Pawn Stars (2009–…): Season 18, Episode 9 - Gotsta Get Pawned - full transcript
- HAVE MERCY.
OH, MY GOSH.
- ON TONIGHT'S EPISODE,
COREY AND I HAMMER OUT A DEAL
FOR THE FIRST COMIC
BOOK TO FEATURE THOR.
- I HAVE A "JOURNEY INTO
MYSTERY" COMIC BOOK.
- HOW MUCH WERE YOU LOOKING FOR?
- ABOUT 100,000.
- AH, JUST THINK OF
ALL THOSE COMIC BOOKS
I THREW AWAY WHEN I WAS A KID.
RICK DALE OFFERS HIS EXPERTISE
ON A 1940S DOG TAG MAKER.
- WOW, THAT IS COOL!
THEY'RE A HUGE COLLECTIBLE ITEM,
BUT IT'S GOT TO WORK, THOUGH.
AND LATER, ZZ
TOP'S BILLY GIBBONS
CHECKS OUT HIS LONG-LOST SUIT.
- LAST TIME I SAW THIS WAS 1974,
SO I COMPLETELY THOUGHT
THIS HAD VAPORIZED.
- SO THIS YOUNG LADY
WANTS 25,000 FOR IT,
BUT DO YOU WANT TO BUY IT BACK?
♪ ♪
HEY. SO EXACTLY WHAT IS THIS?
WE KNOW IT'S SPIDER-MAN, BUT...
- IT'S A LIFE-SIZE LIMITED
EDITION FROM BLOCKBUSTER.
- OKAY, UM...
WELL, I THOUGHT MY SPIDEY
SENSE WAS TINGLING A LITTLE BIT.
- I'M HERE AT THE
PAWN SHOP TODAY
TO SELL MY LIMITED EDITION
LIFE-SIZE SPIDER-MAN.
THIS WAS A DISPLAY USED
IN BLOCKBUSTER STORES.
I PICKED IT UP A FEW YEARS BACK.
I LOVE THE FACT
THAT IT'S LIFE-SIZE.
IT'S ABOUT 5 1/2 FEET TALL
AND IT'S ACTUALLY A
PRETTY GOOD REPLICA.
I WAS LOOKING TO
GET, LIKE, 1,500 FOR IT.
I'VE SEEN A FEW OF THEM
SELLING FOR THAT PRICE.
- I THINK IT'S SUPER COOL.
THIS WAS THE TOBEY
MAGUIRE SPIDER-MAN.
IT WAS THE FIRST MOVIE
THAT DID OVER 100 MILLION
IN ITS OPENING WEEKEND.
IT JUST TURNED INTO
A MASSIVE FRANCHISE.
♪ ♪
DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT
ORIGINATED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
- I GUESS THEY CAME
OUT OF BLOCKBUSTER.
- OKAY.
I MEAN, YEAH, THEY WOULD PUT
THIS INSIDE A BLOCKBUSTER,
IT'S A PROMOTIONAL ITEM,
YOU KNOW, YOU'D HAVE
LITTLE KIDS COME IN THERE,
YOU KNOW, THEY'D SEE THIS,
YOU KNOW, "LET'S
RENT SPIDER-MAN.
LET'S RENT SPIDER-MAN."
AND THEN...
THEY PROBABLY SOLD THEM, OR
YOU KNOW, THEY GAVE 'EM AWAY
IN CONTESTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT EVENTUALLY
ENDED UP HAPPENING
TO BLOCKBUSTER.
- YEAH.
- IN 2000, THE CEO
OF BLOCKBUSTER
TURNED DOWN BUYING
NETFLIX FOR $50 MILLION.
AND 20 YEARS LATER,
BLOCKBUSTER IS BANKRUPT,
AND NETFLIX IS
WORTH $140 BILLION.
- THAT WAS A POOR DECISION.
AND IT'S IN RELATIVELY
DECENT SHAPE FOR BEING
ALMOST 20 YEARS OLD.
THIS RUBBERY STUFF,
YOU CAN TELL THAT
IT'S GETTING OLD.
- YEAH, IT'S BEEN
AROUND FOR A WHILE.
- AND YOU SAID IT
WAS A LIMITED EDITION?
- YES, YEAH, NUMBER 2,780
OUT OF, I THINK, 4,600.
- OKAY, I LOVE IT WHEN THEY
SAY 4,600 IS A LIMITED EDITION.
NOW, HOW MUCH YOU
WANT FOR THIS THING?
- I WAS THINKING ABOUT 1,500.
- I BET YOU WOULD.
OKAY.
I'LL GIVE YOU 500 BUCKS FOR IT.
- 500.
- IT'S COOL AND
EVERYTHING LIKE THAT,
BUT IT'S NOT THAT
LIMITED EDITION, OKAY?
THERE'S PROBABLY A
LOT OF THEM OUT THERE.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE.
- COME ON, WORK WITH ME, JUST...
MAYBE 600 BUCKS?
- 550.
- UM...
- 575?
- 550.
♪ ♪
- ALL RIGHT, I'LL DO IT.
- ALL RIGHT, SWEET.
SO JUST CRUISE RIGHT OVER THERE
TO THE PAWN COUNTER,
WE'LL DO SOME PAPERWORK,
I'LL GET YOU PAID.
- ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
- OKAY.
YEP. I'M JUST YOUR FRIENDLY
NEIGHBORHOOD PAWN BROKER.
♪ ♪
- HI, HOW ARE YOU?
- HELLO, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
- I HAVE GOT THIS AWESOME ITEM.
MY DAD'S HAD IT
LAYING AROUND THE HOUSE FOREVER.
- WOW, UH...
- LOOK, IT'S ALL ORIGINAL.
MY DAD TOLD ME IT WAS ZZ TOP'S.
♪ ♪
- WHOA. THIS IS DEFINITELY COOL.
- ACTUALLY, BILLY GIBBONS
FROM ZZ TOP. YEAH.
- OH, WOW.
I THINK THIS WOULD LOOK
PRETTY GOOD ON ME, ACTUALLY.
- I THINK SO, TOO. I
THINK THE RHINESTONES
- WOULD BRING OUT YOUR EYES.
- YEAH.
♪ ♪
- I AM HERE AT THE
PAWN SHOP TODAY
BECAUSE I HAVE A SUIT
THAT BILLY GIBBONS
FROM ZZ TOP OWNED.
THE RHINESTONES ARE
IN PRISTINE CONDITION,
THERE'S NOT A
SINGLE ONE MISSING,
NOT A SINGLE STAIN,
SO I THINK THAT THIS
SUIT IS THE REAL DEAL.
I'M HOPING TO SELL THIS SUIT
FOR 25,000.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS PRETTY COOL. ZZ TOP.
LET ME GET MY BOSS OVER
HERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, OKAY?
- OKAY, THANKS.
- HEY, RICK!
♪ ♪
- WHAT'S UP?
- CHECK THIS OUT.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FROM
ONE OF THE BAND MEMBERS
OF ZZ TOP.
- YEAH, BILLY GIBBONS.
- REALLY?
- YEAH.
- THIS IS SO COOL.
ZZ TOP ARE ROCK AND ROLL ICONS.
THE '70S, THE '80S, THE
'90S, SELLING OUT STADIUMS.
THE LONGEST-RUNNING BAND
WITH THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS.
I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN
AROUND FOR OVER 50 YEARS
WITH THE SAME THREE GUYS.
A LONG TIME AGO,
THEY WENT FROM, LIKE, A
BAND, TO, LIKE, ICONIC BAND.
OKAY, I'M IMPRESSED.
IS THIS A NUDIE SUIT?
- IT IS, YEAH.
IT HAS THE ORIGINAL LABEL
INSIDE AND EVERYTHING.
- OKAY, HERE WE GO... NUDIE
RODEO TAILORS RIGHT HERE.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.
SO THERE'S A GUY NAMED NUTA.
- MM-HMM.
- HE WAS, LIKE, A TAILOR.
I MEAN, THIS WAS THE GUY WHO
CREATED THE MYSTIQUE
OF THE RHINESTONE COWBOY.
AND, WELL, AFTER WORLD WAR II,
ROY ROGERS WAS POPULAR,
YOU KNOW, ALL THE
SINGING COWBOYS
AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
THESE WESTERN SUITS
BEGAN TO GET POPULAR.
AND OVER THE YEARS,
THEY GOT MORE AND MORE
AND MORE FLAMBOYANT,
SO EVERY ROCK STAR
WAS BUYING THEM,
AND IF YOU WERE IN
THAT INDUSTRY BACK THEN,
YOU WEREN'T NOTHING
UNLESS YOU HAD A NUDIE SUIT.
♪ ♪
SO HOW MUCH DO
YOU WANT FOR THIS?
- SO I WAS THINKING 25,000.
♪ ♪
- OKAY, SO FIRST OFF, IT'S
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
JUST FOR A NUDIE JACKET.
YOU NEVER FIND
THEM WITH THE PANTS.
- MM-HMM.
- AND THESE THINGS
WERE SO EXPENSIVE TO BEGIN WITH.
MOST GUYS JUST GOT THE
JACKET. THEY DIDN'T GET A FULL SUIT.
♪ ♪
DO YOU HAVE ANY PAPERWORK
OR PICTURES OF BILLY
GIBBONS WEARING THIS?
- I DON'T.
- OKAY.
AND THAT'S THE DETERMINING
FACTOR RIGHT NOW.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING
THAT'S JUST...
SOME BILLY BOB COWBOY WORE,
OR YOU HAVE... A ROCK
AND ROLL ICON WORE.
THERE'S A BIG
DIFFERENCE IN PRICES.
I KNOW A GUY WHO WILL
KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS.
- OKAY.
- IF YOU JUST HANG OUT
FOR A LITTLE BIT, I'LL
GO GIVE HIM A CALL.
HE JUST LIVES DOWN THE STREET.
- OKAY, GREAT. THANKS
SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
♪ ♪
- I WAS GONNA BE A ROCK
STAR. I DIDN'T HAVE THE HAIR.
- OR THE TALENT.
♪ ♪
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
- HI.
- THIS IS INTERESTING,
WHAT DO WE GOT?
- WELL, IT'S A MILITARY
DOG TAG PRINTING MACHINE.
- WELL, IT'S BIG, IT'S
OLD, AND IT'S METAL,
BUT, QUITE FRANKLY,
I GOT MY DOG TAGS
FROM A VENDING MACHINE
AT THE GROCERY STORE.
I'M HERE AT THE PAWN SHOP
TO SELL MY MILITARY
DOG TAG MAKER.
MY HUSBAND AND I GOT
IT FROM A FAMILY FRIEND,
AND HE RECENTLY PASSED,
SO MY SON AND I DECIDED
TO GO AHEAD AND SELL IT.
I KNOW MILITARY ITEMS ARE
HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE NOW,
SO I'M HOPING TO
SELL IT FOR 1,800.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS DEFINITELY COOL.
SO WHAT THIS IS, BASICALLY,
IT'S A TYPEWRITER FOR METAL.
♪ ♪
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE MILITARY,
THEY HAVE THESE METAL TAGS
ON ALMOST ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT.
MAKE DOG TAGS,
YOU CAN LABEL WHAT
KIND OF BOMB'S IN A BOX
OR WHAT SIZE UNIFORM IT IS.
- RIGHT. RIGHT.
- THEY USE ALMOST THE
SAME KIND OF METAL TAGS.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT STAMP
RIGHT THERE, ACTUALLY, WITH IT.
OH! OKAY.
♪ ♪
- WAS IT EVER USED
WHILE YOU GUYS HAD IT?
- NO, NO.
- NO?
SO THIS THING'S JUST
BEEN SITTING FOR...
- YEAH. YEAH.
- OKAY.
- IT'S BEEN IN STORAGE.
- OKAY.
YEAH, WE GOT A WHOLE
LOT OF METAL HERE
AND A WHOLE LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
I MEAN, I CAN TELL WE'RE
OBVIOUSLY MISSING A BELT
AND A FEW THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DON'T FEEL A
LOT OF ACTION IN IT.
TELL ME WHAT
YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO.
ARE YOU LOOKING TO SELL IT?
- YES.
I'M HOPING TO GET 1,800.
- OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S
WORTH RESTORING,
IF IT'S WORTH MONEY IN PARTS,
IF IT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S EVEN USED TODAY.
I DO HAVE A BUDDY I THINK
MIGHT BE ABLE TO CLUE ME IN
A LITTLE BIT MORE ON IT.
- MM-HMM.
- MIND IF I GIVE HIM A CALL?
- THAT'S ALL RIGHT. FINE.
- OKAY.
ONE SECOND, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
- MM-HMM.
I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH
AN EXPERT COMING IN
THAT WOULD BE VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE.
♪ ♪
- HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
- PRETTY GOOD.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
- SO I HAVE A 1902 GAME-USED
COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
- OKAY.
- THIS BALL
WAS USED OCTOBER 15, 1902
AT YALE FIELD.
- IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A
FOOTBALL AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.
- IT'S AN EARLY VERSION.
THEY USED TO CALL
THESE "MELON FOOTBALLS."
I CAN SEE EXACTLY WHY.
- SO I'M HERE AT THE
PAWN SHOP TODAY
TO SELL MY 1902
GAME-USED YALE FOOTBALL.
I GOT THE FOOTBALL
FROM THE COLLECTION
OF GEORGE B. CHADWICK.
HE WAS AN ALL-AMERICAN AT YALE.
I FEEL LIKE THE
CONDITION'S PRETTY GOOD.
IT STILL MAINTAINS ITS SHAPE,
AND IT'S A REALLY
NICE DISPLAY PIECE.
I'M LOOKING TO SELL THE
FOOTBALL TODAY FOR $3,000.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS PRETTY COOL HERE.
YOU SAID THIS IS FROM WHEN?
THIS IS FROM 1902.
- 1902, OKAY.
- YEAH.
- YEAH, THIS WAS A TIME WHEN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
WAS JUST STARTING,
AND YALE WAS KIND OF
AT THE FOREFRONT OF IT.
IT WAS MORE OF,
LIKE, A RUGBY GAME,
AND YOU CAN TELL
THAT PRETTY MUCH
FROM THE SHAPE OF THE FOOTBALL.
THIS IS NOT A FOOTBALL
THAT WAS MEANT TO BE THROWN
50 YARDS DOWN THE FIELD.
IT WASN'T UNTIL MAYBE 1906
WHEN THEY ACTUALLY
MADE SOME RULE CHANGES
AND THE FORWARD PASS
WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THEM.
AND THOSE RULE CHANGES
ARE KIND OF WHERE
AMERICAN FOOTBALL AS WE
KNOW IT STARTED TO KIND OF FORM.
LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT HERE.
I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY ROUGH,
BUT THIS THING IS
OVER 100 YEARS OLD.
IT'S NOT QUITE THE
SHAPE OF A FOOTBALL,
BUT IT STILL LOOKS LIKE
ONE, AND IT HAS THE LACES.
- SO, AT THAT TIME,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE VALVES.
SO THE BLADDER WAS ALL INTERNAL,
SO TO INFLATE THE FOOTBALL,
YOU HAD TO ACTUALLY
UNLACE THE WHOLE FOOTBALL...
- OH, WOW.
- TO REINFLATE IT.
- AND THIS IS WHERE
FOOTBALL STARTED,
SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL.
AND HOW MUCH ARE
YOU LOOKING TO GET?
- I'M LOOKING FOR 3,000.
- OKAY, UM...
I MEAN, I KNOW
FOOTBALL IS COLLECTIBLE.
THIS, HOWEVER,
IS A LITTLE UNIQUE.
DO YOU HAVE A CERTIFICATE
OF AUTHENTICITY?
- I DON'T HAVE THAT
WITH ME TODAY.
- OKAY, UM...
IT'S A REALLY COOL ITEM,
BUT EVEN THOUGH I
BELIEVE IT WAS GAME-USED,
I BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SAY,
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO
RETELL THAT STORY
WITHOUT AUTHENTICATION PAPERWORK
TO SOMEONE THAT
I'M GONNA SELL IT TO.
- I UNDERSTAND.
- SO, FOR ME,
IT'S JUST GONNA BE A PASS.
- OKAY.
- BEAUTIFUL FOOTBALL,
AND I'M GLAD I GOT
TO SEE IT TODAY.
- DUDE, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
- YEP.
THANKS FOR COMING IN.
- THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY.
TAKE IT EASY.
