What is this phone?

[Greg G.]

Came across this ad on CL.  I thought for sure I probably had something for him, but I couldn't part with any of my babies.  Anyway, I was curious about the phone in the upper right corner of his ad.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/wan/2564005304.html

WANTED: old antique phone (will pick up)

Date: 2011-09-10, 8:17AM PDT
Reply to: sale-vz7mk-2564005304@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

WANTED: old antique phone to use as a conversation piece on my bookshelf. I don't really care what kind it is- as long as it's old and cool looking. When replying, PLEASE send a picture! Thanks!!

[Wallphone]

It looks like a phone that was cobbled together using older parts. This one and two others shown have round pushbutton dials. The other phone in the lower left has the image reversed.
Doug Pav

[Russ Kirk]

I agree,  I think 3 of them are Crosley sets.   Maybe he used commercial phones so he won't get in trouble using an image from another collector.

Maybe this person is listing ads in craigslist to increase his antiques telephone collection. 

[GG]

The one in the upper left is not Crosley, it's one of the (IMHO rather garish and unattractive) many overly-ornate approximately desk stand shaped phones you can probably find on Ebay.

Lower left is a real original German W-48 set, but shown "flipped" in reverse.

Lower right is the Crosley replica desk stand, which I think of as an AE 21 replica, and appears pretty decent as with all Crosley replicas.

Upper right is an odd one.  Probably another replica from one of many makers of such things, the clue being the added metal "rails" below the dial and above the ringer box.  It would not surprise me if there was not a functional clapper between the gongs, and of course the crank is purely decorative.

What to do about this:  Someone, quick!, hook this guy up with a real 302, or AE 41 with chrome dial.  He's just looking for something cool for his shelf, but if he gets his hands on the real thing, there's a decent likelihood he'll show up here.  About six months after that, he's going to need another bookcase.  For the phones:-)

[paul-f]

Crosley 1910...

[Greg G.]

I guess I didn't look close enough.  Ugh, I hate those push-button imitations.

[GG]

Paul:  "Eeeeek!"  Ye Gads!  Crosley have lost their minds.