About every four years or so the Museum of Arts and Sciences holds an attic sale, but sometimes buyers come with exaggerated expectations.

They think they might score some nice artwork the museum no longer wants to display, or maybe some other eclectic item that can’t be found anywhere else.

In reality, the museum’s sale Saturday didn’t look much different from any other yard sale, except that it was in the museum auditorium. Items included computers that were obsolete years ago, stuffed animals, dolls, martini glasses and reproductions of well-known paintings.

About the only items that wouldn’t be found anywhere else were dozens of promotional banners draped over seats in the auditorium. The banners, which cost about $150 to make, once were hung to promote various special events and exhibits. On Saturday buyers could have snapped them up for $3 to $5, depending on the size. Some people wanted them for dorm room decorations, but most buyers wanted them for slip-and-slides.

Nevertheless, bargain hunters at the sale seemed happy with their finds. Dave Thames, of Fort Valley, found two old 400-watt amplifiers for $5 each. He had no idea whether the devices worked, but figured if one the two did he would still be getting a steal.

“Worst case, I’ve made a $10 donation to the museum,” he said.

His wife, Mary Ann, found a candle in the shape of a birthday cake for a dollar.

“When the museum has a sale, it’s got to have some interesting stuff,” she said.

Lisa Fisher, who works at the museum and was collecting money at the sale, said about the most expensive items sold were some painting prints for $25 to $35. She said people frequently come to the sale thinking they are going to get something from the museum collection, but that’s not the case.

“We truly went up to the attic and got things,” she said.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.