Auction 40 - Phone Co - Fire Dept. Pass Badge

[Dan/Panther]

I found this on ebay, and thought that with the unusual nature, time left and high bids already it would make a good auction.
D/P

http://tinyurl.com/yhjfvwf

S C O R E B O A R D
$50.00 - JorgeAmely
$89.00 - Dan
$92.50 - Bill Cahill
$125.00 - AtomicEraTom
$145.00 - bingster
$175.56 - Brinybay
$217.88 - Dennis Markham
$319.58 - bwanna
$325.00 - mienaichizu
$375.50 - Tonyrotary
$475.00 - ntophones (Winner!)
Sold for $531.67
$650.00 - Dan/Panther

[bingster]

We've never done this one before, that's for sure.   So I'm guessing that the phone company employee who possessed this badge was free to move beyond the line the fire department put up to keep people back from a fire?  Pretty nifty. 

I have no earthly clue what this would go for, but I'll guess $145.

[Greg G.]

So I'm guessing that the phone company employee who possessed this badge was free to move beyond the line the fire department put up to keep people back from a fire? 

Yeah, what the heck is (or was) it's purpose?

$175.56

[Dan]

$89. Nice item!

[Bill Cahill]

Hmmmmm..... 92.50.
Bill Cahill

[Dan/Panther]

I'll guess $650.00.
My take is that at one time Phone service was not considered an emergency service, and as things evolved they needed special permission to cross fire lines, for whatever reason. My guess is after the fire was contained, they went in to assess damage, and to repair ahead of the public.
In Southern California as you may now know, fires can quickly cover thousands of acres of land, much of it sparesly populated, with very expensive homes.
After all a well to do can't return to the mansion, and not have working phone service, this was before cell phones by the looks of the badge.
D/P

[JorgeAmely]

$50.00 - based on the reception of the Kellogg phones.

[Dennis Markham]

$217.88

Dennis

[AET]

125.00

[Greg G.]

My take is that at one time Phone service was not considered an emergency service, and as things evolved they needed special permission to cross fire lines, for whatever reason. My guess is after the fire was contained, they went in to assess damage, and to repair ahead of the public.
In Southern California as you may now know, fires can quickly cover thousands of acres of land, much of it sparesly populated, with very expensive homes.
After all a well to do can't return to the mansion, and not have working phone service, this was before cell phones by the looks of the badge.
D/P

Boy, they just don't make them like they used to, do they?  If there's still an equivalent need today, instead of a gorgeous sterling badge, it's probably been replaced by a cheap plastic ID card.

[mienaichizu]

hmmm..., looks nice and rare, $325 for me

[bwanna]

it's at 153$, with 4 1/2 days of bidding left.... so i will say 319.58

[ntophones]

I'm going to try 475.00

[Tonyrotary]

I'll say $375.50. Very cool item.

[bingster]

The auction is over and ntophones is the winner of this contest!  The auction closed at an amazing $531.67.  Congratulations, ntophones!