If we had such an award, I would nominate this:
http://tinyurl.com/38hu3ac
That's what's called "Barn Fresh"
The chicken coop extension. Kept on the floor.
Judging by the dust it hasn't been rerfurbished anytime recently - might be an all date smatcher :o
Is the chicken sh"' the same date?
Good God, the seller could have at least sacrificed a duster on it!
I think Dennis has the record for the dirtiest phone. A Kellogg 500 model I believe.
Just try to imagine how it looks under the cover :o
Larry
This is the phone Jorge was referring to as my dirtiest.....it still holds the record for me.
I put together an album for it if anyone is interested. You can see it here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/vintagerotaryphones/KelloggModelDK500#
I always go to the Dayton, OH hamfest. It used to be the same vendor in the same location always had an old filthy faded WE 500(beige) that had a piece of paper taped to the front that read "Talk Dirty $5.00" The past few years it hasn't been there though. Don't know if some person actually bought it or if he caught on and threw it away. ---Eric
Icky all around. I bought a 59' 500 last year for the straight handset cord and it turned out to be a huge bust. The phone had been in a barn or something like forever, mud dabber had nested in it, along with some sort of beetles, very nasty.
Then the whole thing had corroded from moisture, the handset cord was ruined because it had corroded all the way through in the middle of the cord.
The network was filled with beetles as well, they had crawled down in the vent hole on the top and it was shorted out.
And to top it all off the thing had busted in shipping, cracking the case.
wow Dennis, never judge a book etc...
Fab job, how many gallons of elbow grease did that take?
Who had the horror story of the bellbox stuffed with dead cockroaches - yuch, vile!
Mind you I had the Dictograph terminal box with a live wasp - in November!
QuoteWho had the horror story of the bellbox stuffed with dead cockroaches
The usual packing instructions should probably be amended to include steps to take to prevent the roaches or other resident vermin from dying during shipment :D
Larry
I recall removing a gong from a 554 ringer only to have a bunch of tiny spiders spill out and onto the top of my hand on their way up my arm. Yuk. They looked like they just hatched...if spiders hatch.
I wrote a post about it here:
http://www.vintagerotaryphones.com/?p=19
Some may have already read it.
No thanks Dennis, that one about the mummified roaches still give me the boak...
As long as we are on the subject, here is a "barn-fresh" Kellogg 700 I picked up last week in Portland.
After a good cleaning and buffing. Amazingly, the body has no cracks or chips. Just some dulling around the cradle from years of wear.
I had another shinier handset that has the spitcup, and the one that came with the phone had a crack. I had a slightly less moth-eaten felt base, so I did make a couple of swaps from the original.....
I am going to have to go out and find an original desk set cord for it, since I want an original.
Isn't it amazing how, sometimes these old timers polish up quite nice...
Beautiful phone, Bill. Looks great.
Great job Bill.
I notice the brass monophone tag at the bottom center.
Is that original or something you added?
Either way, nice touch.
Also, where did you get that tag?
Russ...
Quote from: Russkirk on December 03, 2010, 11:42:59 AM
Great job Bill.
I notice the brass monophone tag at the bottom center.
Is that original or something you added?
Either way, nice touch.
Also, where did you get that tag?
Russ...
The tag at the bottom appears to be original. I have two bases; One with the tag and one without. The base that is missing the tag does have the two holes drilled for the brads that hold it in.
It is not brass. Rather, it appears to be heavy paper, probably card stock from way back when, and the word Masterphone is printed on it. It is covered with a cellulose plastic cover that is yellowed, which is probably why it looks brass. These plastic covers are almost always broken or missing, since they get brittle. I consider myself fortunate to have one that is original.
Also, unlike the 900 series Monophone that has two small screws that hold the name tag on, this 700 uses very small brads that bend out from side to side on the inside of the base.
Yes the phone (and tag) are Masterphone (Kellogg), not Monophone (AE).
Terry
Quote from: gpo706 on December 02, 2010, 09:42:50 PM
No thanks Dennis, that one about the mummified roaches still give me the boak...
How about arachnids, like the one that was in my 5302?
Quote from: masstel on December 01, 2010, 03:54:22 PM
If we had such an award, I would nominate this:
http://tinyurl.com/38hu3ac
Those are actually the best kind. They usually sell cheap, clean up well, and still function. Here are my two dirtiest. Dirtiest exterior was a white 62 500. This isn't a true "before" picture, I wiped it off a bit first, but the entire phone looked like the handset and line cord and underneath the finger wheel.
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh22/Brinybay/Telephones/62%20White%20WE%20500/62White500003-1.jpg)
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh22/Brinybay/Telephones/62%20White%20WE%20500/White62500after.jpg)
Dirtiest interior was the last 5302 I got:
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh22/Brinybay/Telephones/1940%20WE%205302/DSC01207.jpg)
After.
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh22/Brinybay/Telephones/1940%20WE%205302/DSC01253.jpg)
This old 302 was fun to bring back. Two before and two after ...
Another nominee
http://tinyurl.com/2fwnod2
Quote from: JorgeAmely on December 05, 2010, 05:58:01 PM
This old 302 was fun to bring back. Two before and two after ...
Jorge....I missed this earlier, outstanding work. Simply beautiful....Doug
I found this in my basement in a long forgotten box. I received it from a retired phone man years ago. I thought I had chucked it. What a mess!!
Well, how about this pretty sleeper...
A November 1941 black Tenite 302, one of those made in the first year of thermoplastic telephones by Western.
A find of last weekend, but it sure has problems....
I think the dirtiest phone award belongs to this phone:
https://picasaweb.google.com/vintagerotaryphones/KelloggModelDK500
Had to weigh in, on this subject...
Bought a 'parts' 10/59 554 recently, was wanting the soft-plastic shell for another project. The shell arrived in 9 discernible pieces, plus crumbles, and the interior was less than I had hoped for. Probably works, still, though. I will find out this weekend....the show must go on! ;)
My apologies for my checkered pyjamas, in advance... 'Casual Friday', here at home, lol!
Best regards!
It was listed as a WE 500 but turned out to be a SC 500. Listing picture looked nice (they cleaned up the case and handset) but never opened the phone to show the mud and rust left by whatever flood it was in. Not the dirtiest of all times but it was sent back.
http://tinyurl.com/dxfbntc
Oy vey, that phone is nasty. :P Bet it works. :)
Quote from: McHeath on March 18, 2013, 12:59:21 AM
Oy vey, that phone is nasty. :P Bet it works. :)
Bet all that dirt will buff off. ;D ;D ;D
A plastic sander's delight. Hours of fun and entertainment here.
Good project phone as it seems to be an older 500 with leather feet and a metal finger wheel.
Okay, it's not the dirtiest phone but if the seller is accurate, it's the most scratched phone I've ever seen. $10 plus $13 shipping will make it, ah, well, somebody else's . . .
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121087591668