Cheltenham Flog It!


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Today we are in fashionable Cheltenham

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and this place owes its wealth and its architecture

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to its popularity as a spa town in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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And this iconic piece of architecture, look at that.

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What a wonderful classical example. It's the Pittville Pump Room,

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our venue for our valuation day.

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Welcome to "Flog It!"

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Morning.

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The Pittville Pump Rooms were built away from the main town

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in the 1820s by local entrepreneur Joseph Pitt.

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He wanted to establish a small town here

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and the area known as Pittville is now a thriving suburb.

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And judging by the size of this crowd,

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I think it is a booming success.

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This lot are here to get their antiques valued.

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They're going to ask that all-important question

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-to our experts which is... ALL:

-What's it worth?

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When you've found out, what are you going to do?

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ALL: Flog it! That's the name of the game.

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We've got the experts, you've got the antiques. Let's party.

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Our experts are already amongst the queue

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looking for the very best antiques and collectables to send to auction.

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They're led today by gentlemen valuer David Fletcher...

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..and the young pretender, Adam Partridge.

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-I collect royal memorabilia.

-Do you? I'm going now!

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'And I'm keeping my eyes peeled too.'

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-Is it something you want to sell?

-I do, actually.

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-I'll be talking to you a bit later.

-All right.

-Isn't that lovely?

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You'll find out what that's worth in just a moment.

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Also on the programme today,

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Adam's whipping up interest in the audience.

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"Wow." I heard a "wow".

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That's great. What do you think of this?

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I'm glad I came.

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David's disappointed that his celebrity status

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isn't all it should be.

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-I was pleased to see you come in with an autograph album.

-Yes.

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Actually, I was a bit disappointed really,

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because I thought you were going to ask for mine but you didn't.

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'And at the auction, I'm in another fine mess.'

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Ooh! Ooh!

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And all that to enjoy, so let's get on with the show.

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Good morning.

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Well, everybody is now safely seated inside this magnificent

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Grade I listed building.

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Our experts are straight at the tables.

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It looks like Adam Partridge is first to spot a real gem.

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Let's take a closer look at what he's found.

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-You're Eddie.

-Yes.

-Nice to meet you.

-And Maria.

-Thank you very much.

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You've brought along this very nice gold chronometer.

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-It's got a stopwatch function as well, hasn't it?

-It has, yes.

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Where did you get this from?

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Well, actually, I was in the Royal Navy at the time

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and my father contacted me

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and he wanted to help out a colleague that he was working

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with in the mines in South Wales and he asked me could he use the money

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to actually purchase the watch

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to help this particular colleague of his out.

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-So you said, "Go for it."

-I said to him to go for it

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because at the end of the day it is a bit of an investment.

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-And roughly when was this?

-This was 1967.

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That's a nice story. Was it a good friend of his that he was helping?

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-Yeah.

-I should imagine so, yes.

-You never knew him?

-No.

-No.

-OK.

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It's interesting because it's still in its original box which is

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-H Samuel.

-Yes.

-The largest English watch manufacturer.

-Yes.

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It's a great piece of engineering. It's a pocket watch. It's got a stopwatch function.

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I'm just going to open it up actually first. Oh!

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-It is quite difficult, yes.

-There. But it's nice quality.

-It is.

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-It's not falling apart on us.

-Exactly.

-It's still nice and tight.

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There's the 14 carat mark.

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And there's the case number on there, which is

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-also the number on the dial.

-Right.

-Always good to see.

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You know, it's not a marriage being made up of other bits and pieces.

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-It's also got the number on that as well, the case.

-Yeah.

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There's the case number there

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-and the case number on the movement there.

-And the address of the...

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The movement signed, "H Samuel, "Market Street, Manchester."

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-So this is the original head office.

-Head office, yes.

-Yeah.

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-And the original case.

-Yeah, exactly.

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So late 19th-century.

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Lovely condition. Um...

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There must be some sentimentality involved here.

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Why are you selling it?

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Well, we first met in Hong Kong in 1970

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while Eddie was in the Royal Navy.

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Two years later we married

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and nearly 40 years on, we're still together,

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so we'd like to go back for our anniversary in September.

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That's romantic, isn't it?

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So anything we make, we'll put it towards the slush fund.

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-Is this your idea?

-Yes!

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-I thought so!

-Yeah, I'm a bit of a romantic.

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-I think that's a lovely idea.

-It is, yes.

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So, we typically put an auction estimate on these of about £200-300

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and they will make more.

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I can tell by that look of disappointment

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that it's not great news for you.

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I think because gold prices also are so strong,

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we can up it a little bit without scaring people off too much.

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-Gold prices are pretty much an all-time high.

-Yes.

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That's not going to be bought for scrap,

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but there is a significant value in the gold case,

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so I think if we up it a little bit

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-and put 250, 350 estimate.

-Yeah, that sounds good.

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-Is that all right?

-That sounds good to me.

-Yeah, that's fine.

-Sure?

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-Honestly, yes.

-All right.

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At 250 reserve, so that if it doesn't make that,

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it goes home with you, but it is a lovely object, great condition.

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The dial's immaculate.

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-The case is all there and the owners are charming as well.

-Thank you.

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So it's got everything going for it.

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We do love a bit of romance on "Flog It!"

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So we'll do our very best for Eddie and Maria.

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This is what I love to see,

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hundreds of people with smiles on their faces.

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I know a lot of them are feeling really nervous right now,

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hoping they are the lucky ones

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to be picked to go through to the auction room,

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where we put everything under the hammer,

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and look what I've just come across.

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You've got a gavel in your hand, Mrs!

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-Haven't you? What's your name?

-Marjorie.

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Marjorie, what are you doing with a gavel in your hand?

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-I brought it to have it valued.

-Do you know something?

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Our experts working the tables right now, Mr David Fletcher

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and Adam Partridge, would love to buy something like that, wouldn't they?

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Every auctioneer on the programme would.

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-I'd like them to buy it as well!

-But you know, they're not allowed to.

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-I know.

-But isn't that marvellous?

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It's a gavel that turns into a propelling pencil.

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You can imagine an auctioneer pulling that out of his pocket

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to sign a cheque or something.

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It was easy to carry in a handbag, that's why I brought it.

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-Look, good luck with that.

-And I love the programme.

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It's brilliant, isn't it? This is where you get to find out

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exactly what it's worth when it goes...

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-Under the hammer.

-Under the hammer.

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And we'll pass that on to Adam in a moment, so he can tell us

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what he thinks it's worth, but before that, David's found his first item.

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He's with Jenny, and she's brought in a train set.

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-Hello, Jenny.

-Hello.

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Now, in my experience, ladies don't collect toy trains,

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so I suspect this isn't yours.

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-No, it belongs to my grandson.

-Right, OK.

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When did your grandson acquire it?

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Ten years ago, a friend of my husband's gave him this

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-because he was mad on trains.

-Right.

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But it wasn't Thomas, so he didn't want it.

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No. It's a bit older than Thomas the Tank Engine.

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Or at least for older boys, I think, than Thomas the Tank Engine.

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-How old is he now?

-He's 12.

-12.

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-So that was ten years ago.

-Yes.

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And happily, he hasn't played with it, has he?

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No, he hasn't even touched it.

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And he's gone off trains.

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-He's gone off trains.

-In a big way.

-In a big way.

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OK, we've got, really,

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as we can see, a choice of two types

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of set here, really. You can either gear this little tank engine up

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as a goods train by using these two carriages here,

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or as a passenger train by using the carriages there.

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Now, Marklin started making toy trains in Germany -

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or model trains, I should say -

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in Germany way back in the late 19th century,

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and is one of the big names.

