Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Early last year we decided to do a "Find if the YEAR - 2013" as a run off for all of the contest winners from 2013. Then through the year we went back and did the same for 2012, 2011 and 2010 when Dennis first started the "Find if the Month" contests. Now that we are caught up it is time to vote for the best "Find" from all of the monthly winners in 2014.

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

This time there are twelve contestants to choose from so lets again do THREE VOTES EACH and see who wins the coveted "Find of the YEAR - 2014" trophy!

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 this Find of the YEAR contest together.

Terry

January 2014's "Winner":

Argee's Ivory and Green 302's for $20 each from an Antique Dealer

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=10879.msg116512#msg116512

Argee posted this about it:

Picked these up from an antique dealer who was moving out of state, $20 each. They are a bit rough, a couple nicks and some hairlines, and the green one has a crack at the line cord hole, but no plastic is missing. both dials turn smoothly. Apparently they were found with 3 other phones (a metal 302 and 2 500s) inside the wall of a house with a mouse nest built around them.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=10893.msg116458#msg116458

February 2014's "Winner":

wds' Rare Wire & Telephone Co. of America Wallphone

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11101.msg120122#msg120122

wds posted this about it:

Purchased this phone thinking it might be an old Ericsson.  Receiver cap is labeled Wire & Telephone Co. of America.  No other markings on the phone.  The label on the back is dated 6-12-07.  I think I remember that Ericsson/Kellogg didn't make those kinds of handsets until 1915?  The entire handle and both ends are bakelite.  The receiver cap and the threaded end of the handset is all bakelite.  Only the transmitter cup is metal.  The hook for the handset can be moved to either side of the phone.  The best part is that the phone works, and ringer rings.  The Cap was bad, so I hid a new one inside the box and now it's a fully functioning phone.  I would have expected this to be a local battery operated phone, but it appears to be Common battery with terminals for L1 & L2.  Not sure if the handset is original to the phone, but everything looks original.  Does anyone have any info about Wire & Telephone co., or this particular phone?

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11221.msg119832#msg119832

March 2014's "Winner":

WEBellSystemChristian's Two (2) Unfaded Ivory 302s from a Craigslist Seller for $35.00

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11319.msg122165#msg122165

WEBellSystemChristian posted this about it:

Today my Mom sent me an email while I was in school, that she found an Illinois Craigslist listing regarding phones for sale. I quick looked at it, and noticed three ivory 302s in the picture! After school, my parents offered to make a family trip out of it, since it was only an hour away, just over the Illinois border from Wisconsin.

When we got there, I almost ran to the phone shelf, and was pretty surprised to see only two of the three left, since a possible collector (I say that because there was a RedBar in the listing picture, which wasn't there in person) made off with one of them. But, two ivories remained; a manual (with a matching ivory blank) and a dial version. The price tags said $36 each, but my mom negotiated the seller down to $17.50 each (she's really good at this kind of thing)! So, I made off with two ivory 302s for a fraction of what they cost retail, thanks to my mom :).

My dad asked the clerk if they often got old phones in.  He replied that it's intermittent, but that these two are all that are left of 18 or 20 old phones that someone dropped off a while ago.  I'll never know, but I'll always wonder what the other phones were--if the "leftovers" were two ivory 302s!

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11415.msg121827#msg121827

April 2014's "Winner":

WesternElectricBen's WE 410 from a good friend for FREE

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11532.msg123688#msg123688

WesternElectricBen posted this about it:

When I came home, on Wednesday night, I came to a semi-large package from a good phone collector friend . . . which he gracefully sent to me, . . . . a 1951 WE 410, either a ringer cutoff model or two lines, though I am pretty sure it is a 2 line model, because of the number card. Notice, it does have a crack, so I might try to find another '51 302 body, and possibly drill a hole where the toggle switch goes, but probably not right now.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11543.msg123020#msg123020

May 2014's "Winner":

LarryInMichigan's red WECo 500U for $15

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11533.msg125915#msg125915

LarryInMichigan posted this about it:

The weather is nice here this morning, so I decided to ride a bicycle to an estate sale about two miles from my house.  The online listing showed a black 302 and a pre-1920 small Westinghouse fan which I wanted.  When I entered the basement of the house, I immediately saw the 302.  It was nothing special, but the dial, including card, was in nice shape, and it was $15, so I grabbed it.  The Westinghouse fan was already gone.  I walked around the basement a bit more and spotted another dirty phone and couldn't believe what I saw.  It was also marked $15, so I grabbed it and kept looking over my shoulders until after I had paid for it.

It is a very dirty and somewhat scratched red WE 500U dated 12-58 on the bottom.  I haven't dismantled it yet, but it is all soft plastic.  The line cord is long and (formerly) white or ivory, but extremely dirty.  The phone is going to need a thorough cleaning and polishing and probably some sanding, but who could pass on one of these?

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11833.msg125910#msg125910

June 2014's "Winner":

Dave F's 1965 Western Electric 500 CD in nearly mint mirror-gold finish found on eBay for $95 + $14.17 S/H

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11970.msg128474#msg128474

Dave F posted this about it:

I just picked up two nice W.E. sets in mirror-gold finish, a 500C/D and a 702B.  These are the best-condition sets of this type I have ever seen.  Both were made in 1965 and have apparently been in storage ever since.  There is virtually no wear or degradation of the finish anywhere, just some minor surface dust.  500 set came with a yellow handset cord and no line cord.  Princess has two white cords.  I haven't had time to dust them off or take any pictures of my own, and the pictures shown below came from the seller.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12115.msg128262#msg128262

July 2014's "Winner":

LarryInMichigan's WE #10 candlestick for $112 including shipping

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11971.msg130067#msg130067

LarryInMichigan posted this about it:

I just got an incomplete Western Electric #10 candlestick in rough condition, and I would appreciate advice on how to restore it (instead of ruining it).  It obviously needs a proper receiver and mouthpiece (the mouthpiece which came with it is the wrong size), and the finish is quite rough.  Is this solid nickel?  How do I go about removing ~120 years or dirt and corrosion?  The bottom cover is wood with a metal ring nailed or riveted to it.  Is this correct?  Is the *229* transmitter correct for this stick?

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12263.msg129504#msg129504

August 2014's "Winner":

sebbel's Bell Canada 3-Boxer with Blake transmitter and long pole receiver for $500

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12382.msg131823#msg131823

sebbel posted this about it:

I'm not sure what is going on this month but I have found a fair amount  neat stuff.

First I found a nice porcelain telephone sign. I had been looking for a while to get sign for a reasonable. Its basic but I like it.

Next I found a vintage brand new in box NBTel Thermometer, a telegraph key, a gray payphone, a switchboard and last both not least, an early Bell Canada wall phone with a Blake transmitter & thee double red bar receiver (not on picture).

Due to limited space and family situation I usually sell most of the stuff I find. But I decided to keep all but the telegraph key. The fact is I'm totally in love with the bell phone and I really want a 2 piece payphone so I'm going to retrofit that one.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12538.msg131804#msg131804

September 2014's "Winner":

waynet7's Western Electric #1 dial mounted on a B1 bought at a flea market for $125

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12556.msg133260#msg133260

waynet7 posted this about it:

A Western Electric #1 dial mounted on a B1. It cost me $125.00. I was happy to pay it. Will post more pictures if there is interest. I looked to see if it was actually wired into this phone and was not surprised to find it was not.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12689.msg133246#msg133246

October 2014's "Winner":

Kenton K's red 302 that he bought in an eBay auction for $55 plus shipping.

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12751.msg134140#msg134140

Kenton K posted this about it:

What do you guys think about this 302? I have an inkling that it peking red underneath, but I can't be sure. What do you think?

------

The phone finally came today. With sweaty palms, I took out the phone and unscrewed the base. Low and behold, Red!!!!!
The paint is pretty easy to remove, so it shouldn't be too bad. But who would even paint a red phone to begin with!?

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12738.msg133820#msg133820

November 2014's "Winner":

KWilder's Aqua Blue 500U Mushroom Lamp Phone for free in the trash can at work!!!!

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12963.msg137697#msg137697

KWilder posted this about it:

I found this Aqua Blue 500 U Mushroom Lamp Rotary in the trash can!!!!!  SO I was at work and one of the departments was have a gift exchange, and someone had brought in this old telephone as a gag gift. Well after the party it was thrown in the trash. By chance I had pasted by and noticed the phone in the trash picked it up and returned to my desk. I must add that I am an AVAYA PBX administrator so phones are my life. So I began to look on the internet for this phone and to my amazement it turned out to be very rare. So, please enjoy my photos of the restored Aqua Blue 500U rotary I proudly have on display at my home.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=13111.msg137642#msg137642

December 2014's "Winner":

LarryInMichigan's Oxford Gray soft plastic Kellogg DK-530 "Banjo" for $22.50 + $14.50 for shipping

Here is the original Find if the Month nomination:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=13164.msg139892#msg139892

LarryInMichigan posted this about it:

I just received this phone, and I am trying to figure out what I have.  I apid a total of $37 for it.  The shell and handset are dark gray soft plastic.  The WE dial, marked "7C-51 9 57", is obviously not original.  It has an ABS bezel.  The wires ere not connected to the network nor were the screws tightened to hold it to the mounting bracket.  The C4A ringer from 9 57 was also not connected.  The vinyl cords are also obviously not original. The hole in the shell is drilled where a knob would be, but the edges are a bit rough, and it doesn't appear like there was ever a switch mounted to the base, so I suspect that it may have been homemade.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=13365.msg139884#msg139884

Wow! There were some fantastic finds last year; it's going to be hard to choose.
Ben

Too many options!

Seems to be Mushroom month! ! ;D

Quote from: HarrySmith on January 18, 2015, 02:36:35 PM
Seems to be Mushroom month! ! ;D

More like Mushroom year.

Ben

Time to wrap up the "Find of the YEAR" competition for 2014!

Congratulations go to LarryInMichigan for his Red Western Electric 500U dated 12-58 that he purchased for $15 at an Estate Sale! Excellent find Larry and you have now finally won a "Find of the YEAR" competition to go with all of those "Find of the Month" wins, three of them in 2014 alone!

Larry had lots of good competition though, in particular KWilder's Aqua Blue Mushroom Lamp Phone that he rescued from a trash can at work! Either of these two phones could have won but maybe it came down to red versus blue and red won! Congratulations KWilder for being "that close"! Thanks to all of the competitors and to everyone who took the time to check out the competition and place their votes as well.

So congratulations again Larry, here is the trophy that John "TelePlay" slaved away for months creating in his 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

I want to thank all of the little people who made this possible.  It was a difficult competition, but the most important thing is that I won ;D  The cup will look nice on my mantel  ;)

Larry

Seeing all these rare finds really gives me hope that someday I'll have a soft plastic mushroom in every color!

But seriously, it is great to know that even today rare phones are out there in the wild waiting for us to find them.

Congratulations Larry, I can't wait to see what the phone looks like when you get done with it.