Whats the meaning behind the "three hanging balls"?

I knew I’d heard about this before, was referenced in a book I read a year or so ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawnbroker#Symbol

I’ve checked out pawn shops for hard to find items on occasion but that’s about the extent of my use.

Thanks for clarifying, Austinlad. All this time I thought it meant super virility. ;-)

That, and it takes a lot of balls to run a pawn shop.

The 3 ball thing was interesting and oddly enough reminds me of Assassin’s Creed 2, thanks @wonderingwhy & @Austinlad even though it’s not my question, lol.

As for there ever being “a need for a pawn shops services”, I have needed them in the past and what my experience is with pawn shops is that they’re only good to buy from if you find something you like. Otherwise selling to them is a waste and should be left up to the thieves and drug addicts. I speak out of being forced to pawn stuff while being in dyer need of money. $80 for an awesome Roland amplifier by far my favorite out of the selections I’ve ever owned in terms of combo amps and 2 10” Black Gold sub woofers is not my idea of a deal. As for buying things from a pawn shop, well it’s the extreme other hand. You could strike gold if you know what you’re looking for. I’ve seen guitars in pawn shops being sold for prices well below what they’re worth and jewelry is quite cheap as well.

Yes, Axemusica and john65pennington, while in financial straits many years ago, I did sell something at a pawn shop, and I have regretted selling it ever since.

[Mod says] Quip removed because it was copied from an unattributed source.

“Three hanging balls” was the original, but ultimately rejected, lyric for the Gilligan’s Island title song.