Catherine Southon v Mark Stacey - UK Antiques Fair Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is -

the shows that pitches TV's best loved antiques experts

-against each other in an all-out battle for profit.

-Hey!

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

I'm on the case.

-Wahey!

-Each week, one pair of duelling dealers

will face a different daily challenge.

-I'm a cheeky chancer.

-Lovely!

Putting their reputations on the line and giving you top tips

and savvy secrets on how to make the most money from buying and selling.

-Let's go and spend some money.

-Get in there!

Ha ha ha ha!

Today, Brighton-based bounty hunter Mark Stacey takes on

dynamic dealing diva Catherine Southon.

Coming up, Catherine thinks she's found a dead cert.

If I don't make a profit on that, then I'm just going to give up.

-Mark takes some almighty risks.

-What have I done?

I've bought things I know nothing about.

And one dealer comes out of her shell to make a sale.

-These are some of my breeding snails.

-Ohh!

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

MUSIC: "Thriller"

-MIMICS VINCENT PRICE:

-As storm clouds gather in the sky,

lost souls wander with thirst of eye,

This antique tale is oh so thrilling,

our experts here to make a killing.

First, the booty hunting beast of Brighton,

the covetous creature who craves victory, greedily gorges on bargains

and tirelessly tracks Titanic profits -

it's...

I might be the cat who's got the cream.

Up against him it's...

a queen of the night who wants to sink her teeth

into the best buys and draw out the most palatable profits.

I am now oozing with confidence.

This thriller takes place at the Newark International Antiques and Collectors Fair.

With over 4,000 stands, our esteemed experts will

have to be utterly brutal in this battle to bag the best bargains.

I'm surprised people even talk to us, really, because the first thing

we say is how lovely the item is and then we want to knock them down.

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

and all the profit goes to their chosen charities.

-I really need to buy something meaty and beefy.

-Bring it on!

Mark Stacey and Catherine Southon,

it's time to put your money where your mouth is.

-Mark Stacey!

-Catherine Southon!

-How are you?

-I'm fine, how are you?

-Very excited today.

A bit chilly, isn't it?

I don't know about you,

-but that 750 quid is just burning a hole in my pocket.

-Really?

-Are you going to spend money today, then?

-I'm going to spend, are you?

I'm going to try... I want to buy real antiques today.

HE LAUGHS

Now you know what an antique is, don't you? Something 100 years old or more.

Oh, thank you. You are so kind. What's your plan?

My plan is to do the same.

I want to find four or five really good quality items.

I want to tell you that I think it's going to absolutely pour down later.

-Yes.

-So I have brought something along to help you, Mark.

A bonnet de douche.

SHE LAUGHS

Here we are.

SHE CHUCKLES

Hmm, very fetching.

What do you think?

I don't know what to say, Catherine, except you shouldn't have.

Really, you shouldn't have.

-I know it's sunny now, but it's definitely going to rain.

-Goodbye.

Behind the banter, Mark and Catherine are baying for each other's blood,

and as buying begins, so does their epic hunt for the most

profitable pieces this market can offer.

Catherine is determined to find them first

and her famous cunning isn't about to desert her.

Newark is one of the biggest antique fairs in the country.

So to help me get around, with the help of my little daughter,

I've got my secret weapon.

While Catherine's hoping to scoot to victory,

Mark is dreaming of bigger things.

I always get a little twitchy feeling

when I first get into an antiques fair.

Because you think this is the day you're going to find almost

the missing link, you know, that one piece that's going to change your life.

A bit like Del Boy, you know?

"This time next year I'm going to be a millionaire."

# No income tax, no VAT... # RECORD SCRATCHES

Well, Mark has set his sights high.

But now it's time for our purveyors of profit to prowl,

pounce and plunder as they peruse the potential purchases.

Mark is first to move in when he spots something

glinting in the sunlight.

I'm sure this will be too expensive.

It's quite nice, it is a cased little set of cups, I suppose.

But they are all marked "N Birmingham".

And they've got a little retailer's name here, "Charles Proctor".

"Jewellers, Newcastle upon Tyne".

But it's got a sort of an Art Nouveau feel about it,

with those sort of handles on them. And a gilt interior.

In quite good condition, there's the odd dent.

But I like things with cases.

And before Mark goes in for the kill,

his eye is caught by another item at the same stall.

Now, that's quite nice. Look at that picture of a horse.

Now I think that might be a pencil drawing,

but it's quite naively done.

But there's a lot of movement and feeling in that face.

And it's in quite a nice frame.

If I can get someone who's interested in horses,

that could be quite interesting.

-How much is that? Be sensible now.

-£80 to you.

Oh, come on! And what about this set?

-If I said 100 for that, it would be cheap, wouldn't it?

-No, it wouldn't.

-There's a few dents.

-OK, can't argue with that.

80 for them if you want them. And 70 for that.

Oh, Mark's not happy,

but he goes ahead and bags the first two deals of the day.

Am I pleased with what I bought? Well, I think I rather am.

Because these are a no-brainer really.

They are six little liqueur cups, silver, in a fitted case.

This is the surprise item.

It's beautifully done and I have a feeling it is a drawing.

And if we look at the back, we've got this artist's name here.

And some dates. He is Swiss,

1769 to 1849.

And it says, "Portrait of a horse" in French.

If that is by this artist, that could be a real find, you know.

70 quid I paid for that.

And 80 for these.

If that's right, it could be a couple of hundred pounds or more in that.

Catherine, I'm doing rather well. How are you doing?

So, Mark's brimming with confidence.

But Catherine is getting round this market faster

than a nippy whippet.

# Round, round, get around I get around

# Yeah, get around...

# Ooh-ooh-ooh, I get around Get around... #

Speedy Southon slams on the brakes and hops off her scooter

when she spies and buys a wondrous wooden object.

Look at this little beauty.

I absolutely adore interesting pieces of treen.

Treen is something like a small piece of wood that's got a useful purpose.

Now I collect biscuit stamps and butter stamps.

And this appealed to me straightaway.

We've got a Regency butter stamp,

so we're looking at about 1830 in date.

This is going to be made from fruit wood and you push this down

and make a little mark, a little print, on your butter.

To make it look pretty.

OK, there is a little bit of a crack there,

but to have a swan design is so beautiful.

I paid £45 for this.

And to me, it's a winner.

So Catherine stamps her mark on the competition with her first

purchase, but Mark has already found another box of delights.

I know Stratton as manufacturers of ladies' compacts.

And they're quite collectable.

But here we seem to have a pair of cuff links and a tiepin

in the form of a golf club.

I don't think they have got a huge amount of age to them.

But it is nice that they've got a box there,

a little bit scuffed, but that shows vintage condition.

-How much are they, sir?

-£10.

-£10?

-What about eight?

-Yeah, go on then.

Eight pounds. I think we are going to take these for £8.

There must be somebody out there who wants a pair of golfing cufflinks.

Thank you very much, sir.

Mark scores a hole-in-one with the golf themed cufflinks

and swings further into the lead.

But Catherine isn't moving at a snail's pace.

She's seized upon a bargain that she hopes will set

her on the trail to victory.

Well, although I'm going fast and zooming around,

I've come up with something that's not going quite so fast.

Mr Snail Man. Started off life as a boot scraper.

I paid, wait for it, 50 pence for this. It's cast iron.

OK, it's not very old, but what you need to do - get rid of this,

put in a scrubbing brush.

Ta-dah, you've got yourself a new boot scraper.

50 pence. Come on!

Catherine's half pound purchase brings us

to the halfway mark of this frenzied fight, so it's time to find out

who's in high spirits and who's wallowing in a pit of despair.

Catherine and Mark each had up to £750 of their own cash

to spend today.

Catherine has bought just two items so far, spending £45.50,

meaning she has £704.50 left to spend.

Mark is ahead, he's done three deals and spent £158,

leaving him with £592 in his kitty.

And so our buying beast

and bartering beauty prepare to double their efforts

for the next round of hunting out the hidden gems.

Their minds may be focused but what if the entire

destiny of the day could be altered by one chance meeting?

-Mwah! Missed!

-Oh, Catherine, you missed me, darling.

-You were going too fast.

-How are you doing? Well, you look happy!

-I am happy. I'm really happy.

-Makes a change.

-I've bought wonderful lots.

-Have you?

-You are really bouncing, aren't you?

-I am. How are you doing?

-All right.

-Not bad. I've got a couple.

-Have you spent your money?

-No.

-I've bought a couple of nice, nice pieces.

-Oh.

-Do you want to borrow this?

-No thanks. I'll leave it with you.

Dealers are shouting all over the place,

"Mark, we've got something for you."

Good luck.

Oh, I don't think she liked that, do you?

Oh, it's a maelstrom of monstrous mind games with these two today.

Well, Catherine wasn't really giving an awful lot away there, was she,

she was saying, "Oh..."

But she always plays this little vulnerable lady.

But secretly she's got a heart of pure steel.

Hmm, little does Mark know,

but steel-hearted Catherine is starting to feel the pressure, too.

So, I've bought two pieces that are a bit low value, really.

So I really need to buy something meaty and beefy.

-Better get going, really.

-Meaty and beefy?

Is this "Cooking with Catherine" or "beat Mark Stacey at all costs"?

Luckily, our lady is only focused on victory

and very soon swoops on her next item of interest.

I love these little deckchairs.

I had exactly the same thing when I was little.

And sadly my parents didn't keep it.

But these little deckchairs are harder to find.

And what is nice is it is in lovely condition.

£20 of my hard-earned cash.

Catherine pays £20 for the deckchair,

but how will it fare when it comes to the selling?

I'm not going to make a huge profit on it,

but it's certainly a nice little piece and every little profit helps.

Let's just hope the sun shines on me when I sell it.

And while Catherine suns herself outside,

Mark heads indoors where he reveals a hidden agenda.

I didn't really want to buy any porcelain or glass today,

but I have got a potential buyer who said, if you see anything

in the form of a cat or painted with a cat, he might be interested in it.

So I'm keeping an eye out for something like that.

So far I'm out of luck.

Come on, Mark, that's part of the challenge.

Chin up and find that feline friend.

-# Searching

-Searching, searching

# For so long... #

Looks like Catherine's sleeping on the job.

Eventually Mark sees just the thing.

Oh, he's rather fun, isn't he? It's hardly an antique.

But he's rather cute, with his ball of wool.

He looks quite mischievous.

But a little bit of a look of Catherine Southon about him.

It's called Kitten by John Aynsley in 1975. And it's priced at £22.

I'd need to get that down. Let me see what I can do.

I'd need to get that down quite a lot. Is there any chance?

Yeah. £15 any good?

-Oooh. It's getting better.

-You're cheeky like the cat.

-I am.

-I don't suppose we can get it down to 12, could we?

-Go on.

Are you sure? Listen, thank you so much. So much.

Well I'm rather pleased with that, it's not the sort of thing

I would usually buy, but I do have a potential customer in mind.

And I might be the cat who's got the cream.

Meow!

Mark bags the cat and takes the score to 4-3.

But he's only ahead by a whisker.

And Catherine's retaliation is quick as she spies a solid silver

paperclip dating back to 1897.

Not even sure what those figures are supposed to be. It's quite unusual.

He looks, to me, like he has got a monkey's head.

And then a sort of human's body.

Bit like Mark Stacey, really.

Can I give you 30 for it?

-You're giving me...

-Oh, 35 we'll call it.

-Don't know. Give me 38.

-38. Thank you very much. Thank you. £38.

It's a silver paperclip.

It's hallmarked on the front and back.

I think I can make myself about £50 profit on this.

Who is laughing now then, Mark?

Well, it certainly isn't Mr Stacey.

He's the picture of steely focus and he spends

£35 on an intriguing piece of glass which isn't just any old jug.

Now I've got something I want to show you here.

"What is it?" you're asking yourself.

I can tell you, it's a jug.

It's got a globular body with a nice simple handle.

Very plain, very ordinary. Not terribly inspiring.

Except when you turn it over.

And you've got a magic name engraved on the bottom -

"Tiffany & Co".

Now it's not very old, it's not an Art Nouveau piece of Tiffany.

But just the fact that it is retailed and made at Tiffany's

makes a huge amount of difference.

I think someone with a nose for quality will love it.

Catherine, I hope you are buying quality.

In fact, Catherine's still at the stall where

she bought the paperclip.

And she's found an inkwell that is ringing out to her.

Oh, that's nice, isn't it, in the form of a bell.

It's hallmarked as well.

-Hasn't got its liner.

-They're easy to get.

-What can I get on that?

-45.

-45. As I've bought something else from you, I will give you £40.

-Go on.

Thank you very much, you are an incredibly lovely, lovely man.

I think it's a nice novelty piece.

It's been gilded inside, so that if the ink spills on the side,

it doesn't stain it. Cos if it was silver, it would stain the silver.

£40 I paid for this. I am now oozing with confidence.

Yes, Catherine is outside oozing while Mark's inside perusing.

And coincidently, he's also looking at inkwells.

Now, isn't this a charming little item?

It looks like a little leather cricket ball.

But if you just gently press the front, it springs open

and it's a travelling inkwell. Lovely coloured brass.

You can see how warm that's got.

The spring, actually, is still very good.

And you've got a very tight top in there.

Which stops the ink, as you are moving along, getting out.

It's probably 1900, 1910.

Considering it is an antique, it's not in bad form.

Can I have a look at the violin as well? These are such unusual items.

I've never seen either of those. So it's the same principle?

Look at that.

A little brush in there, to wipe your pen as well.

I just love that. It's a violin case.

And that's marked up at 120.

-So what is the best on that one?

-150.

-150. And this one?

90.

And if I took both of them, could we do any better?

-I could take another £10.

-So 230? I'll take both of those.

Thank you very much. Catherine, what have I done?

I've bought things that I know nothing about.

But I think they are quality and I just think...

I don't know what I think, really.

Oh, Mark's breaking down.

And Catherine is catching up as she bags a Victorian ivory gavel for £120.

This is ivory but it's pre-1945.

I would say it would probably mid to late 19th century.

And it's just got a lovely pattern.

I know so many auctioneers around the country,

this one is going to be... sold.

She's one heavy hitter.

The clock is now counting down to the end of our trading

and our lady is determined to catch up with her rival, who is still one purchase ahead.

After more intense foraging,

she swoops on an item that really gets her temperature rising.

This is an Edwardian, so we are saying 1900 to 1910,

gentleman's hunt kettle. And why did I buy it?

See that name across there?

Asprey's. So it was retailed by a very good maker in Bond Street.

And it is superb quality.

Now, a hunt kettle, what you would do,

a gentleman would take this along on his hunt.

He'd strap this to his leather belt.

We've got here the burner.

This is where you'd keep your meth,

so you'd pour your meths into here, heat the liquid.

And then inside this lovely little travelling mug here, that is

where you'd heat your water and put your little toddy in there,

so you could have a little quick drink.

Something you would definitely need on your cold winter mornings.

£150 I paid for this. It is absolutely spectacular.

It's in mint condition and if I don't make a profit on that,

then I'm just going to give up.

And with that, both our experts' insatiable

appetites for acquisitions are satisfied.

It's time to find out who's got the winning hand

and who's got the busted flush.

Catherine and Mark both started the day

with £750 of their own money to spend.

Catherine has made seven deals and spent a total of £413.50.

Mark also picked up seven purchases

and forked out fractionally more at £435.

But this game is all about who will make the most profit.

And with our B-movie of buying at an end it's time for our

Hammer horror heroes to haul out into the sunlight

the results of their feeding frenzies.

Well, it feels like it's going to start to rain now after

having a beautiful day. You might need your little hat after all.

-I might need it after all, Catherine.

-Good day?

Well, it's been all right

considering I had to wait an hour for you to turn up.

Stop moaning. I was still buying.

Tell me about your horsey.

That is potentially the most interesting.

-It is exquisitely drawn.

-Really nicely done.

What's interesting is the name on the back. If it is by this guy.

-Yeah.

-1767 to 1849.

I think you could actually do all right with that.

-I think I could.

-What did you pay?

-70. What about this?

-I know.

-Last-minute purchase. Very happy with that.

-You like your names, don't you?

-I do. I like a name and I like a leather case.

-Yes, I know you do.

-I bought the ivory gavel.

-Yes.

-A couple of silver pieces as well.

I like your... Is it a paperclip?

Yes, it's London hallmarked front and back. £38.

You're going to more than double that, I'd have thought.

-Very happy.

-No, I think you have done extremely well.

-I think we've both done extremely well.

-Sorry, Catherine.

You need your bonnet.

I know you have got a sadistic streak buying me this

-but it is actually...

-I was being thoughtful.

-It is actually going to come in handy.

-Come on.

We've got to sell this stuff now.

The purchasing part is over so now it is time to sell, sell, sell.

Our thrilling pair zoom back to their homesteads

and begin their preparations with a mind to making a killing.

Each will be hoping to accrue the most profound profit

and emerge from this stupendous struggle for ultimate victor.

Down in Kent, Catherine is sifting through her sellables.

We had a brilliant time at Newark and I think both Mark

and I bought some really nice pieces

and I think we got some good bargains as well.

Firstly, the deckchair.

That is probably one of my least favourite items.

I can't resist a little butter mould

and with the swan on it, I think it makes it slightly unusual.

This is one of my favourite pieces and I really couldn't resist it -

the Asprey hunting kettle.

I am hoping to make about £50-100 on it but we shall see.

The two silver items down here I bought from the same gentleman

and he gave me really good deals on those so I should be

home and dry and make myself some tasty profits.

This - 50p for the boot-scraper? I'm going to make at least £30 on it.

Now, the final item was my ivory gavel.

I know so many people that I could sell that to.

Mark Stacey, I could win this one.

So, Catherine's feeling positive

but how is Brighton-based Mark as he assesses his haul?

This is it. It all fits on a small, round table.

It's very impressive, don't you agree?

I am quite pleased with it actually. I think I've already found buyers

for the lovely, little pussycat there and the jug.

Now, I haven't talked to the buyer of the jug that it is stamped

Tiffany's & Co cos I think that is going to impress him even more.

The other items, well, it's not so optimistic at the moment.

I might have found a buyer for the silver toddy ladles,

which I love cos they are fitted in their case.

They have got quite a nice Art Nouveau feature, actually.

Better than I thought originally.

The Arab horse - yes, I found out it's an Arab horse -

I have written to a society about that,

which I am hoping might help me pass the winning post.

The other three items, which I thought would be the first to

sell, the inkwells and the golfing cuff links, nothing yet.

The war is under way but there is plenty of groundwork

needed from each of our two experts if they're to come out on top.

And, remember, no deal will be done until it is sealed with a handshake.

Mark might be pleased with how his selling plans are panning out

but it is Catherine who's first to close in on a potential sale.

I have come to an auction house in Newbury

and I've come to see my friend and auctioneer Thomas Plant.

I have bought him the beautiful ivory gavel

and let's just hope that this item is sold.

Catherine bought the Victorian gavel for £120

so will it hammer up a profit for her?

-Hello, Thomas. Good to see you.

-Catherine.

-Have a look at this.

Oh, it's a particularly nice one, isn't it?

It is a nice one, isn't it?

I thought it was going to be not as elegant

but that is actually just about right to put in your pocket.

It is, isn't it? I think that's quite nice.

Then you can sort of unscrew it and then

-when you're conducting an auction...

-You just need a little...

-You just need the thing.

-There you are, you've got your knocker.

You got the knocker, the hammer, the gavel.

Now, who will start the bidding on this next lot,

a beautiful antique ivory gavel?

How about 150?

150 to the man in the suit.

-Oh, Thomas, that's mean.

-I am being tight.

Yes, don't be tight. I'd love 200 for it.

Is that 200 for the lady with the pink scarf? No?

No. No. 200 is too much. I'll meet you halfway.

-And I increase it a little bit.

-OK.

-Keep it in the odds - 170.

170. We have 170.

Do you want to make it another £10 or not?

-No, I don't want to make it another £10.

-Oh, you are mean.

-Go on then, 170.

-Really?

-No.

-175.

-Go on.

It's going, going and it's gone

to the Newbury auctioneer for £175, knocking up

a profit for Catherine of £55 and getting the selling started.

-It's a lovely thing.

-Sold.

Mark isn't one to be outbid

though, and he is soon down to business as he takes

his classic glass jug to a friend, David, hoping to romance more

than the £35 he paid for it.

-This is the jug.

-Oh, wow.

Now, it's very simple and plain, which is what first attracted me.

I thought, with that mark underneath, it does make it...

-It's quite elegant.

-It is.

-I just love the curves and everything.

-Are you going buy it?

Well, it's very tempting.

What sort of price would make you feel comfortable?

-Originally, I was thinking 40, 45.

-Oh, David, no, no.

I'll tell you what, I believe I may make what I consider a sort of

very whimsical offer just to start the ball rolling, shall we say?

Maybe I can come down a little bit. Just say 85.

I could actually come up to 60.

-Could you go up any more, do you think?

-I could do 65.

-What about 75?

-70. And that's my final offer.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

-Come on, let's shake on it. Thanks, David.

-Thank you.

Mark makes £35 on the jug, doubling his money.

But this is a tale with some way to go

and Mark now has another potential buyer lined up.

This time it is the £12 vintage porcelain cat that is

up for the selling treatment.

I think I have brought this to the right person.

-I mean, looking around us.

-I think you have.

I mean, you have got a room full of cat-related collections here,

which is lovely. And you came to the shop and had a look at it.

-I came and had a look.

-It is Aynsley porcelain, which is quite good.

It means we've got quality.

And it was obviously designed by John Aynsley,

-one of the Aynsley family, in 1975.

-It's bigger than I thought.

I've seen it once and it seemed smaller, so it seems bigger

-and better.

-I think I said to you around £35, is that right?

Yes, you did. Yes. I was thinking around £25.

Awful lot of thinking going on here.

-Could we maybe meet in the middle and say 30?

-How about 28?

John, I mean, I really...

Do you know? Looking around, this is the right place for it.

So I'm going to agree to £28 because I have still made

-a small profit on it.

-As long as you're not spinning me a yarn.

The puss boots up a profit of £16

and maverick Mark's feeling marvellous.

Well, I think that was the purr-fect sale, don't you?

Because it has gone to a loving new home and I am purring with delight.

Catherine is also hard at it as she closes in on her next target.

She is off to meet school friend Claire, who loves small

decorative items and Miss Southon is hoping the antique silver

paperclip that cost her £38 will be right up her street.

I believe that you do collect the odd little bits and pieces,

-when your husband lets you.

-I do,

yes. I've got a few bits around the house, as you can see.

-I might have brought you a little bit of silver. There we are.

-Oh, gosh.

-That's very pretty.

-It is pretty, isn't it?

-It's fully hallmarked.

-Is that fully solid silver?

Absolutely, 100% solid silver. It is 1897 in date. Do you like it, Claire?

I do really like it. It is very pretty.

-It is a really different piece and something nice, you know.

-It is.

A nice bit of quality. I like a little bit of quality.

How does 80 sound?

-Oh, there's a big intake of breath going on there.

-50?

Oh, that was a big drop, wasn't it? Mind you, she is in finance.

-What about 70?

-Go on then, 70.

-Oh, really?

-Yes, it is pretty and that.

It is pretty and I do like it.

-Are you happy with it at 70?

-Yes.

-Oh, Claire, thank you very much.

Catherine makes £32 on the paperclip and she is feeling good.

Well, that is another profit. On to the next sale.

But this competition is no walk in the park as Catherine finds out

when the Lewes-based antiques shop owner Steven

passes on the butter stamp.

And although he agrees to buy the deckchair, it is

for a much lower price than she was hoping.

22 quid. Do you want 22 quid for it?

Go on then. I have got to sell it. I've got to sell it.

Catherine walks away with a measly £2 profit

for the child's deckchair. And things get even worse

when she fails to generate enough interest in the butter stamp and

is forced to accept a £13 loss from another Kent-based antiques shop.

While Catherine is licking her wounds, Mark is back on the prowl,

heading to Newhaven to see Paula, who is interested in

buying the turn-of-the-century toddy cups as a present for her husband.

Mark paid £80 for them so will Paula help top up his profit margins?

-They are so pretty.

-They do have a loveableness.

-The more I look at them...

-What year are they? Have you looked it up?

I think they're about 1908.

The more I look at them, the more they are Art Nouveau to me.

They are, aren't they?

-And they're gilded inside as well.

-Beautiful. I really do like those.

Well, of course, originally, I did say around 160, didn't I?

How about 100?

Sorry, Paula, you have got my deaf side.

£100 for a quality set of six pieces like this?

120 would be my absolute best.

-Go on. 120.

-Thank you.

-I know he will be very pleased with those.

-Yes.

And Mark downs a neat £40 profit for the toddy cups.

With both Catherine and Mark busy peddling their wares,

it's time to find out whose profit margin magic is working

and who is lacking the right ingredients?

Catherine Southon has so far sold four items and made £76.

Mark Stacey has done three deals

but he's sneaking ahead with a profit of £91.

Only a fool would try to predict how this twisting story of buying

and selling is going to end as our daring dealers

continue on their selling sprees.

Next up, Catherine and Mark go head-to-head

in the battle of the inkwells.

Melodious Mark has his violin inkwell,

whereas Catherine is hoping to ring up a profit with the bell inkwell.

Mark cleverly tracks down Buckinghamshire-based violin case

maker Des Timms, hoping to make a good case

for the antique inkwell which cost him £90.

I bought this little travelling inkwell.

-So, what sort of date would that be then?

-I think this is on the border.

It is late 19th, early 20th century, so somewhere around 1890, 1900.

What is it actually made of?

Well, the lid is, I presume, a metal which has been made in a mould

and come out and then it has been covered in this sort of letter.

-What do you think of it?

-It is very, very strange. I have never seen one.

I said, originally, I wanted around £140. You kindly came back...

Yes, I know, calm down. You came back to me and said,

"I don't know a lot about these things."

I would love to make some kind of profit on it, if I could.

Well, if you can make a tenner on it, I guess you'll be delighted.

Well, I'd be much more delighted if I could make 20 on it.

-It is a powerful amount of money.

-It is.

-Yes, I think we can do a deal.

Are you sure? Des, are you happy to shake my hand at 110?

I'm happy to shake your hand anyway but 110, that's fine.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you, Des. Thank you.

Yes, Mark makes a profit to the tune of £20

and now it is Catherine's turn.

She has also used the shape of her 1920s inkwell that

cost £40 to steer her to a possible buyer

and is headed to St Mary's Church in Kemsing

to show campanologist Catherine,

who is representing one of her bell-ringing colleagues

who has shown interest in the solid silver item.

We have here a solid silver inkwell and it is hallmarked

and it is dated to 1920 and it is by a makers called A & J Zimmerman.

Now, I believe your friend is interested in buying this.

-Has he giving you a set amount of money?

-Yes.

-He is prepared to pay £75 for it.

-£75. Right.

I shall hand it over then. £75. Well, thank you very much indeed.

Lovely to meet you.

Well, that was a very good profit made

and the bells are ringing to the sound of victory.

Yes, the chiming bells toll for Catherine as she makes

a £35 profit on the inkwell but the selling war still wages on.

Mark makes the next move when he takes the golf-themed cuff links

and tiepin that cost him £8 to Brighton mini-golf proprietor Roy.

-I called you out of the blue, didn't I, Roy?

-You did indeed.

And said, "I'd love to show you something I've bought."

and I thought they were rather nice.

They're by a firm called Stratton who are normally compact makers

and I thought they were rather fun. Have a little look.

-Yes, they look quite nice, don't they?

-Do you like them?

Yes, I do indeed.

If I remember rightly, Roy, on the phone I said I was hoping to

get somewhere ridiculously under-par, around £20-£25 for them.

-What do you think?

-Well, I think that is not a bad price.

I think £10 would be better.

THEY LAUGH

What is the vintage, Mark?

Well, I'd say sort of 1960s, '70s.

They could be '50s I suppose, but more likely to be '60s or '70s.

About my age, I suppose. Yeah, that's a good age.

I think £20 would be wonderful.

Oh, so we have knocked a fiver off without me even knowing about it.

-If I get a hole-in-one, it's 25. If not, we will settle on 20.

-OK.

I think that is very fair.

-Mark steps up to the tee.

-So I'm going to put it down there.

Just stroke it right through, Mark.

He aims and takes a swing but he is wide of the hole.

Might get it on the rebound.

-Oh!

-See what I mean?

-You nearly did that, Mark.

-It was so close.

That rebound could have done that.

Roy takes the cuff links

and tiepin for £20, meaning Mark swings a £12 profit.

I bet you can't do this, Catherine, can you?

Because I was a drum majorette when I was a child,

believe it or not, many years ago.

So I am quite used to throwing a baton around.

And I'm quite used to making quite half-decent profits.

And, while Mark is twirling with success,

Catherine appears to have gone all Continental.

FRENCH ACCENT: I am 'ere in the beautiful countryside

of Lenham in Kent and I 'ave my lovely boot-scraper

in the form of an escargot.

And I have brought it along to see Ian who has got an escargot farm.

A snail farm to you and me.

The boot scraper can cost Catherine 50 pence

so will she get a snail, sorry, sale from snail farmer Ian Brown?

-Ian, it's lovely to meet you.

-Thank you. It's nice to meet you.

But I'm not sure about these. So, what have we got here?

We have got three different boxes.

-Three different stages of development, basically.

-Oh, right.

The tray in the middle are the smallest

and these ones will have hatched, say, three or four weeks ago.

SHE SQUEALS

Having separated them out when they've got bigger,

I put them into boxes, which is the intermediate-sized box

and intermediate-sized snails but they must be, what,

-10 times the size of the baby ones?

-Yes.

These are some of my breeding snails. These are ones that

have actually gone beyond the size for a restaurant.

Well, it's amazing but I've also got something to sell you. So, hold fire.

What do you think, Ian? The burning question.

Well, I think it's rather a good specimen of a snail.

I'd like in the region of £40. How does that sound?

-That's too much, actually.

-Too much.

-I was thinking more 20.

Is there no way we could make it 30?

How about if you, being so squeamish,

were to pick up one of these, I will add a fiver to my 20.

25 then if I pick... right.

-If you pick one up.

-OK. Just like this?

-Yes.

There you are. Well done.

Catherine, it has been a pleasure.

Catherine's shell-shocked but she gets £24.50 profit for the snail -

a fantastic 50 times what she paid for it.

Mark is trailing behind with two items still to sell

and disaster strikes when he stands on his horse picture that

cost him £70 and smashes the glass.

The maverick isn't going to be held back though and he gallops onwards.

In fact, all the way to Brighton racecourse where he is hoping

customer service executive Judy will help him get past the winning post.

-Hello, Judy.

-Hello, Mark.

I bought this at an antiques fair

because I just thought it was exquisitely drawn.

There is a suggested artist name on the back but

I've done some research and I don't think it is by him.

It may be a follower of his or simply after his work.

-Would you like to see it?

-I would. What does it date from?

-It actually is 19th century.

-It's a very fine drawing, isn't it?

But it's a beautiful...

I mean, the eyes and the muscle texture I thought was very good.

I have to say, when I got, it was glazed

but I had a bit of an accident. I stood on it.

It is in its original frame.

There was a little bit of damage there when

I bought it but obviously there's a little bit extra damage there.

It would fit well with Brighton racecourse

cos we have been here since that period.

I'm hoping to get somewhere in the region of £100 for it.

-Move slightly on that or not?

-What if we shook hands at 90?

Would that be happy for you?

-That would be fine, I think, yes.

-Are you sure?

-I think so, yes.

-Thank you very much, Judy.

So, after a flutter on his horse picture,

Mark makes £20 profit and he's jumping for joy.

He has got one item left now.

It is the late-Victorian cricket ball inkwell that cost him £140.

So, can he bat up a good price when he visits

the Cricketers Arms in East Sussex to see landlord Peter?

As you can see, it's a little cricket ball or what

looks like a cricket ball but when you press a little nozzle there,

-it opens up and it's a little travelling inkwell.

-How old is it?

I would say it's around about 1900. So, it's late Victorian, Edwardian.

We collect quite a lot of cricketing memorabilia

and I'm quite interested in this.

I was hoping to get around 150 for it.

Well, I think, considering the age

and it's in really good condition, that really is a pretty fair price.

-That's great, Peter. Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

Mark makes £10 on the inkwell and he's done.

Well, that's it. All my items are now sold from the antiques fair.

The profit wasn't exactly hitting a six but I wasn't bowled out either.

Catherine has got one final sale to go -

the antique hunting kettle which cost £150.

Every penny counts now as she sets out to make a sale that will

tip the scales in her favour,

taking the kettle to West Horsley gun shop owner John.

Let me just show you this.

So, that's your little burner underneath there.

You lift up this lid and underneath there is some gauze

-and you'd put your meths in there and light your meths.

-Yes.

There is little container for the meths.

-Oh, OK.

-Take that with you.

-That's clever.

-Then you put that on there

and then you'd heat whatever you want to heat, John.

I don't think this has ever really been used.

It's in really beautiful condition. What do you really think about it?

It's a... It would be a fun thing to have.

-Well, it all comes down to price, I'm afraid. You look very worried.

-Yes.

-I'm just a poor, old pensioner.

-Oh, John, don't.

I'd be looking at about 250 for it.

I was thinking much nearer 100.

-Oh, were you?

-How about 125?

Oh, gosh, that gives a loss.

Oh, dear. An early deadlock.

So, will Catherine make a loss or will

she boil up a profit that will give her the edge?

All will soon be revealed.

Catherine and Mark both started with £750 of their own money to spend.

Catherine made seven deals and spent a total of £413.50.

Mark also picked up seven purchases

and paid £435 but all that matters now is who has made the most profit.

All of the money from today's challenge will go to our dealers'

chosen charities so let's find out who is today's

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion.

Hello, my darling.

-Catherine, how are you, dolly?

-How was it?

-Oh!

-Oh, come on, Mark.

It was, honestly, I just...

I thought I bought some really interesting bits.

You bought some very nice pieces. I loved the cricket ball.

I know, but apart from a reasonable-ish profit

-on the little toddy cups...

-Oh, yes, they were nice.

..everything else just made tincey-wincey profits.

Oh, but you did look gorgeous, darling, in your little rain cap.

Catherine, don't mention that rain cap.

It's costing me a fortune in psychotherapy. How about you anyway?

How did you do? I'd better ask.

I thought I actually got some nice pieces too but mine were all

-kind of mediocre profits. Nothing...

-In your face.

-Punchy.

-Yes.

Shall we actually count anyway?

One, two, three.

Oh. You see, I thought you were going to trounce me on that.

You see, you do moan but it was absolutely fine, wasn't it?

-Who is going to pay for the drinks?

-I don't know about this one.

Shall we go Dutch?

Well, Catherine is today's winner and why?

Because although she was trailing behind until the very end,

she sold the hunting flask for a profit of £30 and took the lead.

-180.

-Are you sure about that?

-OK. Yeah.

Thank you very much indeed, John.

I love antiques fairs.

I spend a lot of my time there and I thought I bought some really

nice items but they just didn't transfer into enough profit.

Never mind, Mark. Better luck next time.

Tomorrow, Mark has a chance to avenge his loss when our

competing experts fly off to foreign soil in search of treasure,

scouring the antique markets of Belgium in hope of victory.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd