Eric v John- Antiques Fair Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is,

the show that pits TV's best-loved antiques experts against each other

in an all-out battle for profit...

I'm a double-your-money girl.

..and gives you the insider's view of the trade.

You've got to be in it to win it.

Each week, one pair of duelling dealers

will face a different daily challenge. Lovely!

We've got some work to do, let's go.

Putting their own money and their hard-earned reputations on the line,

as they see who can make the most money from buying and selling.

Get in there.

Today, Lancashire's living legend Eric Knowles

takes on Portsmouth's purchasing prince, John Cameron,

in an all-out battle for profit.

Coming up: Knocker runs a gamut of emotions,

as he delves for a deal...

I've been working in various modes today -

I've been in chill mode, I've been in happy mode

and now I'm in...panic mode!

..The Hammer knows when to accept an offer...

I will do 45, because the look you gave me then -

I thought, "I don't want to upset this lady." £45.

..and both our dealers have to face up to their fears.

-We love these sort of things...

-Hang on...

-No, you're fine.

-Why do I have to do this? Just pour it like that, yeah?

-Yeah, just pour it down your gullet.

It's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is!

Today, it's a fiendish fight of exuberance versus experience,

as two icons of the antiques world

go toe to toe in a bout of mental strength and physical endurance,

as they aim to make the most profit from buying and selling antiques.

This bout pitches Eric "Knocker" Knowles...

The pressure is well and truly on.

..30-year veteran of the trade and the nation's favourite potaholic...

against John "The Hammer" Cameron,

the youthful go-getter from the South Coast

with a keen eye for a cool collectible.

I'm here to buy for a profit, and to give the Knocker a good Hammering.

Our venerable master will be using

every ounce of his experience and wisdom,

while the energetic Hammer will be relying on intuition

and agility, as they tussle to take possession of the biggest bargains

at today's antiques fair at the Lincolnshire Showground.

They've each got £750 of their own money to spend,

and all the profit goes to their chosen charities.

Eric Knowles...and John Cameron...

it's time to Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

-Good morning, Knocker.

-Good morning, Hammer. How are you doing?

I'm all right. I'm a little bit cold if I don't mind saying so.

Well, let's get one thing straight. For the benefit of those from your part of the world -

cos I know you're from dahn South -

this is an antique fair in Lincolnshire - it is not an antique fair in Lancashire.

Well, certainly I think I've dressed for the occasion.

Well, to be frank, John, I've got to say the last time I saw a chap dressed like that

he had a ferret in his pocket.

D'you know, when it comes to strategy, I haven't got a clue.

Well, my knees are knocking,

and I need to cover as much ground as possible

and wait for those wacky things just to jump out at me.

Well, as my hands are going the colour of blue,

I've decided to ferret out a pair of gloves.

-Size medium, please, Eric.

-I'll look out for you.

So, they've now sized up the opposition.

It's time for both merciless master and aggressive apprentice

to choose their weapons of war,

as they step boldly into the fray.

Knocker may have said he hasn't got a clue,

but surely that was just a cunning ruse from the battle-scarred veteran

to lull the young pretender into a false sense of security.

I'm not really a furniture man, however

I do look out for good Deco furniture and that's doing well at the moment,

and so too is Arts and Crafts furniture.

I'm keeping an eye out for anything that shouts Deco and Arts and Crafts.

So, Knocker does have a plan of action after all.

His opponent will be hoping to turn up the heat

by grabbing any opportunity to get one over on the great master.

Eric is the well-known Don Corleone of collectibles,

the mogul of Moorcroft - but I'm qualified as a generalist

so I'm hoping that's going to help me cast the net further

and look at lots of different things.

Well, with that in mind the Hammer's grabbed himself a piping hot cuppa,

which gets him into the mood for a bit of alfresco dining.

This is the sort of thing that

kind of revivalists like, the people with their vintage cars

that go to the revival meetings. The nice thing about it,

it looks fairly complete -

nice bright colours,

with all the picnic jars, your sandwich box...

This'll be 1960s, I would have thought.

£55. That's not extortionate, but I'd still like to get something off.

The Hammer strikes...

I've just had a word. £45's the bottom price.

45's your best? Well, I'll tell you what - 45 quid, I'll have it.

And our happy Hammer has done the first deal of the day,

snapping up a vintage picnic set.

I'm off for a picnic! See you later. Cheers.

Not sure it's the right weather for that, John.

Anyway - Knocker is not far behind.

