APPRAISER: Now, this was your dad's, right?
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: Well, where did he get it?
GUEST: He got it at a thrift store in San Diego.
APPRAISER: Uh-huh. How long ago?
GUEST: I'm not really sure.
GUEST: About two months.
APPRAISER: About two months ago, okay. And what did you pay for it?
GUEST: Seventy dollars.
APPRAISER: Seventy dollars. Well, you rounded it up a little bit, I guess, because there's the price right there-- $69.95.
GUEST: My husband collects Santa Clauses of every kind, be it paper or metal or, you know, stuffed dolls, everything.
APPRAISER: Now, you were concerned a little bit about this condition, and you were wondering, uh...
GUEST: Yeah, we believe it was repainted, and he wonders how that affects the value and whether he should make the effort to get it restored.
APPRAISER: I see. Now, do you know who made this?
GUEST: I have no idea.
APPRAISER: Okay... Well, it was made by Hubley, who was a great toy manufacturer. It's cast iron. The typical, wonderful galloping action of the reindeer. And, um... as far as getting it restored, I think that would be a pretty big mistake since this is absolutely 100% original condition.
GUEST: My husband swore it had been repainted.
APPRAISER: Well, it's kind of odd when you find something so perfect that it looks like it's been repainted. So you have a gem here. It is absolutely one of the finest examples I have ever seen. It's got a few flakes and chips, but it's just really, really wonderful. It's made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and, uh, made... it was made in the '20s and '30s. And, you know, when you find one this nice, it can, kind of, fool you.
GUEST: Wow.
APPRAISER: And I think you did very well with your $69 or $70 purchase. You want to know what this is worth?
GUEST: Yes, I would.
APPRAISER: What do you think?
GUEST: About, somewhere in the hundreds or thousands?
APPRAISER: Well, not hundreds, thousands. Between $3,000 and $4,000 this would bring at auction.
GUEST: Wow, he will be so pleased. (laughing)
APPRAISER: And we really thank you for bringing it in, and thank you, Dylan.
GUEST: You're welcome.
APPRAISER: Okay.
