Gary Sohmers

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Bio

GARY SOHMERS
Wex Rex Collectibles
Box 702
Hudson MA, 01749
(508) 788-5474 (phone)
www.allcollectors.com

Gary Sohmers is known in the media and collecting world as the"King of Pop Culture." He operates Wex Rex Collectibles, Saxonville Auction Services, attends and sells at numerous antiques and collectibles events each year, as well as appearing as an appraiser of Toys, Collectibles and Memorabilia on the four time Emmy Nominated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

His collecting bug began at age 8, when he began to wheel and deal his toys at a yard sale, or so his mother says, Gary developed a respect for collecting from his father's passion for campaign buttons. From here he learned that historical study and revenue generation can be combined to make a hobby an industry. He went from hustling toys to campaign buttons to record albums to everything that is "popular culture" — from Mark Twain to The Simpsons ... style and substance ... childhood and entertainment.

Gary has his main business operation in Framingham, MA, buying and selling pop culture collectibles and memorabilia, and is available by appointment. He is also available to answer questions by e-mail or phone during normal business hours.

Services available include Insurance Company Replacement Cost Appraisals along with accepting Consignments of collections and single items of Pop Culture, Collectibles, Posters, Comics, Records, Rock & Roll Memorabilia and Toys among other things.

He has been a featured guest on many television and radio programs over the past 30 years, and quoted regularly in national print for his expert knowledge of the value and history of collectible objects. As a lecturer, he speaks at historical societies, schools, libraries, corporations, antiques shows, appraisal and other special events on the following subjects:

Collecting — Preserving the past and reliving history, from dumpster diving to Museum acquisition, the passion and profits of collecting have inspired numerous into new careers and directions in their lives to achieve happiness, profits and success.

Investment — Buying investment quality antiques and collectibles involves a process of thinking that includes research and gut instinct, along with the desire to buy items that appreciate in value as they are appreciated by the owner.

Insurance — How to insure "irreplaceable" items, and determine value for the practical homeowner who has accumulated a collection, or two or three, and desires to make proper arrangements in the case of any form of disaster, without overpaying for premiums or having to pay too much to prepare too much paperwork.

Nostalgia — Everyone has a nostalgic twinge about something whether it is music, smell, familiar sights or a piece of paper, and "Plucking that Magic Twanger" is a fun and entertaining exploration into peoples' memories and giving them a sense of it's place in culture, history or financial investment.

Popular Culture — Defined by the elements within it, Pop Culture is now recognized as an entity encompassing all that is communication, art and objects that can be attributed to popular acceptance by the masses of its time and preserved by those that enjoy the creation and promotion of the forms. From Mark Twain to The Simpsons, including Barnum, Beatles, Politics, Pokemon and all eras of Childhood amazement, along with the inventors evolution as the century's progress from Gutenberg through Gates.

Down-sizing — Everyone at some point in their lives has to downsize their living environment, whether it is due to health, age or convenience, and it is always sad to learn that tens of thousands of dollars were thrown or given away after it is too late. The process can be painless by separating emotional value from financial and then knowing what really is worth money before decisions to sell or toss have to occur.

Toys — For over 200 years toys have been manufactured for the entertainment of children, and every generation has their identifiable and treasured playthings of their past. Touching on their own memories of their youth, the audience becomes the program exploring who had what and why those objects remain important in their memories.

Rock & Roll — Since its inception in the early 1950s through the shock and schlock of the 21st century, the first 50 years of rock and roll has enough stories to fill volumes, but the value of the historical artifacts that were used and destroyed boggles the mind, as were the posters, flyers, contracts and other ephemeral oddities of the business and fan life of the changing world of popular music.

Television — When it premiered in 1939 at the World's Fair in New York no one knew what the outcome would be, its impact on the human conscientious has been profound, and the dynamic of its influences on behavior and habit can be expressed in relation to the acquisitions of the populace.

Gary's syndicated talk radio show Calling All Collectors which he produces and hosts is currently on hiatus. The show is driven by his subjects, interesting guests that include other Antiques Roadshow appraisers and his whim of verbiage, as he espouses the values of collecting and the venues to satisfy the desires of collectors nationwide. Gary continues to appear on over 50 radio programs across the US giving callers “psychic appraisals,” regularly performs Stand-Up Comedy and records with his current musical ensemble, Mindjammer.

"Thanks for watching Antiques Roadshow."

For additional information related to this appraiser, visit www.allcollectors.com.

What's your favorite public radio show?

"Calling All Collectors - The Antiques Radio-Show" my spin off from the PBS show which I have appeared on for 10 seasons.

What's your secret talent?

I play wicked excellent psychedelic and fun guitar ... 1971 fender stratocaster.

What song is stuck in your head right now, you know, a music wedgie?

"Member of The Family" by Spooner

What sound is most characteristic of where you live?

Cars & trucks on rural roads

What's your favorite sound memory?

ocean waves

Which station do you listen to most?

WBZ-AM Boston

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