Recent Posts

1

Collector's Corner / Re: A Scruffy WE 302 (401)

« Last post by Pourme on Today at 01:12:45 PM »

~

For what it's worth, I'd clean it up and leave the switch. Part of the phone at this point!

2

Auction Talk / WE Butterscotch 202 Dated 3 30

« Last post by Doug Rose on Today at 12:58:47 PM »

I won this phone from fellow member Jason, Soundsystems on eBay

This is dated 3 30 , third quarter 1930. Eighty nine years old. Really nice paint job, I installed a 5J with a brass fingerwheel. 

I love the color of the phone and the paint job is great. I bought this for the 9 line bullet E1 as I was going to strip it as it looks perfect. I decided to keep it as as...at least for now     ...Doug

3

Collector's Corner / Re: A Scruffy WE 302 (401)

« Last post by Doug Rose on Today at 12:48:36 PM »

My prototype/field trial "302" had a ringer cut-off switch installed the same way .Found a metal plug to  fit. Similar to the plastic ones shown

If yours had a ringer cut off and it was a prototype, wouldn't you just leave it. Even if it does't work, it's much better than a "plug." It's the phones history

I would put an F1 on it, shine it up and place it on a shelf, or use it for a daily driver. It's too cool to mess with....Doug

4

General Discussion / Re: Selling our collection and leaving the hobby entirely

« Last post by Doug Rose on Today at 12:45:17 PM »

I support Doug 100% on this.      He's fully explained the process for pricing his Millennium payphones.    It's certain a fair price after what he went through to get them and prepare them for sale.   If a particular piece of telephone equipment isn't within one's budget, then don't buy it and wait until the item is affordable.      I'd love to collect antique cars, and / or antique motorcycles, but those hobbies and my income are so far apart you could create another country in the space it creates.    Threatening to drag a switchboard outside and break it up and throw it out is nothing more than a "expensive tantrum".   There are a lot of telephones out there that I'd dearly love to own, but they are way out of my budget, so I move on.   Posting "hissy fits" on the TCI list, CRPF and Facebook, really doesn't solve anything.     Move on to something you can afford.

Jeff Lamb     
 

Well said, I couldn't agree more....Doug

5

General Discussion / Re: Selling our collection and leaving the hobby entirely

« Last post by Ktownphoneco on Today at 12:32:30 PM »

I support Doug 100% on this.      He's fully explained the process for pricing his Millennium payphones.    It's certain a fair price after what he went through to get them and prepare them for sale.   If a particular piece of telephone equipment isn't within one's budget, then don't buy it and wait until the item is affordable.      I'd love to collect antique cars, and / or antique motorcycles, but those hobbies and my income are so far apart you could create another country in the space it creates.    Threatening to drag a switchboard outside and break it up and throw it out is nothing more than a "expensive tantrum".   There are a lot of telephones out there that I'd dearly love to own, but they are way out of my budget, so I move on.   Posting "hissy fits" on the TCI list, CRPF and Facebook, really doesn't solve anything.     Move on to something you can afford.

Jeff Lamb     
 

6

General Discussion / Re: Selling our collection and leaving the hobby entirely

« Last post by Duffy on Today at 11:58:32 AM »

The breaking point for us was when I  finally found a Northern Telecom Millenium Payphone,  something Ive wanted for years.  But the seller had a ridiculous price,  another collector.    Mind you just a few years ago these milleniums were worthless bricks because there was no way to activate them.   Thanks to the hard work of the phone phreaking community,  they were able to release the firmware.  But people saw that as an opportunity to make a huge profit.  They released the firmware for FREE.  So the milleniums should at least be somewhat affordable not the cost of 2 house payments.   

That made me realize people are just in it for the money,  not for the preservation of history,  but the almighty dollar.  and its ridiculous.   I could care less what i get for my collection because its just stuff.   I gave away a ton of step equipment, 1A2 equipment and phones at Vintage Computer Festival Midwest this past weekend.   For me its not about the money.

Thats what made me hate this hobby.   Well that and the whole dylan cruz drama. 

So all good things must end.  We are done.

The cost of that Millennium they wanted was from me was and is a very reasonable price. $350.00 CDN about $264.00 in US Dollars. That is for a fully up and running phone with t-key. Plug and play so to speak. Considering all the time I had to travel to pick these Millenniums up. Open the phones that didn’t have the keys, Purchase the programmer and chips. Clean them up and make sure that they are working properly.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=21225.msg216621#msg216621

I have sold these phones at this price from the start and have never had a complaint that the price was too high. It’s a take it or leave it price. Other collectors just want one that works and shows well without the hassle of trying to get one to work. I also collect telephones, but I also buy and sell to support my hobby as does many other collectors. These phones come out of Canada and I have shipped them across Canada and into the US. I even shipped one to Germany. It’s not the cost of the phone. it’s the cost of shipping them. The weight of the package is 55 LBS / 25 kg in their case the cost of postage was $110.00 CDN or $83.00 USD. I cannot control the cost of shipping. These are prices people have to factor in when wanting to buy something being shipped. 

The same phone can be had for $399.95 USD plus shipping from Oldphoneworks.

http://www.oldphoneworks.com/product.php?productid=20306&cat=&page=1

I really don’t understand their problem. I guess that they think that I should just give them the phone. They are blaming me for their problems, but it started out they needed money for the repairs on the truck, then they were downsizing. Then they ask for a Millennium and go nuts blaming me for their leaving the hobby. Wow I really don’t know what to say. I feel sad for them, there’s something not right here when I get a message from Ashley again blaming me for their issue with the hobby. Then she blocks me from responding.

What am I to say???

I guess I just have to watch who I'm dealing with. I'm truly sorry that they feel that way!
 

7

Collector's Corner / Re: A Scruffy WE 302 (401)

« Last post by rdelius on Today at 09:16:32 AM »

My prototype/field trial "302" had a ringer cut-off switch installed the same way .Found a metal plug to  fit. Similar to the plastic ones shown

8

General Discussion / Re: Selling our collection and leaving the hobby entirely

« Last post by Pourme on Today at 09:08:50 AM »

~

Life hands you challenges, I can't afford to purchase like I did before I had to close my business but, I turned my energy inward to what I have already acquired, each with their own story. I enjoy what I own, wait for my next opportunity, they will show up. Read about it here all the time!

9

General Discussion / Re: Selling our collection and leaving the hobby entirely

« Last post by Doug Rose on Today at 08:26:46 AM »

I see phones on eBay and in antique stores/flea markets all the time that I would love to have but are either overpriced or just out of my price range, but I don’t get mad and destroy my collection. I just keep looking.

100% agreement. Can’t afford it, go to the next one....Doug

10

Auction Talk / Phone Directory Table - not mine

« Last post by HarrySmith on Today at 07:26:10 AM »

Just came across this fairly unusual hotel lobby phone directory table. A great go-with for a payphone collector.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Wooden-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-PAY-PHONE-Phone-Book-Holder-for-Hotels/401891385351