Our Own American Pickers Episode

This past weekend, Dear Husbola and I were eager to fill a warm July Saturday with a good estate or farm auction.  I check www.auctionzip.com a few times a week.  It is a great site and easy to navigate.  You insert your zip code and how many miles you want to travel from home--and all the auctions are listed--most with auction bills and pictures--a great way to pinpoint an auction near you.

Late last week--a good auction was listed--and only 40 minutes from home.  The description of the estate items and location were both winners for us.  We arrived a bit over an hour before the start of the auction--got a great up front parking space--and starting looking over the wagons.

It was one of those fooler auctions.  At first blush--you think there is nothing there--but at closer look--we found many items that were of interest.  Prices were all over the place--somethings very low and some things higher--but nothing was out of resale range--so we settled in for a good day.

As the auction was approaching the last wagon--the orginal auctioneer who was being relieved by another auctioneer walks by me--and starts talking.  He tells me that the items sold were owned by an old man now deceased--and his son has decided to sell.  He says that this was "just the tip of the iceberg" and there are buildings and buildings full to the brim. WHAT????????

Let me tell you--there are no words more sweet to an antique dealer than "there will be more of this and the nut has not even been shelled."  Then--even more interesting to my ears--the auctioneer asks, "Would you like to see in the big building??"

Yehaw!  Where is Dear Husbola?  In the porta potty?  Getting the car?  Dear Husbola located--we are let in by key to a huge building by a friend of the son owner--and that is where we stepped into the American Pickers episode.  The building was dark and a bit damp and cool and LOADED.  LOADED with you name it--a miniature town of pretend building storefronts--blacksmith-pharmacist-school room-grocery store--and each storefront jammed with the right kind of items for that shop.  JAMMED. And the coca cola memorabilia collection--the huge huge huge barbed wire collection.  Toys-indian items-Harley Davidson items--JAMMED.  The American Picker boys would trade in their nice white Sprinter van to get into this place.  We were joined now by the Son Owner.  Our next question was--"so when are THESE things going to be auctioned?"  "Well--I sold a few things and the wife and I took a trip to Alaska.  I'd like to go to the Panama Canal--so I will have to sell some more."  "Maybe in a year or two," he added.

The Son Owner and Friend of Son Owner were in no hurry to move us along.  We enjoyed 20 minutes with them--and wished the American Picker cameras were rolling.  This is a rarely seen piece of midwest dealer scene--and certainly never experienced by Dear Husbola and me.  This antique scene is grand!!!