Thanks for the link. I forwarded it to my wife who has actually worked at playing it. You have to blow in and out while cranking the roll steadily. I was able to recognize part of one piece, but I’d never heard of most of the ones we have. We have 18, all playable, which is a good chunk of their production.
I had a harmonica in college, usual Marine Band, but never got far with playing it. Being tone deaf is somewhat of a handicap.
Voyager–make sure to check on the pbs website in a couple of weeks because they will post still pictures taken at the most recent Roadshow events.
It was a collection of jade items.
I am surprised that the rollmonica was not chosen to appear; it is a very “visual” item and the fact that it can be played, I would think would make for good TV. As a viewer, it is not very interesting to look at dark paintings by unknown artists, even if they turn out to be more than the owner is expecting. “I thought it might bring $500, but it’s worth $2000!” :rolleyes: I’d rather see items that I would recognize in a shop or yard sale.
Not all that visual, alas. The rollmonica itself is pretty small, and the rolls, which was where the value is from, are pretty boring. Now if my wife could have done a John Mayall on it…
One good thing. We were thinking about having the sampler custom framed - now it goes to Michael’s. That saved us some money there.
One more interesting fact. They do the furniture the day before, and they have some VIP guests who are allowed in the day before to be a background audience when they tape the furniture appraisals. So things are not at all like they seem.
They are doing their offsite features at the Winchester Mystery House (guns) and the Hoover Institute - the largest collection of political posters outside the Library of Congress.
I wish I’d seen this thread last week! I work at a PBS member station and we helped Antiques Roadshow in 2007 when they were in Louisville, Ky., for the 2008 season. It is indeed a well-oiled machine. They did a show here in one of their first years (which I did not attend) but I heard from other staffers who did that they’ve vastly improved so that it is the efficient production you see on the air today.
Insider info: I know Wes Cowan! He is one of the original appraisers on the show, and he also appears on History Detectives, if any of you watch that. He’s the nicest guy. I did a story on him last year. Here’s his Favorite Thing: Andrew Clemens sand bottles.
I loved working the event. There were so many interesting things to see, and people traveled so far! I met a couple from New York state and numerous people from Michigan and places in the Deep South.
In addition to working, I also was permitted to bring guests and have appraisals done. I brought my mother with me, who brought my father’s collection of English lead toy soldiers, so we were in the toy appraisal line. Some people had absolute junk with them! The woman behind us had a box full of clay marbles. They were old, sure, but good lord. The appraiser was a bit rude and told her they were only worth pennies. Poor woman; she drove all the way from the wilds of Indiana.
Here’s info about the $1 million item, jade carvings from China:
The new season begins Jan. 5, 2010, with the programs from Palm Springs and the highest valued item before the jade, a 1937 painting by noted
American Abstract Expressionist artist Clyfford Still and worth $500,000. The shows in reruns right now, with the programs airing from Los Angeles right now. This week there’s some Oscar memorabilia and next week, there’ll be a collection of glittery Western wear designed by Nudie Cohen. Love that name.
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m often difficult to get a hold of on Monday evenings from 8 till 9.
This is because I am watching Antiques Roadshow.
I can pass for nominally normal every other day of the week but, for that splendid, glorious hour, I’m screaming at the screen with glee.
This Saturday, as a result of dizzying serendipity, I will be attending the taping at Chicago’s McCormick Place!
I will be happy to disclose the specifics of my items and their appraisal details but I’d like to wait until after the event. Suffice to say, there is a thrift store find and a family heirloom. I don’t think I’m setting myself up for disappointment in predicting that these will allow a very comfortable, very early retirement and move me into a bigger home in a more desirable zip code.
So, I am bumping this oldish thread to ask whether there is anything I should know or if anyone else would like to share their experiences.
Wear comfy shoes. Go to the loo before queuing.
Will do, Quartz.