Northampton Flog It!


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There's nothing like the thrill of an auction room.

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Whether you're buying or selling, it really does get right under your skin.

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Hopefully, lots of you this afternoon are going to feel the buzz

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as you join me from this sale room to flog it.

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To find the items for today's sale, we've come to Northampton's beautifully decorated Guildhall.

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Everybody's now safely seated inside, thank goodness,

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and our two experts, Mark Stacey and James Lewis, are hard at work

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delving through all the belongings looking for all the gems.

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Hey, guys, save something for me. What have you found so far?

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-Obviously, he's forgotten to shave this morning.

-He has! I'll hold him!

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Of course, we only send things off to auction if our owners agree with

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the experts' valuations and then we can get excited about the sale.

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But right now there's work to be done, so let's get on with it.

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-# Have a nice day

-Dum dum da dum dum

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# Have a nice day. #

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-Hello, Max.

-Hello, Mark.

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A nice silver basket here. Can you give us a bit of the history of it?

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It was about 30 years ago, something like that.

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An elderly lady, she was about 90 at the time, gave me two pieces.

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This, and I don't know what the wooden cane is...

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-snake wood cane.

-Oh, right.

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Her maiden name, I believe, was Hoffman and I believe she was the great aunt of Dustin Hoffman.

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Oh, really? Gosh, how interesting.

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She was a lovely lady.

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You know what it is. It's quite straightforward. It's a little table silver basket.

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You put bread, fruit, bon-bons, anything you like really, into it.

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It's a very nice shape, a very classical shape, this sort of boat shape...

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-Boat shape, yes.

-..with this sort of laurel wreath type decoration on it there.

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Quite a nice turned handle, little hallmarks on the side of there and on the base.

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We've had a look at the hallmarks.

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It's by James Dixon, a very prolific maker in Sheffield.

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The mark is for 1913/14.

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So it's getting on for 100 years old.

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And it weighs around about 15 ounces, so it's a nice object.

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Why have you decided to sell it?

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Well, it's been in a cabinet.

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It's the old story, everyone says it's in a cabinet.

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But this really has been in a cabinet and it's been on the third shelf down,

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so we decided that we'll just see...

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I mean it's quite a nice thing and if somebody could put it on display and utilise it...

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If you do want something to use on the dining table, it's very nice. It's got that classical shape.

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One thing I do particularly like about it actually

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is this sort of foot on it, which is very Regency looking.

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-Is it?

-The style of it is.

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It's got a bit of a combination of styles. But it's a jolly nice item.

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In terms of value, silver is up and down and it will depend on who wants it on the day.

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-I would put £100-150 on it, with a 100 fixed reserve.

-Absolutely.

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-So we won't sell it below 100.

-No...

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-I'd hope that it settles somewhere between those two figures. If we can get more, wonderful.

-Wonderful.

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Can you tell me, is it sterling or is it Britannia? I can never work that out.

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This is sterling. Britannia's a much higher standard.

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But is it a cutoff? Is Britannia...

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Britannia standard is mainly 18th century, but you do actually get

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some Britannia standard reissued in the Victorian and in the 20th century.

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-But this is sterling.

-This is sterling. This is 925.

-925.

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Wonderful, that's brilliant. You've answered all my questions.

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Fantastic. I aim to please, as they say.

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-You do please.

-We look forward to seeing you at the auction.

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-I look forward to seeing you.

-Let's hope we can toast our success.

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Hilary, I have to say, we see a lot of pocket watches on Flog It,

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but not many Rolexes.

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So, tell me about the history.

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My mother-in-law had to go to a retirement home, a care home,

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and we were sorting through the house and found it in one of the wardrobes.

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This is what we call a gentleman's pocket watch.

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It's an open-faced pocket watch.

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During the 18th and 19th centuries, pocket watches came in various forms.

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If they didn't have a cover on the dial, they were known as an open face.

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If we open the back...

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..we can see here a very good Rolex movement.

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Swiss-made. Just marked on the edge there, Swiss-made.

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But what Rolex did was they made the movements and they exported them.

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And the watch retailer in England would say,

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"OK we have a Rolex movement, we can put that into an 18 carat gold case,

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"a nine carat gold case, a silver case or a gun metal case

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"or steel."

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In this case, we've got a silver case

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marked with the anchor for Birmingham,

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the lion for sterling standard silver,

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and the K is the date letter for 1934.

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So, how to date a pocket watch when you're looking at it?

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If you've got a winder on the top, the general rule is that it will be a 20th century watch.

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Generally, watches were wound with a little key until about 1900.

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And here we have the Arabic numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial here.

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The dial itself is made of enamel.

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Then we move away from the watch and look at the chain.

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This is known as an Albert, because Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert made them fashionable.

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This one has seen better days, I'm afraid.

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If it wasn't a Rolex and it was a standard silver pocket watch,

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it would be worth about £30, something like that.

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But isn't. It is a Rolex, and it's a good name.

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I think that this will make around £150, something like that. Is that all right for you?

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-Yeah, that's great.

-And a reserve of 120? Are you happy with that?

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-Yes, lovely, thanks.

-Let's take it along and see how we do.

-OK.

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Jacqui and Ron, we've struggled in with this. We've got it on the table.

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Let's open the box!

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We know what's inside. Look at that.

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It is a tool chest and it's absolutely jam packed full of tools.

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-Are you a carpenter?

-Yes, I am.

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Why do you want to flog these then?

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-Because I'm not using them any more now.

-Retired now?

-Retired, yeah.

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-Are you a local lad?

-I'm a local lad, yeah.

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And you've always used your hands for a living. It's a really nice thing

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to look at tools knowing that somebody has actually, you know,

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had a livelihood from these, from holding these gouges, these chisels

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and making something, and turning something.

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It's quite a comprehensive set.

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How did you come by these? Did you buy all of these individually?

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No, I bought them altogether. It was when I was in hospital

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and a bloke next to me was talking about hobbies

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and things we used to do and he said, "You're gonna use it,"

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-and I did use it.

-How much did you buy them for?

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-70 quid.

-How long ago was that?

-About 14 years ago.

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Looking at it,

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it does look like there's an awful lot of large gouges, which would have been used on a lathe.

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-Did you do much wood turning?

-A little bit. A fair bit of wood turning and all that.

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-Turning things out.

-Different sizes.

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I've counted all the chisels.

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In there, there's 24 or 25.

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Is there really? Lock at that. All these date back to the early 1900s.

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Most of them have got maple handles

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and maple is the ideal wood for a handle on a tool, because it absorbs all the shock.

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-Can I take this drawer out as well?

-You can take that one out.

-It's a fantastic tool chest.

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It's one of the best tool chests I've seen.

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So many different gouges and chisels. There's paring chisels,

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mortise chisels. Are you sure you want to sell this?

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Yeah, cos I don't use it now at all.

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-It's sitting in the garage.

-Is it?

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Sitting in the garage and I thought...

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-Did the kids go into the trade? Any sons?

-They're in the trade, but they don't want it.

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This day and age, it's all electrical. They don't want to do anything like this now.

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-I find it fascinating, because there's history in this box.

-Yeah, there is.

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There really is. A bit of your history as well.

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-Look, shall we put the whole thing into auction...

-And see what happens.

-..and put a value of...

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-..I think, £175-275?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

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And a bit of discretion on the reserve.

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-Yeah.

-So if it gets anywhere near £175, you can use the 10% discretion and hopefully we'll get this away.

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PAUL INHALES

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I love that smell. I love that smell of oil, I love that smell of wood.

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There's mixed woods here, all sorts of hard woods.

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-What's it like being married to a carpenter? Has he done the up.

-No.

-Or has he started and not finished it?

