David Harper v Paul Hayes - Auction Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is,

the show that pitches TV's best-loved antiques experts

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

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

I'm on the case.

Woo-hoo!

Each week, 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!

Today, Durham's ultimate auction hero David Harper

takes on Morecambe's daringly dapper Paul Hayes.

Coming up, Paul's overcome with auction angst.

He seems very professional, doesn't he, David? Very serious.

Very good at his job. I'm a bit worried, to be honest.

David is humbled by a schoolboy error.

Reading between the lines, you missed the lot, didn't you?

-I missed the lot, yeah!

-I'll let you concentrate, good luck.

Thanks, Paul. That's a great help(!)

And we are given a masterclass in not giving up.

-475.

-400 quid.

-470.

-420.

-For the sake of £40, you're going to walk away.

-It's not £40.

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

Ah, the lovely British countryside!

The first golden rays of the dawn sun are peaking through the trees,

painting picturesque English villages with colours

straight from mother nature's majestic palette.

But get ready to run for cover, folks,

because the heavens are about to open

as two giants of the antiques trade appear glowering like storm-clouds on the horizon.

First up, the sky darkens as 'Devilish' David Harper appears.

God of lightning purchasing and reigning monarch of profit.

Next, a low rumbling heralds the arrival

of Paul 'Mr Morecambe' Hayes.

The trim tempest who pin-points his targets and bags them faster than a bolt from the blue.

Today, these storming giants will be battling it out to see who ends up with the greatest profit.

They've descended on Wotton Auction Rooms in Gloucestershire

to see who can gather the best bargains and prove themselves the better dealer.

They've each got £1,000 of their own money to spend

and all the profits go to their chosen charities.

David Harper and Paul Hayes,

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

-Good morning, David.

-Good morning, Paul.

What a lovely, beautiful morning.

Isn't this fantastic? It's quite a way for me and you.

Quite a way. A nice part of the world, Gloucestershire.

-Have you got a strategy?

-Not really. Same as ever.

Seat of my pants, Paul.

Turn up with a bit of money and do the best you possibly can.

-But I have a cunning plan.

-What is that?

-I am not going to reveal it to you.

-Really?

-Good luck, David.

-See you in a bit.

These two may be all sunny smiles and breezy backslapping

but don't let that fool you.

The forecast today shows there's a perfect bidding storm heading this way.

Our boys bluster their way into the auction room and begin to hunt down the best lots.

Behind that charming veneer, Paul is quietly determined.

Believe it or not, I do have a little strategy.

I've found from experience, when you come to an auction house like this,

where everything is online,

there will be a job lot of items which they can't describe.

I'm looking for a hidden gem amongst the bric-a-brac.

And so Paul begins methodically rifling through every nook and cranny for hidden delights,

but what of David?

Is his fortune-finding strategy

really as frivolous as he's making out?

I can tell you, honestly, my strategy really is seat of my pants.

That is the only way you can do it.

You can't go out with a shopping list, you've got to be open minded.

That's quite enough about your pants, David.

It's not long until our two competitors must clash on the auction floor,

and every second counts

when it comes to pin-pointing those potential purchases.

Paul is the first to spot a pair of pop-art prints.

These two items - I spotted these online.

They are by Michael English, 1972.

He had a place on King's Road in London.

It was a big nightclub

and these used to adorn that nightclub as part of a series.

What you have to watch with prints,

or anything with a frame, is to make sure it's not damp.

Make sure the veneer hasn't lifted off the top.

I'll put my toe in the water and have a go at this one.

Always one to shoe in an old joke is our Paul.

He's first to mark his catalogue,

but David has spotted something he'd be honoured to walk away with.

This is the great thing about this business, you never stop learning.

Some things make you do a double take

and start to wonder and scratch your head.

Take that! MBE. What do you think of? Member of the British Empire?

No, surely there can't be a medal in there?

But here we are, handling I believe an MBE!

It's from Garrard & Co, silversmiths to the King.

It's got instructions here on how to wear your MBE

and it's the kind of thing

that could take you on a very interesting journey.

The MBE has got David's patriotic heart pounding,

but he isn't the only one getting regal.

This is a really interesting item.

This commemorates Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee of 1897.

Isn't that beautiful?

It tells the story of one of the most lavish parades

that ever was for our dear Queen.

