It was probably the biggest crowd of adults that has ever attended a program at the Clearwater Library.
“What’s It Worth?” drew more than 50 people to the library last Wednesday evening. Most were there to find out something about their “valuable” items from appraiser/author Mark Moran.
Moran has appeared on the PBS Antiques Roadshow program, and started doing appraisal programs in libraries, historical societies and other venues in 2011.
He told the eager group Wednesday that the library program has been very popular.
“Everyone’s got stuff and questions about their stuff,” he said. “People like the fact that this is not a shopping trip for me. I never offer to buy or sell on commission at any of these programs.”
Moran began as a collector in 1970s and as an antique dealer in the 1980s. His full time job at the time was as a newspaper reporter/editor in Green Bay and later, Rochester.
He started writing reference books on antiques and collectibles in the 1990s. He has written 27.
“They’re all out of print now, so the books I wrote on antiques and collectibles have themselves become collectible,” he said.
He said he has a lot of knowledge about antiques and collectibles, but he learns more all the time.
“No matter how many of these events I do, I never know how much I know until I’m presented with a question, a puzzle or a challenge,” he said.
Jeanne Dirksen was the first one to bring up her item. It was a reverse painted lamp.
Moran plugged it in. It worked fine.
Dirksen said she purchased it at an auction for $50.
Moran examined the lamp and did some research on his computer before concluding the lamp was probably a conglomerate of more than one lamp.
“The top and bottom have been married together,” he said.
His value estimate: “If you saw this in an auction you’d probably pay $250 to $300,” he said.
Next was Steve Dirksen, who had a book from NASA entitled Atlas of Mars, filled with photos from the Mariner spacecraft.
After researching some recent selling prices, Moran said the book was probably worth about $50.
Joleen Krueger had a music box she was hoping was worth something.
She said she got it at a garage sale for just $0.25.
Moran examined it and said, “I think you can double your money,” as the crowd laughed.
Shelley Langenbacher had a early 20th Century hand-painted biscuit jar from Austria worth about $30.
Moran said Bill Patton’s “mystery” tool from his grandfather’s old wooden toolbox was probably some type of hand drill from the 1880s. But he said he would refer him to someone who specializes in old tools.
Elaine Paumen’s Century of Progress paperweight from 1934 was worth about $10.
Dawn Gohmann had a Waterbury Black Classic mantle clock worth about $50 on a “good day,” said Moran. It looked like it should be worth a lot more, but Moran said prices aren’t what they used to be.
“As with many categories with antiques and collectibles, values have declined in recent years,” he said.
Eric Gohmann had two chalk figurine banks. They were pretty, but common, said Moran, and not worth much.
“Is there any money in them?” he asked. “Because whatever’s inside, that’s their value.”
All throughout the evening, Moran came up with witticisms to entertain the audience.
He said lots of people see their objects for sale online and think that’s what they should be able to sell them for. But that’s not the case.
“There’s the talkin’ price and there’s the walkin’ price,” he said. “And until it walks out the door, you can talk all you want to about what it should be worth.”
The program continued until Moran appraised the items of all 40 people who had signed up.
He thanked everyone for their participation and mentioned he also does private appraisals at homes.
His next library program was the following day at Monticello and Royalton, with lots more on the schedule.
