Instruments Flog It: Trade Secrets


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Transcript


LineFromTo

Have you got more stuff in there?

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-No, that's my lunch.

-Is that your lunch?

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Probably all rubbish.

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OK, next, please.

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Have you seen anything nice yet?

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-I'm not telling.

-You're not telling!

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It's been well over ten years

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since you first started coming to our "Flog It!" valuation days

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and during that time, we've seen, valued and sold

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thousands of your unwanted antiques and collectibles

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and I've discovered there's so much more to learn

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about the world of fine art and antiques that we all love,

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so if you want to know more, you've come to the right place.

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Welcome to Trade Secrets.

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In today's programme, we're taking a close interest in instruments,

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both scientific and musical.

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You bring us a great deal of both varieties to the valuation days,

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so today we are sorting out the wheat from the chaff.

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Coming up, Amanda serenades Philip...

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I'll name that tune in one, absolutely!

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..head master Charlie gets firm with the Flog It contributors...

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-He's being rude, can you put him off?

-Yeah.

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We can't have him on Flog It!

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..and Adam Partridge shares some tricks of the trade.

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And that also has a built-in light.

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Whenever I see a musical instrument at a valuation day,

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I can't help but smile.

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I absolutely love them.

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Not only do they represent a pinnacle of human achievement,

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but they also reflect a nation's culture, language, art,

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politics, religion.

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So if music's your thing, what do you need to know?

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My tip would be vintage guitars.

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I've seen from some of the rock and pop sales that we've put on,

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prices and interest have rocketed.

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If you look at some of the Gibsons, Fender, Hofner,

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these things are just going up and up in value.

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If you've got a guitar that was John Lennon's,

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suddenly, it adds massive value.

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There is also a very strong market in concertinas.

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Some people call them squeeze-boxes.

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Those are the sort of things that you might be able to find

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in car boots and bric-a-brac shops where they've been discarded

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and some of them can be worth hundreds,

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even thousands of pounds, depending on which model you find.

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Some of these instruments are valuable

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because people want to play them,

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so if they're not in a playable condition,

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you really have to be a specialist in the area, I think.

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Ask Adam.

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Yes, Adam shares my passion for music and we view him

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as our resident musical instrument authority here on "Flog It!"

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Our valuation day's instruments, from the run of the mill

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to the weird and the wacky, gravitate towards his table.

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Wow, that was really good.

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But there's one musical instrument above all others

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which regular "Flog It!" viewers will associate Adam with.

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HE PLAYS HUNGARIAN DANCE NO. 5 BY JOHANNES BRAHMS

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I come from a violin-playing family.

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Both my parents are professional violinists, I grew up around it.

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From being a baby, I thought that everybody did that

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and once I was five, I picked one up and started learning it.

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It's got a one-piece back, there.

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Sometimes you have a two-piece back or a one-piece back.

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This is a one-piece back made from maple.

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On the front, there, we call that the table, violin people,

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rather than the front. That's made from pine.

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Try to avoid cracks on the front, the table, or on the back,

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because a crack will affect the resonance and, therefore,

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when you get it set up and you spend your £100 getting your bridge

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and your strings put on, you'll hear this buzzing where the crack is

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and the sound quality's not very good.

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Now, we always check the bows as well,

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because sometimes the bow can be worth more than the instrument.

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Oh, right.

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Let's have a quick look at that one.

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-Horsehair.

-Horsehair, yeah.

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Bows, of course, are a separate art form on their own.

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They're made from pernambuco, a valuable Brazilian hardwood,

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they're often mounted in silver and ivory,

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they're often stamped with a maker's name.

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We've had bows make many thousands of pounds

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that have come in with violins that are worth 200 quid.

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You haven't got any special individual value with the bows,

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so this is pretty good condition.

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People looking at this will think, "Oh, it's no good,

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"it's got no strings", but it really doesn't matter.

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You can pick up a violin pretty cheaply, really,

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and even if it hasn't got the strings and the bridge

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and everything on it, people say,

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"Oh, it's no good, it's got no strings on it." Just not the case.

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It's going to cost you £80-100 or something to get it all set up.

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Inside, there's a label.

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I can just glimpse a label there and it says "M Costelli, Paris."

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-Luthier Artistique, 1895.

-So it's French?

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-It's French.

-Oh, right.

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-She's smart, isn't she?

-Yeah. Oh, yeah.

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-Now, this Costelli sounds like an Italian name.

-It does.

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And the Italians are very well known for the finest violins.

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French violins are also quite highly regarded

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and then usually another step down to the German violins,

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which are more mass-produced.

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Never really believe a violin label.

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95% will say Stradivarius in any way

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and they'll be a German factory-made violin

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on the lines and the models of the Stradivarius shape.

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Costelli of Paris, I think, was just a name

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to make it sound more glamorous than saying

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"Made in Markneukirchen factory in Germany",

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which is where I think this was made.

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It was a slightly better quality German factory copy

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than any others, but I don't think...

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My violin books show no record of an M Costelli in Paris.

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This Costelli isn't a very well-known or highly regarded maker.

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-No.

-So I'd go on the cautious end and I'd put 100-200 estimate.

-Right.

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-And put a reserve of 100. It's definitely worth £100.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

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But did the bidders agree with Adam's estimate?

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475 online.

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-475?!

-500 on the phone.

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At £500.

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525.

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525 online.

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Final call.

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-At £525.

-Slow down!

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All done?

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No second thoughts?

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£525! That ended in a crescendo, didn't it?

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In my view, it's worth maybe £200-300

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and I think it made a bit more

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because you've got speculators online and in the room -

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"Oh, a French violin's better than a German.

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"It's got an Italian-sounding name, Costelli, goodness me.

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"This might be something really exciting,"

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and, in fact, it wasn't that exciting at all.

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So it was a good price.

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The label may not have fooled Adam,

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but the bidders were obviously wooed

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by the Italian-sounding maker's name, Costelli.

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If you are considering buying a musical instrument as an investment,

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then please do take care.

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A large proportion of violins, for example, purport to be made

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by celebrated makers, but they are, in fact, fakes.

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If you want the real thing, it will cost you dearly.

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There's only around 600 violins that survive today

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that were made by the great Antonio Stradivari.

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Now, one of those sold recently in auction in 2011

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for a staggering £9.8 million.

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Now, Philip was in for a treat when he met Amanda,

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who knew what to do with her musical instrument.

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So are you an accomplished saxophonist?

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-Is that the term?

-Not really, I can get a tune out of it sometimes.

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-You can get a tune?

-Well, sometimes.

-Sometimes?

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-Is this going to be a "sometimes"?

-Sometimes I make it squeak.

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Go on, girl, go for it.

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SHE PLAYS "CONGRATULATIONS"

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That's a bit of Harry Rodger Webb, isn't it?

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-That's the one!

-Is that Congratulations?

-It was!

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-I'll name that tune in one!

-At least you recognised it.

-Absolutely!

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People bring the strangest things,

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so I wasn't overly surprised to see a saxophone there,

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but I must admit, it is different from the usual massed ranks

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of Beatrix Potter figures

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and Clarice Cliff and all that sort of stuff.

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-Did you buy this?

-I did, yes.

-And did you save up?

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-No, I had to sell my bike.

-You sold your bike?! Oh, that's sad.

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-You sold your bike?

-I sold my bike and I bought the saxophone.

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So you've had it all this time and now you want to get rid of it?

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-Was it a phase that passed?

-It hasn't passed, it's still there.

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I just need the right saxophone so I can do it properly.

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-That's not the right saxophone?

-The fingering's different.

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They improved it?

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They actually improved it to make it easier to play.

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Which now means that somebody who is used to teaching a new instrument

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finds it very, very difficult to teach you to play the old one?

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And I didn't realise this when I bought it,

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not that it would have made a difference,

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because it's just beautiful to look at.

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I put what I thought was a fairly low estimate on it,

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because I felt that if she thought

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that it wasn't suitable as an instrument,

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then other people would think the same.

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I think an auction estimate for this is about £80-120.

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-Fingers crossed we get the top end.

-I hope you're right!

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It's going under the hammer now, this is it.

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-260, 280, 300...

-They absolutely love this.

