The Al Capone's phone thread got me thinking. I am looking for a reasonably priced old candlestick, but before I drop the $$$ a "reasonably" priced candlestick would cost, I am trying to educate myself on fakes.
REAL OLD?
This one is pretty obvious, even to me:
> Candlestick No. 1 < (http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-BRASS-STICK-PHONE-WITH-DAIL-NICE-PIECE_W0QQitemZ280292634252QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCorded_Phones?hash=item280292634252&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)
And this one with the blurry photo of the dial and no bids:
> Candlestick No. 2 < (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1910-BRASS-CANDLESTICK-TELEPHONE-L-K_W0QQitemZ290281051832QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCorded_Phones?hash=item290281051832&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)
This one is another Korean fake if I am not mistaken:
> Candlestick No. 3 < (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Brass-Candlestick-Telephone-early-1900s_W0QQitemZ120348307351QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCorded_Phones?hash=item120348307351&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)
This one looks suspicious:
> Candlestick No. 4 < (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Brass-Candlestick-Telephone-early-1900s_W0QQitemZ120348307351QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCorded_Phones?hash=item330292044988&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)
Fake???
All fake... EXCEPT the first one! The first one is actually a British candlestick, which is why it looks a little different. Correct stick, correct receiver, the dial is a standard British BPO dial, and the dial card is a standard British dial card. The dial card isn't as old as the phone, so it was probably replaced at some point later in it's life. It's the real deal, though, and just like ours, it's gonna need a subset.
I actually just figured that out looking at another British phone up on eBay identical to my "obvious fake". Still, if its British it might as well be fake. :D
the last three really speaks that they are fakes
The first one got my attention with that woven cord, I thought, huh, ain't that British? And then the dial card certainly looked Anglo, but I was guessing it was made in Hong Kong or something in the old days and they simply patterned it off English equipment. So if it's real what's it worth?
Sarge, besides what you already know, read this carefully
http://www.oldphoneman.com/Fakes.htm
oldphoneman mentions the following (see link above)
"10. Improper stamping of dates on front of base."
The first picture shows a fake 51-AL. Notice that the dates are near the top of the edge, instead of near the bottom.
The second picture is a real 51-AL. Note the position of the dates.
Here's one that is half real and half fake. The real part was originally a type 22; that's the one with a "Hershey's Kiss" perch and a screw in the stem. Sadly, only the stem and perch and maybe the hookswitch remain.
The rubber receiver, "November 1910" transmitter cup, dial base and cords are all new. The transmitter is from a later candlestick or wall phone, the dial is a 5H from a 302 or a 4H from a 202.
Whoever removed the nickel and added all these fake parts is IMO worse than someone who would make an original phone into a lamp.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171073253347
More pictures of the Type 22 + repro mix
Wow, I started collecting candlesticks 5 years ago!!! I am averaging a little less than one candlestick per month since then.