Ep 3. Bound for Badness

In American Pickers Season 16 Episode 3, entitled "Bound for Badness," the pickers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are on a mission to find valuable and rare items. The episode starts with the pair heading out to a small town in Texas, where they are eager to visit an auto shop that has been recommended to them by a fellow collector. They are hopeful that they might be able to purchase some antique car parts to add to their collection.

As soon as they arrive at the shop, they are impressed by the vast collection of vintage cars and automobile parts. They meet the owner, who is a passionate car collector himself. Throughout the episode, they go through the owner's collection, where they're able to find things like old car signs, gas pump globes, and other authentic automobilia items. Their knowledge and expertise are truly put to the test as they need to determine whether the prices being quoted for these rare artifacts are a fair price or not.

Later in the episode, the pickers head out to a unique property of a man named "Coyote." They're excited to see what they can dig up in Coyote's barn and get there determined to find something of value. They are surprised to see a strange-looking vehicle just outside the farm. As they get inside, they are greeted by a treasure trove of vintage toys, bicycles, and other antique items. Their pickers experience comes to use as they are able to identify the valuable items amongst a pile of things.

As they proceed through the property, they stumble upon several barns that contain a vast collection of antique items. It soon becomes clear that Coyote is passionate about collecting anything and everything unique. It's exciting to watch as the pickers meticulously sift through the items, assessing their value and haggling the prices with Coyote. They even get to ride some of Coyote's antique bikes, which they find fascinating.

In the next sequence, the pickers head to a famous Texas landmark - the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Here they meet the owner, who is eager to sell some of his unique pieces. He takes them inside the restaurant and shows off items like old advertising signs, oversized vintage menu boards, and other Americana-themed memorabilia. They are impressed with the quality of the items and are particularly interested in the larger-than-life menu board. Frank is even able to get to the bottom of the mystery behind how the oversized ballerina on the board was built.

As the episode winds up, the pickers consolidate their purchases and head back to their home base in Iowa. Throughout the episode, it's not only exciting to see the rare items that the pickers discover, but it's also heartening to witness the friendships they make along the way. It's a great episode for anyone interested in Americana memorabilia, antique cars and the antique culture in Texas.