American Pickers
Open iTunes to preview or buy TV shows.
Description
Part sleuths, part antiques experts, and part cultural historians, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, business partners of Antique Archaeology in Iowa, are professional “pickers,” trolling America’s small towns to salvage rare collectibles and good garbage from regular folks. Their job? To dig through junk piles, abandoned barns, and neglected garages for a chance at unearthing relics of historical, collectible, and pop culture value. Although buying and selling is their livelihood, the thrill is in the chase. Each treasure hunt leads them to fascinating, quirky characters — everyday people with stories about themselves and their artifacts that provide a fascinating look into American life. The new HISTORY series American Pickers traces the highs and lows of the “picking” trade, following Mike and Frank as they get their hands dirty in search of weird and wonderful Americana, from a vintage Harley to a one-of-a-kind Ferris wheel. The pressure mounts as they attempt to turn around each item fast, find just the right buyer, and strike the ultimate deal.
| Name | Description | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VideoBig Bear | 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. | 43:19 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 2 | VideoSuper Scooter | 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. | 42:52 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 3 | VideoWhite Castle On the Farm | 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. | 42:53 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 4 | VideoInvisible Pump | 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? | 42:26 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 5 | VideoBack Breaker | 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. | 42:39 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 6 | VideoMole Man | 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? | 42:33 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 7 | VideoFrank's Gamble | 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. | 43:18 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 8 | Video5 Acres of Junk | 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. | 43:15 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 9 | VideoBigfoot In Alabama | 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. | 21:37 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 10 | VideoKnow When to Fold | 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. | 21:50 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 11 | VideoFill'er Up | 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. | 21:39 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 12 | VideoLeland's Cafe | 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. | 21:51 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| Total: 12 Episodes |
Viewers Also Bought
Customer Reviews
American Pickers - If you like Antiques Road show you will love this.
Great show. I love the whole concept. There have been a lot of complaints on the History channel boards that these guys are "ripping off" older people. I disagree. In many cases the customer drives a hard bargain to get what they want for the item. The fact that an item can be resold for more does not mean it is worth more to the person who owns it. Mike and Frank have developed contacts across the country to sell to, they have studied the history of certain items, and from time to time they buy something that is definitely going to lose money for them. They put out the money for fuel, a truck, employee, and cash up front for something that there is no 100% guarantee they will be able to sell for a profit. Bottom line is this. If a customer makes a deal with them to sell something that has been collecting dust in an old attic, or rusting away in a pile of weeds for less then it retails for it is no ones business but the two involved in the transaction.
Anyway. Great show.
Best New Show
One of the best reality shows on TV. I am hooked.
best
best show ever saw it on tv and got for the ipod buy all of them
- SD Version
- Genre: Reality TV
- Released: Jan 18, 2010
- © 2010 Copyright A&E Television Networks. All Rights Reserved.
