Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Auction Talk => Topic started by: Doug Rose on September 30, 2010, 11:19:10 AM

Title: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Doug Rose on September 30, 2010, 11:19:10 AM

If an Ivory 302 looks like white chocolate, this looks like it was made from jade. Absolutely stunning. All it needs is a chrome retainer ring and a little polishing. This is a beautiful find you don't see that often. The dial blank had shrunk a bit, but still breath taking....Doug

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380274243516&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: HarrySmith on September 30, 2010, 11:28:19 AM
Yes, very nice ;D

It figures, I buy a truck and all these awesome phones start popping up :(
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Kenny C on September 30, 2010, 11:30:18 PM
 :o :o :o(faints)
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Doug Rose on October 07, 2010, 09:27:17 AM
$1000...1K ....a grand.....WOW!!!!!.....Doug
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Dennis Markham on October 07, 2010, 09:31:33 AM
That's incredible.  I never dreamed it would go that high. 
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: JorgeAmely on October 07, 2010, 11:14:16 AM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on October 07, 2010, 09:31:33 AM
That's incredible.  I never dreamed it would go that high. 

Dennis:

Someone is going to Disneyland ....
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Doug Rose on October 07, 2010, 11:15:11 AM
Quote from: JorgeAmely on October 07, 2010, 11:14:16 AM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on October 07, 2010, 09:31:33 AM
That's incredible.  I never dreamed it would go that high. 

Dennis:

Someone is going to Disneyland ....
......and bringing guests!!
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: baldopeacock on October 07, 2010, 11:20:26 AM
If it had a dial... maybe $300 at best?   Wow.
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: deedubya3800 on October 07, 2010, 11:27:33 AM
Y'all keep sounding surprised at what some phones are fetching lately. I guess it's a good time to try to sell a rare telephone. What does this say about the economy?
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: bingster on October 07, 2010, 11:30:17 AM
I'm really surprised at that result.  I know the coordinating dial blanks are uncommon, but are they worth $700 or $800?
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: deedubya3800 on October 07, 2010, 11:36:22 AM
Apparently someone thought so. :) I don't really know, but I have noticed in all the phones that I have watched on eBay recently that manual dial phones do fetch good money compared to automatics, and that's just in black! But I too would never have guessed green would be that huge.

Looking at the bid history, though, it seems that only the top two bidders agreed that it was worth a grand (or more - who knows about the winner); no one else was willing to go over four hundred. I see one bidder there who was a serious contender for one of my recent wins as well.
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Dennis Markham on October 07, 2010, 12:37:26 PM
I've heard that some dial blanks are worth more than the phones themselves.  Certain colors.  But how much more?  Would a matching dial blank increase the value by $100, $200?  but $700?  Just like matching straight cords will increase the value of a soft plastic 500.  But even straight cords, matching or in gray have not been selling for the amounts they used to just a couple of years ago.  Perhaps this one has some gold in it somewhere.
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: baldopeacock on October 07, 2010, 12:41:43 PM
It's unpredictable.   All it really takes is two bidders who really want something and have deep enough pockets to pay whatever it takes to get it.   
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Doug Rose on October 07, 2010, 12:50:25 PM
It seems the thermoplastic dial blanks in color 302s shrink at an alarming rate. As you can tell from looking at this, it is lifting on the edges with a space and this is a good one!! Awhile back I found a blue dial blank (alas no phone with it),  it was so bent it would not fit in the hole in the shell and it lifted a good 1/4 inch on the top and the bottom. Color was pristine, although the blank was useless.....Doug
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: deedubya3800 on October 07, 2010, 01:03:55 PM
Quote from: baldopeacock on October 07, 2010, 12:41:43 PM
It's unpredictable.   All it really takes is two bidders who really want something and have deep enough pockets to pay whatever it takes to get it.   

That, my friends, is what constitutes an auction! :)

I was just discussing this with my cousin yesterday. We were talking about listings where the titles are misspelled, or descriptions are inaccurate or inadequate, and how it makes them harder to find. But all it takes is one other person who really wants it to find it, and you can give up on getting it cheap.
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: KeithB on October 07, 2010, 07:39:00 PM
It is a difference of opinion that makes horse races.

--- Mark Twain
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Doug Rose on October 07, 2010, 07:43:00 PM
Quote from: KeithB on October 07, 2010, 07:39:00 PM
It is a difference of opinion that makes horse races.

--- Mark Twain

What if Catfish had Kittens....Moe Howard
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Kenny C on October 07, 2010, 07:45:09 PM
I want some catfish........Kenny C.  :)
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: deedubya3800 on October 07, 2010, 08:07:12 PM
...and hushpuppies, cole slaw, white beans, onion rings, and sweet tea.  :)

- D. W.
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: Kenny C on October 07, 2010, 08:09:42 PM
i like it all but sweet tea. Its taboo to the south but :P. But i am "Tennessee born and bred, Don't plan on leavin' Til' I'm dead"
Title: Re: Vintage Green Plastic Western Electric Telephone eBay 380274243516
Post by: deedubya3800 on October 07, 2010, 09:50:24 PM
Well there's nothing wrong with a Coca-Cola.  8)