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We know that these were made before 1989

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-because this box is marked, "Made in Western Germany".

-Yeah.

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And of course, Germany was reunified in 1989.

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Curiously, the locomotive is marked, "Made in Germany",

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so that might possibly be made a few years later.

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But what in a very roundabout way we can establish is that

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-when it was given to your grandson, it was second-hand.

-Yes.

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-Do you have any idea what it might be worth?

-None whatsoever.

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OK, I'd like to think

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it might make £100

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but I would be tempted to go for an estimate of 40 to 60.

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-Yes.

-Hope for the best.

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And I would really suggest that we sell without reserve.

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-Yes.

-I think the auctioneers probably wouldn't thank us

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if we put a reserve on it.

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And what will your grandson do with the money?

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If there was enough money, I think he'd like to go

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and see an Arsenal game.

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-Go and see Arsenal play?

-Yes.

-Right, OK.

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So you might have to pay for the train fare to get him to London.

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-That's right.

-Let's hope we make enough for the ticket.

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The price of football tickets these days,

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we'll need that to really sell well.

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Now, I recognise our next owner.

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It's Marjorie, who had that unusual gavel.

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She's made it to the front of the queue,

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where she's talking to Adam.

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You've brought something that I really like. Tell me about it.

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It's a Sampson Mordan pencil

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-that's in the shape of a gavel.

-Oh.

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And it's my husband's,

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and he brought it and said that if I brought it, you would like it.

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-He was right, wasn't he?

-Yes.

-So it's a little gavel,

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you've summed it up really nicely, by the firm Sampson Mordan and Co,

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from the late 19th century, I think 1880s, 1890s,

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-and they were the inventors of the propelling pencil.

-Yeah.

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And many people see them in silver, in different novelty shapes.

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-I've never seen one of these before.

-Haven't you? Oh, that's good news.

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And I just think that's so pointless,

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it's wonderful, isn't it?

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It's everything an auctioneer could need, because you could record

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-the result and then write it down, couldn't you?

-Yeah, brilliant.

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I think that is lovely.

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So your husband is obviously a bit of a collector.

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He does, yeah, he collects odd things. Including me!

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You could see my mind working, couldn't you?

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He collects anything that's a bit unusual

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and then he keeps them for a few years and then he sells them on.

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-It's a good hobby, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Good fun.

-Dabbles a bit, that's all.

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-So this delightful little thing set your husband back how much?

-£180.

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That's quite a strong price, I think, isn't it?

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-But it was worth it.

-It was worth it. It was worth it.

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-But to some people it may not be worth it.

-No.

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-But obviously he doesn't want to lose any money on it.

-No, no.

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And I think it's so unusual and it's got the good name on it

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-that I think we could try it at £200 to £300.

-Oh, whoopee!

-Yeah?

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Wow? I heard a wow! That's great.

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-What do you think of this?

-I'm glad I came!

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-Would anyone give £200 for this?

-No.

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-You would?

-Yeah.

-You would? There we go. We've got a buyer already.

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Well, I think it will go pretty well,

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and I'm looking forward to seeing it

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-go under the gavel...

-That'd be great.

-..at Philip Serrell's,

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and you know, when an auctioneer loves something,

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-you're always going to get a good price.

-Oh, good.

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Shall we put a reserve on it?

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He said a reserve of 180, but obviously...

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-180, OK. Pop in a reserve of 180.

-Yeah.

-And off we go.

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-Needless to say, he'll spend the money on more...

-On me.

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-More antiques!

-Thanks for coming, Marjorie.

-Thank you very much.

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Now, over on the other side of the hall, I've found a real beauty.

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-Angela, thank you for coming in to the valuation day.

-You're welcome.

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I know what you've got is very precious.

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It's incredibly small.

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Can you guess what it is?

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-It's not in your pocket, is it?

-No, it's not.

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-It's not wrapped up in a bag.

-No, I haven't lost it.

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Boxes full of bubble wrap. Come on, show me.

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-That's a sparkler, isn't it?

-It is.

-Bit of a rock.

-Beautiful.

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Who gave you that?

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I bought it several years ago

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and wore it to lots of lovely functions,

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which we don't go to any more, so it sits in a box

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and I get it out occasionally and have a good look at it

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and then put it back in the box.

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-And get dazzled by it?

-Absolutely.

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-It must be so nice to wear a ring like that.

-It is.

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-And watch everybody go, "Oooh!"

-That's right, yeah.

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When you're signing a cheque or something or... "Oooh!"

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Of course, the problem is, it's an old cut diamond

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and youngsters like my daughter...

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-The cut is quite important, isn't it?

-That's right, yes.

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What is it, the cut, the clarity, the colour...

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-My wife likes the diamond sort of raised and mounted up...

-Yes, I do.

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..so the light goes underneath them and it sparkles even more.

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-That's right, it's beautiful.

-That's a five-stone.

-Yes.

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And the centre, the centre diamond looks like a four-carat.

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-Something like that, yeah.

-It's a four-carat, isn't it?

-Yes.

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-And the other's a three.

-Three.

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My gut feeling is, that's a four grand ring.

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-Yes.

-Now, in auction, maybe a little bit more.

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Um... Once a jeweller gets his hands on that, resets it,

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-it might be an eight grand, might be a £9,000 ring, mightn't it?

-Yes.

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Where are you going to buy diamonds like that, on a ring,

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for £4,000 in a jeweller's? You're not.

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But you're not going to get eight for it on the open market,

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but I think if Philip gets this photographed,

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gets it on his website, alerts everybody,

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-this will create a buzz, and a sparkle in the room.

-Lovely.

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Let's just call the valuation £4,000 with a reserve at £4,000

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because that is a four grand ring and I'd like to see you going home with 4,000,

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hopefully a little bit more.

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-Yes.

-And then Philip can take his commission.

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Right. OK, that's lovely.

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That's what I like to see, a full house,

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and everybody enjoying themselves, learning about antiques

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and also finding out exactly what it's worth.

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Well, right now, we've found our first batch of items

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to take off to auction,

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and today we're going over to Malvern to Mr Philip Serrell's saleroom.

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He's going to look after us. He's on the rostrum, so we're in safe hands.

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We've got our first four items.

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Now we're taking them off to the sale.

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But which one of them will create the biggest storm in the saleroom?

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Stay tuned and all will be revealed.

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The bidders are already getting settled in

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for the sale in Malvern.

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This seller's commission here

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is 16.5% plus VAT.

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We're starting this visit to the auction with a real banker,

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a top-quality gent's pocket watch, and Adam's here with the owners.

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-Will it get the top end?

-I think we've pitched it about right.

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Why are you selling this, Eddie?

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Well, it hasn't any sentimental value anyway,

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and hopefully the money that we get for it will go,

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-because I met Maria in Hong Kong...

-A trip?

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-40 years ago.

-We'll put it towards that.

-And that's where you met?

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-That's where we met, yeah.

-We've got to get you there.

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-I hope so.

-Or at least something towards it.

-Or some spending money.

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-At least to the airport.

-Yeah!

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Here we go.

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Lot number 590, 14-carat gold open-faced watch.

0:15:200:15:25

I'm bid £150, bid 160, 170,

0:15:280:15:31

180, 190, 200.

0:15:310:15:32

210, 220, 230, 240, 250.

0:15:320:15:36

At £250 only, at 250, is there any more?

0:15:360:15:39

At 250, there is the bid.

0:15:390:15:42

Lot number 590, at £250, any more at all?

0:15:420:15:45

At £250, and I sell, then, at 250, and done.

0:15:470:15:51

Yes! £250. That's not bad.

0:15:510:15:54

-Yeah.

-That's something towards it.

-It is, yes.

0:15:540:15:57

-And every little helps.

-Every little helps.

0:15:570:15:59

-OK, enjoy it, won't you?

-Yes, we will. Thank you very much.

0:15:590:16:02

-Spend it on a bit more jewellery out there!

-Probably!

0:16:020:16:05

A good start to the sale. We're clearly on the right track,

0:16:070:16:10

and that leads us to our next item.

0:16:100:16:11

It belongs to Jenny, who is trying to raise money

0:16:110:16:14

to buy an Arsenal ticket for her grandson.

0:16:140:16:17

It's the electric train set with mixed bits and bobs

0:16:170:16:20

and some of it is boxed.

0:16:200:16:21

We've got that, but unfortunately, we don't have our owner, Jenny.

0:16:210:16:24

She can't be with us today, but we do have David Fletcher, our expert,

0:16:240:16:27

-and we're looking for around about £40 to £60 for this.

-Yeah.

0:16:270:16:30

But hopefully we're going to hit the back of the net right now

0:16:300:16:33

with the top end of the valuation.

0:16:330:16:34

It's going under the hammer. Here we go.

0:16:340:16:36

Number 418 is the Marklin train set.

0:16:380:16:40

There you are. There's the whole lot of it. Bid me for that, someone.

0:16:400:16:44

Start me off wherever you want to be.

0:16:440:16:46

I'm bid £20 for that. Lot at 20.

0:16:480:16:51

20 bid. And five, 30.

0:16:510:16:52

Five, 40. 45, 50.

0:16:520:16:55

Five, 60.

0:16:550:16:57

At 60 bid, in the room...

0:16:570:17:00

At £60 only, at 60, is there any more at all?

0:17:000:17:04

At £60 in the room and I sell,

0:17:040:17:06

five on the net, at 65,

0:17:060:17:08

-70, 70 bid.

-Great.

0:17:080:17:10

At 70, at £70 only, at 70, any more?

0:17:100:17:14

At £70 and I sell, then,

0:17:140:17:15

at 70, and done.

0:17:150:17:17

I'm pleased with that. Good valuation. Well done.

0:17:170:17:19

-Well, yes.

-And I think Jenny will be as well.

-I hope so.

0:17:190:17:22

They're difficult things to value.

0:17:220:17:23

They don't set the world alight

0:17:230:17:25

but there always is a market for them at the right price.

0:17:250:17:27

There's always train enthusiasts and train collectors

0:17:270:17:30

and they'll always buy that sort of thing, you're right.

0:17:300:17:33

-Even if it's for spares or one or two boxes.

-Sure.

0:17:330:17:36

Let's hope Arsenal win that game as well.

0:17:360:17:38

Next is our auctioneer's gavel.

0:17:410:17:43

And to get a second opinion on it,

0:17:440:17:46

who better to ask than auctioneer Philip Serrell?

0:17:460:17:49

I spoke to him at the preview day.

0:17:490:17:52

I think every auctioneer should own one of these gavels.

0:17:520:17:55

I think all auctioneers do, Paul,

0:17:550:17:57

but not like that, do they?

0:17:570:17:58

No, not with a propelling pencil.

0:17:580:18:00

I think this would be a lovely birthday present from the wife

0:18:000:18:02

if she bought this for you.

0:18:020:18:03

-Have you had a word with her?

-No, I haven't!

0:18:030:18:05

I saw Marjorie in the queue, funnily enough, I saw her holding this gavel

0:18:050:18:09

and I said, "I'm not going to value this,

0:18:090:18:10

"I know it's going to come on the show",

0:18:100:18:12

because you've got to go through a series of auctioneers

0:18:120:18:15

and I know that they'd just love to talk about it.

0:18:150:18:17

Well, sadly, you know, all auctioneers collect gavels.

0:18:170:18:19

And what I love about this is that every time that you go...

0:18:190:18:23

..you've got that "sold".

0:18:240:18:25

That's something every auctioneer likes to hear.

0:18:250:18:28

And I would think I've had every auctioneer and his dog

0:18:280:18:31

on the telephone saying, "Philip, how much is that gavel?"

0:18:310:18:34

-All of our experts as well.

-I couldn't possibly tell.

0:18:340:18:36

How many of those have you seen?

0:18:360:18:38

I've never seen one with a propelling pencil inside it.

0:18:380:18:42

I think it's probably worth 150 quid.

0:18:420:18:44

-Yeah.

-I think it's going to make between 250 and 300.

0:18:440:18:47

Yes, which is spot-on, really. Adam's put £200 to £300 on this.

0:18:470:18:50

Well, this will be going under the hammer very shortly. I can't wait.

0:18:500:18:54

And here it is. Philip's on the rostrum,

0:18:560:18:58

and Adam and Marjorie, the gavel's owner,

0:18:580:19:00

are on the saleroom floor with me.

0:19:000:19:02

I think we'll get your money back. I remember something you said,

0:19:020:19:06

your husband bought it for around £180-odd.

0:19:060:19:08

-That's right, yeah.

-It's got to be worth that.

0:19:080:19:10

-I can feel a profit!

-You can feel a profit?

0:19:100:19:12

-Hopefully £250.

-Me and my big mouth!

0:19:120:19:14

-But I can feel a profit.

-It's your fault if it isn't.

0:19:140:19:17

A Samuel Mordan ivory propelling pencil gavel.

0:19:180:19:24

I'm bid £150, bid at 150, 150, 150.

0:19:240:19:28

Telephone bid to 160.

0:19:280:19:30

170, 180, 190.

0:19:300:19:33

-Oh, good.

-190, 200 with me.

0:19:330:19:35

At £200, 210 with me. At £210.

0:19:350:19:39

220, 230 with me.

0:19:390:19:41

240, 250 with me. At 250.

0:19:410:19:44

-250.

-There is a profit already now, isn't there?

-Oh, good.

0:19:440:19:49

Is there any more?

0:19:490:19:51

260, 270, 280, 290.

0:19:520:19:56

I told you, didn't I? Didn't I say they'd fall in love with it?

0:19:560:20:00

At 310, at 310, 320.

0:20:000:20:04

At 320, on the telephone, the book's at.

0:20:040:20:07

At 320.

0:20:070:20:09

330.

0:20:090:20:10

340, is it?

0:20:100:20:11

£340, on the telephone.

0:20:110:20:15

At £340, is there any more at all?

0:20:150:20:18

At £340. Any more? The bid's on this telephone.

0:20:180:20:20

-Your husband that bought it, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

0:20:200:20:24

He's got a good eye.

0:20:240:20:25

-He married me!

-Yeah!

0:20:250:20:27

At £340 and done.

0:20:270:20:29

-£340.

-Oh, yippee.

-Wow.

0:20:290:20:33

-That's a good result. A good result.

-I agree with you on that one.

0:20:330:20:37

What did your husband say?

0:20:370:20:39

Did he know on the day that you were going to sell this?

0:20:390:20:42

He gave it to me and said,

0:20:420:20:43

"Take this, you'll get on the telly."

0:20:430:20:45

I said, "I don't want to be on telly."

0:20:450:20:46

There you go, you got on the telly.

0:20:460:20:48

But he said if it sells, he's taking me to Venice.

0:20:480:20:50

-Brilliant.

-So I'm off to Venice now!

-Excellent.

-What a lovely ending.

0:20:500:20:54

Up next, my favourite item of the show so far.

0:20:560:20:59

We're going to have this lovely diamond ring,

0:20:590:21:02

-and it is a bit of a whopper, isn't it?

-It is.

0:21:020:21:05

So you're happy with the new reserve? We got a fixed reserve of £3,200.

