0:00:02 > 0:00:05Now, we've all got things tucked away in cupboards or in the attic.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08Treasures that have been forgotten about for many years.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10But if you take a closer look, you might just find something
0:00:10 > 0:00:12of real value.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Something a collector will be waiting for.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18I have an automatic gold detector in my fingertips!
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Over the last 11 years on the show,
0:00:20 > 0:00:23you've literally brought in thousands of items
0:00:23 > 0:00:26for our experts to wax lyrical over.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29And now I want to share some of that knowledge with the rest of you
0:00:29 > 0:00:31to help you get in the know.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01On today's show, we're looking back at childhood memories.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03And what's the stuff of those memories?
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Well, it's toys, of course.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09- It's lovely, isn't it? - Where did you get it from?
0:01:09 > 0:01:12And we'll be letting you in on the secret of what's a winner
0:01:12 > 0:01:13and what's a damp squib
0:01:13 > 0:01:17when it come to selling those childhood treasures.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19If you can find and immaculate
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and complete old Monopoly set you're into money.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27We've got an Aladdin's cave of play things and we'll be lifting the lid on what to look out for
0:01:27 > 0:01:28in antique toys.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33I think this is all her original dress, which is marvellous.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Wonderful glass eyes. Later, they were plastic.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39If we knock them against our teeth, we can tell they're glass.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42And today's the day Elizabeth Talbot reveals a soft spot
0:01:42 > 0:01:45for a childhood favourite.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49He's gorgeous! He's waving, look.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55One of my favourite toys from my childhood
0:01:55 > 0:01:57has to be my Dinky and Corgi cars.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Every time I see one at a Flog It valuation day,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02it brings back memories of a happy childhood for me.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05I think that's what the collectors are looking for.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Evocative of a time before computer games
0:02:07 > 0:02:11when you had to use your own imagination to play with your toys.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14But what separates a collectable classic
0:02:14 > 0:02:16from something of just sentimental value?
0:02:19 > 0:02:23Things that are original and retain their original packaging
0:02:23 > 0:02:26and is in as good a condition as possible are more valuable.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29So often, especially with Dinky toys,
0:02:29 > 0:02:34a Dinky toy might be worth £50, but the box it came in might be worth 100.
0:02:34 > 0:02:35I suppose that's condition, isn't it?
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Toys and games have got to be in good condition.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39Sadly, not played with!
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Sad to think of a toy or game that hasn't been used,
0:02:41 > 0:02:45but the more mint-like the condition,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47the more value it will have.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49And boxed, if possible.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55So the message is loud and clear.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Condition, condition, condition!
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Now let's take a closer look at some of the most exciting
0:02:59 > 0:03:03and pristine toys we've ever seen on the show.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08- What a wonderful treasure you've brought in!- It's lovely, isn't it?
0:03:08 > 0:03:12- Where did you get it from? - It belonged to my father.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15But the strange thing was, we none of us saw it when we were children.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17We only, unfortunately, discovered it after he'd died.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20- We were going through his things to sort through them.- No!
0:03:20 > 0:03:24- Never got it out at Christmas or anything?- No.- So the family could play along?- No.
0:03:24 > 0:03:31The other nice thing to see straightaway is the inset brass plaque here,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33engraved with the maker's name. Which is?
0:03:33 > 0:03:36"Toulmin & Gale, from Cheapside in London."
0:03:36 > 0:03:38There's nothing cheap about this box, is there?
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Toulmin & Gale, actually, were a very long-established firm,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44founded in the early part of the 18th century.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47They went right through the 19th century,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51even winning a gold medal in the 1862 International Exhibition.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55- We've naturally got a whole set of chess.- Yes.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57- We've got a set of dominoes.- Yes.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00A full set of draughts.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Games, of course, are common, and have been common for thousands of years.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07A compendium of this quality
0:04:07 > 0:04:09and range of games
0:04:09 > 0:04:12would not have been common.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15It would have been for the upper classes.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Then we've got a Bezique game, which I never know how to play!
0:04:19 > 0:04:24- No!- But my favourite, I have to say, and I'm not a betting man,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27- but I love this horse-racing game. - It's lovely.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31We've only put a few horses out, and a few of the jumps,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- but there's more fitted inside.- Yes.
