Clear AE40

[MJL80]

My Grandfather worked for AE.  my mother recently uncovered this model.  Ive done quite a bit of searching for information, but so far all I can come up with that it's possibly an AE40. Does anyone here know the story behind a clear AE40 being offered, because I can't find that being available?  Thank you.

[Doug Rose]

Welcome to the Forum, a picture would be great....Doug

[FABphones]

Hi and welcome to CRPF.

AE40 is a nice model, the clear version you have is a very nice addition to a collection and was the subject of a CRPF special auction contest back in 2014:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12636

Search for Clear AE40 using the search button above, this thread gives general AE40 background information:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=244

[tubaman]

If that is an AE factory made clear version then I think it'll be pretty valuable.

[HarrySmith]

Welcome and congrats on a great phone. If not for Grandpa working at AE I would guess not original. Our own Kleenax makes clear phone reproductions and has done that model. Is it yours Ray? Most clear phones were not supposed to leave the factory but some were given to employees as gifts. I think that is how he got it. Very nice, no yellowing. That is a rare find!

[MJL80]

Thank you all for your help.  This is great to know.

[LarryInMichigan]

I would expect that phone to sell for more than $1000.

Larry

[MMikeJBenN27]

I don't think these were normally offered, they were mostly given to employees as gifts and as promotional items, which of course, makes all the more desirable.  Western Electric made a few clear phones, but not as many as AE.  WE also was not big on color the way AE was either.

Mike

[TelePlay]

This was Ray's creation which sold for $1,425 on eBay

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19662.0

in January of 2018.

They don't look the same (ringer gongs, the internal wiring between the handset cups and metal colors for example).

If this is an original AE manufactured clear phone, it would have historic value possibly making it worth more than the auction subject phone.

If AE original, it's provenance (factual documented history) would add to the value.

[HarrySmith]

That makes sense John. Another reason to believe it is original. Is it possible to see if your grandfather had any paperwork on it? You may want to try to document it for the future.

[Robert Gift]

Interesting seeing the bells upside down.  Later photo, normal.

[kleenax]

Interesting seeing the bells upside down.  Later photo, normal.

I like to turn the gongs over; they just look better to me!

As for the OP's Clear AE40, it is indeed an original factory Clear. They are most certainly RARE, and a coveted collector item, and can go for as much as $3,500, but we ALL know how volatile the collector market is these days.

[Robert Gift]

I like to turn the gongs over; they just look better to me!

Can they be turned over?    Use long machine screws.
Collectors make it so that we cannot own such a phone and USE it.

[TelePlay]

Can they be turned over?    Use long machine screws.

Ray can best answer but I suspect by using brass posts, spacers, to attach the gongs upside down so they are still free floating, so they ring when hit.

[kleenax]

Can they be turned over?    Use long machine screws.
Collectors make it so that we cannot own such a phone and USE it.

Certainly they can be turned over easily. All you need is a couple of longer (correctly sized) machine screws and also 2 pieces of brass tubing sized appropriately to act as spacers for the gongs.