Tonight's episode of "American Pickers" was titled "Hometown Pickin'." Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe, are the professional hunters who travel across the country picking through rusty gold; those hidden treasures covered with rust from age. That rusty gold is what keeps them in business, buying low and selling high, but even they find things that they do not want to part with.
As the guys leave the Nashville location, both Lauren and Danielle are there to see them off. In Illinois, it is very foggy while driving, and Mike relates it to the movie, "Children of the Corn." Danielle warned them, the guy they are looking for will be a hard sell. They come to the dead end of what seems like a junk pile. They locate Kenny, who leads them to a bigger pile of junk. He has been collecting this stuff for about forty years. He is a gas-station aficionado. There are gas pumps, oil cans, signs. He worked at a gas station about fifty years ago and does not seem to have any motivation to sell.
Mike found a pedal boat, a kid's toy from the 1950s, but will not sell it. Everything they ask about is not for sale. Mike asked him if he ever sells anything, which he replied yes. There was a large sign from when gasoline was 35 cents a gallon, but no sale. Kenny wants to find an old gas station somdeay and decorate it with his finds. When Frank finds some vintage oil cans, there is no sale on any of them. He said if he had doubles, he might sell one. They went to another building, there were huge Ford signs, but made of plastic; Frank would not pay more than $100 for them, while Kenny wanted $500 each. Finally, Frank broke the ice and bought an industrial spotlight for $100. When Kenny wants an amount, he will not budge. Mike found an old Cushman scooter and Kenny would not budge lower than $1,500, Mike took it anyway.
Back at the shop, a delivery arrived. It was the Munstermobile from Barris. Danielle found another pick for the guys; a sixty-year collection kept in an old school. There he met Dale and his grandson who had a myriad of stuff. He had clocks of all descriptions. Mike found a horse clock, and the Nashville store will be a great place for it. Fortunately, Dale is not emotionally attached to the stuff the way Kenny was. An old coffee grinder clock that was a display in a grocery store attracted their attention, and Frank got it for $225. He then found lightning rods and got two for $20 each.
In another room, they found two long barrel guns with ornate scrolling on the handle. He believed they were an old Moroccan camel gun and Japanese one from the 17th century. The guns were used by soldiers when riding on camels, and they had long barrels so the soldier could shoot without killing their camel. They got the guns for $600 each and once appraised, if they are authentic, they will send Dale another $500.
Next stop, was Mike's hometown of Joliet. He found his parent's old high school. They met a man named Greg, a tip from Danielle. When Mike told him about his family history, the man had purchased a sink from Mike's grandfather. They found a bunch of bicycle trophies from the 1930s. They bought all ten for $1,600. Frank found a sign from an old side show; the Lord's Prayer on the head of a pin. The pin was long gone, but the sign lived on.
Mike found old "Odd Fellows" secret society items, a lovely English pram from the 30s or 40s. They got it for $175 and will make Danielle happy that they finally got something for the ladies.
The trophies were sent to the shop. A woman came to appraise them, and gave them a value of $2,500. When they guys called the shop, nobody answered. Danielle and Lauren were out joyriding in the Munstermobile. As the episode ended, a police car was pulling them over with lights flashing. Good thing the "American Pickers" are on the road.
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