What Has He Done?
Loren is wide-eyed in disbelief, and gasps can be heard throughout the room. The crowd has gone nuts, and the auctioneer is struggling to keep up. Loren’s forehead is dripping with sweat. It feels like an eternity of waiting, and then it’s over. His vision is blurred, and he can barely breathe. What exactly has he done? From this point forward, his life would undoubtedly change. It’s truly amazing how drastically a person’s life can change in just a few minutes. Loren has been through a lot in recent years, but this could be the break he’s been looking for.
What Has He Done?
A Glimmer Of Hope
The last decade had been rough for Loren Krytzer. His passion for carpentry and making things with his hands had turned into a career for him. However, his sporadic freelance and odd jobs did not provide him with a consistent income, and he was barely scraping by. There were months when things were much worse. Living hand to mouth had become his reality as his living expenses continued to rise year after year. He had no idea that a ray of hope was waiting for him just around the corner and that he would find it in the most unlikely of places.
A Glimmer Of Hope
What He Got
Loren had received some sad news three years prior: his grandmother had died. He went to her house to pick up the books she had promised him, but it was in shambles when he arrived. His mother and sister had ransacked the house, taking everything they thought was valuable. Loren discovered a discarded bag in one of the corners, which contained two old blankets that belonged to his great-grandmother. He took them out one by one to inspect them.
What He Got
The Blankets
One of the blankets was from Hudson’s Bay, and despite its age, it was still fairly soft. The other blanket, on the other hand, was much older. It was also rougher to the touch. Loren recognized the distinctive pattern and remembered his grandmother spreading it out on her porch when her cat was having kittens many years ago. His sister snatched the Hudson’s Bay blanket from his hands before he could react, and the other one fell to the floor.
The Blankets
Unwanted
“What are you going to do with that?” asked Loren. “I don’t want that, that dirty old thing?” his sister snapped. He grabbed the blanket and carried it home. He put the heirloom in a closet and forgot about it. Loren never realized how important the striped blanket was until much later because it didn’t appear much on the surface.
Unwanted
In Dire Financial Situation
Loren’s financial situation deteriorated over the next seven years. Unfortunately, he was involved in an accident and was unable to work for the better part of a year. He did, however, receive government assistance. His financial situation worsened to the point where he had to send his three children to Louisiana to live with their grandparents. However, he had accepted his fate and was determined to do everything he could to improve it. Loren then saw something on TV that completely changed his life.
In Dire Financial Situation
A Flash Of Stripes
Something happened one evening in 2011. Loren was eating ramen noodles while idly watching the PBS reality show Antiques Roadshow. His mind kept wandering, so he wasn’t really paying attention to what he was watching, but the TV provided good background noise. He saw a flash of white on blue stripes all of a sudden. Loren jerked awake and sat bolt upright at that point.
A Flash Of Stripes
The Expert
A man appeared on the show with an old blanket that looked very similar to the one Loren received from his grandmother. Appraiser Don Ellis expressed his expert opinion after admiring the piece. The man who brought the old blanket to Antiques Roadshow had no idea he was in possession of a priceless artifact until he saw it on the show. Loren is completely taken aback when the appraiser finally begins to speak.
The Expert
Answer To Prayers?
Loren said, “I paused it, and I went and got the blanket, and I’m sitting there holding it… I’m lining up the lines on the TV with the blanket, seeing if they match.” He continues, “This guy is on TV, the appraiser, says $300,000 to $500,000… I’m thinking maybe this one is worth $5 to $10 grand.” But this was only the beginning of Loren’s quest to discover the old blanket’s actual value. What made an old blanket so valuable in the first place?
Answer To Prayers?
Gut Feeling
Loren excitedly showed the Antiques Roadshow segment to his mother, but with a sneer, she said, “Yeah right… probably nobody would give you freaking $10 for that thing,” bringing down his enthusiasm. However, the longer Loren examined the old blanket, the more convinced he became that he had something… Despite the fact that he had no idea what that “something” was… yet. Some people believe that you should listen to your gut instincts.
Gut Feeling
Dismissed By Experts
Loren’s priority was to visit an antique dealer. He was curious as to whether the old blanket was worth anything. He was living on only $200 a month at the time, so any money he could get for the blanket would be a blessing. Unfortunately, three different experts dismissed the blanket as a regular and ordinary Mexican blanket. Loren was about to give up when he decided to give it another shot.
Dismissed By Experts
Nothing To Lose
John Moran Auctioneers is a family-run auction house that specializes in Native American artifacts. Loren came across an advertisement on the internet. He decided to take advantage of an open appraisal day that they were having. He reasoned that he stood to gain nothing by participating. Loren arrived at the auctioneers after a half-hour drive. He’d put the old blanket and his faith on display once more. It would be for John Moran, the head appraiser, this time. Loren only hoped he didn’t come across as a fool.
Nothing To Lose
The Blanket’s History
John Moran, sitting across from Loren, inquires about the blanket’s history, and Loren responds. He begins by stating what he knows. The blanket has been in his family for generations, and it was passed down to him by his great-great-grandfather. Loren’s ancestor was a 19th-century Dakota tradesman. The appraiser’s eyes grew wider and wider as he listened to Loren. Clearly, the expert believed there was more to this.
The Blanket’s History
A Hunch
Moran later revealed, “A lot of times a blanket or something will come to us and we won’t know the history of it.” Loren, on the other hand, had brought an authentic Navajo blanket, according to the expert. He explained, “This has only happened maybe three or four times with an unknown blanket where you see something and you know right away.” He added, “You walk into the room [and] you can tell.” Was Loren’s old blanket really that rare?
A Hunch
Tests And Authentication
John Moran had the blanket tested and authenticated to learn the secrets it held. Everyone was taken aback when the results were revealed. Loren had kept the dusty old blanket in a cupboard for more than five years, and it turned out to be one of the rarest Navajo chief’s blankets. The question was, however, how much was it worth? Loren had no idea he was in possession of one of the world’s most valuable artifacts.
Tests And Authentication
Other Offers
If Loren agreed to auction the blanket, Moran set the price at a whopping $200,000. Competing companies, on the other hand, had heard of the Navajo blanket. They became engrossed in Loren’s discovery all of a sudden. Loren, on the other hand, was in desperate need of cash. Other auctioneers were willing to advance him money if he would cancel his agreement with John Moran. Loren was soon on the verge of succumbing to the overwhelming temptation.
Other Offers
Taking Action
Thankfully, Moran decided to take action. He said in an interview, “I immediately went into crisis mode with him. I said, ‘I’ll tell you what, I’m gonna give you an advance.’” The auctioneer kept his word and handed Loren an envelope containing $9,000 in cash. Moran reassured Loren just weeks before the auction, “I’ve done everything I said I would. Just stay the course.” Loren’s decision to stick with the auctioneer turned out to be the best one he could have made.
Taking Action
The Bid Keeps Climbing
As Loren enters the auction house, he prays silently, “Please be enough to buy a house or something.” The bidding then begins. Loren holds his breath as the opening bid of $150,000 is placed. A bidding war ensues, and the winning bid quickly rises to $500,000. A phone buyer is bidding against Don Ellis, who appeared on Loren’s Antiques Roadshow episode. Both refuse to give up, and the price of the old blanket skyrockets.
The Bid Keeps Climbing
The Bidding War Ends
The bidding war lasts only 72 seconds, and Ellis emerges victorious. So, what was the final offer? A whopping $1.5 million, to be exact. Loren is speechless at what has just occurred. Loren said, “They had to bring over water and stuff to me and wipe sweat off my head.” He added, “I started hyperventilating because I couldn’t believe it… Everything just went limp and I couldn’t catch my breath.” Things were definitely looking up for Loren.
The Bidding War Ends
The Million-Dollar Blanket
Joshua Baer, an art appraiser, later described the bidding war as “a Fraiser-Ali kind of thing.” However, the question remains as to how much Loren took home. After fees, he received $1.3 million for his old Navajo blanket. Loren, understandably, found it difficult to comprehend what had just occurred. He says, “It was just hard to grasp. I mean, I worked hard my whole life. I was in construction, I never bought anything, I never saved, I always rented. I bought used cars because that’s all I could afford. I lived paycheck to paycheck my whole life.”Loren went to a hotel and decompressed for five days after hearing the good news. His story demonstrates how treasures can be discovered in the most unlikely of places. When another man bought an old tank online, he got more than he bargained for.
The Million-Dollar Blanket
Hitting It Big
As he put his hand inside the old fuel canister, Nick Mead had no idea what to expect. His hand came into contact with something cold and smooth. He immediately yanked his arm out, alarmed. They were wary of what they might find inside the tank after what they discovered in another canister. Nick was beginning to wonder what was going on. He only wanted the tank, and he had no idea he’d become a millionaire overnight as a result of it.
Hitting It Big
A Passion For Tanks
Nick Mead, an average English bloke, lived in Northampton, England, and appeared to be an ordinary guy. But there was one aspect of his personality that stood out. Nick was fascinated by tanks, and he began amassing a collection of old armored vehicles. His passion, on the other hand, quickly morphed into something far more sinister. It became a compulsion. This is true for some collectors. They become fixated on acquiring something to round out their collection.
A Passion For Tanks
A Costly Hobby
Nick quickly began to accumulate a growing collection of collectible vehicles, albeit at a high cost. Collecting tanks and wartime vehicles isn’t exactly a cheap hobby. Nick’s hobby quickly burned a hole in his pocket, especially since the collectibles did nothing but sit around once he got them. Then Nick had a brilliant idea. It was insane, but it might just work.
A Costly Hobby
His Crazy Idea
Nick realized he needed to start selling his prized possessions to make money. He, on the other hand, thought war museums were out of date and boring. After that, he had a brilliant idea. What if he instead provided a first-hand account? Tanks A Lot was born as a result of Nick’s delight. It was made available to the general public. Besides locals, thrill-seekers from all over the country came to ride in Nick’s veteran war vehicles. Nick, on the other hand, witnessed something that would forever change his life.
His Crazy Idea
A Hard Bargain
Nick was browsing e-Bay one day when he came across a rare find. He came across a classified ad for a Soviet T-54, which he knew was a collector’s item. Nick knew he had to have it, so he began negotiating with the seller right away. However, the man wasn’t simply looking for monetary compensation; he was driving a hard bargain. The man insisted on trading something for the tank after learning Nick’s occupation. As a result, Nick was faced with a difficult decision.
A Hard Bargain
A Compromise
Nick decided to accept the seller’s terms after much deliberation and many sleepless nights. As a result, he had to say goodbye to two of his most valuable vehicles in exchange for the Soviet T-54. Nick, on the other hand, knew something that the young seller didn’t. During times of war, tanks are used to transport people and valuable goods. During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1990s, the T-54 was a popular vehicle. On the other hand, Nick had not expected to find something strange in the T-54 he had traded for.
A Compromise
Checking From Top To Bottom
When Nick and his team get a new vehicle, they follow a specific procedure. They inspect the vehicle from top to bottom, looking for any flaws or hidden treasures. It just so happened that the T-54 was full of the latter. Nick’s crew was dismantling the tank’s fuel canisters, but one appeared to be broken. Nick was taken aback by the weight of the canister when it was removed. When he opened it, he was taken aback by what he discovered.
Checking From Top To Bottom
The Right Thing To Do
Inside the canister, there were reams upon reams of old bullets. Nick was taken aback by the hidden arsenal, which he was wary of. He was well aware that old bullets were extremely valuable war memorabilia. If mishandled, they could go off and cause mass destruction. This is why Nick immediately informed the authorities of his discovery. Nonetheless, Nick had learned something new: the tank had been used as a safe haven for mementos.
The Right Thing To Do
Searching All The Nooks And Crannies
Nick was aware that there was likely more hidden inside the tank, so he and his team meticulously searched all of the vehicle’s nooks and crannies. There can’t be any old weapons in the tank. Nick would be held responsible if they missed something inside the vehicle and it injured a civilian. As a result, the massive search began. Nick, on the other hand, was not prepared for what they discovered next.
Searching All The Nooks And Crannies
Hidden Treasure
Finding the next hidden treasure was much easier than Nick had anticipated. The team discovered another faulty fuel canister. This, on the other hand, was a unique situation. To get the canister off the holding bracket, two members of the crew had to use crowbars. This canister also weighed a ton. Nick quickly drilled a hole in the fuel tank’s bottom to see if he could reach inside. Because of the hidden bullets they had discovered earlier, he assumed he would find guns. This tank, on the other hand, held something far more valuable.
Hidden Treasure
A Gold Bullion
Nick felt an instant rush as he slid his hand across the smooth surface. He quickly grabbed the bar and yanked it out. He was taken aback by this discovery. Nick held a gleaming gold bar in his hand. He couldn’t believe his good fortune! Nick showed it to his team while marveling at the bar. They decided to lift the canister out of the ground to see if there was anything else inside. Things began to heat up at this point.
A Gold Bullion
More Treasure
One of the engineers reached into the fuel tank and took a deep breath. He seemed to be removing one bullion after another. In the tank, there were five gold bars! The colossal find was estimated to be worth a whopping $2.4 million. Nick was perplexed by their discovery, and then his conscience haunted him. What was he going to do with the loot? What was the right thing to do in a situation like this?
More Treasure
What Should He Do?
Nick really wanted to keep the bars, but he knew it wasn’t a morally sound or safe decision. He would be endangering his family and business if he held on to the bars. If word gets out about his confinement, he could become a target for criminals. This is why Nick contacted the local police department. He still needed to know what would happen to the bars, though.
What Should He Do?
Police Custody
The authorities gave Nick a receipt before taking the gold bars into custody. The police would try to track down the rightful owners of the goods. What would happen, then, if no one claimed the bars? Despite his uncertainty, Nick kept the receipt for the bars in a bank vault for safekeeping. The authorities then responded with a perplexing theory about who the previous owners might have been.
Police Custody
No Answers Yet
The cops broke the news to Nick, which he was unprepared for. According to rumors, the bullion’s owner could have been the infamous Saddam Hussein! During the 1990 Iran–Iraq War, the war veteran preferred this type of tank. Furthermore, his troops are known to have pillaged the rich Persian Gulf. Despite this, no solid claims have been made to date, and the bars’ ownership remains a mystery.
No Answers Yet