Congleton 10 Bargain Hunt

Today, the show starts in the town of Congleton, in Cheshire.

In the 18th century, Congleton became an important centre

for the textile industry,

especially for leather and lace production.

Many of the mill buildings are still standing

but are now used for different purposes.

Today, we've got a 60-minute programme for you

so let's go bargain-hunting. Yeah!

Today, we've made a slight change to the rules

and the experts are being required to find not one

but two bonus buys,

and I'll then tell them which one I think is going to do best.

But what will happen?

We'll find out in a moment but right now,

let's take a shufty at what's coming up.

On today's show, the HARDY Reds are making a good impression.

AS OLIVER HARDY: Stanley, that's another fine mess you got me into.

And the Blues are buzzing with excitement.

-Are we both done?

-Yeah, we are.

-Well done.

Still leave you some money.

Let's meet the teams.

Well, on today's show, we've got a distinctly nautical theme

with teams of chums from the Royal Navy.

For the Reds, we've got Dave and Bill,

-and for the Blues, Sterling and Fred. Hello, everyone.

-ALL: Hello.

Lovely to see you.

Now, Dave, it says that you joined the Navy to escape.

I'm the oldest of ten kids

and after me came eight girls.

Oh, no.

I quite understand.

-So you got to 16 and you couldn't be out of there fast enough!

-Yes.

-I joined up.

-And did you see the world?

-I'd seen pretty much every part of it, yeah.

-Hmm.

And what was your job? What ships were you on?

-I was engine room. I was commonly known as a stoker.

-Yeah.

And I suppose... I was on carriers...

mostly. I joined Ark Royal September '61

and left her in June, July '66, just after the World Cup.

Very interesting. What do you get up to now?

I work part time now.

I work with people with learning disabilities,

and the rest of the time I indulge myself with these chaps.

We entertain other branches of the Royal Naval Association

-with our SODS Opera.

-So what would SODS Opera be, then?

-Well, SODS is Ships Own Dramatic Society.

-Ah!

And you're all a lot of old sods, is that right? Lovely.

And so, do you play, sing, do all that kind of stuff?

-We do all that.

-Really?

-Dressed up, dressed down.

-So, Bill, what was your job in the Navy?

-I became a radar operator.

You were in Japan for the Korean War?

Just at the end, at the peace negotiations.

And you were doing all that evacuation stuff?

That was in French Indochina, which became Vietnam, as you know.

-You've also been in the Old Bill, haven't you, Bill?

-Yes. 30 years.

How lovely.

-Did you enjoy that?

-Marvellous. Loved every minute.

Which is better, the RN or the Old Bill?

I've got good friends in both so I'm saying nothing.

-Anyway, have a great time.

-We will.

-Hope you enjoy it.

Now, Sterling, what's a cabbage mechanic and a greenie, then?

There's branches in the Navy, different branches,

-and we all do different jobs.

-Yes.

So we have to have different names for different branches.

-"Cabbage mechanic" is a cook.

-Ah, yes.

Now, "a greenie" is an electrician,

but that comes from, years ago, the officers in the Royal Navy,

between their gold rings, used to wear a colour,

and the colour that electrical officers used to wear was green.

-Green for earth!

-So green - greenie.

-You'd be in the cookery department?

-Yes.

-Lot of fish and chips, I bet?

Only on Friday.

-Chips every day.

-Chips every day.

-But fish on a Friday.

-But you did that on the surface and under the water.

-Yes.

Did you ever have a problem spending all those weeks under the water?

-Not really, no. You work, you sleep, you work, you sleep.

-Yeah.

Now, so, Freddo, you were the electrician, you were the sparks.

Tell us what you got up to.

My primary role on board a ship was what they call light electrics,

which we looked after within the main ship - lighting,

communication systems - but also weapons systems.

What have you got up to apart from being in the RN?

When I left the Navy, I got a job in a prison,

made my way up to a manager

-and today is my first day as a retired man.

-No! Well done.

Your first day of retirement today.

-And you've come out bargain-hunting?

-Yes.

You've made the right decision there!

Cos the first thing is, you pick up £300 to go out there and shop.

Go forth and multiply. You know the rules.

Your experts await, and off you go! Very, very good luck.

Our gallant Navy lads venture off on their shopping voyage.

Only two people can try and navigate our teams to victory.

A big fan of a profit or two, it's Jonathan Pratt.

And hoping not to hit a bum note today is David Harper.

Don't forget, the experts will be really up against it today

as they will each have to find two bonus buys,

and I'll be telling them, but not the contestants,

which one I think will make the most profit at auction.

Anchors away, let's crack on with the day.

That is the in between one.

MUSIC: "In The Navy" by Village People

Come on, guys, welcome to my world.

Look at this. Exciting, or what?

-Superb, isn't it?

-Aladdin's cave.

-It's a bit daunting, isn't it?

-What will we be looking for, Fred?

-I like plates,

brass, things like that.

Memorabilia.

-OK. What kind of memorabilia?

-Military. Naval, especially.

Of course. Couple of ex-Navy men.

Here we are. What are you going to look for today?

Anything with a military-type...

Eastern-type, nautical.

-Nautical, Eastern, military.

-Anything with an Eastern touch.

-Silver?

-Yes.

-Anything to do with the drinking trade.

-Right. Beer?

-Do you like a bit of beer?

-I like a drop of beer. And rum, of course.

Of course! This is going to be an exciting journey.

Right, we have 60 minutes, real sharp timing,

-are you ready for it?

-We are.

-We are.

-Come on, guys.

Let's start in here.

There's lots of that sort of stuff here.

-Let's go and have a look.

-Let's have a look.

-That's something to do with the drinking trade.

-Let's have a look.

-Who on earth is going to buy that, Sterling?

-Um...yeah.

I don't really know. I thought it'd be interesting, but maybe not!

More sobering thoughts over with the Reds.

A tea caddy. George II.

This is a very traditional caddy shape.

You could say it's George III. It's about 1750, 1760.

It's on the cusp of the two reigns.

Made of mahogany, lovely grain in it.

It's never going to run away because there's not enough buyers at auction

for these sorts of things. They have a set price and that's that.

You buy it at a discounted price, that's what they paid at auction,

-you're not going to make a profit.

-Right.

-It's a nice object.

It's lasted 250 years and will probably last another 250 years,

but it's not going to make us a profit.

Some good advice there, JP.

You sure have a wise head on young shoulders.

Aye-aye! The Blues have taken a shine to something.

What do you like about it?

The whole shape of it, the design, it's a bit unusual.

-I haven't seen anything like it before.

-OK.

It's Doulton Lambeth. It's fascinating company, this,

because there you have an Art Nouveau high-quality

nicely glazed pot, but at the very same time they were making this,

they were producing downpipes for gutters, sewage pipes, the lot.

Brilliant company.

So on the base - "Doulton". Marked "England",

so that means it's after 1891,

and heading towards the First World War,

so that will date it to about 1905, 1910.

So what was before 1891, then? What did they put on them?

Absolutely nothing.

"Doulton" but no country of origin.

That is introduced in 1891, that's it.

Beautifully marked. Now, where's the problem?

-Should be two of them?

-Yes. There should be two of them.

Sterling work, Sterling!

Now, the decoration is good as well,

because can you see how you've got all this impressed decoration?

-Any idea how they do that?

-Build it up with enamel?

No, it's much simpler. When the clay is wet,

they get...basically like a doily, a bit of linen

with a design in it and do this, and press it.

That gets that decoration and they paint it later.

So a really good pot. Very stylish.

So, whilst the Blues ponder the pot,

the Reds had their expert on his knees.

Scrubbing the decks, eh, JP?

You don't really often look down the bottom, do you?

Oh, looks like they're getting a price.

And she's going to be kind.

-How kind do you want me to be?

-About 50 quid's worth.

-I think I'd have to phone the dealer for that?

-Would you?

-Yeah.

Would you mind? Make a quick phone call?

You said it should be one of a pair.

On its own, in the right surrounding,

it'd look absolutely superb.

Given the right lights, decoration around it, it'd be excellent.

Hmm.

-Good news.

-Good news?

-£50.

-Right.

-That's amazing, that.

-I'm made up.

-Good.

-Marvellous.

Thank you very much.

Good work, Blues.

First buy in the bag.

Are they...?

They are silver. They're 1918 silver.

They do sell because people put them on the dining table and use them,

but, generally speaking, the way to value them is take the glass out,

pop them on the scales.

They're worth a bit more than the silver value.

Again, you need Victorian, different shapes.

It's the right sort of thing. They will sell at auction,

but you'll be struggling to make profits.

Are you liking something there?

I'm just looking at this writing desk.

-It's still got the original leather top.

-Yeah. Let's have a look.

OK.

Let's have a look. What are you thinking?

See how it's made. It's got dovetail joints

and it's not mass produced, I wouldn't have thought.

But there's a dovetail joint and a dovetail joint.

A little tell-tale sign for a hand-cut dovetail

would be a little scribe mark

where the cabinet-maker has measured, and he's literally

drawn a pencil mark or a slight cut

and then he's cut his dovetails by hand to that mark.

There's no scribe mark at all, so that's a machine-made piece.

So the piece of furniture pretending to be made in 1790,

that has never seen 1790,

and it probably hasn't seen much before 1970.

So it's a repro.

-It's not going to make any money.

-No.

Gosh. There's an old canvas-covered shell case here, look,

with a coat of arms on.

-Oh, yes.

-They often get used as stick stands.

I mean, it's original. It comes at...

Obviously, it comes at a price.

£160.

That's full price.

Yeah.

But it's a nice object and people will buy these.

Put them in the front hall and have a few sticks by the door.

I'll just go and see the dealer

-and see if we can come to some arrangement.

-Why not?

Do your best, Bill.

You don't want this backfiring.

Meanwhile, in the Blue camp, confidence is riding high.

-I've got this thing inside...

-Yeah?

I want to keep going and buy more.

-It's a bit of a buzz, isn't it?

-It is.

-Have you bought antiques before?

-Not really. Been round the odd market

but nothing like this.

Jonathan, I've just spoken to the dealer

-and she's said we can have it for 128.

-Excellent.

-Have you shaken her hand?

-I've shaken her hand.

-Job done.

First purchase. Nice military object. Well done, gents.

From one boy to another.

Buy number one, locked and loaded for the Reds.

-Can we have a look at that mirror?

-Absolutely.

OK, lovely. Thank you.

Now, then, chaps, what do we think about that? Does it get you?

-What attracted you to it?

-I liked the fretwork,

the detail,

the fact that it is made from mahogany.

I love the bevelled mirror.

-Carol, do you love that?

-DEALER: It's beautiful.

It is stunning. The shape of that glass,

and that's hand bevelled,

so it'll be original to the frame itself.

Date-wise, probably circa 1900,

-something like that.

-DEALER: I think so. Before the turn of the century.

On the top, you've got a queen's crown.

The king's crown goes up, like that,

the queen's crown goes down, like a heart.

-That's the shape there.

-It's got to be pre-1901.

Top of the class, chaps.

-It's celebrating Queen Victoria, isn't it?

-Yes.

Which could mean it's 1897, the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria

on the throne, and of course the one before that was 1887,

the big 50 years.

-I'm handing it to you. You tell me what you think.

-Thank you.

He's bound to tell us something else we don't know.

There is a little bit of damage. There's a piece missing.

There's a little crack there.

-I think we can live with that.

-And there.

It's nothing... It's what it is, isn't it?

-The fact that it is 114, 115 years old...

-Yeah, yeah.

And it does look superb.

-What do you think? What could it be?

-I think there's a £40 price tag on it.

There is, yes.

- How does 30 sound? - 25 sounds a lot, lot better!

Does 25 sound better? I think I could do 25.

Dear, dear me. I love you!

LAUGHTER

-I'm happy with that.

-Are you? How are you feeling now?

You've done another deal.

If someone said to me on Friday I'd be feeling like this today...

On your first day of retirement you should be feeling miserable,

effectively, and yet I'm having the best buzz I've had for years!

Oh, marvellous. That is absolute music to my ears. Thank you again.

That is fantastic.

On that happy note it is a good time for me

to reflect on the need for a little bit of security.

Now, I want you to think miniature.

Are you thinking miniature? How miniature?

Are you thinking that small?

Padlocks? Lockable devices of all sorts are collectable.

That little brass fellow,

I guess, probably dates from about 1850 or so.

Two brass plates supported on pillars

and then we've got a later key,

and if I shnick it like that, turn the key,

it does still actually work.

What might that little padlock have been used for?

Well, you could use it to secure a little tuck box.

You could use it on a spirit tantalus to stop the servants

nicking the whisky.

And who knows? A little jewellery box.

Something that is not going to require a great deal of security

because it wouldn't be that difficult to break,

but just something that you'd know that nobody had tampered with.

But the most desirable is, of course, the smallest one,

which is made of polished nickel.

Two nickel plates, and there are seven posts supporting those plates.

And to make that in miniature

is nothing more than a little tour de force.

The hasp is made of steel and I can shnick it closed like that,

and then the greatest miracle of all is that the original steel key

is intact and with the padlock.

And it, too, works.

Now, what might you use such a tiny little padlock for?

Well, if you'd been presented with a diary,

and in that all your secret, innermost girly thoughts had been contained,

you certainly wouldn't want any grown-up coming along

and meandering around in that lot.

So, a miniature padlock to secure those loving memories.

As a result of this being in good condition,

dating from the early part of the 19th century,

complete with its original key,

makes this little honey worth the top end of £150.

What might they cost you?

In a place like this, £15-£20 apiece.

Does that make you feel secure? I hope it does.

It's back to the wheeling and dealing.

Talking about things that are odd, and I've never seen before,

here's something that is odd and I've never seen before.

So, first of all, what do you think it is?

-It's a chair.

-Blimey, you're on a roll today(!)

-It's got two backs.

-It's got two backs.

I'm going to come to that in a minute. That's the usual bit.

So, it's a chair.

It's absolutely High Victorian, made from solid mahogany

with its original brass castors with brown porcelain feet.

Flat front, very slight bow to it.

Has it got the original leather on it or has it been reupholstered?

It's positively been reupholstered.

Because that is not leather. It's something that is called Rexine.

But this is the first version of leatherette,

so dating to about 1870.

But what is super-unusual, and you picked up on it, is that.

What on earth is going on there? Never seen it before.

So what's the purpose?

It could be for sitting at a table

and you've got someone who's like a child or something like that,

if you put it there...

Let's demonstrate, Fred. You sit in now, tell me how that feels.

Lean back.

-It works.

-Yes, it does.

-Does it have a lean to it?

-Yes.

It supports the bottom of the lumbar region nicely.

It's like an original...one of those lumbar seats,

you know, what you can buy, that's got the bit...

Or you can actually buy them, can't you?

-You can buy them to fit into the back of your chair.

-Yes.

Got like a lumbar... In your car, or on your desk chair.

-OK.

-It can actually fit in.

Let me just... Let me just try this. The first time ever, a chair like this.

Oh, my gosh. Actually, that is fantastic.

It's almost like a recliner in, effectively, a dining chair.

-But it fits your back as you move.

-It fits your back as you move.

Do you know what, I've absolutely no idea what it's worth.

Haven't... Oh, my gosh.

Johnstone & Jeanes, New Bond Street, London. Right, OK.

It is incredibly rare for any British piece of furniture

to be marked by its cabinet-maker.

Even Thomas Chippendale, do you know this,

never, ever marked his pieces of furniture.

-Can I just go and get a price for that?

-Yeah.

-OK. Try it out.

-After you.

-After me.

A well-earned rest for the Blues. You're looking pooped!

But for the Reds, it's time to look shipshape.

You're running out of time, boys.

"Stanley, that's another fine mess you've got me into!"

Stop resting on your LAURELS! And get on with it.

-And the Blues are still sitting around.

-I like it.

-I like it.

I like it. It's one of those things that grows on you.

When you look at it, you think, "Strange." But...practical.

-Would you make a phone call?

-Yes, I will.

-OK, thank you. OK.

Right.

So, whilst the Blues wait for a price on the chair,

the Reds are on the case.

-That brush there.

-That little brush there.

-See if it's hallmarked.

It's Birmingham, it's early 20th century.

It's not... It's not written down, but it's a C, which is... A, B, C...

1928.

£18.

If you got that for... If you got that for £12... £10, £12.

£18 is on there. Your very best would be?

I'll let you have it for 12.

£12. Time is of the essence. Thank you very much. Two down, one to go.

Two down, one to go.

Not exactly pushing the boat out, boys.

But a second buy, nevertheless.

Now, over to the Blues with some news.

120 is the best.

Now, this chair is either going to make 50 quid,

because nobody is going to understand it.

Or somebody IS going to understand it, clock it online

and it could make £200 or £300.

Right, well, I think 120...

-We said 125.

-We've got the buzz.

-Have you got the buzz?

-I'm happy.

-Are you happy? Are we both done?

-Yeah, we are.

-Well done.

Still leave you some money.

Plain sailing, fellas, eh? High-fives all round.

Meanwhile, the Reds are looking all at sea.

Ahoy there! Dave's spotted something.

Oh, yes, Dave. HMS Orestes.

That was an Algerine-class minesweeper.

