Classic Rotary Phones Forum

*** The "Find of the YEAR" for 2017 ***   VOTE FOR THREE

It is time once again to vote for the VERY BEST "Find" from all of the "Find of the Month" winners through 2017.

Take a few minutes to go through the list below. John "TelePlay" has created one post per entrant along with the brief details, a link to the original nomination and the separate topic on CRPF if there was one, and has included one picture of each contestant. The pictures are from the Find of the Month Winners List that John maintains of all of the winners.

There are twelve contestants to choose from so lets do THREE VOTES EACH and see who wins the coveted (limited edition) "Find of the YEAR - 2017" trophy!

Everyone should be able to come up with three favorites here so please try to use all THREE of your votes. If you inadvertently vote for less than three contestants, click the "Remove Vote" button at the bottom left of poll and then place your THREE VOTES again.

Thanks John for taking the time to put yet another "Find of Year" contest together. Much appreciated!

Terry

January 2017's "Winner":

Sargeguy's Charles Williams top box marked "N.E. TEL. & TEL. CO. 1890" for $181 plus $18 shipping on eBay

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=17361.msg180578#msg180578

Sargeguy posted this about it:

I'll jump in with my Charles Williams top box marked "N.E. TEL. & TEL. CO. 1890" it features many parts from early, pre-Western Electric, American Bell Telephone licensees. Missing the hook and crank, and the correct Thomas Watson ringer, as well as a couple binding posts and few other screws but is mostly compete.  $181 off eBay

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=17506.0

February 2017's "Winner":

Doug Rose' Ivory North on eBay for $224 - 10% = $202 plus shipping

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=17586.msg182818#msg182818

Doug Rose posted this about it:

I'd like to nominate my Ivory North I won last week on eBay. I just sat down and logged in and there it was, first phone in the newly listed phones. It was $224 but eBay had a 10% off which helped ease the decision. How often do you even see these phones? You see a Blue 302 more often. I know Larry has one. This had been #1 on my Most Wanted List for awhile now. I am more than happy with it.

March 2017's "Winner":

nolan613's 3/42 ivory 302 on eBay for $95! plus shipping

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=17738.msg184402#msg184402

TelePlay posted this about it:

I'd like to (re-) nominate nolan613's pre-war (3/42) ivory 302 found on eBay listed for BIN $149 or Make-An-Offer. Seller accepted $95! plus shipping(?).

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=17855.0

April 2017's "Winner":

Autonut's cast Bronze Bell Canada sign purchased and picked up from the previous owner for a very reasonable price

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=17739.msg185913#msg185913

Autonut' posted this about it:

I'll enter my Bronze Bell Canada Sign that I picked up personally today from the previous owner for a very reasonable sale price. It weighs in at 35 LBS and measures 26 1/2" X 21 in the frame"

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18017.msg185912#new

May 2017's "Winner":

Gary Millam's WE blue 302 found on ETSY For $65.00 plus $10.40 for shipping

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=17740.msg187216#msg187216

Gary Millam posted this about it:

I would like to nominate the WE blue 302 that I found on ETSY last week. The cost was $65.00 plus $10.40 for shipping. It arrived yesterday and it is in excellent condition. No cracks or chips in the housing or handset. It is dated 5/52 through out the phone and it has a 5J dial. It had a black coiled handset cord and a flat gray modular line cord which I removed.

June 2017's "Winner":

magicbrain's WE 20-F *A.B.T.* transmitter, celluloid Chicago TelCo cover, OST receiver on ebay $275.00

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18253.msg189530#msg189530

magicbrain posted this about it:

]I would like to nominate my WE 20-F with *A.B.T.* transmitter with celluloid Chicago Telephone Co. cover and OST receiver bought on ebay for $275.00 buy it now with free shipping.

July 2017's "Winner":

SUnset2's Old Brass 302 bought at an antique and collectables show in Portland for $35

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18404.msg190846#msg190846

Teleplay posted this about it:

I would like to nominate SUnset2's Old Brass 302 he bought at an antique and collectables show in Portland for $35. Very clean and quite the find.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18500.0

August 2017's "Winner":

oldguy's WE Ivory 354 on Goodwill for $9.00 plus $15.23 shipping

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18599.msg192178#msg192178

oldguy posted this about it:

Here ya go Terry. I won this ivory WE 354 on goodwill tonight for $9.00 + $15.23 shipping. I obviously haven't received it yet, but it looks ok. Will need lots of cleaning & some bleaching. I was thrilled with the price.