TO BE HONEST, THE PIECE
IS SO SENTIMENTAL TO ME,
I HAVE NO PROBLEM
LEAVING WITH IT.
SO I'M ACTUALLY KIND OF EXCITED
THAT I'M ABLE TO TAKE
IT HOME WITH ME AGAIN
AND SHARE IT WITH MY FAMILY
AND SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE
THAT ARE CLOSE TO ME.
- SO THERE'S A LADY IN THE SHOP
WITH A SUIT THAT SHE CLAIMS
USED TO BELONG TO BILLY GIBBONS
FROM THE ROCK BAND ZZ TOP.
NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE
AN ORIGINAL NUDIE SUIT,
BUT IF THIS THING ACTUALLY
BELONGED TO BILLY GIBBONS,
IT COULD MAKE IT
WORTH SO MUCH MORE.
LUCKILY, I KNOW A
SHARP-DRESSED MAN
WHO'S GONNA COME
DOWN HERE, TAKE A LOOK,
AND TELL US A LOT MORE.
♪ ♪
- AND I WAS KNOCKING
AROUND THE HOUSE,
AND GILLIGAN SAID THAT YOU
HAD SOMETHING OF INTEREST.
HOLY MACKEREL.
HAVE MERCY.
OH, MY GOSH!
- HOW ARE YOU?
- HOW ARE YOU?
OH, MY GOSH.
- RICK, CHUM. I THINK
THIS MIGHT BE MINE.
CAN I JUST TAKE ONE
QUICK LOOK AT SOMETHING?
- SURE.
♪ ♪
- THE INSIDE LABEL
TELLS THE TALE.
THERE IT IS.
THE REAL NUDIE'S
RODEO TAILOR LABEL.
- BACK IN THE DAY, WAS THAT,
LIKE, THE STANDARD COSTUME
YOU GUYS WERE WEARING,
WAS LIKE NUDIE SUITS?
- HE BECAME OUR
COSTUMER THROUGH '73,
ALL THE WAY UP TILL '76.
AND THIS WAS
COSTUMING AT ITS FINEST.
♪ ♪
THE NUDIE SUIT
HAS KIND OF COME INTO
ITS OWN OVER THE YEARS.
WE BECAME CLIENTS
WITH NUDIE IN 1972.
THOSE SUITS APPEAR ON THE COVER
OF ZZ TOP'S "FANDANGO!" RECORD.
SO WE'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY
WITH THE SHINY RHINESTONE SUITS.
IT'S PRETTY FUN.
♪ ♪
WHAT YOU HAVE LAID BEFORE ME
BRINGS BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES.
- SO WHEN DID YOU BUY THIS?
- THE LAST TIME I LAID
EYES ON THIS WAS 1974.
♪ ♪
I INADVERTENTLY MISPLACED IT,
LEFT IT ON AN AIRPLANE.
BY THE TIME I
REALIZED IT WAS MIA...
CALLED THE AIRLINE, AND THE
CLEANING CREW HAD GONE IN.
SO I COMPLETELY THOUGHT
THIS HAD VAPORIZED.
- HE PROBABLY WROTE
THIS OFF A LONG TIME AGO.
- LONG AGO.
♪ ♪
AND IT STILL LOOKS
LIKE IT MIGHT FIT.
- SO THIS YOUNG LADY
WANTS 25,000 FOR IT.
- IT MIGHT BE YOUR
VERY LUCKY DAY.
A GARMENT OF THIS RARITY
AND AT THIS QUALITY...
IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO
SEE A REAL, GENUINE NUDIE
GO AS MUCH AS...
♪ ♪
LIKE, $50,000.
50,000?
- $50,000 WOULD
NOT BE UNHEARD OF.
- I'VE CHANGED MY OFFER.
- THEN DO YOU
WANT TO BUY IT BACK?
- WELL, I DON'T WANT TO
SEE IT WALK OUT THE DOOR.
IF WE COULD MAKE A DEAL,
ANTONE'S IS A BLUES MUSEUM
DOWN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS,
WOULD GRACIOUSLY ACCEPT
THIS FOR ONE OF THEIR DISPLAYS.
♪ ♪
SO IF WE'RE GONNA
GO HALVES ON THIS.
♪ ♪
- I'M READY.
- OKAY.
LET US GIVE YOU 40 FOR IT.
♪ ♪
AND WE'LL GET YOU PAID,
AND THEN WE'LL DONATE IT,
THEN WE'LL GET A TAX DEDUCTION,
SO IT WON'T COST
ME AS MUCH MONEY.
- THAT'S RIGHT.
- OKAY.
- DO WE HAVE A DEAL?
- THAT'S A DEAL!
THAT'S AWESOME!
- OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
SWEET.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- I'LL TAKE HALF. YOU TAKE HALF.
- FOLLOW CHUM RIGHT UP FRONT,
AND HE'LL GET THE
PAPERWORK DONE.
- OKAY, GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- YOU'RE WELCOME.
- THANK YOU.
- THANK YOU, TOO.
♪ ♪
YOU KNOW, I DID LEAVE
THIS ON AN AIRPLANE ONCE.
I DON'T THINK WE
WANT TO LEAVE IT TWICE.
- YEAH, YOU KNOW, GRAB IT.
- OKAY.
- I GOT IT, I GOT IT.
- ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
♪ ♪
- I HAVE A CUSTOMER HERE
WHO BROUGHT IN AN OLD
MILITARY DOG TAG MAKER.
THIS THING LOOKS REALLY
COOL, BUT IT'S IN ROUGH SHAPE,
AND IT'S DEFINITELY
SEEN BETTER DAYS.
IT'S ALSO MISSING
A LOT OF PARTS.
I'M ALSO NOT SURE WHAT
THE COLLECTOR MARKET IS
FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, SO
RICK DALE'S GONNA COME DOWN
AND TELL ME A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
- WOW, THAT IS COOL!
- IS IT A BOAT ANCHOR
AT THIS POINT?
I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
- SO HERE'S WHAT THEY WERE.
THIS IS BASICALLY
A 6300 GRAPHOTYPE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED
THIS THE DOG TAG MAKER
BECAUSE THEY THINK
IT MADE DOG TAGS,
BUT IT DIDN'T, REALLY,
IT JUST MADE LABELS.
- OH.
- YOU GOT TO REMEMBER,
THIS IS WORLD WAR II.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
FOR THE MILITARY
TO HAVE A NUMBER, SERIAL NUMBER,
AND WHAT IT IS ON
EVERYTHING THEY HAVE.
YOU HAD THE ARMY GETTING 'EM,
YOU HAD THE NAVY GETTING 'EM,
AND EACH ONE WOULD PAINT THEM
OR HAVE THEM BROUGHT
IN AT THAT COLOR.
SO IF THIS WAS A BLUEISH GRAY,
THAT WAS GOING TO THE NAVY.
THIS COLOR WOULD
BE GOING TO THE ARMY.
KEEP IN MIND, THE CREWMAN,
OR WHOEVER'S DOING IT,
HE WAS ON THIS MACHINE
EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
BOOM. BOOM.
SO THAT'S WHAT
THESE MACHINES DID.
- SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- THEY'RE A HUGE
COLLECTIBLE ITEM,
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT GUYS
WANTING TO MAKE METAL PLATES
FOR STUFF OUT
OF THE '40S AND '50S
FOR A CAR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO NOW THEY NEED
THIS KIND OF A MACHINE
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.
BUT IT'S GOT TO WORK, THOUGH.
- I GOT TO ASK YOU, I MEAN,
IS THERE ANY WAY THIS
THING'S EVER GONNA WORK?
- THIS IS MISSING
QUITE A FEW THINGS.
IT'S MISSING THE MOTOR.
THERE'S A LIGHT THAT
COMES OVER THE TOP, AND...
♪ ♪
HMM.
IT IS LITERALLY FROZEN STIFF.
YOU CANNOT PUSH A KEY.
NOTHING MOVES, AND
EVERYTHING ON IT IS RUSTED.
SO IT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.
- GOT YA.
WELL, RICK, THAT WAS
EVERYTHING I NEEDED, BUDDY.
- OKAY.
- APPRECIATE IT.
- NICE MEETING YOU.
- ALL RIGHTY. THANK YOU.
WELL...
NOT EXACTLY THE STUFF I
WANTED TO HEAR FROM HIM.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE, REALLY, TO TELL YOU.
I'M SEEING THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
TO RESTORE THIS THING.
REALISTICALLY, I DON'T KNOW
THAT I'M GONNA BE ABLE
TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
- MM. OKAY.
- BUT IF YOU HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE,
COME BACK, PLEASE.
- OKAY.
- HAVE A GOOD DAY.
- ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.
BUT I THINK I'LL JUST GO AHEAD
AND TAKE IT BACK HOME
AND GO FROM THERE.
♪ ♪
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
- HOW YOU DOING TODAY?
- GOOD. WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?
- I HAVE THE FIRST
INTRODUCTION OF THOR.
IT'S A "JOURNEY INTO
MYSTERY" COMIC BOOK.
- OKAY. THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
I KNOW A LOT ABOUT
THOR, THE GOD,
NOT REALLY THE COMIC
BOOK CHARACTER.
- YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE
COMIC BOOK CHARACTER GOES,
YEAH, YOU HAVE
SUPERMAN AND SPIDER-MAN
AND THE HULK AND ALL THAT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A GOD.
- I'M HERE AT THE PAWN
SHOP TODAY TO SELL
MY "JOURNEY INTO
MYSTERY" COMIC BOOK.
WHAT'S REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT
THIS PARTICULAR COMIC BOOK IS,
IT'S THE FIRST APPEARANCE
OF THOR IN A COMIC BOOK.
I'VE HAD IT FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS NOW,
BUT I COULD USE THE MONEY.
I WANT TO START
TRAVELING A LITTLE BIT.
SO I'M HOPING TO SELL THAT
COMIC BOOK FOR ABOUT $100,000.
♪ ♪
- ALL RIGHT, PRETTY COOL.
THE ACTUAL MYTHICAL GOD THOR...
HE WAS THE GOD OF SACRED GROVES,
TREES, LIGHTNING, THUNDER,
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.
- YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH
ABOUT THE COMIC BOOK CHARACTER.
I JUST KNOW THAT'S
WHAT THUNDER WAS,
WAS THOR HITTING
SOMETHING WITH HIS HAMMER.
- SO YOU KNOW
WHEN THIS CAME OUT?
- I BELIEVE AROUND 1962.
- OKAY.
I'M NOT WEARING MY GLASSES,
SO, LIKE, WHO WROTE THIS?
- STAN LEE, STORY.
JACK KIRBY AND STEVE DITKO, ART.
- THE ONLY ONE I REALLY
KNOW ABOUT IS STAN LEE,
WHO WAS LIKE... YOU
KNOW, HE WASN'T AN ARTIST,
BUT HE WAS, LIKE, THE MOST
FAMOUS STORY WRITER FOR MARVEL.
HE CAME UP WITH SPIDER-MAN.
OBVIOUSLY HE CAME UP WITH THIS,
THE INTRODUCTION RIGHT THERE.
- STAN LEE'S ONE
OF THOSE GUYS THAT,
YOU KNOW, HE'S PROBABLY
THE MOST FAMOUS
COMIC BOOK GUY THERE
EVER WAS OR EVER WILL BE.
- SO WHERE'D YOU GET THIS AT?
- MY BROTHER.
- OKAY. HE JUST GAVE IT TO YOU?
- WELL, HE USED TO DRAW
FOR MARVEL COMICS YEARS AGO.
- ALL RIGHT. SUPER COOL.
SO YOU SENT IT IN
AND GOT IT GRADED.
- I SENT IT IN, GOT IT GRADED.
- AND IT'S GOT A GREAT
RATING ON IT, TOO.
IT'S GOT AN 8.5.
COMIC BOOKS WHERE THEY
FIRST INTRODUCE A CHARACTER,
THOSE ONES ARE
ALWAYS WORTH MONEY.
THIS ONE BEING THE
INTRODUCTION OF THOR,
WHICH IS NOW, LIKE, A HUGE
PART OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE.
YOU DEFINITELY HAVE
SOMETHING HERE.
♪ ♪
SO...
I MEAN, YOU'RE
LOOKING TO SELL THIS?
- YEAH. I'D LIKE TO SELL IT.
- HOW MUCH WERE YOU LOOKING FOR?
- ABOUT 100,000.
$100,000.
- UH-HUH.
- ALL RIGHT. UM...
♪ ♪
JUST THINK OF ALL
THOSE COMIC BOOKS
I THREW AWAY WHEN I WAS A KID.
- ME TOO.
- I MEAN, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS,
I'M A LITTLE
OVERWHELMED WITH IT.
I KNOW A COMIC
BOOK FROM THIS ERA
AND THIS GRADE, WITH THE
INTRODUCTION OF A CHARACTER,
IT'S GOT TO BE WORTH
A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.
I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH.
- RIGHT, RIGHT.
- SO LET ME HAVE
SOMEONE TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING
A LOT OF MONEY HERE.
- THAT SOUNDS FAIR.
- YEAH, I'LL GIVE STEVE A CALL.
- THANK YOU.
I'M HOPING THAT THE EXPERT
WILL VALIDATE MY
ASKING PRICE, ACTUALLY.
♪ ♪
- SO I HAVE A
CUSTOMER IN THE STORE
WITH A 1962 "JOURNEY
INTO MYSTERY"
COMIC BOOK
WITH THE FIRST
APPEARANCE OF THOR.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING,
AND SHE WANTS $100,000.
SO I HAVE STEVE COMING
DOWN, MY COMIC BOOK GUY,
AND HE'S GONNA TELL ME
IF I SHOULD DROP THE
HAMMER ON THIS DEAL.
♪ ♪
- WHAT DO WE HAVE TODAY?
- WE HAVE THOR.
- WELL, LOOK AT THAT, HUH?
BEAUTIFUL.
SO WE HAVE THE FIRST
APPEARANCE OF THOR.
STAN LEE AND JACK
KIRBY, OF COURSE.
VERY FAMOUS. CO-CREATORS
OF THE ENTIRE MARVEL UNIVERSE.
AND THOR IS THE FIFTH CHARACTER
THAT CAME ALONG IN
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE.
JUST AFTER SPIDEY.
STAN DID THE PLOT. JACK
CREATED THE COSTUME.
SO, AGAIN, GREAT
YEAR, 1962, FOR MARVEL.
BREAKOUT YEAR.
- OKAY.
SO THAT WAS A COMIC SERIES?
- YES. WELL, BASICALLY,
ISSUE 82 THROUGH 1
FEATURED
SUSPENSE/MYSTERY STORIES.
NO SUPERHEROES.
AND THEN AS THE
SUPERHEROES BEGAN TO GROW,
INSTEAD OF, LIKE,
CREATING A BRAND-NEW TITLE
JUST FOR THOR, THEY JUST SAID,
"OKAY, WHY DON'T
WE JUST THROW THOR
IN 'JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY?'"
- OKAY, AND THEN
SOON AFTER THAT,
HE GOT HIS OWN COMIC BOOK.
- YES, IN 1966.
- ALL RIGHT, NOW,
SHE'S ASKING $100,000 FOR THIS.
♪ ♪
- OH.
ALL RIGHT, SO,
FIRST THINGS FIRST,
CGC IS THE GRADING COMPANY HERE.
THE GOOD THING IS, IS THEY'VE
DONE THE HEAVY LIFTING FOR US.
AN 8.5 OF A BOOK LIKE THIS,
AND...
THIS BOOK HAS WHITE PAGES.
THAT IS ASTOUNDING.
WHICH MEANS THAT SOMEHOW
THIS BOOK WAS STORED
IN AN ENVIRONMENT
WHERE THE PAGES
DIDN'T TURN BROWN OR OFF-WHITE.
THAT IS A MAJOR SELLING POINT.
- OKAY.
AND...
WHAT WOULD IT RETAIL FOR?
- RIGHT NOW, IF I WAS TO
TAKE THIS BOOK TO MY STORE,
PUT A PRICE TAG ON IT, $60,000.
♪ ♪
- YEP. STEVE, MAN, I APPRECIATE
YOU COMING DOWN, BUDDY.
- ALL RIGHT, THANKS,
MAN, APPRECIATE IT.
- ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD LUCK.
- THAT'S A LOT MORE THAN
THE 12 CENTS ON THE COVER.
- YEAH, DEFINITELY A GOOD
RETURN ON YOUR MONEY.
OKAY, SO WHAT WOULD
BE YOUR BEST PRICE ON IT?
- 60,000.
