American Pickers

Driving along the back roads of Tennessee in the early morning fog, Mike and Frank are brushing up on their Southern expressions when they spot an awesome property. Once they muster up the courage to ignore the scary “no trespassing” signs, the homeowner opens up his amazing collection of incredible “mantiques”. Later, with four barns that are packed to the rafters, a Smokey Mountain property looks perfect. But Mike and Frank’s perfect day quickly goes downhill when the collector can’t bear to part with anything. Can they break the ice or will their picking spirit be broken first? And, thanks to a lead from Danielle, the guys get a warm welcome from Joe, a lifetime picker whose staggering collection spans over 30 buildings.

Mike and Frank find themselves in a high-risk situation when they are chased by a crazy emu who roams a farm in Tennessee that the boys are picking. Once they’ve escaped from the bird they manage to rescue a much sought after fireplace fa ade. Danielle sends the guys to Frank Wolfe, who gives them a golden lead to a guy called Jerry Lotz, where Mike buys a Schwinn auto-cycle bike for a $1,000 and Frank leaves with two rare BB guns. The guys finish up their trip by surprising an old friend of Mike’s, Ruby Guidara, a famous Nashville set designer. They purchase an old dentist chair from her that Mike thinks would be perfect in a Lady Gaga video, but when they take the chair to an appraiser they hear some surprising information.

Mike and Frank head to Ohio and decide to make the trip a little more interesting by bringing along a cup dispenser from an old train station to trade with their clients, hoping to make some cash. They meet Will, the son of an auctioneer who has inherited a house packed with his dad’s collection and is coming to terms with letting the stuff go. The guys pick up tons of items, including an antique accordion on which Frank shows off his musical talents! Next, they truck to Indiana to meet a small town historian who takes everyone’s collectibles for safe keeping. There, they purchase a St. Louis Cardinals vintage baseball poster and Frank falls in love with a pinball machine featuring Happy Days’ the Fonz. Finally, Mike gets to experience his dream pick at a VW graveyard in Illinois, but Frank is the one who strikes gold when he buys a rare BSA motorcycle.

Mike and Frank challenge Danielle to sell a vintage carnival ride they’ve been storing for months. Meanwhile, the guys visit a collector with amazing pieces including an old gambling game used to get customers to spend more money. Later, the guys pick the International Clown Hall of Fame, where they find an amazing miniature automated carnival. And finally, after seeing at a Yamaha dirt bike for sale on a front lawn, retired mechanic Norm opens his garage to reveal a smoking-hot, 1967 Ford Fairlane muscle car. It’s love at first sight for Mike, but will his emotions get in the way of getting a great deal?

Mike and Frank visit a New York collector who’s filled a train station with vintage cars, and although the cars are hot, the prices cool their engines. But the pick isn’t as good as it looks until Mike finds a mysterious Italian trunk that hasn’t been opened in 50 years…and though it’s driving him crazy, he waits until he gets home to open it. The guys stop in at a New Hampshire home with a weathervane on the roof constructed from a real Harley motorbike. Inside, the couple’s sprawling collection includes a room full of retro arcade games. And finally, auctioneer Paul’s Rhode Island property is packed with treasures his late father rescued from the trash. Mike spies an impeccable 1967 Triumph motorbike and Frank buys a slew of vintage toy trucks. But the best is hidden inside a barn that hasn’t been touched in 15 years.

After years of begging Mike and Frank to let her go on a pick, Danielle finally gets her chance. The three head out to visit a major collector with a barn full of hidden treasures. Next, Frank agrees to fill in for Danielle at the shop while she hits the road with Mike. In Pennsylvania, they pick the oddball home of two eccentric characters, and Danielle comes up with a winner when she tracks down a century-old hotel that’s been vacant for years. Rooms full of furniture and a valuable pinball machine await.

While picking in Pennsylvania, Danielle sends the guys to Bushkill Park–a century-old amusement park that’s seen much better days. Hoping to eventually renovate and reopen, owner Neil is motivated to sell just about anything. And, after stepping back in time and playing in the old funhouse, Mike spies a couple of rare vintage sideshow banners. Also in this episode… Deb wants husband Tom to clear out his sprawling collections so they can enjoy their retirement on the road in their RV. But he’s reluctant to sell his prized possessions. Later, in New York City, the guys meet an expert who has shocking news about Mike’s new circus posters. In Staten Island, a cavernous abandoned storage unit yields plenty of carnival keepsakes.