WEBVTT 00:02.168 --> 00:09.843 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% GUEST: I believe this is the front panel of a cable car from San Francisco. I acquired 00:09.843 --> 00:13.847 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% it two or three years ago at an auction. I said, "That's something I have to have." 00:13.847 --> 00:17.183 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% It's a piece of art, so... And, and a iconic piece of San Francisco history. 00:17.183 --> 00:17.884 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% APPRAISER: Yes. 00:17.884 --> 00:18.852 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Possibly. 00:18.852 --> 00:19.586 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% APPRAISER: Possibly. 00:19.586 --> 00:20.520 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Yes. 00:20.520 --> 00:21.488 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% APPRAISER: Yes, and what did you pay for it? 00:21.488 --> 00:23.823 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Uh, $900. 00:23.823 --> 00:28.161 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% APPRAISER: The Presidio and Ferries Railroad Company started operations 00:28.161 --> 00:34.334 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% in San Francisco in 1880. They started by doing a very long run 00:34.334 --> 00:39.406 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% from downtown San Francisco out to the Presidio Military Reservation. 00:39.406 --> 00:40.707 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% GUEST: Right. APPRAISER: That was their original purpose. 00:40.707 --> 00:42.642 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% GUEST: Right, this one from Market Street. 00:42.642 --> 00:43.243 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% APPRAISER: From Market Street, which is downtown. 00:43.243 --> 00:44.310 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Right. 00:44.310 --> 00:50.483 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% APPRAISER: They ran a cable car system, and it ran up until 1906, 00:50.483 --> 00:53.720 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% when there was a catastrophic event in San Francisco-- the earthquake. 00:53.720 --> 00:54.721 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Right. 00:54.721 --> 00:56.890 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% APPRAISER: Many of the cars were destroyed. 00:56.890 --> 00:59.225 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Right. 00:59.225 --> 01:06.499 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% APPRAISER: Parts were salvaged. They rebuilt, as they did with the city, and they were purchased 01:06.499 --> 01:14.474 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% by the City of San Francisco in 1913. This front of a cable car is what you're thinking it is. The 01:14.474 --> 01:21.514 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% design pattern is identical to what I've seen on some of the vintage cars. When we examine it 01:21.514 --> 01:28.955 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% forensically, you have a, a front that's made of separate individual boards. It's put together in a 01:28.955 --> 01:35.028 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% tongue-and-groove construction. Tongue-and-groove construction was very, very popular in the late 01:35.028 --> 01:40.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% 19th century. These two boards-- this one and the one over there with the large hole in it-- 01:40.700 --> 01:45.438 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% they're a different wood. They were a harder wood because there was a bolt that went through here, 01:45.438 --> 01:52.946 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and that's what bolted it to the front of the cable car. Then they were covered with a fascia 01:52.946 --> 02:00.820 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% board. And we clearly see the oxidation mark. When we examine the paint, we see beautiful gilt gold 02:00.820 --> 02:07.494 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% letters. And this would have been painted on by an employee of the cable car company. And they were 02:07.494 --> 02:14.334 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% called carriage painters. They were very, very expert at doing this beautiful gold lettering. And 02:14.334 --> 02:21.608 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% when we look at the patina on this lettering, we see real age. This is exactly what you want to see 02:21.608 --> 02:27.647 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% when it comes to gilt lettering. It's absolutely authentic. Dates to the late 19th century. This 02:27.647 --> 02:36.089 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% metal bezel, that held the glass lens. Behind there originally was a fuel light that would 02:36.089 --> 02:42.295 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% shine out and magnify onto the street. So you have an authentic front of a San Francisco cable car. 02:42.295 --> 02:43.963 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% GUEST: All right. 02:43.963 --> 02:45.465 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% APPRAISER: Which is pretty amazing piece of, of history. 02:45.465 --> 02:47.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% GUEST: Right. Great, I love it. 02:47.233 --> 02:50.970 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% APPRAISER: Now, I'm going to place a retail value on it today of $5,000 to $7,000. 02:50.970 --> 02:52.772 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Okay. 02:52.772 --> 02:54.507 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% APPRAISER: So I think you did very well. 02:54.507 --> 02:54.440 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% GUEST: That's great. APPRAISER: Congratulations. 02:54.440 --> 02:55.441 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% GUEST: All right. 02:55.441 --> 02:56.442 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% APPRAISER: And it's real. 02:56.442 --> 02:57.277 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% GUEST: It's real-- that's what I... 02:57.277 --> 02:58.378 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% APPRAISER: Isn't that exciting? 02:58.378 --> 03:00.914 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% GUEST: Well, it is. I like real, not fake. 03:00.914 --> 03:02.482 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% APPRAISER: (laughs) I, I think... 03:02.482 --> 03:02.348 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% GUEST: Or copies. APPRAISER: I think we all do.