Antiques Roadshow guest’s daughter ‘scared to death’ by gambling wheel’s value

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.

An Antiques Roadshow guest couldn’t quite believe his luck when he discovered his family’s gambling wheel was worth a small fortune.

Expert Brad Witherell had the job of appraising a wooden gambling wheel from the 19th Century when the PBS series travelled to Tulsa for filming.

The wheel had a long and colourful history, according to its owner, who had inherited the unusual item from his uncle.

He explained: “My uncle and aunt came to Oklahoma in 1898.

“He was a professional gambler, they travelled over Oklahoma, they went to Shawnee, came back.”

Read more: Antiques Roadshow guest ‘scared’ as huge valuation of painting makes history

“They decided they liked Tulsa best and at that time, it was called Tulsee Town and he leased a building in Tulsa that had a cigar stand, a barber shop, a billiard parlour and upstairs he had a gambling hall.

“He operated the cigar stand and soon discovered that there was money in lending money to the gamblers.

“And when they went broke, they came down and pawned their ring to him or their diamond.

“The story goes that if it was a big enough diamond and it was enough money, he would go upstairs and win the money he loaned them.

“He would still hold his diamond for them to pick up and at that time or soon after, the oil boom hit Tulsa and that’s when his business really boomed, but of course, statehood came in, which kind of slowed the gambling situation down a great deal.”

Witherell then had his chance to delve deeper into the origins of the wheel, stating that it was manufactured by Will & Fink in San Francisco.

Prior to making gambling wheels, the business started out as cutlers in the 1860s but when the demand for bowie knives lessened, that’s when they went on to make gambling equipment into the 1930s.

He said: “This would probably fit the turn of the century as far as production goes.

“The exciting part about it is the vivid colours, how the patina on the paint is so untouched and it’s never been monkeyed with.”

“And then, of course, it says Will & Fink, 818 Market Street, San Francisco”, he continued.

“So made in California by a very, very important maker of gaming equipment.

“It’s the mother of all game makers. It’s just beautiful. It’s worth around $4,000.”

The guest laughed when he heard the appraisal, commenting: “Is that right?

“Well, you probably scared my daughter to death. She keeps it in her living room.”

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on PBS.