Saunders Cash in the Attic

Hello. Welcome to Cash In The Attic, the show that finds hidden antiques and collectables in your home

and helps sell them at auction. Today's family want to spruce up something special in their lives.

'Coming up on Cash In The Attic: a touch of tankard envy on rummage day.'

I've got to say, I prefer the size of his tankard!

They do look more welcoming!

'Clearly size does matter when it comes to these.'

I found a little spirit level my size.

'And at auction a boot sale bargain turns out a surprising result.'

-You thought it was a bit of old junk and it's £70!

-Yeah.

'Find out more when the hammer falls.'

Today we are in south east London to meet a mother and son who want to raise a little bit of money

to make their home away from home a little more habitable.

'Robbie Saunders and his mum Carol are two members of a very large south London family,

'and that doesn't include those pets. Sadly, dad John can't be with us today for health reasons,

'but Robbie is a regular visitor to where his mum and dad have lived for over 10 years.

'We hope to turn up a decent haul of collectables that make a fortune. John can't wait to get started,

-'so I send him on his merry way.' Ready for work?

-Always.

-Good boy.

Ah, there they are. And working already? I like to see that. That IS good news!

-You must be Robbie. And Carol. I got the names right and the right house - good start!

-A good start!

-Own up. Who called our team?

-Me. That would be me.

-You called us in? That surprises me. Are you a fan?

-Yes, I watch it every day. Never miss it.

That sounds very impressive! I like this. Why did you call us in?

To raise money for my mum to get decking outside the caravan so my dad and mum can sit outside.

-And how much is that going to cost?

-About 400.

-£400. So we've got our work cut out.

-Are you going to cry or argue with me or are you willing...?

-No, I'm willing to let it go.

-It's all for a good cause.

-Let's go and find John.

'This home isn't exactly overflowing with antiques and collectables,

'but there are just enough nooks and crannies to hide some treasures.

'We're lucky that our man John Cameron has many years experience and is an expert at picking out

'the very best.'

This is interesting. Robbie, where's this from?

-My mum picked it up from a boot sale for two quid.

-I know my beer and that's not a very big one!

It's marked a quart. These were used to buy beer to take away.

So you get measurements on the back. Half pints or half litres. They're known as steins.

It's quite nice. It's by...if we turn it over...

Villeroy Boch. The letters VB.

And see where it says Mettlach? That's where the company is still based in western Germany.

-And this little tankard here dates to about 1900.

-Ah.

-I love the decoration.

Known as sgraffito - scratched into the surface.

A wonderful little scene here of this Franciscan or Dominican monk

-handing out two tankards there.

-I prefer the size of his tankards!

They do look more welcoming! But a nice thing. The lid's intact.

-It's got metal mounts. Nice little finial there. So £2.

-Mm. It's going to change into...?

-I'm going to say £60-£80.

-That much?!

-Yeah.

-Drinks are on you, mate.

-That's not bad, is it?

-No, not bad.

It just shows that a few pounds at a boot sale could mean tens of pounds on auction day. Cheers, John.

Robbie's working his way around the house and turns up this collection of Ordnance Survey maps

left to him by a neighbour who recorded every place he visited.

There's a modest collectors' market for these. Prices vary with date

and there's even one of Lincolnshire from 1705.

John gives the collection a £20-£30 estimate.

-Carol, meanwhile, has prepared a little presentation.

-Hello, Carol.

-Hello.

-That's an impressive collection of brooches.

-Oh, yes. I've collected these for years.

-I hope they're out for my benefit.

-Yes.

-You'd consider selling?

-Yes.

-Very much so.

-OK. How many are here?

-Er, roughly 200.

-How did it all start?

-Years ago, my mother-in-law gave me... this one.

-This one here?

-Yes.

-That's quite nice. It's like a morning brooch with the black agate on here.

-And these diamante stones. And this was the first one?

-Yes.

Costume jewellery's been around for thousands of years. The Egyptians made it, as did the Romans.

Costume jewellery is made from semi-precious materials,

but the real fashionable age would have been in the 1920s

when couturier houses like Coco Chanel, Yves St Laurent were producing suits of jewellery.

Nowadays, a lot of companies make them and quality does vary,

but there's a very active collecting field. I'd look at an estimate of £70-£90.

-Yes.

-But I'd hope they make over 100.

-OK.

-If you had to keep one, what would it be?

-The one in your hand.

-Well, you keep that one, then, and we'll take the rest to auction.

-Yes.

You can start another collection!

'Hmm. That's not a huge amount for such an extensive collection, but it all helps.

'As ever, time is against us, so it's a good job John finds this little lot -

'a silver pocket watch and chain, a half-hunter 9-carat-gold wristwatch

'and an early 20th-century watch minus its strap. The pocket watch was Robbie's great-granddad's

'and the other pieces were handed down by his uncle Bob. John reckons they could fetch

'between £60 to £80 at auction.'

-We'll leave John rummaging about. You don't mind, do you?

-No.

-Get him to do all the hard work.

-Yeah, that's easy.

-It is! We'll have a nice sit down and catch up.

-I've seen so many photographs about your family. It's enormous!

-Yes.

Give it to me in facts and figures. How many are there?

I've got five brothers, four sisters... and 11 nieces and nephews.

We've not mentioned an important factor in this large family, your husband. He's had a tough time.

He's had a major heart by-pass

and then when he came out of the operation, they found he had kidney trouble.

Then he had dialysis after dialysis.

-He's trying to get over it now.

-So it's been a tough time.

-Yes.

And it's important that he gets away from all the stresses and strains,

-so what will it mean to you to make those improvements to the caravan?

-Oh, it'll be heaven.

-A lot.

More safer for my husband that he doesn't have to strain to get from the top to the bottom.

He can just walk straight out.

-Well, £400 isn't going to make itself, so...

-Let's go rummage!

You got it right! Back to work.

'It's clear they are a very close and loving family and I'm glad that today's search will help

'to make life a little more bearable for dad John. We need to carry on.

'John soon finds this Pears Soap mirror, which is another of Carol's car boot finds.

'Pears was the first transparent soap, introduced in 1789,

'making it one of the world's oldest continuously existing brands.

'Mirrors like these are widely collected and are relatively modern.

'John gives it a £10-£20 price tag.

'We're halfway through our day with Carol and Robbie and halfway through our search for collectables.

'With our total currently at £220, there's still a long way to go.'

Boys, come and have a look at this. There's a whole load of tools there.

-Is this everything?

-No, one more thing.

I think... it's known as a spirit level.

That's quite a nice level, actually. It's got a maker on here. J Raeburn. John Raeburn and Sons, Birmingham.

A real heavy piece, but with its original box. Where are these from?

-From my uncle's granddad.

-He was a carpenter?

-Yes, he was.

-He was a shipwright on the docks.

-There is a market for vintage tools.

One particular auction house specialises in nothing but these.

Collectors look for good makers, like Raeburn, like Stanley.

-Some of the early planes are sought after.

-It's a tool box, but that looks quite pretty, ornate.

-The decoration.

-Yes. This is a well-made piece. They are a good company.

This wouldn't have been a cheap thing when it was first bought.

So how much, John, for this?

Well, for me, without delving right into that box, I like this.

I would certainly put them in at £40-£60. They might make over £50.

-I found a little spirit level my size. What do you think?

-Nice.

-Does that add something?

-No.

-I'll stick with my estimate, but that's nice. I like that.

-Little things please little minds.

'I'm happy even if these two aren't. Let's hope the tools prove a hit on auction day.'

28. 30. 2.

-35. 38. 40.

-'Will they help raise enough cash for that decking?

'We'll find out soon enough.

'As our search continues, Carol unearths a framed Australian banker's cheque

'dating from 1855. It was left to Robbie by his neighbour.

'The collection of cheques is known as fiscalia. This example is in pretty poor condition,

'but we still hope an interested bidder will pay around £20-£30.'

-John, what do you think of these?

-Let's look at that one first. Where are these from, Robbie?

My mum got this from the charity shop when she used to work there.

-She just picked this up.

-This one here is Gucci. It's on the square dial there.

It's a modern watch, stainless steel, a G Line model.

These are quite expensive new. We're talking £300 or £400 for this.

Second-hand value of Gucci watches is not terribly great.

I wouldn't expect more than about £50-£100.

I don't know why women's watches aren't so desirable second-hand, but they're not.

A man's watch will hold its residue value much more than a lady's watch, but a sellable item.

-Quite nice, in good condition.

-And this one my mum picked up, but I'm not sure where.

OK, well, it looks like a 1950s cocktail watch.

-Gold bracelet strap, 9-carat-gold case. These aren't practical because the dial is so small.

-Yeah.

And it's lost some markings on the dial. Nevertheless, nice and it is gold.

The two of them together at auction, about £100-£150.

-Yep, sounds good to me.

-Jolly good.

Excellent. You keep hold of those. Let's see what else we find.

'That is our best find so far, but there's more!

'The cupboard under the stairs gives up these three earthenware Majolica tiles.

'Dating from the 19th century, they were originally made by Minton, but took off all over the world.

'Majolica has moulded surfaces and colourful glazes.

'Considering Robbie picked these up for only £1.50,

'an estimate of £15-£20 is a pretty good return on his investment.

'Our day is almost over. There's one last discovery which needs John's expert viewing.'

-What have you got there?

-Fishing reels.

Right. That one looks a bit busted up. Let's look at that other one. That's good.

