LEXINGTON –  Known as a neighbor to some in the southern-most portion of Lexington School District and the “King of Bubblegum Rock” to the rest of the world, 70-year-old Timothy Corwin has gathered hundreds of items – everything from old oil cans and vintage Mountain Dew bottles to Jaguar cars and motorcycles – throughout his lifetime and stored them in two barns and a garage at his northern Morrow County home.

It appears an ideal stop for an episode of American Pickers, but Corwin never imagined the show’s hosts, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz would stop by.

“I have watched it over the years and never thought I’d see the day that I’d be on it,” said Corwin.

He spends much of his time at The Bucket Seat, an auto body shop in Lexington, or rehearsing with The Ohio Express, a band known worldwide for its Bubblegum Rock style music like its number one hit song in 1968, “Yummy Yummy Yummy.” Other songs by The Ohio Express include “Beg, Borrow and Steal,” “Chewy Chewy” and “Mercy.” More recently, the band has prepared a Christmas album.

Corwin had no intentions to tip off the American Pickers to his “hiding spot” in Morrow County, but his friend David Keaton, a former keyboardist and avid fan of the show, had a different vision.

“He’s not quite as big a fan as I am. If I hadn’t pushed this, it never would have happened,” Keaton said. “And walking through it, I could see Mike and Frank walking around looking at this stuff. I never let go of that, and it actually happened.”

Keaton traveled to Antique Archaeology in Le Claire, Iowa more than 2 1/2 years ago hoping to meet Wolfe or Fritz, but instead met another woman from the show, Emily Gwin, who inspired him to share Corwin’s story via a letter addressed to Mike, Frank and Danielle Colby.

“How would you guys and gals like to pick the King of Bubble Gum Rock, Sir Timothy Corwin of the Ohio Express? You remember their first hit single in 1967, “Beg, Borrow and Steal?” Keaton wrote shortly after he returned from his visit.

Keaton went on to list specific items that they could find on Corwin’s property, and sure enough, he heard back in an email. Keaton said, Wolfe expressed interest in the pick, but shared that he was not immediately available to come to the area.

Two years flew by without further response, so Keaton followed up in another letter, this one dated Aug. 1, 2018. Richland Source reported in July that the show was looking to return to Ohio in September.

“He said, ‘Tim, they’re going to go for this,’” Corwin recalled. “And I said, ‘Uh, you’re crazy.’”

Again, Keaton heard back, and this time, the correspondence kept coming. A scout came to visit the property earlier this fall, and Corwin spoke about his collection over the phone.

Then, on Thursday, Oct. 25, the famous American Pickers van rolled into Corwin’s driveway.

“It’s an all-day sucker. I mean, you’ve got four, five camera people. You’ve got lights. You’ve got your sound man … a whole fleet of vehicles,” Corwin said. “My neighbors were like what the hell’s going on over there.”

He went on to explain Fritz remembered the song “Yummy Yummy Yummy” from when he was in high school and took time to meet his cat, Captain Jack.

“We’re both big cat lovers, so I had to introduce him,” Corwin said.

He explained how Wolfe and Fritz expressed interest in several items, including his 1972 Jaguar named “Princess.” Corwin and his wife drove the car, painted old English white, on their wedding day, and it’s since been used to chauffeur around other newlyweds, too.

“I said, ‘Not for sale, my wife would kill me,’” Corwin recalled.

The duo from American Pickers instead bought a radio-controlled airplane and a motorcycle with Corwin’s autograph. Both were a little easier to let go of.

“I love everything I collect, but if you have two of everything it’s easier to sell one. It’s like when letting your children go: If you’ve still got one to keep, then you’re OK with it, even though it hurts to see the other one go,” Corwin said. 

Corwin didn’t immediately know when the episode would air.