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He spends hours wood carving, which is smaller chisels.

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A lot smaller, yes. Smaller gouges, so you don't need these, do you?

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-Not at all now.

-I can see why you're selling them.

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-What about your lathe? Have you sold it?

-Yeah, the lathe's gone. Sold it.

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-It's bowling now.

-Bowling.

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Glenys, there are a few things over the last few years

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that have been a great investment.

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One has been postcards, another's been coins,

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and militaria, in general, has been a good investment.

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So you've got two linked to one here,

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because we've got militaria and we've got postcards.

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These are wonderful. They're known as silks, and these were

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sent back by the troops in the First World War to their loved ones and parents at home.

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How did you come to have them?

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They were my grandmother's. She collected them for years, I gather.

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Everybody that knew her collected them, sent them back, posted them,

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and when she died, we found the collection in an old shoe box.

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Right. Well, they're interesting. We've got varying designs -

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floral ones, ones with little flags on, and some more unusual ones.

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We've got the Machine Gun Corps there.

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And that's a nice one - 1918.

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Of course, 1918 was a happy New Year

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because it was the year the war ended. What else have we got in here?

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We've got the military theme continuing here.

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Logically enough, being in Northampton...

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-The Northamptonshire Regiment.

-Absolutely.

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Ah. The town hall, Northampton.

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Yeah. Where we are now.

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From what we've already said, they're family cards.

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How did you come to have them?

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It was just in the house, tucked away in an old shoe box.

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Opened it up, and there they were.

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I think shoe boxes were made to carry postcards.

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I think you'll be amazed about how many people have shoe boxes

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full of postcards at home!

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And the fun was sorting through them, looking at them,

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reading the messages on the back.

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-Working out who was who.

-Yeah, trying to!

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And you can actually uncover secret love affairs as well

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with all these postcards!

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Oh, so that was what was going on with Granny!

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It's amazing when you think you've seen elderly people

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and you always think of them as Granny,

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but when you see love poems and things that were being written

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-80 years ago, it's quite emotive and it brings things home to you.

-Yeah.

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OK. You've obviously brought them here for a reason.

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We've got the postcards, and little lace hankies as well.

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They all link in. Silk hankies. We've got this, too.

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It's inscribed, "The Territorial Force Association.

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"County of Northampton,"

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again, which is good.

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Local history. "The Great War". That's what they called it.

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And, of course, that would have been given

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along with maybe a commemorative medal or something like that.

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So not a lot of value there, but as a package,

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I think we've got somewhere between £200 and £300 worth there.

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-Lovely.

-All right?

-Yeah, smashing.

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Are you selling them for a reason?

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Because if they've been in the family a while,

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-there's going to be a reason for selling.

-I am.

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Go on then, tell me.

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My niece emigrated to Australia 20-odd years ago.

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She has always said, "I want you to come and see me."

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-Yeah.

-This year she came over and she said, "You've not kept your promise yet, when are you coming?"

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So my eldest daughter then said, "Mum, I'll pay your air fare, you get your spending money."

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-So this is what it's for.

-Have a wonderful time.

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-I will.

-Fingers crossed we'll have a wonderful time at the auction first.

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-Hello, Janice.

-Hello.

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Now, these Whitefriars, where did you get them from?

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I got them from a departmental store in Southampton.

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-It was called Tyrrell and Green.

-Oh, I know Tyrrell and Green. It was a lovely store.

-It was.

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-But it's not there any more.

-No.

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-It's closed down.

-Yes.

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So you bought them when? In the '70s?

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-No, in the '60s.

-So you bought them brand new?

-Oh, yes.

-Wonderful.

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Tell us what room they sat in and give us the flavour of that room.

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They were in a sitting room on a fire surround, which was very popular then with a gas fire.

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-That's right.

-And I picked the orange out because it matched a Cyril Lord carpet that I'd bought.

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Wonderful. So there was orange in the carpet?

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-Yes.

-What about the curtains and things like that? Did they...?

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They were like a gold brocade and that was in the carpet as well. It was a multicoloured carpet.

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Fantastic. Sounds very psychedelic.

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-Did you partake of anything at the time?

-No!

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So you bought them and they took pride of place there.

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We went through the '70s and '80s and '90s and all the rest of it

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and they've gradually gone off the fireplace. You're not in the same house...

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Oh, they went a lot time ago off the fireplace and I've moved around since then.

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Work has taken me here, there and everywhere.

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This one, I think, is called the guitar shape because of this curvaceous body.

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This one, I think, is known as the television vase

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because it's kind of like that sort of '60s television screen.

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Today... The prices do vary and the larger ones we see

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on the show a lot and they can still make high hundreds.

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-These ones are slightly more modest. So I would say let's say 150-200...

-Mm-hm.

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..if that's all right with you? And we'll put the reserve just a little bit below at 130,

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which means that we won't sell them for nothing.

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-So, Janice, it's time to get shot of them.

-I think so.

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And to buy something more contemporary for your home.

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-No, I want to take my grandson to New York. He's into basketball.

-Right.

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So it's to go towards his fare.

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Oh, wonderful.

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Nestling next to a village church in the rolling countryside of Northamptonshire

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we find Lamport Hall, a modest stately home

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containing many treasures, all with their stories to tell.

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It was the home of the Isham family for over 400 years

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and we pick up the tale with Sir Justinian, the second baronet.

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A highly educated and cultured gentleman.

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Also a very happy chap back in 1656,

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because at the age of 47 he fathered his first son, christened Thomas.

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Little did he know that Thomas was to turn into a tearaway, with a taste for the finer things in life.

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George Drye is here to tell us more about the extravagant life of the third baronet of Lamport.

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Am I right in thinking Thomas was the apple of his father's eye?

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Traditionally that's the theory, but more researching Thomas,

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we wonder whether actually his dad knew that

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he had a naughty boy on his hands and wanted to keep him within sight.

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But that said, he certainly took the trouble to make sure Thomas was educated thoroughly.

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He wasn't going to be the son of the squire who just knew how to hunt and fish, although he did.

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And indeed when Thomas was a young boy, he bribed him by paying him

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six shillings a year to keep his diary in Latin.

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-Right, OK.

-He trained him to be quite a sophisticated young man.

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So he's obviously a clever chap. He got into university.

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What happened then? When did he inherit all this money?

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He inherited it surprisingly early in his university career.

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His dad took him down to Oxford, dropped him off at Christ College, Oxford,

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went off to a local inn and promptly died.

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That's really sad.

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He was the baronet on his first day at Oxford, extremely wealthy.

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His first job was to take his dad's coffin and put it back here.

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Worth remembering that Thomas at 18 was in charge of all the family finance,

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that's how it worked in those days.

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Gosh. Did he ever go back to Oxford?

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Yes, he went back. He didn't have a glittering career.

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He didn't like Oxford very much. They made him work.

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I'm not sure that was much to Thomas' liking.

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So, like a lot of students, Thomas decided to go on a 17th-century gap year,

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which was then called the Grand Tour,

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taking in everywhere from Paris to Rome.

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The 20-year-old, armed with his father's fortune,

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quickly gained a reputation as one of the first international playboys.

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If he was sort of a wild character here, back in England,

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what must he have been like in Paris and Florence and places like that?

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-I know.

-Uncontrollable.

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Well, that's a question of opinion.

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He certainly had a mistress out there and she's over there, actually, on the painting you see.

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Thomas is holding a miniature and that's Gabriella, Gabriella Boncompagni.

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He burned all the candles at every end.

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You know, any kid on a gap year now with have lots of money to spend would just go wild.

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He got through 1.3 million on his gap year.

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Oh, gosh!

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Not cheap.

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That's an awful lot of money.

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How many of us if we spent that money would still find that what we bought was being discussed 350 years later?

0:19:030:19:09

It's a lot of money. I'd love to go and see, George, what he spent it on. Can we go?

0:19:090:19:13

I'd love to show you.

0:19:130:19:15

These are some of Thomas' paintings.

0:19:250:19:28

Some Salvatore Rosas.

0:19:290:19:32

And these are Thomas' on the stairs as well,

0:19:320:19:36

-all the way up the stairs as you can see, all brought back by Thomas.

-He did have a good eye, didn't he?

0:19:360:19:42

Do you think? Your eye is probably better than mine for these things, in fact.

0:19:420:19:46

Young Thomas was having a whale of a time and his trip turned into a three-year shopping spree,

0:19:480:19:53

in spite of a constant flow of letters from Lamport pleading for his return home.

0:19:530:19:59

Instead of Thomas coming home, box after box full of artworks arrived.

0:19:590:20:03

Oh, gosh, George, look at these. You didn't tell me about these.

0:20:060:20:09

-No, I didn't.

-Fine art meets furniture.

0:20:090:20:12

My word, that's all painted on glass panel, isn't it?

0:20:120:20:15

Yes, in reverse. They're an acquired taste to the English eye.

0:20:150:20:19

Yes, they are. That's typically continental.

0:20:190:20:21

What must the family have thought when this arrived? They must have thought he'd gone bonkers.

0:20:210:20:27

Don't forget, of course, his poor brothers and sisters were here.

0:20:270:20:31

His sister depended upon him for her dowry, which he wasn't providing for her,

0:20:310:20:35

so she wasn't going to get married in a hurry. Money was going out.

0:20:350:20:38

He was getting into debt and these things were coming to the hall, so it must have been fairly tense!

0:20:380:20:44

I'd have thought so. What happened? What happened once he got back?

0:20:440:20:48

Well, he finally agreed to come back, in part because his favourite sister had died

0:20:480:20:54

and his little brother was losing his cool about the whole thing.

0:20:540:20:59

Thomas finally pitched up, in debt,

0:20:590:21:03

in desperate need of money,

0:21:030:21:06

so the family agreed that he had to be married to a rich heiress.

0:21:060:21:11

But unfortunately, his reputation by that stage had got ahead of him

0:21:110:21:16

and there were two or three girls who took one look,

0:21:160:21:20

-or, probably the parents, said not on your life.

-Party animal!

0:21:200:21:24

Yeah. But in the end they found a very wealthy girl, who was apparently quite pretty, too.

0:21:240:21:28

She was the daughter of a Dutch merchant in London

0:21:280:21:32

and obviously she'd get the title and her children would become the Baronet

0:21:320:21:38

and her dad would settle all of Thomas' debts

0:21:380:21:41

and then supply also an extensive dowry on top of that.

0:21:410:21:45

All was set up, all agreed,

0:21:450:21:48

and then sadly, on the eve of his wedding day, Thomas died.

0:21:480:21:52

Oh!

0:21:520:21:54

-What age was he?

-24.

0:21:540:21:56

-What did he die of?

-Well, they all died of smallpox.

0:21:560:21:59

It was a sort of cancer of the 17th century, really.

0:21:590:22:02

When it wasn't plague in the southern parts of Europe, smallpox killed them.

0:22:020:22:06

What happened to the estate?

0:22:060:22:08

Well, the estate was handed on, went to his younger brother.

0:22:080:22:12

But obviously he had no financial help because the marriage didn't take place.

0:22:120:22:16

No. The younger brother had to do the best he could.

0:22:160:22:19

-Yet nothing's really mentioned about him.

-No. We have a portrait of him.

0:22:190:22:23

He's tucked in the corner of the drawing room where nobody ever sees him.

0:22:230:22:28

20-odd years ago when I came here, this house was pretty derelict

0:22:280:22:31

and we spent all that time putting it back together again, getting the contents restored.

0:22:310:22:36

My heart goes out to Justinian, the younger brother, for stitching it all back together again,

0:22:360:22:41

-but everybody really fancies Thomas.

-George, thank you so much for showing me around.

0:22:410:22:46

It's well worth a visit, coming here. There's so much to see.

0:22:460:22:49

-I'm going to now take another look.

-OK.

0:22:490:22:51

CHEERING

0:22:560:22:57

Yes, there are hundreds of people inside the building, all waiting for valuations.

0:22:570:23:02

Our experts have been hard at work.

0:23:020:23:04

We're halfway through the day, so it's our first trip to the auction room.

0:23:040:23:07

They've selected some wonderful gems and here's a recap of what we're taking.

0:23:070:23:11

Although silver isn't all that popular at the moment,

0:23:140:23:17

Max's bon-bon dish is good quality. It should do well.

0:23:170:23:20

A name like Rolex always conjures up

0:23:230:23:26

something classy and Hilary's watch, I'm sure, is no exception.

0:23:260:23:31

Ronald's beautiful tool chest just wreaks of history and character,

0:23:310:23:35

but will it be of interest in today's market?

0:23:350:23:39

And trendy Janice invested in two Whitefriars vases in the 1960s.

0:23:390:23:42

James was excited by Glenys' wonderful collection

0:23:450:23:48

of wartime silks and postcards - let's hope they do well at auction.

0:23:480:23:53

We're off down the road to Market Harborough to Gilding's auction house where, today,

0:23:550:23:59

Mark Gilding is presiding on the rostrum.

0:23:590:24:03

Max is first in line to sell his silver basket.

0:24:040:24:07

Max, this is a classic bit of silver, I love the shape as well. Why do you want to flog it?

0:24:080:24:13

Well, I'm quite desperate, actually.

0:24:130:24:16

There was a rumour that my wife married me for my money.

0:24:160:24:19

There wasn't any money then, there hasn't been any money since

0:24:190:24:22

and there's no money now, so we're going to call THIS the money.

0:24:220:24:26

We'd better come up trumps with 100 quid, Mark!

0:24:260:24:28

-No pressure then is there?!

-It should do it.

-It should do. It's an honest little piece.

0:24:280:24:32

I think it will attract some of the private buyers.

0:24:320:24:36

-It's a nice thing to have on the side.

-Good luck, Max.

-Thanks.

-Let's see if we can money for the wife.

0:24:360:24:41

George V silver basket on four cast feet, James Dixon and Son, Sheffield

0:24:410:24:45

1912. Bids start here at £85. 95.

0:24:450:24:49

100. In the room at £100. At £100.

0:24:490:24:51

100. 110. 120. 130. New bid in at 140.

0:24:510:24:55

Ooh, fresh legs.

0:24:550:24:57

At 140. Your turn at 150. At 150. At 150 now. 160.

0:24:570:25:01

160. Still left at 160. Shaking his head at 160.

0:25:010:25:04

-Retirement is looming.

-Second house and grounds.

0:25:040:25:08

£160.

0:25:080:25:11

-Not quite a second house, but...

-Saving towards it.

0:25:110:25:14

At least you can hold your head up high when you go home. £160.

0:25:140:25:17

Right, time's up. It is for Hilary and her pocket watch.

0:25:200:25:23

Lovely Rolex movement.

0:25:230:25:25

£150 is riding on this.

0:25:250:25:27

-Let's see if we can get a bit more for you.

-Yeah, lovely.

0:25:270:25:31

It's a lovely piece of kit, with the Rolex movement.

0:25:310:25:34

-Rolex ones are unusual, so, yeah, it's the name you want.

-It is, isn't it?

0:25:340:25:38

Marked Rolex, Dennison case, Birmingham 1934,

0:25:380:25:41

on a silver graduated watch chain.

0:25:410:25:44

Commission bids straight in at £120.

0:25:440:25:46

120. 130. I'm out at 130 in the room. Commission's lost. 130.

0:25:460:25:50

-140. 150.

-Brilliant.

-150. You're out at the back at 150.

0:25:500:25:56

It's forward at 150. 60 if you like? 150. Sold at 150.

0:25:560:26:01

Yes we're gonna take that.

0:26:010:26:02

That's good. Spot-on valuation.

0:26:020:26:05

-Happy?

-Yes.

-What are you putting the money towards?

0:26:050:26:07

Into the kitty for my mother-in-law's care.

0:26:070:26:09

-Ah, bless her. What's her name?

-Olive.

-Olive, I hope you're watching right now.

0:26:090:26:14

Hilary's done us proud, haven't you? Well done.

0:26:140:26:17

Ooh, Ronald, Jacqui.

0:26:210:26:24

I don't know about you, but I'm on the edge.

0:26:240:26:28

So am I, to be honest.

0:26:280:26:30

£175-250. Something like that we would really like for this chest.

0:26:300:26:35

I've seen lots of people pulling the trays out. It doesn't look much, does it?

0:26:350:26:39

When you look down on it and see that black dome lid, it looks, "What's in the box?"

0:26:390:26:44

-But it's like Pandora's box, because it all comes out.

-That's lovely.

0:26:440:26:49

-Having a good day so far?

-Yeah.

0:26:490:26:50

Hopefully, I'm not going to spoil it.

0:26:500:26:52

Let's flog it, shall we? Let's see what we can do. Here we go. It's going under the hammer now.

0:26:540:26:59

1970, stained wood tool chest.

0:26:590:27:01

I have to start at £180.

0:27:010:27:04

Ooh, we've sold it.

0:27:040:27:06

-Ooh, ever so pleased.

-At 180?

-Gosh, I was scared.

0:27:060:27:10

180, on commission. Watching you in the room at 180. 190, looking for.

0:27:100:27:13

£180, on commission and selling. Just the one bidder.

0:27:130:27:17

Quality all the way.

0:27:170:27:19

OK, you've got 180 quid. It's gone, a little bit of commission to pay.

0:27:190:27:23

Jacqui... I'm going to ask Jacqui, because she'll end up spending it.

0:27:230:27:28

-She'll spend it all for me.

-What are you gonna do with £170?

0:27:280:27:32

We're going on holiday in June to Tenerife, so it's towards our spending money.

0:27:320:27:36

Bit of spending money. Well, you take care and have a good time.

0:27:360:27:39

We'll go with friends, so we'll have a few drinks on it.

0:27:390:27:42

Good old knees up.

0:27:420:27:44

Right now, we've got a bit of 20th century modern and two lovely ladies here.

0:27:490:27:54

Geoffrey Baxter Whitefriars glass.

0:27:540:27:56

Janice and Angela, good to see you again.

0:27:560:27:58

Let's hope we get the top end of Mark's estimate, £250.

0:27:580:28:02

I'm a big fan of Jeffrey Baxter, so I think

0:28:020:28:06

these are classics, especially the guitar shape.

0:28:060:28:08

They are and they're that lovely tangerine colour. I love them.

0:28:080:28:12

I just moved in to Brighton, so I'd love some on my window ledge.

0:28:120:28:16

-Spotlit.

-The light coming through.

0:28:160:28:18

Let's hope that the bidders here fall in love with them. They're going under the hammer.

0:28:180:28:22

Two Whitefriars here.

0:28:220:28:24

Bids start at £100.

0:28:240:28:26

110. 120. 130. And I'm out at 130.

0:28:260:28:29

140. 150. 160.

0:28:290:28:32

Anyone else? 160. 170.

0:28:320:28:33

170 now. Forward at 170.

0:28:330:28:35

-Come on, a few more.

-180 at the back.

0:28:350:28:38

-190. 190. 200, do I see? It's 190. 200.

-Gosh!

-It's fantastic.

0:28:380:28:43

210. Forward at £210. 20 anywhere?

0:28:430:28:47

210. Selling away at £210.

0:28:470:28:51

Yes, £210.

0:28:510:28:53

Geoffrey Baxter is definitely worth investing in. Whitefriars glass.

0:28:530:28:57

What will the money go towards?

0:28:570:28:59

We're going to America soon.

0:28:590:29:01

-So who's getting it?

-Er...

0:29:010:29:03

-The grandson?

-Probably.

0:29:030:29:05

Glenys, let's see if we can get you to Australia, shall we?

0:29:090:29:13

A lot riding on this, with all those silk cards.

0:29:130:29:16

There's a lot of them and if you break it down to £2 or £3 a card, that's where our valuation is.

0:29:160:29:21

I totally agree with you, James. £200 to £300.

0:29:210:29:24

Let's hope we're in for more of a surprise.

0:29:240:29:26

-Let's hope so.

-Let's do it.

0:29:260:29:28

170, a collection of World War I silk postcards, a handkerchief,

0:29:280:29:32

and a Northampton Territorial Force certificate, framed. Lot 170.

0:29:320:29:35

A low start here, £110 I'm bid.

0:29:350:29:37

At 110 for these. 110, 120, 130?

0:29:370:29:41

140, 150. 160, 170.

0:29:410:29:42

180, 190. £200 bid.

0:29:420:29:46

-Hooray!

-Right, we're in.

0:29:460:29:48

220. 230.

0:29:480:29:50

240. 250.

0:29:500:29:53

-Come on.

-Yes!

0:29:530:29:55

270.

0:29:550:29:57

-290, £300.

-We're going to do it.

0:29:570:30:00

320 do I see? 320 back in.

0:30:000:30:02

330. 330. At 330 he's out.

0:30:020:30:04

At 330. Selling at £330.

0:30:040:30:09

We're going to take that. That's sold at £330.

0:30:090:30:13

-Brilliant, thank you so much.

-That'll get you over there.

0:30:130:30:16

I've got the ticket, I just need my spending money.

0:30:160:30:20

A few dollars there.

0:30:200:30:21

-A few dollars indeed.

-Beauty, mate!

0:30:210:30:24

I don't know about you, but I've got a soft spot for a good pair of shoes. I love my shoes.

0:30:430:30:47

So while I'm in Northampton, which is incidentally the shoe capital of Europe, I'm gonna pop in

0:30:470:30:52

to the upmarket and classy Crockett and Jones to find out exactly how a good pair of shoes is made.

0:30:520:31:00

In 1879, James Crockett and Charles Jones, both a bit strapped for cash, set up in business with just £100.

0:31:000:31:09

They started with 20 staff, built the business up and in 1924

0:31:090:31:13

were rewarded with Royal patronage and a visit from King George VI.

0:31:130:31:17

And the company is still family run after all these years.

0:31:240:31:28

So let's go and meet the managing director, Jonathan Jones, who's a direct descendant

0:31:280:31:32

of one of the original co-founders of the company, Charles Jones.

0:31:320:31:37

Jonathan, it's good to see you.

0:31:390:31:41

What a marvellous factory. Surrounded by shoes as well. I am in shoe Heaven.

0:31:410:31:45

It's wonderful to see a family-run business still.

0:31:450:31:48

Yes, we are a family business. Four generations and we're still

0:31:480:31:52

making shoes the way that we have been for the last 100 years.

0:31:520:31:56

-You've selected a pair for me here, haven't you?

-That's right.

0:31:560:31:59

They look very practical and the weight in them, that's real quality, isn't it?

0:31:590:32:03

This is a jackboot from our current stock range.

0:32:030:32:07

It's quite a long involved process, shoe-making.

0:32:070:32:09

When people go around the factory they're surprised how long it takes to make a pair of shoes.

0:32:090:32:14

-We're talking about something like 200 different processes...

-200?!

-..something like that.

0:32:140:32:18

It takes around about eight weeks from start to finish in our factory

0:32:180:32:22

because, although we can take advantage of modern technology in certain areas,

0:32:220:32:26

there is an awful lot of hand work involved.

0:32:260:32:28

Making shoes like this, it's a bit of an art as well as a manufacturing process.

0:32:280:32:33

Do you know, they are very, very smart, aren't they?

0:32:330:32:36

-They look as though they fit you quite well.

-Beautiful colour.

0:32:360:32:39

-You can feel the difference.

-We often find that once people have our shoes on

0:32:390:32:44

-they don't worry so much about the price and become loyal customers.

-I'm going to hide my cheap ones.

0:32:440:32:48

In the Middle Ages, Northampton became the most important centre in England for the tanning trade.

0:32:500:32:56

Mostly because the town was conveniently placed for the north, London and east and west routes.

0:32:560:33:03

In addition, Northampton was surrounded by forests

0:33:030:33:06

which provided an abundance of oak bark, an essential tanning ingredient.

0:33:060:33:12

And where tanning and leather is readily available, it wasn't long before the shoe-makers gathered.

0:33:120:33:17

-And this is where it all starts. Steve is it?

-Yes.

-Hello, pleased to meet you.

0:33:210:33:26

They told me I could find you here.

0:33:260:33:28

You're the guy in charge of all the hide, all the skins?

0:33:280:33:32

This area controls all the quality for the business.

0:33:320:33:34

Incoming goods and we have to make sure

0:33:340:33:37

it meets all the qualifications and standards and quality.

0:33:370:33:40

You have some mixed hide here. I can just see by the finish. What's this?

0:33:400:33:44

This is American pull up leather. Older animal, natural scars.

0:33:440:33:49

Big scars, healed scars.

0:33:490:33:51

This is a calf, which most high class manufacturers use now.

0:33:510:33:56

This is what we start with and this is when we've antiqued it.

0:33:560:33:59

That's the basic colour. You steep it in a liquid?

0:33:590:34:04

No, what we do is, in the final stages of the shoes, we apply antique creams, polish.

0:34:040:34:09

-Very much like a woodworker.

-To enhance the grain and the anonymity of the product.

0:34:090:34:15

Where is that scar again?

0:34:150:34:18

-Did you have to repair that scar?

-No, you can't use that.

0:34:180:34:22

That'll split eventually, won't it? Right, Steve, where do I go next?

0:34:220:34:26

Point me in the right direction.

0:34:260:34:29

You have to go that way for the clicking.

0:34:290:34:31

The clicking? Sounds good.

0:34:310:34:33

-Thanks very much.

-OK, bye.

0:34:330:34:35

Hi, Graham. You're one of the clickers. Why do they call you that?

0:34:400:34:43

It stems back from a long time ago, when the knife comes from the pattern, it clicks.

0:34:430:34:49

-Show me what you mean by that.

-Here we go, round the pattern.

-Oh, yes.

0:34:490:34:54

-Just a little click off the leather.

-A little click as it comes out.

0:34:540:34:58

-So you're given a load of patterns and you've got to cut the leather out.

-That's right.

0:34:580:35:02

Obviously, you get the best part of the leather, the prime part,

0:35:020:35:07

-for the best part of the shoe, then you work away for the rest of the shoe.

-To the edges, yeah.

0:35:070:35:13

Very sharp knife. That just cut through that like butter.

0:35:130:35:16

-Let's have a look.

-Hack saw blades.

-Old hack saw blades!

0:35:160:35:20

Just grind the teeth off them and sharpen them to the shape you want.

0:35:200:35:24

That looks difficult to do, because I know that's hard to cut as quick as that.

0:35:240:35:28

-Where do I go from here?

-Down to the closing room.

-Thank you.

0:35:280:35:31

See you again.

0:35:310:35:33

-Is that difficult?

-Very.

-It looks difficult.

0:35:360:35:39

Just hope I don't mess up.

0:35:390:35:42

-That's very clever. Are the ladies shoes harder to work on than the men's?

-Yeah, cos they're smaller.

0:35:420:35:47

-Sorry to stop you in your work.

-That's fine.

-You're in perforation.

0:35:490:35:52

I can see now exactly what you are doing.

0:35:520:35:55

-Yes, I've been doing it for 25 years.

-Wow.

0:35:550:35:59

-25, yes.

-You must be very good at what you do.

0:35:590:36:02

It's looking more like a shoe.

0:36:020:36:04

Sorry to butt in. So what's that then?

0:36:080:36:11

That's a leather softener, just to put it on the toes, to help the stain, help to moisten it,

0:36:110:36:17

then put it in the machine...

0:36:170:36:18

-..which pulls it over.

-That's clever!

0:36:210:36:23

It'll stop in that last now for two or three weeks.

0:36:230:36:27

-I'm impressed with that. Thanks a lot.

-That's all right.

0:36:270:36:30

One of the unique Crockett and Jones features is the cork filled sole

0:36:300:36:34

which provides wonderful insulation. It was used for an early Ernest Shackleton polar expedition.

0:36:340:36:41

And it proved so successful it was used for a further voyage in 1914.

0:36:410:36:47

Dave, hello.

0:36:510:36:54

-Hello.

-Welting process, talk me what you are doing now.

0:36:540:36:59

We've put a strip of welting and we sew it through the ribbon on the shoe.

0:36:590:37:05

OK.

0:37:050:37:06

Which then gives us the foundation for sticking the sole and stitching through the welt.

0:37:060:37:12

That looks hard to do.

0:37:120:37:15

They told me it was good money when I started.

0:37:150:37:17

-How many do you do a day then?

-About 300 pairs. It's technically a skilled job.

0:37:170:37:23

Its uniqueness is that once you put it in,

0:37:340:37:37

if you want to mend this at any stage,

0:37:370:37:40

-you can simply do that.

-Ah.

0:37:400:37:43

It's a chain stitch so you can remove the whole process to mend the shoe, unlike a stuck-on.

0:37:430:37:51

-Yes, exactly. Unlike my stuck-ons. You noticed that.

-Always notice what somebody's got on their feet.

0:37:510:37:58

Basically, I've got to treat myself to a new pair of shoes while I'm here.

0:37:590:38:03

You should go in the factory shop, mate.

0:38:030:38:06

Down the factory shop. I'm going to do that, Dave, treat myself to a new pair of shoes.

0:38:060:38:11

Mention my name, you get a 10% discount.

0:38:110:38:15

That was incredible. And here... well, here's the finished product.

0:38:230:38:26

Now who would have thought that there's over 200 different processes into making a single shoe?

0:38:260:38:33

Wouldn't have believed that.

0:38:330:38:34

But they don't come cheap, mind you. The average price is £250 to £350.

0:38:340:38:40

But they will last you a good 10 to 20 years.

0:38:400:38:44

So you could say a bit of a bargain.

0:38:440:38:46

It's back to the valuation. It looks like James is having afternoon tea.

0:38:560:39:02

Sandra, one of the nightmare things for an auctioneer

0:39:020:39:05

is seeing somebody unpack a tea service,

0:39:050:39:07

because time after time, people unwrap a cup and saucer

0:39:070:39:12

that's been a treasured belonging for generations and we have to say, unfortunately, it's worth nothing.

0:39:120:39:19

Generally, today, tea services are very hard to sell. People don't use them.

0:39:190:39:24

Society has changed so much that tea services are just out of vogue.

0:39:240:39:29

But this one I absolutely love.

0:39:290:39:32

Two reasons. It's a great design and I love fish.

0:39:320:39:36

So tell me, is this something that you've used every afternoon...?

0:39:360:39:42

-I've never used this.

-Haven't you?

-No, I like looking at it though.

0:39:420:39:45

I think it's too delicate to use.

0:39:450:39:48

-I'd have liked to have put it in a display cabinet but I haven't got one.

-OK.

0:39:480:39:52

And I moved to Australia and this all came with me.

0:39:520:39:55

-Really?

-Then I moved back again and it's been sitting in a suitcase in the attic.

-So how was Australia?

0:39:550:40:01

-It was nice.

-As good as Britain?

-No.

-Brilliant.

0:40:010:40:06

I like Australia but I like Britain too.

0:40:060:40:08

Well, the tea set is lucky to have survived.

0:40:080:40:12

I've been very careful.

0:40:120:40:14

So obviously, the fact it's here means you're wanting to sell it.

0:40:140:40:17

-Yes.

-So have you fallen out of love with it?

0:40:170:40:20

No, but I'm frightened of damaging it.

0:40:200:40:23

OK, it's got some advantages.

0:40:230:40:25

The gilding and the decoration on this is absolutely fantastic.

0:40:250:40:30

It's an unusual design and it's something that's going to appeal to collectors

0:40:300:40:35

as well as somebody who will want to display it in a china cabinet.

0:40:350:40:39

It's by a factory,

0:40:390:40:41

if we have a look, Carlton China.

0:40:410:40:43

Very similar script mark to the famous Carlton Ware.

0:40:430:40:48

But this is by Burke Rawlins and Co. This would have been produced around the 1930s.

0:40:480:40:53

-It has the Made In England mark, and that was put on in 1925 and later.

-Right.

0:40:530:40:59

Before 1925, it was England.

0:40:590:41:01

But it's missing its teapot, sadly.

0:41:010:41:04

-It's teapot, I think, is in my loft.

-In your loft?

-It is, somewhere.

0:41:040:41:07

-You need to go home and go through the loft and see if you can find it.

-I will.

0:41:070:41:11

But you must do that before the catalogue goes to print.

0:41:110:41:16

The most important thing, in some ways. We need to come to a conclusion of value.

0:41:160:41:21

-I think, without the teapot, we ought to put an estimate of £50 to £80 on it. OK?

-Yes.

0:41:210:41:26

If you can find the teapot, that will up it to £80 to £100.

0:41:260:41:32

-Is that OK for you?

-That's fine.

0:41:320:41:34

-See if you can find that teapot - it'd be lovely to keep it together.

-I'll try.

0:41:340:41:38

-Dermott, Hello.

-Hello.

-Now, tell me about this clock garniture.

0:41:420:41:48

Well, we were left them by a friend about 14 years ago.

0:41:480:41:52

We haven't got much room for them now. We're getting a bit cluttered.

0:41:520:41:56

They're not in pride and place on your mantelpiece?

0:41:560:41:59

No, they're on a shelf on the stairs.

0:41:590:42:03

I think they're rather fun. Do you know what they're made out of?

0:42:030:42:06

Not really, no.

0:42:060:42:08

Because normally people assume this is going to be bronze.

0:42:080:42:11

But when you pick them up, they're very light.

0:42:110:42:13

They're made out of spelter, which is a combination of metals, which gives the effect of bronze,

0:42:130:42:20

-particularly if you paint them with a bronze colouring.

-Are they hollow?

0:42:200:42:25

Yes, they are. They are cast, but they are hollow inside.

0:42:250:42:28

So they're very delicate. It's a very fragile metal.

0:42:280:42:31

If you were to hit it, it would just break, whereas bronze, of course, is quite a strong metal.

0:42:310:42:36

These have been painted. What really attracts me to this is,

0:42:360:42:39

normally these are going to date to the end of the 19th century, the beginning of the 20th century.

0:42:390:42:46

Late Victorian, Edwardian.

0:42:460:42:49

And they're normally classical subjects - Diana, the Huntress, Apollo, Mercury, that kind of thing.

0:42:490:42:56

But here we've got one of the early representations of the fire brigade.

0:42:560:43:01

-With their old helmets.

-It's all-action.

0:43:010:43:03

It's all-action. You've got, obviously, the chap here standing on the roof with flames billowing out.

0:43:030:43:09

And he's got his hose in his hand. The other one is about to break into somewhere to save somebody.

0:43:090:43:15

And then on the clock, you've got the chap with his ladder,

0:43:150:43:18

saving a young child.

0:43:180:43:20

And he's just saved her, presumably from the fire that he's getting away from.

0:43:200:43:26

From that point of view alone, they're quite unusual.

0:43:260:43:29

I've certainly never seen them before.

0:43:290:43:31

-They're probably French, rather than English.

-Yes, they've got...

0:43:310:43:36

There's some plaques on them that show that they are titled in French,

0:43:360:43:39

but these are normally made in France.

0:43:390:43:42

And the clock movement itself would be very basic.

0:43:420:43:46

Intrinsically, I don't think they're worth a huge amount of money.

0:43:460:43:49

What I like about them is I think they're quite rare

0:43:490:43:53

If there's two collectors out there who want them, we might set the saleroom alight. Excuse the pun.

0:43:530:44:01

There's a little bit of damage on this one.

0:44:010:44:03

-A part of his pick or whatever he's holding.

-An axe, I should think.

0:44:030:44:06

It's broken off, which is a bit of a shame, because the rest of them are in quite good condition.

0:44:060:44:12

The colour's quite good. If we were to put them into auction,

0:44:120:44:15

we'd probably be looking at £50 to £80, but who knows?

0:44:150:44:19

If two collectors want them, we might even get over the hundred.

0:44:190:44:23

-Just being the right day.

-Absolutely. Do you want a reserve on them?

0:44:230:44:26

-No, not really.

-I think we'll just let them go.

0:44:260:44:29

I think that's wise of that sort of level.

0:44:290:44:31

I think they're great and I certainly could live with them.

0:44:310:44:35

-I hope we get a good price on the day and I look forward to the auction.

-Lovely.

0:44:350:44:39

David, when I first saw this in the box, I thought,

0:44:430:44:46

"We'll have at least half an hour while you set it up,"

0:44:460:44:49

-but you put it together like a real expert. You've done it a few times?

-Two or three.

0:44:490:44:53

Whenever we're looking at optical instruments, in particular microscopes or telescopes,

0:44:530:44:58

there is one name that really does ring out above all the others.

0:44:580:45:02

And that's Dollond of London.

0:45:020:45:04

I don't know how much history you know, but I'll tell you a bit about what I know.

0:45:040:45:09

John Dollond, the first John Dollond,

0:45:090:45:12

was born in 1706, died in 1761.

0:45:120:45:15

But he was the grandson of a French silk Huguenot weaver

0:45:150:45:20

and in the late 17th century, a lot of the French came over because they were being persecuted in France,

0:45:200:45:26

and they were often very skilled workers, either silk weavers or silversmiths and jewellers.

0:45:260:45:31

So John Dollond's parents came over, had him in 1706,

0:45:310:45:36

and he started one of the most famous optical instrument makers that Britain has ever seen.

0:45:360:45:41

-Where did you get your glasses from?

-Specsavers.

-Specsavers!

0:45:410:45:45

But you could have got them from Dollond and Aitchison,

0:45:450:45:48

and they are the great, great, great, great grandchildren of John Dollond, the person who made this.

0:45:480:45:54

And Dollond of London were optical instrument makers

0:45:540:45:58

for King George the Third and also for Queen Victoria.

0:45:580:46:00

They made telescopes and they made microscopes mainly.

0:46:000:46:04

If we look at the box this microscope came in,

0:46:040:46:06

we see these wonderful flush brass handles on the sides.

0:46:060:46:10

And that indicates that it was made to be packed away and for travelling.

0:46:100:46:14

And look at that box - wonderfully fitted.

0:46:140:46:17

This takes into - what would you say - about 10 or 15 pieces, at least?

0:46:170:46:21

-Yeah.

-And all fits together beautifully into this box.

0:46:210:46:26

Then we've got other bits in here as well. We've got little turned ivory cases.

0:46:260:46:31

We've got slides made in bone.

0:46:310:46:34

You often find the most gruesome things. What's that?

0:46:340:46:37

A leg of something by the looks of it.

0:46:370:46:40

But there we go. These aren't labelled.

0:46:400:46:42

They're contemporary with the microscope, so...

0:46:420:46:45

It's what we call a monocular microscope, for obvious reasons - it has one lens.

0:46:450:46:50

Binocular or monocular.

0:46:500:46:52

And this alters a rack and pinion.

0:46:520:46:55

-There we go. But we've got a couple of bits missing, haven't we?

-Yeah.

0:46:550:46:58

-So tell me how you came to have it.

-My son gave it me three years ago.

0:46:580:47:02

Nice gift. Spend a lot of money on it?

0:47:020:47:05

No. It came out of a skip.

0:47:050:47:08

-Who on earth would put this in a skip?!

-My son.

0:47:080:47:12

-Your son put it in the skip?

-Yeah, when they cleared the house.

-No!

0:47:120:47:16

Yeah. Then he took it back out and said, "My dad would like that,"

0:47:160:47:20

so he said, "Here's part of your Christmas present."

0:47:200:47:22

I mean, really, it is the most fantastic quality thing.

0:47:220:47:26

You've saved it and I'm so pleased.

0:47:260:47:28

So, having done the research, what do you think it's worth?

0:47:280:47:31

-Couple of hundred quid, I suppose.

-It's going to be more than that.

0:47:330:47:37

We've got bits missing, so that's a slight problem.

0:47:370:47:40

But it is the best of makers in its original box.

0:47:400:47:44

And, OK, we've got a few bits missing, but you've got a lot left.

0:47:440:47:48

So I think we ought to put an estimate of 400 to 600.

0:47:480:47:52

-Mmm.

-I've seen them sell before, complete, at £1,000 to £1,500.

0:47:520:47:57

And if it's a rare model - and I'm not sure because, obviously, on a day like Flog It!,

0:47:570:48:03

we're here in Northampton Town Hall and we haven't got a reference library with us at all.

0:48:030:48:09

-But this is a lovely thing and thank you very much for bringing it in.

-Been nice being here. Love it.

0:48:090:48:14

-Hello, Anita.

-Hello.

-Or should I say Joan Rivers?

0:48:210:48:24

Because we've all commented on it, you do look like Joan Rivers.

0:48:240:48:29

-You're not a relation, are you?

-No, I don't tell rude jokes!

0:48:290:48:32

Oh, good, neither do I.

0:48:320:48:34

Now, moving on to something much more important,

0:48:340:48:37

this lovely little butter boat, or cream jug.

0:48:370:48:40

-Where did you get it from?

-I got it from a table top for 20p.

0:48:400:48:44

Now, tell us, what's a table top, like a jumble sale?

0:48:440:48:48

-It's a bit upmarket to a jumble sale.

-Right.

0:48:480:48:51

-This was here in Northampton?

-Yes, yes.

-For 20p?

-Yes.

0:48:510:48:56

When was that?

0:48:560:48:58

It was about a year ago.

0:48:580:49:00

-And can we have the address of the next one?

-No!

0:49:000:49:04

-You're keeping it a secret, aren't you?

-Yes!

0:49:040:49:06

Well, did you have any idea what you were buying?

0:49:060:49:09

-I thought it was very pretty.

-The shape and the flowers.

0:49:090:49:12

Yes, the shape. I'd never seen anything like it before.

0:49:120:49:16

I thought it's really pretty, so I bought it, because I like pretty things.

0:49:160:49:20

-I collect different things.

-It's a lovely object. I want to tell you about it.

0:49:200:49:24

-It's 18th century.

-Really, that old?

0:49:240:49:27

Yeah. It's over 200 years old.

0:49:270:49:30

-I'm amazed.

-It's a wonderful little thing.

0:49:300:49:32

It's a little butter boat, for melted butter or a little cream jug, something like that.

0:49:320:49:37

It's wonderfully modelled, as a leaf, with these lovely little sprays and sprigs of flowers on it

0:49:370:49:44

and this lovely body, moulded with the leaves.

0:49:440:49:47

It's got a little bit of a firing fault there, but that's absolutely fine.

0:49:470:49:52

Minute damage on it, incredible.

0:49:520:49:55

I'd love to be able to tell you the factory but I've been racking my brains

0:49:550:49:59

and I've been asking colleagues here.

0:49:590:50:01

There's so many different possibilities.

0:50:010:50:04

I don't think it's Worcester, but it could be Lowestoft, it could be any number of the Liverpool factories.

0:50:040:50:10

It could be any number of Staffordshire factories.

0:50:100:50:14

What I've done is taken some digital photographs of it,

0:50:140:50:17

and I'll have a word with a few colleagues when I get home

0:50:170:50:21

and whatever we find out we'll put it in their catalogue description, and maybe boost it up a bit.

0:50:210:50:26

Now, from 20p, how much do you think it's worth?

0:50:260:50:32

-No idea.

-£20, £50?

0:50:320:50:36

Possibly. Possibly.

0:50:360:50:38

I think you're going to be quite pleased, actually, because I think we should put it in at £200 to £300.

0:50:380:50:44

-£200 to £300?

-Yes.

0:50:440:50:47

-Really?

-200 to 300.

-I don't believe that.

0:50:470:50:50

We'll put a reserve on it.

0:50:500:50:52

-Yes.

-Maybe £150.

-Really?!

0:50:520:50:55

I don't know, if two collectors want it... It's in such lovely condition, I'd love it at home.

0:50:550:51:00

It's in such lovely condition it could really fly.

0:51:000:51:03

-It's a lovely little object.

-Thank you very much.

0:51:030:51:06

-What a very good eye you've got.

-Yes, I have, actually.

0:51:060:51:09

That's it for our valuations today, so let's have one last look at what's going off to auction.

0:51:110:51:17

Only 20p for an upmarket table-top sale.

0:51:170:51:21

Let's hope Anita's blue and white butter boat

0:51:210:51:24

is the creme de la creme in the sale room.

0:51:240:51:27

Sandra hasn't been able to find the teapot for her unusual Vichy tea service.

0:51:270:51:32

Dermot's clock garniture is also unusual, but it's spelter rather than bronze,

0:51:320:51:37

and one of the firemen has lost his axe.

0:51:370:51:41

Will the pieces missing from Dave's microscope blur the bidders' vision?

0:51:410:51:45

Well, auctioneer Mark should be able to tell us.

0:51:450:51:49

How do you turn 20p into £200?

0:51:550:51:57

Well, just watch this, because Anita here has just brought along

0:51:570:52:01

that lovely little Bow cream jug, we've got £200 to £300 on it.

0:52:010:52:05

You bought it for 20p!

0:52:050:52:07

-Amazing, isn't it?

-I've never had bargains like that.

0:52:070:52:10

-Have you?

-No, I haven't. I normally spend £200 and it's worth 20p!

0:52:100:52:14

THEY LAUGH

0:52:140:52:15

I tried to be fair and double our money and offer her 40p for it but she wouldn't take it!

0:52:150:52:20

Have you had any other good finds like that?

0:52:200:52:24

-Not really.

-No.

0:52:240:52:26

No. Because I collect things.

0:52:260:52:28

-A bit of a one-off, is it?

-Yes, really, yes.

0:52:280:52:31

Let's see what we can do for you, shall we? 20p into 200, here we go.

0:52:310:52:35

185 is an 18th-century porcelain leaf moulded butter boat,

0:52:350:52:40

plain leaf handle, unmarked but possibly Bow.

0:52:400:52:43

I have to start on commission here at £120. 120, I'm bid here at 120.

0:52:430:52:47

-120, 120...

-Come on.

-120, 130, 140 now, at £140, 140 bid,

0:52:470:52:55

150, 160, 170 on the telephone, 180, new bidder.

0:52:550:52:58

-At 180, 190 now. £200.

-Yes.

-At 200.

0:52:580:53:03

-210.

-It's going on a bit!

0:53:030:53:05

220, at 220 now, at 220, 230, at 230 on the telephone.

0:53:050:53:09

Don't you love auctions?

0:53:090:53:11

The telephone wins, £230, all out in the room, selling at £230.

0:53:110:53:16

Yes, made estimate, that's good.

0:53:160:53:18

-That's excellent, really.

-£230 towards the holiday, Anita.

0:53:180:53:23

What place springs to mind?

0:53:230:53:25

-Egypt, maybe?

-Egypt.

0:53:250:53:27

I haven't decided, really.

0:53:270:53:28

And next to tempt the bidders is Sandra's tea service.

0:53:290:53:33

James, there's no teapot.

0:53:350:53:37

-There is....

-But we can't find it.

0:53:370:53:40

-Have you had a good look?

-I've had my loft inside out and back to front.

0:53:400:53:44

-But it's there somewhere, isn't it?

-I think so.

-What have you done with it?

-I know.

0:53:440:53:50

Well, we've got a valuation of £60 to £80

0:53:500:53:52

and the teapot would have crept that up to about 120, a complete set.

0:53:520:53:57

-What a shame.

-I know.

0:53:570:53:59

Unusual design for Carlton Ware, though.

0:53:590:54:02

It's a stylish set, but that gilding and those fish are brilliant,

0:54:020:54:05

-but not what you'd expect with Carlton Ware.

-No. Why are you selling this?

0:54:050:54:10

This is to go towards my central heating. My boiler broke down.

0:54:100:54:13

Oh, gosh, that's expensive. Right, we've got to help you out.

0:54:130:54:17

We need to get a new boiler for Sandra, so fingers crossed, a bit of money towards it. This is it.

0:54:170:54:23

Carlton china tea service decorated with carp

0:54:230:54:25

in gilt and coloured enamels. 21 pieces.

0:54:250:54:27

Unfortunately, no teapot.

0:54:270:54:29

-Here we go.

-Lot number 35.

0:54:290:54:31

I have to say £30. Bid 30 here.

0:54:310:54:32

35, 40.

0:54:320:54:34

He's got a commission bid on the book. That's good.

0:54:340:54:37

-There's interest in the room now.

-£60 in the room.

0:54:370:54:39

-65, new bidding, at 65.

-We've sold it anyway.

0:54:390:54:43

65 right at the back, at 65. 70 do I see? 65 and selling.

0:54:430:54:47

-Yes, the hammer's gone down. £65.

-Spot-on.

-Spot-on.

0:54:470:54:52

-Great.

-That's £65 less a bit of commission towards the new boiler. Keep you warm.

0:54:520:54:58

-Right, Dermot, your clock, rather unusual.

-It is.

0:55:020:55:05

Typical French spelter clock.

0:55:050:55:08

-But I've not seen firemen decorated...

-Never.

-Never, ever.

0:55:080:55:12

Well, we've got a valuation of £50-80, so it's cheap to me.

0:55:120:55:17

Well, it's spelter. Also, there is a bit of damage.

0:55:170:55:19

One of the firemen's lost the end of his chopper, which of course is going to react a bit.

0:55:190:55:24

But there must be people that collect fire brigade memorabilia.

0:55:240:55:28

Exactly. That's why it should put the price up.

0:55:280:55:31

That's what I'm thinking, anyway. That's my reckoning.

0:55:310:55:34

-We'll find out soon.

-In fact, we're gonna find out right now.

0:55:340:55:36

460 is the spelter three-piece clock garniture.

0:55:360:55:39

Starting at £50 for this.

0:55:390:55:41

50...

0:55:410:55:43

-£60...

-Oh, come on!

0:55:440:55:46

..And will be sold then. Away at £60.

0:55:460:55:51

-We've sold it.

-Yeah.

0:55:510:55:53

-But there we are.

-No world cruise.

0:55:530:55:55

Didn't set the saleroom alight, did it?

0:55:550:55:59

-What can I say?

-It didn't set the room alight.

-It didn't.

0:55:590:56:04

It was that one chopper.

0:56:040:56:05

A damaged chopper is always the kiss of death!

0:56:050:56:08

It was missing.

0:56:080:56:10

What are you hoping for? Secretly, deep down, what have you been thinking about?

0:56:130:56:18

I'd like £500 or £600, yeah.

0:56:180:56:21

Within James's estimate. We're talking about Dave's microscope - a boxed set.

0:56:210:56:24

I had a chat to the auctioneer earlier.

0:56:240:56:26

He said, yes, top end of that estimate. What do you think, James?

0:56:260:56:30

Come on, you've had a bit more time to sort of do a bit more research now.

0:56:300:56:34

It's always difficult in these circumstances because Dave found it in a skip.

0:56:340:56:38

-His son did.

-So it owes him nothing. I don't ever like to get people's hopes up.

0:56:380:56:44

I know, but come on, just stick your neck out. We're friends!

0:56:440:56:49

-I think it should make 1,200, 1,500.

-Right.

0:56:490:56:53

-Really?

-Dave, are you shaking?

-Yeah.

-Wouldn't that be nice?

0:56:530:56:58

I'm gonna feel awful if it doesn't!

0:56:580:57:00

Thinking about £400 or £500 last week, now he's all of a sudden going, "Ker-ching, ker-ching!"

0:57:000:57:06

Early 19th-century monocular compound brass microscope

0:57:060:57:09

by Dollond of London in a fitted mahogany box.

0:57:090:57:12

-Listen to the buzz in the room.

-Lots of interest here.

0:57:120:57:15

Have to start at £380.

0:57:150:57:18

380. 400. Now 420. At 440?

0:57:180:57:21

440 on telephone one. At 440.

0:57:210:57:24

460. 480 in the room, at 480.

0:57:240:57:26

480, at the back, at 480.

0:57:260:57:28

500.

0:57:280:57:30

And 50. 600. And 50.

0:57:300:57:34

700. And 50.

0:57:340:57:37

-Oh, yeah, keep going.

-800...

0:57:370:57:39

It's gonna be a good, steady climb, this one.

0:57:390:57:41

-900. And 50.

-Yeah.

0:57:410:57:44

1,000. 1,100.

0:57:440:57:47

1,200. 1,300. 1,300 in the room.

0:57:470:57:51

At £1,300. Away at £1,300.

0:57:510:57:55

Yes! £1,300!

0:57:550:57:58

Put it there. What a lovely Christmas present.

0:57:580:58:01

-Well done.

-Thank you.

0:58:010:58:03

What comes to mind?

0:58:030:58:04

A drink for my son. Bit more than a drink, really, I suppose.

0:58:040:58:08

Treat yourself. Holiday?

0:58:080:58:10

Do the brakes on my car.

0:58:100:58:12

-Go to Skeggy for a week.

-Go to Skeggy for a week!

0:58:120:58:15

Rent a caravan!

0:58:150:58:17

Dave, thank you so much for coming, and James.

0:58:170:58:19

What a cracking day we've had. That's auctions for you.

0:58:190:58:22

Join us again on Flog It! for plenty more surprises coming your way.

0:58:220:58:26

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0:58:390:58:44

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