0:00:02 > 0:00:03MUSIC: One Day Like This by Elbow
0:00:03 > 0:00:06Over the 12 series of Flog It, you've brought us thousands of items
0:00:06 > 0:00:09that we've valued and helped you sell -
0:00:09 > 0:00:11nearly a million pounds' worth of antiques.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14In this series, I want to share with you some of the things we've learnt
0:00:14 > 0:00:17about the fascinating objects that have been passed over
0:00:17 > 0:00:19our valuation tables.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Welcome to Trade Secrets.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Today, we're taking you on a car-boot sale outing.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56There are plenty of Flog It stories of astonishing finds
0:00:56 > 0:00:59that will inspire you to delve a bit deeper
0:00:59 > 0:01:01and rummage a little bit further.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06And on today's show, we're looking at how to turn car booty into cash,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08as long as you know what to look out for.
0:01:09 > 0:01:14Coming up, our experts are wowed by the variety of your car-boot finds.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17How on earth have you found that pile at a car-boot sale?
0:01:17 > 0:01:19When you put it like that, I don't want to touch it.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21And you prove to us, yet again,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25that big profits are to be had by the eagle-eyed among you.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Did you enjoy that?
0:01:27 > 0:01:30£100, the hammer's gone down.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36If you haven't had much luck at a car-boot sale, don't despair.
0:01:36 > 0:01:41Our experts have plenty of tips for you, and the best car-boot tactics.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Don't be frightened to lift up things, cos often it's just thrown around.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Have a rummage. You never know, you might find a rare Lalique vase. It does happen, you know?
0:01:51 > 0:01:54You could be looking for early children's books,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57anything like that, anything that isn't obviously valuable.
0:01:57 > 0:02:04Look in boxes, because sometimes there can be a work box that they're asking £30,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08but inside the work box, there can be a diamond ring.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13'I would've thought, in today's antique-savvy climate,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16'it would be impossible to pick up a ceramic by a well-known factory
0:02:16 > 0:02:20'at a boot sale. But a sharp-eyed couple proved me wrong.'
0:02:20 > 0:02:23They are, of course, Moorcroft,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25which is one of my favourites.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Can you tell me where you got them?
0:02:27 > 0:02:31- Betty purchased them. - I bought them at a car-boot sale.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35- Aye. Quite near here, yes. - Was it at Kinghorn?- Kinghorn.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38A car-boot sale? A pair of Moorcroft vases?
0:02:38 > 0:02:41- How much did you pay for them? - I think they were £2 each.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44- £2 each?- I think so.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46- Do you go to car-boot sales a lot? - Oh, yes.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49- Are you avid collectors?- Yes.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51- Are you mad collectors?- Yes.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54- Magpies.- Magpies.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Well done on them. They will have developed an eye
0:02:58 > 0:03:01over a period of time,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03and this is what you've got to do.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Keep looking, keep lifting,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09keep touching, look at it upside-down,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12ring it to see if it's whole.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16The more you handle wonderful items,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18the more you will learn about them.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21If we look at the back stamp here,
0:03:21 > 0:03:25we can see the blue stamp here, the Moorcroft stamp,
0:03:25 > 0:03:27and "Made in England."
0:03:27 > 0:03:32These little ones here are from about the 1930s
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and they're called the Wheatsheaf pattern.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38They weren't what you would expect from Moorcroft.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43They were quite an unusual pattern, this wheatsheaf pattern,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46they were small, they were pretty enough,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48but they didn't look the deal.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51If they were coming into auction,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55I would put a conservative estimate of 150 to 250 on them.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59- Would you be happy to sell them at that?- Yes.- Ecstatic.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01- Ecstatic! - SHE LAUGHS
0:04:01 > 0:04:06'So, how did the £4 pair of Moorcroft vases do at auction?'
0:04:06 > 0:04:09I'll start them at £330.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13330 straight in. Oh, Betty!
0:04:15 > 0:04:17400.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21450.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24480.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27- Was this a "come and buy me"? - You know me, Paul.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31500. 500.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- I'm wobbling. This is fantastic! - Phone beside me, £500.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Would anyone else like in at £500?
0:04:38 > 0:04:41- At £500. - SHE BANGS HAMMER
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- How about that?- Did you enjoy that?
0:04:44 > 0:04:47These were a rare pattern.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50They weren't popular so not a lot of them were made,
0:04:50 > 0:04:55and this is what caused the feeding frenzy at the auction.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59'It was the rarity of the pattern that allowed lucky Betty and Jim
0:04:59 > 0:05:03'to snap up the vases. They must have been overlooked by the previous owner,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06'who hadn't realised their significance.
0:05:06 > 0:05:12'Many items you spot at a car-boot sale won't have a maker's mark to alert you to their quality.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15'Instead, you'll have to judge the workmanship for yourself.'
0:05:15 > 0:05:19This, I think, is just a miniature walking stick
0:05:19 > 0:05:23carved to show off the skills of the craftsman who made it.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27- Right.- And the quality really is very good.- Very good.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32- You know, if we look at this dragon, for example...- They're all intertwined, aren't they?
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Exactly. And then the handle
0:05:34 > 0:05:37just finishes in a sort of lotus flower, I think,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41with a bat, which is a curious motif.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44The nature of the decoration told me it was Chinese.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47I think it was probably made in Canton.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49The motifs were Chinese. There was a dragon,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52I referred to a bat, I think, on the handle.
0:05:52 > 0:05:58- I mean, the time it must have took to carve something like that... - Well, time was cheap, wasn't it?
0:05:58 > 0:06:01That's the thing. And they spent a long time making these.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Mind you, having said that, they'd have carved it a jolly sight quicker than you and I
0:06:05 > 0:06:09- if we sat down with our Stanley knife and had a go at this. - I wouldn't attempt it.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13In order to make sure that something's ivory and not made of a substitute material,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15like plastic or resin,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18look for a figure, look for a grain in the material.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Ivory has a very distinct grain.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23If that fails, and if no-one's looking,
0:06:23 > 0:06:25you can always heat up a hat pin...
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Do people still wear hat pins? I think probably not.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31But a needle, maybe, and shove it into it.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34And if it melts, then it's not ivory.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- So, how did you come by it? - I bought it at a local car-boot.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- Long ago?- About 12 months ago.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43I hardly dare ask how much to paid for it.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48- I gave £40 for it.- OK. So it wasn't a steal, was it? No.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53I don't think you're going to make a vast profit, but I think you'll make a good turn.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58I would be inclined to estimate it at £100 to £150.
0:06:58 > 0:07:04- So after your commission, with any luck, you'll just about double your money.- Double your money.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07I thought jolly good luck to him.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11It always makes me very cross when I hear people are picking these things up for next to nothing,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15cos whenever I go to a car-boot sale, all I see is old cylinder heads. I never see anything nice.
0:07:15 > 0:07:21'It's illegal to trade in ivory unless it was worked before the 1947 cut-off,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24'as David's walking stick was.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28'Ivory isn't to everyone's taste. Did this £40 buy find a buyer?'
0:07:28 > 0:07:30- Very nice find. - I thought it looked all right.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35It's in good company because there's a lot of other oriental artefacts here, so the buyers are here,
0:07:35 > 0:07:37and hopefully they'll find this one.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40230 online. 240. 240 now.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44250. 250 now. 300, back on the phone again.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46They're fighting this out, aren't they?
0:07:46 > 0:07:50At £400. Nothing in the room. The room's out. 400.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52420 online. Just when you thought you'd got it.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Back online at 420 now. 440 now.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58460, thank you.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03- 500. At £500. - This is walking out, isn't it?
0:08:03 > 0:08:05At £500. Last call. 520.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08- How much? - HE LAUGHS
0:08:08 > 0:08:10At 520. Shakes his head.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Back online it is, then, at £520.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15All out in the room. Bid's online. Phone's gone.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19- Selling at £520. - HE BANGS HAMMER
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Put it there. I take my hat off to anybody
0:08:21 > 0:08:26that can turn 40 quid from a car-boot sale into £520.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30'There are some bargain hunters who have disproved the theory
0:08:30 > 0:08:35'that it's always the early bird who bags the boot-sale bargain.'
0:08:35 > 0:08:38We've taken a real step back into Georgian England here
0:08:38 > 0:08:43with political and royal caricatures of the period.
0:08:43 > 0:08:49These are all dating to the late 18th and early 19th century.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52And we've got some really fantastic and famous names here.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57They are collected widely and there's a great market for them in the States
0:08:57 > 0:09:00and there are also very good collectors for them here in the UK.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Tell me how you've come to have them in your possession.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Well, I picked them up at a local car-boot sale...
0:09:07 > 0:09:11- HE LAUGHS Fantastic! - ..in the summer time for £10.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14I'd actually been there for about three hours
0:09:14 > 0:09:18and it was about quarter past one and I happened to see the folder.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22- That's incredible, isn't it?- Amazing. - It does just show you that bargains can still be had.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25How on earth have you found that pile at a car-boot sale?
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Not only that, he wasn't even an early bird.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32They'd been there, in that folio, throughout the entire day!
0:09:32 > 0:09:38How on earth could all those people have walked past them and thought, "They're not worth a tenner"?
0:09:38 > 0:09:41There are 25 pieces of 18th century caricature in there.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44"Can't possibly be worth a tenner." What are they thinking?
0:09:44 > 0:09:50We've got here a cartoon by one of the most famous people of the time
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- and that's George Cruikshank.- OK.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58Now, George Cruikshank took over as being the most popular characterist in about 1811.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01I would certainly say
0:10:01 > 0:10:07that you want to find caricatures that are in good condition,
0:10:07 > 0:10:11where they haven't been too trimmed at the sides,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15where there's a good margin around the print image.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17If they have been later coloured,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20then coloured delicately,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23not in red felt-tip or anything horrific.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27Erm, and by good artists, like Cruikshank.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Each individual one takes a little time, if you're not a specialist,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34takes a little bit of time to do some research.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36And today, here in Northampton,
0:10:36 > 0:10:40- we're not going to have the right time to do it properly.- OK.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45So before we go down the line of value, I can tell you now, I'm not going to put a figure on these
0:10:45 > 0:10:47cos I want to do the research properly.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52I literally thought, "Right, OK, I've got something I don't know about, who knows?"
0:10:52 > 0:10:56And part of the role of a good auctioneer and valuer
0:10:56 > 0:10:59isn't necessarily knowing everything instantly.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03In fact, it's quite the opposite.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06You should always think, "Who knows more about this than me?"
0:11:06 > 0:11:08and go and ask a second opinion.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Because you might think you know it, but half the time, you don't.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16So what I'll do today, I'll take them away, I'll do some research,
0:11:16 > 0:11:20and between us, we'll come up with a valuation for you and organise a reserve.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- Is that all right? - Yeah, that's great.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26'What was James's estimate for Steven's £10 boot buy?'
0:11:26 > 0:11:30James, you've put £200 to £300 on this folio of caricatures.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Not many people would buy them, but I think they are great.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36I really do. Good for you for picking them up at a tenner.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40£130. 130 I'm bid. 140. 150. 160.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42That's good. There's interest in the room.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44290.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49- 300.- Come on!- Oh, this is good news, Steven, isn't it?
0:11:49 > 0:11:53340. He's back in at 340. Telephone two at 340.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56360. On telephone one at 360.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00360. At 360. Look around the room again. At 360 on the telephone.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04- And selling away at £360. - The hammer's going down.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- £360, guys!- Thank you very much.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Wow, that's great news, isn't it?
0:12:09 > 0:12:13Interestingly, a lot of the collectors for political caricatures
0:12:13 > 0:12:15are modern-day politicians,
0:12:15 > 0:12:19so you've got a lot of knowledge in the houses of Westminster on this sort of stuff.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22And I have to say, that's actually where I went.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24I asked a couple of politicians what they thought
0:12:24 > 0:12:29and they gave me the odd tip and they turned out to be bang on.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32'That fantastic sale price was largely down to the research
0:12:32 > 0:12:35'James put in after the valuation day.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39'The lesson there is, it always pays to do your homework.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43'If you're hunting for antique caricatures,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45'keep an eye out for the big names, like George Cruikshank,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48'William Hogarth or James Gillray.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54'Some boot finds are much easier to date accurately than Steven's Georgian caricatures
0:12:54 > 0:12:57'as they have their provenance written all over them.'
0:12:57 > 0:13:01- Now, this is an interesting story, isn't it?- It is, yes.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Thomas Ashmower, is that right?
0:13:04 > 0:13:08- 1795.- Yeah.- So, is he a relative?
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- No.- No?- No. - Have you had it a long time?
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- Probably about six months. - Six months?- Yeah.- OK.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- Where did it come from? - Car-boot.- Car-boot. It was quite a bargain, was it?
0:13:19 > 0:13:21- I believe so, yeah.- Right. Tell me.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- 30p.- 30p?
0:13:24 > 0:13:27The loving cup was a great object, one of the great car-boot finds
0:13:27 > 0:13:30of the programme that I've had involvement with, certainly.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32And it was so obvious it wasn't a fake.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36The age was written all over it and the marks, the telltale marks...
0:13:36 > 0:13:39I remember the lip and tooth marks on it.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42And just everything about it, you just knew it was 100% genuine.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45The crack there. Well, what do you expect, really?
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- That's where the mouth's been, isn't it?- Yep.- So you would expect that.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52- Yep. It's been...- And maybe that's from his teeth, do you think?
0:13:52 > 0:13:55- Could be. Yeah, that bit of wear from his teeth.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57When you put it like that, I don't want to touch it.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00You don't? That's why I want to sell it.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04- Well, it is unusual.- Yeah.- I mean, the date appears to be right.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08It's not a fake or anything like that. It's 18th century. A piece of what we call pearl ware.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12It's all hand-painting. And, of course, the shape is a loving cup.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14The loving cup was a real antique.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18They were used, they were shared at weddings and banquets, as well, with the twin handles,
0:14:18 > 0:14:20and I was really enjoying just holding this one,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23because it really did feel like a piece of history in your hands.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26What do you think it's worth?
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Well, I did send it off with some photographs
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- to get it valued down in London. - Right.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36They estimated, hammer price, between £120 and £150.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40- Well, I think that's a fairly good guide from a photograph.- Yeah.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44- My first thought was £100 to £150. - Yeah.- Similar thing.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47'Malcolm's bargain 30 pence loving cup
0:14:47 > 0:14:51'was sold at James Lewis's auction house. How did it fare?'
0:14:51 > 0:14:53We have, I think, two telephones.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57- Oh, yes!- Here we go. - It was a "come and buy me".
0:14:57 > 0:14:59The date does it, doesn't it?
0:14:59 > 0:15:02350. 360. 370.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05380. 390.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07390. 400. 410.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10420. 430.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Maybe there's a bit of local regional history somewhere.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16480. 490.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20500. 510. 510 on the second phone? No?
0:15:22 > 0:15:24He's milking them, isn't he?
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Absentee bid still at £500.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- All sure? - HE BANGS HAMMER
0:15:29 > 0:15:32£500! The hammer's gone down.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36The loving cup sold incredibly well. There's a couple of reasons for that.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Firstly, Malcolm had only paid 30 pence for it,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43so what's wrong with putting a nice "come and buy me" estimate of £100 to £150 on it?
0:15:43 > 0:15:48It was so incredibly rare that it wasn't a massive surprise that it made £500.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52If you've got something that's good and something that's fun
0:15:52 > 0:15:55and something that's dated and something that's named,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59then...there's always a good market for it.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02'Malcolm's a real alchemist.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06'I wish I had his skill for turning 30 pence into £500!
0:16:06 > 0:16:09'He was canny enough to realise that an antique
0:16:09 > 0:16:12'dating back as far as the 1700s
0:16:12 > 0:16:14'was bound to be worth a bob or two.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17'When you're out hunting for bargains,
0:16:17 > 0:16:19'keep your eyes peeled for dated items.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21'The older, the better.
0:16:21 > 0:16:27'But what else should you consider if you're trawling the boot sales looking for treasure?
0:16:27 > 0:16:30'Don't judge a book by its cover. When you're cruising the tabletops,
0:16:30 > 0:16:34'turn over every ceramic and check the maker's marks.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37'You might get a pleasant surprise.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40'Leave no stone unturned.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44'Rummage in boxes, look under the tables and search through folios.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47'Even if it's late in the day, you might just stumble across a gem
0:16:47 > 0:16:50'everybody else has missed.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52'And pick your saleroom with care.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54'When it comes to flogging your boot finds,
0:16:54 > 0:16:59'choose a sale which has similar items in its catalogue.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01'It could really help your antique walk away.'
0:17:05 > 0:17:09I can't help but be inspired by those of you who get up early in the morning
0:17:09 > 0:17:12in pursuit of car-boot treasure.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Flog It's Caroline Hawley is a committed car-booter,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and is very proud of one particular find.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21ROMANTIC MUSIC
0:17:24 > 0:17:27This is one of my favourite items of car-booty.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32I found it possibly 10, 15 years ago.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35And I asked the price and the chap said to me, "It's £4."
0:17:35 > 0:17:39And my look of horror, he said, "It is Christian Dior, love."
0:17:39 > 0:17:42So I paid him the four quid and I've worn it several times since.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45I do feel a little bit like an overstuffed sofa in it.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47However, it's corseted beautifully,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49from the chest right down to the hips.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53And that's what gives you, hopefully, a wonderful shape.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57All these bones here, which originally would've been whalebone,
0:17:57 > 0:18:02but this is from the '50s, so it's actually moved on to plastic stays there.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07Once that's on and you're safely hooked and eyed into it,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10then this dress goes over the top,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13and it is from the 1950s,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16beautiful shape, in silk velvet devore.
0:18:16 > 0:18:21It looks beautiful, it sounds beautiful as it moves,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24and it's unique and it's well worth the £4 I paid for it.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34'Caroline was very lucky to find a stylish 1950s dress that
0:18:34 > 0:18:38'still looks great now at her car-boot sale,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42'but there are some fine objects being hand-made today,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45'which will most surely stand the test of time, too.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51'In 2010, to learn more about the expertise involved in making something of quality
0:18:51 > 0:18:57'I visited Martin Andrews, a modern British glassmaker.'
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Traditional glassblowing has not really changed for 400 years.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Same sort of tools, same benches.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07How do you go about making something like that? How do you get all the colours?
0:19:07 > 0:19:13- In the furnace, I have clear glass. - Yes.- All the colour is added while it's still a solid blob.- Mm-hm.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Once the design is on, then you start to blow the shape.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21- Gosh, it sounds hit and miss to me. It really... It's experimental. - It's quite specific.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24With glass-blowing, you have no second chances.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- It's not like clay, you can't go back and patch it up.- No.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30- You get one chance. - You have to get it right.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33The skill of the glassmaker is working as fast as possible.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36You are literally chasing it.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40The working temperature of the glass is between 600 and 1,000 degrees.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44And it will go through that temperature barrier in about 40 seconds.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47So every time you reheat it, you've got about 40 seconds to do something with it.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- And then you reheat it.- Got you.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52So you're up and down the bench a lot.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54I really do love that. I love the colours in that.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56I love the golden hues.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01Could I ask you to show me how to make something? For a novice like me to attempt something like that?
0:20:01 > 0:20:05- I'd like to have a go at that. - OK.- I really would. Because it looks like a big challenge.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- OK, let's go and have a go. - How long will that take?
0:20:07 > 0:20:12- It would take about an hour... with my help.- Come on, then.- OK.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19This is actually for real, we're going to take an hour to do this.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21And, er, I don't know what to do, so just talk me through it.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25OK. You start by heating that up. Get that hot. Just keep it there.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29- OK.- We want to heat the tip up, so it's hot enough for the glass to stick to it when we gather.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33I'm actually feeling quite nervous, to tell you the truth.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Cos I want this to really work well.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39OK. I think we can take that out. That's fine. Right.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- Now you're going to gather from the furnace.- Right.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44- You do the first gather. - Gosh, that's hot!
0:20:44 > 0:20:47And you need to be in and out in about seven seconds. OK?
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Keep turning. Keep turning.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53And go to the bench. Don't touch.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Roll it forward, use all of your arm.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01OK, and we're just going to reheat that, so put the paper down.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Reheat it in the glory hole.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10- Keep turning?- Keep turning it. - It's not easy, is it?- No.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13I'm actually quite frightened!
0:21:13 > 0:21:16I'll put some of the other colour out, as well.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18And this is cooling all the time now.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22It's cooling, but the coloured glass is still sticking to the clear glass.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24So from here, OK...
0:21:24 > 0:21:29- Pulling back all the time.- Yeah, that's good. So take it off. OK.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- Now, the hard bit is actually a technique called thumbing.- OK.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36So what you need to do is blow down...
0:21:37 > 0:21:39- Blow with this in your mouth.- Yep.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Put your thumb over it and trap the air so the air expands in the pipe.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45- Like that? Now? Ready? One big blow? - Yep.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50That's good.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53It's got a little bit larger but you now need to reheat and...
0:21:53 > 0:21:56- Keep my thumb on the end? - No.- No.- No.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01I see, you could do this several times.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- You could just keep going until you're happy with the size of the air bubble?- Yeah.
0:22:04 > 0:22:10- Roll. Turn.- Oh, wow. - And then back the other way.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17- That's good.- That's better. - Now blow.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21It's looking more like a light bulb at the moment.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24It's getting bigger and bigger. It's getting harder to come out of that glory hole.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- OK, Martin?- OK. - Yeah?- Out you come, yeah.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Agh!
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Nearly, nearly. Oh!
0:22:32 > 0:22:35- That's it. - Hang on, hang on, hang on.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- Agh! - Ohh. That's it. I've just ruined it.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Nearly had it. That was about 55 minutes' work, wasn't it?
0:22:43 > 0:22:45- Sorry.- That's all right. Never mind.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50- What happens to that now?- Er, well, we'll just put that into the bin.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Unfortunately, you caught the side and it collapsed.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57- It's so difficult, isn't it? - It is. It's very, very difficult.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00- It is.- Thank you so much, you've been brilliant.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05We were so close. Ten minutes away from seeing that dish open up.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09But I said we'd only do it once, didn't I? I said we'd have an hour on this.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12'That's why I love antiques.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14'I greatly admire the talent of the craftsmen and women
0:23:14 > 0:23:18'who spend years honing their skills to create them.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21'So, next time you see something for sale,
0:23:21 > 0:23:25'especially if it's a bargain, just think of all the effort that went into making it.'
0:23:28 > 0:23:32You know James Lewis. He's a man with a passion for antiques and collectables.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36But what you probably don't know is how far he is prepared to go
0:23:36 > 0:23:38to get his hands on something he wants.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47Well, when it comes to sentiment,
0:23:47 > 0:23:51that old piece of iron there, my old camper van,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54has got to be the most sentimental thing that I own.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57I know they became really fashionable about ten years ago
0:23:57 > 0:24:00and lots of TV presenters started buying them
0:24:00 > 0:24:02because they were the thing to have, but I have to say,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06that's been mine since just about the day I was born.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08I was brought back from hospital in it when I was born,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10I learnt to drive in it,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13I went to university, I came back
0:24:13 > 0:24:15and my parents had sold it. Heartbroken.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Saw it in the local garage, they wouldn't let me buy it back
0:24:18 > 0:24:22cos it was a rust trap, they said, and then five years on,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26I saw it on the M1 and I followed it all the way from Leeds down to Rugby
0:24:26 > 0:24:29and flagged it over on the side of the M1,
0:24:29 > 0:24:35totally illegal, I know, but I bought it off him there and then, £2,500.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39And it took years of love and work
0:24:39 > 0:24:42and lots of money to get it restored.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45But it's back to full glory now and it's on the road
0:24:45 > 0:24:48and it does still have the odd thing that goes wrong,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51I lost a hubcap on the way here,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54and it's not as reliable as a modern car,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56but I absolutely love it.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58I've been round Scotland in it last year
0:24:58 > 0:25:01and camped rough on the Isle of Mull and Skye,
0:25:01 > 0:25:05and I have to say, I would never, ever be without it.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16One man who also followed his heart all the way to a car-boot sale
0:25:16 > 0:25:18was bargain hunter Snowy.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22In 2005, he brought his unusual find to Jethro Marles
0:25:22 > 0:25:25at our valuation day in Chippenham.
0:25:25 > 0:25:30Poole Swimming Club, the Jubilee Gala, 1935.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35You've got a picture of a figure swimming, a young lady swimming in the water.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38- You turn it over and we've got the mark of Poole Pottery.- Yes.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43That was a very old Poole Pottery mark on the back in 1935,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46so it was... That was one of the reasons I knew
0:25:46 > 0:25:49it was something a little bit different, because it was old Poole, not modern Poole.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52It's in lovely condition, not damaged.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55You've got all this association with Poole
0:25:55 > 0:25:59and the fact you've got a figure from the 1930s swimming.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03- What's it worth? You thought it was worth more than two quid. - Yes, definitely!
0:26:03 > 0:26:08I think you're going to get perhaps £100, £150.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Poole Pottery Swimming Club Jubilee Gala, 1935.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15Depicting a young swimmer. Apparently it's one of 12 made.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19- Only 12?- Did you know that? - I didn't know that.- Nor did I.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21At 100. At £100.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23And 5. 110.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27At 110. 115, sir. 120, ma'am.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30The auction was really, really exciting.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32A bit nervy for people who have never done it before,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35because there's all the cameras and lights
0:26:35 > 0:26:37and Mr Martin there and everybody else there.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39165. 170.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43At 170. Lady's bid.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- At £170. Finished now? 170. - HE BANGS HAMMER
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Hammer's gone down. You'll take that, won't you?
0:26:49 > 0:26:51- 170 quid?- I will, certainly.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54The first thing I did with £170 was put it in my pocket,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58because £170 doesn't grow on trees, does it?
0:26:59 > 0:27:03With that £170, I bought a push-bike, a three-wheeled cycle.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08Well, this is it, this is what I spent my money from Flog It. Thank you very much.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13I'm a collector and it's a collector's piece, anyway, the three-wheeled bike.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16I've still got it and still ride it to this day.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22It got me thinking about buying a motorbike trike,
0:27:22 > 0:27:24which, eventually, I did.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26I've always been a motorbike man.
0:27:26 > 0:27:31I was a bit of a flash man. I had a motorbike and trailer on the back
0:27:31 > 0:27:35and all sorts of things. But now it's just the pleasure, the trike's pleasure.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38I can sit on it, enjoy it,
0:27:38 > 0:27:40and it causes a lot of interest.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45People come and say, "Did you make it? Did you put it together? Did you do this and do that?"
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Everywhere you stop, you get a conversation about a trike.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50That's what I like about the trike.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54'So, what advice can a seasoned car-booter give us?'
0:27:54 > 0:27:57If a car-boot's due to start at ten, get there at six.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02To get up early is the most important. If you like it, buy it, cos somebody else will like it, too.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05# Born to be wild... #
0:28:11 > 0:28:14So, the lesson from today's programme is perseverance.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17I hope we've demonstrated that it is possible
0:28:17 > 0:28:19to discover those overlooked treasures.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23So get up early in the morning and get out there car-booting.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26And who knows, it may be the best thing you've ever done.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29See you again soon for many more trade secrets.