The Fan Interview
Answering your most frequently asked questions
Billy Kamper: Are you and Frank in business together?
MW: Frank has his own business. He is not officially part Antique Archaeology. We started picking together to save expenses and for companionship on the road. You can find his website at www.FrankFritzFinds.com.
Lisa Girardi Arrigo: Of all the people you've met in your pickin' travels, who made the biggest impression?
MW: When I was a boy I use to ride my bicycle up and down the alleys in my neighborhood. There was an old man that always had his garage door open, tinkering on various projects all of the time. I would stop in to look at all of his stuff hanging from the rafters and the walls. It was like a spider web of junk that took him a lifetime to spin. I'd spend hour listening to his stories.I loved how he didn't treat me like a little kid and we became fast friends. One day he gave me an old cigar box and it changed my life forever. Even as a little boy I can remember how the box smelled, the ornate colors, and the way the cardboard felt in my hands. It was just a box but it was special in my mind. I can remember wondering were it came from, who had owned it before and how it ended up there. I filled my old box with other small treasures. The old man passed and we moved away, but the connection, love and respect lives with me even today.
Darby Davis Kubik: When you guys find a honey hole with great picks how can you just buy a few items and leave lots of great stuff behind?
MW: We want it all but you have to remember that a Honey Hole exists because the stuff has never really been for sale before. It's all about timing. There is only 44 minutes to tell the story so the show only features a small portion of what we buy. We usually end up buying a lot more. We also don't walk by the good stuff . We ask but if it's not for sale we move on. The show editing makes it look like we cruise on by.
Linda Queen: Now many film crew people have to go with you to do the taping?
MW: The American Picker crew consists of 9 members. There's a director, plus camera, lighting, and sound folks. There are also some guys who move us from here to there.
Jerri Bowers-Sikel: Is there a particular era that you wish you could go back in time and live in?
MW: The turn of 20th century. There were so many innovative things going on in the bicycle Industry at the time and the Motorcycle Industry was also just being created. What a fascinating time period.
Kyle David Ortiz: What would your advice be for someone just starting out picking?
MW: Pick what you know and love. Be prudent. Do your homework. Think about who and where you flip your picks
Rita Adkins Bright: How does one know the best way to obtain an appraisal of a pick?
MW: It depends on the item. The internet is a start. It's all at your finger tips. The older dealers in your area are a wealth of knowledge. I've also sent photos to auction houses. Depending on your area, there might be a quality appraiser that might be able to help. Another great way to find some comparative values is to check EBAY past auctions. It will give you a general idea of what that type of item has sold for in the past.
Krista Lawler: What's your favorite music to listen to on the road? MW: I like old school country artists such as Hank Williams (I, II, and III), Charlie Feathers, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Carl Perkins, George Jones and Whitey Morgan.
Cindy Cirucci Muders: Before you got settled into pickin' as a profession, what other jobs did you have?
MW: I was a sales rep for a bike company, ended up owning my own bike shop, and a had stint as a volunteer fireman. I've been picking forever.
Jeremy Haire: What would you be doing if you were not a picker?
MW: That is hard to imagine. I know this sounds weird but If I wasn't a picker I like the idea of being a garbage man Really,those guys rock!!!! They get to ride around on the back of the truck all day AND they get first dibs on all of the fresh killer stuff
