Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Auction Talk => Topic started by: Phonesrfun on May 26, 2010, 12:15:17 AM

Title: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Phonesrfun on May 26, 2010, 12:15:17 AM
I was cruising through e-Bay, and I noticed a seller that was selling cords, and saw that there was a fairly large store, but no real information as to who it may be, etc.

The seller goes by the name THISUNDTHAT5HNQ

Has anyone seen this before?  I have not been on e-bay for a while, so maybe this one came along while I wasn't looking.

Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Dan/Panther on May 26, 2010, 12:36:13 AM
Didn't find anything under that name, Just post one of hie auction numbers.
D/P
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Phonesrfun on May 26, 2010, 12:36:46 AM
here is a better link

http://stores.ebay.com/THISUNDTHAT5HNQ
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: AE_Collector on May 26, 2010, 12:39:23 AM
It's Phoneco.

Terry
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Phonesrfun on May 26, 2010, 01:13:06 AM
Ah, ok, Thanks
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: AET on May 26, 2010, 03:45:38 AM
A lady at work came up to me the other day with a bunch of phoneco stuff.  I asked her what it was about, and she said she had toured there and had seen my phone collection on facebook.  Boy would I love to go there on vacation.
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Dan/Panther on May 26, 2010, 12:44:53 PM
Tom;
Phonceco is in Canada really probably not terribly far from you.
D/O
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Jester on May 26, 2010, 01:08:15 PM
D/P,
Their website lists their address as Galesville, WI.

Tom,
Isn't that outside your 24 mi. travel limit? ;D
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Phonesrfun on May 26, 2010, 01:18:41 PM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on May 26, 2010, 12:44:53 PM
Tom;
Phonceco is in Canada really probably not terribly far from you.
D/O

Oldphoneworks is the Canadian company, I belive.
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Dan/Panther on May 26, 2010, 01:44:21 PM
That's right got the two mixed around.
Still Tom not too far.
D/P
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: AET on May 28, 2010, 03:08:58 AM
Aw you remembered my hatred of driving distances :)

Quote from: Jester on May 26, 2010, 01:08:15 PM
D/P,
Their website lists their address as Galesville, WI.

Tom,
Isn't that outside your 24 mi. travel limit? ;D
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: paul-f on May 28, 2010, 12:02:12 PM
Here are a few photos of a trip to Phoneco, taken several years ago.  In addition to the multi-story mill building, they have a huge barn and dozens of trailers parked in a field -- all full of phones! 

The mill building is actually quite well organized and has a museum room with lots of interesting sets to view.  These photos are of some of the behind-the-scenes "storage areas" they let collectors visit to search for treasures.  Days could easily be spent here.
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: paul-f on May 28, 2010, 12:06:51 PM
More photos
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: bwanna on May 28, 2010, 07:00:59 PM
& junk cars, too ;D  i can jump on the ludington, mi - manitowoc, wi ferry, then straight across to phoneco! looks like my next vacation. tom, where was that huge antique mall over there? i gotta start planning :D
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: AE_Collector on May 28, 2010, 08:00:01 PM
Since they are trying to sell out the business, it is too bad they wouldn't start having a series of "Garage Sales" for collectors to try to get some $$ for the stuff and get it into collectors hands.

It seems too often that eventually they run out of time and everything goes for scrap just because there is so darned much of it there.

Terry
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: paul-f on May 28, 2010, 09:11:49 PM
Terry,

The few times I've been there, they've been very accommodating.  It's wise to call Mary in advance -- especially if you want to go through the trailers.

It's like a continuous garage sale.  Just go!
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: AE_Collector on May 29, 2010, 02:00:44 AM
Yes I would love to do that. I guess one should either take a BIIGGG truck or a tractor to hook up to one of their trailers.

I just hope that they don't suddenly have to close the doors and dump everything rather than trying to get some traffic through there to really pick things over before it is to late.

Terry
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Jim Stettler on May 29, 2010, 12:07:56 PM
Ron and Mary have been wanting to sell the business, inventory and real estate so that they can retire. Their asking price is less than the real estate value.

Just something for you "rich" collectors to think about.

Jim
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Dan/Panther on May 29, 2010, 12:19:14 PM
Jim;
Where are they located, near what major city?
D/P
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Dennis Markham on May 29, 2010, 03:26:20 PM
Dan, they're in Galesville, Wisconsin.  About 25 miles from LaCrosse or 225 miles west of Milwaukee.
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Jim Stettler on May 29, 2010, 04:22:23 PM
Maybe we should have a " Phoneco forum field trip"  .

Ron and Mary are busy with a 50 year anniversary party.
But later in the summer they may not be as busy.

Jim
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Dan/Panther on May 29, 2010, 04:40:31 PM
Does the name Galesville, have anything to do with the weather ?
D/P
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: Dennis Markham on May 29, 2010, 04:50:40 PM
Dan, only when the wind is blowing and the snow is flying.

Quote from: Dan/Panther on May 29, 2010, 04:40:31 PM
Does the name Galesville, have anything to do with the weather ?
D/P
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: paul-f on May 29, 2010, 04:54:45 PM
You can read a bit about the Gale family here:
   http://www.galesvillewi.com/walkingtour.pdf

There's a brief mention of the history of the Phoneco building, too.
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: paul-f on May 29, 2010, 05:00:14 PM
...and probably more than you wanted to know here:
   http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/WLHBA/articleView.asp?pg=1&id=1167&hdl=&np=&adv=yes&ln=&fn=&q=&y1=&y2=&ci=&co=Trempealeau&mhd=&shd=
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: AET on May 31, 2010, 02:59:08 AM
It's quite aways south, about a half hour from Madison.

Quote from: bwanna on May 28, 2010, 07:00:59 PM
& junk cars, too ;D  i can jump on the ludington, mi - manitowoc, wi ferry, then straight across to phoneco! looks like my next vacation. tom, where was that huge antique mall over there? i gotta start planning :D
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: bwanna on May 31, 2010, 08:10:40 AM
thanks, tom. this is a very doable trip. from manitowoc-galesville-madison-manitowoc is just under 500 miles. the ferry ride across the lake is around 2hrs, i think. unfortunately, vacation for this year was last week. hopefully phoneco doesn't go out of business before next year.  :)
Title: Re: New source of repro parts?
Post by: AET on May 31, 2010, 01:29:19 PM
I think you're in the clear.  And by the way.  Columbus has a new guy in a booth now with some GREAT restored telephones!

Quote from: bwanna on May 31, 2010, 08:10:40 AM
thanks, tom. this is a very doable trip. from manitowoc-galesville-madison-manitowoc is just under 500 miles. the ferry ride across the lake is around 2hrs, i think. unfortunately, vacation for this year was last week. hopefully phoneco doesn't go out of business before next year.  :)