You'd think these two were after knighthoods, the way they're carrying on.

They're both vying for glory in this competition

and it looks like Paul's psychological warfare is having an effect.

Paul Hayes says he's got a plan!

Oh, come on, I haven't met anyone in my life that has a plan.

I've never, ever had a plan. Let's see if he has a plan.

I don't think he does and if he does, I bet it's rubbish.

That's fighting talk from the devilish one

but will his own lack of tactics pay off

or turn out to be his Achilles heel?

Unfazed by his opponent,

Paul uncovers his next noteworthy item.

These are pianola rolls. I love these things, look at that.

You can have all sorts of classical music playing away there.

Nowadays, you can have these remade,

so people are making them with more contemporary tunes.

What I like about these is that they are all music of the day,

dance halls, classical things from the early 1900s, late nineteenth century.

Mechanical music, I'm interested in that, so we'll have a go at them.

£50 for 70 of them. If I sell them for £1 each, I'm doing all right.

With bidding about to begin, our two tornados of antiques expertise

find their places and hunker down for the buying blizzard ahead.

But who will be the first to get things started?

It's Paul as he bids on a Victorian floral jardiniere

with an estimated price of £60-80.

40 I'm bid, 45 I'm bid, 50, £50 I'm bid.

Anybody moving it along? Are you all happy with that? £50 this time.

I think I know just the place that's going to want that.

I don't like it when he's buying and I'm not.

After fees, the jardiniere costs Paul £60

but is he as pleased when he gets to take a closer look?

I bought a late-19th-century jardiniere.

The problem is, it has had a little damage on the bottom.

But on a size this big, who cares? It's such a visual item to have.

But it has been decorated in the impasto style,

which is a very thick slip decoration,

where the flowers almost seem real.

I might invest another tenner and put an aspidistra in there.

I think you've got a great visual item.

With that first purchase, Paul takes control of the game.

David's waiting to strike back but before he has a chance,

Paul's bidding for item number two.

While I was looking round, there was a pottery jug of Widdicombe Fair.

At 15, at 18 I'm bid. 20 I'm bid, 22.

-25, 28, 30.

-Go on, Paul, I know you want it.

At £32 I am bid. At the back at £32 I am bid.

Anybody moving in at £32?

Sold at 32. 1376.

The musical ale jug was estimated at £30-£40.

It's Paul's for £38.40 after fees and our boy's delighted with it.

There we are, so what I've bought is a fantastic 1920s musical jug.

Unfortunately, the movement doesn't seem to be working

but I think it might need a bit of TLC.

But I would love to find out more about the Widdicombe Fair

and it rings a bell.

Wasn't there an ex-politician called Widdecombe?

Answer your phone, Ann, I've got just the thing for you.

Let's hope she hasn't blocked your number, Paul.

With his jardiniere and musical jug, Paul's taken an early lead,

but David has got a sniff of his first prey.

With an estimated price of £20-£25,

it's a Yorkshire-made ashtray that's gone astray.

Now it's an interesting one. This is a Mouseman-carved ashtray.

Here we are in the south-west of England.

It was made in the north-east of England,

not far from me, and I want to take him home.

32, 35, 38, 40, 45.

At £45. 50, 55, 60.

And five, £65 at the back of the room.

Any advance on £65? Standing at the back at 65.

David catches the Mouseman ashtray for £78.

He's gaining ground but can he make it even

by winning that MBE that he so desperately wants?

What is all this about? This is what I like about this business.

This is what gets me going. Exciting, interesting things. Here we are.

But then disaster strikes!

David was so busy talking,

he failed to look up before the hammer came down,

meaning he's missed the lot and his opportunity to get an MBE.

No! I can't believe it, the MBE badge, I've lost it, I've missed it.

Didn't even get a chance to bid on it.

Paul, I'm not going to go for that MBE badge now.

-Right, oh, why?

-I don't know. Gone off it.

-I quite liked it actually.

-Did you?

-I thought it was cheap.

-No. You find them everywhere, charity shops.

I thought there's no point in me having something

that everybody else has got,

so I thought I'll just leave it and went into a daydream.

Reading between the lines, you missed the lot, didn't you?

-I missed the lot, yeah.

-I'll let you concentrate.

Thanks, Paul. Thanks a lot(!) Great help, thank you.

