When Horst Lichter invites you to the junk sale hit Cash for Rares, one or two treasures land on the dealer’s table. But there are also nasty surprises: In the episode of 24 June, a blatant attempt at fraud revealed. The expert finds clear words and draws bitter conclusions.
Too perfect to be true? Horst Lichter raves about supposed treasure
Günter Müller (68) from Wiesenhagen near Berlin certainly did not see this bankruptcy coming: the recently retired man has an enamel advertising sign in his luggage and believes he is holding a valuable treasure in his hands. At first glance, signs do not seem very glamorous, but appearances are deceptive: collectors sometimes spend horrendous sums on retro signs from well-known brands.
At first everything seems to be in order. Lichter chats with the candidate while expert Detlev Kümmel (56) examines the almost flawless sign. The pensioner explains that he bought it with two other items for 600 euros at a flea market. A supposed stroke of luck, because right at the beginning Horst Lichter states: “It looks almost new.”
ZDF
Fraud at Bares für Rares: This advertising sign is not what it seems.
The presenter starts raving because the advertising sign is from a well-known manufacturer: “Wanderer – I still know it. Who doesn’t know it?” The company manufactured bicycles, motorcycles and cars. Lichter sums up: “They were very, very big.”
Cash for Rares expert exposes blatant forgery: “Built with fraudulent intent.”
That sounds promising at first, then comes the rude awakening: The expert immediately notices that something is wrong with the object. The colors of the sign appear strange in the light “washed-out” and the material has been artificially aged with acid. One detail is particularly negative: the supposed rust can be easily washed off – and turns out to be paint.
The expert’s conclusion is bitter. The sign is not a well-preserved antique, but merely a reproduction. Worse still: The sign is a malicious forgerywhich is deliberately designed to look like an old original.
Here a sign has been made to make it look old. In other words: to be able to sell it as old. That is: Here it was built with fraudulent intent.
The candidate is therefore not allowed to sell the object and has to go home empty-handed. It’s a shame, as the original sign would have been worth a lot: up to 3,000 euros if in good condition.
Horst Lichter finds comforting words: “You know what I find bad? That it always meets nice people.”
How to watch Cash for Rares for free
The junk show is a real long-running hit on TV. Cash for Rares runs Monday to Friday at 3:05 p.m. The episodes can be streamed free of charge in the ZDF media library.