Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Auction Talk => Topic started by: bellsystemproperty on April 06, 2010, 10:46:35 PM

Title: A bargain!
Post by: bellsystemproperty on April 06, 2010, 10:46:35 PM
Only $1500!
http://tinyurl.com/yzqeajv (http://tinyurl.com/yzqeajv)

Really though, there's nothing special about this red 554. Maybe the $1500 BIN price is to attract attention?
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: baldopeacock on April 06, 2010, 11:01:00 PM
Quote from: bellsystemproperty on April 06, 2010, 10:46:35 PM
Only $1500!
http://tinyurl.com/yzqeajv (http://tinyurl.com/yzqeajv)

Really though, there's nothing special about this red 554. Maybe the $1500 BIN price is to attract attention?

I'll check with the bank tomorrow, see if I can get financing.   
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Jim Stettler on April 06, 2010, 11:01:08 PM
It has the shoulder creases, The photographer didn't realize they were to set the handset on when you are taking photos.
The early 554's didn't have the shoulder creases until Dreyfuss added them.
Does anyone have a creasless 554.
I have only heard stories of them.
Jim
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Craig T on April 06, 2010, 11:08:14 PM
Some kind of sale on fixed price auctions this week?   :-\

I just checked the three on my shelf Jim, creases on all of them  :)
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: AET on April 07, 2010, 02:18:51 AM
Ha, some people's kids.  I like the phone, if it were for sale locally, I'd buy it for the 30 bucks because of the Alphanumeric Dial Card, and the color. But I don't know why he thinks it's worth 1500. 
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: foots on April 07, 2010, 04:01:42 AM
Quote from: AtomicEraTom on April 07, 2010, 02:18:51 AM
Ha, some people's kids.  I like the phone, if it were for sale locally, I'd buy it for the 30 bucks because of the Alphanumeric Dial Card, and the color. But I don't know why he thinks it's worth 1500. 

Because he is crazy, or has no concept of money and must be related to this guy  http://tinyurl.com/yd9fmcf
Keep in mind a really  nice one of these might bring $300 on a good day.
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: jsowers on April 07, 2010, 09:48:58 AM
I've never seen a creaseless 554 either, even on the 6-55 one I have with the black switchhook. I think maybe the original design called for no creases and they were added at the last minute before production. But I would love to be proven wrong if one of those would show up. It might go as high as what the seller's wishing on this red one.

Did anyone see the ending price for this light beige soft plastic 554? I thought it was fairly high for that color. And with a replaced coil cord and some scratches from the seller removing a sticker too. Did someone on the forum get it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320510259687 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320510259687)
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Dennis Markham on April 07, 2010, 10:52:53 AM
I put in a couple of weak bids, including the initial bid.  I didn't want to stay up long enough to snipe it at the end.  But I figured $35 was bidding a lot.  Guess I was wrong again.  I never dreamed it would end that high and was surprised this morning when I saw that.  I see Jester gave it a gallant effort.  I recognize his scrambled name.  The "rookie" bidder with two feedback was bidding in one dollar increments until he reached the mountain top a couple of times.  They're rarely around when the auction ends.  Is o***o someone from the Forum??
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: baldopeacock on April 07, 2010, 11:09:27 AM
Quote from: Jim S. on April 06, 2010, 11:01:08 PM
It has the shoulder creases, The photographer didn't realize they were to set the handset on when you are taking photos.
The early 554's didn't have the shoulder creases until Dreyfuss added them.
Does anyone have a creasless 554.
I have only heard stories of them.
Jim

ETS has a '56 554 in red with matching dates, it has the shoulder creases.  He posted this pic in his "pictures" post elsewhere - when was the 554 released?  '56 has to be early, seems like the 354 was still in production in '55 if I recall.

(http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2327.0;attach=12250;image)
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Jester on April 07, 2010, 12:44:48 PM
Hi, all.  As Dennis mentioned, I threw a last second high bid at the thing, thinking this one would end no higher than $75.00.  I was shocked that someone else wanted it bad enough to go over my very inflated bid.  I hope it wasn't Vern-- he's been looking for one of these.
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: McHeath on April 07, 2010, 01:38:25 PM
Wow, "only" 1500 bucks and it can be mine now!

Must...resist....temptation... ::)

Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: LarryInMichigan on April 07, 2010, 09:46:33 PM
While you are checking out the latest bargains, don't miss item #360237062154 ;)
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Jim Stettler on April 07, 2010, 09:54:52 PM
Quote from: LarryInMichigan on April 07, 2010, 09:46:33 PM
While you are checking out the latest bargains, don't miss item #360237062154 ;)

Vintage 1970's NY,NY
Jim
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Phonesrfun on April 07, 2010, 11:45:19 PM
Accprding to Ralph Meyer's "Old Time Telephones!", the very early 554's did not have the shoulder creases, but a young designer from Dreyfuss' organization by the name of Donald Genaro put them there. 

Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: jsowers on April 08, 2010, 09:23:44 AM
Quote from: baldopeacock on April 07, 2010, 11:09:27 AM
ETS has a '56 554 in red with matching dates, it has the shoulder creases.  He posted this pic in his "pictures" post elsewhere - when was the 554 released?  '56 has to be early, seems like the 354 was still in production in '55 if I recall.

The oldest one I have is dated 6-55 throughout. It's black. There's an entire thread about old 554s here and I posted several pictures of it...

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=1161.msg15312#msg15312 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=1161.msg15312#msg15312)

They produced the 354 and 554 concurrently for a while in 1955, just like they still produced the 302 when the 500 set first came out. I have two WE promotional booklets with both wall models pictured as available. The 554 in black, with a black switchhook, and the 354 in ivory. You can see a scan of that page in the above link too.

The red 554 in your picture must've had the switchhook replaced if it's all original to 1956. It would have had a thick switchhook in 1956, and likely satin chrome finish. There's an entire thread on just the switchhooks here.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=1568.0 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=1568.0)

We've had lots of discussion about these unusual phones and I'm sure that's led to their increased popularity, but I had no idea a light beige one would go that high.

Here is a link to a pdf  file of a Singing Wires issue (the TCI Newsletter) where Donald Genaro is interviewed and they mention in passing the shoulder creases on the 554. It's very interesting to see what went into designing a telephone. I would love to see a picture of a "creaseless" 554.

http://www.telephonecollectors.org/singwire/samples/0410sw.pdf (http://www.telephonecollectors.org/singwire/samples/0410sw.pdf)
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Dan on April 08, 2010, 09:40:50 AM
I second your emotion about wanting to see a creaseless 554.

Regarding hook switches, I got a yellow  554 today with a replaced handset cord dated all 1-60 otherwise. It still has a chrome "thick" switchhook. This is the latest I have ever seen. Anyone have any newer than this?
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: baldopeacock on April 08, 2010, 09:57:25 AM
JSowers, re: the chrome switchhook on ETS's red 554 -

I need to defer to ETS on that since it's his, and I was not there when he opened it up and did the cleanup on it.  I did read the linked previous discussion, with chrome appearing in 1957.   Thanks for that. 

ETS would have to tell us this, but I suppose that if the component dates are all late '56, it's possible that it *could* have been assembled in early '57 and thus ended up with that chrome switchhook.   All pure speculation on my part.   I have no idea whether it has any indications of visiting the WE refurb shop, ETS would have to answer that as well.   From what he told me when he got the phone and was working on it, everything appeared untouched original with a 50 year accumulation of dirt, etc.

The switchhook being a "hard part' and not a typical wear item, you'd think that if it had been replaced in its service life, there would be at least one or two other components with non original dates.   Or no?

The wood backboard on his phone came with it, originally red and needing a repaint, which he did.   Does the OE wood backboard help to date the phone at all?   
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: ETS1979 on April 08, 2010, 11:07:05 AM
I'm busted!!  Yes the original switchhook had a satin finish that was in poor condition.  I substituted the nice chrome one you see in the photos.  Here is a photo of the original.
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: baldopeacock on April 08, 2010, 11:33:16 AM
Quote from: ETS1979 on April 08, 2010, 11:07:05 AM
I'm busted!!  Yes the original switchhook had a satin finish that was in poor condition.  I substituted the nice chrome one you see in the photos.

