South Bargain Hunt

Welcome, Bargain Hunters, to Hungerford in West Berkshire.

Today, we're shopping in the Hungerford Arcade.

We've given two teams - one red, one blue -

the enviable task of shopping here for one hour.

They get a budget of £300 to find three objects,

antiques or collectibles, which are taken off to auction.

The aim of the game is to sell them for more money than they paid

as any profit they make they'll get to keep.

Let's go and meet the teams.

And here they are. For the reds we've got sisters Wendy and Shelley, double trouble there!

And battling away for the blues, father and son Brian and Paul.

Welcome to Bargain Hunt. You're sisters. Close, or are we going to have fireworks?

-We're very close.

-Yeah, we're close.

-Very close.

-But we debate a lot.

-We're good at debating!

And you do a bit of chatting with one another?

-We do.

-Quite a bit.

-Quite a bit.

-Every day.

-Twice a day.

-On the...

-Three times a day.

And we might meet in the evenings.

-What will you be looking out for today?

-Maybe something silver. That sells well.

-Yes.

And we want something that's maybe a bit modern,

a bit Art Deco with nice lines.

-Design led, that type of thing.

-Yes, that will go in a modern house.

-You're young and with it.

-Yes!

And clean and lean, and all that.

-Shell, this isn't your first time on television?

-No, it's not.

-Tell us about the shows you've starred in.

-The other show I've been on is Blind Date!

Blind Date?! Did you? What's Cilla like? Is she nice?

She was OK. A very professional lady. Yes.

-Did you get picked?

-Yes. Went to Jamaica.

-No!

-I did a bit of water-skiing

and had a bit of a laugh. It was good fun.

-You didn't marry the man that picked you?

-No, I didn't.

-Did you get "close" to him?

-No. Just had fun, really.

-Just fun.

-Just fun.

Very good luck to you. I think you'll be good at this lark.

-Boys, are you scared?

-Yes!

-Definitely!

You've seen this. They are formidable!

-Are you well prepared for today's Bargain Hunting?

-I think so.

-Got any collections yourself?

-I don't collect but I have a big collection of tools.

-Where do you keep them all?

-In three sheds and a garage.

-Really?

-It's a family joke.

-Is it?

Every time Dad wants to do a job, he buys a new tool.

Cos he can't find the old one!

Do you collect anything?

-I watched an episode of the Antiques Roadshow...

-Splendid programme.

-BBC programme.

-Indeed.

There was an autographed Beatles record.

I saw it went for quite a good price

so I thought I'd choose a band around at the moment

and I chose the band U2.

-What have you got in your collection? Records?

-Not just records.

-Things ranging from inflatable cars.

-Inflatable cars?

Inflatable lemons.

-Right.

-And even, if I'm allowed to say, U2 condoms!

U2 condoms?! Are they inflatable as well?

The girls think that's terribly funny!

I don't think U2 condom is a trade name, so we'll allow it.

-It may be collectible one day.

-If they're still in their original packaging!

-Not been used!

Let's keep this wholesome, shall we?

So, apart from looking out for U2 memorabilia today, what will you be going for?

What will we be going for? I think the old household favourites,

possibly, if we can, Clarice Cliff or maybe some Wedgwood or Doulton.

Do you know about Clarice Cliff?

I've been quite fortunate. I did buy a boxed lot at one stage

that had on top of the box some glass bowls

and fortunately underneath the box, I'm not sure the auctioneer noticed it was there,

was a Clarice Cliff dinner service!

-Ah!

-So it was very fortunate and paid for my ticket to Australia.

-So you are an expert on Clarice Cliff?

-Hopefully!

Now, the money moment. £300 apiece.

A wodge of cash. How lovely.

You know the rules. Your experts await. Off you go.

And very good luck!

So their hour has started. Let's hope their experts are ready for them.

Yes, both teams have expert knowledge on hand to help them pick up their bargains.

With the reds, it's number one, Mark Stacey.

And for the blues, unmistakably, Philip Allwood.

OK, teams. Three bargains with £300.

Let battle commence!

£300!

Anything you like in there?

I'm still looking.

That's Beswick and that's Shelley.

-Get a bit bored with those.

-But it's my name!

But it is 295. We're probably just out on that.

-See the Elizabeth II pepper pot?

-Where?

-With the crown on it.

-At the back?

-At the back?

-Oh, yes!

-That's quite stylish, isn't it?

-Silver jubilee.

-How much is it?

-£150 the pair.

A pair? Oh, cos it's got the little salt with it.

-Yes.

-The silver salt.

-Why don't we look at that?

-Shall we?

Salt and pepper pots, or cruet set, if you fancy.

How does this kind of stuff sell?

It's becoming more collectible. We'd need to get the price down.

I don't know if this dealer negotiates but we'd need the price down.

-They'd be a speculative buy.

-OK.

-Because of the jubilee connection.

I think they're quite stylish. Do you know what I mean?

If there wasn't that on there you'd happily use that.

I like the way the holes are there.

Don't people go for kind of royalty kind of...

They can do. It's not as collectible as it once was

because we're not as royalist as we once were, if you know what I mean.

-Shall we see what we can get for these?

-Shall we?

-We'll find out the best on those.

-We'll run out of time.

We need to go round the corner.

The reds haven't bought the cruet set. They've put it on the back burner.

But it could be theirs for £100.

Over to the blues, now. What's tempting them?

What about the plaques?

No. Right, what have we got there?

145.

OK. Shall we have a look at them?

We want to look at the Copeland plaques, if possible.

There we go. They're pretty smart, aren't they? Look at those.

Copeland & Garrett. 1830, '40, that sort of period.

They are going to be made out of, by the looks of it, porcelain.

Are they a collectors' piece?

They certainly will be. These are reasonably early bits of Copeland.

Bacchanalian figures, there.

Looks like Bacchus sitting in a basket. He's had a good night!

-And that one...

-Good end to an evening!

-That's rude!

-They're a load of Bacchanalian figures.

They're obviously moving a donkey somewhere!

Yes, slightly risque.

Building on Greek and Roman myths, traditional stories.

-Um...

-Risky usually sells, doesn't it?

-It can do.

-What do you reckon it'd sell for?

Probably if they were in my sale room I'd estimate them at around 100 to £150.

Might possibly get a little more than that but it's...

-So if we can get them down to closer to 100 than...

-The 145.

100 is what we're looking at.

I think you might well have a chance there.

-OK, we'll try for the 100.

-Let's have a look.

-Let's go.

Chaps, time for some negotiating with the manager.

They're looking between 90 and 100. Can you do anything for me?

You're certainly in that ball game.

-I did a bit better than what you wanted.

-95. Most definitely.

-We'll have a go at that.

-That's put a smile on my face!

Strike one to the blues. The reds have some catching up to do.

What about something like these?

Like carpet bowls.

Those kind of things.

I quite like that. Do you quite like that?

Those are fun, aren't they?

-I think they're fun, too.

-I like them.

We need to get them out and see. They're in their original box

with the rules of engagement.

Have a proper look.

They're pretty smart.

Candlesticks.

Yeah. By Linley. Lord Linley.

Good quality. Great maker. Good name.

-But I just think...

-Around 150.

-We can come back to that, maybe.

-Yeah.

-Come back to it.

Actually it's... This is the original box.

-Can I pick one out?

-Of course you can.

-Have the bowls.

-I think they're great.

-I love them.

-They're good fun.

What we've got here is a 1930s set of carpet bowls.

What I like about them is the box is original.

You can see that. They're beautifully fitted inside.

You have the rules of the game there.

All the details here are rather interesting.

They're "perfectly balanced miniatures."

So you roll the jack down the carpet

and use the colours to try and play a normal game of bowls.

