Eric v John - Showdown Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, the show pitching 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 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!

Get ready for a rip roaring, rollercoaster ride.

It's the Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Showdown!

The greatest challenge our experts have faced yet.

Our tussling titans of the antiques trade

will be tested to the absolute limit,

as they're challenged to scour the length and breadth of the country and continent

to find antiques and collectables

that they must then sell on for profit.

Coming up, Eric demonstrates his steely resolve.

We don't bend under the strain, do we, Eric? No, no, we don't.

John is forced to take desperate measures.

I had to bite the bullet and buy it.

Either that or I'm going to end up with too few items.

I hope I don't regret that.

And when it comes to selling, the auction has its ups...

-100.

-Oh!

We've hit the big time, eh?

..and its downs for our boys.

-I just want...

-Just want to go home.

It's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

Welcome to the showdown.

Pitting two of our most renowned and successful antiques experts

against each other in the ultimate of challenges.

Our fearsome fighters are two of the antiques world's

most prestigious professionals.

It's the wholesome, hard-hitting heavyweight from the north,

Eric "Knocker" Knowles.

Weighing in against the slick, South Coast Slugger,

John "The Hammer" Cameron.

This intense challenge will see them going head-to-head

over four rounds in the ring,

and will test their knowledge and stamina to the absolute limit.

So let's find out what's in store.

Good to see you, Knocker.

So with round five of the Burnley Bantamweight

and South Coast Super Heavyweight. Is this Queensberry rules?

Let me tell you, John, it says here,

"John and Eric, welcome to your final and biggest challenge yet.

"The showdown.

"You must each by eight items

"during your regular Put Your Money challenges.

"You have to buy two at each event.

"So you can spend up to £1,000 of your own money."

"Well, you can each sell up to four items wherever you want.

"The remaining items will go into auction.

"Your auction will be in Gloucestershire, in direct competition with your opponent.

"Choose your items wisely.

"The winner will be the one who makes the most profit."

Well, nothing new there, old boy,

but I think a case of guard up and into the ring.

Yes, this is going to be one fierce fight!

But which one of our boys will make the most profit?

Both our antiques heavyweights have £1,000 of their own money to spend,

that must also cover any restoration, repairs and buying fees.

Our keen contenders must buy two items

at each of their usual hunting grounds.

A UK antiques fair, an auction, a car boot sale

and a foreign antiques market.

So with gloves on and mouth guards in,

it's seconds away for round one,

the antiques fair at the Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Show,

the largest show of its kind in Europe.

Our boys will have to battle their way

through thousands of stalls to grab the best of the spoils.

But they'll also have to remember they have three more rounds ahead of them.

So they'll need to keep some money in the tank.

Buying in at the right price is one thing.

I've got to sell four at auction and four privately,

It's a balance of what you're able to get a profit out of privately

and making a profit at auction,

where you've got to take commission into consideration.

So The Hammer is coming out of his corner with caution,

but Knocker is already dancing round the ring.

You can never be sure with auctions.

You really are flying by the seat of your pants

because you can lead a horse to water but can you make 'em drink?

So I'm going to be looking for what I can only call dead certs.

Who will be the first of our collectables clobberers to strike,

and beat his opponent to the punch?

Our seasoned pros are quick to get their bearings,

and it's The Hammer who closes in first on a wooden toy.

The important thing with these, they're little, carved, wooden toys,

they get legs broken, you get pieces lost, they were played with.

So it's important to check that you've got everything there.

This looks early 20th century.

A lot of them were made on the continent.

But the chap wants £350 for it. It would be a bit of a risk.

-What's the best price you'll do on it?

-320. It's a cheap lot.

-Can I think on it?

-Tell you what, be a game man, give me £300 for it now.

250 and I'll walk away.

Go on. Going to smack me.

Give me £300 and I'll give you a tenner back. That's 290.

-There's only £40 between us. Go 270, then.

-280.

-275.

-We're in the middle.

-Go on, then.

And after a volley of bartering,

John's closed the deal with a clout.

I have seen these sell for £500-£600 before,

so hopefully the profits will come flooding in.

That's an impressive start from the young pretender.

How will his veteran opponent fight back?

I'm looking at a Lalique bird.

I'm told it could be mine for £60.

The good thing about it is it's actually signed R Lalique,

so you know it's got to be before 1939.

The minus is it's got a little chip here

and it's got a little chip there.

But that I can tell you,

if it was in mint condition would be £200-£300.

At £60, it's probably worth a punt.

There something else here, and that this vase.

I love this because this is Royal Worcester.

Date-wise, it's probably around about 1885 to 1890.

It's in good order.

I know that price sticker says 55,

but I've already spoken to the owner and I know I can have this for £40.

So I can have the two for £100.

I think the profits should be in my favour.

# I'm like a bird I only fly away... #

Yes, that's a superb one-two combo from our Burnley boxer,

whose bought both his showdown items in one strike.

The Hammer's now behind on points, and he must be feeling the pressure.

But it's only a matter of time before the punches come raining back.

I'm quite happy about this, I'm a little bit optimistic.

It's a large copper Arts and Crafts tray.

I did spot this little monogram down here, HW.

I think it's the mark of Hugh Wallace.

A copperware Arts and Crafts metalware worker

working in the early part of the 20th century.

I eventually bargained this for £45.

Judging on the weight, I think it probably scraps at about that.

As the bruising first round of this buying bonanza draws to a close,

let's check how much our dealers have spent so far.

They each had a budget of £1,000 of their own money to spend.

Eric "Knocker" Knowles is ducking and diving, spending £100.

That leaves him with a handsome £900 in his kitty.

John "The Hammer" Cameron is bobbing and weaving, spending £320,

leaving him with £680 still to spend.

The Hammer's come out hard and heavy

while Knocker's playing the long game,

and there's still three more rounds to get through.

So it's seconds out for round two the auction.

And it's time to come out fighting

at Duke's auction house in Dorchester.

Our two battling bidders must bear in mind the buyer's premium

that will be added to their purchases,

as they go into take down two more items

for their showdown extravaganza.

Once inside, they waste no time in sizing up the wares

and consulting their catalogues.

And, once the auction begins,

it's the beefy bruiser from the South

who swings first... for a paperweight.

Lot number 181, a paperweight. £60. I'll take 70.

80, 90. 90's with you and I'll take 100.

At 90, 100. 110. 120. 130.

140.

At 130, the gentleman bid, I'll take 140.

At £130.

Thank you.

A very decorative thing. I've got a potential person in mind for it.

No pressure, Eric, no pressure.

We don't bend under the strain, do we, Eric? No, no, we don't.

So, The Hammer pays £160.42 with commission.

And does he think it's worth it?

It's a 19th-century Tunbridge Ware paperweight.

This type of decoration is unique to Tunbridge Wells around Kent,

and was very popular in the late 18th and early 19th century.

It's almost like a mosaic.

You lay coloured sticks down, so you make a pattern,

and it's glued together and sliced across the grain.

Looking closely at the detail, you can just see the image, make it out,

it's like a little geometric pattern. It's a good-quality item

and another one that hopefully will help me knock the Knocker.

Having taken the Tunbridge Ware, the Hammer is flying.

It looks like plain sailing

as he bids on a 19th century picture of a boat.

60. Five. £65.

70?

At £65 going.

That was what you call impulse buying.

This is where things get really risky.

And the picture goes to The Hammer for £80.22 including commission.

A spur-of-the-moment buy, but will it make a profit?

This is my little impulse purchase. You can see what it is.

It's a little sailing scene.

It was catalogued as "naive school", which is often the term you see

when things look a little inaccurate in places.

Looking at the glass, we can see it's got air bubbles,

that tells us it's original 19th century glass.

All in all, not a bad buy. I should be able to get a profit out of that.

I don't think the profits will sail away,

but I think we'll make a profit.

# Sail away, sail away Sail away... #

With The Hammer striking twice, Knocker is on the ropes.

Our Eric's got to retaliate, and fast.

505, I'm going on this lot.

It says Glasgow School, I'm not sure.

At £30. Anyone with five? 40. 45.

At the back of the room and I'll take 50.

50. 5. 60. 5. 70. 5. 80. 5.

£80, your bid, sir, I'll take five.

£80, 85 anyone? All at 80.

And Knocker's nabbed the watercolour for £98.72 including fees,

and he's chuffed to bits.

It's just a wonderful image. She's wearing a sort of kimono.

She's very much around about 1895, maybe 1905,

not much later than that.

I've got to do my homework again with this one.

She has got potential. Just what she's worth is another matter.

This is what you might call a speculative buy.

After landing the lady in the kimono, Knocker's on a roll,

and he's closing in on a piece of furniture.

I'm going to have a go at an Edwardian mahogany display cabinet.

It's the sort of object which looks really good

with Arts and Crafts pottery displayed in it.

Let's see how we go.

400. £90, I'll take 100 now.

£100. 110 anywhere?

All done at £100.

It's a lovely, lovely display cabinet.

I did look it over, didn't see any damage.

It's at moments like this you think, I'd better have another look!

So Knocker's nabbed the cabinet for £123.40,

but is it worth the money?

This is a quality piece of furniture.

It should be stamped by a maker but it's not.

That was money very well spent.

So Knocker's delighted with that,

and while he pats himself on the back,

we move on to assess the spending so far.

From the £1,000 they started with, Eric has now spent £322.12.

Leaving him £677.88 in his kitty.

John has spent more - £560.64.

Leaving him with £439.36 for the last two rounds.

It's seconds out for round three of the showdown,

and this battle is now going international.

After a brief time out for a towel down,

our pugilistic pair will be trading blows in Paris.

With a stack of euros in their pockets,

they'll be seeking out their two showdown items

straight from the streets of the French capital.

So, John, we're at the halfway point.

We're are here to do a little bit of buying in La Belle France.

Here today, I'm looking for things at a price that I can get a profit on.

How about you?

You've got to be careful. Fantastic things here,

but they don't always translate into saleable

once you get them the other side of the English Channel.

Anyway, listen, bon chance, my dear friend,

-and I'll see you later in the day.

-See you in a bit.

-OK.

The Hammer has spent over half his budget already.

Will he continue to throw caution to the wind in Gay Paris

and launch straight into his buying?

I'm going to think about this.

This is quite nice, I do like that.

I was about to shake hands there

but I just noticed a bit of damage to the foot there.

This is cold painted. It feels like spelter, it's quite light,

19th century.

And this is for taking the excess ink off the nib of your fountain pen.

It's quite sweet, it would have appeal

to people that collect desk items, pens, inkwells, that sort of thing.

But that little bit of damage is just making me slightly unsure.

So a hesitant start from The Hammer, but for now he put it behind him

and makes a decisive move on something shellfish related.

Yes, our South Coast Slayer is back in his comfort zone.

I've bought a set of four 19th-century French pottery shellfish plates.

No chips or cracks in them, which is very important.

Very typical of the things that Minton were making

back in England in the 19th century.

I should be able to find myself a buyer on home territory.

And The Hammer dishes up £72.73, but what of our Eric?

Seems our fearless fighter's been distracted by a very lovely lady.

# You make me feel naked... #

There she is. I mean, she's pure art deco.

I'm assured it's all original cos what you've got...

which appears to be a bronze figure, but it's not.

It's gilt metal, it's spelter. It's a white metal.

But, you know, to be honest with you,

it doesn't really matter because something like that,

it's just so evocative of the art deco period, you know.

And the lady has been very English friendly towards me

and said I can have that lamp

for 200 euros.

And I think there's a smidgen of a profit in there.

Knocker pays £181.82,

and the lady of the lamp is in the bag.

And he means serious business,

dodging and diving through the stalls

before he pounces on another item.

This is quite... It's just a nice opalescent dish.

It's on a chrome stand.

I've just been talking to the gentleman here

who tells me it's Sabino. He's told me that 90 is the best

so, merci beaucoup. Thank you.

So, with a glass dish costing him £81.82,

Knocker's cross-channel shopping is done.

But what of The Hammer?

He's gone back to the pen nib wipe

he spotted earlier.

Has the price moved at all?

I told you...

I told you 90.

90.

-Would you wrap it for me?

-Yes.

90. I've had to bite the bullet and buy it.

Either that or I'm going to end up with too few items. I hope I don't regret that.

So, the hard-hitting Hammer has no choice

but to pay the original price of 90 euros for the bird.

That's £81.82.

Round three is now over,

and both our profiteering pugilists retire to their corners

with the items they hope will net them a pound in profit.

Of his original £1,000,

Eric has now spent £585.76,

leaving him with £414.24 in his showdown kitty,

while John has spent £715.19,

leaving him £284.81 available to spend in round four.

And so we come to the final round of buying...

Our duelling dealers' brutal last bout

takes place at the Sunday market and car boot fair in the Hertfordshire town of Hitchin.

Their challenge is to each find two potential profit makers

amidst the range of stalls bulging with booty.

It's all about sorting the quality wheat from the cheap chaff.

It's The Hammer who goes soaring into action first.

When it comes to aviation, there aren't many more iconic planes

than Concorde. A joint venture between

France and England, she was the Rolls-Royce

of the skies. Her first flight was in 1969,

her last in 2003.

But look at this.

It's a little silver brooch pin there.

At £5, I've got to make a sky-high profit.

# Flying high... #

With The Hammer flying high with his first buy,

could his opponent be in hot water?

How much is that?

-That's £5, sir.

-It's an odd number.

I know they like dealing in even numbers but, listen...

Shall we say £4?

I didn't want to twist your arm, but if you're going to offer me that £4 rather than five, I'll say yes.

I think my heart was ruling my head with this, actually.

I bought it simply because one, it's old.

It's about 1860.

And two, it is unusual because it is a hot water plate.

So, you would actually fill it through that hole with hot water,

so whatever was put on the top of there would be kept nice and warm.

I never normally buy anything damaged. It's got a small chip.

It's one more in the bag, you might say.

So, Knocker notches up his first car boot purchase,

evening the score.

And The Hammer retaliates by going in hard on Knocker territory

as he eyes up some porcelain.

You sure I can't tempt you, 15 quid for those figures?

I'll have to risk my wife's wrath!

Well, would you take that risk?

-Yeah, I'm willing to. Yeah.

-15 quid?

-Yup.

My final showdown purchase, this pair of Spanish porcelain figures.

They're very much in the style of Ladro,

very distinctive Spanish porcelain.

But condition-wise, they're excellent.

They do have some extremities there which are quite easily damaged,

especially wrapping them and unwrapping them.

Should turn a profit. You never know.

Might turn out to be the goose that laid the golden egg.

So, The Hammer's hoping there'll be no egg on his face with that buy.

Elsewhere, our crown prince of pottery buys another piece of porcelain.

I suppose I've bought what was, to all extents and purposes,

a German bestseller, in probably round about 1880 or 1885.

It is a figure that would have gone on your mantelpiece.

There would have been this one

and a companion figure with a small girl at the other side.

And I've just paid £8 for this.

But it is a little bit of sort of social history

because if you turn it around,

you'll see that it's got all these little sort of holes.

That, in actual fact, would be for your spools.

This little area here would be for your friction matches,

and the idea being that you would strike it against the side

or down here.

I've seen lots of them, and this one, unfortunately, has got damage to it.

Just little bits of damage.

Bit irritating, but for the money, it was worth a go.

So, that urban myth about Knocker not buying anything damaged

is dashed once again.

Round four is now over,

and our antiques fighters of fortune have now purchased all their showdown items.

Time to assess their overall spending.

Our battling bargaineers started this epic showdown

with £1,000 of their own cash to buy eight items.

At the final bell, Eric's total bill comes in at £597.76,

while John has been less cautious.

He spent £735.19 in all.

Before our brave boys go their separate ways,

there's just time for them to take a look at each other's trophies.

-Hey.

-Eric, Eric.

-Hey, Mr Cameron. Listen.

I don't think you've read the rulebook.

We're supposed to buy two objects today, not one!

Well, there is a pair of those, but I did buy another item.

It's this, this little brooch. What you think? Do you need your glasses?

No, no. Listen, I know a Vulcan bomber when I see one!

It's Concorde.

Oh, is it? Oh, right. That's all you're going to go with because we've got to put four to auction.

Yup. Ah, well. Some of them, I see, are overpaid for,

so I'm a bit concerned about taking a chance, putting THOSE into the auction.

Hang on. Hang on a minute. Hang on a minute.

You keep telling me about this overpaying business.

I think that this is just a sort of psychological ploy.

The next time I see you, we're going to be in the...

I think it's the county of Gloucestershire, if I'm not mistaken.

-Look forward to it, Eric.

-Oh, I look forward to it, too.

-May the best man win.

-OK.

-See ya.

-All right.

And now, our fearless fighters return to base,

where they must refocus their energies into selling

all their items in order to achieve the highest possible profits.

The dealer who makes the most money will take the title,

but as this is the showdown, that's not the end of the story.

Both our dealers have eight items to sell,

and at least four of them must be sold at auction

without any reserve price.

So, it's a white-knuckle ride, where our boys could win big

or they could crash and burn.

Both our experts must start by choosing which of their weapons

will go under the hammer, and which will be sold privately.

So, I'm going to send to auction the items I paid the smallest amounts for.

And in theory, they'll make minimum losses if they do sell under what I paid for them.

So, going to auction

are my Spanish porcelain figures,

my silver Concorde brooch,

my oyster plates

and my copper charger.

Hopefully, I'll sell my Tunbridge Ware

desk weight IN Tunbridge Wells.

My naive boat painting

should end up somewhere around on the south coast.

My nib wipe... haven't a clue yet where I'm going to sell that.

And then there's my Noah's Ark. I'm hopeful

the profits will come flooding in,

and The Hammer will reign supreme.

Mmm. A considered and confident plan from The Hammer,

but his rival, Knocker, has been giving the game just as much thought.

Now, I've decided to go at auction

with the Lully Bird.

I'm also going to go with my

pottery figure of the boy with the horse

because it has got some damage on there.

I'm also going to put in my arts and crafts cabinet,

my Royal Worcester vase which is very much

in the aesthetic movements.

But it is a big ask to put items on which you've spent hard cash

into an auction without reserve.

Well, them's the rules, Knocker. And there's no backing out now.

Eric also needs to find private buyers for

his print of a woman in a kimono,

the iridescent dish,

the lady-shaped art deco lamp

and his hot water plate.

But remember, until our dealers have shaken on it,

and the money's changed hands,

no deal is truly sealed.

Our two tireless troopers hit the phones,

and it's Knocker who's first out onto the road,

taking his print of a lady in a kimono

to London's famous Liberty store to meet dealer Patch.

I fell somewhat in love with this girl when I spotted her.

-I think it's a lovely thing.

-Good.

Whether it's a Liberty dress, who knows?

It's difficult to track that sort of thing down.

But certainly of the period.

I mean, it's certainly going to be sort of, you know, 1905, 1900, that sort of time.

-Excellent, excellent.

-So, I think that's a good thing.

I was hoping it was somewhere around...

Round about the £320 region.

Yeah. I mean, to be honest with you, the problem is with that,

I mean, it is just a watercolour.

-Yup.

-Also, I think, you know, not being signed...

-In that sense, I think that it has to be less than that, I'm afraid.

-OK.

Realistically, we're looking at about 250.

Well, let's try 280.

To be honest with you,

I mean, 250 is really where it's going to need to be.

-Is it?

-It is.

-OK.

-The reframing alone's going to cost £100-odd.

-OK.

So, if there was a token tenner stuck on the end of that?

-Fine.

-£260?

-Fine.

-Are we all right with that?

-That's fine.

You're a gentleman, but I knew that all the time.

So, Knocker pockets a hard-won

and tidy profit of £161.28.

A flying start for Eric.

And The Hammer also kicks off his sales campaign with some artwork.

He's heading to Portsmouth dealer Andrew

with the sailing boat watercolour he bought at auction.

-I'm looking for a couple of hundred pounds for it.

-Really?

I would say... It's a condition problem.

I mean, actually, the frame's nicer than the picture! I mean, it's about a £100 mark.

It's not brilliant, I'm afraid.

Could we meet possibly in the middle there, do you think?

-And I'm not making any profit.

-I'll do 140 on it, OK?

-140?

That gives me hardly anything, actually.

You're lucky not to lose on it, to be honest!

THEY LAUGH

Can we squeeze a little bit more? 145?

-Go on, go on.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, all right, then.

-You're a gentleman.

Don't spend it on any more jackets, though!

JOHN LAUGHS

Ouch! It's a cool profit of £64.78 for John's watercolour.

But Knocker is still ahead,

and our Burnley buccaneer is on the road again,

hoping to tempt Southport art deco dealer Paul with his glass dish.

I was hoping for somewhere around the sort of 130 mark,

but... Why did I say but?

-Cos it puts me on the back foot, doesn't it?

-It really does. Perhaps it needs to in this case!

I want to sell it to you, Paul. Come on.

I would only sell that for the £100 mark.

What would I SELL it for?

I don't mind, Terry. I'm almost at the break-even point.

But, listen, this is not an emotive issue.

I'll put my cards on the table.

Now, if you offered me £90, then you'd make me...

You might be in for a £10 profit,

and I think I might be just about breaking even.

-Oh, we'll do a deal, then.

-OK.

-We will do a deal.

So, a relieved Knocker does a deal for £90,

giving him a small but perfectly formed profit of £8.18.

But he'll have to up the ante if he wants to keep the pressure on The Hammer.

Our South Coast Swaggerer has been doing his homework,

and he's taking a trip to Rye.

He's off to see dealer Steve,

who specialises in Tunbridge Ware,

just like the paperweight John bought at the auction.

I think that looks like the work of Thomas Barton.

What would you say?

Well, I think you've been doing your homework quite well

cos that's my view as well.

What sort of age would you put on that?

Would you put that sort of last quarter of the 19th century?

I think that's as much as I want to

narrow it down, really. It's very difficult to be very precise.

Well, I was hoping for round about 280, something like that.

I'm sure you were, yeah.

I would like to buy this, and we've got good customs here.

So, I don't think I could get 280 for it.

I will give you 220 for it.

-And 220's a very good price.

-It is a bad price.

It does give me

a modest profit. I don't suppose you could go into more?

Could you do 230?

I think 220's a pretty good offer.

Meet me in the middle. 225.

-All right.

-Oh, good man!

And The Hammer notches up

a weighty £64.58 profit.

That's a heavy-hitting deal from John.

But Knocker's not resting on his laurels.

He's off to Westrum, where he's lined up a possible sale

for the Kirby art deco lamp he bought in France with dealer Chrissie.

This is my girl.

I'm going to put her like so, so you can see her

in the flesh, quite literally. But the shade

is really strange.

It's a lovely shade.

-It's almost like patterned crystal.

-Do you think it's original to the piece?

I do think it's original to the piece.

And what are you looking for, Eric, please?

Well, I was looking for somewhere in the region of £280.

ERIC LAUGHS

I'm sure we'll find common ground here

so, just tell me,

where would your starting gambit be?

Quite a bit lower. I think I'm round about the 200.

Maybe that's a bit cruel.

knowing what I paid for it,

I would be prepared

to part with it for £220.

Thank you very much.

Just like that!

Now that's when I should have gone in at 250. Did you see that?

Snapped the hand off!

The lamp will need to be rewired and tested

before it's in full working order,

but it's a solid profit of £38.18

from that snappy sale for Knocker.

The Hammer is remaining focused

with his eye on the showdown prize.

After some research, he's spotted a gap

in the collection of Brighton's Toy And Model Museum.

They don't have a model of Noah's Ark, but he does,

so he's hoping that Christopher, the Museum's founder and director,

won't be able to do without it.

-I was surprised to learn you didn't have one in the collection.

-I know.

-And so here it is. Do you know anything about them?

-Not a lot.

I know a heck of a lot of good ones were made in Germany

and I often said we really should have a Noah's Ark here,

because it's very fundamental to the collecting of old toys.

The value in these lie in the amount of pieces you've got there.

We've got over 30 pieces here.

The boat itself is in excellent condition,

the only thing I would say is this label here,

-which tells us the story of Noah, has perished away.

-OK.

-So Chris, what are your first impressions?

-Very good.

I like it very much. It fits the bill.

So this is something that could end up in a cabinet?

It will end up in a cabinet.

That, in itself, would bring me lots of joy.

This one here today, though, I am looking for around £400.

How would that sound?

I would probably like to do a deal with you.

-Can we do something?

-What do you have in mind?

Um... 350?

Do you think you could meet me halfway? Think you could do 375?

-Well, I'm sure we can.

-Yes?

-Yes.

Delighted. You've made my day and I've helped put

-a Noah's Ark in the museum.

-Thank you.

So, with the Ark model making him £100,

the profits continue to flood in for the happy Hammer.

Knocker is keeping up his selling momentum.

He's journeyed to Henley-upon-Thames

to sell his hot water plate to dealer, Abba.

It is a hot water plate and they are rare.

This one, I've got to point out, has got a tiny little chip.

Having said all that,

I'm looking for in the region of £15 on that.

What would you be prepared to pay me?

-I would give you £10 for it.

-£10?

I tell you what, I'm just ahead of the game at £10,

so if you're prepared to pay 10, we'll do a deal.

OK. Excellent.

It's a small profit for our warhorse, just £6,

but it all helps.

Now, for his final face-to-face sale,

the young pretender is headed to Southsea, where he's hoping

dealer Ian could be just the man

to take the bird nib wipe off his hands.

I know the nib wipe has seen better days but, you know,

you really don't see these any more.

Including this and that and one about four years ago,

I've not seen many at auction.

They really don't turn up these days.

Quite rare things, aren't they? What were they used for, John?

You know, this would literally be to wipe the excess ink off your nib,

wouldn't it?

I think they're more decorative than for use, don't you?

These days, I think they do make interesting items, especially

if you have a grand desk and you have it decorated

with vintage pens, perhaps a pen stand. You interested?

How much is it?

I was looking for about 180.

The very, very best I would give you is 150 quid, John.

-That's the very best?

-That is it. Yeah.

You've got a very serious look there, Ian.

I am serious today. It's business today.

It gives me a profit, it's not a major profit,

but it gives me a profit.

-I'll take your 150.

-Brilliant.

-Thank you very much.

So it's a serious deal,

but one to write home about nonetheless for The Hammer

netting him £68.18 in profit.

As we approach the halfway point of this selling skirmish,

let's see how our boys are doing in the quest for profit.

Knocker has sold four items

and bagged himself £213.64.

The Hammer has also sold four items

but he's made slightly more -

£297.54 profit.

But the wheeler-dealing must all end there.

Our towering titans of the trade

must sell everything else at auction -

a place where they're in the hands of the auctioneer

and totally powerless in negotiating prices.

Today's mighty battle of the gavel takes place in Cirencester.

-Eric, how are you?

-I'm all right, John.

I've obviously not read the dress code,

because I'm feeling I've dressed down. Are you going to a wedding?

I thought we were going out dancing afterwards.

In your dreams, in your dreams!

-Listen, shall we go and face the music?

-Lead on, Father!

Before the bidding begins, our brave boys snatch a quick look

at each other's wares.

This is Eric's little Worcester vase. I actually quite like this.

It's a good piece and at 30 to 40, the auctioneer's estimate,

I think there's profit in there.

I won't be surprised if that makes around £100. I think that's a good lot.

I know John paid £45 for this.

I can say that he's on a rising market,

because scrap metal is very much the order of the day.

This piece is typical of Eric. It's a lalique press moulded bird,

which he tells me is pre-war.

The auctioneers, however, have described it as modern.

Together with those chips on the base, that could deter some bidding.

With a bit of bad luck it could go cheap!

John went and paid

just a little over £72 or 80 euro.

The auctioneers obviously have great faith in them,

because they've put £100-£150.

But what price decadence? That's what I say!

Right now, there's very little between

our daring dealers, so they've got a tense time ahead of them.

And the first lot of interest is John's Spanish figurines that he

bought at the car boot sale.

My Valencia porcelain figures, Eric, my pastoral figures

both carrying a goose,

-paid 15 quid for them.

-15 quid? I thought you paid 25.

-No, 15 quid.

-Must've been a dream I had.

Oh, no, it wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare. I remember it now. OK.

I can start you here on the book at a massive £8.

-At £8 I have for this.

-£8bid.

-Tenner if you like.

At £8, 10, 12, 15.

-Get this lad out of trouble.

-Oh, 15!

-20.

22, 25 if you like. At 22 here.

At £22, 25, 28...

-28? What?

-And it's in the room.

It's the Spanish ambassador and his wife!

At £35. To my right, at 35.

So with a price of £35 less fees,

that's a profit of £7.28 for John.

-Heh!

-Valencia figures. It's the way forward.

Have you done your genealogy? I think there's some Irish in you.

You've got the luck of the Irish about you!

And The Hammer's hoping his luck will last for his next lot -

the Oyster plates he bought in Paris for just over £70.

I'd like to start you here at a mere £60.

BOTH: 60?

At £60 I have here.

At £60, at 5, 70, 5, 80, 5,

90, 5, 95, 100, and 10,

120, 130,

at 130, 140 now,

at 140, 150 on the phone, the book's out at 150.

At 150 - you all sure? At 150...

What a result for our South Coast swashbuckler!

A rip roaring £42.47 profit

for his plates after fees.

Now it's Knocker's turn to feel the pressure as his first lot -

the Royal Worcester vase - goes under the hammer.

If you're all sure now at 70.

-Whoa!

-In profit?

Just. I think I'm just in profit on that one.

The vase sells for £70,

scraping him a small profit of £10.56 after fees.

His next lot is another piece of porcelain -

the boy and donkey figurine he got for just £8 at the car boot fair.

20 to get on, at £20, 5, 30,

-5, 40, 5...

-Going your way.

-Wow!

At 50...

-50 it is.

-Remarkable. Look at the grin now!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's nice when it works, isn't it, you know?

You know what, I thought that wasn't going to do very well.

I must admit, it went in there as a bit of a lost cause.

Eric's delighted with his surprise profit of £26.40 after costs,

but will he be as pleased with the result of his next lot?

His lalique bird is going under the hammer.

190. It's been catalogued as modern.

It's certainly not modern.

It is a 1920s one, this.

I'm going to start you here at £30 and that would be cheap.

£30, 5, 40, 5, still cheap,

50, at £50 in the back far left.

At £50, 5,

60, at 60, back in, 5 do you mean, sir?

At 60.

So how did that stand you in?

That stands me at a loss,

because I actually paid £60 for it,

so I had bigger hopes than that.

So the early bird didn't catch the worm?

No, but I caught a cold.

What a bitter blow for Knocker.

He makes a loss of £17.52 including fees.

The bird went cheap as The Hammer predicted.

So, fortune isn't smiling on our Eric at the moment.

And lady luck also deserts The Hammer

when his copper charger plate

goes under the gavel making him a loss of £10.60 after fees.

Dare I say it, Eric, I should have scrapped it.

The Hammer will be hoping the next lot

can put the smile back on his face.

It's time for the Concorde brooch that cost him just £5

to go under the gavel.

-I can start you here at 15.

-Oh, £15!

-You're in.

-18. 20.

Two. 25. 30.

-At £30 now...

-30 quid! Oh!

-40.

Five. 50.

-Hey!

-Oh, my goodness!

-60.

-Five if you like. At £60.

-Go on, go on!

70.

-Hey, good lad!

-At 75 here. 80 now.

Hey-hey!

80, new blood. At £80. Five if you like. At 85.

-Hey, this could be three figures, this.

-At £90.

-Go on, make 100!

At £90. Five! Do I see 100? 100!

Ooh! We've hit the big-time, eh?

At £100, you alone.

-What?

-Come on. Certainly first class, all right?

Yes, it's a stunning profit of £69.80, including fees,

for the Hammer.

He's flying high once again, so, as the auction turns to furniture,

can Knocker match him with his final lot, the cabinet?

Selling here, then, at £100. You all done? 100 it is.

So it's the final insult for Knocker,

as his cabinet crashes to a loss of £48.60 after auction fees.

What a disappointing end for our Eric.

-I thought that was going to do fairly well, Eric.

-I'm... I'm...

I just want to...

Just want to go home. It's not that bad.

It's been an up-and-down experience

for both our soldiers at today's auction,

but, before we see how they've done, let's recap on their spending.

Both our experts started the contest with £1,000 of their own money

to spend on eight items each.

After all costs, Knocker spent £597.76,

and the Hammer spent more - a total of £735.19.

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

will be going to charities 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.

ERIC CHUCKLES

-Hello, Eric.

-Day of reckoning, day of reckoning.

-It is indeed.

-I know I got lucky at the auction.

-Certainly with your Concorde.

I mean, you know, forgive the cliche,

but it really did fly, didn't it, that one? It did.

But I didn't get on too well with my private selling,

if I don't mind being too honest about it.

-What about you?

-Swings and roundabouts,

because my auction was a little bit of a minus, I have to admit.

My girl in the blue kimono, when I started looking at it,

I realised it was probably a Liberty gown, and she did OK for me.

Shall we see how we did overall on the day?

-OK. You count me in.

-One, two, three.

-Ooh!

-Oh!

-The boy did well! The boy did well!

He's a gentleman to the end,

but our Eric's been hammered by his young rival from the south.

But both our experts have been building up their profit pots all week,

over a series of challenges. It's now time to reveal

whether this week's overall champion will be John or Eric.

We've got to find out how we did overall over five days.

Are you ready? One, two, three.

-Well, look at that!

-Well, it was close, Eric.

Yeah, well, I think you're being kind.

There's about 25% difference there and maybe a bit more.

Forget about the difference, the only consolation I have

is knowing that I've taught you well over the years, lad.

It's a resounding victory for John "the Hammer" Cameron.

Both our experts have made fantastic profits,

and all the money will be going to their chosen charities.

My profit on the show is going to Action Medical Research,

whose fundraising over the past 60 years has helped

with some quite life-changing medical breakthroughs,

saving and changing the lives of thousands of children.

My chosen charity involves all those members of the armed forces

doing their bit to try and keep us a bit safer.

My charity is Help For Heroes.

It's been a week of no-holds-barred combat.

Eric and John have shown that they can undoubtedly put their money where their mouths are,

and they've proved that they can make a solid profit from antiques when their own money is on the line.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd