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WECo Color 500s - Recent Auction Prices

Started by poplar1, July 03, 2014, 10:55:55 AM

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Slal

In looking for another color, here are some from September.

Mahogany on Sept 8 2014 # 221538808280

(flat modular cord into network; transmitter end of HS slightly misshapen)
1 bid for $500
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Dk Gray on Sept 21, 2014 # 141407440950 
26 bids.  $360.57

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Med. Blue on Sept. 24, 2014   # 321526621298
(cracked housing)
7 bids.  $280
----
Med Blue on Sept. 16, 2014 # 201172758484

Sold for $649.99  (BIN price was revised; higher or lower unknown.)


poplar1

500DR-56 made in 5/55
This one lasted about 15 minutes: $20 Buy-it-now sold today:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121458508443
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

mentalstampede

My name is Kenn, and I like telephones.

"Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something." --Robert Heinlein

WEBellSystemChristian

#48
Niiiiice! Now that's a deal if I've ever seen one!

Ouch, but look at the 'black ring' (probably a burn mark) around the handset!
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

unbeldi

Quote from: WEBellSystemChristian on October 12, 2014, 09:56:01 AM
Niiiiice! Now that's a deal if I've ever seen one!

Ouch, but look at the 'black ring' (probably a burn mark) around the handset!

I couldn't decide if it is a burn mark or spray paint mark.  I cannot conceive how a burn mark would wrap around the corner so precisely. Any prolonged exposure results in plastic melting. It has to be a very short-lived explosive kind of exposure, like an electrical shorting flash.  Burn marks can be very difficult to remove in these plastics, the material may be damaged very deeply into the bulk, so sanding may not be helpful.

WEBellSystemChristian

Quote from: unbeldi on October 12, 2014, 10:11:04 AM
Quote from: WEBellSystemChristian on October 12, 2014, 09:56:01 AM
Niiiiice! Now that's a deal if I've ever seen one!

Ouch, but look at the 'black ring' (probably a burn mark) around the handset!

I couldn't decide if it is a burn mark or spray paint mark.  I cannot conceive how a burn mark would wrap around the corner so precisely. Any prolonged exposure results in plastic melting. It has to be a very short-lived explosive kind of exposure, like an electrical shorting flash.  Burn marks can be very difficult to remove in these plastics, the material may be damaged very deeply into the bulk, so sanding may not be helpful.

The seller said that it was probably from "a hearing impaired device". ???
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

unbeldi

#51
Yes,   "BLACK RING AROUND HANDSET PROBABLY FROM A HEARING IMPAIRED DEVICE"
The device was hearing impaired?

It does look like some band was wrapped around the receiver. The corner is more darkened than the flat surfaces, and so are the areas that have more pronounced curvature, meaning that the band had better surface contact there which is consistent with a rubber band.  Rubber does leave brown marks over long time. For example, when you look at the surroundings of the rubber grommets of the dial adapter gaskets on plastic 302s, the plastic is very often dark-tinted like this.

Slal

Quote from: poplar1 on October 11, 2014, 07:49:19 PM
500DR-56 made in 5/55
This one lasted about 15 minutes: $20 Buy-it-now sold today:

Get to fill in missing value for yellow in database.  Happy me.  (although $20 kind of skews things)

Proves bargains still out there if "right place at right time."

Wish I were that lucky. ; )

--Bruce



poplar1

Brown 501 sold for $370.65 on Oct. 16, 12 bids (Oklahoma).
Base was originally a 500 dated 10/52. Transmitter 2-56, receiver 12-55, so set was probably converted to a 501 with new brown plastics in 1956.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261621713995
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

david@london

#54
This ebay auction, for a yellow 500 P/U dated 3/60 on the base, starting at $300 or BIN at $455, was ended early on 9th Dec '19.
Seller stated that there was an error in the listing, presumably after receiving a side offer.

Listing description:

Western Electric / Bell system 500 U "Mushroom" phone from 1960

Beautiful nearly perfect in yellow, this phone was the first of its kind to offer a lighted see thru dial with a switch so you could have the light on always or just when you picked up......THESE ARE QUITE RARE.....

This one is from March of 1960. They were only made for a handful of years

Bid with confidence on this one ....it is just beautiful and WORKING!!!

The phone number indicates this came from North Seattle originally

Ships to lower 49 only...sold as is....no returns

Expertly wrapped




david@london

#55
This mint condition NOS
pink

WE500 just sold for a pretty impressive sum.
Seller also has on offer an NOS
aqua   set, ending tomorrow.



Doug Rose

Beautiful soft plastic 500 sets, new in the box. Such an unbelievable find!
Kidphone

HarrySmith

Very Nice! I am sure the blue one will go higher than the pink did.
Harry Smith
ATCA 4434
TCI

"There is no try,
there is only
do or do not"

david@london

I must say I was expecting that too, Harry. In fact it finished at $255....

markosjal

#59
I recently sold an aqua blue 1958 at $240 dollars. It was in excellent condition. I think i paid $25 for it. It had no yellowing whatsoever, factory shine too. Buyer was very happy.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Restored-Antique-Western-Electric-500-1958-Aqua-Blue-/265125847336?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286
Phat Phantom's phreaking phone phettish