Things You'll Need
Instructions
Hire a Professional Appraiser
Research professional appraisers using a phone book or through online sources like the American Society of Appraisers at appraisers.org, where you will find accredited appraisers from the ASA. Members of this organization need to pass an exam on how to fairly price antiques and abide by ethical pricing standards.
Get references from estate attorneys or bank managers to authenticate the professionalism of your appraiser if you found an appraiser through means other than the ASA.
Interview several appraisers in whom you have an interest. Choose the appraiser who has a background in vintage phones to properly assess the value of your antique phones. Ideally, an appraiser should handle the antique phone, inspecting it from various angles, to provide its approximate worth.
Do Your Own Research
Research online sources for similar antique phones and to obtain an approximate value of it. One online source that might provide comparative examples is eBay. Check out another reliable source such as buyantiquephones.com, a site that lists antique phones from different historical periods and in a variety of styles and colors.
The CollectibleDetective.com offers a whole slew of antique phone websites that give the value of the antique phones that are in collectors' possessions. Using the prices and information of comparative antique phones showcased online, estimate the worth of your phone and price it accordingly.
Obtain the most recent edition of "Kovel's Antiques &Collectibles Price Guide" to help give you an idea of the value of similar or even exact antique phones.
Pay for online sources, like WhatsItWorthToYou.com, to help you determine the worth of your antique phone. Pay a small fee to research a large database of past vintage phone appraisals. This site also offers a wealth of information and services to provide the best appraisal.