Did I make a good score on this antique?

Question

I got this antique hair dryer at an antique mall. It was made in 1875 and was in fantastic condition. I think I stole it. I paid $200 for it. What do you think it's worth? :)

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Well, not knowing much about hair dryers... I looked up a Conair 1875 Hair dryer... and I'm seeing like $30-50. Now maybe there's something that would have made it more valuable... but with the basic info... it seems like it's fairly common and it won't get you much cash if you tried to resell it. But if you find it valuable... then maybe YOU got it at a steal.

I have a book from 1875, given to an ancestor as a teen. Had my sister gotten it, it'd be tossed in the trash. I rescued it from my Aunt. Probably worthless. It's not in great condition, but it's in decent (but "well loved") condition. Probably couldn't make more than $50 if I tried to sell it - which I wouldn't do unless I was desperate. To me, it's gold. It's a book about a field I love - my chosen career path. Something that no one in my family ever seemed to have any real interest in (except me). For ages, I wondered why I had certain hobbies or interests because few people people in the family respected, or even talked about them. I went the creative route, and most of it didn't make sense. Slowly, I found out some of it DID make sense. Finally, it was a small connection... but there was still this thing... besides looking like some family members, it seemed like there wasn't much connection in interests. I found this book about ten years ago... Now it feels like there's a connection in my family. SOMEONE liked this stuff besides me. So a worthless item to someone else might be valuable to a collector or someone who is an expert.

So if you love it, and it develops some sentimental value, and you can use it... that's a lot of what matters.

Static_In_The_Attic · Accepted Answer

Try This Hairdryer! Some people are as sharp as a tack & as for you I’m so proud say you are as sharp as a marble. If you paid $200.00 for that 1875 antique hairdryer you got a bargain & believe it or not I have one of those & I’ll sell it to you for $150.00 & an antique extension cord for $50.00.

Rosexøxø · Accepted Answer

I’m slightly bothered and slightly amused. I smile, but the laugh can’t find it’s way out 🙂😊🙂 Lmao up, there it goes lol

Jessica405 · Accepted Answer

You were done. Plastic was not invented until just before 1875, and the first hairdryer was metal, made in 1890 in France.

RavVid · Answer

To be honest I think the 1875 is referring to the watts the heating element uses not when it was made or even designed.

I'll ask a friend who knows more about antique domestic appliances than I do. However I am pretty sure the first domestic hair dryers had caps and weren't blow dryers like the pic.

Seems to be worth about $19.99 from amazon www.amazon.com/.../B07H557TPQ?th=1

could be wrong but hair dryers were more like this back in the day.
www.abc.net.au/.../9318240

AviatorTom · Answer

I used to have one just like it, only mine was a lighter brown. I think I paid $15 for it in the 1980s

Fireguy17 · Answer

I'm sure others have pointed out the 1875 is the model number, not the year it was made.
In 1925 only about half of the people in the US had electricity in their homes, and by 1945 85% of Americans had electricity in thier homes.
Conair made their first retail line of hair dryers dubbed the Conair pro style in 1971.

SnowedIn · Answer

lmao! That's awesome! You could probably get $350.00 for it if you sold it to a hotel chain. They still have hair dryers in every room I stay in.

That said, ConAir makes good stuff, so at least you got a quality appliance.

supercutebutt · Answer

List it on eBay. Put a buy it now price of $10,000 and see what happens.

Surely · Answer

Is that one of those where you stick a lighted candle up into the handle and wave a hand paddle fan behind it?  Girl. You got yourself a bargain!

exitseven · Answer

Yes, is there a little rodent that runs around inside thaty makes it work?

MrShaun · Answer

LOL!!! What's funny is there's people taking you seriously.

Sparkie460 · Answer

You got ripped off. You can buy it at Walmart for 13 dollars.

Sevenpointfive · Answer

did you miss a decimal point?

JPresidente · Answer

Thats worth millions easily.

NathanDavis · Answer

and they made a good movie about it too!!

inkyvampire · Answer

I have that same one! 😱 Score!!

Jerre · Answer

What powers the dryer?

LiamJHayden · Answer

lol You are a sharp one.

Jennz6 · Answer

If it still works use it

PatriceONeal · Answer

That wasn't made in 1875...

EaterPeter · Answer

That just sounds like a model number

gerald5466 · Answer

the hair dryer was invented in 1888

Sixgunsound · Answer

Haha🤣

msc545 · Answer

a real coup!

Did I make a good score on this antique?

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