Auction 179: WE 1953 Soft Plastic Rose Beige 500 with Grey Cords - Ended 6/25/15

[TelePlay]

New forum members are very welcome and encouraged to take a guess. After all, there are no wrong guesses, just one lucky one. No one knows the winning bid on any auction until it ends. However, it is important to get your guess in before someone else grabs your guess.

Just listed in a 5 day auction with no reserve starting at $9.99 ( with thanks for a PM tip from zapper who offered his guess of $659 within his PM ) is what seems to be a very nice 1953 soft plastic 500 with straight grey line and handset cords and a soft center finger wheel. Within the first few hours on eBay, the listing has attracted 3 bidders whose 3 bids have driven the price up to an astronomical $22.50! But, I have a feeling this will be some price escalation over the next 5 days. Anyone think they know what that final number will be when the dust settles?

NOTE: we will use a 3% gap rule between guesses to prevent crowding. As such, guess gaps of 6+% can be split. I'll help with these as the auction goes forward and guesses are entered.

So, once again, who best knows what this phone will sell for when the actions ends?

The seller listed it as an "UNUSUAL COLOR VINTAGE WESTERN ELECTRIC 500 ROTARY TELEPHONE PHONE DATED 7/53" with the item condition as "Used" and " - - - " with the auction listing description simply saying "UP FOR SALE IS THIS UNUSUAL COLOR VINTAGE WESTERN ELECTRIC 500 ROTARY TELEPHONE PHONE DATED 7/53 WITH NICKS, SCRAPES, AND WEAR. THERE IS SOME STICKER RESIDUE ON THE PHONE BODY. I DONT HAVE THE MEANS TO CHECK THIS, SO IT IS BEING SOLD AS UNTESTED. PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU BID." The seller has a high feedback number but it seems the seller does not know what she has for sale in this listing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221805871915

It's another chance to move up a rung or to get onto the CRPF -> Contest Standings <- list,

     . . . for as twocvbloke said,   ---> "You gotta be in it to win it !!!" "

If you want to see the phones of past Auction Contests, click -> HERE <-   ( up to date as of 6/10/15, last completed contest #177 )


S C O R E B O A R D

$  255.00 - Autonut  ( 15 )
$  275.00 - compubit  ( 18 )
$  288.75 - Dennis Markham  ( 11 )
$  305.00 - DiaLen  ( 16 )
$  330.00 - andre_janew  ( 2 )
$  350.00 - Sargeguy  ( 7 )  -> WINNER - Final Selling Price $356.65
$  375.00 - tallguy58  ( 20 )
$  399.00 - Mr. Bones  ( 9 )
$  419.50 - TelePlay  ( 19 )
$  440.00 - skyrider  ( 3 )
$  460.00 - kleinkaliber  ( 12 )
$  475.00 - baldopeacock  ( 17 )
$  500.00 - Russ Kirk  ( 6 )
$  565.00 - david@london  ( 5 )
$  659.00 - zapper  ( 1 )
$  690.00 - wds  ( 8 )
$  733.00 - twocvbloke  ( 4 )
$  770.00 - HarrySmith  ( 14 )
$  811.00 - Fabius  ( 13 )
$  850.00 - WEBellSystemChristian  ( 10 )


Early Morning Auction Status

06-20-15     Listed      $       9.99
06-21-15     5 bids      $     33.00
06-22-15     7 bids      $   111.00
05-23-15     7 bids      $   111.00
06-24-15     7 bids      $   111.00   ( 6 bidders )
06-25-15     9 bids      $   165.50   ( 8 bidders )
06-15-15   11 bidders, 13 bids, $356.65  Ended at 06:18:42 PDT

[andre_janew]

$330 please.

[skyrider]

How about $444.00, Thanks

[twocvbloke]

$733...

[unbeldi]

Although the base is marked 7/53, this is not an original 1953 colored 500 set!

The housing was molded almost a year later in May 1954.

But the straight cord is great.

[Russ Kirk]

$500

[Sargeguy]

$350

[RotarDad]

Nice work Unbeldi enhancing that shell date!  I was wondering about this set when I saw it as well. 7/53 seems early for full color - true?   I wonder if all the plastics date to '54....  Still that set has nice rose color and the straight cord, so value probably won't be impacted by mis-matched dates......

[wds]

$690

[Dennis Markham]

According to Paul's site, Dark Beige began in 1954 so that housing date would be correct.  Notice the yellow/brown staining on the plastic near the back (on the side).  Very often the rubber where the ringer assembly mounts would out-gas causing staining.  I've had/have sets that stained completely through the plastic.  It may have been stored without much air flow.  I've seen this more often on the 554 sets.  Still, this appears to be a nice telephone.

~Dennis

[Mr. Bones]

$399.00, if I may fit in there, please.

Thanks!

[WEBellSystemChristian]

$850

[Dennis Markham]

I will go low....$288.75

Dennis

[kleinkaliber]

$460

[Fabius]

$811