Civil War Appraiser Kicked Out of Antique Show
A2Gumbo
items purchased to resell, I thought the group would find the following article
interesting. We all read about the situation with the Antiques Roadshow
appraiser George Juno whose partner cheated the descendent of George Pickett in
purchasing his estate. Juno was also implicated in that case, which they lost.
Seems his troubles are not over. The following was on the front page of the
April edition of "The Civil War News" .
Baltimore Circuit Court Judge J. Norris Byrnes on March 9 denied a request by
Civil War antiques dealer George W. Juno for an injunction to force the
Maryland Arms Collector Association, organizer of the Baltimore Antique Arms
Show, to grant him exhibitor space and credentials at their annual event
schedule March 18 and 19. The Baltimore Antique Arms Show is generally
acknowledged to be the premier American Civil War weapons and memorabilia event
in the country.
Juno, perhaps best known for his regular appearance as one of the Civil War
experts on the "Antiques Roadshow" series detailed his long involvement with
the Baltimore Arms show to the judge. He described the high profits he earned
there as his justification for seeking the injunction that would have allowed
him to participate as an exhibitor.
By the time he finished testifying as the hearing's sole witness, a lot of
information about Juno's personal and professional life was on the record --
including other litigation, income, and an admission of an on-camera "Roadshow"
appraisal of an associate's sword.
<A lot is snipped here but the article discusses documents and tax records
intorduced to support his claim regarding how much money he made at this show>.
For 1995, for instance, the documents show the dealer had slightly over
$302,000 in income. A large percentage of which can be attributed to the
Baltimore show, stressed Juno.
For 1996, his reported income was about $256,000, which included the profits of
the $30,000 sale of a Bowie knife for which he paid a mere $300 at the
Baltimore show.
Juno's estimated that his income for 1999 woud be around $65,000. Asked to
explain such a precipitous fall in income, Juno attributed it to three main
reasons: his business, American Ordnance Preservation Association was
dissolved in June 1999, after it lost a verdict for $800,000 in damages brought
against it by Geroge Pickett V; divorce proceedings tht forced aJuno to attend
a lot fewer shows; and loss of his biggest single customer, the City of
Harrisburg which had purchased the Pickett artifacts.
Juno said he took legal action because in his opinion it is critical to have
exhibitor credentials to attend dealers' only set-up time on Friday evening.
And, he said, the Baltimore event is critical to his annual earnings.
Judge Byrnes questioned Juno about the ethical practices of the American Civil
War artifacts business. Noting that he himself owns an 1832 rifle, the judge
inquired whether Juno would consider it fair to pay him $150 for an item valued
at $10,000 as the rifle might be if that is what the seller asked for.
"Is that an acceptable practice in your business?" asked the judge. "Yes,"
Junor replied, adding "I would appriase it for $2000 and pay $1600 for it."
Juno was asked about his involvement with the "Antiques Roadshow" and the
dealer was forced to admit that a sword Juno appraised during a broadcast for
$35,000 was brought in by a friend of his then partner, Russ Pritchard. "We
did not buy that sword" noted Juno. When asked if he felt whether it was
ethical to buy something he appraised on the show, Juno replied: "Absolutely!"
The opposing lawyer then asked: "Will it hurt the integrity of the show?" and
Juno replied: "No." The attorney persisted: "How about letting someone appear
on it with a criinal conviction?" and again Juno replied: "No."
The attorney referred to what he termed "a fraudulent cannon sale. Juno
admitted he and John Sexton "purchased it, yes, from Russ Pritchard." He then
went on to criticize the press coverage. The news story reported a July 30,
1999 ruling by Lackawanna (Pa.) County Judge Terrence Nealon, that Russ
Pritchard owed a total of $64,500 to two Civil War heritage groups that owned
the cemetery cannon that Pritchard bought for $10,000 in 1993. Juno, Sexton
and the two Pritchards split the profit from the cannon's sale the same day for
$27,000. Regarding the purchase of the items of General George Pickett, Juno
and his partners purchased them for $87,500 and sold them two weeks later to
the city of Harrisburg, Pa. for $880,000.
Juno conceded: "If Pickett had asked us what we were willing to pay, he would
have received a far bigger number." George Pickett V was awared $500,000 for
the fraud, plus $100,000 times "treble damages" for violating unfair trade
practices in North Carolina where Pickett lives.
Juno seems to be an altogether unpleasant sort. The article goes on to
describe charges in Connecticut of physical abuse toward his wife and of his
filing for reduced child support payments although he built a multi-million
dollar home there.
After hearing all the testimony, the judge denied the injunction. Juno
approached some of the members of the Civil War show in the courtroom and told
them: "I'll miss the show. I love the show. I'm sorry it had to come down to
this." A few minues later, however, he said to a member of the press: "We go
for damages now. I'm pursuing this to the fullest. It's absolutely criminal
what they have done. We can prove damages."
Doris Bialas
real and did he " take them off their hands" for what they paid? He
looks like
such a nice man. How could anyone with an accent be dishonest? <g>
Doris
A fine is a tax for doing wrong.
A tax is a fine for doing well.
Mike Wilcox
>
> With the recent discussion about ethics and morals on paying a fair amount for
> items purchased to resell, I thought the group would find the following article
> interesting. We all read about the situation with the Antiques Roadshow
> appraiser George Juno whose partner cheated the descendent of George Pickett in
Ah, where there are Antiques & Big money larceny is always nibbling at
the ethics. I guess that's why I'm a poor Antiquey person and not a rich
one, plus I've too many mirrors about the place ;~)) I think the only
way that you could really police an event like the roadshow would be to
pay the Appraisers for their services and make them sign a statement of
intent that stipulated that they have no intention of purchasing any
item appraised by them, now or in the future. The public should get a
copy of this statement signed by the Appraiser with the name of a
contact person to call in the event of any dealing, but it most likely
will never happen.
--
Mike Wilcox
Wilcox & Hall Appraisers Online
http://www3.sympatico.ca/appraisers
A2Gumbo
You need to read the article again. There is no mention of reproductions
anywhere in that article. These were true Civil War items that had been owned
by General Pickett and were now in the possession of his great grandson. The
problem is these men knew the value of the items and grossly underpaid him.
Ashley
A2Gumbo
I don't want it to appear that the appraisers on that show are dishonest. He
just happens to be one of the appraisers on the show but was contacted by the
owner of the items directly. The only thing that bothers me is the Antiques
Roadshow still has them both on doing appraisals after they were found liable
in the lawsuit. This, I believe, is bad for the show and reflects poorly,
albeit unfairly, on the rest of the appraisers.
Ashley
Doris Bialas
fact that he has more fakes than anyone else on the show. Ergo if you
are dishonest in one place does that make you dishonest all
the time. And if it does then can his appraisals of fakes be believed?
That
was my point.
Tsu Dho Nimh
>Ashley, I know there was no mention of repros. I was referring to the
>fact that he has more fakes than anyone else on the show.
He's appraising in an area (Civil War memorabilia) where fakes
abound. It's quite a bit harder to fake a Philadelphia highboy
than it is to gussy up a 1880s officer's sword with some Civil
War markings.
Tsu Dho Nimh
When businesses invoke the "protection of consumers," it's a lot like
politicians invoking morality and children - grab your wallet and/or
your kid and run for your life.
Doris Bialas
He's appraising in an area (Civil War memorabilia) where fakes abound.
It's quite a bit harder to fake a Philadelphia highboy than it is to
gussy up a 1880s officer's sword with some Civil War markings.
Tsu Dho Nimh
Again, I repeat, my point was can he ever be trusted to do an honest
appraisal?
Would anyone here trust him?
ReyneH
We actually DO sign agreements similar to what you describe when we get signed
on to work with the show.
I agree that what this person did is unethical and it is a shame to hear about
things like this.
However, there is always a bad apple in every bunch and should not be held over
the other appraisers heads. But...you know it will.
Reyne Haines
Just Glass Auctions - http://www.JustGlass.com
Vintage Glass - http://members.aol.com/VintGlass/index.htm
Moderator, Art Glass Discussion Group - Ask me about it!
Doris Bialas
We actually DO sign agreements similar to what you describe when we get
signed on to work with the show.
I agree that what this person did is unethical and it is a shame to hear
about things like this.
However, there is always a bad apple in every bunch and should not be
held over the other appraisers heads. But...you know it will.
Reyne, I don't think most people will blame all appaisers. I think
newspapers
will however, we all know how they work. I don't know where Ashley
got the article, (can't remember), but it wasn't in my newspaper or I
would have read it there. Your right , in every occupation there are
one or two that give the industry a bad name. But your good name is what
brings people back to you,
those who know you, would never believe
you would do something similar.
The only business I can think of that has more bad apples than good
is
politics. <g>
Doris
It is said that if you line up all
the cars in the world end to end,
someone would try to pass them.
nancy
the expression--right bastards, whether these so-called "nice" people be
doctors, teachers, store clerks or antiques dealers.
Never judge a book--or a person--by it's cover, no matter how attractive
it may seem, it's what's between the pages that counts!
http://community.webtv.net/dustyboots1/Welcomehorsepeople
http://community.webtv.net/dustyboots1/HORSELOVERSPAGE
http://community.webtv.net/dustyboots1/ANADIRONDACKHOME
ReyneH
>is
>politics. <g>
> Doris
Aint that the truth
beeed...@webtv.net
>Doris
>It is said that if you line up all
>the cars in the world end to end,
>someone would try to pass them.
Yeah, I bet that car has NY or NJ plates on it<g>
Hilary
Oxymorons:
Military Intelligence
Compassionate Conservatism
EZ Pass
Tsu Dho Nimh
>Tsu Dho Nimh wrote:
>He's appraising in an area (Civil War memorabilia) where fakes abound.
>It's quite a bit harder to fake a Philadelphia highboy than it is to
>gussy up a 1880s officer's sword with some Civil War markings.
>
>
> Tsu Dho Nimh
> Again, I repeat, my point was can he ever be trusted to do an honest
>appraisal?
>Would anyone here trust him?
Not any more. He's proven that he would under-appraise for his
own gain, which is a major conflict of interest. Unless he is
struck by lightning or has a shrub burst ito flames and talk to
him he's unlikely to change his ethics.
Doris Bialas
Not any more. He's proven that he would under-appraise for his own gain,
which is a major conflict of interest.
going to be on the show any more, that is the part
I will miss.
Unless he is struck by lightning or has a shrub burst ito flames and
talk to him he's unlikely to change his ethics.
Now this is priceless. I'll have to remember this. Thank you.
JP
It seems to say that the 'innocent guy' who had the sword was actually
Pritchard, the business partner. I hadn't heard this version of the story
before. Is this a typo? I've read that the 'young guy' was a high school
friend of Pritchard's. Does anyone know a little more of what's going on?
We really liked the Juno appraisals and find this to be very disheartening.
****
'Antiques Roadshow' Sword Scam Exposed
"A sword used by its owner to cut watermelon is judged by an appraiser to be a Civil
War antique worth $35,000. That's just the kind of moment that keeps some 14
million viewers tuned in to public TV's Antiques Roadshow every week. The key to the
show's appeal is the element of surprise -- an item deemed junk by its owner could be
elevated to priceless by one of the show's independent appraisers. But in the sword
segment, the surprise was staged -- down to the watermelon. The man with the
sword, Russ Pritchard, was in fact a business partner of the appraiser, George Juno.
...
--
Jeff Potter j...@glpbooks.com
***"Out Your Backdoor": Friendly Zine of Modern Folkways and Culture Revival
http://www.glpbooks.com/oyb ... with a full line of books, bookstore & forum
