"I've Been Everywhere Man" @jerseypicker - Tumblr Blog

I never said I do this for Money ...... I chose to live on the Road relying on Friends putting Me up ( i call it Couch Surfing America ) and Pitching Tents in Parks & Flea Markets and even some times having to sleep in a Walmart parking lot in the Van .... I chose this cause I knew traveling the Backroads of America can provided some great stories & Memories ( well I’m rich with Memories ) ..... heres one I’d like to share ........ one Morning waking up in My booth in Pickens County ( South Carolina )Market ...... Its 6:00am an Roosters are giving Me the Wake up call,I notice a County Worker empting the Trash cans in His bare Feet .... I mention He has no shoes ...... Man ( ( about 50 ) says He Never wore shoes ( been bare foot all His life ) not even to School as a Youngster .............. I could never get a story like this if I were living a more conventional life 👍😀 https://www.instagram.com/p/Btfz9_Hlfle/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=evs3plcvnch5

Let Me tell You My Favorite places #1 is picking Maine in August ( usually do this after July Brimfield ) after Brimfield I go Sunday Morning to Todds Farm in Rowley,Mass ( I set up as a vendor ) get great deals here ..... then up to Maine for the week Arundel is a 7 day a week flea ,Wednesday is Montsweag ,maine I enjoy Maine days so much ( around 2-3 every afternoon I dipping I a fresh Water Pond every 5:00 In a harbor eating lobster before I go find a campsite ,after this week I go over to the NY State Madison / Bouckville Antique ( the buying is so good ) Bring a big empty Trailer a pocket full of Dollars ( You’ll pull out in 3 days FatnHappy ) ..... You take that load home and head back east in a month for the Kutztown,Pa Antique Extravaganza 3rd week of September ( they also have an April event ) Here the deals are ridiculously affordable ...... I also have a real Favorite one Day Market in Pa ...... every Tuesday is the Roots farmers market with a great Flea Market attached ....... Pennsylvania Is a haven for great fresh Old ( over 100 years ) merchandise ..... and one last place I need to mention as a Favorite over the Years is the Pickens county Wednesday Market a true cultural experience and Great Finds have come from this stop 👍 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bta7JhmFU7V/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=319w7ch90abb

#1

One time on a run to Canton Trade Days in 2009 a woman passes through My booth with a wonderfully handmade carry all Bag ..... just before leaving for Texas Frances ( My 16 Year Old ) says “ Daddy if you see any cool Bags , I’m gonna start collecting them “ .... well the coolest bag I ever seen just passed through........I track the lady down an ask where it came from ...... Round Top ,Texas at Marburger Farm from Magnolia Pearl ...... I tell Her I’m gonna get one ...... She warns of the expense ☹️......... But I book to be a Vendor at one of the Fields in Warrenton ,Texas ......... and when Marburger opened their Show I’m first in line with My 25 $ out ( I’ve gotta meet this Magnolia Pearl Lady ) ..... oddly in the Prior 3 days of being in Warrenton I see a roadside boutique tha sells similar bag for 120$ ( I buy it ) ..... Today I realize everyone was copying Robins Design and I ended up with a really poor copy ( sorry Frances ) ...... When I got to Marburger and touched the real thing I realize My error ..... but the truth is I would not have been able to get the real thing anyway ......... but the Big win was I walked away meeting one of the Most Inspirational People I ever Met ( and Today Robin & I ha e great Admiration for each other ) ........ And I had a discovers Round Top as one of the Best Markets in the World ...... been a permanent fixture there for the last 10 Years 😀💪👍😘...... Today I have quite the MP wardrobe for Myself https://www.instagram.com/p/BtUFt_Slcdw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nch5ffkagj3w

Up until now in the Story theres been no mention of a Smart Phone ... so no beautiful Photos are yet Taken and I don’t have a social Media site .... so I’m not Quite the “Jersey Picker “ You know Today ..... and I never Intended to be the “ Jersey Picker “( but it just kinda happened with the help of the I-Phone and Social Media ) ...... I started out as a Traditional Antique Dealer back in Jersey selling Antique toys that book for Hundreds of Dollars and Coffee Tins that fetch over a 100$ ........ well I had to change with not the times but with the regions of the Country NC and Texas did not seem to care how much an antique booked for ...... so eventually I stopped handing those really good collectables and just went to what most North Eastern Antique Dealers call Junk ( Junk is what was selling best on My Trips to the Southern States ) ...... I started to target Items for the “ Steam Punk “ Movement ... keys ,watch parts , small brass door Hardware ,Broken Doll Parts ............ This stuff would appeal to Young Woman who were Making assemblage Jewelry ( stringing this stuff together on a chain to resell ) ........ this is also when the popular phrase Repurposing entered the Antique world ...... well I learned Quickly that the Texas Market was big on Repurposing every thing ...... Back East My Jersey People were shaking there head in disbelief at what I was taking to Texas ..... this is still 2009 and the Next I’ll tell of My Discovery of Round Top ,Texas https://www.instagram.com/p/BtS7si2FfJT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=971zgigc2kt1

“ Pickers” have been around for centuries ( possibly oldest profession ) ........ Moses was a “ Picker “ the Indians were “ Pickers “ ........... so My take on what makes You a picker is simply ....... You Bring to Market what others will Covet ....... Today Shop owners like to say “ I got that from My Picker “ and True it is ...... I have people that when I make a Pick sometimes I know exactly Who I’m gonna give First Peek ( now I’ve built a Nation wide group of Customers ) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQmMAVF2Me/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1r2rmw79ho8kx

In 2008 I left NJ to move to Raleigh,NJ ( thought I’d go up to Jersey every 3 Weeks to re stock ) this was working out for a while .... but now I’m getting ants in My pants ( I keep hearing about Canton ,Texas ) ..... I start heading to Texas once a month for good pay ..... the Texans like Jersey Junk ,one customer that really took well to the Junk and Me was Brandy ......... keep in Mind I’m living on the road on a tight budget ( no Hotel rooms for Me) I pitch a tent at most events ....... so any offer of “ come stay with Us “ is considered and accecpted....... I go to Brandy’s for a few nights........... this was Cultural experience I can never forget ( I retuned to Jersey with Stories ) ......... Her Family was entertained by this Guy who cant say Kawfee , The kids would make Me say bad words , Her Husband Kevin would ask Me to Drive for Him while He conducts business ( He was on the Phone 8 hours a day while I drove ) after 3 Days He never called Me Randy ( 10 years later He still doesn't ) ....... this Guy would tell everyone on the other end of the phone line that He was riding around with the “ Picker “( I have not been called Randy since I left Jersey a Year Earlier ) ........ so after 3 days of this My mind realizes In North Carolina I’m “Jersey “ ....... and now in Texas I’m getting known as the “Picker “ ........ Tah Dah ........ I’m gonna get business cards that say I’m the “ Jersey Picker “ https://www.instagram.com/p/BtPsGM0FyNp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gmqbvhpbe24

Lets talk about Love ......... in the mid 90’s when I just got the “ Picking Bug “ I met a Young Widower who had a 2 Year Old Girl ...... I had an apartment on one of My Dads Rental properties so You can say I had a place ,a Car and a Landscaping business & the “ Picking Bug “ ....... but Financially I was a disaster ........ But I was Charming and this relationship somehow held together for a few Years ( of course I was also growing an attachment to Frances the 3 Year Old ) ...... But Her Mother and I broke it off yet staying friends and allowing Me to spoil Her Child ....... when Frances was about 9 Her Mother would ask Me to Babysit so She could Date ........ this was a suitable arrangement yet around 2002 I move in and eventually ask Lisa to Marry Me ( offer accepted 😀👍) ..... for several Years Frances & I went everywhere Together I even would take to the July Brimfields to camp with Me beside My Antiques for a week Her Mother totally Trusted Me with Her 12 Year Old ,Frances and I were like Father/Daughter ( Basically thats what it had become ) .... So til Frances was about 16 I lived with them yet in My Heart Marrying Her Mother was just not what I really wanted and I had to come clean and say so ( we all Cried ) Both Lisa & I Had Big Italian Families and and Both Families accepted us a Married Couple ( yet we weren't ) our break-up was a shock to all ........ but Frances & I still went everywhere together ( 2012 I took Her to Cape Cod ,California & Costa Rica ) ......... she still came to Summer Brimfields til 20 Years Old......... Today Frances still calls Me Daddy ( and I could not be Prouder to be Her Father )Her Mother although ReMarried is still one of My Best Friends and Her Sibblings treat Me as if I never left the Family ...... Now thats what I call Love https://www.instagram.com/p/BtIjvIPlymy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1m45avzcqeqau

In the 2000’s I made many Trips ( 8 hrs each way ) to the Raleigh Flea Mkt ( they were My best buyers at the time ) well I also got some epic “ Picks “ Out of there ....... I walk by a vendors tarp. On the ground in which His goods are displayed I say “ How Much for the Frame “? ...... He’s a bit puzzled cause there is not a picture frame on the tarp ( I guess ?) His response is “What Frame “ ...... I say “ That black Metal thing “ ........ “ Oh ,10 Dollars” ........I hand Him His 10$ and back to my booth .......... The Black 1890’s High Wheel Bicycle Frame went to Brimfield where 250$ was the selling Price 😀👍..... but heres the best one ........ I walk by an Old Man setting up early on a Sunday Morning ( I’m set up for the Weekend ,so this Sunday Morning shopping is common amongst Us regulars ) He just dumped on a Table a Junk Drawer looking display ..... My eye catches a real pretty pocket Knife “ How much for this Knife “? ...... “ oh 2 Dollars “ ........ I pay and scoot along ......... back at My booth I give the Knife through inspection ..... turns out to be a 1890’s Cloisonné Anheuser Busch Bartenders Knife ( I’m Tickled ) ..... showed it off that morning to some Friends I made in the Market over the Years ....... even turned down big profit offers of 250$ & 500$ ....... It went back to Jersey with Me for Ebay .......... I accepted a 3000$ offer ........ Me and the Family went to Disney that Spring 👍😀 https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGKbW8FNOJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=iskpnjig3n4w

One Day My Brother says to Me “ Randy ,look in that box I put on the Porch “...... I do and to My surprise Its a Human Skull ..........this Brother is a curb Picker ........ He claims it came off the Curb in our neighboring upscale neighborhood ........ ...... The Lady that put it to the curb could not believe we wanted it (says Her brother brought it home in the 30’s from Brown University ) ...... well I ask My Mentor Tony if it was legal to sell ....... He confirms its a legal Skull and tells Me to Ask 250$ ..... well up at Brimfield I have it nicely Displayed ........ and Here comes My customer Evan ( of Oddities TV Fame ) ...... She would always ask “ anything Dead Today “? ...... Tah Dah !!! SOLD !!! https://www.instagram.com/p/BtCb8QpFMzf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ojp9gjpnpjr8

Sept 99 Was Marys last Brimfield ( the heat was unbearable for Her ) She never returned ...... this left Me searching for a new space ..... Luckily Peter our long time nearby neighbor was Moving up front on a Double sized Prime spot and offered Me one of the spaces this was a Career game changer ...... the space was “ Best spot in Brimfield “ ........ yet the next 20’ Years with Peter certainly had its challenges ( Mary was easy ) ...... Peter was a Connecticut Dealer ( 10 years older than Me )and before joining him In My Mary years Peter & I would Buy off each other ...... I would buy something cool He just overpaid for at an Auction and He would always pick something I just gave My Mentor Tony really good money for so neither of us really ever made money selling to each other but the negations should have filmed ( it was always comical ( Peter is funny without trying ) ...... anyway it was just this year 2019 that I left Peter ( we parted Friends ) but we had epic Battles like as if we were Brothers ( He would start a battle if My table was an Inch on His side or if one of My Beautiful Garden orniments got in to His outdoor area even our fights ended in laughter ........ still possibly the funniest Character I know ..... Thank You Peter 👍😀 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs_9-ykl6RK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6g73c7ejk7bl

Do You want More ? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs_DZbdlaqV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vkrasudyec3o

In the Hilda basement I learned alot ..... Tony tore Magazines apart for the Illustrations ( clip art ,or tare sheets they'er called ) today this has a slim Market but in 99 I discovered a sleeper artist amongst these trunks ..... he had actrunk of just Norman Rockwell & a Maxifield Parrish , but the best one for Me was the JC Leyendecker Trunk ........ E-bay was brand new that year and some how I discovered that a JC Leyendecker Ad or Saturday Evening Post Cover were bring over 100$ a piece ( I had a trunk full ) 😀 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs-GiVaFbna/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dkqot0e0rxne

Over a 2 year period I’d go to see Hilda at Her house and spending sometimes 1500$ with Her ......... Her deceased Husband Tony had filled the Basement with Fabulous paper Antiques I’d say there was over 200 trunks, footlockers, or pieces of luggage that He had filled with categories ( they had numbers on them ) .... so a trunk filled with Coca Cola Ads torn from magazines dated 1900-1940 might be Trunk & 176 ( Tony had a book upstairs with the each trunk # telling of its contents ) ...... so for the next 2 Years I bought these trunks and was Instantly in the Paper Antique Business ( selling at Paper Shows in the East for the next 10 years of My career ) Hilda was tough on Price ( of course She was leaving plenty of Meat on the bone ) but I wasn’t getting anything away from Her at My price it was always Her prices https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs-DHgqFSIN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1d4lqwr1u4m3u

In this series of stories I use the Statue of Liberty program I have of 1886 .... Cause I don’t have images of from the Photo Haul to use ( sorry ) After getting My 800 photos back to My NJ warehouse I start immediately selling’em 10$ each ( after pulling a few real choice ones out ) ..... the content of these photos are so good ,I have store Interiors from 1940’s ...... clothing ,Groceries, Soda Shops ,gas stations ,Garages ,Bars ,Butcher Shop , Florists ,Barber Shop, Luncheonettes ...... these photos were taken to make Postcards for these Business ..........I’ve found a place in Vero Beach ,Fl ( the Driftwood Resort ) that was most appreciative to see Photos of there lobby & Bar from 1940 .......... I go back to My new Friend ( Hildegard ) In just a few days wanting More Photos ...... I spend another 1000$ and eventually this relationship Turns into Me going to Her House ..... Stay tuned 😀 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs8r1DdFet2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1iv1zqom7cspv

One Day in Spring of 99 on a trip back to NJ from Brimfield I wander into a Antique Mall in Nyack,NY ( I don't really “ pick “ Antique Malls “ )....... on this stop I stumble upon possibly My “ Haul of My Career “ in the Shop there is boxes of 8”x10” Black & White Photographs taken in the 1940’s & 50’s By a local Postcard Printing Co ...... the price is 3$ per photo ....... There is a tiny Little Lady ( about 75 years Old ) sitting behind the counter smoking like a Chimney ...... we acknowledge each other and She yells Me to look around ..... so when I find the load of photos I gently ask How Much if I was to buy all these Photos ?from across the room in Her Raspy German accent “ I wouldn't sell them for any less than 1$ each “ well I pick up the 3 boxes and carry them to the counter and say Start counting ( I’m takin’em all ) .... the Count 800 =800$ ...... after I pay Her Cash ...... She says “ If you like them ? Look in that cabinet door behind You “....... I do and see about 10 More boxes ( over 200 Per Box ) ....... She informs Me she has about 40 more boxes at Her House ( this is the Mother Load ) I try real hard to contain My excitement 👍😊 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs8X_Y-lZ_8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fxk8ht3dt2jv

One Day in Spring of 99 on a trip back to NJ from Brimfield I wander into a Antique Mall in Nyack,NY ( I don't really “ pick “ Antique Malls “ )....... on this stop I stumble upon possibly My “ Haul of My Career “ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs8VzivFe-V/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5q79oy5x2p4w

A great Story from early’99 ....... I notice an Estate Sale 2 blocks form My Moms House..... I meet the 2 Ladies running it ( they seem to like Me ) they tell Me to look in the Tin Shed in the Backyard ....... I come in with “ How Much is that Trunk “? .... They respond 125$ well that is more than I Pay for big square Trunks ( but something special about this one ) I have to run home and Borrow 100$ from My Brother ........ I just Bought My First piece of Louis Vuitton 👍😀....... It did really well in Brimfield in May .... now for the best part later that spring while on a Run through the Carolinas ....... I’m at at Thursday Flea Market in Chesnee ,SC ( this place is a step back in time for this “ Jersey Boy “ ...... my sales struggle with these Farmers ( Chickens run around everywhere ) ....... In My Row a Local dumps a load on the Ground ...... I walk by with My “ Eagle Eye “ .....the boy has a Trunk that others are told is 50$ ( nobody there would ever pay 50$ ) ......... I surprise the Guy with 50$ Cash ( He can't Thank Me enough )....... I just Bought My 2nd Louis Vuitton Trunk 😀👍 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs1fYyNlALQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mumq02p2oaye

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"I've Been Everywhere Man"