Having torn straight through David's tissue of lies,

Paul remains in the lead in this bidding battle.

But next up is a vintage watch

from a maker favoured by a certain gentleman spy.

Estimated at £300-£350, David could be in double-o-heaven

if he manages to get it for the right price.

One of my many interests in this business is vintage watches.

I absolutely adore them.

Coming up is a real classic. It's an Omega Seamaster.

First produced in 1947 and still being produced

and made famous in the 1990s by James Bond when he dumped his Rolex.

At £300-£350, it is a lot of money but I want it.

Wish myself some luck here. I will try and concentrate.

At 220, 240, 260, 280, 300.

Any bidding over £300?

Go on, give it to me. Give it to me.

Thank you very much. £300. Marvellous.

The watch winds up with David for a sizeable £360 including costs.

He's impressed with his purchase.

It's got the silvered face.

Got the date which is absolutely brilliant.

It has got the original winder and a non-original strap

and it's called the Seamaster

because it's meant to go deep-sea diving.

It's all boys adventure territory.

That is a real sports watch

but very tastefully done indeed.

She's a beauty.

Well, it's not often you see a grown man kissing his ticker.

We're half way through the day's bidding and what a start.

With the trauma of David's missing MBE

and some punchy purchases from Paul,

our boys come together to compare notes.

-Oh, look at you, looking all studious.

-I'm doing my homework.

-Hiya, how's it going?

-I need all the help I can get.

-Me too.

Lot 27, my career, no bids.

Have you got your eye on something?

A few things but as ever, things come and go.

They are too expensive.

I don't know what's wrong with my brain. It's not firing, Paul.

-Do you know what you need?

-What?

-A nice cup of tea and a piece of Victoria sponge.

-Seriously?

While the boys take tea and cake, let's find out who's riding high on cloud nine

and who's left feeling under the weather.

David and Paul each started the day with £1,000 of their own money.

David has bought two items so far, spending £438.

This leaves him with £562 still to spend.

Paul got off to a flying start but has spent less,

£98.40 on two lots,

leaving him with £901.60 to play with.

It's the eye of the storm and time for our two titanic traders

to blow back inside for yet more bidding and buying.

Keen to take the lead, David is quick off the mark,

when a little bird catches his eye

with an estimated value of £50-£60.

Coming up is a quirky novelty, interesting little thing.

It's an inkwell but it is more than an inkwell,

it is in the shape of a song bird

which makes it sweet and interesting.

Got to be CHEEP, I'm going to have a go.

32, 35, 38. 40 I'm bid. 42.

Everybody wants it. I can't believe it.

45 I'm bid. 48. 50 I'm bid.

At £50 I'm bid, back row.

50 quid for an odd little songbird but he is really sweet.

Give it to me. Marvellous, marvellous, marvellous, marvellous!

David cages the bird for £60 including costs

but will he fly away with a soaring profit when he comes to sell it?

Don't you think he is gorgeous? No fantastic age -

I can tell by its weight and the casting. It feels still sharp.

But well-detailed in his feathers.

Probably French or German.

No markings on him. Absolutely delicious.

I have no idea who I'm going to sell him to.

With the inkwell bird, David flies into the lead

and his newly-found focus is beginning to give his rival cause for concern.

He seems like a professional, doesn't he, David? Very serious.

Very good at his job. I'm a bit worried, to be honest.

And worried he should be

because it's not long before David bags a vintage car headlamp.

After fees it costs him £120

but will it light the way in this competition?

This is the vintage Ford model 666.

Ha, ha, ha! Mr Harper's favourite figure.

A devilish number there.

Made by E&J Detroit, Michigan.

That is just screaming 1920s, 1930s.

That would make a great table piece.

The lamp puts David ahead

and he leaps further into the lead with a job lot of animal ornaments.

A frog prince and a pair of decorative deer are added to his haul,

costing David £78 after fees, so what attracted him to them?

Check this little lot out for a pair of major contrasts.

We have got a really pretty Art Deco bronze deer with her fawn

and then behind we have got the monstrosity

of a Prince frog with his crown on.

Again he falls into the category of being so ugly,

he's sort of attractive.

The Art Deco piece. Doesn't everybody love Art Deco?

Don't you love Art Deco?

I need to find someone who really loves Art Deco.

So Paul's not the only one with anxieties it seems!

Mr Morecambe is determined to claw the game back.

He's focussing on a new target,

a stereoscopic viewer with an estimated value of £50-£60.

65, 70 there. Five, at 75 at the back of the room.

-1376 at £75. Your bid, sir.

-Yeah, I got one.

The stereoscopic viewer costs Paul £90

and the blue-eyed boy is chuffed!

Do you know what?

I think these are the most under-rated items you can find.

When you go back to the 19th century, they really were a novelty.

It was the first time you could capture a real image.

Lots of amateur photographers used to do that.

They would have a special camera

which would take a picture in stereo.

The camera would have two lenses,

they would be at slightly different angles apart.

Takes the same view but when you put them through a viewer,

they seem to be in stereo, or three dimensions.

It's one of those antiques which is useable.

I haven't shown you the marvellous rosewood 19th-century viewer.

The idea is that you'd hold it up to the window

and using this contraption here,

it reflects the mirror to give the eyes more light.

I'm going to have great fun going through them

and seeing these images from a time gone by.

Snap-happy Paul is catching up but David's fighting back.

Having missed the MBE when it went under the hammer earlier,

the Devilish One has brought about a breath-taking reversal of fortune.

This is the object that I missed out on in the saleroom

and I haven't just borrowed it,

I now own it.

Luckily for me, the guy that bought it, I found out who it was,

and I've just bought an original MBE for £140.

I'm very proud to have such a thing

and I will wear it on special occasions

with great pride and great honour, until I sell it.

Arise, Sir David, decorated at last!

He might be resting on his laurels

but young pretender Paul is bidding for the set of pianola rolls

estimated at £50-£60.

Any advance on 22? 25, 28, 30. five.

But Paul's got competition, a rival bidder is also after the rolls.

70, five. 80, five.

At 85 at the back, any advance on £85? 1376.

All that music of generations

ready to be played on the very first CD player.

I think it's fantastic.

It's music to Paul's ears

when he gets the pianola rolls for £102 including costs.

Paul's on a roll and also snaps up the pair of 1970s pictures

he spotted earlier, setting him back £72.

I put my toe in the water.

Good to see that you're recycling the jokes, Paul.

And as the sun starts to slowly sink in the sky,

David sets his sights on a pair of early-19th-century silhouettes,

estimated at £100-£120.

Take a chance. 50 I'm only bid. 55, 60, 65.

70, 75.

80, the pair I'm bid. At £80.

You're finished with them all at £80?

I like them, they were cheap.

The silhouette miniatures cost £96 after fees

but, on closer inspection, will they raise David's profile?

You know, they always say it's better to have good pair

and here is a great example of a super pair

of early-19th-century silhouettes in their original frame

with the oak-leaf brass ormolu hanging mounts.

Again, all intact.

Remaining together is absolutely fantastic.

There has to be a profit, probably 50% profit,

because there are always people looking for silhouettes

and especially a pair.

With time running out before the final hammer falls,

Paul decides to make a play for the commemorative Queen Victoria

diamond jubilee book that's estimated at £15-£20.

The next lot is the London Illustrated News,

the commemorative for Queen Victoria 1897, her diamond jubilee.

OK, I think I'll have a go at this,

in at £15-£20 which sounds a bargain.

20, 22, 25, 28, 30.

32. Five? £35 this time.

So I bought that and it's a real piece of history.

1897, sounds a good lot that.

The book costs Paul the princely sum of £40.83 including fees.

Both our boys have fought hard at today's auction

but it's Paul who makes the final purchase

to bring this whirlwind of bidding to a close.

Our two challengers each started the day

with £1,000 of their own money to spend.

David Harper said he would be flying by the seat of his pants

and finishes with seven items, almost blowing his budget at £932.

Paul Hayes went in with a clear strategy and ends the day

with six items costing him a much more modest £403.23.

But it's not about who's spent the most.

It's about who can make the biggest profit.

After the dust settles from the avalanche of auctioneering,

our bargain hurricanes settle to compare their day's haul.

If there ever was a time where I'd like to swap some items...

-Oh, stop it. Stop being modest.

-Would you like 70 pianola rolls?

That is quite amazing, that is one collection.

I wanted to ask you, though, I thought you didn't buy the MBE?

-What's going on?

-No, no, there's a story there.

I don't know whether it's legal but I've awarded myself an MBE.

Does that mean I have to call you Sir David now?

-Well, why not.

-Or Sir Harper?

-Sir Harper will do, MBE.

What's your favourite object?

My favourite object probably... The jardiniere, we won't mention that.

-I love it!

-But I do like these stereoscopic viewers,

I've always loved these items.

My favourite buy has to be the pianola rolls.

You're not going to sing to them by any chance?

I can sing two songs. I can sing badly or somewhere else!

-Somewhere else.

-Good luck to you, mate.

-Thank you.

The sky's clear with the buying over

but there's a cold front moving in

as the selling storm is set to descend.

The frantic bidding is now a distant memory

and pales in comparison

to the out-and-out effort

that must go into the second half of this competition,

when it's the biggest profit that will secure a win.

Hayes and Harper now head home to assess their acquisitions.

Back in Morecambe, how is Paul predicting his purchases will fare?

On the whole, I'm delighted with what I've brought back.

The pianola rolls, I think these are fantastic bits of musical history.

The jardiniere, I know somebody that has a very large Victorian parlour

which is a very similar colour to this.

These are a little bit out of my comfort zone,

this sort of modern retro 1970s era.

But that does tend to be where the market is.

The Widdicombe jug, hopefully I can go to Widdicombe.

Stereoscopic viewers, a thing of the past. We're in a 3D age now,

but these were fascinating items when they first came out.

Lastly, the book, which is a celebration

of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, 1897.

You've got two collectors there, people that collect books

and people that are interested in Royal memorabilia.

I've gone from 1897 to 1977 all in one shop, how fantastic is that?

So Paul is feeling positive

but how's David doing in his County Durham digs?

Well, I think that's quite a good selection.

The MBE badge is absolutely fascinating.

Early-20th-century car lamp,

that I'm hoping will take me on a nice interesting journey.

Mouseman, well, he's back home.

The two miniatures, fantastic.

Proper Georgian pieces. I've got an idea of where they might go.

The bird I think is hilarious.

The watch, you know I absolutely adore watches.

The two pieces together, the two bronzes,

the period Art Deco style, very traditional.

And then the wild and funky frog.

When I first saw him I thought he was absolutely monstrous

and he did remind me of Paul Hayes, bizarrely!

So, to sum up, a great collection and not one pianola roll in sight.

Fighting talk from David there

but which of our tussling tornados will make enough money

to elevate them to victory?

Remember, no deal is truly sealed until the money is in their hands!

DUCK QUACKS

David is the first to make a move

when he invites good contact and fierce barterer, Anthony,

to his shop, hoping to wind up in profit

by selling the vintage wristwatch that cost him £360.

-'70s? '60s?

-Well done, it's the '60s.

Non-restored, it's never been restored.

And the crown has a stamp as well, so it is the original crown.

-And not a fake?

-Oh, please, please!

Right. David, I like the watch. Let's do a deal, David, please.

-480.

-No, 400 and that's it.

-I'm not going higher.

-I can't.

-You can do this, David. £400.

-475.

-No, £400.

-475.

-£400.

-470?

-420.

-465.

-420.

-465.

-425 and we're done.

-460.

-No, that's too much.

For the sake of £40 you're going to walk away?

It's not £40. All right, 440 and let's compromise on it now.

Yes, you can have it for 440. You can.

But you can't have the box because I can sell than for £25.

-Take the box out...

-Oh, no, David, you can't do that.

Box gone, forget the box. You have the watch, 440.

I tell you what, why don't you take the innards out

and just give me the shell?

-450, there's profit in that.

-450.

-Good man, thank you very much.

Oh, my. Let me sit down.

After a colossal price war, David makes a profit of £90 for the watch.

But he can't rest on his laurels for long.

Paul is next up, as he tries to make a Royal profit

from the Queen Victoria jubilee book.

Take a page out of my book, these sort of books are really collectable

and I've brought it along to a Royal memorabilia collector

here in Chorley in Lancashire.

Paul paid £40.83 for the book and hopes that collector Neil

will be suitably impressed with it.

It's very nice because it's got the leather which makes it look nicer.

The gilt on the side is very still, very strong.

And there's no big splits. What tends to happen...

