Auction 145: Blue pre-war 302 plastics - housing and handset - Ended 11/2/14

[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.

Listed this morning in a 10 day auction with no reserve are these two phone items which should make for an interesting auction and auction contest. The contest was suggested by paul-f and seconded by Sargeguy and with all the guesses posted in that topic since then, and since merged into this contest, how could I say no.     So, what is it and what will it sell for next month when the auction ends?

The pre-WWII blue F1 handset and 302 shell were listed at $9.99 plus $9.11 shipping. Since then, two bids have been offered raising the listing bid to $27.39, it will go higher based on guesses offered so far. So, with that said, once again, who knows best what this item will sell for when the bidding ends?

The seller listed it as an "Rare Western Electric 302 Translucent BLUE Pre-War Housing & Handset Telephone" with the item condition as "Used" and " - - - " with the auction listing description as "ITEM DESCRIPTION: Fresh estate sale find from a former telephone repair man. This 302 type translucent BLUE phone comes with its original matching handset. The housing is marked in ink H1 and 10 23 12. When lit from behind, the housing is translucent. The handset is dated 10-23-40, as indicated in photo, and includes only the handle and caps. The handle is marked BELL SYSTEM made by Western Electric F1. The plastic is exactly as found. It has not been cleaned or polished. There is much grime on the handle, but I will let the new owner determine how to best clean it. A collector asked if the housing had shrunk to the point where the base plate would have to be modified for the housing to fit. While I am not very knowledgeable about this area, I tried mating the housing with other 302 parts and believe a dial would be a very tight fit and the base plate would need some modification for a comfortable fit. I did not want to jam anything into place and damage the integrity of the housing. Additionally, I am including a black plastic insert to fill the space under the pick-up area on the cradle from a later set to fill the space and until you might find a blue one that matches. I am also offering other parts to complete this phone, including a 5J dial under a separate auction. Please keep an eye out for lots of other old telephone parts I'll be selling the next week or two from this estate. || MANUFACTURER/MARKS: Western Electric. Bell System (see body of description for further information). || CONDITION: There are no major chips, cracks, or other cosmetic blemishes , but see photos for your own edification. I do know without a doubt, the color is beautiful! I'll happily answer any further questions you may have and post answers for all to see."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301364943142

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.

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 <-


S C O R E B O A R D


$      650.00 - wds  ( 13 )  -> WINNER - Final Selling Price $565.55
$      750.00 - poplar1  ( 6 )
$      830.00 - Fabius  ( 14 )
$      950.00 - tallguy58  ( 4 )
$   1,100.00 - paul-f  ( 9 )
$   1,250.00 - JimH  ( 7 )
$   1,300.00 - Russ Kirk  ( 10 )
$   1,400.00 - wds  ( 11 )
$   1,500.00 - kleinkaliber  ( 8 )
$   1,600.00 - baldopeacock  ( 12 )
$   1,750.00 - HarrySmith  ( 15 )
$   1,900.00 - Sargeguy  ( 1 )
$   2,014.00 - Kenton K  ( 2 )
$   2,300.00 - WesternElectricBen  ( 3 )
$   2,700.00 - WEBellSystemChristian  ( 5 )


Early Morning Auction Status Changes

10-23-14     Listed     $         9.99
10-24-14      2 bids    $       27.39
10-25-14      5 bids    $     101.55
10-26-14      5 bids    $     101.55
10-27-14      5 bids    $     101.55
10-28-14      5 bids    $     101.55
10-29-14      8 bids    $     202.50
10-30-14      8 bids    $     202.50
10-31-14      8 bids    $     202.50
11-01-14      8 bids    $     202.50
11-02-14      9 bids    $     209.50
11-02-14     11 bidders, 14 bids $565.55  Ended at 07:19:11 PST

[paul-f]

This one might make a good contest -- starting at $9.99

  http://www.ebay.com/itm/301364943142

The stamp inside the housing is interesting -- 10 23 12

[Sargeguy]

This one surfaced on the ATCA or TCI facebook page a couple weeks back.  The seller was going to have an estate sale and wanted to know if any of her stuff was valuable. 

If it is a contest I am in for $1900!

[Kenton K]

2014 for me

[WesternElectricBen]

2300.

[tallguy58]

950

[WEBellSystemChristian]

A cool $2700.

[poplar1]

$750

[JimH]

$1250

[kleinkaliber]

$1500

[paul-f]

1100

[Russ Kirk]

$1300

[wds]

$1400

[baldopeacock]

$1600 appears to be still open, I'll take it.

Seller mentions that he's including a black plastic filler panel for beneath the pick-up/cradle.   The pre-war Ivory 302s that I've seen used a metal insert panel, painted ivory. 

Has anyone seen this on a prewar color 302, other than ivory?

[wds]

$650