Springfield man featured on 'American Pickers' is selling more of his antiques next week

Greta Cross, Springfield News-Leader
·3 min read
Don Johnson, owner of Don Johnson's Tobacco World on Glenstone Avenue for over 30 years, is preparing to part with over 200 items in his 45-year-plus collection.
Don Johnson, owner of Don Johnson's Tobacco World on Glenstone Avenue for over 30 years, is preparing to part with over 200 items in his 45-year-plus collection.
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Seven years ago, Don Johnson became a micro-celebrity when he was deemed a "Tough Nut to Crack" on the television show "American Pickers."

The Springfield resident, an avid collector of all things antique, was featured on the show in 2016 and continues to grace the screen during regular re-runs. Aired on The History Channel, "American Pickers" is hosted by celebrity "antiquer" Mike Wolfe (and previously Frank Fritz, who left the show in 2020), traveling across the country searching for national treasures.

At age 76, Johnson is preparing to part with more than 200 items from his 45-year-plus collection.

Don Johnson, owner of Don Johnson's Tobacco World on Glenstone Avenue for over 30 years, won't be putting this Whizzer motorbike up for auction when over 200 items in his collection go up for auction later this month.
Don Johnson, owner of Don Johnson's Tobacco World on Glenstone Avenue for over 30 years, won't be putting this Whizzer motorbike up for auction when over 200 items in his collection go up for auction later this month.

Due to ongoing health concerns, Johnson and his family are working with Mecum Auctions to sell some of Johnson's items at an auction next week in Dallas, Texas. The live auction is Sept. 20-23 and will be broadcast on the MotorTrend television network. Some items are already available for bidding on the Mecum Auctions website.

"He's a wheeler and a dealer," son Steven Johnson said. "He never wanted to sell anything. He's always hard to buy something from and that's kind of why it's a big deal he's letting all of this go."

Of the nearly 200 items that will be for sale next week, notable collectables include an array of vintage gas pumps, vending machines, jukeboxes, weigh scales and lots of "road art," like porcelain signs. Johnson is also selling seven vehicles at the auction, including a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe.

A 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe is one of among nearly 200 items Springfield resident Don Johnson is selling with Mecum Auctions on Sept. 20-23, 2023.
A 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe is one of among nearly 200 items Springfield resident Don Johnson is selling with Mecum Auctions on Sept. 20-23, 2023.

Owner of Don Johnson's Tobacco World on Glenstone Avenue for over 30 years, Johnson largely began collecting when he started working as a representative for Philip Morris International — known for selling Marlboro — about 50 years ago. Sitting on a barstool at Tobacco World, Johnson told the News-Leader it feels like the right time to begin letting some items go.

"I've been collecting for 45-50 years and I have a lot of really good stuff," Johnson said. "I've had them (antiques) for so long that (I) forget how good of stuff (I've) bought over the years."

Antique cash registers at Don Johnson's Tobacco World on Glenstone Avenue, on Monday, Oct. 3, 2016.
Antique cash registers at Don Johnson's Tobacco World on Glenstone Avenue, on Monday, Oct. 3, 2016.

Steve Johnson has many memories of his father antiquing while the family was traveling away from home.

"I was in the Air Force and I was stationed in Colorado Springs and he happened to see one of those old back bars with the big glass in the back and pretty wood. He saw one of those, I think in Cripple Creek, Colorado, and he bought it, drove all the way back to Springfield and rented something to go back and pick it up because it was so big," Steven Johnson said with a laugh. Today, this back bar sits inside Tobacco World.

Here's how to watch the live auction on MotorTrend

If watching on cable television, tune into one of the following channels, depending on your cable provider:

  • Charter Spectrum: Channel 79 or 402

  • Comcast XFINITY: Channel 1243

  • DirecTV: Channel 281

  • DISH Network: Channel 246

  • Spectrum: Channel 79

A 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible is one of among nearly 200 items Springfield resident Don Johnson is selling with Mecum Auctions on Sept. 20-23, 2023.
A 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible is one of among nearly 200 items Springfield resident Don Johnson is selling with Mecum Auctions on Sept. 20-23, 2023.

Mecum Auctions' live auctions can also be streamed online on MotorTrend+, DirecTV Stream, Hulu Live TV, Fubo, Sling TV and YouTube TV.

The live auction will air and stream from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 21-23.

Here's how to bid on Johnson's items online

  • Visit the Mecum Auctions website at mecum.com

  • Under the "Auction" tab, select "Dallas 2023"

  • Select "View Lots," which will populate all the items for sale at the auction

  • Under "Filters," select "The Don Johnson Collection," which will populate all of Johnson's items for sale

A 1940s Wurlitzer Model 780-E Jukebox is one of among nearly 200 items Springfield resident Don Johnson is selling with Mecum Auctions on Sept. 20-23, 2023.
A 1940s Wurlitzer Model 780-E Jukebox is one of among nearly 200 items Springfield resident Don Johnson is selling with Mecum Auctions on Sept. 20-23, 2023.

All of Johnson's items for sale, except his vehicles, are available for early bidding on the Mecum Auctions website.

Bidding can be completed in person, via telephone at 262-275-5050 or online, starting at $100. Those interested in bidding online should complete the pre-registration form on the Mecum Auctions website at bit.ly/466Y8Lq.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield's Don Johnson to sell 200 antiques at auction next week