MANSFIELD — That old tool, baseball card or motorcycle could be worth more than you realize. It may also land you a spot on national television, especially if there is a story behind it.
That’s how it happened for Lexington resident Tim Corwin in 2018, whose collections included everything from old oil cans and vintage Mountain Dew bottles to Jaguar cars and motorcycles.
The History Channel show “American Pickers” will be back in Ohio in August to film new episodes of the documentary series that explores the world of antique “picking.”
“American Pickers” follows the cast as they scour the country for hidden gems in junkyards, basements, garages and barns, meeting quirky characters and hearing their amazing stories.
“We reach out to the entire state through local news outlets, as well as Chambers of Commerce and other ways, we do our best to include everyone,” said Joshua Kerlin, one of the show’s producers.
About ‘American Pickers’
“This isn’t your grandmother’s antiquing. The American Pickers are on a mission to recycle America, even if it means diving into countless piles of grimy junk or getting chased off a gun-wielding homeowner’s land. Hitting back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers earn a living by restoring forgotten relics to their former glory, transforming one person’s trash into another’s treasure. The show follows the team as they scour the country for hidden gems in junkyards, basements, garages and barns, meeting quirky characters and hearing their amazing stories. If you think the antique business is all about upscale boutiques and buttoned-up dealers, this show may change your mind – and teach you a thing or two about American history along the way.“
— Source: American Pickers
“Depending on who submits ideas, and what we deem as the right fit for the show, that determines where we will go to film,” he said.
If interested, please send your name, phone number, location, and description of the collection with photos to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call (646) 493-2184 and leave a voice message describing your item(s).
The story behind the item or the collection can be as crucial as the antique itself.
“That is what we are hoping for. Ideally, we love to find collections that have a really cool history, the item/property and the family,” he said.
“When we have all three of those things in a submission, that’s a jackpot for us,” Kerlin said.
“We try not to limit what it is we are seeking, though we typically do not do glass or guns. A lot of times, we don’t know what we are looking for until we see it with our own eyes,” he said.
Kerlin and other producers look at the photos submitted to determine an initial grasp on value of the items — and value to the TV show. Those who pass that test are passed on to the TV show’s hosts for further discussion and decision making.
“We have found some really cool stuff over the years,” Kerlin said. “We talk prices on the scene (during filming). We don’t give pricing (ideas) ahead of time.”
“American Pickers” debuted on the History Channel in 2010 and remains one of the most popular shows on the network.
When the show visited Corwin six years ago, the cast 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 cast 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 at the time.
To learn more about “American Pickers,” visit the show’s website or its Facebook page.
