American Pickers

Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz--business partners in Iowa-based Antique Archaeology and friends since the 8th grade--are part sleuths, part antiques experts, and part cultural historians. They call themselves "pickers" because their job is to pick through backyard junk piles, abandoned barns and neglected garages scattered across the back roads of America looking for hidden collectibles they can make a buck on. In this episode, Mike and Frank find a 12-foot high sign of the iconic Philip Morris bellhop; they find vintage carnival rides from "Bear", a very reluctant seller; they buy a Japanese samurai sword used in World War II and an old saddle from one customer and anxiously await the appraisers verdict; Mike, a bike expert, spots a vintage Vespa part and a rare Harley bicycle crank. Mike has to make a big promise to get his younger brother to help haul the carnival ride back to Antique Archaeology's offices.

Mike's and Frank's strategy of picking--buying and negotiating--becomes clear as they use a motorcycle sidecar part found at an earlier pick to help close the deal on a rare, valuable Vespa Ape scooter. Mike meets the "Goat Man" whose collection of busses is buried under weeds and a collector who has 32 tractors and farming memorabilia. And Frank makes a rapid fire deal for two vintage dirt bikes and some stray parts.

Mike and Frank are blown away by a farm that has a White Castle hamburger building on it. They also find a veritable museum of antiques and collectibles, and negotiate for an old soda fountain and cigarette machine. Next, they meet a couple who moved into a late-19th century Victorian house filled with the previous owner's antiques--is it a gold mine or rip off? They get angry at their office manager Danielle--and then try to redeem themselves.

Mike and Frank stumble upon a potential mega-pick in Northeast Iowa, but will it yield any treasures? Danielle has a lead on a rare, 15-gallon antique gas pump. The guys explore an 1879 Illinois opera house that hasn't been touched since the 1930s. And, Mike introduces Frank to a 94-year-old master collector. Can they pick the picker?

Mike's hurt his back but can't afford time off to recuperate. The guys dive into a 92-year-old Iowa farmer's unbelievable collection but make a huge mistake in the process. Mike and Frank counsel a prolific Ohio collector reluctant to part with his magnificent jukebox. And, after kicking it into high gear in Charlie's motorcycle-packed outbuilding, Mike's back takes a turn for the worse.

Mike and Frank bet on who is the best picker. The loser gets to wash their filthy van. Working against the clock, the guys try to strike a deal in a savvy seller's jam-packed barn. They meet master picker "Mole Man" Ron and tour his 26-room underground lair. Danielle introduces the guys to a professional farm scavenger. And, John's closed-down Illinois museum is full of Americana, but will he sell them anything?

Mike and Frank stumble across an amazing family junkyard in Maryland. Frank offers big money for a 1939 Plymouth coupe but the collector doesn't seem to want to part with it. The guys luck seems to be taking a positive turn when they get a warm welcome and a shot of tequila at Warren's New Hampshire home before finding the mother lode of rare bikes and motorbikes.

Leaving Iowa in the dead of winter, Mike and Frank head south to New Orleans. There they stumble upon a quirky antique dealer with a sprawling collection. But after digging through his treasure-filled outbuilding, they begin to wonder if he's ready to make a deal. The guys meet a unique relic hunter whose collection includes dinosaur fossils, and then visit his quirky neighbor--a compulsive collector who's rarely in the mood to sell. But when Mike spots a pair of rare visible gas pumps, the Picking game is on. With over 2,000 motorbikes and piles of twisted metal, Vic's automotive graveyard is a picker's paradise. And, Danielle finds a local buyer who might make the day a total success.

While picking their way through the South, the guys meet up with John, a Mississippi motorcycle collector who has plenty of cool stuff, but his prices are through the roof. Then Mike spots a rare 1969 Kawasaki muscle bike, but can he wrestle it out of the mud? While in Alabama, Mike and Frank visit a prolific car hobbyist whose yard looks like a vintage parking lot. After driving down Poorhouse Road, they scour the bizarre collection at the Alabama Museum of Wonder where everything--including a gigantic head from a Piggly Wiggly mascot--is for sale. And finally, the guys catch a lucky break at a Birmingham vintage scooter shop. (30 minute episode.)

The guys are in the South and running low on cash. They're desperate for a good pick when they happen upon a massive old junkyard and closed-down family flea market. The location is promising but its nostalgic owner is reluctant to part with his treasures. Then, Mike and Frank tour an amazing collection of rare, retro automobiles. Mike is thrilled about discovering a famous cartoonist's sketchbook that could be the jackpot they've been waiting for. But before they start laying out the cash, they have to make sure it's the real deal. And, after taking a big gamble on buying a huge pottery collection in Atlanta, the guys find out what their new thousand-dollar pottery collection is really worth.

After a couple of days without a decent pick, Mike and Frank look up a Georgia collector they've heard about. He's got a storage shed that's jam-packed with curios and movie memorabilia from his family's drive-in theater. Also, during a record cold snap in rural Florida, the guys tour Wayne's awesome collection of vehicles. But is anything for sale? And, on a property full of tractors and signs, the guys scour a treasure-filled outbuilding that seems too good to be true, then hatch a plan to get the owner to sell.

Danielle has a sketchy lead. She's found an incredible collection but the bad news is it's owned by a reluctant seller. However, once inside the man's jam-packed barn, Mike finds two very rare bikes. One is a turn-of-the-century wood rim bicycle and the other, an even rarer 1880s high-wheeler. Can he keep a poker face and strike a deal? Also, Mike and Frank return to pick from Leland, the WWII vet in the Big Bear episode where they bought a sword and saddle. Leland and his daughter invited them back. Mike and Frank bring him a special gift they picked up earlier...and find more treasures at his place.