Upper Perk Chamber to host local antiques/collectibles expert
Mike Wolfe, left, from the television show "American Pickers" with Boyertown's Kevin Zimmers. The pickers visited Zimmers, an antiques collector and dealer, during a stint in Boyertown last spring. Zimmers will be aprraising items at the upcoming Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce's Community and Business Expo.
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On the weekends you can find Kevin Zimmers combing through flea markets and auctions all over the region, looking for one-of-a-kind collectibles and antiques. But next week Zimmers can be found right here in the Upper Perkiomen Valley as the Chamber of Commerce hosts him as part of their Community and Business Expo.
The expo, which will feature more than 60 exhibitors hailing from the health care, website design, non-profit, kitchen design and many other fields, will be held April 30 from 3-7 p.m. at St. Philip Neri social hall, 1325 Klinerd Road, Pennsburg. It is free and open to the public.
Zimmers will be offering free antique and collectible appraisals, starting at 3 p.m. He is no stranger to the niche; after buying and selling for more than 40 years, he was featured on the History channel’s hit series “American Pickers” in November.
The show’s headliners, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, who travel around the back roads of America looking for hidden treasures in people’s homes, garages and barns, bought several items from Zimmers who started collecting political buttons at the age of 11.
Last April, during a visit to Boyertown, they purchased an 1890’s pocket-watch camera, a 1962 Spiderman comic book (which sold for a whopping $4,500), oil signs and a 1980s Chuck Norris Halloween costume from the father of four.
“I have probably been on TV more times than I can count now,” Zimmers said, recounting the show’s many reruns and its current broadcast schedule in Canada. “It was fun.”
Zimmers is also the subject, along with his daughter, Grace, of “Local Picking” a show which has started filming for Pottstown Community TV (PCTV). In each episode, the father and daughter team get up before dawn to travel to area sales and auctions in search of something unique or of significant value.
Zimmers also runs an eBay business selling collectibles and antiques, in addition to owning Zimmers Pets with his wife, Robin, in Boyertown.
Next week, the public will be able to use his expertise to gauge their items’ worth at the expo. He has also done similar appraisals for the Lancaster County Women’s League.
“I expect to see what we call smalls; plates, carnival glass, milk bottles, local cigar boxes and postcards, jewelry,” he said. “You really never know what you’ll find.”
The public will be able to have one item appraised per turn, with the chance to have Zimmers examine more than one piece if time permits.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to have him there,” noted Dina Corrado of the Upper Perkiomen Chamber of Commerce. “It should be a unique opportunity for our community.”
The expo will also feature door prizes and a raffle with the chance to win an iPad, a 10-pound chocolate bar and more. The Upper Perkiomen Senior Center is providing a document shredding at discount prices.
For more information on the expo, call (215)679-3336. Zimmers can be reached at (484)239-0453.