Auction 264: Orchid AE 40 with Chrome Trim and Extensicord - Ended 02-21-17

[TelePlay]

New forum members are very welcome and encouraged to take a guess. After all, there are no wrong guesses, just one lucky one. No one knows the winning bid on any auction until it ends. However, it is important to get your guess in before someone else grabs your guess.

Just listed in a 10 day auction with no reserve starting at $250.00 ( with thanks to WEBellSystemChristian for the suggestion ) is a rare Orchid AE 40 that has nearly fully transformed into the blue seen this phones over time. The seller provided a internal photos only. The phone has not received it's first bid yet but this phone will sell. So, who best knows what this rare phone will sell for when the auction ends?

NOTE:  We will use a $10 gap rule between guesses to prevent crowding. As such, keep your guess at least $10 away from prior guesses for this contest. All guesses, original and a single allowed revised guess if needed, must be submitted at least 24 hours before the auction ends.

The seller listed it as an "Working Art Deco Automatic Electric Monophone - Rotary Dial -Blue Chrome AE40" with the item condition as "Used" and " - - - " and with the auction listing description saying "Automatic Electric Monophone -- This is a Very Rare Historic Original Phone in Original Condition, Works! -- Looks like heavy bakelite base and hand set.  -- From what I could find, I believe it to be the AE40 (or #40). -- Blue colored with chrome colored bands and dial. -- Cord is in great condition. no fraying. Handset is in Good condition Too!  -- Rubber going around the bottom is showing its age - dry and "crackly." with one spot broken off (see Photo) -- Ear portion of the handset is yellowed. -- The two plungers in the handset cradle bounce back perfectly. -- I bought an adapter for a wall land line years ago. I used to use this phone myself. Its been years since I got rid of my land line so it has not been used for sometime. I can see no reason why it shouldn't still be able to work fine."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/112300679019

It's another chance to move up a rung or to get onto the CRPF -> Contest Standings <- list,

     . . . for as twocvbloke said,   ---> "You gotta be in it to win it !!!" "

If you want to see the phones of past Auction Contests, click -> HERE <-


S C O R E B O A R D

$  1,200.00 - skyrider  ( 9 )
$  1,500.00 - andre_janew  ( 10 )
$  1,650.00 - Jim S.  ( 1 )  -> WINNER - Final Selling Price $1,602.00
$  1,820.00 - JimHyak  ( 13 )
$  1,950.00 - stub  ( 3 )
$  2,010.00 - tallguy58  ( 6 )
$  2,020.00 - 19and41  ( 14 )
$  2,050.00 - kleinkaliber  ( 12 )
$  2,100.00 - AE_Collector  ( 2 )
$  2,250.00 - wds  ( 5 )
$  2,500.00 - HarrySmith  ( 4 )
$  2,550.00 - Fabius  ( 7 )
$  3,500.00 - Sargeguy  ( 11 )
$  4,100.00 - TelePlay  ( 15 )
$  4,700.00 - WEBellSystemChristian  ( 8 )

Early Morning Auction Status

02-11-17      Listed         $    250.00
02-12-17      2 bids         $    255.00    ( 2 bidders & 25 )
02-13-17      4 bids         $    305.00    ( 3 bidders & 32 )
02-14-17      4 bids         $    305.00
02-15-17      4 bids         $    305.00
02-16-17      4 bids         $    305.00    ( 3 bidders & 51 )
02-17-17      4 bids         $    305.00
02-18-17    14 bids         $    580.00    ( 4 bidders & 59 )
02-19-17    14 bids         $    580.00
02-20-17    20 bids         $ 1,025.00    ( 5 bidders & 71 - highest watched )
02-21-17    27 bids         $ 1,602.00    ( 5 bidders & 77 - highest watched )
02-21-17      5 bidders, 27 bids $1,602.00 Ended at 14:45:31 PST

[Jim Stettler]

$1650.00

[AE_Collector]

What is this....AE week for the auction contests? I like it!

I read the sellers description hoping they we're going to say "slight discolouration under the handset where it rests on the phone"! But they didn't. 

These are a tough call, one of the rare AE colors though this color virtually never is what it is supposed to be (Orchid/Purple) but instead is almost always this nice light blue color. They can be sanded back to Orchid but I've heard that they start turning light blue again quite soon.

Why do sellers not undo a couple of screws and show inside? The difference would be striking!

I've seen them sell for twice this amount but am going with $2100

Terry

[stub]

I asked them to post pics of the handset insides. I 'll say $1,950.00    stub

[HarrySmith]

Another WOW!

$2,500.00

[AE_Collector]

I asked them to post pics of the handset insides. I 'll say $1,950.00    stub

I asked for some inside shots as well so maybe they will get the message and add some pictures!

Terry

[wds]

$2250

[tallguy58]

$2010

[Doug Rose]

When I first started collecting telephones seriously, I found one of these in an Antique store for $300. It was orchid and had not faded. It was so perfect, I thought it was a toy phone. I had no knowledge of AE phones at that time. It came with a matching pink one for $500 for both.

In my stupidity, I passed.

Would you bring this back to its great orchid color or leave it as is?

My Biggest regret in Telephone Collecting....Doug

[Fabius]

$2550

[WEBellSystemChristian]

I'll go with $4700.

If the color didn't turn back to light blue very easily, I would consider trying to return it back to Orchid. I bet Denatured Alcohol or Acetone would do the trick...

[skyrider]

$1200  Thanks

[andre_janew]

$1500

[Sargeguy]

$3500

[stub]

Here's the insides -    stub


                             left click on pic to enlarge