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Auction 361: WE 1955/56 Mediterranean Blue 500 C/D w/ gray cords - Ended 01-13-19

Started by TelePlay, January 04, 2019, 01:07:09 PM

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TelePlay

All forum members are welcome and encouraged to guess.There are no wrong guesses, just one lucky guess. No one knows the winning guess on any auction until it ends.

Date Listed:  03 Jan 2019
Auction Duration:  10 Days
List Price:  $0.99
Current Bidders:  4
Current Price:  $102.50
Watchers:  25
Contest Tip from:  david@london

eBay Link:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/192779600671


GAP RULE:  At least $5 between guesses to prevent crowding.


Seller Listing Title:  "Western Electric Model 500 - Mediterranean Blue - 1955/1956 - Neutral Gray Cords"
Condition:  "Used"
Condition Qualifier:  " - - - "

Listing Description:  "I am offering this beautiful Western Electric Model 500 in one of the more sought-after colors, Mediterranean Blue.  The model in this color was introduced in 1954 and discontinued in 1957.  This particular phone has parts dated from 1955 to early 1956.  The earliest date, on the network block is dated 4-55.  Most of the dates are from March of 1956.  You can view a collage of the dated parts in my photos. -- The Vintage Rotary Phone is in very nice condition.  There are no cracks or chips in the plastic.  It has been cleaned and polished to the shine that is accurately depicted in the accompanying photographs.  The plastic is not without some slight discoloration from 62 or more years exposed to UV lighting.  The neutral gray cords are in great condition.  The handset cord, dated 1956 is coiled tightly.  The mounting cord, dated 1955 is approximately 9 feet in length and also in great condition.  At the end of the mounting cord is the original 283B 4-Prong plug.  I have carefully cleaned the plug as you can see in the photos.  I will supply or install a modular plug if the winning bidder so desires.  More than likely collectors will want to leave the original 4 prong plug on the phone. -- The dial card is an original dial card, not a copy or reproduction, as is the acetate disc that covers the card.  There are some scratches on the dial number plate below the open center finger wheel.  It looks like someone used a ball-point pen to dial a number, causing the scratches.  I cleaned and polished away the ink that remained.  The only other "flaw" would be that there was a small tear on the edge of the right front foot pad.  I made a repair to that foot pad.  It presents very well. -- I have tested the phone on my POTS line (plain old telephone service).  The phone dials out like it should.  The dual harmonic brass bells ring loud and with clarity when the phone is called.  I have prepared a short video clip so the reader may listen to an actual recording of THIS telephone.  It can be seen and heard here:

     https://www.youtube.com/embed/yg4tvT0QxKQ?rel=0

A reminder to non-phone collectors,  not all telephone systems will provide for pulse dialing, but some do.  Many cable-based VoIP services will not allow for dialing.  The phone should however, ring on in-coming calls.  Check with your local provider for the answer to that question.  There's a good chance the person on the other end of the phone will ask, "what IS a rotary dial telephone?" -- I have started this 10-day auction at under one dollar with no reserve.  May the best bidder win.  This is a beautiful, classic Western Electric telephone and will look great in anyone's collection. -- Collectors:  Note the star painted on the bottom of the telephone.  A consensus of some collectors is that the star indicates a trip to the refurb shop, which may explain different dates on some of the components.  However that is not a known fact.  It is interesting however and not many are seen like this, making this a unique collectible feature. -- Also, I have left the black ringer wire where it was originally, connected to the "G" terminal, along with the yellow wire of the mounting cord.  On the other end, at the plug, I have connected the yellow wire with the green wire which will allow for ringing on today's phone lines.  The black ringer wire could simply be moved to the L1 terminal, but I like to leave them original when possible."


Link for Forum Topic about this phone:  http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=21594.0



Another chance to move up or to get onto the CRPF Contest Standings List

Past Contest Phones:  http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=17437.msg180238#msg180238



Guess Deadline:   All guesses and a single allowed revised guess, if needed,
                      MUST be submitted at least 24 hours BEFORE the auction ENDS
.



S C O R E B O A R D   ( Starting with Contest 328, this contest's topic will be locked with 24 hours left to go )     Players: 18 

$ 299.00 - skyrider  ( 9 )
$ 315.00 - FABphones  ( 17 )
$ 329.00 - Gary Millam  ( 8 )
$ 350.00 - compubit  ( 14 )
$ 375.00 - wds  ( 20 )
$ 380.00 - Pourme  ( 21 )
$ 385.00 - JimH  ( 6 )
$ 400.00 - 19and41  ( 10 )
$ 425.00 - Russ Kirk  ( 7 )
$ 450.00 - Jim Stettler  ( 5 )
$ 460.00 - tallguy58  ( 16 )
$ 475.00 - Butch Harlow  ( 12 )
$ 490.00 - david@london  ( 19 )
$ 507.50 - TelePlay  ( 18 )
$ 540.00 - LarryInMichigan  ( 1 )
$ 600.00 - Duffy  ( 13 )
$ 605.00 - Fabius  ( 15 )
$ 699.00 - AT2796  ( 4 )  -> WINNER - Final Selling Price $688.00
$ 750.00 - Key2871  ( 2 )
$ 835.00 - Scott  ( 11 )
$ 849.00 - HarrySmith  ( 3 )


Early Morning Auction Status

01-03-19      Listed     $       0.99
01-04-19    10 bids     $   102.50   ( 4 bidders & 25 - #16 )
01-05-19    11 bids     $   177.50   ( 5 bidders & 29 - #12 )
01-06-19    11 bids     $   177.50   ( 5 bidders & 34 - #9 )
01-07-19    11 bids     $   177.50   ( 5 bidders & 36 - #5 )
01-08-19    11 bids     $   177.50   ( 5 bidders & 38 - #3 )
01-09-19    18 bids     $   262.52   ( 7 bidders & 49 - #2 )
01-10-19    18 bids     $   262.52   ( 7 bidders & 50 - #1 )
01-11-19    19 bids     $   273.00   ( 8 bidders & 56 - #2 )
01-12-19    21 bids     $   315.00   ( 9 bidders & 59 - #2 )
01-13-19    21 bids     $   315.00   ( 9 bidders & 76 - #2 )
01-13-19    11 bidders, 30 bids  Ended at 5:45:01 PM PST



HarrySmith

Harry Smith
ATCA 4434
TCI

"There is no try,
there is only
do or do not"


Jim Stettler

You live, You learn,
You die, you forget it all.

JimH

Jim H.




19and41

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
— Arthur C. Clarke


Butch Harlow

Butch Harlow


compubit

A phone phanatic since I was less than 2 (thanks to Fisher Price); collector since a teenager; now able to afford to play!
Favorite Phone: Western Electric Trimline - it just feels right holding it up to my face!