American Restoration (2010–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Buttered Up - full transcript
A local picker pays Rick Dale a visit with a truckload of rust laden loot. After spotting an old toy train, Rick hops on-board to buy it. Can Rick and his team get this locomotive up to full steam or will an unseen obstacle force it off its tracks? And later, the guys are asked to restore an antique popcorn machine from 1948 back to its original hot popping glory. Can they serve it up with butter, or will this project just get soggy?
Are you wondering how healthy the food you are eating is? Check it - foodval.com
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- UP NEXT ON AMERICAN
RESTORATION...
- THAT'S, LIKE, A 1940s
MANLEY POPCORN MACHINE.
- I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
A POPCORN MACHINE.
- AND UP HERE WAS THE VENTS
WHERE IT LITERALLY JUST BLEW
OUT THE AROMA OF POPCORN.
- I JUST FIND STUFF
AND, YOU KNOW, HOPE TO
GOD SOMEBODY WILL BUY IT,
AND RICK'S USUALLY THE MAN.
[grunts]
- WOW, WHAT'S THAT?
OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD.
THAT'S HOT.
- BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THE SELLING PRICE
IN 1956 WAS $225.
- THIS HAD TO BE
FOR THE WEALTHY.
REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY
WHEN THINGS WERE MADE BY HAND
AND PEOPLE TOOK
PRIDE IN THEIR WORK?
MY NAME'S RICK DALE,
AND I BRING THESE
THINGS BACK TO LIFE.
EVERY RESTORATION HAS
ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES.
THERE'S NO OWNER'S
MANUAL FOR WHAT WE DO,
BUT THERE'S NO JOB
WE CAN'T HANDLE.
I GET OBJECTS FROM EVERYWHERE,
AND PART OF MY
BUSINESS IS FROM PICKERS
THAT ACTUALLY COME TO ME.
WHAT THE HELL YOU DOING HERE?
- OH, JUST COMING TO SELL YOU
SOME OF MY PRIZE
POSSESSIONS I JUST COLLECTED.
- LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF CRAP.
- I'VE KNOWN RICK
ABOUT FIVE YEARS,
AND I ALWAYS STOP BY HERE
ON MY WAY TO THE SCRAPYARD
TO SEE IF HE WANTS TO
BUY ANY OF THIS JUNK.
- WHERE'D YOU GET THAT SHIRT?
I DIDN'T KNOW THEY
MADE A FLAG THAT BIG.
- I'M JUST A PATRIOTIC
KIND OF GUY.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS
ABOUT TEN YEARS.
I USED TO RUN HEAVY EQUIPMENT,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES
AROUND HERE IN THE DESERT
WHERE THERE'S JUST
JUNK LAYING AROUND,
SO I JUST FIND STUFF
AND, YOU KNOW, HOPE TO
GOD SOMEBODY WILL BUY IT,
AND RICK'S USUALLY THE MAN.
[metal clattering]
- NO, THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING
SOMEBODY THREW AWAY,
PROBABLY ME.
- IT'S FOR A COMPRESSOR.
- ALL THE STUFF ERIC
BRINGS US, IT'S USELESS
AND A COMPLETE
WASTE OF OUR TIME.
MY DAD ALWAYS TAKES
TIME TO LOOK, THOUGH.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY.
- AH, HERE WE GO.
LOOK AT THAT: GAS PUMPS.
YOU GOT TO NEED THESE.
- DO YOU HAVE THE
OTHER HALF OF IT?
- USUALLY, THERE'S
NOTHING THERE,
BUT IT'S NOT A WASTE OF
TIME, 'CAUSE THERE IS A CHANCE
THERE COULD BE SOMETHING
VALUABLE IN THERE.
- [grunts]
- WOW, WHAT'S THAT?
- HOW ABOUT THIS?
MY MODEL TRAIN.
- NOW, THAT... THAT'S HOT.
THAT'S HOT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
- LOOKS LIKE JUNK TO ME,
SOMETHING YOU DON'T NEED,
SOME MORE CRAP THAT WE'LL
BUY, AND IT'LL SIT IN THE BACKYARD.
- NO, THIS IS COOL.
THAT LOOKS LIKE, ACTUALLY,
SOMEBODY SAT IN IT.
IT'S GOT WHEELS
ON THE BOTTOM OF IT.
BY THE LOOK OF THE CAR,
IT'S IN THE '40s.
I'VE BEEN DOING
THIS FOR A LONG TIME,
AND FOR ME TO SEE SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE
MAKES ME REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES.
I CAN ALSO MAKE MONEY
ON STUFF LIKE THIS.
THERE ARE COLLECTORS THAT
GO CRAZY FOR VINTAGE TOYS,
AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE
THE TRAIN COLLECTOR.
THIS IS ALL BATTERY-OPERATED.
SEE, LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY
HAD A BATTERY IN HERE.
THIS IS SOME KIND OF
A STARTING MECHANISM.
THIS IS A REGULATOR.
I THINK WE CAN DO
SOMETHING WITH THIS.
- YOU CAN THROW IT AWAY.
THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT.
- SO I'LL THROW IN
THE GAS NOZZLES,
IF YOU WANT THAT, FOR 100 BUCKS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- 100 BUCKS?
NORMALLY WHEN I BUY
SOMETHING TO RESTORE AND SELL,
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
IT'S GONNA COST ME
AND HOW MUCH I'M GONNA MAKE.
IN THIS CASE, I DON'T,
BUT IT'S JUST TOO COOL,
AND I'M GONNA HAVE
TO TAKE A CHANCE.
ALL RIGHT, THIS AND THE
GAS NOZZLES: 100 BUCKS
- SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
- FINALLY, ERIC, YOU COME
WITH SOMETHING GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, TYLER.
GET THAT THING OUT THERE.
- THAT'S A JOKE.
- COME ON, JUST GRAB ON TO IT.
- I GOT 100 BUCKS TODAY
FOR THE TRAIN AND
TWO GAS NOZZLES,
SO IT'S 100% PROFIT FOR ME,
BECAUSE I WAS GOING
TO THE SCRAPYARD WITH IT.
- THAT WAS A HORRIBLE DECISION.
- WHAT THE HELL
YOU TALKING ABOUT?
- YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS,
AND YOU JUST SPENT $100 ON IT.
- TYLER, YOU'LL LEARN.
I GOT A CALL FROM A GUY
THAT WANTS TO GET HIS
1940s POPCORN MACHINE FIXED,
SO HE'S BRINGING IT TO MY
SHOP SO I CAN GIVE HIM A QUOTE.
GREAT TO MEET YOU.
- THANK YOU.
- LET'S GET IT OUT OF THE TRUCK
SO I CAN TAKE A
BETTER LOOK AT IT.
- I CAME DOWN TO RICK'S
RESTORATIONS TODAY
TO TRY TO GET AN OLD
POPCORN MACHINE RESTORED.
GOT THIS POPCORN
MACHINE BACK IN TENNESSEE.
WHEN I WAS A KID,
WE USED TO GO TO A MOVIE
HOUSE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS,
AND I KNOW THAT
THEY CLOSED DOWN,
AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
A POPCORN MACHINE,
SO WE DICKERED A LITTLE BIT
AND GOT THE POPCORN
MACHINE FOR $400.
- THIS THING IS TOTALLY AWESOME.
I MEAN, FIRST OF
ALL, IT'S A MANLEY.
THEY CAME OUT IN 1939
WITH A POPCORN MACHINE,
BUT THIS ONE HERE
IS PROBABLY A 1948.
BACK IN THE '40s,
NO ONE HAD TVs,
SO IF YOU WANTED
SOMENTERTAINMENT,
YOU'D GO TO THE MOVIE THEATER.
AND WHAT GOES BETTER WITH
A MOVIE THAN HOT POPCORN?
THIS IS A REALLY NICE ONE,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOUSE,
BECAUSE IT'S SORT OF SMALL.
THE NEXT SIZE UP IS
QUITE A BIT BIGGER.
THEY WERE VERY SELF-CONTAINED.
I MEAN, GO UP; PLUG IT IN;
YOU'RE READY TO SELL
RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
YOU HAD A PLACE TO PUT
YOUR MONEY INSIDE HERE.
THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FOR BAGS.
THIS ONE HERE, THEY'D HAVE
THEIR OIL SITTING IN HERE,
AND IT GOT HOT
SO WHEN THEY PUT IT IN THERE,
IT WAS WARM TO START OFF.
THIS WAS THE
POPCORN INSIDE HERE.
YOU WOULD TAKE THE SCOOP,
SCOOP THE POPCORN OUT.
IT SAID "DELICIOUS" ON THE SIDE,
AND IT LIT UP.
AND UP HERE WAS THE VENTS
WHERE IT LITERALLY JUST BLEW
OUT THE AROMA OF POPCORN.
WHEN YOU WALKED
INTO THE THEATER,
YOU WEREN'T ONLY
DRAWN TO IT BY ITS LOOKS.
YOU COULD LITERALLY SMELL
THE POPCORN FROM MILES AWAY.
THEY WANTED YOU TO SMELL IT
BECAUSE THEY
WANTED YOU TO BUY IT.
- HOW MUCH YOU THINK
THIS IS GONNA COST ME?
- WELL, I REPAINT THE OUTSIDE,
REDO ALL THE STAINLESS,
DO NEW GLASS INSIDE HERE.
THE WIRING ON IT LOOKS LIKE
IT NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF TLC.
A FULL RESTORATION ON
THIS IS GONNA BE $3,500.
- OKAY.
- IT'LL LOOK BRAND-NEW.
IT'LL LOOK JUST LIKE
A BRAND-NEW PENNY.
- THAT'S A DEAL.
I'M READY TO SEE IT
ALL FINISHED UP AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA HAVE
ABOUT $4,000 IN THIS MACHINE,
WHICH REALLY SOUNDS NUTS
FOR A POPCORN MACHINE,
BUT I REALLY LOVE POPCORN,
AND ME AND THE GRANDKIDS
ARE GONNA HAVE A GREAT
TIME WITH THIS MACHINE.
[wheels rattling]
- IT'S NICE IT'S ON WHEELS, HUH?
EARLIER, I BOUGHT AN OLD TRAIN
FROM A SCRAPPER I DEAL WITH.
I TOOK A GAMBLE,
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ONE,
SO I CALLED IN AN EXPERT.
SO THIS IS WHAT
I GOT. WHAT IS IT?
- I'M THE GENERAL
MANAGER OF REAL TRAINS.
WE'RE A MANUFACTURER
OF LARGE-SCALE TRAINS
USED IN AMUSEMENT PARKS.
RICK, I'VE SEEN A LOT
OF PICTURES OF THESE,
BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY
SEEN 'EM IN PERSON.
THIS ACTUALLY WAS SOLD TO PEOPLE
FOR USE IN THEIR
BACKYARDS AS A KID'S TOY.
- OH, YEAH?
- BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THE SELLING PRICE
IN 1956 WAS $225.
- WOW, THAT'S A LOT
OF MONEY BACK THEN.
- IN THOSE YEARS, IT WAS.
- $225 BACK THEN IS
LIKE 2,000 BUCKS NOW,
WHICH MEANS THAT IT
WAS RARE BACK THEN.
- WE HAVE PICTURES IN
SOME OF THE LITERATURE.
THIS IS THEIR AD,
AND THEY SOLD 200 UNITS
CUSTOM-PAINTED LIKE THAT
FOR THE POPSICLE COMPANY.
- THESE WERE THE BACK CARS.
- THOSE WERE THE
CARS THAT CAME WITH IT.
- THIS IS AWESOME.
- AND IT CAME WITH
A LOOP OF TRACK
WHICH WAS 40 FEET AROUND,
AND YOU HAD TO PUT IT TOGETHER,
AND PUTTING IT TOGETHER
WAS A REAL DIFFICULT JOB.
- YEAH.
IT'S NOT VERY HARD.
LOOK, SHE'S DOING IT.
- SHE'S DOING IT, YES.
- [laughs]
SHE'S EVEN GOT A
SMILE ON HER FACE.
CAN'T BE THAT HARD.
THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT HAS NOT CHANGED:
THEY ALWAYS SAY "SOME
ASSEMBLY REQUIRED,"
AND IT'S ALWAYS A BIGGER
HEADACHE THAN YOU SIGNED UP FOR.
- VERY UNUSUAL.
YOU HAVE THE ENTIRE INSIDE.
THEY USED THE STARTER
MOTOR OFF OF AN AUTOMOBILE.
THERE IS NO SPEED CONTROL.
IT'S JUST OFF/ON.
- OKAY.
THERE'S ALSO NO BRAKES.
- NO BRAKES.
- YOU STICK YOUR FOOT
OUT OR SOMETHING, YEAH.
- SO, NOW, IF I
RESTORE THIS CAR,
FULLY ORIGINAL,
HOW MUCH IS THAT WORTH?
- SOMETHING THAT A COLLECTOR,
AS OPPOSED TO A
RUNNER, WOULD WANT,
PROBABLY ABOUT $4,500.
- OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD!
THANKS, BILL.
- THANK YOU.
- I'M, LIKE, WALKING
ON AIR RIGHT NOW.
- GOOD DEAL.
- YOU MADE MY DAY.
AFTER HEARING HOW
MUCH THIS THING'S WORTH,
IT'S CRAZY THAT THIS THING
COULD HAVE BEEN HEADING
FOR THE SCRAPYARD.
BUT WE LUCKED OUT,
AND NOW IT'S HERE.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS,
CAN I FIX IT FOR THE RIGHT PRICE
SO I CAN MAKE SOME MONEY ON IT?
I NEED TO MAKE A
COUPLE OF TRAIN CARS.
- THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO
DO WITH THE POPCORN MACHINE
IS TEAR IT DOWN,
SEPARATE WHAT NEEDS
TO BE SANDBLASTED
AND WHAT NEEDS TO
GO TO THE CHROME SHOP.
- CHROME BOX.
THE REASON WE
DON'T DO CHROME HERE
IS 'CAUSE IT'S A REAL
EXPENSIVE PROCESS.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A LOT
OF IT TO MAKE IT PROFITABLE.
WHEN KYLE FINDS THIS IN A BOX,
HE WON'T KNOW
WHAT THE HELL THIS IS,
SO WE GOT TO GET A PICTURE OF IT
SO HE KNOWS IT GOES RIGHT THERE.
KYLE'S IN CHARGE OF ASSEMBLY.
IT'S HIS JOB TO PUT
EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER.
OKAY.
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON
MACHINES THAT ARE THIS OLD,
THERE'S NO MANUAL.
WE TAKE A LOT OF PICTURES
'CAUSE WE USE IT AS A GUIDE
TO PUT THE MACHINES
BACK TOGETHER.
NO CASH.
- [laughs] UNFORTUNATELY.
- OH, SECRET. SEE THAT?
THAT'S SO SOMEBODY COULDN'T
JUST TAKE THAT DRAWER
AND YANK IT OUT OF THERE AND GO.
THAT WOULDN'T STOP ME.
- ONE OF THE BIG PROJECTS
WE HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW
IS THIS VINTAGE TOY TRAIN.
BRETTLY'S GONNA SANDBLAST
ALL THE OLD PAINT
AND RUST OFF OF IT.
IN ORDER TO MAKE
EVERY SINGLE PROJECT
AS AUTHENTIC AS POSSIBLE,
I HAVE TO DO A LOT
OF RESEARCH ON IT.
THIS TRAIN WAS
MANUFACTURED IN 1957,
WHEN TOYS WERE ACTUALLY
MADE OUT OF METAL.
BACK THEN, TOYS
WERE MEANT TO LAST.
WE GOT A TON GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
I NEED TO GET THIS
POPCORN MACHINE PAINTED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
SO THAT I CAN GET THE PINSTRIPER
STARTED ON THE GRAPHICS.
[spray paint hissing]
THE TRAIN'S COMING
ALONG AWESOME,
BUT IT'S A TON OF WORK,
SO WHEN BILL OFFERED
TO DROP OFF SOME PARTS,
I DIDN'T EVEN HESITATE.
IT'S GONNA COST A LITTLE MONEY,
BUT IT'S GONNA
SAVE A LOT OF TIME.
THOSE ARE JUST PERFECT.
THOSE ARE EXACTLY
LIKE THE ORIGINAL.
IDEALLY, I LIKE TO USE
ALL ORIGINAL PARTS
AND JUST RESTORE THEM.
THAT'S AWESOME.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING
WITH SOMETHING SO RARE,
SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE
TO MANUFACTURE THEM.
IT LOWERS THE VALUE A LITTLE,
BUT YOU COULD SPEND
THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
SEARCHING FOR THEM
AND NEVER FIND THEM.
- SO THERE'S EIGHT OF THESE,
THERE'S TWO LONG STRAIGHTS,
AND THERE'S TWO SHORT STRAIGHTS.
- GOD DANG, THOSE ARE NICE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU
GUYS VERY, VERY MUCH.
- ANYTIME.
- OUR PLEASURE.
- I COULD NOT HAVE
DONE THAT WITH YOU.
- OUR PLEASURE, RICK.
- THANK YOU.
- THE LAST THING WE'VE GOT
TO DO ON THIS POPCORN MACHINE
IS THE ARTWORK ON THE BODY,
SO I CALLED MY PINSTRIPER, TED,
AND HE'S GOT A GREAT
DESIGN ALL SKETCHED OUT.
- SKETCH OUT HOW
YOU WANT IT TO LOOK.
- OKAY.
- SKETCH IT ON THERE
WITH A POUNCE WHEEL.
- OKAY.
- IT'S A LITTLE GIZMO WITH
SHARP LITTLE SPIKES ON IT.
THEN YOU JUST ROLL,
TRACE AROUND IT.
IT ACTUALLY
PERFORATES THE PAPER,
AND THEN AFTER THE
HOLES ARE PUNCHED IN IT,
WE TAKE A LITTLE BAG
OF POWDERED CHARCOAL.
- OKAY.
- SAME TECHNIQUE
THAT MICHELANGELO
USED ON THE CEILING
OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL.
IT'S THAT OLD.
- OKAY.
- AND YOU JUST RUB A LITTLE
CHARCOAL ALL OVER THAT.
AND THEN THIS GIVES
ME SOMETHING TO GO BY.
- OH, YEAH, SO THAT'S
YOUR PATTERN RIGHT THERE.
- THAT'S COOL.
PINSTRIPING DATES BACK BEYOND
THE HORSE-DRAWN BUGGY DAYS,
BUT IT DIDN'T GET
POPULAR UNTIL THE 1950s.
AND THEN YOU JUST
HAND-DO THE REST OF IT.
- IT'LL ALL BE
HAND-PAINTED IN, RIGHT.
- WELL, YOU DO YOUR
THING. I'LL LET YOU GO TO IT.
ALL RIGHT?
- GOOD ENOUGH.
- PINSTRIPING IS ONE
OF THE HARDEST PARTS
OF DOING A RESTORATION,
BUT IT ALSO ADDS
THAT FINAL TOUCH.
TED HAS 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE,
BUT EVEN HE IS STILL LEARNING.
THE SCARY THING IS, IT
DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO MESS UP,
AND THAT MEANS STARTING
OVER WITH SANDBLASTING.
THE BEST PINSTRIPING BRUSHES
ARE FROM BLUE SQUIRREL HAIR.
THESE BRUSHES WILL HOLD A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PAINT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
ON THIS TRAIN THAT I
BOUGHT FROM A SCRAPPER.
I PLAN ON RESELLING THIS THING,
SO I WANT IT TO LOOK JUST
LIKE IT DID BACK IN THE DAY.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE DON'T HAVE
THE TRAIN BACK CARS THAT
IT HAD WHEN IT WAS NEW,
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE THEM FROM SCRATCH.
WHAT I NEED IS 13x40 INCHES.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BASE,
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO GONNA
DO SOME WOODEN SLATS
TO HOLD THE KID INSIDE
THERE SO HE DOESN'T SLIDE OFF.
THIS IS A PERFECT
JOB FOR MY OWN KID,
SO TYLER AND KOWBOY
ARE GONNA MAKE THE BASE.
- GET IT IN THERE RIGHT, NOW.
- ALL RIGHT.
- HERE WE GO.
- READY?
PUSH.
[metal groaning]
- THE LIP ON THE STEEL
WILL MAKE IT A MUCH
STRONGER BODY.
PERFECT. 90-DEGREE ANGLE.
IT HAS TO BE SO PRECISE.
- NICE.
- WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
IS THAT WE MAKE BOTH OF
THEM EXACTLY THE SAME.
- MAKE IT VERY ACCURATE,
BECAUSE WE NEED THAT
CUT EXACTLY DOWN THAT LINE.
- IF WE'RE OFF 1/16 OF AN INCH,
IT'S GONNA LOOK DIFFERENT,
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO HIT THAT
THING RIGHT ON THE HEAD.
- ALL RIGHT.
[saw whining]
- THAT'S HOW YOU CUT WOOD.
[spray paint hissing]
- THESE RIDE-ON TOYS
WERE MANUFACTURED
FOR ONLY A COUPLE YEARS,
LIKE, 1957 TO 1958,
WHICH MAKES THIS
THING SUPER RARE,
SO WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION
TO EVERY SINGLE DETAIL.
SEE IF IT FITS.
- OKAY.
- THAT LOOKS NICE.
NICE.
- THAT'S AWESOME, HUH?
- OH, YEAH.
- MAKE THIS THING FROM SCRATCH?
WE'RE THE [bleep].
- WE ARE THE [bleep].
- ATTABOY.
- IT'S ALL LINING UP, HUH?
- PERFECT.
- I'M HERE TO PICK UP
MY POPCORN MACHINE
THAT RICK IS SUPPOSED TO
BE RECONSTRUCTING FOR ME,
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT,
AND I'M HOPING IT'S GONNA
TURN OUT REALLY BEAUTIFUL,
AND CAN'T HARDLY WAIT.
- SO, JOHN, CHECK THIS OUT.
- WHAT? POPCORN
IN THERE ALREADY?
GOOD GRACIOUS.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING.
- LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN IT
LOOKED LIKE BEFORE, HUH?
- YEAH, IT SURE DOES.
WHOA, IS THAT IMPRESSIVE.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT? [laughter]
- MY LITTLE OLD MAGIC WAND.
- LITTLE MAGIC WAND.
- THAT WASN'T MAGIC. THAT
WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK.
- WELL, I'LL BET.
I'M TELLING YOU
WHAT: IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
IT IS THE NEATEST-LOOKING THING.
AND IT'S GONNA BE THE
MOST EXCITING THING
SITTING IN MY
ENTERTAINMENT ROOM.
- WHEN WE TOOK IT APART,
IT WAS BASICALLY
NOTHING BUT A WOOD SHELL.
I MEAN, IF YOU COULD
JUST SEE FOUR STICKS
AND A TOP AND A
BOTTOM, THAT WAS IT.
EVERYTHING ELSE
CAME OFF THIS THING.
ALL THE ARMS HERE, WE RECHROMED,
BECAUSE IT'S MADE
OUT OF DIE CAST,
AND YOU CAN'T POLISH THIS STUFF,
AND IT HAD A LOT OF PITS IN IT.
- I KIND OF REMEMBER THIS
"FRESH POPCORN" UP HERE,
BUT I DON'T REMEMBER
ANYTHING ON THE FRONT LIKE THAT.
- THIS THING HERE IS
TOTALLY HAND-PAINTED.
IT IS NOT A DECAL.
- I REALLY THINK RICK
WORKED A MIRACLE ON IT.
MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
WILL BE SO IMPRESSED
TO SEE THIS POPCORN MACHINE.
- OKAY, SO THIS IS THE FRONT
THE CUSTOMER WOULD SEE, RIGHT?
WELL, THIS BACK HERE IS THE SIDE
THAT THE VENDOR WOULD BE USING.
- I CAN TELL.
- YEAH.
AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF
COMPARTMENTS ON TOP HERE.
THIS BUTTON RIGHT
HERE, THIS IS WHAT IT DOES.
TURNS IT ON, AND AS
THE POPCORN POPS,
IT THROWS IT OUT.
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IS,
YOU PULL THIS DOWN,
AND YOU EMPTY THE HOPPER.
- I KNOW WHEN IT GETS IN
MY ENTERTAINMENT ROOM
AND MY FRIENDS
COME IN AND SEE IT,
THEY ARE GONNA BE IMPRESSED.
I'M TELLING YOU, THEY'RE
GONNA BE IMPRESSED.
ALL I WANT YOU
TO DO IS LOAD IT UP
WHERE I CAN GET IT TO THE HOUSE.
[laughter]
- YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE
HUNGRY FOR POPCORN.
- YEAH.
- ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET THIS
THING WHEELED OVER THERE.
- OKAY.
- I'VE LOOKED ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.
- A FEW WEEKS AGO,
I BOUGHT A TRAIN,
AND AFTER RESTORING
IT, MY BUDDY BILL
WAS ABLE TO SET US UP
WITH A POTENTIAL BUYER.
HE'S COMING BY
TODAY TO LOOK AT IT,
SO WE REALLY GOT
TO BLOW HIM AWAY.
THE INSTRUCTIONS HAD A
PICTURE OF THIS '50s HOUSEWIFE
ACTUALLY PUTTING
THIS THING TOGETHER.
I'LL TELL YOU, THIS "SOME
ASSEMBLY REQUIRED,"
IT'S A PRETTY TOUGH JOB.
TRAIN ENTHUSIASTS ARE
HUGE PERFECTIONISTS.
THEY LITERALLY COUNT EVERY
SINGLE RIVET, NUT, AND BOLT.
THEY WILL WALK AWAY FROM A DEAL
IF THEY DON'T THINK
SOMETHING'S RIGHT.
I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS,
BECAUSE WE SPENT A LOT
OF TIME AND MONEY ON THIS,
AND BUYERS ARE JUST
NOT GROWING ON TREES.
HOW YOU DOING, BOB?
- GOOD. HOW YOU DOING, RICK?
- GOOD. GOOD TO MEET YOU.
- YOU TOO.
- I'VE LOOKED ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.
NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE IT.
I FEEL REAL HAPPY THAT I MAY
HAVE A SHOT TO GET ONE HERE.
WHEN I HEARD YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE,
TELL YOU WHAT: I COULDN'T
EVEN SLEEP LAST NIGHT,
I WAS SO EXCITED.
- YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK?
- I WOULD LOVE IT.
IF IT'S CLOSE BY, I'D
LOVE TO TAKE A LOOK.
- IT'S CLOSE BY.
- OKAY.
- WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE
A TRAIN TO GET THERE.
- ALL RIGHT.
SEE SOME TRACKS. TRAIN CLOSE?
- [laughs] I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T HEAR IT YET.
I'M INTO THIS TRAIN ABOUT
$2,000 THE WAY IT SITS.
SERIOUS COLLECTORS WILL
THROW THAT DOWN AND MORE
IN A HEARTBEAT.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN,
SO THERE'S A LOT
RIDING ON THIS DEAL.
ALL RIGHT, TYLER, LET 'ER RIP.
[train horn beeping]
- WOW. THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE.
LOOK AT THAT THING.
THAT'S... THAT'S A CLASSIC.
- ISN'T THAT HOT?
- THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
- AWESOME, HUH?
ALL RIGHT, NICE
CONDUCTIN' THERE.
- IT'S PRETTY, HUH?
- HOW DID YOU FIND THIS?
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
- WELL, IT ACTUALLY CAME
IN THE BACK OF
SOME PICKER'S TRUCK.
WE ENDED UP PAINTING IT ALL,
MAKING IT EXACTLY LIKE
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IN 1957.
ALL THIS STUFF, THE CHROME,
WE ADDED ALL THAT.
ALL THIS STUFF, WE
HAD TO HAND-PAINT.
OKAY, BOB, CHECK THIS OUT.
WHAT'S INSIDE
HERE IS ACTUALLY...
IT'S RAN ON A STARTER
THAT HAS A BELT GOING BACK
TO THE TRUCKS IN THE BACK
THAT MAKE THE CAR
MOVE, YOU KNOW?
AND IT'S JUST LIKE A LOCOMOTIVE.
THIS RIGHT HERE IS A SWITCH
THAT, WHEN YOU PUSH IT IN,
IT LITERALLY JUST
SAYS, "GO," OKAY?
THERE'S NO THROTTLE.
IT'S BASICALLY, YOU PUSH
IT, AND YOU'RE GONE, OKAY?
WE BUILT THESE CARS, ACTUALLY.
WE REPLICATED THE CAR
EXACTLY, EVEN THE WHEELS.
SEE THE WHEELS ON THE BOTTOM?
- YES.
- THEY'RE EXACTLY LIKE THESE.
THEY'RE CUSTOM-BUILT,
AND THE TRACK ALONE...
I MEAN, THE TRACK... YOU
KNOW, YOU CAN'T FIND TRACK.
WE HAD THIS TRACK
ALL BUILT FOR IT.
SO THIS PART RIGHT
HERE IS TOTALLY ORIGINAL,
AND THESE PIECES, WE BUILT
TO GO ALONG WITH THE PACKAGE.
- WHAT HE DID WITH THAT
IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
JUST... I... BEYOND MY
WILDEST IMAGINATION,
WHAT HE DID WITH THAT TRAIN.
IT'S JUST GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, RICK. YOU SAID
YOU PAID $100 FOR THIS.
IS THAT ABOUT WHAT
YOU'RE SELLING IT FOR?
- [laughs]
THE CARS AND THE TRACK
ARE GONNA BE $5,000.
- $5,000.
THAT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE MUCH.
UM, WHAT ABOUT $3,000?
- THIS THING IS, LIKE...
IT'S GOT WEEKS AND WEEKS
AND WEEKS OF WORK IN IT,
ALONG WITH THE TRACK.
I MEAN, WE HAD TO LITERALLY
MANUFACTURE THE TRACK.
- LET'S JUST SPLIT THE
DIFFERENCE: $4,000.
I GOT CASH.
- UM...
ALL RIGHT.
- OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, WE GOT A DEAL.
- CASH. CASH IS KING.
THIS TRAIN TURNED
OUT BEAUTIFULLY,
AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
AND GETTING PAID
AIN'T BAD EITHER.
[spray paint hissing]
[bleep].
---
- UP NEXT ON AMERICAN
RESTORATION...
- THAT'S, LIKE, A 1940s
MANLEY POPCORN MACHINE.
- I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
A POPCORN MACHINE.
- AND UP HERE WAS THE VENTS
WHERE IT LITERALLY JUST BLEW
OUT THE AROMA OF POPCORN.
- I JUST FIND STUFF
AND, YOU KNOW, HOPE TO
GOD SOMEBODY WILL BUY IT,
AND RICK'S USUALLY THE MAN.
[grunts]
- WOW, WHAT'S THAT?
OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD.
THAT'S HOT.
- BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THE SELLING PRICE
IN 1956 WAS $225.
- THIS HAD TO BE
FOR THE WEALTHY.
REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY
WHEN THINGS WERE MADE BY HAND
AND PEOPLE TOOK
PRIDE IN THEIR WORK?
MY NAME'S RICK DALE,
AND I BRING THESE
THINGS BACK TO LIFE.
EVERY RESTORATION HAS
ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES.
THERE'S NO OWNER'S
MANUAL FOR WHAT WE DO,
BUT THERE'S NO JOB
WE CAN'T HANDLE.
I GET OBJECTS FROM EVERYWHERE,
AND PART OF MY
BUSINESS IS FROM PICKERS
THAT ACTUALLY COME TO ME.
WHAT THE HELL YOU DOING HERE?
- OH, JUST COMING TO SELL YOU
SOME OF MY PRIZE
POSSESSIONS I JUST COLLECTED.
- LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF CRAP.
- I'VE KNOWN RICK
ABOUT FIVE YEARS,
AND I ALWAYS STOP BY HERE
ON MY WAY TO THE SCRAPYARD
TO SEE IF HE WANTS TO
BUY ANY OF THIS JUNK.
- WHERE'D YOU GET THAT SHIRT?
I DIDN'T KNOW THEY
MADE A FLAG THAT BIG.
- I'M JUST A PATRIOTIC
KIND OF GUY.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS
ABOUT TEN YEARS.
I USED TO RUN HEAVY EQUIPMENT,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES
AROUND HERE IN THE DESERT
WHERE THERE'S JUST
JUNK LAYING AROUND,
SO I JUST FIND STUFF
AND, YOU KNOW, HOPE TO
GOD SOMEBODY WILL BUY IT,
AND RICK'S USUALLY THE MAN.
[metal clattering]
- NO, THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING
SOMEBODY THREW AWAY,
PROBABLY ME.
- IT'S FOR A COMPRESSOR.
- ALL THE STUFF ERIC
BRINGS US, IT'S USELESS
AND A COMPLETE
WASTE OF OUR TIME.
MY DAD ALWAYS TAKES
TIME TO LOOK, THOUGH.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY.
- AH, HERE WE GO.
LOOK AT THAT: GAS PUMPS.
YOU GOT TO NEED THESE.
- DO YOU HAVE THE
OTHER HALF OF IT?
- USUALLY, THERE'S
NOTHING THERE,
BUT IT'S NOT A WASTE OF
TIME, 'CAUSE THERE IS A CHANCE
THERE COULD BE SOMETHING
VALUABLE IN THERE.
- [grunts]
- WOW, WHAT'S THAT?
- HOW ABOUT THIS?
MY MODEL TRAIN.
- NOW, THAT... THAT'S HOT.
THAT'S HOT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
- LOOKS LIKE JUNK TO ME,
SOMETHING YOU DON'T NEED,
SOME MORE CRAP THAT WE'LL
BUY, AND IT'LL SIT IN THE BACKYARD.
- NO, THIS IS COOL.
THAT LOOKS LIKE, ACTUALLY,
SOMEBODY SAT IN IT.
IT'S GOT WHEELS
ON THE BOTTOM OF IT.
BY THE LOOK OF THE CAR,
IT'S IN THE '40s.
I'VE BEEN DOING
THIS FOR A LONG TIME,
AND FOR ME TO SEE SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE
MAKES ME REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES.
I CAN ALSO MAKE MONEY
ON STUFF LIKE THIS.
THERE ARE COLLECTORS THAT
GO CRAZY FOR VINTAGE TOYS,
AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE
THE TRAIN COLLECTOR.
THIS IS ALL BATTERY-OPERATED.
SEE, LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY
HAD A BATTERY IN HERE.
THIS IS SOME KIND OF
A STARTING MECHANISM.
THIS IS A REGULATOR.
I THINK WE CAN DO
SOMETHING WITH THIS.
- YOU CAN THROW IT AWAY.
THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT.
- SO I'LL THROW IN
THE GAS NOZZLES,
IF YOU WANT THAT, FOR 100 BUCKS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- 100 BUCKS?
NORMALLY WHEN I BUY
SOMETHING TO RESTORE AND SELL,
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
IT'S GONNA COST ME
AND HOW MUCH I'M GONNA MAKE.
IN THIS CASE, I DON'T,
BUT IT'S JUST TOO COOL,
AND I'M GONNA HAVE
TO TAKE A CHANCE.
ALL RIGHT, THIS AND THE
GAS NOZZLES: 100 BUCKS
- SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
- FINALLY, ERIC, YOU COME
WITH SOMETHING GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, TYLER.
GET THAT THING OUT THERE.
- THAT'S A JOKE.
- COME ON, JUST GRAB ON TO IT.
- I GOT 100 BUCKS TODAY
FOR THE TRAIN AND
TWO GAS NOZZLES,
SO IT'S 100% PROFIT FOR ME,
BECAUSE I WAS GOING
TO THE SCRAPYARD WITH IT.
- THAT WAS A HORRIBLE DECISION.
- WHAT THE HELL
YOU TALKING ABOUT?
- YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS,
AND YOU JUST SPENT $100 ON IT.
- TYLER, YOU'LL LEARN.
I GOT A CALL FROM A GUY
THAT WANTS TO GET HIS
1940s POPCORN MACHINE FIXED,
SO HE'S BRINGING IT TO MY
SHOP SO I CAN GIVE HIM A QUOTE.
GREAT TO MEET YOU.
- THANK YOU.
- LET'S GET IT OUT OF THE TRUCK
SO I CAN TAKE A
BETTER LOOK AT IT.
- I CAME DOWN TO RICK'S
RESTORATIONS TODAY
TO TRY TO GET AN OLD
POPCORN MACHINE RESTORED.
GOT THIS POPCORN
MACHINE BACK IN TENNESSEE.
WHEN I WAS A KID,
WE USED TO GO TO A MOVIE
HOUSE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS,
AND I KNOW THAT
THEY CLOSED DOWN,
AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
A POPCORN MACHINE,
SO WE DICKERED A LITTLE BIT
AND GOT THE POPCORN
MACHINE FOR $400.
- THIS THING IS TOTALLY AWESOME.
I MEAN, FIRST OF
ALL, IT'S A MANLEY.
THEY CAME OUT IN 1939
WITH A POPCORN MACHINE,
BUT THIS ONE HERE
IS PROBABLY A 1948.
BACK IN THE '40s,
NO ONE HAD TVs,
SO IF YOU WANTED
SOMENTERTAINMENT,
YOU'D GO TO THE MOVIE THEATER.
AND WHAT GOES BETTER WITH
A MOVIE THAN HOT POPCORN?
THIS IS A REALLY NICE ONE,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOUSE,
BECAUSE IT'S SORT OF SMALL.
THE NEXT SIZE UP IS
QUITE A BIT BIGGER.
THEY WERE VERY SELF-CONTAINED.
I MEAN, GO UP; PLUG IT IN;
YOU'RE READY TO SELL
RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
YOU HAD A PLACE TO PUT
YOUR MONEY INSIDE HERE.
THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FOR BAGS.
THIS ONE HERE, THEY'D HAVE
THEIR OIL SITTING IN HERE,
AND IT GOT HOT
SO WHEN THEY PUT IT IN THERE,
IT WAS WARM TO START OFF.
THIS WAS THE
POPCORN INSIDE HERE.
YOU WOULD TAKE THE SCOOP,
SCOOP THE POPCORN OUT.
IT SAID "DELICIOUS" ON THE SIDE,
AND IT LIT UP.
AND UP HERE WAS THE VENTS
WHERE IT LITERALLY JUST BLEW
OUT THE AROMA OF POPCORN.
WHEN YOU WALKED
INTO THE THEATER,
YOU WEREN'T ONLY
DRAWN TO IT BY ITS LOOKS.
YOU COULD LITERALLY SMELL
THE POPCORN FROM MILES AWAY.
THEY WANTED YOU TO SMELL IT
BECAUSE THEY
WANTED YOU TO BUY IT.
- HOW MUCH YOU THINK
THIS IS GONNA COST ME?
- WELL, I REPAINT THE OUTSIDE,
REDO ALL THE STAINLESS,
DO NEW GLASS INSIDE HERE.
THE WIRING ON IT LOOKS LIKE
IT NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF TLC.
A FULL RESTORATION ON
THIS IS GONNA BE $3,500.
- OKAY.
- IT'LL LOOK BRAND-NEW.
IT'LL LOOK JUST LIKE
A BRAND-NEW PENNY.
- THAT'S A DEAL.
I'M READY TO SEE IT
ALL FINISHED UP AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA HAVE
ABOUT $4,000 IN THIS MACHINE,
WHICH REALLY SOUNDS NUTS
FOR A POPCORN MACHINE,
BUT I REALLY LOVE POPCORN,
AND ME AND THE GRANDKIDS
ARE GONNA HAVE A GREAT
TIME WITH THIS MACHINE.
[wheels rattling]
- IT'S NICE IT'S ON WHEELS, HUH?
EARLIER, I BOUGHT AN OLD TRAIN
FROM A SCRAPPER I DEAL WITH.
I TOOK A GAMBLE,
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ONE,
SO I CALLED IN AN EXPERT.
SO THIS IS WHAT
I GOT. WHAT IS IT?
- I'M THE GENERAL
MANAGER OF REAL TRAINS.
WE'RE A MANUFACTURER
OF LARGE-SCALE TRAINS
USED IN AMUSEMENT PARKS.
RICK, I'VE SEEN A LOT
OF PICTURES OF THESE,
BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY
SEEN 'EM IN PERSON.
THIS ACTUALLY WAS SOLD TO PEOPLE
FOR USE IN THEIR
BACKYARDS AS A KID'S TOY.
- OH, YEAH?
- BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THE SELLING PRICE
IN 1956 WAS $225.
- WOW, THAT'S A LOT
OF MONEY BACK THEN.
- IN THOSE YEARS, IT WAS.
- $225 BACK THEN IS
LIKE 2,000 BUCKS NOW,
WHICH MEANS THAT IT
WAS RARE BACK THEN.
- WE HAVE PICTURES IN
SOME OF THE LITERATURE.
THIS IS THEIR AD,
AND THEY SOLD 200 UNITS
CUSTOM-PAINTED LIKE THAT
FOR THE POPSICLE COMPANY.
- THESE WERE THE BACK CARS.
- THOSE WERE THE
CARS THAT CAME WITH IT.
- THIS IS AWESOME.
- AND IT CAME WITH
A LOOP OF TRACK
WHICH WAS 40 FEET AROUND,
AND YOU HAD TO PUT IT TOGETHER,
AND PUTTING IT TOGETHER
WAS A REAL DIFFICULT JOB.
- YEAH.
IT'S NOT VERY HARD.
LOOK, SHE'S DOING IT.
- SHE'S DOING IT, YES.
- [laughs]
SHE'S EVEN GOT A
SMILE ON HER FACE.
CAN'T BE THAT HARD.
THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT HAS NOT CHANGED:
THEY ALWAYS SAY "SOME
ASSEMBLY REQUIRED,"
AND IT'S ALWAYS A BIGGER
HEADACHE THAN YOU SIGNED UP FOR.
- VERY UNUSUAL.
YOU HAVE THE ENTIRE INSIDE.
THEY USED THE STARTER
MOTOR OFF OF AN AUTOMOBILE.
THERE IS NO SPEED CONTROL.
IT'S JUST OFF/ON.
- OKAY.
THERE'S ALSO NO BRAKES.
- NO BRAKES.
- YOU STICK YOUR FOOT
OUT OR SOMETHING, YEAH.
- SO, NOW, IF I
RESTORE THIS CAR,
FULLY ORIGINAL,
HOW MUCH IS THAT WORTH?
- SOMETHING THAT A COLLECTOR,
AS OPPOSED TO A
RUNNER, WOULD WANT,
PROBABLY ABOUT $4,500.
- OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD!
THANKS, BILL.
- THANK YOU.
- I'M, LIKE, WALKING
ON AIR RIGHT NOW.
- GOOD DEAL.
- YOU MADE MY DAY.
AFTER HEARING HOW
MUCH THIS THING'S WORTH,
IT'S CRAZY THAT THIS THING
COULD HAVE BEEN HEADING
FOR THE SCRAPYARD.
BUT WE LUCKED OUT,
AND NOW IT'S HERE.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS,
CAN I FIX IT FOR THE RIGHT PRICE
SO I CAN MAKE SOME MONEY ON IT?
I NEED TO MAKE A
COUPLE OF TRAIN CARS.
- THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO
DO WITH THE POPCORN MACHINE
IS TEAR IT DOWN,
SEPARATE WHAT NEEDS
TO BE SANDBLASTED
AND WHAT NEEDS TO
GO TO THE CHROME SHOP.
- CHROME BOX.
THE REASON WE
DON'T DO CHROME HERE
IS 'CAUSE IT'S A REAL
EXPENSIVE PROCESS.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A LOT
OF IT TO MAKE IT PROFITABLE.
WHEN KYLE FINDS THIS IN A BOX,
HE WON'T KNOW
WHAT THE HELL THIS IS,
SO WE GOT TO GET A PICTURE OF IT
SO HE KNOWS IT GOES RIGHT THERE.
KYLE'S IN CHARGE OF ASSEMBLY.
IT'S HIS JOB TO PUT
EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER.
OKAY.
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON
MACHINES THAT ARE THIS OLD,
THERE'S NO MANUAL.
WE TAKE A LOT OF PICTURES
'CAUSE WE USE IT AS A GUIDE
TO PUT THE MACHINES
BACK TOGETHER.
NO CASH.
- [laughs] UNFORTUNATELY.
- OH, SECRET. SEE THAT?
THAT'S SO SOMEBODY COULDN'T
JUST TAKE THAT DRAWER
AND YANK IT OUT OF THERE AND GO.
THAT WOULDN'T STOP ME.
- ONE OF THE BIG PROJECTS
WE HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW
IS THIS VINTAGE TOY TRAIN.
BRETTLY'S GONNA SANDBLAST
ALL THE OLD PAINT
AND RUST OFF OF IT.
IN ORDER TO MAKE
EVERY SINGLE PROJECT
AS AUTHENTIC AS POSSIBLE,
I HAVE TO DO A LOT
OF RESEARCH ON IT.
THIS TRAIN WAS
MANUFACTURED IN 1957,
WHEN TOYS WERE ACTUALLY
MADE OUT OF METAL.
BACK THEN, TOYS
WERE MEANT TO LAST.
WE GOT A TON GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
I NEED TO GET THIS
POPCORN MACHINE PAINTED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
SO THAT I CAN GET THE PINSTRIPER
STARTED ON THE GRAPHICS.
[spray paint hissing]
THE TRAIN'S COMING
ALONG AWESOME,
BUT IT'S A TON OF WORK,
SO WHEN BILL OFFERED
TO DROP OFF SOME PARTS,
I DIDN'T EVEN HESITATE.
IT'S GONNA COST A LITTLE MONEY,
BUT IT'S GONNA
SAVE A LOT OF TIME.
THOSE ARE JUST PERFECT.
THOSE ARE EXACTLY
LIKE THE ORIGINAL.
IDEALLY, I LIKE TO USE
ALL ORIGINAL PARTS
AND JUST RESTORE THEM.
THAT'S AWESOME.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING
WITH SOMETHING SO RARE,
SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE
TO MANUFACTURE THEM.
IT LOWERS THE VALUE A LITTLE,
BUT YOU COULD SPEND
THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
SEARCHING FOR THEM
AND NEVER FIND THEM.
- SO THERE'S EIGHT OF THESE,
THERE'S TWO LONG STRAIGHTS,
AND THERE'S TWO SHORT STRAIGHTS.
- GOD DANG, THOSE ARE NICE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU
GUYS VERY, VERY MUCH.
- ANYTIME.
- OUR PLEASURE.
- I COULD NOT HAVE
DONE THAT WITH YOU.
- OUR PLEASURE, RICK.
- THANK YOU.
- THE LAST THING WE'VE GOT
TO DO ON THIS POPCORN MACHINE
IS THE ARTWORK ON THE BODY,
SO I CALLED MY PINSTRIPER, TED,
AND HE'S GOT A GREAT
DESIGN ALL SKETCHED OUT.
- SKETCH OUT HOW
YOU WANT IT TO LOOK.
- OKAY.
- SKETCH IT ON THERE
WITH A POUNCE WHEEL.
- OKAY.
- IT'S A LITTLE GIZMO WITH
SHARP LITTLE SPIKES ON IT.
THEN YOU JUST ROLL,
TRACE AROUND IT.
IT ACTUALLY
PERFORATES THE PAPER,
AND THEN AFTER THE
HOLES ARE PUNCHED IN IT,
WE TAKE A LITTLE BAG
OF POWDERED CHARCOAL.
- OKAY.
- SAME TECHNIQUE
THAT MICHELANGELO
USED ON THE CEILING
OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL.
IT'S THAT OLD.
- OKAY.
- AND YOU JUST RUB A LITTLE
CHARCOAL ALL OVER THAT.
AND THEN THIS GIVES
ME SOMETHING TO GO BY.
- OH, YEAH, SO THAT'S
YOUR PATTERN RIGHT THERE.
- THAT'S COOL.
PINSTRIPING DATES BACK BEYOND
THE HORSE-DRAWN BUGGY DAYS,
BUT IT DIDN'T GET
POPULAR UNTIL THE 1950s.
AND THEN YOU JUST
HAND-DO THE REST OF IT.
- IT'LL ALL BE
HAND-PAINTED IN, RIGHT.
- WELL, YOU DO YOUR
THING. I'LL LET YOU GO TO IT.
ALL RIGHT?
- GOOD ENOUGH.
- PINSTRIPING IS ONE
OF THE HARDEST PARTS
OF DOING A RESTORATION,
BUT IT ALSO ADDS
THAT FINAL TOUCH.
TED HAS 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE,
BUT EVEN HE IS STILL LEARNING.
THE SCARY THING IS, IT
DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO MESS UP,
AND THAT MEANS STARTING
OVER WITH SANDBLASTING.
THE BEST PINSTRIPING BRUSHES
ARE FROM BLUE SQUIRREL HAIR.
THESE BRUSHES WILL HOLD A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PAINT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
ON THIS TRAIN THAT I
BOUGHT FROM A SCRAPPER.
I PLAN ON RESELLING THIS THING,
SO I WANT IT TO LOOK JUST
LIKE IT DID BACK IN THE DAY.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE DON'T HAVE
THE TRAIN BACK CARS THAT
IT HAD WHEN IT WAS NEW,
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE THEM FROM SCRATCH.
WHAT I NEED IS 13x40 INCHES.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BASE,
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO GONNA
DO SOME WOODEN SLATS
TO HOLD THE KID INSIDE
THERE SO HE DOESN'T SLIDE OFF.
THIS IS A PERFECT
JOB FOR MY OWN KID,
SO TYLER AND KOWBOY
ARE GONNA MAKE THE BASE.
- GET IT IN THERE RIGHT, NOW.
- ALL RIGHT.
- HERE WE GO.
- READY?
PUSH.
[metal groaning]
- THE LIP ON THE STEEL
WILL MAKE IT A MUCH
STRONGER BODY.
PERFECT. 90-DEGREE ANGLE.
IT HAS TO BE SO PRECISE.
- NICE.
- WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
IS THAT WE MAKE BOTH OF
THEM EXACTLY THE SAME.
- MAKE IT VERY ACCURATE,
BECAUSE WE NEED THAT
CUT EXACTLY DOWN THAT LINE.
- IF WE'RE OFF 1/16 OF AN INCH,
IT'S GONNA LOOK DIFFERENT,
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO HIT THAT
THING RIGHT ON THE HEAD.
- ALL RIGHT.
[saw whining]
- THAT'S HOW YOU CUT WOOD.
[spray paint hissing]
- THESE RIDE-ON TOYS
WERE MANUFACTURED
FOR ONLY A COUPLE YEARS,
LIKE, 1957 TO 1958,
WHICH MAKES THIS
THING SUPER RARE,
SO WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION
TO EVERY SINGLE DETAIL.
SEE IF IT FITS.
- OKAY.
- THAT LOOKS NICE.
NICE.
- THAT'S AWESOME, HUH?
- OH, YEAH.
- MAKE THIS THING FROM SCRATCH?
WE'RE THE [bleep].
- WE ARE THE [bleep].
- ATTABOY.
- IT'S ALL LINING UP, HUH?
- PERFECT.
- I'M HERE TO PICK UP
MY POPCORN MACHINE
THAT RICK IS SUPPOSED TO
BE RECONSTRUCTING FOR ME,
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT,
AND I'M HOPING IT'S GONNA
TURN OUT REALLY BEAUTIFUL,
AND CAN'T HARDLY WAIT.
- SO, JOHN, CHECK THIS OUT.
- WHAT? POPCORN
IN THERE ALREADY?
GOOD GRACIOUS.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING.
- LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN IT
LOOKED LIKE BEFORE, HUH?
- YEAH, IT SURE DOES.
WHOA, IS THAT IMPRESSIVE.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT? [laughter]
- MY LITTLE OLD MAGIC WAND.
- LITTLE MAGIC WAND.
- THAT WASN'T MAGIC. THAT
WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK.
- WELL, I'LL BET.
I'M TELLING YOU
WHAT: IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
IT IS THE NEATEST-LOOKING THING.
AND IT'S GONNA BE THE
MOST EXCITING THING
SITTING IN MY
ENTERTAINMENT ROOM.
- WHEN WE TOOK IT APART,
IT WAS BASICALLY
NOTHING BUT A WOOD SHELL.
I MEAN, IF YOU COULD
JUST SEE FOUR STICKS
AND A TOP AND A
BOTTOM, THAT WAS IT.
EVERYTHING ELSE
CAME OFF THIS THING.
ALL THE ARMS HERE, WE RECHROMED,
BECAUSE IT'S MADE
OUT OF DIE CAST,
AND YOU CAN'T POLISH THIS STUFF,
AND IT HAD A LOT OF PITS IN IT.
- I KIND OF REMEMBER THIS
"FRESH POPCORN" UP HERE,
BUT I DON'T REMEMBER
ANYTHING ON THE FRONT LIKE THAT.
- THIS THING HERE IS
TOTALLY HAND-PAINTED.
IT IS NOT A DECAL.
- I REALLY THINK RICK
WORKED A MIRACLE ON IT.
MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
WILL BE SO IMPRESSED
TO SEE THIS POPCORN MACHINE.
- OKAY, SO THIS IS THE FRONT
THE CUSTOMER WOULD SEE, RIGHT?
WELL, THIS BACK HERE IS THE SIDE
THAT THE VENDOR WOULD BE USING.
- I CAN TELL.
- YEAH.
AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF
COMPARTMENTS ON TOP HERE.
THIS BUTTON RIGHT
HERE, THIS IS WHAT IT DOES.
TURNS IT ON, AND AS
THE POPCORN POPS,
IT THROWS IT OUT.
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IS,
YOU PULL THIS DOWN,
AND YOU EMPTY THE HOPPER.
- I KNOW WHEN IT GETS IN
MY ENTERTAINMENT ROOM
AND MY FRIENDS
COME IN AND SEE IT,
THEY ARE GONNA BE IMPRESSED.
I'M TELLING YOU, THEY'RE
GONNA BE IMPRESSED.
ALL I WANT YOU
TO DO IS LOAD IT UP
WHERE I CAN GET IT TO THE HOUSE.
[laughter]
- YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE
HUNGRY FOR POPCORN.
- YEAH.
- ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET THIS
THING WHEELED OVER THERE.
- OKAY.
- I'VE LOOKED ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.
- A FEW WEEKS AGO,
I BOUGHT A TRAIN,
AND AFTER RESTORING
IT, MY BUDDY BILL
WAS ABLE TO SET US UP
WITH A POTENTIAL BUYER.
HE'S COMING BY
TODAY TO LOOK AT IT,
SO WE REALLY GOT
TO BLOW HIM AWAY.
THE INSTRUCTIONS HAD A
PICTURE OF THIS '50s HOUSEWIFE
ACTUALLY PUTTING
THIS THING TOGETHER.
I'LL TELL YOU, THIS "SOME
ASSEMBLY REQUIRED,"
IT'S A PRETTY TOUGH JOB.
TRAIN ENTHUSIASTS ARE
HUGE PERFECTIONISTS.
THEY LITERALLY COUNT EVERY
SINGLE RIVET, NUT, AND BOLT.
THEY WILL WALK AWAY FROM A DEAL
IF THEY DON'T THINK
SOMETHING'S RIGHT.
I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS,
BECAUSE WE SPENT A LOT
OF TIME AND MONEY ON THIS,
AND BUYERS ARE JUST
NOT GROWING ON TREES.
HOW YOU DOING, BOB?
- GOOD. HOW YOU DOING, RICK?
- GOOD. GOOD TO MEET YOU.
- YOU TOO.
- I'VE LOOKED ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.
NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE IT.
I FEEL REAL HAPPY THAT I MAY
HAVE A SHOT TO GET ONE HERE.
WHEN I HEARD YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE,
TELL YOU WHAT: I COULDN'T
EVEN SLEEP LAST NIGHT,
I WAS SO EXCITED.
- YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK?
- I WOULD LOVE IT.
IF IT'S CLOSE BY, I'D
LOVE TO TAKE A LOOK.
- IT'S CLOSE BY.
- OKAY.
- WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE
A TRAIN TO GET THERE.
- ALL RIGHT.
SEE SOME TRACKS. TRAIN CLOSE?
- [laughs] I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T HEAR IT YET.
I'M INTO THIS TRAIN ABOUT
$2,000 THE WAY IT SITS.
SERIOUS COLLECTORS WILL
THROW THAT DOWN AND MORE
IN A HEARTBEAT.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN,
SO THERE'S A LOT
RIDING ON THIS DEAL.
ALL RIGHT, TYLER, LET 'ER RIP.
[train horn beeping]
- WOW. THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE.
LOOK AT THAT THING.
THAT'S... THAT'S A CLASSIC.
- ISN'T THAT HOT?
- THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
- AWESOME, HUH?
ALL RIGHT, NICE
CONDUCTIN' THERE.
- IT'S PRETTY, HUH?
- HOW DID YOU FIND THIS?
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
- WELL, IT ACTUALLY CAME
IN THE BACK OF
SOME PICKER'S TRUCK.
WE ENDED UP PAINTING IT ALL,
MAKING IT EXACTLY LIKE
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IN 1957.
ALL THIS STUFF, THE CHROME,
WE ADDED ALL THAT.
ALL THIS STUFF, WE
HAD TO HAND-PAINT.
OKAY, BOB, CHECK THIS OUT.
WHAT'S INSIDE
HERE IS ACTUALLY...
IT'S RAN ON A STARTER
THAT HAS A BELT GOING BACK
TO THE TRUCKS IN THE BACK
THAT MAKE THE CAR
MOVE, YOU KNOW?
AND IT'S JUST LIKE A LOCOMOTIVE.
THIS RIGHT HERE IS A SWITCH
THAT, WHEN YOU PUSH IT IN,
IT LITERALLY JUST
SAYS, "GO," OKAY?
THERE'S NO THROTTLE.
IT'S BASICALLY, YOU PUSH
IT, AND YOU'RE GONE, OKAY?
WE BUILT THESE CARS, ACTUALLY.
WE REPLICATED THE CAR
EXACTLY, EVEN THE WHEELS.
SEE THE WHEELS ON THE BOTTOM?
- YES.
- THEY'RE EXACTLY LIKE THESE.
THEY'RE CUSTOM-BUILT,
AND THE TRACK ALONE...
I MEAN, THE TRACK... YOU
KNOW, YOU CAN'T FIND TRACK.
WE HAD THIS TRACK
ALL BUILT FOR IT.
SO THIS PART RIGHT
HERE IS TOTALLY ORIGINAL,
AND THESE PIECES, WE BUILT
TO GO ALONG WITH THE PACKAGE.
- WHAT HE DID WITH THAT
IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
JUST... I... BEYOND MY
WILDEST IMAGINATION,
WHAT HE DID WITH THAT TRAIN.
IT'S JUST GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, RICK. YOU SAID
YOU PAID $100 FOR THIS.
IS THAT ABOUT WHAT
YOU'RE SELLING IT FOR?
- [laughs]
THE CARS AND THE TRACK
ARE GONNA BE $5,000.
- $5,000.
THAT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE MUCH.
UM, WHAT ABOUT $3,000?
- THIS THING IS, LIKE...
IT'S GOT WEEKS AND WEEKS
AND WEEKS OF WORK IN IT,
ALONG WITH THE TRACK.
I MEAN, WE HAD TO LITERALLY
MANUFACTURE THE TRACK.
- LET'S JUST SPLIT THE
DIFFERENCE: $4,000.
I GOT CASH.
- UM...
ALL RIGHT.
- OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, WE GOT A DEAL.
- CASH. CASH IS KING.
THIS TRAIN TURNED
OUT BEAUTIFULLY,
AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
AND GETTING PAID
AIN'T BAD EITHER.
[spray paint hissing]
[bleep].