Somerset 11 Flog It!


Somerset 11

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Today, for the first time ever, "Flog It!" comes from a working military base.

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This is HMS Heron in Somerset,

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Britain's largest naval aviation base.

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And later on in the programme, I'll be going up in that.

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Welcome to "Flog It!"

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Our valuations today come from inside the Fleet Air Arm Museum,

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which is on the base here at HMS Heron,

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and it holds Europe's largest collection of aeroplanes

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and helicopters, designed specifically to launch from ships.

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Today, this naval air base is the busiest in the country,

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with aircraft being dispatched all over the globe on military,

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anti-terrorism and even anti-piracy missions.

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Well, let's hope today's antiques are all above board and shipshape,

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we don't want the anti-piracy

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squadron descending on us.

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And as well as hundreds of members of the public here today,

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we have our own "Flog It!" antique experts,

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guardians of high standards and excellence.

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The very respectable Charlie Ross.

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-Real diamonds.

-Are they, really? Well, goodbye(!)

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And the impeccable Thomas Plant.

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-Do you know how to use it?

-Course not.

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I was looking like I do.

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Well, what a fabulous queue we have here today.

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People have come from all over the area,

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from the flats of the Somerset Levels,

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from the highs of the Quantock Hills

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and the banks of the River Parrett, all carrying antiques

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and collectibles, hoping they are one of the lucky ones to get

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chosen to go through to the auction later on.

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Time to get this queue inside,

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so our experts both on and off screen

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can get a proper look at the wonderfully diverse items arriving here today.

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And for those of you who know your Japanese Meiji

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from your Chinese Qing,

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which one of these three Oriental items makes thousands at auction?

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Will it be this menacing looking samurai sword?

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Or the Chinese ivory aide-memoire?

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Or the Cantonese vase decorated with famille rose?

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Surrounded by incredible aircraft, there's

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no shortage of things to look at here at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

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But right now, it's time to focus our attentions on our first item of the day.

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Let's go straight to Charlie Ross,

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who's installed himself beneath the beautiful wings of Concorde.

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-Frances, will you dance?

-I'd love to. And I am such a fan of yours,

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I decided to come and bring this just on the chance of meeting you.

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-Well, here I am.

-Very nice, too.

-I must say, you made my day.

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-Good.

-I'm going to go home now.

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When I said, "Would you dance?"

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I wondered whether that might be a little dance card.

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-That's exactly what I thought it was as well.

-But it is quite large

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if you think of the sort of size of handbags for fancy ladies that

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-went dancing.

-That's right.

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I think that would be possibly a little large.

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-She'd have a lot of dances, wouldn't she?

-She'd have a lot of dances.

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There's a lot of pages.

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-We could dance all night, couldn't we?

-That's right, yes.

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It might be a notepad or an aide-memoire,

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if you would like to put it into fancy French.

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Of course. It's posh then.

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It's beautifully, beautifully carved.

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-Do you know where it was made?

-No, but is it ivory?

-It is ivory, yes.

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Because I've had it in a drawer and I kept on taking it out

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and I kept thinking, "Is it or isn't it?"

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Because it is so nicely decorated, I thought it can't be plastic.

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No, it isn't plastic.

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-It is Chinese. It is actually Cantonese.

-Oh, yes.

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It is from Canton.

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Now, what we need to say about ivory, it is

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illegal to sell any ivory that is post-1947.

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I was a bit worried about it.

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That's why it stayed in the drawer for a while.

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You don't need to worry, this is well pre-1947.

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I would think this is certainly 1910, 1920.

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It might even be a little bit earlier.

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-Gosh!

-You have got all the courtiers here,

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carved in superb depth.

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-It's so small, isn't it?

-Wonderful.

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See the thickness of ivory there, and if you hold it up to the light,

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you can see the scene perfectly well.

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-Can you see that?

-Yes.

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-Isn't that extraordinary?

-It is, fabulous.

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There's no chips, no damage. There is a little bit of discolouration.

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And you have got a wonderful little clasp here, which I think is silver.

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And that will be commensurate with the sort of quality of the item.

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-Have we got anything written in it?

-No.

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I was waiting for you to say whether you were going to do a waltz

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or a foxtrot or...

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I'm a little bit worried here, there is something written here.

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Oh, my goodness.

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-Can you see that?

-What does it say?

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You better not read it out, it might be naughty.

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It says, "Punishment list."

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-It can't be!

-It does. Doesn't that say punishment list?

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-Well, it doesn't say shopping list, does it?

-No. It doesn't say tango.

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-No, it doesn't. Value?

-No idea.

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-I think that will make between £100 and £200.

-That's lovely.

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Also, it is nice and small.

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-It is small.

-If you are collecting something...

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-That's absolutely right.

-Yes.

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I wouldn't like to sell it without a reserve,

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-just in case there aren't the right people there.

-Yes.

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And I would like to put a reserve of 100,

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with a little bit of auctioneer's discretion.

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-Are you happy with that?

-Yes, because I've met you through it.

-Oh!

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-So that's perfect.

-You keep saying all the right things.

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I don't think Charlie could have started on a higher note.

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And there is no chance of coming down to earth with our next seller.

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So, Chris, any connection with this place here?

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I've actually flown on a Concorde journey

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-from Bahrain to London.

-Have you now?

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-Yes, when I was working in the Middle East.

-Were you in the oil industry?

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No, no. I was out working for an Arab company

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-in the furnishing business.

-And how quick was it?

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-3.5 hours from memory.

-How amazing!

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Very enjoyable.

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Well, we're digressing from the pot. What do you know about it?

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Virtually nothing. It belonged to my father.

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And it has been here in the family for at least 45, 50 years.

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That's all I know.

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-We use it for paintbrushes and that sort of thing.

-It is Chinese.

-Yes.

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-It is Canton.

-Oh, really?

-What we call the Chinese Canton ware.

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With this famille rose palette to it.

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Famille rose are the pinks we pick out against the green and the gilt.

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You have some ladies here chatting to somebody sitting within

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a window.

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And on the other side, exotic birds and butterflies,

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which are delightful. And they sort of unite the piece throughout.

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Chinese works of art,

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Chinese ceramics are immensely popular at the moment, the reason

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being is the Chinese nationals are buying back their heritage.

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However, I'm going to slightly disappoint you.

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This was made for our market in Canton in the middle

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-of the 19th century.

-Yes.

-Our market.

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-Therefore, they are not so keen on buying it back.

-Yes.

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But it is still immensely decorative.

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Are you happy to let it go?

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Well, we don't really use it as such, so, yes.

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So, if I were to say we would put it in at £100, 100-150,

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-fixed reserve of 100?

-Yes, that's all right.

-Is that OK?

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Yeah, that's fine.

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I think one should do that because it is so decorative.

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-And the really nice thing about it...

-TING...

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-Good ring?

-It's perfect.

-Oh, good. Yes.

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Well, let's hope Thomas' valuation rings true in the auction house.

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But right now it is time to swoop down there, to catch up with

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Charlie Ross and see what else he has spotted.

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-Ailsa, how romantic is this?!

-Lovely, isn't it?

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Sitting around a little table with you,

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with a heart-shaped casket between us.

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-Very nice, isn't it?

-Where did it come from?

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Well, it belonged to my late aunt.

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-They were living in Yorkshire at the time.

-Yeah.

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And one of the big houses up there, I don't know which one,

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was having a sale, and the proceeds were going towards the troops.

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Oh, really? When was the sale, 1938, '39?

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Somewhere around there, yes. And she bought it there.

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-And that is really all I know about it.

-And you inherited it from her?

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I inherited it from her about three or four years ago.

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I think it is a dressing table casket.

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It is for putting rings in or hair tidies, things like that.

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-You know what it is made of, do you?

-Silver?

-It is indeed silver.

-Yes.

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-And where was it made, do you know that?

-I don't, no.

-This is Dutch.

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Oh, right.

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This is a piece of Dutch silver that was then imported into England.

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Oh, I see.

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And you can tell that from the hallmark here, which is

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an English hallmark.

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And provided it had the sufficient standard or grade, it could

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then receive the English assay mark.

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-This has been assayed for 1892.

-Heavens!

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-Oh, I didn't realise it was that old.

-You didn't?

-No.

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So, it is truly Victorian.

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And the embossed decoration here is in tremendous condition.

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Yes, it's the little figures on it that are wonderful, aren't they?

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Little cherubs in the garden here with figures

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and some wonderful, wonderful decoration

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all the way around.

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-Open it up and it has got a slightly gilded interior.

-That's right.

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That is another sign of quality.

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I suspect as a trinket holder,

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probably it would have had a velvet lining inside it.

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-Oh, right.

-Which is no longer there.

-No.

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It is not 100% certain,

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but I would expect that if you were putting things like rings

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in a box like that, you wouldn't want them to rub against...

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I can't remember her ever having anything velvet in it.

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It was always like that.

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You don't want to put it back in the cupboard.

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I don't really, no.

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If I said a figure of 50 quid,

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-you'd probably be disappointed, would you?

-Mm.

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I think it is worth between £100 and £200.

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-Lovely.

-Happy with that?

-I am.

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We will put a fixed reserve of 100, obviously,

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-so it can't be sold for any less.

-No, no.

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And hope that the auctioneer works it up to the top end.

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It's over to local West Country boy, Thomas Plant,

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who is sat beneath the first British-built Concorde.

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-So, it's Chris?

-It is, yes.

-And Linda?

-It is.

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-And you're fellow Bristolians.

-Yes.

-Correct.

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We're like the Three Musketeers from Bristol.

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So, why have you come to Yeovil from Bristol?

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Because we thought it was the ideal place to come

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with these particular items.

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-We're looking at these aeroplane timepieces.

-Yeah.

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Tell me, how did you come by them?

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My father, during all his career,

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worked at Filton in the aircraft industry,

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mainly on the engine side, but, during the war,

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he was able to purchase these from the company,

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because when the aeroplanes were brought in, they were refurbished,

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bits and pieces were taken out.

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But your father used them as a clock beside his bed,

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-because they lit up in the night.

-The luminous hands.

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Yes. So, he used it as his bedside clock.

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What was your father's involvement within Filton?

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-Was he a repairer, an engineer?

-He was a toolmaker.

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Did you follow him into the business?

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I worked there during all my career.

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-Within Filton?

-Not within Filton, the last ten years within Filton.

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So you never saw this being built in Filton? The wings were built there.

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I was responsible for building wings on the A400M military aircraft.

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But your father, he was a protected occupation.

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Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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How did he feel about that, did he ever talk about that?

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He didn't talk a lot about it,

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-because he worked on a lot of secret stuff.

-Did he?

-During the war.

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So, these could have come off a secret plane?

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I wouldn't think so!

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We could romanticise!

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One is slightly earlier than the other,

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-the bigger one is earlier.

-Is it?

-It will be earlier.

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The design is very similar with the luminous hands,

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this one is made by the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths company.

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-It's made by the same company.

-Yes, they both have AM

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-on the back, don't they?

-Yeah.

-Air Ministry.

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-Yeah.

-And the George VI crown.

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-So, the King's crown on there.

-Yeah.

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So, they're all fully marked up and the provenance

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is second to none, coming straight from your father.

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Did they keep good time?

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They used to and one of them does still work.

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-I don't think they're broken...

-They're still ticking.

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They haven't been used for such a long time.

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-He did wind them up, just now.

-Yeah.

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Are you going to be sad to let these go?

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Erm, not really, no. They're no sentimental value.

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Erm, as I said, I thought it was a very interesting place to bring it.

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We have two daughters with no interest in it, whatsoever.

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I think, if we put these in together

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as two aircraft war issue timepieces,

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I would suggest an estimate of 120 to 180 on them.

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-OK.

-Is that all right?

-Yeah, that's fine.

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Put a discretionary reserve on it at 120.

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-So we'll see you at the auction?

-Lovely.

-Yes.

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Before we head off to auction,

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there is something I would like to show you.

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This is Cobham Hall, the museum's reserve store,

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where all the new arrivals are brought.

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And as you can see, there's quite a lot of them.

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They're here with numerous miscellaneous aircraft parts,

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items that currently aren't in exhibition.

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But everything you see here is meticulously itemised and logged.

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What interests me are the incredible human stories

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that lie behind these aircraft,

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and how a new way of working is helping to rediscover them.

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Now, this Harrier Jump Jet may not look like history,

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but in the ever-changing world of military aviation,

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it already is - it was decommissioned in 2010.

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Now, if you look inside that cockpit, I've been told

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there's lots of grains of sand from the pilot's boot.

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And it's these little visual marks that evoke the human stories

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that are involved in and around these aircraft that's so important.

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Looking at it today, I really hope it will be preserved

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as it is now for future generations to see.

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It's so evocative looking at an item that exudes its history.

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I've arranged to meet up with Dave Morris,

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Curator of Aircraft here at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

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He is globally pioneering a whole new way of restoring aircraft.

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What IS your approach to, let's say, conservation, or restoration?

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That's a really interesting one,

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because we're trying to look carefully at what those words mean -

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-conservation, restoration, preservation...

-Yeah.

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If you're lucky enough to be given Constable's Hay Wain

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or Botticelli's Venus or a Chippendale table...

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-You leave it well alone.

-You wouldn't necessarily

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-just race for the paint pot, I hope.

-No.

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But a lot of 20th-century mechanical objects have suffered in that way.

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Let's take the Harrier Jump Jet - we've ended up here.

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That looks to me like it's in pretty much original condition

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-and you haven't touched that yet.

-It is exactly why

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we selected that, when it became available.

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It's straight from, erm,

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its last theatre of war operation in Afghanistan,

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and exactly how we would want to now look at keeping an object -

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-straight from use.

-Is this a new way of thinking,

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or has this policy been in place for quite a few years?

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The more detailed work that we're getting into, where we're actually

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carefully looking at our objects and in some instances

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un-painting them - quite literally taking paint layers back,

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millimetre by millimetre,

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to expose original finishes and history from beneath -

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that's quite new, and it's something

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we've been involved with now since the year 2000.

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What was the first plane you worked on in that way?

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The first project that we took in that direction

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was the World War II Chance Vought Corsair fighter,

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which again has been in the collection for many years,

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had obviously been repainted during the 1960s,

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but the more we investigated it, the more we started to believe

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that beneath that 1960s paint,

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it looked like it had a lot, if not all,

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of its original 1944 paintwork intact.

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And that's what you're looking for, that real human DNA,

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the people that actually built that in the first place and gave it

0:16:420:16:45

-its FIRST paint job...

-You can paint it as many times as you like,

0:16:450:16:48

but it's only original once.

0:16:480:16:50

Talking to Dave and stepping into his world

0:16:510:16:53

makes me think of a forensic scientist.

0:16:530:16:56

And in many ways, that's exactly what he is.

0:16:560:16:59

I know in a moment you're going to show me

0:17:000:17:02

something you're currently working on. But first, tell me about this,

0:17:020:17:05

because this is early naval aviation history, isn't it -

0:17:050:17:08

the Seaplane Lighter...?

0:17:080:17:09

Absolutely - this dates back to World War I.

0:17:090:17:12

It is a purpose-built vessel for carrying a sea plane.

0:17:120:17:16

So, basically, it's an iron-hulled barge, isn't it,

0:17:160:17:20

that you put a seaplane on and towed?

0:17:200:17:22

It is, but more significant than that,

0:17:220:17:24

it was the first time that the Admiralty had actually

0:17:240:17:26

ordered from a company a vessel to carry an aeroplane at sea,

0:17:260:17:31

-ie. an aircraft carrier.

-Right.

0:17:310:17:33

-So, you have to consider this to be...

-A first.

0:17:330:17:35

..the start point of where the modern aircraft carrier begins.

0:17:350:17:38

Unbelievable! How many of these have survived?

0:17:380:17:40

We have the only one known to exist, as a complete Seaplane Lighter.

0:17:400:17:44

-Where did you find it?

-Well, fortunately,

0:17:440:17:46

somebody who was a ships historian and enthusiast in that part

0:17:460:17:50

of the River Thames, where it was operating as a flat-top Thames barge,

0:17:500:17:53

identified it, recognised it, they wrote us a letter and said,

0:17:530:17:56

"We think we've seen a World War I Seaplane Lighter

0:17:560:17:58

"still being used on the Thames."

0:17:580:18:00

And that was recently?

0:18:000:18:01

1996 was when they pointed it out.

0:18:010:18:03

-So it was still afloat in 1996?

-Still being used, still afloat.

0:18:030:18:06

And we were lucky to get it released from the company

0:18:060:18:09

and bring it into storage here.

0:18:090:18:11

If we hadn't been tipped off and hadn't acted on it,

0:18:110:18:14

-it would have literally been cut up for scrap.

-Wow.

0:18:140:18:16

How lucky, how lucky! And here we are standing on it.

0:18:160:18:18

The Seaplane Lighter has been painstakingly restored

0:18:180:18:22

over the past 17 years,

0:18:220:18:24

to reveal as much of its original identity as possible.

0:18:240:18:28

The aeroplane that Dave is currently restoring

0:18:280:18:31

is the only remaining one of its kind.

0:18:310:18:33

And during World War II, it might have changed history for ever.

0:18:330:18:37

The French commissioned a fleet of the American-made

0:18:370:18:39

Grumman Martlets, but with the Nazi occupation of Paris,

0:18:390:18:43

there was a very real threat

0:18:430:18:45

that the aeroplanes would end up in German hands.

0:18:450:18:47

Miraculously, word got out in time,

0:18:470:18:50

and the contract was transferred to the British.

0:18:500:18:53

Today, Dave is working in a way that will reveal

0:18:530:18:55

as much of the aeroplane's story as possible.

0:18:550:18:58

You've brought me to this section of wing -

0:18:580:19:00

what are you going to show me?

0:19:000:19:01

Here is a good example of the type of thing we're discovering.

0:19:010:19:05

People often say, "So, what is the point, what are you finding,

0:19:050:19:08

"why do you do this?"

0:19:080:19:09

And again, it's tracking back through the object's history.

0:19:090:19:12

You'll see lots of different layers and different colours here,

0:19:120:19:15

where we now have understood through research which colour

0:19:150:19:18

relates to what date of the aircraft.

0:19:180:19:20

The Americans used this aeroplane extensively during World War II.

0:19:200:19:24

And colour footage does exist of their fleets.

0:19:240:19:27

Sadly, nothing has been found of the British using the Grumman Martlet,

0:19:270:19:31

making Dave's work even more important.

0:19:310:19:34

And then things like this green scrape here,

0:19:350:19:38

-there's quite a definite...

-It goes right along, doesn't it?

0:19:380:19:41

There's quite a lot of speed attached to that scrape there.

0:19:410:19:43

And it's dark green. We've had that chemically analysed,

0:19:430:19:47

and it matches identically the green on the upper surface of the wing.

0:19:470:19:50

So what caused that, then, two wings colliding?

0:19:500:19:53

It can only be that it's run across the wing tip

0:19:530:19:56

of another Grumman Martlet -

0:19:560:19:57

one of the other aircraft on the squadron.

0:19:570:20:00

A landing accident or a taxiing accident, maybe on a carrier

0:20:000:20:03

or an airfield - we don't know.

0:20:030:20:05

But now we can start tracking that further,

0:20:050:20:07

because we know that the lighter colour dates from April 1941 -

0:20:070:20:12

and of course, the green stripe is below that,

0:20:120:20:15

-so it has to predate April '41.

-Yes.

0:20:150:20:17

That puts it on one of two squadrons, so we can now start looking

0:20:170:20:20

at those squadron records, and seeing if we can fine-tune

0:20:200:20:23

-the research.

-Good detective work!

0:20:230:20:25

That's exciting, isn't it?

0:20:250:20:28

We're beginning literally to get under the skin of the object.

0:20:280:20:31

Scrape some off - I see you've got a little scalpel in your hand.

0:20:310:20:34

-A tiny blade...

-You find an edge that starts to go...

0:20:340:20:36

So you're taking the dark blue off now...

0:20:360:20:38

Yeah, we're getting rid of the dark blue,

0:20:380:20:40

and the silver coat, which is immediately beneath the dark blue...

0:20:400:20:43

I was going to have a go, to say I've done something, but I don't

0:20:430:20:46

-want to take off the cream, so...

-Well...

0:20:460:20:48

-Oh, look, there's a bit, look.

-Find an edge, and see how you...

0:20:480:20:51

-Shall I just keep scraping?

-Just keep going with the blue.

0:20:510:20:53

Just keep going with the blue. That's fine.

0:20:530:20:56

'You have to admire Dave's commitment,

0:20:560:20:59

'given that he's already spent seven years working on this aircraft,

0:20:590:21:02

'and it's not finished yet.

0:21:020:21:04

'But when it IS done, this aeroplane

0:21:040:21:06

'really will have been brought back to life.'

0:21:060:21:09

I'm part of a generation who has known men who flew planes like this,

0:21:090:21:13

risking their lives during World War II. And sadly,

0:21:130:21:15

as that generation leaves us, it's more important then ever now

0:21:150:21:18

to remember their history, and their contribution,

0:21:180:21:22

so the next generation can understand - and learn.

0:21:220:21:26

Well, time certainly flies when you're having fun.

0:21:340:21:37

We are ready to go over to the auction room for the first time today.

0:21:370:21:40

Here is a quick recap of what we are taking with us.

0:21:400:21:43

Frances's delicately carved aide-memoire

0:21:430:21:47

should sing out to someone with an eye for detail.

0:21:470:21:49

Will Chris's brush pot with its famille rose decoration

0:21:510:21:54

appeal to an artistic palate?

0:21:540:21:56

Time for a new home

0:21:580:22:00

for Chris and Linda's World War II aircraft clocks.

0:22:000:22:04

And will the romantics out there

0:22:050:22:07

battle it out for Ailsa's heart-shaped trinket box?

0:22:070:22:10

We've travelled across the Somerset Levels to Bridgwater.

0:22:130:22:16

Today, we have set up camp in Tamlyns.

0:22:160:22:19

The room is absolutely packed. There is a wonderful atmosphere here.

0:22:210:22:24

Let's get on with the show, let's catch up

0:22:240:22:25

with our owners as we hand proceedings to Claire Rawle.

0:22:250:22:28

And don't forget, there is commission to pay

0:22:300:22:32

on anything you sell at auction,

0:22:320:22:35

and, here, it is 15% plus VAT.

0:22:350:22:37

And first up, it's the aide-memoire.

0:22:380:22:40

-Frances, good luck.

-Thank you very much.

0:22:400:22:42

Every single penny is going towards a family reunion in,

0:22:420:22:45

guess where, not Skegness.

0:22:450:22:48

No. Las Vegas.

0:22:480:22:51

-My children are both going to have big birthdays.

-Right.

0:22:510:22:54

So, the boys come in from Australia

0:22:540:22:56

and we are all going out from England.

0:22:560:22:58

How lovely! Oh, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!

0:22:580:23:01

They want to go on trips on helicopters

0:23:010:23:03

and I don't know what, and Granny has always got to pay, hasn't she?

0:23:030:23:07

Yeah, so we need some money with our little Chinese carved

0:23:070:23:10

ivory aide-memoire.

0:23:100:23:11

They say small is beautiful, I think this is stunning. Good luck.

0:23:110:23:14

Thank you very much.

0:23:140:23:15

Lot 62. I have to start this one away at £75. At 75.

0:23:150:23:20

Do I see 80 anywhere?

0:23:200:23:22

-It's a good start.

-90. Five. 100, the bid is in the room now.

0:23:220:23:26

-It's gone, Frances.

-At £100...

0:23:260:23:28

-Yes.

-Do I see 110 anywhere? At £100, bid is in the room. 110.

0:23:280:23:33

-120. 130.

-Great.

-140. 150. 160.

0:23:330:23:37

-At 160, you all done then?

-I feel a bit of roulette coming on.

0:23:370:23:41

It's selling, then, at 160...

0:23:410:23:43

-Hammer's gone down.

-Yes.

0:23:430:23:45

-That got quite exciting.

-That was very good, wasn't it?

-Yes.

0:23:450:23:48

One helicopter ride, I think.

0:23:480:23:50

Yes?

0:23:500:23:52

Well, that is the first of our Oriental pieces sold,

0:23:540:23:57

and here's another one.

0:23:570:23:59

The Chinese Cantonese brush pot is going under the hammer.

0:23:590:24:02

19th-century, made for the English market

0:24:020:24:04

and we're looking for around £100 to £150.

0:24:040:24:07

Why do you want to sell this?

0:24:070:24:09

It has been in the back of the cupboard for years and years,

0:24:090:24:11

-so we are thinning out. It might as well go now.

-OK.

0:24:110:24:14

Well, good luck. It is going under the hammer right now.

0:24:140:24:16

A nice little Cantonese one. It is a nice start away at £75. At 75.

0:24:160:24:21

Do I see 80 anywhere? Bid is at 75. 80. Five. 90. Five. 100.

0:24:210:24:26

-In the room at £100.

-Sold it.

0:24:260:24:28

At 100. Now 110 anywhere? At £100, then.

0:24:280:24:31

The bid is in the room. You all done?

0:24:310:24:33

It is going to sell for... Oh, 110 on the internet.

0:24:330:24:35

120 in the room.

0:24:350:24:37

At 120. At 120. Now 130 out there.

0:24:370:24:40

At £120, the bid is in the room then still.

0:24:400:24:43

130. 140 in the room.

0:24:430:24:46

At £140. At 140. Now 150.

0:24:460:24:49

At £140. Now 150.

0:24:490:24:52

Claire is very good at talking to the internet,

0:24:520:24:55

somebody that is not really there in person.

0:24:550:24:57

-£140.

-I'm pleased with that.

0:24:570:24:59

-That is as good as you are going to get for that vase.

-Excellent.

0:24:590:25:02

Time's up for those World War II aeroplane clocks.

0:25:040:25:07

Chris and Linda, it's great to see you.

0:25:080:25:11

-Now, I know you worked at Filton.

-That's right.

0:25:110:25:13

-So you've got a passion for aircraft.

-Yeah.

-And it was wonderful to see aircraft memorabilia

0:25:130:25:16

coming into our valuation day.

0:25:160:25:18

-We were all excited about that, weren't we?

-Oh, yeah.

0:25:180:25:20

We don't know where these dials are from - it could be from...

0:25:200:25:23

It could be from a Hurricane, or a Spitfire, we don't know.

0:25:230:25:25

Hopefully there's somebody out there that does, and they're here

0:25:250:25:28

right now to buy it. It's going under the hammer, this is it.

0:25:280:25:31

152, the World War II period - and they ARE period -

0:25:310:25:34

nice aircraft timepieces,

0:25:340:25:36

and these I'm going to start away at £85.

0:25:360:25:39

At 85. Do I see 90 anywhere? Bid's with me at 85.

0:25:390:25:41

At £85. Now 90.

0:25:410:25:44

At 90. 95. 100.

0:25:440:25:46

110. 120 in the room.

0:25:460:25:49

At 120. Got a room bid at 120. So, 130 out there?

0:25:490:25:52

-Good, yes.

-130 I have. 140 in the room.

0:25:520:25:55

At £140. 150. 160.

0:25:550:25:58

At 160. One seven... 170.

0:25:580:26:01

180. At 180. At £180...

0:26:020:26:05

190.

0:26:050:26:06

£200. At £200.

0:26:060:26:09

220 out there? At £200 - you all done then?

0:26:090:26:12

They're going to sell at £200...

0:26:120:26:14

-Great result.

-Wonderful. Just goes to show -

0:26:160:26:18

history...to do with aviation...

0:26:180:26:21

-Your dad would be pleased as well, wouldn't he? CHRIS:

-He would be.

0:26:210:26:24

Result.

0:26:240:26:26

I love the fact that Chris's dad used these old clocks

0:26:260:26:29

on each side of his bed.

0:26:290:26:31

I hope today's buyer finds an equally original place

0:26:310:26:33

for these wonderful World War II items.

0:26:330:26:36

Going under the hammer right now, a big heart. Yes, a large heart.

0:26:360:26:39

Not our Ailsa's heart, but it is that wonderful silver trinket box.

0:26:390:26:42

-And it is a whopper, isn't it?

-It is.

-I do like this.

0:26:420:26:44

-I know it caught Charlie's eye.

-It's nice quality.

0:26:440:26:47

Fingers crossed we will get the top end of the estimate.

0:26:470:26:50

-Thank you.

-Happy with that?

-Yes.

-OK, let's go for it.

0:26:500:26:53

And this one I have to start straight in at £120.

0:26:530:26:56

-Yes.

-130. 140. 150. 160. 170. 180.

0:26:560:27:00

-190. 200. 220.

-What?

0:27:000:27:03

280. 300. 320.

0:27:030:27:06

-350...

-I don't understand.

-Wow, Charlie.

-400.

0:27:060:27:08

-420.

-There's a bid on the book.

-Now I've got 450 here.

0:27:080:27:12

At £450. At 450.

0:27:120:27:15

Claire was looking at a bid on the book, working the bids.

0:27:150:27:18

£450...?

0:27:180:27:19

-GAVEL BANGS

-Yes!

-Oh, lovely!

0:27:190:27:21

-What?

-That was a lot of heart there. £450!

0:27:210:27:25

-How about that?!

-Wonderful. Thank you.

-Back to the drawing board.

0:27:250:27:30

It's nice when it goes like that, isn't it?

0:27:300:27:32

One bemused expert and one delighted seller.

0:27:320:27:36

It's the unpredictability of the auction room that makes it

0:27:360:27:39

such an exciting place to be in.

0:27:390:27:41

There you are, that is the end of the first visit

0:27:410:27:43

to the saleroom today.

0:27:430:27:44

We are coming back here later on in the programme,

0:27:440:27:47

so don't go away because there could be one or two surprises.

0:27:470:27:49

Now, while I was in Yeovilton, I found out about the history

0:27:490:27:52

of 815 Naval Air Squadron

0:27:520:27:54

and what it takes to be a pilot with them today.

0:27:540:27:57

815 Squadron has been operating out of HMS Heron for over 70 years now.

0:28:170:28:22

Today, they are the largest helicopter squadron in Europe.

0:28:220:28:26

Before I meet them, here is a quick bit about their history.

0:28:260:28:29

815 were formed in 1939 at the beginning of the Second World War.

0:28:310:28:37

The first aircraft the squadron flew was the Swordfish.

0:28:370:28:40

And their first major mission was to provide

0:28:400:28:42

support during the Dunkirk evacuation in May 1940.

0:28:420:28:47

The Second World War had propelled huge changes in aviation design,

0:28:470:28:52

and by 1958, 815 were a helicopter squadron

0:28:520:28:56

using sonar to spot submarines.

0:28:560:28:59

By 1981, the Somerset-made Lynx helicopter

0:29:000:29:04

was at the forefront of the squadron.

0:29:040:29:06

And today, some 30 years later,

0:29:090:29:10

it's still the Lynx helicopter that the squadron flies.

0:29:100:29:14

Nowadays, missions include anti-terrorism deployments

0:29:140:29:17

and even battling pirates in the Indian Ocean.

0:29:170:29:20

It takes four years to train to be an 815 pilot today.

0:29:200:29:25

And physical fitness is paramount

0:29:250:29:27

when you are carrying 15 kilos of kit on your person.

0:29:270:29:31

And here's a man who knows all about it - Lieutenant Adam Rudkin.

0:29:330:29:36

What does it take to be an 815 pilot today?

0:29:360:29:39

Well, it takes about four years of training

0:29:390:29:41

and a lot of commitment and hard work to get to this

0:29:410:29:43

point to be at a front-line squadron, such as 815.

0:29:430:29:46

Just tell me about the squadron. You know, it has got a great name,

0:29:460:29:50

hasn't it? 815, it is renowned worldwide.

0:29:500:29:52

What does it feel like to be part of that?

0:29:520:29:54

Oh, I feel very lucky and honoured.

0:29:540:29:56

You know, 815 is the home of front-line Lynx aviation.

0:29:560:29:59

And it is a great squadron, it's unique.

0:29:590:30:01

You never know what you're going to do from day to day.

0:30:010:30:03

Are you confident now to sort of jump in most aircraft

0:30:030:30:06

-and helicopters and fly them?

-Um... Just this aircraft.

0:30:060:30:09

You know, I mean, they are all the same basically,

0:30:090:30:12

but have a lot of different nuances and techniques, yeah.

0:30:120:30:15

I'll stick with the Lynx for now.

0:30:150:30:17

Adam's confidence flying the Lynx comes from his extensive training.

0:30:170:30:21

And knowing exactly what to do in an emergency.

0:30:230:30:26

This next exercise is designed to prepare pilots

0:30:260:30:29

for a worst-case scenario -

0:30:290:30:31

crashing at sea.

0:30:310:30:32

Three guys from 815 Squadron just about to do the dunking,

0:30:330:30:36

and I know you have done this before.

0:30:360:30:38

You have to do it virtually once every two years?

0:30:380:30:41

Yeah, maximum of every two years,

0:30:410:30:42

so we end up doing it quite regularly, unfortunately.

0:30:420:30:45

Obviously you get better with age doing this, don't you?

0:30:450:30:48

You would hope, but generally you get more scared as you get older.

0:30:480:30:51

Is it really quite frightening?

0:30:510:30:53

Well, yeah, you're getting upside down in the dark.

0:30:530:30:56

You're trapped in cos you've got your seatbelt holding you.

0:30:560:30:58

And all this kit, what you're wearing now.

0:30:580:31:00

We've got life jackets and all our survival suits,

0:31:000:31:03

and we're trapped into the aircraft with a five-point harness,

0:31:030:31:06

so loads of different things catch on.

0:31:060:31:07

It goes upside down, all the oxygen goes out, you start panicking.

0:31:070:31:10

So it is, you know, not a very pleasant experience,

0:31:100:31:13

but really useful as well.

0:31:130:31:14

Everyone who has had a real incident, they always come back

0:31:140:31:16

and say this training is exceptionally useful.

0:31:160:31:19

Well, look, guys, good luck.

0:31:190:31:21

I'm pleased I'm staying here and watching.

0:31:220:31:25

-You can join us if you like.

-No, thanks.

0:31:250:31:27

Lieutenant BJ Smith, Head of Survival Equipment,

0:31:290:31:32

talked me through the exercise.

0:31:320:31:34

They will all brace themselves in there.

0:31:340:31:37

They will have one hand on their lap strap,

0:31:370:31:39

one hand on the window to release it.

0:31:390:31:41

And as the module comes down, it will submerge

0:31:410:31:43

and they will make their exit once the movement has stopped.

0:31:430:31:48

The aircrew who have ditched have told us of their experiences,

0:31:480:31:51

where they can't remember

0:31:510:31:52

a thing from the moment of impact to the moment they come back

0:31:520:31:55

up to the surface cos that habitual reaction,

0:31:550:31:57

the muscle memory, has kicked in and they've just went through all

0:31:570:32:00

the training that has been instilled in them.

0:32:000:32:02

-'Right - this is it.'

-Brace, brace, brace!

-Here we go.

0:32:020:32:05

This is where it must get frightening for them inside.

0:32:060:32:09

I really wouldn't like to do that.

0:32:090:32:10

That's really creating disorientation for

0:32:130:32:17

the guys in there.

0:32:170:32:18

That's incredible. That's absolutely incredible.

0:32:230:32:26

Hopefully experiencing that level of anxiety

0:32:260:32:29

-in these controlled conditions brings their confidence up.

-Sure.

0:32:290:32:33

If that happens in reality, they know what to expect.

0:32:330:32:36

Like I say, you made that look easy.

0:32:370:32:39

You were out just like that every single time.

0:32:390:32:41

There is a definite incentive when you are stuck underwater - you want

0:32:410:32:45

to get out as quick as possible cos it is not very pleasant at times.

0:32:450:32:47

Well, look, well done, and thanks for, you know, being our guinea pigs today.

0:32:470:32:51

Cos I certainly wouldn't have got in there.

0:32:510:32:53

Well, that really was quite sobering,

0:32:530:32:55

watching those guys do that sort of training.

0:32:550:32:58

It really drums home the risk they undertake in their role.

0:32:580:33:02

And before an 815 pilot can go up in a Lynx, they need to rack

0:33:020:33:06

up 62 hours of flying in a helicopter simulator.

0:33:060:33:10

This is just a part of their overall flight training, but it's essential.

0:33:100:33:14

And there is one man who has been training

0:33:140:33:16

wannabe 815 pilots for 20 years -

0:33:160:33:19

Lieutenant Commander John Hartley.

0:33:190:33:21

And he has offered to give me a lesson.

0:33:210:33:24

-So you are pretty much ready to go.

-All right.

0:33:240:33:26

Moving the stick forward, the aircraft goes forward?

0:33:260:33:30

If you move the stick forward, the aircraft will go faster

0:33:300:33:33

and it will also sort of dive down and go forward.

0:33:330:33:35

Pull it back, you will slow down and you will climb.

0:33:350:33:38

-Let's give it a go. Come on, I'm really excited.

-OK, here we go.

0:33:380:33:41

-OK, right.

-So ease back on the stick gently, nice and gently.

0:33:410:33:45

Wow, that is very sensitive.

0:33:450:33:47

If you look to your left, at 11 o'clock, down low,

0:33:470:33:49

-you will see a runway.

-I can.

0:33:490:33:52

-So if you look over there, now that's Yeovilton.

-OK.

0:33:520:33:55

-That is where we are.

-OK. Do you want me to land?

0:33:550:33:59

We want to attempt to land there.

0:33:590:34:01

If you come between... Straight, in a line down the runway.

0:34:010:34:03

Imagine you are in an aeroplane and you are going to go

0:34:030:34:05

and do a regular landing.

0:34:050:34:07

Well, I've never done a regular landing in an aircraft.

0:34:070:34:10

I would raise my left hand just a little inch

0:34:100:34:11

because we're going to fall short, I think.

0:34:110:34:14

-OK.

-That's looking very good.

0:34:140:34:15

Lower your left hand.

0:34:150:34:18

Just gently.

0:34:180:34:19

Raise your left hand a little bit.

0:34:190:34:21

A little bit more. Raise your left hand. Steady the impact.

0:34:210:34:24

Oh, no! No!

0:34:240:34:27

OK, raise the lever a bit to about 30 or 40.

0:34:270:34:30

Now we are looking really good for a landing on that grass.

0:34:300:34:33

Raise this hand. Just an inch. Gently, gently. Gently.

0:34:330:34:37

Squeeze left pedal.

0:34:370:34:39

Beautiful. And let it land. Oh, I think we are down.

0:34:390:34:42

-We are on the grass.

-How did we land?

0:34:420:34:45

We're in trouble with the Commodore, but we're down.

0:34:450:34:48

I've got to say, that was absolutely brilliant.

0:34:500:34:52

I've never done anything like that before in my life.

0:34:520:34:55

A big thank you to John there for talking me through

0:34:550:34:58

and getting me through my first simulated flight.

0:34:580:35:02

Well, that has certainly given me a taste for flying,

0:35:040:35:06

and now it's time for the real thing.

0:35:060:35:08

# Revvin' up your engine Listen to her howlin' roar

0:35:080:35:12

# Metal under tension Beggin' you to touch and go. #

0:35:140:35:18

Don't worry, I won't be flying,

0:35:180:35:20

I will be in the safe hands of Adam Rudkin, who I met earlier.

0:35:200:35:24

# Right into the danger zone. #

0:35:260:35:31

Today, we're flying over the base in a Lynx helicopter.

0:35:310:35:34

The Lynx holds the world record as the fastest helicopter.

0:35:340:35:38

Given its age, I think that is quite remarkable, it really is.

0:35:380:35:42

Today, I am flying with pilot Adam and observer Laura, whose job

0:35:420:35:45

it is to navigate and, in a conflict situation, release the arms.

0:35:450:35:50

Such a smooth flight today, perfect conditions.

0:35:550:35:57

And the view is stunning.

0:35:570:35:59

I must say, Adam has got a great job here, our pilot.

0:36:000:36:03

Today has certainly given me a snapshot of what is involved

0:36:030:36:07

in becoming a pilot in one

0:36:070:36:09

of Europe's largest helicopter squadrons.

0:36:090:36:11

And it is as challenging today as it was during 815's early days.

0:36:110:36:16

And with the old Lynx finally nearing the end of its life,

0:36:160:36:19

here at Yeovilton, the squadron will soon be entering a new era -

0:36:190:36:22

the dawn of the Wildcat.

0:36:220:36:24

But that's another story.

0:36:240:36:26

We're back down on the ground at this extraordinary location

0:36:330:36:36

with its fascinating history.

0:36:360:36:38

With many men from the base currently on active service

0:36:380:36:41

in Afghanistan, let's not forget the bravery of those left behind.

0:36:410:36:46

Singing for us today, we have the Yeovilton Military Wives Choir.

0:36:460:36:50

# Aaaah

0:36:540:37:04

# Wherever you are

0:37:080:37:11

# My love will keep you safe

0:37:110:37:14

# My heart will build a bridge

0:37:140:37:17

# Of light across both time and space

0:37:170:37:22

# Wherever you are

0:37:220:37:25

# Our hearts still beat as one

0:37:250:37:28

# I hold you in my dreams each night

0:37:280:37:31

# Until your task is done

0:37:310:37:34

# Light after darkness

0:37:340:37:37

# My wondrous star

0:37:370:37:41

# Our hopes and dreams My heart and yours

0:37:410:37:45

# Forever shining far

0:37:450:37:47

# Light up the darkness

0:37:470:37:51

# My prince of peace

0:37:510:37:54

# May the stars shine all around you

0:37:540:37:58

# May your courage

0:37:580:38:00

# Never cease

0:38:000:38:05

# Aaaah... #

0:38:050:38:19

Fabulous. Fabulous.

0:38:220:38:24

Fabulous. Wasn't that great?

0:38:240:38:26

-Pat.

-Yes, Thomas.

-I love this swagger stick.

0:38:320:38:35

-I really like swagger sticks.

-Yes.

-In a former life,

0:38:350:38:38

I should have been sort of in the British Army, I think.

0:38:380:38:41

I can see you marching up and down with that under your arm!

0:38:410:38:45

Why have you brought it in?

0:38:450:38:47

I've been itching to find out something about it.

0:38:470:38:50

My husband bought it, I think, in an auction sale.

0:38:500:38:54

It's one of those things that sort of appeared.

0:38:540:38:57

My husband died 20 years ago.

0:38:570:39:00

And because that's not my history, or even his history, it has no...

0:39:000:39:05

-It's not a family thing.

-No.

0:39:050:39:09

-Something he's purchased.

-Yes.

-OK.

0:39:090:39:11

Well, it's English cos we've got British hallmarks here.

0:39:110:39:14

This dates from 1822. And 57 on there within a wreath.

0:39:140:39:20

-What does the 57 mean?

-A regiment.

0:39:200:39:22

-OK.

-So an infantry regiment.

-Right.

0:39:220:39:25

And the Albuhera, which I've looked up,

0:39:250:39:31

and it's from the Peninsular War, 1811.

0:39:310:39:35

Got a bit of age to it.

0:39:350:39:38

And this is obviously a foot soldier,

0:39:380:39:40

one of the soldiers who were hugely outnumbered in this battle,

0:39:400:39:44

-had this made post the battle...

-As a sort of memento.

-A memento.

0:39:440:39:50

And regiments do. They have these battles on their coats of arms.

0:39:500:39:54

This is... Is this a bamboo of some description? Very bendy.

0:39:540:40:01

Little silver ferrule on the end. I think it's delightful.

0:40:010:40:04

Have you got any idea of value?

0:40:040:40:06

No, not really. Um... No, I haven't.

0:40:060:40:11

-It's probably worth, I would say, at least £50-80.

-Yes.

0:40:110:40:15

-Would you be interested in selling it?

-Yes, I think so.

0:40:150:40:19

Because it's not any good to me. Not really.

0:40:190:40:21

-Somebody else will love this.

-Yes.

-Somebody else will collect this

0:40:210:40:26

and it will end up with somebody who collects Peninsular War memorabilia.

0:40:260:40:30

-In its good company.

-It would be amongst friends.

0:40:300:40:34

With regards to a reserve, I would suggest £50 with discretion.

0:40:340:40:37

-I was going to say that.

-Were you?

-I was.

0:40:370:40:39

Singing from the same hymn sheet. That's wonderful.

0:40:390:40:43

While Thomas marches into the saleroom with that one,

0:40:430:40:45

here's a speedy little number that's just up Charlie's street.

0:40:450:40:49

-I recognise this! This is a Model T Ford.

-It is, indeed.

0:40:490:40:52

What's the history of it, as far as you're concerned?

0:40:520:40:55

-I was given it when I was seven years old.

-Seven?

-Yeah, yeah.

0:40:550:40:59

By a family friend who used to come down and see us once a year from Manchester and it

0:40:590:41:03

kind of started me off from there and ended up with my collection.

0:41:030:41:07

I ended up with almost 200 different Dinky and Matchbox toys.

0:41:070:41:09

-Really? Have you still got them?

-Unfortunately not. They've all gone now.

-Why have you got rid of them?

0:41:090:41:15

-My children have grown up and it was something they weren't interested in.

-Weren't they?

0:41:150:41:19

No, and girls being girls, they'd rather spend the money and have something.

0:41:190:41:23

-There's daughters for you!

-This one's always been my prized treasure.

-Oh, no!

0:41:230:41:27

I'm feeling guilty, sitting here. It comes from a TV series.

0:41:270:41:31

Yes, so I understand.

0:41:310:41:32

The Secret Service TV series with Gerry Anderson.

0:41:320:41:36

-I don't remember that one.

-Well, 1970s. So you wouldn't, would you?

0:41:360:41:39

No.

0:41:390:41:41

I would, of course! The great thing is it has its box.

0:41:410:41:44

Was that true of all your collection?

0:41:440:41:46

Pretty much most of them, yeah. I was always told to keep the box.

0:41:460:41:49

-Clever man. The boxes themselves are worth money now.

-Yeah.

0:41:490:41:52

And the paintwork's good. You haven't driven it around much.

0:41:520:41:56

No, it's never come out of that little card there.

0:41:560:41:59

-Has it never come out of the card? Well, I'm not going to do that now!

-It's stayed in there all this time.

0:41:590:42:03

One thing that intrigues me, did it ever have a steering wheel?

0:42:030:42:07

-It never had a steering wheel when I had it.

-Then I suspect it didn't have one.

0:42:070:42:10

-I'm not sure if it ever came with one.

-There doesn't seem to be a mark inside where the steering wheel

0:42:100:42:14

-might have been.

-No.

-And there aren't any marks on his hands where there might have been.

0:42:140:42:19

I'm not sufficiently expert enough in Dinky Toys to know whether this model had a steering wheel.

0:42:190:42:24

I rather suspect it didn't.

0:42:240:42:26

-Right, OK.

-Why do you want to sell it?

0:42:260:42:28

Both my girls are off on their first school trips this year,

0:42:280:42:31

which costs an arm and a leg anyway, and they want spending money.

0:42:310:42:35

-So it's like raid dad and...

-What do you think it's worth?

0:42:350:42:39

I've always thought it would be around £30-40.

0:42:390:42:42

-I think it's worth more than that.

-Really? OK.

0:42:420:42:44

30-40 is a conservative estimate.

0:42:440:42:47

I'd like to see an estimate of 50-80 on it, really.

0:42:470:42:51

Right, OK.

0:42:510:42:52

You reckon it's worth 30-40. I think it's worth 50-80.

0:42:520:42:56

So we'll put an estimate of 50-80, but just to be safe,

0:42:560:42:59

-we'll put a reserve of 30.

-OK.

0:42:590:43:01

-So that's your bottom line with which you'd be happy.

-Yeah.

0:43:010:43:04

-But I will be disappointed if it doesn't make 50-80.

-Well, that'd be very good.

-Is that a deal?

0:43:040:43:08

-Yeah, gives them more spending money.

-Splendid. Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

0:43:080:43:13

Thomas has homed in on an unusual necklace

0:43:160:43:19

he spotted in the queue earlier.

0:43:190:43:22

Catherine, thank you for bringing in this fantastic piece

0:43:220:43:26

of late-19th-century vulcanite jewellery.

0:43:260:43:29

Tell me - is it something you've had for some time?

0:43:290:43:32

It belonged to my mother, she had a collection of Victorian

0:43:320:43:35

and Edwardian costumes.

0:43:350:43:37

I don't know who gave it to her or whether she purchased it

0:43:370:43:40

but when my mum had this collection she would take

0:43:400:43:43

them around to various village halls and things to raise money.

0:43:430:43:49

-For what reason?

-It went to the local hospital.

0:43:490:43:52

-Really?

-Yes.

-Oh, fascinating.

-And there was a group of us

0:43:520:43:55

who wore the costumes and this was one of the necklaces

0:43:550:43:59

-that I used to wear.

-And was it against a black costume?

-Yes.

0:43:590:44:02

-It was mourning jewellery.

-A black-beaded costume.

-Yeah.

0:44:020:44:05

So vulcanite is...

0:44:050:44:07

It's like an early plastic.

0:44:070:44:09

-Goodyear was the man who sort of invented it.

-Right.

0:44:090:44:12

And it's a mixture of sulphur and India rubber.

0:44:120:44:17

Melted and mixed...

0:44:170:44:19

And it makes this sort of resin which then gets moulded.

0:44:190:44:22

I don't know what the grapes represent.

0:44:220:44:25

The grape and vine. The interesting thing about this

0:44:250:44:28

is that this is the poor relation to jet.

0:44:280:44:32

So, Whitby jet, which took that high polish and was very dark

0:44:320:44:35

and very popular in the 19th century.

0:44:350:44:38

-But extremely expensive.

-Hm.

-This was its sort of simulant,

0:44:380:44:43

so to speak.

0:44:430:44:44

It's quite dull, actually, isn't it, really?

0:44:440:44:47

It hasn't got that lovely shine.

0:44:470:44:48

I think it would have had that shine. All things of rubber -

0:44:480:44:52

they do deteriorate over time.

0:44:520:44:53

But it's a super, big, bold piece, isn't it?

0:44:530:44:56

-Yes, it is lovely.

-And when you're thinking of Victorian jewellery

0:44:560:45:00

-that's what you want, you know.

-Mm.

-Exciting.

-Yes.

0:45:000:45:03

-Do you like it?

-Yes, I do.

0:45:030:45:05

-I do like it.

-Why is it here on this table...with me...

0:45:050:45:08

about to sell it?

0:45:080:45:09

It's just in a box and I wanted to come to Flog It!

0:45:090:45:12

-This has got collectors for.

-Yes.

0:45:120:45:14

And certainly people who collect early plastics

0:45:140:45:16

-or composites.

-Mm.

0:45:160:45:18

I think it's worth...

0:45:180:45:21

Typical auctioneer's estimate, you know, 100 to 120.

0:45:210:45:24

That's what I would like to put...

0:45:240:45:26

That's what I think it's worth.

0:45:260:45:28

With regards to reserve, I think one should put a sensible reserve

0:45:280:45:32

of about £80 on it. That fixes it at 80.

0:45:320:45:35

If it doesn't sell for 80,

0:45:350:45:38

I think you'd be pleased to keep it, wouldn't you?

0:45:380:45:41

Yes. Yes, that would be fine.

0:45:410:45:42

Everyone's come out to play today.

0:45:440:45:46

-I've thoroughly enjoyed it, actually.

-Has he got a name, that teddy?

0:45:460:45:51

-Yes, he's Brigadier Charles Edward.

-He's great, isn't he?

-Thank you very much.

0:45:510:45:55

'Well, I'd rather meet him

0:45:550:45:57

'in battle than the original owner of our next item.'

0:45:570:46:00

So, Pat, I love Japanese katanas, samurai swords.

0:46:000:46:05

Tell me, why do you own this sword?

0:46:050:46:09

I inherited it from my father, who took it as part of a debt.

0:46:090:46:12

-As part of a debt?

-Yes.

0:46:120:46:15

-And what did your father do?

-My father was a cycle dealer.

0:46:150:46:19

-A cycle dealer? Push-bike?

-Yes.

0:46:190:46:21

-We used to make our own frames and that sort of thing.

-Really?

0:46:210:46:26

-Going back to the 1940s-'50s.

-Fantastic.

0:46:260:46:29

Hand-built cycle frames at that time, of course, were the in thing.

0:46:290:46:33

So your father took this as a bad debt. Was it always like this?

0:46:330:46:38

-Exactly.

-Nothing's been done?

-Nope.

0:46:380:46:40

I wrote to the British Museum, cos I thought it was an awkward

0:46:400:46:44

thing to take up there or put it through the post

0:46:440:46:46

and they sent me back a document of appraisal of the whole thing.

0:46:460:46:51

Did they give you a date to the blade?

0:46:510:46:53

-They reckoned roughly 500 years old.

-OK. Super.

0:46:530:46:58

This is what we call a katana - a long samurai sword.

0:46:580:47:02

The samurai, a tribe of Japan, the highest tribe of Japan,

0:47:020:47:06

wore these swords, with also another one - a wakizashi, a smaller blade.

0:47:060:47:11

There are different components to it.

0:47:110:47:14

So the blade, the tsuba, which is the guard, and then menuki,

0:47:140:47:18

which is these mounts here, which are later in date.

0:47:180:47:23

This bit which they've dated is called the tang.

0:47:230:47:26

So you remove the little peg in the blade

0:47:260:47:28

and it will all slide off and the tsuba will come out as well.

0:47:280:47:33

-Here is what they've deciphered.

-That's right.

0:47:330:47:37

And you sent them photographs of the sword maker's name and the details.

0:47:370:47:42

Exactly.

0:47:420:47:45

On here, you see the dragon, which is

0:47:450:47:48

chasing the pearl of eternal life.

0:47:480:47:50

This chase and the fight you see, sometimes there's two dragons

0:47:500:47:55

and the flaming pearl is used in Japanese and Chinese art.

0:47:550:47:59

It's quite rare to see a blade of this age in this country.

0:47:590:48:03

Normally, they've come back from the spoils of war,

0:48:030:48:06

during the Second World War, after the surrender.

0:48:060:48:09

Now, samurai were banned from wearing swords in

0:48:090:48:13

the early 20th century, with the new emperor,

0:48:130:48:15

and the samurais were almost extinguished from their society.

0:48:150:48:19

In that period, the Meiji period, they worked heavily on their art,

0:48:190:48:23

such as these bits here, the menuki and the tsuba.

0:48:230:48:27

What would have happened is that through 500 years,

0:48:270:48:31

when this blade was first forged, the handle would have deteriorated.

0:48:310:48:35

So these are late 19th century, early 20th century.

0:48:350:48:38

Am I right in assuming, as would the scabbard?

0:48:380:48:41

The scabbard would have deteriorated.

0:48:410:48:43

This isn't the original?

0:48:430:48:45

This is a holding scabbard. We've presented it out like this,

0:48:450:48:48

we've broken it down into its component parts.

0:48:480:48:51

We've got to think of what it's worth.

0:48:510:48:53

-I think these items are collected separately too.

-They are.

0:48:530:48:56

You're quite right. Some of these are worth a lot of money.

0:48:560:48:59

That one is a very nice tsuba.

0:48:590:49:01

It's probably worth £300-500 just on its own.

0:49:010:49:05

-Yes, I'd say.

-And these are worth a little bit of money on their own.

0:49:050:49:08

-£300-500.

-Yes.

-The blade is probably worth £1,500-2,000 on its own.

0:49:080:49:14

So I think an estimate of £2,000-3,000 is very sensible.

0:49:140:49:18

-Right.

-What do you think?

-I'm happy with that.

0:49:180:49:21

With regards to reserve, I think

0:49:210:49:23

-we need to sort of have a £2,000 reserve.

-Right.

0:49:230:49:27

Possibly, I would suggest a little bit of discretion on it.

0:49:270:49:31

So, £2,000-3,000 is the estimate and then the reserve at £2,000,

0:49:310:49:35

-with a 10% discretion.

-That's all right.

-Is that all right?

0:49:350:49:39

Yes, thank you.

0:49:390:49:40

For me, the best thing I've seen all day, the best thing I've

0:49:400:49:44

seen in a long time, because it's not just a sword, it's a culture.

0:49:440:49:47

It's wonderful.

0:49:470:49:48

Absolutely, Thomas. Well, that's it.

0:49:480:49:52

You've just seen it, our final item of the day,

0:49:520:49:54

which means sadly it's time to say goodbye to the

0:49:540:49:56

Fleet Air Arm Museum, our magnificent host location,

0:49:560:50:00

as we go over to the auction room for the very last time today.

0:50:000:50:03

And here's a quick recap.

0:50:030:50:06

The early-19th-century swagger stick should bring the military

0:50:060:50:09

collectors out in force.

0:50:090:50:12

And in such pristine condition,

0:50:150:50:17

this little T Ford Dinky Toy should do a roaring trade.

0:50:170:50:22

A late-19th-century mourning necklace,

0:50:220:50:24

but is it a good year for selling vulcanite?

0:50:240:50:27

And will Pat's samurai sword, originally given

0:50:310:50:34

to his father as a debt repayment, make its money today?

0:50:340:50:38

Before we put it to the test,

0:50:390:50:41

I caught up with auctioneer Claire Rawle, who wanted to

0:50:410:50:44

be 100% sure of its authenticity before she put it under the hammer.

0:50:440:50:48

I absolutely love this lot and I cannot wait for the auction.

0:50:480:50:52

I really cannot. I want to see the top end plus, Claire!

0:50:520:50:55

-Yeah, that would be good.

-We've got £2,000-3,000 on this.

-Yeah.

0:50:550:50:59

-It's lovely.

-It is. I must admit, when I initially saw it,

0:50:590:51:01

I had a few concerns about it because it's so good.

0:51:010:51:05

And there are so many...

0:51:050:51:06

There were so many manufactured straight after

0:51:060:51:09

the Second World War and so many copies about.

0:51:090:51:11

You have to be very careful with Japanese swords, especially samurai

0:51:110:51:14

swords - the blades of this length, it is the one area where there's very strict legislation.

0:51:140:51:18

Any copies that have been made purely as decorative items,

0:51:180:51:22

it's actually against the law to sell.

0:51:220:51:24

I certainly couldn't sell them.

0:51:240:51:26

I stand a prison sentence and quite a big fine if I did it.

0:51:260:51:29

So you have to be very careful with them.

0:51:290:51:31

Also, you have to be careful

0:51:310:51:33

because there are some countries you just cannot export blades to.

0:51:330:51:37

These, above a lot of other swords, particularly Japanese samurai.

0:51:370:51:40

Patrick took this to the British Museum

0:51:400:51:43

-and they said it is over 500 years old.

-Yeah.

0:51:430:51:45

So he had a good letter of provenance with this.

0:51:450:51:48

Yeah, he just couldn't find it when I spoke to him!

0:51:480:51:51

But I also sent off images to a specialist in London.

0:51:510:51:54

-He was fine and he wishes us all the best.

-It's all there, isn't it?

0:51:540:51:58

Has there been a lot of interest?

0:51:580:52:00

I think I'll have them lined up on the telephone and online as well cos the live bidding makes a difference.

0:52:000:52:04

One of my guys is quite a long way away.

0:52:040:52:07

He's the other side of the world, so he's getting quite excited about it.

0:52:070:52:10

So are we. Whatever you do, don't go away. This could get really, really exciting.

0:52:100:52:14

Well, it's getting tense here on the front-line of Tamlyns auction house

0:52:140:52:18

where the bidders are battling it out at today's fine art

0:52:180:52:21

and antique sale.

0:52:210:52:23

Pat, did you swagger into the auction room this morning?

0:52:230:52:26

I bet you did! Are you confident?

0:52:260:52:29

I was going to lend it to Thomas cos I thought it might suit him.

0:52:290:52:32

-Well, I don't know about that.

-I think it does, actually.

0:52:320:52:36

He looks like an officer. Normally carried by a man in uniform.

0:52:360:52:39

-This is my uniform.

-Oh! His auctioneer's uniform!

0:52:390:52:44

From the Peninsular War!

0:52:440:52:45

-Yes.

-Anyway, good luck.

-Thank you.

-Here we go.

0:52:450:52:50

-It's going under the hammer right now.

-Right.

0:52:500:52:52

Nice little item, 332. And I start away at £42.

0:52:520:52:56

At £42. Do I see five anywhere? At 42.

0:52:560:52:59

-45. 48.

-Come on!

-50 in the room.

0:52:590:53:02

At £50. Bid's in the room now. At £50. Now, do I see five? At £50.

0:53:020:53:07

Room bid, then. At 50.

0:53:070:53:08

At 50, it's going to sell. Are you all done at £50?

0:53:080:53:13

-Well, it's gone and it went rather quickly.

-Yes, it did.

-£50.

0:53:130:53:16

Yes, I thought it might have been of interest,

0:53:160:53:19

but then, I suppose you've got to be of an age...

0:53:190:53:23

Or have two or three bidders that really want it, to push each other, push those bids up a bit.

0:53:230:53:27

-Yes.

-But it's gone. It's gone within estimate. We're happy.

0:53:270:53:31

Yeah, that's fine. I'm happy.

0:53:310:53:33

A bargain, going for the lower end of Thomas' valuation.

0:53:330:53:37

Let's hope Charlie's Dinky car gets some mileage.

0:53:370:53:40

Going under the hammer right now, our little toy car,

0:53:400:53:43

the Model T Ford belonging to Mike. You know the line, don't you?

0:53:430:53:46

-You can have it in any colour you want...

-It has to be black!

0:53:460:53:50

Yeah.

0:53:500:53:52

-Because black was the paint that dried the quickest.

-Yeah.

0:53:520:53:57

-Get them off the assembly line.

-Get them out, yeah.

0:53:570:54:01

Anyway, good luck with this.

0:54:010:54:02

Lot 232.

0:54:020:54:04

Little Dinky car here. There we are, with its box. The Model T Ford.

0:54:040:54:08

It's got a little stand and everything with it. Lot 232.

0:54:080:54:11

And I start away at £22. At 22, do I see five anywhere?

0:54:110:54:14

Bid's with me at 22.

0:54:140:54:16

At 22. At 22. Surely 25. At £22.

0:54:160:54:20

At 22. 25. 28.

0:54:200:54:23

-£30.

-Right, we're climbing.

0:54:230:54:25

At £30. At £30, it is. Now, do I see two anywhere? The bid's at 30.

0:54:250:54:30

All done. It's going to sell at £30.

0:54:300:54:32

Gone.

0:54:320:54:34

Gone for £30.

0:54:340:54:36

-You wanted it to go.

-I did, yeah.

0:54:360:54:38

And it was a gamble.

0:54:380:54:40

-I had it in my head around that price.

-Had you?

-Yeah, on the day.

0:54:400:54:43

-You're not too disappointed?

-No. Not at all.

-Job done, then.

0:54:430:54:49

Catherine has many memories of happy days spent modelling,

0:54:490:54:52

associated with her striking vulcanite necklace.

0:54:520:54:55

It's like an early Bakelite, isn't it?

0:54:550:54:57

Like sort of Victorian plastic - vulcanite.

0:54:570:55:00

Yes, it's very light, it looks heavy but it's not at all.

0:55:000:55:03

It's lovely to wear.

0:55:030:55:05

And are you going to miss this now?

0:55:050:55:07

Not really, because it's been in the cupboard for ages.

0:55:070:55:10

Well, I think we should get on and sell some antiques right now,

0:55:100:55:13

-are you ready for this, Catherine?

-Yes, ready.

-This is

0:55:130:55:15

-what we've come for, let's get on with it.

-42...

0:55:150:55:18

This is rather fun, the Victorian vulcanite necklace.

0:55:180:55:21

And I'm sure you all had a good look at this.

0:55:210:55:24

And this one I have to start straight in at...

0:55:240:55:26

-£90. And I'm looking for 100.

-Oh.

0:55:260:55:28

-Straight in.

-100, 110.

0:55:280:55:29

120 at the back, at 120...

0:55:290:55:32

130...140...150.

0:55:320:55:35

No, 150 bid's here. At £150, do I see 160?

0:55:350:55:38

-At £150.

-I'm amazed.

0:55:380:55:41

£160 on the internet.

0:55:410:55:43

170, at 170, now 180...

0:55:430:55:45

He's still hovering... 180.

0:55:450:55:48

No, 180. Net bid this time at £180.

0:55:480:55:51

At 180.

0:55:510:55:52

You all sure? Selling, then, at £180...

0:55:520:55:56

Yes! £180.

0:55:560:55:58

-What a great result!

-Awesome.

0:55:580:56:00

And I've learnt something there. I never knew

0:56:000:56:03

-anything about vulcanite before.

-No.

0:56:030:56:05

-Well, I'm glad you pounced on it.

-What?!

0:56:050:56:07

SHE LAUGHS

0:56:070:56:09

Fingers crossed now for one of the rarest pieces we've

0:56:110:56:14

seen on Flog It!

0:56:140:56:15

Well, I know Thomas and Patrick have been looking forward to this moment.

0:56:150:56:18

You know what's going under the hammer.

0:56:180:56:21

We are in the cutting edge of the saleroom with this samurai sword, which is around 500 years old.

0:56:210:56:26

I had a chat to Claire and she actually endorsed what you said -

0:56:260:56:30

it is right.

0:56:300:56:31

The blade is the important thing in this.

0:56:310:56:34

The mounts also make it, but the blade is 500 years old

0:56:340:56:37

and you look at the way it's been folded, you have that

0:56:370:56:39

temper on the blade and all the mounts, the tsubas are wonderful.

0:56:390:56:44

We're going to put it to the test right now. It's going under the hammer.

0:56:440:56:48

This is the Japanese katana. Going to start it away at £1,300.

0:56:480:56:52

At 1,300. Do I see 1,400 anywhere? At 1,300.

0:56:520:56:56

1,400 on the net. 15 with me.

0:56:560:56:58

At £1,500. At 15. 16 on the net.

0:56:580:57:01

17 with me. At £1,700 with me.

0:57:010:57:04

At 17, 18, 1,900 with me.

0:57:040:57:07

At 1,900. 2,000 on the internet.

0:57:070:57:10

-Now on the internet.

-We've got it, Patrick!

0:57:100:57:13

At 2,000. Do I see 2,200 anywhere?

0:57:130:57:15

At £2,000, the bid's on the internet.

0:57:150:57:18

2,200, if you want it, on the phone.

0:57:180:57:20

£2,000 on the internet. Do you want to go 2,200?

0:57:200:57:23

Yes, we've got 2,200.

0:57:230:57:25

At 2,200. 2,400 on the internet? 2,400 on the internet.

0:57:250:57:29

2,600 is the next bid.

0:57:290:57:31

2,600 on the telephone. At 2,600 on the phone.

0:57:310:57:35

At 2,600. 2,800 on the internet.

0:57:350:57:37

3,000?

0:57:370:57:39

3,000 on the telephone?

0:57:390:57:42

Take 2,900.

0:57:420:57:44

2,900. I'll take 3,000 on the internet, then.

0:57:440:57:48

At 2,900 on the telephone. 3,000, he says.

0:57:480:57:50

At 3,000. Next bid will be 3,200.

0:57:500:57:52

No?

0:57:520:57:54

-At £3,000...

-Well done, Thomas.

0:57:540:57:56

At £3,000, are you all done?

0:57:560:57:58

It's going to sell to the internet bid at £3,000.

0:57:580:58:02

We did it. How about that? What a great result!

0:58:020:58:06

Quality, quality, quality.

0:58:060:58:07

-Patrick, you've got to be over the moon.

-I'm over the moon.

0:58:070:58:10

-You'd have taken the bottom end of that estimate.

-I would have.

0:58:100:58:14

What a way to end a show. Patrick, you've put a big smile on our faces

0:58:140:58:17

and we've seen absolute quality. Well done, Thomas.

0:58:170:58:20

Well done, Claire, on the rostrum. I hope you've enjoyed today's show.

0:58:200:58:23

We've had a marvellous time here in Somerset. I cannot wait to come back.

0:58:230:58:26

But until then, it's goodbye from all of us.

0:58:260:58:29

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