Friday night chat---Anybody been to Antiques Roadshow?

4/25/25 | Me

[vis a vis]

Just received tickets for an Antiques Roadshow this summer and was wondering if any FReepers have ever attended one.

Any advice? Good, bad or indifferent.

Thanks.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS:

[simpson96]

Haven’t been, but I would pack light.

Don’t burden yourself by taking a heavy piece of furniture.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

You are hereby nominated to be the official Free Republic Corresponndent for this event.

[highpockets]

I hope you and yours have a great time.

[vis a vis]

Just planning on taking some gold bars marked, “Fort Knox”

[vis a vis]

Will do.

[vis a vis]

Thanks. Only thing on PBS worth watching.

[GingisK]

I’ve used one of those, flashbulbs ans all. It made razor-sharp 4X5 inch negatives.

[Red Badger]

You mean Joe Biden Rally?.................

[GingisK]

The two “eyes” on the left side constitutes its rangefinder. It was really precise. You could turn on a light inside there that would be projected out of the camera for use in the dark. The two light dots are merely merged to gain focus.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

I've seen contact prints from those cameras. Beautiful, sharp, detailed. Not like a “smartphone” (gag!).

That's Weegee with his Speed Graphic 4x5.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

So that camera had a rangefinder? Nice.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

I’ve never been, but my sister has been. So has one of my cousins. I don’t have a lot to offer. Just think carefully about what you bring. (I think that you can bring two items, but don’t take that as Gospel.) Either bring an item that you really want to know more about (whether it’s worth much or not), or consider carefully (and maybe do a little research) about possible items to bring. Old plates and old glassware aren’t typically worth much. Old Rolex watches can be worth a lot.

One thing that I’ve learned from watching Roadshow: Hideously ugly paintings are worth a lot more than beautiful ones. I’ve often wondered if these crazy things are used for money laundering or something.

Best wishes to you!

[vis a vis]

Doubtful, it is in the South. Red state. Should I wear my MAGA gear?

[vis a vis]

I am always surprised by the artwork also. And they are often the “ka-ching” item.

[OldHarbor]

Have fun , hope they have something unusual .

I knew someone that went to a show. Her item was appraised but it was not featured on the show.

Whatever you do don’t strip that antique piece of furniture . One of the Keno brothers examined this large piece of furniture , a chest of drawers of some sort. He said the value had dropped from $250,000 to $10,000 . The owner looked like they were going to cry , as they had stripped it and refinished it.

[Political Junkie Too]

I went to an Antiques Roadshow taping in San Jose, CA, once. I brought a ring that my grandmother had that my mother gave me after my grandmother passed away. My mother said it was my grandmother's favorite ring that she got when she and my grandfather took a trip to the Orient in the mid-1960s.

It turns out that the ring was cheap post-war occupied Japan tourist souvenirs and not worth anything. It's a good thing my grandmother never found out that she was wearing junk costume jewelry.

Tips: If your item can be appraised by experts from more than one genre and you don't like what your assigned expert says, ask if you can show it to someone from another genre.

-PJ

[ConservativeMind]

I was accidentally at one in Illinois. I walked right through the set and didn’t know what was going on until I came out the other side and someone told me what I had done.

[Bob434]

he was a phenomenal photographer-

[Bob434]

I went to the antiques road show once and buyers kept trying to buy me- i had to leave