I went a different direction this time! WECo 544 Mahogany Brown

[Jester]

As a collector of interesting telephones, it has not escaped my notice that keysets, or "business phones", would be worthy of my attention.  The problem has been that I'm picky, & I've passed up a number of good buys because they were "too new".  This 544 was on ebay recently, & everything fell into place for me.  It would have been nice if it had been cheaper, but I still think it was a bargain.  The whole time I was watching this auction, & later when I was cleaning the phone, I kept picturing that wonderful example of a six button set that  John S. owns.  Please, John, don't tell me what you paid for yours--it would be too painful!

[Dan/Panther]

Stephen;
Is that phone brown ?
D/P

[Jester]

D/P,

It is an original mahogany brown keyset from '55.

[Dan/Panther]

Gheez;
I'm running outta room here, to start something new...Beautiful.
D/P

[Jester]

I can sympathize with "running outta room"!  My wife reminds me all the time!!   At least she doesn't bring up "running outta money"!

[Jim Stettler]

I was watching that auction. That phone is nicer than mine. Mine is missing the FW, reciever element, and the amphenol was cut off.  

I got it "free" with a $150.00 switchboard. I offered $100 for the switchboard and he countered $150. I bought the board and he started poking around in some more boxes and said, here is an early keyphone. I offered to buy it and he said I could have it since I went the extra $50.00 on the switchboard.

At that moment (in my mind) the deal became $150 for the phone,providing I haul away the switchboard.
Jim

[AET]

I bid on this keyset, I'm glad it went to a good home.

[Jester]

In my excitement to announce this one, I rushed the photo shoot and I'm disappointed with the pictures.  Here are some outside shots I took this afternoon that I think are a little nicer.  At least the shine on the plastics is more evident this time.

[JorgeAmely]

Stephen, you should warn us about those shiny phones. Now I will be blind for a little while. Excellent job.

Are you planning to connect it to the phone line or will it be for display only?

What about some under the hood pictures?

[Dennis Markham]

Stephen, the phone is awesome, no doubt about that.  I really like the round keys.  But I think your original photos showed the color better.  The new ones, (on my monitor at least) have a bluish tint to them.  Is your camera set for incandescent lighting?  Maybe went from A/C outside and there is some fog??  Maybe my eyes are foggy.  How old is one when cataracts begin???

[JorgeAmely]

Stephen:

Check to see if there is a finger smudge on the lens. That is a cause for blurry pictures. Alcohol and a Q tip will take care of that.

[Dan/Panther]

How old is one, when cataracts begin???

Dennis;
When you get tired of driving your Rincolns...
D/P

[baldopeacock]

You'd think this phone must have originally been installed in an executive office somewhere.   The lower-on-the-foodchain people would have gotten black keysets.   If these things could talk, there would probably be some interesting stories behind them.

D/P,  thanks for the Rincoln joke.   I was thinking it, you took the words right out of my mouth.

[Dennis Markham]

Well, it took me a while.  I just got the Rincoln joke.

[McHeath]

Wow, that sure is pretty!  I followed that auction, and knew that it would go high as it's a rare bird.  Glad a good home got it, as AtomicTom said.