American Pickers, Vol. 1

Part sleuths, part antiques experts, and part cultural historians, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, business partners of Antique Archaeology in Iowa, are professional “pickers,” trolling America’s small towns to salvage rare collectibles and good garbage from regular folks. Their job? To dig through junk piles, abandoned barns, and neglected garages for a chance at unearthing relics of historical, collectible, and pop culture value. Although buying and selling is their livelihood, the thrill is in the chase. Each treasure hunt leads them to fascinating, quirky characters — everyday people with stories about themselves and their artifacts that provide a fascinating look into American life. The new HISTORY series American Pickers traces the highs and lows of the “picking” trade, following Mike and Frank as they get their hands dirty in search of weird and wonderful Americana, from a vintage Harley to a one-of-a-kind Ferris wheel. The pressure mounts as they attempt to turn around each item fast, find just the right buyer, and strike the ultimate deal.