- WELL, I MEAN,
WOULDN'T BE THE
SMARTEST BUSINESS MOVE
TO BUY IT FOR 60 WHEN I
COULD SELL IT FOR THAT.
BUT I'LL GIVE YOU 30.
THAT'S CASH, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO RETAIL IT,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
PUT IT IN AN AUCTION
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WAIT A YEAR TO GET PAID.
- 50,000.
- AT 50,000, THERE'S
NO MONEY IN IT FOR ME.
I MEAN, I GOT...
IF I SELL IT IN HERE, I
GOT TO PAY COMMISSIONS
AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.
IF I SELL IT AT AN AUCTION,
THERE'S AUCTION FEES,
I'LL GIVE YOU 40.
40,000 IS A REASONABLE
CASH OFFER, OKAY?
♪ ♪
- MM, OKAY, I'LL GO 40.
- ALL RIGHT, SWEET.
- THANK YOU.
- OKAY, YOU WANT
TO GO WRITE HER UP?
- YEAH. COME WITH ME.
♪ ♪
- WELL, I WAS ASKING 100,000,
BUT $40,000 IS STILL A...
GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY,
SO I'M GOING TO HELP MY
BROTHER OUT A LITTLE BIT
WITH SOME BILLS, AND THEN
THE REST OF THE MONEY,
I'M JUST GONNA GO TRAVEL.
♪ ♪
- HELLO.
- HOW YOU DOING?
- GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
- PRETTY GOOD. WHAT
CAN I HELP YOU WITH?
- GOT A COUPLE ITEMS I'D
LIKE TO SHOW YOU TODAY.
- OKAY, WHAT EXACTLY
DO YOU HAVE HERE?
- THIS IS A DANCING
HORSE WINE FLASK,
AND I BELIEVE IT'S FROM
THE TANG DYNASTY IN CHINA.
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY
CALLED A HAND-WARMER FLASK.
- ALL RIGHT, THEY GOT
SOME DRINK IN THEM?
- I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S
ANYTHING IN THEM.
- OH, I WAS HOPING FOR
SOME REALLY AGED WINE.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE AGED.
- I'M HERE AT THE PAWN SHOP
TO TRY AND SELL TWO FLASKS
THAT I BELIEVE ARE
FROM THE TANG DYNASTY.
ONE FLASK I HAVE, I
BELIEVE, IS WHAT THEY CALL
A HAND-WARMER FLASK.
THE OTHER ONE, I
BELIEVE, IS WHAT THEY CALL
A TRAVELER'S WINE FLASK.
I'M HOPING TO SELL THE
HAND-WARMER FLASK FOR 500.
AND I WOULD HOPE TO GET
6,000 FOR THE WINE FLASK.
♪ ♪
- IT'S PRETTY COOL STUFF.
THE TANG DYNASTY WAS AROUND FROM
618 A.D. ALL THE WAY TO 906 A.D.
SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF HISTORY,
WHERE WE WERE
STILL DEVELOPING A LOT.
THIS COMES FROM THE
GOLDEN PERIOD OF THEIR ART.
- THIS ONE, ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE
THERE WAS AN EMPEROR, XUANZONG,
AND HE HAD THESE DANCING
HORSES THAT WERE TRAINED.
THEY WOULD HAVE CELEBRATIONS,
AND THEY WOULD
DANCE FOR THE EMPEROR.
- OKAY. THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE
A MORE TYPICAL STYLE
FLASK YOU WOULD SEE.
- RIGHT.
- IS THAT A DRAGON ON THERE...
♪ ♪
WITH MAYBE SOME TYPE OF BIRD?
- THAT MIGHT BE A PHOENIX.
- OKAY, YEAH.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS
A COUPLE HOLES IN THERE.
OTHER THAN THOSE
HOLES BACK THERE,
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S IN
PRETTY GOOD CONDITION.
SO, UNFORTUNATELY,
I DON'T REALLY KNOW
TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.
I REALLY, REALLY LIKE THEM.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING
TO GET FOR THESE?
- THIS ONE HERE,
BECAUSE OF THE RARITY,
I'D LIKE TO GET 6,000 FOR THAT.
THIS ONE HERE, I BELIEVE,
IS A LITTLE MORE COMMON,
I WOULD LIKE 500 FOR THAT.
- ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT
THE BEST AT MATH,
BUT I THINK THAT
ADDS UP TO 6,500.
AND THAT'S A PRETTY PENNY, SO...
I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET
SOMEONE DOWN HERE
TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE,
TELL ME WHAT THEY
THINK ABOUT THEM,
AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS
A PRICE AFTER THAT.
- SOUNDS GOOD.
- ALL RIGHT.
GIVE ME JUST A FEW MINUTES.
- ALL RIGHT.
I HOPE THE EXPERT WILL
PUT A VALUE ON THEM
FOR MORE THAN WHAT I'M ASKING.
♪ ♪
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
- GOING GOOD, MAN.
HOW YOU DOING?
- DOING ALL RIGHT.
SO WHAT DO WE GOT?
- MAN, I GOT A 1979
GIBSON THUNDERBIRD BASS.
- OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU
SET IT DOWN ON THIS FOR ME?
- YES, SIR.
NATURAL FINISH AND
SUPPOSEDLY ONE OF JUST 21
THEY DID IN THE YEAR OF 1979.
- SWEET.
- BUT IN TENNESSEE,
WE CALLED IT "THUNDER CHICKEN."
I'M HERE AT THE PAWN SHOP TODAY
TO TRY AND SELL MY 1979
GIBSON THUNDERBIRD BASS.
I GOT IT ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO.
I FOUND AN AD ONLINE.
A LITTLE GENTLEMAN
IN A SMALL TOWN IN
TENNESSEE HAD IT.
OH, I'VE PLAYED IT,
AND IT IS BUTTER.
FOR BEING PLAYED SINCE 1979,
IT'S IN IMMACULATE CONDITION.
HOPEFULLY I'D GET 7,500
BUCKS FOR IT TODAY.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS COOL, BUT YOU
KIND OF GOT ME, MAN.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER
SEEN ONE OF THESE BEFORE.
- YOU KNOW, GIBSON'S
JUST ONE OF THOSE
GREAT AMERICAN
COMPANIES, THOUGH.
I THINK THEY STARTED
IN THE EARLY 1900S.
- RIGHT.
- THEY'RE STILL ALIVE
AND KICKING TODAY.
- RIGHT.
- YOU KNOW, I DON'T
KNOW THAT MUCH
ABOUT THE THUNDERBIRD MODEL.
- THIS '79 NATURAL FINISH,
THEY ONLY MADE SIX,
WHICH WOULD MAKE IT THE RAREST
PRODUCTION RUN BASS GUITAR
GIBSON'S EVER DONE.
- OKAY.
- AND THERE'S
NOTHING THAT SOUNDS
LIKE A GIBSON THUNDERBIRD.
THE OLD HUMBUCKERS
THAT ARE IN THEM
JUST HAVE A TONE THAT
YOU CAN'T DUPLICATE
IN THESE NEW INSTRUMENTS, SO...
- DO YOU MIND IF I...
- GO AHEAD.
- OKAY.
- KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.
- I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S IN GREAT SHAPE.
THERE'S NOT, LIKE, ANY
BUCKLE RASH OR ANYTHING ON IT.
I MEAN, DO YOU PLAY IT OFTEN?
- YEAH. THAT'S ONE, WHEN
I HEARD THE RARITY OF IT,
I DECIDED I WAS GONNA TRY
AND GET SOMETHING ELSE,
'CAUSE I'M PRETTY HARD ON GEAR,
AND IF IT'S REALLY
THAT RARE, I DON'T WANT
TO BEAT IT TO DEATH.
- OKAY.
HOW MUCH YOU
LOOKING TO GET FOR IT?
- IF I CAN GET 7,500
BUCKS FOR IT, YOU KNOW,
GET ME ANOTHER BASS
AND BUY ME A BUCKET
OF FRIED CHICKEN
AND PUT A DOWN PAYMENT
ON A TRUCK FOR MY WIFE,
THAT'D BE ALL RIGHT, MAN.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'LL
TELL YOU WHAT, MAN.
LET ME GIVE A
BUDDY OF MINE A CALL,
WHO'S GONNA KNOW WAY
MORE ABOUT THIS THING THAN ME.
- YOU GOT IT.
- AND WE'LL SEE IF WE
CAN GET YOU THAT CHICKEN
AND THAT DOWN
PAYMENT, ALL RIGHT?
- YOU GOT IT.
- I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
- ALL RIGHT, MAN.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE
AN EXPERT COME IN
AND CHECK IT OUT, 'CAUSE
THEN I'LL ACTUALLY KNOW
AND, YOU KNOW, KNOW WHAT I GOT.
♪ ♪
- THERE'S A CUSTOMER
HERE WITH TWO FLASKS.
AND HE BELIEVES THEM TO
BE FROM THE TANG DYNASTY.
THESE FLASKS COULD
BE OVER 1,000 YEARS OLD,
OR THEY COULD BE MODERN.
BUT I'M DEFINITELY
NOT BUYING THEM
UNTIL I KNOW THEY'RE LEGIT.
SO I CALLED BOB DODGE
TO COME ON DOWN
AND TEST THEM, SO HE CAN TELL ME
IF THEY'RE WORTH A SHOT.
♪ ♪
- WHAT DO WE HAVE?
- WELL...
APPARENTLY WE HAVE A COUPLE
FLASKS FROM THE TANG DYNASTY.
- WOW.
MIND IF I TAKE A
CLOSE LOOK HERE?
- NOT AT ALL.
- OKAY, SO NICE IMPRESSED HORSE.
BUT AS I LOOK AT THESE...
♪ ♪
THE HOLES SHOW ME SOMETHING.
IF YOU LOOK AT HOW
FRESH THAT METAL IS...
METAL THAT IS FROM
THE TANG DYNASTY
IS 1,100 YEARS
OLD, GIVE OR TAKE.
WHEN IT AGES, THE PATINA
GETS DEEP INTO THE METAL
AND STARTS TO TRANSFORM
IT AND KIND OF CRYSTALLIZES IT.
- RIGHT.
- METAL IN A BRONZE
OF THIS PERIOD,
SHOULDN'T LOOK BRIGHT AND SHINY.
SO I'M SEEING A VERY
FRESH METAL HERE,
WHICH WORRIES ME,
FIRST AND FOREMOST.
♪ ♪
BUT LET'S FIND OUT FOR SURE.
- OKAY.
- SO WHAT WE DO, IS
WE TAKE OUR XRF GUN,
AND THIS SHOOTS AN
X-RAY INTO THE METAL,
AND THEN IT CAN TELL US
WHAT THE METAL IS MADE OUT OF.
♪ ♪
OKAY, SO, WE'VE GOT COPPER,
ZINC, LEAD, TIN, IRON,
AND MANGANESE.
THAT TELLS ME THIS IS BRASS.
THERE'S WAY TOO MUCH
ZINC FOR THIS TO BE ANCIENT.
♪ ♪
- OKAY.
- SO LET'S TRY THIS GUY.
♪ ♪
OKAY. AGAIN...
BRASS, NOT BRONZE.
- OKAY.
- SO I CAN TELL YOU, THOSE
ARE NOT TANG PERIOD BRONZES.
♪ ♪
AS A SOUVENIR FLASK
TO THE PERSON THAT
ONCE OWNED THEM,
THEY WERE PROBABLY PRICELESS.
TO YOU, TRYING TO RESELL THEM,
MAYBE 50 BUCKS APIECE.
- OKAY.
WELL, THANKS FOR COMING IN.
- MY PLEASURE.
- APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME, LIKE ALWAYS.
- YOU BET YA.
- WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
LIKED WHAT YOU HEARD THERE,
BUT I GOT TO TEND
TO BELIEVE HIM.
IT'S WHAT HE DOES, SO
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO MAKE YOU AN OFFER ON THESE.
REALLY COOL. I WISH
THEY WERE REAL.
THANKS FOR COMING OUT.
- THANKS. ALL RIGHT.
- HAVE A GOOD DAY.
- YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY.
♪ ♪
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED
THAT I COULDN'T MAKE
A DEAL HERE TODAY,
BUT MAYBE SOMEONE
ELSE IS INTERESTED IN THEM.
♪ ♪
- I HAVE A CUSTOMER
IN THE SHOP WITH A 1979
GIBSON THUNDERBIRD BASS GUITAR.
IT'S IN REALLY GOOD CONDITION,
BUT HE'S ASKING $7,500 FOR IT,
AND I DON'T KNOW IF
THAT'S A GOOD PRICE OR NOT.
SO I'M GONNA CALL
UP MY BUDDY, WOLF,
AND SEE IF WE CAN
STRUM UP A DEAL.
- WOW, LOOK AT THIS.
THUNDERBIRD.
- YES, SIR.
- I'M SORT OF IN SHOCK,
I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE
IN PERSON, ACTUALLY.
THAT'S KIND OF COOL.
- THE THUNDERBIRD CAME
OUT ORIGINALLY, I THINK, IN 1963.
THEY WERE TRYING TO
COME OUT TO COMPETE WITH
THE FENDER P-BASS AND
THE FENDER JAZZ BASS.
AND THIS HAS JUST
GOT A LEGENDARY TONE.
IT'S A NECK THROUGH,
WHICH MEANS THE NECK AND
THE BODY AND MIDDLE HERE
ARE ALL ONE PIECE.
THEN THEY GLUE THE WINGS
ONTO THE SIDE AFTERWARDS.
SO WITH THIS ALL BEING ONE PIECE
THAT YOU LAY THE FRETBOARD ON,
IT'S GOT A LOT OF RESONANCE.
REALLY, REALLY
THUMPING LOW-END TONE.
THESE ARE REALLY HIGHLY
SOUGHT AFTER BY BASS PLAYERS.
♪ ♪
IS IT OKAY IF I PICK IT UP?
- YES, SIR.
- THANK YOU.
OH, LET'S SEE.
OH, WOW, NOT EVEN TOO
RASHED OUT ON THE BACK.
YOU TOOK CARE OF THIS.
- WELL...
- ORIGINAL TUNERS.
- YES, SIR.
- SWEET.
SO IF THIS IS
ALL-NATURAL IN 1979,
THEY DID NOT MAKE A
LOT OF THESE AT ALL.
YEAH, THIS IS A BEAUTY.
- GIVE ME AN IDEA
OF WHAT IT'S WORTH.
- THESE ARE VERY RARE.
I THINK GIBSON, IN '79,
DID 20 OR 21 BASSES.
SIX OF THOSE WERE
NATURAL FINISHES.
I THINK THREE OF
WHICH, CURRENTLY,
HAVE BEEN DESTROYED OR LOST.
TO SEE THIS IN FRONT
OF ME, IT'S KIND OF COOL...
ALMOST LIKE A UNICORN.
- OKAY, NOW YOU'RE SCARING ME.
- I LIKE UNICORN, THAT'S GOOD.
- GIVEN THE RARITY OF IT,
AND THIS ONE'S IN ALL
ORIGINAL CONDITION,
I'D SAY 9,000 BUCKS.
- WOW.
- ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WOLF, I APPRECIATE
YOU COMING DOWN.
- HEY, THANKS FOR
HAVING ME. THANK YOU.
- AWESOME.
- THANK YOU, SIR.
- NICE MEETING YOU.
- GOOD MEETING YOU. YES, SIR.
- BEAUTIFUL BASS.
- THANK YOU.
- WELL, MY MAN, I'M GONNA
TELL YOU THIS, BUDDY,
YOU ARE MY FAVORITE
TYPE OF CUSTOMER.
- I DON'T SEE ANY REASON
TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOU,
YOU CAME IN, YOU KNEW
EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAD.
I'LL GIVE YOU THE 7,500 BUCKS
AND A LITTLE BIT EXTRA FOR THAT
BUCKET OF CHICKEN, ALL RIGHT?
- THAT SOUNDS GOOD, MAN.
- COOL.
- THANK YOU, SIR.
- MEET ME OVER THERE.
- YES, SIR.
I'M GONNA TAKE THIS 7,500,
PROBABLY BUY ME ANOTHER BASS.
MAYBE PUT A LITTLE DOWN PAYMENT
ON A PICKUP TRUCK FOR MY WIFE.
MAYBE GO GET SOME FRIED CHICKEN.
♪ ♪
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
- HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
- WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?
- IT'S A VIEW-MASTER
3-D PROJECTOR.
