CEDAR FALLS -- At a recent collectibles show at the Comfort Suites just off Iowa Highway 58 in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park, Cedar Falls native Judy Meyers set down a box full of miscellaneous items on one of the empty tables.

There was her entire coin collection, from pre-1959 "wheatback" U.S. pennies to Kennedy half-dollars, plus some gold and silver jewelry. But the coolest-looking item was a World War II-era gas mask, complete with helmet.

At least, it was probably from World War II. Meyers wasn't sure.

"It was in my basement," she said. "I thought I'd try it out."

Either way, it didn't matter. Archie Davis, the Cedar Falls show manager for Treasure Hunters Roadshow, didn't want it. Back in the box it went, along with most of Meyers' coin collection.

"You paid way too much for that," Davis said, of one coin set sealed in a plaque. Of the Kennedy half-dollars, only one had silver in it. The Jefferson nickels were without silver, and all of the "wheatback" pennies were worth 2 cents each.

A disappointed Meyers walked away with most of the items still in her box -- and a check for $8.69. She said the coins probably will be spent for face value now.

"I thought the gas mask," she said, as she was heading out, "but I have a friend who does antiques, so I'll just do that."

Seated at another table, next to his unused 1956 HO scale electric train, Bart Knipfer of Jesup was happy to hear the train would be taken off his hands for $150.

"That's about what I expected," Knipfer said, noting he had the train appraised at right around that amount from a local hobby shop. "I tried putting it on eBay, and I would only get a $30 bid. I want to see it go to a collector."

That's where everything the Treasure Hunters were buying this week would be going, said Davis. His association of about 5,000 collectors worldwide is looking for some specific types of items -- and, therefore, so are Davis and his team.

Those items include anything made of gold or silver; U.S. coins predating 1965; pocketwatches and clocks from all eras; war memorabilia like bayonets, swords or pistols; vintage toys before 1964, trains and any musical instruments.

"Most of our collectors are from the baby-boom time frame," Davis said. "They have a lot of interest in the toys they used to play with."

But Davis also has interest in the coins, especially any gold, which is currently trading on the market at just over $800 per ounce. They don't appraise items, he said, just buy them outright for an agreed-upon price.

"We've seen a lot of gold, a lot of coins, and we're seeing some of the older toys and pocketwatches," he said.

John Itzen made two trips to the Treasure Hunters show Wednesday. The 91-year-old from Cedar Falls brought in a pistol and some shells, and walked out with a check for $72.50.

"It's either my dad's, or my grandpa's," Itzen said.

Rosemary Reicherts of Waterloo wasn't so lucky. Her old brass teapot and collection of costume jewelry was all turned away.

"I have kids that will take it," she said. "Or, I'll put it at a garage sale, because it'll go then."

The Treasure Hunters Roadshow will be at the Comfort Suites hotel, 7402 Nordic Drive, (319) 273-9999, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1464 or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.