Additional Coverage:
- ‘Pawn Stars’ boss Rick Harrison pays $100 for an unwanted toy that guest picked up from garage sale (marketrealist.com)
On a past episode of “Pawn Stars,” a lucky seller walked away with a cool $100 for a pre-World War II toy army truck. The seller had snagged the toy at a garage sale for a mere $25, unaware of its potential value.
The toy, a Tipco truck with a working cannon, caught Rick Harrison’s eye. He quickly noticed the “Germany” engraving, indicating it predated World War II. An expert was called in to assess the item, confirming its 1930s origins and explaining the history of Tipco, a Jewish-owned company whose owner fled Germany before the war, only to later return and reclaim his business.
Although missing a few parts, such as the driver and gunmen figures, the expert estimated the toy’s worth at $150–$250, even in its played-with condition. The seller, emboldened by the appraisal, initially shot for $300. After some good-natured haggling, they landed on $100, a price that left both parties satisfied.