Phones For $9.95!!

[tallguy58]

Found this in Argosy Magazine July 1966. Allowing for inflation and calculating the CPI, it now works out to $71.71  in today's dollars.

Would you bite??

[WesternElectricBen]

I didn't know Bell system would do this, or allow this.

I would "bite" it seems like a good deal, though, in 1965 the 302 was probably pretty outdated.

[tallguy58]

True, but hey, it's a phone. Pick up handle, dial, speak.

It's not like there's a whole lot of difference in the technology between a 302 and a 500.

[AE_Collector]

Put yourself back in time to the era. This was very rare to be able to buy a phone, they all belonged to the Phone Company and were rented by the month. Also, smart people didn't rent nor use charge cards and credit. A thrifty person would quickly see how quick the $9.99 purchase price would be paid off and money would be saved to buy food or maybe finally take a vacation dreamed of for 25 years or more.

Things have changed.....

Terry

[WesternElectricBen]

It is a good investment but 302s usually don't have the best volume the further you were from the c.o.

[rdelius]

read the fine print, you might have gotten a SC or a Kellogg  instead. possibly rebuilt by TR&S or who knows.

[paul-f]

I didn't know Bell system would do this, or allow this.

The Bell System wouldn't allow it.  However, Western Electric would.

Remember there were model numbers ending in W that were made without Bell System markings.  (e.g. the F1W handset.)  They were intended to be sold outside the Bell System and were readily available through catalogs such as Graybar and other distributors.

Once out in the world they reached the used market and were available from numerous refurbishers and catalog outlets.

[Russ Kirk]

Put yourself back in time to the era. This was very rare to be able to buy a phone, they all belonged to the Phone Company and were rented by the month. Also, smart people didn't rent nor use charge cards and credit. A thrifty person would quickly see how quick the $9.99 purchase price would be paid off and money would be saved to buy food or maybe finally take a vacation dreamed of for 25 years or more.

Things have changed.....

Terry

Don't know about 1966,  but in 1955 the monthly rate for a residential extention phone was $1.00 a month,  business extension was $1.50 a month.   Yes,  it won't take long to pay off that $9.95............