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Placer County Resident and frequent visitor at Imagine.2nd Chance Treasures in Newcastle, John
Rainger is no stranger to vintage items. When it comes to finding authentic Native American or
Western treasures, he knows his stuff. Even with years of collecting under his belt, he wasn't
prepared for the treasure he found a few weeks ago.
Still in awe as he tells his story of finding the childhood lamp that was his 38+ years ago, John
shares his excitement with friends and other collectibles enthusiasts.
Living in New York and relocating to New Mexico when he was 8, John recalls his mother selling the
lamp at a yard sale so many years ago.  Memories of the lamp followed John throughout the years
and inspired him to create lamps like the one he had as a child.  Never in his wildest dreams did
this collector expect to see his childhood lamp again, especially in the way that it came to him.
Recently John went to his computer to check out something on E-Bay when a small thumbnail picture
of the lamp appeared in the "Items you may be interested in" column. Not believing what he was
seeing, John checked the posting only to find his old lamp. "It's a lamp that I had wished to find
again for many years. The flood of emotions that hit me when I saw it on E-Bay were intense".
The lamp is fashioned out of a an old Maverick 45 toy cap gun. John states it has not been altered
from it's original condition except that someone added a horse head to the shade. "The shade even
has the same dent in it from when I was a kid and the cap gun has the same green paint stain" John
comments with a twinkle in his eye.
Curious about how the seller came across the lamp, through E-Bay, John contacted the seller and
found that it had been purchased a year before in Pennsylvania. Only a one hour drive from where
John had lived when he was a child prior to Moving to New Mexico.
For John, finding the lamp has a lot of sentimental meaning to him. When asked the value of the
lamp his response is simply, "There is no dollar amount that can be placed on this lamp, the value
is in the memories"
The old saying rings true. "One man's E-Bay sell item is another man's treasure".
If you have stories similar to John's please contact Terri @ Imagine.2nd Chance Treasures located
at 505c Main St. in Newcastle - next to Paul the Barber or call (530) 368-0460

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