Hubley Orange "Harley-Davidson" Toy Motorcycle, ca. 1930

Appraised on: August 14, 2004

Appraised in: Reno, Nevada

Appraised by: Andy Ourant

Category: Toys & Games

Episode Info: Forever Young (#1521)
Reno, Hour 1 (#910)

Originally Aired: March 28, 2005

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (1:57)

GUEST: This was my great-grandpa's when he was a kid. Then when he got too old, he gave it to my grandma. And it's just been sitting on a shelf.

APPRAISER: And now she is going to give it to you.

GUEST: Yeah. Family heirloom.

APPRAISER: Well, what do you think it is?

GUEST: A Harley-Davidson.

APPRAISER: And how do you know it's a Harley-Davidson?

GUEST: Because of the "H-D".

APPRAISER: "H-D", right there. Yeah. Harley-Davidson started in the early 20th century. And probably the most famous American motorcycle company. It's called a hill climber. It has a racing number. He has the number two on here. In the real sport of hill climbing, Harley-Davidsons and other motorcycles in the time, in the '20s and '30s, would go to these giant hills. And they would race to see who could get up the hill the fastest. Now, it was made in the early '30s in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was made by a company called Hubley. And it came in multiple colors. And orange is a very nice color. Hubley started a line of toys that they called "They Look Real." And they made a lot of Harley-Davidsons. They made Elgin Street Sweepers, and all these tie-ins with real companies. You always had it on the shelf, correct?

GUEST: Actually, my grandma always had it on the shelf and I was only allowed to hold it, but not play with it.

APPRAISER: Yeah. Do you have any guesses on value or any of that kind of thing?

GUEST: Uh, I'm giving a guess about $1,000?

APPRAISER: About $1,000? Now, what makes you think it was worth $1,000?

GUEST: Because... because at the time Harleys were so popular and how it was to promote, and all that other stuff.

APPRAISER: Well, I think it's a little higher than that, easily about $2,000 to $2,500. And that's a fair market value, an auction estimate.

GUEST: Wow!

APPRAISER: Yeah. So what are you going to do with it? Now that it's yours?

GUEST: Play with it carefully. Like just go around on the carpet in circles.