Today's find - AECo Chrome 3 Slot Payphone

[tell302man]

I found this in a little antique shop in Bluefield WV today. Lots of old buildings and old houses there. It looks to me like it is new old stock.I thought 75 dollars was a good deal. These are before and after I cleaned it up.

[tell302man]

After cleaning

[Greg G.]

I took the liberty of rotating your pics.

[tell302man]

Thanks I am still figuring this out. Sorry

[Greg G.]

Depending on your camera, you can rotate them using the camera's functions, or what I do is rotate them using a graphic processor after I transfer them to my computer.  In your case, I d/l them, then rotated them, then uploaded them again.  After looking at them again, I think you had a duplicate "after" pic.

Anyway, as for the phone, I'm not into payphones (yet), so I don't know a whole lot about them, but it sounds like you got a good deal, especially if the key came with it.  Does it work?

[LarryInMichigan]

That was a great deal!  I think that a phone in that condition could sell for $300-$400.

Larry

[tell302man]

Not sure if it works yet. I know it is new old stock. It has never been used.

[allineedislove]

Do you have an extra vault door key?. I hav one phone similar to yours but I don't have a key.

[AE_Collector]

Do you have an extra vault door key?. I hav one phone similar to yours but I don't have a key.

Key and Lock Oscar....Every vault door key is different.

Terry

[allineedislove]

Do you know how can I open the vault door from the back o fthe phone?

[poplar1]

Western Electric and Northern Electric: remove the 7 screws on the back of the phone; then remove the back.

Automatic Electric: more difficult since two of the screws are coming from inside the phone. Remove the ones that unscrew from the back; then you will have to drill out the other two.

All: If there is no coin box inside, you can then unscrew the vault lock from the rear.

[AE_Collector]

Apparently it is quite often possible to remove the final two screws in an AE 3 slot with a drill but not by drilling it out, just drill slowly and the bit will usually catch on the metal bolt enough to unscrew it. So i have heard on the forums at least.

Terry

[Sargeguy]

Automatic Electric Payphones were often refurbished and sold to consumers back in the 70s, so its probably not a NOS payphone.  Still an excellent deal.  Can you plug it and get it to work?

[stub]

tell302man ,
                   SWEEEEEEET !!!!!!!!!!!!!! You got a great deal!  If you get a chance open it up and post pics of the insides . stub

[tell302man]

I will post a pic of the inside this evening.