Ortonville- Michigan now holds the record for the most people who sought a ticket to get into Antiques Roadshow.
Mike Gaylord says 27,000 people wanted their antiques and collectibles appraised at a taping of the show in Grand Rapids last month. Locally, if you have antiques needing appraisal, you can get it done for free Sept. 27.
Gaylord, the host of the radio show ‘Everything Classic,? which airs locally on WFNT 1470 AM, will have a live broadcast of his show during SeptemberFest from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. He will also offer free appraisals of antiques and collectibles from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at the Village Pub, 411 Mill St.
‘It turns out to be a lot of fun,? said Gaylord, who has appraised items including Civil War rifles, ancient tribal masks, and a foot-high solid silver bell. ‘People get a kick out of seeing what other people’s things are worth. If we get something unique or interesting, I will address the crowd and explain about it? for example, a letter from the Civil War… I feel I owe it to the crowd to show them something of that nature.?
A maximum of two items will be appraised, and Gaylord suggests that anyone with a major piece of antique furniture simply bring pictures and he can tell what the value is. He brings close to 100 antique reference books and also uses the internet when possible.
Gaylord has been appraising antiques, classified as anything more than 100 years old, for more than 10 years. He has evaluated items including dishes, pottery, vases, paintings, gold firearms, bicycles, furniture, toys and more. He also appraises collectibles.
‘I don’t tell anyone what to bring, because they are entitled to bring the things they want to,? Gaylord said. ‘I like the mystery. At every fair, there are always things I didn’t expect, or didn’t think I would see.?
Among the more unusual antiques Gaylord has seen is a large collection of trade silver from the 1700s, made to trade with American Indians for furs and other items. He said the person having the silver appraised was a direct descendant of the silver maker, whose pieces were stamped with his name. The collection was valued in excess of $30,000 and Gaylord described it as ‘absolutely beautiful.?
More recently, he appraised what he calls a ‘slightly risque? mechanical toy at $350-$400, brought to an appraisal fair by a couple from England.