Restoring a WECo Soft Plastic Yellow 500

[cihensley@aol.com]

With a small amount of micro-mesh sanding and buffer polishing the full color was restored to this yellow 500. The first picture (on the blue felt) shows the phone before restoral. It was in pretty good condition. The base is dated 5-57, with all components matching.

Chuck

[cihensley@aol.com]

This is the picture that did not upload with the original post.

Chuck

[jsowers]

Great job, Chuck! Yellow (and pink) soft plastic has a tendency to fade to a lighter shade, which is unusual as phone plastics go. The number card really looks great on it.

Where's the mounting cord? The cords on the early yellow ones also tend to fade lighter, almost to ivory sometimes.

[cihensley@aol.com]

Jonathan:

I did not restore and re-attach the mounting cord. But cleaned and polished, it would look the same as the handset cord. You are correct. You can see in the picture that the handset cord is lighter than the phone, a tendency toward ivory. I tagged the mounting cord and threw it in a box with other miscellaneous cords.

Chuck

[Phonesrfun]

Beautiful job, Chuck. !!

[JorgeAmely]

Congrats Chuck for the beautiful job. Those yellow phones are keepers.

[Dennis Markham]

Beautiful phone, Chuck.  I agree with Jorge...those yellow 500's are very nice and still difficult to find (soft plastic versions).

[Bill]

Chuck -

Did you consider solvent-polishing this phone? The technique showed a lot of promise (and progress) last year, but the discussion suddenly died.

Bill

[cihensley@aol.com]

Bill:

Not with this one. I used micro-mesh sanding to remove the deeper scratches, then buffing with liquid medium rubbing compound followed by Novus 2. Solvent polishing was not required. I still plan to experiment with solvent polishing on appropriate future restorations.

Chuck

[Nilsog]

Fantastic job, Chuck! I've got to get some of that micro mesh, I've been using 2000 grit sandpaper and novus and I can't seem to get all the scratches out.

[cihensley@aol.com]

Ken:

Yes, you do. Stopping at 2000 before the Novus is too course. I started with 3200 on the scratches on this phone

Chuck

[Nilsog]

Unfortunately I may have to order some online, 2000 grit is the highest we have locally.

[JorgeAmely]

Chuck:

Where did you find this beauty?

[cihensley@aol.com]

Jorge:

eBay.

Chuck

[cihensley@aol.com]

Ken:

http://www.micro-surface.com/

Chuck