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Vindex "Number 2" Race Car, ca. 1930

Value (2004) | $4,500 Auction – $5,500 Auction

GUEST:
I was working in a store next to my dad's and he buys and sells antique jewelry and, uh, somebody brought this in. They were cleaning out an attic and had found it. And he brought it over to me because he knew that I always looked at the toys at shows. And it was just all dusty, and he said, "What should I pay for it?" And I said, "Well, I'd give you $20 for it."

APPRAISER:
So you paid $20 for it?

GUEST:
My dad paid it. That was a lot of money to me back then. That was probably ten years ago.

APPRAISER:
Ten years ago? And then he gave it to you? So do you collect cast iron?

GUEST:
I don't. You know, I'd always seen the little ones at flea markets and antique malls, the little cast-iron ones, but I hadn't seen one this big.

APPRAISER:
Well, we see a lot of cast-iron vehicles and Vindex is mainly known for making cast-iron farm toys, and they did make some motorcycles and other cars, but they're well known for making farm toys. But they also did make this wonderful number 2 race car. And one of the reasons we know it's Vindex is we have the Vindex decal on the side, and then underneath, it does say Belvidere, Illinois. And then it's got wonderful rubber tires, molded-in driver; it's a nice two-piece casting. Let's show the other side. And all the pipes coming out the sides. It's got nickel-plated spoke wheels, and it's just a fairly unusual race car. And it looks like a Hubley-- you know, it has the same sort of wheels as a Hubley. Very rarely do I see Vindex. Condition is so important to cast iron or any toy. This car would be... I would rate it as excellent condition. Based on rarity and unusual design, it's easily $4,500 to $5,500. GUEST (softly, laughing): Oh, my God.

APPRAISER:
And if it was a little bit better condition, it would bring a much higher premium. People love Vindex-- I do, too. It's a great representation of that 1930s racing spirit. He's sort of got that leaned-in, speed look.

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Andy Ourant
Dolls, Toys & Games
Village Doll Shop
Adamstown, PA
Morphy Auctions
Appraised value (2004)
$4,500 Auction – $5,500 Auction
Featured In
Omaha, Hour 2 (#0905)
Event
Omaha, NE (July 10, 2004)
Category
Toys & Games
Period
20th Century
Form
Car
Material
Metal

Executive producer Marsha Bemko shares her tips for getting the most out of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" is so often "It depends."

Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it.

Context is key: Listen carefully. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or "retail," or "for insurance purposes" (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same.

Verbal approximations: The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered "verbal approximations of value." Technically, an "appraisal" is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert and paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object.

Opinion of value: As with all appraisals, the verbal approximations of value given at ROADSHOW events are our experts' opinions formed from their knowledge of antiques and collectibles, market trends, and other factors. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among experts.

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