Sven Deutschmanek stands alone in the expert room and makes a jukebox play. Nothing can be seen of Horst Lichter at first. "I couldn't come faster, I was still dancing," says the moderator as an excuse for his slight delay. "I'm a top dancer," jokes the 60-year-old.

The owners of the old chest are Anke Zimmermann and Josef Plaickner from Hesse. Plaickner received the good piece as a gift from a woman who simply wanted to throw it away. That was too bad for him. Now he is with his stepdaughter at "Bares for Rares" and tries his luck.

The expert provides background information about the "flat-lid roller music box". They were made in Switzerland from 1800. The present object was created in the second half of the 19th century. Deutschmanek explains in detail how the music chest works, which was also equipped with a harmonica driven by bellows.

Plaickner would like 500 euros for the part, Sven Deutschmanek even thinks 600 to 800 euros is possible. A gratifying estimate. But it gets even better: The music box is met with great interest in the dealer's room: "Wonderful", enthuses Susanne Steiger, and Wolfgang Pauritsch praises the "very good condition".

The starting bid is correspondingly high: with its 700 euros, Pauritsch exceeds the seller's desired price right from the start. Friedrich Häusser is also bidding, and the two dealers together drive the price up to 1,900 euros. In the end, Häusser was awarded the contract. That is more than 1000 euros above the estimated value - and is almost four times what Josef Plaickner would have been satisfied with.

Stunned with joy, the father and stepdaughter stand in front of the camera with the many banknotes: "We can't believe it," the two beam in competition.

Source: "Bares for Rares" in the ZDF media library

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