- OKAY, YOU WANT
TO OPEN IT UP FOR ME?
- YEAH, SURE.
- OKAY, SO...
I KNOW THESE THINGS BECAME
REALLY POPULAR IN THE 1930S.
YEAH, WHAT IT WAS, IS THERE
WAS THIS LITTLE ROUND DISC
YOU WOULD PUT
INSIDE THERE, AND THEN
YOU WOULD CLICK THAT DOWN,
AND IT WOULD JUST TURN THE DISC.
AND IT WOULD
GIVE YOU, LIKE, A 3-D
VERSION OF IT ON THE WALL.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DIDN'T
TRAVEL LIKE THEY DO NOW.
YOU KNOW, MY, OH, MY,
HOW WE FORGET, YOU KNOW,
LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
I'M HERE AT THE PAWN SHOP TODAY
TO SELL MY VIEW-MASTER
3-D PROJECTOR.
I GOT THE PROJECTOR FROM
MY GRANDPARENTS' ATTIC.
THE OVERALL CONDITION...
IT IS IN PRETTY GOOD
CONDITION FOR HOW OLD IT IS.
IT'S JUST BEEN
SITTING IN A CLOSET,
AND I'M JUST LOOKING
TO GET RID OF IT.
I'M HOPING TO SELL IT FOR 200.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS INTERESTING.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A
LITTLE MINI VACATION.
YOU GOT TO SEE SIGHTS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
IN, LIKE, A 3-D VIEW.
THAT'S WHAT THESE
THINGS WERE USED FOR.
BUT TYPICALLY, IT WAS
USED IN SCHOOLS A LOT
TO SEE, LIKE, THIS IS WHAT
THE EIFFEL TOWER LOOKS LIKE
IF YOU'RE STANDING
IN FRONT OF IT.
- OKAY.
- TAJ MAHAL,
WHATEVER YOU WANTED.
IT WAS ALL ON
THESE LITTLE DISCS.
IT WAS ALMOST KIND OF
LIKE YOU WERE THERE.
THE MILITARY USED
'EM FOR TRAINING,
FOR KIND OF GOING
THROUGH BATTLE PLANS
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN
SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS,
YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO
BLAST A BIG, GIANT PICTURE
OF A BATTLEFIELD IN THE '40S.
RATHER THAN JUST SITTING THERE
WITH A GIANT, LIKE,
GEOGRAPHICAL MAP,
YOU COULD JUST
PROJECT IT ON THE WALL
AND IT KIND OF GAVE
AN ENTIRE ROOM
AN IDEA OF WHAT
THEY WERE GOING INTO.
THEY SERVED A
PURPOSE FOR A WHILE,
BUT AS SOON AS
MODERN VIDEO CAME OUT,
THIS THING KIND OF JUST KIND OF
WENT THE WAY OF THE DINOSAUR.
- OKAY.
- SO DO YOU HAVE
ANY OF THE DISCS
WITH IT OR ANYTHING?
- NO, THIS IS THE ONLY THING
THAT THEY HAD UP THERE WITH IT.
- DO YOU GOT THE POWER
CORD OR ANYTHING WITH IT?
- NO.
- WHAT ARE YOU
LOOKING TO DO WITH IT?
- SELL IT.
- ANY IDEA ON WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING TO GET OUT OF IT?
- 200.
- OKAY.
♪ ♪
IF YOU HAD MAYBE SOME
DISCS AND THE POWER CABLE
AND STUFF LIKE THAT WITH IT,
I COULD MAYBE SEE GOING
SOMEWHERE NEAR THERE,
BUT AS IT SITS, I'D
OFFER YOU 50 BUCKS.
- HOW ABOUT 100?
♪ ♪
- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
I'LL GIVE YOU 80 BUCKS,
AND I'LL TAKE THE BOAT
ANCHOR OFF YOUR HANDS.
♪ ♪
- ALL RIGHT.
- DEAL?
- YEP.
- I'LL MEET YOU OVER THERE.
- OKAY.
I SOLD IT FOR $80, AND
I'M GOOD WITH THAT.
I MEAN, I WAS MISSING
PARTS THAT WEREN'T THERE,
AND THEY TOOK IT OFF MY HANDS.
- OH, IS MY LITTLE
BABY GIRL HUNGRY?
OH, YOU KNOW IT.
I'M GONNA READ YOU
SUPERMAN STORIES
AFTER YOU EAT, OKAY?
♪ ♪
- CHUM, REALLY...
- WHAT?
IT'S JUST A LITTLE LUNCH.
- YOU LET THIS HAPPEN.
- I LET HIM BRING IN
PINKY A FEW TIMES.
- KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN.
PINKY'S HAVING LUNCH.
SHE DOESN'T LIKE
TO BE DISTURBED.
SHE DOESN'T LIKE
TO EAT ON THE FLOOR,
SO I HAD TO PUT HER
UP HERE ON THE DESK.
- AT MY DESK?
- I MEAN, I NEVER LOOKED
AT THIS AS YOUR DESK,
SINCE YOU HAVE YOUR OFFICE.
I KIND OF LOOKED AT THIS AS
THE, YOU KNOW, COUNTER THAT...
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT
ME TO READ YOU, GIRL?
YOU WANT ME TO READ
YOU "THE AVENGERS"?
OKAY, I WILL.
- ANYWAY, DO YOU KNOW
ANYBODY THAT'S GOT, LIKE,
SOME REALLY COOL POP ART?
LOOKING FOR SOME STUFF
LIKE THAT FOR THE GALLERY.
- I HAVE AN OIL
PAINTING OF PINKY.
IT'S VERY MODERN.
- NO.
- HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN DOWN
TO STEVE'S COMIC
BOOK SHOP LATELY?
- I'VE NEVER
ACTUALLY BEEN THERE.
- I CHECKED IT OUT
THE OTHER DAY,
'CAUSE I WANTED TO
GET SOME COMICS,
AND HE HAD SOME REALLY
COOL ARTWORK DOWN THERE.
LOT OF ORIGINAL STUFF.
- LIKE ORIGINAL COMIC BOOK ART?
- YEAH.
- LIKE OLD STUFF?
- I MEAN, IT'S A MIX
OF EVERYTHING.
- YEAH, HE'S GOT ALL KINDS
OF, YOU KNOW, COVERS
AND SPLASH PAGES
AND ALL KINDS OF COMIC
BOOK STUFF THERE.
- IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL.
- DO YOU WANT TO GO?
- NO, I CAN'T GO RIGHT NOW.
I GOT PINKY, YOU GUYS.
MAYBE WE CAN GO TOMORROW.
- YOU WEREN'T INVITED, CHUM.
LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT
AND SEE WHAT HE HAS.
WHEN I GET BACK, WE'RE HAVING
A DISCUSSION ABOUT PINKY.
♪ ♪
- ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO START
PUTTING HER ON THE PAYROLL?
'CAUSE ALL THIS WORK
SHE'S DOING FOR FREE
AIN'T GONNA BE
CUTTING IT MUCH LONGER.
♪ ♪
AND THE EVIL BALD BOSS
WAS QUICK TO LEAVE,
SO WE COULD RELAX,
ENJOY OUR LUNCH,
AND READ OUR COMICS.
♪ ♪
- HOW YOU DOING?
- HI, HOW ARE YOU?
- PRETTY GOOD. WHAT
DO YOU HAVE HERE?
- SO I BROUGHT TO YOU,
A 1920S HOT-AIR
BALLOON CHANDELIER.
- A HOT-AIR BALLOON CHANDELIER.
- YEAH.
- MUST BE A BUNCH OF
HOT AIR IN HERE TODAY.
♪ ♪
I HAVE A HOT-AIR
BALLOON CHANDELIER
THAT I'M LOOKING TO SELL TODAY.
I FOUND IT ONLINE,
AND I KNEW IT WAS REALLY RARE,
I'VE NEVER SEEN
SOMETHING THAT LARGE,
THAT AGE, AND I JUST
KNEW THAT I HAD TO HAVE IT.
I'M HOPING TO SELL THE
CHANDELIER FOR $5,000.
♪ ♪
- YEAH, IT LOOKS PRETTY COOL.
WHAT MAKES YOU BELIEVE
IT'S FROM THE 1920S?
- I JUST DID SOME RESEARCH,
AND I JUST ESTIMATED
BASED ON SIMILAR ONES.
- OKAY, YEAH, I THINK
THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.
MIGHT EVEN BE A
LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
ROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY,
HOT-AIR BALLOONS WERE HUGE.
THEY WERE AT, LIKE,
EVERY PARADE, EVERY FAIR,
I MEAN, BEFORE AIRPLANES, IT WAS
ONLY WAY TO GET UP IN THE SKY
AND HAVE THAT BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
YOU KNOW?
- YEAH.
- YOU GOT THAT REAL
FEELING OF FLYING
AND BEING ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE.
IT WAS ABOUT 1903 WHEN
THE AIRPLANE CAME OUT,
SO AIRPLANES BECAME COOL,
AND HOT AIR BALLOONS JUST
WEREN'T AS COOL ANYMORE.
- MM.
- WHEN YOU THINK OF THE
WORD CHANDELIER TODAY,
YOU THINK OF SPARKLY JEWELS
OR MULTIPLE THINGS HANGING.
- RIGHT.
- BUT THIS IS HOW
THEY WERE BACK THEN.
THIS IS LIKE ART NOUVEAU PERIOD.
THEY WERE REALLY INTO THE
PASTEL COLORS AROUND THAT TIME.
- MM-HMM.
- THIS TYPE OF ART
IS COMING BACK IN.
IT'S NEVER REALLY
WENT OUT, I MEAN,
THE SEXY LONG LINES
AND THE CURVES, I MEAN...
- YEAH.
- PEOPLE ALWAYS LIKE
THIS KIND OF STUFF.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING
TO DO WITH THIS HERE?
- I'M LOOKING TO SELL IT TO YOU.
- AND HOW MUCH ARE
YOU LOOKING FOR?
- SO MY ASKING PRICE IS 5,000.
- OKAY, THAT'S A LOT MORE
THAN I'LL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IT.
IT'S IN FAIR CONDITION, IT'S
NOT IN GREAT CONDITION.
BUT IT DOES, HOWEVER,
NEED TO BE REPAINTED.
IN PRISTINE CONDITION, TIPTOP,
SANDED DOWN AND REPAINTED,
I THINK MAYBE THE MOST
THIS THING COULD BRING
IN ITS BEST CONDITION
IS A COUPLE THOUSAND.
♪ ♪
- WOULD YOU TAKE 400 FOR IT?
- OH, MY GOSH.
I PUT MORE INTO
GETTING IT REWIRED.
- IT SHOULDN'T HAVE
COST YOU THAT MUCH.
I THINK THE MOST
I COULD PAY IS 500.
♪ ♪
- YEAH, I'M GONNA KEEP IT, THEN.
- ALL RIGHT, WELL, I
APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
- ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
I WASN'T GONNA SELL IT FOR $500,
BECAUSE I KNOW I COULD
GET A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO I'M GONNA TAKE IT
HOME AND RESELL IT.
♪ ♪
- MY DAD'S ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR NEW ART FOR HIS GALLERY.
AND OUR COMIC BOOK EXPERT,
STEVE, HAS TOLD ME THAT,
AT TORPEDO COMICS,
WHERE HE WORKS,
THEY HAVE A TON OF ORIGINAL
AND NEW COMIC BOOK ART.
I TRY TO AVOID HANGING
OUT WITH MY DAD
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT
I'M TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM,
AND I'M BRINGING MY
DAD DOWN HERE TODAY,
AND HOPEFULLY, HE
DOESN'T NERD OUT TOO BAD.
♪ ♪
- YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT
A NORMAL COMIC BOOK SHOP.
♪ ♪
- I MEAN, YOU GOT THE
SILVER SURFER GUY.
- THAT WON'T FIT IN MY GALLERY.
- LET'S GO FIND STEVE.
- OKAY.
- HEY, GUYS.
- WHAT'S UP, STEVE?
- SO GLAD YOU FINALLY
MADE IT DOWN HERE.
- HEY, MAN, WHAT'S UP?
- WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY?
- HE SAID YOU HAD SOME, LIKE,
SOME ORIGINAL ART DOWN HERE.
- WELL, TODAY'S
YOUR LUCKY DAY. JOHN!
- OH, HEY, GUYS.
- YEAH, THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR SOME ART.
- HOW ARE YOU?
- COMIC ART.
- HOW'S IT GOING, MAN? GOOD.
- NICE TO SEE YOU.
- SO YOU GOT SOME
ORIGINAL COMIC BOOK ART
YOU'RE LOOKING TO SELL?
I MEAN, I GOT A GALLERY, JUST
LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT STUFF.
- YEAH, SURE, LET ME SHOW YOU.
- ALL RIGHT, GUYS, I'LL
LEAVE YOU WITH JOHN.
♪ ♪
- SO AS FAR AS COMICS
ARE CONCERNED,
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
KINDS OF COMIC ART.
THERE'S COVERS,
THERE'S INTERIOR PAGES,
SPLASH PAGES, AND
THEN COMMISSIONS.
- OKAY.
- HERE'S SOMETHING
THAT'S REALLY COOL.
THIS IS TODD MCFARLANE,
ONE OF THE MOST
WELL-KNOWN COMIC ARTISTS,
AND IT WAS THE SECOND ISSUE
THAT HE DID FOR "SPIDER-MAN."
AND I PAID 200 GRAND
ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
- OKAY!
WHAT ELSE WE GOT?
- WHAT, DID YOU FORGET
YOUR WALLET OR SOMETHING?
DIDN'T FORGET MY WALLET.
IT'S JUST...
- MAYBE NOT FOR
YOUR FIRST PURCHASE.
- BABY STEPS, ALL RIGHT?
- SO THIS IS KIND
OF A COOL PIECE.
THIS IS BATGIRL.
AND THIS WOULD BE WHAT'S
CONSIDERED A SPLASH PAGE
FOR THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
SO FIRST YOU HAVE THE COVER,
AND THEN YOU'D
HAVE AN INTERIOR PAGE
THAT ALMOST WAS COVER QUALITY.
SO YOU'D HAVE A BIG
IMAGE OF THE CHARACTER,
AND THEN THEY WOULD GO
OVER WHO THE ARTIST WAS,
WHO THE WRITER WAS AND GIVE YOU
A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION.
- ALL RIGHT. BATGIRL'S
REALLY COOL.
- ALL RIGHT, LET'S PULL IT DOWN.
- SO BATGIRL, SHE WAS
COMMISSIONER GORDON'S DAUGHTER.
- THAT'S RIGHT.
BATGIRL DEBUTED IN
DETECTIVE COMICS 359.
AND THIS IS 1967.
BUT IT WAS REALLY
CAMPY BACK THEN.
- SO THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL
ART FOR A COMIC BOOK.
- RIGHT, SO THEY
WOULD TAKE THIS,
AND THEN THEY WOULD COLOR IT,
AND THEN THEY WOULD USE
THOSE TO PRINT THE COMIC BOOKS.
- OKAY, SO HOW MUCH
IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
THIS WOULD SELL FOR ANYWHERE
FROM $6,000 TO $7,000 RETAIL.
- OKAY, AND HOW MUCH
WOULD YOU TAKE FOR IT?
- I WOULD TAKE $6,000 TO $7,000.
- IF YOU GET TWO PEOPLE
IN THE RIGHT SITUATION
BIDDING THIS UP,
IT COULD GO ANYWHERE
FROM 10,000 TO 12,000.
- WELL, I THINK
IT'S REALLY COOL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
- IT'S COOL, IT'S DIFFERENT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT
GONNA SEE ANOTHER ONE.
- WELL, YEAH, IT'S ORIGINAL ART.
- I'LL GIVE YOU
FOUR GRAND FOR IT.
- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
IT'S YOUR FIRST PIECE,
AND I WANT YOU TO
WALK OUT OF HERE,
GETTING THE BUG
FOR THE COLLECTING.
4,500.
- ALL RIGHT, 4,200.
- I PAID 4,000 FOR IT.
GIVE ME 4,500, IT'S YOURS.
- YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'LL TAKE A SHOT.
- YOU GOT IT. ENJOY.
- COOL. APPRECIATE IT, MAN.
- CONGRATULATIONS.
- ALL RIGHT.
- LET ME GET YOU
PAID. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
- SOUNDS GOOD.
♪ ♪
- I SORT OF LIKE IT.
IT'S KIND OF COOL.
- YOU WOULD LIKE BATGIRL.
