HWHII Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 I watched a episode last night of American Pickers. For those who have not seen this show, it's about two guys who travel they country looking for antiques. Last night they were in North Carolina and in a big building loaded full of stuff. They find this old bar and start to haggel over the price of it, but on top of this bar sit 2 great bellows. Fantastic looking! The bar happens to come out of a blacksmiths shop / tavern by the name of Jean Laffete in Louisiana. They keep on haggling over the bar and never give the bellows a second look. They end up buying the bar for $50 and says he will sell it for $100 for a $50 profit. I'm thinking to myself the real gold is on top you dumb XXX and you can make more money off the bellows. I have watched this show for sometime and can't begin to tell you the number of anvils, post vises and other blacksmith realted items in the background they just over look and they see no value in. So for all of you looking for blacksmithing tools their out there go find them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 I noticed that, too! They were a nice size, not the huge ones you usually see. That's okay, that just gives a smith the chance to find and use it. There has been a number of barns/shops with tools as you said. I wish they gave contact info so things we see could be found. Did you see the Von Dutch Harley with a vw engine that was owned by Big Daddy Ed Roth?! Amazing and they bought it for $21,000! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 I sure would like to tag along with em. They think they're so up on good buys but with the BS stuff they don't know squat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chyancarrek Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 I saw them too . . . one even had the hook (in great shape) on it. I'm real skeptical of the "finds" that most of these shows "Pickers", "Pawn Stars", "Storage Wars" etc. seem to consistently run across . . . I'm more of the mind that any bike of Big Daddy Ed's was "found" well before the filming by a producer's well funded research team and then the "find" was well scripted to add that o' so profitable element of excitement/drama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Blythin Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 We have a similar / spin-off show here called "Canadian Pickers". They came to town on a 'pick' recently. Months before, there was a series of ads in the local newspaper asking for people wanting to be on the show to contact the production company... I'm sure all of these shows are quite scripted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 Ya I saw the bellows too, I watch the show every week, well when they actually have new episodes at least. It is amazing how they pay no attention to blacksmith tools and such. I remember an episode where the guy showed them the blacksmith shop and they just passed by it. (Good for us) nobody tell them about this now. I am going to do some picking myself today, another estate sale. You never know what you will find buried in a shed or garage. Scored an 84 lb Arm& Hammer anvil last year $40.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWHII Posted April 25, 2012 Author Share Posted April 25, 2012 I noticed that, too! They were a nice size, not the huge ones you usually see. That's okay, that just gives a smith the chance to find and use it. There has been a number of barns/shops with tools as you said. I wish they gave contact info so things we see could be found. Did you see the Von Dutch Harley with a vw engine that was owned by Big Daddy Ed Roth?! Amazing and they bought it for $21,000! Yeah I saw it! The whole show just kept me frothing at the mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I just caught that episode, I caught myself yelling at the tv, hey idiots, there's gold right there! anyway I have one of those big ones I'm thinking of selling myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matto Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 they are from iowa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 I watch it almost religously! On one particular episode I noticed a ton of related items so I think, 'Shoot, I'll just contact them on their web site.' I did so, stating that I was by no means trying to horn in on their finds but would like to know the location of a particular "hot spot" they showed. That was at least a year ago and still waiting for their reply.....yea, right, like they are going to respond.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Blacksmithing tools don't sell real well in antique shops so it's no wonder they don't give much but a glance, probably cost them more to get it home than they'd make. Lastly, it's a TV show. If you want to know where they find something you have to pay attention to where they are, then go there and ask around, coffee shops are my favorite information sources when traveling. Shooting a TV show on old "Whatsisnames" place will be remembered for quite a while, years at least. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I find the show quite interesting for the value that they place on some things, I often wander "just whan they are on" that said has anyone seen "Scrappers" what a bunch of palookas! that lot are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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