Whittle Cash in the Attic

Welcome to Cash In The Attic where the team find

treasures in your home which you take to auction.

Today I'm in Greater Manchester, but I've stopped off in Salford,

an inspirational area to one of this city's most famous artists.

Laurence Stephen Lowry, LS Lowry, became famous for his depiction of life in the industrial districts

of Northern England and would often base his paintings right here in Salford and the surrounding areas.

There's been so much redevelopment around here I doubt that Lowry would recognise the place now,

though he'd be chuffed they named the theatre after him.

But I don't think we're going to have any difficulty at all in recognising hidden treasures

that should make quite a profit when they go under the hammer at auction.

Coming up on today's Cash In The Attic, Jonty's giving out the orders.

Find me that letter.

Oh, yes, thank you, as if I've not got enough to do!

And we're struggling to get our hands on the goods.

-Shall I retrieve that from you?

-No, we'll have it.

But at auction, will our collectibles command a good price?

-Wow.

-140, not bad.

-That was short and sweet, wasn't it?

Find out, when they go under the hammer.

I'm on my way to meet Lynn and Ian Whittle

who have called in Cash In The Attic

just as they're about to start a whole new life in the sun.

Lynn and Ian have been in the bed-and-breakfast business for over 40 years

but the time has finally come to stop looking after others and start looking after themselves.

They are used to very high standards. Nothing but the best will do for this couple

and I'm hoping that the top quality will extend to their collectibles.

-Morning, Jonty.

-Morning, how are you?

-I'm very well.

-What an impressive house.

It is, but the people who live here won't be enjoying it much longer.

Like the swallows, they're heading south.

So I'd better see what I can find?

Absolutely, and I'll head on in and meet the family.

Ian, Lynn, hi! I see you've made a start already, sorting through the bits and pieces.

-Yes, looking at a few things.

-Why have you called in Cash In The Attic?

Well, we're going to Spain so we want to downsize and sell some things.

We can't take everything with us so we thought, "Sell everything and invest in some furniture."

But you've been here a long time, Lynn.

-Yes.

-Won't it be a wrench, moving away from Salford?

-Yes,

but we've always wanted to retire to Spain, so this is the time to do it.

So what will you spend the money on?

Well, we would like a nice table for our terrace, a nice marble or wrought-iron table

which can remind us of this place because we'll know this is what we've spent the money on.

How much is that likely to cost?

Well, we're hoping, about £700 towards what we require.

-Terrific. Well, we ain't going to get £700 from the couple of baskets you were looking at.

-No.

-So shall we roll up the sleeves and get to work?

-We will, yes.

The move to Spain sounds like a lovely idea,

and with Lynn and Ian's B&B literally bursting with antiques and collectibles

I'm sure we'll have no problem finding plenty of items that will stand out at auction.

But keen to show that all that glistens is not gold is our expert, Jonty Hearnden.

Morning, guys. Look what I've found to help you on your journey.

If you hang onto those too long we'll get you cleaning them

cos as you've noticed, all the brass is absolutely gleaming.

I have noticed quite a bit of brass around the house.

I've got a pair of ships lanterns here, but more often that not these would be painted black on a ship...

-Would they?

-..to protect them from the sea.

And that's the reason why, for the last 30 years,

there's been a huge industry in cleaning them up just like these.

Originally, the first lights would have had

a little cloth soaked in animal or vegetable oil

but now, and also in the 19th century, most of them would be kerosene lamps like this.

Date-wise, I suppose we're looking probably between the wars, so they look '20s, 1930s

because simply the styles didn't really change.

-Value-wise, I suppose we're looking at £50-£80.

-Right, very nice.

-Which is nice as a pair, yes?

-Yes.

That's the first thing we can tick off our auction list.

-Let's go and see what else we can find.

-Yes, indeed.

Well, the ship's lanterns are a very promising start,

but if we want to stay on course we'll need to split up and find a lot more collectibles.

After four decades in the trade,

Ian has catered for all sorts of guests, including the occasional well-known face.

-Jonty, I've something to show you here.

-What's that?

Oh, that's Charlie Chaplin! Where's it from?

He stayed at the hotel we had in Haworth, the Old White Lion Hotel, in the early '60s.

After he left, a few weeks after, my father got a parcel and a thank-you note and this.

-You mean, YOU met the great man himself?

-I did, I waited table on him and served him drinks.

I notice it's not marked in any way at all,

but just by the design it looks very Staffordshire.

-So it looks English.

-Right.

-But there are no markings on him at all.

-I don't know where he came from.

-You mention a letter. You don't happen to have it with you?

No, not that I know of.

It's possibly in my late mother's papers, I've not bothered going through everything.

It's possible, but I don't know.

-Find me that letter. We could be talking over £100.

-Oh, my goodness!

Without it, £20-£30.

You've got a job to do for me, before now and auction date.

Yes, thank you, as if I've not got enough to do!

-Wonderful character jug, great story, find me some more of those, please.

-I'll go and look.

Without having the letter to prove where it came from, I know what happened, I know where it came from,

but I'm quite happy for it to go to auction and see what we get.

But if we want our couple to enjoy fine dining during those glorious summer evenings

we need to search high and low.

Ever the host, Ian is drawn back to the kitchen

and finds these glorious Victorian copper kettles.

Nowadays more decorative than practical,

they're still sure to get our bidders warmed up at £40-£50.

Whilst in the dining room, I'm drawn to another bit of hot property.

-This looks interesting.

-Yes.

-Now what's this?

There's quite a story to it.

My parents-in-law were at a charity auction, and my mum fell in love with

what then was a pair. And she started bidding for it

and this other gentleman, who we found out was George Formby,

he was bidding as well and he eventually got it.

And then he came and presented it to Mum.

George Formby, of course, famous for playing the ukulele.

He was a great music-hall star, wasn't he, and radio star?

I think Jonty should look at these.

Jonty, have you got a minute? Can you come and look at this?

What can you tell us about that?

Can I ask you first a question, what do you know about it? Were you told where it came from?

As far as we understood they were Burmese vases.

You're near, but not quite near enough!

-It's Far-Eastern, but it's not Burmese, it's Japanese.

-Right.

These are Satsuma vases.

This vase here would have been made just after WWI, so 1920s, 1930s.

For a collector, they're not nearly old enough,

so they will be sold for their decorative purposes only

and as a consequence I can't put too much on it.

In real terms, probably a lot less than George Formby paid for them.

We're talking only £25, £35 for the vase.

Well, it's another £25 towards the fund for that wonderful table.

And every little helps.

So let's go and see what else we can put in the pot.

You never really know who'll be bidding against you, because auctions can be quite unpredictable.

However, Jonty's certain that this elegant, early-20th-century cigar cutter,

worth £70-£80, will spark some interest with the bidders.

While our expert continues with the rummage, I head off in search of Lynn and Ian

to find out how they feel about swapping egg-and-bacon for sangria

with their permanent move to Spain.

You know, after a lifetime of working in the hotel and bed-and-breakfast industry

you must SO look forward not to have to get up and do other people's breakfasts?

-Mixed feelings.

-Really?

Well, you get so used to doing it.

You like the satisfaction of doing the job, and people leaving and saying, "Thank you very much,

"we enjoyed the stay, one of the best breakfasts we've ever had," perhaps.

But it will be nice, occasionally.

How did you get into the industry in the first place?

My parents bought a hotel in Haworth in Yorkshire, the Bronte village,

and leaving school... I should've gone back to school in Haworth, but never did...

-I absconded, type of thing.

-Straight into the family business?

Straight into the family business. That was it, never left it since.

So how did you get involved in it, then, Lynn?

-You married into it?

-I married into it, yes.

I went to work in the hotel and then the night that I actually started -

I got the job - so I started, and he met me.

He was going out of the door as I was coming in, and that was when we formally met.

And it's just gone on from there.

So now, the big decision to go and live in Spain.

What made you decide to do that?

We've thought about doing it for many years now.

We've had joint holidays there, we've a timeshare in Tenerife.

We just enjoy it. It's not too far to come back to see the children, or them to come out and see us.

I can see what you mean about this place being so full of memories for you

but you'll be building up lots of new memories in the new house

and hopefully we're going to help towards the fund for that table.

You're going to sit around the table and reminisce and make new memories.

But let's go and see what else we can put on the list.

As a reward for years of hard work, Ian and Lynn have definitely earned their place in the sun

but if we're going to reach that £700 target and get them the table of their dreams

we need to get straight back to work.

On MY travels I unearthed these unusual ceramic butter and cheese boards.

They may need a bit of a clean, but Jonty thinks

this highly-sought-after kitchen memorabilia

could fetch between £30 and £50.

After years of filling their B&B with collectibles

it's no wonder things have got misplaced along the way.

I say, Ian, take a look at this chain!

-Where have you found that?

-In that little box at the back.

I have been searching for that for about three years.

-Have you?

-I thought I'd lost it.

It's a lovely quality, and look, it's solid gold, too.

They're known as Albert chains because Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband,

the Prince Consort, was given a pocket watch, and he needed a chain to connect it to the other end

because he didn't want to lose it. Once you put your pocket watch down,

as you've discovered, you can lose it.

And just for this chain alone,

it would be sold on its weight and also for its re-use.

Auction value today for a chain of this quality,

you're looking at between £100 and £150.

-Oh, well, that is nice news. I didn't pay that much for it.

-That's very good.

-I'm sure I didn't.

-Now, I have to say this room is so stuffed full of goodies...

-Yes.

..it'll take us a while to get through. You have a look over there.

-OK.

-I'll wend my way over here.

The rummage is still far from over

so, with our eyes on the target, we need to keep searching.

Jonty finds this Mayflower replica.

Now, the original took the Pilgrim Fathers to America,

but will this one help take our couple to Spain?

And this stunning Elizabeth II gold sovereign ring

could easily increase our fund by £50-£80.

We've found some fascinating items today

but to furnish the perfect patio we still need a major find to impress the bidders.

Guys, just take a look at this!

-Look at this.

-Good Lord! Heavens!

An extraordinarily good-quality, I mean amazing-quality,

-charms bracelet.

-What a collection!

Well, it started off, my husband bought me the chain with one charm on for my 21st birthday

and then every birthday or anniversary for quite a few years he bought me another charm.

-One of the stars, but not the biggest, is the one I'm holding in my hand here.

-Oh, yes.

This lovely little ball here, obviously a pendant designed for a charm bracelet, or round the neck.

-But it all opens up, as I'm sure you guys know.

-Oh, look at that!

And look at that, this is a Masonic pendant for a lady.

All these symbols are Masonic too.

The great news is, at the moment Masonic memorabilia like this is very big on the collecting market.

So just this little concentric ball here has to be worth £50-£80.

-Goodness me!

-Or maybe more. Just by itself.

What are we talking about in value?

I would value this set at between at £400 and £600.

Oh, yes, that's good.

So what do you think, Lynn? Can this go to auction?

I don't know, I think we need to think about it a bit longer.

You need a bit of time to think about that, so...

-Shall I retrieve that?

-No, we'll have it!

You're going to need time to think about that, so let's hold onto it

because you want £700 towards the cost of that patio table and chairs

for your new home in Spain.

I can say that if we take the lowest estimate on everything Jonty's looked at

-it comes to £535...

-Bit low, yes.

But if we put this with it, it goes up to £935.

-Oh, a lot better.

-That's better.

-You're going to think about it.

We're going to put this somewhere safe in the meantime

and let's just see what happens when the hammer comes down.

-Right, we'll do that.

-Let's see.

-Thank you.

Well, there've been lots of goodies in Ian and Lynn's bed and breakfast today.

Jam-packed with memories, their home has provided rich pickings for the auction,

including the splendid Japanese Satsuma vase,

a present to Lynn's mother from George Formby.

A solid gold Albert chain

with a gold-plated hunter pocket watch,

worth a substantial £100-£150.

The 1920s brass ship lanterns.

And the nine-carat gold charm bracelet,

with sentimental attachment for Lynn,

but will the £400-£600 price tag be enough to encourage her to let it go?

Coming up next on Cash In The Attic, Jonty's jokes are as cheesy as ever.

-You can't keep him down!

-You're wasted in your job!

But will we have the last laugh...

We're just two under again!

..when the hammer comes down?

Well, the weeks have flown by since we joined Ian and Lynn at their bed and breakfast in Salford,

searching for antiques and collectibles we could sell here at Bamfords Auction House in Derby.

Now, remember they are selling up and heading south,

and they want to raise £700 so they can buy a patio table

to enjoy long sunny days and warm evenings on their terrace in Spain.

The doors are open, and the auction house is already filling up with eager bidders and traders

on the hunt for the deal of the day.

In amongst the crowd, I spy Jonty taking a final look at one of Ian and Lynn's items.

That vase looks rather splendid on that little table, doesn't it, Jonty? It's sort of found its home.

Well, it's all hand-made.

-Remember our Satsuma vase?

-It looks very pretty here, doesn't it?

So that has come to the auction, and that wonderful gold chain you found down in the cellar.

Star of the show! Really good quality,

and it should sell very well. It was down there for years.

Still with jewellery, I wonder if they brought that charm bracelet?

Have they? If they bring that and it sells - it's bound to sell, because it's such good quality -

-they're home and dry.

-Exactly. Shall we go and find them and see if they have?

We've an assortment of valuables from the bed and breakfast,

and I've certainly got high hopes for all of them.

But has Lynn brought that charm bracelet?

It could make or break the day.

-Morning, Lynn and Ian,

-Morning.

-Morning.

-Just think, you don't have to polish those ever again, Ian!

-One chore less.

-Absolutely.

Now, have you brought that beautiful charm bracelet?

-Because that was the question mark over the things you were going to bring today.

-Yes, I've brought it.

-Lovely.

-I am going to put a reserve on it.

-So what sort of figure have you put on it?

-600.

-Ohh.

-That's a lot, isn't it?

I am a little bit attached to it, though, and I am withdrawing the Masonic ball.

That means that everything has to sell, and fly through roof!

Yes, let's hope so or we'll be sitting on the floor.

Hopefully it won't come to that. The auction house is filling up,

so let's go and see who's going to bid for that bracelet, come on.

So, the bracelet made it and that's brilliant news,

but with a reserve of £600 AND the removal of the Masonic ball

we just might be discouraging our bidders.

I wonder how auctioneer Steven Iredale thinks our lots will fare?

The Whittle family have got some nice things.

Really good charm bracelet, good, heavy charm bracelet.

I think we'll do quite well.

Remember, if YOU'RE planning a trip to auction,

both buyers and sellers are liable to pay VAT and commission.

Fees do vary, and your local auction house can provide more details.

We take our positions at the back of the saleroom just in time

as our first lot of the day is about to go under the hammer.

Lot 100, we go to.

Three 20th-century ship's lamps.

Are you happy, or sad?

-How are you feeling?

-I'm happy,

I didn't like cleaning them!

You didn't clean them anyway. See her nails!

They'll be somebody else's responsibility now. Here we go.

And a couple of bids on these. I can start at £38...

Couple of bids on that, £38.

-It's a good start.

-At £38, and 40. 42... 45...

48..

And 50? At £48 still with me. At £48, and 50 now.

All done, then, at £48...

48, £2 under the estimate.

-Not bad.

-Not too bad at all.

-That's OK.

That's not a bad start.

But if we want Lynn and Ian

to reach their £700 target and dine in style,

we desperately need the bidders

to pay top dollar for our cheese and butter dishes.

People love that sort of memorabilia, kitchenalia, great fun. Here it comes.

50... 5... 60. At £55, to the right.

At £55... 60, may I say? All done, then? At 55...

-Wow!

-£55.

-Very good!

-Cheesy grins for that.

Cheesy or not, it's a great result.

I got them for nothing 50 years ago out of a shop called Maypole, in Prestwich Village.

After all those years, and just amazing they sold for that.

It's obvious Ian can spot a bargain when he sees one.

But can our bidders, as up next is the dazzling collection of copper kettles,

hoping to increase our fund by further £40-£50.

At £38, absentee bid, and selling at 38....

-Just two under again!

-Just underneath again.

-Ah!

Simmering to a reasonable 38, but we'll have to turn up the heat

if we want to reach that £700 target.

So far this morning, we have had some brilliant sales.

Our items have flown out of the auction room.

But Ian's worried look concerns me.

Maybe our next lot will cheer him up.

Lot 550, the film memorabilia.

The novelty character mug of Charlie Chaplin.

And a couple of bids on it. I can start at £15... 18...

-£15 started.

-£15, and 18 now. At £15. 18, may I say? 18... 20... and two, madam? No?

At £20 in the commission bid. At £20, then, all done. Absentee bid at £20...

£20, that was your lowest.

-That was cheap.

-Yes.

-That was cheap.

-I'd have expected more.

Because of its Hollywood connections

we may have got slightly carried away with this lot,

but we did reach our £20 estimate.

Although we're still a long way off our target,

this replica of the Mayflower might boost our fund by £80-£100.

At £70 against the commissions, all done. At £70, well done, 852.

Only £10 under our estimate, that's not bad.

Ian and Lynn are certainly looking forward to sipping Rioja in the Mediterranean sun.

It's just gonna take a few more substantial bids to top up that total.

Lot number 560,

nine-carat-gold Albert chain and gold-plated hunter pocket watch. Really pretty little lot.

I've not worn it for a while. I used to wear it quite regularly, dressing up Saturday nights.

People don't dress up these days to go out.

I won't miss it that much, but I want a decent price for it.

-Six bids on it.

-Six bids!

-And I can start at £110, 120 do I see? 120...

130... 140. Has it at £140 against the commission. At 140...

150, do I see? All done then, at 140...

-Wow.

-140.

-That was short and sweet.

Very short and sweet, but not a bad price.

I think that's incredible,

and takes us a good way closer to our target.

But will the classic cigar cutter be red-hot

or will it go up in smoke at the guide price of £70-£80?

-At 75...

-HAMMER FALLS

-A snip at £75.

-That's good.

-A snip!

-A snip.

-You can't keep him down.

-You're wasted in your job!

Selling for £5 over our estimate,

alfresco dining is well in our sights.

Next up, it's the gold sovereign ring.

Now we really need this to do well for us when it goes before the room.

-HAMMER FALLS

-And it does just that,

notching up another £55.

We're on a roll now. But can we keep the momentum going with our next item?

Lot number 110, Japanese Satsuma ovoid vase,

-20th-century Satsuma, a piece there.

-I want more for it

because it's very good quality, all hand-made.

£30 for that one, please? £30, may I say?

25 then, £25?

20, then? £20? No? 15, then?

Any interest in that one at 15? No...?

-No bid!

-No bid.

-Jonty, that's a real disappointment.

It is. Hugely disappointing.

Our first "No sale", but maybe Lynn's not so sorry to be keeping the present from George Formby.

I like the vase a lot, so I'm not really bothered.

We can have the pleasure of keeping it and looking at it a bit longer.

We've had a reasonable day so far, but everything now hangs on the final item.

This is a real nail-biting moment.

You were in two minds as to whether or not to bring it,

you have brought it, you've put, what, a £600 reserve on it?

-So...

-It is very sentimental value.

-..put your hand over your eyes, we'll watch it for you.

At £600, I must ask. £600 is bid. At £600...

620, do I see? At £600...

620 now. At £600, then, maiden bid.

And selling at £600...

-Wo-o-o-w!

-We did it!

-Are you pleased it's gone?

-Yes.

-Any second thoughts now?

No, not now its brought that price. I'm happy with that.

I wasn't sure we were going to get there,

but what a fantastic end to the day!

So how much have we made?

I am glad to see big smiles on your faces

because, if you remember, what you wanted to raise was £700 for the table and chairs

so you could sit on the terrace in the sun in Spain, drinking the sangria.

I think you are going to be able to get the table and the chairs

and maybe a few bottles to go with it,

because the grand total is...

£1,101.

-Wow, well done!

-Very good.

-That's brilliant!

-Terrific.

So, happy memories every time you sit at that table, Ian?

Every time we sit there we'll think of you.

Well, you could do worse.

I could invite you out there. If you're in the area, drop in.

Lynn and Ian had a great day at auction

and today they've put their packing on hold

to visit the local garden centre for inspiration.

We've come to this garden centre today to try and get some ideas for our villa in Spain,

for a table for the terrace and some small poolside tables for the terrace around the swimming pool.

There's plenty to choose from, making it very easy to get distracted.

But with Ian on the case it's not long before they find the perfect table for their home in Spain.

This is unusual, the marble inserts.

-Yes, that's nice.

-It is quite nice.

-The seats look comfy, don't they?

-These are very nice.

-They are comfortable as well.

We've seen some good ideas today...

Nice large table. So now we'll go home and have a look on the Internet

and see what we can maybe find on there and ship it over.

And we all wish Ian and Lynn well in their new life soaking up the sun in Spain.

If you'd like to raise money for something

and think you have things around the house you could sell at auction,

why not call in the Cash In The Attic team?

All you have to do is fill in our application form on our website

which you'll find at...

And good luck.

Come and join us on Cash In The Attic.

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