Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Auction Talk => Topic started by: JimHyak on August 10, 2016, 12:15:00 PM

Title: Blue Painted AE40
Post by: JimHyak on August 10, 2016, 12:15:00 PM
It's back, it's blue, it's painted from old phone works
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322223410882
It also has a tiny crack below the dial.
Wiring inside has been hacked to add the rototone converter
Save your money
Title: Re: Blue Painted AE40
Post by: andre_janew on August 10, 2016, 04:57:02 PM
At $800, it should be a genuine blue phone and not a painted one!
Title: Re: Blue Painted AE40
Post by: Doug Rose on August 10, 2016, 05:39:40 PM
I emailed seller asking if it was painted as I had never seen a matching blue bottom cover.   8) No reply.....

Andre.. A real Blue AE 40 would command well over 2K...Doug
Title: Re: Blue Painted AE40
Post by: JimHyak on August 11, 2016, 09:32:42 AM
I posted this as a warning - this IS a painted phone, unfortunately I have firsthand knowledge. See eBay item 322200370731
Note the original listing did not show the bottom of the phone and was edited at the last minute to indicate the rototone was inside, also a sign this phone was not what it appeared to be. All I can say is thank you eBay buyer protection and I wish I had looked closer at the pics. Notably around the vents -compare to a molded color phone. If I wasn't on my iPad I would post pics of the comparison, it's worth looking at. The recess around the vents looks different.

The current listing does not show the OPW label on the bottom but it's there.

The original listing claimed "This is a true collectors piece with similar sales above $1700."

Doug, if the seller remains true to form he will reply to your question concerning painted or not with "I didn't paint the phone"

The intent of the seller seems to be to deceive, it's hard to come to any other conclusion.

I feel stupid for falling for it, and there is a bit more to the story in my defense, but anyway caveat emptor.
Title: Re: Blue Painted AE40
Post by: rdelius on August 11, 2016, 11:57:30 AM
Note the bands on the handset are  the COT type.They fit over the caps instead of in a groove.I have never seen origional AE colored caps with no groove for a band
Title: Re: Blue Painted AE40
Post by: JimHyak on August 11, 2016, 01:10:24 PM
Good point, Rdelius thanks.
So if I sent an original blue AE40 to OPW and asked then to install a tone converter inside the phone, do you think they would warn me about the damage to the collectability of such a rare phone? I would like to think so, but I don't know them. The seller claimed that OPW added the label when he sent them the phone and had the converter installed.

So besides the obvious problems of a rototone inside and a blue painted bottom with damaged gromment and OPW label, here is a photo of what I was talking about, which should have been my tip-off. It also points out rdelius's observation on the rings:
Title: REAL BLUE AE40
Post by: Doug Rose on August 22, 2016, 06:47:13 PM
Here is the real deal at a great price.....someone go and get it....Doug


http://www.ebay.com/itm/131916791001?
Title: Re: Blue Painted AE40
Post by: Doug Rose on August 23, 2016, 03:59:02 PM
Sold  $1500
Title: Re: Blue Painted AE40
Post by: TelePlay on August 23, 2016, 07:10:04 PM
Quote from: Doug Rose on August 23, 2016, 03:59:02 PM
Sold  $1500

That didn't last long. I'd say the seller left some money on the table with the BIN listing.

Also, is there any way to find out who bought this phone? Without bids, how do you get the eBay handle of the buyer, if at all with a BIN listing and not being the seller, or buyer?

And, the Captain Nemo painted blue AE is still for sale at $888 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Automatic-Electric-Monophone-AE40-Telephone-Blue-w-Rotodial-Cloth-Cord/322223410882) with free shipping.

For posterity:
Title: Re: Blue Painted AE40
Post by: JimHyak on August 24, 2016, 04:25:03 PM
I was asking the seller questions when someone hit the BIN button. You snooze, you loose but after my recent "hit the button too quick" episode (insert flashback here ) I was a little slow on the uptake. ::)

I heard yesterday that some of my collector friends have been antagonizing Captain Nemo with questions! Honestly, I didn't put them up to it, but I had to laugh when I heard.

I notice he's now posted a pic of the whole bottom, after removing the OPW label.