Five unique items up for sale at Gold & Silver Pawn

By John Katsilometes (contact)

Saturday, June 18, 2011 | 1:55 a.m.

Motorcycles, cannons, cars, even Super Bowl rings have been sold or pawned at Gold & Silver Pawn, home of the History Channel’s hit reality show, “Pawn Stars.” Bloody bayonets from the Civil War share space with unopened bottles of Dom Perignon from the 1920s, vintage Coke machines from the 1950s and action figures dating to the 1930s.

During a recent visit, a Gold & Silver staffer who goes by the handle “Shreck” showed off a few of the more distinctive items for sale near the pawn shop’s entrance.

Photo by Justin M. Bowen

Death clock

Dating to the 1800s, it is dubbed as such because those who constructed the clocks actually suffered early deaths because of the way the clocks were built. Craftsmen made the pieces by hand, pressing mercury into the brass finish, then cooking the clock in an oven, typically in an enclosed room with no ventilation and breathing mercury fumes. Thus, this method of clock manufacturing ceased in the 1830s, and the clocks are very valuable.

Price tag: $10,000.

Photo by Justin M. Bowen

World War II tank scope

Brought into the store several months ago, the weapon accessory dates to 1942.

Price tag: $2,500.

Photo by Justin M. Bowen

Edward Maynard rifle

Maynard-manufactured rifles were popular in the Civil War. This firearm was distributed postwar, in 1873, and brought into the store for sale three months ago.

Price tag: $2,500.

Photo by Justin M. Bowen

Model T spark plug igniter

Likely dating to the early 1920s or before, the part is in working condition.

Price tag: $75.

Photo by Justin M. Bowen

Horse tricycle

From the 1930s, the operating toy was purchased by a woman who said she picked it up at a flea market.

Price tag: $499.