrible in low light. I'm happy ::)
Looks fantastic, Frank. Can you explain the pre 1957 aqua, was it the original color or was it a furbished phone?
Ben
Hey Ben,
It was originally color code -57 Med Blue :-). Aqua plastics are from late 57 and late 58 almost a year gap between dates. Not sure if it may have been refurbed 3 times or twice using left over parts from previous year....
What value is a NOS beige 500? ???
Pink Western Electric 500
500DR-59
Matching dates 11-57; first year for pink.
Appears to be all original other than the 6-conductor mounting cord.
Sold for $75.00 buy it now (with free shipping) on August 10, 2014 (TX)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201145267164
Kellogg DK-591
Sold for $103.99 on August 10, 2014 (12 bids) MI
http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIQUE-034-AQUAMARINE-034-Model-DK-591-Soft-Plastic-Kellogg-Telephone-/231302475653
Mediterranean Blue 500DR-57 11-55
Sold for $360.05 on 2014-08-12---9 bids (NY)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181487823242
Oxford Gray 500CR-52 12-55
Sold for $129.50 on 8-10-14---6 bids (WI)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/371115127100 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/371115127100)
I'm the one who got this phone. It's a bargain for dark gray in today's climate, I think. The seller said it was olive green, but I could tell the phone matched the cords. It's the first manual color 500 I've ever gotten. It is a bit greenish on the outside, but it's dark gray on the inside and there are no cracks anywhere.
Color manual 500s aren't too plentiful. The 2L5N number is a little unusual for a manual phone. The last pic is from the auction. The first two were taken on my front steps.
Wow, Jonathan, what a fantastic find.. Especially the manual makes this, in my mind, more interesting than a dial set.
Ben
Jonathan, this is an outstanding catch. I know some people that would call it "the one that got away!".
Wow, what an amazing find! What really makes that phone special os obviously the matching dial blank. Great catch!
Mahogany Brown 500D-54
Dated 6/54
Buy it now price was $639; sold for somewhere between $578 and $591
www.ebay.com/itm/191280795694
Mediterranean Blue 500DR-57
Sold for $611.17 Sept. 7, 2014
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221539617970
The quantities of color 500s in the "recent auction" topic are not representative of the number manufactured, nor even their frequency on Ebay. Rather, the emphasis so far is on the original 1953 and 1954 colors that were discontinued in 1957: oxford gray (-52), brown (-54), rose beige (-55) and Mediterranean blue (-57), which are the most expensive, and perhaps on the most want lists. Not only white, but also ivory, green and light beige have so far not been posted on this topic.
In looking for another color, here are some from September.
Mahogany on Sept 8 2014 # 221538808280
(flat modular cord into network; transmitter end of HS slightly misshapen)
1 bid for $500
---------
Dk Gray on Sept 21, 2014 # 141407440950
26 bids. $360.57
----------
Med. Blue on Sept. 24, 2014 # 321526621298
(cracked housing)
7 bids. $280
----
Med Blue on Sept. 16, 2014 # 201172758484
Sold for $649.99 (BIN price was revised; higher or lower unknown.)
500DR-56 made in 5/55
This one lasted about 15 minutes: $20 Buy-it-now sold today:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121458508443
Someone made a nice find on that one!
Niiiiice! Now that's a deal if I've ever seen one!
Ouch, but look at the 'black ring' (probably a burn mark) around the handset!
Quote from: WEBellSystemChristian on October 12, 2014, 09:56:01 AM
Niiiiice! Now that's a deal if I've ever seen one!
Ouch, but look at the 'black ring' (probably a burn mark) around the handset!
I couldn't decide if it is a burn mark or spray paint mark. I cannot conceive how a burn mark would wrap around the corner so precisely. Any prolonged exposure results in plastic melting. It has to be a very short-lived explosive kind of exposure, like an electrical shorting flash. Burn marks can be very difficult to remove in these plastics, the material may be damaged very deeply into the bulk, so sanding may not be helpful.
Quote from: unbeldi on October 12, 2014, 10:11:04 AM
Quote from: WEBellSystemChristian on October 12, 2014, 09:56:01 AM
Niiiiice! Now that's a deal if I've ever seen one!
Ouch, but look at the 'black ring' (probably a burn mark) around the handset!
I couldn't decide if it is a burn mark or spray paint mark. I cannot conceive how a burn mark would wrap around the corner so precisely. Any prolonged exposure results in plastic melting. It has to be a very short-lived explosive kind of exposure, like an electrical shorting flash. Burn marks can be very difficult to remove in these plastics, the material may be damaged very deeply into the bulk, so sanding may not be helpful.
The seller said that it was probably from "a hearing impaired device". ???
Yes, "BLACK RING AROUND HANDSET PROBABLY FROM A HEARING IMPAIRED DEVICE"
The device was hearing impaired?
It does look like some band was wrapped around the receiver. The corner is more darkened than the flat surfaces, and so are the areas that have more pronounced curvature, meaning that the band had better surface contact there which is consistent with a rubber band. Rubber does leave brown marks over long time. For example, when you look at the surroundings of the rubber grommets of the dial adapter gaskets on plastic 302s, the plastic is very often dark-tinted like this.
Quote from: poplar1 on October 11, 2014, 07:49:19 PM
500DR-56 made in 5/55
This one lasted about 15 minutes: $20 Buy-it-now sold today:
Get to fill in missing value for yellow in database. Happy me. (although $20 kind of skews things)
Proves bargains still out there if "right place at right time."
Wish I were that lucky. ; )
--Bruce
Brown 501 sold for $370.65 on Oct. 16, 12 bids (Oklahoma).
Base was originally a 500 dated 10/52. Transmitter 2-56, receiver 12-55, so set was probably converted to a 501 with new brown plastics in 1956.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261621713995
This ebay auction (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Western-Electric-500-U-034-Mushroom-034-phone-1960-BEAUTIFUL-and-WORKS-/274135545295?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=2vVPBuCz%252FS%252F07zJ9RqA2pjikfNo%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc), for a yellow 500 P/U dated 3/60 on the base, starting at $300 or BIN at $455, was ended early on 9th Dec '19.
Seller stated that there was an error in the listing, presumably after receiving a side offer.
Listing description:
Western Electric / Bell system 500 U "Mushroom" phone from 1960
Beautiful nearly perfect in yellow, this phone was the first of its kind to offer a lighted see thru dial with a switch so you could have the light on always or just when you picked up......THESE ARE QUITE RARE.....
This one is from March of 1960. They were only made for a handful of years
Bid with confidence on this one ....it is just beautiful and WORKING!!!
The phone number indicates this came from North Seattle originally
Ships to lower 49 only...sold as is....no returns
Expertly wrapped
This mint condition NOS
pink (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-1958-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-C-D-500-ROSE-PINK-ROTARY-DIAL-TELEPHONE-w-ORIGINAL-BOX-/254775612333?nma=true&si=AqSoXmg6zd7fdJBTvkPaGlEJkVE%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557)
WE500 just sold for a pretty impressive sum.
Seller also has on offer an NOS
aqua (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-1958-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-C-D-500-AQUA-BLUE-ROTARY-DIAL-TELEPHONE-w-ORIGINAL-BOX/254778182344?hash=item3b51f68ac8:g:OC8AAOSwhX1fsB8m) set, ending tomorrow.
Beautiful soft plastic 500 sets, new in the box. Such an unbelievable find!
Very Nice! I am sure the blue one will go higher than the pink did.
I must say I was expecting that too, Harry. In fact it finished at $255....
I recently sold an aqua blue 1958 at $240 dollars. It was in excellent condition. I think i paid $25 for it. It had no yellowing whatsoever, factory shine too. Buyer was very happy.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Restored-Antique-Western-Electric-500-1958-Aqua-Blue-/265125847336?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286
RE: reply #48 the yellow phone with the "burn" mark on the handset.
That stain probably came from a hearing amplifier that strapped around the earpiece. My dad had one, the mark is most likely from the elastic band that held the amp on.
This wasn't even a buy it now. Mediterranean Blue 500 sold at auction for only $82 yesterday. However, it is not showing up in my "Didn't win." -- I bid $81.
What is going on with Ebay? First, my bids sometimes don't show up, even when I click on "show hidden bids." Second, when I try to ship something by USPS Ground Advantage, anything from 12 ounces to 20 lbs. shows "$6.09" when I print the label on Ebay.
The shipping shown in my listing is also "$6.09."
EDIT: It is showing up now. https://www.ebay.com/itm/364735263735
Quote from: poplar1 on February 22, 2024, 10:00:34 PM..." Second, when I try to ship something by USPS Ground Advantage, anything from 12 ounces to 20 lbs. shows "$6.09" when I print the label on Ebay.
The shipping shown in my listing is also "$6.09."
...
I'm clearly missing something here as that sounds like it's doing what it should???
Quote from: tubaman on February 23, 2024, 03:03:32 AMI'm clearly missing something here as that sounds like it's doing what it should???
A 1 pound package should not cost the same price to ship as a 20 pound package.
Ebay label prices for USPS are supposedly based on the commercial rates.
I tried it in eBay's shipping calculator using your weights and got similar results; the price remained the same, even with increased weight. BUT, when I increased the package size, then the rate increased with weight.
I suspect that either eBay is having a system problem, or perhaps USPS has changed the rate structure so that the weight is less important on smaller package sizes.
The bad thing is, as you probably know, if the eBay rate is wrong, USPS will backbill for the underpayment, which will get charged to the seller's account.
I think I might have found our answer.
========================================
Great news! Cubic services are now available for USPS Ground Advantage and Priority Mail effective January 21, 2024.
Smart Ship Tip: Cubic pricing is based on the size of the package instead of the weight; this means it's even more important to include accurate weights and dimensions for your package so that eBay Labels can display the lowest rate for you.
========================================
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/2024-USPS-Rate-Changes/ba-p/34236252
========================================
How can I receive USPS cubic rates for my eBay shipments?
Simply enter accurate weight and dimensions for your package when printing your eBay shipping labels. eBay will automatically offer the best rate, and apply cubic pricing for Priority Mail and Ground Advantage if the cubic rate is better than non-cubic rates.
How will I know whether I was charged cubic pricing or non-cubic pricing for my shipping label?
If you were charged for cubic pricing, you will see the cubic price tier above the USPS zone indicated on the top section of the label—remember, you will be charged the lower of cubic or non-cubic pricing for packages that qualify for cubic pricing.
========================================
https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/shipping/choosing-a-carrier-and-service/usps-and-ebay-labels#faqs
BUT, I did a few quick checks on USPS website. It does not ask for the dimensions on small (no side longer than 12") packages, but the rate most certainly does increase with weight. Probably eBay gets the cubic rate, but individual retail consumers do not.