His eye has been caught by what he hopes might prove to be ein kleine bargain!

Well, I've come across an interesting selection of German stoneware,

and this is all instantly recognisable

when you're in the business for being Mettlach.

And the one item that attracted my attention,

believe it or not, is the biscuit barrel.

I like the design on this -

that's not a bad price, either.

But it's a plated top, not silver - you can see it's worn through -

and look at that lovely mark.

Says "Mettlach, VB". VB is for Villeroy and Boch.

Now, that's a make that's going today.

And that's nice, is that. I like that.

-Could I have a quick word?

-Certainly.

-Thank you.

I'm looking at that, I don't see any restoration on it,

although it's got a funny glaze on the inside.

But I've got a price on there, I just want to know

if there's an Eric-friendly price on that.

Oh, yes! He's making the deal personal. This is vintage Knocker.

45's the best...

Cos we're in a haggle-free zone, today,

I'm going to buy that from you.

-Thank you.

-OK. Excellente!

And what's this? It seems the grandmaster of money-making

is taking the softly-softly approach with our young pretender.

He's up against it, bless. But I'll be very gentle, I promise you.

Hmm, watch out, Mr C, there's an iron fist inside that velvet glove.

Clearly, Knocker will use any move to win today.

But for John, it could be a case of fighting fire with fire,

as he heats up the competition with a quick second purchase.

This is a refill box for a type of fire extinguisher.

They used to have these, what they called fire grenades,

and they had chemicals and all sorts of things inside them

that you would throw at a fire to extinguish it.

Well, this is going to date to the late Victorian period, early 20th century.

I think collectors are often... They like things that are rare,

they're looking for scarce things first and foremost.

I do know one or two collectors that would be prepared to give me

a profit on that, and I think that would actually clean up quite nicely.

And the Hammer does a scorching deal of £30 pounds

for the retro fire extinguisher refills.

I know Eric was complaining of the cold this morning,

but if he has managed to light himself a fire,

I think I'm going to go and extinguish it for him, cos I have managed to buy these.

Pretty sure I can get a little hot profit out of that.

Both fearless fighters are pounding the aisles.

# The heat is on... #

As they slug it out toe to toe.

# The heat is on... #

So the pressure is well and truly on.

I'm here to buy for a profit,

and to give the Knocker a good hammering.

This really is a battle to end all battles.

But, like a mighty phoenix,

Knocker emerges from the flames with two pretty pictures in his midst.

So, I've just gone and bought myself a pair of watercolours.

I've paid £40 for them.

They're not of any great age, they're dated for 1984,

they're by an artist who I've not come across before.

I'd like to see if I can track down the actual lakes themselves.

But £40, watercolours, competent artist -

you'd pay more than that for the frames, so I'm quite happy.

I think they're tasteful,

and I think I know a thing or two about good taste.

I'm just hoping that the eventual buyer will share the same taste.

Yes, our tasteful titan of the trade is thrilled with his purchase,

and it means our duelling duo are now neck and neck.

But Major Cameron means business, and he's got Knocker in his sights.

Well, Eric and I are definitely in the trenches now,

and I'm trying to spot him across no-man's-land.

This periscope's just the thing.

And on the other side of no-man's-land,

General Knowles still hasn't found any Art Deco furniture.

So he's set his sights once again on the spoils of Germany.

This is a vase which probably dates to around about 1965, or thereabouts.

It is of its time. And it's even got the maker's label.

Sheurich. Now, that's a good name. That's a good name in German pottery.

There's nothing on the base, and this is the problem, you see.

Those labels go missing.

Now, I'm looking at a vase which is something of a design statement.

-And I like that. And it's funfundzwanzig pfund, ja.

-Ja wohl.

-Ja wohl.

-That's £25 to you and me.

-I'm going to go with that.

-I'm not even going to ask for your best price.

-Thank you very much. Very kind.

-No, not at all.

Because you've been very tolerant with my schoolboy German.

-Danke schoen.

-Vielen Dank, mein Herr.

THEY LAUGH SHE SPEAKS IN GERMAN

Danke.

What a wunder-bargain for Knocker!

The EU may be going through tough times,

but we can rely on our Eric to do his bit.

So the pressure is back on the Hammer,

who's gone for a safe bet to keep him in the game.

I just couldn't resist this clock, It's absolutely wonderful.

Constructed with different items from sea, it's gilt brass.

It's probably first quarter of the 20th century.

Nice Arabic numerals to the face of the clock

and it's still working, importantly.

The chap wouldn't budge.

I did get a bit off but he wouldn't budge any further than £110.

I really only wanted to pay 100 for it

but I had to bite the bullet in the end.

I know several maritime dealers and several collectors.

Hopefully I'll get £250 for this,

which will mean I'll have more than doubled my money.

Whatever happens, I don't think this is going to leave me

up the creek without a paddle.

Oh, that's confidence from our South Coast swaggerer.

But how will he stand up to Commander Knocker

as our warlords meet up to compare their campaigns?

So, how's it going?

Well, I'm not doing too badly but how is my master doing?

HE LAUGHS

Well, I have to say that I've bought a few bits

and I've stuck my neck out on things where in the back of my mind,

-I shouldn't really be going. What about yourself?

-Always remorse!

Well, I did buy a real quirky packaging.

You know the fire extinguishers that had the poison in the bottles?

-Oh, yeah, yeah.

-Two of them in their original packaging.

I'm mindful that as the sun is getting lower in the sky

that this is the time for me to go and buy. So, John, see you later.

-See you later.

-OK.

With the Bard of Burnley not giving any quarter,

it's time to see how much master and apprentice have spent so far.

Eric and John both started the day

with £750 of their own money to spend.

The Hammer was the first to make an impression.

He's made three purchases, spending £185,

leaving him with £565 to spend in Round Two.

Zen master Knocker also splashed out on three successful buys

but only spent £110,

leaving him £640 in his war chest.

Both marauding master and action man apprentice are primed

and ready to take this battle for profit to the next level.

Our titanic twosome are experts in psychological warfare

and are aiming to take each other down.

And you know things are getting serious

when they both start obsessing about their opponent.

Do you know, meeting John just then,

there's an external calm about him but I have two say,

looking into that man's eyes, there was a real look of terror.

I'm not convinced that he's doing quite as well as he would have me think.

Eric's giving me the impression

that he isn't doing too well at the moment,

but he is the king of ceramics and collectables

so if I know Eric, he'll be in here somewhere,

really trying to make up the ground.

So, keeping his eyes peeled, the Hammer strides out with a swagger

and swoops in on a ceramic he thinks he might already have a buyer for.

It's an Minton pottery oyster dish. I've been looking for something like this all day.

I've paid £32, which I think is quite reasonable.

I do have somebody that's interested in something like this.

Hopefully, that one will already be sold.

And while the Hammer is acting like the coolest cat in town...

# Daddy, daddy cool

# Daddy, daddy cool... #

..his master, Knocker, remains calm and focused

and homes in on a metal masterpiece

that he reckons is something to write home about.

I've just gone and bought myself an inkstand, but what an inkstand!

Have a look at this, the wonderful lion.

I think that's a piece of sculpture.

It's more than just an inkstand - this is made from bronze.

On top of that, you've got your two inkwells

and these antlers are actually doubling as a pen rest.

Date-wise, I'm thinking this is going to be around about 1900.

I think it's continental.

Either way, with a price-tag of £45, I've just bought it for 40.

When you find anything like that for £40,

you use four words, that's all you need -

I will have it.

Mark those words well, young apprentice,

if you wish to follow in the way of Confucius Knowles.

Knocker has put the game back on an even keel

but the Hammer is mustering his strength

to grab an unusual item made of tin.

Not only is it a tin, so it will appeal to the novelty tin collector,

but it does have some advertising connected to it.

We've got it here inside - Victory Gums.

We've got the Victory factory here.

This is a proper little lithograph of the factory.

Victorian, Edwardian, that sort of period.

Lithographed on the outside

in the form of a wonderful Adam Revival-style bureau.

I think that's a lovely little thing.

The very best you can do on that?

Let me look at the code and I can tell you...

-I'll do that one for £40.

-£40?

I think you've got yourself a deal.

And by taking home the novelty bureau, the Hammer takes the lead.

But, he could be forced to consult his rival on this one.

I wonder if Eric can tell me anything about this?

This is from his neck of the woods.

I know he's getting on a bit but I'm not quite sure he was around

when this came out, but we'll ask him anyway.

Oh, the young pretender showing scant respect for his rival there!

But, it's when he spots his next potential purchase

that the claws really come out.

Once upon a time, these were quite popular.

They've gone out of fashion these days

but I've got somebody that I'm hoping will buy them.

I'll ask Susan if we can possibly have a deal on those.

But first of all, I want to look at them for condition.

Susan, what's the best price you can do on those?

-I have 88 on it, but I can do for £50.

-Is that the very best?

Could you do 40?

I'll go halfway, 45.

HE LAUGHS

You know what? I will do 45, because the look you gave me,

that glancing look, I thought, I don't want to upset this lady.

-£45, OK.

-That's fine.

The Hammer knows exactly when to push harder

and when to back down and take the deal on offer,

even if it means him paying £5 more than he wanted to on the plates.

I'm going to package them up with my Minton oyster plate.

I've made two purchases but I'm going to try and sell them

to the same person in the pub restaurant near the fishing village.

Two purchases, one sell, double profits.

And it's that level of forward planning

that makes the Hammer a formidable foe.

Knocker needs to get cracking.

With only four buyers to John's six,

he's feeling the pressure of lagging behind.

I've been working in various modes today.

I've been in chill mode, I've been in happy mode,

and now I'm in panic mode!

Just as well you're not in com-mode!

Take a deep breath and keep looking because the Hammer's not done yet.

He's hoping to dish up yet another bargain.

I've got a Newlyn copper piece - a charger, a wall plate.

It's not the best I've seen, I'll be honest with you.

-No, it's not the most exciting.

-Not the most exciting.

-I'll do that for 110.

-Is that the very best you'll do on that for me?

-Yeah, to be honest.

-Very, very best?

-Even you, John.

THEY LAUGH

-A tenner's a tenner.

-Even you, John!

-I like this because of the name.

-I know.

-Is that really the best?

-It's got 155 on, you're getting it for 110.

Have a go?

Go on, John, you can do it! Go for it!

-Take £100 of me, Karen.

-No.

Did you see that look? No, no, no.

Do you know what? It's getting late, this is when I do my panic buying,

I'm only glad I'm doing my panic buying with you, Karen.

-I could live with that. All right, £110.

-Deal.

Oh, that was a tussle!

But the Hammer strikes again, grabbing the copper plate.

So, what's the Mogul of Moorcroft going to do about all this?

He's made a dash for his ceramic comfort zone

in an attempt to get back into the game.

Well, I was looking at these a few minutes ago

and I've come back to have another look.

These are described as a pair of Victorian moon flasks.

Very pretty, but you run your hands over them,

because this is quite raised gilding

and it's lost a bit of the enamel here.

They've both got these metal plates in the top, which is very unusual.

What's the price, let's have a look?

The asking price is 68. That's really weird.

Excuse me sir, dare I ask you...?

First of all, that's a bit weird, isn't it?

It is. Maybe somebody had put a candle in it?

Maybe they've been used as candlesticks, yeah.

I suppose you could do.

To use a well-worn phrase in this business in which we all swim,

what is the best price on those?

£48.

-£48...

-A good discount.

-That's a very generous discount.

That's an end of the day discount, isn't it?

-I don't think you would have said that to me this morning!

-Maybe not.

No, maybe not. OK, for that sort of money, I'll give them a go, OK?

Thank you very much indeed.

So, Knocker's on the rise again and now he's back in the zone,

he soon spots another porcelain prize.

It's a porcelain plaque and it's got a house

and in the back of my mind I'm thinking, do I know that place?

What I do like is when you look at a scene like that, it's the costume

that tells me that you're looking at something which is around about 1830.

It's entirely hand painted in coloured enamels.

You turn it over and then it begins to baffle me

because it has the name William Sharp, October.

He's obviously an independent decorator.

Lots of people made their living

by buying porcelain plaques in the white and then decorating them

and then firing them in their own kilns.

Also, it's got a price-tag of 195.

In all honesty, I don't want to pay as much of that if I can avoid it.

I'm just going to ask the owner

if that price can be somewhat pliable.

Excuse me, could I beg your attention?

I'm just a one-haggle person.

In other words, I'll ask you what the best is.

-150.

-Done.

That's because I am a one-haggle person. All right, 150.

A decisive final flourish from our Eric.

Now, darkness is descending and all the stallholders are packing up their wares

so our two combat connoisseurs must call it a day.

The high priest of pottery and his irrepressible apprentice

each started the day with £750 of their own money to spend.

Knocker used every ounce of his experience

to bag himself six purchases, spending a total of £348.

While the Hammer hit hard and fast

and managed to outdo his nemesis on quantity with seven purchases,

costing £412 in total.

Neither of our duelling dealers may have spent all their budget

but this game's all about who will make the most profit.

Now our experts seize the chance to size up each other's spoils.

So, end of the day, Eric. Looks like they've got the decorators in now!

-Ha! The party's over, isn't it?

-Your favourite purchase of the day?

Well, I think my best buy, I'm very happy with my inkstand.

It's bronze, it's unusual, it's all a bit bizarre, but it's very sculptural.

So for the money, I thought, it's got to be worth having, isn't it?

You are a man of Pompey, aren't you? I may be a Nelsonian.

Anything with a nautical flavour, you know your market, don't you?

-Can I make a confession?

-Go on.

Well, I tried to beat the guy down in price. He wouldn't shift below £110.

In the end, I thought, I've got to have that,

walked into here and saw another one with a price-tag of £95.

But I still like it, I still love it.

I'm going in search of something which can be quite elusive now.

It's called bubblewrap, OK?

All right. John, catch you later.

The high-class bagging of their Lincolnshire loot

has put our sterling soldiers in good stead

for the challenge which now awaits them -

selling the lot.

They've got to go all-out for maximum profit

and all the money they make will go to their chosen charities.

So, duly armed, they return home to prepare for battle -

Knocker to his country seat in Buckinghamshire,

the Hammer swinging down to Portsmouth,

jewel of the South Coast.

With no time to lose, Knocker starts plotting his campaign.

In the warmth of my own home,

I'm able to take stock of where I've spent my money.

I think it's fair to say, something of a German theme going on here

what with my 1960s floor vase and also, my biscuit barrel.

That's intriguing me at the moment but I've got to do my homework there.

I've also got to do my homework on this English porcelain panel.

As for the pair of Dudson vases, I think they're jewels, quite frankly.

And as for my inkwell, another piece of sculpture.

I mean, that is a remarkable piece.

Let's not forget my watercolours.

All in all, not bad for a day's work.

If I could have bought anything else that day,

I tell you what it would have been - thermal underwear!

From Buckinghamshire,

we head down to the south coast where the Hammer is taking stock.

So, I am back from Lincoln with the items I've bought to

hopefully give Eric a good thrashing.

A strange array, you might say.

We've got a sweet tins to picnic hampers, crustaceans and oysters.

We've got some Arts and Crafts

and even some strange fire extinguisher refills.

My favourite item has to be my bread and butter maritime timepiece.

And talking of time, I think it's about time I got a move on.

So, without further ado,

our ferocious fighters fly into action.

Using all the tools of the trade at their disposal,

every page in their contacts book will be thumbed.

Emails will be sent. Phone calls will be made, as our boys try

and find buyers for all their items.

Until they've shaken on it and the money

has changed hands, no deal is truly sealed.

Our daring duo couldn't be further apart in style.

While the Hammer chooses to travel on his fiery steed of steel,

or scooter as its otherwise known, Knocker, as the veteran

of many a campaign takes to the road in his battle tank.

All right, it's a white van.

I am Eric Knowles. I am a white van man.

He's heading for Hertfordshire on the scent of the sale

for his lion inkwell stand.

His keen radar brings him to a wild destination.

I'm sure I saw John Cameron wearing the very same coat no more

than two days ago!

Knocker is meeting the director of the park, Steve Sampson.

-You've come at the right time.

-I have!

-Hello!

-Just having a snack.

Let me take you from the animate to the inanimate.

-I sent you a photograph of this.

-You have. It looks amazing.

-That is stunning.

-I'm glad you like it.

-What an amazing piece.

-I have never seen anything like that before in my life.

-Neither have I.

-We love this sort of thing.

-Hang on, hang on.

-No, you will be fine.

The collectible stuff around the big cats is perfect for us.

-This is amazing. I love it.

-The more you go on, the price is going up!

-You know that, don't you?

-We want to do a deal, of course.

Of course we do. I am looking at somewhere in the region of 300 quid.

In my mind I was thinking about the 250 mark?

If you are prepared to offer me £250, let's just call it a deal.

That's fantastic.

I'm just counting your fingers to make sure they're still there!

So our fearless white van man makes his first successful delivery

with a roaring profit of £210.

The Hammer is going to have to go some to follow that.

And our predator in a parka is joining

the Mod Squad as he scoots off in pursuit of a sale.

MUSIC: "My Generation" by The Who

I've come to Emsworth village which, in the 19th century and early 20th century

had a strong tradition with oyster farms right around here.

No longer here, but it is still very passionate about its oyster tradition.

I'm going to see if I can sell my Minton oyster plate to Giles the landlord.

Let me just tell you a bit about this plate.

Turn it over and we have got a maker's name on the back.

That's Minton.

And that little cross with a circle tells us that this

-was actually made in 1882.

-Right.

So you are right in the middle of Emsworth's height of their oysters.

-Just when oysters were becoming popular.

-Interested, then?

Yes, very interested, John. It suits the pub well.

-I think this is worth about £150, seriously.

-Honestly?

As we're mates, I think we'll probably do something a little bit lower than that.

-I'd say around 115 sort of mark.

-£115?

Would you go another fiver, make it 120.

120 but only because of the history.

But you're going to have to eat one of these oysters.

Now, you know I'm not a big fan of oysters!

If you want to seal the deal, mate.

Come on, John, you are a mighty warrior. Get it down you.

-Why do I have to do this? Just pour it like that, yeah?

-Yeah, just pour it down your gullet.

Here goes.

DRUM ROLL

Well, Giles, that was a small price to pay for a profit on my plate,

so thank you very much.

John rings up a very un-shellfish profit of £88 on the oyster plate.

And with his appetite for dealing destruction well and truly

whetted, he is back on the bike and heading for another possible sale.

For my second sale I have come down to Old Portsmouth where

scooterists usually meet on a Sunday.

My friend Heath, who I'm about to see about this picnic hamper,

he might have bought one or two friends with him.

MUSIC: "Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf

There he is.

You all right, mate? She made it, then?

What are you trying to say, mate?

-Look, OK, have a look at this, open it up.

-Look at that.

That's definitely me, innit? It's got my name written all over it.

I thought that when I saw it. It's made by a company called Sirram.

They specialise in picnics and that sort of stuff. Do you like it?

-Do you think we can have a deal?

-I don't see why not.

These are very popular with all the vintage scene.

People with the cars, the vintage scooters.

-I think you are looking at £250 for it.

-LAUGHTER

Are you sure?

I'd give you...I guess 60 quid.

60 quid?! You're having a laugh!

-No, I'm not.

-You've got to do better than that.

-All right, I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll give you 90.

-90?

-You are nowhere near, Heath. I think add 100 to that and you've got a deal.

-190?

No way am I paying that for it.

I do like it, though, and I'm probably going to use it as well.

-I tell you what, 180 and it's yours.

-170 and you've got a deal.

175 and you've got a deal.

172.50!

LAUGHTER

Are you seriously going to 172.50? £172.50?

-Deal?

-You've got yourself a deal. £172.50.

Are we going to get this on your bike?

Oh, look at that.

One happy customer and a nice little profit in my parka pocket.

Some hard bargaining results in another powerful profit

of £127.50 for the Portsmouth Prince.

And as he takes to the road again, Knocker parks up to prove

you can get something good off the back of a van.

He's arranged to meet fellow dealer Patch in London to show him his biscuit tin.

Have you ever seen anything quite like that before?

Really interesting.

The first name that springs to mind is Christopher Dresser, Mettlach.

You know, I've got the books, I'm sure you've got the books,

there is no record at all of an association with

Dr Christopher Dresser with Mettlach, and that is dated for 1885.

For me, it's one of those things,

if you like, to coin a phrase,

it's one of those things to take a punt on,

on the basis that we don't know it's Dresser, we know it's Mettlach,

we've got a date, that's fine.

Just offer me what you think is a fair price.

I would have thought 175 quid.

If you are prepared to pay me 175 for it, I will sell it to you.

-Thank you very much.

-OK, excellent.

So, our man of the people notches up

a tasty £130 profit on the biscuit barrel.

But the Hammer is still slaying him from his scooter as he takes

his Newlyn copper plate round to show local businesswoman Helen.

-Do you like the feel of it?

-Yes, it's very nice, isn't it?

Could we do 160?

-All right then.

-Can we?

-OK.

-That gives me a little bit of a profit.

-And I'm glad it becomes a part of your home. 160, then?

-Yes, OK.

Helen, thank you very much.

That's a cracking £50 profit.

Our favourite white van man, Knocker, could be

in need of refreshment as he heads back up to Lancashire

to present his Dudson vases at the home of his contact, Beatrice.

Now, there's no doubt that this lady is a serious collector, but before

Eric gets down to business, there's always time for a nice cup of tea.

I don't mind telling you that I bought them at an antique fair

but I'm not sure they knew what, dare I say it, we know.

It is just that once you've seen Dudson, you know it the second time around, don't you?

Don't ask me why but somebody has put what appears to be an aluminium

plug in there which I can only suppose, bearing in mind it's on

both of them, for some reason somebody wanted to use them as candlesticks.

Yes, quite possibly.

They are not absolutely mint,

there is a little bit of enamel gone there.

Had these been in mint condition I would have been

looking for around 220 or even £230.

So, the Beatrice price today is £130 for the pair.

That sounds very reasonable because I think you've already guessed,

I haven't got a pair of moon flasks!

Well, I didn't want to take advantage of the absence.

What you say is you look at me and you say "Yes, Eric."

Yes, Eric.

Was that all right?

No, that is wonderful because normally women simply say "No, Eric."

Oh, Eric, what a smoothie!

He makes a very nice slice of profit for the two vases of £82.

Both white van master

and his easy riding apprentice have got off to a cracking start.

So far, Eric has sold three of his items

and he is sitting on a powerful profit of £422.

John has also made three sales at this midway stage

and he has made a very solid profit of £265.50.

The Hammer has four more items to sell compared to Knocker's three.

So, how does he make up the difference? Well, he is back astride his mighty war horse

and going all out for a shipshape sale in his native south,

with specialist dealer Andrew.

-Now this is the clock I told you about.

-That's quirky, isn't it?

Have a look at that. It is nice, isn't it?

The actual movement is Ansonia, an American company

started in Connecticut by Anson Phelps in about 1850.

With those Arabic numerals around the front, I would kind of put it at first quarter of the 20th century.

-Do you like it?

-Yes.

-I'm looking for around £300 for it.

-It's nice.

I know what a friend sold one of these for,

but I know what he bought his for - which is 250.

-Would you give me 250 for that?

-Yes, certainly would.

-Right, 250, I'll shake your hand.

-Lovely.

The Hammer gets in there fast,

clocking up a striking profit of £140.

And while his wheels are rolling he has set up another local deal with restaurateur Scott.

-Do you like them?

-Yes, not too bad. Downstairs they will look very nice.

Clawing back a whacking 100 pound profit on the lobster plates.

Eric, you see, in military terms, this sale,

they would call a pincer movement.

Oh!

Well, the Hammer is hoping Eric is feeling the pinch.

But up north, after a bit of research,

Knocker is back on the road in a bid to shift his lakeside watercolours.

He is meeting Preston dealer, Val.

Now when it comes to the views,

I actually got in touch with the Westmoreland Gazette.

They put some images in the newspaper.

The consensus of opinion was that we are possibly looking at Ullswater.

It's funny you should say that

because I did do a bit of research myself,

and a couple of watercolours, very similar to these,

by the same artist, were sold last year

-up in Penrith and were listed as Ullswater.

-Were they? OK.

When it comes to my asking price,

I'm looking for somewhere around the £120 mark for the two.

-That sounds not bad.

-You can have a go. We are open for business!

-Can I drop you a little bit lower than that?

-You can try, go on.

-110.

I'm happy to part with them for 110. So if you dare put your hand there,

we'll settle for 110.

That's a mighty £70 profit there for Knocker.

There is no respite for the Hammer who has two sales left to make.

He's tracked down Richard, a collector of advertising

paraphernalia, who is hoping will be interested he in his red tin bureau.

-Have a look at the tin, what do you think?

-I love the inside logo.

-That's obviously the factory. Yes.

-It's nice, isn't it?

-It's beautiful.

-I would think it is about 1915, 15/18.

-I wouldn't disagree with that.

-Just after the turn of the century.

-First World War.

I guess it comes down to price, then.

That is everything in life, isn't it, price.

-I was looking for about £100 for it.

-HE SCOFFS

No, I don't think there's £100 worth there, John. I could go to £60.

If you go to 70, Richard, then I will trouble you no more.

-We don't want to meet in the middle them, 65?

-70.

68.

-Come on, Richard, 70 quid.

-70 quid. You drive a hard bargain.

-But it's a good deal. All right.

-Richard, thank you very much.

Yes, he gets there in the end.

A £30 profit put the tin hat on it for the Hammer.

But what's our white van man up to now?

He's descended on a Lancashire antiques centre in the hope of

saying, "Auf wiedersehen" to his German vase.

So, it's "Guten tag" to dealer, Stuart.

Well, I've done a certain amount of research on it and

the designer's name I came up with was a certain Mr Siery, Herr Siery.

-Heinz Siery.

-Heinz Siery, that is a good German name, isn't it? Ja.

I was drawn to this simply because I thought it was a great design.

