0:00:10 > 0:00:11It's been well over ten years
0:00:11 > 0:00:14since you first started coming to our "Flog It!" valuation days,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17and during that time we've seen, valued and sold
0:00:17 > 0:00:20thousands of your unwanted antiques and collectibles.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27- Are you all having a good time? - Yes.- Of course we are.- Yes!
0:00:27 > 0:00:28It's worth £300 to £500.
0:00:30 > 0:00:31Wow!
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Done.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38I've discovered there's so much more to learn
0:00:38 > 0:00:41about the world of fine art and antiques that we all love.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44So if you want to know more, you've come to the right place.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46Welcome to Trade Secrets.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17In today's programme, we're taking a close interest in instruments.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19THEY PLAY A LIVELY TUNE
0:01:19 > 0:01:25It really is a thrill when they make an appearance at our valuation days.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30But it's a market that's fraught with danger
0:01:30 > 0:01:32for the wannabe collectors.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36It's just really important to...
0:01:36 > 0:01:38just do that research.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40£280.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42So today we'll be showing you how to spot a hit
0:01:42 > 0:01:45amongst the myriad musical misses.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47At 300 I'm selling, here...
0:01:47 > 0:01:49That was short and sweet, wasn't it?
0:01:49 > 0:01:51- Yes!- Yes!
0:01:51 > 0:01:52Thank you!
0:01:52 > 0:01:54That's superb!
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Our lyrical line-up includes a serenade for Philip...
0:01:58 > 0:02:01SHE PLAYS "CONGRATULATIONS"
0:02:01 > 0:02:04- At least you recognised it! - I'll name that tune in one!
0:02:04 > 0:02:07..a blast from the past for Charlie...
0:02:07 > 0:02:10- He's being rude, can you put him off?- Yeah.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11We can't have him on "Flog It!"
0:02:11 > 0:02:14..and a star turn for our very own musical maestro.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16SQUEAKY VIOLIN/CELLO SOUND
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Do you recognise that?
0:02:20 > 0:02:24It's my attempt at a bit of the "Flog It" theme on a phonofiddle.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Whenever I see a musical instrument
0:02:33 > 0:02:36at a valuation day, I can't help but smile.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38I absolutely love them.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41Not only do they represent a pinnacle of human achievement,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44but they also reflect a nation's culture, language,
0:02:44 > 0:02:46art, politics, religion.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50So if music's your thing, what do you need to know?
0:02:50 > 0:02:53My tip would be vintage guitars.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56I've seen from some of the rock and pop sales that we've put on,
0:02:56 > 0:02:59prices and interest have rocketed.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03If you look at some of the Gibsons, Fender, Hofner,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06these things are just going up and up in value.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09If you've got a guitar that was John Lennon's,
0:03:09 > 0:03:11suddenly, it adds massive value.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14There is also a very strong market in concertinas.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Some people call them squeeze-boxes.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Those are the sort of things that you might be able to find
0:03:19 > 0:03:23in car boots and bric-a-brac shops where they've been discarded
0:03:23 > 0:03:25and some of them can be worth hundreds,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28even thousands of pounds, depending on which model you find.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30Some of these instruments are valuable
0:03:30 > 0:03:32because people want to play them,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34so if they're not in a playable condition,
0:03:34 > 0:03:39you really have to be a specialist in the area, I think. Ask Adam.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Yes, Adam shares my passion for music, and we view him
0:03:42 > 0:03:47as our resident musical instrument authority here on "Flog It!"
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Our valuation day's instruments, from the run-of-the-mill
0:03:50 > 0:03:53to the weird and the wacky, gravitate towards his table.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Wow, that was nearly good.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00But there's one musical instrument above all others
0:04:00 > 0:04:02which regular "Flog It!" viewers will associate Adam with.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07HE PLAYS HUNGARIAN DANCE NO. 5 BY JOHANNES BRAHMS
0:04:07 > 0:04:09'I come from a violin-playing family.'
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Both my parents were professional violinists, I grew up around it.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15From being a baby, I thought that everybody did that
0:04:15 > 0:04:18and once I was five, I picked one up and started learning it.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20You're lucky that you haven't got
0:04:20 > 0:04:22all the strings on it, or I'd be playing it
0:04:22 > 0:04:25and we'd clear that hall pretty quickly.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28It's got a one-piece back, there.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Sometimes you have a two-piece back or a one-piece back.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34This is a one-piece back made from maple.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37On the front, there, we call that the table, violin people,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40rather than the front. That's made from pine.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Try to avoid cracks on the front, the table, or on the back,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46because a crack will affect the resonance and therefore,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49when you get it set up and you spend your £100 getting your bridge
0:04:49 > 0:04:52and your strings put on, you'll hear this buzzing where the crack is
0:04:52 > 0:04:54and the sound quality's not very good.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Now, we always check the bows, as well,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59because sometimes the bow can be worth more than the instrument.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- Oh, right. - Let's have a quick look at that one.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05- Horsehair.- Horsehair, yeah.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Bows, of course, are a separate art form on their own.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11They're made from pernambuco, a valuable Brazilian hardwood,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13they're often mounted in silver and ivory,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16they're often stamped with a maker's name.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18We've had bows make many thousands of pounds
0:05:18 > 0:05:21that have come in with violins that are worth 200 quid.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23You haven't got any special individual value with the bows.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25So this is in pretty good condition.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28People looking at this will think, "Oh, it's no good,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30"it's got no strings", but it doesn't matter.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32You can pick up a violin pretty cheaply, really,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and even if it hasn't got the strings and the bridge
0:05:34 > 0:05:36and everything on it, people say,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38"Oh, it's no good, it's got no strings on it." Just not the case.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42It's going to cost you £80-£100 or something to get it all set up.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44Inside, there's a label.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49I can just glimpse a label there and it says "M Costelli, Paris."
0:05:49 > 0:05:52"Luthier Artistique, 1895."
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- So it's French? - It's French.- Oh, right.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57- She's smart, isn't she? - Yeah. Oh, yeah.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02- Now, this Costelli sounds like an Italian name.- It does.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06And the Italians are very well known for the finest violins.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08French violins are also quite highly regarded
0:06:08 > 0:06:11and then usually another step down to the German violins,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13which are more mass-produced.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Never really believe a violin label.
0:06:15 > 0:06:1895% will say Stradivarius in any way
0:06:18 > 0:06:21and they'll be a German factory-made violin
0:06:21 > 0:06:25on the lines and the models of the Stradivarius shape.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Costelli of Paris, I think, was just a name
0:06:27 > 0:06:30to make it sound more glamorous than saying
0:06:30 > 0:06:33"Made in Markneukirchen factory in Germany",
0:06:33 > 0:06:35which is where I think this was made.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38It was a slightly better quality German factory copy
0:06:38 > 0:06:40than any others, but I don't think...
0:06:40 > 0:06:44My violin books show no record of an M Costelli in Paris.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48This Costelli isn't a very well-known or highly regarded maker.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53- No.- So I'd go on the cautious end and I'd put 100-200 estimate.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58- Right.- And put a reserve of 100. It's definitely worth £100.- Is it?- Yeah.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02But did the bidders agree with Adam's estimate?
0:07:02 > 0:07:04400 on the phone.
0:07:04 > 0:07:05I'd like to be going 50s now.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08425 online...
0:07:08 > 0:07:10425, 450.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13475 online.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- 475?!- 500 on the phone.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18At £500.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20525.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24525 online.
0:07:24 > 0:07:25Final call.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- At £525...- Slow down!
0:07:28 > 0:07:30All done?
0:07:30 > 0:07:32No second thoughts?
0:07:32 > 0:07:39£525! That ended in a crescendo, didn't it?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41In my view, it's worth maybe £200-£300
0:07:41 > 0:07:43and I think it made a bit more
0:07:43 > 0:07:46because you've got speculators online and in the room -
0:07:46 > 0:07:48"Oh, a French violin's better than a German.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51"It's got an Italian-sounding name, Costelli, goodness me.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53"This might be something really exciting,"
0:07:53 > 0:07:56and, in fact, it wasn't that exciting at all.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59So...it was a good price.
0:08:00 > 0:08:01The label may not have fooled Adam,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04but the bidders were obviously wooed
0:08:04 > 0:08:07by the Italian-sounding maker's name, Costelli.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11If you ARE considering buying a musical instrument as an investment,
0:08:11 > 0:08:12then please do take care.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16A large proportion of violins, for example, purport to be made
0:08:16 > 0:08:19by celebrated makers, but they are, in fact, fakes.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22If you want the real thing, it will cost you dearly.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25There's only around 600 violins that survive today
0:08:25 > 0:08:29that were made by the great Antonio Stradivari.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Now, one of those sold recently in auction in 2011
0:08:33 > 0:08:37for a staggering £9.8 million.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Now, Philip was in for a treat when he met Amanda,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43who knew what to do with HER musical instrument.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46So are you an accomplished saxophonist?
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- Is that the term?- Not really, I can get a tune out of it sometimes...
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- You can get a tune? - Well, sometimes.- Sometimes?
0:08:52 > 0:08:53Is this going to be a "sometimes"?
0:08:53 > 0:08:56- Sometimes I make it squeak. - Go on, girl, go for it.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00SHE PLAYS "CONGRATULATIONS"
0:09:02 > 0:09:05That's a bit of Harry Rodger Webb, isn't it?
0:09:05 > 0:09:09- That's the one! - Is that Congratulations?- It was!
0:09:09 > 0:09:12- I'll name that tune in one!- At least you recognised it.- Absolutely!
0:09:12 > 0:09:15People bring in the strangest things,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18so I wasn't overly surprised to see a saxophone there,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20but I must admit, it is different from the usual massed ranks
0:09:20 > 0:09:22of Beatrix Potter figures
0:09:22 > 0:09:25and Clarice Cliff and all that sort of stuff.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- Did YOU buy this?- I did, yes. - And did you save up?
0:09:29 > 0:09:35- No, I had to sell my bike. - You sold your bike?! Oh, that's sad.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- You sold your bike?- I sold my bike and I bought the saxophone.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42So you've had it all this time and now you want to get rid of it?
0:09:42 > 0:09:45- Was it a phase that passed? - It hasn't passed, it's still there.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I just need the right saxophone so I can do it properly.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50- That's not the right saxophone? - The fingering's different.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52They improved it?
0:09:52 > 0:09:54They improved it to make it easier to play.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59Which now means that somebody who is used to teaching a new instrument
0:09:59 > 0:10:02finds it very, very difficult to teach you to play the old one?
0:10:02 > 0:10:03I didn't realise this when I bought it -
0:10:03 > 0:10:05not that it would have made a difference,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07because it's just beautiful to look at.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11I put what I thought was a fairly low estimate on it,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13because I felt that if she thought
0:10:13 > 0:10:15that it wasn't suitable as an instrument,
0:10:15 > 0:10:17other people would think the same.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21I think an auction estimate for this is about £80-£120.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22Right.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25Fingers crossed we get the top end.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28It's going under the hammer now, this is it.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30200, 220, 240...
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- 260, 280, 300... - They absolutely love this.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- 320, 380...- We're hitting all the high notes right now.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40440, 460, 480,
0:10:40 > 0:10:46£500, to my left at £500. Are we all done?
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Yes! Hammer's gone down. £500!
0:10:50 > 0:10:52What are you going to put the £500 towards?
0:10:52 > 0:10:55I'll probably get another saxophone, a tenor saxophone,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57and lessons to play it.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59The proceeds of sale meant that she could go
0:10:59 > 0:11:03and buy an instrument that suited her and she could learn to play it,
0:11:03 > 0:11:04so what a great result that is.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Here's hoping Amanda's sax-playing skills
0:11:07 > 0:11:09have gone from strength to strength.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Now, over the years we've seen all manner of
0:11:12 > 0:11:14musical instruments on the show.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21But you've haven't just brought us your instruments
0:11:21 > 0:11:22which make sweet music.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Singin' the blues there.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28We've also seen fantastic examples
0:11:28 > 0:11:30of instruments which play BACK music too.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34In 2009, Charlie Ross was fortunate enough
0:11:34 > 0:11:38to stumble across one of the earliest prototypes.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40- Shall we dance? - We shall.- Put the music on.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Hooray.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45I love your phonograph. How long have you had it?
0:11:45 > 0:11:49- About 55 years.- 55 years?! - Yeah, it was in the family.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50It was my father's, originally.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- You inherited it, did you? - From Father, yeah.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55- You know who made it, don't you? - Yeah, Edison.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Edison, it's the Edison Gem,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59which was his standard model, if you like.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03- It was. - First patented in about 1900.- Yeah.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06And this, I would think, dates from about 1910.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09It was completely revolutionary
0:12:09 > 0:12:13to have something that could reproduce...
0:12:13 > 0:12:17A, record and B, reproduce sound,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20whether it be the spoken word or music.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Thomas Edison really had come across something
0:12:23 > 0:12:27that's been dictating our lives ever since.
0:12:27 > 0:12:28What I really like about it -
0:12:28 > 0:12:31not only obviously is the carrying case here,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34but that is the original sound box.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37It's a delight to see either a phonograph
0:12:37 > 0:12:41or a record player with its original tin trumpet
0:12:41 > 0:12:44and particularly with the original patination.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Sometimes they've been repainted,
0:12:47 > 0:12:49more often than not they've been lost,
0:12:49 > 0:12:53damaged and thrown away and then you get a replacement one
0:12:53 > 0:12:55and that knocks the value.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59The absolutely marvellous, quirky thing I like about this
0:12:59 > 0:13:03is the original cord that held it up
0:13:03 > 0:13:07from the stanchion I see someone has replaced with a chain,
0:13:07 > 0:13:11which looks distinctly like a gold watch chain to me.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Are you guilty of that?
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- I am fully guilty. - Well, may I say congratulations?
0:13:16 > 0:13:18You've considerably added to the value of it.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22'The horn had been held up by an old piece of wire.'
0:13:22 > 0:13:24His wife had said to him,
0:13:24 > 0:13:28"You can't take it to "Flog It!" with that old bit of wire on there!
0:13:28 > 0:13:29"Put something else on there!"
0:13:29 > 0:13:31What did he put on?
0:13:31 > 0:13:32A gold chain!
0:13:32 > 0:13:35I think that's charming. How many cylinders have you got?
0:13:35 > 0:13:40We've got about nine or ten four-minute cylinders.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Yes. Could we have a quick go?
0:13:43 > 0:13:46The three I've got left are all chipped and scratched.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50'When I was going up the stair last nicht, the...'
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Harry Lauder.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56' "..Is that you, John?" I said, "Aye, it's me"...'
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- He's being rude, can you put him off?- Yeah.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00We can't have him on "Flog It!"
0:14:00 > 0:14:03I thought it was going to be a nice old Scottish ballad.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05- No, I'm sorry. - You naughty man, David.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- How much do you think it's worth? - Oh, £200-£300.
0:14:08 > 0:14:09£200-£300?
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Do you know, I think it would have been 200-300 a few years ago,
0:14:12 > 0:14:13possibly a bit more.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15I think it's now 150-200.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Two types of collector, really -
0:14:17 > 0:14:23the really academic collector who's always looking for the rarity...
0:14:23 > 0:14:26the one that he hasn't got in his collection.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30The other collector is someone like you and me who actually likes it
0:14:30 > 0:14:32as an object and it's really quite good fun
0:14:32 > 0:14:34to have at a party to put it on.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37"Look what I've got." It's a fun object.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Sounds like it's a "Come and buy me."
0:14:39 > 0:14:41It's going under the hammer right now.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Edison Gem phonograph, straight in, 100.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46100 bid, 100, 110.
0:14:46 > 0:14:47120, 130.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49140, 150.
0:14:49 > 0:14:50160, 170.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51- Yes.- 180, 190.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53200, 210.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54220, 230. 240, 250.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56260, 270.
0:14:56 > 0:14:57280, 290.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- 300, 310.- Fantastic.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01- 320, 330... - We're making sweet music now.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04360, 370.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06At 370.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08You in on the phones?
0:15:08 > 0:15:10At 370. 380.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Back at 380.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14At £380, I sell at the very back.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17- Wonderful. - 380, you're all out down here...
0:15:17 > 0:15:19- Yes!- Yes!
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Thank you!
0:15:21 > 0:15:23- That's superb! - Yes, thank you very much.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24Great pleasure.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27There are two reasons why it sold well.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30One is, it had its original horn. Secondly, obviously,
0:15:30 > 0:15:34the price reflected the fact that the horn was held up
0:15:34 > 0:15:39by a gold chain, and I'm sure whoever bought the object
0:15:39 > 0:15:41would have done something else with the gold chain,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43probably sold the gold chain
0:15:43 > 0:15:46or wore the gold chain and put another wire on it.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49So, there's a top tip for you -
0:15:49 > 0:15:52if you want to bump up the auction value of your antique instrument,
0:15:52 > 0:15:56offer the bidders a buy one, get one free deal.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Now, seemingly, James Lewis had an easier job when he valued
0:16:00 > 0:16:04David's concertina, as it didn't come with any hidden extras.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Let's have a look at this.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11"C Wheatstone and Co, inventors, patentees and manufacturers
0:16:11 > 0:16:15"of concertinas, aeolas." Based in London.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Now, I'm not a specialist in the concertinas,
0:16:19 > 0:16:20so I've phoned a few friends
0:16:20 > 0:16:24and I looked it up on the internet before coming to the table here,
0:16:24 > 0:16:30and Wheatstone's first concertinas are listed between 1842 and 1847.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32This one is slightly later than that,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35probably made between 1860 and 1890.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38You take something in on a valuation day, and at the end of the day
0:16:38 > 0:16:40we can see anything from a Roman coin
0:16:40 > 0:16:43through to a 1960s lamp base
0:16:43 > 0:16:45and it can be anything in between,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47and we can't know everything about everything.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52It's just really important to... just do that research.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57The value really depends so much on how many keys
0:16:57 > 0:16:58and the quality of the materials.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01This one is ebonised rather than rosewood,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04and the front and the back plates are pierced chrome
0:17:04 > 0:17:06rather than pierced silver,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08but it's still a very good model.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11'There is a huge following for musical instruments.'
0:17:11 > 0:17:14You tend to find that the buyers of the antique instruments
0:17:14 > 0:17:16also have an interest in modern music
0:17:16 > 0:17:18and they often play them themselves.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Whatever I get for it will go to restore an old guitar that I've got.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- Restore one?- Yeah. - Why not buy a new guitar?
0:17:24 > 0:17:25Cos I like the one I've got.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28It's from the '60s and it's a wee bit damaged.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33I think it's going to make between £150 and £250.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Right. That'd be quite good.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38How much do you think it's going to cost to have your guitars restored?
0:17:38 > 0:17:41I reckon about £100, £150 to get them restored.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Fingers crossed that'll pay for it.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47James admits he isn't an authority on concertinas,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50so did his auction estimate prove to be on the money?
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Anita Manning was the lady whose job it was to wield the gavel.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56So what did SHE make of the concertina?
0:17:56 > 0:18:00These concertinas come up on a fairly regular basis,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02and when you see that name Wheatstone,
0:18:02 > 0:18:06you know that's it's good.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10Wheatstone is the Rolls-Royce...
0:18:10 > 0:18:12of concertinas.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14I don't know if James had been talking to Anita,
0:18:14 > 0:18:16but when it came to the auction,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19he had second thoughts about his estimate.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22On the valuation, I looked at it and thought, "Is it a good one,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25- "or isn't it a good one?" - It's a great make, it's the best.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Great make, but I didn't know if it was a really good one,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30so we checked up on the internet. We thought, "Fabulous."
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Yes? "Found that one, that one, they've all sold around £200.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36"Let's put 150-250 on it." A week last Friday...
0:18:36 > 0:18:37A week last Thursday, I was taking a sale
0:18:37 > 0:18:39where I'd put exactly that estimate.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- I'm not going to tell you. I've written on here what it made.- OK.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44We're going to have a grand reveal later on.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46So what was the final outcome?
0:18:46 > 0:18:51Had James under or overvalued David's Wheatstone concertina?
0:18:51 > 0:18:54900.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55920.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57940.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58960.
0:19:00 > 0:19:01980.
0:19:02 > 0:19:051,000.
0:19:05 > 0:19:071,050.
0:19:08 > 0:19:101,100.
0:19:10 > 0:19:141,100 with Lara on the phone.
0:19:14 > 0:19:151,100.
0:19:15 > 0:19:20Any advance on 1,100? All done at 1,100. 1,100.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- Yes!- £1,100!
0:19:23 > 0:19:24Why didn't you say that on the day?
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Because it was only a week last Thursday.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31By the end of it, I think he had enough money to buy a new guitar!
0:19:31 > 0:19:33He didn't need to restore the old one.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36It was a lovely story, that he had an old musical instrument
0:19:36 > 0:19:39that meant something to him, that he was going to get restored,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42and yeah, I hope he knows more about guitars
0:19:42 > 0:19:45than I know about concertinas!
0:19:45 > 0:19:48To be fair to James, it's easy to get things wrong
0:19:48 > 0:19:50when it comes to musical instruments.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Prices ARE unpredictable.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54There are many things to be aware of.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Always check condition. Concertina bellows are prone to splitting.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01You've got a little bit of damage, obviously, on the actual pull-outs.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04The other thing you have to look for is the number of keys.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08They can be as low as 14 for quite poor-quality ones
0:20:08 > 0:20:12and over 30-something for the very high-quality machines.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14This one is mid-range.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16- There's 25, I think, here.- Yeah.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Only the finest concertinas make big money,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23because any inadequacies will affect the sale price.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25300 standing. Any further bids? All done?
0:20:25 > 0:20:28At 300 I'm selling, here.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31That was short and sweet, wasn't it? £300.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34But what other things do you need to be mindful of
0:20:34 > 0:20:37when investing in different types of musical instruments?
0:20:37 > 0:20:41If you want to play the saxophone and are buying at auction,
0:20:41 > 0:20:43check out the fingering on the instrument,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46which varies on models of different ages.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51David demonstrates a nifty trick to increase the value of your antique.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Add a second valuable collectible to the lot.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57If you're in the market for a violin, there's a lot to consider.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Check the table for cracks, which will affect the sound quality.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Be wary of labels.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07Violins can purport to be something they are not.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Examine the bow, as it can be worth more than the violin.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12And don't fret if the strings or bridge are missing.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15These are easily replaced.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23The 18th century was dominated with a new spirit of curiosity.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27This was the Age of Enlightenment,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30when serious thinkers believed in shedding the light of science
0:21:30 > 0:21:34and reason over the world, questioning old ideas
0:21:34 > 0:21:39and ways of doing things, pushing the boundaries of new technology.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Many great inventions took place during this period.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46The first mercury thermometer, for instance, the diving bell -
0:21:46 > 0:21:48there are many, many more.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52And lots of fun things too, like a clock, that's in this room.
0:21:52 > 0:21:53Let's go now.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02And here it is, albeit a clock hanging from the ceiling,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05obviously designed to put a smile on your face,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09exactly what this little room does, as well, designed to titillate.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11But let's take a closer look at the clock.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15It's got a 4½" enamel dial with Roman numerals.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Now, clocks weren't new in the 18th century -
0:22:18 > 0:22:20they go back a lot further - but this is a first
0:22:20 > 0:22:25because the timepiece has a mechanical singing bird.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28MELODIC WHISTLING
0:22:28 > 0:22:32This enchanting type of antique is known as an automaton.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35The term refers to an object which is self-operating
0:22:35 > 0:22:37and works mechanically.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Automata can be split into two broad categories -
0:22:40 > 0:22:43functional objects, such as clocks,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45or collectables which are decorative
0:22:45 > 0:22:48or entertaining, like the bird-cage clock.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Many of the automata we've seen on the show
0:22:51 > 0:22:53have had a musical component.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56These are singing bird boxes and they...
0:22:56 > 0:23:00they are part of the sort of automaton tradition.
0:23:00 > 0:23:01So it sort of flips up
0:23:01 > 0:23:04and then you've got this pretty songbird
0:23:04 > 0:23:07- which actually should be moving and flapping its wings.- Yes.
0:23:07 > 0:23:13- My estimate for this would be £500-£700.- Yes.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15At £1,100, I'm selling in the room,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18it's going to be sold in the room at £1,100.
0:23:18 > 0:23:23Yes! £1,100. Carol, fantastic.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Not all automata play a tune, though.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Those that don't can be just as captivating.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Most of the automata made in recent centuries
0:23:35 > 0:23:39operate by clockwork, but automata have been around since ancient times
0:23:39 > 0:23:43and some of the earliest examples were set in motion by water,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46falling weights or steam.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Today, there is a massive worldwide market for all types of automata -
0:23:51 > 0:23:53musical or otherwise.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55MUSICAL TINKLING
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Delightful objects from the period 1860 to 1910
0:24:01 > 0:24:04are especially sought after,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07as this was really the golden age of automata.
0:24:08 > 0:24:13But be wary - our experts have a word of warning.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15I think if you're going to look into collecting automata,
0:24:15 > 0:24:18you want to go for the very best French makers
0:24:18 > 0:24:21from the mid-to-late 19th century,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24although they WILL be incredibly expensive.
0:24:24 > 0:24:29Some of the finest ones can be £30,000, £40,000, £50,000 plus.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30As a starter piece,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33why not have a look at one of those birdcage automata
0:24:33 > 0:24:37where you can pick up even a later, a 1950s one,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40mechanical movement, clockwork bird in a cage,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42you wind it and it tweets and it moves about,
0:24:42 > 0:24:47and you can probably get one of those for between £100 and £300.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52The number one thing is that it is working correctly,
0:24:52 > 0:24:57and that the musical movement is in really perfect working order.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00They are very, very expensive to have restored,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03so get one in as good condition as you can find.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06That WILL mean spending a bit more, but it's usually worth it.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11I would recommend choosing an automaton
0:25:11 > 0:25:13which will leave you spellbound.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15TINKLING
0:25:20 > 0:25:26Adam Partridge is firmly established as our resident musician.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30So he's bound to have something intriguing in his own collection.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Well, I've always had an interest in musical instruments of all sorts,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36specifically violins and stringed instruments,
0:25:36 > 0:25:37and I couldn't resist it
0:25:37 > 0:25:41when I saw this coming up quite cheaply for sale, because it is
0:25:41 > 0:25:45quite a rare thing, it's an early 20th-century phonofiddle.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49These were invented when the age of the gramophone started kicking in
0:25:49 > 0:25:53and people were recording music onto records for playing in the home.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55And recording techniques weren't that strong
0:25:55 > 0:26:00so they decided that they'd make a violin with a horn on the end of it.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04It was a novelty item, as well, and I think they were quite cheap
0:26:04 > 0:26:07to produce and to buy, and they were used in music halls
0:26:07 > 0:26:10and on the streets and busking and everything else.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Now, I've never really played it before, so, er...
0:26:14 > 0:26:16it doesn't make a very nice sound,
0:26:16 > 0:26:20I will warn you, it doesn't sound good. How about this?
0:26:20 > 0:26:28SQUEAKY VIOLIN/CELLO SOUND
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Do you recognise that?
0:26:35 > 0:26:39It's my attempt at a bit of the "Flog It!" tune on a phonofiddle.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43The main maker was Howson of London,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45and there on the side of this one here
0:26:45 > 0:26:50you can see the circular brass disc that shows his name.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54There were a range of models and this was the basic one-string model.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56But they did do a four-string model
0:26:56 > 0:26:58which would have been a lot easier to play,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00and it would have been a lot more helpful
0:27:00 > 0:27:02if it was under the chin as well
0:27:02 > 0:27:04because that's more what I'm used to -
0:27:04 > 0:27:06I'm not used to this between-the-legs business -
0:27:06 > 0:27:08very tricky indeed.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10But quite a curiosity.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12I think I paid about £50 for this one,
0:27:12 > 0:27:16but I've seen them make £100 to £150 at auction before.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19So hopefully one day there'll be a small profit for me,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22although I don't plan on selling it any time soon.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Yes, £1,100!
0:27:31 > 0:27:35- Yes! Hammer's gone down.- Wow... - £500.- I can't believe it.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36We all love music,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40and antique instruments are understandably attractive
0:27:40 > 0:27:42to fledgeling collectors.
0:27:45 > 0:27:50But anyone who's interested should proceed with caution.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51It really is a specialist field,
0:27:51 > 0:27:55with many pitfalls for the unsuspecting enthusiast.
0:27:55 > 0:28:00As with any area of collecting, it is vitally important to research
0:28:00 > 0:28:01any potential purchase thoroughly -
0:28:01 > 0:28:05and, if necessary, do seek out expert advice.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Well, that's it for today's show.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Do join us again soon for more Trade Secrets.