ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / ECONOMY & WORK

'Antiques Roadshow' guest says 'wow, that's crazy' after hearing the value of his 125-year-old device

Both the guest and the expert were fascinated by how well the automaton worked.
PUBLISHED JUL 16, 2025
Screenshot showing the guest (L) and the expert on "Antiques Roadshow." (Image credit: YouTube | Antiques Roadshow PBS)
Screenshot showing the guest (L) and the expert on "Antiques Roadshow." (Image credit: YouTube | Antiques Roadshow PBS)

Magic is supposed to leave people stunned and in awe, but the value of vintage items or art on "Antiques Roadshow" also triggers the same reaction from guests. Automatons were considered magical devices back when they were first invented, and they still have the allure. A guest was left surprised when his French automaton got a five-figure appraisal. The automaton itself was fabulous and worked in an elegant and efficient manner.

The guest said that he had inherited the automaton from his mother, who received it as a gift from her friends and family in 1931. The automaton resembled a man with his face painted in a brown and yellow suit, holding a wand. It was a magician who had a hat in front of him. Every time the automaton was turned on, the magician would tap the hat thrice to reveal an object. Then it would place the hat again, and the object disappeared.

Expert Noel Barrett revealed that it was made by the French firm Lambert, which belonged to Leopold Lambert. Lambert was one of the most eminent automaton makers of his time. It’s no wonder that after so many years, it works as smoothly. Although an automaton may look like a fancy toy, the expert said that they were not made with that intention.

Screenshot showing the automaton. (Image credit: YouTube | Antiques Roadshow PBS)
Screenshot showing the automaton. (Image source: YouTube | Antiques Roadshow PBS)

“These were made not as toys. These were made for the well-to-do to decorate their homes and to indulge children, but they were not to touch. These were fairly expensive in their day. After winding it, we pull this, and let’s see the action,” Barrett said as he made the automaton work. The two then stood there in awe, as the trick with the hat really took the cake.

“As if by magic, the watch is gone,” the expert noted as the magician revealed an empty hat. After being thoroughly impressed, it was time for the automaton to be appraised. Barrett did point out some issues with its condition before saying how much it was worth. “The values fluctuate depending on condition,” he said.

Screenshot showing the automaton at work. (Image credit: YouTube | Antiques Roadshow PBS)
Screenshot showing the automaton at work. (Image source: YouTube | Antiques Roadshow PBS)

“This one has some condition issues, it has some condition pluses. It needs some mechanical work. It has a little fraying on the collar here. This example would fall in the range for an auction estimate of somewhere between $10,000 and $15,000.” This came as a surprise to the owner. “Wow, that’s crazy. I didn’t realize it would be that much,” he said.

Viewers loved the item, but some found it a bit creepy. “Looks to be in decent shape, a nice item to have in a curio, although it's a little spooky,” one viewer commented on YouTube. “Well, there goes my night's sleep,” added another. “I usually get creeped out by the designs of old dolls and antique toys, but this doesn’t creep me out at all. Looks like a character from a Disney movie,” one more fan wrote.

More on Market Realist:

'Antiques Roadshow' guest gets huge appraisal for a wooden toy he bought for $6 at charity store

'Antiques Roadshow' guest says 'oh gracious' after hearing the real value of her vintage toy set

'Antiques Roadshow' guest covers face in disbelief after hearing value of her 200-year-old jewelry set

RELATED TOPICS ANTIQUES ROADSHOW
MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The business makes a big part of its revenue from its membership plans, and it hopes to bolster them
11 hours ago
A couple of videos that claimed so have gone viral on TikTok, causing the masses to panic.
12 hours ago
The host seemingly did not want the compliment at first, but his demeanor changed later on.
14 hours ago
Fans of the show were impressed with her skills, but the Bonus Round was a bit too tough.
15 hours ago
The rumor had never been substantiated with facts but it still swirled around for many years.
16 hours ago
The entrepreneurs did not want to disclose their costs on TV, which Mark Cuban did not take well.
1 day ago
While being energetic is good, fans want the contestants to be more genuine than they seem.
1 day ago
The item was a stick that had memories of the guest's grandfather carved into it.
1 day ago
The host had no idea about the popular cartoon series and his expressions were hilarious.
1 day ago
Despite messing up, the co-founders of Eco Nuts wanted a Shark to work 16 hours a day for them.
1 day ago
The contestant said she was bad at it but there is no excuse for mistaking a continent for a country
2 days ago
Corey Harrison did not know much about the jersey, but he got a lot of help from the expert.
2 days ago
The contestant would have become the first man to achieve the big prize.
2 days ago
The question was about some of the most popular boy bands of all time.
3 days ago
The guest did not create a fuss but was adamant about the authenticity of his item.
3 days ago
The host's speech made for a sombre moment but he found a way to make that funny as well.
3 days ago
Fans once again called out the puzzle, which, according to them, was too tough.
4 days ago
The guest wanted a five-figure sum at first but was left disappointed by Harrison's stubbornness.
4 days ago
Rick Harrison was not as careful with this item as one would have expected him to be.
4 days ago
The contestant got a couple of chances to answer, and Harvey was left unimpressed on both occasions.
4 days ago