0:00:07 > 0:00:09Today, for the first time ever,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12"Flog It!" comes to you from a working military base.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16Below me right now is Somerset and HMS Heron, Britain's largest naval
0:00:16 > 0:00:21aviation base and the Fleet Air Arm Museum, home to our valuation day.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Welcome to "Flog It!"
0:00:45 > 0:00:50HMS Heron's origins date back to 1939 when the base was built.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52At this time, it would have been home
0:00:52 > 0:00:54to aeroplanes like the Swordfish,
0:00:54 > 0:00:58which thanks to the historic flight team, is still operational.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Today, you are more likely to find Royal Navy Lynx helicopters
0:01:02 > 0:01:04and Sea Kings on the runway.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05Throughout the day,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08there will be aircraft taking off and landing just behind us.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12Today's valuations will be taking place inside the Fleet Air Arm
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Museum, which is situated on the base here at Yeovilton.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18The "Flog It!" radar has reached far and wide
0:01:18 > 0:01:22and people are arriving in their droves, to get their antiques
0:01:22 > 0:01:25and collectables valued by our "Flog It!" experts,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28captains of the antiques world,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30Thomas Plant...
0:01:30 > 0:01:33I love these souvenirs of Lourdes.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34..and Charlie Ross.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38- And the shape is lovely, isn't it? - Nice, isn't it?- Romantic.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Which item will make a small fortune in today's show?
0:01:49 > 0:01:51The relic of an old love affair?
0:01:51 > 0:01:56It's been quite nice to discuss the nuances and fun of one's first kiss.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59A car-boot sale find?
0:01:59 > 0:02:02People look at us and think, "No, you are too young to like that."
0:02:02 > 0:02:04I say, "No, it's for everyone."
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Or just a load of old coins?
0:02:09 > 0:02:13Well, we are certainly surrounded by interesting aircraft from the past.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17This museum really does sum up the history of aviation.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Later in the show, I will be getting a glimpse of some modern aircraft
0:02:20 > 0:02:23that are still in use today when I visit air-traffic control,
0:02:23 > 0:02:27here on the base. But right now, let's touch down with our experts
0:02:27 > 0:02:30as we get on with our first valuation.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Which is taking place beneath the wings of Concorde.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Pat, tell me about this delightful box.
0:02:39 > 0:02:45Well, it was given to me 55 years ago...by my very first boyfriend.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Very first boyfriend, 55 years?
0:02:47 > 0:02:5055 years. Don't try and find out how old I am!
0:02:50 > 0:02:53I'm not doing that in my head, I promise.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56So, was this a gift? Did it last?
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Yes, it's lasted quite a while
0:03:00 > 0:03:03but he went off to uni to become an architect
0:03:03 > 0:03:07and I was left at home and that was the end of that.
0:03:07 > 0:03:13- This was a memento?- This was just an "I love you, have this."
0:03:13 > 0:03:15First love.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19- First love, it was first love. - Lovely, isn't it?- Yes, it is.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22- It is lovely.- It is. - All those things.- All those things.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- All those wonderful things. - Special things and then heartbreak.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29- Yes, but that's... - That part of it, isn't it?
0:03:29 > 0:03:33- Yeah, it is all part of it but it is so special, that time.- Oh, yes.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38- It's beautiful. Silver-gilt inside so mercury gilded...- Yes.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42..inside, with this guilloche enamel.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44It is marked 925 on the back.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- Most probably it's going to be continental.- Yes.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53And this guilloche enamel, which is translucent,
0:03:53 > 0:03:59with the engine turning on the top, has this wonderful opalescence to it.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02- Yes, yes. - Like a piece of Lalique.- Yes.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05This is what you see, this pretty opalescence.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- It's dead, dead pretty.- Mm, mm.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- How old would it be?- Yes, good question. How old would it be?
0:04:14 > 0:04:20I would have thought between 1920 and the Second World War.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24- I think it's sort of that sort of period, Art Deco.- Deco.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27The Deco period. A little pillbox.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29Where has it been?
0:04:29 > 0:04:32In my jewellery box, in the cupboard.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- So, in your jewellery box in the cupboard. You haven't seen it...- No.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40- Probably the last time you saw it was over a year ago.- At least.- At least.
0:04:40 > 0:04:41So, you should sell it
0:04:41 > 0:04:45- because somebody will put it in their bijouterie cabinet...- Yes.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48..a cabinet and they will put it in there and it will be on show.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- Yes, yes, which is better. - Which is much better.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Now, OK, it's not going to be worth a king's ransom.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56No. Oh, what a shame!
0:04:56 > 0:04:59No. It's a £60 to £80 little box but it's sweet.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04- I would suggest 60-80 with a discretionary 60.- That's fine.
0:05:04 > 0:05:05Was that all right?
0:05:05 > 0:05:08- Thank you for bringing it in. - My pleasure.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11It's been quite nice to sort of discuss the...
0:05:11 > 0:05:15nuances and the fun of one's first kiss.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18MUSIC: Love Is In The Air by John Paul Young
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Always the romantic, Thomas.
0:05:21 > 0:05:22Let's hope Charlie Ross can bring us
0:05:22 > 0:05:24back down to earth with his next find.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Diane and Chris, I have to thank you very much indeed for bringing
0:05:28 > 0:05:30something tall to "Flog It!"
0:05:30 > 0:05:33cos I spend my life sitting on a chair at "Flog It!"
0:05:33 > 0:05:35and by the end of the day I can hardly move,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38so it's very nice to stand up and admire your wonderful object...
0:05:38 > 0:05:40Which is an oil lamp.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42They have gone out of fashion a bit,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45- so I hope we're not looking for the moon here.- No, no, no.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Tell me about it. Where did you buy it?
0:05:48 > 0:05:53We bought in it...an antique shop in Wells about 10-15 years ago.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56Ooh, no. No pressure. Can you remember how much you paid for it?
0:05:56 > 0:05:58It was about £200.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Did you buy it...simply to look at or did you buy it as an emergency,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- in case there was a power cut or whatever?- No.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10It was to go on a deep stone window ledge in an old cottage
0:06:10 > 0:06:11and it looked beautiful.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14It's brass, as you know. It's Victorian.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17All we were told was he thought it was German.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19- I think it's English.- Oh, right.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21- I don't see any... - There's no markings on it, so...
0:06:21 > 0:06:23I don't see any reason why it should be German,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26unless there's any writing on it. But is there no writing?
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- We haven't... We've never found any. - Ah...
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Oh, no, hang on. Oh, yes.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Ah, well, we're both right, you see because it says,
0:06:33 > 0:06:39"Manufactured in Germany for SP Catterson, London South East."
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- So can we have half each? - Yeah, that's fine.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44THEY LAUGH
0:06:44 > 0:06:46It's got great decoration on it.
0:06:46 > 0:06:53It has mask heads, it has...paw feet, which I like.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54It's got a lot of floral decoration.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58It's got acanthus leaf decoration, which I like.
0:06:58 > 0:07:03For me, the best decoration are these gothic straps...
0:07:03 > 0:07:08real gothic taste to them and I like that. Erm...
0:07:09 > 0:07:13A perfectly good shade, whether it's original or not is anybody's guess,
0:07:13 > 0:07:17but an etched glass shade always helps to lift it up.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20And...
0:07:20 > 0:07:22I think it's a great thing. Now I know...
0:07:22 > 0:07:25that you said it cost about a couple of hundred pounds.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27I think it would have to be an exceptional day to
0:07:27 > 0:07:28get your money back.
0:07:28 > 0:07:29That's fine.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31I'm thinking £100-£150.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Yeah, that's absolutely fine, isn't it?
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- Yes, that's fine. - It's an imposing object.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39I think a reserve at £100 with a little bit of auctioneer's
0:07:39 > 0:07:41discretion and it would be wonderful if we got our money back,
0:07:41 > 0:07:45- wouldn't it?- Well, that would be... - That would be a jackpot.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Anyway, thank you very much for bringing it along.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48Thank you very much.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Well, well, well, so many people, it looks like all of Somerset
0:07:55 > 0:07:58has turned up and the surrounding counties.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02And talking about busy, I took the opportunity earlier to go
0:08:02 > 0:08:04and take a look at Air Traffic Control,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07who manage some of the busiest airspace in the country.
0:08:07 > 0:08:08Take a look at this.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12# Ground control to Major Tom
0:08:15 > 0:08:18# Commencing countdown, engines on... #
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Dan, you are head of Air Traffic Control,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23so I'd imagine this is your office space, pretty much most of the day,
0:08:23 > 0:08:24- is it?- Yeah, absolutely.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27I spend my time between here, in the visual control room,
0:08:27 > 0:08:28and downstairs in the radar room.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31The amount of staff that you've got up here at the moment,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33is this in shift work, so it's around the clock?
0:08:33 > 0:08:36It's all manned by shift work and we also have duty
0:08:36 > 0:08:39personnel on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42I would imagine it looks a lot different at night-time.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46You really can't see what's going on out there and that's when the stress really kicks in.
0:08:46 > 0:08:47It certainly can do at night.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Very different, very black and, for the controllers,
0:08:50 > 0:08:52all they can see is lights flying around in the sky.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55How many aircraft do you think are coming in and out?
0:08:55 > 0:08:57We average about 50 aircraft a day.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59That is a lot. That really is a lot actually,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01- isn't it?- It is. It's an awful lot of flying.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04So where do most of the aircraft go to or come from?
0:09:04 > 0:09:07The vast majority are engaged in exercises
0:09:07 > 0:09:08around the local area and nationally.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11They're going out to the sea areas and doing maritime training.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13They're also deploying from here,
0:09:13 > 0:09:15so they're going out to ships at sea to go and tour
0:09:15 > 0:09:18all around the world for their various operations and exercises.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20I would imagine it's quite exciting.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22It's... It's a thoroughly exciting job.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24I've been doing it for about 22 years now...
0:09:24 > 0:09:26and every day is different,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29and I think that's what makes it so very exciting and challenging.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33# This is Major Tom to ground control
0:09:33 > 0:09:34# I'm stepping... #
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Well, it's time to leave the heady heights of the control tower now,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39as we join up with our experts,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42who have got their feet firmly planted on the ground.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Let's see what Thomas has found.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Margaret, you call this a funny name, don't you?
0:09:51 > 0:09:53I do. We just call it the "Blue Thing".
0:09:53 > 0:09:56The Blue Thing. And the Blue Thing's been in your life for how long?
0:09:56 > 0:09:58- I should think about 35 years. - 35 years?
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Well, it's quite a special piece of glass.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05It's a piece of art glass from about the 1900s, the 1920s.
0:10:05 > 0:10:11Art Deco glass...made by Almeric Walter of Nancy in France.
0:10:11 > 0:10:12It's....
0:10:12 > 0:10:15made out of a technique called pate de verre,
0:10:15 > 0:10:17which is granules of glass...
0:10:17 > 0:10:21crashed together, heated up and moulded.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24So it's not a hand-blown piece of glass, it's a
0:10:24 > 0:10:26moulded piece of glass.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29But this is what's created these textures with colours
0:10:29 > 0:10:31and design to it.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33It's a bit like a sort of...
0:10:33 > 0:10:35a splosh in a pond, isn't it?
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Where did it come from?
0:10:37 > 0:10:40It was an auntie of my husband's, she gave it to him and...
0:10:41 > 0:10:43She had quite a lot of antique things,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46but we didn't think it was worth anything.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48- And this was... This was your first husband.- Yes.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50What did he use it for?
0:10:50 > 0:10:52The ashtray.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- LAUGHING:- The ashtray! I can't believe that! It's a lovely thing.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Well, it's quite good as an ashtray as well!
0:11:01 > 0:11:03OK, so it comes to value.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07- Have you got any idea?- No. - No idea at all?- No.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09So £100 would be good?
0:11:09 > 0:11:12I would think it would perhaps be worth a little bit more than that.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Yeah, it is worth a little bit more.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18I would suggest an estimate of £300-£500,
0:11:18 > 0:11:22with a discretionary reserve at £300. Does that suit?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- Yes, that'll be fine, thank you. - What will you do with that money?
0:11:25 > 0:11:28I think I better give it to my grandchildren.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Well, they're very lucky, aren't they?
0:11:30 > 0:11:33I keep spending their inheritance, so I better give them something.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38It is lovely. £300-£500.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- I look forward to seeing you at the auction.- It'll be very nice.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48So right now we're heading due northwest,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51as they say in air traffic control,
0:11:51 > 0:11:5315 nautical miles to the auction room.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57Here's a quick recap of what's coming with us.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Will Pat's Art Deco pill box, a gift from her first love,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02find the perfect partner?
0:12:06 > 0:12:08For those who like to burn the midnight oil,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11this Victorian brass lamp should ignite the bids.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17And Margaret's Pate de Verre blue dish
0:12:17 > 0:12:19is sure to bring in the glass collectors.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Today, our saleroom is in the quiet Somerset town of Bridgewater
0:12:27 > 0:12:30situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33south of the Mendip Hills and east of the Quantocks.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38It's auction time, and on the rostrum for us today
0:12:38 > 0:12:41is a familiar face to "Flog It!" fans -
0:12:41 > 0:12:43antique expert Claire Rawle.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Do remember if you're buying or selling at auction,
0:12:45 > 0:12:47there is commission to pay.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Here, it's 15% plus VAT on the hammer price
0:12:50 > 0:12:52if you're selling something, if you're buying,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56it's 18% plus the VAT, so add that on to the hammer prices.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Well, let's meet up with our first owner today.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Going under the hammer right now
0:13:02 > 0:13:04we have the enamelled silver pill box belonging to Pat.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08This was given to you by your first love 55 years ago.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10- Yes, it was.- A long time ago.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13- Yes, it was.- You've managed to hang on to it, though.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17I'm hoping this will sell, cos my daughter who delivered me
0:13:17 > 0:13:22- today works for Mind. She teaches horticultural.- OK.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25She's a therapist with the Mind organisation,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29so if I get some nice money for this, then that's going to go...
0:13:29 > 0:13:31- Good cause. - ..to my daughter's charity.
0:13:31 > 0:13:32Great. She's here today.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Let's hope there's no missing bids right now,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37cos our lot is just about to go under the hammer. This is it.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38Nice item, this.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41The little enamelled, silver triangular pill box.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46This one, I'm straight in at 65, £70. At 70. 5. 80.
0:13:46 > 0:13:4785.
0:13:47 > 0:13:4990. 95.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51100. 110.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52Right. It's gone.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59140, bid's here. At 140. Now 150 anywhere? At £140.
0:13:59 > 0:14:00150. Telephone bidder.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04At 150. On the telephone this time at 150. At 150.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Are you all done now? It's going to sell at 150... 160. He's back again.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10160. Do you want to go 170?
0:14:10 > 0:14:12170 on the telephone. Are you sure?
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- There are a lot of collectors for this.- Yeah, there is.
0:14:17 > 0:14:18GAVEL DROPS
0:14:18 > 0:14:20- £170, hammer's gone down. That's a sold sound.- Very good.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- We're happy with that. - I'm very happy with that.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- All the money's going to the Mind charity.- Yes.- Brilliant cause.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Really happy, thank you.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29The enduring power of first love.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Our next item has been burning a flame since Victorian times.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Well, unfortunately our owners Chris and Diane
0:14:36 > 0:14:38cannot be with us right now, but we do have their item.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41Yes, it's that German Victorian brass oil lamp.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46We have their next-door neighbour. Angie, good to see you.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50So, have you seen this oil lamp in their house on many occasions?
0:14:50 > 0:14:54No, the problem was they lived in a cottage before where it looked OK.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57In the new house, it just doesn't fit.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- Right, that's why they're selling it.- Yes.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02OK, let's put it to the test. It's going under the hammer right now.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05172, very decorative one this time.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Show it to you there - nice brass base.
0:15:08 > 0:15:14This one I have to start away at 65. 65. Do I see 70 anywhere? £65.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17At 65, now 70. 70 I have on the net. 75 with me.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20At 75, now 80. 80, I have. 85.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21It's a slow climb.
0:15:22 > 0:15:2495 here. At 95.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Slowly.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31At £100, it's a net bid, now. £100. Do I see 110 anywhere?
0:15:31 > 0:15:33At £100 it's going to be, then. Are you all done?
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- It's going to sell at £100.- Just.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41That's a sign of the time, isn't it? Just not in vogue right now.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- What do you do with them? - I don't know.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45They've halved their money.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47I mean a set dressing for Victorian set dressing
0:15:47 > 0:15:49in the right display area, they look great.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51- Yeah.- But that's about it, really.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54- Well, they'll be glad that it's gone. I'll let them know.- Good.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59The saleroom is a real barometer of what's in and what's not.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02But something tells me our next piece has a timeless appeal.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Well, if you love your art glass from France, you will love this -
0:16:07 > 0:16:11a bit of Walter Nancy, belonging to Margaret.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Do you know what? I like this. I like this.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17I like the fact that it's all moulded and crushed together.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20It's the same technique, really, as the late Whitefriars.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- The Geoffrey Baxter kind of thing. - Absolutely.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- But a lot earlier.- We call it the old blue thing, don't we?
0:16:27 > 0:16:28We do, yes.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Right, it's going under the hammer, this is it. Good luck, Margaret.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37The Walter Pate de Verre, little shallow dish. 282.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Nice, decorative item.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44This I have to start at £220. At 220. Do I see 250 anywhere?
0:16:44 > 0:16:50Bid's here at 220. At 220, now 250. At 220, now 250. At 250.
0:16:50 > 0:16:51280 with me.
0:16:51 > 0:16:56- 300. 300, I have in the room. At £300.- It's gone.
0:16:56 > 0:16:57£300, yes.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02320, thank you. 350 in the room at £350 in the room.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07At 350, now 380. 380, I have. Are you sure?
0:17:07 > 0:17:09At £380 on the internet now.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13At £380. Are you sure in the room? Don't miss it.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16- At 380, the bid's on the net.- £380.
0:17:16 > 0:17:22- At £400. At £400. 420 on the net. - Good name, that's why.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Yeah.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25On the internet, then at £420.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29all done in the room, it's going to sell at £420.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- GAVEL DROPS - £420.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- That's very good, isn't it? - Yes.- For an ashtray.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Yes. Good investment piece.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Well, in spite of its years as an ashtray,
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Walter Nancy's Art Deco dish made its money today.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Well, that's the end of our first visit to the saleroom.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47As you've just seen,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50we're surrounded by devoted collectors here.
0:17:50 > 0:17:51They're all over the place.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53But while we're here in the West Country,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56I went off to meet an equally devoted bunch west of the county.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Take a look at this.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05The Roper family have lived at Forde Abbey for over 100 years now.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Today, the 2,000-acre estate is opened to the public,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11but the family are primarily farmers.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13By working closely to the land,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16they've managed to be self-sufficient.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20It is a tradition they have inherited
0:18:20 > 0:18:24from the founders of Forde Abbey, the 12th century Cistercian monks,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26a French Catholic order who came to Britain
0:18:26 > 0:18:28from the Burgundy region of France.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33A breakaway group from the Benedictines,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36the Cistercians strove for a more austere way of life,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39believing a simple life lived in poverty
0:18:39 > 0:18:41was a way of getting closer to God.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44SINGING
0:18:48 > 0:18:52Working the land and being agriculturally self-sufficient
0:18:52 > 0:18:55was key to the Cistercian way of life.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Alice Roper is the younger generation of the family who
0:18:58 > 0:19:00have inherited the monks' incredible history.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06This, presumably, is the same vegetable garden the monks used.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10This has been a vegetable garden as far back as history tells us.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14We imagine the monks would have had grown all their vegetables here.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17- Obviously the kitchen is just round the corner.- Close proximity.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Absolutely. We still grow all the veg for the tearoom and everything now.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22- Which is lovely, isn't it? - It's lovely, yes.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Carrying on in their footprint.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28Alice's mother Lisa has her own herd of Red Ruby Devon cattle,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30which provides meat for the estate.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37The family also produce goats' milk and work the surrounding farmland,
0:19:37 > 0:19:38as the monks did before them.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45In 1148, just seven years after construction started,
0:19:45 > 0:19:47the first 12 monks were ready to move in,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50and the Cistercian community stayed for the next 400 years.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55You can understand why when you step inside this building.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59It really does embrace you. There's the most wonderful feel to it.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01This is the great hall,
0:20:01 > 0:20:03where the monks would have greeted their guests
0:20:03 > 0:20:05and addressed each other en masse
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and, of course, dined here when the abbot was present.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Mind you, when the monks lived here for those 400 years,
0:20:12 > 0:20:13there was absolutely no heating.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16It would have been really, really cold, exceptionally damp
0:20:16 > 0:20:17and quite austere.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19But nevertheless...
0:20:20 > 0:20:23..I still think it would have been a fantastic place to live.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38For me, the cloisters are probably the most beautiful
0:20:38 > 0:20:42part of what remains of the original abbey.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45This is where the monks would have walked for exercise and meditation.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Every day began with a prayer at two o'clock in the morning,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and most days were spent in silence.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Although the Cistercian philosophy was to lead a simple life in
0:20:57 > 0:21:02a state of poverty, the reality was the order became incredibly wealthy.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Many local landowners bequeathed their estate
0:21:05 > 0:21:07to the monks upon their death.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11In exchange, it was requested that the monks prayed
0:21:11 > 0:21:12for their deceased souls.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Incredibly, there still exists a log book recording these donations,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19and Mark Roper, Alice's father,
0:21:19 > 0:21:21has grown up with this ancient religious document.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26You have the monastic cartulary...
0:21:26 > 0:21:31which is which is created by the monks. It's all written by them.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Apparently, it is really title deeds of lands that they were
0:21:34 > 0:21:39given in exchange for a life after death.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Right, OK. Obviously this is how they accumulated their wealth.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43I think they did.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47I think that's exactly how they did, because the monks, apparently,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49their writ ran at about 30,000 acres.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52How did you come by this?
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Was this part of the treasures of the abbey or...?
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Oh, God knows what happened to it,
0:21:57 > 0:22:01but it turned up again in a collection
0:22:01 > 0:22:03of people called Phelips.
0:22:03 > 0:22:08My grandmother bought in the early 20th century.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- So now it's in its rightful place. - I think it is, yes.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14as well as being hugely successful landowners,
0:22:14 > 0:22:17the monks were scholars and devoted many hours
0:22:17 > 0:22:22to their philosophical writings in the cartulary, the scholar's room.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Alice has really embraced their history.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27I gather this is where all the intellectual work was done
0:22:27 > 0:22:29while the others were toiling hard in the field.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Yes, this is where the official monks would do
0:22:33 > 0:22:36all their writings, which they used to do.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38They used to do elaborate etchings down the side
0:22:38 > 0:22:39of their books and things.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42All the wonderful illuminated manuscripts and things like that.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47That's it. And the third abbot was deemed to have a huge library.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48It consisted of 12 books, but in those days,
0:22:48 > 0:22:52if you imagine, they're all done by hand, they were probably big volumes.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57But 12 books back in 1140 was deemed to be a very large library,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59which is a bit funny nowadays.
0:22:59 > 0:23:00ALICE LAUGHS
0:23:00 > 0:23:03So having seen this, would you like to see where they used to sleep?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05- Sure, yes, please. Is it close by?- Yes.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17OK, this is the monks' dormitory, which is where the
0:23:17 > 0:23:18monks would have slept.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21If you can imagine, it wouldn't have been exactly like this.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Not in this length, it would have been divided up?
0:23:23 > 0:23:24Yes, it would have been.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29Each one of these windows would have been a cubical for a single monk.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33- There to there, that's your space. - That is your space.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- What was in that space? - In that space, you had a bed.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39They'd have had a candle and they'd have had a desk that they
0:23:39 > 0:23:43would pray at, and obviously their Bible and their...
0:23:43 > 0:23:45A hook where they would have had two different cassocks -
0:23:45 > 0:23:47one for the winter and one for the summer.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50- They changed twice a year and that was it.- No layers then.- No layers.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54- Not in the freezing cold? - No, they would have frozen in here.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59We've always said that they acted as the olden day social services.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04Poor people and destitute people would come to the monasteries
0:24:04 > 0:24:06and the monks would look after them.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09They would feed them in return for the paupers
0:24:09 > 0:24:11working on the land and helping out.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- That's a fair exchange.- It is a fair exchange.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17They used to look after the sick as well,
0:24:17 > 0:24:22- and act as the local hospital and poor house.- Yeah.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25I'd imagine many people had arrived knocking at the door, poor people.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27Once they had a meal and a bed for the night,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29they probably stayed for many years.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Although the monks left over 400 years ago,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36their presence can still be felt at Forde Abbey, and the Roper
0:24:36 > 0:24:40family pay daily homage to them in the way they run the estate.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Welcome back to Yeovilton, the site of our valuation days.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55The museum is right down there, so let's now catch up
0:24:55 > 0:24:57with our experts and see what else they've spotted.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Charlie and Sue are talking vintage toys.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07This dates to 1954, almost the last
0:25:07 > 0:25:10of proper metal, steel-made toys,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13before everything was plastic.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17This one is one that belongs to my husband, Tim.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19- These were gifts to him when he was a child.- Yes.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22And obviously he did play with them quite a bit.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26However, his father was very particular about putting
0:25:26 > 0:25:27the toys away.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32For ages, Tim thought that they'd probably got lost or been sold
0:25:32 > 0:25:36ages ago and then when his father died last year
0:25:36 > 0:25:40when we cleared out the house we found all these boxes.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43The boxes were all beautifully kept,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46so it was a wonderful surprise for Tim.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49They are high-quality toys, you know,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51there's no plastic in there at all.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55This is all metal, Dinky toys,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Foden is the make of the lorry - which was a real lorry
0:25:58 > 0:26:01made for by Meccano.
0:26:01 > 0:26:06- This dates to 1954...- Oh, right, yes, he would have been four then.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Yeah. The thing that intrigues me about this, actually,
0:26:10 > 0:26:13is the condition because the Mobil Gas here
0:26:13 > 0:26:15is a transfer print
0:26:15 > 0:26:19and as you can see it is worn
0:26:19 > 0:26:21but only slightly worn.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24The other thing to check is that the tyres are on,
0:26:24 > 0:26:26and all the tyres are all right.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28The paintwork is good and, of course,
0:26:28 > 0:26:32the box is in super condition as well.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Did he know that you were bringing it along today
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- or have you smuggled it in?- I did ask him.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39I did say, "I'm going to go to "Flog It!"
0:26:39 > 0:26:42"So, shall I take one of your toys with me?"
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- Have you any idea what this is worth?- No.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47I haven't actually done any research yet.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50I'll shock you, I think,
0:26:50 > 0:26:54if this were absolutely mint and there was
0:26:54 > 0:26:56no rubbing at all on it,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00I think it would be worth as much as £400.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02- Oh, really?- Yes.- Gosh!
0:27:02 > 0:27:05I know...frightening really.
0:27:05 > 0:27:10So, we're looking at a question of gauging how much that
0:27:10 > 0:27:14damage is going to affect a collector.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18If we estimated it at £150-£200...
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Gosh, yes.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23- ..and put a reserve of 125 on it.- 125.- Happy?
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- Yes, very happy.- Is that more than you thought it was worth?
0:27:26 > 0:27:28- It is, thank you.- Might we tempt him along to the auction?
0:27:28 > 0:27:30I'm sure he'll come along to the auction, yes.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33- Well, now he knows what it's worth. - Yes, it'll be a great day!
0:27:33 > 0:27:36And he could bring the other ones if he wanted to
0:27:36 > 0:27:38and the auctioneers would have a look at them for him.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41- Oh, that's a good idea. - Thank you very much indeed.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45A classic little vehicle dating back to the 1950s, fast forward another
0:27:45 > 0:27:49decade and it was the beginning of the golden age of Concorde.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51I'm sitting I'm in the cockpit of the first
0:27:51 > 0:27:56British-built Concorde, which was first test flown in 1969,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58by the pilot Brian Trubshaw.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02The plane took off from Filton in Bristol on a test flight that
0:28:02 > 0:28:04took it all over the world.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12Brian was also the last person to fly this incredible aeroplane.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15I caught up with museum director Graham Mottram to find out
0:28:15 > 0:28:18how Concorde ended up in Yeovilton.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22Graham, you are the perfect man to answer my question,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24you're the museum director.
0:28:24 > 0:28:29What is the Concorde prototype doing here in a naval aviation museum?
0:28:29 > 0:28:32So, it was built up the road in Bristol.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34By preserving it down here,
0:28:34 > 0:28:36it's accessible to the families of the people who made it, built it.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39She's here, she's staying here
0:28:39 > 0:28:42and in a sense, over my dead body does it go out.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Always a crowd pleaser, I've noticed the hundreds of people here today,
0:28:45 > 0:28:49they all talk about it, they've all wandered up here.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53There's such a diversity of items!
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Take a look at this piece.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00- George, Kirsty, hello.- Hiya.- Hello.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Now, erm, first of all, I want to compliment you on your look.
0:29:03 > 0:29:04- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07- You're referring to the tattoos. - And are you interested in antiques?
0:29:07 > 0:29:09We are very much!
0:29:09 > 0:29:12It is a daily occurrence that sit down, cup of tea,
0:29:12 > 0:29:14antique programmes...
0:29:14 > 0:29:17Go to car boots, go to any antique fairs we can.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20We really are a little bit too enthusiastic about it!
0:29:20 > 0:29:22It's good...people look at us and think,
0:29:22 > 0:29:23"No, you're too young to like that!"
0:29:23 > 0:29:27- We say, "No, it's for everyone!" - So, tell me about the plaque.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30What happened and what went through your mind
0:29:30 > 0:29:33and was this a purchase or was it an inheritance?
0:29:33 > 0:29:37- This was a purchase from a boot sale.- Yeah, local to here.
0:29:37 > 0:29:42Local to here and we walked around and I wanted to buy something.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46I couldn't...looked around, didn't find anything and then spotted that.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Instantly fell in love with it but walked off.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52He wasn't sure wasn't sure if he wanted it,
0:29:52 > 0:29:55I had to keep prodding him. If you want it, go and get it!!
0:29:55 > 0:29:58So, tell me, what attracted you to it?
0:29:58 > 0:30:02I think it's the filigree and the flower frame
0:30:02 > 0:30:04and then, like, the Virgin Mary.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07It just sort of caught my eye and I was just like,
0:30:07 > 0:30:09"I really, really like it."
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- You've not been to Lourdes?- No.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14It's in southern France, in the Pyrenees,
0:30:14 > 0:30:20erm...this is Bernadette, she apparently saw
0:30:20 > 0:30:24the Virgin Mary at least 18 times while gathering wood.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Right, OK.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30And the basilica or the cathedral is built on top of the cave where
0:30:30 > 0:30:34she saw the Virgin Mary, hence the scene you have here.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36- It all fits in, doesn't it? - It all makes sense, yeah.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41It all works and within this very Gothic arch,
0:30:41 > 0:30:46with this oriole window here, it dates, I would say 1920s.
0:30:46 > 0:30:50A souvenir one would have bought if you were a tourist.
0:30:50 > 0:30:55Now, the added bonus to all of this is the musical box.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58Did you know there was a musical box?
0:30:58 > 0:31:00I did, when the lady sold it to me
0:31:00 > 0:31:03but she didn't have the key and I don't have a key that fits it.
0:31:03 > 0:31:04- Have you wound it up?- No.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06I haven't, I don't even know what it plays.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08We don't know if it works or anything.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10It's one of those mysteries.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14Well, it's quite nice, it's a bit like adding value.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17The person who buys this is going to add value by finding a key.
0:31:17 > 0:31:22- So, how much did you pay for this?- I paid £10.- £10!
0:31:22 > 0:31:25Well, come on, let's see if we can double your money
0:31:25 > 0:31:27and if not make a bit more.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30- I mean, I'm going to put £30 on it.- Wow!
0:31:30 > 0:31:33- That's more than what I thought. - It's more than what we thought,
0:31:33 > 0:31:35- to be honest.- Put £30 and let's reserve it...I don't know, 15.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38I think that would be fair and give you a bit of profit.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41So, do you want to have a little antiques shop one day or...?
0:31:41 > 0:31:42- I'd love to.- It would be nice.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45I think I'd be a rubbish antiques dealer,
0:31:45 > 0:31:46cos I wouldn't want to sell anything,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48I'd want to keep it all and look at it!
0:31:48 > 0:31:51Well, you never know, with the profit you make on this,
0:31:51 > 0:31:54you'll be able to buy something at the auction.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56- That would be good!- I'll look forward to seeing you there.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59- We'll look forward to seeing you too.- Thank you very much.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01- Been a pleasure.- Thank you.- Thanks.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Let's hope our budding antique collectors make their money back.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Our next two sellers are also hoping to make a mint.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12You've come identically dressed. Are you twins?
0:32:12 > 0:32:15No, we're from the National Animal Welfare Trust.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17What brought you along today?
0:32:17 > 0:32:23Well, we had a gentleman donate these boxes to us.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28He didn't have any family members to pass them down to
0:32:28 > 0:32:30and he's supported the trust for a long time.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32So, he's given you these and you've brought them
0:32:32 > 0:32:35along to be valued and hopefully sold and make some money?
0:32:35 > 0:32:36How do you use the money?
0:32:36 > 0:32:39It goes towards all the animals at the trust.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42- What a wonderful story, what a lovely man!- Yes.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44So, we've got here a lot of half crowns, which is
0:32:44 > 0:32:47two shillings and six pence.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49Florins, which are two-shilling pieces.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52Here we've crowns, which are five shillings.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56You have these coins here, the one shilling, the florin,
0:32:56 > 0:32:58the rare 1849 florin.
0:32:59 > 0:33:04In here, any number of coins, erm, for example just to pull
0:33:04 > 0:33:08out of a little box like that and look at all that lot.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12- So, it does need a good sift through...- Yeah.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14..if we're going to have a pleasant surprise.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17Have you got any idea of the value of all this lot?
0:33:17 > 0:33:19- We have no idea.- We've had a look
0:33:19 > 0:33:22through and I think conservatively there's certainly £400-£600 worth.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25More than you'd hoped?
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Yeah, yeah, definitely!
0:33:27 > 0:33:31We'll put a reserve of 400 and perhaps a little bit of discretion.
0:33:31 > 0:33:36Subject to the auctioneers having a really thorough look through,
0:33:36 > 0:33:40that might need, erm, increasing a little bit in terms of estimate.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43But I think you can certainly work in 400 as a bottom line
0:33:43 > 0:33:47and hopefully there's some way to go beyond that.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49- Excellent!- Sounds good!
0:33:49 > 0:33:52- By the way, you've found these in there as well.- Yeah.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Now, that is a gold wedding band.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59And this is a three-stone diamond ring.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03It looks like there are quite big diamonds in there but if you look
0:34:03 > 0:34:07very carefully they're quite small diamonds that have been
0:34:07 > 0:34:11illusion cut with the precious metal surround.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14So, I think they should be taken out,
0:34:14 > 0:34:17they can still go to auction but I think they should be separately
0:34:17 > 0:34:20auctioned and there's over £100-worth there.
0:34:20 > 0:34:20- Happy with that?- Very happy!
0:34:20 > 0:34:23- Been a worthwhile day, hasn't it? - Yes.- It has.- Glad you came?- Yes.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26- Good. Very nice to meet you. - And you.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32Well, that's it, you have just seen it -
0:34:32 > 0:34:35our experts have now found the last item to take off to auction,
0:34:35 > 0:34:37which means it's time to say farewell
0:34:37 > 0:34:41to our magnificent host location, the Fleet Air Arm Museum,
0:34:41 > 0:34:42so entrenched in history.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44It's been wonderful being here.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Everybody's thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but right now,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50it's over to the saleroom, let's put those valuations to the test
0:34:50 > 0:34:52and here's a quick recap of what we're taking.
0:34:52 > 0:34:57This 1954 tanker is one of the rarer Dinky toys around
0:34:57 > 0:34:58and might be the piece
0:34:58 > 0:35:00a collector is searching for.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04This Lourdes souvenir is sure to find a devoted buyer.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10Will Emma and Samantha's extensive coin collection
0:35:10 > 0:35:12go to a collector or for scrap?
0:35:15 > 0:35:17And for anyone wanting to pop the question,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20this ring duo could be just the answer they're looking for.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25'We're back in Bridgwater,
0:35:25 > 0:35:27'but before the auction, I took the opportunity to ask
0:35:27 > 0:35:30'auctioneer Claire Rawle about the new estimate
0:35:30 > 0:35:33'on Emma and Samantha's ring and coin collections.'
0:35:33 > 0:35:36What sort of value have you put on those two rings?
0:35:36 > 0:35:39- Right, it's not huge, 40 to 80. - OK, that's almost scrap.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41It is really. That's what it's based on, yes.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44OK, OK, right, let's get onto that big collection.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46There is a lot of Victorian ones there -
0:35:46 > 0:35:48florins, shillings, sixpences.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50I think there's some quality amongst that lot,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53but these won't go to melt, will they, or will they?
0:35:53 > 0:35:54I mean, that's quite sad.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58I know, a lot of them do and it really, really worries me
0:35:58 > 0:36:01because I love coins. I've always been interested in them
0:36:01 > 0:36:03and there are some very collectable coins here.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07The danger is that people send their silver or half-silver coins
0:36:07 > 0:36:10for smelting and you can find rare editions amongst them.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14- Sure, so a lot of our history is getting lost by going to melt.- Yes.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16These precious metal prices are so...
0:36:16 > 0:36:18What sort of value are you going to put on these?
0:36:18 > 0:36:20We had £400-£600,
0:36:20 > 0:36:22we should be still looking at about 520 quid for this lot.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25Yes, I think I've pitched the estimate slightly lower than that
0:36:25 > 0:36:28because, at the end of the day, there's no point overcooking it,
0:36:28 > 0:36:30because you'll frighten everyone off,
0:36:30 > 0:36:32so we're looking around the 400. They should do it easily.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34What we're looking at,
0:36:34 > 0:36:37really, is a bit of treasure where you're hoping the coin dealers
0:36:37 > 0:36:40- and collectors will come in and buy them as a job lot...- Yeah.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44It's up to them to split them up, make a bit of money on them.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46- Yes, yes, definitely. - Well, good luck, Claire,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49these should do well now you given us the heads up.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51'Right, it's time to get on with the auction
0:36:51 > 0:36:54'and to meet the owner of the oil tanker.'
0:36:54 > 0:36:57This one was brought along by Sue. It's not yours, Sue, is it?
0:36:57 > 0:37:00- No, it belongs to Tim.- It's great to see you, Tim.- Thank you.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03- I know you've been collecting these for a long time.- Yep.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05This was a present and it's in its box, so, er...
0:37:05 > 0:37:09big surprise about the valuation or have you been monitoring the sales?
0:37:09 > 0:37:13- I was very pleased with the valuation.- Sad to see it go?
0:37:13 > 0:37:16- You never saw it. Sue didn't bring it back home, then?- No.
0:37:16 > 0:37:17It's like it's gone, it's gone.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21They're very, very collectable, were introduced by Meccano in 1931.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23We've seen then, well, £700, £1,000.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25You've really got to know your onions,
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Charlie, on this one, haven't you?
0:37:27 > 0:37:28Oh, which is the oil company?
0:37:28 > 0:37:33And I see that the auctioneers have catalogued the cab as the type II.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36I didn't know the difference between type I and type II.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40Well, it means a lot to the collectors, it really does.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43- Fingers crossed we're going to find them...- Yes.- ..and get the top end.
0:37:43 > 0:37:44- Hope so.- OK, going under the hammer now.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48Lot 162, the Foden Mobilgas tanker.
0:37:48 > 0:37:55Lot 162 and so I start away at £95. 95, do I see 100 anywhere?
0:37:55 > 0:37:59100, 110, 120. At 120, at the back of the room.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03At 120, do I see 130 now anywhere? At £120.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06- 120, now 130, at £120... - Are they selling it?
0:38:06 > 0:38:09Yes, £120, Charlie.
0:38:09 > 0:38:16130, now 140, no, 130, back corner at 130. At 130 it is then.
0:38:16 > 0:38:21You all done? It's going to sell this time at £130.
0:38:21 > 0:38:27- Just. Well done. £130. We did it.- Oh, dear!- It's there.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29That was a bit tight, wasn't it?
0:38:29 > 0:38:33'Well done, Charlie, that was a tough one to value and at the end
0:38:33 > 0:38:36'of the day, it's only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39'And our next sellers bought their item in a car boot sale
0:38:39 > 0:38:41'for a rock bottom price.'
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Your Lourdes plaque is just about to go under the hammer.
0:38:44 > 0:38:45- You paid about £10, did you?- Yeah.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48We got a fixed reserve put on by Thomas of 15, so we don't
0:38:48 > 0:38:51want to make just a fiver profit, we want to double this.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54We want to send you out so you can keep car booting.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58- I must say, look at these shoes. - I wore my best shoes today.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01- They're fantastic! Do you go car booting together?- Yes.
0:39:01 > 0:39:07- Do you get competitive? - Um, I...yes, yes.- You do?
0:39:07 > 0:39:09So why do you want to sell this one?
0:39:09 > 0:39:13It's just one of the things that takes up a bit of room.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16You'd rather get rid of it and buy something else, wouldn't you?
0:39:16 > 0:39:19Well, hopefully, hopefully, it will find a new home here
0:39:19 > 0:39:22and will double their money, because that's what it's all about really.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24I hope so, I really do. It's an awkward subject, you know,
0:39:24 > 0:39:26religion doesn't always sell as well,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28but it's just a wacky thing with a musical box,
0:39:28 > 0:39:31so somebody can have a bit of fun with it, making it work.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35Let's put it through the test. It's going under the hammer right now.
0:39:35 > 0:39:41Lot 132, so I have to start this at £12. At £12, looking for 15.
0:39:41 > 0:39:4415 I have, thank you. At £15, do I see 18 anywhere?
0:39:44 > 0:39:51Bid's at 15 in the room. At 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30...
0:39:51 > 0:39:57- That's a lot more.- ..32, at my right at £32. At 32, now five anywhere?
0:39:57 > 0:40:02At 32, are you all done? It's going to sell at £32.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04Brilliant. £32. That's a great result.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06That's definitely better than I thought it would be.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08There is commission to pay, don't forget.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11It's 15% plus VAT here, but it does vary from saleroom to saleroom,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14- so well done with that. - Yes, I'm happy with that.- Yeah.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16I think you're happy with that as well.
0:40:16 > 0:40:21'It's great that Kirsty and George made a bit of a profit on
0:40:21 > 0:40:23'their car boot sale purchase,
0:40:23 > 0:40:25'so now they can invest in a new antique.'
0:40:25 > 0:40:28I've just been joined by Emma and Samantha
0:40:28 > 0:40:29in their wonderful blue tops.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31All the money is going to the Animal Welfare Trust.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33We've got a valuation put on by Charlie.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36The lot has now been split up by Claire, the auctioneer.
0:40:36 > 0:40:37We looked at that earlier on in the show.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40They've separated the coins from the two rings.
0:40:40 > 0:40:41OK, the coins are up first
0:40:41 > 0:40:44and we're still looking at £400-£600 top end.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46There's a lot of quality there, a lot of great coins,
0:40:46 > 0:40:48so fingers crossed we'll get all the money
0:40:48 > 0:40:51and, of course, the jewellery dealers won't want the coins,
0:40:51 > 0:40:55so we've split the lot and hopefully we'll get £40-£80 for the two rings,
0:40:55 > 0:40:59but every penny helps, really, doesn't it?
0:40:59 > 0:41:02But it's certainly sparked a lot of interest.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04It really has, and we've all got stuff like this at home
0:41:04 > 0:41:06so make sure you find out what this goes for
0:41:06 > 0:41:09because you could also have a small fortune sitting there.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11Here we go. It's going under the hammer now.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Nice lot, this.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15And I'm going to start straight in at £350.
0:41:15 > 0:41:22- At 350, 380, 400, 420, 450, 480... - It's a good start. They've gone.
0:41:22 > 0:41:27- ..550, 600, 650, 700...- There's two bidders fighting it out in the room.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30800, 850, 900, 950,
0:41:30 > 0:41:351,000, and 50... No, 1,050.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38At 1,050, internet's lagging behind.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41At 1,050, I've got 1,100 on the internet, at 1,100,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44- I now need 1,200...- Oh!
0:41:44 > 0:41:47Is that 12? I can't see you, 1,200 I have in the room, at £1,200,
0:41:47 > 0:41:50now 13 out there, at £1,200, the bid's in the room.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52At £1,200, the bid's in the room,
0:41:52 > 0:41:551,300 on the internet, 1,400 in the room...
0:41:55 > 0:41:59- Isn't that brilliant? - £1,400 in the room, at 1,400.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Now 15 out there - I can see you're thinking about it.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06At £1,400, the bid's in the room, do you want to come back with 15?
0:42:06 > 0:42:09- At £1,400, then...- £1,400?
0:42:09 > 0:42:13- Selling for £1,400.- Yes! £1,400.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17Wow. Every penny helps, doesn't it? It can do an awful lot
0:42:17 > 0:42:19with that, 1,400. Right, the rings, here we go.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21Engagement ring, lot 113.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23I have to start at 50 cos I've got two bidders there,
0:42:23 > 0:42:27so £50 is where I go. At £50, looking for five.
0:42:27 > 0:42:33At £50, 55 splits them, at 55, 60 on the net, at £60, five either of you?
0:42:33 > 0:42:3865 in front, at 65, now 70, 70 I have here.
0:42:38 > 0:42:4475, 80, 85, 90, 95, 95, lady's bid.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47At £95, you're all out on the net.
0:42:47 > 0:42:52At £95, are you all done? They're going to sell for £95.
0:42:52 > 0:42:58£1,495, just short of £1,500.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00- Yes, that's really good. - Sum that up.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02I mean, what can you do with that sort of money? Where will that go?
0:43:02 > 0:43:04- It's so much.- It can do a lot.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08Improve the kennels, all sorts, really.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10What a wonderful way to end today's show.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13I hope you've enjoyed it. Join us again for many more surprises soon,
0:43:13 > 0:43:16but until then it's goodbye from Bridgwater.