Hoping they have found a treasure, not just trash
By Laura Collins
Published in News on July 31, 2009 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MITCH LOEBER
Matthew Graham with Treasure Hunters Roadshow, left, looks over an item brought in by Mildred Crawford and Barbara Barden, both of Goldsboro.
There are a few places where it's normal to find teeth -- like in a mouth or as part of a mother's "Baby's First Tooth" keepsake.
But a stranger's tooth is exactly what J.B. Baird had in his hand Tuesday morning and expected to have several more by the end of the week.
Baird is the event manager of the Treasure Hunters Roadshow, which is in town until 6 p.m. today and continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Comfort Suites, 2613 N. Park Drive.
People are invited to bring in anything they think might be worth money including jewelry, coins, antiques, guitars and even gold teeth.
"Three big things that we're looking for here that you can just guarantee you are going to cash in at the roadshow is gold, silver and coins from 1964 and earlier," Baird said.
He added that if it's "old or gold" to bring it in, although there are some items they aren't likely to buy.
"We don't buy a lot of diamonds that are under three carats. What's not selling is glassware, china, cut glass, plates, porcelain, ceramics," he said. "Ever since eBay came out, it's just absolutely killed the value of it."
Recently the roadshow was in Cary, where organizers spent about $75,000 for people's items, and in Kinston they spent about $127,000.
Baird said while traveling across the county hosting the events, people have been increasingly responsive to the roadshow.
"The economy is down, and people need money," he said. "People have family heirlooms that just sit around the house. Some of the stuff might be in attics or basements. A lot of people have had this stuff for years and years and what do you do with it?"
Sam and Dorothy Campbell of Goldsboro decided to try their luck on Tuesday. They brought in Tonka trucks that were more than 30 years old, some coins and some scrap jewelry. The trucks included a bulldozer Caterpillar, a front end loader and a dump truck.
"This is the first one we've been to. We wanted to see what the value was and perhaps sell them if they want to buy them," Dorothy Campbell said.
In the end, however, the Campbells did not part with their Tonka trucks, but said they might come back later in the week with more items.
People planning on attending the roadshow should not clean antiques or collectibles so the finish isn't damaged, and they should expect to wait up to 45 minutes. Free gold, silver and jewelry testing is available and broken gold jewelry may still be purchased.