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-320, 380...

-We're hitting all the high notes right now.

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440, 460, 480,

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£500, to my left at £500. Are we all done?

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Yes! Hammer's gone down. £500!

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What are you going to put the £500 towards?

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I'll probably get another saxophone, a tenor saxophone,

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and lessons to play it.

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The proceeds of sale meant that she could go

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and buy an instrument that suited her and she could learn to play it,

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so what a great result that is.

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Here's hoping Amanda's sax-playing skills

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have gone from strength to strength.

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Now, over the years

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we've seen all manner of musical instruments on the show.

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But you've haven't just brought us your instruments

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which make sweet music.

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Singing the blues, there.

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We've also seen fantastic examples

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of instruments which play back music too.

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In 2009, Charlie Ross was fortunate enough

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to stumble across one of the earliest prototypes.

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-Shall we dance?

-We shall.

-Put the music on.

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Hooray.

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I love your phonograph. How long have you had it?

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-About 55 years.

-55 years?!

-Yeah, it was in the family.

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-It was my father's, originally.

-You inherited it, did you?

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From Father, yeah.

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-You know who made it, don't you?

-Yeah, Edison.

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Edison, it's the Edison Gem,

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which was his standard model, if you like.

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-It was.

-First patented in about 1900.

-Yeah.

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And this, I would think, dates from about 1910.

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It was completely revolutionary

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to have something that could reproduce...

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A, record and B, reproduce sound,

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whether it be the spoken word or music.

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Thomas Edison really had come across something

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that's been dictating our lives ever since.

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What I really like about it -

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not only, obviously is the carrying case here,

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but that is the original sound box.

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It's a delight to see either a phonograph

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or a record player with its original tin trumpet

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and particularly with the original patination.

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Sometimes they've been repainted,

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more often than not, they've been lost,

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damaged and thrown away and then you get a replacement one

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and that knocks the value.

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The absolutely marvellous, quirky thing I like about this

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is the original cord that held it up

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from the stanchion I see someone has replaced with a chain,

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which looks distinctly like a gold watch chain to me.

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Are you guilty of that?

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-I am fully guilty.

-Well, may I say congratulations?

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You've considerably added to the value of it.

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The horn had been held up by an old piece of wire.

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His wife had said to him,

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"You can't take it to Flog It with that old bit of wire on there!

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"Put something else on there!"

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What did he put on?

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A gold chain!

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I think that's charming. How many cylinders have you got?

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We've got about nine or ten four-minute cylinders.

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Yes. Could we have a quick go?

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The three I've got left are all chipped and scratched.

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'When I was going up the stair last night the...'

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Harry Lauder.

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"Is that you, John?" I said, "Aye, it's me."

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-He's being rude, can you put him off?

-Yeah.

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We can't have him on Flog It!

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I thought it was going to be a nice, old Scottish ballad.

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-No, I'm sorry.

-You naughty man, David.

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-How much do you think it's worth?

-Oh, £200-300.

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£200-300?

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Do you know, I think it would have been 200-300 a few years ago,

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possibly a bit more.

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I think it's now 150-200.

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Two types of collector, really -

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the really academic collector who's always looking for the rarity...

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..the one that he hasn't got in his collection.

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The other collector is someone like you and me who actually likes it

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as an object and it's really quite good fun

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to have at a party to put it on.

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"Look what I've got." It's a fun object.

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Sounds like it's a "Come and buy me."

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It's going under the hammer right now. Good luck, you two.

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Edison Gem phonograph, straight in, 100.

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100 bid, 100, 110.

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120, 130.

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140, 150.

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160, 170.

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-Yes.

-180, 190.

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200, 210.

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220, 230.

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240, 250.

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260, 270.

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280, 290.

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-300, 310.

-Fantastic.

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-320, 330...

-We're making sweet music now.

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360, 370.

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At 370.

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You in on the phones?

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At 370. 380.

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Back at 380.

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At £380, I sell at the very back.

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-Wonderful.

-380, you're all out down here.

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-Yes!

-Yes!

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Thank you!

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-That's superb!

-Yes, thank you very much.

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Great pleasure.

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There are two reasons why it sold well.

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One is, it had its original horn.

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Secondly, obviously,

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the price reflected the fact that the horn was held up

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by a gold chain and I'm sure whoever bought the object

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would have done something else with the gold chain,

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probably sold the gold chain

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or wore the gold chain and put another wire on it.

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So there's a top tip for you -

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if you want to bump up the auction value of your antique instrument,

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offer the bidders a buy one, get one free deal.

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Now, seemingly, James Lewis had an easier job when he valued

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David's concertina, as it didn't come with any hidden extras.

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Let's have a look at this.

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"C Wheatstone and Co, inventors, patentees and manufacturers

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"of concertinas, aeolas." Based in London.

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Now, I'm not a specialist in the concertinas,

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so I've phoned a few friends

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and I looked it up on the internet before coming to the table here

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and Wheatstone's first concertinas are listed between 1842 and 1847.

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This one is slightly later than that,

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probably made between 1860 and 1890.

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You take something in on a valuation day and at the end of the day,

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we can see anything from a Roman coin through to a 1960s lamp base

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and it can be anything in between

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and we can't know everything about everything.

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It's just really important to...

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..just do that research.

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The value really depends so much on how many keys

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and the quality of the materials.

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This one is ebonised rather than rosewood

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and the front and the back plates are pierced chrome

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rather than pierced silver,

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but it's still a very good model.

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There is a huge following for musical instruments.

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You tend to find that the buyers of the antique instruments

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also have an interest in modern music

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and they often play them themselves.

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Whatever I get for it will go to restore an old guitar that I've got.

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-Restore one?

-Yeah.

-Why not buy a new guitar?

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Cos I like the one I've got.

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It's from the '60s and it's a wee bit damaged.

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-I think it's going to make between £150 and £250.

-Right.

0:16:280:16:34

James admits he isn't an authority on concertinas,

0:16:350:16:38

so did his auction estimate prove to be on the money?

0:16:380:16:42

Anita Manning was the lady whose job it was to wield the gavel,

0:16:420:16:45

so what did she make of the concertina?

0:16:450:16:48

These concertinas come up on a fairly regular basis

0:16:480:16:52

and when you see that name Wheatstone,

0:16:520:16:56

you know that's it's good. Wheatstone is the Rolls-Royce...

0:16:560:17:01

..of concertinas.

0:17:020:17:04

I don't know if James had been talking to Anita,

0:17:040:17:06

but when it came to the auction,

0:17:060:17:08

he had second thoughts about his estimate.

0:17:080:17:10

On the valuation, I looked at it and thought, "Is it a good one,

0:17:100:17:14

-"or isn't it a good one?"

-It's a great make, it's the best.

0:17:140:17:16

Great make, but I didn't know if it was a really good one,

0:17:160:17:18

so we checked up on the internet.

0:17:180:17:20

We thought, "Fabulous."

0:17:200:17:21

Yes? "Found that one, that one, they've all sold around £200.

0:17:210:17:24

"Let's put 150-250 on it."

0:17:240:17:26

A week last Friday...

0:17:260:17:27

A week last Thursday, I was taking a sale

0:17:270:17:29

where I'd put exactly that estimate.

0:17:290:17:31

-I'm not going to tell you. I've written on here what it made.

-OK.

0:17:310:17:34

We're going to have a grand reveal later on.

0:17:340:17:36

So what was the final outcome?

0:17:360:17:38

Had James under or overvalued David's Wheatstone concertina?

0:17:380:17:42

920.

0:17:420:17:44

940.

0:17:440:17:46

960.

0:17:460:17:47

980.

0:17:490:17:50

1,000.

0:17:520:17:54

1,050.

0:17:540:17:56

1,100.

0:17:570:17:59

1,100 with Lara on the phone.

0:17:590:18:02

1,100.

0:18:020:18:04

Any advance on 1,100? All done at 1,100. 1,100.

0:18:040:18:09

-Yes!

-£1,100!

0:18:090:18:12

Why didn't you say that on the day?

0:18:120:18:13

Because it was only a week last Thursday.

0:18:130:18:16

But the end of it, I think he had enough money to buy a new guitar!

0:18:160:18:20

He didn't need to restore the old one.

0:18:200:18:22

It was a lovely story, that he had an old musical instrument

0:18:220:18:25

that meant something to him, that he was going to get restored

0:18:250:18:28

and, yeah, I hope he knows more about guitars

0:18:280:18:31

than I know about concertinas!

0:18:310:18:33

To be fair to James, it's easy to get things wrong

0:18:350:18:37

when it comes to musical instruments.

0:18:370:18:39

Prices are unpredictable.

0:18:390:18:41

There are many things to be aware of.

0:18:410:18:43

Always check condition. Concertina bellows are prone to splitting.

0:18:430:18:47

You've got a little bit of damage, obviously, on the actual pull-outs.

0:18:470:18:51

The other thing you have to look for is the number of keys.

0:18:510:18:54

They can be as low as 14 for quite poor quality ones

0:18:540:18:58

and over 30-something for the very high quality machines.

0:18:580:19:02

This one is mid-range.

0:19:020:19:03

-There's 25, I think, here.

-Yeah.

0:19:030:19:06

Only the finest concertinas make big money,

0:19:060:19:08

because any inadequacies will affect the sale price.

0:19:080:19:12

300 standing. Any further bids? All done?

0:19:120:19:14

At 300 I'm selling, here.

0:19:140:19:16

That was sort and sweet, wasn't it? £300.

0:19:160:19:20

But what other things do you need to be mindful of

0:19:200:19:23

when investing in different types of musical instruments?

0:19:230:19:26

If you want to play the saxophone and are buying at auction,

0:19:260:19:29

check out the fingering on the instrument,

0:19:290:19:31

which varies on models of different ages.

0:19:310:19:34

David demonstrates a nifty trick to increase the value of your antique.

0:19:360:19:40

Add a second valuable collectible to the lot.

0:19:400:19:43

And if you're in the market for a violin, there's a lot to consider.

0:19:430:19:46

Check the table for cracks, which will affect the sound quality.

0:19:460:19:50

Be wary of labels.

0:19:500:19:52

Violins can purport to be something they're not.

0:19:520:19:55

Examine the bow, as it can be worth more than the violin

0:19:550:19:58

and don't fret if the strings or bridge are missing.

0:19:580:20:01

These are easily replaced.

0:20:010:20:03

Adam Partridge is firmly established as Flog It's resident musician,

0:20:100:20:15

so he's bound to have something intriguing in his own collection.

0:20:150:20:19

Well, I've always had an interest in musical instruments of all sorts,

0:20:190:20:23

specifically violins and stringed instruments

0:20:230:20:26

and I couldn't resist it

0:20:260:20:27

when I saw this coming up quite cheaply for sale because it is

0:20:270:20:31

quite a rare thing, it's an early 20th-century phonofiddle.

0:20:310:20:35

These were invented when the age of the gramophone started kicking in

0:20:350:20:39

and people were recording music onto records for playing in the home

0:20:390:20:43

and recording techniques weren't that strong

0:20:430:20:46

so they decided that they'd make a violin with a horn on the end of it.

0:20:460:20:50

It was a novelty item as well and I think they were quite cheap

0:20:500:20:54

to produce and to buy and people... they were used in music halls

0:20:540:20:57

and on the streets and busking and everything else.

0:20:570:21:00

Now, I've never really played it before,

0:21:000:21:03

so it doesn't make a very nice sound.

0:21:030:21:06

I will warn you, it doesn't sound good. How about this?

0:21:060:21:10

SQUEAKY VIOLIN/CELLO SOUND

0:21:100:21:18

Do you recognise that?

0:21:230:21:25

It's my attempt at a bit of the Flog It theme tune on a phonofiddle.

0:21:250:21:29

The main maker was Howson of London

0:21:290:21:32

and there on the side of this one here

0:21:320:21:35

you can see the circular brass disc that shows his name.

0:21:350:21:40

There were a range of models and this was the basic one-string model.

0:21:400:21:44

But they did do a four-string model

0:21:440:21:46

which would have been a lot easier to play

0:21:460:21:48

and it would have been a lot more helpful

0:21:480:21:50

if it was under the chin as well

0:21:500:21:52

because that's more what I'm used to,

0:21:520:21:54

I'm not used to this between-the-legs business,

0:21:540:21:57

very tricky indeed.

0:21:570:21:58

But quite a curiosity.

0:21:580:22:00

I think I paid about £50 for this one

0:22:000:22:02

but I've seen them make £100 to £150 at auction before, so,

0:22:020:22:06

hopefully, one day there will be a small profit for me,

0:22:060:22:09

although I don't plan on selling it any time soon.

0:22:090:22:12

The 18th century was dominated with a new spirit of curiosity.

0:22:180:22:22

This was the Age of Enlightenment,

0:22:220:22:24

when serious thinkers believed in shedding the light of science

0:22:260:22:29

and reason over the world, questioning old ideas

0:22:290:22:33

and ways of doing things, pushing the boundaries of new technology.

0:22:330:22:37

Many great inventions took place during this period.

0:22:370:22:41

The first mercury thermometer for instance, the diving bell.

0:22:410:22:45

There are many, many more

0:22:450:22:46

and lots of fun things too, like a clock that's in this room.

0:22:460:22:50

Let's go.

0:22:500:22:51

And here it is, albeit a clock hanging from the ceiling,

0:22:570:23:00

obviously designed to put a smile on your face,

0:23:000:23:03

exactly what this little room does as well, designed to titillate.

0:23:030:23:08

But let's take a closer look at the clock.

0:23:080:23:10

It's got a 4.5 inch enamel dial with Roman numerals.

0:23:100:23:14

Now, clocks weren't new in the 18th century,

0:23:140:23:16

they go back a lot further, but this is a first

0:23:160:23:19

because the timepiece has a mechanical singing bird.

0:23:190:23:23

This enchanting type of antique is known as an automaton.

0:23:260:23:31

The term refers to an object which is self-operating

0:23:310:23:34

and works mechanically.

0:23:340:23:36

Automata can be split into two broad categories,

0:23:360:23:39

functional objects such as clocks or collectables

0:23:390:23:42

which are decorative,

0:23:420:23:44

or entertaining like the bird-cage clock.

0:23:440:23:47

Many of the automata we've seen on the show

0:23:470:23:50

have had a musical component.

0:23:500:23:52

These are singing bird boxes and they...

0:23:520:23:54

they are part of the sort of automaton tradition.

0:23:540:23:59

So it sort of flips up

0:23:590:24:00

and then you've got this pretty songbird

0:24:000:24:03

-which actually should be moving and flapping its wings.

-Yes.

0:24:030:24:06

-My estimate for this would be £500-£700.

-Yes.

0:24:060:24:11

At £1,100, I'm selling in the room

0:24:110:24:14

it's going to be sold in the room at £1,100.

0:24:140:24:17

Yes! £1,100. Carol, fantastic.

0:24:170:24:20

Not all automata play a tune, though.

0:24:230:24:26

Those that don't can be just as captivating.

0:24:260:24:28

Most of the automata made in recent centuries

0:24:310:24:34

operate by clockwork, but automata have been around since ancient times

0:24:340:24:38

and some of the earliest examples were set in motion by water,

0:24:380:24:42

falling weights or steam.

0:24:420:24:44

Today, there is a massive worldwide market for all types of automata,

0:24:460:24:50

musical or otherwise.

0:24:500:24:52

Delightful objects from the period 1860 to 1910

0:24:560:24:59

are especially sought after,

0:24:590:25:01

as this was really the golden age of automata.

0:25:030:25:06

But be wary, our experts have a word of warning.

0:25:070:25:11

I think if you're going to look into collecting automata

0:25:110:25:14

you want to go for the very best French makers

0:25:140:25:17

from the mid-to late 19th century,

0:25:170:25:20

although they will be incredibly expensive.

0:25:200:25:23

Some of the finest ones can be £30,000, £40,000, £50,000 plus.

0:25:230:25:27

As a starter piece, why not have a look

0:25:270:25:29

at one of those birdcage automata

0:25:290:25:31

where you can pick up even a later, a 1950s one,

0:25:310:25:36

mechanical movement, clockwork bird in a cage, you wind it

0:25:360:25:39

and it tweets and it moves about

0:25:390:25:41

and you can probably get one of those for between £100 and £300.

0:25:410:25:45

The number one thing is that it is working correctly

0:25:450:25:50

and that the musical movement is in really perfect working order.

0:25:500:25:56

They are very, very expensive to have restored

0:25:560:25:58

so get one in as good condition as you can find.

0:25:580:26:02

That will mean spending a bit more but it's usually worth it.

0:26:020:26:05

I would recommend choosing an automaton

0:26:070:26:09

which will leave you spellbound.

0:26:090:26:11

Everyone on the Flog It! team has their own way of sniffing out

0:26:170:26:20

quality antiques and collectables.

0:26:200:26:22

But this show is all about getting you in the know

0:26:220:26:25

so we've asked Adam Partridge to reveal

0:26:250:26:27

the secrets of his success as a collector of fine things.

0:26:270:26:30

Most days in the course of my day job, running an auction house,

0:26:330:26:36

I'm out on the road visiting people, doing valuations in their homes.

0:26:360:26:40

You never know what people are going to show you

0:26:400:26:42

so there are a few essential instruments or gadgets,

0:26:420:26:45

tools of the trade that I need to take with me.

0:26:450:26:48

And they are all contained in this little box here.

0:26:480:26:51

And now I'm going to show you what those instruments are,

0:26:510:26:54

so that you can take similar things with you

0:26:540:26:56

when you go out buying or antiques hunting.

0:26:560:26:58

Well, I would say the most essential tool of the trade is the loupe

0:27:010:27:05

or the eyeglass and being quite forgetful, being very busy,

0:27:050:27:08

I have to actually get dressed in the morning and put one on.

0:27:080:27:10

I always wear one around my neck,

0:27:100:27:12

which sometimes causes a funny, unsightly bulge in my stomach

0:27:120:27:15

but there it is there, and obviously this is used

0:27:150:27:18

for having a look at things in greater detail

0:27:180:27:20

whether it be a gemstone, a diamond,

0:27:200:27:23

a silver hallmark or any other thing that you might come across.

0:27:230:27:26

Bring the object close to you, right up to the eye

0:27:260:27:30

and then you can very clearly see the hallmark.

0:27:300:27:33

This one's a fairly standard loupe,

0:27:330:27:35

it only magnifies by 10 times, but you can get stronger ones here

0:27:350:27:40

and I have my special one here

0:27:400:27:42

which is a 20 times triplet magnification

0:27:420:27:45

and that also has a built-in light.

0:27:450:27:48

But it doesn't fit round my neck so comfortably.

0:27:480:27:52

It's very useful for looking at silver hallmarks.

0:27:520:27:55

And obviously some of them are very small

0:27:550:27:58

such as jewellery ones,

0:27:580:28:00

it's an absolute essential for any amateur collector of silver.

0:28:000:28:04

When you're looking at a diamond

0:28:080:28:09

you have a look under the loupe, you can weigh it.

0:28:090:28:12

But another important and very affordable piece of kit,

0:28:120:28:14

this is just a few pounds, it's a simple plastic diamond gauge

0:28:140:28:19

and you sit your diamond through until it fits the right hole

0:28:190:28:24

and there we go, that one looks as though it's 3.5 carats

0:28:240:28:26

which is quite a substantial diamond, actually.

0:28:260:28:29

Typically, you'd have a set of these balance scales

0:28:300:28:33

as well as digital scales for lighter things

0:28:330:28:36

and you simply hook this around here

0:28:360:28:39

and the silver is in troy ounces

0:28:390:28:41

and that tells me that that is 17 ounces.

0:28:410:28:45

If you're wondering what a troy ounce is,

0:28:460:28:49

it's a unit of imperial measure

0:28:490:28:50

which is most commonly used for weighing precious metals.

0:28:500:28:54

One troy ounce equates to just over 31g.

0:28:540:28:57

Another useful tool that you may wish to take with you

0:28:590:29:02

when you're going looking for antiques is a simple pocket torch.

0:29:020:29:06

It's particularly useful when you're looking at very dark pieces of furniture

0:29:060:29:10

because a lot of oak furniture from the 16th, 17th, 18th centuries

0:29:100:29:12

has had modifications, has had changes made,

0:29:120:29:15

and a torch just might pick those out

0:29:150:29:18

where the naked eye might have failed in doing so.

0:29:180:29:21

Check for telltale signs that the drawers have been running in and out

0:29:210:29:25

for hundreds of years.

0:29:250:29:26

Check on locks, handles,

0:29:270:29:30

any replacements in the construction of the piece.

0:29:300:29:32

So, very handy to have a little pocket torch, I think.

0:29:320:29:36

I have a device which blows pure air over watch parts

0:29:390:29:44

to make sure that they are working correctly.

0:29:440:29:46

Rather than blow using your breath

0:29:460:29:48

that emits moisture over the watch parts,

0:29:480:29:51

it's much better to have pure air.

0:29:510:29:53

I collect watches and take this to all the auctions.

0:29:530:29:57

We often look at watches and pocket watches

0:29:570:29:59

and things like that, and you need to open them up to have a look

0:29:590:30:02

at the back of them to see what they're made from

0:30:020:30:05

and any makers' marks etc.

0:30:050:30:06

I tend to keep this thumbnail quite long.

0:30:060:30:09

My son calls it my pocket watch nail,

0:30:090:30:11

and I tend to grow that

0:30:110:30:13

and dig it in and there you go, it normally works.

0:30:130:30:17

But in the absence of a special long nail,

0:30:170:30:19

a watch opener might be a good idea.

0:30:190:30:22

Lots of people use a penknife

0:30:220:30:24

but a proper watch opener is a better tool to use

0:30:240:30:27

because it's not going to scratch the material that you're opening.

0:30:270:30:31

And what have I got here? There it is. What's that?

0:30:310:30:35

It looks like a pen, doesn't it? But it's a magnet.

0:30:350:30:38

What on Earth would you want a magnet for?

0:30:380:30:40

Well, firstly when we're looking at bronzes,

0:30:400:30:43

some bronzes are patinated cast iron to simulate bronze.

0:30:430:30:47

Bronze is not magnetic, cast iron is.

0:30:470:30:50

A magnet is quite a useful piece of kit.

0:30:500:30:52

It's also useful when you're looking through job lots of jewellery.

0:30:520:30:55

For example, you've cleared a house

0:30:550:30:57

and there's a whole drawer full

0:30:570:30:58

and you think, "Oh, what's gold, what isn't?"

0:30:580:31:00

Well, you go through it with your magnet - well, that's not.

0:31:000:31:04

Anything that's not is usually picked up by your magnet.

0:31:040:31:07

This is telescopic, as well.

0:31:070:31:09

There we go - all of that, costume jewellery, not gold.

0:31:110:31:15

Restoration of ceramics and porcelain

0:31:180:31:21

shows up much better under a UV light.

0:31:210:31:24

If you just see here, this torch really helps show up

0:31:240:31:28

the fact that this handle has been replaced on this little cup, here.

0:31:280:31:32

All these tools and instruments I've shown you

0:31:320:31:34

are very accessible items, they're all easy to get,

0:31:340:31:38

all pretty reasonable, as well.

0:31:380:31:40

It's important to have a little tool kit with you

0:31:400:31:42

when you're going out looking for antiques.

0:31:420:31:44

It depends, of course, what you're interested in -

0:31:440:31:46

different tools are suitable for different interests and disciplines.

0:31:460:31:49

But it does give you that head start

0:31:490:31:51

on the buyers that have come unprepared

0:31:510:31:53

if you manage to spot the restoration

0:31:530:31:54

because you've got a little UV torch, if you've noticed something

0:31:540:31:58

because you've got your loupe with you and others haven't.

0:31:580:32:01

It just keeps you that one step ahead of the others.

0:32:010:32:04

Still to come, Philip has some fun with Dorrie and Pat.

0:32:100:32:14

This will make you laugh, Dorrie!

0:32:140:32:16

HE LAUGHS

0:32:160:32:17

And there are plenty of delighted people at auction.

0:32:170:32:21

-Wasn't that good? Wasn't that good?

-Amazing!

0:32:210:32:24

Everybody is giving you a round of applause in the auction room.

0:32:240:32:27

Wow!

0:32:280:32:29

Of course, it isn't just musical instruments

0:32:340:32:37

that turn up at our valuations days.

0:32:370:32:39

Those from a more technical background are hugely popular, too.

0:32:390:32:43

And whilst Adam may be our expert on all things melodious,

0:32:430:32:46

Catherine Southon's passion

0:32:460:32:48

is for instruments of a scientific background.

0:32:480:32:51

Now, you may look at this and think "What is it?"

0:32:530:32:56

And that's actually what I thought when I first saw this,

0:32:560:32:58

when I saw a picture of it.

0:32:580:33:00

This was actually sold in a French auction house

0:33:000:33:03

and this is covered with shagreen, which is a wonderful, rich material,

0:33:030:33:10

and it's actually dyed ray skin, or shark skin.

0:33:100:33:14

You can see that it's signed by a maker called Thomas Ribright

0:33:140:33:18

and he was a maker to the royal family

0:33:180:33:21

in the third quarter of the 18th century,

0:33:210:33:24

so this piece probably dates to about 1760.

0:33:240:33:28

But what is it?

0:33:290:33:30

Well, this has magnifiers at either end,

0:33:300:33:36

and inside, we have a little set of instruments.

0:33:360:33:40

We have a little pair of scissors.

0:33:400:33:42

We have...

0:33:420:33:44

..this little ivory...almost like a note pad,

0:33:460:33:50

that you could scribble on in pencil.

0:33:500:33:54

And we've got a set of tweezers.

0:33:540:33:58

We've got some other bits and pieces as well.

0:34:010:34:04

But they're just beautiful.

0:34:040:34:07

And they fit in here so neatly.

0:34:070:34:11

Then you can take the top off...

0:34:110:34:15

..and have a little peep through it.

0:34:160:34:19

..and magnify your little specimen

0:34:200:34:24

or anything else you might like to see.

0:34:240:34:26

The sort of person

0:34:260:34:27

that probably would have carried something like this

0:34:270:34:30

could have been a surgeon or maybe a doctor.

0:34:300:34:33

It would have been a gentleman, a very wealthy gentleman,

0:34:330:34:35

which would have kept something like this in his pocket

0:34:350:34:38

when he was out travelling.

0:34:380:34:40

You're probably wondering how much it cost -

0:34:400:34:43

well, I did a telephone bid for it, in French,

0:34:430:34:47

which was a bit tricky,

0:34:470:34:50

and I spent £2,000,

0:34:500:34:52

which you probably think is quite a lot.

0:34:520:34:54

But I've seen these now sell for nearer £3,000.

0:34:540:34:59

But I'm never going to sell it.

0:34:590:35:01

It's a great investment and a wonderful piece of history.

0:35:010:35:05

We see lots of instruments of a scientific nature

0:35:100:35:13

turning up at our Flog It! valuation days.

0:35:130:35:15

Marvellous compasses and barometers and slightly rarer items,

0:35:150:35:19

such as microscopes and sextants.

0:35:190:35:22

So, which scientific instruments should you be looking out for?

0:35:220:35:25

A good entry-level piece for a collector of instruments

0:35:250:35:29

might be a simple, extending telescope that you can pick up.

0:35:290:35:33

They were made in large quantities, end of the 19th century

0:35:330:35:35

and you can pick up a decent telescope for £50.

0:35:350:35:38

Microscopes, that often came in big cases,

0:35:380:35:41

they would have a number of eyepieces and slides

0:35:410:35:44

and things that went with them

0:35:440:35:46

and lots of individual accessories like tweezers -

0:35:460:35:49

people like to see things in good, original, complete condition.

0:35:490:35:54

You can pick up a barometer pretty cheaply today,

0:35:540:35:56

and what could be better than going off to work in the morning,

0:35:560:35:59

walking down the hall

0:35:590:36:01

and just tapping the barometer as you pass.

0:36:010:36:03

I think there's something charming about that.

0:36:030:36:05

The pitfalls with early scientific instruments

0:36:050:36:08

are that they're being forged on a large scale,

0:36:080:36:12

and very convincingly, by the Chinese,

0:36:120:36:15

and have done for the last five or six years

0:36:150:36:17

and they're able to forge them to quite a high standard.

0:36:170:36:21

So if you were at a car boot fair and someone shows you something

0:36:210:36:24

that looks like an 18th century brass pocket dial

0:36:240:36:27

and it's £30,

0:36:270:36:29

it's probably come off the boat last week.

0:36:290:36:31

Back in 2004,

0:36:310:36:33

an exquisite example of a pocket sundial

0:36:330:36:36

thrilled two of our experts,

0:36:360:36:38

who were confident it hadn't just come off the boat.

0:36:380:36:41

The late, great David Barby had the pleasure of valuing the item

0:36:410:36:45

whilst Charlie Ross wielded the gavel.

0:36:450:36:48

As an auctioneer, you are always thrilled to see quality

0:36:480:36:52

and dear David didn't let us down on this occasion.

0:36:520:36:55

I saw you in the queue and you brought this out of a paper bag

0:36:560:37:00

and I was absolutely amazed to find an object of such quality.

0:37:000:37:04

-Good.

-It is a lovely example of what we term as a pocket sundial.

0:37:040:37:10

What is so good about it is the case, the original case.

0:37:100:37:15

Cardboard construction

0:37:150:37:19

and then covered in a fish skin that we call shagreen.

0:37:190:37:23

The fact that it had its original shagreen case was wonderful -

0:37:230:37:28

shark skin or fish skin case, sometimes stingray skin case.

0:37:280:37:34

To have that - and, of course,

0:37:340:37:36

the fact that it had still got its case -

0:37:360:37:39

meant that the instrument itself was in such good condition.

0:37:390:37:44

Inside, you've even got the original maker's label,

0:37:440:37:47

which is "J Abraham - Optician, Bath."

0:37:470:37:52

He actually made things for the Duke of Wellington,

0:37:520:37:55

so the highest, highest order.

0:37:550:37:58

Early 19th century, workmanship was fabulous -

0:37:580:38:01

you look at this thing, it's just superbly made.

0:38:010:38:03

I'm going to turn it upside-down,

0:38:030:38:05

because it's important to see, on the bottom...can you see that?

0:38:050:38:09

Engraved, you have various destinations -

0:38:090:38:11

London, Dublin, Paris,

0:38:110:38:14

Petersburgh, Bath, Edinburgh.

0:38:140:38:17

-And against that are all the latitudes.

-Yeah.

0:38:170:38:20

So when this is on a flat surface and you can adjust it -

0:38:200:38:24

because there are two little spirit levels inside -

0:38:240:38:26

by turning those, you can adjust the feet.

0:38:260:38:31

So it's absolutely level.

0:38:310:38:33

-Now, all the way around here, you have an indication of time.

-Yes.

0:38:330:38:39

So you adjust that section with this lever.

0:38:390:38:43

This is the actual sundial section.

0:38:450:38:49

When it's pulled up, it is always facing north.

0:38:490:38:54

So once you've got the position north, the sun will shine,

0:38:540:38:57

and on this scale here, you'll be able to tell the time.

0:38:570:39:01

The ingenuity and the thought processes

0:39:010:39:05

for somebody to be able to make something like that,

0:39:050:39:07

that's A, accurate, and B, portable, and C, hard-wearing...

0:39:070:39:13

It's really quite remarkable.

0:39:130:39:15

If it goes up to auction.

0:39:150:39:17

I think it's going to sell between...£500-£800.

0:39:170:39:21

Oh! Ooh!

0:39:210:39:23

-It could go well over.

-Really?

-Yes.

0:39:230:39:27

How does that feel?

0:39:270:39:28

- That's wonderful. - Comfortable.

0:39:280:39:30

Comfortable!

0:39:300:39:31

-I hope I'm right.

-That's wonderful.

0:39:310:39:33

So when it came to the auction,

0:39:330:39:35

were the buyers as enamoured of the sundial as David and Charlie?

0:39:350:39:39

It came as no surprise at all to me

0:39:390:39:42

that by the time we got to the auction,

0:39:420:39:44

we'd already had huge interest.

0:39:440:39:47

People had, to a certain extent,

0:39:470:39:49

shown their hand by booking the telephone.

0:39:490:39:52

Em...

0:39:520:39:54

You wouldn't expect somebody to book a telephone

0:39:540:39:57

to bid for something

0:39:570:39:58

unless they were going to go at least up to your estimate,

0:39:580:40:01

probably a bit more.

0:40:010:40:03

The bid's now in the room at £1,400. £1,500, may I say?

0:40:030:40:07

1,500.

0:40:070:40:09

No. 1,500.

0:40:090:40:11

1,600?

0:40:110:40:13

1,500 on telephone one.

0:40:130:40:16

At 1,500, and I sell then at £1,500.

0:40:160:40:22

-Yes! How about that?

-I cannot believe it!

0:40:230:40:27

I cannot believe...

0:40:270:40:29

-Wasn't that good? Wasn't that good?

-It's amazing!

0:40:290:40:31

Sale price was splendid.

0:40:310:40:33

It certainly thrilled David,

0:40:330:40:34

David was jumping around like there was no tomorrow when it sold.

0:40:340:40:39

I can only say it must have been a tremendous auctioneer.

0:40:390:40:43

Modest as ever, Charlie!

0:40:430:40:44

'I love it when we exceed everyone's expectations.'

0:40:440:40:48

The bidders were clamouring to get their hands on the sundial,

0:40:480:40:52

whose precision engineering was out of this world.

0:40:520:40:56

Sometimes, it's the more fun and frivolous item

0:40:560:40:59

which can catch the eye of our expert, though.

0:40:590:41:01

A "magneto-electric machine."

0:41:010:41:04

And it says here, "For nervous" - that's me - "and other diseases."

0:41:040:41:09

"This machine has been designed especially for the use

0:41:090:41:12

"of the medical profession

0:41:120:41:14

"and for invalids who are unable to take exercise,

0:41:140:41:18

"suffering from rheumatism and various nervous complaints."

0:41:180:41:22

You've got this huge, great magnet, there.

0:41:220:41:25

Then, you've got this lovely little...almost like a fly wheel,

0:41:250:41:29

that's cranked here, and that...

0:41:290:41:31

You turn that round and round and round,

0:41:310:41:35

but with this magnet, it creates an electric shock.

0:41:350:41:38

Picture the scenario, OK?

0:41:380:41:40

You're feeling slightly unwell, just a little bit under the weather,

0:41:400:41:43

and you book an appointment at the doctor's.

0:41:430:41:46

And you walk in and he hands you these two brass things and says,

0:41:460:41:49

"Hold these while I give you an electric shock."

0:41:490:41:52

Then you plonk that...down in there.

0:41:530:41:57

And you plonk that in there.

0:41:590:42:00

And then you hold it...

0:42:020:42:03

-I don't want my finger in there.

-No, just...

0:42:040:42:07

-Look, do I look like I'd hurt you?

-Well...I'm not sure!

0:42:070:42:11

I think Pat was pretty sound,

0:42:110:42:13

I'm not sure that Pat needed this device attached to herself,

0:42:130:42:17

but...it's always a good threat, isn't it?

0:42:170:42:19

If they start getting out of line,

0:42:190:42:21

you can just threaten to crank them up to the machine.

0:42:210:42:24

We should carry that around with us on valuation days.

0:42:240:42:27

Come on, now...

0:42:270:42:29

This will make you laugh, Dorrie.

0:42:290:42:30

HE LAUGHS

0:42:300:42:32

There was no way I was ever going to hold those things.

0:42:320:42:34

Quite happy for them to have a go, and I'll crank it up,

0:42:340:42:38

but, no, no...I don't like shocks.

0:42:380:42:41

-It's no more than about 100V, honestly.

-Oh, no more than 100?

0:42:410:42:44

-That's all right, then.

-You won't feel a thing.

0:42:440:42:47

-Doesn't do anything, does it?

-Nothing's happening, no!

0:42:480:42:51

The Victorians did believe that the electric shock

0:42:510:42:55

actually produced some sort of benefit for you

0:42:550:42:58

and if you think about it,

0:42:580:43:00

there's a certain electricity running through your body,

0:43:000:43:02

your nerve endings. It operates muscles and the like.

0:43:020:43:05

And I suppose that must all be interconnected.

0:43:050:43:07

But it doesn't do it for me.

0:43:070:43:09

I think, girls, that this is going to make probably £20-£30.

0:43:090:43:13

Put a reserve on it of a tenner

0:43:130:43:15

and I just think someone'll have a bit of fun with it.

0:43:150:43:17

Medical instruments, or even items of torture,

0:43:170:43:20

there's a massive area of collectability for these.

0:43:200:43:23

Now, our little electric shock machine,

0:43:230:43:25

I think this was just a little...I've got to say,

0:43:250:43:31

probably a Victorian gimmicky thing, really.

0:43:310:43:33

Enough to make your hair stand on end!

0:43:330:43:34

Let's see what the bidders think of this.

0:43:340:43:36

It's going under the hammer right now.

0:43:360:43:38

10, 12, 15, 18, 20,

0:43:380:43:41

20, 20 - 22. Five, eight, 30.

0:43:410:43:45

£30!

0:43:450:43:47

And bid two - 32?

0:43:480:43:51

£30, the bid in the room, selling on £30, then...

0:43:510:43:55

-Yes, £30.

-Well done, yeah!

0:43:550:43:58

Shocked?!

0:43:580:43:59

LAUGHTER

0:43:590:44:00

Dorrie and Pat were absolute stars, you know, and for me,

0:44:000:44:03

that's what makes a programme - very often,

0:44:030:44:06

the contributor is more important than the item they bring.

0:44:060:44:09

They were just great to talk to.

0:44:090:44:11

Whilst Dorrie and Pat's electro-magneto machine

0:44:110:44:14

was mostly a bit of fun,

0:44:140:44:15

there is, in fact, a huge market out there for medical instruments.

0:44:150:44:19

'And many of the collectables we see on the show

0:44:190:44:22

'are a darn side more grisly.'

0:44:220:44:25

It's a field surgeon's kit.

0:44:250:44:27

Let's pick up the most obvious one, shall we?

0:44:270:44:30

-The most gruesome one?

-Yes.

0:44:300:44:32

This is definitely for amputation, isn't it?

0:44:320:44:35

Oh, dear - that is sharp,

0:44:360:44:38

and there's about seven teeth to the inch, there.

0:44:380:44:41

That would rip through anything.

0:44:410:44:43

It does make me feel slightly queasy, handling these. Ugh...

0:44:430:44:46

Not the sort of thing that every house should have.

0:44:460:44:48

But I tell you what,

0:44:480:44:49

there are a lot of collectors that would be interested in this, yes.

0:44:490:44:53

'Collectors of medical items

0:44:530:44:55

'often tend to work in the field themselves -

0:44:550:44:57

'think doctors, pharmacists, dentists and the like.'

0:44:570:45:00

'But did any of them turn up to bid on the field surgeon's kit?'

0:45:000:45:04

260, 270...

0:45:040:45:06

280.

0:45:060:45:09

280, I'll take a fiver, at £280 for the last time?

0:45:090:45:14

-That's good.

-280.

0:45:140:45:16

Yes, £280.

0:45:160:45:18

'And there are other medical collectables which turn up

0:45:180:45:21

'at our valuation days. A good example is the apothecary cabinet.

0:45:210:45:25

'If you're in the market for one, what do you need to consider?'

0:45:250:45:28

Originality is vital.

0:45:280:45:30

So if you've got an apothecary cabinet with

0:45:300:45:33

its original maker's label,

0:45:330:45:34

its original bottles, its original scales,

0:45:340:45:38

its original weight, pestle and mortar,

0:45:380:45:40

then it's going to be more desirable than one with replaced parts.

0:45:400:45:45

'And the age, the size and the quality of the cabinet

0:45:450:45:48

'are hugely important too.

0:45:480:45:49

'Jethro Marles came across a fantastic specimen back in 2006.'

0:45:510:45:56

It's a wonderful little cabinet.

0:45:560:45:58

And of course you've got everything in here,

0:45:580:46:00

all of the bottles are here.

0:46:000:46:02

If we open up this drawer here, we've got the scales

0:46:020:46:05

for weighing out your powders and all your chemicals,

0:46:050:46:08

the funnel for funnelling it into the different tubes.

0:46:080:46:10

A secret drawer, there's nothing secret in that one at the moment.

0:46:100:46:13

And it all fits beautifully.

0:46:130:46:16

So beautifully made, beautiful.

0:46:160:46:18

It's mahogany, of course, and date-wise,

0:46:180:46:21

it's probably going to be,

0:46:210:46:22

I would have thought about 130 years old.

0:46:220:46:26

-Wow.

-It's a late 19th century one,

0:46:260:46:29

probably about 1870-1880, something like that.

0:46:290:46:33

Start me at 1,000. £1,000, someone?

0:46:330:46:35

800 I am bid, 900.

0:46:350:46:37

-1,000, 1,100, 1,200 here...

-Quite exciting.

0:46:370:46:41

1,300 to move on, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500.

0:46:410:46:44

-Oh, yes!

-16 behind, 17?

0:46:440:46:47

£1,600, you're all done at £1,600.

0:46:470:46:51

How it's gone down, £1,600, Katie!

0:46:520:46:56

That is a fantastic result!

0:46:560:46:58

'So if you're thinking of starting a collection of medical instruments,

0:46:580:47:02

'make sure you do your homework.

0:47:020:47:04

'Now, Caroline Hawley had to go back to school

0:47:050:47:07

'when she came across an early type of calculator.'

0:47:070:47:11

I have never seen a cylindrical slide rule for sale before,

0:47:110:47:14

and I've been on the lookout since because, you know,

0:47:140:47:18

it sparked a bit of interest in me.

0:47:180:47:20

This is like the centre stadia line on your...

0:47:200:47:23

this type of slide rule, that is that.

0:47:230:47:24

-That's where your answer comes up when you're finished.

-Right.

0:47:240:47:27

And this goes up and down to pick up...

0:47:270:47:29

There's this notch in here where you pick up your numbers at the bottom.

0:47:290:47:33

Multiply by something, pick it up off that one at the top,

0:47:340:47:37

and that's how you retrieve your answers,

0:47:370:47:39

and this moves up and down that.

0:47:390:47:41

Lionel did try and explain to me a little bit,

0:47:410:47:43

and I'm afraid I'm still none the wiser.

0:47:430:47:46

Years ago, my father tried to explain a flat slide rule to me.

0:47:460:47:50

Fortunately, calculators came in very soon afterwards

0:47:500:47:53

so I didn't ever have to use them.

0:47:530:47:55

So, no, for me, it was too complicated.

0:47:550:47:58

This particular model is from 1927, and it was invented,

0:47:580:48:03

the cylindrical slide rule, by Professor George Fuller.

0:48:030:48:06

It really is wonderful quality and fabulous condition.

0:48:070:48:11

Professor George Fuller was Professor of Civil Engineering

0:48:110:48:14

at Queen's University in Belfast.

0:48:140:48:16

He patented the cylindrical slide rule in 1878.

0:48:160:48:21

It's a magnificent instrument, very, very complicated,

0:48:210:48:25

an extraordinary piece of engineering.

0:48:250:48:28

As you can see, this is in a most beautiful box, a mahogany box,

0:48:280:48:32

made by a very good London maker, Stanley,

0:48:320:48:35

which was established in 1854, which all adds to the value.

0:48:350:48:40

I mean, it's a boy's toy, and it would look good,

0:48:400:48:42

it would look quite fun and quirky on somebody's desk.

0:48:420:48:45

Not mine, I hasten to add, but I think it has a fairly limited market.

0:48:450:48:50

'When it came to the auction,

0:48:500:48:51

'Caroline combined the Fuller cylindrical slide rule with

0:48:510:48:54

'a second, smaller sliding scale into one lot,

0:48:540:48:58

'and put an estimate of £200-£300 on the pair.'

0:48:580:49:01

I would not know how to use one of those.

0:49:010:49:03

No, you were lucky, you were born in the push button age.

0:49:030:49:06

Two bids, I'm bid £210 exactly,

0:49:070:49:09

at 210, at £210. 20 if you want it.

0:49:090:49:13

At 210, 220, 230, 240.

0:49:130:49:17

-At £240...

-Come on, come on, come on...

0:49:170:49:19

At 240, then.

0:49:190:49:21

You're finished at 240? Quite sure?

0:49:210:49:24

Lionel, it's gone.

0:49:260:49:27

The hammer went down just under mid-estimate at £240.

0:49:270:49:31

'Caroline may not have known how to use Lionel's unusual

0:49:310:49:35

'cylindrical slide rules but she obviously knew how to value them.

0:49:350:49:38

'But it's not always that straightforward to put an estimate

0:49:400:49:42

'on a scientific instrument, as Claire Rawle discovered.'

0:49:420:49:46

-Well, hello, Florence.

-Hello.

-Nice to meet you, and you've brought

0:49:460:49:50

a really attractive polished mahogany box here, haven't you?

0:49:500:49:53

When it opens out, hey presto!

0:49:530:49:55

A rather magnificent looking microscope in there

0:49:550:49:58

with a huge collection of objectives. So, quite a superior item.

0:49:580:50:03

Oh, Florence, oh, she was a star.

0:50:030:50:05

She carried that great heavy thing all the way to the valuation day,

0:50:050:50:09

erm, and it really was a sizeable lump of machinery, that!

0:50:090:50:15

Amazing lady.

0:50:150:50:16

-Well, my husband bought it about 54 years ago.

-So he used it?

0:50:160:50:20

-He did use it, yes.

-Right.

0:50:200:50:22

Yes, he used to go past puddles, do it in puddles.

0:50:220:50:26

-Pick a jar up and come home...

-Oh, and take it home and look at it?

0:50:260:50:29

..and then a drop of water on the slide and look through it.

0:50:290:50:32

Then say to me, "Come and have a look at this,"

0:50:320:50:34

you know, and he was so thrilled.

0:50:340:50:35

It was a serious instrument, it wasn't a student's instrument

0:50:350:50:38

because it had all those different objectives in it.

0:50:380:50:41

It was a high-quality, beautifully made instrument,

0:50:410:50:44

so it would have been used for somebody

0:50:440:50:46

that was really into their science.

0:50:460:50:48

You've also brought in a couple of rather nice boxes here

0:50:480:50:52

of slides to go with it.

0:50:520:50:55

-Botanical subjects, mainly, aren't they?

-Yes.

0:50:550:50:57

Yeah, and so they've got all their little cards and things there.

0:50:570:51:00

Nice sort of late 19th century ones.

0:51:000:51:02

'Definitely, slides are worth looking out for, especially decorative ones'

0:51:020:51:06

like these with those wonderful lithographic prints round the side.

0:51:060:51:09

So if you see any slides like that, if they're in boxes,

0:51:090:51:12

and they're always in ver plain boxes,

0:51:120:51:14

so always open up and see what's in there, definitely worth buying.

0:51:140:51:17

-I think an estimate of 300-500?

-Yes.

-Nice, broad estimate there?

-Yeah.

0:51:170:51:21

-Does that sound good to you?

-I'm happy, yes.

0:51:210:51:23

'Did auctioneer Stephen Hearn agree with Claire's estimate?'

0:51:240:51:28

We've got a value of £300-£500.

0:51:280:51:31

Now, I know you've changed that, haven't you?

0:51:310:51:33

Yes, I've moved that on, Paul, because I think it deserves

0:51:330:51:36

an estimate somewhere between £500-£700.

0:51:360:51:39

'The auctioneer adjusted the estimate.'

0:51:390:51:41

Well, that's fine because everybody knows their market.

0:51:410:51:44

It wasn't adjusted in a huge manner up.

0:51:440:51:46

And I think it reflected the response he'd had

0:51:460:51:49

and the feeling that he thought it was a good item,

0:51:490:51:52

so it's quite positive.

0:51:520:51:53

It's better that way than down.

0:51:530:51:56

'But had the auctioneer over-egged Florence's pudding?

0:51:560:51:59

'Or did the bidders prove to be as keen as mustard?'

0:51:590:52:02

1,800 in the room. 1,850, new bidder.

0:52:020:52:06

-Some fresh legs.

-1,900, and 50. 2,000...

0:52:060:52:10

..and 50. 2,100, and 50.

0:52:110:52:15

'You get quite excited, you get caught up in it.'

0:52:150:52:18

I mean, you go to auctions all the time, but it's great

0:52:180:52:20

when something starts making money.

0:52:200:52:22

-Gosh.

-..And 50.

0:52:220:52:24

2,008. And 50.

0:52:240:52:26

-2,009. And 50...

-This is incredible.

0:52:260:52:29

£3,000.

0:52:290:52:30

3,1, 3,2,

0:52:300:52:32

3,3, 3,4,

0:52:320:52:35

3,5, 3,6. No?

0:52:350:52:37

At £3,600 in the room.

0:52:370:52:41

I'm selling, then, it's going down at £3,600.

0:52:410:52:46

Thank you, sir.

0:52:460:52:47

That's a sold sound, isn't it? Wow!

0:52:470:52:50

Florence, £3,600,

0:52:500:52:53

everybody is giving you a round of applause in the auction room.

0:52:530:52:58

Wow.

0:52:580:52:59

OK, so someone says, "Wow, you rather undervalued that, didn't you?"

0:52:590:53:02

You never know, that's the great thing about auctions,

0:53:020:53:05

because in the world of collecting,

0:53:050:53:06

you're never quite sure what people are going to spend on things,

0:53:060:53:09

and it's really exciting when it makes money.

0:53:090:53:12

Wow! It exceeded all our expectations.

0:53:120:53:15

That is a great result. Oh, look, enjoy it, won't you?

0:53:150:53:19

-Well done, Claire.

-Fantastic, thank you, Claire.

-Oh, thank you.

0:53:190:53:22

It's been an absolute pleasure. I'm so pleased for you.

0:53:220:53:26

It was the sheer quality of the piece and the extensive

0:53:260:53:29

and unusual range of accompanying slides

0:53:290:53:32

that put Florence's microscope in a class of its own.

0:53:320:53:35

But at the end of the day,

0:53:350:53:36

the result was really down to two bidders in the sale room

0:53:360:53:40

who were reluctant to let it go.

0:53:400:53:42

So, what other scientific instruments can cause a stir?

0:53:420:53:45

'If you're interested in pocket sundials, a good maker's name,

0:53:460:53:50

'great condition and original case

0:53:500:53:52

'will almost guarantee a sunny result.'

0:53:520:53:55

-Yes, how about that?

-Cannot believe it.

0:53:550:53:57

'If you own an instrument that's complicated to use

0:53:590:54:01

'and could even leave our experts scratching their heads,

0:54:010:54:04

'then please keep hold of the original instruction booklet.

0:54:040:54:07

'You'll be doing a good deed to any future buyer,

0:54:070:54:10

'and it may even bump up the sale price.

0:54:100:54:13

'Medical instruments come in all shapes and sizes,

0:54:130:54:16

'and items can start at a few pounds.

0:54:160:54:18

'If you have the stomach and the pocket for it, you can progress

0:54:180:54:21

'to those costing a few hundred or even a couple of thousand.'

0:54:210:54:26

That is a fantastic result!

0:54:260:54:28

The 18th century was a time of great interest in all sciences.

0:54:330:54:36

Now, expert Michael Baggott had a real treat when he met up

0:54:360:54:39

with Linda at a valuation day near Lincoln back in 2012.

0:54:390:54:44

-Are you a collector of scientific instruments, Linda?

-Well, not really.

0:54:440:54:48

I am a collector of older things.

0:54:480:54:51

We've got, oh, that's marvellous, a drawing set.

0:54:510:54:54

Look at that, beautiful ivory rule.

0:54:550:54:58

Wonderful scales on it, and we've got the maker there,

0:54:580:55:01

E Hulce & Son of London.

0:55:010:55:03

I was given the scientific instruments by an old gentleman.

0:55:030:55:07

Erm, it was back in 1984, '85.

0:55:070:55:11

I've always sort of had a mathematical bias,

0:55:110:55:14

and so I was very interested in the instrument.

0:55:140:55:18

It can be dated from the middle of the 18th century

0:55:180:55:21

-up to about 1820-1830.

-Really?

0:55:210:55:23

I think this one, from the style of the instruments,

0:55:230:55:26

probably falls at about 1790 to about 1800.

0:55:260:55:30

'It sat on the edge of the bookshelf

0:55:300:55:33

'for those...about 26 years,'

0:55:330:55:37

and, erm, apart from the odd occasion

0:55:370:55:39

when anyone expressed an interest in it, then that's where it remained.

0:55:390:55:44

It was unused. Not unloved, but unused.

0:55:440:55:48

-I think we would put this at £100-£150.

-I see.

0:55:480:55:52

-And we'd put a fixed reserve of £100 on it.

-Right.

0:55:520:55:54

And if it does well, what do you plan to spend the money on?

0:55:540:55:58

Well, I am quite a keen walker and so I think I would put that

0:55:580:56:02

-towards some walking in the Lake District.

-Oh, that's marvellous.

0:56:020:56:06

I'm set to go trekking to Everest base camp in October,

0:56:060:56:10

and so I need to get some practice in.

0:56:100:56:13

-So we'll be sending you up and round the mountain...

-Hopefully.

0:56:130:56:16

..when she comes! Thank you very much indeed, Linda.

0:56:160:56:19

'So were we able to raise the money at auction

0:56:190:56:21

'to send Linda hill walking?'

0:56:210:56:24

At 95 bid, at 95 bid. 98 now, do I see?

0:56:240:56:27

At 95 bid, are we all done at 95? So near, yet so far.

0:56:270:56:31

At 95 bid, are we all done? I'm finished at 95. Last call, then.

0:56:310:56:35

98 bid, do I see 98 bid? At 98 and 100, £100 bid.

0:56:350:56:39

At £100 bid, at 100, 110 now, do I see? £100 bid. At 100...

0:56:390:56:42

I would have been amazed if it hadn't have sold.

0:56:420:56:45

At £100, any more bids?

0:56:450:56:48

-Sale's gone down, did it.

-Ooh, just, though, wasn't it?

0:56:480:56:52

Paul said that someone had bid on it from France,

0:56:520:56:55

so I was really pleased that someone must really be interested in it

0:56:550:56:59

and actually want it, and so I felt it was going to a good home.

0:56:590:57:03

-Excellent, really pleased about that.

-Bit of money towards the trip.

0:57:030:57:06

-Thank you, Michael.

-It's a pleasure.

0:57:060:57:09

I suppose from a very early age I've been walking,

0:57:090:57:12

but it's been more recent, probably the last ten years,

0:57:120:57:15

when I've taken that interest up again.

0:57:150:57:19

I have walked in many places in the UK,

0:57:190:57:21

but really felt that I wanted an even bigger challenge,

0:57:210:57:25

and so decided to take the Everest base camp trip.

0:57:250:57:30

It was absolutely special from beginning to end.

0:57:310:57:35

The bridges over the gorges, the depth of the gorges,

0:57:360:57:41

the snow-capped mountains,

0:57:410:57:43

it was just so beautiful wherever you looked.

0:57:430:57:47

The money that we made on Flog It went towards

0:57:470:57:50

one of the training ventures,

0:57:500:57:52

where we went off to the Yorkshire Dales, and that certainly helped me.

0:57:520:57:57

I feel very proud and humble in some ways

0:57:590:58:02

that I managed to get to Everest base camp.

0:58:020:58:08

I know lots of trekkers do go up there,

0:58:080:58:11

but certainly feel that, erm, as an older person,

0:58:110:58:15

that it was a real achievement

0:58:150:58:18

to actually get to the top, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

0:58:180:58:22

If you need to raise some funds to achieve a burning ambition,

0:58:300:58:33

you know where to find us, a Flog It valuation day.

0:58:330:58:37

Well, that's it for today's show.

0:58:370:58:39

Do join us again soon for more Trade Secrets.

0:58:390:58:42

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