American Restoration (2010–…): Season 2, Episode 1 - Cooler Kings - full transcript
Rick converts a Coca Cola cooler into a combination cooler hot dog grill which means not just restoration but re-engineering and manufacturing. Rick's got a buyer who's interested but he's ...
Are you wondering how healthy the food you are eating is? Check it - foodval.com
---
- UP NEXT ON AMERICAN
RESTORATION...
- TODAY I'M BRINGING IN A
LATE-1800s BARBER POLE.
- THIS IS A GORGEOUS PIECE.
- FIX IT UP FOR HIM,
'CAUSE THAT'S THE CLOSEST
HE'S GONNA GET TO A BARBER.
- TODAY WE'RE GETTING
IN A 1950s COKE COOLER.
THEY'RE EXTREMELY RARE.
- LOOK, NO HANDS.
- WATCH OUT. WATCH
OUT. WATCH OUT!
[crunching and rattling]
- HOW MUCH YOU ASKING FOR THIS?
- THE WORK I HAVE INTO IT,
I'M ASKING $40,000.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN
GO THERE, THEN GOOD.
IF NOT, THEN YOU NEETO GET
BACK IN YOUR CAR AND GO HOME.
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.
TODAY WE'RE GETTING IN A 1950s
COKE COOLER THAT I BOUGHT.
HOLY CRAP. MORE WORK.
I'M GONNA REENGINEER IT
AND HOPEFULLY SELL IT
FOR A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.
COME ON, LADIES.
- ONE, TWO, THREE.
- GO.
- THESE COOLERS
ARE OVER 600 POUNDS,
SO MOVING THEM
AROUND IS NO JOKE.
- LOOK, NO HANDS.
- WATCH OUT. WATCH
OUT. WATCH OUT!
- YOU'RE GONNA WISH YOU WON'T.
Crunch!
- SOMEBODY COULD GET HURT,
NOT TO MENTION MY COOLER.
[rattling]
- HOW LONG HAS THAT
HOLE BEEN THERE?
- THAT HOLE HAS
BEEN THERE A YEAR,
AND TYLER KEEPS RUNNING OVER IT.
- WELL, IF YOU WOULD FIX IT...
- THAT'S GOOD RIGHT THERE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A
GREAT COOLER AS IT SITS.
BUT I'M GONNA REENGINEER IT
INTO A COCA-COLA
HOT DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
- HOW ARE WE GONNA TURN
IT INTO A HOT DOG STAND?
- WELL, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS,
WE'RE GONNA KEEP
THE COOLER PORTION,
AND WE'RE GONNA PUT A
HOT DOG VENDOR IN HERE,
AN ORIGINAL COCA-COLA
HOT DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
THEY'RE EXTREMELY RARE.
THEY ONLY MADE
ABOUT 50 OF THEM IN 1954,
AND ACTUALLY, ONLY 5 OF THEM
ARE KNOWN TO EXIST RIGHT NOW.
BUT REPLICAS, THEY'RE
HARD TO GET TOO.
THEY MAY NOT BE WORTH
AS MUCH AS AN ORIGINAL,
BUT THEY'RE STILL VERY VALUABLE.
AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD A HUGE,
MAYBE FIVE-FOOT, ROUND
TUBE RUNNING AROUND.
IT HAS A DOUBLE TUBE.
AND THEN THE TOP
OF IT HAD A BAR,
AND IT SAID, "HOT DOGS."
THEN IT HAD A GLOBE
ON THE TOP OF IT
THAT LIT UP AND SPUN AROUND.
- WHAT?
- YOU CAN IMAGINE A
BUNCH OF LITTLE PEOPLE
WITH THEIR LITTLE COKE HATS ON,
ALL STANDING BACK HERE
SERVING HOT DOGS AND SODAS.
BIG DEAL.
- NO BEER?
[laughter]
- THIS IS GONNA BE
A TOUGH PROJECT.
NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE
TO RESTORE THE THING.
WE HAVE TO REENGINEER IT ALSO.
SO WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE
BIT OF MANUFACTURING.
BUT IT'S... YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE WE GOT TO INSULATE IT
SO THAT THE HEAT DOESN'T
BOTHER THE COOLING PART.
AS FAR AS BUILDING
THE REST OF IT,
I THINK I GOT A PRETTY
GOOD IDEA ON HOW TO DO IT.
- WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HIT THE
DRAWING BOARD, IT LOOKS LIKE.
- SO WHAT'S A COOLER LIKE
THIS WORTH AS A COOLER?
- THESE ARE ABOUT 1,000
BUCKS THE WAY THEY SIT.
- AND THEN WHAT'S IT
WORTH AS A HOT DOG BAR?
- THIS ONE, AFTER WE
GET FINISHED WITH THIS,
IS GONNA BE RIGHT
AROUND $25,000.
- $25,000 FOR A HOT DOG BAR?
- YEAH.
- THIS IN FRONT OF US?
- YEAH.
- HOLY [bleep].
- THAT'S HOW COOL
THIS IS GONNA BE.
ONE OF MY BEST
CUSTOMERS, RICK HARRISON,
IS COMING OVER TODAY
WITH A TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY
BARBER'S POLE.
LET'S SET IT RIGHT OVER HERE.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
TO EXPECT ON THIS,
BUT I LOVE VINTAGE BARBER STUFF.
- I'VE HAD RICK DALE RESTORE
A LOT OF BARBER'S CHAIRS FOR ME.
WHOA, IT'S GREAT, MAN.
BUT I'VE NEVER HAD HIM
RESTORE A BARBER'S POLE,
AND I WANT HIM TO
WORK HIS MAGIC ON IT.
- LOOKS OLD.
LOOKS VERY OLD.
I'M GUESSING LATE 18s.
WHAT DO YOU GUESS?
- SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE, YEAH.
- THIS IS A GORGEOUS PIECE.
- YOU KNOW, I LIKE IT. IT
LOOKS LIKE A CANDY CANE.
[laughter]
- THE HISTORY ATTACHED
TO BARBER'S POLES IS CRAZY.
BARBERS ACTUALLY WERE
OUR FIRST SURGEONS.
- THE OLD BARBER SURGEONS,
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND
FOR 1,000 YEARS.
- 1,000 YEARS.
- I MEAN, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
DOCTORS DIDN'T DO SURGERY.
THE BARBERS DID THE SURGERY,
AND THE PHYSICIANS OVERSAW IT.
- THE RED-AND-WHITE
STRIPES SYMBOLIZE
HOW THE BARBER USED
TO HANG HIS TOWELS...
HIS BLOODY ONE AND HIS
CLEAN ONE... OUT TO DRY.
THIS IS A KOKEN.
IT'S VERY HARD TO
READ. VERY TARNISHED.
THEY WERE A BIG, BIG
COMPANY FOR BARBERS,
AND THEY GOT THEIR START
DOING POLES JUST LIKE THIS.
THIS RIGHT HERE
IS STAINED GLASS.
- IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE
IN THEIR GARAGE
TRIED TO SAND THIS
DOWN AND REDO THIS,
NEVER FINISHED.
- I MEAN, IT'S GOT A CORD
HANGING OUT OF IT NOW.
SO SOMEBODY HAS LIT IT UP.
- HOW WOULD IT
ORIGINALLY HAVE BEEN?
- BECAUSE OF THIS
BACK PANEL HERE,
I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
LIT UP BY EITHER AN OIL CANDLE
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
- OKAY.
- I MEAN, THIS THING WAS BUILT,
LIKE ANYTHING BACK IN THE DAY,
TO LAST AND LAST AND LAST.
IT'S INCREDIBLE TO THINK
HOW MUCH CRAFTSMANSHIP
WENT INTO A BARBER'S POLE.
THIS WOULD HAVE
BEEN IN A SMALL TOWN,
ONLY SEEN BY A FEW
HUNDRED PEOPLE,
AND YOU JUST DON'T
SEE THAT ANYMORE.
- I REALLY WANT TO
SEE IT RESTORED,
BUT HOW MUCH IS IT GONNA COST?
- UM...
[sighs]
IN ORDER TO PUT
THE THING TOGETHER,
THEY WOULD USE MASTIC.
THEY MIXED TOGETHER,
YOU KNOW, CEMENT AND LIME,
AND THAT GAVE IT A SEAL IN HERE
TO HOLD ITSELF TOGETHER.
OVER THE YEARS,
AND IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER,
YOU LITERALLY GOT
TO GRIND THIS ALL OUT
ALL THE WAY AROUND THERE
AND TAKE IT OUT
A LITTLE AT A TIME.
IF YOU GET TOO
FAST ON THAT THING,
YOU'RE GONNA START
SNAPPING THE GLASS RIGHT AWAY.
AND I COULD JUST DESTROY IT.
SO I'M GONNA BE RIGHT AROUND
800 BUCKS TO GET THAT
THING BACK THE WAY IT IS.
- WHAT ARE THE ODDS
OF YOU BREAKING IT?
- 50.
- [laughing]
- 50.
IF I BREAK IT,
I'M GONNA RUIN ITS VALUE.
BUT I KNOW WHAT IT'S
GONNA LOOK LIKE RESTORED,
AND I'M DEFINITELY
WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK.
- ALL RIGHT, WELL, DO IT UP.
- ALL RIGHT.
- OKAY.
- FIX IT UP FOR HIM,
'CAUSE THAT'S THE CLOSEST
HE'S GONNA GET TO A BARBER.
[laughter]
[metallic tapping]
- WE'RE WORKING ON A
VICTOR COCA-COLA COOLER.
THIS THING IS AWESOME
AND WORTH A GOOD AMOUNT
OF MONEY IF WE FIX IT UP.
BUT IF WE DO A LITTLE BIT
MORE WORK ON THIS THING,
WE CAN CONVERT IT INTO
A HOT DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
SO KOWBOY IS GONNA
DO WHAT HE DOES BEST,
BREAK THINGS DOWN
AND TAKE THINGS APART.
AND KYLE'S GONNA MAKE
SURE WE DON'T LOSE NOTHING.
- I HATE TAKING
THESE THINGS APART.
EVERYTHING IS RUSTED.
NOTHING WANTS TO COME OUT.
- IF YOU DID AS MUCH
WORK AS YOU COMPLAINING,
WE'D BE DONE WITH
THIS THING BY NOW.
[tools whirring and grinding]
[loud tapping]
HURRY UP, KOWBOY.
THIS IS GETTING HEAVY.
- I'M GETTING IT; IF YOU LET GO,
I'LL STILL GET UP
AND WHUP YOUR ASS.
I'LL HOLD IT FOR YOU.
YOU GET TO DO THE XT ONE.
[hammer pounding]
[air whooshing]
- NOW THAT THE COKE
MACHINE IS STRIPPED DOWN,
I HAVE TO CUT OUT A
SECTION IN THE TOP OF IT
IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE HOT DOG COOKER.
THERE'S A HOT DOG VENDOR
THAT GOES RIGHT HERE.
OKAY, IT SLIDES INSIDE HERE
AND THEN HAS A STAINLESS
STEEL BACK THAT COMES UP
AND THEN A SNEEZE GUARD.
OKAY, SO WE NEED A HOLE.
I'M GONNA CUT 9 INCHES HERE.
THERE'S 9.
TAKE IT OUT BACK.
I DON'T LIKE TO MANIPULATE
THE AUTHENTICITY OF ITEMS.
BUT ON THIS ONE, THE DEMAND
FOR THE HOT DOG COOLER
IS WAY HIGHER.
IS THING IS GONNA BE
A ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECE.
[saw whirring]
NOTHING LIKE THE SMELL
OF BURNING METAL
IN THE MORNING, HUH?
ALL RIGHT, KYLE.
TODAY KYLE AND I ARE WORKING
ON THE ANTIQUE BARBER'S POLE.
WE GOT TO TAKE THIS
THING TOTALLY APART.
OKAY.
WAIT A MINUTE.
LOOK.
THIS ACTUALLY WAS POWERED.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA
BE A CANDLELIT UNIT,
BUT IT'S NOT.
IT WAS LIT UP.
WE DISCOVER THINGS ALONG
THE WAY ON EVERY RESTORATION.
RICK THOUGHT THIS WAS
A TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY
BARBER'S POLE,
BUT BECAUSE OF THE
ORIGINAL WIRING INSIDE,
IT'S MORE LI 20 YEARS LATER.
BUT IT'S STILL PROBABLY WORTH
ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND WHILE HE
CAN'T SAY IT'S 1800s,
IT WILL LIGHT UP,
SO THAT WILL EVEN OUT THE VALUE.
- SO WHEN THEY MADE THIS,
THESE WERE INDIVIDUAL PIECES?
- INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF GLASS
MOUNTED TO EACH
ONE OF THESE BARS.
THERE'S MASTIC IN HERE
AND THEN GLASS AND THEN MASTIC.
I WANT TO KEEP THE GLASS INTACT.
IT'S IRREPLACEABLE,
AND WE WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO MATCH IT, OKAY?
- THESE OLD THINGS DON'T
COME WITH INSTRUCTION MANUALS,
SO PROBLEM SOLVING
IS A BIG PART OF THIS JOB.
- LOOK IN THERE.
THE BOTTOM SIDE IS RUSTED OUT.
THEY LOOK LIKE WE FOUND IT
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.
THE SCREWS AT THE
BOTTOM ARE RUSTED TIGHT,
SO THAT MEANS I'M GONNA
HAVE TO USE SOME POWER TOOLS
TO GET THEM REMOVED.
THE PROBLEM IS,
IF I GET THE GRINDER
INSIDE THERE,
I MAY NICK THE GLASS,
WHICH WILL END THIS PROJECT
BEFORE I EVEN GET IT STARTED.
WE GET A GRINDER IN THERE
AND WE JUST SLIP UP ONE IOTA,
AND WE'RE GONNA NAIL THAT GLASS.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE WE
SHOULD JUST GIVE THEM BACK.
WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA
DO MORE DAMAGE TO THIS
OR CAUSE OURSELVES A WHOLE
BUNCH OF WORK OR MONEY.
- YOU THINK WE TAKE
ALL THEM SCREWS OUT,
THAT CAULKING SHOULD
HOLD IT TOGETHER, HUH?
- ISN'T IT GLUED HERE
TOO ALONG THE EDGE?
- NO, THERE'S A GAP THERE.
- EVERY STEP OF EVERY PROJECT,
NOT ONLY DO WE RUN THE
RISK OF RUINING SOMEONE'S ITEM
BUT ALSO A PIECE OF HISTORY.
THINK IT WILL COME OUT?
- WE CAN TRY.
- WELL, THAT'S IT. YOU
WANT TO PUSH ON IT?
THAT'S IT.
- OKAY.
- KYLE, YOU'RE A GENIUS.
- THANK YOU, BOSS.
- OH, NICE JOB.
GOOD, HUH?
- YEAH.
- LOOKS GOOD.
DIDN'T BREAK IT EITHER.
- DAMN RIGHT.
- LET'S JUST LUBE
THE REST OF IT UP,
AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL POP.
[tool whirring]
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS VICTOR COCA-COLA COOLER
TO TURN IT INTO A
VINTAGE HOT DOG BAR.
THIS THING NOW
NEEDS SOME WELDING,
SO I'M GONNA PUT
TYLER ON THAT JOB.
OKAY, PUSH IT IN.
[drill grinding]
PERFECT.
IF TYLER'S GONNA WANT
TO TAKE OVER THIS
BUSINESS SOMEDAY,
HE'S GONNA NEED
TO DO EVERYTHING.
[tool whirring]
OKAY.
MAKE SURE I CAN SEE
THE UPPER LINE, ALL RIGHT?
AND WELDING IS
ONE OF THOSE SKILLS
THAT IS VERY HARD TO MASTER.
I'M GONNA SPOT-WELD
THE FIRST ONE.
I WANT YOU TO WATCH ME,
AND THEN I WANT YOU TO
SPOT-WELD THE OTHER TWO.
- OKAY.
- HOLD TIGHT.
WE NEED TO GET
A NICE TIGHT WELD.
[sparks crackling]
WHEN DOING WELDING
ON A BIG ITEM LIKE THIS,
WE'RE GONNA NEED
TO BEAD IN SPOTS
IN ORDER TO HOLD IT INTO PLACE.
SEE, IT'S SORT OF LIKE A SPOT.
- YEAH.
- OKAYNICE, NICE FLOW,
JUST TACKED IT ON
THERE JUST ENOUGH.
GET CLOSE TO THE METAL,
AND THEN YOU PULL THE TRIGGER.
[sparks crackling]
GO UP AND DOWN. THERE YOU GO.
JUST LIKE THAT. GOOD JOB.
NOT BAD FOR YOUR FIRST WELD.
SAME GIG.
TYLER'S WELDING SKILLS ARE
COMING ALONG PRETTY GOOD.
HE JUST NEEDS TO
LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE
BEFORE HE CAN TAKE ON
SOMETHING REALLY BIG.
[sparks crackling]
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
BARBER POLE FOR RICK HARRISON
FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.
WE GOT THE GLASS ALL CLEANED UP
AND POLISHED DOWN ALL THE SIDES.
NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT
IT ALL BACK TOGETHER.
LOOK AT THIS. [chuckles]
THAT CAME OUT NICE.
THAT'S GONNA BE AWESOME.
THAT'S GONNA BE
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.
SO FAR, SO GOOD, RIGHT?
- LOOKING GOOD.
- KYLE, YOU'RE JUST FULL OF
SO MUCH EMOTION, YOU KNOW?
- JUST LIKE USUAL, RIGHT?
- HOW CAN I, LIKE, CHEER YOU UP?
- A RAISE.
- WELL, THAT AIN'T
HAPPENING ANYTIME SOON.
- AW, COME ON.
DON'T SCRATCH IT.
- YEAH.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT
I ALWAYS TELL YOU.
I NEVER, NEVER EXPECTED
THIS THING TO LOOK THIS NICE.
THE COLORS THAT
WE MIXED TOGETHER
WITH THE NICKEL
AND THE COPPER...
- YEAH, I WAS KIND OF WORRIED
ABOUT KOWBOY
POLISHING ALL THAT GLASS,
BUT HE DID A GOOD JOB ON IT.
- YEAH, NOTHING BROKE.
LET'S GET THESE GLASS
PIECES IN, AND WE'LL BE SET.
RICK IS ONE OF MY
MOST LOYAL CUSTOMERS,
BUT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS
ABOUT TELLING HIM
THAT HIS BARBER POLE
IS NOT FROM WHEN
HE THOUGHT IT WAS.
- THIS THING IS REALLY NEAT.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE LIKE IT,
AND I THINK THIS COULD
BE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY.
- ALL I CAN DO NOW IS HOPE
THAT HE'S IMPRESSED ENOUGH
WITH THE WAY IT CAME OUT
SO THAT HE KEEPS COMING BACK.
- I'M ALL READY, MAN.
- ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
BOOM!
- WOW!
- WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- THAT THING IS AWESOME.
- THIS IS GREAT.
IT REALLY IS.
IT'S A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
WHAT ALL DID YOU DO TO IT?
- OUR GOAL WAS TO
CLEAN UP THE GLASS
AND THEN PLATE THIS,
PLATE THIS, AND ENAMEL THIS.
SO WE GOT THE GLASS OUT
WITHOUT BREAKING
IT, FORTUNATELY.
AND THEN WE JUST ENDED UP
POLISHING ALL
THIS METAL IN HERE.
- THE BARBER POLE IS BEAUTIFUL.
RICK DALE NEVER
CEASES TO AMAZE ME.
THE WHITE POPS.
THE RED POPS.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE DAY
IT WAS MOUNTED ON
ITS FIRST BARBERSHOP.
I JUST LOVE THIS THING.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST SO...
IT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE
WALKING DOWN THE STREETS, 1880,
AND IT'S GETTING DARK OUTSIDE,
SO THE BARBER COMES OUT AND
PUTS THE OIL LAMP OR THE CANDLE
OR WHATEVER THEY
PUT INSIDE THIS THING.
- I GOT SOME NEWS FOR YOU.
THIS IS MORE 30 YEARS NEWER
THAN THE 1800s.
AND THE REASON
WHY I'M SAYING THAT
IS THAT THE LIGHTING INSIDE
WAS ACTUALLY ORIGINAL.
- OKAY.
- SO NOBODY EVER CHANGED
IT AND MADE IT ELECTRIC.
SO IT'S PROBABLY 1920,
YOU KNOW, RIGHT IN THERE.
- WHEN HE TOLD ME
I WAS OFF BY THAT,
I'M THINKING, "OH, NO,
THIS THING IS ONLY WORTH,
"LIKE, 1,000 BUCKS OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
AND I'M JUST GONNA
TAKE IT IN THE SHORTS."
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE VALUE?
- WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT
THE VALUE AT ALL.
- OKAY.
[laughing]
- ALL RIGHT?
- ALL RIGHT.
- IT'S STILL A VERY, VERY
RARE BARBER'S POLE
MADE BY KOKEN,
AND, YOU KNOW, WITH IT
NOT BEING A SPINNING ONE,
IT'S VERY ORNATE
AND VERY ORIGINAL.
SO I THINK YOU
SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET
BETWEEN $3,500 AND $4,000.
- THAT MUCH?
- YEAH, BECAUSE
OF ITS ORIGINALITY,
AND THERE'S NOT
ANY OF THESE AROUND.
THIS PARTICULAR
MODEL, THERE'S NONE.
- OKAY, YOU HAD ME
NERVOUS THERE FOR A SECOND.
[laughing]
- YEAH, NO, IT'S ALL GOOD.
- NOT BAD, RICK.
YOU'VE LEARNED WELL.
- LET'S PLUG THIS THING IN.
LET'S SEE HOW IT LOOKS.
- YEAH, PLUG IT IN.
BINGO.
- OH, THAT IS COOL. I LIKE THAT.
- IT SAYS, "COME GET
YOUR HAIR CUT," HUH?
- OR GO GET A BLEEDING.
- YEAH, OR GO GET
A BLEEDING, YEAH.
- THIS BARBER POLE IS BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S GONNA BE A
QUICK AND EASY SELL.
THANKS A LOT, MAN. YOU
ARE ALWAYS THE BEST.
- YOU BET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE
WORKING FOR YOU.
I LOVE DOING THIS STUFF.
KEEP IT COMING.
I HAVE THIS HOT
DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
- SO WE'RE MODIFYING A 1950s
VICTOR COCA-COLA COOLER
INTO A HOT DOG STAND.
AND A CRUCIAL STEP
OF THE PROCESS
IS GETTING THE
COCA-COLA RED SHINE.
COCA-COLA HAS CHANGED
THE SHADE IN ITS RED
AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN
TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
I USUALLY TRY TO MATCH THE SHADE
TO THE YEAR OF THE
MACHINE THAT IT IS.
PINSTRIPING TAKES
A LOT OF SKILL,
ESPECIALLY WITH SOMETHING
LIKE THE COCA-COLA LOGO.
EVEN A SMALL MISTAKE
IS TOTALLY NOTICEABLE.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN JUST
ERASE SOMETHING AND FIX IT.
[tools whirring and grinding]
THIS THING IS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO GET INSIDE HERE.
OKAY, LET'S GO AT A
LITTLE BIT OF AN ANGLE.
THERE WE GO.
ALL THE PARTS ON THE
COCA-COLA KOOLER-GRILL
HAVE BEEN WELDED,
SANDED, AND PAINTED.
NOW ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS
JUST PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.
IF IT WAS EASY, I WOULD
HAVE HAD KOWBOY DO IT.
I HAVE A POTENTIAL
BUYER ALL LINED UP.
SO AS USUAL, TIME IS TIGHT.
[metallic banging]
THIS PROJECT HAS TAKEN A
LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE THINKING,
BECAUSE USUALLY WE JUST
PUT THINGS BACK TOGETHER.
GOT IT?
- YES.
- THIS ONE HERE, WE'VE
GOT HOT AND COLD
NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
WE'RE REALLY GONNA HAVE
TO MAKE THIS THING WORK.
OKAY.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW
MANY PARTS GO INTO A MACHINE
THAT JUST SERVES A
HOT DOG AND A COKE.
BUT THIS PIECE IS
ALL ABOUT '50s STYLE...
THIS HOT DOG BAR IS
GONNA LOOK SWEET.
SO EVERYTHING IS SHINY
AND CHROMED TO THE HILT.
THE ATTRACTION TO THESE
IS THE CHROME, THE COLOR,
THE SMELL OF THE HOT DOGS.
AND, OF COURSE,
THE CHERRY ON TOP
IS THE COCA-COLA LOGO.
- HEY, RICK.
- HEY, ROBERT.
WHEN MY TEAM AND I
TOOK ON THIS PROJECT,
WE HAD ONE CUSTOMER IN MIND.
HE'S A SERIOUS COKE COLLECTOR.
SO I INVITED HIM TO COME
OVER AND CHECK IT OUT.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- RICK, YOU KNOW, I GOT THIS
NEAT GAME ROOM AT MY HOUSE,
AND I'M LOOKING
FOR SOMETHING NEAT.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE?
- I GOT SOMETHING REALLY COOL.
I HAVE THIS 1950s COCA-COLA
HOT DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
AND THEY MADE ONLY 50 OF THEM.
THERE'S ONLY 5
LEFT IN EXISTENCE.
THIS ONE ISN'T A
TOTALLY ORIGINAL ONE.
BUT I WENT OFF THE DRAWINGS
OFF THE ORIGINAL ONE
TO MAKE THE EXACT
SAME SHAPE AND SIZE.
AND IT HAS EVERYTHING IN IT,
ALL THE WHISTLES,
BELLS, AND BUZZERS.
- I GOT TO SEE IT.
- ALL RIGHT.
- I GOT TO SEE IT.
- OKAY, TYLER, COME ON OUT!
- OH, GOD, THAT'S GREAT!
- IS THAT COOL OR WHAT?
- I LOVE IT.
- COME ON. LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
- I HAVE THIS TEN-CAR
GARAGE BEHIND MY HOUSE
WITH A '50s GAME
ROOM ON ONE SIDE
WITH BLACK-AND-WHITE
CHECKERED FLOORS
AND COCA-COLA MEMORABILIA.
AND THIS HOT DOG
GRILL WOULD FIT PERFECT.
HOW'D YOU DO THIS?
- THE BOTTOM HALF OF IT
IS A TOTALLY ORIGINAL C-31
VICTOR COCA-COLA COOLER.
AND IT WAS JUST TOTALLY TRASHED.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO TAKE THIS
THING APART IN A MILLION PIECES.
WE HAD TO REINSULATE THE
THING, PUT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER.
THAT USED TO BE RED ON THE TOP,
AND WE ENDED UP CHROMING
THAT TO GIVE IT MORE OF A LOOK.
I EVEN ADDED THE CASH REGISTER.
YOU KNOW, WHEN
YOU'RE COMING UP...
ding!
AND YOU GET YOURSELF A SODA,
YOU GOT TO GET
PAID FOR IT, RIGHT?
- YEAH.
- THE TOP OF IT, THIS
THING RIGHT HERE
IS ACTUALLY A FEAT IN ITSELF.
WHEN YOU'RE WALKING UP TO IT,
IT BASICALLY JUST
SORT OF EXUDES,
"COME GET SOMETHING."
SO IT'S A FULL-BLOWN
DO-IT-YOURSELF,
"SELL YOURSELF A HOT
DOG AND SODA" DEAL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOTAL PACKAGE.
- IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
YOU DID JUST... IT'S PERFECT.
- YOU'D REACH IN.
YOU GET YOURSELF
A BOTTLE OF COKE,
AND YOU'D POP IT.
YOU'D HAVE YOURSELF
AN ICE-COLD COKE.
[laughing]
- THAT WOULD WORK.
I THINK IT'S GOT MY NAME ON IT.
- YEAH?
- THIS HOT DOG GRILL
IS THE MOST PHENOMENAL
THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
EVERYTHING ABOUT
THIS IS JUST PERFECT.
I COULDN'T FIND ONE
SCRATCH, ONE FLAW, ANYTHING.
IT WAS PERFECT.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I HAVE TO OWN IT.
I HAVE TO OWN IT.
THAT'S JUST TOO NEAT.
RICK, WELL, HOW MUCH
YOU ASKING FOR THIS?
- AN ORIGINAL ONE
THAT THERE'S ONLY FIVE OF,
I SAW AT AUCTION GO FOR $40,000.
SO THIS HERE, WITH
THE WORK I HAVE INTO IT,
I'M ASKING... I'M
ASKING $30,000.
I SPENT $7,000 ON THE
COCA-COLA KOOLER-GRILL
TO CONVERT IT,
INCLUDING ABOUT 80 MAN-HOURS.
I KNOW HOW MUCH
THESE THINGS SELL FOR,
AND IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY.
- WELL, I CAN'T GIVE THAT.
- WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
- $18,000, $19,000.
- OH, BUDDY, YOU'RE KILLING ME.
I'LL COME TO, LIKE, $27,500.
BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
- YOU'D TAKE $23,500?
- NO, SIR.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN
GO THERE, THEN GOOD.
IF NOT, THEN YOU NEED TO GET
BACK IN YOUR CAR AND GO HOME.
- WELL, YOU KNOW, RICK,
I'M GONNA THINK ABOUT IT.
AND IF YOU STILL HAVE IT,
WELL, I'LL COME BACK,
AND WE'LL VISIT ABOUT IT.
- OKAY, YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
- ALL RIGHT.
- TAKE CARE. I'M GLAD
YOU GOT TO SEE IT.
- THANKS FOR SHOWING IT TO ME.
- YOU BET.
- SEE YOU LATER.
I COULDN'T MAKE A DEAL ON IT,
'CAUSE I THOUGHT
HE WOULD TAKE LESS.
AND I'M THINKING
IF I WAIT A MONTH,
HE MAY WANT TO SELL IT FOR LESS.
HOPE NOBODY ELSE BUYS IT.
I HOPE I END UP WITH IT.
- LOOKING TASTY.
Pop!
AHH.
Clink!
OKAY, WELL, IT WORKS.
- ALWAYS GOOD TO DO A TEST RUN.
- OKAY, CLEAN UP.
- ALL RIGHT.
---
- UP NEXT ON AMERICAN
RESTORATION...
- TODAY I'M BRINGING IN A
LATE-1800s BARBER POLE.
- THIS IS A GORGEOUS PIECE.
- FIX IT UP FOR HIM,
'CAUSE THAT'S THE CLOSEST
HE'S GONNA GET TO A BARBER.
- TODAY WE'RE GETTING
IN A 1950s COKE COOLER.
THEY'RE EXTREMELY RARE.
- LOOK, NO HANDS.
- WATCH OUT. WATCH
OUT. WATCH OUT!
[crunching and rattling]
- HOW MUCH YOU ASKING FOR THIS?
- THE WORK I HAVE INTO IT,
I'M ASKING $40,000.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN
GO THERE, THEN GOOD.
IF NOT, THEN YOU NEETO GET
BACK IN YOUR CAR AND GO HOME.
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.
TODAY WE'RE GETTING IN A 1950s
COKE COOLER THAT I BOUGHT.
HOLY CRAP. MORE WORK.
I'M GONNA REENGINEER IT
AND HOPEFULLY SELL IT
FOR A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.
COME ON, LADIES.
- ONE, TWO, THREE.
- GO.
- THESE COOLERS
ARE OVER 600 POUNDS,
SO MOVING THEM
AROUND IS NO JOKE.
- LOOK, NO HANDS.
- WATCH OUT. WATCH
OUT. WATCH OUT!
- YOU'RE GONNA WISH YOU WON'T.
Crunch!
- SOMEBODY COULD GET HURT,
NOT TO MENTION MY COOLER.
[rattling]
- HOW LONG HAS THAT
HOLE BEEN THERE?
- THAT HOLE HAS
BEEN THERE A YEAR,
AND TYLER KEEPS RUNNING OVER IT.
- WELL, IF YOU WOULD FIX IT...
- THAT'S GOOD RIGHT THERE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A
GREAT COOLER AS IT SITS.
BUT I'M GONNA REENGINEER IT
INTO A COCA-COLA
HOT DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
- HOW ARE WE GONNA TURN
IT INTO A HOT DOG STAND?
- WELL, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS,
WE'RE GONNA KEEP
THE COOLER PORTION,
AND WE'RE GONNA PUT A
HOT DOG VENDOR IN HERE,
AN ORIGINAL COCA-COLA
HOT DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
THEY'RE EXTREMELY RARE.
THEY ONLY MADE
ABOUT 50 OF THEM IN 1954,
AND ACTUALLY, ONLY 5 OF THEM
ARE KNOWN TO EXIST RIGHT NOW.
BUT REPLICAS, THEY'RE
HARD TO GET TOO.
THEY MAY NOT BE WORTH
AS MUCH AS AN ORIGINAL,
BUT THEY'RE STILL VERY VALUABLE.
AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD A HUGE,
MAYBE FIVE-FOOT, ROUND
TUBE RUNNING AROUND.
IT HAS A DOUBLE TUBE.
AND THEN THE TOP
OF IT HAD A BAR,
AND IT SAID, "HOT DOGS."
THEN IT HAD A GLOBE
ON THE TOP OF IT
THAT LIT UP AND SPUN AROUND.
- WHAT?
- YOU CAN IMAGINE A
BUNCH OF LITTLE PEOPLE
WITH THEIR LITTLE COKE HATS ON,
ALL STANDING BACK HERE
SERVING HOT DOGS AND SODAS.
BIG DEAL.
- NO BEER?
[laughter]
- THIS IS GONNA BE
A TOUGH PROJECT.
NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE
TO RESTORE THE THING.
WE HAVE TO REENGINEER IT ALSO.
SO WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE
BIT OF MANUFACTURING.
BUT IT'S... YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE WE GOT TO INSULATE IT
SO THAT THE HEAT DOESN'T
BOTHER THE COOLING PART.
AS FAR AS BUILDING
THE REST OF IT,
I THINK I GOT A PRETTY
GOOD IDEA ON HOW TO DO IT.
- WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HIT THE
DRAWING BOARD, IT LOOKS LIKE.
- SO WHAT'S A COOLER LIKE
THIS WORTH AS A COOLER?
- THESE ARE ABOUT 1,000
BUCKS THE WAY THEY SIT.
- AND THEN WHAT'S IT
WORTH AS A HOT DOG BAR?
- THIS ONE, AFTER WE
GET FINISHED WITH THIS,
IS GONNA BE RIGHT
AROUND $25,000.
- $25,000 FOR A HOT DOG BAR?
- YEAH.
- THIS IN FRONT OF US?
- YEAH.
- HOLY [bleep].
- THAT'S HOW COOL
THIS IS GONNA BE.
ONE OF MY BEST
CUSTOMERS, RICK HARRISON,
IS COMING OVER TODAY
WITH A TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY
BARBER'S POLE.
LET'S SET IT RIGHT OVER HERE.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
TO EXPECT ON THIS,
BUT I LOVE VINTAGE BARBER STUFF.
- I'VE HAD RICK DALE RESTORE
A LOT OF BARBER'S CHAIRS FOR ME.
WHOA, IT'S GREAT, MAN.
BUT I'VE NEVER HAD HIM
RESTORE A BARBER'S POLE,
AND I WANT HIM TO
WORK HIS MAGIC ON IT.
- LOOKS OLD.
LOOKS VERY OLD.
I'M GUESSING LATE 18s.
WHAT DO YOU GUESS?
- SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE, YEAH.
- THIS IS A GORGEOUS PIECE.
- YOU KNOW, I LIKE IT. IT
LOOKS LIKE A CANDY CANE.
[laughter]
- THE HISTORY ATTACHED
TO BARBER'S POLES IS CRAZY.
BARBERS ACTUALLY WERE
OUR FIRST SURGEONS.
- THE OLD BARBER SURGEONS,
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND
FOR 1,000 YEARS.
- 1,000 YEARS.
- I MEAN, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
DOCTORS DIDN'T DO SURGERY.
THE BARBERS DID THE SURGERY,
AND THE PHYSICIANS OVERSAW IT.
- THE RED-AND-WHITE
STRIPES SYMBOLIZE
HOW THE BARBER USED
TO HANG HIS TOWELS...
HIS BLOODY ONE AND HIS
CLEAN ONE... OUT TO DRY.
THIS IS A KOKEN.
IT'S VERY HARD TO
READ. VERY TARNISHED.
THEY WERE A BIG, BIG
COMPANY FOR BARBERS,
AND THEY GOT THEIR START
DOING POLES JUST LIKE THIS.
THIS RIGHT HERE
IS STAINED GLASS.
- IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE
IN THEIR GARAGE
TRIED TO SAND THIS
DOWN AND REDO THIS,
NEVER FINISHED.
- I MEAN, IT'S GOT A CORD
HANGING OUT OF IT NOW.
SO SOMEBODY HAS LIT IT UP.
- HOW WOULD IT
ORIGINALLY HAVE BEEN?
- BECAUSE OF THIS
BACK PANEL HERE,
I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
LIT UP BY EITHER AN OIL CANDLE
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
- OKAY.
- I MEAN, THIS THING WAS BUILT,
LIKE ANYTHING BACK IN THE DAY,
TO LAST AND LAST AND LAST.
IT'S INCREDIBLE TO THINK
HOW MUCH CRAFTSMANSHIP
WENT INTO A BARBER'S POLE.
THIS WOULD HAVE
BEEN IN A SMALL TOWN,
ONLY SEEN BY A FEW
HUNDRED PEOPLE,
AND YOU JUST DON'T
SEE THAT ANYMORE.
- I REALLY WANT TO
SEE IT RESTORED,
BUT HOW MUCH IS IT GONNA COST?
- UM...
[sighs]
IN ORDER TO PUT
THE THING TOGETHER,
THEY WOULD USE MASTIC.
THEY MIXED TOGETHER,
YOU KNOW, CEMENT AND LIME,
AND THAT GAVE IT A SEAL IN HERE
TO HOLD ITSELF TOGETHER.
OVER THE YEARS,
AND IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER,
YOU LITERALLY GOT
TO GRIND THIS ALL OUT
ALL THE WAY AROUND THERE
AND TAKE IT OUT
A LITTLE AT A TIME.
IF YOU GET TOO
FAST ON THAT THING,
YOU'RE GONNA START
SNAPPING THE GLASS RIGHT AWAY.
AND I COULD JUST DESTROY IT.
SO I'M GONNA BE RIGHT AROUND
800 BUCKS TO GET THAT
THING BACK THE WAY IT IS.
- WHAT ARE THE ODDS
OF YOU BREAKING IT?
- 50.
- [laughing]
- 50.
IF I BREAK IT,
I'M GONNA RUIN ITS VALUE.
BUT I KNOW WHAT IT'S
GONNA LOOK LIKE RESTORED,
AND I'M DEFINITELY
WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK.
- ALL RIGHT, WELL, DO IT UP.
- ALL RIGHT.
- OKAY.
- FIX IT UP FOR HIM,
'CAUSE THAT'S THE CLOSEST
HE'S GONNA GET TO A BARBER.
[laughter]
[metallic tapping]
- WE'RE WORKING ON A
VICTOR COCA-COLA COOLER.
THIS THING IS AWESOME
AND WORTH A GOOD AMOUNT
OF MONEY IF WE FIX IT UP.
BUT IF WE DO A LITTLE BIT
MORE WORK ON THIS THING,
WE CAN CONVERT IT INTO
A HOT DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
SO KOWBOY IS GONNA
DO WHAT HE DOES BEST,
BREAK THINGS DOWN
AND TAKE THINGS APART.
AND KYLE'S GONNA MAKE
SURE WE DON'T LOSE NOTHING.
- I HATE TAKING
THESE THINGS APART.
EVERYTHING IS RUSTED.
NOTHING WANTS TO COME OUT.
- IF YOU DID AS MUCH
WORK AS YOU COMPLAINING,
WE'D BE DONE WITH
THIS THING BY NOW.
[tools whirring and grinding]
[loud tapping]
HURRY UP, KOWBOY.
THIS IS GETTING HEAVY.
- I'M GETTING IT; IF YOU LET GO,
I'LL STILL GET UP
AND WHUP YOUR ASS.
I'LL HOLD IT FOR YOU.
YOU GET TO DO THE XT ONE.
[hammer pounding]
[air whooshing]
- NOW THAT THE COKE
MACHINE IS STRIPPED DOWN,
I HAVE TO CUT OUT A
SECTION IN THE TOP OF IT
IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE HOT DOG COOKER.
THERE'S A HOT DOG VENDOR
THAT GOES RIGHT HERE.
OKAY, IT SLIDES INSIDE HERE
AND THEN HAS A STAINLESS
STEEL BACK THAT COMES UP
AND THEN A SNEEZE GUARD.
OKAY, SO WE NEED A HOLE.
I'M GONNA CUT 9 INCHES HERE.
THERE'S 9.
TAKE IT OUT BACK.
I DON'T LIKE TO MANIPULATE
THE AUTHENTICITY OF ITEMS.
BUT ON THIS ONE, THE DEMAND
FOR THE HOT DOG COOLER
IS WAY HIGHER.
IS THING IS GONNA BE
A ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECE.
[saw whirring]
NOTHING LIKE THE SMELL
OF BURNING METAL
IN THE MORNING, HUH?
ALL RIGHT, KYLE.
TODAY KYLE AND I ARE WORKING
ON THE ANTIQUE BARBER'S POLE.
WE GOT TO TAKE THIS
THING TOTALLY APART.
OKAY.
WAIT A MINUTE.
LOOK.
THIS ACTUALLY WAS POWERED.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA
BE A CANDLELIT UNIT,
BUT IT'S NOT.
IT WAS LIT UP.
WE DISCOVER THINGS ALONG
THE WAY ON EVERY RESTORATION.
RICK THOUGHT THIS WAS
A TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY
BARBER'S POLE,
BUT BECAUSE OF THE
ORIGINAL WIRING INSIDE,
IT'S MORE LI 20 YEARS LATER.
BUT IT'S STILL PROBABLY WORTH
ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND WHILE HE
CAN'T SAY IT'S 1800s,
IT WILL LIGHT UP,
SO THAT WILL EVEN OUT THE VALUE.
- SO WHEN THEY MADE THIS,
THESE WERE INDIVIDUAL PIECES?
- INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF GLASS
MOUNTED TO EACH
ONE OF THESE BARS.
THERE'S MASTIC IN HERE
AND THEN GLASS AND THEN MASTIC.
I WANT TO KEEP THE GLASS INTACT.
IT'S IRREPLACEABLE,
AND WE WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO MATCH IT, OKAY?
- THESE OLD THINGS DON'T
COME WITH INSTRUCTION MANUALS,
SO PROBLEM SOLVING
IS A BIG PART OF THIS JOB.
- LOOK IN THERE.
THE BOTTOM SIDE IS RUSTED OUT.
THEY LOOK LIKE WE FOUND IT
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.
THE SCREWS AT THE
BOTTOM ARE RUSTED TIGHT,
SO THAT MEANS I'M GONNA
HAVE TO USE SOME POWER TOOLS
TO GET THEM REMOVED.
THE PROBLEM IS,
IF I GET THE GRINDER
INSIDE THERE,
I MAY NICK THE GLASS,
WHICH WILL END THIS PROJECT
BEFORE I EVEN GET IT STARTED.
WE GET A GRINDER IN THERE
AND WE JUST SLIP UP ONE IOTA,
AND WE'RE GONNA NAIL THAT GLASS.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE WE
SHOULD JUST GIVE THEM BACK.
WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA
DO MORE DAMAGE TO THIS
OR CAUSE OURSELVES A WHOLE
BUNCH OF WORK OR MONEY.
- YOU THINK WE TAKE
ALL THEM SCREWS OUT,
THAT CAULKING SHOULD
HOLD IT TOGETHER, HUH?
- ISN'T IT GLUED HERE
TOO ALONG THE EDGE?
- NO, THERE'S A GAP THERE.
- EVERY STEP OF EVERY PROJECT,
NOT ONLY DO WE RUN THE
RISK OF RUINING SOMEONE'S ITEM
BUT ALSO A PIECE OF HISTORY.
THINK IT WILL COME OUT?
- WE CAN TRY.
- WELL, THAT'S IT. YOU
WANT TO PUSH ON IT?
THAT'S IT.
- OKAY.
- KYLE, YOU'RE A GENIUS.
- THANK YOU, BOSS.
- OH, NICE JOB.
GOOD, HUH?
- YEAH.
- LOOKS GOOD.
DIDN'T BREAK IT EITHER.
- DAMN RIGHT.
- LET'S JUST LUBE
THE REST OF IT UP,
AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL POP.
[tool whirring]
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS VICTOR COCA-COLA COOLER
TO TURN IT INTO A
VINTAGE HOT DOG BAR.
THIS THING NOW
NEEDS SOME WELDING,
SO I'M GONNA PUT
TYLER ON THAT JOB.
OKAY, PUSH IT IN.
[drill grinding]
PERFECT.
IF TYLER'S GONNA WANT
TO TAKE OVER THIS
BUSINESS SOMEDAY,
HE'S GONNA NEED
TO DO EVERYTHING.
[tool whirring]
OKAY.
MAKE SURE I CAN SEE
THE UPPER LINE, ALL RIGHT?
AND WELDING IS
ONE OF THOSE SKILLS
THAT IS VERY HARD TO MASTER.
I'M GONNA SPOT-WELD
THE FIRST ONE.
I WANT YOU TO WATCH ME,
AND THEN I WANT YOU TO
SPOT-WELD THE OTHER TWO.
- OKAY.
- HOLD TIGHT.
WE NEED TO GET
A NICE TIGHT WELD.
[sparks crackling]
WHEN DOING WELDING
ON A BIG ITEM LIKE THIS,
WE'RE GONNA NEED
TO BEAD IN SPOTS
IN ORDER TO HOLD IT INTO PLACE.
SEE, IT'S SORT OF LIKE A SPOT.
- YEAH.
- OKAYNICE, NICE FLOW,
JUST TACKED IT ON
THERE JUST ENOUGH.
GET CLOSE TO THE METAL,
AND THEN YOU PULL THE TRIGGER.
[sparks crackling]
GO UP AND DOWN. THERE YOU GO.
JUST LIKE THAT. GOOD JOB.
NOT BAD FOR YOUR FIRST WELD.
SAME GIG.
TYLER'S WELDING SKILLS ARE
COMING ALONG PRETTY GOOD.
HE JUST NEEDS TO
LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE
BEFORE HE CAN TAKE ON
SOMETHING REALLY BIG.
[sparks crackling]
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
BARBER POLE FOR RICK HARRISON
FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.
WE GOT THE GLASS ALL CLEANED UP
AND POLISHED DOWN ALL THE SIDES.
NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT
IT ALL BACK TOGETHER.
LOOK AT THIS. [chuckles]
THAT CAME OUT NICE.
THAT'S GONNA BE AWESOME.
THAT'S GONNA BE
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.
SO FAR, SO GOOD, RIGHT?
- LOOKING GOOD.
- KYLE, YOU'RE JUST FULL OF
SO MUCH EMOTION, YOU KNOW?
- JUST LIKE USUAL, RIGHT?
- HOW CAN I, LIKE, CHEER YOU UP?
- A RAISE.
- WELL, THAT AIN'T
HAPPENING ANYTIME SOON.
- AW, COME ON.
DON'T SCRATCH IT.
- YEAH.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT
I ALWAYS TELL YOU.
I NEVER, NEVER EXPECTED
THIS THING TO LOOK THIS NICE.
THE COLORS THAT
WE MIXED TOGETHER
WITH THE NICKEL
AND THE COPPER...
- YEAH, I WAS KIND OF WORRIED
ABOUT KOWBOY
POLISHING ALL THAT GLASS,
BUT HE DID A GOOD JOB ON IT.
- YEAH, NOTHING BROKE.
LET'S GET THESE GLASS
PIECES IN, AND WE'LL BE SET.
RICK IS ONE OF MY
MOST LOYAL CUSTOMERS,
BUT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS
ABOUT TELLING HIM
THAT HIS BARBER POLE
IS NOT FROM WHEN
HE THOUGHT IT WAS.
- THIS THING IS REALLY NEAT.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE LIKE IT,
AND I THINK THIS COULD
BE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY.
- ALL I CAN DO NOW IS HOPE
THAT HE'S IMPRESSED ENOUGH
WITH THE WAY IT CAME OUT
SO THAT HE KEEPS COMING BACK.
- I'M ALL READY, MAN.
- ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
BOOM!
- WOW!
- WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- THAT THING IS AWESOME.
- THIS IS GREAT.
IT REALLY IS.
IT'S A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
WHAT ALL DID YOU DO TO IT?
- OUR GOAL WAS TO
CLEAN UP THE GLASS
AND THEN PLATE THIS,
PLATE THIS, AND ENAMEL THIS.
SO WE GOT THE GLASS OUT
WITHOUT BREAKING
IT, FORTUNATELY.
AND THEN WE JUST ENDED UP
POLISHING ALL
THIS METAL IN HERE.
- THE BARBER POLE IS BEAUTIFUL.
RICK DALE NEVER
CEASES TO AMAZE ME.
THE WHITE POPS.
THE RED POPS.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE DAY
IT WAS MOUNTED ON
ITS FIRST BARBERSHOP.
I JUST LOVE THIS THING.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST SO...
IT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE
WALKING DOWN THE STREETS, 1880,
AND IT'S GETTING DARK OUTSIDE,
SO THE BARBER COMES OUT AND
PUTS THE OIL LAMP OR THE CANDLE
OR WHATEVER THEY
PUT INSIDE THIS THING.
- I GOT SOME NEWS FOR YOU.
THIS IS MORE 30 YEARS NEWER
THAN THE 1800s.
AND THE REASON
WHY I'M SAYING THAT
IS THAT THE LIGHTING INSIDE
WAS ACTUALLY ORIGINAL.
- OKAY.
- SO NOBODY EVER CHANGED
IT AND MADE IT ELECTRIC.
SO IT'S PROBABLY 1920,
YOU KNOW, RIGHT IN THERE.
- WHEN HE TOLD ME
I WAS OFF BY THAT,
I'M THINKING, "OH, NO,
THIS THING IS ONLY WORTH,
"LIKE, 1,000 BUCKS OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
AND I'M JUST GONNA
TAKE IT IN THE SHORTS."
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE VALUE?
- WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT
THE VALUE AT ALL.
- OKAY.
[laughing]
- ALL RIGHT?
- ALL RIGHT.
- IT'S STILL A VERY, VERY
RARE BARBER'S POLE
MADE BY KOKEN,
AND, YOU KNOW, WITH IT
NOT BEING A SPINNING ONE,
IT'S VERY ORNATE
AND VERY ORIGINAL.
SO I THINK YOU
SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET
BETWEEN $3,500 AND $4,000.
- THAT MUCH?
- YEAH, BECAUSE
OF ITS ORIGINALITY,
AND THERE'S NOT
ANY OF THESE AROUND.
THIS PARTICULAR
MODEL, THERE'S NONE.
- OKAY, YOU HAD ME
NERVOUS THERE FOR A SECOND.
[laughing]
- YEAH, NO, IT'S ALL GOOD.
- NOT BAD, RICK.
YOU'VE LEARNED WELL.
- LET'S PLUG THIS THING IN.
LET'S SEE HOW IT LOOKS.
- YEAH, PLUG IT IN.
BINGO.
- OH, THAT IS COOL. I LIKE THAT.
- IT SAYS, "COME GET
YOUR HAIR CUT," HUH?
- OR GO GET A BLEEDING.
- YEAH, OR GO GET
A BLEEDING, YEAH.
- THIS BARBER POLE IS BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S GONNA BE A
QUICK AND EASY SELL.
THANKS A LOT, MAN. YOU
ARE ALWAYS THE BEST.
- YOU BET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE
WORKING FOR YOU.
I LOVE DOING THIS STUFF.
KEEP IT COMING.
I HAVE THIS HOT
DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
- SO WE'RE MODIFYING A 1950s
VICTOR COCA-COLA COOLER
INTO A HOT DOG STAND.
AND A CRUCIAL STEP
OF THE PROCESS
IS GETTING THE
COCA-COLA RED SHINE.
COCA-COLA HAS CHANGED
THE SHADE IN ITS RED
AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN
TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
I USUALLY TRY TO MATCH THE SHADE
TO THE YEAR OF THE
MACHINE THAT IT IS.
PINSTRIPING TAKES
A LOT OF SKILL,
ESPECIALLY WITH SOMETHING
LIKE THE COCA-COLA LOGO.
EVEN A SMALL MISTAKE
IS TOTALLY NOTICEABLE.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN JUST
ERASE SOMETHING AND FIX IT.
[tools whirring and grinding]
THIS THING IS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO GET INSIDE HERE.
OKAY, LET'S GO AT A
LITTLE BIT OF AN ANGLE.
THERE WE GO.
ALL THE PARTS ON THE
COCA-COLA KOOLER-GRILL
HAVE BEEN WELDED,
SANDED, AND PAINTED.
NOW ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS
JUST PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.
IF IT WAS EASY, I WOULD
HAVE HAD KOWBOY DO IT.
I HAVE A POTENTIAL
BUYER ALL LINED UP.
SO AS USUAL, TIME IS TIGHT.
[metallic banging]
THIS PROJECT HAS TAKEN A
LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE THINKING,
BECAUSE USUALLY WE JUST
PUT THINGS BACK TOGETHER.
GOT IT?
- YES.
- THIS ONE HERE, WE'VE
GOT HOT AND COLD
NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
WE'RE REALLY GONNA HAVE
TO MAKE THIS THING WORK.
OKAY.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW
MANY PARTS GO INTO A MACHINE
THAT JUST SERVES A
HOT DOG AND A COKE.
BUT THIS PIECE IS
ALL ABOUT '50s STYLE...
THIS HOT DOG BAR IS
GONNA LOOK SWEET.
SO EVERYTHING IS SHINY
AND CHROMED TO THE HILT.
THE ATTRACTION TO THESE
IS THE CHROME, THE COLOR,
THE SMELL OF THE HOT DOGS.
AND, OF COURSE,
THE CHERRY ON TOP
IS THE COCA-COLA LOGO.
- HEY, RICK.
- HEY, ROBERT.
WHEN MY TEAM AND I
TOOK ON THIS PROJECT,
WE HAD ONE CUSTOMER IN MIND.
HE'S A SERIOUS COKE COLLECTOR.
SO I INVITED HIM TO COME
OVER AND CHECK IT OUT.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- RICK, YOU KNOW, I GOT THIS
NEAT GAME ROOM AT MY HOUSE,
AND I'M LOOKING
FOR SOMETHING NEAT.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE?
- I GOT SOMETHING REALLY COOL.
I HAVE THIS 1950s COCA-COLA
HOT DOG KOOLER-GRILL.
AND THEY MADE ONLY 50 OF THEM.
THERE'S ONLY 5
LEFT IN EXISTENCE.
THIS ONE ISN'T A
TOTALLY ORIGINAL ONE.
BUT I WENT OFF THE DRAWINGS
OFF THE ORIGINAL ONE
TO MAKE THE EXACT
SAME SHAPE AND SIZE.
AND IT HAS EVERYTHING IN IT,
ALL THE WHISTLES,
BELLS, AND BUZZERS.
- I GOT TO SEE IT.
- ALL RIGHT.
- I GOT TO SEE IT.
- OKAY, TYLER, COME ON OUT!
- OH, GOD, THAT'S GREAT!
- IS THAT COOL OR WHAT?
- I LOVE IT.
- COME ON. LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
- I HAVE THIS TEN-CAR
GARAGE BEHIND MY HOUSE
WITH A '50s GAME
ROOM ON ONE SIDE
WITH BLACK-AND-WHITE
CHECKERED FLOORS
AND COCA-COLA MEMORABILIA.
AND THIS HOT DOG
GRILL WOULD FIT PERFECT.
HOW'D YOU DO THIS?
- THE BOTTOM HALF OF IT
IS A TOTALLY ORIGINAL C-31
VICTOR COCA-COLA COOLER.
AND IT WAS JUST TOTALLY TRASHED.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO TAKE THIS
THING APART IN A MILLION PIECES.
WE HAD TO REINSULATE THE
THING, PUT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER.
THAT USED TO BE RED ON THE TOP,
AND WE ENDED UP CHROMING
THAT TO GIVE IT MORE OF A LOOK.
I EVEN ADDED THE CASH REGISTER.
YOU KNOW, WHEN
YOU'RE COMING UP...
ding!
AND YOU GET YOURSELF A SODA,
YOU GOT TO GET
PAID FOR IT, RIGHT?
- YEAH.
- THE TOP OF IT, THIS
THING RIGHT HERE
IS ACTUALLY A FEAT IN ITSELF.
WHEN YOU'RE WALKING UP TO IT,
IT BASICALLY JUST
SORT OF EXUDES,
"COME GET SOMETHING."
SO IT'S A FULL-BLOWN
DO-IT-YOURSELF,
"SELL YOURSELF A HOT
DOG AND SODA" DEAL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOTAL PACKAGE.
- IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
YOU DID JUST... IT'S PERFECT.
- YOU'D REACH IN.
YOU GET YOURSELF
A BOTTLE OF COKE,
AND YOU'D POP IT.
YOU'D HAVE YOURSELF
AN ICE-COLD COKE.
[laughing]
- THAT WOULD WORK.
I THINK IT'S GOT MY NAME ON IT.
- YEAH?
- THIS HOT DOG GRILL
IS THE MOST PHENOMENAL
THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
EVERYTHING ABOUT
THIS IS JUST PERFECT.
I COULDN'T FIND ONE
SCRATCH, ONE FLAW, ANYTHING.
IT WAS PERFECT.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I HAVE TO OWN IT.
I HAVE TO OWN IT.
THAT'S JUST TOO NEAT.
RICK, WELL, HOW MUCH
YOU ASKING FOR THIS?
- AN ORIGINAL ONE
THAT THERE'S ONLY FIVE OF,
I SAW AT AUCTION GO FOR $40,000.
SO THIS HERE, WITH
THE WORK I HAVE INTO IT,
I'M ASKING... I'M
ASKING $30,000.
I SPENT $7,000 ON THE
COCA-COLA KOOLER-GRILL
TO CONVERT IT,
INCLUDING ABOUT 80 MAN-HOURS.
I KNOW HOW MUCH
THESE THINGS SELL FOR,
AND IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY.
- WELL, I CAN'T GIVE THAT.
- WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
- $18,000, $19,000.
- OH, BUDDY, YOU'RE KILLING ME.
I'LL COME TO, LIKE, $27,500.
BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
- YOU'D TAKE $23,500?
- NO, SIR.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN
GO THERE, THEN GOOD.
IF NOT, THEN YOU NEED TO GET
BACK IN YOUR CAR AND GO HOME.
- WELL, YOU KNOW, RICK,
I'M GONNA THINK ABOUT IT.
AND IF YOU STILL HAVE IT,
WELL, I'LL COME BACK,
AND WE'LL VISIT ABOUT IT.
- OKAY, YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
- ALL RIGHT.
- TAKE CARE. I'M GLAD
YOU GOT TO SEE IT.
- THANKS FOR SHOWING IT TO ME.
- YOU BET.
- SEE YOU LATER.
I COULDN'T MAKE A DEAL ON IT,
'CAUSE I THOUGHT
HE WOULD TAKE LESS.
AND I'M THINKING
IF I WAIT A MONTH,
HE MAY WANT TO SELL IT FOR LESS.
HOPE NOBODY ELSE BUYS IT.
I HOPE I END UP WITH IT.
- LOOKING TASTY.
Pop!
AHH.
Clink!
OKAY, WELL, IT WORKS.
- ALWAYS GOOD TO DO A TEST RUN.
- OKAY, CLEAN UP.
- ALL RIGHT.