0:00:08 > 0:00:11It's amazing to think that all of this castle is held together
0:00:11 > 0:00:12with plenty of these,
0:00:12 > 0:00:16special rods that architecturally tie it together.
0:00:16 > 0:00:17And later on the programme
0:00:17 > 0:00:20we'll be looking at the many ingenious ways
0:00:20 > 0:00:22that Highcliffe Castle has been put back together
0:00:22 > 0:00:26despite being on the brink of collapse some 45 years ago.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29So, stay watching. And welcome to "Flog It!"
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Our valuation day is at the 19th-century gothic pile
0:00:55 > 0:00:56Highcliffe Castle,
0:00:56 > 0:00:58set spectacularly on the Dorset coast,
0:00:58 > 0:01:01but it hasn't always looked so impressive.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Fires in the 1960s reduced the roof to rubble
0:01:05 > 0:01:08and the building languished for 20 years.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11It took almost £6 million to come up with ingenious ways
0:01:11 > 0:01:14to bring the building back to its former glory.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18And what a wonderful job they've done and are still doing.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21The work to conserve the castle's interior is ongoing,
0:01:21 > 0:01:23as we'll be finding out later on in the programme.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27But right now, this crowd are ready to get down to do some serious
0:01:27 > 0:01:30business of showing our experts their antiques and collectables
0:01:30 > 0:01:32that they've come across over the years.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36And of course, there is only one question on everybody's lips,
0:01:36 > 0:01:37which is...
0:01:37 > 0:01:38- ALL:- What's it worth?
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Stay tuned and you'll find out.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Well done! Right down the back there.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Our crowds are arriving in their hordes with their collectables
0:01:48 > 0:01:51to show our experts and one person has beaten Adam Partridge
0:01:51 > 0:01:53to the punch, for a change.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56- Were you the first here this morning?- Yes, 6.45.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59- 6.45?- Yes! - Wow, I was just getting up then.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04While Philip Serrell is interested in something other than antiques...
0:02:04 > 0:02:06What have we got in our bags, then, ladies and gentlemen?
0:02:06 > 0:02:09- Sandwiches.- Sandwiches?
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Get your sandwiches out, I want to see your sandwiches now.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15..until it comes to his favourite, Royal Worcester.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18This is a lady who tells me she has a rare Worcester figure.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21I haven't seen it yet so I thought I'd bring you over.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23- Let's have a look. - Something you know about.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25It's a Pinder Davis, isn't it?
0:02:25 > 0:02:26Yeah, clearly, yeah.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Well, you can't know everything, Adam.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Here's a great look at what's coming up later.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Philip is enjoying a trip down memory lane.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37I have a 31-year-old daughter.
0:02:37 > 0:02:4130 years ago, I bought her one of these. They're really cool things.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45One of our items is causing quite a stir in the auction.
0:02:47 > 0:02:502,500. 2,600.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55And later on in the programme I'm laying telephone cables in an
0:02:55 > 0:02:57actual First World War practice trench
0:02:57 > 0:03:00here at the Royal Corps of Signals training camp.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09Now our valuations are under way and our experts are hard at work
0:03:09 > 0:03:12I've decided to come up onto the roof of the castle to explore.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16The original roof was of pitched construction, made of timber.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21That went up in flames in the fire. It's been replaced with a flat roof,
0:03:21 > 0:03:25made of timber, lead and steel, so it's quite safe now.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29I can actually stand on it. But it does make a great viewing platform.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33From up here you can see the sea, the Isle of Wight,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36and our swelling crowds.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39And somewhere down there there's one or two items that are worth
0:03:39 > 0:03:40a small fortune.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43And it's our experts' job to find them.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48But I wasn't expecting this item that Adam has found.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51- Dave and Sue.- Yeah.- Hello.- Thank you very much for coming along,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55and tell me where you got this wonderful Paolozzi elephant from.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Well, in the late '60s and early '70s I worked in an architect's office.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03- Ah, right, that makes sense. - And Armstrong had these produced...
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- Is that Armstrong tiles? - Floor tiles.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10And they had these produced to house the flooring tiles.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13So it's basically a sort of promotional gift thing, really.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16But when the office shut down they threw it into a corner
0:04:16 > 0:04:18and I said, "Can I have that?"
0:04:18 > 0:04:20And they said, "Yeah, if you want to." And I took it home.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- So you were an architect as well? - I was a draughtsman.- Right.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- Was that local to here? - Yes, in Bournemouth.- I see.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Shall we see if we can get the lid off?
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Do I just need to gently ease it off?
0:04:30 > 0:04:33There we go. And keep that...
0:04:33 > 0:04:36There we go. So this little insert here,
0:04:36 > 0:04:38- that would have held your tiles. - Floor tiles, yeah.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Designed by the very famous artist and sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi,
0:04:42 > 0:04:461924-2005, I think.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Born to Italian parents and, I suppose,
0:04:49 > 0:04:53one of the most important designers of the 20th century, now considered.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56These are made, I think, in quite a large quantity as a limited edition,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I think, of 3,000.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02You've got 1,022 of 3,000 that were made,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05so really this shouldn't have much value, should it?
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Shouldn't have thought so.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09It's plastic, 3,000 of them out there.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12The reason why, of course, it's got a very strong name on it
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and Paolozzi is one of those very, very strong names.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18- Do you like it? - Well, I did like it, yes,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20and now we've got sort of more Victorian furniture.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Oh, good, some people are going Victorian.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25When we first got married we had contemporary furniture,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28multicoloured, and this went very well with it.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30- Cos that was in the '70s as well. - Yeah.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32- So it's time for this to be sold? - That's right.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Well, we've seen them before, we've even had them on the show,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37various different types,
0:05:37 > 0:05:42and prices have ranged from a couple of hundred to about £1,200.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45The most recent ones in the last year or two
0:05:45 > 0:05:47have been in the £300-£500 range.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50- And that is where I would suggest we pitch our estimate...- Right.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54..in order to attract people to bid on it. How does that sound?