An oceangoing minesweeper.

-What's the price on it?

-20.

-It's a minesweeper from the Second World War?

-Yes.

-And that would have been the crest on that ship?

-On the ship.

20 quid. Interesting.

-Has a bit of history.

-Go for it.

-Let's have a look, let's have a little look.

-We need to see how old it is.

-Where was it from?

-Well, that's quite... That's is quite fun, actually.

-Yeah.

-He can do it for 18 without any quibbling, which is 10%.

-Yeah.

Unless you want to quibble.

-15.

-15. For a couple of old seadogs.

I'm absolutely convinced! 15 and it's yours!

Look at that. OK, are we going to go for that, yes?

I think it's a nice little buy. I bow to your greater knowledge.

-I think it's a nice little buy. 15 quid.

-Marvellous.

Quite honestly, we're down to the last seconds here,

so I say very well done. It's not expensive. I think there's profit.

Marvellous.

Marvellous indeed.

Both teams have got three items each and...

ALARM RINGS

Ooh! Time's up. Let's check out what the Red team bought, eh?

An explosive start for the Reds.

They shelled out £128 for the cartridge carrier.

Next up was the silver brush. £12 paid.

The team were all on board with their last buy -

the ship's plaque set them back £15.

-Right, Dave, which is your favourite piece?

-The cartridge carrier.

-Is it?

-Yes.

-Do you agree?

-I was the same.

-You do?

-Oh, yes.

And which bit is going to bring the biggest profit?

-I think the little hairbrush.

-The hairbrush. Fine. Do you agree?

-I'd go for the cartridge carrier.

-You're going back with the cartridge carrier.

And you spent how much?

-155.

-155.

-155.

I'd like £145 of leftover lolly, please,

which is going to go across to the amazing, fantastic JP,

who is going to transform it into an object of a bonus buy

that will be desirable, amusing and likely to be profitable.

-Is that the case, JP?

-I'll endeavour to try and do all three!

-I might do. I'll try and tick at least two boxes!

-Yes.

The other thing that's about to happen is you get a further £100,

which you are going to be able to spend on the special bonus buy

for our hour-long programme today, which is exciting.

And when you've bought 'em,

bring 'em back and we'll have a bit of a natter.

Anyway, chaps, go and have a cup of tea.

Well done. Meanwhile, why don't we check out what the Blue team bought, eh?

The Blues' Doulton vase was purchased for a nifty 50.

Is a profit staring them in the face?

A deal was done at £25 for the mirror.

And, finally, are the Blues sitting pretty with the mahogany chair?

£120 paid.

Well, you chaps, you've been up to no good -

-leaving it to the last minute.

-That's correct.

-Perfectly correct.

Now, tell me, Fred, which is your favourite piece?

I have to say, the last item we bought, which is a very unusual chair.

-Yeah? Do you agree with that?

-Definitely.

-100%. That's your favourite favourite?

-Yes.

And, Fred, which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

If it goes all right, the chair.

-And how much did you spend?

-£195.

Did you? That is such a good amount of money.

-I'm amazed you managed to spend so much.

-I am as well.

I'm treasurer of the association!

-Yes.

-Yes.

-So, who's got the £105? You have?

-Yes. Now I've got to give it to you, have I?

-You do.

-That's the name of the game.

-There we go.

-There we go.

£105, which is going straight across to David Harper.

Thank you, Tim.

-Are you feeling confident, Dave?

-Always confident.

Here comes the additional £100 for the special bonus buy.

And when you've bought both of them, David, if you'd bring them back

and we'll have a little chat, that would be great.

Both our experts are on the hunt for their bonus buys.

I will be telling them which one I think will make the most profit,

but I won't let on to the contestants.

They'll get their chance to choose at the auction,

and if they're doing really well, they might not go with either of them.

JP has £145 of leftover lolly for his team's bonus buy

and he also has £100 for today's special buy.

Oh, hello, sailor.

JP has spotted something.

This... This is what I've been looking for.

This is absolutely perfect for Bill and Dave.

I mean, a couple of old maritime men.

Er, it looks to be a pencil drawing.

£60 they are asking.

If I can get that for 40...

I think it's a really good buy. Absolutely perfect. Brilliant.

You're not done just yet, JP. Now, time to pick your special buy.

I absolutely love these things, OK?

This is a climbing axe,

an ice axe from the early part of the 20th century,

probably about the 1930s.

Hickory shaft, steel blades, lovely canvas covers, which are original.

"Made in Switzerland," it says on the side.

But £88 is the price. I am going to see if I can get it any cheaper.

I found a quiet spot away from our contestants.

So let's take a look at these bonus buys.

Right, then, JP, this is your team's bonus buy.

for our lovely, lovely naval chaps.

You've got this cracked, haven't you? Look at that.

As soon as I saw it, I just thought it had to be, it had to be.

It's all naval. There's Nelson, and I thought

the couple, those guys are a bit like Laurel and Hardy.

I kind of thought they were like these characters here, you know.

-So this is a pencil drawing?

-Absolutely.

-And therefore an original cartoon.

-Yep.

And it depicts

some kind of interwar naval cuts, I would say, wouldn't you?

I do.

They are talking here about, "The passion for merging

"two into one will not be carried too far."

-So how much did you pay?

-£40.

-I'd love to see it making three figures.

-Yeah.

-But let's say it might make £30 profit.

-And what are you doing here?

Going to the Arctic?

OK, so you've got a hickory shaft

and steel climbing axe from the 1930s.

Made in Switzerland, original canvas things on the end.

-Look at that.

-OK, the strap is now...

Yeah, yeah, but never mind about that. That's marvellous, isn't it?

-OK, how much?

-£70.

OK. Well, there we are.

That's not so easy in terms of predicting a profit.

I'd love to have had it for less but it's not an easy game today.

No, it certainly isn't.

And my job now, predicting which is going to bring the most is not

so easy either, actually. And I fancy that the cartoon will do it.

-There should be a big audience for this.

-Yeah.

And at £40, I think it's a very good buy. So well done for that.

Thank you.

Meanwhile, why don't we have a look at how that jolly fine fellow,

David Harper, is getting on.

David is still searching for his two items.

Remember, he has £105 of leftover lolly for his team's bonus buy.

-So, the very best for this pair of beauties.

-To you, £30.

-£30.

-OK, I'm going to have them. Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-OK.

So, £30 for a pair of copper, enamel and cast-iron bowls.

But what are they?

Dog bowls? Cereal bowls? Positively not.

They are 19th-century spittoons.

Very sophisticated.

Disgusting.

David has his additional £100 to find a special bonus buy with and strike a light! He's found it!

Is this going to be the most expensive box of matches

-I have ever bought?

-Absolutely, David.

-Marvellous.

-What's it going to cost me?

-The very best on that is £70.

-£70, OK. All right. Thank you, Carol.

-You're welcome.

Wow! And also the biggest box of matches I have ever bought.

Now, no-one would have bought these originally,

in about 1910-ish, for home use.

Certainly not taking out in your pocket.

These were advertising boxes for shop use

so you would walk into your newsagent,

this blighter would be on the counter and you may well be

surprised at how much money things like this can actually make.

-OK, David. You have been at it, haven't you?

-I've been at it.

How about these two dog bowls? Tell us about that.

-They are the team's bonus buy.

-They are the team's bonus buy.

Really good quality, copper, steel-based -

look at that - screaming Victorian manufacturing mass production

but of quality, with a porcelain liner.

-When I first saw them, I thought, what fantastic dog bowls are they.

-Quite.

-However, they could also be spittoons.

-Ohh...

-No?

I would rather have a dog bowl than a spittoon.

Shall we describe them as dog bowls.

I think you are better off, marketing wise.

You are more likely to have somebody with

a couple of pooches that might want some antique dog bowls.

So, David, you had £105. How much did they cost?

-Well, I would have bought one...

-You paid more than £40?

-No, 30.

-Oh, well, that's all right. Well done for finding something different.

-Thank you.

And now for something completely different.

-This is the special bonus buy.

-Yes.

-You had £100. Tell us about it.

Dating, I feel, to the early 20th century, 1910,

about the First World War period, safety matches by a very well-known manufacturer.

But the great thing about it - one, it's in pretty good condition

and underneath this first inch layer of matches

is a blue lining paper exactly the same as that and more matches stacked below

and they have never been seen for 100 years.

And we know there are guys out there all across the world that

collect advertising memorabilia and I think this is a great example.

And do you know what the matchbox collecting lot are called?

They're called phillumenologists.

And when they hear online that you have got this giant Bryant & May matchbox...

It's even got a tacker in the end, hasn't it?

That is the same period. It's the same label, look.

-It's exactly the same.

-Lovely.

So you have got a miniature box as well. You are clever old thing.

-What did you pay?

-£70.

-Again, very difficult to value.

I mean, has another one like this ever sold?

Bit of research, you could find out.

But you're out there, on your own, and you had to get on with it.

You've got no time. And I think that's very clever, David,

seriously, to find that. I think they are both super.

I think if I had to plump as to which one has got more money in it,

I think it's going to be the matchbox.

-I thought you were going that way.

-Even though it's substantially higher in the threshold of stuff,

I can see that taking off if it's marketed on the internet. I really can.

'What will the teams make of the bonus buys?

'We'll find out later on.'

But right now, we are taking a breather.

In keeping with the forces theme, I've come to London,

to visit the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich.

This was one of the most important

centres in the world for munitions production.

Today, the factories have fallen silent.

Instead, part of the site has been redeveloped into the Royal Artillery Museum.

If you want to find evidence of British war heroes,

this is a fine place to start.

Today, we're going to look at the lives of two British servicemen,

spanning two centuries, the first of which is called the Indian Mutiny.

The Indian Mutiny occurred between 1857 and 1858,

when the Indians rebelled against the British.

Now, Mark, you're the curator of this marvellous museum.

I hope you going to tell me about General Hills-Johnes.

Lieutenant, at the time, when he was in the Indian mutiny.

James Hills-Johnes was in charge of a gun position

which every night was attacked by mutineer cavalry.

And every night, the British cavalry rushed out, beat them off,

and basically all was well.

On this particular day, the Indian mutiny cavalry attacked,

as normal, as it were, but there was no British cavalry.

So James, on his own, mounted his horse,

drew his sword and charged the mutineers all on his own.

He killed three of them before he was dis-horsed.

He then proceeded with his sword on foot.

He was about to be killed himself when his friend,

Lieutenant Alferts, rushed up behind him on a horse,

killed the man behind him and gave the impetus to actually drive away

the cavalry and the then the British cavalry turned up and saved the day.

Both Alferts and James Hills-Johnes were both awarded the Victoria Cross.

Now, next door, we clearly have something that is macabre looking.

-Moving from the romance of the...

-Moving from the... Absolutely.

Into the absolute industrial carnage of the Great War.

This is known as a PH hood.

The gas of choice for the Germans at this point was phosgene gas.

And that attacks the breathing systems.

What you do is you undo your tunic,

you pull the hood completely over your head and tuck it into your jacket.

There is a little mouthpiece inside there that you breathe through

and then you have these two very small eye holes to see

the attack coming towards you.

And what's the connection between this mask and the Victoria Cross?

The Victoria Cross was won by a man called John Raynes.

And in 1915 in October, Sergeant Raynes's battery was giving

covering fire with the artillery

and the Germans were replying with shrapnel shells and phosgene gas.

Sergeant Raynes saw his friend, a chap called Sergeant Ayres, wounded.

When a temporary cease-fire was given, as targets were changed,

Sergeant Raynes ran about 40 yards to his friend and bound up his wounds

and then came back to his gun, got his gun back in action.

At the next change of target,

Sergeant Raynes asked for two volunteers and two men from his

gun detachment went with him to try and bring in Sergeant Ayres.

I shrapnel shell burst, killed the two volunteers

and wounded Sergeant Raynes.

Sergeant Raynes then carried Sergeant Ayres on his own back to the

gun line, took him to the dugout and put him in a place of safety,

and then returned to his gun, no wounded.

The next part of action came

and they witnessed a German gas shell burst in the dugout of Sergeant Ayres.

So where they put him for safety, this shell exploded.

Sergeant Raynes ran over and his friend now was wounded again,

but he was wounded in such a way that it had destroyed his PH helmet.

Sergeant Raynes only had one PH helmet and that was the one

he was wearing so in the gas, he took off his own helmet, he put

it on his friend and then carried him out to the dressing station.

They said to Sergeant Raynes, "You're wounded." They put him on a stretcher.

-He got back off the stretcher...

-No!

-And he rescued four men.

-I don't know...

-And they awarded him the Victoria Cross.

Well, all that is incredibly moving

and I can't think of a better man to curate the collection, frankly.

Thank you very much!

-Well done. Thank you very much for all that information.

-Pleasure.

Right now, though, I think we need to return to the

auction to find out how our horrible shower are getting on. Don't you?

It's full steam ahead and with all guns blazing for our Navy boys

because we're off to Liverpool.

So, Adam Partridge, I have to ask you to get to your saleroom here

in Liverpool from Congleton, how far is it and how long does it take?

I know that answer, Tim, because I drive here regularly.

I live in Congleton. It's takes about an hour. It's about 45 miles.

There we go. 45 miles from where we shopped to Adam's saleroom here in Liverpool.

And in this saleroom,

how much are you going to get for this shot carrier?

-Well, I put £20-£40.

-It's a trick question, really.

Because our team paid £128 for this.

Because of the naval, military background,

-I guess it kind of struck a chord.

-It triggered something in them.

It certainly did.

It set off an explosion which was foolhardy,

because no way does that thing, in my view,

-make any more than £50 on a very, very good day.

-I agree.

It's a stick stand, really.

I suppose, in the home, the usage is only really that, isn't it?

-Next is the plastic-topped simulated hand brush.

-Yes.

Which is a shocker, really. Thank God it's got a silver rim on it.

Well, exactly, but why have a silver rim, put a plastic middle in it?

I don't know. Doesn't make sense, does it?

-I can't explain these things.

-Is it worth £5?

-It's probably worth £10.

-They paid £12.

-Well, you never know.

-There is some hope.

-Yes.

-Next is the ship's plaque.

-I was kind with your estimate at £20 to £40.

-OK.

They normally make a tenner each, those. We sell loads of them.

Maritime and shipping sales.

We usually have an in group lots but you never know.

£15 is what they paid.

But no way do those two objects

make up for the loss on that shot carrier so they are definitely going to need

one or other of their bonus buys, so let's go and have a look at the experts showing them.

Now, Dave and Bill, this is exciting. Two bonus buys.

You gave JP £145.

JP, reveal what you bought for the team bonus buy.

Well, for a couple of naval men, I couldn't resist... OK?

Pencil drawing and it's of naval interest.

By a chap called Edward Tennyson Reed,

done in the early part of the 20th century.

And it's a sort of parody of sort of political stuff that was

going on at the time.

-That's good, isn't it?

-Can we ask the cost?

-You can.

And if I told you I paid only £40 for it you'd think,

there we are, look, bargain.

The words came from his lips, so bargain.

What do you think on the profit side?

Good question, because it's the naval buyers, I think,

that will go for it and it depends on how much they are willing to pay.

It could double its money.

Anyway, now, the £100, special bonus buy will be revealed. Thank you, JP.

-Tell us about that.

-That's an early 20th-century climbing axe.

-Yes.

It's a cool thing.

I spent £70 so it's a bit more of an investment than the picture.

Profit wise, difficult to say, really. Will it make a profit?

-I'd like to think so.

-It wouldn't be my first pick.

-Would it not?

Well, the thing is, you don't have to decide

until after the sale of the first three items.

You can choose either or of these bonus buys but not both.

Have a little think, chaps, because right now,

we're going to find out from the auctioneer for the viewers

at home, what he thinks about JP's bonus buys.

The team's bonus buy, Adam, is this pencil drawing. Do you like it?

Well, in this famous maritime city,

you'd think it's got half a chance, wouldn't you?

Well, you'd think so, wouldn't you? Anyway, £40 was paid.

-What's your estimate?

-I put 30 to 50.

-Did you?

Well, that's in the frame at least.

And the alternative, Jonathan's special bonus buy is this ice axe.

Yes, which I quite like, actually.

Not much need for an ice axe here in Liverpool

but I think it's a bit of fun. What would you do with it?

Hang it on the wall, I suppose. I think £20-£40.

But I wouldn't be surprised if it might make 50, perhaps.

It's quite fun.

Yes. £70 paid by Jonathan.

He's very keen on all things alpine

and I have to say that my prediction was that this baby will make

-the most profit, if there's any profit to be made.

-Yes.

Of course, but I won't be telling the Reds which bonus buy my money is on.

Anyway, that's it for the Reds.

Now for the Blues and their first item is the Doulton Lambeth pot.

Yes. Well, we see lots of these through the salerooms.

It's not an uncommon thing, is it? It's big and impressive.

The Slaters patent, obviously,

with the lace, real lace on the wet clay to achieve that effect.

Typically £40-£60.

-It never seems much for a big impressive vase, does it?

-Exactly.

40 to 60 is your estimate. Dean paid 50.

Now the fret-carved cartouche mirror,

which some bloke did in his shed. That's called shed work, right?

-From the 1920s.

-Shed ware.

-Shed ware. What's it worth?

A shed load or not?

Not that much because it has got some losses, hasn't it?

-It's not a great order. We're missing pieces.

-Right.

-Needs to go back to the shed.

-£20-£40.

-Very good. £25 paid.

And then the last item, which has to be by far the most interesting,

-is this weird mahogany side chair.

-I like it a lot.

Johnstone & Jeanes were seriously good makers, weren't they?

-They were very good makers.

-And patentees of oddball objects.

This is a great example of a piece of Victorian patent furniture

that was designed for something that was probably never needed.

They loved to over-engineer, didn't they, and design things?

If you had a problem with your back,

if you had a serious curvature of the spine or some medical

complaint that you needed a specialist arrangement,

I bet that's the story behind it.

-Yes, it's kind of combination backrest chair, isn't it?

-Exactly.

Anyway, I think it's interesting. It's by a great maker.

-It should do jolly well. What is your estimate?

-£60-£100.

And I think it'll make the top end of that estimate,

perhaps a touch more.

-That's exactly where it needs to be, at £120.

-OK.

And if you got to £120, I guarantee you there will be

-three people jumping around in the room, including me.

-Oh, well.

-Which would be nice.

-That would be lovely.

-Wouldn't it be nice?

OK, fine. On the other hand, if you don't do so well,

then the team is definitely going to need one or other of its bonus buys

so let's go and have a look at the expert showing the team them.

Right, chaps. This is exciting. Two bonus buys.

David Harper, you had £105 worth of

left over lolly to find the team's bonus buy.

Let's see what you bought.

OK, perfect objects for a pair of old sailors.

THEY LAUGH

First of all, the team's bonus buy, what might look like dog bowls

and they could be used as very posh dog bowls.

A pair of 19th century, what does every sailor need? A spittoon.

-Heavily disguised as ashtrays.

-Could be, that's right.

You can do what you like with them.

They're really good quality.

Copper and cast iron and enamel made by a company called Clark.

Marked on the underside.

Made in the 19th century

and made literally to last for ever. I spent £30 on the pair.

That's not bad.

It's all right, isn't it?

For a pair of spittoons of 120 years in age 30 quid's all right.

How much do you think there's going to be in this?

I think they should estimate at 30-50 so there's a small profit

potential but I couldn't resist spittoons.

How could I?

Now, the £100 worth of special

-bonus buy is therefore the matches.

-Yes.

And a very special purchase too.

Look at that.

Circa 100 years old, a big box of matches used to promote the brand

in a tobacconist, newsagent of some sort during the Edwardian period.

Or light big candles.

Or big cigars or whatever you want to use them for.

But you wouldn't use them now because it would kill the value.

The glory there is the condition and the fact the majority

of matches that were first made to go in the box are still there.

-Quite a rare thing.

-How much did you pay for them?

-A lot of money.

-I paid £70.

-What do you think the profit's going to be on these?

-Um...

That one online with specialist buyers

and interested people could do anything. It could surprise you.

It could make £100 or more. I've never seen that before.

Advertising memorabilia,

anything to do with advertising in condition can be very good news.

You can choose either or of these bonus buys after

the sale of your first three items. Or neither as you like.

But right now, for the audience at home, let's find out what the

auctioneer thinks about David Harper's bonus buys.

Right, Adam. Here comes the team's bonus buy. A couple of dog bowls.

How do you rate those then?

-Are they spittoons?

-I think we're safer with dogs.

-Not as exciting though, is it?

-As spittoons?

Lots of people keep dogs and not so many people spit any more

so I'd go with dog bowls, me.

Just a favour from the rostrum, call them both. That will do us a favour.

-What are they worth?

-20-40 the pair. 20 quid, really.

-£30 paid.

That's the team's bonus buy.

And the special bonus buy which is the shop display matches,

-what's your estimate on those?

-Very striking but another 20 quid or so.

-Oh, dear, £70 paid.

-That's an awful lot, isn't it?

I don't know.

I think if it's on the internet and the matchbox collecting society

pick it up there will be somebody who is a specialist collector.

-Who will go for this, I promise you.

-You think so?

-I do.

I just hope there are two of them out there.

What do you think they're going to make then?

I think they're going to light us all up and make £50.

My prediction is they will do better than those.

I'll be keeping stum on what item I'll be placing my bets on.

They will make more than those

-but whether they'll lose or make profit, I'm not sure.

-OK, fine.

This is the big mystery and you're going to unlock it from the rostrum.

-Thank you, Adam.

-Pleasure.

140 online.

£60.

Dave and Bill, how are you feeling? All right. Confident?

-Yes.

-Anything you wish you hadn't bought?

-About three things.

The first thing you'll definitely wish you hadn't bought which is

the painted shot carrier because he's only put £20-40 on it.

Put that down to our naval expertise.

Yeah, that's it. There we go. Anyway, here it comes.

Cartridge carrier could go as a stick stand in the modern home,

couldn't it? Very nice with the royal coat of arms and a leather strap.

I'm bid £20. At 20 and 5 now and 5.

40 and 5. In the room at 45. Is there 50? 55.

No, 50 ladies bid. Seated at 50. Any more at £50? At £50, all done then.

No-one online. £50 and selling.

-Thank you.

-It's better than he predicted.

Which is -78.

-We're going to claw it all back now.

-Hand brush.

Silver rim, Birmingham 1927.

Simulated enamelling on it.

Bid me a tenner.

£10, a silver rimmed brush. There we are. 10 in the middle.

At £10 a lady has bid. Any advance on £10? Any further bids at £10? At £10.

Selling this at £10, all done?

-Bad luck. -£2. That rounds it up to -80.

-Ship's plaque there. £10.

Online it's £10 internet. At £10. Any advance on £10 for this now?

At £10 the bid's online.

That's another -£5 which means overall you're -£85.

What are we going to do about these multiple bonus buys?

Are you going to go for the pencil sketch or for the axe or neither?

-We're going to go for the sketch.

-Are you?

-Did you love it because it's naval?

-Without any doubt.

This is the one I thought would do well too.

The die is cast, we're going with the team bonus buy and here it goes.

A bit of fun there. Pencil drawings by Edward Tennyson Reed.

Will you start me £30, please? £30.

20 then.

£20, surely somebody?

£20 for that? They're all having a good look. £20?

There we are. £20, thank you. There we are seated at £20.

Is there 5 anywhere? At £20 now. £20, a pencil drawing at 20.

Any advance on this now? £20.

-Such a good thing.

-Such a good thing.

Tragedy. £20 is -£20.

-Ships sunk.

-Ships sunk. Certainly has. Without trace.

Now, we're going to the Swiss ice axe and her it comes.

The pick of the lot this one. 20 and 5 is bid. £25 I have on my books.

30, 5 still with me. At 35 now. £35 here. At 35, you all done with this?

40 bid. At £40. At £40 I'm selling here. All done at £40?

£40 is -30.

I predicted the Bystander sketch would make the most profit.

In fact it made the least loss

so I suppose there's some consolation in that.

There we go.

So you went with the bonus buy. You were -85, you're now -105.

That's awful. Sorry.

Bearing in mind what a blood bath we've had today that could be

a winning score today.

Say nothing to your shipmates, OK?

We have a branch meeting tomorrow night.

Where the four of us are going to be

and someone is going to get some stick tomorrow night.

They certainly are.

Anyway, somebody will be buying the drinks.

-So, guys, do you know how your shipmates did?

-Not a clue.

-They haven't said anything?

-No.

They say there's a committee meeting tomorrow night.

-There's going to be a lot of stick.

-We're wearing our fleeces.

Good for you.

First up will be the Doulton Slater's Patent vase.

A good, big decorative lump there. Doulton lamp. £40, bid me.

£40.

Is it £40? A lot of Doulton for your money at £40. A bid Doulton vase.

Come on.

£30, got to be sold. Give me 30. £30? 20 I've got. At £20 take 5.

At £20.

I'll take 30 online. At £25. Is it 30 online or not?

30 bid in a new place, 5, sir?

No. 30 only.

5 down here. At 35. Any more now at 35? Are you all done? At £35.

I'm going to weep.

Now, the cartouche shaped mirror.

There it is I'm bid £20 in one place and 5 here.

At £25, any advance on this lot? At £25 the mirror?

25, 30 and 5. Still here. I'm selling this now at £35.

You're -£5 now.

This is fascinating. Stand by for this.

Victorian chair with a rotating backrest.

There it is on the floor there.

What do we say, I'm bid £60 in one place already.

At £60 I'll take 5. At £60, any advance on £60 and 5.

75, 85, 95 here then. At £95 here.

-Are you all done? At £95.

-I can't bear it.

-At £95.

He's done it. -25. Overall you're -£30.

That is so bad luck.

A couple more tickles on that

and you would have got to 150 no trouble.

As it is you're -£30.

What are you going to do?

The spittoon bowls, you could do nothing or you could do the matches.

-I reckon...

-Don't go with any of them?

-We'll stick where we are.

I can tell you now that the spittoon bowls were estimated at £20-40.

£30 paid, so no shame in that.

The £70 Bryant & May box job he's estimated at £15-25.

I think he's quite wrong on that.

We're going to find out in a minute because my prediction earlier

was that the matches would make the most.

-Let's see who's right and who's wrong.

-Interesting.

First up, come the dog's bowls.

They are 19th century iron and copper by TC Clark and Co of Wolverhampton.

Fully marked on the base and give me £20 the pair.

I've got a tenner here. At £10 only. At £10 only.

At £10, are you all done on these? At £10 only bid.

15 in the room, thank you.

At £15 the pair. We're selling at £15.

-15 we sell.

-Did he sell them for 15? -£15. Good pick, lads.

-Now, I rate these.

-The oversized box of matches.

Bryant & May, advertising shop display matches with

a miniature box inside, as well a loads of massive matches in there.

I'm bid, 10, 15 and 20 only. At £20 is there 5 anywhere? At £20?

Any advance on these? 25 in the middle. At £25. I'll take 30 next.

At £25, at 25. It's 25 in the middle. Are you all done? We sell.

£25, no internet bidding. Shows I don't know anything about anything.

That's 5 short of 30 which is 45. -45.

You have made quite the right choice, chaps.

-£30 is your overall score. We'll find out in a moment

whether that is a winning score or not.

OK, chaps. This is exciting, isn't it?

You're great friends, right? But you're also great rivals.

There are massive losses on both sides.

And it's just the scale of the losses

and the massive scale of losses sits principally with the Reds.

Yes!

That has provoked a reaction because you managed to lose £105.

£105, there is going to be some chat in the bar, I can tell you.

I'm not going to run through this disaster sheet

because it all says minus in front of it.

We're not going to look at the bonus buys or discuss any of that

because it's all absolutely diabolical.

-Have you had a nice time?

-Marvellous time.

-Very good.

-We didn't come here for the money.

-Did you not? Good. Well done. Chaps.

It's been great having you on the show.

The victors who win by only losing £30, plus £10 was the only profit.

Out of any of the contributions from any of the teams

and that went on that fretted mirror, right?

Let's not fret about it.

I made a prediction that the

Bryant & May matches were going to the

biggest profit or the smallest loss and they made a huge loss

so shows I know nothing about anything.

I made a prediction the Bystander lovely pencil sketch was

going to make a profit and it made a loss.

I know nothing about that either.

Nobody has anything to be proud of except that we've been on this

glorious programme, right? And we've had the best of best fun.

-Anyway, join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting, yes?

-ALL: Yes!