Why are people going nuts bidding on this parts wood wall phone?

[RB]

no bells??? what was the purpose?

[FABphones]

no bells??? what was the purpose?

Could you add some more info, a link, and photos?

[HarrySmith]

Bidding on what??

[RB]

Rats. forgot to click paste...
Here it is
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Wood-Oak-Wall-Telephone-For-Parts-Repair-Western-Electric-Stromberg/184666013966?hash=item2afef3c10e:g:30kAAOSw3e9gKp5e


< Edit: Auction images added >

[Pourme]

~

You do have several bidders wanting this box. I don't see anything particularly desirable either. I also note that when they got to $35 the excitement waned somewhat. I expect they got the best of that box, I could be wrong.

Don't know if anybody else has done this but, I have placed a bid only to suffer "buyer's remorse" and hoped someone would bail me out and out bided me before the end of the auction.

[Jim Stettler]

That looks like a railroad phone to me.
It would have a glass selector inside on the upper shelf,
Usually these have a small  beveled piece of wood over the bell holes.
This doesn't have that, because it wasn't drilled for bells.
JMO,
Jim

[kleenax]

Rats. forgot to click paste...
Here it is
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Wood-Oak-Wall-Telephone-For-Parts-Repair-Western-Electric-Stromberg/184666013966?hash=item2afef3c10e:g:30kAAOSw3e9gKp5e


< Edit: Auction images added >

If I were the high bidder @ $35 (I am not bidding!), I would ask the seller to send me the "special" heavy-duty Payphone mouthpiece and keep the rest!

[Key2871]

I thought that looked beefy.