Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Auction Talk => Topic started by: Fabius on June 15, 2016, 08:01:37 PM

Poll
Question: POLL: Will This Strowger 11 Digit Wall Phone Sell At The BIN?
Option 1: Yes votes: 10
Option 2: No votes: 6
Option 3: Seller Will End the Auction Early votes: 1
Title: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Fabius on June 15, 2016, 08:01:37 PM
BIN = Buy It Now. Will anyone buy it at $620 USD plus shipping?

http://tinyurl.com/zbw5mhq

Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Pourme on June 15, 2016, 08:23:05 PM
Being new to this I am curious as well. Is this not one of the "most" collectible of the wooden phones? Is that a reasonable price or a reach? Perhaps a test of the strength of the phone market just as I think the Peking Red 302 on EBAY is as well.

Benny
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Fabius on June 15, 2016, 08:37:11 PM
I think the BIN is within reason. Not a steal by any means but not an outrageous price either. It is my understanding that many of these come on the market from Canada where they came out of storage from one of the western provinces. I bought mine for $400 back in the 1980s. Like many of these sets it is missing the ring button on the front. The inside photo of the door shows that some of the button hardware is still there. Maybe some of our Canadian members can tell us more.
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: unbeldi on June 15, 2016, 09:14:20 PM
The "missing" ring button is not a detriment, after all it was a legitimate version of these, but I wonder what that transformer was intended to do in there.  I bet someone installed it to ring the bells from an external A.C. source.  Glad to see that nothing was removed.

I think the BIN price is fair, for a BIN price.  I find it conceivable, that it could fetch that in an auction.
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Jack Ryan on June 15, 2016, 09:35:28 PM
Quote from: unbeldi on June 15, 2016, 09:14:20 PM
The "missing" ring button is not a detriment, after all it was a legitimate version of these, but I wonder what that transformer was intended to do in there.  I bet someone installed it to ring the bells from an external A.C. source.  Glad to see that nothing was removed.

I think the BIN price is fair, for a BIN price.  I find it conceivable, that it could fetch that in an auction.

In Canada lots (most) of these have a transformer fitted inside. When these were a penny a dozen an enterprising soul came up with a conversion to an intercom. The transformer was part of the DC bell ringer. There is usually a doorbell like button fitted as well to ring (ding) the bell - some used the dial to do the same thing.

Jack
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: AE_Collector on June 16, 2016, 02:30:50 AM
I think these Strowgers with the added transformer can be compared to many "lamp phones" WHAT???

Some if you will have seen where I have said in the past that while we usually set our hair on fire about most old phones that were converted into lamps, in most cases the phone being converted to a lamp is why it us still with us today. Had it not been converted into a lamp it would have gone gfor scrap metal a long time ago.

I have never seen a Strowger wall phone that didn't have at least some remnants of the intercom circuit (transformer and/or door bell type push button) in it. If this conversion had not saved so many of these phones from being scrapped, they would be very much more rare today than what they are.

This should sell for $629, that seems to me to be toward the lower end of range for one of these.

Terry
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: unbeldi on June 16, 2016, 08:25:40 AM
Here is another one with the same transformer:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/172241315059
It comes with a bonus,  Le Bouton.
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: andre_janew on June 16, 2016, 11:37:15 AM
The button must have gold contacts.  Notice that it adds $229 to the price!
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Fabius on June 16, 2016, 12:28:23 PM
Quote from: AE_Collector on June 16, 2016, 02:30:50 AM

I have never seen a Strowger wall phone that didn't have at least some remnants of the intercom circuit (transformer and/or door bell type push button) in it.

Terry

I'm not where my Strowger is at (I will be there tomorrow) but I know mine does not have an added button and I'm pretty sure no remnants of the transformer. I'll check tomorrow.
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Dan/Panther on June 16, 2016, 12:56:35 PM
I was all in, until I saw the inside.
D/P

No Sale.
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: AE_Collector on June 16, 2016, 01:27:39 PM
Quote from: Fabius on June 16, 2016, 12:28:23 PM
I'm not where my Strowger is at (I will be there tomorrow) but I know mine does not have an added button and I'm pretty sure no remnants of the transformer. I'll check tomorrow.

Well they must exist, some must have been saved that weren't being saved to become farm intercom systems. And many will have been restored by us collectors removing the transformers and buttons. But the vast majority seen on eBay and other places have or had these extras. It is easily removed and put back to normal again so I wouldn't let that deter anyone. These aren't going to be hooked up and used on today's phone system as they were a "three wire" system from phone to exchange.

The candlestick version of these generally sell for about 5 times what these wooden wall Strowgers sell for.

Terry
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Jim Stettler on June 16, 2016, 05:56:22 PM
It has the early Large* mouthpiece. I have seen these sell for over $100.00 by themselves. The mouthpiece is the same one that are on the candlesticks.

  The Canadian collector (Gordon** )who gathered up most of these intercoms, also had some repro buttons made as well as repro dial rings.

I think the BIN price is reasonable and on the cheap side.

JMO,
Jim S.

  * the large opening mouthpiece is about the same dia. as the embossed edge on the marked transmitter. Early phones  have the smaller transmitter.

** Gerdes sp?  Gordon was/is a member of ATCA
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Doug Rose on June 16, 2016, 07:45:36 PM
Here is the inside of mine...Doug
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Babybearjs on June 16, 2016, 10:20:38 PM
it will sell, but not for what its worth.... seller will take a loss.....
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Fabius on June 17, 2016, 07:16:28 PM
Insides of my Strowger wall set.
Title: Re: Will It Sell? POLL
Post by: Fabius on June 17, 2016, 07:26:39 PM
Most of the dials I have seen on these sets have letters/numbers wrote in pencil on them. I wonder why? Mine is X112Y