That's Victorian or Edwardian. No maker's name and we've lost the little winding handles.

-Where did these come from?

-These were my uncle Bob's.

Was he a fly fishing man?

-A couple of times he went fishing with my dad.

-You never use them?

-No.

There's a maker's name on here. See that?

Samuel Allcock, that is. Of Redditch. Yeah, very famous.

That's the best of the three. They're an interesting firm.

They started making flies for the trout and the salmon.

Very much a kind of upper class sport, fly fishing,

but in the 19th century a huge, huge business.

-Is this everything you've got?

-Just rods. Two rods.

OK. That piece on its own, I'd throw the other reels in,

I'd put in at £40-£50.

Really? That much? I'm shocked.

Did I hear money being discussed? How much?

£40-£50 for the fishing reel.

Well, that's not too bad. I'm afraid that's just about it.

-We've worked really hard.

-I enjoyed it.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-You wanted to raise £400 today, didn't you? For your little piece of heaven in the caravan park.

-Yes.

-We reckon, conservatively, at auction we could raise £435.

-Oooh.

That's very good. Fantastic.

-Was it worth us wrecking your house?

-It's worth it.

-Definitely was.

Well, we've had a productive day with Robbie and Carol.

The estimates are a little up and down, but I'm hoping we make enough for those much-needed improvements.

Carol found that German stein at a car boot sale.

Let's hope it brings us some cheer at £60-£80.

At a very reasonable £70-£90, we're pinning our hopes on that collection of dress jewellery.

And there's also that pair of ladies' watches.

The 1950s cocktail watch and the Gucci timepiece were bought by Carol in a charity shop.

John estimates the pair at £100-£150.

-'Coming up...'

-Nostalgia. Nobody?

-'One lot fails to live up to Robbie's expectations.'

-A bit disappointed.

-You thought they'd get a bit more?

-I would have thought more.

'But what's got the bidders so excited? Not to mention Carol.'

-Very good!

-Well done to your old man, eh?

'Be there for the final drop of the gavel.'

What an interesting haul, but this is where it all comes together.

We've brought Robbie, Carol and all those family possessions here to the Chiswick Auctions.

Let's hope the lots perk up enough interest to get that caravan fully decked out.

There's plenty of people here today, so let's hope our lots are in demand.

John and I can't wait to whisk them into position as the first of their lots comes under the hammer.

The Pears branded mirror.

-What are we expecting?

-£10-£20. It is a reproduction.

These were very popular in the 1980s and '90s.

Lots of reproductions abound. They're now not so popular, hence my pretty low estimate.

-I've got a left bid of £10.

-Our bottom bid.

At £10. Are you all done?

£10. I'm going to sell the mirror.

I didn't think we would clean up, but I'm happy with a tenner.

So am I. £10 isn't a bad return.

And there's plenty more to come.

Let's hope we can catch the bidders with these beautiful rods and mahogany reels.

-Unusual items, John. Will they go well?

-We've certainly got a good maker's name, Allcock.

He's one of the best-known makers.

-I haven't got a lot on them, so hopefully we'll get someone on the hook and land them.

-A bite!

£20, please. Fishing reels at 20?

I'm bid 20 there in the doorway. £22 there.

25. 28.

30. 32.

35. £35 in that doorway. Anybody else?

35 is the bid. 35.

-Fishing memorabilia, they do like them.

-Good decorating objects.

You get that public school decorator's feel with a few rowing oars here and there.

It's a shame we just missed John's bottom estimate, but there are plenty more fish in the sea.

Let's hope the Ordnance Survey maps guide the way to a more successful result.

It's interesting to see the urbanisation

and how things have changed, but only £20-£30.

£10 for the lot? Worth £10 for them, surely.

Anybody want them for £10? No interest?

A bit of nostalgia. Nobody? £10 I'm bid in the doorway.

Anybody else?

-A bit disappointed.

-Did you think we'd get more?

-I would have thought more, yeah.

We just didn't have the right kind of bidder today,

but every sale helps towards that target.

Maybe our next item will give us cause to celebrate. That stein tankard is a favourite of John's.

Do we have a couple of buyers

to bid it up to our estimate?

I'm straight in at £35.

£35...

40. 45. 50. 55.

-60 there.

-60 there.

70 in the room. Anybody else? I'm going to sell it, then. £70.

-Did that surprise you?

-It did.

-You thought it was a bit of old junk and £70!

-Yes.

I'll drink to that result! Carol's boot sale bargain proved to be a very healthy investment.

Our next lot to go under the hammer is this Australian banker's cheque of Robbie's.

That dates back to 1855.

Interesting to numismatists, the collecting circle,

but it would be much nicer with an important signature.

It's quite an early cheque, but only £20-£30 on it.

I'm bid straight off £10. £10. 12 there.

14. 16.

-Ooh.

-18. 20.

22. 25.

28. £28 in the doorway. At 28.

-I'm going to sell it at 28.

-£28! That's a great result.

-Yeah, it's good.

I was a bit worried it would bounce!

Steady with those jokes, John!

But it was worth a lot more than the paper it's written on.

If you'd like to try buying or selling this way, fees will apply,

so it's best to check them in advance. We're halfway through now

and so far I can reveal that we've made £153 towards the £400

they want to raise for the decking for their caravan.

We have many prized items still to come, including Carol's collection of costume jewellery.

She's picked them up at boot sales and charity shops.

-We've got a whole collection there.

-Not quite enough for a different one every day of the year,

but we were getting there. I put £70-£90 to be tempting.

Start me at £30. A mixed bag. 30 I'm bid.

£30. 32. 35.

-38. 40.

-(Over there.)

50. 5. 60.

65. 70.

5.

-80.

-Yes, come on.

90. 5.

-100.

-Yes!

-110.

120? 120 there.

-130.

-Get in.

£140. Original bidder at 140. Are you all done? 140.

-A bit of quality, just like Carol, and we get some money in.

-All the years of collecting.

All worth while and the sale of those brooches

will go a long way to improving access to the family caravan.

Next up are our three earthenware Majolica-style tiles. Only three.

Shame we don't have six. They'd come from fireplaces and are in demand

to put them back in!

-So £15-£20, John.

-A fiver each. Let's see.

-Sounds like a bargain.

I've got a left bid on this lot of £10.

£10. £12. £15.

18 in the room. 18 there. 20. 22.

-Yes.

-£22 here.

£22 for the tiles. 22.

-It still keeps ticking over.

-Ticking over.

-Lovely.

Restoration of fireplaces is big business.

It was well worth bringing them, even without the full set.

Let's hope the high bids keep ticking over with these watches.

One belonged to Robbie's great grandfather, the others his uncle.

Three interesting watches. We've got a full pocket watch,

a kind of transitional watch between a wristwatch and a fob,

and then a wristwatch. So a nice historic lot here.

£60-£80. We should be OK.

-There's a little bit of interest. Straight in at £60.

-Bang on.

65. 70. £70. 75.

80. 85.

90. £95 from the doorway.

-£100 in the corner.

-Yes!

110. Are you all done? £110. I'm going to sell at 110.

-Very good!

-Very good.

-Well done to your old man, eh?

-Will he be pleased with that?

-Oh, yes. He will be.

-Excellent.

That's almost twice John's bottom estimate. How lovely that something passed down the generations

has helped to contribute today.

I'm surprised you're not up there grabbing these things back. You love these tools.

Yeah, especially the leveller. In the box.

-The spirit level. Very well made.

-A nice thing.

The rest of the tools are very much in used condition.

Although they are collectable, condition is everything and they even want the boxes, like toy cars.

£20 to start me for the tools. I'm bid 20.

22 I'll take. 22.

25. 28. 30.

32. 35. 38. 40.

5. 50. 5.

£55 in the doorway. 60.

65. 70. 5.

80. 5.

£85 in the doorway. All done?

That's it. £85. Going to sell it.

-Wow!

-Yes!

-Look at his little face.

-Yes.

-That's wicked. Blinding.

Despite being well worn, there's a healthy market for vintage tools, especially with good names.

Next up are the timepieces - a Gucci and a cocktail watch.

We've tasted success with watches already, but John says ladies' varieties aren't always successful.

I've got £100-£150. Should be around that.

What are they worth? £50? Bid 50.

55. 60.

5. 70. 5. 80.

5. 90. Fresh bidding.

-£90 on the table here.

-Come on.

-At £90.

-We weren't quite there, but in the area.

-Yep.

-£90. You didn't want the watch.

-No, I can't wear it.

It didn't go with your dress. Gone.

Well, that's not a bad finish. Time to find out if Robbie and Carol have made enough money to go ahead

with the decking.

Your caravan will look really great.

Today you have raised a whopping £600!

What? 600?! I thought it was only about 450.

-What a surprise!

-Quick! Hold her, she's going!

-£600.

-Oh, fantastic.

They can now put that caravan decking in place to make John's life easier.

Robbie's wasted no time in heading to his local timber merchant.

-Can we talk about this decking?

-Yeah.

-I just want to ask how's the grip?

-The grip's very good.

It's already been machined.

'I've been looking for some decking, seeing what quotes I can get.'

It lets my dad walk out without stepping down. Nice and flat.

I just want the right material so my dad doesn't slip.

-Thank you very much.

-All the best.

What a great result for Robbie and Carol. We wish them all the best and great times in their caravan.

If you want to raise some money and think you have hidden treasures in your home,

why not apply to be on the show? All the details are online.

Good luck. I'll see you next time.

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2011

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