Show seeks to feature collectors and characters.

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (April 30, 2014) – This isn’t your grandmother’s antiquing. The popular History Channel television show American Pickers will make a stop in West Virginia this May, including Parkersburg. The show is currently seeking collectors and characters to be featured in future episodes.

“The Pickers team will be coming to the West Virginia next week to scout locations and potential collectors to be featured on the show,” said Mark Lewis, Greater Parkersburg CVB President & CEO. “They are looking for people with barns warehouses, buildings full of odd, unique, and interesting collections.  They also love to explore the history of the locations tied to the items. We hope the public will respond with interest. We are also looking forward to highlighting Greater Parkersburg in the process!”

The hosts of the show, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, are longtime “pickers” or as they call themselves “modern archaeologists”. They drive the back roads of America knocking on doors, digging through barns and basements, and sifting through junkyards and warehouses. The dirty, rusty treasures and antiques they pull out of these places are not just given a new life; they’re saved for future generations to appreciate. Along the way the guys meet the amazing people and interesting places that make America great.

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.

The Pickers team will scout locations next week and then return to the area for filming, sometime between May 19 and June 1. The episodes featuring West Virginia are tentatively slated to air this fall on the History Channel.

If you are interested in participating in the show and selling items from your home collection, email the Greater Parkersburg CVB at [email protected] with your name, number, town, state and the items along with pictures you think Mike and Frank will be interested.  Deadline to submit information to the CVB office for consideration is Wednesday, May 7.

“The bureau is assisting in gathering leads. We will not make the final decision regarding who is or is not featured or selected for the show,” explained Lewis. “We are simply collecting basic information for consideration.”

Lewis stressed, email is the preferred method for submitting information and photos. Collectors should not bring items to the CVB office.

Items of Interest/Needed

Below is a list of the items the show is currently looking to buy. Of course the items featured on the show are not limited to this list.

 

-Motor scooters:

-Vespas, Lambretta, Cushman

-Old advertising signage

-Motorcycles

-Bicycles (Pre 60’s)

-Unusual radios: transistor /Tabletop

-Old toys: tin, wind-up, cast iron

-Pre 50’s vending machines

-Pinball and slot machines

-Old Movie Posters

-Antique casino/gaming machines

-Vintage movie memorabilia

-Vintage advertising Items

-Taxidermy

-Vintage concert posters & T-shirts

-Early Boy Scout items

-Pre 60’s vintage diner collectibles

-Pre 60’s TV merchandise

-Pre 50’s western/equestrian Gear

-Classic motorcycle memorabilia

-Old rodeo items

-Airline collectibles

-Pan-Am, TWA, Etc.

-Late 70’s & earlier military Items

-Extraordinary mobster memorabilia

-Vintage police officer collectibles

-Firefighter collectibles

-Pre 40’s telephones

-Folk art

-Vintage BB Guns/ Cap Guns

-Early Halloween items

-Pre 40’s Christmas items

-Hawaiian/ Tiki Collectibles

-Vintage sports collectibles

-Vintage election Memorabilia

-Musical instruments

-Civil War antiques

-Vintage gas pumps

-Pre 70’s old neon signs

-Strange woodcarvings

-Vintage collegiate Collectibles

-Casino tables

 

Items NOT needed: farming / agriculture items, tools, glassware, appliances, tractors, crocks, stoves, country primitives.

 

To learn more about the show, American Pickers, visit: http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers .