Stromberg Carlson Telephone

[mrs hooty]

Hi All!
       Does anyone have any idea of how much this Stromberg-Carlson Wall phone would go for? It has the Stromberg-Carlson MFG. Chicago  June 27 1894 stamped on it and it has the serial #'s are 1096427. I have no idea to find out the worth of any antique. Could someone show me how to figure this out? I appreciate any help I could get. Thanks Laura


 

[regularjoe2]

Welcome to the forum , mrs hooty .

I've seen the value on phones like yours (as in what folks will pay for them) go up & down , depending on the 'market' (as well as the actual condition of the unit) .

Best value , for collectors , in my opinion , is with a 100% original and functional phone (original finish too) .

There's a couple of companies that rewire these units & leave the original 'works' intact too .... I've seen this type being sold for as much as $595.00 (+all the extra shipping , etc.) .

Is yours all original & functional ?
Are you trying to establish a value for selling , just knowing , or for insurance purposes ?

You can simply type in the search term "Stromberg-Carlson oak wall phone , 1894" on your internet browser & find a bunch of info too ...

Attached photo is one of a 'rewired' Stromberg-Carlson wall phone , like yours .

[KC]

Wecome to the forum.

Any information on the background of your phone?  Such as how long you have had it and where it came from?

[talesofthesevenseas]

Welcome aboard!

Lovely! Is that the original finish?

I have a smaller telephone, a 1897 Western Electric that my uncle pulled out from under a house in Canada. I really ought to have mine made functional again. That would be fun.   

[mrs hooty]

Wecome to the forum.

Any information on the background of your phone?  Such as how long you have had it and where it came from?

Thanks for the warm welcome you guys!!!
My father sanded and refinished floors for a living and at the time he was working for an antique dealer. It (just) came in from Ohio He bought it for $75 about 40 years ago. He and my uncle immediatly hooked it up. It works when hooked to a phone cord. I believe that is original finish. My dad had a stroke about 5 months ago and we have to sell it to pay some bills. I had no ideat that it would be worth that much.
I am going to list it on Craigs List for about $575.00. I really have no idea how to work ebay. If anyone knows of anyone that may be interested please get it contact with me by pm. Thanks for all of your input!!!

[cogar]

I believe that is original finish.

Nah, me thinks your father refinished it, but that's ok. Old wall telephones are one antique item that are not devalued by refinishing them. It should have a "satin" finish on it instead of the "high gloss", but that is just my preference.

Just don't advertise it as "original finish" or one will think it is a repro.

[KC]

Tend to agree with cogar that your dad, with his sanding/refinishing expertise, refinished it.  Many people prefer the high gloss look - think it makes things look "newer".

However, die hard "tiqers" like the original satin.

Good advice given by cogar about how you word it!

[heavydude]

I think Craigslist is a good bet but I suggest you check out ebay for similar items and get an idea what's being asked for them.

The following pages reveals buy it now prices pushing $400.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=stromberg+carlson+wall+phone&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=stromberg+carlson+wall+phone&_osacat=0

But a google search for stromber carlson wall phone price yielded the following:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=ig&q=stromberg+carlson+wall+phone+price&aq=f&aql=&aqi=&oq=

And I think I just found your ad on Craigslist:

http://cnj.craigslist.org/atq/1559507347.html

But you might also look at other Craigslist ads for similar items so you'll know what to expect when you are contacted by potential buyers:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=ig&q=stromberg+carlson+wall+phone+craigslist&aq=f&aql=&aqi=&oq=