American Pickers...warbirds?

[L. Thompson]

For some reason I've become a fan of this new American Pickers show (on History Channel). Would rather see other stuff on History Channel but at least it's better than most of the new stuff that has invaded this channel in recent years. And there actually is some real Americana history to be learned in most episodes.

Just waiting for the show where the camera pans across a junkyard on someone's property and we see a BT-13 frame or some such 85% buried in the sticker weeds or under a collapsed shed. Or we'll see an L-5 or some such hanging in the barn rafters. They'll probably not even mention it when it happens.

Besides ANYTHING Vintage Aviation, I also like Bullet Nose Studebakers (1950-51), and last night there were two on the Maryland picking episode. One at a wrecking yard entrance and one in a guy's basement. They never mentioned them.

There was some sort of old aircraft mechanics tool kit in a wooden box on a show recently.

Gotta think some rare warbird memorabilia, even something small, of some sort will be found and passed on, soon on this show, and we will all go running to our Atlas to see just what small town that farm is located near...

[sdennison]

How do you think they would do at Soplatta's (sp) place?

[L. Thompson]

I thought of that exactly!

What scares me is there will be an episode where the lead-in preview will show them loading up the elderly lady's long deceased husband's disassembled P-43 or P-66 on a flatbed after she let them in the old barn and said they could have it for 250 bucks.


late edit: it would "scare me" in a sense, but of course also make us in the warbird world pretty happy (plus a bunch of other emotions) if some long lost rarity surfaces this way...

Last edited by L. Thompson on Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbird Kid]

For some reason I've become a fan of this new American Pickers show (on History Channel). Would rather see other stuff on History Channel but at least it's better than most of the new stuff that has invaded this channel in recent years. And there actually is some real Americana history to be learned in most episodes.

Just waiting for the show where the camera pans across a junkyard on someone's property and we see a BT-13 frame or some such 85% buried in the sticker weeds or under a collapsed shed. Or we'll see an L-5 or some such hanging in the barn rafters. They'll probably not even mention it when it happens.

Besides ANYTHING Vintage Aviation, I also like Bullet Nose Studebakers (1950-51), and last night there were two on the Maryland picking episode. One at a wrecking yard entrance and one in a guy's basement. They never mentioned them.

There was some sort of old aircraft mechanics tool kit in a wooden box on a show recently.

Gotta think some rare warbird memorabilia, even something small, of some sort will be found and passed on, soon on this show, and we will all go running to our Atlas to see just what small town that farm is located near...

I too enjoy this show. Its funny how History Channel has 2 shows out right now about people selling there pieces from the past. Pawn-Stars feels like a cheap and underhanded type of operation. At least with American Pickers I feel these guys aren't trying to screw people and are just sharing there passion of collecting "junk". My question is when will they stumble into Soplata's place? Even if they don't find the Warbird Picker Heaven, I'm sure they will find some BT-13 or Stearman in some barn. I like this show alot and look forward to seeing more of it, unlike its contemporary Pawn-Stars.

[Pathfinder]

I catch both shows as they are the only thing on HC worth watching anymore.

Pawn Stars is okay...no one who brings anything into that place is going to get any value out of it. The most interesting thing I've seen on there is the ivory sun dial. I forget what they wound up doing with the "Lindbergh propeller".

Pickers is very interesting. But these guys aren't saints either. I would be willing to bet hard money that they have a pick list from their customers with what to look for along with a hi/lo purchase agreement. The ad signs etc wind up in TGI Friday's; Cracker Barrel and other theme restaurants. Ask yourself why they work out of a 40 x 40 prefab barn....where's all the stuff? When they do show sold prices that is most assuredly wholesale to their customers who will resell it yet again.

I think they ripped off the lady for her husbands WW2 Japanese bring-backs. I'm sure they're picking a lot of categories that don't see the light of day on the show.

[N3Njeff]

I too have been watching both shows. Been sick with both on a couple of occasions. I did not see the old lady with her husbands Japanese bring backs.

Pawn-stars..........seen the episodes where they are now into aviation. They had bought a Warrior and a helicopter to fix. A hot air balloon and now just recently a glider. What pissed me off was that one of the Pawn owners talked about gliders and said that durring ww2, we used them in the invasion where the troops parashooted out of the glider and then they just let it crash.....................................what a idiot!!!

[John Dupre]

I've been watching Pickers and Pawn Stars a lot recently as they are my 13 year old son's favorite shows right now. I was inspired to go to a local indoor flea market but didn't find much that interested me. I did pick up an antiques newsletter with a commentary by an antique dealer. His view was that Pawn Stars was actually more realistic than Antiques Roadshow for example. In his view the Roadshow leads people on in thinking that everyone just might have some really valuable antique whereas Pawn Stars is basically making a wholesale purchase with an eye to future profit by a retail sale. Apparently the professionals know that sometimes despite thousands of people trooping through the venue the Roadshow very often just barely finds enough interesting stuff to fill out the 50 or so minutes of the show. The dealer felt that Pawn Stars emphasis on what they could make off an item and thier willingness to walk away from a poor deal are much more realistic.

The Pickers guys make no bones about thier clients, some collectors, some decorators and other dealers. Years ago my Mom had a book called "Junk Shopping With Sari" about some woman who bought junk and turned it into desirable items, usually with a coat or two of paint. I remember that Sari bought an old brass electric lamp, ripped the wiring, socket and bulb out of it and turned it into a vase or something. Then a knowledgeable person told her that if she had the wiring etc. it would be worth hundreds of dollars since it was an original Edison fixture! I can see Pickers and Pawn Stars making that mistake.

[mjanovec]

Pawn-Stars feels like a cheap and underhanded type of operation. At least with American Pickers I feel these guys aren't trying to screw people and are just sharing there passion of collecting "junk".

The Pickers guys may have a passion for junk, but make no mistake about it...they are just as much in it for the profit as the Pawn Stars guys are. At least with a pawn shop, people are coming to them wanting to sell...and the shop owner is often quite honest about what he will re-sell the item for and what his profit margin will be. With the pickers, they often show up uninvited and try talking people into selling stuff...and never tell the sellers that they are just middle men for antique shops.

Also, Pawn Stars is ultimately more educational because they regularly emphasize that you need to find an expert to appraise something. I've never seen the pickers bring in an expert to appraise something in front of the seller.

[tom d. friedman]

How do you think they would do at Soplatta's (sp) place?

walt soplata would always have the winning hand against any picker!! he'd ply his death card to any buyer, that being..... he's eccentric & cranky, but he ain't stupid!! & neither is his wife!!

[Nathan]

Pretty sure pawn stars is connected with the mafia! Their dealings and attitudes reflect apon it. They don't cancel this show yet cancel mailcall and dogfights!

[Holedigger]

...that dusty old Stearman thing in the back corner of your barn...what do you say I'll take that junk off your hands for 50 bucks!

[Mudge]

I will never forget the episode of Pawn Stars where the dude in the stupid hat, brought in a "collection" of 50 Pez dispensers. He was all excited about them 'cause he collected them and thought they were worth $5,000. When "Big Hoss" offered him like $50 for the entire collection, he went off. Got outside to interview in front of the camera and said, "They're a bunch of "chooches". They've insulted the entire Pez community."
THE PEZ COMMUNITY???

By the way...what's a "chooch"

Mudge the amazed and amused

I can't get it out of my head...the PEZ community.

[PinecastleAAF]

Pretty sure pawn stars is connected with the mafia! Their dealings and attitudes reflect apon it.

What tipped you off?

[Holedigger]

Mudge, please find this link to an "Urban Dictionary", it is chock full of strange and amusing words not found in "REAL" dictionaries! Cooches had 49 different definitions...many of which seem to fit this particular usage! Some of them not exactly complementary (or repeatable at risk of breaking forum rules)!
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chooch

[Holedigger]

Saw that...some funny stuff there! But would you want your mother to see you wearing it!