0:21:050:21:09

-Yes.

-See what happens, OK?

0:21:090:21:11

There's a big smile. Your smile is a sparkle enough, isn't it, really?

0:21:110:21:15

Let's find out what the bidders think. Here we go.

0:21:150:21:18

This lovely five-stone ring.

0:21:210:21:24

Bid me £3,500, chaps.

0:21:240:21:26

Bid me £3,000.

0:21:290:21:30

2,500.

0:21:320:21:33

2,500 I'm bid, at 2,500.

0:21:330:21:37

2,550.

0:21:370:21:39

Two-six.

0:21:390:21:41

2,650.

0:21:410:21:42

Two-seven.

0:21:440:21:46

At two-seven, 50 anywhere? 2750.

0:21:460:21:49

Two-eight, 850? Two-nine?

0:21:490:21:52

2,900.

0:21:520:21:53

2,950. 3,000 I have.

0:21:540:21:57

At 3,000, three-one?

0:21:570:22:00

-We're nearly at the reserve.

-Three-one.

-Oh, so close.

0:22:000:22:04

You're out. Three-two, the book. At 3,200. Is there any more?

0:22:040:22:08

Book's in, you're all out.

0:22:100:22:13

At £3,200, any more?

0:22:130:22:15

At £3,200

0:22:170:22:19

-and done, then, at 3,200.

-He's selling it.

-Thank you.

0:22:190:22:23

-It's gone on the reserve.

-It's gone on the reserve, right.

0:22:230:22:25

-Happy?

-Yes.

-It's gone. It's better to say,

0:22:250:22:27

"Look, it's gone at three-two",

0:22:270:22:29

rather than it struggled at 35 if we did have that reserve.

0:22:290:22:32

-You'd be taking it home.

-Yes.

-For the sake of £300.

0:22:320:22:35

Yes, that's true.

0:22:350:22:37

And that is a lot of money, still, isn't it?

0:22:370:22:39

Oh, it will go a long way, yes.

0:22:390:22:42

That was close, wasn't it? Some of them are close.

0:22:420:22:45

-You are a living on a knife-edge in this business.

-Certainly are!

0:22:450:22:48

Well, there you go. That was fast and furious.

0:22:510:22:53

Some good results there and that brings us to the end

0:22:530:22:55

of our first visit to the auction room today.

0:22:550:22:57

We are coming back here later on in the programme,

0:22:570:23:00

so don't go away, because I can guarantee

0:23:000:23:02

there will be some more surprises, but right now, while I'm in the area,

0:23:020:23:05

I'm going to go off and do some exploring.

0:23:050:23:08

On this programme, we visit many stately homes and manor houses

0:23:230:23:25

all over the British Isles, so in keeping with that tradition,

0:23:250:23:28

I'm going to be showing you some of the extraordinary history

0:23:280:23:31

of this castle, which spans 1,000 years,

0:23:310:23:34

right back to Saxon times,

0:23:340:23:36

and be meeting the present-day lady of the manor.

0:23:360:23:39

This is Sudeley Castle in the beautiful Cotswold Hills.

0:23:430:23:46

It's steeped in history, with royal connections spanning 1,000 years.

0:23:460:23:50

As with so many English country houses,

0:23:500:23:53

the present owners fund running costs

0:23:530:23:55

by opening it to the public for part of the year.

0:23:550:23:57

But this tranquil setting is a total contrast

0:24:000:24:03

to the dramatic and sometimes violent history this castle has seen.

0:24:030:24:07

At one point, it was nearly destroyed.

0:24:070:24:10

This is the Chapel of St Mary, the final resting place

0:24:310:24:34

of Catherine Parr, the last of King Henry VIII's six wives,

0:24:340:24:37

and she was known to be intelligent, vivacious, strong-willed

0:24:370:24:41

and proved to be the perfect foil to an ill-tempered king.

0:24:410:24:45

In the 16th century, Catherine Parr became the lover of Lord Seymour,

0:24:460:24:50

then owner of Sudeley Castle.

0:24:500:24:53

She broke off the relationship

0:24:530:24:54

when King Henry declared his interest in her.

0:24:540:24:57

It was only after Henry's death in 1547

0:24:570:25:01

that she was reunited with Seymour,

0:25:010:25:03

married him and came to live here at Sudeley

0:25:030:25:06

until her death a year later.

0:25:060:25:07

Her grave was found purely by chance in the then-ruined chapel

0:25:130:25:17

back in 1782, and eventually, her coffin was moved

0:25:170:25:20

to a purpose-built new tomb here in the Chapel of St Mary.

0:25:200:25:23

She rests under this magnificent Victorian marble effigy,

0:25:230:25:27

which was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott

0:25:270:25:30

and carved by master mason S Birnie Philip.

0:25:300:25:33

And I have to say, the detail is exquisite.

0:25:330:25:36

100 years after Catherine's death,

0:25:450:25:47

Sudeley once again played an important part in English history.

0:25:470:25:51

During the Civil War,

0:25:510:25:52

the owners of the castle took sides with King Charles I

0:25:520:25:55

and in August 1643, the Royalists mounted a disastrous attempt

0:25:550:25:59

to siege Gloucester.

0:25:590:26:00

It went horribly wrong. They lost the battle.

0:26:000:26:03

The rain was pouring down and the dejected king sat on a rock

0:26:030:26:07

surrounded by his troops,

0:26:070:26:08

and one young officer said, "Sir, can we go home now?"

0:26:080:26:12

The King replied, "Well, I have no home to go to."

0:26:120:26:15

Two days later, the King and his troops

0:26:150:26:17

were offered refuge here at Sudeley.

0:26:170:26:20

During the following years of the war,

0:26:230:26:26

the castle was besieged twice by Parliamentarian forces

0:26:260:26:29

and bombarded by cannon.

0:26:290:26:31

After the Civil War in 1649,

0:26:320:26:34

Cromwell ordered the castle to be slighted,

0:26:340:26:37

or made untenable as a military post.

0:26:370:26:40

This involves removing the roof and exposing the inside to the elements.

0:26:400:26:44

The castle was allowed to fall into ruin

0:26:440:26:46

and these tumbledown walls have been left as a reminder of that dark time.

0:26:460:26:51

After 200 years of neglect,

0:26:520:26:54

wealthy Worcestershire glovemakers, brothers John and William Dent,

0:26:540:26:59

spotted the ruined Sudeley Castle whilst out riding.

0:26:590:27:03

They spent most of their wealth purchasing it and restoring it.

0:27:030:27:06

Sudeley Castle is still owned by the family of the Dent brothers.

0:27:080:27:12

American-born Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe,

0:27:120:27:14

married one of their descendants more than 40 years ago.

0:27:140:27:17

She's been instrumental in opening the castle up to the public.

0:27:170:27:21

You open to the public, and I know you're opening in a few weeks' time.

0:27:220:27:26

-Yeah.

-Is the pressure on?

0:27:260:27:27

The pressure's on, yeah!

0:27:270:27:29

-It's like putting on a play.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

-Lots of worry.

0:27:290:27:33

Well, it's the sort of frenzy of the last-minute build-up to opening day.

0:27:330:27:37

And of course we tidy up everything and...

0:27:370:27:40

-The grounds are magnificent, they really are beautiful.

-Thank you.

0:27:400:27:43

It must be so fascinating and rewarding at the same time,

0:27:430:27:46

living in such a historic house.

0:27:460:27:48

It is kind of extraordinary.

0:27:480:27:50

I mean, the thing about living in a house like this,

0:27:500:27:53

the history is very tangible.

