Ep 9. Southern Fried Picks

In Season 5, Episode 9 of American Pickers Best of, titled "Southern Fried Picks," Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz head to the South to pick some unique items.

The episode begins with the duo visiting a large property in Mississippi owned by a man named John. John has been collecting items for decades, and the property is filled with everything from old toys to rusty cars. Mike and Frank quickly get to work, digging through the piles and finding some great picks.

One of the first items they come across is an antique fire extinguisher shaped like a grenade. Mike immediately sees the potential in it and decides to keep it for himself. He also finds a vintage advertising sign for a local dairy, which he plans to sell in his store.

As they continue to search the property, Mike and Frank stumble upon a large shed full of old gas pumps and signs. The pickers are in heaven, as they love collecting unique advertising pieces. They find a Texaco sign that they plan to sell for a good profit, as well as a vintage Gulf sign that they decide to keep for their own personal collection.

One of the most interesting finds on the property is a vintage Coca-Cola cooler, which Mike estimates to be from the 1930s. It's a rare piece, and Mike is eager to add it to his collection. He also comes across an old postcard from Mississippi featuring a group of African American employees at a cotton gin. Mike, a collector of African American history, is excited to purchase the postcard.

Next up, Mike and Frank head to Louisiana to visit a man named Sammy who has been collecting for over 60 years. Sammy has a large collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia, including some colorful parade floats. Mike and Frank love the floats, and they make a deal with Sammy to purchase one of them.

While in Louisiana, the duo also visits a man named Harold who has been collecting vintage signs for years. Harold takes Mike and Frank to his storage unit, which is full of treasures. They find a great Lion Oil sign, which they plan to sell, as well as an old Coca-Cola sign that they decide to keep for themselves. They also find an interesting piece of Louisiana history – an old ferry boat sign – which Mike plans to sell in his store.

In the final segment of the episode, Mike and Frank visit a man named Larry who has a large collection of antique telephones. Larry's collection includes some rare pieces, including a wooden candlestick phone and an early black rotary dial phone. Mike and Frank are impressed with Larry's collection, and they make a deal to purchase several of the phones.

Overall, Southern Fried Picks is a great episode full of unique finds and interesting characters. Mike and Frank are at the top of their game, and their excitement and enthusiasm for picking is contagious. Fans of the show will definitely want to check out this episode!