$4999.00 nice? ::) I believe this is a fishing expedition.
RARE-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-MEDITERRANEAN-BLUE-MODEL-302-304-PHONE-ALL-DATED-1953 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/131320500790)
No, that guy is real, well the phone is real and indeed very nice.
He just has a little uncommon pricing sense.
I talked to him a week or two ago.
"the baseplate is larger to accommodate more screws"
It is??
That screw is the condenser strap screw which, according to the photos, does not appear to be fastened properly.
But remember, the phone was "lovingly buffed" not just regular old buffing.
Guy's on crack.
Quote from: tallguy58 on October 13, 2014, 05:28:32 PM
"the baseplate is larger to accommodate more screws"
It is??
That screw is the condenser strap screw which, according to the photos, does not appear to be fastened properly.
But remember, the phone was "lovingly buffed" not just regular old buffing.
Guy's on crack.
He doesn't know much, and is trying his best to explain things, when he just shouldn't.
I am sure he is referring to the phenol connection plate next to the condenser.
I am just glad he didn't polish the gongs too.
Its looks amazing! I bet it sells for the 5K + with no fishies involved ;D...Doug
California pricing for a southern California buyer?
" . . . is sure to fit into your period decorating scheme."
Nice looking period phone for that special room if the feng shui works . . .
Half Price Sale, 3 Days Only! Now only $2499. (getting closer)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-MEDITERRANEAN-BLUE-MODEL-302-304-PHONE-ALL-DATED-1953-/131323751612
I thught it would go for 5K. Way tough phones are going ...this is a deal...Doug
Quote from: baldopeacock on October 16, 2014, 04:07:38 PM
Half Price Sale, 3 Days Only! Now only $2499. (getting closer)
At that price, I'd expect free shipping or something under $30.
Not this:
"Shipping: $104.41 Expedited Shipping
Quote from: TelePlay on October 16, 2014, 07:36:34 PM
Quote from: baldopeacock on October 16, 2014, 04:07:38 PM
Half Price Sale, 3 Days Only! Now only $2499. (getting closer)
At that price, I'd expect free shipping or something under $30.
Not this: "Shipping: $104.41 Expedited Shipping
Maybe it's shipped on Air Force One, with its own private room and Limousine ride right to your front door! ;D
Here is the competition at $2499.95, but they are " out of stock"
http://www.oldphoneworks.com/302-blue-all-original-fully-refurbished.html
The seller states that the "seal" on the handset is coming unglued. See attached photo. Weren't the handsets molded in one piece? I think the seller is actually referring to the parting line on the mold which has actually cracked from shrinkage due to age.
Handsets were molded in one piece, other than that the inside of the handle was actually open, so it appears, and was closed, either glued or welded, with a 'lid' that displayed the inscription/logo in the center. The edges of this closure do indeed open up very often, usually at the end though, where they lift up slightly, but less often along the length of the piece.
I have never actually seen any other closure then the standard "Bell System" type displaying "Western Electric", but do recall someone stating that they had one that didn't display "Bell System".
Even Northern Electric apparently sourced these handsets from Western without replacing the insert.
I suppose there are other reasons to produce these handsets 'open', other than to be flexible with labels. Perhaps they had in mind to provide the opportunity for a switch or button, to make F3 handsets. But it may simply have been to provide a location for the injection nozzle in the mold, and it would perhaps make it much easier to install the two wires leading to the receiver this way.
Bakelite handset were made quite differently, from two phenolic resin pucks that were placed into the press where the transmitter and the receiver cups ended up. The high pressure when closing the press then squeezed the resin into the rest of the hollow and the two material masses met and fused in the center of the handle.
Thermoplastic molding works differently. It is injected into the mold hollow. Here they needed to have the nozzle in the center of the handle, I believe, to provide even distribution or flow of the molten plastic into the ends.
Unbeldi, thank you for the explaination! I forgot about the handset in color being thermoplastic. I am used to just seeing the Bakelite black F1s.
I believe Western used yet another process to make the plastic G-type handsets, like the G3 on the colored 500-type phones.
I think these were actually made in two pieces, the transmitter end and the receiver end, which then were fused to connect in the middle somehow. I suppose this would also provide the opportunity to change the in-molded logo area upon final fusing. IIRC, it is the clear plastic handsets of the clear exhibition sets where this construction becomes evident. But I have no idea whether there are yet other processes used for the G-types.
How about a blue or red for $110?
Half an hour from my place.
http://www.electricgaragesale.biz/product_p/phgy1.htm
Quote from: tallguy58 on October 17, 2014, 04:30:24 PM
How about a blue or red for $110?
Half an hour from my place.
http://www.electricgaragesale.biz/product_p/phgy1.htm
I'm pretty sure those are painted. Look at the handsets, you can see the seams.
If those were original, they would be well worth the money.
I would say that the price is not bad, considering that the workmanship appears very good, and the cords are new OPW types.
You even get what look to be 6U (gold) and 6T (chrome) dials, but perhaps it's only the FW and the number plates that have been replaced.
I e-mailed the shop and the person there said that they are plastic and painted.
They are a nice job, though.
Not bad for $110.
I agree, that price is not bad for a paint job that good, with those new cords too!
All I know is I wouldn't pay for a 302, sand it, paint it and put colour matching cords on it and sell it for $110.
How much would the profit be??
Quote from: tallguy58 on October 17, 2014, 04:30:24 PM
How about a blue or red for $110?
And you can get a "painted?" black 302 from them for the same price - $110.00 . . .
$4999 $2499 Now $1,599 opening bid:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131326084190
Nice ones have sold at auction for that price. It might go this time. Maybe not, maybe it takes the tension of bidding against someone else willing to spend big money to drive the price that high, rather than starting it at that level.
If one is going to paint a 302, is there a consensus on whether it should be a metal or plastic shell? And why?
I'm guessing there are more plastic 302s in the world as weren't they manufactured for a longer period of time compared to the metal ones?
Chuck
I would buy a Blue and a Red right away. They look tremendous, well worth the money until you find the real deal. I had placeholders for many years...Doug
Someone with a smaller purse than required for the nice dark blue set can still get this one for the next 25 days.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111486891009
It even comes with the desirable corner cracks, to keep the phone repairmen interested.
Yikes, he's pretty proud of that one! :P
Quote from: unbeldi on October 20, 2014, 10:07:35 PM
Someone with a smaller purse than required for the nice dark blue set can still get this one for the next 25 days.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111486891009
It even comes with the desirable corner cracks, to keep the phone repairmen interested.
Should I offer him $10 to see if there's a reaction?
Mao you think he accidentally typed an extra 0?
Quote from: baldopeacock on October 19, 2014, 08:59:16 PM
Nice ones have sold at auction for that price. It might go this time. Maybe not, maybe it takes the tension of bidding against someone else willing to spend big money to drive the price that high, rather than starting it at that level.
It now has a bid, and the anonymous bidder ID looks familiar. So, call it $1600 unless a late-in-the-game bidding war breaks out between some high rollers.