0:27:530:27:55

You see it, you feel it, you can touch the things

0:27:560:27:59

of the historic people who've walked the halls before,

0:27:590:28:03

we live with their paintings and their furniture, and of course

0:28:030:28:07

that's why people come to Sudeley.

0:28:070:28:10

This is a historic house.

0:28:100:28:12

It's not really a stately home. It's partly a ruin, as you can see.

0:28:120:28:16

This room is an interior designer's dream, isn't it?

0:28:280:28:31

I can see your touch everywhere. It's beautiful.

0:28:310:28:34

Well, it's kind of iconic, this room, in a way

0:28:340:28:37

because it's an earlier part of the castle.

0:28:370:28:39

It was originally the gatehouse to the early Tudor castle

0:28:390:28:45

and this is where the guards would sit and play cards

0:28:450:28:50

-and drink beer and, you know, carry on and everything.

-A communal room.

0:28:500:28:53

-That's right.

-So in a way, this stonework would have been there,

0:28:530:28:57

that wouldn't have been panelled back then for such a room.

0:28:570:28:59

It wouldn't have been panelled then

0:28:590:29:01

but then later in the Victorian times,

0:29:010:29:03

when the house was restored to take on the sort of Tudor...

0:29:030:29:06

-I can imagine.

-It was panelled.

0:29:060:29:08

I was instrumental, much to everybody's horror,

0:29:080:29:10

-in taking the panelling down.

-Well, good for you.

0:29:100:29:13

In the '60s, everybody thought that was a terrible sacrilege

0:29:130:29:16

-but it wasn't, really, because the stone is such a beautiful...

-Yeah.

0:29:160:29:19

Could you imagine sitting here now with just oak panelling everywhere?

0:29:190:29:22

These colours wouldn't work. Nothing would work.

0:29:220:29:24

Now you've let the room breathe again to how it should be.

0:29:240:29:27

-I'm glad you like it.

-Oh, I do, I love it. And do you know

0:29:270:29:31

what I really admire about you is the fact that it's not a museum, OK,

0:29:310:29:35

but the quality of the antiques

0:29:350:29:38

-and artefacts you've got here are the very, very best.

-Yes.

0:29:380:29:41

-There are some marvellous things.

-And you use them every single day.

-That's right.

0:29:410:29:44

There's no ropes around them saying, "Don't touch".

0:29:440:29:47

You actually use all these wonderful things.

0:29:470:29:49

Well, as you said, it's not a museum

0:29:490:29:51

and I think that as long as we look after these lovely things,

0:29:510:29:55

it's wonderful to have them

0:29:550:29:56

-being used for the purpose that they were intended for.

-Exactly.

0:29:560:29:59

Look, thank you so much for showing me around. I can't wait to come back

0:29:590:30:02

-on a day off and spend the whole day here, so thank you.

-Thank you, Paul.

0:30:020:30:05

Our valuation day venue

0:30:130:30:14

is the Pittville Pump Room in Cheltenham.

0:30:140:30:17

And we've got hundreds of owners who have brought along

0:30:170:30:21

their unwanted antiques and collectables to be valued.

0:30:210:30:24

We're ready to take a look at the next item with Adam.

0:30:240:30:28

-Welcome to "Flog It!", Lynn.

-Thank you.

0:30:280:30:30

-It's very nice to see you brought some interesting items along.

-Yes.

0:30:300:30:33

These very colourful cloisonne vases.

0:30:330:30:36

-Yes, very.

-Japanese. Do you like them?

0:30:360:30:39

They seem to have grown on me today

0:30:390:30:41

because lots of people have said how nice they are, so...

0:30:410:30:43

And where did you get them from?

0:30:430:30:45

How did they come into your possession?

0:30:450:30:47

-I've had them about a fortnight.

-Oh, is that all?

0:30:470:30:49

They were left to me by a cousin.

0:30:490:30:51

I picked them up from the solicitor about a fortnight ago.

0:30:510:30:54

-And you've taken them home.

-Yes.

0:30:540:30:56

-And sort of thought, "Well, where am I going to put them?"

-Well, yes.

0:30:560:31:00

It was really a case of, they didn't sit well in the house.

0:31:000:31:04

-Do you know where your cousin got them from?

-I don't know.

0:31:040:31:07

All I know is that she travelled quite a lot with her first husband.

0:31:070:31:11

-Right.

-And I think she picked up things on her travels,

0:31:110:31:14

so I'm presuming these were...

0:31:140:31:16

Do you think she went to Japan?

0:31:160:31:18

I wouldn't be surprised. She was quite well travelled.

0:31:180:31:20

-Quite a cosmopolitan lady, was she?

-Yes, yes.

0:31:200:31:23

Well, they are cloisonne enamel, they're Japanese.

0:31:230:31:26

It's a technique of enamelling, often with a foil background,

0:31:260:31:30

this technique called jinbari enamelling.

0:31:300:31:33

And they're really rather nice, I think.

0:31:330:31:36

-The colours are lovely.

-Beautiful colours.

0:31:360:31:38

Have you seen any damage?

0:31:380:31:40

This one has got damage there.

0:31:400:31:43

A little bit of a blister there, isn't there?

0:31:430:31:46

Is that something that was done during firing?

0:31:460:31:48

No, it wouldn't have been released to the market with that on it

0:31:480:31:52

because one thing about buyers of cloisonne,

0:31:520:31:54

the slightest bit of damage...

0:31:540:31:57

The value plummets completely,

0:31:570:31:59

and we always say cloisonne doesn't bounce well. The slightest thing

0:31:590:32:03

and you'll get a little star crack or bits coming off.

0:32:030:32:06

-So, yes, that does affect it quite a lot.

-Yes.

0:32:080:32:11

In terms of age, they're not massively old.

0:32:110:32:14

They're 20th century, they might be '30s, possibly later than that.

0:32:140:32:19

But they're very, very decorative. What do you think they are worth?

0:32:190:32:22

-I haven't got a clue.

-No.

-Not a clue.

0:32:220:32:25

-And you're selling them anyway.

-Yes.

0:32:250:32:27

Even if I said they're worth 20 quid?

0:32:270:32:29

-Yes!

-All right, well, they're worth more than 20.

-Well, that's nice!

0:32:290:32:32

But not much more. I think they'll make 60 to 100 between them.

0:32:320:32:36

And I would suggest you put a reserve of £50 on them

0:32:360:32:39

because if they don't make £50, then they're not worth selling.

0:32:390:32:43

Even if you don't like them, they'd be worth you taking them

0:32:430:32:45

-and trying them another day or something like that.

-I see.

0:32:450:32:48

Does that sound all right to you?

0:32:480:32:49

-Yes, that's fine.

-That's excellent news.

0:32:490:32:51

And we'll look forward to seeing you

0:32:510:32:53

-at the auction.

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks for bringing them.

0:32:530:32:56

So that's the second time today

0:32:560:32:58

Adam's sent something off with no reserve,

0:32:580:33:01

but will it pay off?

0:33:010:33:02

Now for something slightly more modern.

0:33:020:33:05

Michael is at David's table with a table.

0:33:050:33:09

I think this is great.

0:33:090:33:11

We so rarely see this sort of thing on "Flog It!" When did you buy it?

0:33:110:33:16

-About 1968.

-'68, and you'll have bought it new?

0:33:160:33:21

Bought it new, yes.

0:33:210:33:22

OK, and at that time, of course,

0:33:220:33:25

in the 1960s, this sort of furniture was the height of fashion, really.

0:33:250:33:30

Yes, it must have been, yes.

0:33:300:33:32

-Can you remember what you paid for it?

-No idea, no.

0:33:320:33:35

-No.

-Pounds, shillings and pence.

0:33:350:33:37

Furniture like this was bought, really, as I say,

0:33:370:33:40

because it represented everything that was up-to-date, you know -

0:33:400:33:44

pared-down, modern materials.

0:33:440:33:48

That's the most important thing of all, I think -

0:33:480:33:50

a Formica top and a metal base,

0:33:500:33:53

-and apart from the decoration on the top, that's it.

-Yes.

0:33:530:33:57

-There's no carving.

-No.

-There's no inlay.

0:33:570:33:59

All those sorts of things are just dispensed with.

0:33:590:34:03

What I really like about this

0:34:030:34:05

is the fact it's decorated by John Piper.

0:34:050:34:07

-Oh, yes.

-Or at least after John Piper.

0:34:070:34:11

John Piper was probably one of Britain's greatest artists

0:34:110:34:15

of the 20th century. His life spanned the century, very nearly.

0:34:150:34:19

He was famous in particular for his stained-glass work

0:34:190:34:23

-at Coventry Cathedral.

-Oh, yes.

0:34:230:34:25

And for working with John Betjeman on the Shell Motoring Guides

0:34:250:34:29

in, I think, the early 1950s, so he is a big name,

0:34:290:34:33

but I've never seen his work

0:34:330:34:35

represented on a table like this before.

0:34:350:34:38

It's curious, really. You have these amazing classical baroque buildings.

0:34:380:34:45

-They're all after Christopher Wren, I think.

-Yes.

0:34:450:34:48

They're all Wren churches. This is St Paul's Cathedral

0:34:480:34:51

and they find themselves on this ultra modern piece of furniture,

0:34:510:34:55

so, you know, as was so often the case in the 1960s, anything went.

0:34:550:35:00

You know, you could mix and match, and people loved it.

0:35:000:35:03

I would have said it's going to make

0:35:030:35:06

between £100 and £150.

0:35:060:35:08

-Yes. Yeah.

-But I wouldn't want to sell it for less than 100.

0:35:080:35:10

No. No.

0:35:100:35:12

So would you be happy with a reserve of £100?

0:35:120:35:14

-Yes, would be happy with that.

-OK.

0:35:140:35:16

It only came out of the attic yesterday, so...

0:35:160:35:18

You haven't been using it?

0:35:180:35:20

-No, it's been in the attic for 20-odd years.

-Oh, right. Right.

0:35:200:35:23

-So erm...

-That's interesting.

0:35:230:35:26

-Knowing you was in town...

-You thought you'd come along.

0:35:260:35:28

-OK. We'll go ahead on that basis...

-Thank you very much.

0:35:280:35:30

I look forward to seeing you at the sale.

0:35:300:35:32

And our next item - well, it's a suitcase.

0:35:340:35:37

Alison, underneath this canvas cover I know there's quality, isn't there?

0:35:370:35:41

It wouldn't have a canvas cover on it otherwise.

0:35:410:35:43

Clearly not your initials...

0:35:430:35:45

No, they belong to my mother.

0:35:450:35:47

-Hilda Georgina Secret.

-Secret?!

0:35:470:35:51

What a lovely surname.

0:35:510:35:53

-You're obviously not still a Secret, are you?

-No, I'm not. No, no.

0:35:530:35:56

-That's a great surname.

-I know.

0:35:560:35:58

-Can I? Ready?

-Yeah.

-Da-da-da-da...

0:35:580:36:00

That's beautiful. There's not a scratch

0:36:020:36:04

-or a mark on there.

-No.

-And that...

0:36:040:36:07

-..that's pigskin, isn't it?

-Yup.

0:36:080:36:10

-Quality, quality, quality.

-I know.

0:36:100:36:11

That's the best-quality leather,

0:36:110:36:13

that's the best hide money can buy.

0:36:130:36:16

-Oh, it's just divine, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It looks beautiful.

0:36:160:36:19

-Ready...?

-Yeah.

0:36:190:36:21

It's just getting better and better, isn't it?

0:36:230:36:25

Do you know, it's never been used, has it?

0:36:250:36:27

I think it must have been used,

0:36:270:36:29

cos there are a couple of teeth out of the comb, so...

0:36:290:36:32

Very, very nice. It's all there.

0:36:320:36:36

-I could see it in the back of a Bentley, couldn't you?

-Well, yes...

0:36:360:36:39

Did she have one?

0:36:390:36:40

-No, she didn't.

-Is it by Mappin & Webb?

-It is,

0:36:400:36:43

-I think it... Yes.

-Yeah, there you go.

0:36:430:36:45

It's clearly not really been used.

0:36:450:36:47

Well, it's so heavy...

0:36:470:36:48

-This lifts out, doesn't it?

-Yes.

0:36:480:36:49

And that...

0:36:510:36:52

And then that closes.

0:36:520:36:54

And then you take that off with you.

0:36:540:36:56

Look at that.

0:36:560:36:57

Oh...

0:36:570:36:59

But it's so heavy. I mean, you...

0:36:590:37:00

-Have you any idea of value?

-No.

0:37:000:37:04

-It's pretty much perfect.

-Yes.

0:37:040:37:06

I've got to say,

0:37:060:37:07

this is possibly the best example I've seen for quality and condition.

0:37:070:37:12

-Yes.

-Why do you want to sell this?

0:37:120:37:14

Actually it belongs...really belongs to my sister,

0:37:140:37:18

who lives in Australia.

0:37:180:37:19

OK.

0:37:190:37:21

Half of it belongs to her and half of it belongs to me.

0:37:210:37:23

So the best thing to do is to split it. Split the money.

0:37:230:37:27

I think if we split the money, and then we could have...

0:37:270:37:29

-We could meet.

-Yeah, that'd be nice.

0:37:290:37:31

-What a lovely story.

-Yeah.

0:37:310:37:33

Any idea of value?

0:37:330:37:34

Not really.

0:37:340:37:36

I've seen them before, not so good as this,

0:37:360:37:39

and I put, I think,

0:37:390:37:40

£400 to £600 on something very much the same,

0:37:400:37:45

and it made £1,100.

0:37:450:37:46

Oh, right?

0:37:460:37:48

So let's be a bit gutsier, OK?

0:37:480:37:50

Let's put

0:37:500:37:52

-£800 to £1,200 on this.

-OK.

0:37:520:37:54

And hopefully, it does the top end and a little bit more.

0:37:540:37:58

-Lovely.

-Are you happy with that?

0:37:580:38:00

I am very happy with that.

0:38:000:38:01

We'll protect it with a reserve...?

0:38:010:38:03

Yes.

0:38:030:38:04

I'll tell you what we'll do, let's give it discretion.

0:38:040:38:06

Let's say £800 to £1,200

0:38:060:38:08

with a discretion of 10% at £800.

0:38:080:38:10

-Yeah.

-That'll make the bidders keen.

0:38:100:38:13

Yeah, lovely.

0:38:130:38:15

I'm pretty sure it'll go at the top end. But I can't guarantee!

0:38:150:38:18

I can't guarantee what's going to happen on the day in auction.

0:38:180:38:21

Of course, you can never tell what's going to happen at the auction,

0:38:220:38:25

and even the best valuations are in the fate of the bidders on the day.

0:38:250:38:29

We'll find out soon.

0:38:290:38:30

Time's running out.

0:38:310:38:33

We need one more item to send off to auction.

0:38:330:38:35

So quickly over to David Fletcher,

0:38:350:38:37

and he's with Mervyn and a childhood collection.

0:38:370:38:40

I was pleased to see this autograph album...

0:38:400:38:43

Yes. Thank you.

0:38:430:38:45

I was a bit disappointed cos I thought you would ask

0:38:450:38:47

for mine. But you didn't.

0:38:470:38:49

Never mind.

0:38:490:38:51

Whose autographs have you got? Shall we have a little look?

0:38:510:38:53

I've got quite a bookful, quite a selection,

0:38:530:38:55

but some of the more famous ones

0:38:550:38:57

are Laurel and Hardy...

0:38:570:38:58

OK. You've tagged all these, I see.

0:38:580:39:00

-Yes.

-Right. Yeah. Laurel and Hardy.

0:39:000:39:02

I collected them from the stage door of the Birmingham Hippodrome.

0:39:020:39:06

-Really? Did you?

-When I was a youngster at school.

0:39:060:39:08

-Gosh.

-Many years ago.

0:39:080:39:10

So they actually signed

0:39:100:39:11

-this autograph album for you.

-Yeah.

0:39:110:39:13

So they've handled this very book.

0:39:130:39:16

Also Abbott and Costello...

0:39:160:39:17

Yes. Names I know as well.

0:39:170:39:19

And we've got lots of other names

0:39:190:39:21

like Guy Mitchell...

0:39:210:39:23

Guy Mitchell. "I've never felt more like singing the blues."

0:39:230:39:26

-That's right.

-I remember that one.

0:39:260:39:28

What was that - '50s I suppose?

0:39:280:39:30

-Yeah, late

-'50s. Yeah.

0:39:300:39:33

-You collected these yourself.

-Yes.

0:39:330:39:35

I must say, I think that makes

0:39:350:39:37

the collection particularly interesting.

0:39:370:39:39

So Mervyn, you were a very young lad

0:39:390:39:41

when you collected these.

0:39:410:39:42

-I was about 13 or 14.

-Were you?

0:39:420:39:43

And when I was at school in Birmingham,

0:39:430:39:47

my friend and I used to take the bus

0:39:470:39:50

-and go down to the Birmingham Hippodrome...

-Really?

0:39:500:39:52

-And hang round the stage door.

-Gosh.

0:39:520:39:55

And I collected them then.

0:39:550:39:56

And are you still interested in

0:39:560:39:58

-the theatre and in films?

-Oh, yes.

0:39:580:40:00

-But you're not collecting autographs any more.

-No.

0:40:000:40:02

-Although I did get one today, a very special one.

-Did you?

0:40:020:40:05

-Whose was that?

-Paul Martin's.

0:40:050:40:06

-Paul Martin's?!

-Which must be worth a lot.

0:40:060:40:09

Is that in there?

0:40:090:40:10

-Yes, it is.

-Good heavens.

0:40:100:40:12

It's next to Laurel and Hardy's, actually. The next page.

0:40:120:40:15

The next page. There it is.

0:40:150:40:17

-"Best wishes, Paul Martin."

-Yeah.

0:40:170:40:19

Well, I was going to say it's worth

0:40:190:40:22

£100 to £150...

0:40:220:40:24

-I'm going to have to revise my estimate now...

-I think so.

0:40:240:40:27

-It's worth £30.

-MERVYN LAUGHS

0:40:270:40:29

No. Seriously...

0:40:290:40:31

-It's worth £100 to £150, in my view.

-Yeah. Yeah.

0:40:310:40:35

-Would you be happy with that?

-Yes.

-Good. OK.

0:40:350:40:38

-And if we put a reserve of £100 on the lot, say?

-Yeah.

0:40:380:40:41

And have you anything in mind

0:40:410:40:43

to spend the money on?

0:40:430:40:45

-Well, I'm going to give the money to my wife...

-Oh. Fatal.

0:40:450:40:48

..who's likely to spend it in a well-known departmental store

0:40:480:40:51

-where she can take it back if she's not satisfied.

-OK!

-DAVID LAUGHS

0:40:510:40:55

-Does she often take things back?

-Yes, she does.

-Does she? Oh, dear.

0:40:550:40:58

Well, let's hope we make her enough money to buy something

0:40:580:41:00

-really nice that she won't want to take back.

-Right.

0:41:000:41:03

Let's get that and our other items

0:41:060:41:07

wrapped up and sent off to auction -

0:41:070:41:10

and here's a quick reminder

0:41:100:41:11

of what we're taking.

0:41:110:41:13

Let's hope the bidders

0:41:130:41:14

will want to snap them up.

0:41:140:41:16

We've left the Cotswolds behind and headed off to the Malvern Hills

0:41:180:41:21

for our auction, at Philip Serrell's saleroom.

0:41:210:41:24

£110, there's the bid... Done.

0:41:240:41:28

Our first item under the hammer is a pair of cloisonne vases

0:41:280:41:31

owned by Lynn, and spotted by Adam.

0:41:310:41:34

These were left to me by this lady.

0:41:340:41:36

She's absolutely beautiful.

0:41:360:41:37

Yeah. She left me these items, hence why I brought her today.

0:41:370:41:40

One red ground, one green ground

0:41:400:41:42

and I believe the red one's got a bit of damage, hasn't it?

0:41:420:41:45

Little bit, yeah, cloisonne's very prone to damage, isn't it?

0:41:450:41:48

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-I think we've reflected that in the estimate.

-OK.

0:41:480:41:52

Good luck. And let's hope it gets the top end of the estimate.

0:41:520:41:54

Two cloisonne vases...

0:41:570:41:58

..and I'll start at £100 bid, at £100 only...

0:42:000:42:03

-Hundred's bid.

-Straight in.

0:42:030:42:04

Told you they'd start at three figures.

0:42:040:42:07

I'll take 10 anywhere.

0:42:070:42:08

At £100 -

0:42:090:42:11

10, may I? At £100.

0:42:110:42:13

110, 110, the book's out.

0:42:130:42:14

Any more?

0:42:160:42:18

At £110, right at the back,

0:42:180:42:20

and I sell then at 110 and done. Thank you.

0:42:200:42:23

It was straight in, really, and straight out. £110.

0:42:230:42:26

-Lovely.

-Job done.

0:42:260:42:27

-That's good, isn't it?

-Yes, very pleased.

0:42:270:42:29

A good solid sale, just over the estimate,

0:42:300:42:32

and away to a new owner.

0:42:320:42:34

Up next,

0:42:350:42:36

Michael's John Piper decorated table.

0:42:360:42:39

-You bought this brand-new in 1968...

-That's right.

0:42:400:42:43

-And you've had it ever since.

-In Cheltenham. Yep.

0:42:430:42:45

Gosh. He's got his money's worth.

0:42:450:42:48

We talk about minimalism,

0:42:480:42:50

and the demise of the brown furniture -

0:42:500:42:52

-this represents the future.

-It does.

0:42:520:42:54

And do you know, there are over

0:42:540:42:56

150 lots of furniture in this sale,

0:42:560:42:58

and only one isn't made of wood.

0:42:580:43:00

It's funny - over the years

0:43:010:43:03

-you get rid of all your brown furniture...

-Yeah.

0:43:030:43:05

..but for some unknown reason, I kept hold of this.

0:43:050:43:07

-And you've used it.

-And I use it - my son's used it in his place,

0:43:070:43:10

then I had it again and then back in the attic it went.

0:43:100:43:14

Can you remember how much you pay for it?

0:43:140:43:15

No, I've been trying to think, but no, I can't.

0:43:150:43:17

Well, I'm sure you're going to make a healthy profit anyway.

0:43:170:43:20

We're going to find out what it's worth right now, it's going under the hammer.

0:43:200:43:23

There you are - John Piper table,

0:43:240:43:27

St Paul's and St Martin's.

0:43:270:43:31

£55 bid, at 55,

0:43:310:43:33

55, 55.

0:43:330:43:34

At 55, 55.

0:43:340:43:36

And 60, and 5. And 70, and 5.

0:43:360:43:38

80, and 5. 90, and 5.

0:43:380:43:40

100, 110, 120,

0:43:400:43:42

130.

0:43:420:43:44

One more, sir? 130...

0:43:440:43:46

40, thank you.

0:43:460:43:47

At 140. 50 on the net bid.

0:43:470:43:49

At 150. Here's the bid...

0:43:490:43:51

150.

0:43:510:43:52

150... 160. 160...

0:43:520:43:55

Is there any more?

0:43:550:43:56

At 160 bid...

0:43:560:43:59

170.

0:44:000:44:02

-180...

-Good - fresh legs.

-At £180.

0:44:020:44:04

180...

0:44:040:44:07

At £180, in the room. Any more at all?

0:44:070:44:10

At £180, and I sell in the room,

0:44:100:44:13

and done then at 190. 190...

0:44:130:44:15

-Oh, yes!

-Gone up again.

-That's good.

0:44:150:44:17

At £200. At 200...

0:44:170:44:19

In the room.

0:44:190:44:20

The net's out. At £200, in the room.

0:44:200:44:22

Any more?

0:44:220:44:23

At £200, and I sell, then,

0:44:230:44:25

at £200 and done. Thank you.

0:44:250:44:27

Hammer's gone down. £200. Top end of that estimate, well done.

0:44:270:44:31

-Thank you.

-That ticked all the right boxes -

0:44:310:44:33

architecture, definitely,

0:44:330:44:34

-and the affiliation with cathedrals with John Piper.

-Yeah.

0:44:340:44:37

-So someone's got a nice thing.

-They have. Hope they enjoy it.

0:44:370:44:40

Now for our next lot, and I'm joined by Alison.

0:44:430:44:45

Well, I'm feeling a little bit nervous right now, Alison,

0:44:450:44:48

it's my turn to be the expert.

0:44:480:44:49

We're just going to put the leather case with all the vanity set inside,

0:44:490:44:53

Mappin & Webb, under the hammer.

0:44:530:44:55

It's been in the wardrobe for a long time?

0:44:550:44:57

Yes, it has, unfortunately, doing nothing. What would you do with it?

0:44:570:45:00

-Well, at least it's been kept in great condition.

-Yes.

0:45:000:45:03

Here we go. This is it.

0:45:030:45:05

The, er...super Mappin & Webb case.

0:45:060:45:10

There we are.

0:45:110:45:13

Bid me £800.

0:45:130:45:15

I'm bid £500, with me,

0:45:170:45:19

at 520. 520.

0:45:190:45:20

50...

0:45:200:45:22

At £550. At 550.

0:45:220:45:24

-(Oh, come on!)

-580.

-(Oh, good.)

0:45:240:45:26

600. 600...

0:45:260:45:29

-£600. Any more?

-(Come on!)

0:45:290:45:31

At £600. Any more?

0:45:310:45:33

It's not going to sell.

0:45:330:45:35

At £600 only -

0:45:350:45:36

any more at all?

0:45:360:45:37

At £600,

0:45:370:45:39

is there any more at all?

0:45:390:45:41

No? Well, I'm sorry, I can't do that, chaps.

0:45:410:45:43

-Close. We're close.

-Yeah.

0:45:430:45:46

But listen -

0:45:460:45:47

the bidder that left £600

0:45:470:45:49

-will probably have a word with Philip.

-Mm-hm.

0:45:490:45:51

We're short, by £120.

0:45:510:45:54

-I'm ever so sorry.

-I don't want to stick it in the wardrobe!

0:45:540:45:57

No, it doesn't want to go back in the wardrobe,

0:45:570:45:59

it's better off in a saleroom.

0:45:590:46:00

You can't let one "no sale"

0:46:000:46:03

ruin your day at auction,

0:46:030:46:04

because blink once and you'll be back on track with a winner.

0:46:040:46:07

Next up, the autograph book belonging to Mervyn

0:46:090:46:11

-who's just joined me right now - hello, thanks for coming in.

-Hello.

0:46:110:46:14

Now, you collected all these on the stage door,

0:46:140:46:16

-didn't you, at Birmingham?

-Yes.

0:46:160:46:17

-All bar one...

-Yes.

-..which you collected at the valuation day.

-Yes.

0:46:170:46:21

My signature!

0:46:210:46:23

But thank you so much for asking me to sign it,

0:46:230:46:26

-I was in such good company there.

-And it's great

0:46:260:46:28

that you collected them yourself,

0:46:280:46:30

-that's what's so good about it.

-Yes. That's right.

0:46:300:46:32

They're big names, aren't they?

0:46:320:46:34

They are big names.

0:46:340:46:36

And there were kind enough and modest enough to sign for you,

0:46:360:46:39

-they could have been a bit snooty about it.

-That's right.

0:46:390:46:42

No. They were all very good.

0:46:420:46:44

And the good news is there's plenty of collectors for Laurel and Hardy

0:46:440:46:47

so I think that should get them away at the top end of the value.

0:46:470:46:51

-Hope so.

-OK? We'll find out right now. Here we go.

0:46:510:46:54

The autograph albums,

0:46:560:46:58

and I've got two bids

0:46:580:46:59

the same sort of money,

0:46:590:47:01

so I'll start at...

0:47:010:47:02

£280 bid.

0:47:020:47:04

At £280. On the book.

0:47:060:47:08

290.

0:47:080:47:09

290. At £290. Who's got 300?

0:47:090:47:13

300...

0:47:130:47:15

On the telephone, at 300.

0:47:150:47:17

310... 320...

0:47:170:47:19

320.

0:47:190:47:20

330.

0:47:200:47:22

340.

0:47:220:47:23

350.

0:47:230:47:25

360...

0:47:250:47:27

360. 370.

0:47:270:47:30

380...

0:47:310:47:32

390.

0:47:320:47:34

400.

0:47:350:47:37

410.

0:47:370:47:39

420.

0:47:390:47:41

430.

0:47:410:47:43

440...

0:47:430:47:44

Do you know what, it's obviously the Abbott and Costello

0:47:440:47:46

-that are making this really, really fly.

-Yeah.

0:47:460:47:49

..470.

0:47:490:47:52

480.

0:47:520:47:53

490.

0:47:530:47:55

500.

0:47:550:47:57

520.

0:47:570:47:58

550.

0:47:590:48:01

580...

0:48:020:48:04

600 bid. On the telephone.

0:48:040:48:06

-Ooh! Ooh!

-£600.

0:48:060:48:09

I think it's your autograph

0:48:090:48:10

they wanted really, Paul.

0:48:100:48:11

£600, any more?

0:48:110:48:13

At £600,

0:48:130:48:14

and I sell then at £600 and done, thank you.

0:48:140:48:18

Yes!

0:48:180:48:19

-Well done. Thank you.

-Well done and thank you for bringing those in,

0:48:190:48:23

what can I say?

0:48:230:48:24

Well, I undervalued them - but I'd rather do that

0:48:240:48:26

-than overvalue them.

-That's right.

-What are you going to do with all that money?

0:48:260:48:30

-Don't forget there is commission.

-Well, my wife's going to spend it

0:48:300:48:33

-in a well-known store.

-Oh, on clothes?

0:48:330:48:34

Well, that's what girls do.

0:48:340:48:36

-And you've got to keep them happy.

-That's right.

0:48:360:48:38

Thank you so much for coming in, and what a lovely surprise that's given us at the end of the day.

0:48:380:48:42

Sadly we're running out of time, I hope you've enjoyed the show.

0:48:420:48:45

Join us again for many more surprises to come on "Flog It!", but until then, it's goodbye from Malvern.

0:48:450:48:49

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