MAYVILLE - Chautauqua County Executive Gregory Edwards recently learned that History Channel's "American Pickers" is coming to New York state - and possibly to Chautauqua County.
The show's producer Cineflix Inc., is looking for any leads in Chautauqua County of people with large private collections that could be featured in the show.
"American Pickers" drew 3.1 million viewers on its debut in January 2010 and the show, now in its fourth season, explores the world of antique 'picking.' The show follows two of the most skilled pickers in the business, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, as they embark on an epic road trip across the U.S. The show follows the pickers on their truck as they go on a mission in search of America's most fascinating and valuable antiques-treasures that have been long forgotten in junkyards, basements, garages and barns across the country.
Article Photos
Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz scour the country for hidden gems on the History Channel show American Pickers.
Photo by Amy Richmond
"We're looking for leads throughout the state, specifically interesting characters with interesting items and lots of them," said Jodi Friedman, Cineflix Inc. producer .
Wolfe and Fritz only pick private collections and are not looking for leads to stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses, or anything open to the public. They are also not looking for farming/agriculture items, tools, glassware, appliances, tractors, crocks, stoves or country primitives.
Some of the items the American Pickers are looking for are: motor scooters, including Vespas, Lambretta and Cushman; old advertising signage; motorcycles; bicycles from the early 1900s through the pre-1960s; old toys, including tin, wind-up, cast iron; pre-1950s vending machines, pinball and slot machines; old movie posters; unusual radios, including transistor and tabletop models; antique casino/gaming machines; vintage movie memorabilia; vintage advertising items; taxidermy; vintage concert posters and T-shirts; early Boy Scout items; pre-1960s vintage diner collectibles; pre-1960s TV merchandise; pre-1950s western/equestrian gear; classic motorcycle memorabilia; sports memorabilia; Houdini items; old rodeo items; airline collectibles: Pan-Am, TWA, etc.; late-1970s and earlier military items; extraordinary mobster memorabilia; vintage police officer collectibles; firefighter collectibles' pre-1940s telephones; folk art; vintage BB guns/cap guns ; early Halloween items; pre-1940s Christmas items; Hawaiian/tiki collectibles; vintage sports collectibles; vintage election memorabilia; musical instruments; Civil War antiques; vintage gas pumps; pre-1970s old neon signs; strange woodcarvings; vintage collegiate collectibles; and casino tables.
Anyone with a large private collection of such items can call Edwards' office at 753-4211 for more information.