Advertisement
Roadshow Comes to Chardon
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
It may be the perfect time to finally delve into that attic or venture down into the basement and take inventory.
Whether its gold, silver, antiques, rare collectibles or things you may just consider “old stuff,” it could mean a little extra money in your pocket.
The Ohio Valley Refinery & Roadshow (OVR) is stopping in Chardon this week, setting up shop at the Chardon Foreign War Post 6519 today through Saturday in search of rare and unique collectibles.
The event is free and there is no limit to the number of pieces that can be brought in, said Matthew Enright, vice president of media relations for THR & Associates, a Springfield, Ill.-based buyer of precious metals, coins and antiquities.
“Our organization has been around since 1996 and ... we travel the world looking for rare antiques such as electric chairs and vampire killing kits, and everything else in between there,” Enright said.
He added the 16th century vampire killing kit was bought in southern Ohio for more than $12,000 about seven months ago.
“It’s a pretty rare piece. We’ve only seen one of them ever since we’ve been in existence,” Enright said. “We obviously see some really unusual stuff, but we also see a lot of ordinary, common stuff.”
Business jewelry, costume jewelry, books, paintings, coins from 1954 and earlier are just some of the more popular items.
“Basically, we’re the liaison between buyers and sellers. We connect the people that want to sell the stuff to people that want to buy it,” Enright said.
A few current finds for collectors have included a rare gold coin collection purchased for $107,000 and a letter written by George Washington to the doctor of his wife expressing his disdain toward the doctor’s actions regarding her treatment.
At a recent show in Ohio, a local resident brought in a letter from Abraham Lincoln that she thought was a fake for over 15 years and walked out $25,000 richer after finding out it was authentic.
The OVR should not be confused with the Antiques Roadshow seen on television, Enright said.
“Their format is they hike it up to an appraisal value, which is all fine and dandy, and has a lot of interest behind it,” Enright said.
Rather than giving people a piece of paper with an appraised value on it, however, the OVR actually connects prospective sellers with collectors within its network, he explained.
For example, several years ago, a South Dakota man showed up at a roadshow with a 1960 Gibson Les Paul guitar.
“We made a few phone calls and we had a contact that was a good friend of (rhythm guitarist) James Hatfield’s, and ended up paying this gentleman $285,000 for that Gibson Les Paul guitar,” Enright said. “That’s the difference with our organization. We’re actually generating interest in these items that people are bringing in, whether it’s an old coin or whether it’s a piece of jewelry or something else.”
The gold and silver markets are “ridiculously high” right now, he said, adding OVR specialists will assess people’s items for free and there are no hidden fees.
Nearly all coins and paper currency, vintage jewelry, war memorabilia, musical instruments and toys made prior to 1970 are highly sought after, he said.
WHAT: Ohio Valley & Refinery & Roadshow
WHEN: Tu.-Fri., 9am-6pm; Sat., 9am-4pm
WHERE: Chardon VFW Post 6519, 752 Water St.
