Antiques Roadshow

APPRAISER

Every once in a while, something just comes up to the table at ROADSHOW and I just start to giggle, because I see some really exciting things. What did you bring in today?

GUEST

This is a pencil vending machine that will actually print your name on the pencil.

APPRAISER

Mm-hmm.

GUEST

It's from about 1925. I actually collect pencils. I collect advertising pencils. And so I found some from a fellow collector that said Vendex. And I'm, like, "There's got to be a machine that goes along with this." So I spent two or three years just looking for the machine, and finally found one.

APPRAISER

And how long ago did you buy this?

GUEST

It was about three years ago. I paid $325 for it.

APPRAISER

Now, pencil collecting is a very specific art. How did you get into that?

GUEST

When I was younger, I would tag along with my grandpa to flea markets. And any time Grandpa would be buying something, it was something cheap for me to pick up at the same time.

APPRAISER

And how many do you have now?

GUEST

I have about 60,000.

APPRAISER

And the other collectors, where do you in the hierarchy of collecting pencils?

GUEST

I'd say I'm about in the middle. There's, there's a few that have more than me, but mine, mine's getting up there.

APPRAISER

So, doing research on this, I was looking at the patent. I've seen two show up before.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

One has been in restored shape. I have never seen one in original condition. And the best that I can tell, this is all original.

GUEST

Yes.

APPRAISER

It has a few little replacement bits, but overall, it looks original. The paint looks correct. The glass in the front is perfect. In this condition, unrestored, and, unfortunately, inoperable at the moment...

GUEST

Right.

APPRAISER

We'd be looking at around a $500 to $800 auction estimate.

GUEST

Wow, that's awesome.

APPRAISER

If it worked, I guess about $1,000, $1,200, top end. But it's a just fun, exciting, weird little piece.