Auction 7 - Western Electric 5302

[bingster]

This week's contest involves a phone that has lately been the subject of some discussion on the forum.  It is the Western Electric 5302, which is a hybrid of the trusty 302 and 500 telephones.  Often mistakenly referred to as a "transitional" phone, it was actually produced by the ever-thrifty Western Electric to keep up with the demand for the new 500, and to use up parts that would otherwise have been scrapped.

This example has been restored, and shines like a new penny.  What do we think it will bring?

As usual, deadline for entries is one day before the auction's end.

> Western Electric 5302 <

S C O R E B O A R D
Sold for $69.00
$  80 - benhutcherson (Over - Winner)
$  90 - Bill Cahill (Over)
$  99 - HobieSport (Over)
$101 - BDM (Over)
$110 - Mark Stevens (Over)
$132.28 - Dan (Over)
$135 - mienaichizu (Over)
$150 - JimH (Over)
$170 - bingster (Over)
$225 - McHeath (Over)

[JimH]

I'll say $150.00.....now if they had a beige one......

[Mark Stevens]

That's a tough one.  Most collectors know that they're not crazy-rare (and are liable to balk at paying a premium for restoration work done by someone else), but non-collectors probably won't understand what it is! Put me down for $110.

[benhutcherson]

$80

[BDM]

$101

[McHeath]

Wow what a pretty phone!  This guy markets well, it's up to 51 bucks and still has 7 days to go.  His auctions seem to being high prices so I'm going to guess $225 clams.

[Bill Cahill]

90.00
Bill Cahill 

[mienaichizu]

say $135

[Dan/Panther]

I bid $132.28.

Even Though I paid substanially  less for mine...

D/P

[Dan/Panther]

Wow what a pretty phone!  This guy markets well, it's up to 51 bucks and still has 7 days to go.  His auctions seem to being high prices so I'm going to guess $225 clams.

Reminds me Igliotto on radios. He gets these radios from who knows where, they look showroom mint, and he claims ORIGINAL finish, I just don't get it. I can bring phones up to a nice finish, but nothing like this.
I wonder how much of the good marketing is really good lighting ?

Dan/Panther

[bingster]

I've seen many 500s that were done this well.  It takes a LOT of polishing and sometimes even wet sanding, but they can, indeed, look this glassy.  They're really something to see.

Speaking of the 5302, did anybody see this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Western-Electric-5302-Telephone-302-Transition-Phone_W0QQitemZ270285557006QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270285557006&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A13%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

You think it was used at a WE factory?  I actually had this one on my watch list, but totally forgot about it at the end.  Anybody grab it?

[benhutcherson]

I was watching that one, too. Heck of a good price, and I really wish that I'd bid on it.

[BDM]

$69 grenn backs. Hmmm, I would have thought it would go for more than that. Not a bad price for a very nicely restored example.

[bingster]

I'm a bit surprised at that.  Shiny usually brings in the big bucks.

Congratulations to benhutcherson for his winning guess!

Stay tuned for the next auction contest, to be posted shortly.

[Dan/Panther]

I'm shocked, my bid was twice that.
D/P