I was driving past the headquarters of Antique Archaeology, and I decided to make a quick stop. The company's building is prominently shown on every episode of the popular History Channel TV show - American Pickers. After being prominently shown on television every week, the building has become an iconic  landmark, according to at least one fan of the TV show. Of course, the person that I am referring to would be me.

Mike Wolfe is one of the stars of American Pickers, and he is the owner of the iconic Antique Archaeology building. Surprisingly, Frank Fritz, who is the other star of the American Pickers show, doesn't have any connection to the building.

I stopped by the LeClaire, Iowa shop because I wanted to meet their sweetie-pie employee, Danielle Colby Cushman. After seeing Danielle on the TV show, the viewer of the show would probably be instantly struck by her charming demeanor. I guess you can say, A PERSON WOULD AUTOMATICALLY FALL IN "LIKE" OF HER. 

Ms. Cushman is the person that stays at the shop while the two guys go on the road. She uses her internet contacts to track down potential antique picking sites

Unfortunately, Danielle wasn't at the store when I stopped by. The shop had two women working there who seemed very indifferent about me as a possible customer. They were cordial - but they definitely were not very helpful. Polar opposite to the on-screen personae of Danielle. I wish she was there.

I wanted to buy mint advertising items and toys. That is when I found out that Frank Fritz (who is the big toy guy) does not have any connection to the shop. I was told to go to the Antique Archaeology website and click on Frank's banner. I even had to force the website address of Frank's website out of the Antique Archaeology employee. Once again, I wish Danielle was there.

Posted below are a few photographs that I took of the famous "junk" car which has the company logo painted on it. On TV the car doesn't look quite as bad as it does in real life.

 

SWEET-PIE DANIELLE






A LOOK FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN THE BACKGROUND.
(YOU CAN ONLY SEE IT FROM AN ANGLE, A GAS STATION IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING)



When I went inside to look around, there wasn't much to see. The shop is mainly a workshop with old motorcycles being restored. I did see the Laurel & Hardy heads, along with the Piggly Wiggly head, that have been seen on several different episodes. There was also an old jukebox that was in "farm fresh" condition.

ONE MORE PICTURE:
CLOSEUP OF THE JUNK CAR AND THE ADT SECURITY SIGN



TALKING ABOUT LAUREL & HARDY:
 FRANK & MIKE CLAIM THEY RESEMBLE THE COMEDY LEGENDS.

I THINK FRANK LOOKS LIKE A DIFFERENT COMEDY LEGEND:

CAPTAIN HORATIO HUFFENPUFF (BEANEY & CECIL UNCLE)











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