Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Auction Talk => Topic started by: baldopeacock on October 10, 2010, 12:32:16 PM

Title: real deal or Frankenphone?
Post by: baldopeacock on October 10, 2010, 12:32:16 PM
This ends pretty soon, and I wondered - is this a legit original color or a swapped case on a black 500?

http://tinyurl.com/27qzvz3

(http://i.ebayimg.com/22/!B4iVoQQB2k~$(KGrHqR,!hIE)7zG0kz-BMqOEtMnOw~~_12.JPG)
Title: Re: real deal or Frankenphone?
Post by: Dennis Markham on October 10, 2010, 01:01:02 PM
Looks like a yellowed Aqua housing.  Not a combination that was released by Western Electric.  Somewhere there's a yellowed Aqua handset and dial bezel with a black housing. 

But the parts are worth $3.24...nice dial card.
Title: Re: real deal or Frankenphone?
Post by: LarryInMichigan on October 10, 2010, 01:05:28 PM
It looks like a ABS shell from the picture of the bottom.

Larry
Title: Re: real deal or Frankenphone?
Post by: bingster on October 10, 2010, 01:35:46 PM
So this one's not correct, but let's say you run across one with a case in red, ivory, or some other original color.  How can you tell it's original vs. a tinkerer's project?
Title: Re: real deal or Frankenphone?
Post by: Dennis Markham on October 10, 2010, 01:39:31 PM
Darrin, I don't think there is any way to tell if it's real or if it's something someone put together.  Probably the ONLY signs are the dated housing parts vs the rest of the parts.  But if someone has similarly dated components, no one except the person that put it together would KNOW for sure.

Found in the "rough", with matching parts, including the cords and maybe an original type dial card that is often enough to make me believe it's original.
Title: Re: real deal or Frankenphone?
Post by: Greg G. on October 10, 2010, 02:58:54 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on October 10, 2010, 01:01:02 PM

But the parts are worth $3.24...nice dial card.

+ $15.30 for shipping.  That's what frustrates me about ebay, both as a buyer and a seller, but there's no getting around it, unless it's nearby with local pickup available.
Title: Re: real deal or Frankenphone?
Post by: Jim Stettler on October 10, 2010, 03:02:39 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on October 10, 2010, 02:58:54 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on October 10, 2010, 01:01:02 PM

But the parts are worth $3.24...nice dial card.

+ $15.30 for shipping.  That's what frustrates me about ebay, both as a buyer and a seller, but there's no getting around it, unless it's nearby with local pickup available.
I always look at the price including delivery as the cost of the item.

When I attend shows, my cost is greatly offset by the shipping I would of paid ( That is 1 of my rationalizations    ;D)

Jim