A Jolly Chimp
Nothing is more unsettling than the infamous Jolly Chimp toy. This cymbal-clashing monkey, known for its eerie smile and bulging red eyes, has been haunting people for decades. While originally made as a simple toy in the 1950s, it has since become a horror movie staple. Unsurprisingly, one woman came into the shop claiming hers was scaring her grandchildren.
The Old Man, however, saw it differently. Feeling nostalgic, he decided to buy the creepy little monkey for $150—$50 more than the woman originally asked for. Whether it brought joy or nightmares after that is anyone’s guess.
A (Stolen) Submarine
When it comes to pawn shop finds, you don’t expect to see an entire submarine roll through the door. But that’s exactly what happened when a seller brought in a one-man sub, hoping to get a few thousand dollars for it. Rick, always up for unique collectibles, knew that a functional mini-sub could be worth up to $10,000. However, the one in question needed some serious repairs, so he struck a deal for $3,000.
Unfortunately for Rick, there was a major catch—this submarine had actually been stolen years earlier! A lawyer watching the episode recognized the sub as belonging to a wealthy client and quickly got the authorities involved. While the seller was cleared of any wrongdoing, the pawn shop was forced to return the stolen sub to its rightful owner. It’s safe to say this was one underwater adventure Rick did not expect.
Master Violet Ray #11
Medical science has had some strange moments, and vintage electrotherapy devices are proof of that. A woman brought in a Master Violet Ray #11, an early 20th-century gadget that supposedly treated everything from headaches to baldness. It operated by sending small electric currents through the user’s body, which sounds more like torture than medicine.
Despite being banned in the 1950s for being both useless and dangerous, Rick and Chum couldn’t resist testing it out—because of course they did. While it didn’t exactly work wonders, it was still an interesting collectible, and they picked it up for $75. If nothing else, it’s a shocking piece of history!
Dinosaur Eggs
Nothing screams “big money” like dinosaur fossils, and a hopeful seller walked into the shop with what she claimed were real dinosaur eggs. She valued them at $20,000, thinking she had stumbled upon an incredibly rare piece of prehistoric history. Unfortunately, the shop’s expert had some bad news—while they were indeed dinosaur eggs, they weren’t nearly as rare as she thought. They belonged to a species called Dendroolithus, a duck-billed dinosaur, and were surprisingly common on the market.
With tens of thousands of these eggs circulating among collectors, their value was much lower than the seller had hoped. Instead of a huge payday, she ended up selling them for just $500. It was a far cry from her original expectations, but hey, at least they weren’t fakes!
The “Wayne’s World” Car
Party on, Rick! The Pawn Stars crew had the chance to purchase the legendary Mirthmobile from Wayne’s World—a 1976 AMC Pacer that had been heavily customized for the film. This baby blue, flame-painted car might have been iconic on the big screen, but in person, it was in pretty rough shape. It didn’t run, and it needed some serious work to get it back to its former glory.
Despite its issues, Rick recognized its pop culture value and made a deal for $9,500. After a full restoration, the Mirthmobile went on to fetch a whopping $37,400 at auction in 2016. Not bad for what Rick once called “one of the ugliest cars ever made.” Excellent!
A Tonsillotome
Surgical tools have come a long way, and thank goodness for that. A seller once brought in a 19th-century tonsillotome, an old medical device designed to remove tonsils in the most horrifying way imaginable. Resembling a cross between a pair of scissors and a cigar cutter, this thing was nightmare fuel for anyone with a throat. The Pawn Stars crew winced as the seller demonstrated how it was once used—no anesthesia, no finesse, just pure surgical terror.
Despite its gruesome history, the tonsillotome proved to be valuable. These macabre medical antiques are sought after by collectors, and the seller was able to walk away with $800. Not a bad payout for something that looks like it belongs in a horror movie.
A Grammy Award
Awards don’t always stay with their original recipients, as proven by the time a real Grammy made its way into the shop. This particular trophy was awarded in 1971 to Ronald Dunbar and General Johnson for their hit song “Patches.” Instead of remaining a treasured keepsake, the Grammy was used as payment for legal services—yes, someone actually handed over a music industry’s highest honor to cover their lawyer fees.
The lawyer then decided to see what it was worth, and after some back-and-forth negotiation, he sold it to Rick for $2,350. That was quite the jump from Rick’s original offer of $1,500! While it’s certainly an unusual pawn shop item, it goes to show that even prestigious awards can find themselves up for sale.
A Dirty Old Waffle Iron
Sometimes, an item is just too far gone to be valuable. A woman once brought in a 50-year-old waffle iron, hoping to get $100 for it. While vintage kitchen appliances can be collectible, this one was neither old enough to be historically significant nor clean enough to be usable. It was rusted, dirty, and, frankly, unappetizing.
Corey wasn’t impressed, calling it worthless to collectors and impractical for anyone else. Despite that, he offered the woman $50—still a solid profit, considering she had found it at a flea market for just $10. Sometimes, even junk has a price.
An Exploding Dye Pack
One of the more unusual items brought into the shop was an exploding dye pack, the kind used by banks to deter robberies. These packs contain fake stacks of cash that explode when taken from a bank, covering the thief (and the stolen money) in bright dye. The idea is to make it impossible for criminals to spend the cash while also making them easy to spot.
Rick was initially unsure if it was legal to own one, but after confirming it was just a collector’s item, he made an offer. He ended up purchasing the novelty stack for $175. While it wasn’t real money, it was certainly a unique addition to the store.
An Autographed David Hasselhoff Buoy
When you think of Baywatch, one of the most iconic images is David Hasselhoff running down the beach, lifeguard buoy in hand. So when a woman brought a buoy signed by The Hoff himself into the pawn shop, it definitely caught the crew’s attention. The autograph even came with a little smiley face, adding a personal touch to the collectible. Unfortunately, there was one major problem—the buoy was heavily scratched, making the signature difficult to read.
To make matters worse, Hasselhoff’s autograph isn’t particularly rare, as he has signed countless items over the years. The seller initially hoped to get $1,000 for the buoy, but the condition and lack of demand brought the price down significantly. In the end, she walked away with just $375—not quite the beachside payday she was expecting. Sometimes, even nostalgia can’t float the value of an item.
Elephant Waste
You never know what’s going to walk through the doors of the pawn shop, but a can of elephant poop? That’s a new one. A man confidently strutted into the shop carrying a specialized case, immediately piquing Chumlee’s and the Old Man’s curiosity. Inside was a can of “Zoodoo,” a novelty souvenir filled with actual elephant waste, complete with a decorative label.
The seller, either incredibly optimistic or just messing with them, asked for an absurd $10,000. Unsurprisingly, the Old Man had no interest in paying for literal crap. However, Chumlee, always a fan of the weird and wacky, thought it was hilarious and bought it for $20 out of his own pocket. If nothing else, it made for an unforgettable moment on the show.
An Old Blood Transfusion Kit
Sometimes, people bring in sports memorabilia or antique furniture. Other times, they bring in eerie medical equipment straight out of a horror movie. That was the case when a woman walked into the shop carrying an old-fashioned blood transfusion kit. The set came in a wooden case and included glass jars, rubber tubes, and enough unsettling vibes to make everyone uncomfortable.
To make things even weirder, the seller casually stated that she “doesn’t need it anymore,” which left the crew with more questions than answers. She asked for a strangely specific $211, but Chumlee countered with $100. After a brief stare-down that made everyone nervous, he upped his offer to $125. Let’s just hope she didn’t need the kit for anything important.
Silver Tiffany Walkman
A Walkman made of sterling silver? Now that’s something you don’t see every day. A woman came into the shop with a one-of-a-kind Sony Walkman produced by Tiffany & Co. to celebrate the Walkman’s 10th anniversary. Even crazier, she claimed that only 250 were made and that hers once belonged to John Entwistle, legendary bassist of The Who.
Rick was immediately intrigued by the combination of rare materials, luxury branding, and rock-and-roll history. After verifying its authenticity, he made an offer and ended up paying $1,250 for the unique cassette player. While Walkmans may be outdated, this one was definitely a collector’s item. Rock on!
