The Collector's Guide: 15 Vintage Phones to Collect Now
From wooden wall mounts to colorful corded numbers, these antique finds will have you at hello.
From wooden wall mounts to colorful corded numbers, these antique finds will have you at hello.
Single Handset
Western Electric's models were the American standard for nearly 50 years.
1. Western Electric 202 (top left): With superior reception to its predecessor, the 202 was produced from 1930 to 1937 and gets an estimate of $300.
2. Western Electric 302 (top right): Created by noted designer Henry Dreyfuss in 1937, the 302 remained in production until 1952. At the time, the phone company charged a premium for any models other than basic black; few families splurged for this cherry red number, which will now set you back $400.
3. Western Electric 102 (bottom right): The Bell company once held a monopoly on the country's phone lines and required customers to rent phones made by Western Electric. The 102, which debuted in 1928, set the standard for all single handset styles to come and today commands $350.
4. Western Electric 500 (bottom left): The 1950s introduction of the 500 made new colors, like this baby blue and more than a dozen other shades, available for a small one-time charge. Today, the 500 costs $150.
Candlestick
Slender and elegant, this scaled-down style debuted in 1890.
1. Brass Western Electric (left): With candlesticks, manufacturers took a small step toward portability by separating the ringer and wiring from the handset. Brass was the material of choice until it was needed for bullets during WWI. This 1909 beauty fetches $375.
2. Candlestick Pay Phone (middle): This 1908 setup goes for $750 and is an early example of the now antiquated pay phone. A series of dings (one for a nickel, two for a dime, and a long one for a quarter) notified an operator when payment was deposited.
3. Kellogg Model 44 (right): Worth $600, this 1925 phone has the then-innovative rotary dial for placing calls without an operator.
Custom Colors
Today, there's a new collectors' market for retro phones painted vibrant (but not original) shades.
1. Stromberg Carlson 1234 (top left): Refinished with a high-gloss paint job, this 1940s die-cast metal model costs $300.
2. Western Electric 302 (top right): Prices for this aqua stunner, the most popular second-market shade, start at $330.
3. Kellogg Masterphone (bottom): This 1940s Bakelite phone with a modern yellow update will set you back $270.
Decorator
These sleek designs were stylish (and pricey!) alternatives to Western Electric's status quo.
1. Automatic Electric AE50 (left): Molded out of Bakelite, an early chip-prone plastic, this 1940s wall mount (the rotary dial is the top of the phone) was nicknamed "the jukebox" for its arched shape. In hard-to-find perfect condition, it fetches a cool $1,000.
2. Automatic Electric AE2 (right): Also made of Bakelite, this blocky 1920s desktop phone, worth $380, features brass detailing on the handset and rotary dial.
Push Button
In 1963, manufacturers dialed back on rotary models and pushed these streamlined introductions.
1. Princess Phone (left): Marketed as an inexpensive second extension, the Princess Phone became particularly popular with teenagers. In pink, it fetches close to $200. Less desirable colors go for closer to $150.
2. Genie Phone (right): The groovy curves on American Telecommunications Corporation's Genie phone proved so popular it remained in production through the 1980s. More readily available than other types, you can own one for a mere $80.
Wall Mount
These boxy, wooden wonders were the earliest mass-produced phones.
Western Electric 317: Shortly after Alexander Graham Bell's 1876 invention of the telephone, wall mounts became the norm. They offered two options for placing a call: speaking with the operator or using the crank handle to ring the party line—a single line shared by all the homes in a town. You would dial a series of short and long cranks, which, in turn, resulted in a Morse code-like series of short and long rings. All phones rang at the same time, but every-one was assigned a unique ring. If it wasn't your ring, you just didn't pick up the receiver (though some busybodies may have pleaded confusion). This 1919 specimen by phone manufacturer Western Electric was one of the most common wall mounts. Today, it rings in at $200.
Phone Resources
Phone Co.: Offering a huge inventory from every era, this company also refurbishes vintage phones. (phonecoinc.com)
Old Phone Works: Specializes in second-market paint jobs. (oldphoneworks.com)
The phones in this story have been rewired to work with modern jacks. Prices reflect items in working condition.
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