Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => General Discussion => Topic started by: JimH on December 14, 2013, 11:55:23 PM

Title: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: JimH on December 14, 2013, 11:55:23 PM
I was just thinking I don't know how many telephones I have....I have never counted them.  If everyone else is like me, you have your "collector" phones...the ones you treasure and would hate to give up, and then you have everything else.  I need to do a spreadsheet or something.  Sometimes I come across phones I forgot about!  I'm going to estimate including my "common" phones that are thrown in totes (which way out-numbers my collector phones) , it's got to be around 150.  Anyone else?
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: WesternElectricBen on December 15, 2013, 12:00:46 AM
I think I'm around 150 or maybe a tad below or over. I have about 60-70 on display where the rest sit in my shop waiting to be restored.

Ben
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: JimH on December 15, 2013, 12:05:33 AM
Quote from: WesternElectricBen on December 15, 2013, 12:00:46 AM
I think I'm around 150 or maybe a tad below or over. I have about 60-70 on display where the rest sit in my shop waiting to be restored.

Ben
I think I am right there with you at 150.  I don't display all of my "collectable" phones, I don't have the room!  Every time I think of "thinning out" the collection, I just can't bear to do it! 
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: WesternElectricBen on December 15, 2013, 12:19:21 AM
I agree, I need to thin out the phones and stuff I don't really like.

I got a good deal on some A&E 182's last March, but I never ended doing much with them so I should sell so I'm not overwhelmed. That makes things much less fun..

Ben
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: Kenton K on December 15, 2013, 01:40:05 AM
"You can never have to many phones", I said before I had some 60 phones. After 60 phones, I'm more like "I swear, this is my LAST one".

-kk
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: Matilo Telephones on December 15, 2013, 03:06:23 AM
I really have no idea how many telephones I have in my collection. I´m also not really sure where my collection ends and my stock of phones to be sold begins.

I have about 200 telephones here. But it depends a little on what you define as having a telephone. I could make more telephones, if I assemble them from loose parts of partial telephones that I have.

I think I have about 50-60 in my actial collection. But I also have some doubles and triples I intend to restore and pick out the best one.

Does everyone else have a clear definition as to what is actually part of your collection and what is not?
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: JimH on December 15, 2013, 09:45:58 AM
Quote from: Matilo Telephones on December 15, 2013, 03:06:23 AM


Does everyone else have a clear definition as to what is actually part of your collection and what is not?

I started out just wanting one model of everything I liked.  That turned into each model in every color (which I still don't have).  On some of them, I keep doubles because some have a straight cord (like soft plastic 500s), and some have a coiled cord.  I guess the possibilities are almost endless.  Still haven't picked up the "birthday" phone, yet, though.
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: Matilo Telephones on December 15, 2013, 09:59:19 AM
Yes, the more differences you see, the more slightly different phones you can collect.

But do you count all the phones you have as belonging to your collection. Often collectors do not count the DECT-Phone the use daily as belonging to their collection. But also phones bought for parts or bought to sell on or give away. Or for whetever reason, do you count them as belonging to your collection? Personally I´m not sure where my collection ends and my stock, as it were, begins.
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: zaphod01 on December 15, 2013, 10:55:08 AM
I've been brutal about trying to keep it under 20. My collection keeps getting older. I've been selling off the newer stuff and buying older stuff. I took a count and came up with 19. Room for 1 more!  ;D

Western Electric phones:

2 20AL's
2 51AL's
1 202
4 302's
1 305
1 306
2 5302's
1 5304
2 500's
1 510
2 702BM's (technically these are the wife's)

Subsets:

1 WE 534A
2 WE 684A's
2 NE 684BX's

Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: Doug Rose on December 15, 2013, 11:00:07 AM
My collection is my collection and anything I have in stock for sale is not part of my collection. I am very fortunate that I can display my collection and nothing is in boxes that is part of my collection. Dusting is a challenge.

At this point, when a new one comes into my collection,  one has to leave for another collectors collection. It makes it very hard to add something new.

I have no idea what my number is,  I lost count many years ago

Doug
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: Greg G. on December 15, 2013, 02:12:58 PM
Dang you!  You made me get up and go count them (but it was fun).  I counted 94, not including parts phones and subsets.
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: WesternElectricBen on December 15, 2013, 02:15:58 PM
Ok, I counted more exact, I have 75 in my room, 1 in our kitchen, 1 in my fathers den, and about 70 or 80 packed away in the shop.

Ben 
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: Russ Kirk on December 16, 2013, 02:36:39 PM
I have 150 on display on my home and about 15 inboxes for parts or restoration. I am at max for because of display space.  I find myself selling some phones at phone shows and buying older or rarer sets.
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on December 16, 2013, 03:38:26 PM
I have something around 50 phones, while about 30 of them are display worthy.
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: paul-f on December 16, 2013, 03:43:27 PM
If you can still count them in a reasonable amount of time, phoneitis is still in it's early stages.  But once entrenched, it is progressive.   Get busy buying! ;D
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: GeneGenie on December 16, 2013, 03:51:33 PM
I have acquired my first phone 6 months ago but I would find it difficult to count how many I got since from the memory. Few weeks ago I was having a look around and it was was something around 24. I got a fair few phones in recently though so I'm guessing it's coming close to 30.
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: Contempra on December 16, 2013, 03:57:44 PM
I have only 6 phones on display but 3 are used . one in a kitchen, one on my desk and the last in my bedroom.. nothing's rare but my older is a 1953
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: jfrutschy on December 17, 2013, 11:08:43 AM
Wow you guys amaze me, Doug's room is awesome! I have reached 84 now in one year.  I have restored 17 of those.  Either naturally restored to there original beauty or a full blown powder coated restore.  But i have made almost all of them functional again. 

My friends and family's thinks I have lost my mind.  Since I am divorced I can display all mine throughout the house...I love it and they ring!
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: Dan/Panther on December 17, 2013, 02:32:03 PM
If you how many you have, you don't have enough.
D/P
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: HarrySmith on December 17, 2013, 03:00:28 PM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on December 17, 2013, 02:32:03 PM
If you how many you have, you don't have enough.
D/P
ABSOLUTLEY ;D 100% Agreed, I have no idea how many I have and I am not about try to count them :D
Title: Re: Does everyone know their phone "number" ?
Post by: Sargeguy on December 17, 2013, 03:21:26 PM
Let me see...

25 or so 300 series

8 or so D-1 and B-1s

25 candlesticks

14 compact wooden wall phones 293 etc

4 top boxes, type 21 etc

3 two boxers

4 fiddlebacks

3 333s, 3 533s

1 317

10 500 series

1 1500

2-3 212s

3 Princesses

4 Trimlines

About 100