Scotland Bargain Hunt

Today we're in the vast city of Glasgow

in search of something of good age and character.

No, not that!

We're going bargain hunting!

Coming up on the show, the reds seem to have questionable taste.

I would not be having that in my house, no.

-Just asking.

-Yes, fair enough.

But the blues can't even agree on their taste.

-I think that proves that you're tasteless.

-Does it?

-Clearly beautiful. Yes.

-So no fish and no fat two-headed horses.

-No. Unfortunately not.

Pressure's on at the auction for the reds.

-How are you feeling?

-I'm looking forward to it.

-What about you, Frank?

-A little nervous, maybe.

And the auction proves to be an eye-opener for the blues.

We're at the Clydeside Antiques Centre in Glasgow,

right in and amongst 25,000 square feet of collectables.

Our Scottish teams will each get £300 and an hour to shop

for three items they will then sell at auction,

where they hope to make a profit.

And any profits, they get to keep. Now there's a sobering thought.

You naughty crew!

All of this is going out of focus, you know. Let's meet the teams.

So for the reds today, we've got happily married couple -

well, at least they're happily married at the moment -

Frank and Sylvia. Welcome.

And for the blues, we've got wee Jerry and Heather.

Welcome to Bargain Hunt, chaps.

-Now, how long have you two been married?

-Ten years.

-And how did you meet?

-We met at a dance school.

Frank asked me to dance and it was dreadful.

He just stood on my toes, kicked my ankles.

-Then what happened, Frank?

-I went and got private lessons.

Asked her to dance again and it was OK.

-Slow, slow...

-Quick, quick, slow.

-That's the fellow.

-That's it.

-And before you knew where you were, you were in.

-Uh-huh.

Now, Sylvia, you're pretty musical, darling?

Yes, I love music. I sing with the City of Glasgow Chorus

and I play oboe with the Lanarkshire Cecilian Orchestra.

What do you collect, you two lovebirds?

Well, I collect silver spoons pre-1900

-and...

-Fossils.

-..fossils

and poo.

-And what?

-Poo!

-Poo?

-Poo!

That's nice, isn't it? That's a lump of poo, is it?

They tell me it is. I hope it is cos I bought it as poo.

Dinosaur poo.

-Oh, it's a fossil.

-It's a fossil.

-I don't need rubber gloves.

No, it's about 200 million years old.

-200 million-year-old dinosaur poo.

-Uh-huh.

Oh, that's fun, isn't it?

You can have it back. There we go. On that happy note, I'll pass that back.

Now, Heather, you've not got anything you want to show me in your pocket?

-I don't, no, not today.

-No, not today. Good.

-So how long have you two been together, then?

-Eight years.

-And how did you meet?

-We met working for a bank.

I started to work there a few years after Jerry

and walked in the door one day

and he obviously decided that he would pick me out of the crowd and we've been together ever since.

Jerry, what do you do? Are you still at the bank?

No, I now work for one of the country's largest estate agents

doing mortgage advice.

-So all the problems just now, not my fault.

-No, quite.

-Well, nobody's blaming you.

-Thank you.

-It's difficult.

-It is.

You also have a recent addition to your family.

We have. We've got a six-month-old baby girl.

-And what's she called?

-Lily.

-Lily!

-Yes.

-Wee Lily.

-Little Lily, our little missy.

-Your little missy.

-And who has she joined?

-She has joined Dylan and Adam and Niall,

so she's number four.

All these children, do you have any time to do anything else?

Not very much but when I do find a spare minute,

I've be lucky to be taken on by an agency in London,

writing a teen horror novel called Soul Searchers.

And what's Soul Searchers all about?

It's about a teenage demon who comes down to earth.

But he's quite a good guy, really.

So what's going to make you such a brilliant team

when it comes to hunting out those bargains?

Well, we're quite competitive between each other.

-Are you going to fall out? Are we going to have a fight?

-We'll try not.

-You feel well qualified to take on the reds?

-We'll give it a go.

-Yes, give them a run for their money.

-This is fighting talk.

-What fun. Now, £300 apiece. Here's your £300.

-Thank you.

This is the money moment.

You know the rules, your experts await and off you go

and very, very, very good luck.

Well, to give the teams a helping hand, we have two experts.

Let's hope they've got the stamina, what?

'For the red team, fellow Scot Paul Laidlaw,

'who knows when he's onto a winner.'

Ooh, you little tinker. Well spotted.

'And for the blues, from south of the border, Keith Baker,

'who has expensive tastes.'

£7,000 is a bit above our price

but we can aspire to it.

'The teams have only just started shopping

'but the reds get stuck in straightaway

'and have found something that's got their temperatures soaring.'

-Is it working?

-Yeah, it's a mercury thermometer. It's all there.

It has been silvered. It is in a pewter-like alloy.

It's a stylish object. Certainly strong art nouveau influence.

-Yes.

-But you'd want to get that for £20 and hope to sell it for 40.

-That would tick the box, wouldn't it?

-Yes.

-It's on for 50.

I like the shape. I like the fact it's a thermometer.

I could park that next to my telephone in the hall or on my desk.

It's a good-looking little ornament for the professional to have on his desk.

-What date is it?

-About 1900.

-Oh!

But it's not unsightly, that, if the price is right.

So, will we find out what the craic is? See if we can squeeze that down.

'The reds are in agreement on the thermometer

'but there doesn't seem to be as much harmony with the blues.'

-What about this for a bizarre and whacky item?

-No!

-You're not having that fish at all, are you?

-No.

Not seeing the fish at all.

This, as you put it, flashy fish

would've been made in Italy, almost certainly, for Merano...

-That's got to be...

-I mean, the island of Merano,

so this would be a real touristy piece.

I'm not seeing you're liking our fish, now.

It's not... It's not unpleasant. I mean, the colours are lovely

but it's not uncommon, it's more of a tourist pretty piece.

-Sorry to disappoint you.

-I can see that on a few mantelpieces.

-Can you?

-I can.

-LAUGHTER

There's probably too many mantelpieces with them on it, you see.

That's the problem.

'Keith thought he could smell something fishy.

'Whilst they wait for a price on the thermometer,

'the reds seem to be getting on like a house on fire.'

-Paul, what's that there?

-Ooh, you little tinker. Well spotted.

It's an inkstand dish but what I like is it's attributed.

It's got a name.

And in this game, as on the high street when you're buying your jeans,

a brand is all important.

Well, what's your first impression of that, you two?

The detail - that's rather smart, isn't it?

-What's it made of?

-That is anodised brass, I would strongly suspect.

It's a nice effect, rather elegant.

Rose, stylised.

Got its glass liner, fair enough, but here's the important bit.

They attributed it to WMF.

THE name in art nouveau metalwork coming out of the Continent

late 19th, early 20th century.

-Is it stamped?

-It is marked.

-Aye.

It's spot-on.

And if you were selling that, what would you expect to make?

Well, with that name, and I've not looked at the price yet,

by Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik...

-THE name.

-Absolutely.

It's worth £30-50.

We are asking...

£50.

-And do people collect these?

-Absolutely.

I like it. I mean, could I sell it to you?

-I like it, yes.

-I like that, yes.

-I like it.

That's a good response. I think we want to have a go at that.

-Yes.

-But...

-So...

-Pounds, shillings and pence.

Can we make a profit? What's the price we're going to get it for?

-I think you want to try and get it for £30.

-Right.

-Or less.

Or less. Or less. Or less.

-I leave you to do the business.

-I'll do it.

I pity the man you're negotiating with. Good luck to him. Let's go.

'So whilst Paul lets Frank loose on the dealers,

'the blue team try to find some shared interests.'

So after that horrible fish, what's your taste, then?

-Sadly, nothing that we've seen at the moment.

-Oh, dear!

-Mm.

'But what's this? Have the blues found something they all agree on?'

-Ooh, look, it's covered in bugs.

-Yes, they're grasshoppers.

Why I was drawn to it, although I knew it wasn't Lalique...

-Have you heard of Lalique?

-Yeah.

He did a big vase with grasshoppers on grasses, just like this,

-so I was drawn to the image, if you see what I mean.

-Right.

But it's actually quite nice but sadly it's got these chips on it.

-Oh!

-Ooh, yes.

-And that will sort of kill it, really, commercially.

'Oh, no! Maybe I spoke too soon.

'Cracks and chips always devalue an item.'

-Right, Paul. £25. Half price.

-What do you think, Sylvia?

-Very good.

-Let's go for it.

-I like your style.

-Brilliant.

-Well done you.

-Well done you!

-Well, we'll wait and see.

'The reds are getting along great guns as a team

'but the cracks are already starting to show between the blues.'

-You see the big cracks on the bottom?

-Ah! Yes.

-It's what they call a star crack.

-Yeah?

If this was perfect, without this nasty crack...

It looks as though there's a crack in that again.

-Again, a crack.

-Yes.

'Oh, dear! Now, what's happened to that thermometer?'

-Guys, remember this little chap?

-Ah!

-I do.

The price is now £25.

-Half of where we started.

-Uh-huh.

I don't think it's a bad discount.

The only thing that worries me still is the damage.

The price, you think, reflects the damage?

