Ep 2. Tick Tock Pick
- TVPG
- May 11, 2016
- 42 min
In the second episode of season 15 of American Pickers, titled "Tick Tock Pick," Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are on the hunt for unique and valuable vintage items that they can add to their collection. This time around, they're searching for pieces that have a mechanical or time-related element to them.
The show opens with the pair arriving at a large property on the outskirts of a small town in Ohio. They meet a man named Dan, who owns a garage filled to the brim with old cars, motorcycles, and various vintage items. As they sift through the clutter, they come across an interesting mechanical timepiece: a clock with a rotating face that alternates between showing the time and a series of different advertisements. Mike and Frank make an offer, and Dan seems pleased to part ways with the unique timepiece.
Next, the pickers head to a sprawling estate in rural Iowa. They meet with a collector named Terry, who has an entire building dedicated to his collection of antique clocks and watches. He shows them a wide variety of timepieces, from antique pocket watches to ornate grandfather clocks. Mike and Frank are drawn to a beautiful Art Deco clock that has been sitting unused for years. They strike a deal with Terry, and Mike gets to work cleaning and restoring the clock to its former glory.
The pickers' next stop is a small town in Wisconsin, where they meet a man named Bill who has a garage filled with old toys and collectibles. They browse the shelves and come across a fun mechanical toy that operates on a complex system of gears and pulleys. The toy is in great condition and still works after all these years. Mike and Frank make an offer, and Bill accepts.
The final item on the pickers' list is a vintage slot machine. They head to a casino in Las Vegas, Nevada to meet up with a collector named Randy, who has a impressive collection of antique slot machines. Randy shows them his prized possession, a rare slot machine made in the early 1900s that is still in working condition. Mike and Frank are blown away by the machine's intricate mechanisms and the beautiful woodworking on the exterior. They make an offer, and after some negotiation, they agree on a price and head home with their latest acquisition.
Throughout the episode, the pickers encounter a wide variety of interesting people and objects, all of which are connected by their mechanical or time-related elements. From the clock with the rotating face to the elaborate system of gears in the mechanical toy, each piece they pick is a fascinating glimpse into the history of human ingenuity and innovation. As always, the pickers' curiosity and passion for the unique and unusual drives them to seek out the most interesting items they can find, no matter where the road takes them.