Just stumbled across this on eBay. Being sold as a homemade phone, I am not sure if it qualifies as such. It does not appear to have enough parts for that. What do you guys think?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161681428659
homemade crystal radio?
Looks like a homemade radio to me, though it does use some telephone related parts. I see part of a lightning arrestor at the top, and of course the 4-prong plug and the handset.
Looks like an attempt to be something. The safety pin is interesting. Possibly trying to be the "cat's whisker" on a crystal pot. However, the coil is too coarse to be much use for a crystal radio. Definitely not a homemade phone. Looks like a piece of junk to me.
The auction ended without anyone bidding on it. I don't see any sort of network or induction coil that looks familiar to me. I think a lot of people may have agreed with Phonesrfun.
It is on eBay again with a $7.99 BIN price. I made an offer of $4.50 and was turned down, so I made an offer of $5 and I'm waiting for a response.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-HOMEMADE-TELEPHONE-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-PHONE-PARTS-LOT-/161746215862
I was outbid! Someone actually paid the $7.99 asking price!
It will shortly be adding atmosphere to a bar or restaurant where folks will stare at it while waiting for their wings. :)