September 2017's "Winner":

Pourme's 1965 green WECo 1500 from a collectible shop for $15.00

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18651.msg194248#msg194248

Pourme posted this about it:

I'd like to enter my "barn fresh" '65 WE 1500. I found it during my first visit to a collectibles shop I visited in Blowing Rock, NC. for a mere $15.00. It is the early version with the "painted" face plate rather than the paper background. The number card is inserted from the back side rather than the insert in the front. I didn't realize until I got it home that the handset contains light swirls from a lighter material from a previous color that didn't get properly purged from the system before this one was cast. Thus, making it even rarer than it would normally be on it's own. What a great find!

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18867.0

October 2017's "Winner":

Doug Rose's Manual WECo Rose 302 for $65 plus $15 Shipping on eBay

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18973.msg195280#msg195280

Doug Rose posted this about it:

I saw this yesterday on eBay, right place....right time.  $65 $15 Shipping. I love manual sets...I can't wait to hold it!!!

November 2017's "Winner":

LarryInMichigan's Kellogg Red Bar in pastel blue and ivory on eBay for $40 plus $15 shipping

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19134.msg197104#msg197104

TelePlay posted this about it:

I'd like to kick off the month by nominating this fantastic find by LarryInMichigan, a very unique and probably quite rare Kellogg Red Bar in pastel blue and ivory. A very nice looking phone and at a great price. Larry got it off of eBay for only $40 (BIN at $50 or Best Offer and seller took $40) plus $15 in shipping.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19168.0

December 2017's "Winner":

WEBellSystemChristian's early tenite Garnet Red AE 80 for $25 plus $9 in shipping

Here is the original Find of the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19333.msg199865#msg199865

TelePlay posted this about it:

I'd like to nominate WEBellSystemChristian's recent eBay deal, a tenite Garnet Red AE 80 for $25 plus 9 in shipping. The listing/before images don't do the find justice but with a bit of elbow work by the magic man, Christian, this turned out to be a very nice phone for that price.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19460.0

*** The "Find of the YEAR" for 2017 ***   VOTE FOR THREE

It is time once again to vote for the VERY BEST "Find" from all of the "Find of the Month" winners through 2017.

Take a few minutes to go through the list below. John "TelePlay" has created one post per entrant along with the brief details, a link to the original nomination and the separate topic on CRPF if there was one, and has included one picture of each contestant. The pictures are from the Find of the Month Winners List that John maintains of all of the winners.

There are twelve contestants to choose from so lets do THREE VOTES EACH and see who wins the coveted (limited edition) "Find of the YEAR - 2017" trophy!

Everyone should be able to come up with three favorites here so please try to use all THREE of your votes. If you inadvertently vote for less than three contestants, click the "Remove Vote" button at the bottom left of poll and then place your THREE VOTES again.

Thanks John for taking the time to put yet another "Find of Year" contest together. Much appreciated!

Terry

A reminder to check the "Find of the YEAR" contestants and place your votes. This contest only comes around once a year so this is the one to check out and let us know what YOUR favourites were from 2017.

Terry

27 voters in the Find of the YEAR Contest so far. I would sure like to see this annual version of the contest get to at least mid 30's or even 40 voters. Lots of work (mostly done by John) to put it together so please take a couple of minutes to help make one of your favourites the winner!

Terry

That's it for the "Find of the YEAR" competition for 2017!

There were plenty of great contestants since each one of them had already won a Find of the Month competition throughout the year. Everyone had good numbers of votes showing that they were all valid "Finds" but that said, it was really a Runaway win for Gary Millam and his WE Blue 302 found on ETSY For only $65.00 plus $10.40 shipping.

Congratulations to Gary and your terrific find from everyone here at the. Lassis Rotary Phone Forum. And thanks to everyone who voted as well as to everyone who had an item in any of the Find of the Month contests through 2017.

Below is your "Find of the YEAR" trophy that John "TelePlay" slaved away for most of the year manufacturing in his very extensive metal, wood, plastic & electrical work shops located behind the hidden door in the back of the pantry cupboard just off of his kitchen! Thanks John!

Here is the "Find of the Month - Winners List" for all contests to date:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12971.0

Terry

Thank you all for the "Find of the Year" award. I am proud to have won it.
This is a great group of phone folks and I am glad to be a member of this forum.
Happy Hunting to all in 2018.

Gary Millam

Congrats Gary.....far and away the BEST find of the year. No contest. You should be very proud....Doug

Congratulations Gary!  That was a great find.  It makes the rest of us want to keep looking for that elusive "blue 302".

Congratulations too to all of the other 11 entries.  All very nice finds.  It's the hunt, the hunt.........

~Dennis