CARTER & FORD TWO OF THE 1ST THREE ELECTRONIC FLASHING LIGHT BUTTONS.
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Starting Bid:
$97.75 (Includes 15% Buyer's Premium)
Bids:
0
Bidding Ended:
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 1:00:00 AM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Wednesday, February 2, 2011 1:00:00 AM)
Time Left:
Ended
Auction:
Auction #202 - Part I
Item numbers 1 through 1553 in auction 202
Value Code:
G - $100 to $200 Help Icon
Item Description
Both of these buttons are from 1976 and a Ronald Reagan version exists as well. Each is a 2x3" stiff plastic sheet with 3/8" tall cylindrical red light bulb protruding at the upper left. Reverse has electronic circuitry along with a bar pin which when closed completes the circuit and begins the light flashing. The Carter is working extremely well and the red light flashes about each half second. The Ford is somewhat weaker although it, like the Carter, was just restored with a new battery soldered into the brass cover. The Ford has reliably blinked a couple of times but then tends to stop but so far has managed to restart each time we've tried it. A small plastic tube is on each bar pin and with this tube in place the circuit is not completed and thus the batteries are not being drained constantly. Reverse of each has larger text title "Tel-Aid Patent Pending" along with name "Moose Prod. Inc. Hickory, NC." While the back of each badge shows a little age the front of each is essentially Mint. The only two examples we've been able to offer in working condition and we've only seen one or two of each that were not working. Quite scarce and quite important in the history of button making technology.
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