By DAVID A. MANN
David.Mann@newsandtribune.com
JEFFERSONVILLE —
An old pocket watch. A toy. A vintage piece of costume jewelry.
That which is thought to be trash may actually be treasure. And before putting it out to the curb and watching the neighborhood pack rat smilingly haul it back to his overstuffed garage, maybe you should find out for sure.
Enter the Treasure Hunters Roadshow. A group of antique appraisers, buyers and collectors — working on turning their adventures in acquisition into a television series — will be filming in Jeffersonville this week.
Those with antique items they believe might be valuable can bring them to the Comfort Suites, 360 Eastern Boulevard, between Tuesday and Saturday for a free appraisal. The event is open to the public and runs from 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. today through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. If the item you bring in is of value and a buyer can be lined up, cash offers could be made.
The group, called the International Collectors Association, has been in the collectable buying business since 1996, said Matthew Enright, vice president of media relations. He said the organization has been able to uncover numerous items in such shows — toy trains, musical instruments, dolls and sports memorabilia — that have been lying around in attics and basements collecting dust.
At a show in Ohio, a woman brought in a letter that appeared to be signed by Abraham Lincoln, thanking a host for a night’s stay in their home in Chicago. It was framed and had been sitting in a hallway closet, Enright said. The woman had it wrapped in a blanket and said she was embarrassed when she brought it in because she thought it was fake.
“It ended up being worth $25,000,” he said. “She was close to tears.”
The group also has paid thousands of dollars for Civil War-era swords, gold and silver coins and other collectibles. According to its press kit, it paid $30,000 for Johnny Cash’s bed, $100,000 for a 1960 Les Paul Gibson guitar and $10,000 for a “vampire-killing kit.”
Enright said the rule of thumb is “anything old, anything gold” is usually of some value. He said most of the time transactions are completed that day, depending if a buyer can be located. In rare cases, it takes longer to verify the authenticity of an item.
Jeffersonville is just the latest stop. The Springfield, Ill.-based group just left Nashville and before that was in Colorado, Enright said.
As antiques are being appraised, camera crews will be around filming the event. Enright said the group has not yet signed a deal with a major television network but has signed agreements with local cable channels around the country.
The Jeffersonville stop will be one of 26 half-hour episodes. Locally, it will be seen on Indiana 9 WVHF starting Sept. 21. A time slot for the show has not been decided.
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SO YOU KNOW
• The Treasurer Hunters Roadshow takes place this week at Comfort Suites, 360 Eastern Boulevard in Jeffersonville between Tuesday and Saturday. The event is open to the public and runs from 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. today through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Learn more at the website www.treasurehuntersroadshow.com
