Just spotted this on eBay. Rare #1 dial in excellent shape. Over $600.00 with over 9 days left. This is going to go high!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/323723405530
Harry...it looks unused. Opening bid was $9.99. What a great find!....Doug
Apparently someone found it in an attic with some other phone stuff including a WE A1.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Western-Electric-AA1-Desk-Telephone-Attic-Fresh/264226301472
Check his other listings.
Very nice contenders for the CRPF auction contests. :)
Interesting find! These seem to be popping up more than usual lately. I'm sure the collector that snagged the #1 Dial off ebay back in December for $500 was happy!
I was sure someone here on the forum had already made mention of a Western Electric No. 1 dial that was listed on eBay, but I can't seem to find it. However the auction ended tonight at around 9:30 PM Eastern Time.
Selling price was $3,745.00 USD, with 23 bids. Amazing ! Link to listing : https://ebay.to/2THXCmm
Jeff Lamb
WOW, definitely out of my price range.
:o - not sure what else to say!
That is a jaw dropping price for sure.
I was with the buyer, , and a few other major collectors, last night. There are 17 of these dials known to exist. They just have to figure out if this is #18, or one of the known dials.
One sold last summer that was hacked onto a 302. I went for $125.
I would sure like to have one, but I also want to remain married!
Honestly, I could never justify paying that much, but that is only me....Doug
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-30-s-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-Rotary-Dial-Desk-Telephone-Black-/253965831382?
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=21356.15
Here is the one that sold for $500.00 Dec. 23 2018
Maybe this was flipped??
I can pretty much guarantee this was not a flip. I know who bought both the recent dials and they were both collectors out west. The dials in these 2 auctions originated in the Northeast and it was pretty clear by the descriptions the seller didn't know what they had. There may only be X number of these known but that number has now grown by (2) in 4 months. Surely more will come out of the woodwork so I can get one. ;D
A "little bird" told me that there were 18 known to be in existence and in the hands of collectors. Are the two talked about under this topic 2 more, or are they a re-sale of the known 18 ? Who knows, but as Jason just mentioned, the sellers probably didn't know what they had when they listed the dials, so I'd guess it's another 2 to add to the list. The one that just sold was a dial intended for a test desk or switchboard, as the terminals on the back were marked Y / B / R / GN. I would imagine that would make the dial slightly less common than a standard desk set.
I hope manage to find one Jason. Have a great evening.
Jeff Lamb
Hey Jeff.....was this included in the 18 known #1s?
Best price I ever saw for a #1. This sold on Nov 4 2018 for $125....Doug
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-30-s-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-Rotary-Dial-Desk-Telephone-Black-/253965831382
No idea Doug. The "bird" didn't provide details as to how that figure was arrived at.
Jeff