Cracked ABS housing repair?

[poplar1]

Does anyone repair Princess housings that are cracked? I have some I want to have painted but the painters don't do repairs. I am willing to pay reasonable amount for time and materials. Thanks in advance.

[AE_Collector]

Is it worth it to pay someone to repair cracks if you are going to paint them? Must be lots of badly discolored housings out there that aren't cracked that could be painted. Maybe they are somewhat rare colors that you want to have painted the same color?

Terry

[AE40FAN]

I would try super glue and wet sanding first!  Not sure why you'd want to paint it?

[poplar1]

A friend who sells phones at antique shows wants some pink Princess and can't afford to pay $175 Ebay prices for them. He says that discolored phones regardless of color and beige ones (even in mint condition) don't sell at all. So I figured why not paint the  beige and faded ones pink?

I'd also be interested in purchasing some uncracked Princess shells either rotary or Touch-Tone.

[TelePlay]

So I figured why not paint the  beige and faded ones pink?

. . . and then the antique show buyer, who thinks they got a great deal on the phone compared to eBay prices, puts the pink Princess up on eBay with one of us buying it at some exorbitant price only to discover upon receipt that it's been painted, and we ask for our money back . . .  

[AE40FAN]

Yeah, I would say most people wouldn't be too happy to have a painted phone.  Chances are if it is badly faded/cracked it will need a lot more work than just a coat of paint.  I didn't get that nice white pretty shiny dial on my princess refurbs using just soap and water!

[AE_Collector]

I didn't get that nice white pretty shiny dial on my princess refurbs using just soap and water!

Oh I'm not so sure. Lots of phones seen on ebaY state that they just need a good cleaning.

Terry

[AE40FAN]

Oh Ebay

[poplar1]

AE40fan, I agree that a painted phone is not as desirable (particularly to  us collectors) as an original. I also agree that if the phone housing is in bad shape, then the dial may be also. On the other hand, my friend has a good number of Princess phones with missing housings or housings that are cracked, faded or beige. I'm just going by what he told me that  unless the whole phone is equally discolored/faded (as the aqua blue changes to green and white to off-white) or a color other than beige, most of his customers don't want them. On the other hand they seem to be willing to pay more for red or pink phones than any other color and painting doesn't seem to bother them. He did say that rotary phones are more popular than Touch-Tone. I think retail customers are more concerned with a "good looking" phone than one that is all original but not attractive.

[AE40FAN]

Poplar, I am sure there is a market for painted phones. As long as the buyer is aware. I do agree that red/pink phones do fetch much higher prices.  BTW, I will gladly take any faded/cracked white/acqua phones off of your hands!!