American Pickers Model A .
 

Whilst channel surfing I dropped onto the Pickers doing a deal on two model As one a deluxe roadster the other a 68C cabriolet . The two lady sellers decided to keep dads standard roadster . The shop advising by phone did not seem to pick up on the fact that the cabriolet was a slant windshield . The prices advised seemed low especially the 68C . The chance of me finding out what happened next is remote,too many channels . This episode was 2013 and they had changed the Merc van for a Ford .Just wondered what the pickers sold them for and what was the ultimate fate .

John in cold wind Suffolk County England .

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Good luck John, next week they are going to fantasy land to pick their noses. What really gets me is when they climb all over a really good old tractor with implements to pick up an oil can for $30-$40.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

The entire show is staged. I refuse to waste my precious free time watching that garbage. I apologize for being so blunt, but I see no point in sugar coating the truth.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I always enjoyed viewing a lifetime of collections:)

I always felt they overpaid for any car they have purchased. Even their experts don't seem to understand the marketplace or apply the appropriate value:confused:confused:

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Occasionally, I like to watch the show.

I am always amazed at the amount of stuff people collect.

When I think my stuff is getting out of control, I just watch a segment of "Pickers" and realize I do not have much stuff at all.

My experience,

Chris W.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I like it. I know it is staged, but that doesn't really make me want to throw stuff at the TV.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Pure entertainment, guys are making hundreds of thousands per episode, buying oil cans for $20 and trying to sell them for $30....seriously?

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I wonder how some feel the show is staged? Do the producers gather together huge collections of stuff and stage it in some remote spot? Do they hire some eccentric looking guy to pretend that he owns it? Not likely. The collections are real, so are the collectors. Now, do the producers seek out these hoards and prearrange a visit from the guys? Almost certainly. Are prices agreed upon before the show is shot? Who knows, but I find it doubtful. I just like looking at the incredible things that some people have managed to amass. I couldn't care less if they buy a sign or a toy car

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

When I think "staged" I am thinking about when they go up to someones house and ring the bell and people come to the door acting like they are answering the door without knowing that there is also a crew of camera guys and lights, etc.

I also think they kind of pick through the stuff beforehand and pretty much already know what they are going to "find".

That being said, I do like seeing all the stuff, they do go through.

It also beats just about anything else on cable! Hundreds of channels and nothing on!

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I kind of get a laugh out of the things that the pickers pass on, but then they pick up that certain widget that doesn't hold a candle to what they had to move aside to get to that widget. It shows that they already had their minds made up of what was scripted to be purchased at that stop. Secondly, their picks are salted with bicycles and motorcycle engines. You hear, "look what I found here, an old motorcycle engine". Duh... I wonder how that got stuffed in with the old furniture? A bit unbelievable, but still interesting to watch though.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I have always enjoyed the show. but my wife can't stand Mike. Staged? I'm sure a lot of pre-show production happens. After being in the antique business in Ohio and Indiana before moving to Colorado, I laugh at some of the margins on their buys. Old stuff can sit on the shelf for months, sometimes years before the right buyer finds it. If I paid $10 for an item with the hope of getting $12 or $13 for it I wouldn't have lasted a year! It is fun seeing all those collections.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Yes of course some of it must be staged,the show could not be worked otherwise. They knock on the door of a large house and the door is instantly opened ,camera crew etc etc . It is interesting to watch if I get to catch it but I do not seek it out . A while back they picked a WW2 flying jacket with a yellow hood these were used by British pilots who flew off "camships" they sometimes ditched in the ocean and the yellow hood aided recovery . I do not think they knew what they had .I do have the identical jacket . Anyway folks what happened to those cars ???

Lohn in very cold but sunny Suffolk County England .

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I believe they are each paid about $500K per year for the show...not to shabby.

I actually love the show, the collections they go through are amazing and who cares if parts of it are staged.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

alot of the stuff they buy already have buyers lined up. They are merely the transport company. Same goes for Pawn Stars in Vegas.

Some of the stuff they dont buy in american pickers they actually have bought behind the scenes but it doesnt make good TV if everything they pick up they buy so they "pass" on the item...

I was watching some show where they were metal detecting in an old barn and magically found just the clutch and brake pedals to a model A buried in the mud (looked very pitted). They were all excited thinking they were going to get $45 a piece for them while as we know in reality you couldn't give em away.

Most of these TV shows I dont like (hence not paying out the a$$ for cable) so I just use netflix and amazon prime and watch what I want when I want. I have an antenna but hardly watch anything on that as they carry even worse shows...

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I think many expect way too much for shows like this.....like they really could do it live and not staged? Most of tv is entertainment..... and this is no different. Like others, I simply enjoy seeing many of the unusual items, and I don’t get too wrapped up in the mechanics of the show.....

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

They picked two of my friends, here in Hudson Valley NY, one was not seeded, the second friend said they seeded several items. They have help the price of some collectable stuff go way up! But you should just watch for pure entertainment. Some stuff that they pay $1000 's for to me is just junk. Other stuff is pure gold to me? takes all kinds, Mike owns the show and is the producer, it's been very successful. Give him credit! Better than watching the fake news, or some bull Shxx Hollywood type pat themselves on the back.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

You know...I almost posted about AP this past weekend but figured the conversation would devolve into the criticisms already said above.

When I was in Hershey I was talking to BJ's Auto parts and they stated that they were picked by the American Pickers and that it would air in November. Initially it was slatted to be broadcast last night but it was replaced at the last minute.

The people at BJ's were more than complimentary about the experience and the two guys involved and stated they would even welcome them to come back.

If it isn't for you, don't watch. I enjoy it and still watch it.

Here is the episode info...
Mike and Frank accept an invitation from Indiana's Model-A Ford lady and fall hard for her ultra-rare, barn-fresh Model-A tow truck.
Show: American Pickers
Season number: 18
Episode number: 12
Air date: November 27, 2017

-Tim

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I have been to BJ's in Alexandria, IN. In fact I bought a 29 phaeton from Bill about 8 years ago. It was very rough, but after a ton of welding in patches and a lot of TLC, it is pretty much restored. He had a lot of model A stuff, as he bought out many Ford dealers years earlier. His daughter Vanessa took over the business when Bill died about 5 or 6 years ago.
Rusty Nelson

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I find the show entertaining . the really bad one is "pawn stars" . at least mike , frank are fun to watch .............

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Definitely all staged. The deals are done ahead of time. Pretty phony but if you like just watching to see the 'stuff' and pay no attention to the 'prices' it is OK entertainment. Same as the big car auctions. DVR these shows, fast forward thru the endless commercials and crap, see what you want then delete. Best way to watch.

I can blow thru 6 hours of B-J auctions in about ten minutes. Seems like just when a neat old car is about to drive up they cut to their 8 minutes of their redundant commercials then it's back to a 2002 BMW, 1995 Dodge, or the like.


Mike and crew make their $$ off of the TV show, not selling the stuff they 'pick'.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

It may not be common knowledge, but, apparently wrestling on tv is (ahem) fake.
I watch'em all anyway.
Jeff

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

You burst my bubble - wrestling on TV is fake!!! Now you tell us after all this time.
Rusty Nelson

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I agree with all but the last paragraph. Though NOW I'm sure the bulk of the $$ comes from the show, at one time they must have been earning at least a meager living on what they do or how would they get the show in the first place? I don't get to worked up about ANYTHING on the tube any more. It's all pretty much junk.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Rowens,

I think they were "weekend" pickers making extra money not full time pickers making a living out of buying and selling "junk." Before the show, Frank was a Fire Inspector. Don't know what Mike did before the show, but his brother had a landscape business before he started appearing on the show. They got lucky pitching an idea for a "reality" show to a cable producer.

David Serrano

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I know nothing about Frank but Mike had a bicycle shop for years and was active in the antique bicycle /motorcycle world as well -I first met the 2 of them at Hershey years ago and bought a pile of vintage motorcycle magazines from them ---When the show first aired their was nothing on TV that was like this show and it sorrt of kinda reflected the pre internet days of buying and selling

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

MIke has been the spokesman for Skidoo for years.................

his annual salary there was 500k a year.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I personally would have a big problem selling to someone who only wanted to flip.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Ok, say what you will about the show........
How would you like to be in their shoes? Travelling across the countries picking things that you then turn around and make a good profit AND...........get paid a huge some of money per episode!

I find that hard to beat, yes?

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Did anyone notice DANNY D ???????????

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Easy to beat. I would be travelling across the country picking things and keeping them, and getting paid a huge some of money per episode. I like old junk. I hate selling stuff. Like my brother says, "it's like Alcatraz around here, nothing escapes".

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

I gotta say these guys irritate me! I hate the way they almost beg people to sell them an item that the person acts like they don't want to sell. They tell them I got to have it! They finally win them over and buy it. Then as they leave the drive they tell you how they're going to sell it for double. At least with Pawn Stars they don't beg or try to make you think they are buying it to keep.
I try not to watch either anymore.

:cool:

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

No use getting too worked up about these (non) "reality" shows. It's all mere fiction , just like Shakespere's writings!

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Easy to beat. I would be travelling across the country picking things and keeping them, and getting paid a huge some of money per episode. I like old junk. I hate selling stuff. Like my brother says, "it's like Alcatraz around here, nothing escapes".



buddy visited me about a month ago and called me a hoarder


I consider that a compliment!

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/hamb/...er_offline.gif https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/hamb/buttons/report.gif https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/hamb/buttons/quote.gif

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

We would never get to see those featured collections if it wasn't for that show, I don't understand why people have a problem with that. Two friends made the show, and it was fun to see them featured, there was a crew of about 15 people involved to the shoot. Sure beats professional sports or the fake news. Bob

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

When I see the pickers shows come up on tv I like to tape the shows that have old cars in the description. It's interesting to see what they can find and then if they try to buy it. This post has come up different times over the past years and there has been guys say the 2 pickers don't drive the van across the country and that they come and drive the van in the driveway to make it look good. Not sure how they knew this but this is what was said.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

So as John said...What happened to those Model A's that Mike and Frank bought????

Thanks.

Pluck

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

The one thing they have never done on American Pickers is wrap whatever they buy for the trip home, just roll that four foot diameter $3,000 sign in the van and wave good buy. In reality the backup vehicles the crew drives takes this stuff home. I've wondered if their van is the same one every week or one they rent locally and stick the magnetic sign on? Still think it is great that they can find more spots to visit every week. Bob

First person narrative
 

Here is a thread about someone who has had a firsthand experience:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/708324/809808.html



Jim

Re: First person narrative
 

Based on this it does not appear to be as scripted as everyone “thinks” it is, sounds like they make a good attempt to make it as real as possible....I would expect they did some up front work to identify who they would pick.

Re: American Pickers Model A .
 

Roadster,

they rent them all over the country and fly in for the show.

use the same curtain and sign in each one, to make them all look the same.