-I think at £25...

-It could be sold at a profit?

-If you were selling it?

-I'd be selling it at 30-50.

-Fine.

-20-40 on a bad day. I think it's there or thereabouts.

But look, you guys are the bosses. What do you think?

-We'll go for it. Yes, we do.

-You could take a punt on that.

-Course we can.

-Give it a go, then. Well done, guys.

-I'll go in there, make that a deal.

-Please do.

'Well, they're just sailing through this shopping lark.

'Two buys down and plenty of time to search for number three.

'I wonder if the blues have got over their creative differences yet?'

The fact that there are three here and one up there,

-it does somewhat confirm what I was saying...

-There's too many.

They're not terribly uncommon.

-What about this?

-It fits into your category of what you're looking for

-but it's not commercial at auction.

-So no fish and no fat two-headed horses.

-Unfortunately not.

-Shame.

-We'd better crack on.

'Not a phrase heard often on Bargain Hunt, it has to be said.

'Now, I think I should go and see how those naughty reds are getting on.'

-Are you enjoying it, Frank?

-It's brilliant.

-Is it?

-Absolutely brilliant.

-Good.

Have you had trouble with them? They've only been married ten years.

Just briefly recently.

I think I might have influenced things.

-Would you not have that in your house?

-I would not be having that in my house, no.

-Just asking.

-Fair enough.

Let me tell you about the bonus buy.

Any money not spent by the teams in the shop

will be given to their expert

who'll then find a mystery item which will be revealed later

at the auction.

Let's hope that this is not going to be a backward step.

'Ah, back to the shopping and the reds only have one item to go.'

What do we have here? A little cruet set.

And we have pepperette, salt... There'd be a little liner there.

You'd serve your salt via a spoon and...

-Mustard.

-Mustard.

-Missing the mustard spoon.

Indeed. I think a generic spoon would do.

You guys, enjoy the quality of the cutting in that glass.

-In the glass.

-Oh, yes.

-I think it's hand cut.

-You are dead right.

-Now, is there any damage to that?

-There's a crack in the glass.

I see it. It catches it if you get the right light.

-But that's sweetly cut, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Oh, aye, it is, yes.

-And it is hand cut.

-You can feel the sharpness of the cut.

-Yes.

It's a quality object. It wasn't inexpensive in its day.

Full of Victorian twee charm.

I like it and I'm still not put off

by that hairline that isn't immediately apparent.

-No, if you look at it...

-We lost it there for a second.

It's silver plate. It's on nickel, so it's a good strong body.

-Am I selling it to you? Any use?

-Yes.

-Yes, I like it.

-For £30.

I agree with you totally. I think you're spot-on.

-But where do we start? Let's remind ourselves.

-50.

-65.

-65.

-Again, we keep wanting to buy things at half what they want.

Fair enough. It's in the nature of the game.

Look, if you guys are up to having a go at negotiating,

I think you'd be buying rather wisely at £30, there.

And if you, Sylvia, wish to fly off with that wee gem,

-see if you can bring the chickens home to roost.

-Thank you.

'The reds are well on their way

'but they're three quarters of an hour in

'and the blues are yet to part with any money.'

-What about this little pot here?

-Oh, that's pretty.

It's quite pretty. It's a little jam pot.

Little space for the spoon.

It's porcelain.

The style's certainly round about sort of 1900.

I think this might not have been made quite as early

-but it's made by a German company, Rosenthal.

-Uh-huh.

-They're very reputable. They still exist.

-Oh, right.

They're a very reputable porcelain maker in Bavaria.

-And with 15 minutes to go...

-Mm, yes.

-I quite like it. How much is it?

-It says £10 on it.

I daresay they won't knock anything off of that, so it'll be £10 as it stands.

-I think we can ask.

-There could be a tiny bit of profit in it.

-I think if...

-As we're sort of like a long way down the line,

-we need to buy something.

-I think so.

-Let's go for it.

-Let's buy this as our first purchase...

-Yep.

-..and it'll break the mould to find something else.

Shall we go and find out...? I think the price will be £10.

-OK, great.

-Let's go and see.

-Let's ask.

'So, the blues have spent a whole £10,

'leaving them £290 and under 15 minutes to part with it.

'Time for our teams to make some decisions.'

-How did you do?

-£48.

48. What do you think, guys?

A bit too expensive with the damage, I think.

-Do you want me to make a call or...?

-No, I think we should leave it,

go and see if we can get something slightly bigger.

'So the reds are set on getting something special

'and the blues are set on, well, anything really.'

This is very stylish. What do you think of this?

I agree with you. I think it's lovely.

Is it your cup of tea or cup of coffee?

Our cup of... Oh, it's two, tea and coffee.

-Makes a good set.

-The taller set would normally be the coffee.

-Right.

-You've got the milk jug, sugar bowl and such but...

-Oh, it's heavy, as well.

-Does it say anything on it? Is there a mark?

EKNS. Mm. It doesn't look like there's any maker's mark on it.

-It is marked.

-Well, EKNS means electroplated nickel silver.

-Oh, we so know it's plated.

-So it's plated, yeah.

-It's very pretty.

-Is there a price?

-It's very stylish.

-Phew. £180. That's not cheap for a plated set.

-No.

What would you expect it to go for? What's a reasonable auction price?

Well, there's no name that can hang on it,

-so you can't catalogue it as by a designer, specifically.

-Right.

So that is the problem.

But it is very stylish and it's very modern looking.

-But we are running behind in time.

-We are.

So we need to have a bit of a bold move here, you see.

-This is bold.

-This might be it.

We need to try and get a good deal on this. You're financial wizards, off you go.

-Do you want to do it?

-Try my hand. OK. Take this with me.

'So the blues may have their second item in the bag

'and Frank is on the hunt for something that will really float his boat.'

-What have you there?

-I love this inlay.

-That's rather smart.

-Tunbridge inlay.

-And that's Turkish?

-Mother of pearl, rather.

-Mother of pearl.

-On nicely figured walnut

and it's a writing slope and there's something else going on here.

Oh, very nice. How does that work?

-HE GASPS

-That is going to empty everywhere.

-But it is nice.

-How on earth does that work?

-I assume that you had to...

-Ah!

-..remove that.

-Right.

But rather smart it is, it has to be said.

I like rich things and that really is smart.

Would you happily have that on your dressing table?

-Or sideboard, for that matter?

-Yes.

I love walnut and the work here really is smart.

We could be wasting our time because this is going to have a good price tag attached to it.

Would we know the damage?

£195.

-It's...

-Yeah, look, if I want to take this home,

195's perfectly fine to me.

But at auction, if I'm mean it's 80-120,

if I'm generous it's 100-200. That's a long way off.

-Would you buy it at 100?

-Holy Moses, man, you're adventurous.

If you pull it off, my hat's off, but we should keep looking.

'There's no stopping that Frank.

'When it comes to antiques, he's an animal.'

-You're back. Good news?

-Well, see what you think.

-130, they've said.

-That's £50 off. It's pretty good, isn't it?

-I mean that's...

-I'm happy with that.

-It's over a third.

-How much?

-Nearly a third.

-What do you think? Are you happy with that.

-Well, I think, I think it's a generous deduction.

-Mm-hm.

-So I think we now ought to go with it, don't you?

-Yes. I agree.

-Let's go with it.

-We'll take a chance.

-We'll take a chance.

'So what is the red's last item going to be?'

-Box. Box.

-Box.

I think it's the box as well. I'll take the risk.

I agree. How could I possibly argue with that?

-Buying a good thing.

-It's a good thing, it's quality.

If we lose, it's not the end of the world

but I would enjoy seeing that and thinking that's what I want to be sold.

That, in my opinion, is the Bargain Hunt spirit. I love it.

-Better go and see if it's still there.

-Come on, then. Let's go.

'So, with barely minutes to go, the reds spend £130 on the writing box

'but I've got my doubts that the blues are ever going to finish.'

-I don't know. Let's have a look.

-I'm assuming it's a calendar...

of some sort.

-Actually, it's very stylish that.

-I would have that in the house.

-It looks like it's art deco or 1940s.

-That's lovely, actually.

See, I think what it is, every time you turn it, it drops down to the next day.

-Oh!

-How does that work?

Well, it's perpetual. The numbers are printed, so you turn it over and it's a six.

-Then the seventh.

-I love it.

-What's that for, that bit up there?

-It could be for matches.

-And then you could perhaps even strike them on there.

-OK.

-You see?

It's actually quite... It's only in chrome metal

-and this is painted to look like enamel.

-Right.

There's no maker's mark on it but it's very typical of the period.

How much is it?

Well, it... Oh, it says, "Juke box calendar and match holder."

-So I was right.

-Very good.

-Ah!

-£25.

-£25.

-Shall we see what we can get off that?

When they're at low prices, often they're not so generous

-but do you want to have a go?

-Yeah.

-You spotted it, you go on.

-All right. I will do.

-Do your best.

-Cheers.

'Heather and Jerry got the calendar at the very last second

'for a modest £20.

'That's what you call the skin of your teeth.'

ALARM CLOCK RINGING, CLOCKS CHIMING 'Time's up.

'Let's remind ourselves what the teams bought.

'The red team were all taken with the WMF inkstand at £25.

'The team thought that the art nouveau German thermometer

'was a scorcher of a buy.

'And it was another unanimous decision

'on the Tunbridge ware writing box.'

So, Paul, what's a summary of that shopping?

Well, I'll tell you, it was a joy to be with such decisive shoppers.

-Yes.

-No dithering here, I'll tell you.

-That Frank, he's a negotiator, too.

-What?

-What? Concentrated.

So, you two lovebirds, which is your favourite piece, Frank?

My favourite piece is the box that we bought. It's beautiful.

-And I agree. I like the box.

-All right.

-And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

-The inkwell.

-Sylv, you agree with that?

-I think Frank's right.

I don't think the box will make the biggest profit,

-I think the inkwell will, yes.

-Brilliant. £180 is what you spent.

I'd like £120 - thank you, Frank - of leftover lolly.

There you go then, boy. Got any ideas?

-I have, actually.

-Have you?

I have something that I can say with great confidence

this pair will like.

Ah! Well, that's a good trail, isn't it?

Well, good luck with getting that, Paul.

Let's remind ourselves who the reds are up against

and what exactly the blues bought.

'It took a long time to find but the blues were happy with the jam pot

'at £10.

'They made a snappy decision on the 1970s electroplated tea and coffee set

'and at the very last moment, they plumped for the perpetual calendar

'for £20.'

-So, Keith, did you bond all right with them?

-Of course. How could one not?

What a flatterer he is, isn't he?

-But it was a last-minute panic, wasn't it?

-It was, yes.

-Yes.

-What a panic.

-Which is your favourite piece, Heather?

-The little pot.

-OK.

-What about you?

-The perpetual calendar.

-OK, Jerry.

-And which is going to make the biggest profit?

-The little pot.

-The little pot.

-My calendar.

Ah! This is what's so lovely about being in a relationship.

-Anyway, £160, you spent.

-Yes.

-£140 of leftover lolly goes straight to Keith Baker.

-Lovely.

So what have you found then, Keith, to tempt them with at the auction?

-I'm looking for something of Glasgow interest.

-Are you?

So we'll keep on the straight and narrow with it

-and I'll buy a good bargain for you.

-All right.

-What could be nicer than that? Good luck.

-Bye.

Now, I'm off to discover a bit more about Glasgow.

'In the heart of Glasgow is Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery...

'which opened its doors in 1901

'after it was decided that a new building was needed

'to house two major collections that had been gifted to the city.'

Over the years, many more incredible items have been given to the museum

by avid collectors

keen to share their passion with the people of Glasgow

and its visitors.

'One such avid collector was Anne Hull Grundy,

'who sent packages of jewellery, textiles and medals to Kelvingrove

'in sweetie and biscuit tins by registered post.'

She began her collection as a child

but having become bedridden at the age of 21,

falling victim to a mysterious disease

that no-one was able to define,

she continued collecting and donating to a number of museums

until her untimely death at the age of 57.

An extremely eccentric person,

Anne Hull Grundy gifted to Kelvingrove

some 1,200 pieces, including jewellery, costume and textiles

and here's a tiny selection from her jewellery gifts.

But when it came to deciding

which institution she was going to gift part of her collection to,

one of the considerations

was the origin of the piece of jewellery itself.

Here we've got a geometric shape.

It's a star form,

it's made of silver and inset with perfectly polished stones,

in this case, granite.

It was made by a firm called Rettie & Sons in Aberdeen

and therefore not surprising that that returned north of the border.

And most appropriately of all is this silver brooch.

It shows the exhibition buildings here at Kelvingrove

for the exhibition of 1901

and sprouting out at either end

are some seriously prickly thistles with these coloured Scottish stones.

Next to that is a really exotic, articulated gold necklet

in the form of a snake.

And the hasp itself has a gorgeous Victorian mixture of elements.

It's encrusted in rose-cut diamonds

baroque pearls, lovely blue enamel

and rich red eyes.

Scrolling forward into the middle of the 19th century,

we've got this gorgeous rose coral carved bracelet and brooch,

a typical high Victorian piece of jewellery.

And taking the collection bang up to the early part of the 20th century,

we've got this horn pendant,

and decorated probably with a red-hot iron,

a little bit of poker work with this lovely dragonfly.

If Mrs Hull Grundy didn't receive immediate thanks

from the museum directors to whom she had made the gift,

there would immediately be a flurry of telegrams,

threatening legal action and possible mutilation.

But I'm pleased to confirm that our teams today,

irrespective of how they do, will not suffer from the latter.

Well, we've popped up from the Clyde to Dumbarton Road

to be at Great Western Auctions with Anita Manning.

-Welcome, Tim.

-Morning.

Now, Frank and Sylvia, their first item is the WMF inkstand,

which is quite a pretty but rather dull object.

Oh, well, it's quite sweet.

We see the art nouveau influence

and these little details here

-with the embossed flowers are rather sweet.

-Yes.

Now this team have paid £25, which is not a lot. Will they make a profit on that?

I've estimated at £25-40.

-Well, that's very good.

-Yeah.

-That is a relief, actually.

Next is the art nouveau little thermometer stand,

which is a bit on the rough side, isn't it, poor thing?

It's been in the wars.

I love the art nouveau period and the Glaswegians like it, too.

They like it a lot.

This has the look. It's probably not as useful now as it was.

The thermometer is still working but it's a wee bit sort of dicey.

-Go on.

-But it has that wonderful sort of shell-like sinuous look.

-Yes?

-It won't get a lot of money. How much did they pay?

-They paid £25.

-Ah. I've estimated it at, again, 25-40.

-So they might clear their cash.

-It won't fly.

-The temperature's not rising.

-No.

The Victorian Tunbridge box, quite reasonable condition.

Yes, it's in lovely condition.

I like it.

-We've got dual purpose. Nice tidy box.

-Yes.

-People will like it.

-OK, fine. What's your estimate?

-£150-250.

-Very good. £130 paid.

-Yeah. Not a bad buy.

I think Frank was worried that he'd paid too much, actually, at £130

but that's fine.

-So it all depends really on how the box performs.

-Yes.

That's their money-maker if they're going to make money.

-That's what they've spent all their money on.

-Effectively, they have.

So if it fails, they're going to need their bonus buy. Let's have a look at it.

So you spent £180, leaving Paul with £120 of leftover lolly.

What did you spend it on?

Well, brace yourself for deja vu.

-Recognise that wee birdie?

-Surprise, surprise!

-What do you think of that? Remember the quandary we were in?

-That's right.

You've loved the box, I thought you liked this as well.

I thought you were going to plump for this over the box.

Well, I couldn't let this one fly away.

I like it. I think it's got that real quirkiness

-that the market's looking for today.

-Right.

-What do you think then, folks?

-It's...

-It's lovely.

I love the wee feather in its beak.

And have you got a big question to ask Paul?

-What's it gonna make?

-I still think that's good for £50-80.

I think it's cautious enough at that, so we're in with a shout

and aren't we in safe hands?

-With Anita, yes, absolutely.

-Yes.

Well, with that vote of confidence, you don't have to decide right now,

but for the viewers at home, let's find out what Anita thinks about it.

Well, this is utterly charming, isn't it, Anita?

-Right up your street.

-Yeah, well, I love novelty cruet sets

and this is a high Victorian example of that.

I mean, it's quite tatty in terms of the plating's rubbed and all of that

-but...

-It could be replated.

-But all in all, it's a charming, charming object.

-Yes.

-Now, what would you estimate on that?

-50-70.

OK. Paul paid £48, which is, I think, nothing short of miraculous.

And if this little birdie gets wind up its tail,

it could be extraordinarily well.

Good. That's it for the reds. Now for the blues.

So, first up is this Rosenthal sucriere,

-I guess part of a big coffee or tea set.

-Mm-hm.

What's an individual remaining piece like that likely to be worth?

Yes, not a lot, Tim.

I mean, it is quite a nice piece.

-It's 20th century again, nice porcelain.

-Mm-hm.

Finely done. 1970s perhaps.

It's not going to get a lot of money.

-So what would you estimate?

-10-20?

We can't ask for more than that.

What about this stylish tea and coffee set?

Ah! I have warmed to this.

It's 20th century Danish design.

-Is it? Oh.

-Danish design.

-Designed by Carl Cohr.

-Mm-hm.

In the same stable as Georg Jensen.

-I think the people will like that.

-Good.

It's heavy, it's substantial.

It's got more going for it than one would originally think.

-I have to say, they paid a whopping £130...

-Yes.

-...for this tea and coffee set.

-What is your estimate, actually?

-I've estimated at 80-120.

Well, it's difficult if you've not got anything to compare it with but at least you've done some research.

Their last item is this perpetual calendar

which is, erm, I don't know.

It's kind of a half petrol pump, it's half juke box

and it's definitely stylish.

It reminds me of Cadillacs, Hollywood...

-Yeah, very, very stylish.

-Uh-huh.

-But cheaply made.

It was never a great work of art but it's got that kind of look.

The look is there, the style is there

and that's what's going to make it appealing to the buyers.

-So you're down the '50s with this?

-Yes, it would have come from that period.

-Ah!

I've estimated it 20-30. It could go anywhere.

-Well, that's great because they only paid £20.

-Excellent.

So the big risk factor, again, for them is in one item,

the tea and coffee service.

It's a high-risk strategy.

If it fails they'll need the bonus buy, so let's have a look at it.

So, Jerry and Heather, you spent £160, leaving Keith with £140 of leftover lolly.

What did he spend it on?

I spent a small proportion of it, actually. £25.

-Only 25.

-Oh, OK.

-People are very keen on tools.

-Uh-huh?

Ebony, brass fittings and everything,

it's like the old way of doing things,

there's a sort of integrity to it.

-And what attracted me to it is the Glasgow retailer.

-Oh, yes.

That's local interest. There always is interest in tools.

-I thought it might stand a chance.

-Does it still work?

Have a... Yeah, it does.

-It does.

-A little bit cloudy but it's a functioning thing.

-What do you think it might make?

-It could double up, I should think.

I think it's a nice piece but I do feel there is a profit in it.

-Mm!

-With tool collectors, I think it stands a good chance.

-How much is a good chance?

-I think it could make £50 or more, actually.

-Do you hear that, guys? You could double your money on that.

-Ooh!

Just hold that thought. For the viewers at home, here's what the auctioneer thinks.

Now, Anita Manning, I want you to level with me on this.

Give us the answers.

Well, I think it's a lovely thing.

It has a maker's name on it which is always good when you're looking at tools or instruments,

that type of thing.

-Yes, it's a surprisingly weighty object.

-Yes.

That, to me, feels like a solid block of ebony

and I really do think this is ebony or lignum.

And isn't the brass gorgeous? The thickness of that brass.

Yeah. And you have the Glasgow connection, there.

And you think of what a powerhouse Glasgow was in terms of manufacturing

at the time that this was made.

-The second city of the empire.

-Well, there you go.

Now, enough of this jingoistic sabre-rattling from the Glasgow contingent,

what is this thing worth?

-I've estimated at 20-30.

-Very good. £25 was paid by Keith Baker.

-And if you wanted a prediction, I can see this slightly taking off.

-Yes.

To your audience, Anita, which is unique, in a way, to your saleroom,

I think they'll go with this quite passionately. That's my punt.

-And I wish you bonne chance on the rostrum.

-Thank you.

So, Frank and Sylvia, here we are on the edge of the auction,

the most exciting moment in the programme, some would say.

-How are you feeling, darling?

-I'm looking forward to it very much.

-What about you, Frank?

-A little nervous, maybe.

-Feeling a little on the nervy side of it all?

-Yes, yes.

And what about Paul Laidlaw? What's he feeling like?

Oh, he's feeling positive. That glass is half full.

Well, that's lovely, isn't it?

First up, though, is Sylvia's desk set and here it comes.

It's WMF, ladies and gentlemen. It's art nouveau.

Start me at £20. 20 bid.

Any advance on 20?

Any advance on £20? All done at...?

25, fresh bidder. With you, sir, at 25. Any advance on 25?

25...

Only just, Sylvia. £25. You've wiped your face.

-I've wiped my face.

-No profit or loss.

-That's all right.

Now, Paul, here comes your thermometer.

It's a sweet little silver metal desk thermometer.

Start me at £20. 20 bid.

25. 30. 35.

With you, sir, at 35. Any advance on 35?

All done at 35. 35...

That's brilliant, Paul. £35 is a £10 profit.

Can't ask for more than that.

-Now, Frank...

-This is it.

-It's down to you, mate.

It's a combined writing slope and sewing box.

I'll take 50. 50 with the lady.

Any advance on £50? 60. 70.

80, 90.

90 with the lady. Any advance on £90?

Lady at 100. Fresh bidder.

110, 120.

130, 140.

-150.

-Great.

-£150.

-Brilliant.

-With you, madam, at 150.

150...

She's done it, £150. Well done, Frank. That is plus £20.

You are overall plus £30.

-You have £30 in your back pocket, how good is that?

-It's all right!

-What about the cruet?

-I'll take the profit.

-You would?

-And Sylvia?

-Will we stick with our profit?

-Stick with it.

This lot's just coming up now. You've got to make a decision.

-No, we're sticking.

-No?

-We'll stick with it.

-No, no, no.

-Stick, stick, stick.

OK, we're not going with it and you're not going to have any of the profit that it makes

cos you haven't gone with it and here it comes.

A Victorian novelty silver-plated cruet.

Start me at £40.

40 bid. 50.

60. £60.

Any advance on 60 on the cruet?

70, fresh bidder. Any advance on £70? All done at £70?

£70...

-Sold it. Well done, Paul. £70.

-Well done.

-Well done, you.

You would have made another £22 on that.

£22, you would've made, you didn't make it, you didn't go with it.

So you banked your 30 and you are plus £30.

-No shame in that.

-No.

And who knows with these things, it's incredibly difficult.

-And £30 profit is very good.

-That's it.

-OK?

-OK.

-Don't tell the blues a thing.

-No, we won't.

-Now, Jerry, Heather. You been talking to those reds?

-No.

-No.

-Not a dickie bird?

-Not a word.

-All right, lovely.

-The high-risk jobby really is the tea, coffee service.

-Indeed.

If the worst comes to the worst, you could go with the spirit level to boost your profits.

First up though is the preserve pot and cover and here it comes.

-The Rosenthal porcelain preserve pot and cover.

-Here we go.

Start me at 10. £10?

10 bid. Any advance on 10? 15.

20. 25.

30. With you, sir, at £30. All done at £30? £30...

-Well done, Keith Baker.

-Yes, good man, good man.

-That's plus 20.

He's good at this, isn't he?

-Now, the tea set. Is he going to be as good again?

-Perhaps not.

It's Danish-designed, silver-plated, four-piece tea service.

-It's Carl Cohr.

-There you go.

-Can we say £100?

£50, then. 50 bid.

Any advance on 50? Any advance on 50? 60.

70. 80.

90, 100.

-£100.

-A bit more...

-Any advance on £100?

-I think she's conking out, Keith.

£100...

-Oh, well.

-£100, she's conked out.

That is minus 30.

You are overall minus £10 now. That is bad luck.

-But there you go. You don't speculate, you don't accumulate.

-True.

-Now, Jerry, here's your bid.

-That is Hollywood!

-Here we go. Fantastic.

-Hollywood in a calendar.

-It's the 1950s perpetual desk calendar.

-Come on, come on.

Can we say £50? 50, straight in at 50.

£50 bid. Any advance on 50?

-Any advance on £50?

-Fantastic.

-He did well, your old man.

-60, 70.

-Oh, well done.

-£70.

All done at £70? £70...

-Brilliant. Well done.

-Yes!

Well done, Jerry, you have made £50 on that, straight up,

which overall means that you are plus 40.

-You saved the day, there.

-You bailed me out, fantastic.

-That's fantastic.

-That's marvellous.

To be £40 up, now that's rollercoaster for sure.

So you're £40 in profit. What about the spirit level?

It will cost you £25. Are you going to risk the £25 or bank the 40?

-We like it.

-We do.

-You like it.

-It's different.

-You've made the wise choice so far, so...

-Yeah.

-So are you going to go with the bonus buy?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-I think it's a jolly nice thing myself.

So here comes the spirit level.

An ebony and brass spirit level. Start me at £20.

20 bid. Any advance on £20?

25. Any advance on 25?

Any advance on 25? All done at 25. 25...

-£25, it's wiped it's face. That's OK.

-Oh, well.

You took a chance, you rode it and you came home with no losses.

-That's all right.

-Good. Well done.

-So overall, you are plus 40.

-Plus 40, it could be a winning score. Don't say a thing to the reds.

-Not a thing.

Almost too close to call, I'd say, right?

-Now, have you chaps been talking?

-No.

-No.

-No?

-Not at all.

-Well, both teams know that they've made profits

-but they don't know which team is just nudging ahead in the profit league.

-Oh...

However, one team is marginally behind and that is the reds.

HE GROANS

Which is bad luck, isn't it? And it's all down to strategy!

-Absolutely.

-Because you didn't go with the bonus buy.

-That was it.

You have a profit of £30 with no bonus buy.

-You didn't trust Paul Laidlaw. He would've given you another £22 of leftover lolly profit.

-Terrible.

But we mustn't go crying into our beer

because to make a profit of £30 is an achievement

and I congratulate you on that.

-And here, naughty little Sylvia, is your £30.

-Thank you very much.

Congratulations and bad luck.

-And you're jolly jammy, you two.

-Yay!

-I tell you.

-If they had gone with the bonus buy, you'd be up a gum tree.

-OK.

-As it is, you have a profit of £40, which is brilliant.

-Yes.

Jerry really needs the congratulations

because to make a profit of 50 on that miserable little chromium-plated jobby was a great achievement.

-That saved your bacon.

-Thank you, Tim.

-But all incredibly exciting and really good fun.

-Very exciting.

-So here's the 40 smackers.

-Thank you.

We have had a splendid day.

Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

Yes!

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