0:04:33 > 0:04:40And even the beakers for shaking the dice, it's just absolutely superb.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45There are so many fragile, breakable, and, of course, small pieces
0:04:45 > 0:04:47that could have been lost.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49So when you open a box like this,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51and find it virtually intact,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53and untouched,
0:04:53 > 0:04:54well, it's a collector's dream.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58So we've got to think of a price. We're quite excited about it
0:04:58 > 0:05:00and have to think of a price.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02But I would put it in with a "come and get me" estimate.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- To get their taste buds watering, if you like.- Yes.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11- So I would put something like 400 to £600 on it.- OK. That's good.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Mark might not be a gambling man,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17but he is hedging his bets.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20The name and the quality will surely raise the stakes?
0:05:20 > 0:05:22280 now. 300.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25320 bid. 340 against you in the room.
0:05:25 > 0:05:26- Climbing.- 360.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31If you want something like this, of the quality and complete nature,
0:05:31 > 0:05:36you certainly need to have a decent few counters in your wallet.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Cos they don't come cheap.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41600 on my right. Going 620?
0:05:41 > 0:05:45- 620 with you. Thank you. - This is great.- Good advice.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47660 now. 680. 700.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Look out for unusual objects in there. You know,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53little games pointers made of ivory or silver.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56All those little things add value to pieces.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59- 900 seated. Lady's bid at £900. - Brilliant.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- 900.- 920.- 920 offered.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04940, the lady. 940 I'm bid.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09- Absolutely brilliant. 940... 960. - Still going strong.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12We might get to a thousand!
0:06:12 > 0:06:15- £980. Lady's bid at 980.- 1,000.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16- 1,000.- 1,000!
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Fantastic!
0:06:18 > 0:06:21£1,000 against you. Lovely lot. Don't let it go.
0:06:21 > 0:06:231,050. Thank you.
0:06:23 > 0:06:251,050 I'm bid. I'm looking for 1,100.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28If you're all done? At 1,050 I'm selling.
0:06:29 > 0:06:34- Amazing!- Crash! £1,050. Margaret, I'm tingling.- Amazing.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37One of the best games compendiums I've ever seen.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Not bad for something she didn't even know was in her father's house!
0:06:41 > 0:06:43And there was another treat for the collectors
0:06:43 > 0:06:48when Michael found a pre-war toy complete with its original accessories.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52I remember seeing a Chad Valley doll at Llandudno.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55If you want to get your end, and I'll get mine. We'll have a look.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Right. Oh, isn't that lovely!
0:06:58 > 0:07:04So we've got the little girl in her bed. How did you come by this?
0:07:04 > 0:07:07It was donated to St David's Hospice
0:07:07 > 0:07:12and I asked if I could take a few things along today.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14- They said, "Take our pretty doll." - Right.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Everything we need to know about this little doll
0:07:17 > 0:07:19is actually on the box here!
0:07:19 > 0:07:22It's The Chad Valley, which is an English company
0:07:22 > 0:07:27that specialised in making toys and especially dolls with this felt covering.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30This is all her original dress, which is marvellous.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32'Chad Valley is one of those companies'
0:07:32 > 0:07:36that's immediately recognisable as a British toy manufacturer.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Being in a country where the toys were made
0:07:38 > 0:07:41leads to an appeal within that market.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45It's the "Bambina", which is not a doll I've come across before.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48But what's super about this little doll,
0:07:48 > 0:07:50is even though someone's had her out and played with her,
0:07:50 > 0:07:55they've put her back in the box. It's all in card, all terribly fragile.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59But it's all been kept in wonderful condition by this box.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02The one thing you learn is, the more ephemeral the object,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05the more valuable it is.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08So the toy might be kept, but the box it comes in
0:08:08 > 0:08:11is the first thing on the fire, in the bin, in the skip.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14And even though this box is dreadfully tired,
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- I cannot tell you how many times these get thrown away.- Yeah.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Have you got any idea when it was made?
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Not really, but we had a bit of paper with it
0:08:24 > 0:08:27and that said 1934.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29I wouldn't argue with your bit of paper!
0:08:29 > 0:08:32- No.- I wouldn't be that specific as your bit of paper.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35To have all of this, to have the original label,
0:08:35 > 0:08:39to have the box, which is almost, from a graphic design point of view,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42I like the box more than the doll!
0:08:42 > 0:08:46- I think we can put it into auction at 50 to £80.- Yeah.
0:08:46 > 0:08:51Put a £50 reserve on it, and see where it goes from there.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54It's always important when you're selling something for a charity
0:08:54 > 0:08:56that it does as well as it possibly can.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58It adds a bit of pressure on to us.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07- I've been joined by Heather. Who have you brought along?- Marie.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11Marie, hi. Love the blue T-shirts. St David's Hospice.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16- It's a charity.- Yes. We have to raise 1.3 million
0:09:16 > 0:09:17to actually keep the hospice running.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22So we do a lot of work to fundraise towards that.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23It's going under the hammer now.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Lot 394, folks.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30A 1930s Chad Valley soft-bodied cloth doll Bambina.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32It starts, though, at £50.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Five. 60. Five. 70.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Five. 80. Five.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Toys are strong collectables now
0:09:41 > 0:09:42because people are trying to recapture
0:09:42 > 0:09:46some of the innocence of youth. Some of their childhood.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49But it's also very much a collectors' market.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52So once you feed into it, once you collect dolls,
0:09:52 > 0:09:53which are all in different numbers
0:09:53 > 0:09:56of heads and sizes and styles,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58you want the rarer and rarer ones.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01It's like collecting coins or stamps, in a way.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- 150. 160.- Fantastic.- 170.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07180. 190. 200.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- Great feeling. - For charity, isn't it?
0:10:10 > 0:10:13As, of course, collectors start their collections and go on,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16they're willing to spend more and more money.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21A market that probably didn't exist 50 years ago for collectable toys
0:10:21 > 0:10:22is now very strong
0:10:22 > 0:10:25with lots of specialist sales throughout the country.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27280. 300.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29At £300.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Gosh, I'm tingling!
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Anybody new? At £300.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Fantastic. That can't be bad, can it!
0:10:37 > 0:10:39£300 for charity.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45- I'm exhausted!- Thank you so much. - Don't set me off!
0:10:46 > 0:10:50With toys, the maker is always important.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Even if they look well loved.
0:10:52 > 0:10:58- Are these your toys?- Those were my toys.- Were yours. Do you remember playing with them as a child?- I do.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01- Were they in the family? They weren't bought new.- They came down through the family.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03And you want to sell them now?
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- Yes.- Your childhood memories, out through the window?
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- That's it. Yes.- Dear me!
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- You can't do that!- I'm the last of the Anderson line.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13- I think these were made in Germany. - Right.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15And I think they were made in the '20s.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19They work from clockwork, and our little pig here plays the drums.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22And our little violinist, he's on the fiddle!
0:11:22 > 0:11:26- Right.- They're German. Do you know how I know that?- No, no.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28I know that cos it says here, "Made in Germany"!
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- So I'm an all-seeing expert here, Norman.- Yes.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34They were made by a company called Schuco.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37'They made little motor cars that you wound up.'
0:11:37 > 0:11:41They made little pigs and teddy bears where the head came off
0:11:41 > 0:11:42with scent bottles inside.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46They made all manner of good quality little toys like that.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48And their wares are sought after.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- Have you got the key to wind him up? - I haven't.- You haven't?
0:11:52 > 0:11:55There are specialist toy hospitals,
0:11:55 > 0:12:00and if you go to people who restore teddy bears and this type of thing,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02if you go to a specialist,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04'finding a spare key shouldn't be too problematic.'
0:12:04 > 0:12:09What are they worth? I think they'll make 40 to £60 estimate.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- For the two?- For the two, yes.- Yes.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13Put a reserve on of £30?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16- Right.- Are you happy with that?- Yes.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Let's hope they drum up a bit of interest at the auction!
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- It's going under the hammer.- Lot 136
0:12:23 > 0:12:27is a lot comprising two Schuco tin-plate toy clockwork pigs.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29On the floor at 35. Fresh bidder.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33- 40. 45.- Oh, come on.- 50.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37Animals, in particular, are collectable,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41because you get people that collect any type of animal.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- Come on!- 60, fresh bidder.
0:12:43 > 0:12:4465.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46And for some reason, don't ask me,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49pigs are very collectable.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50Good.
0:12:50 > 0:12:5285.
0:12:52 > 0:12:5390.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- Any advance on £90?- Come on!
0:12:56 > 0:12:58All done at 90... 95 back in.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02£95. Any advance on 95?
0:13:02 > 0:13:0395.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07It trotted on, didn't it? 95.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10I loved them to bits. Great fun. And to tell the truth,
0:13:10 > 0:13:11I had a wee play with them myself!
0:13:11 > 0:13:14So Schuco is definitely a name to look out for.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19But when it comes to toys, there's one that touches all our hearts.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21# For every bear there ever was
0:13:21 > 0:13:23# Will gather there for certain cos
0:13:23 > 0:13:26# Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic! #
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Oh, teddy bear! Look at that teddy!
0:13:29 > 0:13:33We've all got one at home. They come in to every valuation day
0:13:33 > 0:13:34and they can be very valuable.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37- Have you given your teddy bear a name?- Yep. Albert.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40- Albert. Ah. He's not for sale, is he?- No!
0:13:40 > 0:13:43No. You just want a valuation.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46You've brought in today these wonderful bears.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47The Farnell's bear, for me,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49every time, was the most fascinating toy.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Just beautiful, and in such good condition.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Tell me where they're from.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- They've been passed down through my wife's side of the family.- Right.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Was she allowed to play with them as a child?
0:14:00 > 0:14:02She was allowed to play with them at the bottom of the stairs,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05because Granny didn't like noisy children!
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Should be seen and not heard!
0:14:07 > 0:14:09- That's right.- Were you allowed to play with them?
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I wasn't. I was allowed to hold them at some point,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14but we weren't allowed to play with them, cos of Granddad.
0:14:14 > 0:14:19The fact you weren't allowed to play with them means they are in excellent condition.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23The wonderful thing about this one is he's actually still got his growler.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- He has.- Can you make him growl for me?
0:14:26 > 0:14:27FAINT GROWL
0:14:28 > 0:14:31LOUDER GROWL
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Any kind of original features that antiques still have,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38for example, the growler in the bear that was still working,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40certainly add to the value.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43That's what collectors want. It ticks so many boxes for collectors.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46That's terrifying! You wouldn't want to meet him in the woods!
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Oh, no!
0:14:48 > 0:14:50But I've rather taken to him, I have to say.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54I think he's absolutely wonderful. He's got this lovely label here
0:14:54 > 0:14:57which tells us he's actually a Farnell bear.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Now, Farnell's was basically the English equivalent of Steiff.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05In 1906, with the craze of teddy bears,
0:15:05 > 0:15:09they were credited with producing the first English teddy bear,
0:15:09 > 0:15:14which, I believe, went on to rival Steiff's bears in Germany as well.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18But they are fundamentally important in the history of the teddy bear.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21He's quite an early chap. We've got wonderful glass eyes.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Later, they were plastic. If we knock them against our teeth,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27we can tell that they're glass.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Nice felt pad, there. Original stitching.
0:15:29 > 0:15:34So I would date him to around the 1930s, 1940s.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- He's got the most wonderful expression on his face.- Yes.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41It must have been so tempting to play with him when you were younger, and not be allowed!
0:15:41 > 0:15:43My grandma was always stood guard over Tony and me.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45- Was she?- Yes.- Yeah.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Then this little chappie, unfortunately, we can't attribute him to any particular factory.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54- But he looks like he's around the same sort of date.- Yes.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Unfortunately, with teddy bear collectors, the name is pretty much everything.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02If you can attribute them to a particular factory, that's fantastic.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04A nice, 1930s, 1940s bear.
0:16:04 > 0:16:10We're looking somewhere probably in the region of 100 to £150.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Purely because unfortunately we can't attribute him to a particular factory.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18The Farnell's Alpha Bear, I think he is gorgeous.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22We're looking somewhere in the region of maybe 300 to £500.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24- OK.- But you never know.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27As long as they go to someone who looks after them. That's what I'd like.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Exactly.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33# Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic! #
0:16:35 > 0:16:39'Despite that wonderful pedigree, my favourite was our second lot,
0:16:39 > 0:16:42'the less distinguished cousin!'
0:16:42 > 0:16:44I think he's been duffed up a bit and needs a lot of love!
0:16:44 > 0:16:46He's the cheaper of the two,
0:16:46 > 0:16:50but I think he looks more expensive, put it that way.
0:16:50 > 0:16:51But it's just my opinion.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Let's see who's going to put their paws up. Here we go.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58The Alpha Toys teddy bear, the Farnell's.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00I've got 320 on the net.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01390.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04It was incredibly nerve-racking, cos the bidding was quite slow,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06initially.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- I'll take 580 in the room. - Brilliant.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10I've got 570 now on the net.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12600, now.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14I found other similar comparables of Farnell's bears
0:17:14 > 0:17:18that were selling for that sort of region, the three, four, five, £600 region.
0:17:18 > 0:17:23But I don't think I particularly appreciated
0:17:23 > 0:17:25how good a condition that bear was in
0:17:25 > 0:17:27and how much of a premium it would have added.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29850.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- 880.- I can see you willing this on!
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Your head's nodding with the bidders!
0:17:35 > 0:17:37"One more, one more!"
0:17:37 > 0:17:39It was wonderful. I was thrilled to bits.
0:17:39 > 0:17:411,300.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42Wow!
0:17:42 > 0:17:44- 1,350.- Gosh!
0:17:44 > 0:17:46It's a bit special!
0:17:47 > 0:17:50At 1,300... 1,350 back in. 1,400?
0:17:51 > 0:17:531,400. 1,450?
0:17:53 > 0:17:56No? At 1,400, then. On the steps at 1,400.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Selling, then, at 1,400.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01- Fantastic!- That's one down!- Lovely.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03One more to go. My favourite, next!
0:18:04 > 0:18:07'How much difference did that lost label make?'
0:18:08 > 0:18:10I think we all loved the second bear
0:18:10 > 0:18:14because he probably wasn't going to make as much and because he lost his label at some point.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18- The mohair teddy bear.- Here we go.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Someone's got good taste out there.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22£100. Finished.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25Well, I still prefer that one!
0:18:25 > 0:18:27That was the right money, £100.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29A grand total of £1,500.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33Keeping them in good condition is incredibly important for their future value.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38So it's very difficult. It is very sad about a bear that hasn't been cuddled.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41That's what they were made for, at the end of the day!
0:18:42 > 0:18:44When it comes to collecting toys,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47here are some handy hints on how to play the market.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Fortunately, if you want to get into the games collecting market,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54there's many price points to start with.
0:18:54 > 0:18:59You can find something as simple as a 1970s Rubik's cube.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Make sure it hasn't been done, of course!
0:19:01 > 0:19:07If you can find an original Monopoly, with the old shoe and the iron.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Nowadays, I don't know what they have - racing cars and things.
0:19:09 > 0:19:15But if you can find an immaculate and complete old Monopoly set, you're into money.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18And now here are some of my trade secrets.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22With toys, quality is always important.
0:19:22 > 0:19:28Watch out. Missing pieces in games and jigsaw puzzles will really put the collectors off.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32And they don't come much more fussy than doll collectors!
0:19:32 > 0:19:35So, does it have its original clothing and accessories?
0:19:35 > 0:19:37That's the detail they're after.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42But with enough charm, even mass-produced, damaged toys
0:19:42 > 0:19:44can still find a new home.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47With teddy bears, it's all in the name.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49So make sure you check the labels.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54Elizabeth Talbot will be sharing more teddy bear know-how shortly!
0:19:54 > 0:19:58We've all got something at home, that one special item that we're particularly attached to.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00But I want to know what's the one thing
0:20:00 > 0:20:03our experts would rescue from a burning building!
0:20:07 > 0:20:09Today, it's the turn of James Lewis.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11If there was a fire at home,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15I would probably save something that belongs to my daughter.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Assuming she was out of the house already!
0:20:17 > 0:20:21It's a little stuffed rabbit that she calls Rabby.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24My life would not be worth living
0:20:24 > 0:20:25if anything happened to that!
0:20:25 > 0:20:29It's just a little... Probably a collectable of the future,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32worth absolutely nothing at the moment apart from for her.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37I think that is probably the most precious, loved thing in the house.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42A toy in good condition is a rarity indeed
0:20:42 > 0:20:45because it's in their nature to be played with too hard,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47to be bashed around a bit and enjoyed.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52Teddy bears are especially prone to being cuddled into a state of disrepair!
0:20:52 > 0:20:55But what makes a good teddy bear in the first place?
0:20:55 > 0:21:00Flog It expert Elizabeth Talbot went down in the woods to find out.
0:21:10 > 0:21:15I like teddy bears because they are very much individual personalities.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Little characters, very much like these ones!
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Hello, chaps!
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Traditionally, there are certain firms of teddy bear manufacturers
0:21:22 > 0:21:25who make teddy bears out of alpaca hair.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30Farnell was probably the most famous company that did that.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32They had a special range.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36But I do know one other company that still includes alpaca hair in some to their teddy bears.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38It's not very far from here.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Merrythought has been making teddy bears
0:21:40 > 0:21:45at its Victorian factory in Shropshire since 1930.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48It's a family-run firm, and the last remaining British manufacturer
0:21:48 > 0:21:51still producing bears by hand.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Elizabeth is meeting Sarah Holmes,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56who runs the company with her sister, Hannah.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58- Morning, Sarah.- Hello. - Lovely to meet you.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00I'm so excited to be here.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02I've rushed over from the alpaca farm.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04How did it all start?
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- You've been here since 1930? - 1930, yes.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10My great-grandfather established the business in 1930.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14And it's been in Ironbridge and part of Shropshire ever since.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17The classic teddy bear that people are familiar with,
0:22:17 > 0:22:21it's arguable in terms of who really established that.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Alpha Farnell and Steiff were two of the very earliest.
0:22:25 > 0:22:30The Alpha Farnell teddy is what is commonly associated with as being the classic teddy bear
0:22:30 > 0:22:32with the long limbs and the hump on the back.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36They ceased production in the late '60s.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41So hence their original designs from pre- that era are very sought after.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Then Merrythought took on the brand
0:22:44 > 0:22:46in the mid-1990s.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50Which was great, because it means we are able to bring Alpha Farnell back to life.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52From my perspective, there are some serious collectors
0:22:52 > 0:22:56who look for the Cheeky and the "punkinhead" and the different ones.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Where did they come from? Whose inspiration were those?
0:22:58 > 0:23:00They are so different.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03It was actually our original designer, Florence Attwood,
0:23:03 > 0:23:07who was wonderfully talented in designing teddy bears.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09So this would be the very first Merrythought teddy bear.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13- This was designed by Florence? - Yes.- How wonderful.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16And he is from about 1930 in age?
0:23:16 > 0:23:18This particular bear is from 1931.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21So he would have been one of the very first to be produced.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26But Florence went on to design a huge array of different styles of teddy bears.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Rather famously, the Cheeky bear
0:23:28 > 0:23:30and the Punky bear
0:23:30 > 0:23:32in the late '40s
0:23:32 > 0:23:34and early '50s.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38Yes, the Punky bear is a very unique teddy bear!
0:23:38 > 0:23:40It still has a very strong collectors' following today
0:23:40 > 0:23:43and they are quite sought after at auction.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45I wanted to ask you, do you have any alpaca bears here?
0:23:45 > 0:23:49- We certainly do.- Do you?- We use alpaca quite a lot, actually.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Obviously alongside mohair.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55There's one little white teddy bear here, made from alpaca.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Oh, he's so fluffy. He's lovely.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01It's a very fine fibre and creates a very soft finish.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04They're quite distinctive. He's made from alpaca.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07I can certainly show you a few more.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09I'd love to see a few more, please!
0:24:15 > 0:24:18This is a hive of concentrated activity. Amazing.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20What's actually happening in this room?
0:24:20 > 0:24:22This is where we make all our teddy bears.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Everything we produce is made from start to finish under this roof.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Just to give you an idea of the process,
0:24:30 > 0:24:35we start by cutting out each of the shapes that make our pattern for our teddy bear.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37Those shapes are then sewn together.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40And then we move on to the next stage where the eyes are put in.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43The bears are part stuffed.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Then the joints are put in. A fiddly process.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50And then the bears are assembled. The arms, legs and head are all attached to the body.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54And then the final stage is hand embroidering the nose
0:24:54 > 0:24:56and the smile on the teddy bear.
0:24:56 > 0:24:57- Very important part.- Absolutely.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- It brings it to life. - Yes, gives it its character.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06- Ah, the all-important eyes. - Absolutely.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08They're put in by hand as well.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13So that's why some bears have this wonderful expression where maybe their eyes are not quite level
0:25:13 > 0:25:15or they're a bit close together.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18But it actually adds to the bespoke nature of them.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23- Though a Merrythought bear wouldn't pass quality control if his eyes weren't level.- OK.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25But I notice from a collector's point of view
0:25:25 > 0:25:30they will often spend money where they feel there is a personality,
0:25:30 > 0:25:32to purchase a bear with a bit of a quirk.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36- It isn't always a bad thing. - No. Absolutely.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39But it's fascinating to see how that's achieved.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44Teddy bears' eyes are magical
0:25:44 > 0:25:48because they're the window on the teddy bear's soul, being very romantic!
0:25:48 > 0:25:52But teddy bears' eyes are important in dating them.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55The earlier ones, from the 1904 period of Steiff
0:25:55 > 0:25:57and the early Farnell's
0:25:57 > 0:26:00were the little metal boot button eyes which were black painted.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03But through the early 20th century, glass was used in different colours
0:26:03 > 0:26:06to give the pupil and the surround in a nice coloured way.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Then as the 20th century developed
0:26:08 > 0:26:12the synthetic man-made plastics were inserted and used
0:26:12 > 0:26:14because they were cheaper and easier to mass-produce
0:26:14 > 0:26:18but also increasingly it was a safety element, which was important.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25- This is the assembly. - Yes. We call it fitting up.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Is this how a bear in 1931 would have been assembled?
0:26:28 > 0:26:31- With the pins?- Absolutely. - Just the same.
0:26:31 > 0:26:37This technique wouldn't have changed since teddy bears started.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38Have you ever put a leg on back to front?
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Yes!
0:26:40 > 0:26:42That was a special edition, that one!
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Penny's got a lot of responsibility,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53because the expression and personality of the bear comes out first through the eyes
0:26:53 > 0:26:56and then it's enhanced by the facial features, the nose and mouth.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58And although they are working to a pattern,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00you cannot but help have slight variations
0:27:00 > 0:27:04because every stitch is unique. It is unique.
0:27:04 > 0:27:10Therefore each bear has a very slight kind of individual nature which sets it apart.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15Expression has always commanded quite an important consideration for collectors.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18A bear that looks appealing, whether it looks sad or lonely,
0:27:18 > 0:27:20or quite mischievous,
0:27:20 > 0:27:24can tempt people to bid that bit more at auction and pay more.
0:27:24 > 0:27:25It's like the cherry on the top of a cake.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Just kind of finishing it off.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Oh, look at him. He's gorgeous!
0:27:29 > 0:27:31He's waving, look!
0:27:31 > 0:27:33Happy bear.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39Sarah, I have to say I've had such an amazing day.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41I'll enjoy teddy bears even more after today.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43That's nice to hear. You're very welcome.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46I've had the most magical day here in Ironbridge.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49I've learned such a lot. It's been a wonderful experience
0:27:49 > 0:27:51which I'll remember for years to come.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55But I've learned such a lot about parts of teddy bears I'd never even considered!
0:27:55 > 0:28:01To see these craftswomen at work has brought the whole thing to life for me. It's been wonderful!
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Well, it really has been wonderful to take a trip down memory lane
0:28:10 > 0:28:13and to discover more about the world of antique toys and games,
0:28:13 > 0:28:15especially when the prices at auction
0:28:15 > 0:28:19can be stuff that dreams area made of.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20Don't set me off!
0:28:20 > 0:28:23I hope you've enjoyed today's show.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Join me again soon for more inside information and surprising sales.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29But until then, it's goodbye.