0:05:54 > 0:05:57- Fair enough to me.- And what do you think, Sue?- Does sound very good.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Well, I'm very pleased to hear that.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Obviously we should put a reserve on it, cos I don't want it selling for
0:06:02 > 0:06:05less than 300, I don't think, and you probably will agree with that.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- Yes.- I'm looking forward to seeing what its current market value is,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11so thank you very much for bringing it,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- a good piece of contemporary design.- Thank you.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Incredible to think that this piece of marketing, designed by one of
0:06:17 > 0:06:20the greatest modern sculptors of the 20th century,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23has become such a collectable today.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28It wasn't only the 1970s that created great design - here's
0:06:28 > 0:06:33an interesting object from the turn of the 20th century found by Philip.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36I love these and I love these for a specific reason.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40I have a 31-year-old daughter and, I guess,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43- 30 years ago I bought her one of these.- Oh, right.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Yeah, they're really cool things.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Has this been in your family a long time?
0:06:47 > 0:06:49I used it. That's 75 years ago.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53And before that it was my father's, and he was born in 1900.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55That's lovely.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59- Cos this is about...1895, 1905, something like that.- Yes.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02And it looks like what it is but it's a little bit more than that.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05- Yes.- Shall we see what else it does? - Mm.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08There's a little lever on your side - this one here -
0:07:08 > 0:07:11which I'd like you to flick over.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13- So that goes over there.- Yes.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- And you've got a potty trainer, haven't you?- That's right.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18So that's the first thing we have.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22- Split there, and probably would have had a small chamberpot in it.- Yes.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Let's push that back over there.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Now it's my side.- Yes. - This lifts up.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31And it just drops down...
0:07:31 > 0:07:35- like that, so you've got a little trolley.- That's right.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- But that's not the end of it, is it? - No.- Cos we do it one more time.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43That's it. There we are, isn't that sweet?
0:07:43 > 0:07:46I spent many happy hours in that.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49You've gone from something that's been in your family all of its life,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51- I think...- Yes.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54..and hopefully someone else is going to buy it and it can go on.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- This is the ultimate green business. - Yeah.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00There's a couple of things that date it to 1900.
0:08:00 > 0:08:06If you look at the turnings on these spindles, that's pure 1900, 1905.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10- You see those lines there?- Yes.- In the trade they're called tramlines.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Tramline moulding.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16- And those lines there date it to that same period.- Right.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20It's made out of...probably beech, I would think.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Do you have anyone in the family to pass it on to? No-one wants it?
0:08:23 > 0:08:25- Nobody's interested. - No-one wants it?
0:08:25 > 0:08:30- Just collecting dust in the corner. - That's sad, isn't it?- It is.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35In terms of value, and this is what I love about our business,
0:08:35 > 0:08:40- I think this is worth £80-£120, but a fixed reserve of £60.- Yes.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- You couldn't go and buy a new one for that sort of money.- Yeah.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47But it probably wouldn't conform to all sorts of relevant statutes,
0:08:47 > 0:08:49but I think it's a wicked thing.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Ingenious design is something that the restorers of
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Highcliffe Castle know all about.
0:08:55 > 0:09:00In the 1960s two fires destroyed the castle roof and it fell into
0:09:00 > 0:09:03disrepair, until it underwent a massive restoration
0:09:03 > 0:09:05programme 20 years later.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08David Hopkins, the manager here,
0:09:08 > 0:09:12can tell us about their efforts to make the building safe again.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15If you can imagine the derelict castle - no floors,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18cos they'd all been burnt out, no roofs either,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21nothing holding these very huge walls and windows up,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25so the girders were one way to stabilise the building,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27but the other thing were these rods.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30How do these work, then?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32It's what tied the two parts of the fabric together.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34We had stone on the outside of the building.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38Lots of it was the medieval French stonework that was shipped in.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41And we've got brickwork on the inside, and we've got ties in
0:09:41 > 0:09:44modern houses, but this is the scale of the ties that we needed.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47And because all the stonework was rough,
0:09:47 > 0:09:51this pocket is filled up with resin and it fills all the gaps,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55so it creates an absolute key to whatever space it's trying to fill,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58so it then becomes a really solid tie between the outside stonework
0:09:58 > 0:10:00and the inside brickwork.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- I see how that works now, yes. - And because it's stainless steel...
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It won't rust, yeah. It's very clever, isn't it?
0:10:06 > 0:10:09And it was pioneering at the time that they were repairing
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Highcliffe Castle. It's now used extensively around the country.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Back to the valuations in the glorious sunshine,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18and Adam has found his next object.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22What a pretty little piece of silver you've brought along,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25thank you very much. What can you tell me about it?
0:10:25 > 0:10:27I don't know an awful lot about it.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32I inherited it from my mum, who inherited it from her mum.
0:10:32 > 0:10:33My grandmother, I think,
0:10:33 > 0:10:38received it as a gift from my grandfather's employer's wife.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41She used to send her gifts at Christmas and birthdays.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43She wasn't a German lady, the employer's wife?
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Not that I'm aware of.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49- Is it German, then?- Yes, it's a German piece.- Oh, right, OK.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51- It's a beautiful little thing. - It is, very pretty.
0:10:51 > 0:10:57Lovely shape, enamelling simulating malachite along the sides
0:10:57 > 0:10:59and a nice romantic scene there.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04- I think this probably dates from the end of the 19th century.- Oh, right.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07And silver, we'll just flip it over that side
0:11:07 > 0:11:09to see the engraved detail.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- It's very detailed.- Yeah, beautiful.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17And it is, of course, a compact. So we open it up there.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- With a mirrored interior.- I love the shape of this mirror.- Lovely shape.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Bevelled edge to the mirror.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24There's the 800 stamp there,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27which tells us that it's 800 parts out of 1,000 silver.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- Right.- So 80% silver.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Which is lower than the UK standard.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37You have to have 92.5%, or 925, which is the sterling standard.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40- A lot of German silver was made out of 800-grade silver...- Right.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43..rather than higher. Unfortunately, there's no maker's mark or anything
0:11:43 > 0:11:46else, so we can't tell you much else about it.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50But it's a beautiful little thing. Traces of the original powder.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Yeah, I see my grandmother must have used it at some time.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55I know when she gave it to my mum she said,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58"I don't use it, I don't want it, it's just in the drawer.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- "You have it."- What do you do with it? Does it sit out on the side?
0:12:01 > 0:12:03- Do you have a dressing table?- No.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06It was actually wrapped in a very tatty brown paper bag...
0:12:06 > 0:12:08- OK.- ..in a drawer.- Oh, wow.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11That's where it's been ever since my mum gave it to me.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13So that's why you're selling it?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Yeah, it's just a nice piece that I'm sure somebody would love
0:12:16 > 0:12:17to be the owner of.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20They certainly would, because small silver is one of the things
0:12:20 > 0:12:23that still commands a premium. People like small, pretty bits,
0:12:23 > 0:12:26lots of different things that you can put in a bijouterie table,
0:12:26 > 0:12:30display table, and have...rather than all the same kind of thing.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32So that's really going to appeal, I think, to a lot of people.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35So, value, what do you think?
0:12:35 > 0:12:40I have absolutely no clue, I really... I don't know at all.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43It's not the easiest thing to gauge but my instinct tells me...
0:12:43 > 0:12:45I think it's worth £200 or £300.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46Oh, right, that's good.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51- OK.- Shall we put a 200 reserve on it?- I think so.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53- 10% leeway, just in case?- Yeah.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57But if it got to 180, 190 and they didn't sell it you might think,
0:12:57 > 0:12:58"Probably should have taken that."
0:12:58 > 0:13:03So let's do that and I hope it'll make the top end of the estimate,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05maybe a touch more, cos it is a lovely thing and I can see
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- lots of people - both male and female - wanting to own it.- Lovely.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It's nice to find out something about it.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17There we are, three great objects
0:13:17 > 0:13:21found by our experts to take off to auction. But before that,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24I'm in the castle grounds by the cliff face and I want to show you
0:13:24 > 0:13:26the ingenious ways they've come up with
0:13:26 > 0:13:29of stemming the tide of cliff erosion.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Over the centuries the castle has been under threat of collapse
0:13:35 > 0:13:40due to erosion along the cliff edge, caused by soft clays here.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44Today, modern engineering has solved the problem by building
0:13:44 > 0:13:47limestone structures which jut out into the sea,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50driving sediment onto the beach and preventing the cliff face
0:13:50 > 0:13:52from eroding.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56So I'm pleased to reassure you the castle is now as solid as its
0:13:56 > 0:13:58reinforced stonework.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Right, let's get those final three things under the hammer.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Here's a quick recap of what we're taking off to auction.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07We have an elephant in a room designed by 20th-century
0:14:07 > 0:14:09sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16A three-in-one chair that's no longer needed by Kenneth
0:14:16 > 0:14:19but should make some family with children very happy.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25And the delightfully decorated 19th-century silver compact,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27which has been stuffed in a paper bag.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Time to get it out and let the buyers take a look.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36We're heading to the pretty market town of Wareham for our auction.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41In 876, the Danes invaded here and they were only persuaded to leave
0:14:41 > 0:14:45after Alfred the Great paid them a generous ransom.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48We're hoping to earn a king's ransom today for our lot,
0:14:48 > 0:14:52so let's join up with our owners at the saleroom, Cottees.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55And John Condie is on the rostrum today, where he'll be adding
0:14:55 > 0:15:00commission to today's sales of 20% plus VAT.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03First up, it's the romantic silver compact from Germany,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06with the delightful scalloped edging.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09There are collectors out there that would love to have this.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13It'll look great in a little bijouterie cabinet alongside other
0:15:13 > 0:15:16- little enamel pieces, compacts, things like that.- Yeah.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19OK, we're going to get top money for this, fingers crossed.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- Let's hope so. - It's going under the hammer now.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25We move on to a nice silver-and-enamel powder compact.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28I'll start at 140. 140. 150.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30160.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33170. 180. 190.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35200.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37200 bid. At 200.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40220. Lady's bid. 240.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42260. 280.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Keep going. Yeah, keep going.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46320. 340.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50- 360.- Oh, I'm glad.- 380.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53£380 I've got.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57And I'm going to sell. Last chance.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Yes, £380. Top money. Brilliant, well done, Adam.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04- Very good price.- There is commission to pay, it's 20%.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Everybody has to pay that, but otherwise we're going home
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- with a lot of money. - Good. lovely. Thank you.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12- Pleasure. Thanks for coming. What a delightful item.- Yeah.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15A great result at well over the estimate.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Our next lot is the highchair-cum-rocker,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21used by two generations of family.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23- Look at that, Kenneth, it's right next to us.- Lovely.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Lot number 41, there we are, look.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28They don't make 'em like that any more. They're all in plastic.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Hopefully we want to find some bidders that have some young kids
0:16:31 > 0:16:34right now that have got an eye for a bargain.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- Right, you ready for this, Kenneth?- I am.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40- Ready to say goodbye?- Sadly so. - OK, it's going under the hammer.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43Start me, then.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47I've got to go in at 35, anyway. £35 for this one, 35.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49At 35. 40 make it.
0:16:49 > 0:16:5040.
0:16:50 > 0:16:5245.
0:16:52 > 0:16:5450. 55.
0:16:54 > 0:16:5660.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59£60. Gentleman in the middle. At £60.
0:16:59 > 0:17:0260 I've got. 65 anywhere?
0:17:02 > 0:17:05It's in the middle of the room at £60.
0:17:05 > 0:17:0765? Anyone else coming in?
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Last chance. I'm going to sell at 60, then.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12£60, then.
0:17:14 > 0:17:15Well, it's gone, Kenneth.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18You didn't want it any more, so that was its market value,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20I guess, here today. Not many bidders wanting a highchair.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23I think whoever bought that,
0:17:23 > 0:17:25they're going to stick a teddy bear in that and put it in a shop window.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- Thanks, Kenneth.- OK.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33Now, how will the Eduardo Paolozzi elephant used for marketing do?
0:17:33 > 0:17:36- What have we got, 300-500? - 300-500.- It's going to do that.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40- Yeah, I hope so.- It's going to do that, it's got to. I love it.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Why are you selling it?
0:17:42 > 0:17:45We don't really need it any more. It was up in the loft.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47Oh, you can't put a sculpture in the loft.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Well, many things on the show have been found in the loft,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53- haven't they? - Well, hopefully, fingers crossed,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56there's some people that love modern design right here, right now.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58It's going under the hammer. This is it. Good luck.
0:17:59 > 0:18:05Originally designed for Nairn Floors in 1973 as an advertising symbol.
0:18:05 > 0:18:12I'll start at... Give me a chance at 150. At 150, I've got here.
0:18:12 > 0:18:18150. I've got 150. 160 I'm bid. 160. Two places on the net as well. 170.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Surely the internet will sort it out.
0:18:20 > 0:18:26180 now. 180. 190. 200. 220 bid.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29240. 260. 280.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33- Thank God for the internet. - 300 here. 320 on the internet.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36320. 340 now.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39340 bid. 360 now. 380 now.
0:18:39 > 0:18:40SHE GASPS
0:18:40 > 0:18:46380 bid. 400. Internet bidder at 400. 420 now.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49420 I've got. 440 now.
0:18:49 > 0:18:56460 if you want. You're out in the room. It's 440 now. Internet bidder.
0:18:56 > 0:19:02At 440 now, you're all out in the room, I'm closing it at £440.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04Last chance, and selling.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08- I'm so excited.- That was not bad.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- You picked that up for nothing, when you left the office.- Yes.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12- Well done.- Thanks very much. - Thank you very much.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16- Credit to you for looking after it and not just chucking it away.- Yes.
0:19:16 > 0:19:22A great result for a fantastic example of iconic 1970s design.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26There you are. Three lots down, three more to come later on in the programme.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30Now, in the theatre of war it could be said there's one company of men and women who
0:19:30 > 0:19:34oil the cogs of any operation. Their base is in Dorset.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38While we were in the area I went to discover how their efforts and
0:19:38 > 0:19:42ingenuity have helped steer the fortunes of war.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47The Royal Corps of Signals have been deployed in every modern
0:19:47 > 0:19:49conflict since the First World War.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54But ask most of us what they do and we'd be hard pushed to say.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57I've come to their base to meet Adam Forty, the business manager from the
0:19:57 > 0:20:02museum here, to start to find out who the Royal Signals are.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06The Royal Signals are the men and women of the British Army who
0:20:06 > 0:20:10provide the vital link of communications on the battlefield.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Whether it be ordering logistics, fulfilling the strategy of
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- your commanders, you always need to know what is going on.- Yes.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21So right back into history, whether it be Romans or Macedonians,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24communications were hugely important.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27'Adam has specially set up some pieces from the museum in an ops room
0:20:27 > 0:20:31'to demonstrate some of the early technologies used by the signallers.'
0:20:31 > 0:20:36We've got here a signalling lamp. This is a short range.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40You can see it's got Morse-code tapper and the light comes out.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43- So when you're tapping that the light flashes?- Yeah, absolutely.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46So you can read the signal by torchlight basically.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Yes, generally using Morse code, you can see using this, it's just
0:20:49 > 0:20:53dots and dashes, so that you can send a message over a limited space.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- Next. That looks interesting. - This is.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59It's good fun and actually more complicated than it looks.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01You press the button, the light comes in.
0:21:01 > 0:21:06The sunshine's coming onto this. It reflects, and by deflecting this,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08you are, again, using Morse code to send a message.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11- You need a lot of sunlight, though? - You need a lot of sunlight.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Typically, this was mainly used in places like India,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- and North West Frontier.- Yes, yeah. - Africa, et cetera.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- And the name of this is?- Heliograph. - Heliograph.- The heliograph.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23The amazing thing is the distance they reckon they can
0:21:23 > 0:21:25actually send a signal is up to around 40 to 50 miles.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27That's incredible, isn't it?
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Once we'd started to get basic electronics,
0:21:30 > 0:21:34then the battlefield changed in terms of communications completely.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39During the First World War, the signallers had a range of methods of
0:21:39 > 0:21:41communication at their disposal.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Including dogs as messengers.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46But it was the telephone and the wireless that gave them the chance
0:21:46 > 0:21:49to get their messages even further.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54However, now it wasn't just about communicating from commander to men,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58but about how to intercept your opponent's communications.
0:21:58 > 0:22:04The British Army didn't particularly like the idea of wireless.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06It was cumbersome.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09The batteries they used were very, very heavy.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11So, they tended to rely on line communications.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13And this is the First World War field telephone.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I love the mahogany box as well.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19It's not even in a bit of metal. A joiner's made that.
0:22:19 > 0:22:20It's beautifully designed.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23It looks like something you'd have in your front room, isn't it?
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- Yeah.- With line communication, what they realised is,
0:22:26 > 0:22:28they could do both telegraphy over it,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31so they could still use Morse code, but all of a sudden, because of
0:22:31 > 0:22:35- the invention of telephony early on, they could also speak over it.- Yes.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Unfortunately, they didn't realise that the system they used -
0:22:37 > 0:22:41which was a single cable and then used an earth spike at each end,
0:22:41 > 0:22:45where the handset is, to finish and complete that circuit -
0:22:45 > 0:22:48and what they hadn't realised, by doing so,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50the Germans could actually put in their own ground spikes.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Oh, and pick the message up. Gosh.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54So, the first 18 months of the First World War, the German army
0:22:54 > 0:22:57were listening to an awful lot of our messages.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Eventually, by 1916, 1917,
0:22:59 > 0:23:01they invented something called the Fullerphone.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03- And this...- I've never heard of that.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05The Fullerphone was actually very famous
0:23:05 > 0:23:08and used right up into the Second World War and later.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10And it chops the message up, electronically.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13And only if you have two handsets synchronised together
0:23:13 > 0:23:15will you be able to get the message.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19- The proper message in full. Otherwise it's chop, chop, buzz, buzz.- Exactly.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22'I'm going to get a sense of the work the signallers did during
0:23:22 > 0:23:25'the First World War, laying out telephone cable by using a modern
0:23:25 > 0:23:29'version of a field telephone, which is more robust than the original.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35'The trench we're using dates to the same period and was actually used
0:23:35 > 0:23:39'for practice by soldiers before they went to the front.'
0:23:39 > 0:23:44You can imagine doing this over a long distance, when it's dark,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47in trenches that you're not sure of, under fire,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50it's cold and wet and you're tired.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54I mean, this is easy for me today, but I think it would be hard work.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03This incredible footage shows the men letting out telephone cable
0:24:03 > 0:24:06from wagons, pulled by horses.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Imagine the conditions - cable was constantly damaged by the shells
0:24:10 > 0:24:12and the battle lines changed,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15so the task must have seemed unimaginably mammoth.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23- Hello, Paul, can you hear me? - Hi, Adam, loud and clear.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25That's brilliant. It's working.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27I've only laid about 100 metres.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31What sort of distances were covered during the First World War?
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Well, just to give you an idea, before the Battle of the Somme,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37the British Army laid 50,000 miles of cable,
0:24:37 > 0:24:3943,000 miles above the ground
0:24:39 > 0:24:43and 7,000 miles six feet deep in the ground.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Wow. Gosh, that's a lot of work.
0:24:46 > 0:24:47And that's just for the one...
0:24:47 > 0:24:49That's just for the offensive of the Somme.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52So, you can imagine, over the full period of the war,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55they must have laid hundreds and hundreds of thousands
0:24:55 > 0:24:56of miles of line.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59By the end of the war, the signalmen had grown in number
0:24:59 > 0:25:04from 6,000 at the start of the war to an incredible 70,000 men
0:25:04 > 0:25:08with highly technical skills by the end.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11In recognition, the Royal Corps of Signals was created,
0:25:11 > 0:25:14but it was in the Second World War that things changed again.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22D-Day, the Allied-led invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26was to be the largest seaborne invasion in history.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29In this war, the name of the game was using
0:25:29 > 0:25:31communications for deception.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Operation Fortitude was the deception plan to convince
0:25:34 > 0:25:38the Germans that the Allied forces would invade at Calais and
0:25:38 > 0:25:41the Royal Signals were part of this plan,
0:25:41 > 0:25:45transmitting false communiques to fool the Germans, and it worked.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50At age 100, John Bowman was one of the men responsible for setting up
0:25:50 > 0:25:54communications in Normandy after the invasion.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57He still remembers those days well.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01What was your role in the Signals?
0:26:01 > 0:26:07Entirely as an operator, which meant as a wireless operator.
0:26:07 > 0:26:13It developed into working at brigade headquarters,
0:26:13 > 0:26:18manning a wireless set, latterly, as one of the operators on the
0:26:18 > 0:26:24brigade command in an armoured command vehicle.
0:26:24 > 0:26:30That was, of course, when it came to operations in Normandy.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33I was the sergeant in charge of that vehicle
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- with three operators with me.- Yeah.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40So, we had four, the four of us with two wireless sets,
0:26:40 > 0:26:45one working forward and one working back, so that there could be
0:26:45 > 0:26:49a conversation from the battalion back to the brigade
0:26:49 > 0:26:54and the brigade back to division at any time they wanted it.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59The radio sets were working 24/7, and unlike a telephone now,
0:26:59 > 0:27:04a conversation on the best radio sets could only get about two miles.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Well, that's gone completely now, obviously.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10It's so very different.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Thank you so much for sharing your memories with me today.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Yes, well.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17It's been a real pleasure listening to one of our heroes.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21- I don't know about that. - You really are, you really are.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Because of the contributions of signallers like John,
0:27:27 > 0:27:31the Allies were able to trick the Germans and eventually win the war.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Since then, the technology used by the Royal Corps of Signals
0:27:34 > 0:27:36has hugely advanced.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40With digital communication, they have upped the game again.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45Today, communication allows every individual in the theatre of war
0:27:45 > 0:27:49to be connected to HQ and each other, instantly.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53But though they've come a long way, their motto is still as true today
0:27:53 > 0:27:55as it ever was 100 years ago -
0:27:55 > 0:27:58"certa cito", "to be swift and sure".
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Welcome back to our magnificent valuation-day venue,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Highcliffe Castle. As you can see, it's still in full swing.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12It's now time to join up with our experts,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15to see what else we can find to take off to auction.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19It's over to Philip, with something that would have been familiar
0:28:19 > 0:28:22to many a fighting soldier during the war.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25So, these things that you've brought along, are these family things?
0:28:25 > 0:28:28No, I moved into a bungalow in 1994.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31I went into the loft to do some work about three months after
0:28:31 > 0:28:34we were there and these were hidden behind a beam.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36They had obviously belonged to the previous owner,
0:28:36 > 0:28:39so I did the right thing, phoned him up, he didn't want 'em.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41He said, "You can keep 'em."
0:28:41 > 0:28:43- What I love about these is the social history.- Mm.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45- This is a Brodie helmet. - Oh, right.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47The origins of this were in the First World War,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50- but they still used them in the Second World War.- Yes.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53But what I think is fantastic is this, look.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56- "Ration, type K, breakfast unit." - Yeah.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59It's packed by the Beech-nut Packing Company,
0:28:59 > 0:29:02from Canajoharie, wherever that is, New York.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05- Yeah, yeah.- Would this be for American soldiers, do you think?
0:29:05 > 0:29:08I think so, because I did a little bit of research online and
0:29:08 > 0:29:12these were issued to American soldiers in England and
0:29:12 > 0:29:15France when they were, you know, fighting for us.
0:29:15 > 0:29:20- So, these rations have come over from the States with the soldiers, effectively.- That's right, yes.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22And it says here, look, "For security,
0:29:22 > 0:29:24"do not discard the empty can, paper or refuse
0:29:24 > 0:29:26"where it can be seen from the air.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30"If possible, cover with dirt, foliage and sand."
0:29:30 > 0:29:33It brings home to you, really, the harsh reality of war, doesn't it?
0:29:33 > 0:29:35- That's right. Oh, yes.- You know? - Yes.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38What have we got...? Oh, here, look. We've got a list.
0:29:38 > 0:29:43So, this package contains two packages biscuits - energy crackers.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45I bet they were anything but that.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Two cans of ham and eggs.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49I bet they were REALLY nice.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52An envelope of soluble coffee.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55A fruit bar. Well, that might have been OK.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59But it's to be eaten cold or you make it into a jam
0:29:59 > 0:30:02by - cor! - stewing it for three minutes.
0:30:02 > 0:30:03Four lumps of sugar.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- I mean, that was like gold, wasn't it, in the war?- That's right.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11A packet of four cigarettes and a piece of chewing gum.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14- Yeah.- You can tell the American influence, can't you?- Yes.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18So, they're in there, never, ever been out the packet?
0:30:18 > 0:30:20Never, ever been opened.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22Still sealed in the wax wrapper.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24Isn't that just fantastic?
0:30:24 > 0:30:27Well, I would strongly advise anybody who buys these just to
0:30:27 > 0:30:32- leave them that way, cos I don't think they'd taste very good.- Yes.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35The K ration pack distributed to American soldiers and,
0:30:35 > 0:30:38eventually, the British was developed by American food
0:30:38 > 0:30:42scientists for emergency and battle situations.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45It was to be used for only 15 days at a time.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49British soldiers drooled over this ration box.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52They thought the combination of sweets and cigarettes
0:30:52 > 0:30:55to be highly superior to what was on offer by the British Army.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01The "but" comes, for me... is what are they worth?
0:31:01 > 0:31:06You know, because we don't get too many unused Second World War
0:31:06 > 0:31:08breakfast rations.
0:31:08 > 0:31:13- So, I think the helmet's probably worth 20 quid.- Right.
0:31:13 > 0:31:18That could be worth 20 quid and it could be worth 100.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20- You know, I'm guessing.- Yeah.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23If they were mine, I'd estimate them at 60 to 90
0:31:23 > 0:31:25- and I'd put a fixed reserve of 50 quid on them.- OK.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27- How's that feel to you? - That's fine.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Well, let's just hope whoever comes to the auction
0:31:29 > 0:31:32- is on better rations than these. - Yes.
0:31:35 > 0:31:40At Adam's table, he's found an object that's really surprised him.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42What can you tell me about it?
0:31:42 > 0:31:45Because it's not often that you see examples like this.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Oh, well, not much really.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51My husband's uncle found it on Horsford Common.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55- Your husband's uncle found it? - Yes.- On a common?
0:31:55 > 0:31:58- That's right.- Goodness me.- He was out walking and he just found it
0:31:58 > 0:32:01- and he took it to the police station.- How long ago, roughly?
0:32:01 > 0:32:04- Probably about 70 years.- I think you can legally claim ownership now.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- I think so, yes.- After doing the right thing with the police.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09- Yes.- And what's happened to it since?
0:32:09 > 0:32:13So, your husband's uncle found it and passed it to your husband or...
0:32:13 > 0:32:16- That's right.- Well, it certainly is a posh stick.- Yes.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20We've got 18-carat-gold mounts on the side here,
0:32:20 > 0:32:26on the top here, and it's by a famous maker, walking-stick maker.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28- Do you see that, Callow? - Yes, Callow.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31- Callow were of Park Lane, Piccadilly.- Yes, I did look that up.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33- Oh, did you?- Yes, yes.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Well, they were a well-known maker of canes and they made all sorts
0:32:36 > 0:32:40of novelty canes out of ebony, malacca, various materials.
0:32:40 > 0:32:44Including this one, which I think... I'm pretty sure
0:32:44 > 0:32:46this is made from rhinoceros horn.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48- Rhinoceros horn. Oh, dear. Poor rhinoceros.- Oh, dear.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51Exactly. Well, that's right.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54- And quite right that we should discuss this sensitively.- Mm.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58It's easy not to film something like this and brush it under the carpet,
0:32:58 > 0:33:01but the fact is that many things throughout the 17th, 18th, 19th
0:33:01 > 0:33:07century, up to this sort of period, 1915 this was made...
0:33:07 > 0:33:10There's a lot of legislation covering the sale of things like
0:33:10 > 0:33:13ivory and rhinoceros horn and this changes quite regularly.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17Currently, this is legal to be sold.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20- Oh, right.- Because it's pre-1947.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22And because it's a piece that's been worked.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25- If it was just the horn, you couldn't do anything with it.- No.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Why have you decided to sell it?
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Well, it just sits in the cupboard, and if we leave it to the kids
0:33:31 > 0:33:33- they'll just do the same thing. - Yeah.
0:33:33 > 0:33:38What's your idea as to value? And what are your expectations?
0:33:38 > 0:33:41I really have no idea what it's worth,
0:33:41 > 0:33:44but I don't think I'd want to sell it for less than, say, £150.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46HE INHALES SHARPLY
0:33:46 > 0:33:47It's all right, I'm only joking.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50- £150 I think is a realistic expectation.- Yes.
0:33:50 > 0:33:51Probably, with the gold,
0:33:51 > 0:33:54- £80 to £100's worth of gold on there, isn't there?- Yes, exactly.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57I reckon I'm going to put a bigger estimate, slightly higher.
0:33:57 > 0:33:58- £200 to £400.- Wow.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01It's a big, wide estimate, but it shows that I think it's got
0:34:01 > 0:34:04- the potential to make a bit more. - Gosh.- Yeah, good.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06- That would be good.- There's a happy reaction.- Yes.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08Really pleased you brought that in.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11Not just because it's a fabulous object, but also it's given us
0:34:11 > 0:34:14- the opportunity to discuss something that's really quite important.- Yes.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17And that people are aware of what things are made of
0:34:17 > 0:34:22and the regulations there. Let's hope it goes to a good home.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24- It won't get exported. - No, it won't.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31For our last object today, Philip seems to have met an old friend.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35- Do I recognise you?- Yes, you do. I've done one "Flog It!" before.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37- You've been on "Flog It!" before?- Oh, yes.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39- I've been on "Flog It!" before. - Have you? Can I have your autograph?
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Yeah, yeah. Can I have yours? Lovely to meet you.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43- What's your name, then? - I'm Kenneth.- I'm Phil.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46- How are you, Kenneth?- I'm fine, thank you.- Tell me all about this.
0:34:46 > 0:34:52This is a life belt that my father dragged up with a lobster pot...
0:34:52 > 0:34:54- Where from?- ..from Chapman's pool. - Where's that?
0:34:54 > 0:34:56The other side of Worth Matravers, near Swanage.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00Did he...? I mean, other than lobsters, did he pull anything else
0:35:00 > 0:35:02- out of the deep?- Not really, no.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04It's about the only thing that had come up, ever.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07So, this came up, and why did he keep it?
0:35:08 > 0:35:10He probably thought it was worth something,
0:35:10 > 0:35:11cos it's made of copper.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Although it's metal, it's always, always going to float, isn't it?
0:35:14 > 0:35:16- Cos it's hollowwares.- Yes.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19And what's quite interesting here, look, it says,
0:35:19 > 0:35:24"The Sankey corporated life belt, warranted of solid copper,"
0:35:24 > 0:35:26and what's interesting for me,
0:35:26 > 0:35:30it's got "Sankey of Bilston", which is in the Black Country.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33- I think there is still a Sankey up there.- Is there?
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Making metalwares.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38I suspect they're not making copper life belts any more,
0:35:38 > 0:35:42but it's an interesting thing. I think it's really, really wacky.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44And I suppose, what would you do with it?
0:35:44 > 0:35:48Well, I think it would look great if you've got a pub
0:35:48 > 0:35:51or a restaurant by the sea.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54- It would be a great decorator's thing.- Exactly.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58I'm sure if you collected nautical stuff and marine memorabilia,
0:35:58 > 0:35:59it would add to your collection.
0:35:59 > 0:36:04I'm going to guess that it's worth between £100 and £150.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07- Oh, really?- You think that's more or less?
0:36:07 > 0:36:09- I think that's more.- Do you? - Yeah.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12- Well, shall we go 80 to 120, as an estimate?- Yeah.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15Reserve it at 80 and perhaps give them 10% discretion if they need it.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17- Exactly.- Are you happy with that? - I'm happy with that.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20And just out of curiosity, notwithstanding that you're
0:36:20 > 0:36:23a seasoned "Flog It!" professional here...
0:36:23 > 0:36:26- Yes.- ..why have you decided to flog it?
0:36:26 > 0:36:28Is it because "Flog It!" is here?
0:36:28 > 0:36:30No, it's been in the attic and I thought I'd get rid.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32The time has come.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36I asked my brother, he half-owns it. And we'll give the money to charity.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39- Oh, good man.- I lost both my sisters to cystic fibrosis.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42- They both died very young.- Yeah. - So, a cystic-fibrosis charity.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45- Well, let's hope it goes and makes an awful lot of money.- So do I.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47- Thank you for coming along. - Thank you very much.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50- I'll see you on the next series. - I hope so.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Well, there you are. That's it.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57Our experts have now found their final items to take off to auction.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00I've got my favourites, you've probably got yours,
0:37:00 > 0:37:02but we'll let the bidders decide.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05So, sadly, it's time to say goodbye to our magnificent host location,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08Highcliffe Castle. And our magnificent crowd of people.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10- Have you had a good day? ALL:- Yes!
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Yes, well, give us a wave, because we're saying goodbye,
0:37:13 > 0:37:15but it's hello, auction room.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18We have some unfinished business and here's a quick recap
0:37:18 > 0:37:21of all the items that are going under the hammer.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25The World War II helmet and K ration pack used by British
0:37:25 > 0:37:29and American soldiers, which, miraculously, hasn't been opened.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35The rhino-horn walking stick by supreme maker of canes
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Callow of Piccadilly. Will it walk away at auction?
0:37:40 > 0:37:43And a copper life buoy hauled out of the water.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46Will it sink or swim when it goes under the hammer?
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Back at the saleroom, with John Condie still on the rostrum,
0:37:52 > 0:37:55it's time for the K ration pack and helmet.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Will the bidders like them as much as we do?
0:37:58 > 0:38:01I'll tell you what, Gino, thank you very much for bringing that in,
0:38:01 > 0:38:03because it is an eclectic mix today.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06It's the only World War II memorabilia in the sale,
0:38:06 > 0:38:10so fingers crossed. That could be a good thing, could be a bad thing.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12But it should be picked up online.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15- It's a lovely lot you have. That ration pack is so cool.- Good luck.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Good luck. This is what auctions are all about. Here we go.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23I've got interest in this. I've got to start at 30.
0:38:23 > 0:38:265, 40.
0:38:26 > 0:38:285, 50.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32£50 bid. At 50.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34£50 I've got. 55 anywhere?
0:38:35 > 0:38:3955, anybody else? I'm going to sell at 50, then. Your last chance.
0:38:42 > 0:38:43Well, £50.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47- You'd think it would go for a lot more, wouldn't you, really?- Yeah.
0:38:47 > 0:38:48I think it's one of those things, isn't it?
0:38:48 > 0:38:51If you buy it, what do you do with it? It's just a talking point.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54- Gino, thank you for bringing that in.- Thank you.- It sold.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57- Philip was spot-on there with the value...- Yes.- ..so good on him.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Great. Thanks very much.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02I'm glad that fascinating reminder of the trials of war
0:39:02 > 0:39:04has found a new home.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07Time for the early-20th-century life buoy,
0:39:07 > 0:39:09hauled up with the lobster pot.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Can we haul in a great price for it?
0:39:13 > 0:39:15Well, if we get into trouble, Kenneth,
0:39:15 > 0:39:19all we've got to do is throw Phil a rubber ring. Sorry, a copper one.
0:39:19 > 0:39:20A corrugated one.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22Might need to be a bit bigger than that.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24I love it, I love it.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Let's find out what it's worth. It's going under the hammer right now.
0:39:28 > 0:39:34Right, lot 171 is the interesting Sankey-in-Bilston copper life buoy.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37I've got interest to start at £80.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41- Done.- 80 bid. 5, 90.
0:39:41 > 0:39:4390 bid. 5. 100.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47100 bid, 110. 120. 130.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51- This is good, this is good. Come on, keep going.- 140. 150 I've got.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53150, 160.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57170. 170 I've got.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01Whoa! That's more than just the copper it weighs, isn't it?
0:40:01 > 0:40:07180 now, on the internet. 180. Internet bid at 180.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10Anyone else coming in? Your last chance.
0:40:11 > 0:40:12Maritime memorabilia.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14You know, there are certain collectors out there that
0:40:14 > 0:40:19- really, really hunted that down, so well done, you.- That was very lucky.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- Brilliant. Thank you very much. - What a find.- Yeah!
0:40:22 > 0:40:24We'll try to get more bizarre next time, shall we?
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Yeah, come on the show again with something equally as bizarre
0:40:27 > 0:40:28for Philip to value.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31We'll go and get the boat out, Paul, and see what we can find.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35And our final lot of the day, the rhino-horn walking stick,
0:40:35 > 0:40:39found on a walk on the common, and due to CITES regulations,
0:40:39 > 0:40:43this cannot be exported overseas.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47As far as walking sticks go, this is pretty special, isn't it?
0:40:47 > 0:40:50- Top of the range.- It is a proper... Yeah, exactly, yeah.
0:40:50 > 0:40:55- Quality, quality, quality in its day, quality today as well.- Yes.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58We're going to find out what the bidders think right now.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00We do have some telephone lines set up.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02All UK-registered bidders,
0:41:02 > 0:41:07but I cannot accept international bids on this lot.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09Where will you start me?
0:41:10 > 0:41:13500 for it? 500 bid.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16- Yeah.- Wow, straight in at 500!
0:41:16 > 0:41:19550? 550 bid. 600.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22600. 650. 700.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26750. 800.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29850. 900. 950.
0:41:29 > 0:41:311,000.
0:41:31 > 0:41:341,100. 1,200.
0:41:34 > 0:41:371,300. 1,400. 1,500.
0:41:37 > 0:41:391,600. 1,700.
0:41:40 > 0:41:441,800. £1,800 bid.
0:41:44 > 0:41:461,800 on the internet.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50- Telephones, come in if you like.- 19.
0:41:50 > 0:41:521,900 here. 2,000 now.
0:41:52 > 0:41:542,000 bid.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58- 2,100.- 22?- 2,100 here.
0:41:58 > 0:42:022,200 on this phone. 2,300.
0:42:02 > 0:42:052,300... 2,400 on this phone.
0:42:06 > 0:42:082,500 here.
0:42:08 > 0:42:102,500. 2,600.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15- 2,700 on the internet now.- Yes.
0:42:15 > 0:42:192,800. It's 2,900 on the internet.
0:42:19 > 0:42:25- 3,000 on the phone.- Oh, my goodness. - Gosh!- It's £3,000 on the telephone.
0:42:25 > 0:42:293,100 here. 3,200.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31You're out on the internet.
0:42:31 > 0:42:36- It's on the telephone. I'm going to close it...- Good job.- ..at 3,200.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38Anyone else coming in?
0:42:38 > 0:42:39Your last chance, it's going.
0:42:42 > 0:42:47And the hammer's gone down. £3,200. Now, that is really punchy.
0:42:47 > 0:42:48- Yeah, yeah. - That is a lot of money.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50That is a lot of money for it.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52It's obviously gone to someone who's going to appreciate it.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54- Yes, absolutely. - I hope so, anyway.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57And to think that was discarded on a common, and nobody went to claim it.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00I can't believe it, but thank goodness it was in your possession.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03- You're the one going home with all the money!- Exactly.
0:43:03 > 0:43:04And what a way to end today's show.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07- It was a brilliant one, wasn't it, Adam?- Yeah.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09We've learnt something, and I hope you have to.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Join us again for many more surprises, but until then,
0:43:12 > 0:43:13it's goodbye.