And also the hinges inside, I always look at the hinges just inside.

When you see these illustrations and take a look at the skill,

it's just superb, isn't it? Look at that.

So, could you see maybe £70 for that?

-No, that's a little bit too much.

-Is it?

I'd be looking to pay somewhere around £55 for it.

-How does that..?

-55? I'm trying to do the maths here.

I wonder how much £55 was in 1897?

A fortune. You could buy a house.

You can't make it around £60?

-Because it is the 60 years of reign.

-Yeah.

-Does that sound good?

-I'll go to £60.

-Thank you so much.

The handshake secures Paul a profit of £19.17.

David isn't one to be overtaken,

as he drives to North Yorkshire hoping to flog the car headlamp.

Well, this car lamp, I've got to tell you, is fascinating.

My research has told me that it's actually much earlier than I thought.

The early years of the 20th century, made for Ford,

but made for one of the world's most iconic cars ever.

It's the Ford Model T.

What I've done, I've contacted a Ford Model T owner

here in Hawes in North Yorkshire

who's interested in looking at this thing

and he has an exceptionally beautiful Ford Model T.

HORN HONKS

At auction, David paid £120 for the headlamp so will it shine out enough

to convince Ford-Model-T-owner Geoff to buy it?

-Geoff.

-Good to see you.

Good to see you as well but even better,

good to see that Ford Model T.

-Isn't she beautiful?

-She's a grand car.

I bought this in auction, what do you know about that?

-This is an original lamp. I mean, they do reproduce...

-Do they?

..another lamp exactly the same as this.

So, how much are you going to ask me then?

Well, I thought a couple of hundred quid-ish. Maybe 220?

-About 160, I think.

-Ooh, ouch!

-210.

-170.

-Meet me in the middle, 190.

-170, we'll split it.

-180.

-Deal.

-Good man.

It's gone to a good home and that's just as important as anything else.

David drives a hard bargain and the headlamp brings in a profit of £60

and he gets a lift back in time thrown in for free.

Well, this is absolutely marvellous.

It's the first time I've ever been in a Model T

and all down to that lovely lamp and made a bit of money too.

This is something straight out of a 1920s movie.

Or Laurel and Hardy even! Laurel, take it away.

LAUREL AND HARDY THEME TUNE PLAYS

Paul's also harking back to a bygone era

as he heads to a vintage postcard and print shop in Brighton

to see whether shop owner, Robert, will buy his stereoscopic viewer

and slides, which cost him £90.

How desirable are these? Have a look through those, I'll hold this.

I'll have a quick look. These are a little bit earlier than postcards

and mostly Victorian. They do go into the Edwardian time as well.

They did come with this particular viewer, and that's in with the parcel.

Would somebody come looking for this or would they have this already?

-I think most collectors would have a viewer.

-OK.

There are collectors of the actual viewers.

-I feel about £70, I'd probably pay.

-Right.

-That's without the viewer.

-Oh, right. OK.

-So shall we shake on that?

-Shall we shake on that?

That sounds fine to me, thank you very much.

Paul sells the slides for £70

but despite some painstaking research into selling the lot,

only manages to add another £20 when he sells the viewer,

meaning he ends up nearly breaking even.

Keen to push up his profits, Paul steps up a gear

and sells the Victorian jardiniere to a buyer looking to sell it on

and watches his £60 investment blossom into a £15 profit.

David is also doing well.

When he bought the Art Deco deer and bronze frog he paid £78.

He speedily sells the deer to a shop customer for £100,

proving the price he paid certainly wasn't TOO DEAR!

Next he turns his attention to the frog prince.

Isn't he handsome, don't you think?

Really good-looking fella. Frog's not too bad either.

He's got a crown on his head there. He's made out of solid bronze.

He is drawing the attention from a very young art dealer from London,

called Catalina, and she's on her way to see him.

But will the ugly frog serve up a handsome profit?

Now, Catalina, have you ever seen anything so wonderful as that?

I don't think I have.

-You've seen a picture of him.

-Yes, I have, but in real life I'm amazed.

-Really? Is that in a good way or a bad way?

-A really good way.

-I think he is the Frog Prince.

-He is, that's why I came up to see him.

Oh, he is, definitely.

Now, price-wise, around £80-ish.

I was thinking 50.

How can someone who loves something so much only pay £50 for it?

-70.

-No.

What do you mean?

-60.

-£60. Marvellous. Thank you very much.

Selling the frog for £60 brings the total profit for the lot

to an impressive £82, meaning Paul needs to do some catching up.

Unfortunately, he only manages to make

a £3 profit on his 1970s posters

when he sells them to retro- furniture-shop owners, Ben and Emma.

Paul's latest sale brings us to the halfway point

of this daring display of salesmanship,

so let's find out who's racking up a princely profit

and who's serving up a pauper's portion.

David Harper has so far made four sales making a profit of £232.

Paul Hayes has also done four deals

but his profit margin is a mere £37.17.

Paul badly needs to sell, sell, sell,

but it's David who gets going next.

He sells his Georgian silhouette miniatures to collector Roger

for £150, making a handsome profit of £54.

And there's no stopping him now!

One of David's regulars, Ronnie, has seen the bird inkwell

and he wants it but when it comes to doing a haggle, he's away,

so his mother-in-law Lynette has stepped in.

-So, Lynette, are you in charge of Ronnie's money?

-Always.

Ho-ho! The mother-in-law, eh! What do you think of the dicky?

I think its gorgeous. Very detailed, very pretty.

So, Lynette, what do you reckon?

Never having seen one before, I think maybe...

-..85.

-Oh, my gosh! Where did that come from? That's a bombshell.

Seriously?

Well, yeah, well, OK.

95.

Because it's you, 110?

-OK.

-Happy?

-Yes.

Lynette, thank you very much.

The bird inkwell pecks up a perky profit of £50,

meaning David's squealing with delight.

CHEERS

Full of confidence, he returns to Barnard Castle

where he's hoping decorative-arts-dealer John

will like his £78 wooden ashtray enough to provide a profit.

# Oh, yeah. #

He's nice, isn't he? Really nice.

Looking at this, I think, you know, it's not very old,

about seven years old I believe.

Obviously, I think we'll be going down to some money transaction.

-Are you trying to..?

-Of course. £100.

£100. David, I'll put you right.

I've got some Mouseman ashtrays in the window

-and I'm retailing them at 75.

-Oh.

So, I've got to come lower than that.

I'm looking at about 50.

-What?!

-50.

I would like to see one of these £75-ers in the window.

I want to compare my beauty to those.

OK, I would say mine has a more glorious colour.

You can see the raise. I think it's a nicer cut of oak,

I've got a bigger mouse. He's a well-fed mouse compared to

your skinny little number here.

Obviously your price and my price, so I'll push it up to 65.

Make it 80, which is my money back and a couple of pounds.

OK, 70, then. That's me losing money, you know.

You're losing money but things happen that way.

There's winners and losers in life.

Look at you with that big grin on your face.

David makes a loss of £8 on the ashtray but,

being no stranger to risk, it will take more than this to get him down.

You've just got to take the losses and get on

and make sure you make more profits than losses.

Over in Gloucester, Paul has used his expertise to locate

the perfect man to assess

his purchase of the antique pianola rolls -

Keith Harding, who owns a shop and museum specialising in mechanical music.

How do they actually work? How do they get the piano to work?

The best way is to show you. There's a thing here called a tracker bar.

Basically there are 88 holes so that when a hole in the tracker bar

is uncovered by a hole in the music, those are the notes, you see?

When air can be sucked through the hole it operates a little motor

which hits the hammers onto the strings...

And magically plays the piano.

That's amazing. Right, so this is the moment of truth.

It's the first time in 80 years and it'll be wonderful to hear

what it sounded like.

Whilst he's there, chancer Paul has a go at flogging the rolls to Keith.

We're not looking to buy large quantities ourselves

because we've already got plenty.

How many do you have in stock?

Oh, several thousand I should think!

No joy there then.

Undeterred, Paul sets about searching

and researching for a buyer to provide a profit.

But in spite of his best efforts,

he eventually has to settle with a price of £50 from a collector,

meaning he makes a catastrophic loss of £52.

But Paul is a true trooper

and whilst he's in Gloucester tries for his next musical sale.

Now then, do you remember this Widdicombe Fair jug?

Well, it's now fully working,

I managed to get the movement working,

so it's a great complete 1920s musical jug.

I mentioned it to a friend of mine

who has a stall in this antique centre here.

She's very interested in it but she is a little bit camera shy

so her friend Ruth, hopefully, is going to act on her behalf

and buy it for her, with a bit of luck.

Paul bought the ale jug for £38.40

and is hoping for a Widdicombe Fair profit on the sale.

-So has she left you any instructions?

-She has.

-Right, go on.

-Do you know how old it is?

-About 1920.

-Right, OK.

-I was hoping for around £50.

OK, right. She hasn't left me £50.

-Well, she has left me £45.

-That's what she had in mind?

Erm, do you know what? There's a saying in this job

that one bid is worth a thousand lookers on.

If she wants it for that and you're happy to act on her behalf...

-Yes, absolutely.

-We shall shake on that then. Thank you very much.

Paul makes a modest profit of £6.60 on the jug.

David is down to his final crucial item - the MBE.

Now, as you know, this really threw me.

Seeing an MBE in an auction, to me, just felt not quite right.

I didn't know very much about this particular medal,

so I've called in a colleague of mine, Andrew, who's a specialist

and I'm meeting him here for a coffee.

The MBE set David back £140, but will medal specialist Andrew

want to buy it and award David a profit?

-Andrew, great to see you again.

-David, good to see you again.

Thanks for coming and you know what I've brought for you.

-A medal...of some sort.

-Of some sort, an MBE.

What kind of person might have been awarded this particular MBE?

This was awarded to a lady in 1918 of thereabouts

for service, probably, on the home front.

It was the first time, actually, that women had been able

to be part of an award such as this.

So there you go, different times altogether.

What'll be the difference between a male and a female MBE?

The male has a different type of ribbon which isn't a bow like that.

-Really?

-The difficulty is we don't know who that was awarded to.

-Why is that?

-Unlike war medals from the First World War,

which were named around the rim,

traditionally there was no name put on the medal.

-Would you be interested in buying it?

-Yes, I would be interested.

I think it's a nice thing, it reflects the history of the time

and it's an interesting object.

It cost me 140.

If you had rung me up, as you were about to buy this,

and said, "What's an MBE worth,

"do you think, on the specialist market?"

I would have said, "£80-£100."

The most I'd be able to offer you would be £120.

I'd be happy with 140.

Not to make any profit. Would you be happy at that?

Yes. We'll go for that, shall we?

-I'll be very happy if you are.

-Shall we shake on that?

-Shake on that.

David walks away from the deal MB-Even,

having made nothing on the medal,

which brings us to the end of this almighty war,

but, when all is said and done, who will be victorious?

All will soon be revealed.

Our duelling duo each started with £1,000 of their own money.

David Harper bagged seven lots and spent a whopping £932.

Paul Hayes bought six lots, spending less at £403.23.

But the only thing that matters now is who has made the most profit.

All the money that David and Paul have made

will go to the charities of their choice.

So, without further ado, let's find out who is today's

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion!

-Ah, David, how are you? Are you well?

-Paul, great to see you.

-How did the auction go?

-Bit of a disaster.

-Really?

-I've got two words for you.

-What's that?

-Pianola rolls.

-What about yourself?

-Two very interesting objects.

-The car lamp I discovered was for a Model T Ford.

-Wow!

-Fantastic.

-That's amazing!

But the MBE, I learned loads,

met a very interesting expert and collector,

spent lots of time and made no money at all.

But what I learned is absolutely invaluable for the future.

-So, there you go.

-Right.

-Interesting journey.

Don't worry, I think you've definitely...

-Do you reckon?

-Unless you've had a disaster.

-Three...

-Two.

-..One.

-Oh, Paul!

-This is becoming a recurrence. Look at that!

-What went wrong?

-I'll tell you all about it over a cup of tea.

-Will you?

-Pianola rolls, mate. Pianola rolls, don't mention it.

Both Paul and I have been on some very interesting journeys.

Paul with his pianola, he adores music,

and me with that MBE, absolutely fascinating.

Not all about the money but it's nice to win.

My mistake was buying something that's a very specialised market.

Nobody else really wants them unless you have a pianola.

You may have won this one though, David, but the war's not over yet.

So David walks away the winner today

but tomorrow Paul has a chance to fight back as they go head-to-head

at an indoor car-boot sale in North Shields.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd