Lionel Speedboat, ca. 1934
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GUEST:
It was given to me, as I remembered, for a Christmas present, about 1934, 1935. We lived close to a park that had a nice lake, and my parents would walk me over and we used to wind it up and put it on the water.
APPRAISER:
One of the things I love on the ROADSHOW is when I find a toy and I can talk to the original owner who played with it. And I was sort of amazed when you told me that you played with it, because, look at the condition. It's extraordinary. When you told me that you put it in water, I just-- I was shocked.
GUEST (chuckles)
APPRAISER:
So how did it stay in such good condition?
GUEST:
Well, when I played it out of the water, according to some of the instruction I had and my, and my father, I'd take it out, dry it off, and beeswax it, and so it'd shine. And my father told me it'd go faster that way. And that's probably why it survived so well.
APPRAISER:
You have the remnants of the box. I guess the box fell apart on your way here.
GUEST:
Yeah, it did.
APPRAISER:
But I noticed here these original instructions that were in the box, and it says right here, "It is important that this boat be thoroughly dried after operating to prevent it from rusting, especially after using in salt water. A coating of wax will help preserve the finish."
GUEST:
That's where I got it.
APPRAISER:
Well, that's why you have this boat in such amazing condition. It's Lionel, and Lionel is famous for Lionel Trains. And not many people know that Lionel made a speedboat. As you know, it's clockwork, and it has a very powerful motor. (whirring) Spins away. And what, of course, we love is when we find a toy in amazing condition, and it's extraordinary that this is so original. It even has the original flag. Now, how did it happen that you just managed to hold on to it?
GUEST:
Well, before I went in the Navy, um, I packed it up in the box with, with padding around it and stored it. And I came home from the Navy, and I think I ran it one or two times. I put it back in the box, and it's been with me ever since.
APPRAISER:
Well, because you took such good care of it and because you followed the instructions, a boat like this in this condition on today's market would probably fetch at auction between $1,200 and $1,500.
GUEST:
My goodness, that's unbelievable. It is.
APPRAISER:
So...
GUEST:
Oh, I really appreciate it.
Appraisal Details
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