Pawn Stars refurbished trunk

[waywardangler]

I watched Pawn Stars this week but as 4 episodes are on, I do not know if this was new or a repeat; the trunk with the unusual inserts that I think they paid $500 for (this was discussed on this board in a trunk thread), they got back from their refurbisher with a cost of $1500!  Their total cash in this trunk is $2000.  Am I missing something here?  Trunks in my area would bring a tenth of that cost in that condition.  This was not a Louis Vitton trunk that I am aware of.

[sapphire]

Haven't seen it but must try to find that.  To quote one of my mother's favorite quips........."more money than brains"

[KC]

Yeah...but it is now a celebrity trunk!

[hosman321]

Yeah it was a repeat. They were crazy! I didn't even pay close to $500 for mine. It doesn't have the compartments but still. I think the refurbished price of that trunk is $500, because it is pretty rare to have all the compartments. But never over $2,000!

[CollectorsOnlineMall]

We have one with compartments up now on ebay and we're asking $349 for it.  (We didn't need to refurbish it)   It's a fiber trunk and I don't think it's worth more.   

I recall the episode, but I don't remember them saying what the trunk was made of, just that they had it refurbished with linen lining inside the drawers that were moldy.  I'm sure if it was LV they would have mentioned it.

I think they're nuts for a lot of the prices they pay - especially when someone comes in wanting a couple of hundred and next thing you know they call in an expert and 9 times out of 10 the prices goes up thousands!  Maybe they have really rich customers.

[hosman321]

The trunk on pawn stars looked like the same materials as mine and from the same time period. 1880's-1900. Covered in metal (tin or zinc). Inside is wood. Those are the two main materials on most trunks of that time period. A lot of people think there's leather and other materials on the outside. They just painted the metal different colors. I've never seen one with leather on the outside (except older ones with hide), they paint the metal brown to simulate leather.

I believe the compartments were usually made of cardboard or thin wood covered in paper. 
Great site for trunk info, and look at their prices including shipping!
http://www.eagletrunks.com/antiquetrunkhistory/trunkhistorystyles.html
Here's a pic of mine again. Looks like it could be many different materials on the outside but it's really just tin with wood slats. The brown part is brown tin/zinc.

[waywardangler]

Your trunk looks very nice, hosman.  Is it outside trying to get in?

[hosman321]

That's an old pic, it weaseled it's way inside. Takes up so much room though, it's bigger than it looks. Or my house is just too small.
 
I'm glad I didn't restore it to make it look brand new. I prefer the old beat up look.

[cogar]

Their total cash in this trunk is $2000.

Maybe they thought it was some Commodore's sea trunk.

[hosman321]

I always wonder if people have told them to their face that they were insane for paying that price for it and it's restoration. I bet they've learned now. I'm just amazed that the restorer didn't know anything about these trunks. And you know dang well he did basic research along the restoration process. He knew what it was worth.
Remember that trunk that was in the first season that was super old, I believe the 1600's? Now THAT is worth $2,000. Well, I'd pay that much for it.

[hosman321]

One in my area right now for $175.

[sapphire]

And one in my area for $160 

[talesofthesevenseas]

Yeah I don't get it either. They are all over the place for less than $200.