People with more money than sense

[Geesie]

What would YOU pay for a Western Electric Model 500?
Well, if you get it on eBay, about $20-40.

But what if you wanted it painted Day-Glo Orange?
Aside from questioning your judgement, I'd say you would pay $20-40, plus a couple bucks for hobby store paint. Or Krylon.

But what if you're in Anthropologie's "professional women in their 30s and 40s who make over $200,000 a year" target demographic?

How's two hundred bucks sound?

Russell Johnson Imports lovingly restores telephones from the 50s and 60s, replacing microphones, cartridges and cables with original parts and repainting them in a vibrant retro hue.

Because, you know, fully functional vintage telephones are so very hard to find without "lovingly" restoring them.

Hand-restored in Argentina

:eusa_doh:

In general, I like to laugh at this sort of thing but sometimes I worry that it may drive prices up.
Ah heck, I'll just laugh at it. lol

 

[dakotanorth]

Modern tastes?

What, no camouflage patterned phones?
Actually the blue isn't terrible, but yes, I agree- this is another fine example of pillaging the historical market for a buck.
"shabby-chic" is a term that makes my skin crawl.
I think this is part of why I collect- to preserve and protect part of our historical beauty.

 

[reetpleat]

I just wish I had thought of it first. he probably gets them from Argentina where they are probably plentiful, so no worries about not preserving a questionably historic piece. Then he puts the time and effort into having them refurbished, and painted nicely. then he sells them to people willing to pay him to do so. I would gladly makee afew bucks that way. Sounds like fun.

As for the buyers, I wish I had more money than sense. Money can make your life fine without any sense. But sense doesn't make you any money necessarily.

Or, in the words of Louis Jordan, "If you're so smart, how come you ain't rich?"

 

[LizzieMaine]

"Hello, Help Line? I have one of your great retro phones, but I can't figure out how to text on it!"

 

[Lorena B]

"Hello, Help Line? I have one of your great retro phones, but I can't figure out how to text on it!"

lol lol

 

[Lone_Ranger]

I thought this thread was going to be about Nick Cage, and his two islands, and dinosaur skull.

 

[mike]

I thought this thread was going to be about Nick Cage, and his two islands, and dinosaur skull.

What really?! The Marvel Comics character with impenetrable skin?! He must have teamed up with Ka-zar... [huh]

 

[Tomasso]

Personally, this just doesn't rise to a more money than sense level. [huh]


Maybe it's because I tend to allow for a higher price-point when dealing with recycled/restored vintage products.

 

[dhermann1]

Only except I don't think that's a Western Electric 500. Maybe a European model. It's fatter in the base.
If this phone were maybe twice this price, I'd call it looney. At this price I'd just say more power to him.

 

[Geesie]

I thought this thread was going to be about Nick Cage, and his two islands, and dinosaur skull.

If I were that rich I would totally buy a tyrannosaur skull for $276,000.

 

[jamespowers]

If I were that rich I would totally buy a tyrannosaur skull for $276,000.

Go for broke. Buy the whole skeleton. It would make one heck of a lawn ornament. Beats the heck out of a flamingo.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Personally, this just doesn't rise to a more money than sense level. [huh]


Maybe it's because I tend to allow for a higher price-point when dealing with recycled/restored vintage products.

Yes just look at my musical instruments.....

 

[Marc Chevalier]

He probably gets them from Argentina where they are probably plentiful, ...

Bingo! Phones and land lines used to be very hard to get in South America, so people held on to their old phones forever and ever. I used to pick up great old bakelite phones --Western Electric, Ericsson-- for a song in Chilean flea markets.


.

 

[reetpleat]

Lest anyone think I am just some kind of genius, I just noticed that the ad said they wre restored in Argentina, and the phone looked more like ones I have ssne in Mexico.

I think down theree they kept making certian styles with modifications while in the states designed changed a lot more. For a good example, volkswagen conntinued to make the bug into the nineties in Brazil and selling it to latin America.

 

[Viola]

That's not even cracking the top twenty list for silly/overpriced things Anthropologie sells. For one thing, its only about twice as much money as it oughtta be, and it doesn't look half bad.

A phone I painted with Krylon, using my own skill at painting, will look pretty cruddy. That's not about what color it is.

I don't think this even enters the land of more money than sense - just more money than I have.

I want one in jadeite! (For about 75 bucks, please)

 

[Geesie]

That's not even cracking the top twenty list for silly/overpriced things Anthropologie sells.

If you know of more vintage-related stuff that's appropriate, go ahead and show us!

A phone I painted with Krylon, using my own skill at painting, will look pretty cruddy. That's not about what color it is.

A steady hand and a little practice wet-sanding and it'll be just as good.

 

[Viola]

Well I love the idea, Geesie - but what's wet-sanding? [huh]

I might be an idiot.

 

[Geesie]

Wet sanding is using a fine grit ( >1000) sandpaper and a wet surface or a wet surface and wet paper to polish a paint coat for a smooth finish.

 

[Tomasso]

That's not even cracking the top twenty list for silly/overpriced things

Sing it baby!

 

[Lady Day]

Why is the phone in a title wave like a bikini model?

LD