One
of my favorite shows on television is American Pickers. I don't watch
is continuously nor am I addicted to it. I don't record it on my DVR,
but I do watch it often, especially when I want to get caught up on
what's hot in the world of 'picking and collecting' or when a need
to do a reality check on prices and how much people may be willing to
pay for “stuff,” maybe not in Maine though. But at least the show
does give me a general idea of what items may be worth and for me,
they are more entertaining that watching professional sports these
days.
It
has been rumored that not too long ago the show spent some time in
Maine, not that we would have many folks around that fill up their
tool sheds, garages or attics with rusted out cars, old gasoline
tanks, early metal signs, old toys and games or antique motorcycles.
The list goes on.
But
after spending many Sunday mornings at local auctions, stopping along
the roadway at a yard sale or on occasion, just poking around empty
an old barn, I may be wrong. There are many who just put “stuff”
away somewhere in hopes that in the future it may bring a big score
in dollar value and someone will offer them lots of money. And it
seems that there is very little that doesn't have some value to
someone. Old tobacco tins are always very popular.
A
few years ago, tucked away in the woods in a rural Piscatiquis County
town (northern Maine) among the trees were many old cars, trucks and
school buses, dating back to the 1940's. During the late 40's and
early 50's many cars were shipped north from Boston after the war
and sold to the locals as cars and other vehicles were difficult to
get in rural areas. During the war much of the manufactured steel
had been used to makes boats, tanks and weapons.
Over
the years though, many of the cars that were destined to live out
their lives in the woods, were either restored or became props in
Hollywood movies as directors learned of their existence tucked away
in the Maine woods and they were quite willing to buy and ship them
to California and restore them to some degree their former beauty.
I
was fortunate to be given an old sign from an early school bus which
still hangs proudly in my home and is something that has more value
to me as a memory and a gift than any amount of dollars someone
might be willing to pay.
In
a recent episode of American Pickers, as Mike and Frank searched the
contents of one of six outbuilding on an elderly man's property, the
two became somewhat overwhelmed by the number of items that had been
collected and saved. Not only was it like going back in history, but
as Mike commented, it was “ like experiencing different times of
this man's life.” Not only did it reflect different points in his
living but in many cases what he had saved and collected also showed
who he was as a person, what he valued and what he treasured.
Deeper
into the show it became obvious to the viewer, me that is, how
difficult it was for him to give up many of his “treasures,” even
if he was paid for the them.
At
the auction the other day,and one who is a people watcher, my
attention was drawn to several people and by the way they were
reacting, I could tell that some up the items up for sale this week
had come from possible family members, perhaps a mother or father, or
maybe a grandparent who had passed away. As they looked through the
box of old photographs, it was obvious they were having second
thought about having them sold. Would someone pay money to relive
another family's life and history?
I
will never be an “American picker,” have my own television show
or travel to the ends of the ends of the earth to buy a rusty 1931
Ford roadster. Maybe I should. I could make a few bucks. But, I admit
that I do like to poke around every once and awhile, maybe even at
the local 'dump'. But with new “No Dump Picking Allowed” signs
and all these shows on television now, people just are not throwing
things away like the use to.
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