- WHAT IS WRONG WITH BATGIRL?
OH, MY GOSH.
- ON TONIGHT'S EPISODE,
COREY AND I HAMMER OUT A DEAL
FOR THE FIRST COMIC
BOOK TO FEATURE THOR.
- I HAVE A "JOURNEY INTO
MYSTERY" COMIC BOOK.
- HOW MUCH WERE YOU LOOKING FOR?
- ABOUT 100,000.
- AH, JUST THINK OF
ALL THOSE COMIC BOOKS
I THREW AWAY WHEN I WAS A KID.
RICK DALE OFFERS HIS EXPERTISE
ON A 1940S DOG TAG MAKER.
- WOW, THAT IS COOL!
THEY'RE A HUGE COLLECTIBLE ITEM,
BUT IT'S GOT TO WORK, THOUGH.
AND LATER, ZZ
TOP'S BILLY GIBBONS
CHECKS OUT HIS LONG-LOST SUIT.
- LAST TIME I SAW THIS WAS 1974,
SO I COMPLETELY THOUGHT
THIS HAD VAPORIZED.
- SO THIS YOUNG LADY
WANTS 25,000 FOR IT,
BUT DO YOU WANT TO BUY IT BACK?
♪ ♪
HEY. SO EXACTLY WHAT IS THIS?
WE KNOW IT'S SPIDER-MAN, BUT...
- IT'S A LIFE-SIZE LIMITED
EDITION FROM BLOCKBUSTER.
- OKAY, UM...
WELL, I THOUGHT MY SPIDEY
SENSE WAS TINGLING A LITTLE BIT.
- I'M HERE AT THE
PAWN SHOP TODAY
TO SELL MY LIMITED EDITION
LIFE-SIZE SPIDER-MAN.
THIS WAS A DISPLAY USED
IN BLOCKBUSTER STORES.
I PICKED IT UP A FEW YEARS BACK.
I LOVE THE FACT
THAT IT'S LIFE-SIZE.
IT'S ABOUT 5 1/2 FEET TALL
AND IT'S ACTUALLY A
PRETTY GOOD REPLICA.
I WAS LOOKING TO
GET, LIKE, 1,500 FOR IT.
I'VE SEEN A FEW OF THEM
SELLING FOR THAT PRICE.
- I THINK IT'S SUPER COOL.
THIS WAS THE TOBEY
MAGUIRE SPIDER-MAN.
IT WAS THE FIRST MOVIE
THAT DID OVER 100 MILLION
IN ITS OPENING WEEKEND.
IT JUST TURNED INTO
A MASSIVE FRANCHISE.
♪ ♪
DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT
ORIGINATED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
- I GUESS THEY CAME
OUT OF BLOCKBUSTER.
- OKAY.
I MEAN, YEAH, THEY WOULD PUT
THIS INSIDE A BLOCKBUSTER,
IT'S A PROMOTIONAL ITEM,
YOU KNOW, YOU'D HAVE
LITTLE KIDS COME IN THERE,
YOU KNOW, THEY'D SEE THIS,
YOU KNOW, "LET'S
RENT SPIDER-MAN.
LET'S RENT SPIDER-MAN."
AND THEN...
THEY PROBABLY SOLD THEM, OR
YOU KNOW, THEY GAVE 'EM AWAY
IN CONTESTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT EVENTUALLY
ENDED UP HAPPENING
TO BLOCKBUSTER.
- YEAH.
- IN 2000, THE CEO
OF BLOCKBUSTER
TURNED DOWN BUYING
NETFLIX FOR $50 MILLION.
AND 20 YEARS LATER,
BLOCKBUSTER IS BANKRUPT,
AND NETFLIX IS
WORTH $140 BILLION.
- THAT WAS A POOR DECISION.
AND IT'S IN RELATIVELY
DECENT SHAPE FOR BEING
ALMOST 20 YEARS OLD.
THIS RUBBERY STUFF,
YOU CAN TELL THAT
IT'S GETTING OLD.
- YEAH, IT'S BEEN
AROUND FOR A WHILE.
- AND YOU SAID IT
WAS A LIMITED EDITION?
- YES, YEAH, NUMBER 2,780
OUT OF, I THINK, 4,600.
- OKAY, I LOVE IT WHEN THEY
SAY 4,600 IS A LIMITED EDITION.
NOW, HOW MUCH YOU
WANT FOR THIS THING?
- I WAS THINKING ABOUT 1,500.
- I BET YOU WOULD.
OKAY.
I'LL GIVE YOU 500 BUCKS FOR IT.
- 500.
- IT'S COOL AND
EVERYTHING LIKE THAT,
BUT IT'S NOT THAT
LIMITED EDITION, OKAY?
THERE'S PROBABLY A
LOT OF THEM OUT THERE.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE.
- COME ON, WORK WITH ME, JUST...
MAYBE 600 BUCKS?
- 550.
- UM...
- 575?
- 550.
♪ ♪
- ALL RIGHT, I'LL DO IT.
- ALL RIGHT, SWEET.
SO JUST CRUISE RIGHT OVER THERE
TO THE PAWN COUNTER,
WE'LL DO SOME PAPERWORK,
I'LL GET YOU PAID.
- ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
- OKAY.
YEP. I'M JUST YOUR FRIENDLY
NEIGHBORHOOD PAWN BROKER.
♪ ♪
- HI, HOW ARE YOU?
- HELLO, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
- I HAVE GOT THIS AWESOME ITEM.
MY DAD'S HAD IT
LAYING AROUND THE HOUSE FOREVER.
- WOW, UH...
- LOOK, IT'S ALL ORIGINAL.
MY DAD TOLD ME IT WAS ZZ TOP'S.
♪ ♪
- WHOA. THIS IS DEFINITELY COOL.
- ACTUALLY, BILLY GIBBONS
FROM ZZ TOP. YEAH.
- OH, WOW.
I THINK THIS WOULD LOOK
PRETTY GOOD ON ME, ACTUALLY.
- I THINK SO, TOO. I
THINK THE RHINESTONES
- WOULD BRING OUT YOUR EYES.
- YEAH.
♪ ♪
- I AM HERE AT THE
PAWN SHOP TODAY
BECAUSE I HAVE A SUIT
THAT BILLY GIBBONS
FROM ZZ TOP OWNED.
THE RHINESTONES ARE
IN PRISTINE CONDITION,
THERE'S NOT A
SINGLE ONE MISSING,
NOT A SINGLE STAIN,
SO I THINK THAT THIS
SUIT IS THE REAL DEAL.
I'M HOPING TO SELL THIS SUIT
FOR 25,000.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS PRETTY COOL. ZZ TOP.
LET ME GET MY BOSS OVER
HERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, OKAY?
- OKAY, THANKS.
- HEY, RICK!
♪ ♪
- WHAT'S UP?
- CHECK THIS OUT.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FROM
ONE OF THE BAND MEMBERS
OF ZZ TOP.
- YEAH, BILLY GIBBONS.
- REALLY?
- YEAH.
- THIS IS SO COOL.
ZZ TOP ARE ROCK AND ROLL ICONS.
THE '70S, THE '80S, THE
'90S, SELLING OUT STADIUMS.
THE LONGEST-RUNNING BAND
WITH THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS.
I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN
AROUND FOR OVER 50 YEARS
WITH THE SAME THREE GUYS.
A LONG TIME AGO,
THEY WENT FROM, LIKE, A
BAND, TO, LIKE, ICONIC BAND.
OKAY, I'M IMPRESSED.
IS THIS A NUDIE SUIT?
- IT IS, YEAH.
IT HAS THE ORIGINAL LABEL
INSIDE AND EVERYTHING.
- OKAY, HERE WE GO... NUDIE
RODEO TAILORS RIGHT HERE.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.
SO THERE'S A GUY NAMED NUTA.
- MM-HMM.
- HE WAS, LIKE, A TAILOR.
I MEAN, THIS WAS THE GUY WHO
CREATED THE MYSTIQUE
OF THE RHINESTONE COWBOY.
AND, WELL, AFTER WORLD WAR II,
ROY ROGERS WAS POPULAR,
YOU KNOW, ALL THE
SINGING COWBOYS
AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
THESE WESTERN SUITS
BEGAN TO GET POPULAR.
AND OVER THE YEARS,
THEY GOT MORE AND MORE
AND MORE FLAMBOYANT,
SO EVERY ROCK STAR
WAS BUYING THEM,
AND IF YOU WERE IN
THAT INDUSTRY BACK THEN,
YOU WEREN'T NOTHING
UNLESS YOU HAD A NUDIE SUIT.
♪ ♪
SO HOW MUCH DO
YOU WANT FOR THIS?
- SO I WAS THINKING 25,000.
♪ ♪
- OKAY, SO FIRST OFF, IT'S
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
JUST FOR A NUDIE JACKET.
YOU NEVER FIND
THEM WITH THE PANTS.
- MM-HMM.
- AND THESE THINGS
WERE SO EXPENSIVE TO BEGIN WITH.
MOST GUYS JUST GOT THE
JACKET. THEY DIDN'T GET A FULL SUIT.
♪ ♪
DO YOU HAVE ANY PAPERWORK
OR PICTURES OF BILLY
GIBBONS WEARING THIS?
- I DON'T.
- OKAY.
AND THAT'S THE DETERMINING
FACTOR RIGHT NOW.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING
THAT'S JUST...
SOME BILLY BOB COWBOY WORE,
OR YOU HAVE... A ROCK
AND ROLL ICON WORE.
THERE'S A BIG
DIFFERENCE IN PRICES.
I KNOW A GUY WHO WILL
KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS.
- OKAY.
- IF YOU JUST HANG OUT
FOR A LITTLE BIT, I'LL
GO GIVE HIM A CALL.
HE JUST LIVES DOWN THE STREET.
- OKAY, GREAT. THANKS
SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
♪ ♪
- I WAS GONNA BE A ROCK
STAR. I DIDN'T HAVE THE HAIR.
- OR THE TALENT.
♪ ♪
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
- HI.
- THIS IS INTERESTING,
WHAT DO WE GOT?
- WELL, IT'S A MILITARY
DOG TAG PRINTING MACHINE.
- WELL, IT'S BIG, IT'S
OLD, AND IT'S METAL,
BUT, QUITE FRANKLY,
I GOT MY DOG TAGS
FROM A VENDING MACHINE
AT THE GROCERY STORE.
I'M HERE AT THE PAWN SHOP
TO SELL MY MILITARY
DOG TAG MAKER.
MY HUSBAND AND I GOT
IT FROM A FAMILY FRIEND,
AND HE RECENTLY PASSED,
SO MY SON AND I DECIDED
TO GO AHEAD AND SELL IT.
I KNOW MILITARY ITEMS ARE
HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE NOW,
SO I'M HOPING TO
SELL IT FOR 1,800.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS DEFINITELY COOL.
SO WHAT THIS IS, BASICALLY,
IT'S A TYPEWRITER FOR METAL.
♪ ♪
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE MILITARY,
THEY HAVE THESE METAL TAGS
ON ALMOST ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT.
MAKE DOG TAGS,
YOU CAN LABEL WHAT
KIND OF BOMB'S IN A BOX
OR WHAT SIZE UNIFORM IT IS.
- RIGHT. RIGHT.
- THEY USE ALMOST THE
SAME KIND OF METAL TAGS.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT STAMP
RIGHT THERE, ACTUALLY, WITH IT.
OH! OKAY.
♪ ♪
- WAS IT EVER USED
WHILE YOU GUYS HAD IT?
- NO, NO.
- NO?
SO THIS THING'S JUST
BEEN SITTING FOR...
- YEAH. YEAH.
- OKAY.
- IT'S BEEN IN STORAGE.
- OKAY.
YEAH, WE GOT A WHOLE
LOT OF METAL HERE
AND A WHOLE LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
I MEAN, I CAN TELL WE'RE
OBVIOUSLY MISSING A BELT
AND A FEW THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DON'T FEEL A
LOT OF ACTION IN IT.
TELL ME WHAT
YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO.
ARE YOU LOOKING TO SELL IT?
- YES.
I'M HOPING TO GET 1,800.
- OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S
WORTH RESTORING,
IF IT'S WORTH MONEY IN PARTS,
IF IT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S EVEN USED TODAY.
I DO HAVE A BUDDY I THINK
MIGHT BE ABLE TO CLUE ME IN
A LITTLE BIT MORE ON IT.
- MM-HMM.
- MIND IF I GIVE HIM A CALL?
- THAT'S ALL RIGHT. FINE.
- OKAY.
ONE SECOND, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
- MM-HMM.
I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH
AN EXPERT COMING IN
THAT WOULD BE VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE.
♪ ♪
- HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
- PRETTY GOOD.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
- SO I HAVE A 1902 GAME-USED
COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
- OKAY.
- THIS BALL
WAS USED OCTOBER 15, 1902
AT YALE FIELD.
- IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A
FOOTBALL AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.
- IT'S AN EARLY VERSION.
THEY USED TO CALL
THESE "MELON FOOTBALLS."
I CAN SEE EXACTLY WHY.
- SO I'M HERE AT THE
PAWN SHOP TODAY
TO SELL MY 1902
GAME-USED YALE FOOTBALL.
I GOT THE FOOTBALL
FROM THE COLLECTION
OF GEORGE B. CHADWICK.
HE WAS AN ALL-AMERICAN AT YALE.
I FEEL LIKE THE
CONDITION'S PRETTY GOOD.
IT STILL MAINTAINS ITS SHAPE,
AND IT'S A REALLY
NICE DISPLAY PIECE.
I'M LOOKING TO SELL THE
FOOTBALL TODAY FOR $3,000.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS PRETTY COOL HERE.
YOU SAID THIS IS FROM WHEN?
THIS IS FROM 1902.
- 1902, OKAY.
- YEAH.
- YEAH, THIS WAS A TIME WHEN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
WAS JUST STARTING,
AND YALE WAS KIND OF
AT THE FOREFRONT OF IT.
IT WAS MORE OF,
LIKE, A RUGBY GAME,
AND YOU CAN TELL
THAT PRETTY MUCH
FROM THE SHAPE OF THE FOOTBALL.
THIS IS NOT A FOOTBALL
THAT WAS MEANT TO BE THROWN
50 YARDS DOWN THE FIELD.
IT WASN'T UNTIL MAYBE 1906
WHEN THEY ACTUALLY
MADE SOME RULE CHANGES
AND THE FORWARD PASS
WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THEM.
AND THOSE RULE CHANGES
ARE KIND OF WHERE
AMERICAN FOOTBALL AS WE
KNOW IT STARTED TO KIND OF FORM.
LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT HERE.
I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY ROUGH,
BUT THIS THING IS
OVER 100 YEARS OLD.
IT'S NOT QUITE THE
SHAPE OF A FOOTBALL,
BUT IT STILL LOOKS LIKE
ONE, AND IT HAS THE LACES.
- SO, AT THAT TIME,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE VALVES.
SO THE BLADDER WAS ALL INTERNAL,
SO TO INFLATE THE FOOTBALL,
YOU HAD TO ACTUALLY
UNLACE THE WHOLE FOOTBALL...
- OH, WOW.
- TO REINFLATE IT.
- AND THIS IS WHERE
FOOTBALL STARTED,
SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL.
AND HOW MUCH ARE
YOU LOOKING TO GET?
- I'M LOOKING FOR 3,000.
- OKAY, UM...
I MEAN, I KNOW
FOOTBALL IS COLLECTIBLE.
THIS, HOWEVER,
IS A LITTLE UNIQUE.
DO YOU HAVE A CERTIFICATE
OF AUTHENTICITY?
- I DON'T HAVE THAT
WITH ME TODAY.
- OKAY, UM...
IT'S A REALLY COOL ITEM,
BUT EVEN THOUGH I
BELIEVE IT WAS GAME-USED,
I BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SAY,
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO
RETELL THAT STORY
WITHOUT AUTHENTICATION PAPERWORK
TO SOMEONE THAT
I'M GONNA SELL IT TO.
- I UNDERSTAND.
- SO, FOR ME,
IT'S JUST GONNA BE A PASS.
- OKAY.
- BEAUTIFUL FOOTBALL,
AND I'M GLAD I GOT
TO SEE IT TODAY.
- DUDE, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
- YEP.
THANKS FOR COMING IN.
- THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY.
TAKE IT EASY.
TO BE HONEST, THE PIECE
IS SO SENTIMENTAL TO ME,
I HAVE NO PROBLEM
LEAVING WITH IT.
SO I'M ACTUALLY KIND OF EXCITED
THAT I'M ABLE TO TAKE
IT HOME WITH ME AGAIN
AND SHARE IT WITH MY FAMILY
AND SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE
THAT ARE CLOSE TO ME.
- SO THERE'S A LADY IN THE SHOP
WITH A SUIT THAT SHE CLAIMS
USED TO BELONG TO BILLY GIBBONS
FROM THE ROCK BAND ZZ TOP.
NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE
AN ORIGINAL NUDIE SUIT,
BUT IF THIS THING ACTUALLY
BELONGED TO BILLY GIBBONS,
IT COULD MAKE IT
WORTH SO MUCH MORE.
LUCKILY, I KNOW A
SHARP-DRESSED MAN
WHO'S GONNA COME
DOWN HERE, TAKE A LOOK,
AND TELL US A LOT MORE.
♪ ♪
- AND I WAS KNOCKING
AROUND THE HOUSE,
AND GILLIGAN SAID THAT YOU
HAD SOMETHING OF INTEREST.
HOLY MACKEREL.
HAVE MERCY.
OH, MY GOSH!
- HOW ARE YOU?
- HOW ARE YOU?
OH, MY GOSH.
- RICK, CHUM. I THINK
THIS MIGHT BE MINE.
CAN I JUST TAKE ONE
QUICK LOOK AT SOMETHING?
- SURE.
♪ ♪
- THE INSIDE LABEL
TELLS THE TALE.
THERE IT IS.
THE REAL NUDIE'S
RODEO TAILOR LABEL.
- BACK IN THE DAY, WAS THAT,
LIKE, THE STANDARD COSTUME
YOU GUYS WERE WEARING,
WAS LIKE NUDIE SUITS?
- HE BECAME OUR
COSTUMER THROUGH '73,
ALL THE WAY UP TILL '76.
AND THIS WAS
COSTUMING AT ITS FINEST.
♪ ♪
THE NUDIE SUIT
HAS KIND OF COME INTO
ITS OWN OVER THE YEARS.
WE BECAME CLIENTS
WITH NUDIE IN 1972.
THOSE SUITS APPEAR ON THE COVER
OF ZZ TOP'S "FANDANGO!" RECORD.
SO WE'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY
WITH THE SHINY RHINESTONE SUITS.
IT'S PRETTY FUN.
♪ ♪
WHAT YOU HAVE LAID BEFORE ME
BRINGS BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES.
- SO WHEN DID YOU BUY THIS?
- THE LAST TIME I LAID
EYES ON THIS WAS 1974.
♪ ♪
I INADVERTENTLY MISPLACED IT,
LEFT IT ON AN AIRPLANE.
BY THE TIME I
REALIZED IT WAS MIA...
CALLED THE AIRLINE, AND THE
CLEANING CREW HAD GONE IN.
SO I COMPLETELY THOUGHT
THIS HAD VAPORIZED.
- HE PROBABLY WROTE
THIS OFF A LONG TIME AGO.
- LONG AGO.
♪ ♪
AND IT STILL LOOKS
LIKE IT MIGHT FIT.
- SO THIS YOUNG LADY
WANTS 25,000 FOR IT.
- IT MIGHT BE YOUR
VERY LUCKY DAY.
A GARMENT OF THIS RARITY
AND AT THIS QUALITY...
IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO
SEE A REAL, GENUINE NUDIE
GO AS MUCH AS...
♪ ♪
LIKE, $50,000.
50,000?
- $50,000 WOULD
NOT BE UNHEARD OF.
- I'VE CHANGED MY OFFER.
- THEN DO YOU
WANT TO BUY IT BACK?
- WELL, I DON'T WANT TO
SEE IT WALK OUT THE DOOR.
IF WE COULD MAKE A DEAL,
ANTONE'S IS A BLUES MUSEUM
DOWN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS,
WOULD GRACIOUSLY ACCEPT
THIS FOR ONE OF THEIR DISPLAYS.
♪ ♪
SO IF WE'RE GONNA
GO HALVES ON THIS.
♪ ♪
- I'M READY.
- OKAY.
LET US GIVE YOU 40 FOR IT.
♪ ♪
AND WE'LL GET YOU PAID,
AND THEN WE'LL DONATE IT,
THEN WE'LL GET A TAX DEDUCTION,
SO IT WON'T COST
ME AS MUCH MONEY.
- THAT'S RIGHT.
- OKAY.
- DO WE HAVE A DEAL?
- THAT'S A DEAL!
THAT'S AWESOME!
- OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
SWEET.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- I'LL TAKE HALF. YOU TAKE HALF.
- FOLLOW CHUM RIGHT UP FRONT,
AND HE'LL GET THE
PAPERWORK DONE.
- OKAY, GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- YOU'RE WELCOME.
- THANK YOU.
- THANK YOU, TOO.
♪ ♪
YOU KNOW, I DID LEAVE
THIS ON AN AIRPLANE ONCE.
I DON'T THINK WE
WANT TO LEAVE IT TWICE.
- YEAH, YOU KNOW, GRAB IT.
- OKAY.
- I GOT IT, I GOT IT.
- ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
♪ ♪
- I HAVE A CUSTOMER HERE
WHO BROUGHT IN AN OLD
MILITARY DOG TAG MAKER.
THIS THING LOOKS REALLY
COOL, BUT IT'S IN ROUGH SHAPE,
AND IT'S DEFINITELY
SEEN BETTER DAYS.
IT'S ALSO MISSING
A LOT OF PARTS.
I'M ALSO NOT SURE WHAT
THE COLLECTOR MARKET IS
FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, SO
RICK DALE'S GONNA COME DOWN
AND TELL ME A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
- WOW, THAT IS COOL!
- IS IT A BOAT ANCHOR
AT THIS POINT?
I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
- SO HERE'S WHAT THEY WERE.
THIS IS BASICALLY
A 6300 GRAPHOTYPE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED
THIS THE DOG TAG MAKER
BECAUSE THEY THINK
IT MADE DOG TAGS,
BUT IT DIDN'T, REALLY,
IT JUST MADE LABELS.
- OH.
- YOU GOT TO REMEMBER,
THIS IS WORLD WAR II.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
FOR THE MILITARY
TO HAVE A NUMBER, SERIAL NUMBER,
AND WHAT IT IS ON
EVERYTHING THEY HAVE.
YOU HAD THE ARMY GETTING 'EM,
YOU HAD THE NAVY GETTING 'EM,
AND EACH ONE WOULD PAINT THEM
OR HAVE THEM BROUGHT
IN AT THAT COLOR.
SO IF THIS WAS A BLUEISH GRAY,
THAT WAS GOING TO THE NAVY.
THIS COLOR WOULD
BE GOING TO THE ARMY.
KEEP IN MIND, THE CREWMAN,
OR WHOEVER'S DOING IT,
HE WAS ON THIS MACHINE
EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
BOOM. BOOM.
SO THAT'S WHAT
THESE MACHINES DID.
- SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- THEY'RE A HUGE
COLLECTIBLE ITEM,
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT GUYS
WANTING TO MAKE METAL PLATES
FOR STUFF OUT
OF THE '40S AND '50S
FOR A CAR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO NOW THEY NEED
THIS KIND OF A MACHINE
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.
BUT IT'S GOT TO WORK, THOUGH.
- I GOT TO ASK YOU, I MEAN,
IS THERE ANY WAY THIS
THING'S EVER GONNA WORK?
- THIS IS MISSING
QUITE A FEW THINGS.
IT'S MISSING THE MOTOR.
THERE'S A LIGHT THAT
COMES OVER THE TOP, AND...
♪ ♪
HMM.
IT IS LITERALLY FROZEN STIFF.
YOU CANNOT PUSH A KEY.
NOTHING MOVES, AND
EVERYTHING ON IT IS RUSTED.
SO IT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.
- GOT YA.
WELL, RICK, THAT WAS
EVERYTHING I NEEDED, BUDDY.
- OKAY.
- APPRECIATE IT.
- NICE MEETING YOU.
- ALL RIGHTY. THANK YOU.
WELL...
NOT EXACTLY THE STUFF I
WANTED TO HEAR FROM HIM.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE, REALLY, TO TELL YOU.
I'M SEEING THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
TO RESTORE THIS THING.
REALISTICALLY, I DON'T KNOW
THAT I'M GONNA BE ABLE
TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
- MM. OKAY.
- BUT IF YOU HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE,
COME BACK, PLEASE.
- OKAY.
- HAVE A GOOD DAY.
- ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.
BUT I THINK I'LL JUST GO AHEAD
AND TAKE IT BACK HOME
AND GO FROM THERE.
♪ ♪
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
- HOW YOU DOING TODAY?
- GOOD. WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?
- I HAVE THE FIRST
INTRODUCTION OF THOR.
IT'S A "JOURNEY INTO
MYSTERY" COMIC BOOK.
- OKAY. THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
I KNOW A LOT ABOUT
THOR, THE GOD,
NOT REALLY THE COMIC
BOOK CHARACTER.
- YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE
COMIC BOOK CHARACTER GOES,
YEAH, YOU HAVE
SUPERMAN AND SPIDER-MAN
AND THE HULK AND ALL THAT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A GOD.
- I'M HERE AT THE PAWN
SHOP TODAY TO SELL
MY "JOURNEY INTO
MYSTERY" COMIC BOOK.
WHAT'S REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT
THIS PARTICULAR COMIC BOOK IS,
IT'S THE FIRST APPEARANCE
OF THOR IN A COMIC BOOK.
I'VE HAD IT FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS NOW,
BUT I COULD USE THE MONEY.
I WANT TO START
TRAVELING A LITTLE BIT.
SO I'M HOPING TO SELL THAT
COMIC BOOK FOR ABOUT $100,000.
♪ ♪
- ALL RIGHT, PRETTY COOL.
THE ACTUAL MYTHICAL GOD THOR...
HE WAS THE GOD OF SACRED GROVES,
TREES, LIGHTNING, THUNDER,
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.
- YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH
ABOUT THE COMIC BOOK CHARACTER.
I JUST KNOW THAT'S
WHAT THUNDER WAS,
WAS THOR HITTING
SOMETHING WITH HIS HAMMER.
- SO YOU KNOW
WHEN THIS CAME OUT?
- I BELIEVE AROUND 1962.
- OKAY.
I'M NOT WEARING MY GLASSES,
SO, LIKE, WHO WROTE THIS?
- STAN LEE, STORY.
JACK KIRBY AND STEVE DITKO, ART.
- THE ONLY ONE I REALLY
KNOW ABOUT IS STAN LEE,
WHO WAS LIKE... YOU
KNOW, HE WASN'T AN ARTIST,
BUT HE WAS, LIKE, THE MOST
FAMOUS STORY WRITER FOR MARVEL.
HE CAME UP WITH SPIDER-MAN.
OBVIOUSLY HE CAME UP WITH THIS,
THE INTRODUCTION RIGHT THERE.
- STAN LEE'S ONE
OF THOSE GUYS THAT,
YOU KNOW, HE'S PROBABLY
THE MOST FAMOUS
COMIC BOOK GUY THERE
EVER WAS OR EVER WILL BE.
- SO WHERE'D YOU GET THIS AT?
- MY BROTHER.
- OKAY. HE JUST GAVE IT TO YOU?
- WELL, HE USED TO DRAW
FOR MARVEL COMICS YEARS AGO.
- ALL RIGHT. SUPER COOL.
SO YOU SENT IT IN
AND GOT IT GRADED.
- I SENT IT IN, GOT IT GRADED.
- AND IT'S GOT A GREAT
RATING ON IT, TOO.
IT'S GOT AN 8.5.
COMIC BOOKS WHERE THEY
FIRST INTRODUCE A CHARACTER,
THOSE ONES ARE
ALWAYS WORTH MONEY.
THIS ONE BEING THE
INTRODUCTION OF THOR,
WHICH IS NOW, LIKE, A HUGE
PART OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE.
YOU DEFINITELY HAVE
SOMETHING HERE.
♪ ♪
SO...
I MEAN, YOU'RE
LOOKING TO SELL THIS?
- YEAH. I'D LIKE TO SELL IT.
- HOW MUCH WERE YOU LOOKING FOR?
- ABOUT 100,000.
$100,000.
- UH-HUH.
- ALL RIGHT. UM...
♪ ♪
JUST THINK OF ALL
THOSE COMIC BOOKS
I THREW AWAY WHEN I WAS A KID.
- ME TOO.
- I MEAN, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS,
I'M A LITTLE
OVERWHELMED WITH IT.
I KNOW A COMIC
BOOK FROM THIS ERA
AND THIS GRADE, WITH THE
INTRODUCTION OF A CHARACTER,
IT'S GOT TO BE WORTH
A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.
I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH.
- RIGHT, RIGHT.
- SO LET ME HAVE
SOMEONE TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING
A LOT OF MONEY HERE.
- THAT SOUNDS FAIR.
- YEAH, I'LL GIVE STEVE A CALL.
- THANK YOU.
I'M HOPING THAT THE EXPERT
WILL VALIDATE MY
ASKING PRICE, ACTUALLY.
♪ ♪
- SO I HAVE A
CUSTOMER IN THE STORE
WITH A 1962 "JOURNEY
INTO MYSTERY"
COMIC BOOK
WITH THE FIRST
APPEARANCE OF THOR.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING,
AND SHE WANTS $100,000.
SO I HAVE STEVE COMING
DOWN, MY COMIC BOOK GUY,
AND HE'S GONNA TELL ME
IF I SHOULD DROP THE
HAMMER ON THIS DEAL.
♪ ♪
- WHAT DO WE HAVE TODAY?
- WE HAVE THOR.
- WELL, LOOK AT THAT, HUH?
BEAUTIFUL.
SO WE HAVE THE FIRST
APPEARANCE OF THOR.
STAN LEE AND JACK
KIRBY, OF COURSE.
VERY FAMOUS. CO-CREATORS
OF THE ENTIRE MARVEL UNIVERSE.
AND THOR IS THE FIFTH CHARACTER
THAT CAME ALONG IN
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE.
JUST AFTER SPIDEY.
STAN DID THE PLOT. JACK
CREATED THE COSTUME.
SO, AGAIN, GREAT
YEAR, 1962, FOR MARVEL.
BREAKOUT YEAR.
- OKAY.
SO THAT WAS A COMIC SERIES?
- YES. WELL, BASICALLY,
ISSUE 82 THROUGH 1
FEATURED
SUSPENSE/MYSTERY STORIES.
NO SUPERHEROES.
AND THEN AS THE
SUPERHEROES BEGAN TO GROW,
INSTEAD OF, LIKE,
CREATING A BRAND-NEW TITLE
JUST FOR THOR, THEY JUST SAID,
"OKAY, WHY DON'T
WE JUST THROW THOR
IN 'JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY?'"
- OKAY, AND THEN
SOON AFTER THAT,
HE GOT HIS OWN COMIC BOOK.
- YES, IN 1966.
- ALL RIGHT, NOW,
SHE'S ASKING $100,000 FOR THIS.
♪ ♪
- OH.
ALL RIGHT, SO,
FIRST THINGS FIRST,
CGC IS THE GRADING COMPANY HERE.
THE GOOD THING IS, IS THEY'VE
DONE THE HEAVY LIFTING FOR US.
AN 8.5 OF A BOOK LIKE THIS,
AND...
THIS BOOK HAS WHITE PAGES.
THAT IS ASTOUNDING.
WHICH MEANS THAT SOMEHOW
THIS BOOK WAS STORED
IN AN ENVIRONMENT
WHERE THE PAGES
DIDN'T TURN BROWN OR OFF-WHITE.
THAT IS A MAJOR SELLING POINT.
- OKAY.
AND...
WHAT WOULD IT RETAIL FOR?
- RIGHT NOW, IF I WAS TO
TAKE THIS BOOK TO MY STORE,
PUT A PRICE TAG ON IT, $60,000.
♪ ♪
- YEP. STEVE, MAN, I APPRECIATE
YOU COMING DOWN, BUDDY.
- ALL RIGHT, THANKS,
MAN, APPRECIATE IT.
- ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD LUCK.
- THAT'S A LOT MORE THAN
THE 12 CENTS ON THE COVER.
- YEAH, DEFINITELY A GOOD
RETURN ON YOUR MONEY.
OKAY, SO WHAT WOULD
BE YOUR BEST PRICE ON IT?
- 60,000.
- WELL, I MEAN,
WOULDN'T BE THE
SMARTEST BUSINESS MOVE
TO BUY IT FOR 60 WHEN I
COULD SELL IT FOR THAT.
BUT I'LL GIVE YOU 30.
THAT'S CASH, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO RETAIL IT,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
PUT IT IN AN AUCTION
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WAIT A YEAR TO GET PAID.
- 50,000.
- AT 50,000, THERE'S
NO MONEY IN IT FOR ME.
I MEAN, I GOT...
IF I SELL IT IN HERE, I
GOT TO PAY COMMISSIONS
AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.
IF I SELL IT AT AN AUCTION,
THERE'S AUCTION FEES,
I'LL GIVE YOU 40.
40,000 IS A REASONABLE
CASH OFFER, OKAY?
♪ ♪
- MM, OKAY, I'LL GO 40.
- ALL RIGHT, SWEET.
- THANK YOU.
- OKAY, YOU WANT
TO GO WRITE HER UP?
- YEAH. COME WITH ME.
♪ ♪
- WELL, I WAS ASKING 100,000,
BUT $40,000 IS STILL A...
GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY,
SO I'M GOING TO HELP MY
BROTHER OUT A LITTLE BIT
WITH SOME BILLS, AND THEN
THE REST OF THE MONEY,
I'M JUST GONNA GO TRAVEL.
♪ ♪
- HELLO.
- HOW YOU DOING?
- GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
- PRETTY GOOD. WHAT
CAN I HELP YOU WITH?
- GOT A COUPLE ITEMS I'D
LIKE TO SHOW YOU TODAY.
- OKAY, WHAT EXACTLY
DO YOU HAVE HERE?
- THIS IS A DANCING
HORSE WINE FLASK,
AND I BELIEVE IT'S FROM
THE TANG DYNASTY IN CHINA.
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY
CALLED A HAND-WARMER FLASK.
- ALL RIGHT, THEY GOT
SOME DRINK IN THEM?
- I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S
ANYTHING IN THEM.
- OH, I WAS HOPING FOR
SOME REALLY AGED WINE.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE AGED.
- I'M HERE AT THE PAWN SHOP
TO TRY AND SELL TWO FLASKS
THAT I BELIEVE ARE
FROM THE TANG DYNASTY.
ONE FLASK I HAVE, I
BELIEVE, IS WHAT THEY CALL
A HAND-WARMER FLASK.
THE OTHER ONE, I
BELIEVE, IS WHAT THEY CALL
A TRAVELER'S WINE FLASK.
I'M HOPING TO SELL THE
HAND-WARMER FLASK FOR 500.
AND I WOULD HOPE TO GET
6,000 FOR THE WINE FLASK.
♪ ♪
- IT'S PRETTY COOL STUFF.
THE TANG DYNASTY WAS AROUND FROM
618 A.D. ALL THE WAY TO 906 A.D.
SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF HISTORY,
WHERE WE WERE
STILL DEVELOPING A LOT.
THIS COMES FROM THE
GOLDEN PERIOD OF THEIR ART.
- THIS ONE, ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE
THERE WAS AN EMPEROR, XUANZONG,
AND HE HAD THESE DANCING
HORSES THAT WERE TRAINED.
THEY WOULD HAVE CELEBRATIONS,
AND THEY WOULD
DANCE FOR THE EMPEROR.
- OKAY. THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE
A MORE TYPICAL STYLE
FLASK YOU WOULD SEE.
- RIGHT.
- IS THAT A DRAGON ON THERE...
♪ ♪
WITH MAYBE SOME TYPE OF BIRD?
- THAT MIGHT BE A PHOENIX.
- OKAY, YEAH.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS
A COUPLE HOLES IN THERE.
OTHER THAN THOSE
HOLES BACK THERE,
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S IN
PRETTY GOOD CONDITION.
SO, UNFORTUNATELY,
I DON'T REALLY KNOW
TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.
I REALLY, REALLY LIKE THEM.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING
TO GET FOR THESE?
- THIS ONE HERE,
BECAUSE OF THE RARITY,
I'D LIKE TO GET 6,000 FOR THAT.
THIS ONE HERE, I BELIEVE,
IS A LITTLE MORE COMMON,
I WOULD LIKE 500 FOR THAT.
- ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT
THE BEST AT MATH,
BUT I THINK THAT
ADDS UP TO 6,500.
AND THAT'S A PRETTY PENNY, SO...
I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET
SOMEONE DOWN HERE
TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE,
TELL ME WHAT THEY
THINK ABOUT THEM,
AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS
A PRICE AFTER THAT.
- SOUNDS GOOD.
- ALL RIGHT.
GIVE ME JUST A FEW MINUTES.
- ALL RIGHT.
I HOPE THE EXPERT WILL
PUT A VALUE ON THEM
FOR MORE THAN WHAT I'M ASKING.
♪ ♪
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
- GOING GOOD, MAN.
HOW YOU DOING?
- DOING ALL RIGHT.
SO WHAT DO WE GOT?
- MAN, I GOT A 1979
GIBSON THUNDERBIRD BASS.
- OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU
SET IT DOWN ON THIS FOR ME?
- YES, SIR.
NATURAL FINISH AND
SUPPOSEDLY ONE OF JUST 21
THEY DID IN THE YEAR OF 1979.
- SWEET.
- BUT IN TENNESSEE,
WE CALLED IT "THUNDER CHICKEN."
I'M HERE AT THE PAWN SHOP TODAY
TO TRY AND SELL MY 1979
GIBSON THUNDERBIRD BASS.
I GOT IT ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO.
I FOUND AN AD ONLINE.
A LITTLE GENTLEMAN
IN A SMALL TOWN IN
TENNESSEE HAD IT.
OH, I'VE PLAYED IT,
AND IT IS BUTTER.
FOR BEING PLAYED SINCE 1979,
IT'S IN IMMACULATE CONDITION.
HOPEFULLY I'D GET 7,500
BUCKS FOR IT TODAY.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS COOL, BUT YOU
KIND OF GOT ME, MAN.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER
SEEN ONE OF THESE BEFORE.
- YOU KNOW, GIBSON'S
JUST ONE OF THOSE
GREAT AMERICAN
COMPANIES, THOUGH.
I THINK THEY STARTED
IN THE EARLY 1900S.
- RIGHT.
- THEY'RE STILL ALIVE
AND KICKING TODAY.
- RIGHT.
- YOU KNOW, I DON'T
KNOW THAT MUCH
ABOUT THE THUNDERBIRD MODEL.
- THIS '79 NATURAL FINISH,
THEY ONLY MADE SIX,
WHICH WOULD MAKE IT THE RAREST
PRODUCTION RUN BASS GUITAR
GIBSON'S EVER DONE.
- OKAY.
- AND THERE'S
NOTHING THAT SOUNDS
LIKE A GIBSON THUNDERBIRD.
THE OLD HUMBUCKERS
THAT ARE IN THEM
JUST HAVE A TONE THAT
YOU CAN'T DUPLICATE
IN THESE NEW INSTRUMENTS, SO...
- DO YOU MIND IF I...
- GO AHEAD.
- OKAY.
- KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.
- I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S IN GREAT SHAPE.
THERE'S NOT, LIKE, ANY
BUCKLE RASH OR ANYTHING ON IT.
I MEAN, DO YOU PLAY IT OFTEN?
- YEAH. THAT'S ONE, WHEN
I HEARD THE RARITY OF IT,
I DECIDED I WAS GONNA TRY
AND GET SOMETHING ELSE,
'CAUSE I'M PRETTY HARD ON GEAR,
AND IF IT'S REALLY
THAT RARE, I DON'T WANT
TO BEAT IT TO DEATH.
- OKAY.
HOW MUCH YOU
LOOKING TO GET FOR IT?
- IF I CAN GET 7,500
BUCKS FOR IT, YOU KNOW,
GET ME ANOTHER BASS
AND BUY ME A BUCKET
OF FRIED CHICKEN
AND PUT A DOWN PAYMENT
ON A TRUCK FOR MY WIFE,
THAT'D BE ALL RIGHT, MAN.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'LL
TELL YOU WHAT, MAN.
LET ME GIVE A
BUDDY OF MINE A CALL,
WHO'S GONNA KNOW WAY
MORE ABOUT THIS THING THAN ME.
- YOU GOT IT.
- AND WE'LL SEE IF WE
CAN GET YOU THAT CHICKEN
AND THAT DOWN
PAYMENT, ALL RIGHT?
- YOU GOT IT.
- I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
- ALL RIGHT, MAN.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE
AN EXPERT COME IN
AND CHECK IT OUT, 'CAUSE
THEN I'LL ACTUALLY KNOW
AND, YOU KNOW, KNOW WHAT I GOT.
♪ ♪
- THERE'S A CUSTOMER
HERE WITH TWO FLASKS.
AND HE BELIEVES THEM TO
BE FROM THE TANG DYNASTY.
THESE FLASKS COULD
BE OVER 1,000 YEARS OLD,
OR THEY COULD BE MODERN.
BUT I'M DEFINITELY
NOT BUYING THEM
UNTIL I KNOW THEY'RE LEGIT.
SO I CALLED BOB DODGE
TO COME ON DOWN
AND TEST THEM, SO HE CAN TELL ME
IF THEY'RE WORTH A SHOT.
♪ ♪
- WHAT DO WE HAVE?
- WELL...
APPARENTLY WE HAVE A COUPLE
FLASKS FROM THE TANG DYNASTY.
- WOW.
MIND IF I TAKE A
CLOSE LOOK HERE?
- NOT AT ALL.
- OKAY, SO NICE IMPRESSED HORSE.
BUT AS I LOOK AT THESE...
♪ ♪
THE HOLES SHOW ME SOMETHING.
IF YOU LOOK AT HOW
FRESH THAT METAL IS...
METAL THAT IS FROM
THE TANG DYNASTY
IS 1,100 YEARS
OLD, GIVE OR TAKE.
WHEN IT AGES, THE PATINA
GETS DEEP INTO THE METAL
AND STARTS TO TRANSFORM
IT AND KIND OF CRYSTALLIZES IT.
- RIGHT.
- METAL IN A BRONZE
OF THIS PERIOD,
SHOULDN'T LOOK BRIGHT AND SHINY.
SO I'M SEEING A VERY
FRESH METAL HERE,
WHICH WORRIES ME,
FIRST AND FOREMOST.
♪ ♪
BUT LET'S FIND OUT FOR SURE.
- OKAY.
- SO WHAT WE DO, IS
WE TAKE OUR XRF GUN,
AND THIS SHOOTS AN
X-RAY INTO THE METAL,
AND THEN IT CAN TELL US
WHAT THE METAL IS MADE OUT OF.
♪ ♪
OKAY, SO, WE'VE GOT COPPER,
ZINC, LEAD, TIN, IRON,
AND MANGANESE.
THAT TELLS ME THIS IS BRASS.
THERE'S WAY TOO MUCH
ZINC FOR THIS TO BE ANCIENT.
♪ ♪
- OKAY.
- SO LET'S TRY THIS GUY.
♪ ♪
OKAY. AGAIN...
BRASS, NOT BRONZE.
- OKAY.
- SO I CAN TELL YOU, THOSE
ARE NOT TANG PERIOD BRONZES.
♪ ♪
AS A SOUVENIR FLASK
TO THE PERSON THAT
ONCE OWNED THEM,
THEY WERE PROBABLY PRICELESS.
TO YOU, TRYING TO RESELL THEM,
MAYBE 50 BUCKS APIECE.
- OKAY.
WELL, THANKS FOR COMING IN.
- MY PLEASURE.
- APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME, LIKE ALWAYS.
- YOU BET YA.
- WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
LIKED WHAT YOU HEARD THERE,
BUT I GOT TO TEND
TO BELIEVE HIM.
IT'S WHAT HE DOES, SO
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO MAKE YOU AN OFFER ON THESE.
REALLY COOL. I WISH
THEY WERE REAL.
THANKS FOR COMING OUT.
- THANKS. ALL RIGHT.
- HAVE A GOOD DAY.
- YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY.
♪ ♪
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED
THAT I COULDN'T MAKE
A DEAL HERE TODAY,
BUT MAYBE SOMEONE
ELSE IS INTERESTED IN THEM.
♪ ♪
- I HAVE A CUSTOMER
IN THE SHOP WITH A 1979
GIBSON THUNDERBIRD BASS GUITAR.
IT'S IN REALLY GOOD CONDITION,
BUT HE'S ASKING $7,500 FOR IT,
AND I DON'T KNOW IF
THAT'S A GOOD PRICE OR NOT.
SO I'M GONNA CALL
UP MY BUDDY, WOLF,
AND SEE IF WE CAN
STRUM UP A DEAL.
- WOW, LOOK AT THIS.
THUNDERBIRD.
- YES, SIR.
- I'M SORT OF IN SHOCK,
I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE
IN PERSON, ACTUALLY.
THAT'S KIND OF COOL.
- THE THUNDERBIRD CAME
OUT ORIGINALLY, I THINK, IN 1963.
THEY WERE TRYING TO
COME OUT TO COMPETE WITH
THE FENDER P-BASS AND
THE FENDER JAZZ BASS.
AND THIS HAS JUST
GOT A LEGENDARY TONE.
IT'S A NECK THROUGH,
WHICH MEANS THE NECK AND
THE BODY AND MIDDLE HERE
ARE ALL ONE PIECE.
THEN THEY GLUE THE WINGS
ONTO THE SIDE AFTERWARDS.
SO WITH THIS ALL BEING ONE PIECE
THAT YOU LAY THE FRETBOARD ON,
IT'S GOT A LOT OF RESONANCE.
REALLY, REALLY
THUMPING LOW-END TONE.
THESE ARE REALLY HIGHLY
SOUGHT AFTER BY BASS PLAYERS.
♪ ♪
IS IT OKAY IF I PICK IT UP?
- YES, SIR.
- THANK YOU.
OH, LET'S SEE.
OH, WOW, NOT EVEN TOO
RASHED OUT ON THE BACK.
YOU TOOK CARE OF THIS.
- WELL...
- ORIGINAL TUNERS.
- YES, SIR.
- SWEET.
SO IF THIS IS
ALL-NATURAL IN 1979,
THEY DID NOT MAKE A
LOT OF THESE AT ALL.
YEAH, THIS IS A BEAUTY.
- GIVE ME AN IDEA
OF WHAT IT'S WORTH.
- THESE ARE VERY RARE.
I THINK GIBSON, IN '79,
DID 20 OR 21 BASSES.
SIX OF THOSE WERE
NATURAL FINISHES.
I THINK THREE OF
WHICH, CURRENTLY,
HAVE BEEN DESTROYED OR LOST.
TO SEE THIS IN FRONT
OF ME, IT'S KIND OF COOL...
ALMOST LIKE A UNICORN.
- OKAY, NOW YOU'RE SCARING ME.
- I LIKE UNICORN, THAT'S GOOD.
- GIVEN THE RARITY OF IT,
AND THIS ONE'S IN ALL
ORIGINAL CONDITION,
I'D SAY 9,000 BUCKS.
- WOW.
- ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WOLF, I APPRECIATE
YOU COMING DOWN.
- HEY, THANKS FOR
HAVING ME. THANK YOU.
- AWESOME.
- THANK YOU, SIR.
- NICE MEETING YOU.
- GOOD MEETING YOU. YES, SIR.
- BEAUTIFUL BASS.
- THANK YOU.
- WELL, MY MAN, I'M GONNA
TELL YOU THIS, BUDDY,
YOU ARE MY FAVORITE
TYPE OF CUSTOMER.
- I DON'T SEE ANY REASON
TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOU,
YOU CAME IN, YOU KNEW
EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAD.
I'LL GIVE YOU THE 7,500 BUCKS
AND A LITTLE BIT EXTRA FOR THAT
BUCKET OF CHICKEN, ALL RIGHT?
- THAT SOUNDS GOOD, MAN.
- COOL.
- THANK YOU, SIR.
- MEET ME OVER THERE.
- YES, SIR.
I'M GONNA TAKE THIS 7,500,
PROBABLY BUY ME ANOTHER BASS.
MAYBE PUT A LITTLE DOWN PAYMENT
ON A PICKUP TRUCK FOR MY WIFE.
MAYBE GO GET SOME FRIED CHICKEN.
♪ ♪
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
- HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
- WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?
- IT'S A VIEW-MASTER
3-D PROJECTOR.
- OKAY, YOU WANT
TO OPEN IT UP FOR ME?
- YEAH, SURE.
- OKAY, SO...