-I loved it as a decorative piece.

-It is a nice shape.

-It's not actually a shape that you see every day.

-But it has got its original label.

It has. It's Europ Linie.

-Europ Linie? OK, the European line?

-That is what we would call it, yes.

I know what I paid for this. I saw this at at least £80.

-But come on, you tell me.

-I would expect to pay 30 to 40 for that.

Is that all?

Is there any point in seeing if I can squeeze you for £45 on that pot?

-Any point?

-How does 42 sound?

-42 is fine.

It puts me in the right direction, let's put it that way.

And I will say "Vielen Dank, mein Herr."

A modest £17 profit there for our Eric.

And he'd better beware because his opponent is firing on all cylinders.

Can John make his final sale ahead of Knocker?

He's got just the thing to get his contact, Sammy, all fired up

and he's meeting him at his motorcycle museum in Hampshire.

As you remember, when I came here last time,

I was having a browse around and I couldn't believe my luck

when I saw the Minimax fire extinguisher on the wall there

because only a few weeks before I had come across these.

What's this then you've got?

These are genuine Minimax refills.

Inside there are the glass tubes with the chemicals in.

-What year, 1920 or something?

-You are bang on there. They are 1920s.

I've done a little bit of research and the actual company

started in Berlin, 1902 and was formed by a Wilhelm Graaff.

But this Minimax is regarded as the grandfather of the fire extinguisher.

Yes, of course we have to put the notices on them for health and safety,

"Exhibit only."

Someone might try to grab one in the event!

-And that sits on the wall next to the extinguisher.

-What is the 64,000 dollar question?

It is not that expensive.

-I hope not!

-I am looking for around £120.

-That is serious.

-And you are not smiling!

-Sorry!

-I was thinking about 80 or something.

-80 quid?

-Yes.

-Could we meet in the middle?

-85.

-That wasn't in the middle. I meant a hundred!

-The middle for me!

-The middle of the diddle.

-Would you make it 90?

-I will. Done.

Grab my hand quickly there!

The Hammer makes a red-hot profit of £60.

So, Knocker has just one item left to sell.

He's made a lot of inquiries about the porcelain house plaque

but can he find someone to buy it?

Or will he have to bite the bullet and take a loss?

Both master and apprentice have given their all in this battle.

But who is racing away and who is stuck on the hard shoulder?

Both our experts had £750 of their own money to spend

at the antiques fair in Lincolnshire.

Eric made six purchases spending a total of £348.

And John made seven purchases and spent a total of £412.

It is a close-run race

but the only thing that matters from here on in is profits.

All of the money that Eric and John have made from today's

challenge will be going to a charity of their choice.

So, without further ado, it's time to find out who is today's

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion.

-How are you doing, John?

-Hello, Eric. Good to see you again.

-And you, too.

-Not quite as nippy as it was at that fair!

-Finally thawed out!

How did you get on with your picnic set?

We had not so much a teddy boys' picnic, it was more like a Mods' picnic.

I did manage to squeeze a profit out of it.

I am intrigued to know how you got on with your bronze lion inkwell.

Well, I was quite happy with that one because I found the perfect client.

He is very happy with it. I bought it well, I thought I sold it well.

I try and leave a bit of a profit there.

It has gone to a private.

It is a private with a difference but you will find out in good time.

So shall we see how we have fared?

Why not? Let's just go for it. Are you ready? 1, 2, 3.

By jingo! Hey, that is amazing.

Well done, you. Well done, you. Listen.

You know the way it works. You buy the drinks. OK.

And I know the right place.

So that porcelain plaque didn't deliver the knockout blow

Knocker was hoping for.

This English porcelain plaque has given me nothing but grief.

I took it out of the frame, I found the frame was riddled with live woodworm.

I noticed also that it had been inset using bathroom sealant.

And then it has a hairline crack.

So I have got to take this one on the chin. I paid 150 for it.

I'm going to sell it for half that amount.

And it just goes to show in this business, you win some,

and you lose some.

So, that £75 loss does indeed prove that even the daddy of Doulton is fallible.

So I pipped Eric at the post with a narrow win but proof,

when haggling, aim high.

That was a relatively near result but I have got to say,

it must have all depended on his Mods' teapot.

I get back to that generation and I can tell you now that mods today

must have awful lot deeper pockets than they had back in the 1960s.

So, can the Knocker pick himself up and come back from defeat?

Tomorrow, Eric will be aiming to trounce the happy Hammer

in the Showdown.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd