Ep 13. What's Inside the Vault?

In American Pickers season 14 episode 13, entitled "What's Inside the Vault?," Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz continue their journey across America in search of unique and rare antiques and collectibles.

The episode begins with the duo traveling to Illinois to meet a collector who has a vault filled with valuable items. The collectors are excited to see what hidden treasures lie inside the vault and take a deep dive into exploring its contents. After opening the vault, the team finds a range of items such as vintage clothing, toys, and artwork.

Among the assortment of items, Mike and Frank stumble across a brass cash register that dates back to the early 1900s. They also discover a rare Germantown blanket that dates back to the 19th century, which is worth a considerable amount to collectors. They then stumble upon a vintage tennis game, which the collector reveals is a game that was once played by royalty in the UK, and it was an expensive game, which was acquired by the collector over time.

Later on, the pickers come across a rare gas pump that dates back to the 1930s. They are amazed by its unique design and decide to put it on display in their shop once they have acquired it. The pickers also discover a 1920s sound system that was used for music in movie theaters and restaurants. They move on from this location with a car full of vintage items and continue their journey to explore more.

Next, Mike and Frank drive to Iowa to visit a collector's property that has gone unheard of by other pickers in the area. The collector is an elderly woman who has acquired a large collection of antiques throughout her life. The duo meets the collector and quickly realize that she has an impressive collection ranging from vintage bicycles, antique cameras, and a variety of toys and board games. They also discover a rare and unique German-made tin toy, which is worth a lot of money. They also find a vintage soda fountain and a rare butter churn from the 1800s, which they believe they can restore and sell to collectors.

Throughout the episode, the pickers discover a range of interesting and valuable items that are hidden away in collectors' homes and vaults. They delve deep into the stories and histories behind each item and come to understand the significance of each find. They encounter various challenges along the way, such as a difficult negotiation process, but ultimately come out successful in acquiring one-of-a-kind items that will be showcased in their store.

Overall, "What's Inside the Vault?" is an entertaining and informative episode that showcases the importance of preserving history and the value of carefully curated antiques and collectibles. As always, the American Pickers team uncovers hidden treasures and brings them back to life for the world to see.