Auction 109: Western Electric 1950s Green 302

[TelePlay]

To welcome Terry back to the world of the web  , let's see what one of these will bring the fourth time around. A Moss Green 302 sold for $204.49 in Auction Contest 37 in October 2009, $307.50 in Contest 50 in July 2010 and a 305 in this color sold in Contest 90 for $382.77 in May 2013. So, will this phone break $400?

Up for sale in a 7 day eBay auction is a "green" WE 302. It started a day ago at $44.50 and an ongoing forum discussion of this phone is ..-> HERE <-. A lot of interesting colored pictures in the eBay listing, some marks on the phone, seems to have some damage to the handset but no noticeable cracks in a cursory view of the pictures.

Seller listed it as a "ANTIQUE PHONE - 1950s Retro Green WESTERN ELECTRIC BELL 302, F1 Reciever, WORKS!" and states "Up for auction is this Vintage Bell System Telephone model 302 by Western Electric!  This is an awesome antique phone! It is retro green in color. This phone actually works! I just used it to make a call. To dial you spin the rotary all the way clockwise, then keep your finger in the number hole and rotate the rotary dial back counterclockwise. This is a model 302 with the F1 receiver. The base has all 4 bumpers in the corner. The receiver cord looks original. The cord that goes into the wall jack is newer. This is a sweet phone that is more than decoration...you can actually use it! "

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331084226361

Another chance to either move up a rung or to get onto the -> Contest Standings <- list. As always, you have to play to win!

New members on the forum, as well as the oldtimers, are always very welcome and encouraged to take a guess. After all, there are no wrong guesses, just one lucky one. It does pay to get your guess in early if you know the selling price. I will be watching guesses and helping members as the contest progresses to prevent crowding under Rule #3. With that said, have at it and good luck!

If you want to check out all of the phones that have been in past Auction Contests, click -> HERE <- (link works, really!)

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EDIT: Added by seller

Q:  it looks like there is some damage to the handset. is that a crack going across, and a hole ? any other cracks, chips or scratches on the phone/handset. thanks Dec-10-13

A:   Hello, Thanks for your interest in the vintage Western Electric phone. The base of the phone is free from cracks or chips. The caps on the receiver are likewise free from cracks or chips. The one crack that I have found is on the bottom of the handle of the receiver which can be seen in the pictures. There is a center portion which has "BELL SYSTEM WESTERN ELECTRIC F1" on it. This center piece is slightly pulled away at the bottom corner by the mouthpiece and in this corner there is small chip or hole. Thanks again!



S C O R E B O A R D

$ 195.00 - poplar1  ( 9 )
$ 210.00 - Matilo Telephones  ( 8 ) -> WINNER - Final Selling Price $213.50
$ 225.00 - HarrySmith  ( 16 )
$ 240.00 - Sargeguy  ( 6 )
$ 252.50 - TelePlay  ( 14 ) --- (split the difference guess)
$ 265.00 - david@london  ( 5 )
$ 280.00 - wds  ( 7 ) --- (split the difference guess)
$ 295.00 - unbeldi  ( 2 )
$ 307.50 - WesternElectricBen  ( 13 ) --- (split the difference guess)
$ 320.00 - Kenton K  ( 10 )
$ 335.00 - kleinkaliber  ( 12 ) --- (split the difference guess)
$ 350.00 - Gilas  ( 1 )
$ 375.00 - Russ Kirk  ( 11 )
$ 400.00 - southernphoneman  ( 3 )
$ 451.00 - tallguy58  ( 4 )
$ 500.00 - Mr. Bones  ( 15 )


Early Morning Auction Status Changes

12-09-13    Listed $   44.50
12-10-13    4 bids $   50.95
12-11-13  10 bids $ 191.50 , , ,
12-15-13  11 bids $ 197.50
12-16-13  13 bids $ 202.51
12-16-13    7 bidders, 14 bids $213.50  Ended at 16:43:01 PST

[Gilas]

350

[unbeldi]

.

[tallguy58]

$451

[Sargeguy]

I paid $185 for mine in similar condition a few months ago...$240

Of course if you pay more than $49 you paid too much:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=9041.0

[wds]

$285

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EDIT: Guess changed to $280 to split the difference between $ 265.00 (david@london) and $ 295.00 (unbeldi)

[Matilo Telephones]

210

[poplar1]

195

[Kenton K]

320

[Russ Kirk]

$375 if I'm not too close to anyone else.

It's getting tight..

[kleinkaliber]

Can I squeeze in at $335.00?

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EDIT:  I put you in at $335.00, half way between the guesses on each side of that number and about 4.6% apart from each. I would not allow a split the difference to go below 4% so you just squeezed in at that number

[WesternElectricBen]

Can I fit in at 312.00?

Ben

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EDIT:  I put you in at $307.50, half way between the guesses on each side of that number and about 4.2% apart from each. I would not allow a split the difference to go below 4% so you just squeezed in at that number

[david@london]

"This phone actually works! I just used it to make a call. To dial you spin the rotary all the way clockwise, then keep your finger in the number hole and rotate the rotary dial back counterclockwise. "

pretty wacky dialling technique.

[Matilo Telephones]

Yes, that or it is necessary because the spring is broken.

[Contempra]

If I understand David, this dial doesn't return itself like the other dials ?.