Community Corner
Zionsville Man Brings Toy Fire Truck to Appraisal
It's a family keepsake that will continue to be passed along.
Name: Bill Lagler
Where do you live? Zionsville
Event: Antique Appraisal held on Aug. 15
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What did you bring for appraisal? A ladder/fire truck
Tell me about this item and why it is special to you: “The ladder truck was built sometime in the early 1940s by a fire company in Baltimore, Md. This is what the firemen did between calls—they made toys.
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“My daughter-in-law’s mother received the truck for her fifth birthday in 1947. When her parents had a yard sale, I purchased the truck for $50 and gave it to my grandson. After he stopped playing with it, the ladder truck was stored in their attic where it rusted a bit.”
What were the auctioneer’s comments? “This is a fantastically great piece. It’s made of tin and wood and everything on it was done by hand.”
What was his appraisal of your item? $1,000-$1,500 at an auction; $2,000-$2,500 to a collector
How do you feel about that? “That’s about what I figured, but I wanted to be sure. I’m glad I came.”
Do you have any plans for your item? “Well, it’s not going back in the attic. It will actually be on display at the historical society for a while—I don’t know when, though. But I’m not going to sell it. It will stay in the family and be passed along.”