Hopeful sellers flock to roadshow
<p>John Gagnon describes the facts behind an original, one-of-a-kind portrait of Buffalo Bill with Treasure Hunters Roadshow employee Nicole Pugh Wednesday at the Coeur d'Alene Inn.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Heads turned as an obviously old, shiny, metal contraption was rolled into the room and over to a buyers' table Wednesday at the Treasure Hunters Roadshow.
About 4-feet high, it looked like an old stage light, or an antiquelaser device, if there was such a thing.
Kathy Tanner, of Coeur d'Alene, said she and her husband were cleaning out their attic and found the item. They didn't know what it was. They brought it to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn to see if they could sell it.
"My father was a doctor. We're assuming it's something he used," Tanner said.
The roadshow, in town until Saturday, offers free examinations of items people bring in, and then offers to purchase them.
Hopeful sellers sat at tables with expert buyers Wednesday morning - one expert pored over piles of costume jewelry. The owner said the jewelry belonged to her late aunt who died years ago. Another woman sat with an expert who researched the value of an etched painting, while another potential seller came in with shopping bags full of baby dolls.
It's up to the seller to decide if they want to trade their belongings for money, but if they do, they walk out with a check, said Michelle Pugh, manager of the Coeur d'Alene show.
Some of the roadshow's more unusual Coeur d'Alene purchases rested on a table.
There was a Steiff stuffed pull-horse from the early 1900s, an antique Armand Marseille bisque doll, and two vintage viking opera helmets.
Pugh wouldn't say how much the sellers received for the items.
"I can tell you we had a lady who brought in two broken gold chains, some mismatched earrings and a class ring," Pugh said. "She walked out with a check for $387."
Since the show rolled into town, the turnout has been good, Pugh said.
Roughly 100 people came bearing items on Tuesday, the first day of the show.
"We have $255,000 to spend, and we've spent about a quarter of that," she said.
Pugh said they do not give appraisals of items. They offer "fair market value."
Not everyone is happy with what they are offered, but Pugh said the roadshow offers top dollar.
"Fair market value. That's where we live," said Pugh. "We can't touch sentimental."
They've purchased a large amount of gold and silver, she said, and hope to buy more.
"We like guitars. We haven't seen many of them," she said.
The company, THR & Associates, is not a member of the Better Business Bureau, but has a B+ rating from the organization.
The BBB urges anyone considering selling personal items or commodities to any business or individual, to research the value of their items on their own, prior to deciding whether to sell them.
The show will be held at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn through Saturday. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.