I KNOW THESE THINGS BECAME
REALLY POPULAR IN THE 1930S.
YEAH, WHAT IT WAS, IS THERE
WAS THIS LITTLE ROUND DISC
YOU WOULD PUT
INSIDE THERE, AND THEN
YOU WOULD CLICK THAT DOWN,
AND IT WOULD JUST TURN THE DISC.
AND IT WOULD
GIVE YOU, LIKE, A 3-D
VERSION OF IT ON THE WALL.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DIDN'T
TRAVEL LIKE THEY DO NOW.
YOU KNOW, MY, OH, MY,
HOW WE FORGET, YOU KNOW,
LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
I'M HERE AT THE PAWN SHOP TODAY
TO SELL MY VIEW-MASTER
3-D PROJECTOR.
I GOT THE PROJECTOR FROM
MY GRANDPARENTS' ATTIC.
THE OVERALL CONDITION...
IT IS IN PRETTY GOOD
CONDITION FOR HOW OLD IT IS.
IT'S JUST BEEN
SITTING IN A CLOSET,
AND I'M JUST LOOKING
TO GET RID OF IT.
I'M HOPING TO SELL IT FOR 200.
♪ ♪
- THIS IS INTERESTING.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A
LITTLE MINI VACATION.
YOU GOT TO SEE SIGHTS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
IN, LIKE, A 3-D VIEW.
THAT'S WHAT THESE
THINGS WERE USED FOR.
BUT TYPICALLY, IT WAS
USED IN SCHOOLS A LOT
TO SEE, LIKE, THIS IS WHAT
THE EIFFEL TOWER LOOKS LIKE
IF YOU'RE STANDING
IN FRONT OF IT.
- OKAY.
- TAJ MAHAL,
WHATEVER YOU WANTED.
IT WAS ALL ON
THESE LITTLE DISCS.
IT WAS ALMOST KIND OF
LIKE YOU WERE THERE.
THE MILITARY USED
'EM FOR TRAINING,
FOR KIND OF GOING
THROUGH BATTLE PLANS
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN
SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS,
YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO
BLAST A BIG, GIANT PICTURE
OF A BATTLEFIELD IN THE '40S.
RATHER THAN JUST SITTING THERE
WITH A GIANT, LIKE,
GEOGRAPHICAL MAP,
YOU COULD JUST
PROJECT IT ON THE WALL
AND IT KIND OF GAVE
AN ENTIRE ROOM
AN IDEA OF WHAT
THEY WERE GOING INTO.
THEY SERVED A
PURPOSE FOR A WHILE,
BUT AS SOON AS
MODERN VIDEO CAME OUT,
THIS THING KIND OF JUST KIND OF
WENT THE WAY OF THE DINOSAUR.
- OKAY.
- SO DO YOU HAVE
ANY OF THE DISCS
WITH IT OR ANYTHING?
- NO, THIS IS THE ONLY THING
THAT THEY HAD UP THERE WITH IT.
- DO YOU GOT THE POWER
CORD OR ANYTHING WITH IT?
- NO.
- WHAT ARE YOU
LOOKING TO DO WITH IT?
- SELL IT.
- ANY IDEA ON WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING TO GET OUT OF IT?
- 200.
- OKAY.
♪ ♪
IF YOU HAD MAYBE SOME
DISCS AND THE POWER CABLE
AND STUFF LIKE THAT WITH IT,
I COULD MAYBE SEE GOING
SOMEWHERE NEAR THERE,
BUT AS IT SITS, I'D
OFFER YOU 50 BUCKS.
- HOW ABOUT 100?
♪ ♪
- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
I'LL GIVE YOU 80 BUCKS,
AND I'LL TAKE THE BOAT
ANCHOR OFF YOUR HANDS.
♪ ♪
- ALL RIGHT.
- DEAL?
- YEP.
- I'LL MEET YOU OVER THERE.
- OKAY.
I SOLD IT FOR $80, AND
I'M GOOD WITH THAT.
I MEAN, I WAS MISSING
PARTS THAT WEREN'T THERE,
AND THEY TOOK IT OFF MY HANDS.
- OH, IS MY LITTLE
BABY GIRL HUNGRY?
OH, YOU KNOW IT.
I'M GONNA READ YOU
SUPERMAN STORIES
AFTER YOU EAT, OKAY?
♪ ♪
- CHUM, REALLY...
- WHAT?
IT'S JUST A LITTLE LUNCH.
- YOU LET THIS HAPPEN.
- I LET HIM BRING IN
PINKY A FEW TIMES.
- KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN.
PINKY'S HAVING LUNCH.
SHE DOESN'T LIKE
TO BE DISTURBED.
SHE DOESN'T LIKE
TO EAT ON THE FLOOR,
SO I HAD TO PUT HER
UP HERE ON THE DESK.
- AT MY DESK?
- I MEAN, I NEVER LOOKED
AT THIS AS YOUR DESK,
SINCE YOU HAVE YOUR OFFICE.
I KIND OF LOOKED AT THIS AS
THE, YOU KNOW, COUNTER THAT...
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT
ME TO READ YOU, GIRL?
YOU WANT ME TO READ
YOU "THE AVENGERS"?
OKAY, I WILL.
- ANYWAY, DO YOU KNOW
ANYBODY THAT'S GOT, LIKE,
SOME REALLY COOL POP ART?
LOOKING FOR SOME STUFF
LIKE THAT FOR THE GALLERY.
- I HAVE AN OIL
PAINTING OF PINKY.
IT'S VERY MODERN.
- NO.
- HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN DOWN
TO STEVE'S COMIC
BOOK SHOP LATELY?
- I'VE NEVER
ACTUALLY BEEN THERE.
- I CHECKED IT OUT
THE OTHER DAY,
'CAUSE I WANTED TO
GET SOME COMICS,
AND HE HAD SOME REALLY
COOL ARTWORK DOWN THERE.
LOT OF ORIGINAL STUFF.
- LIKE ORIGINAL COMIC BOOK ART?
- YEAH.
- LIKE OLD STUFF?
- I MEAN, IT'S A MIX
OF EVERYTHING.
- YEAH, HE'S GOT ALL KINDS
OF, YOU KNOW, COVERS
AND SPLASH PAGES
AND ALL KINDS OF COMIC
BOOK STUFF THERE.
- IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL.
- DO YOU WANT TO GO?
- NO, I CAN'T GO RIGHT NOW.
I GOT PINKY, YOU GUYS.
MAYBE WE CAN GO TOMORROW.
- YOU WEREN'T INVITED, CHUM.
LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT
AND SEE WHAT HE HAS.
WHEN I GET BACK, WE'RE HAVING
A DISCUSSION ABOUT PINKY.
♪ ♪
- ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO START
PUTTING HER ON THE PAYROLL?
'CAUSE ALL THIS WORK
SHE'S DOING FOR FREE
AIN'T GONNA BE
CUTTING IT MUCH LONGER.
♪ ♪
AND THE EVIL BALD BOSS
WAS QUICK TO LEAVE,
SO WE COULD RELAX,
ENJOY OUR LUNCH,
AND READ OUR COMICS.
♪ ♪
- HOW YOU DOING?
- HI, HOW ARE YOU?
- PRETTY GOOD. WHAT
DO YOU HAVE HERE?
- SO I BROUGHT TO YOU,
A 1920S HOT-AIR
BALLOON CHANDELIER.
- A HOT-AIR BALLOON CHANDELIER.
- YEAH.
- MUST BE A BUNCH OF
HOT AIR IN HERE TODAY.
♪ ♪
I HAVE A HOT-AIR
BALLOON CHANDELIER
THAT I'M LOOKING TO SELL TODAY.
I FOUND IT ONLINE,
AND I KNEW IT WAS REALLY RARE,
I'VE NEVER SEEN
SOMETHING THAT LARGE,
THAT AGE, AND I JUST
KNEW THAT I HAD TO HAVE IT.
I'M HOPING TO SELL THE
CHANDELIER FOR $5,000.
♪ ♪
- YEAH, IT LOOKS PRETTY COOL.
WHAT MAKES YOU BELIEVE
IT'S FROM THE 1920S?
- I JUST DID SOME RESEARCH,
AND I JUST ESTIMATED
BASED ON SIMILAR ONES.
- OKAY, YEAH, I THINK
THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.
MIGHT EVEN BE A
LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
ROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY,
HOT-AIR BALLOONS WERE HUGE.
THEY WERE AT, LIKE,
EVERY PARADE, EVERY FAIR,
I MEAN, BEFORE AIRPLANES, IT WAS
ONLY WAY TO GET UP IN THE SKY
AND HAVE THAT BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
YOU KNOW?
- YEAH.
- YOU GOT THAT REAL
FEELING OF FLYING
AND BEING ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE.
IT WAS ABOUT 1903 WHEN
THE AIRPLANE CAME OUT,
SO AIRPLANES BECAME COOL,
AND HOT AIR BALLOONS JUST
WEREN'T AS COOL ANYMORE.
- MM.
- WHEN YOU THINK OF THE
WORD CHANDELIER TODAY,
YOU THINK OF SPARKLY JEWELS
OR MULTIPLE THINGS HANGING.
- RIGHT.
- BUT THIS IS HOW
THEY WERE BACK THEN.
THIS IS LIKE ART NOUVEAU PERIOD.
THEY WERE REALLY INTO THE
PASTEL COLORS AROUND THAT TIME.
- MM-HMM.
- THIS TYPE OF ART
IS COMING BACK IN.
IT'S NEVER REALLY
WENT OUT, I MEAN,
THE SEXY LONG LINES
AND THE CURVES, I MEAN...
- YEAH.
- PEOPLE ALWAYS LIKE
THIS KIND OF STUFF.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING
TO DO WITH THIS HERE?
- I'M LOOKING TO SELL IT TO YOU.
- AND HOW MUCH ARE
YOU LOOKING FOR?
- SO MY ASKING PRICE IS 5,000.
- OKAY, THAT'S A LOT MORE
THAN I'LL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IT.
IT'S IN FAIR CONDITION, IT'S
NOT IN GREAT CONDITION.
BUT IT DOES, HOWEVER,
NEED TO BE REPAINTED.
IN PRISTINE CONDITION, TIPTOP,
SANDED DOWN AND REPAINTED,
I THINK MAYBE THE MOST
THIS THING COULD BRING
IN ITS BEST CONDITION
IS A COUPLE THOUSAND.
♪ ♪
- WOULD YOU TAKE 400 FOR IT?
- OH, MY GOSH.
I PUT MORE INTO
GETTING IT REWIRED.
- IT SHOULDN'T HAVE
COST YOU THAT MUCH.
I THINK THE MOST
I COULD PAY IS 500.
♪ ♪
- YEAH, I'M GONNA KEEP IT, THEN.
- ALL RIGHT, WELL, I
APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
- ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
I WASN'T GONNA SELL IT FOR $500,
BECAUSE I KNOW I COULD
GET A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO I'M GONNA TAKE IT
HOME AND RESELL IT.
♪ ♪
- MY DAD'S ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR NEW ART FOR HIS GALLERY.
AND OUR COMIC BOOK EXPERT,
STEVE, HAS TOLD ME THAT,
AT TORPEDO COMICS,
WHERE HE WORKS,
THEY HAVE A TON OF ORIGINAL
AND NEW COMIC BOOK ART.
I TRY TO AVOID HANGING
OUT WITH MY DAD
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT
I'M TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM,
AND I'M BRINGING MY
DAD DOWN HERE TODAY,
AND HOPEFULLY, HE
DOESN'T NERD OUT TOO BAD.
♪ ♪
- YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT
A NORMAL COMIC BOOK SHOP.
♪ ♪
- I MEAN, YOU GOT THE
SILVER SURFER GUY.
- THAT WON'T FIT IN MY GALLERY.
- LET'S GO FIND STEVE.
- OKAY.
- HEY, GUYS.
- WHAT'S UP, STEVE?
- SO GLAD YOU FINALLY
MADE IT DOWN HERE.
- HEY, MAN, WHAT'S UP?
- WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY?
- HE SAID YOU HAD SOME, LIKE,
SOME ORIGINAL ART DOWN HERE.
- WELL, TODAY'S
YOUR LUCKY DAY. JOHN!
- OH, HEY, GUYS.
- YEAH, THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR SOME ART.
- HOW ARE YOU?
- COMIC ART.
- HOW'S IT GOING, MAN? GOOD.
- NICE TO SEE YOU.
- SO YOU GOT SOME
ORIGINAL COMIC BOOK ART
YOU'RE LOOKING TO SELL?
I MEAN, I GOT A GALLERY, JUST
LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT STUFF.
- YEAH, SURE, LET ME SHOW YOU.
- ALL RIGHT, GUYS, I'LL
LEAVE YOU WITH JOHN.
♪ ♪
- SO AS FAR AS COMICS
ARE CONCERNED,
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
KINDS OF COMIC ART.
THERE'S COVERS,
THERE'S INTERIOR PAGES,
SPLASH PAGES, AND
THEN COMMISSIONS.
- OKAY.
- HERE'S SOMETHING
THAT'S REALLY COOL.
THIS IS TODD MCFARLANE,
ONE OF THE MOST
WELL-KNOWN COMIC ARTISTS,
AND IT WAS THE SECOND ISSUE
THAT HE DID FOR "SPIDER-MAN."
AND I PAID 200 GRAND
ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
- OKAY!
WHAT ELSE WE GOT?
- WHAT, DID YOU FORGET
YOUR WALLET OR SOMETHING?
DIDN'T FORGET MY WALLET.
IT'S JUST...
- MAYBE NOT FOR
YOUR FIRST PURCHASE.
- BABY STEPS, ALL RIGHT?
- SO THIS IS KIND
OF A COOL PIECE.
THIS IS BATGIRL.
AND THIS WOULD BE WHAT'S
CONSIDERED A SPLASH PAGE
FOR THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
SO FIRST YOU HAVE THE COVER,
AND THEN YOU'D
HAVE AN INTERIOR PAGE
THAT ALMOST WAS COVER QUALITY.
SO YOU'D HAVE A BIG
IMAGE OF THE CHARACTER,
AND THEN THEY WOULD GO
OVER WHO THE ARTIST WAS,
WHO THE WRITER WAS AND GIVE YOU
A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION.
- ALL RIGHT. BATGIRL'S
REALLY COOL.
- ALL RIGHT, LET'S PULL IT DOWN.
- SO BATGIRL, SHE WAS
COMMISSIONER GORDON'S DAUGHTER.
- THAT'S RIGHT.
BATGIRL DEBUTED IN
DETECTIVE COMICS 359.
AND THIS IS 1967.
BUT IT WAS REALLY
CAMPY BACK THEN.
- SO THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL
ART FOR A COMIC BOOK.
- RIGHT, SO THEY
WOULD TAKE THIS,
AND THEN THEY WOULD COLOR IT,
AND THEN THEY WOULD USE
THOSE TO PRINT THE COMIC BOOKS.
- OKAY, SO HOW MUCH
IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
THIS WOULD SELL FOR ANYWHERE
FROM $6,000 TO $7,000 RETAIL.
- OKAY, AND HOW MUCH
WOULD YOU TAKE FOR IT?
- I WOULD TAKE $6,000 TO $7,000.
- IF YOU GET TWO PEOPLE
IN THE RIGHT SITUATION
BIDDING THIS UP,
IT COULD GO ANYWHERE
FROM 10,000 TO 12,000.
- WELL, I THINK
IT'S REALLY COOL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
- IT'S COOL, IT'S DIFFERENT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT
GONNA SEE ANOTHER ONE.
- WELL, YEAH, IT'S ORIGINAL ART.
- I'LL GIVE YOU
FOUR GRAND FOR IT.
- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
IT'S YOUR FIRST PIECE,
AND I WANT YOU TO
WALK OUT OF HERE,
GETTING THE BUG
FOR THE COLLECTING.
4,500.
- ALL RIGHT, 4,200.
- I PAID 4,000 FOR IT.
GIVE ME 4,500, IT'S YOURS.
- YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'LL TAKE A SHOT.
- YOU GOT IT. ENJOY.
- COOL. APPRECIATE IT, MAN.
- CONGRATULATIONS.
- ALL RIGHT.
- LET ME GET YOU
PAID. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
- SOUNDS GOOD.
♪ ♪
- I SORT OF LIKE IT.
IT'S KIND OF COOL.
- YOU WOULD LIKE BATGIRL.
- WHAT IS WRONG WITH BATGIRL?