‘American Pickers’ show coming to town, looking for local antiques

For those with valuable or unique antiques in their possession, the timing might be right to dust them off and bring them into the light.

“American Pickers,” a documentary television series that airs on the History Channel, is coming to film in Washington in September.

The show follows two antique “pickers,” Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, as they travel all over America looking for hidden antique treasures. This summer, their journey brings the team up the West Coast on a mission to find new and exciting items that they’ve never seen before.

Wolfe and Fritz only look at private collections — no stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses or anything open to the public, Natasha Moore, a casting associate for the show, said in an email.

Debbie Torgerson, owner of King’s Row Antiques in Puyallup, has heard of the show and said while she doesn’t know many people with personal collections, this could be good for Puyallup.

“I think that’s interesting and fun,” she said. “I think it might draw people in.”

Greg Zehnder, the owner of 3rd Street Antiques, agrees.

“I think anything that increases the interest in old things is good for us because it adds to the excitement,” he said.

Zehnder said a lot of the vendors he works with have serious collections, and just might step forward.

Wolfe and Fritz aren’t just looking for gold, but items with rich histories and stories, Moore said.

They want to get to know the people who collect them, too.

Antiques on the wanted list include motorcycles, furniture, radios, musical instruments and more.

For those with a large, private collection of antiques who are interested in talking with Wolfe and Fritz, send your name, phone number, location and description of the collection, with photos, to americanpickers@cineflix.com, or call 1-855-OLD-RUST (653-7878).

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 9:44 AM with the headline "‘American Pickers’ show coming to town, looking for local antiques."