Auction 140: WE/Gray Telephone Paystation Model 50G - Ended 10/17/14

[TelePlay]

New forum members are very welcome and encouraged to take a guess. After all, there are no wrong guesses, just one lucky one. No one knows the winning bid on any auction until it ends. However, it is important to get your guess in before someone else grabs your guess.

Listed late Sunday night in a 7 day auction with no reserve (thanks to poplar1 for the heads up on this great phone being used as the replacement for the failed payphone contest #140) is another great two piece payphone from the estate of Paul Vaverchak. The phone was listed at $9.99 and since being listed is up to $49.99 with 3 bidders offering 3 bids. This phone seems to be original, complete and as removed from service. It is well described in both text and photos at the eBay listing.

So, with that said, once again, who knows best what this phone will sell for when the bidding ends?

The seller listed it as an "WESTERN ELECTRIC / GRAY TELEPHONE PAYSTATION MODEL 50G" with the item condition as "Used" and "Appears to be in "as removed from service" condition, with some nicks and scrapes, and some corrosion on the backboard." with the auction listing description as "This is a very nice unrestored example of a Western Electric/Gray  - Model 50G from the estate of Paul Vaverchak. Of the 100's and 100's of payphones that he owned, he kept only a very few, and this is one of them! This is a very well-marked example of a pay phone that very few collectors today will ever have the advantage to own. I have tried hard to make as many large photos available as possible for you to view, since this 3-slot is a rather "choice" example for your collection. I was amazed to see how many components are stamped "III-31" on this 50G. You will also notice that the paper wiring schematic is just about perfect. I don't think that I have seen this "WE Co" stamping with the date on the inside of a bottom housing before; was this common? Of notable mention is the vault door on this 50G, that is of the short-lived model with the odd, ROUND, off-centered keyhole. This is the model that first replaced the flat vault doors. The vault door lock is an original Western Electric 12A, with it's matching original key. Also included is an original 10G key. You can pick out the original 10G keys by their "frosted" appearance. You will also be very happy with the early, brass-threaded heavy-duty mouthpiece that his mounted on this 50G. The entire coin mechanism works perfectly, and rings and gongs like it was designed to do! The dial works as it should, and the twin-coil relay appears in excellent condition as well. Note that even this coil is stamped with the "31" date. PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL BE AT PAUL VAVERCHAK'S ESTATE WHEN THIS AUCTION ENDS. IF YOU ARE THE WINNER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO PICK IT UP THERE AND SAVE SHIPPING COSTS. OTHERWISE, IT WILL SHIP ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21ST."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231358844677

NOTE: we will use a 3% gap rule between guesses to prevent crowding. As such, guess gaps of 6+% can be split. I'll help with these as the auction goes forward and guesses are entered.

It's another chance to move up a rung or to get onto the CRPF -> Contest Standings <- list,

       . . . for as twocvbloke said,   ---> "You gotta be in it to win it !!!" "

If you want to see the phones of past Auction Contests, click -> HERE <-


S C O R E B O A R D

$  2,400.00 - kleinkaliber  ( 7 )
$  2,500.00 - Mr. Bones. ( 12 )
$  2,600.00 - poplar1  ( 6 )
$  3,011.00 - Kenton K  ( 5 )
$  3,250.00 - wds  ( 1 )
$  3,500.00 - tallguy58  ( 2 )  -> WINNER - Final Selling Price $3,550
$  3,639.00 - WesternElectricBen  ( 11 )
$  3,750.00 - Sargeguy  ( 4 )
$  4,000.00 - WEBellSystemChristian  ( 3 )
$  4,175.00 - TelePlay  ( 13 )
$  4,350.00 - Fabius  ( 8 )
$  4,600.00 - Russ Kirk  ( 10 )
$  5,500.00 - HarrySmith  ( 9 )


Early Morning Auction Status Changes

10-12-14     Listed     $         9.99
10-13-14      9 bids    $     535.00
10-14-14    16 bids    $  1,664.00
10-15-14    16 bids    $  1,664.00
10-16-14    31 bids    $  3,350.00
10-17-14    32 bids    $  3,400.00
10-17-14    15 bidders, 33 bids $3,550.00  Ended at 21:24:29 PDT

[wds]

$3250

[tallguy58]

$3500

[WEBellSystemChristian]

$4000

[Sargeguy]

$3750

[Kenton K]

3011

[poplar1]

$2600

[kleinkaliber]

$2400

[Fabius]

$4350

[HarrySmith]

I will go with the same bid I put on the last one. $5,500.00

[Russ Kirk]

$4600

[WesternElectricBen]

3,650.00

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EDIT:  entered as $3,639.00, 3% below the prior guess of $3,750

[Mr. Bones]

$2500 for me please.
Thanks, and best regards!

[TelePlay]

Here's the 3% "no crowding" gap spreadsheet for this contest with 12 guesses.

Available guesses or guess ranges are shown in GREEN within the small black bordered box.

( click the table to enlarge the image )

[TelePlay]

$4,175.00 . . .