Curious Refurbs??

[HarrySmith]

Just spotted an old 500 on eBay. It caught my eye because it was listed as a 70's phone buit has a metal fingerwheel. Once I looked at the pictures it got curiouser. Originally made in 1955, it has 6 different refurb dates, 3 from the 60's & 3 from the 70's. It still has the original leather feet as well as the metal fingerwheel. Curious as to what was actually done with all those refurbs. I find it rather strange they did not put the plastic feet on it at minimum.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-BLACK-ROTORY-DESK-PHONE-500-MADE-IN-USA-1970s/192918838090

[Jim Stettler]

I have been told that in some of the bigger cities, they would test  the phones ever time they were removed. In high turn-over areas you got phones that would a sticker every year or 2. Many times nothing was replaced, but a sticker got added.

These phones went back out to high turnover areas.
Neighborhoods that had low turnover got new phones.
Jim

[Babybearjs]

looks like that was one popular phone!