Here it is.....Maureen's 1965 Bell System Picturephone ebaY Auction
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300853333667
Place your Guesses now. The new Auction Contest rules apply which are:
Rule #1 - Closest guess to the final selling price wins.
Rule #2 - Guesses need to be in 24 Hours before the auction completetion time/date.
Rule #3 - Try to split the difference evenly when placing your guess between two other guesses that have less than 10% 'space' between them.
Terry
S C O R E B O A R D
$0.00 - Kleenax (see updated guess)
$5,000.00 - wds
$5,969.00 - Kleenax (previous guess $0.00)
$7,580.00 - DavePEI (see updated guess)
$8,000.00 - Phonesrfun
$11,549.00 - Sargeguy
$12,159.00 - Phonesrfun
$12,769.00 - HowardPgh
$14,000.00 - Russ Kirk
$15,650.00 - MagicMo
$16,500.00 - DavePEI (previous guess $7,580.00)
$17,689.32 - TelePlay
$18,600.00 - AE-Collector
$20,313.00 - twocvbloke
$22,500.00 - Mr. Bones - WINNER Final selling price $21,433.67
$24,417.63 - Brinybay
$29,975.00 - david@london
$40.000.00 - quietstove
$52,000.02 - MagicMo (auction item owner gets TWO guesses!)
My WAG will be $17,689.32 or so . . . ::)
Gee, we think alike! I was going to go $17,500! I will go $18,600 so you have 5% room but something tells me there could be quite a few guesses on this one!
Terry
Hello,
My serious guess is $15,650.00 ???
I can guess can't I?
Oh CARP, I was just off looking for your "other" guess. $15,650 it is then.
As the item owner AND considering the rarity ofthis item, i am giving you two guesses, your "real" guess and your "dreaming" guess.
Terry
My official guess is that it will get no bids (at the starting bid of $5,000).
I'll say one bid at $5000
My Guess is $14,000
I have no good guess at this time, but I think that once someone "breaks the ice" at $5k, others will jump on the bandwagon.
After all, this is the only game in town, and where else is one going to find one like this in the near (or distant) future. Other than the spots, the rest is in pretty pristine shape.
There has been some discussion on the TCI listserve about the spots on the screen and the same conjecture that was expressed here about the possible causes. I think that if the fix is as easy as some have expressed there, that it should not hold up the bidding on that basis. Besides, if there is a replacement CRT out there or a service that can rebuild a CRT for a relatively small charge, the potential buyer would probably want to personally oversee that work any way. All this is predicated on someone probably going to want to turn it on and show something on the screen.
My "less than good" guess is $8,000, but I might as well have thrown a dart at the wall.
I used Bill's "dart board" method, closed my eyes and strummed my fingers on the key pad:
$24,417.63
I am gonna say no bids also. so mine will be zero, although that was taken. I would have see your reserve at $10000 or what ever you wanted, and then set the starting bid at $9.99.
Quote from: Dan on January 28, 2013, 10:22:18 PM
I am gonna say no bids also. so mine will be zero, although that was taken. I would have see your reserve at $10000 or what ever you wanted, and then set the starting bid at $9.99.
Man, you guys are tough! I changed the starting price. Have at it!
Made sense and worked!
Listing changed to $9.99 and 8 bids later it up to $4,900 with 5 days to go!
The sky is now the limit.
$7,580.00!
.
Quote from: unbeldi on January 29, 2013, 02:47:06 AM
If I had spent 10K or 15K or whatever for it, I would have great reservations to turn it on even, until I have run or supervised all basic electronic safeguards and checks to reduce the risk of destruction of vital parts upon power-up. How long has it been that it was powered? You have to check power supplies individually before powering the functional units up and diagnose each unit if possible. There seems to be enough documentation to make this safe perhaps. And in the end it's still a risky situation. The anode on the tube probably carries 30,000 Volts, and the dare-devil to turn it on better make sure all insulation is still good and not brittle or broken.
Yes, of course that is the case. Capacitors tend to go bad in vintage equipment, and if anyone buys it and expects it to work, without doing basic work on it to replace capacitors, they are nuts! Any selenium rectifiers in it will need to be replaced with silicone devices. Anyone who has worked with vintage devices knows that. It isn't the newbie who is going to fork out the money for an item like this.
But, the fact is, it is a truly historic piece, and there were very few made - in addition to that, this one has all its accessories, documents, packing cases, etc. which make it even rarer, and had had very little use since it was made. It is darn near mint. Which makes it very valuable. After all, there were only less than a dozen made, most separated from their power supplies and accompanying telephone.
It is a true gem and will make someone very happy - whether they buy it to display working or not.
Dave
I noticed the lisitng price has changed. I think makes Kleenax the winner? Should we start over?
The original start price? Don't think that matters but Ray did guess $0 based on $5000 start price so since the start price dropped Ray gets to guess again. Anyone can change their bid up to the 24 hour cutoff point.
Terry
$11,549
Quote from: AE_Collector on January 29, 2013, 11:16:16 AM
Anyone can change their bid up to the 24 hour cutoff point.
Terry
Oh, are you going to be busy when it strikes 25 hours before the end of the auction, as everyone adjusts their bid! :-)
This is going to be an interesting one! Best of luck, Maureen, bidders, and predictors!
Dave
I'll say $20,313, though given it's rarity, it could go much higher, but for now I'm guessing that.... :D
Quote from: AE_Collector on January 29, 2013, 11:08:05 AM
I added your new $5969.00 guess Ray. Changes are okay up to the 24 hours Togo Point and with this auction, there may be a few changes!
Terry
Thanks sir! ;)
Quote from: Dan on January 28, 2013, 10:22:18 PM
I am gonna say no bids also. so mine will be zero, although that was taken. I would have see your reserve at $10000 or what ever you wanted, and then set the starting bid at $9.99.
I listened to your post and changed the starting bid last night. Thank you for the insight, it certainly proved to be true. It's hard to see things from the other side of the Auction when you think your item is super valuable. So now that I changed the starting price you can change your guess. I'm interested in what you think.
Thanks! Mo
Quote from: MagicMo on January 29, 2013, 07:14:10 PM
Quote from: Dan on January 28, 2013, 10:22:18 PM
I am gonna say no bids also. so mine will be zero, although that was taken. I would have see your reserve at $10000 or what ever you wanted, and then set the starting bid at $9.99.
I listened to your post and changed the starting bid last night. Thank you for the insight, it certainly proved to be true. It's hard to see things from the other side of the Auction when you think your item is super valuable. So now that I changed the starting price you can change your guess. I'm interested in what you think.
Thanks! Mo
Excellent!
I don't know what the psychological barrier is to a HIGH starting bid, but you can see what it does when it starts with a low bid ;-)
You will be very happy with your end result, and I am happy to say that I was wrong on this one ;D
I thought I'd be high but seeing what's going on this early, can I change my guess to two zillion? ::)
Not until I figure out how many zero's there are in ONE Zillion. Once I know that I can do the math to get TWO Zillion!
Terry
Considering where the bidding is going, I cannot help wondering whether MagicMo might be better off talking to a museum about taking this, and taking a few years worth of tax deductions against the contribution.
I'm new to this and had absolutely no idea it was going to go this direction.
What would a certified appraiser have valued it at; $1,500, $2,200 or more?
It would have been a crap-shoot as to whether one of the supposed experts would have made the right call.
Look at the disparity of guesses that were given in this thread as to what the final price would be.
Plus, that should be a conversation she should have only with her C.P.A. since the current tax situation is so convoluted.
Quote from: George Knighton on January 30, 2013, 09:21:53 AM
Considering where the bidding is going, I cannot help wondering whether MagicMo might be better off talking to a museum about taking this, and taking a few years worth of tax deductions against the contribution.
I'm new to this and had absolutely no idea it was going to go this direction.
Problem is, not all museums can offer tax receipts. I feel she is doing the right thing for her family. Until the auction is over, a true established value for the Picturephone won't be known. It has exceeded most people's expectations, well over mine. Cheers for Maureen!
Dave
For the record $9396.54 with 4 days and 8 hours to go. 14 bids from only 5 different bidders so far.
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on January 29, 2013, 11:16:16 AM
Anyone can change their bid up to the 24 hour cutoff point.
Terry
Update my "prediction" to $16500.00. I am glad to have to update my prediction - more power to Mo! I hope I will have to update it again!
This is certainly one of the most interesting auctions I have followed!
Dave
My guess would be 12,769.00
Howard
Whatever the Picturephone ends at, would that be a record price for an antique telephone?
No guess from me as I told Mo from the start, I had no idea it's value. I would definitely say, it surpassed what I thought was possible for this. There is a lot of disposable money out there. This is really fun to watch. Like Deal or No Deal, without the................... suitcases.....Doug
Quote from: Doug Rose on January 30, 2013, 06:16:49 PMLike Deal or No Deal, without the................... suitcases.....Doug
Or Noel Edmonds, red boxes & a GPO 332 for us brits... :D
OK, my official guess is $12,500.00
Quote from: Doug Rose on January 30, 2013, 06:16:49 PM
No guess from me as I told Mo from the start, I had no idea it's value. I would definitely say, it surpassed what I thought was possible for this. There is a lot of disposable money out there. This is really fun to watch. Like Deal or No Deal, without the................... suitcases.....Doug
What would that make me? The the Banker or Howie Mandel? Please say neither.
Quote from: MagicMo on January 30, 2013, 11:51:15 PM
What would that make me? The the Banker or Howie Mandel? Please say neither.
I'd say you're the contestant, given that you've opened many boxes with nice surprises in them, hitting the jackpot with this Mod 1 Picturephone.... :D
Quote from: Phonesrfun on January 30, 2013, 10:12:09 PM
OK, my official guess is $12,500.00
Bill: Risking further discussion about "rule 3" I modified your guess a little to $12,159.00 to slip you exactly in the middle between two other existing bids leaving each with approximately 5% "space". Hope that is okay but further discussion or comments are welcome.
Terry
Fine with me. Its a throw of the dart anyway.
Its now up three hundred dollars from the other evening, $9,596.54.
There was a two hundred dollar bid increase from a new bidder following Member Id: e***d's US $9,296.54 bid, and he had an automatic bid putting it up another $100 to stay in the lead. Makes me wonder what his maximum bid is? Maybe $10,000? Maybe $1,000,000? ;D
Dave
I have to say, the posts and activity on this picturephone has me mesmerised. I have to read the posts several times a day. It is quite fun!
Quote from: DavePEI on January 31, 2013, 11:39:02 AM
Its now up three hundred dollars from the other evening, $9,596.54.
There was a two hundred dollar bid increase from a new bidder following Member Id: e***d's US $9,296.54 bid, and he had an automatic bid putting it up another $100 to stay in the lead. Makes me wonder what his maximum bid is? Maybe $10,000? Maybe $1,000,000? ;D
Dave
Auction Analysis brought to you by the Telephone Museum of PEI
We have an opening for a "Color Comentator" on this one as well!
Apply to CRPF Personel Dept
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on January 31, 2013, 03:01:14 PM
Auction Analysis brought to you by the Telephone Museum of PEI
We have an opening for a "Color Comentator" on this one as well!
Apply to CRPF Personel Dept
Terry
$10,478.28 Another bid, another recovery by m***c!
Who will be the next one to attempt a takeover bid! Smile, Maureen! We told you you had a gem!
Dave
I was just racking my brains as to where I got my guess number from (20313), and it just hit me, it's the last portion of my old Windows95 serial code form my first Olivetti Pentium75 computer... :D
The things we forget eh? Yet still rattles around up there, somewhere... :D
Mo.....I hope you realize that we are all very happy for you. This is a Fantasy Auction for all of us.
Just to let you know, anything over 20K it becomes a taxable income on the whole amount. Past two years we went over 20K and had to pay taxes. A good accountant writes a lot off for you. Maybe, just maybe ....you might want to consider a buy it now for $19, 999 or there abouts. Doesn't mean it will go that high, but it but be a good hedge against taxes. Also, if one of your two suitors really want it , they might jump at it. It is a gamble, not trying to rain on your parade. Food for thought....Doug
I was thinking about your tax situation the other day and meant to mention it here. Didn't know that it was $20K though. If $19,999 Maureen can't sell another phone (or anything on ebaY) for the rest of the year!
Terry
Terry....That would be correct, she would be one and done. For Mo, it is a delightful dilemma though....Doug
Quote from: Doug Rose on January 31, 2013, 07:35:08 PM
Terry....That would be correct, she would be one and done. For Mo, it is a delightful dilemma though....Doug
Would my husband be able to sell? I'm not all that concerned about it anyway. I can wait until next year for all the other stuff.
Mo
Quote from: MagicMo on January 31, 2013, 08:06:35 PM
Quote from: Doug Rose on January 31, 2013, 07:35:08 PM
Terry....That would be correct, she would be one and done. For Mo, it is a delightful dilemma though....Doug
Would my husband be able to sell? I'm not all that concerned about it anyway. I can wait until next year for all the other stuff.
Mo
The tax issues are probably complex. Especially since the items you are now and further contemplating selling were seemingly acquired through your father's estate. There may be part of the basis in the property that is exempt from taxation if you turn around and sell it. I would talk to a tax accountant, and that person might refer you to a family law attorney. As far as your husband selling, it may depend on whether you file jointly or separately. Yet another reason to consult with someone who really knows. Given the size of the potential from this and other potential sales, a few bucks invested with a tax professional would probably save you some heart-aches in the long run.
$12,100.00 - a bid by f***n, automatic recovery by m***c, another bid by f***n and another automatic recovery by m***c! Where will it end? Still two more days+ to go. This one's going to go down to the wire, folks!
Dave
Quote from: Doug Rose on January 31, 2013, 05:41:19 PM
Just to let you know, anything over 20K it becomes a taxable income on the whole amount.
Doug, Isn't any profit a taxable event? You still need to delcare a cost basis to establish taxable income for the IRS. Ebay only reports sellers grossing over $20K to the IRS, making it more difficult to "hide" the income.
In this case, I believe Bill is right. When we settled several family estates we were told to sell as much as possible within the estate and to distribute the remaining assets at "high estimate" levels to establish a high cost basis for the heirs. We kept the estate open for several years and sold most of the valuable items.
The taxes the estate paid were a lot less than any of us would have paid individually. After the economy turned south, we were able to sell many of the remianing items for little or no gain.
Good guidance is quite helpful.
If I'm not mistaken, the Picturephone will be the highest dollar amount we've done since the Auction Contests started. The next highest one was a Viaduct Candlestick:
= Contest Seventy Six =
Viaduct Candlestick
Kleenax $5800.00 (-$1529.99)
Ended 10/30/2012 at $7329.99
Although there was some mention of a 19th century phone that was found in the trash and sold to a museum for something like $18k, but we didn't do a contest on it. I don't have time to find it right now.
Another Bid and Recovery...
1***1 bid $12,200.00, and m***c recovered with a bid of $12,300.00!
Hurry up and bid - as of today, the Picturephone winner gets $100 in eBay Bucks! What a bargain! :D
Dave
Quote from: Brinybay on February 01, 2013, 12:49:06 PM
Although there was some mention of a 19th century phone that was found in the trash and sold to a museum for something like $18k, but we didn't do a contest on it. I don't have time to find it right now.
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=4642.0
Terry
Quote from: DavePEI on February 01, 2013, 01:52:04 PM
the Picturephone winner gets $100 in eBay Bucks!
Dave
Yes ebaY Bucks top out at $100 unfortunately....
Terry
Quote from: Doug Rose on January 31, 2013, 05:41:19 PM
Just to let you know, anything over 20K it becomes a taxable income on the whole amount.
Let's be careful here on "taxable".
The 1099 only reports what you sold the item for, and of course, most things that are sold have a deductible cost. Anyone who sells things is allowed to deduct the cost of an item, and taxes are paid on the amount that the selling price exceeds the cost. In other words, if you sold something for $100.00 and your cost was $200.00, there is no profit, and no tax to pay. Just because you get a 1099 that says you sold $20,000 worth of stuff does not mean you show that entire amount without deducting the item's costs, and any other direct costs such as packaging it for sale, advertising, etc.
Your original cost in an item you sell is called its tax "Basis". Taxable sales activity is the amount sold less its basis, which equals Profit. Obviouysly, if you find something lying on the street and turn around and sell it, you have no basis and no direct selling costs, then the entire amount of that sale is taxable.
I am not current on the rules that come into place that establish basis on items inherited. Seems to me that there are or were years ago rules that allow the items coming to an heir to retain their original basis. These things need to be worked out with someone who knows the rules and knows how to properly document the transaction to avoid getting in trouble. That's why I say that since this auction is gaining so much momentum, it would be worth Maureen's time to seek out someone who can answer these questions professionally for her further auctions.
Technically, any profit, not just over $20k is taxable. The IRS only chose $20k to cherry pick the high dollar sellers when they put in the rules of reporting last year.
Bill...let me rephrase taxable...if you go over 20K as of last December you will get a W-TF form from the IRS from paypal monies that you received from Paypal. I got this last February and was blindsided by it..... and yes I said What the F*ck. I never had to pay for eBay profits before as George W said it was free enterprise. This is not political, this is what was the law before last year, a very late in the game change. It includes all monies that you received from Paypal. Yes...shipping on your W-TF is included and you have to write it off, as well as the two eBay fees for selling. I know you are an accountant, so I am just recapping. If Mo goes over 40K, Paypal has her SS number and next year she will get the form. I was just trying to make her aware of taxes. This is what I consider taxable, maybe the wrong terminology.
Paul...the answer is No, I never paid taxes on eBay until last year. I was not breaking the law, it was the law that you did not have too.....Doug
New Totals:
Now $13,050.88 - f***n bid $13,000 and m***c countered with $13,050.88
Yay Maureen!
I'm confused with Doug's post regarding the IRS. Reading the explanation on Pay Pal you need 200 transactions AND $20,00.00 in sales to receive a 1099. Both must be met not one or the other.
My guess for the Picturephone is $22,799.00 and the winning bidder will be the buyer from Canada.
Zapper
Quote from: zapper on February 01, 2013, 06:22:12 PM
My guess for the Picturephone is $22,799.00 and the winning bidder will be the buyer from Canada.
Zapper
All the bidders so far have been from the U.S.
Dave
The bidder I have in mind always bids in the last seconds of most auctions he has won.
Zapper
Quote from: zapper on February 01, 2013, 06:22:12 PM
I'm confused with Doug's post regarding the IRS. Reading the explanation on Pay Pal you need 200 transactions AND $20,00.00 in sales to receive a 1099. Both must be met not one or the other.
My guess for the Picturephone is $22,799.00 and the winning bidder will be the buyer from Canada.
Zapper
Zapper....you must be right as I did have more than 200 transactions. Did this happen to you as well?...Kidphone
Quote from: DavePEI on February 01, 2013, 04:57:02 PM
Now $13,050.88 - f***n bid $13,000 and m***c countered with $13,050.88
So for the moment, m***c has hit his current maximum bid of $13,050.88 rather than that amount being an automatic bid based on some unknown maximum bid by him. We will have to see if he increases his max bid or waits for someone to outbid him now. At the moment it can be anyone's for $13,150.88 as a bid of that amount will take it....for now.
Terry
Quote from: zapper on February 01, 2013, 07:25:19 PM
The bidder I have in mind always bids in the last seconds of most auctions he has won.
Zapper
Ontariosummergardener ?
Quote from: zapper on February 01, 2013, 06:22:12 PM
Reading the explanation on Pay Pal you need 200 transactions AND $20,00.00 in sales to receive a 1099. Both must be met not one or the other.
Good news for Maureen then, she can sell 198 more items this year on ebay without worrying about paying tax (or at least without getting a 1099 statement.
I guess that no one has received a 1099 for 2012 ebay sales yet? Is there any chance that it might be triggered at a lower total sales value or a lower total number of sales for 2012? IE phasing it in and hitting more sellers each year.
Terry
I read somewhere that they were going to lower the threshold some time in the future. They probably want to see how this goes.
A bid by o***m at $13,200.00, then $13,150.88 and counter by m***c at $13,300.00. Good luck, S.!
o***m had bid a couple of times earlier in the auction, but hadn't been heard from the past day or two.
Dave
Quote from: AE_Collector on February 01, 2013, 10:41:02 PM
Ontariosummergardener ?
Terry....He has been a very good customer of mine. He is a likely candidate...Doug
Now $15,655.55 with a bid from e***r! (not this one, though :-) Wish I could afford to!
Note: 3/4 of an hour later, the listing now shows as removed...
What happened?
Dave
Any thoughts of an auction "erivative"contest? That would be a contest to guess who's guess will win.
Having guessed very early, maybe one of the first, I think I'm going to be low. My guess for the winner would be
$20,313.00 - twocvbloke
Got time, Terry, for another contest? ;D
What happened to the eBay auction? It's not accessable right now and it's no longer on my watch list?
Why is it closed/gone?
Quote from: TelePlay on February 02, 2013, 10:11:09 AM
What happened to the eBay auction? It's not accessable right now and it's no longer on my watch list?
Why is it closed/gone?
Dunno - I noticed that about 15 minutes ago - ten minutes before it was there!
Dave
its there...$15,655 at the moment....YOU GO MO....Doug
Quote from: Doug Rose on February 02, 2013, 10:22:28 AM
its there...$15,655 at the moment....YOU GO MO....Doug
Hi Doug:
I am getting:
"This listing (300853333667) has been removed, or this item is not available.
Please check that you've entered the correct item number
Listings that have ended 90 or more days ago will not be available for viewing."
Dave
Quote from: Doug Rose on February 02, 2013, 10:22:28 AM
its there...$15,655 at the moment....YOU GO MO....Doug
Doug, you sure?
I still get this on my screen . . .
"This listing (300853333667) has been removed, or this item is not available.
•Please check that you've entered the correct item number
•Listings that have ended 90 or more days ago will not be available for viewing."
Can you post your active link, please.
Still working for me...........
www.ebay.com/itm/300853333667
Quote from: Dennis Markham on February 02, 2013, 10:27:29 AM
Still working for me...........
www.ebay.com/itm/300853333667
Not here, Dennis....
Dave
That's odd. Must be some kind of eBay glitch. I found it in my watched list, clicked it, worked. Opened several windows, added the link I provided and it comes up.
Time left: 1 Day, 9 Hours
Quote from: Dennis Markham on February 02, 2013, 10:30:00 AM
That's odd. Must be some kind of eBay glitch. I found it in my watched list, clicked it, worked. Opened several windows, added the link I provided and it comes up.
Time left: 1 Day, 9 Hours
Ok, I see what you mean. When I click on the bookmark at the tip of the "Contest" it brings back the message we quoted above, but if I click on the one from my "Watch" bookmark on my computer, it does still come up, so, it must be an eBay thing. It may mean one of the eBay servers is down.
Hopefully things will return to normal soon. I would hate to see Maureen cheated out of her rightful sale, or any possible bid increases because people couldn't find the auction!
For anyone having problems using their existing link, though this is very long, try:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Extremely-Rare-1965-Bell-Picturephone-Complete-with-Display-Desk-and-Power-Unit-/300853333667?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460c418ea3
</end_panic_mode>
Dave
Wow, I'm so happy and excited for you, Mo!
This has gone well beyond my imagined results, guess I'll finally make my guess.
(I hope I'm well under, for your sake!) ;D
Please, enter my guess at $22,500.00
Best regards,
Terrence
No problems here. I'm checking it often during my breaks too on my smart phone. I hope I'll get a route that has a break right when it ends tomorrow!
If it ended right now....Maureen Wins! (Duh...) her guess is $15,650 and it is at $15,655.
Woke up to all the "the auction is gone" chatter. Both the original link and the one added to the first post are working for me. does the original link work for everyone now?
I had it happen once before where the link at the beginning of a different contest became corrupted somehow likely since we (I) keep editing the list of guesses. I think that one of the 12 digits of the ebaY number had vanished. But all looks okay with the original link on this auction contest.
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on February 02, 2013, 11:44:25 AM
If it ended right now....Maureen Wins! (Duh...) her guess is $15,650 and it is at $15,655.
Woke up to all the "the auction is gone" chatter. Did you fix the link at the start of this topic/contest Dave? I had that happen once before where the link at the beginning of a different contest became corrupted somehow likely since we (I) keep editing the list of guesses. I think that one of the 12 digits of the ebaY number had vanished.
Terry
Hi Terry:
I left the original link there, but also added the alternate link below it to make sure people could view the auction. It is strange - really I can't see what was wrong with the original link, but here, and at Teleplay's also, it doesn't work. The new one which I took from my personal bookmarks seems to work all the time...
So, it people can't get in using one, they should be able to get in with the other...
The original link is still bringing the auction has been removed message here.
Dave
Quote from: Dennis Markham on February 02, 2013, 10:27:29 AM
Still working for me...........
www.ebay.com/itm/300853333667
Thanks, Dennis.
That link worked for me. Must have been a glitch.
Quote from: TelePlay on February 02, 2013, 12:07:29 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on February 02, 2013, 10:27:29 AM
Still working for me...........
www.ebay.com/itm/300853333667
Thanks, Dennis.
That link worked for me. Must have been a glitch.
Still not here, though I flushed the browser cache and re-loaded before I captured the screen above. Thankfully, though, the long URL does.
Dave
Dave:
I just copied your long link, inserted it below the existing short link and then shortened it. So there are three links there now. The two short links look identical to each other. Try the second short link. All three work for me.
Terry
Note: I screwed up Maureen's last posting by hitting edit instead of quote, so here it it, followed by my reply.... Sorry, Maureen!
Quote from: MagicMo
I tried a different link myself this morning and it said "this posting has been removed." Not sure what that was all about. It could be that there is too much traffic on that listing! LOL! I have several hundred watchers. I am one big ball of nerves.
Question for all you Ebayers: someone mentioned that fact that I have had no previous selling on eBay. Is this something I should address in a follow up discription? I figured most people would understand that I am a legit person who just wanted to sell this one thing on eBay. Would that deter anyone from bidding? Everyone has to have their first sale, mine just happens to a doozy. I would like to add more photos too. Can I? I want people to see more of my documentation, because it looks like what I have is instructions from Bell Labs to IL Bell for installation. Maybe someone out there would understand it better. Some of the engineers also have written publications about the picturephone and related things. The documentation itself is historic in its own right.
I'm certainly thrilled if it sold today but I want to make sure I didn't miss anything. Any thoughts or ideas much appreciated.
Thank you all for being my cheerleaders. It is such a great feeling to have your knowledge and support. I consider you all my friends. Even those who's Auction guesses were zero! Lol!
All kidding aside, thank you.
Mo
Hi Maureen:
I think there is enough in the original listing to let people realize you are legit. It would be a shame to try to change it, then have something go wrong, and lose the listing as we were afraid it might have this morning.
You have come such a long way, and though my second guess was exceeded again, I'm not even going to try to change my guess, as goodness knows now how much it will increase in the end.
Absolutely amazing and wonderful, Maureen!
Dave
Quote from: AE_Collector on February 02, 2013, 12:24:41 PM
Dave:
I just copied your long link, inserted it below the existing short link and then shortened it. So there are three links there now. The two short links look identical to each other. Try the second short link. All three work for me.
Terry
Hi Terry:
Nope - neither of the short links work for me - still gives the page that says the auction is removed! Anyway, it just means that one way or the other, we can all still view the auction!
Dave
Something isn't converting the short link to ebay.CA for you rather than dot com is it Dave? I have had that happen and items listed as not ship able to Canada are not even viewable.
PS: you are getting pretty good at "rebuilding" posts! I was going to do that but noticed that you were still working on it.
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on February 02, 2013, 12:33:42 PM
Something isn't converting the short link to ebay.CA for you rather than dot com is it Dave? I have had that happen and items listed as not ship able to Canada are not even viewable.
Terry
Goodness knows - the page loading is an ebay.com error page. Just an ebay server hiccough, I guess.
___________
Yes, I felt pretty bad about messing her last post here up, but at least that gets her message across. Forgive me, Maureen. It was a dopey mistake!
Dave
Quote from: MagicMo
Question for all you Ebayers: someone mentioned that fact that I have had no previous selling on eBay. Is this something I should address in a follow up discription?
Mo
Generally it is a good idea to have some ebaY "history" before selling something so that bidders are confidant that you aren't a scammer. In this case it is a very big dollar amount too but it is also a once in a lifetime acquisition for someone who really wants this item. They have no option but to take a risk on it if they want it. Your thorough listing does help show that you are "for real".
I am not certain but I don't think that you can make changes to the listing once it is under 24 hours to go. Prior to 24 hours but once there are bids you can't delete anything, only add to the listing. Correct me ebay sellers if that is incorrect.
A payment option that could be offered is "escrow service" where the buyer pays the escrow rather than you and then when the buyer receives and is happy with the item the escrow releases the money to you.
I have no idea what this service costs. Anyone?
Terry
If I was ever in the position to buy something this expensive, I would make arrangements to fly there and pick it up in person. The cost of the plane ticket is probably not much more than an escrow service. It would also give me the peace of mind is seeing the items when I hand over the thousands of dollars.
In Maureen's situation, offering escrow service in her listing (possibly with each party sharing the cost), anyone who is nervous about her zero feedback would not have to worry. Presumably tat option along with cost could be explored after the auction closes and before any money changes hands. once the buyer is in contact with Maureen they may no longer feel the need for the insurance value that the escrow service would provide. Adding her willingness and conditions for Escrow Service to the auction might alleviate any fears that bidders may have. The buyer could always pick it up in person as well.
Terry
Quote from: Russ Kirk on February 02, 2013, 01:12:25 PM
If I was ever in the position to buy something this expensive, I would make arrangements to fly there and pick it up in person. The cost of the plane ticket is probably not much more than an escrow service. It would also give me the peace of mind is seeing the items when I hand over the thousands of dollars.
How cool would that be? I would even throw in a dinner of Chicago pizza. Or, if the bidder happens to live in a tropical climate, I would be happy to have them fly me and the picturephone in. Gotta do what you gotta do, right? Anyone from Vegas bidding? Just teasing (about the pizza.lol).
Mo
As for the auction activity, here is a chart of the bids over time. Lots of activity all at once and then periods of contemplation. There was a $5,000 bid increase on 1/29 which as you can see took 6 bids to exceed it.
Will update this chart as new bids come in to the end of the auction.
Just wanted to let you know now, whatever was going on with the shorter URLs on Ebay for us is working normally now. Must have been a problem on whatever eBay server we are routed to...
Dave
Quote from: TelePlay on February 02, 2013, 01:38:38 PM
As for the auction activity, here is a chart of the bids over time. Lots of activity all at once and then periods of contemplation. There was a $5,000 bid increase on 1/29 which as you can see took a few bids to exceed it.
Will update this chart as new bids come in to the end of the auction.
Interesting. I would say that that likely is pretty normal, except for the high dollar amount. You may have to add a few more inches of chart for the end of the auction! Pretty soon and especially in the last hour, I imagine it will shoot pretty well vertically upward!
I suspect some of the bids we have seen so far are exploratory bids - to see how high other bidders are prepared to go. Tomorrow will tell for sure!
This is a fascinating auction, and the wonderful thing about it is Maureen is going to be the big winner!
Dave
Thanks DavePEI!
You're gonna be busy tomorrow Teleplay!
Mo
Hey there,
I added an update to my Auction. I hope it quells any uncertainty of my legitimacy. Understandably so, I would question it if I were on the other side.
Thanks for the insight!
Mo
PS. I am not going to look at the Auction for at least another hour. I have been glued to my computer like a teenage boy watching...............A FOOTBALL GAME!!? Ha!!
Quote from: david@london on February 02, 2013, 12:05:27 PM
...found this image on google..... [from the film '2001']
maureen, yr ebay photo is there too - perhaps you uploaded it ?
link working fine for me........ my guess for the auction price is $29,975.
If anyone uses a Google image search for the one word "picturephone" without the quotes, many images can be seen of this and earlier versions of the phone, even one prototype from 1939 according to the image caption.
Mo's picture showed up there because eBay featured it in a "eBay Remarkable Listing" story that included that photo. Google's search robot must have grabbed it from there, both the Google image and the Remarkable Story image have that picture named as "Picturephone.jpg."
For posterity, you can find the Remarkable Story at this link for as long as eBay has it up. A pdf of the copy is attached. The image below is an ad from 1965.
http://ebay-stories.com/imitate-the-jetsons-with-a-retro-video-phone
Hello,
In my quest to find anything related to the Picturephone i found more photos. The following are pictures of slides. The original slides are clear. I only found two so far. Check these out.
PS. Bidding went up just a bit in the last hour.
Mo
[Cleared 'em up a bit - D]
Very cool! That peninsula it's sitting on reminds me a lot of the one from my childhood home....
I didn't realize eBay had added buttons like "Like" and "Want". Looks like 7 people like the picturephone, 3 people want it, but no one owns one.... ;-)
Good luck with the auction -- not that you need it at this point! :-)
Flipped the second pic over, so the camera lens is on the proper side, hope nobody minds...
Best regards,
Terrence
...early ad for one ?
Hi Folks,
I've stumbled onto MagicMo's eBay auction and had a wonderful conversation via telephone with her last night. She is a good person and has a big heart. I'm wishing the very best for MagicMo. MagicMo, Thank YOU for sharing the story and photo's you have posted here.
It is absolutely outstanding this piece is so well preserved with technical documentation! I know I am late to the "party" here and I know I am below 24hours till auction end but just for fun I'm throwing in my guess that this piece will be fetching at least 40K. But, I hope I am wrong with my guess and that this item fetches over 6 figures! This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for any serious collector with deep pockets. There is an incredible amount of "watchers" on this listing. The last hour of this listing is going to be insane when the snipers come out of the woodwork!
QuietStove
Quote from: david@london on February 02, 2013, 09:07:03 PM
...early ad for one ?
Looks like a frame from one of those posters the Bell System used to publish.
It's from "The Telephone Story."
There are several iterations archived here:
http://wedophones.com/TheBellSystem/images/ (http://wedophones.com/TheBellSystem/images/)
Quote from: quietstove on February 02, 2013, 09:09:11 PM
Hi Folks,
I've stumbled onto MagicMo's eBay auction and had a wonderful conversation via telephone with her last night.
I know I am late to the "party" here and I know I am below 24hours till auction end but just for fun I'm throwing in my guess that this piece will be fetching at least 40K.
QuietStove
Welcome to the group quietstove! Are you a phone collector as well and if so what types do you collect?
I always believe that rules are meant to be broken at least a little so your $40K guess stands. You were only about 1.5 hours under the 24 hour rule, you were a brand new m,ember who happened to arrive 1.5 hours late to "guess", the item hadn't moved in price in that hour and a half and you ae way out in between two other far apart guesses. Good Luck!
If you win you might have to share the bragging rights with whomever would have won otherwise. If that happens to be Maureen I am guessint that she won't really care anyway!
Terry
Has anyone heard if Maureen is "into the booze" yet?
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on February 03, 2013, 04:23:17 PM
Has anyone heard if Maureen is "into the booze" yet?
Terry
Hi Terry
2nd glass of wine already! I'm pacing myself so I'm not knocked out by 6pm. Waiting for the show to begin. Someone mentioned something about a football game? What bad timing for them!
Cheers!
Mo
Yes could go through the roof in the last minute or there may not be another bid.
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on February 03, 2013, 05:46:51 PM
Yes could go through the roof in the last minute or there may not be another bid.
Terry
I am honestly content with whatever happens.
Anything else is a gift. I'm thrilled for the new (soon to be) owner.
Mo
Started again!
$16,322.00 c***n then a recovery. That is the one I have been waiting to see. It WILL be a battle at the end!
Dave
Dave....1 hour 18 minutes to go, still at 16, 322...Doug
Quote from: Doug Rose on February 03, 2013, 06:35:40 PM
Dave....1 hour 18 minutes to go, still at 16, 322...Doug
It has been stepped up by a very important bidder to bring it to the 16,322.00! He will be a factor in the end.
Dave
I doubt that John is finished just yet. It would make a very nice addition to his museum and both Wayne and himself are very capable electronic technicians to get it working once more.
Can I have another? And make it a double.
Quote from: Brinybay on February 03, 2013, 07:22:07 PM
At work following on my smart phone.
Don't miss any stop signs or any passengers for that matter Briny! I just got home from work, wasn't sure that I would make it.
Fasten your seatbelts....EVERYONE!
Terry
So, how big of a bid will the winning sniper use to snag this piece of history? Two big snipes could make this go very high very quickly . . .
I was going to bid but the $100 plus shipping scared me off.....
Terry
Whoaaa! $21,433.67 Congratulations, Mo! We were all with you in the last few minutes. The most exciting auction possible! Winner, John LaRue!
Dave
Congratulations to John for a wonderful addition to his excellent museum where it will be displayed and appreciated by visitors from around the world! And not too bad for a seller with 0-feedback!!
All I can say is congratulations, that is a whopping amount at $21,433.67!!!
Wow, it went from 16k to 21k in the blink of an eye! More fun than watching the Super Bowl!
Just some quick braindead maths, did I win the guess? ~1,100 more than my guess, but ~1,400 less than Mr. Bones? ???
Congratulations!!! Double my prediction!
I hope the buyer restores it and gets it working. Of course to use it, don"t they need a pair?
Congrats to Mr. Bones for winning the contest by $27 with the sale price nearly splitting the difference between Mr. Bones and twocvbloke, I think . . .
Quote from: Sargeguy on February 03, 2013, 07:55:17 PM
Congratulations!!! Double my prediction!
I hope the buyer restores it and gets it working. Of course to use it, don"t they need a pair?
They have other incomplete ones, but none in such good shape. It can also be displayed in self view mode.
Dave
Yes it was close for sure! But Mr. bones seems to have barely edged out twocvbloke. Too bad twocv, apparently Maureen just found another one in a box and the contest winner gets the box it was in!
Terry
Quote from: TelePlay on February 03, 2013, 07:56:00 PM
Congrats to Mr. Bones for winning the context by $27 with the sale price nearly splitting the difference between Mr. Bones and twocvbloke, I think . . .
I just used a calculator, Mr. Bones got the prize, not me... :D
YO Mo!!!! Outstanding.....Doug
Here is another stat:
29 guests and 25 members on line at the moment on CRPF. I have seen more guests at once but never more members at one time. Didn't get the chance to check just as the auction was completing. Lost I member before I thought to copy and paste the list here below but word has spread to the guests, they are up to 36 now.
Terry
36 Guests, 24 Users Users active in past 15 minutes:
AE_Collector, Phonesrfun, Gilas, njglassman, DavePEI, dencins, TelePlay, baldopeacock, MagicMo, twocvbloke, unbeldi, Doug Rose, AdamAnt316, zapper, jsowers, wds, Just4Phones, G-Man, Dennis Markham, Sargeguy, Russ Kirk, kleenax, QuietStove, paul-f
Holy Carp!! Amazing, simply amazing. I'm beyond thrilled.
Thanks!!
Mo :D
Quote from: AE_Collector on February 03, 2013, 08:02:52 PM
Here is another stat:
29 guests and 25 members on line at the moment on CRPF. I have seen more guests at once but never more members at one time. Didn't get the chance to heck just as the auction was completing.
Terry
This auction and, indeed, Mo have both been good for us as a forum!
For me, there have been two events that have really piqued my interest on this fourm in ways that other activities haven't.
Maureen's auction, and her exploring the items of her father's estate is one, and Dan Panther's trial 500 is the other.
This is a great forum!
Quote from: TelePlay on February 03, 2013, 07:56:00 PM
Congrats to Mr. Bones for winning the contest by $27 with the sale price nearly splitting the difference between Mr. Bones and twocvbloke, I think . . .
I'll
gladly split the prize with me chum, twocvbloke! Cheers! ;)
(Congratulations, Mo! I'm
thrilled beyond belief for you, and to have been party to the whole shebang!)
Terrence
As for the auction activity, here is a chart of the bids for the completed auction.
What's eBay's take? Where is the winner located?
Quote from: Phonesrfun on February 03, 2013, 08:09:16 PM
For me, there have been two events that have really piqued my interest on this fourm in ways that other activities haven't.
Maureen's auction, and her exploring the items of her father's estate is one, and Dan Panther's trial 500 is the other.
This is a great forum!
Hey Bill, don't forget the missing link we found!
Quote from: Brinybay on February 03, 2013, 09:23:27 PM
What's eBay's take? Where is the winner located?
California, east of Sacramento I think.
Terry
Quote from: Brinybay on February 03, 2013, 09:23:27 PM
What's eBay's take? Where is the winner located?
http://www.johnlarue.net/cgi-bin/photos.isc
We are located near Stockton, California and museum visitors are welcome.
We'd be happy to send you directions to the museum and give you a personal tour.
John K. La Rue's Museum of Telephony, part of the American Museum of Telephony, is dedicated to preserving telephone history. The museum contains telephones and related items from the dawn of telephony (late 1800s) to the present day. One of the Museum's goals is to have working telephones from all eras. Many Mid-20th Century phones are already connected to the working Step Switch or XY Switch in the Museum's vintage 'Central Office.' The Museum also includes a technical library which is full of telephone related books, catalogs, technical journals and practices.
The museum purchases collections and individual telephones and parts. We also accept tax deductible donations in the name of the 'American Museum of Telephony.' In some cases we have duplicate items that are available for trade.
Please enjoy the Museum pictures at your leisure. If you have questions or comments, please email us. We're always happy to correspond with other collectors or interested people.
EBay's take: $250+my $51 reserve= $301
Winner location: Stockton, CA
I think someone will be picking it up.
Great peeps!
Mo
John LaRue is well known as a telephone collector and the owner of the JKL museum outside Stockton, CA, near Yosemite National Park. John and Wayne made it a point to visit the Seattle phone show a couple years ago.
Quote from: Brinybay on February 03, 2013, 09:27:14 PM
Quote from: Phonesrfun on February 03, 2013, 08:09:16 PM
For me, there have been two events that have really piqued my interest on this fourm in ways that other activities haven't.
Maureen's auction, and her exploring the items of her father's estate is one, and Dan Panther's trial 500 is the other.
This is a great forum!
Hey Bill, don't forget the missing link we found!
That too!
The best part is that it is going to a Museum where other people can go and see it. I will have to make a point to go and visit it.
Mo
If you do, be sure to take in Yosemite.
Or maybe I could just "Skype" as a visit. LOL! Full circle, gotta love it. ;)
The Picturephone is on it's way to a new home. :-\
I'm hoping they will love it like their own.
Bye Picturephone.....call me
Mo
Did the picturephone survive the museum fire?
I sure hope so.
D/P
I remember hearing that they carted out loads of rare phones hours before the fire, so I would bet it did survive.
Didn't they announce a demonstration of the picture phones at a recent phone show?
Why were they carting out loads of rare phones before the fire? Could it be that something fishy was going on?
Quote from: andre_janew on May 14, 2016, 03:51:18 PM
Why were they carting out loads of rare phones before the fire? Could it be that something fishy was going on?
??? It seem logical that they got word that the fire was headed toward the museum and they had a few hours to collect whatever valuables they could remove and evacuate the area.
That sounds like the best alternative in a very bad situation.
The picturephones were undoubtedly near the top of the list...
http://jklmuseum.com/picturephone-model-ii-demo/ (http://jklmuseum.com/picturephone-model-ii-demo/)
It's not clear if Maureen's phone survived. The picture they use is not the same model as Maureen's phone.
Quote from: Brinybay on May 15, 2016, 12:34:30 AM
It's not clear if Maureen's phone survived. The picture they use is not the same model as Maureen's phone.
I think Paul is saying that if the JKL crew had a list of the most important phones to get out before the fire, the Picturephones would be near the top of that list.
I emailed Gary and asked if he knew because we were just talking about the fire a couple of days ago. Here is what he said:
I believe that the museum saved one or more of the picturephones, but Remco will have to verify that for you. We had one of them working at my March show this year.
And then Remco replied to me with this:
Hi Terry,
Yes, the Model I Picturephones were among the items that were saved from the fire.
We had one Model I Picturephone working in July last year using the hardware we acquired from the lady you mentioned below:
http://jklmuseum.com/western-electric-1964-model-i-picturephone/
At the Placentia Telephone in March of this year the museum demonstrated 2 working Model II Picturephones, but not working together.
Regards,
Remco Enthoven
Curator & VP of Museum Technologies AMOT / JKL Museum of Telephony
For the sake of reiteration, I just happened to be on the phone with Remo this afternoon. He confirmed that the "Maureen" picture phone was saved. Sadly, many, many other things were not.
We had a working demonstration of two Picturephone Model II at the Southern California Telephone Collectors Show on Saturday, March 19, 2016.
http://jklmuseum.com/picturephone-model-ii-demo-video/ (http://jklmuseum.com/picturephone-model-ii-demo-video/)