Maybe someone here has ideas to restore that original satin hook, ET?

At any rate that does answer the question, and also how original that phone was when you got it.
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: jsowers on April 08, 2010, 03:49:49 PM
I haven't seen a lot of painted wood 554 backboards, but the ones I've seen have been on pre-58 phones. I think they were mostly plastic backboards by 1958 or so. About the switchhook on the red phone, thanks, ETS, for fessin' up! :) The switchhook on a soft plastic 554 is sort of like a big nose. It stands out. It's the first thing I look for when trying to spot an old one. And on this patricular red phone, it's not that it's chrome as much as it's small. The original ones were larger and stouter.

Dan, I think 1-60 may be the tail end of the large switchhook on WE 554s (others like Kellogg and NE used it longer). Also that was the tail end of the "no center hole" handset caps and the ringer adjuster went from flat to bent around that time on the WE 554s.

I don't know what you can do to restore the old switchhooks and the satin ones seem to be found on the color 554s. They do tend to get pitted with heavy use. I may have an extra one somewhere, but not without a lot of looking. I've gotten a lot of damaged 554s over the years, either by a seller not packing it well or someone forcing the case open or putting it in a bind. Lots of cracked housings. A cryin' shame. :'( If you get another one, be sure to have the seller pack it well. Especially at today's going price.
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Doug Rose on April 08, 2010, 06:12:24 PM
Here is a real nice painted backboard for a 554 or a 534. that I recently sold it on ebay 290406311133.....Doug
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: baldopeacock on April 08, 2010, 06:13:28 PM
The plating businesses that cater to the old car hobby might be able to restore the original satin finish, perhaps?
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Jester on April 08, 2010, 07:55:03 PM
Quote from: jsowers on April 08, 2010, 03:49:49 PM
Also that was the tail end of the "no center hole" handset caps and the ringer adjuster went from flat to bent around that time on the WE 554s.

Jonathan,
Pictured below is the base of my Ivory 554.  Notice the crimson date stamp reads 6/59 & the end of the ringer adjusting lever is bent.  This is the oldest example of this lever I have seen, & I haven't seen any bases between July & December of '59, so I can't say that my base points to the time they switched for sure.  I also have examples of handset caps from 1/60 that have the center holes, so I'm sure the ABS caps with no center holes were not made for very long.
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Dan on April 08, 2010, 08:18:43 PM
My 1-60 yellow ear cap  has six holes, not seven, and is ABS, not soft tenite.
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Jester on April 08, 2010, 11:33:03 PM
Good point, Dan.  I didn't make it clear in my previous post, but I'll try to now.  These items that I mention are, in my opinion, proof of when these features were introduced.  My examples may not be the earliest--just the earliest that I have found.  These two cases also don't represent the point in time when these features were used on every set manufactured.  It's been stated many times on the forum that 500's & 554's made 1959-64 saw alot of new processes & procedures introduced, & many new items were built in this era that used older plastics somewhere on them, etc.  The real value of my examples is it gives a known date to a part with certain new feature.
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: AET on April 09, 2010, 05:26:57 AM
I have a 58 554 and never noticed any difference in the switchhook, actually it's my very first rotary phone I got, when I was 10 or 11
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Jester on April 10, 2010, 05:40:42 PM
Quote from: ETS1979 on April 08, 2010, 11:07:05 AM
I'm busted!!  Yes the original switchhook had a satin finish that was in poor condition.  I substituted the nice chrome one you see in the photos.  Here is a photo of the original.

ETS,

I see some dirt & maybe a little corrosion on that hook, but nothing that couldn't clean up.  Satin finish hooks have a rough or textured finish, unlike the smooth finish on the bright chrome hook.  Ask Dennis about his method of cleaning these.  He's one I know of that gets great results.
Title: Re: A bargain!
Post by: Dennis Markham on April 10, 2010, 06:39:41 PM
ETS, I don't have any secrets to cleaning those hooks.  I just whatever works.  I like Simichrome polish.  It gets a lot of corrosion off.  On the chrome hooks I might use some 0000 steel wool, but it can scratch if not careful.  Just give the polish a try...it works pretty well.