Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Auction Talk => Topic started by: Jester on August 03, 2009, 01:08:03 AM

Title: How did this happen???
Post by: Jester on August 03, 2009, 01:08:03 AM
Mind you, since I was on the top of this dogpile I'm NOT complaining!  I just don't understand how this item, with its early manufacturing date (earliest I've personally seen for this model), rare early features (open faced fingerwheel, soft plastic handset), popular color (at least on ebay), excellent condition & reputable seller went for what I feel is a REALLY low price.  I'm not suggesting that it's worth $600.00+, the figure that gray 1500 received just last night, but I just knew it would break $100.00!
http://tinyurl.com/ljawz9 (http://tinyurl.com/ljawz9) ( dead link 08-04-21 )
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: Jester on August 03, 2009, 01:14:09 AM
On a similar note, finlover had a gorgeous red 500 with matching cords & a '57 build date on this week.  It ended at $76.00!!!!  You might remember the moss green with gray cords he had on recently that went for $560.00.  It just don't add up! ???
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: bingster on August 03, 2009, 01:39:58 AM
I remember a while back when pink Princesses were very expensive phones to buy, but this past year, they've been going for unusually low prices.  I've even seen decent pink ones go for as little as $25 this year. 
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: Greg G. on August 03, 2009, 05:26:25 AM
That happens with other collectible items as well.  I have two identical GOEBEL BEER bar mirrors.  One I paid $60 for including shipping, and the bidding was fierce, I was snipping with one other collector in the last 5 seconds.  The other I got for $15 including shipping, with only submitting my top bid and leaving it.  I didn't care if I won it because I already had one like it, but if I got it cheap, fine, and I did. 

My theory is it all depends on who's online at the time and what they're interested in.  Even avid collectors (of anything) browsing ebay (like I do) can't spend all they're time watching everything, and even if they did, money isn't always available. 
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: jsowers on August 03, 2009, 07:51:52 AM
Jester, the fingerwheel is open, which is unusual because most all Princesses from 1959 have the solid fingerwheel, but the handset likely isn't soft plastic. The absence of center holes doesn't always mean a handset is soft plastic. Late 1959 handsets are normally hard plastic, especially on Princess phones. Sometimes parts can be soft plastic earlier in 1959 on a 500 set, but by November I think they had used up most of the leftovers except for dial faces and 500U mushrooms.

I have seen two Princesses with soft plastic handsets, but one of them was an ivory prototype and the other was an ivory 702 from the late 1960s that had been refurbished with an ivory soft plastic handset. Also, NE phones have no center holes in their hard plastic handsets up into the 1960s.

At least that's been my experience with the late 59 Princesses I've seen. If anyone has anything different, please share it. It is early production. Let us know when it arrives what it is. I hope you have a nice bonus card in that fingerwheel.
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: finlover on August 03, 2009, 05:17:38 PM
Quote from: Jester on August 03, 2009, 01:14:09 AM
On a similar note, finlover had a gorgeous red 500 with matching cords & a '57 build date on this week.  It ended at $76.00!!!!  You might remember the moss green with gray cords he had on recently that went for $560.00.  It just don't add up! ???

Congrats, Jester, looks like a beautiful phone!!  After doing this ebay thing for a while I've realized that I just can't second guess what phones will go for.  If I had known my red '57 would've brought so little I would have held onto it!  Funny that the winner is the same guy that got my pink 500 so cheap last month--I wish I had his luck!  Oh well, here's hoping my current aqua one will do better...
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: Dennis Markham on August 03, 2009, 06:06:07 PM
Finlover, you wish you had that guy's luck??!  If I were you I'd be careful what you wish for.  You don't want to trade the luck you have getting the prices you have for your phones!
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: finlover on August 03, 2009, 10:21:54 PM
You're right, Dennis!  I should thank my lucky stars--they just shine more brightly for some auctions. ;D
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: Dennis Markham on August 03, 2009, 10:43:41 PM
Just a little humor......luck is only part of the equation.....your phones are terrifically prepared and presented very well.  That's what separates them from the rest of the pack.
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: finlover on August 03, 2009, 11:24:55 PM
That means a lot coming from you, sensei!  You are the reason I got into this hobby and I'll always be grateful for your guidance and encouragement. :D
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: Dennis Markham on August 04, 2009, 12:07:55 AM
Aw Shucks, Gee Whiz, Gosh Darn........ :-[

Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: JorgeAmely on August 04, 2009, 12:20:48 AM
finlover:

I second that.
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: Jester on August 04, 2009, 12:38:03 AM
Dennis,
I think I've been playing with phones awhile longer (1984), but work I've seen you, Jorge and finlover do has encouraged me to challenge myself.
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: Dan on August 04, 2009, 12:39:10 AM
Fin , I have two soft reds and bid on yours not only because it was beautiful, but because I wanted to see how a  restored  phone should look to help me learn. I lost though, but someone got a heck of a deal. Please find a soft yellow for me. I'd pay a ton for it!
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: Dennis Markham on August 04, 2009, 12:46:35 AM
Thanks Jester, I appreciate that.  And thank you too Jorge.  You have been at it much longer Jester.  I think I bought my first one about 4-5 years ago now.  So I have a long way to go to catch up. But I've always enjoyed making something old and dirty look new again.
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: JorgeAmely on August 04, 2009, 12:52:11 AM
Dan:

Define a ton   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: finlover on August 04, 2009, 07:54:09 AM
Quote from: Dan on August 04, 2009, 12:39:10 AM
Fin , I have two soft reds and bid on yours not only because it was beautiful, but because I wanted to see how a  restored  phone should look to help me learn. I lost though, but someone got a heck of a deal. Please find a soft yellow for me. I'd pay a ton for it!
Thanks, Dan, that's awfully nice of you to say!  I'll keep my eyes peeled for a soft yellow for you.  For some reason they don't show up very often.  I'm working on a very faded soft yellow right now for a customer that's a real challenge.  Hydrogen peroxide wouldn't touch it so it's back to sandpaper and elbow grease...
Title: Re: How did this happen???
Post by: Dan on August 04, 2009, 10:03:42 AM
Quote from: JorgeAmely on August 04, 2009, 12:52:11 AM
Dan:

Define a ton   ;D ;D ;D

Come on Jorge, you know we're all tight a$$es around here, but I probably would go $100.