0:00:02 > 0:00:04Welcome to Cash In The Attic, the programme that works with you
0:00:04 > 0:00:08to find hidden valuables around your home and then sell them at auction.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Today, I'm in Surrey and I could not resist the opportunity
0:00:11 > 0:00:14of coming to visit the Queen Anne water tower
0:00:14 > 0:00:18which is part of the magnificent Carshalton House.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Perhaps not immediately thought of as a public attraction,
0:00:22 > 0:00:25this imposing Grade II listed building deserves a closer look.
0:00:25 > 0:00:32The heart of the 18th-century tower is the pump room, but there's also a wonderful orangerie and a bathroom
0:00:32 > 0:00:38dating from the 1720s, complete with plunge bath and exquisite hand-painted Delft tiles.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42The water tower has stood the test of time magnificently.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Let's hope that's a trend that continues today,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47as we now go in search of antiques and hidden valuables
0:00:47 > 0:00:50just a few miles from here, which hopefully will do well
0:00:50 > 0:00:52when they go under the hammer at auction.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Coming up on today's Cash In The Attic,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20I'm dispensing some fashion advice...
0:01:20 > 0:01:24Modern, young miss could wear to a party and look ravishing!
0:01:24 > 0:01:25That counts me out, then.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27..John's cracking the whip.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29I see, Bill. I'm working my fingers to the bone
0:01:29 > 0:01:32trying to get enough money to get you up in the air
0:01:32 > 0:01:34- and you're doing jigsaw puzzles.- Yes.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37And some of our hard work pays off at auction.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Yes!
0:01:40 > 0:01:42That was fantastic!
0:01:42 > 0:01:45But will we still be smiling when the final hammer falls?
0:01:46 > 0:01:50I'm in Carshalton, where I'm about to meet a couple of high-flyers
0:01:50 > 0:01:53who've called in the Cash In The Attic team
0:01:53 > 0:01:55to help them reach for the skies.
0:01:55 > 0:02:00Bill and Claire Edwards live in this detached house in the heart of Surrey.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03The couple are both retired but far from enjoying the quiet life,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06their days are packed full of outdoor activities,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09from golf and gardening to sailing and skiing.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13This beautifully tidy home hides a wealth of inherited collectables,
0:02:13 > 0:02:18which they've decided to turn into cash for a very exciting cause.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20- Morning, John!- Here she is.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22- How are you on golf? - Always in the bunker.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26- How about extreme activities? - Scared of heights.- Erm, antiques?
0:02:26 > 0:02:29- The best.- One out of three is not bad but I tell you what,
0:02:29 > 0:02:34- the couple we're meeting are interested in all three. - Absolutely no bungee jumping!
0:02:34 > 0:02:36No, you're going to keep our feet on the ground.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40The only thing we want to go high are the prices at auction. Come on.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45With no-one at home, I head round to the garden.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Claire, Bill, what a wonderful kitchen garden you've got here.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52- Do you like it?- It's your pride and joy, isn't it?- It is!
0:02:52 > 0:02:57I think we could almost pick lunch out of here! You've got sweetcorn and beans, tomatoes...
0:02:57 > 0:03:00- Beans and stuff like that. - And fruit trees, too.
0:03:00 > 0:03:06- So why have you called in Cash In The Attic?- Well, it's our...
0:03:06 > 0:03:07Tenth wedding anniversary.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11- In September.- And we want to do something spectacular.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13What? How spectacular?
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Well, a helicopter flight or something like that.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Something similar to that. I think that would be great.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21How much do you think this is going to cost?
0:03:21 > 0:03:23We're thinking something about £400.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26I think in that case, if we want to make this happen,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29I think we ought to go and see what we can find. Come on.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33'Getting this happy couple an anniversary to remember sounds like a great idea.'
0:03:33 > 0:03:36I think we're in for an adventure-filled day.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38We've got our expert John Cameron on hand.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41He has years of experience in the antiques trade
0:03:41 > 0:03:44and he finds that Claire and I are already hard at work.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47- What do you think, John? - Well, it's very fetching, Angela.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49I wasn't sure it was a good time to walk in
0:03:49 > 0:03:52when I heard talk about trying dresses.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56It is because we seem to have some lovely dresses from the '20s.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59I mean, look at this. Look at the work in those sleeves.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03- Some beautiful applique work. - What sort of a market is there for '20s clothing now?
0:04:03 > 0:04:09There's an increasing demand. More and more ladies are prepared to wear vintage clothing,
0:04:09 > 0:04:14and certainly from the '20s and '30s, where a lot of those narrow-cut, flapper dresses
0:04:14 > 0:04:17are pretty much in tune with the modern figure today.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Talking about flapper dresses,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23that looks like a classic flapper dress to me.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Oh, this is absolutely beautiful, Claire. Where's this from?
0:04:26 > 0:04:30- This is just beautiful. - That was my mother's wedding dress.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32It is lovely, isn't it?
0:04:32 > 0:04:34She must have been tiny!
0:04:34 > 0:04:38She was quite small. She wasn't that much smaller...shorter than I am
0:04:38 > 0:04:40and she obviously was very slim.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44But it's the sort of thing that a sort of a size zero or a size ten
0:04:44 > 0:04:48modern, young miss could wear to a party and look ravishing!
0:04:48 > 0:04:50That counts me out, then.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- What sort of a price might we get? - Without delving any further,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57- I would suggest an estimate of about £80-£120.- So what do you think?
0:04:57 > 0:05:01- £80-£120, does that make it worth sending to auction?- I think so.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04It's very sentimental, with my mother, but it's just going
0:05:04 > 0:05:08to sit in the cupboard again for another 40 years, which is an awful shame.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13Well, we've got at least £80-£120 in the pot already. Wonderful.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17What a fantastic start to our search!
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Downstairs, Bill's been busy and dug out this pair of gilt sovereign scales.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26John hopes they'll weigh in well at auction with a £40-£60 price tag.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30And Bill's good lady wife is carrying on the search as well,
0:05:30 > 0:05:34unearthing this rosewood tea caddy, which John values at £50-£80.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39- But is Bill now taking a sneaky break?- I see, Bill. I'm working my fingers to the bone
0:05:39 > 0:05:44trying to get money to get you in the air and you're doing jigsaw puzzles.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46- Oh, yes. Why not? - What's the story behind these?
0:05:46 > 0:05:51Well, these puzzles belong to Claire and they've been in her family
0:05:51 > 0:05:54for donkey's years, as far as I know.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59But we do occasionally get them out during the winter and have a look and put them together.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03Looking at this one, I can instantly tell, this is quite an early jigsaw.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07I'd say it's certainly first half of the 19th century.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09And we can tell that if we look around the edges.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13If you look, it's only the outside edges interlocking.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14Can you see that?
0:06:14 > 0:06:17- I can.- The inner pieces just have straight and wavy lines.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Right, yeah. I didn't realise that.
0:06:19 > 0:06:25It wasn't until later that the whole thing became interlocking, which made them more difficult to complete.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Yeah. Well, we are actually missing a piece or two
0:06:28 > 0:06:32and I'm just wondering, would that detract at all against sale of it?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Well, yes, that would have a bit of an effect on value.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40But they are lovely condition and to consider they're well over 100 years old...
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- Yeah, amazing, isn't it? - It's remarkable that only one or two pieces are missing.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49- I think they ought to make at least £50-£80.- Well, that's not bad at all.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51I think Claire will be quite happy.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54That's a great little find, Bill, but it's not quite enough.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56So some of us have work to do.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59I'll leave you to see if you can find the last piece of this puzzle.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02OK. Thank you very much.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06£50 is another good injection to our flying fund and I'm impressed.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Not wanting to be outdone, though, I've been searching upstairs
0:07:10 > 0:07:13and this collection of Indian filigree silver catches my eye.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18John estimates my find at a sparkling £40-£60.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Meanwhile, downstairs, Claire and John have found an item that could put our target in the picture.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26This looks quite interesting. Let's have a look inside.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30- Quite typical of the Victorians. - Full of photos.- Yes, it is indeed.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Let's have a look. Who have we got?
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Beethoven, Mozart.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39Christine Nielsen. Tennyson. So we've got writers and musicians.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42So this little album, where did it come from?
0:07:42 > 0:07:48Well, we inherited it from my granddad, so it's been in the family for a long time.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50This is very typical of the Victorians
0:07:50 > 0:07:53and these could be issued either as sets that you put in them,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55they may well have come in these,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58but this is quite an attractive set and you often see them missing.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01But it looks like we've got a full set here.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02I think it is a full set, yes.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05- That's quite nice. - I couldn't find any date on...
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Cos we couldn't get the photos out, but...
0:08:07 > 0:08:09It's definitely Victorian.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11I would have said probably about 19th century.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Looking at the outside of the piece, you can see it's clad
0:08:14 > 0:08:17with mother-of-pearl and the condition isn't too bad.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20You've lost a couple of bits, but importantly
0:08:20 > 0:08:22this little brass clasp hasn't been damaged
0:08:22 > 0:08:24or the hinges of the book, which, you know,
0:08:24 > 0:08:28if a book gets opened and shut a lot, the front hinge is always
0:08:28 > 0:08:29the first thing to go.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31But that looks fine to me.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35- And I'd like to think that that would make about £80-£120.- Really?
0:08:35 > 0:08:40- Hmm. Does that sound good enough? - I think that sounds tempting.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41- Yes, OK.- All right.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Let's see how Bill and Angela are faring, shall we?
0:08:44 > 0:08:49That's a fantastic price for the photo album and a sizable addition to our kitty.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Well, we've had a really successful morning so far,
0:08:52 > 0:08:53so whilst John carries on the hunt,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56I catch up with our happy couple outside.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Claire and Bill, you're going to celebrate your tenth wedding anniversary.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04- You're virtually newlyweds! So how did you both meet?- Ah!
0:09:04 > 0:09:08- Well, we met through Saga really... - Saga Magazine.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13Saga Magazine had a couple of ads and then we decided that we'd have a round of golf together.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18We got on famously. Found we had lots in common.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23- We did, yes.- We've got lots of different things we do, but a lot we enjoy very much together.- Yeah.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Travelling and seeing new places.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29But I mean, I get the feeling that the pair of you
0:09:29 > 0:09:30are like adrenalin junkies
0:09:30 > 0:09:34because you've just done so many exciting, different things.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38Tell me something about some of the holidays that you've had together.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Well, we've had a lot of holidays.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44We've had the Antarctic and we've had the Arctic.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48And at the age of 78, I crossed the Atlantic in a small boat with three others.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I think to a certain extent, we're making the most of our...
0:09:51 > 0:09:55- I think we're making the most of our retirement.- Yes, that's right.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Life's for living, isn't it?
0:09:57 > 0:10:03Now for your tenth anniversary, you've decided to take flying lessons or go up in a helicopter.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Why did you choose that particularly?
0:10:05 > 0:10:06We've always liked flying
0:10:06 > 0:10:09and I think it's a great thing to go flying,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12particularly if you can get on the controls for a little while.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16- Given half a chance! - If they give you the opportunity?
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Yes. Wouldn't say no.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Well, it's going to be an adventure whatever you do,
0:10:21 > 0:10:26- so shall we go and see how much more we can find to fund that adventure? Yes!- Off we go.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28There's really no holding this couple back.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31But we've got a few more pounds to bank
0:10:31 > 0:10:33before we reach that £400 target.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Luckily, John is leaving no room unsearched and out in the garage,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39he spots this cased pocket barometer.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42He hopes it's going to put pressure on the bidders at auction
0:10:42 > 0:10:44with a price tag of £50-£80.
0:10:44 > 0:10:45Back inside,
0:10:45 > 0:10:49we ladies have found something with an Oriental flair.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Hello there, girls. What have you got there?
0:10:52 > 0:10:56It's a collection of pictures, look. Absolutely stunning.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Where did these come from, Claire?
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Well, again, my parents, I'm certain,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05bought it in one of the old house auctions in Bournemouth.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08But the detail is just amazing. Look at it in the fabric there.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10They're very typical.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14- They're 19th-century, Oriental watercolours on rice paper.- Yeah.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16And one of the things that always strikes me
0:11:16 > 0:11:19is the great luminosity about their work.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23They worked in these very dense, opaque watercolours.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26And I think it's a real vibrant effect, isn't it?
0:11:26 > 0:11:29I notice that the book itself is actually covered in red silk.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32So presumably what you're saying, is that would have been sold
0:11:32 > 0:11:36as a folio and then later decide to have them put into a frame?
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Yeah. Because you wouldn't have them framed out there because of getting them damaged.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42They would have been sold in that form, keep them tight.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45They could go in a suitcase or a trunk and you'd get them framed when you got home.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48John, what do you think they might raise at auction?
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Demand for this sort of thing ebbs and flows.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54At the moment, well, I think I'd be looking at around about
0:11:54 > 0:11:57100-150 for a loose set like this.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- Right.- What do you think about that, Claire?
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Is that tempting enough for you?
0:12:02 > 0:12:06It's very tempting, but I do think I need to think about it.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10Well, you've got fortunately a couple of weeks before we go to auction, so there is time.
0:12:10 > 0:12:16In the meantime, why don't we just close the folio and see whether or not it turns up on the day?
0:12:18 > 0:12:22The pictures really did prove to have some Eastern promise.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Our day of rummaging is almost over, but in the kitchen,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Claire spots this pretty breakfast-for-one set by Royal Worcester.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32We're hoping it goes sunny side up at auction with a valuation of £40-£60.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37In the dining room, John has made one last find.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Bill, here's an interesting item we could send to auction.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42- Yes, it is. - What do you know about it it?
0:12:42 > 0:12:47- I don't know too much about it myself because it's one of Claire's items.- But you know what it is?
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Yes, it's a tea caddy.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53You're absolutely right. It is a tea caddy and it's very typically Victorian.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56This papier-mache became very popular in the Victorian period
0:12:56 > 0:12:59and you can see it can be moulded into almost any shape.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Pulped paper mixed with glue and sand obviously
0:13:02 > 0:13:06and then they bake it, so it becomes very hard and takes a great polish.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08It can be inlaid, with this mother-of-pearl,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12beautifully painted and it is a great simulation of Japanese lacquer.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16And if we open it, we can have a look inside.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20- All right.- We can see there's a bit of damage to one of those hinges there, not too bad.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24And these two compartments for putting your tea in there.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28Look at the beautiful embellishments on the top of those little covers. Isn't it wonderful?
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Apart from that little hinge, it's in pretty good condition.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Little bit of wear to the gilding, but it's not too bad.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38- I'd suggest an estimate of £200-£300. - What?- What?
0:13:38 > 0:13:43That sounds like a great price. Did you expect that, Claire?
0:13:43 > 0:13:46No, I was hoping more than 50, but...
0:13:46 > 0:13:48200-300?
0:13:48 > 0:13:51- No way!- And it's been sitting here all the time and you didn't know.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55I do love it. I think it's beautiful so I'm ever so pleased.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Well, the pair of you do like extreme sports,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00so how about trying this for a cliff-hanger?
0:14:00 > 0:14:01How do you think you've done?
0:14:03 > 0:14:07- Because you want to raise... What? £400?- We do.- We'd like to.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11Well, I can tell you, that even if we take the lowest estimate
0:14:11 > 0:14:14on everything that John has looked at today,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18we would be able to make as much as £630 at auction.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23However, that does not include those beautiful Chinese watercolours
0:14:23 > 0:14:26that you're still going to think about, Claire.
0:14:26 > 0:14:33There's £100 price tag on those, which means we could walk away from auction with £730!
0:14:33 > 0:14:35- Fantastic!- Wow! Ah, that's amazing.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39Let's just keep everything crossed and see what happens when we go to auction!
0:14:39 > 0:14:40- Absolutely.- Absolutely.
0:14:40 > 0:14:46What a fantastic day we've had searching through Bill and Claire's treasure-trove of a home.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49And what an impressive haul of items we've got!
0:14:49 > 0:14:53We're hoping the bidders will be charmed by the vintage dresses
0:14:53 > 0:14:56and their very modern £80-£120 price tag.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00I've got high hopes for the mother-of-pearl photo album,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03which John estimated at £80-£120.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07And we're all excited to see how the beautiful lacquered tea caddy fares.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12With a £200-£300 valuation, it makes up half our target.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18Still to come on Cash In The Attic, our experts seem stuck in the last century...
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Probably would have cost sort of 3s 6d, or something like that.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Well, we're hoping for a bit more than that!
0:15:25 > 0:15:29..But he's more than happy to admit defeat on some sales...
0:15:29 > 0:15:31I never mind being wrong if it's in your favour!
0:15:31 > 0:15:36So will we have reached our target when the final hammer falls?
0:15:40 > 0:15:47We had such a lovely day with Bill and Claire Edwards and discovered some really terrific collectables
0:15:47 > 0:15:52at their home in Surrey, all of which we brought here to Saunders Auctioneers in Essex to sell today.
0:15:52 > 0:15:57Now, their goal, you'll remember, is £400 so that they can take flying lessons
0:15:57 > 0:15:59to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03Let's hope that all of their prices will go sky high
0:16:03 > 0:16:06when their items go under the hammer today.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09The bidders are already browsing around the saleroom
0:16:09 > 0:16:13and I hope that Bill and Claire's items get their full attention.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16One man who never misses a trick is our expert, John Cameron,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18who I find with his head buried in a book.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Looking through the family album, John?
0:16:20 > 0:16:23I wish! Though Dickens is from my part of the world.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Yes. There's some terrific pictures in there!
0:16:26 > 0:16:29It is great. For someone interested in music or literature
0:16:29 > 0:16:33this would be a great gift and it's beautifully bound and it's mother-of-pearl.
0:16:33 > 0:16:38- What are we looking for on it? - We're hoping this does £80-£120, so fingers crossed on that.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40We've got that wonderful tea caddy as well.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Which looks very striking in the cabinet here. It is nice.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Unusual. Hoping that does better than my estimate.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Mmm. We've got to do well,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49because you know they're both adrenaline junkies
0:16:49 > 0:16:54and I suspect if it gets really exciting at the auction, we'll have to hold them down!
0:16:54 > 0:16:57- Shall we go and find them? - Come on, then.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01I hope that all our pulses will be racing once the auction gets going.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03The bidders are ready and waiting
0:17:03 > 0:17:07and we find our couple checking out their tea caddy's prime position.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- Morning, Bill and Claire. - Hello. Nice to see you.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14So have you two been up to any more adrenaline-charged activities
0:17:14 > 0:17:15since we saw you last.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19We've been thinking about it. We haven't actually done anything.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Bit of a quiet spell for a few weeks.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24But I have to say, your tea caddy looks wonderful.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26- Doesn't it look great? - Isn't it beautiful?
0:17:26 > 0:17:28We're hoping that will do well.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33We're looking for £200-£300 and they've given it pride of place in their cabinet, so a good sign.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36What did you decide to do about those prints?
0:17:36 > 0:17:39We've brought the book with the six prints in
0:17:39 > 0:17:41and put a reserve on of £80.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43- And have you seen the catalogue?- No.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- Catalogue, John. Ta-ra!- Oh, right!
0:17:46 > 0:17:48- Look at that. - Oh, wonderful.- Well, I never.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52They obviously think a great deal about those prints to have put them on the front page.
0:17:52 > 0:17:58- The auction's about to start very soon. Shall we go and take our places?- OK.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00If you're heading to your local auction house,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03be aware that commission and possible other charges
0:18:03 > 0:18:07will be added to your bill, so always check the details with the saleroom.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10We nab a quiet spot with a prime view of the auction
0:18:10 > 0:18:12just as our first lot comes under the hammer.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16It's the Royal Worcester tea set, which John estimated at £40-£60.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Lot number two is a Royal Worcester, blue and white, dragon-patterned tea set.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25- We'll start away at £35. At £35. At 40. 45.- Terrific!
0:18:25 > 0:18:2750. Five. 60. Five. 70.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29I have £70 bid. And selling at £70.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32All done and finished at £70...
0:18:33 > 0:18:34That's jolly good!
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Bang on... Well, ten over what you thought it might get!
0:18:37 > 0:18:41What a great take-off for our day at auction!
0:18:41 > 0:18:43But with a £400 helicopter trip to fund,
0:18:43 > 0:18:44I hope the prices climb higher,
0:18:44 > 0:18:49especially as one of our most valuable lots is up next.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50Victorian papier-mache tea caddy,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53the top painted with lovers in a landscape.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56- Inlaid with mother-of-pearl... - We're looking for £200-£300.
0:18:56 > 0:19:01I don't know about you, but I'm nervous about cos there's a lot riding on it!
0:19:01 > 0:19:04- There we are, we'll start at £100. - Starting at 100!
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Good-looking tea caddy at £100. I've 110. I've 120. 130. 140.
0:19:07 > 0:19:1050. 160. 70. 180. 190. 200.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Going to go five. 210. 15.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16215 in the room. 220 where now?
0:19:16 > 0:19:18At £215.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20- The bid is in the room at 215.- Wow!
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- Wow!- It nearly got there.- 215!
0:19:23 > 0:19:27What a brilliant price for the Japanese tea caddy.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31But will the rosewood caddy with its more modest £50-£80 estimate
0:19:31 > 0:19:32have similar success?
0:19:32 > 0:19:35I've got to sell at £48. Round it up to 50, someone?
0:19:35 > 0:19:37Selling at £48. All done?
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- I'm very happy with that for that. - Are you?- Yes.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Our morning has got off to a cracking start
0:19:44 > 0:19:45and long may it continue.
0:19:45 > 0:19:51The vintage dresses are up next and I have a feeling they'll do well.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54I've seen a lot of ladies looking through the boxes, not just at the dress,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56but the feathers and all the other bits and pieces.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57Those feathers are gorgeous.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59I've seen a lot of people mooching around it,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02- so hopefully we should hit our target.- Yes.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- £20 is bid.- Ooh!- I have 22. 25.
0:20:05 > 0:20:0830. 32. 35. 38. 40.
0:20:08 > 0:20:1142. 45. 48. 50. Five. 60. Five. 70.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Oh, there's somebody over there!
0:20:13 > 0:20:15In the room at 75. 80. 80.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Five. 90. Five. 100. 110. 120.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20130. 140. And 50.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23150. It's the lady's bid at 150.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25That makes me feel so much better.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28£150! We're all going to finish at £150.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30- Wow!- 150.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34I am so pleased. I would hate to see them go for much less.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39Oh! What a result. Claire's mum's dresses really did us proud.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43And the helicopter trip is edging nearer all the time.
0:20:43 > 0:20:44We're hoping our luck continues
0:20:44 > 0:20:47as the antique jigsaw puzzles come up for sale.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51John estimated them at £50-£80, but will the bidders play the game?
0:20:51 > 0:20:54At £20 I'll start. I'll take two for the old jigsaws we're selling now.
0:20:54 > 0:20:55Lot number 34. £20.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57There's no more interest than £20.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01- Not sold.- Not sold. - Oh, well, that's all right.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03- I'll take them back!- Yeah!
0:21:03 > 0:21:05It's our first unsold lot,
0:21:05 > 0:21:10but luckily it's not enough to put a dampener on our morning's successes.
0:21:10 > 0:21:11Things get back on track
0:21:11 > 0:21:15when the Indian silver sells for just under its £40-£60 estimate.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18In the room at £38. I'll take 40, where now?
0:21:18 > 0:21:23All done and finished at £38? I'm going to sell at £38. All done?
0:21:23 > 0:21:27- £2 under our £40 lowest estimate. - That's still more than I thought they were going for.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- That's all we need to hear. - That's good.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32We've got a pair of satisfied customers here
0:21:32 > 0:21:35and with another few pounds in the kitty I can see why.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39Will our next lot also put in a gold-standard performance?
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Well, next up are two little sets of 19th-century sovereign scales
0:21:43 > 0:21:45and with the rise in prices of sovereigns recently,
0:21:45 > 0:21:49I'm hoping that we're going to have some people wanting these scales
0:21:49 > 0:21:51- to go with their new collection.- Yeah.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54At £20, we'll start. I'll take two, where now?
0:21:54 > 0:21:54For the sovereign scales there.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57At £20 I'll start. I'll take two in the room now.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00At £20! 22. 25. At £25.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03There's no more interest than £25.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04Not sold.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08I am surprised at that. You can't even buy a half sovereign for £25.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13Unsold? It's a disappointing result after such a successful start.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16But with some of our highest valued lots to go
0:22:16 > 0:22:19we're hoping that the bidders haven't closed their wallets.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24Our pretty photo album is up next with a sizable £80-£120 valuation.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Victorian mother of pearl photograph album.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Gilt metal clasp, containing a quantity of photographs,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31famous people from the time. There we go.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Can we start away here at £40?
0:22:33 > 0:22:36At £40. I'll take five where now for the Victorian photograph album?
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- At 45. 50. - Lady here in front of you.- Five. 70.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Five. 75 in the room. Take 80 where?
0:22:41 > 0:22:4380. Five.
0:22:43 > 0:22:4790. Five. 100. 110. 120. 130. 140.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49150. 160. 170. 180.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53190. 200. And ten. 220.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55220... it's the lady's bid. At £220.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Take 30 where now?
0:22:57 > 0:23:01We're going to sell at £220. All done and finished at £220?
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Yes! It's 100 over your top price.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- I know. I don't mind that. - I'm happy. I'm not complaining.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10I never mind being wrong if it's in your favour!
0:23:10 > 0:23:13What an incredible result!
0:23:13 > 0:23:16That's over half of the helicopter fund in one go.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18No time to celebrate just yet
0:23:18 > 0:23:21as our pocket barometer is about to go under the hammer.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24It's kind of late-Victorian, early-Edwardian.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Probably would have cost sort of 3s 6d at the time.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Well, we're hoping for a bit more than that!
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Lot number 58 starts right away here at £50. Five. 60.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- Five. 70. Five. 80.- Wow!
0:23:37 > 0:23:40- That's good!- Five. You have it, sir, on the commissions.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43£95 is bid. I'll take 100 where now? Who'll round it up? At £95 is bid.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48I'm going to sell at £95. Are we all done and finished at £95?
0:23:49 > 0:23:53- Amazing, isn't it?- Amazing! You just never know.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56The saleroom has been pretty unpredictable today,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59but with these great results, who's complaining?
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Our last lot is the folio of Chinese prints.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Now after all the soul-searching about whether or not
0:24:04 > 0:24:07to bring them to auction, will they reach their £80 reserve?
0:24:07 > 0:24:12We have the set of six Chinese rice paper pictures with an album.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13Start away here at £50 is bid.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18At £50 is bid. I'll take five in the room now... Commission here at £50 is bid.
0:24:18 > 0:24:2055. At 60. Five. 70. Five. 80.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Five. 90. Five. 100. And ten. 120.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26120 here. 130 where now?
0:24:26 > 0:24:31At £120 is bid. 130. 140. 150. 160.
0:24:31 > 0:24:32- Wow!- 170, 180.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35180. Here with me and selling at £180.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37You're all out in front?
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Selling at £180 all done.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Yes!
0:24:42 > 0:24:44- That was fantastic. - That is, isn't it?
0:24:44 > 0:24:45Oh, I'm so pleased.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49What a brilliant end to our day at auction!
0:24:49 > 0:24:52£180 is a spectacular result for the pictures.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56As the auction finishes, I have a feeling we've done well.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58But it's time to tot up and see just how well.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03- Now £400 was your goal, wasn't it?- Yes.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05I don't know about going up in a helicopter.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08I think from what you've made, if it was still flying,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10you could probably afford Concorde.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Cos you've not made 400. You've not even doubled it and made 800.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17You've made even more than that. Oh, I'm so excited for you!
0:25:17 > 0:25:21- You've made £1,016! - Wow!- You're joking.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- I'm not.- That's amazing, isn't it?
0:25:23 > 0:25:28- Oh!- That was a result. - You two love adrenalin rushes.- Yes.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31- Yeah.- Have you had an adrenalin rush from that?
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Ah, yes. I would say that counts as one of them.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41Just two weeks after their victorious day at auction,
0:25:41 > 0:25:46Bill and Claire are turning that £1,016 into helicopter air time.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49- And they can't wait! - We like doing exciting things.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52- We like doing exciting things. - Something different.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Little bit different and this fits the bill.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- Cyclic stick.- Yes.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58After a thorough run-through of the controls,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00it's time to take to the sky.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Forward flight. We're flying along a forward flight.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06If we move it to the left, tilts to the left.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Just move it forward and we're going to enter a turn.
0:26:08 > 0:26:14It looks like this lady's a natural and it's not long before Bill takes his turn in the air.
0:26:16 > 0:26:21This couple just can't get enough of their high-flying adventure.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25And I think this has to be a wedding anniversary they'll never forget.
0:26:25 > 0:26:31It's been really wonderful and I don't think we could have wished for anything better.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34No. Certainly remember it for a long time.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40That was a terrific result for Claire and Bill.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44You know the sky really is the limit for those two.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46If there's something you'd like to raise money for
0:26:46 > 0:26:48and you have collectables lying around the house
0:26:48 > 0:26:50that you'd be happy to take to auction,
0:26:50 > 0:26:52then why not get in touch with the programme?
0:26:52 > 0:26:58You can just fill in our application form on our website...
0:26:58 > 0:27:02To find out more about Cash In The Attic,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05including how the programme was made,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08please log on to our website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle
0:27:08 > 0:27:12Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:12 > 0:27:15E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk