Loughborough Flog It!

This marketplace dates back to the 13th century

and it's in the heart of a town

with its roots deep in the lace-making industry.

Welcome to Flog It! from Loughborough.

In the middle of Loughborough's marketplace stands

the Fearon Fountain.

It marks the spot where Archdeacon Fearon

brought the first pipe water to Loughborough town centre

in the 19th century. Today, it's a common meeting place.

And look who I've just spotted -

today's experts, Elizabeth Talbot and Adam Partridge.

I'll tell you what, I am running a bit late. Ooh!

Come on, Paul - we've got valuing to do.

Later in the show, I'll find out how a train journey to Loughborough,

organised by a local man, Thomas Cook,

started the travel company we know today.

I wonder if any of this crowd have travelled by train

to today's venue, Loughborough Town Hall,

where all the action will soon be taking place.

Well, the room is filling up.

Most people are safely seated inside, raring to go,

and I think Elizabeth has already spotted something.

Let's take a closer look.

-Andrew.

-Hello.

-What a magnificent item.

-Thank you.

Do tell me about it.

Er, my father and his partner ran a jeweller's/clock-watch repair shot.

One day, while I was a teenager, it just appeared on the mantelpiece.

-Oh, right - like these things do?

-That's right, yes.

It stayed there ever since, until he passed away,

-when my mother passed it on to me.

-Right.

And I'm afraid it's been stuck

on top of the wardrobe gathering dust since then.

OK. Do I take it that your mother didn't like it,

or did she think you'd appreciate inheriting it?

I think so, yes.

OK, but you didn't like it, so it's lived its life hidden away?

That's right, just gathering dust, yes.

I think the fact that it's been kept out of...

Sort of the polishes and dusting and hands of anybody doing housework

-means that it's retained its freshness and its crispness.

-Yes.

The detail on the, er, panels and on the clock have not been worn.

The gilding and the burnishing has not been worn,

so it looks today as it probably would have done - or close to -

when it was first manufactured, and that,

I think, will have been in the very early 20th century.

Yes.

On the face, it says that it's an English case,

which itself is surprising,

-but an English case with a German movement.

-Yeah.

Now, to start with the movement itself,

it's actually a very basic clock movement.

-It tells the time.

-Yep.

But it also strikes, so it is a clock, rather than a timepiece.

-Horologically, there is very little intrigue in that.

-Yeah.

-So the value of it is in the condition and the style.

-Yes.

It's also rather nice - you know this is called a garniture,

when you have more than one piece.

You have the clock and the matching vases,

and it's nice that they've remained together.

The clock and the vases are fundamentally made of brass,

and then they have introduced panels of base metal,

which have been cast to take the very fine details of the animals.

-Yes.

-And these fascinating hunting subjects and themes,

which take you, apparently around the world, as far as Africa.

But are then combined with a very, sort of,

north African, Islamic, er, sort of Eastern look.

-That's right.

-It's a very interesting cross-section.

-So therefore, we have a piece which is not to everybody's taste.

-Yep.

But is very dramatic.

It's not important as a clock but it is a very stylish

-and good furnishing piece.

-Yes.

I think that's where the market will receive it,

in terms of what we have here.

I think, on a fairly average day,

it should do £400 to £600 without really trying.

-Good grief!

-I would recommend an estimate in that sort of region.

-Would you be happy at that sort of level?

-Yes. Yes, yes.

-And if we put a reserve on, certainly at 400.

-Yes.

So if the worst thing happens and nobody bids,

you've still got your... desirable clock garniture.

But I think that's fair and I think, in this current market,

it has a fair chance to tempt people to bid and then we'll see how we do.

-OK, that's wonderful. Yeah, that's wonderful.

-Oh, good. Excellent.

That's all right. Thank you for bringing it in so carefully.

What we love to see on Flog It! is things of regional interest -

local interest - that really sparks an awful lot of civic pride.

We're in Loughborough, in the marketplace, and I'll tell you,

it doesn't get any better than this.

Look at that. It's the Labour Exchange sign,

which hung in the marketplace over 100 years ago.

-It's a wonderful enamel sign and it belongs to John here. Hi.

-Hi.

If you put this into auction now, with the local interest,

in a local auction room, you've got to be looking at £200 to £300.

-That's very nice to hear.

-Look after it.

-I certainly will.

-Thank you for bringing it in.

-Thanks very much.

-Good afternoon, Brenda.

-Hello.

-How are you today?

-Fine, thank you.

What's a lady doing with trains?

It's normally associated with a boys' hobby, isn't it?

-It belongs to my husband's father.

-So it's been in the family a while?

We found it ten years ago, when we cleared the house out,

and so we didn't know it was there.

-Oh, really? So your husband didn't even know about its existence?

-No.

-Was it tucked away somewhere?

-It was, in the attic.

-Was it?

-It was.

-It was an attic find.

-Yes.

-Excellent.

Well, I'm sure these original boxes have helped preserve it.

And what a nice example, really.

It's by the Bowman firm from Dereham in Norfolk.

Obviously, it says that on the lid and on the side of the boxes,

so no great prizes for that.

But Bowman was run by a chap called Geoffrey Bowman Jenkins,

and it was established in the mid-1920s

and they made trains throughout the '20s and '30s.

I think they went out of business in about 1935.

They made trains that were described as "durable" -

apparently they even worked in the garden -

and very robust and efficient.

Some people were quite unkind and said they were quite ugly.

-Oh, right.

-This one is the steam loco, model 234,

and that's the tender model 250.

They've obviously been used - you've got signs of use there.

Some smoke damage or marks there,

-because it's a real, live thing, isn't it?

-Yes.

They are growing in popularity.

They were sniffed upon by train collectors,

who went for the more glamorous manufacturers,

the better-looking examples.

But I think Bowman models have got better in recent years.

What's your impression of the value? Have you got any idea yourself?

-Well, apart from this man offering £200 unseen.

-Oh, you've had an offer?

Well, ten years ago, when we first had it.

-We thought it must be worth more.

-Yeah.

-Well, I mean, that probably was quite a good offer, actually.

-Yes.

Because that was the sort of figure I was thinking of

when you took them out earlier.

So my suggestion would be to put an estimate of £200 to £300 on them.

-Yes.

-And a reserve of 200, so they don't make any less.

-Well, I thought about 250 reserve.

-Right.

If we put 250, we have to up the estimate,

which may scare people off.

It may not, but my recommendation would be £200 to £300.

It's up to you.

Well, I'll go with your recommendation - £200.

I don't want you disappointed, but if we put 200 as the very least.

And then let's hope it goes to make the 250 or the 300

-that we're really hoping to get.

-Yes. Yes.

As I say, the market for Bowman models has improved,

so let's hope that it'll do that.

-Are you a photographer, Diana?

-Not at all.

I know nothing about cameras

and even less about the old cameras like the Leica.

Fantastic camera, what can I say?

Leica sort of pioneered the 35mm lens. So whose is it?

It was my husband's.

You were obviously this side of the camera - you're the model, basically.

Well, no, he didn't actually photograph me, it was other things of interest.

-He travelled quite a lot.

-And used this widely?

Yes, he used it quite a lot when he had the time

-because it isn't something you would take an instant picture.

-No.

He bought it in 1988 and it cost about £225 from a dealer,

I think, in Cambridge.

-This camera dates back to 1925, basically.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-And he paid about the right amount of money for it.

-You can use it today, that's the great thing about it.

-Yes.

I think you'll easily get your money back

-if we put this into auction.

-Good.

My only concern is we're selling something with moving parts,

and a lot of people tend to shy away

from buying something like this in auction.

-I'd like to put an auction price guide of £250 to £350.

-OK, yep.

-With a reserve at £225.

-That's fine, yes.

-Which is...

-What I paid for it, yes.

Let's face it, the auctioneer's going to give this full exposure.

-Yes.

-It'll be in the catalogue, it'll be on the internet.

-Yep.

Dealers and collectors will find this.

People all over the world will want a camera like this.

Because you can use it and it's still quality.

-That's right. Well, thank you, that would be wonderful.

-Happy?

-Yes.

-Well, welcome, Gillian, and welcome, James.

-Thank you.

-Two generations of the same family.

-Exactly, yes.

Bringing what I think are very exciting items.

Tell me all about your glass.

Well, it was when we used to go out for the day, my husband and I.

Right.

-And we thought we'd treat ourselves to a little bit of something.

-Right.

-We did - we went to London and we bought a piece of glass.

-Uh-huh.

And then, when we went another time, we bought another piece.

Now, did you buy them knowing what they were? Did you know...?

-Not at the time I bought them.

-OK.

But subsequently, you've seen them on Flog It! and so on.

James, before we go any further, do you like this?

I like the orange one, cos it's really bright

and I like bright things.

Yeah? OK. So why are you wanting to sell them?

I need to pay for my skating boots, and to go abroad.

-So you're a skater?

-Yes, I ice skate.

Are you nationally known, internationally?

-Do you compete, or...?

-Er, at the moment, I'm second in the country.

Congratulations. I've never met a real ice skater! Congratulations.

-Thank you.

-So second in the country,

with aspirations to do bigger and better things?

Definitely.

Well, I'll tell you that these are by the Whitefriars glass factory,

which is now looked upon as one of the leading lights

in terms of design of glass in the mid-20th century.

These two pieces were designed by Geoffrey Baxter.

You have probably one of the most famous shapes,

which is called the Drunken Bricklayer shape,

and this was in a pewter colour.

It's part of the mould-blown series. In fact, both of them are.

And the tangerine one is commonly referred to

as a television-shaped vase.

And in both cases, I've seen them both in different colours

and different sizes.

The Bricklayer, actually, can be made quite... Quite a large example.

-Do you have them out and about, still?

-Oh, yes!

-Excellent.

So they'll leave a big, gaping hole somewhere if you...

-Well, they will, but I can move the glass a bit further along.

-OK, OK.

They're in good condition, you've looked after them over the years,

which is superb. In terms of value,

I quite confidently believe that they should fetch £100 to £150 each.

Wonderful!

So if we look at a combined minimum of £200,

so that they don't sell for less than that.

-Yes.

-And we'll see how we do on the day.

-That's lovely.

-Wonderful.

-I'm Adam.

-Yes.

-And you're Pat.

-Yes.

-Welcome to Flog It!

-So, you brought in this very pretty Shelley set here.

-Yes.

-What can you tell me about it?

-Well, not much, really.

I was given it just over 20 years ago by a late aunt...

-Well, auntie-in-law.

-Right.

After she gave it me, I just put it in a cabinet.

-It's been there ever since.

-Ever used it?

-Never.

D'you know, these are quite fun to use - shall I tell you why?

-Cos you drink out of it and it runs down the side of your face.

-Yeah.

-They're very pretty, but they're quite an impractical shape.

-Yeah.

-As with many people, they haven't got the full set.

-No.

You've got five cups and saucers.

But you've got the six tea plates

and you've got the bread-and-butter plate, and you've got the two pots.

Yes.

-The pattern is number 11607.

-Yes.

-That's called the My Garden pattern.

-Yeah.

And, you can see, decorated with a garden scene.

So the pattern is called My Garden.

The shape is called the Queen Anne shape

with that octagonal, fluted shape.

-And it's typically 1930s in its date.

-Yeah.

So there we are - we've got it.

A 1930s Shelley tea service - part tea service -

in the My Garden pattern.

-Why are you selling it?

-Well, I... I don't need it any more.

-I've loved it, but now I thought it was time to go.

-Time to go?

-Yeah.

-So you do like it?

-I've always liked it, but what with the grandchildren.

-OK, so it might end up as fragments if you're not careful?

-Yes.

-Any idea of the value?

-Well, no, I've never had it valued at all.

-No.

I only mentioned it once to an antique dealer

and he said it was worth £20.

Oh! I'd like to meet him and give him a piece of my mind.

Yeah. And he said, "use it."

It's worth a lot more... Well, a good deal more than that.

Because it's a part set, I'm going to be a bit cautious,

but I'd put 100 to 150 on it.

-Yeah, that's about right.

-I'd expect it to make that, if not a bit more.

-So, er, are you happy with that?

-Yes.

-Excellent. Bottom line of 80.

-Yeah.

-Estimate, 100 to 150.

-Yeah.

Put it in the auction, see how it goes.

-I reckon it'll make it, and hopefully a bit more.

-Yes.

We've still got lots of people to see,

but we've found our first gems to take off

to Gilding's Auction House, just down the road in Market Harborough.

Our experts' valuations are just about to be put to the test

under the watchful eye of auctioneer Mark Gilding

on the rostrum behind me.

But before that, here's a quick reminder of what we're selling.

Elizabeth had a lot of time for Andrew's garniture set

that came from his dad's shop, and valued it at between £400 and £600.

But will the bidders agree with her?

Will they also be tempted by Brenda's boys' toys?

This 1920s train set is steaming into the auction

with an estimate of £200 to £300.

I thought Diana's camera was in great condition

and I feel sure she'll make her money back,

with an estimate of £250 to £350.

-It's going to be on the internet.

-Yes.

Dealers and collectors will find this.

While valuing Gillian's Whitefriars glass,

Elizabeth got a bit starstruck!

-At the moment, I'm second in the country.

-Congratulations!

I've never met a real ice skater! Congratulations!

Well, now, you have, Elizabeth!

Any money raised will help grandson James

keep winning his ice-skating trophies.

And finally, it's not a full set

but Adam is still hoping for £100 to £150 for Pat's Shelley tea set.

But it's a pretty pattern,

so I wonder if he's slightly underestimated his china.

Well, we'll soon find out,

because these items are about to go under the hammer.

I've been looking forward to this, Gillian.

I love Geoffrey Baxter, I love Whitefriars.

We've got two items here, £200 to £300,

and all the money's going towards ice-skating equipment.

-Hopefully, we can get the top end.

-I'm hoping so.

-Yeah.

Geoffrey Baxter's a great designer - a good name to look for.

-These are two classics.

-They are classics.

Depends if the colourways are right.

If the collectors already have these,

they may not want them, but they may want to make up a set.

-Absolutely.

-Here we go - let's find out what they make.

Two Whitefriars in lot 160, then, and bidding starts here.

With me at £160. 160 I'm bid.

170, 180, 190, 200.

210, 220, 230.

240.

-What a flurry!

-240 bid right at the back. 250, new bidding.

Yes, more hands.

260, 270. 270 right in the middle.

Oh, there's another one. Telephone.

£300, at 300. 320.

320, bid at 320. I'll take 40 if you like. 340.

The telephone's in at 340.

All out in the room at 340 and selling.

-£340.

-We should be waving a national flag, shouldn't we?

-Yeah.

James, I hope you enjoyed watching that.

Unfortunately, poor old James - he's at school today.

-Couldn't get the time off, could he?

-No, not allowed.

-So how much were the boots, were you saying?

-500.

HE MOUTHS

-Do they have to be specially made?

-Yes. They do.

-Well, we wish him luck. James, win us a medal!

-Yes.

Now it's my turn to be the expert, and in the frame

we've got Diana here, who's looking radiant,

and I love the colours.

-Thank you, Paul.

-And it's that wonderful Leica camera.

Precision personified, that is, in the original case.

We need two collectors here that really understand good lenses.

Yes, exactly. Well, let's hope they're here.

-I do as well.

-Yes.

-Let's find out. Here we go.

-Indeed.

100, a Leica DRP camera with the original leather case.

Lot number 100, bidding starts at 180...

£200, £220 I am bid...

220 bid here, all out at 220...

I'll take 40 if you like, 240 on the telephone...

240, 240 on the telephone. All out on the room...

at 240 and selling now at £240.

Yes, the hammer's gone down at £240.

-Great.

-We just did it.

-I'm happy with that.

-Fixed reserve at 225 so...phew!

-Yes, I'm relieved.

It was bought by phone. If there was somebody else to push him,

he may have gone the extra two or three.

But we're never going to know that. That's the beauty of auctions.

Right. Next up, we've got a live spirit-powered locomotive,

in original box, made by Bowman's.

It belongs to Brenda.

And I hope we're on the right track, here, Adam, £200 to £300.

-Full steam ahead, Paul.

-Ooh!

-Why are you selling this?

-I just don't collect trains.

-Time to let it go?

-Yes.

-It's in good company.

Have you seen over there? There's a lot of locomotives.

-There's more than one.

-That's always good news.

-It is, isn't it?

They may not come for just one, but if there's a whole load of them,

they should be all right. I think we'll be all right.

Good. Here we go. Let's enjoy the ride.

Bowman steam locomotive and the tender,

both of them in the original wooden cases.

170, 170 here. 170?

170, 180, 190 bid there.

190? I'll take 100. 190 bid here.

200 on the telephone. £200 bid.

We're in.

210. Bidding at 210. 210.

Telephone two at 210.

And selling away £210.

-That was good.

-Not bad.

-Got it within the estimate.

-Very good.

It was touch and go for a minute.

We got there in the end. There is commission to pay.

-What will you put the money towards?

-Probably a holiday.

-Where do you fancy going?

-We're going to Ireland.

-Lovely.

-Going to go there on the train?

SHE LAUGHS

Andrew's about to put the family heirlooms under the hammer.

-What have we got? A lovely mantel clock?

-Yes.

-Matching pair of vases.

And the clock strikes on a gong. We've got £400-£600 on this.

It's a real looker. It's unusual, but it's a real decorative piece as well.

-Be pleased to see the back of this, will you?

-Oh, definitely!

Free up a bit more space on top of the wardrobe.

Right, well, find out what the bidders think right now.

Early 20th-century garniture with a mantel clock.

More bidding with me here.

£240 I'm bid.

240 bid here. At 240. All out in the room.

260, 280 now, at 280. 280 with me.

At 280? 300.

It's on the telephone.

320, 340, 360. 360 Bid at 360.

At 360? 380 on the telephone.

I'm out at 380.

And selling away now at £380.

Yes! 380. I know we had a fixed reserve of 400,

but I think the auctioneer's going to make the difference

-of the £20 up to you.

-OK.

-He's not going to let it go for £20.

-I think you'll be pleased with that.

-Yes, I'm pleased.

I know Elizabeth will be disappointed.

I am. I thought it would make more than that.

It was a real, good-quality, unusual piece. Nonetheless, happy new home.

-Yes.

-Exactly.

-That's right. It won't be stuck on the wardrobe.

-It's GONG!

-It's gone.

-Oh, very good!

Next up, it's time for tea. No, don't run out to the kitchen.

It's time to put the Shelley tea set under the hammer.

It belongs to Pat here. Great to see you.

Now we've had some good results from Shelley before.

-We've got 150, Adam?

-100-150.

-That's right. OK.

-And you're going to treat the grandchildren?

-Yes.

Now, guess how many grandchildren there are?

-Three.

-Ten.

-Ten.

-Well, you've enjoyed this for 20 years, this tea set.

-Yes.

-It's time to let go.

-Yes.

-Shelley's always popular.

-Yes.

Highest percentage of bone in any bone china. Did you know that?

-No, I didn't know that.

-52% bone, I believe.

Let's hope all the bidders know that as well.

It's going under the hammer now.

Lovely decoration on this one and bidding starts...

Look at all of these commissions!

180, 200, 220, £240.

240 bid with me. At 240?

-240, Pat, what do you think?

-260. 280 bid now. At 280?

At 280, I'm in.

300, I'm out.

300 on the telephone. I'll take 20.

-Always popular, the Shelley.

-Yes.

320. New bidding at 320.

320, telephone two. Internet's out as well at 320.

Selling online. 340 on the internet.

340.

-That's a good price.

-Very good.

-340 bid.

340, 350, at £350. 350 on the telephone.

They know there's a lot of bone in the china!

At 350? Telephone two then at 350. Internet's out and selling at £350.

-Yes! £350!

-Good price.

Shelley is always a little winner, isn't it?

If you've got something like that, look after it, or bring it to us to flog it for you.

I think that's a minibus down to the seaside for all ten kids.

Well, after the drama of the auction,

I think I need a break and I'm not the only one.

Last year, we made 50 million trips abroad

to discover different parts of the world.

But did you know this is largely due to one man -

a Bible salesman born at the beginning of the 19th century?

CHOIR SINGS

On 9th June in 1841, one man set out on a 15-mile walk to Leicester to attend a meeting.

While he was doing it, he had a brainwave, a brilliant idea.

He had to do this again, there were a lot of people involved,

so he thought, "Why don't I charter a train?"

Little did he know that that trip

would launch a brand-new type of company

that would change the way Britons saw the world,

and his name was Thomas Cook.

Today, the travel company that started from these humble beginnings here in Leicestershire

is now one of the UK's largest.

And to find out how Thomas Cook went from organising one little excursion

to planning package holidays all over the globe,

I've come to talk to company archivist Paul Smith.

And where better than the Great Central Railway in Loughborough,

close to where our story starts?

Thomas Cook had assistants ready to assist at all stations around the world

and I've just spotted mine.

-Hello, Paul.

-Hi.

-Pleased to meet you. I love the uniform.

-Thank you.

-Thomas Cook & Sons Ltd.

-Absolutely.

-When does this date to?

This particular uniform dates from about 1930.

Tell me about Thomas Cook and his background.

What was his desire to help open the world to the working classes?

Thomas Cook was very working class himself.

He was the son of a labourer and the grandson of a Baptist preacher.

His father actually died when Thomas was only three.

His mother remarried and his stepfather died when he was only ten.

-Gosh!

-Thomas, basically, was taken out of school, erm, and began...

He was the main breadwinner for the family.

-He had a lot on this shoulders at such a young age.

-He did.

He originally worked as a gardener's boy

and, at the age of 14,

he was apprenticed to his uncle as a wood-turner, a cabinet maker.

Interesting.

But really it was the religious side to his upbringing

which was more important.

At the age of 20, he went off and became an itinerant Baptist preacher.

He covered more than 2,000 miles on foot,

travelling round the villages of Leicestershire, Rutland, as far as Stamford,

just promoting the Bible, encouraging people to set up Sunday schools, that sort of thing.

It was on one of these tours in the village of Barrowden in Rutland that he met his wife-to-be.

Tell me about that life-changing trip, that walk to Leicester.

Basically, Thomas had the idea to use these new-fangled trains

to promote temperance, to promote social improvement, as he saw it.

He believed that all problems in Victorian England were down to alcohol.

Anything he could do to encourage people to explore the world, do something different,

would improve society, so his idea essentially was to charter a train

to take people to a temperance meeting.

-And that was successful in itself?

-Yes, it was.

About 500 people went on that first trip.

They paid a shilling a head, travelled in open carriages

and there were two newspaper reports on the trip as well.

So 500 people became the first to experience a Thomas Cook excursion,

but Cook didn't stop there.

He arranged a succession of trips allowing thousands of people

to experience rail travel for the first time around the UK.

On moving to Leicester in 1841,

Cook began printing his first small leaflets to accompany his tours.

Along with letters and timetables, these survive today.

What was Thomas Cook's first commercial venture?

Well, his first commercial venture, believe it or not,

was actually a trip to Liverpool,

which took place in the summer of 1845.

-He actually produced a little handbook.

-A little guide.

Yep, which is his very first travel-related publication.

Now this was a far more adventurous trip than anything he'd planned before.

Not only did it involve an overnight stay,

but also it involved negotiations with three different railway companies.

-Linking them together to make the journey.

-Yes.

In the back of this handbook, it does give a list of hotels within Liverpool where people can stay.

-Like a little tourist guide?

-Yeah.

How many people were on the train?

Well, it caused a sensation in Leicester, this trip.

He managed to sell 1,200 tickets initially.

-That's a big train.

-That's a big train.

But even that didn't satisfy demand

and he had to organise a second trip two weeks later

for a further 800 people.

That's 2,000 people from Leicester went to Liverpool.

I guess with all this success in mind,

he would soon be ready to cross the Channel.

Well, he was. By the end of the 1840s,

Thomas had been to Ireland

and his tickets covered the whole of the British Isles, more or less.

He was contemplating trips to places within Europe,

to America, to the Holy Land.

So where would Cook decide to go on his first venture off the mainland?

Well, the Paris Exhibition of 1855 beckoned,

but simply organising a trip direct to Paris was far too easy for Thomas Cook.

He then decides to organise a Grand Circular Tour, as he calls it.

-Well, it would make sense, wouldn't it?

-Absolutely.

It encompassed a trip to Brussels, a river trip down the Rhine,

visits to Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Strasbourg,

and finally to Paris, so he had a circular tour.

His original intention was just to sell a travel ticket,

but so many people were asking him about accommodation,

about foreign exchange - what do they do, how do they cope?

So he offered to organise all their accommodation for them for a £5 note.

This really was the birth of the package holiday right here.

It was. You got accommodation, food and travel all paid for in advance - that's the package.

So in 1872, Cook was the first to lead a commercial trip around the world.

He was absent for 222 days in total.

-Long time.

-And wrote lots of letters as he travelled.

He wrote a series of letters to The Times and other newspapers,

which he published on his return in a little book,

but he also wrote, every Sunday, to his wife.

We have one of those on display there.

-That's Thomas's own handwriting.

-How charming.

-It is. They're wonderful.

By the time Thomas Cook returned from his globetrotting,

his son sat firmly in the company's driving seat.

He built an impressive head office in London

and was ready to move the company forward.

Thomas Cook continued to travel the globe by sea, rail and foot,

right up until retirement in 1878,

at the age of 70.

But what it's left us with is the name, 130 years later,

that still conjures up images of sun, sea and sightseeing.

Back in the town hall,

Elizabeth has been confronted with a strange item made out of bones.

Well, we do say we're happy to value most things on the show.

So, Janet, how did you acquire this set?

Well, I had it from a friend about 17 years ago.

And unfortunately she passed away just recently.

-At 98 years old.

-Wow.

-Yes.

So you're looking to find a new home for it, is that your intention?

Yes, I am.

Because it is such a beautiful thing, delicate, so new and so different,

that I think it deserves to have more show.

You're quite right. Very unusual set, Janet.

Made of, principally, chicken wishbones,

and the little bones which have been stained to imitate mahogany.

And this has been upholstered by a very skilful needle woman.

And it has now created a late Victorian/Edwardian parlour suite,

which copies the furniture which was very popular

at the end of the 19th, early 20th century.

It's a magical little set.

As a novelty on its own, it's a one-off, a real one-off,

-A lot of love and attention has gone into it.

-It has too.

It's actually almost suitable for a museum of childhood.

-It's that kind of calibre.

-Yes.

And also, it's not the finest child's toy from the period,

it never has been, but that's what's charming about it.

The very fact it has survived for a century as well as it has,

is a credit to the original makers.

It is, isn't it? It's lovely.

-Almost like a folk art collector would be interested in this.

-Yes.

So if I said £20 to £30, would that surprise you?

-Erm...

-Disappoint you?

-Yeah.

-I think so.

-How about £40 to £60?

-Hmm...

-Still disappointed?

-Well, yeah.

-I think it should fetch £60.

I think it should fetch minimum of £60, it might do £60 to £80.

-Yes.

-It might, because it's so quirky,

go for more than that.

But I think to be realistic, to be fair to you and your friend,

but to price it so that we can encourage serious people

who would give it a good home,

we need to pitch it at a level that they feel they could afford.

So I think we should enter this for auction at an estimate

of £60 to £80, we'll put a reserve of £60 on it,

so you can rest assured that it has a safety net,

fingers crossed, pull a wishbone or two, we hopefully make more.

-Is that all right?

-That's lovely. Thank you very, very much.

Thank you.

You've brought three very interesting pieces of silver

that span quite a period of time.

Can you tell me how you came to own them,

and what's the story behind them?

They came through my family

and my aunt actually took them on to a TV programme almost 50 years ago.

-Really?

-Yes.

-What was the TV programme?

-Lunchbox.

-Lunchbox?

-Yes.

And they've been in the family, but now they just really sit there.

I thought it might just be fun that after 50 years

they were still of interest.

-So you're saying these have been on telly before!

-Yes!

-About 50 years ago?

-Almost.

-So there's a chance that most people won't remember them?

-Maybe!

Cos those that do may be of an age that they may not remember anyway!

So you've got three pieces there, the earliest being this one.

This little Queen Anne silver box,

with the profile portrait of Queen Anne on the top.

Of course she was on the throne at the beginning of the 18th century.

Chronologically, the next one is this one here.

Georgian cream jug,

which is a London hallmark, there, 1771.

-1771.

-Yes.

-So there we go. That one's been around a bit as well.

I'd love to know where it came from.

I know! Wouldn't it be nice? All these things tell a story.

And you never know.

This one of course is the...

Sounds funny to say it, the most modern one!

But it's still a Georgian piece of silver.

A Georgian vinaigrette by a well-known maker, Thomas Shaw.

Thomas Shaw of Birmingham.

We'll just have a little examine of that. A silver grill here.

And underneath that, if we just remove it for a minute,

is the original sponge.

Does it still smell?

-Sometimes. Sometimes they still do.

-Really?

But I can't get much out of that.

And of course this would be carried around by a lady,

to freshen up, or if she didn't like the smell of the streets,

the streets used to stink, and she would just open it up,

have a little whiff of the vinaigrette.

Very nice, the form of a little satchel. Cute little item there.

Down to the value,

I think it would be irresponsible to sell them as three.

You've got different appeals to collectors for each.

Firstly, the vinaigrette, easy thing to value,

I would put £60 to £80 on that.

And a reserve of £50 so it doesn't go for less.

That'll make £60, £80, maybe even £100 on a good day.

This one, I reckon should make £100 to £150,

and I'd put a reserve at about £90 on that one.

To stop that one from under-selling.

This one I'd like to look into further.

We haven't had a chance to properly find out about that one,

so I don't want to quote something that isn't accurate.

So either we do a bit more research or we ask the auction house

to come up with an estimate on that one,

tell us before the show, and see what you think.

-Is that OK?

-That's fine.

Let's see what happens.

Whatever happens, you're going to get a few hundred pounds.

Oh, lovely. Yes. Part of the programmes!

We see a lot of Moorcroft on the show.

But I think this is possibly one of the best pieces I've ever seen.

-Really?

-Yes.

It's not like the usual Iris, or Pomegranate or things like that,

this is beautiful.

Tell me a little bit about its history.

I believe that my father bought it for my mother as a present.

-OK.

-It's always been...

-In the family?

Yes. And it's always been well used.

By my mother. She always had flowers in it.

-Oh, how lovely!

-Yeah.

Well, what can I say about this?

It's William Moorcroft, it's a very early piece,

it's a wonderful example of their slipware, it really is.

But isn't it stunning? Look at the colour.

And you can tell it's an early one.

You can see there the markings.

They were highly associated with the McIntyre factory.

Up until the early 1900s, when they broke away from them.

You were right that's it been used,

because somebody... Who put the chip on it?

-There's a little chip...

-Yes, my mother.

-It's been coloured, hasn't it?

-Yes, she had.

Just painted it with ink.

Moonlit Blue fetches a great deal of money.

-It's one of the most sought-after patterns.

-Is it really?

Yes. We've only had one or two other examples on the show before.

And nothing of this size.

If I said to you, I've just looked on a computer,

and done some research on this particular size,

this particular vase,

in Moonlit Blue, in perfect condition,

has sold recently in auction...

for £3,000.

SHE GASPS No!

-That's incredible!

-It's a lot of money, isn't it?

The downside is...the chip.

-It's very hard to value this.

-Is it?

I mean, the chip can get sorted out, that's not a big deal.

But it's always going to be not perfect, have restoration,

and never going to reach another £3,000.

-Could I put this in with a reserve?

-Yeah.

A price guide of something like £500 to £700?

-Yes. I'd be happy with that.

-Yeah?

Let the auctioneer use a bit of discretion at £500.

Would you be happy with that?

-Very happy.

-Are you sure?

-Yes. Positive.

-But if we catch them at £500,

hopefully three or four people in the room will bid it up to £1,000.

It's worth trying if you're prepared to let it go at £500.

-Yes.

-Watch it fly away!

Welcome to Flog It. I'm Adam, and you are...?

-Susan.

-Susan. Very interesting item you've brought here.

Wonderful piece of music, the Moonlight Serenade.

-Absolutely.

-Are you going to sing it for me?

-No way!

-Go on! It's a lovely song, isn't it?

-Yes, beautiful song.

-Glen Miller, of course, the very famous Glen Miller.

-Yeah.

-And what we've got on here is, "To Ron, from..."

-"Glen Miller."

How did you come to own this?

My father was a musician, he played with lots of big bands,

and they saw Glen Miller, playing at Hyde Park,

and one of his friends got that for him.

-Really?

-And he gave it to me.

So I presume this holds a few memories for you, does it?

Yeah, mainly because my father was in a band

and he played a lot of that music. It does have a lot of memories.

-Yeah. Happy memories.

-Very happy memories, very happy memories.

And was your father a saxophonist?

-He was. Played the saxophone and clarinet.

-Did he?

-Yeah, and flute.

I presume... Why are you selling it? Because you don't need it?

Well, it just sits there on the shelf,

so if somebody else could appreciate it, that would be nice.

-I think there will be some interest in this.

-Cos it's very special.

-Well, valuation isn't great, it's 20 to 40 in my opinion.

-That's OK.

-There's always the chance it'll make more.

-Yeah.

-Do you want to put a reserve to protect it?

-Yes, please.

-£20?

-Yeah.

So if it doesn't make £20, it can go back.

And if the bidders are In The Mood...

Oh, very good. Yeah.

..then hopefully it'll make more.

It'll be A String Of Pearls.

-Thanks for coming to "Flog It!"

-You're welcome.

Well, that's it - we've got our last items to take to auction.

'I've left the busy valuation day behind and taken to the towpath.

'These days, we think of canals as a place for fun and relaxation,

'but at the end of the 18th century,

'these were the motorways of the Industrial Revolution,

'vital for moving goods and raw materials in bulk across the country.

'And situated just outside of Market Harborough,

'this stretch of the canal network

'has a particularly interesting history.'

I've come to Foxton Locks,

one of the longest flights of locks in the English canal system,

to find out how engineers in past times

ingeniously solved the age-old problem of moving water uphill.

And how did they solve it? Well, by this -

a staircase of locks, ten of them, a flight of them going up the side of the hill.

Now, the front gate of each lock

created the back gate of the next one and so forth.

And assisted by these ponds and reservoirs, that helped

regulate the water flow as the narrow boats were passing through.

Here at Foxton - that was a brilliant design,

considering this was the age of horse and cart

and pulley and tackle, no mechanical diggers.

So you can imagine the blood, sweat and tears

that went into building this flight of locks.

'Navigating the locks can be a challenge, even for the most experienced.

'Bill Smith works on site here.

'This morning, he's kindly offered to be my guide.'

-Hi, Bill.

-Hi.

-Pleased to meet you. What a lovely day.

-Yeah, it's fantastic.

-How long have you been lock-keeper here?

-I've been here four years now.

-Gosh, what a lovely job, eh?

Des res here, look, and what a view from the office!

-Yeah, fantastic both ways, isn't it?

-When was this established?

The locks opened in 1814, the lock-keeper would have lived here

in the house and he wouldn't have got his two days off a week,

-he'd have just been here and that would have been his job working.

-24/7?

-Yeah.

I mean, it was the height of the Industrial Revolution

and trade was flowing backwards and forwards.

So what's the main difference today?

The emphasis is more on leisure

and we're getting many people come here, some of the people we know.

One of the differences is that the working boaters would have been regular.

It would have been the same group of people

so the old-time lock-keepers would have probably known their customers

far better than we ever get the chance to, given the turnover we get now with the holiday boaters.

-And you end up giving the novices lots of tips and helping them out?

-Yeah.

-Beginners perhaps need a lot more instruction and a lot more time.

-A little bit of guidance.

-Bill, I think we should take to the water now and you can show me the ropes along the way.

-Great.

Paul, this is Terry and he'll help us take the boats through the locks.

-Hello, Paul.

-Pleased to meet you, Terry. Can I come aboard?

-Yes.

-Thanks.

Ever since the locks were completed,

a huge variety of cargo, from coal and iron

to everyday items such as beer, flour, milk, and cabbages,

have been transported through here.

At the canal's height,

50 or 60 working boats a day moved through the locks,

passing between the busy industrial Midlands, London and the South.

We're in position now, we're at the top of the lock staircase.

-You'll need one of these, which is a windlass.

-Shall I go this side?

Yeah, we both step off this side and take a walk on down there.

Right. OK, this is the first lock then for us, what do you want me to do?

These things here in front of us are called paddles,

and there are two paddles to operate at each lock.

It's straightforward - we wind the red one up

and then we go back to the other side of the beam and wind the white one up.

So with the windlass, you start to wind it up.

Push the windlass onto the spindle, nice tight fit, and then turn it clockwise.

-OK.

-This one in particular you'll certainly need both hands to be able to wind it up.

When we wind this one up, it opens up a channel that connects

-the pond to our right to the lock below us.

-Yep.

We lift that up and the water starts coming to fill the lock ahead of us.

So this is a reservoir and they're dotted all the way down from each lock.

-Each lock has its own side pond.

-Ingenious, isn't it, really?

-We'll keep turning this till it won't go any further.

-That happens pretty fast, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

-You can hear the water gushing in. It's filling up.

What a lovely sound as well.

OK, Paul. Now it's time to do this one

and we're going to do exactly the same. Do you want to turn that clockwise?

You probably need both hands.

Actually, it's a lot easier than it looks, it really is.

The one I did wasn't.

You're doing the easy one, I think.

-There you go.

-If you look behind you...

-Look at that!

And obviously that's now letting the water out

and the boat is dropping quite rapidly down. Look at this.

That is so quick.

You can see the narrow boat is now almost level with my feet in about...eight seconds.

Unlike lots of locks where the water travels through the gates,

-here the water travels via the side ponds.

-Exactly.

It means we're going to take this boat all the way down the locks on one lock full of water.

Look at that, what a smooth operation.

It looks so easy in the sunshine but obviously in the middle of winter with the rain pouring down...

-It is a bit bleak up here then, yeah.

-In past times, this narrow boat full of coal or something

and horses everywhere, it would have been hard work. Hard work.

-What's next?

-Well, that was easy, Paul.

We've got another nine to go now, so on we go.

Should we get winding?

The journey through the locks takes a minimum of 45 minutes,

but when the canal gets busy, people can wait up to five hours.

In the late 1800s when working boats plied the canals, bottlenecks were affecting business

and competition from road and rail meant a more efficient way

to move boats up and down the hill had to be found.

So while Terry and Bill carry on down through the locks,

I'm off to see what an engineer called Gordon Cale Thomas came up with.

And this is it.

It's the site where the Foxton Inclined Plane once stood.

It was a brilliant piece of Victorian technology.

It was opened in 1900 and it was designed to take bigger boats more quickly and effectively up the hill.

Built by a workforce of 300 men, the lift had two tanks which carried boats suspended in water.

Each tank could carry two narrow boats or, for the first time, one widebeam barge.

The whole system was powered by an engine house at the top of the hill.

It's marvellous. You can just imagine what this would have looked like back then.

The inclined plane journey time was just 12 minutes - it was a vast improvement on the flight of locks.

And of course it was a lot greener as well because in the lock system,

when you let a narrow boat pass through, all the water was flowing downhill.

This way, you use the same amount of water in a large tank going up the hill

as you did coming down the hill, so it saved a lot of this vital resource.

Sadly, the lift wasn't operating for long.

After just ten years, it was closed

and in 1928, it was demolished and sold for scrap.

A team of fundraisers here at Foxton is now at work to restore it.

Well, until it's back in operation - and let's hope that's soon -

the only way to travel through this stretch of canal is via the historic lock system.

And I've had a great time this morning travelling through it with Bill and Terry.

Our journey's almost come to an end, we've got one more lock to go through.

Terry, thanks very much!

-Bill, it's been a pleasure.

-Cheers, Paul.

Thank you. I'm going to jump off now before I end up in Leicester.

'So we have another batch of great items going off to the saleroom.

'Let's take another look.

'Susan's signed Glenn Miller music

'brings back lots of happy family memories

'and Adam thinks it might serenade the saleroom.'

If the bidders are...In The Mood...

-Oh, very good.

-..then hopefully it'll make more.

Yes, it'll be A String Of Pearls.

'Well, if anyone at the auction is wishing

'they had a set of furniture made out of chicken bones,

'Janet's selling one with an estimate of £60-£80.

'Then there's Sue's family silver - it was first on TV 50 years ago

'and Adam's hoping that splitting them into three lots

'will get them sold.

'Finally...'

-Pat, we see a lot of Moorcroft on the show.

-Yeah.

But I think this is possibly one of the best pieces I've ever seen.

Really?

'It's fresh to the market, having always been in Pat's family,

'so how will the bidders react?

'Let's find out,

'as it's time to see these items make their debut in the auction room.'

Next up, we've got a lot of silver going under the hammer,

split into three lots. It belongs to Sue. And the first lot...

I know Adam was doing our valuations, but you said,

"Let's let the auctioneer do a little bit of work on this."

-Yeah.

-"See what value he can put on it."

-And I think we got £60-£80.

-Yeah.

-It's a patch box.

Little Queen Anne, silver, un-hallmarked patch box.

He catalogued it as white metal, which is understandable.

Yeah, it won't be hallmarked.

This is the first of the three lots under the hammer now.

Let's see what it does.

-Good luck, Sue.

-Thank you.

-Here we go.

Early 18th-century white metal pill box and cover.

Bidding starts here at £40. £50, £60 I'm bid.

-£60 I'm bid.

-We've sold it.

-Are you all out at £60?

With me on commission. 5, 70.

5, 80 now. At 80.

-80, commission's in at £80. I'll take 5.

-That's good.

At 85, £90.

-You bidding? 90, 5, 100.

-It's an early little thing.

100, I'll take 10 if you like. At 100, still on commission.

Selling away now on commission at £100.

Well done.

-Brilliant! Great start.

-Good start.

That's the first one down and here's the second.

A cream jug with a C-scrolled handle. And bids start here, £65.

-65 I'm bid. 75, 85.

-That's low.

-95.

-One more.

-100, new bidder.

-Good.

-Behind you now at 100.

At £100 now, it will sell in the room and away at £100.

-Good result, that's OK.

-Yes.

-That's good, isn't it?

-Yeah, that's fine.

-One more to go and it's the vinaigrette.

-Two out of three.

Ain't bad.

William IV silver vinaigrette, Thomas Smith, date mark is worn,

possibly London 1834.

Lots of bids here, £50 I'm bid.

£60, £70 bid.

70 bid. 70. You're out. It will sell.

And away selling now at £70.

£70. Yes! £270! That's very, very good.

-Thank you very much.

-What will you put the money towards?

Don't forget, there's 15% commission.

Yes, yes, well, I'm sure we'll have a good day out for the family.

-Will you?

-Yes, a meal.

-Somewhere.

-Silver dealers were here.

-£70 just about the right money.

-Spot on. Mid-estimate there.

-I love it when that happens.

I love this next item. It puts a smile on my face. It's a bit of folk art.

It's a little bit quirky. It's a miniature set of tables and chairs made out of chicken bones,

stained to look like mahogany and they belong to Janet here,

who's looked after them and I think they are so funny.

-Why are you selling them?

-I'm selling them because I think lots of other people

want to have the right to be able to look at them.

It's certainly a museum piece, not huge value, but as you say...

-Yeah, definitely.

-..social times gone by.

This is what antiques are all about and these kind of things are so hard to value, they really are.

There's no book price, you can't do your comparisons.

-This is something that puts a smile on your face and that's hard to value.

-Yes.

-Isn't it?

-I think so.

-You've got a great smile as well, so hopefully we'll keep you smiling...

-Yes, thank you very much.

-..when we make lots of money.

-Lovely.

-Here we go.

A part suite of dolls' furniture. An unusual lot this one.

Bidding starts with me at £45.

45 I'm bid.

45, 55,

60. Bid at 60. In the room at 60?

I'll take 5 if you like.

It's 60 right at the back.

I will sell now.

It's £60 in the room

and away at £60.

They've gone within estimate.

-We know how to value it. You see? We're good.

-You were. Yes.

I think they bought it

-cos they like it. You wouldn't buy it otherwise.

-Oh, no.

-Definitely not.

Hopefully, they're going to make their own little room sets up

-and backdrops and things like that as well.

-You're getting quite enthusiastic about this.

I love things like this, the quirkier the better.

-It's very human.

-Oh, wonderful. Yeah.

It needs to be shown about more, doesn't it?

People need to be able to use it and look at it.

Yes, and thanks to you, you've looked after it

so we've all been able to appreciate it and enjoy something quirky,

which we'll probably not ever see again on Flog It!

Now we've got an original valuation - a signed autograph from Glenn Miller, £20 to £40 from Adam.

Had a chat to the auctioneer before the sale and he said they've revised the valuation.

He's now put £100 to £150 on this.

-Thinks it's very collectable.

-Right.

-Let's hope we hit the right notes.

-Hope it doesn't scare them off.

-Oh, well done!

-And ends in a big crescendo.

A musical score, Moonlight Serenade, pencil inscribed

"To Ron from Glenn Miller", £75 I am bid.

75...85,

-95... £100.

-He's done it.

110 on the internet...

-at 110, room's out now... internet's in at 110...

-115.

115. 115, new bid in.

115... I'll wait for you, internet, at 20 if you like, 115...

in the room then, please be quick at 115...and selling...

£115, the hammer's gone down.

-Great!

-That was good. That's wonderful.

-That was really, really good.

-Brilliant.

Next is that beautiful Moorcroft vase but, before we put my

valuation to the test, here's what the auctioneer had to say about it.

Patricia's Moorcroft moonlit blue vase.

It's absolutely stunning, isn't it? Caught my eye, anyway.

-Yes, I can see why.

-I've given this a value of £500-700.

I did tell her, if it was in mint condition, £2,000-3,000.

Sure, yes, I agree with that.

Since the valuation day,

Patricia has removed the flexibility from the reserve.

We now have a 500 fixed reserve to work to.

-But I don't think that should be a problem.

-No.

-It should do well.

Right, my turn to be the expert now. Moorcroft, moonlit blue.

It's the most beautiful vase.

It's got a little chip on it, it belongs to Pat here,

but not for much longer.

-No.

-We put £500-700 on this, with a bit of discretion.

I know it's now changed to fixed - I don't blame you.

Had a chat to the auctioneer.

He says there's been some interest and he agrees with the valuation.

Oh, good.

Fingers crossed, we both said, on a good day,

it's going to do four figures.

Now, Patricia, we're going to find out.

-Here we go.

-Moorcroft moonlit blue baluster vase.

I can start the bidding at £380.

At 380, I'm bid. 400, 420, 440, 450.

460, 480. 500 bid, at 500. 520.

-Come on.

-540. 560, 580.

600.

-Got a few phones on this.

-650.

-How many?

-Three.

-Really?

-I can see them.

-Unless they're talking to friends at home!

-Telephone one at 700.

-750, new bidding. Telephone two at 750. £800.

-Ooh!

-800 bid, at 800.

850, I'm bid.

-850, come on.

-£900. £900, 950.

-We're going to get those four figures.

-£1,000.

-Ooh, wow!

-£1,100 bid. £1,200?

-I can't believe it.

1,200 bid. Telephone one at 1,200.

1,300 new bidding. At 1,300. Telephone three at £1,300. At 1,300.

Any more? 1,300 and selling at 1,300.

-Wow!

-Settle for that, won't we?

-Yes!

-£1,300.

-Excellent.

What will you put the money towards?

-I'd like to buy another piece of Moorcroft.

-Would you really?

-I would.

A small piece. Yes.

Fantastic. This is what we love to see. Reinvesting back in the trade.

That's what it's all about, making people happy. Enjoy it, Patricia.

It's been great. We've loved making this show here today.

Join us again for many more surprises on Flog It!

So, from Market Harborough, until the next time, it's cheerio.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd