The old adage about one man’s trash being another man’s treasure was true in Albert Lea this week as consultants with the Treasure Hunters Roadshow swept into town to find what valuables were stashed around the area.

Hopeful area residents came out to the show at the Ramada Inn with boxes of old coins, dolls, vintage jewelry, musical instruments, war memorabilia, swords, and gold and silver jewelry to find out the appraised value of their items and cash in on them if they chose to.

Show Manager Mike Kosel said during his time with Treasure Hunters he’s seen everything from broken necklaces, dental gold, Gibson guitars and even a letter signed by Abraham Lincoln.

“Just when you think you’ve seen everything, something new comes in,” Kosel said.

He’s seen Gibson guitars go for between $5,000 and $7,000; last week, he even saw one go for $22,000.

“People come in, and they’re very surprised,” he said.

At the Ramada Inn this week, there are eight buyers and consultants appraising items. Kosel said the consultants go through an intense training for their job and need to know about everything from gold and coins to antiques and glassware.

Consultant Paul Dichraff said after people see what kinds of things the treasure hunters accept, they often end up coming in three or four days in a row.

Treasure Hunters Roadshow

When: today and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Ramada Inn, 2306 E. Main St., Albert Lea

Information: call (217) 636-7900

“It’s not doing any good sitting in a drawer, you might as well cash it in,” Dichraff said.

And that’s exactly what Albert Lean Larry Hanson did Wednesday.

Hanson said on Tuesday night he quickly went through some of his things and got a small box together of items to get appraised.

He brought some antique watches, a compass, some World War II memorabilia and an old tape measure — things he said he didn’t think his kids would want when he passes on. Afterall, they already have several keepsakes of he and his wife, he said.

In the end, the old pocket watch he brought in went for $110, a watch he had when he was a child went for $30 and a compass he had went for $10. He did not sell the WWII memorabilia. He made $169 total.

Before coming to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow, Hanson said he hadn’t really thought about how much his items were worth; he would have even taken $20 for it all.

That was a pretty good deal for things that were just sitting around, he said.

Dichraff noted if people don’t know the manufacturer of their items, people should try to keep track of where their items originated.

“That kind of stuff is what really makes something worthwhile,” he said.

A table down from Hanson and Dichraff, another woman was trying to sell some old trolls.

A bag of small trolls mixed in with a few larger ones went for $30.

Another table down, Kelly Menke and her mother, Deb Kvammen, of Lake Mills, brought in many things from Kvammen’s home to try to sell.

They sold some jewelry items and went through many other items with the appraisers.

Consultant Joan Verhaagh, who recently began her job as a treasure hunter, said she’s amazed at some of the things people bring in.

She’s seen all sorts of swords, guns, costume jewelry, gold, coins and teeth come through already.

Outside the room, a line of people waited with their items to meet up with a consultant.

A Treasure Hunters Roadshow news release said the top 10 items the hunters are looking for are pocket watches, gold, sterling silver, diamonds, platinum, coins and paper money (dated before 1965), jewelry, swords, advertising memorabilia and musical instruements.

No appointment is necessary, and there is no limit on the amount of items people may bring.

The roadshow will continue Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.