male announcer: WHEN STORAGE UNITS ARE ABANDONED...
IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS,
THE TREASURES WITHIN...
- THAT'S THE PRIZE.
announcer: ARE PUT UP FOR AUCTION.
- YEAH. - YEAH.
- RIGHT HERE. - YEAH.
- $1,300 NOW. $1,350?
[auctioneering]
- YUP.
- TEXAS STORAGE AUCTION--
THEY CALL IT THE GREAT STORAGE STAMPEDE.
LET'S GO!
- EXCUSE ME.
- YOU SEE MORE UNITS WITH HIGHER PAYOUTS.
- $900. - OH, MY LORD.
- $7,000. - OH, MY GOD.
- AH, HO, HO.
- THESE AIN'T YOUR FANCY CITY FOLK LOCKERS.
- UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE.
- YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR...
- LESA, BID ON IT!
- AND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
[electricity crackles]
YOU HAVE TO BE BETTER...
- WHY BITCH AND MOAN WHEN YOU GOT BEAT?
- SMARTER...
- I'M GONNA FOOL HIM ON THIS ONE.
- HOLY--BAM!
- AND A LITTLE BIT CRAZY.
[paintball gun fires] - AH!
- GOT HIM. - YEAH!
- MY NAME'S COLONEL WALT CADE.
WELCOME TO A GAME I LIKE TO CALL
TEXAS SOLD 'EM.
[country rock music]
- THAT'S THE GRAVY TRAIN RIGHT THERE.
- YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT WE FIND.
- JERRY?
MY STORE IS ON THE LINE HERE.
- THIS IS ALL PROFIT.
IT'S FABULOUS.
[glass clinks]
- ♪ MONEY OWNS THIS TOWN ♪
♪ YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ♪
♪ MONEY OWNS THIS TOWN ♪
- AND IT'S SOLD!
- ANOTHER LONG TRIP, HALFWAY ACROSS TEXAS.
- IT'S A LONG WAY, BUT EVERYWHERE IS A LONG WAY
FROM THE MIDDLE OF TEXAS.
- YEAH.
MY NAME'S RICKY SMITH, MY PARTNER'S BUBBA SMITH,
AND WE DRIVE ABSOLUTELY ALL OVER TEXAS
FOR THESE STORAGE UNITS.
GREAT CITY.
NOT LAMPASAS.
PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE US BECAUSE I WEAR A HAT.
I THINK IT'S SMART BECAUSE IT KEEPS THE SUN OFF MY EARS,
AND I CAN THINK BETTER.
- IS THAT A REMINGTON?
- I THINK IT IS.
WE'RE NOT THE SHARPEST-LOOKING CRAYOLA
IN THE BOX,
BUT 38 YEARS, I DON'T NEED NO POLISH.
I GOT BETTER THAN THAT.
THAT'S THAT BUILDING WE COULDN'T HAVE IN LAMPASAS.
ALL THAT MIRRORS ON THAT MOTHER WOULD START A GRASS FIRE.
WE GOTTA GET SOME OF THE CREAM OF THE CROP.
- YEAH. - HERE WE GO.
- I MOVED HERE FOUR YEARS AGO FROM NEW YORK,
AND THE FIRST THING I NOTICED
IS THAT THEY DRIVE WORSE DOWN HERE THAN THEY DO IN NEW YORK.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE ACCELERATOR IS.
MY NAME IS VICTOR RJESNJANSKY,
AND I'VE BEEN BUYING STORAGE LOCKERS
FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE.
[sighs] AND UH...
I'M NOT FROM TEXAS.
YOU CAN'T GET A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE.
IF YOU WANT ANY KIND OF MEAT, IT'S GOING TO BE SMOKED.
AND TRY AND FIND SOMETHING BESIDES A MEXICAN RESTAURANT.
YOU GOTTA HAVE TASTE TO SEE THROUGH THE CRAP,
AND THAT'S WHAT SEPARATES ME FROM THE LOCALS.
SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM TODAY
TEACHING THOSE REDNECKS A LITTLE LESSON.
- JERRY?
I'M LESA LEWIS,
AND I HAVE BEEN BUYING STORAGE LOCKERS FOR FIVE YEARS.
[drill whirrs]
OH, MY GOD.
I RECENTLY OPENED UP MY OWN STORE,
AGAIN AND AGAIN RESALE,
WITH THE HELP OF MY EMPLOYEE, JERRY.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
- WHILE LESA'S EMOTIONAL, I FOCUS ON THE BUSINESS,
AND DO ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING.
- ANOTHER CHAPTER IN MY LIFE,
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
- JUST DON'T FILE CHAPTER 13.
[laughter]
- STORE JUST OPENED, I NEED SOME NEW STUFF.
- OH, GEEZ.
[tires screech]
- [giggling]
- [laughs]
JUST BEING SAFE.
I'M MOE PRIGOFF,
AND I'M AN ANTIQUES AFICIONADO.
MY GALLERY'S RIVER REGENCY MODERN,
IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
AND IT'S JUST CHOCK-FULL OF FABULOUS PIECES.
THE KIND OF PIECES THAT YOU WALK IN,
AND YOU GO, "WHOA, WOW, OH.
CAN I WORK HERE JUST SO I CAN MOVE THE FURNITURE?"
TO THESE AUCTIONS, I BRING STYLE AND KNOWLEDGE.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, YOU CAN REALLY MISS SOMETHING.
- ALL RIGHT, HERE ARE THE RULES
FOR TODAY'S AUCTION.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE FIVE MINUTES
TO LOOK AROUND AFTER WE OPEN THE DOOR,
YOU DON'T STEP INSIDE, YOU DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING.
THERE'LL BE NO DASH FOR CASH.
PLEASE BID ONLY WITH THE MONEY YOU BROUGHT TODAY
AND HAVE IN YOUR POCKETS.
ARE YOU READY TO GO?
- YEAH! [crowd cheers]
- HAMMER UP! LET'S GO!
[blade whirrs]
- WHOA. - WHOA.
- WOW.
- I LIKE THE TWO LAMPS HERE.
THESE LAMPS LOOK RETRO,
BUT THEY COULD BE A NEWER REPRODUCTION MODEL.
I JUST NEED TO SEE THEM UP CLOSE.
- SOME HOOKER SHOES.
- HOOKER SHOES?
- PROSTITUTE SHOES. - THEY'RE PRETTY.
I LIKE THE COLOR.
WE GOT A SLEIGH BED.
SLEIGH BED'S GOOD.
I HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM IN MY STORE
TO SET UP THAT SLEIGH BED.
- MY BACK HURTS JUST LOOKING AT THIS LOCKER.
- I SPOTTED SOME NICE STUFF.
YOU GOTTA HAVE TASTE TO KNOW TASTE.
AND FROM WHAT I COULD SEE, THESE PEOPLE HAD IT.
- THERE'S A DINETTE.
TOOL BOX.
IT'S SOME GOOD-LOOKING STUFF,
BUT I'M AFRAID THEY DIDN'T TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.
- ALL RIGHT, SELL MY LITTLE HOUSEHOLD UNIT HERE.
WHAT AM I BIDDING NOW? $100?
- $100, RIGHT HERE.
YOU GOTTA HAVE THE FIRST BID WITH THESE PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN SPOOK THEM
BY THROWING OUT A $100 BID.
- GOT $100. - $150.
- GOT $150. MORE THAN I HAD.
- RIGHT HERE.
- WE GOT $200. $250?
$50 NOW, $50 NOW? - THIS ONE.
- GOT $250. NOW $300.
- $300. - $300.
NOW $50. - $325, RIGHT HERE.
- GOT $325.
NOW $50. - $350.
- $350, NOW $75. - BRING IT.
- I DON'T THINK I RATTLED ANYONE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A FIGHT.
- I GOT $375 AND $400.
- $400, RIGHT HERE. - $400, NOW $425.
$425?
- BRING IT. - $425, AND $50?
- $450. - $450, NOW $475.
ANY $475? - I'M OUT.
- $475 ONCE, TWICE.
I HAVE $475--
- THESE LAMPS COULD BE ONE REAL EXPENSIVE GAMBLE.
$525.
- $525, NOW $50. [auctioneering]
$550 ONCE, TWICE.
I SOLD IT RIGHT HERE, $525.
- [laughs]
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THOSE LAMPS.
- ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, TAKE A LOOK.
- I REMEMBER MY SISTER HAD A DRESSER LIKE THIS.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY OLD.
YOU RUN INTO A LOT OF UNITS LIKE THIS HERE IN TEXAS.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH FROM THE DOORS,
BUT YOU GOTTA LOOK FOR CLUES.
THERE ARE SOME OLD, WOODEN DRESSERS
TOWARDS THE BACK OVER HERE.
- THESE--THESE CLOTHES ARE NICE.
- IF THESE CLOTHES WERE THAT NICE,
THE PEOPLE WOULD BE STILL WEARING THEM.
YEAH.
- I--I NEED SOMETHING UNIQUE.
ON THE SURFACE, THERE'S A LOT OF THRIFT STORE GOODS.
IT'S TOO BIG A RISK FOR ME.
HMM.
- MY LORD.
DRESSER ON THE LEFT, A HEAP OF CLOTHES ON THE RIGHT,
SOMEBODY THREW THEIR STUFF IN HERE,
AND MADE LIKE A SHEEP HERDER
AND GOT THE FLOCK OUT OF HERE.
- IT AIN'T WORTH MORE THAN $200, SO.
- VICTOR SAYS HE WANTS TO PAY $200,
I SAY HE'S GOING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE.
- ALL RIGHT, LITTLE CLOTHING UNIT HERE.
WHAT ARE Y'ALL THINKING HERE?
$100? NOW $100.
- YUP. - $100.
NOW HALF, $150 NOW, $150.
- $125. - $125. MORE THAN I HAD.
NOW $50 NOW. - RIGHT HERE.
- $150. NOW $175.
ANY $175? - $175.
$200?
[auctioneering]
- $200, RIGHT HERE.
- $200 NOW. $225?
- RIGHT HERE.
- NOW $250, NOW $250.
- WHEN SOMEONE'S ON YOUR TAIL LIKE THIS,
YOU GOTTA SHAKE THEM.
- $250, NOW $250, $250?
[auctioneering]
$250 ONCE, TWICE...
- [bleep]
- $250. - $250!
- [silently] THANK YOU.
- $275.
$275 ONCE, TWICE...
- [laughs]
- I SOLD IT RIGHT HERE, $250.
RIGHT HERE, $250.
- THAT UNIT'S A MESS.
BUT THOSE MAPLE DRESSERS-- THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
- I'M STILL SWEATING ON THAT ONE.
[laughs]
- I WON A UNIT THAT I THINK HAS RETRO LAMPS.
AND IF MY HUNCH IS RIGHT,
I THINK THESE PEOPLE HAVE EVEN MORE MONEY STORED IN HERE.
I LIKE THESE LIGHTS.
THE SHADES ARE DISCOLORED,
AND THE BASE REALLY IS QUITE HEAVY,
I WAS RIGHT.
THIS IS RETRO.
AND THIS PROBABLY-- $275--
I CAN GET IN THE GALLERY.
AND THIS PAIR OF LAMPS--
THIS IS A POTTERY LAMP.
GREEN'S IN.
PROBABLY GET $50 A LAMP FOR THEM.
NOBODY KNEW HOW BADLY THEY WERE MISSING OUT ON THIS ONE.
I ALSO LIKE THIS BREUER CHAIR.
THIS IS REAL LEATHER, MADE IN ITALY.
THIS CHAIR HERE IS, IN MY GALLERY,
EASILY $325.
AN OUTDOOR BREAKFAST ON THE PATIO,
20 BUCKS A CHAIR.
THERE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MORE MONEY IN HERE.
- WELL, WELL, WELL.
LET ME GET SOMETHING THAT'S WRAPPED UP.
PROBABLY A MIRROR.
HO, HO, HO.
DAMN!
I KNOW WHO THIS IS.
IT'S A LITHOGRAPH-- ALEXANDER CALDER.
OKAY.
CALDER IS REALLY HOT NOW.
IT'S A FABULOUS, FABULOUS PRINT.
THE COLORS ARE THE '50s.
WHAT A DAY!
THIS IS THE MOTHER LODE.
I MAY NEVER COME OUT OF THIS HOLE.
AND...
WE GOT ANOTHER PIECE OF ART.
NICE BIRCH FRAME.
OH, MY GOSH.
THIS IS A PETER MAX LITHOGRAPH.
PETER MAX WAS A FAMOUS ARTIST IN THE '60s.
HE DID OILS, HE DID LITHOGRAPHS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THESE PIECES ARE WORTH,
BUT I KNOW JUST THE GUY TO TAKE THEM TO.
IT COULDN'T BE ANY BETTER!
I'M GOING TO PUT THESE IN MY CAR BEFORE SOMEONE STEALS THEM.
[laughs]
THAT'S FABULOUS.
- OH!
- WHOA!
- EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE KITCHEN SINK.
- YOU GOT A KITCHEN SINK AND A BATHROOM SINK.
- THAT'S AN OLD PRESSURE COOKER.
FOLDING TABLES? - YEAH.
- GOOD ITEMS, BUT WE CAN'T FILL A STORE WITH DIRTY STUFF.
- OH.
THE GUY WAS A DRYWALL EXPERT.
THERE'S A PAIR OF STILTS.
DO I LOOK LIKE A GUY THAT PUTS UP DRYWALL?
- THIS UNIT IS BIG,
AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT IS EXPENSIVE.
I'LL BITE.
- MIGHT BE SOME TOOLS IN THERE.
- YEAH, COULD BE.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS CAN BE DECEIVING.
EVERYBODY SEES GRIT.
I SEE AN OLD HARDWARE STORE.
AND SELLING HARDWARE SUPPLIES IS EASY MONEY.
- LIGHTED SHOWCASES. - YEAH.
SHH.
- YOU GOT SHOWCASES IN HERE,
PROBABLY SOME TOOLS.
WE AIN'T AFRAID TO GET DOWN AND DIRTY.
- ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
WHAT DO YOU SAY YOU WANT TO START OUT AT?
- $50, RIGHT HERE.
- $50, SIR, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING THERE?
$100.
- $125 RIGHT HERE. - $125.
NOW $150, NOW $150, NOW $150.
SIR, $150. NOW $175.
- $175, RIGHT HERE.
- GOLLY, IT'S LIKE THE NORTH VERSUS THE SOUTH AGAIN.
- $225?
- YEAH.
- $225. GOT $225.
- THE NORTH ALWAYS BEATS THE SOUTH.
DON'T THESE GUYS REMEMBER THE ALAMO?
- $225 NOW I HAVE.
$250. - YEAH.
- NOW $275. AND $300, SIR.
$300 NOW, $325? - YEAH.
- NOW $350. $350 NOW.
- $350, RIGHT HERE. - $350, NOW $375.
- YEAH. - $375 AND $400.
- $400 RIGHT HERE.
- $425, NOW $425.
- WHAT DOES VIC NEED THIS UNIT FOR?
HE'S GOT ENOUGH PLASTER IN HIS HAIR
TO RE-TILE A BATHROOM.
- $425, $425?
- YEAH.
- NOW $450, NOW $450, $450, $450.
$450 ONCE,
$450 TWICE,
ANYBODY ANYWHERE?
I SOLD IT, $425.
- [laughs]
SLICK VIC DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE TODAY.
- WE'LL BE ON TOP.
THAT STORE WILL KICK BUTT.
JERRY AND I DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING,
BUT I WASN'T ABOUT TO FILL MY STORE WITH JUNK.
ARE YOU HUNGRY?
- YEAH, HUNGRY FOR A LOCKER THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
MAYBE SOME MASHED POTATOES, GRAVY, AND JALAPENOS.
THAT--THAT WON'T HURT NOTHING.
- OH, THAT'S GOOD STUFF.
I BOUGHT A UNIT THAT HAD SOME OLDER MAPLE DRESSERS INSIDE.
OH, MAN.
BUT FIRST, I HAVE TO SCALE THIS MOUNTAIN OF CLOTHES.
THIS IS THE DRESSER THAT I SAW
FROM THE DOOR.
AND IT'S NOT AN OLD DRESSER.
NOT ONLY ARE THE DRESSERS NOT OLD,
THEY'RE PARTICLEBOARD.
LOOKS INTERESTING.
BRANDED--I DON'T RECOGNIZE THE NAME THOUGH.
AH, YOU NEVER KNOW.
A LOT OF NICE PURSES IN HERE.
AND THEY'RE ALL CLEAN.
$10, $20 A PIECE.
SOME OF THESE MAY BE NAME BRAND.
I'M NOT SURE.
INTERESTING.
WOW, THIS THING LOOKS HOMEMADE.
IT'S DEFINITELY OLD.
THERE'S A FEW RULES WITH FINDING GUNS.
IF IT DOESN'T HAVE A SERIAL NUMBER,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TURN IT IN TO THE ATF.
WELL, I KNOW IF I COME ACROSS ANYTHING IN HERE--
"BODY ARMOR."
AND THIS IS NEW STUFF.
THIS IS MODERN MATERIAL.
UM, THERE'S BODY ARMOR UNDERNEATH A DENIM JACKET.
POLAROIDS.
WELL, I JUST HAVE TO KEEP THESE FOR MANAGEMENT.
THIS IS A WEIRD ONE.
I'LL...HAVE TO GET THOSE TO THE AUTHORITIES.
GONNA GO GET THE TRUCK AND PACK THIS UP.
I WANT TO GET THIS GUN AND FLAK JACKET APPRAISED.
AND AS MUCH AS I RAG ON THE LOCALS,
THEY MAY BE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP ME.
- OH, YEAH.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN SEE THOSE, MAN.
- WE BOUGHT A UNIT TODAY
THAT EVERYBODY THOUGHT WAS DIRTY,
BUT YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
- I MEAN, IT WAS PAID FOR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT.
- I KNOW.
- WHAT DO THESE SHOWCASES COST?
- OH.
- $500 A PIECE AT LEAST? - YEAH.
- $500, $500.
RIGHT THERE.
RIGHT? - YEAH, [bleep] YEAH.
- PAINTING STILTS, $100.
- THAT'S $1,100. - THERE'S $1,100.
- THERE'S SOME GREAT HARDWARE IN THIS UNIT.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS CAN BE DECEIVING.
HELL, THIS ACCENT IS FAKE.
I USE IT JUST TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE ME.
RECOGNIZE THAT?
- THAT WILL GO RIGHT ON THE BAR.
- EXACTLY.
- THERE'S $15, $20.
- HERE'S A PRESSURE COOKER. THAT'S 40 BUCKS.
- THAT'S A LICK. - THAT IS A LICK THERE.
- WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS?
- LET ME SEE.
- THAT'S OLD, MAN.
- WELL, THAT'S THE MICHELIN GUY RIGHT THERE,
'CAUSE HE LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU.
THAT'S AN AIR COMPRESSOR OF SOME KIND.
THIS THING LOOKS LIKE A PART AIR COMPRESSOR
AND A PART STATUE?
- I'VE NEVER SEEN IT WITH THE MICHELIN MAN.
YOU SEE AIR COMPRESSORS ALL THE TIME,
BUT THIS ONE HAS THE MICHELIN MAN ON IT.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A TOY.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
- HELL YEAH.
LET'S PUT THAT--WE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE THAT CHECKED OUT.
- I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD TAKE THIS
TO AN ANTIQUE DEALER, OR A MECHANIC,
BUT WE GOT TO TAKE IT TO SOMEBODY
'CAUSE IT'S PRETTY OLD.
- MAKE LIKE THAT SHEEP HERDER AND GET THE FLOCK OUT OF HERE.
SHEEP AIN'T GOING TO GO BY ITSELF.
HE JUST SIT THERE AND LOOK LIKE THIS.
- THERE'S THIS GUY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, COYOTE SAM,
AND HE'S AN AVID GUN COLLECTOR.
- HEY, VICTOR, HOW YOU DOING? - HOW'S IT GOING?
I THOUGHT I'D JUST STOP BY AND SHOW HIM THE HOMEMADE GUN
AND FLAK JACKET THAT I FOUND.
THERE IT IS. - WHOA.
- INTERESTING, RIGHT?
- YEAH.
THE BARREL IS FROM A SAWED-OFF RIFLE BARREL.
FROM A LATER GUN, SAY, 1860s, 1880s.
THIS MIGHT EVEN BE EVEN CIVIL WAR ERA.
- REALLY? THAT OLD? - YEAH.
THIS IS AN OLD STOCK, TOO.
YOU CAN PUT THAT PATINA ON A STOCK.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY OUT OF DESPERATION--
THEY WERE BUILDING THIS, UH, JUST TO SURVIVE.
- AM I HEARING DOLLAR SIGNS NOW?
AM I HEARING CHA-CHING? OR AM I NOT HEARING CHA-CHING?
- AH, YOU KNOW, FOR SOMEONE THAT COLLECTS
THIS PRIMITIVE TYPE STUFF, I WOULD SAY
THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS, AND IT WOULD BE...
$300 TO $400.
- IT'S REALLY WHAT SOMEBODY'S WILLING TO PAY FOR IT?
- THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
- WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS ROOM WAS VERY WEIRD.
I DID COME ACROSS A JACKET, AND I THINK IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE
WITH THIS GEL-LIKE MATERIAL IN HERE.
- WELL, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THIS IS WORTH.
THAT'S A TRUE FLAK JACKET.
I WOULD SAY THIS WOULD BE $500.
- WOW. USED LIKE THIS?
- MM-HMM. - WOW.
WELL, NOT BAD.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME, SAM.
- HEY, YOU BET. ANY TIME.
- I'LL BE SEEING YOU SOON.
YOU KNOW I CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM THE GOOD FOOD HERE.
- ALL RIGHT.
- SAM REALLY HELPED ME OUT TODAY.
I SHOULD PROBABLY THINK TWICE IF I GET THE URGE
TO MAKE FUN OF THE LOCALS AGAIN.
- GOT OUR GUY? - GOT OUR GUY.
- WE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO TAKE
OUR MICHELIN MAN AIR COMPRESSOR
TO AN ANTIQUE DEALER OR TO A MECHANIC.
JAMIE, HOW'S IT GOING? - WELL, WELL.
- SO WE FOUND THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
- OUR BUDDY, JAMIE.
- WHAT DO YOU GOT?
- AH, SOME KIND OF A COMPRESSOR. I DON'T KNOW.
- AH, YEAH.
WELL THIS IS FROM THE MICHELIN COMPANY.
AIR COMPRESSOR THAT THEY MANUFACTURED IN 1920s,
INTO THE EARLY '30s.
- COOL. - I'M LIKING THAT.
- THE CHARACTER, THE FIGURAL NATURE OF IT,
THIS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST ADVERTISING LOGOS
ACTUALLY THAT EXISTS.
THE FRENCH NAME IS BIBENDUM.
IT'S A VERY, VERY COLLECTIBLE ITEM.
- SOUNDS TRES BIEN TO ME.
- AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS IT HASN'T BEEN REPAINTED.
THAT'S A MAJOR PLUS ON THIS.
- NOW THE BIG QUESTION-- WHAT'S IT WORTH?
- BASICALLY...
AROUND $3,000.
- [whistles]
$3,000. - FOR A COMPRESSOR.
THAT'S NICE. - YEAH, I MEAN--
- THAT'S A LOT MORE THAN I WAS THINKING.
- I MEAN IT'S A KILLER THING.
- I'VE ONLY EVER SEEN ONE BEFORE,
AND I NEVER OWNED ONE, BUT I LOVE IT.
- WELL, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
- HEY.
- WE'LL BRING YOU SOME MORE STUFF WHEN WE GET IT.
- ANYTHING MACHINE AGE INDUSTRIAL LIKE THAT,
I LOVE IT.
- THIS AIR COMPRESSOR JUST GOES TO SHOW
YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
WE MADE A KILLING OFF OF SHOWCASES,
AND THIS AIR COMPRESSOR IS JUST THE GRAVY TRAIN.
- WHOA.
I SPOTTED RETRO LAMPS IN A LOCKER
THAT LED ME TO THESE GREAT LITHOGRAPHS.
- HEY, MOE. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MOE.
- AND NOW I'M VISITING MY FRIEND
TO TELL ME HOW MUCH THEY'RE WORTH.
I BROUGHT YOU A COUPLE PIECES OF ART.
- RIGHT.
OH, YOU GOT A NICE ALEXANDER CALDER HERE.
WELL, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE.
THIS IS FROM A SERIES HE DID HIS LAST YEAR OF HIS LIFE
CALLED THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION.
- WOW.
- IT'S ABOUT A SIX COLOR LITHOGRAPH.
AND HE SIGNED IT HERE IN PENCIL.
THERE'S NOT EVEN A NICK ON THE FRAME.
AND ALL THE MATTING, IT SEEMS TO BE MUSEUM MATTED,
SO IT'S NOT GOING TO DISCOLOR OR ANYTHING OVER THE YEARS.
- SO FAR, HE'S SAYING THE CALDER IS IN MINT CONDITION.
THIS IS FABULOUS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?
PETER MAX. - WOW.
LIKE THIS ONE, IT'S GOT GREAT COLORS.
IT'S REALLY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
IT'S SLIPPED DOWN IN THE MATTING A LITTLE BIT,
BUT IT'S ALL MUSEUM MATTED.
AND IT'S SIGNED "ZEN MAX."
THIS PIECE WAS CALLED REMEMBERING THE FLIGHT.
WOW, THIS IS A GREAT PIECE.
- I'M, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, ECSTATIC.
- [laughs]
- IF YOU HAD TO PLACE A VALUE ON THESE,
WHAT KIND OF PRICE ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
- THE CONDITION OF THIS PIECE--
I WOULD, UM--
I'D PUT THIS PIECE AT $6,000...
- GREAT. - IN A GALLERY.
- DID YOU PAY LESS THAN THAT? - YES, I DID.
- [laughs] THAT'S GOOD.
- AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT.
[laughter]
- AND THE PETER MAX,
BEING THAT IT'S AN EARLY PETER MAX,
AND THEY'RE RARE,
AND I'VE SEEN THIS SERIES FROM 1972,
AND THEY SELL FOR ABOUT...
$8,000 IN THE GALLERIES.
- THAT'S A [bleep] GOOD DEAL.
[chuckles]
YOU JUST MADE MY DAY. - WELL, GOOD, MOE.
- NO!
OH, OH!
- THAT WAS-- THAT WAS REALLY CLOSE, MOE.
I THINK I BETTER GET THESE OUT OF HERE
BEFORE I BREAK SOMETHING, SERIOUSLY.
- YEAH.
narrator: THE BIG WINNER WAS MOE PRIGOFF,
DRAWING $14,000 FROM HIS CALDER AND MAX LITHOGRAPHS.
RICKY AND BUBBA BANKED 4 GRAND
ON THEIR BIBENDUM AIR COMPRESSOR.
VICTOR RJESNJANSKY MADE 870 BUCKS...
WHILE LESA AND JERRY WENT BACK TO AN EMPTY STORE.
- THIS WILL, UH, DEFINITELY GO IN MY OFFICE.
LET'S SEE.
SIZE-- HOLY MOLY.
SIZE 13.
I DON'T WANT TO TANGLE WITH A WOMAN
THAT HAD THOSE ON.
I KNOW YOU MIGHT FIND THIS UNUSUAL,
BUT THIS IS A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME, TOO.
[chuckles]
THAT IS THE CAT'S MEOW.
THAT'S FABULOUS.