-They're all marked...

-Typical British weather.

-I'd have these.

-Would you?

Yes.

-Oh, isn't that great? I think we should find out how much we can get those for.

-Yes.

They're £79 at the moment.

-Well, let's see what we can get them for.

-OK. Let's see. Brilliant.

Now, this is a bit of fun that I've found on the stall here in the antiques centre.

What we've got here is a basic Staffordshire porcelain tea cup and saucer

and a little booklet.

Ordinarily, you'd expect an ordinary Ainsley tea cup and saucer

to have been made around about 1905 and in the white, completely unmarked.

It might be worth, at most, at auction, about 50p!

But this is rather special.

What we've got is a cup and saucer

which are marked with a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo.

Stars and symbols.

Fortunately, the cup and saucer comes with a booklet. Here it is.

It says, "Would'st learn thy future with thy tea?

"This Magic Cup will showth it thee."

So what this is is a tea-leaf reading kit.

You've got the tea cup, you've got the saucer

and you've got the little booklet telling us how to do it.

You pour the tea into the cup,

not with a teabag, with old-fashioned tea leaves!

Swirl the tea leaves in the cup, splash it into the saucer

and start making your predictions.

Now, it tells you here that what you've got

are planetary signs, which are the red ones running round the star in the middle.

It tells you in the booklet that depending on where the tea falls within the cup,

enables you to make a prediction.

So if your tea leaves happen to have the odd long stem in them,

and that long stem, for example, was to land here,

on that lunar symbol,

you can read that your wife, sweetheart or husband

will be "very rash, headstrong and independent,

"of a peculiar disposition, artistic and erratic."

So watch out!

This whole outfit - the book, the cup and saucer -

could be yours today for £15.

Is that cheap or expensive? I don't know.

But it's great fun!

Now, back to our Bargain Hunters.

What fortunes lie ahead for them?

-The thing is...

-It is what it is.

-Broken.

-Does that say "Wiltshire men in London?"

-Yes. Mark, we quite like this.

"Wiltshire men in London" snuff box.

-Yes.

-Table snuff box.

-No.

-Why not?

-Because I don't think anybody's gonna use it.

How old is it?

-1910.

-Yeah.

-No?

-I don't think anybody's gonna buy it. That's the problem.

Hang on, Mark. This is up to the girls. At least let them have a look.

-I've just heard from the chap about the carpet bowls. We can have them for £60. So £19 off.

-Brilliant.

-We'll go with that.

-I think they'll sell.

-They will.

You liked those, both of you. So we've got to go with those.

-Why don't you like this snuff box?

-First, because it's light weight.

What's that telling you? It's not...

I just don't think people are gonna go for it, to be honest.

Oh, dear. The reds warned us about their debating!

How are the blues doing?

£20. You'll struggle with that.

Keep looking, blues.

Have Wendy and Shelley convinced Mark yet?

-We'll sell it in Somerset.

-But we're Wiltshire girls.

But not Wiltshire men!

-It's a snuff box.

-And it's hallmarked.

-Hallmarked.

-Hallmarked there and on the lid.

Tell me why you like it so much. I think it's awful!

I like the shape. It's useful to have on your dressing table.

You could stick rings or bangles in it.

-And it looks nice.

-It does look nice. It's clean and tidy.

There's not a lot one can say about it. It's hallmarked, a bonus.

I suppose it comes down to how collectible the society is.

At £105, if there isn't anybody there to collect it, it'll bomb.

But who knows?

-I think we need to try and get that down a bit.

-How much do we need to get it down by?

It's difficult to say, but we need to get it down to 80 or less.

-OK.

-Right, OK.

-We must try and get that down.

-Are you up for it?

-Definitely.

-Let's go.

Don't mess with the girls, Mark!

They picked up the silver hallmarked snuff box for £85.

Also, as a desk, where do you put your computer?

-These are older pieces of silver.

-How do you know that?

Because you can read the labels. 1912!

89 quid. Let's have a look and see what we've got there.

-Doesn't look like a lot. There's a split there.

-A bit of a split.

It's almost certainly a German movement.

Probably dates to about 1900.

It's got an eight-day movement.

It's quite fun. They've obviously tarted it up a bit.

It's quite a showy thing for that money.

That's what I thought. It stood out.

When it was made, it would have been a relatively cheap model.

But trying not to be.

89 quid. If we can get it for 60 quid or something like that.

-It might be worth it.

-Let's have a go.

That's the blues' second. The 19th-century German mantel clock

came in at £70.

-Oh, look, Shelley, is that a...

-A Spirograph!

At £360, girls, so shall we move on from that, I think?

15 minutes left and so far the blues have spent £95 on the plaques

and £70 on the clock, leaving them 165 to spend.

We're back at those candlesticks.

-Do you think they might be...

-Well, they are pretty smart.

They spotted these candlesticks earlier.

Will they be as tempting this time round?

-Shall we get them out and have a look?

-Yes!

-I think we ought to.

A pair of boxed Linley column walnut candlesticks.

150. Nice and clearly stamped here, "Linley".

From the workshops of Viscount Linley.

One of the more respected furniture designers and makers of the last and into this century.

I know they're not old. In fact, they almost couldn't be newer.

-You could see them in a new house.

-Absolutely.

I don't know what they sold for new.

I would imagine... I would imagine more.

I think it might be worth a call, to see how far we can get them.

If we can get them closer to 100 than 150, you might see them making that.

Shall we see if a deal can be done?

They were asking 150, but our boys in blue snapped up the Linley candlesticks

for 120.

Now, both teams should be thinking about how much leftover lolly

they're gonna leave their experts.

Any unspent cash will be handed over to Mark and Philip

whose aim will be to find a mystery bonus buy.

This surprise will be revealed to our teams later.

Then after the sale of their third item, both teams will take a gamble

on the money their bonus buy could make.

Any profit it makes they'll keep,

but any loss will be deducted from their final score. That could decide who wins.

Back to Shelley and Wendy.

They've splashed out 60 on the bowls, 85 on the snuff box

and need to decide on the cruet set.

Ten minutes and £155 left. Decisions, please!

What do you like about it, Wendy?

It's a bit unusual. They're not your average scale that you find.

No, because they're tobacco scales.

-So they're not in every household!

-Not in every household!

They are made by a very good maker.

Avery is one of the most well known.

-What's it made out of?

-Metal, but it's had paint put on to simulate a wooden frame.

-I guess this is made 1940s, I guess.

-OK.

You could still go in tobacconists' then and buy loose tobacco and have a cigarette blended.

-I think it's unusual. It's not the set kind of standard thing that people...

-Looks good.

-Yeah.

-How much is it?

Well, the label here says it's £85.

That's a bad sign. We need to get that down.

If we get this, we can't get the salt and pepper pots.

True. If we get this, the salt and pepper's out.

You're not over impressed with that. It's still a consideration.

-I prefer this.

-I think this is...

-It's got a chance...

-It's different.

-..of making more money than the salt and pepper pot.

Well, to be honest with you, the limitation with this is who wants it.

People collect tobacco memorabilia and pipes and ash trays and snuff boxes!

You're selling it to me. Let's hope the people of Crewkerne like it.

-Yes. OK.

-They'd be silly not to!

That's both teams over the finishing line with their three items,

so let's have a quick reminder as to how the reds got on.

Reds got the day started with the 1930s boxed set of carpet bowls.

Next up, the silver snuff box.

Mark thinks it's more duff than snuff, but the girls disagree.

And weighing finally was the set of tobacco scales.

Oh, dear!

-Did they run you round?

-They've run me ragged.

-But I've enjoyed it!

-I don't blame you!

-Well, girls, you had a good shop.

-Yes.

Yes, absolutely hectic. Which is your favourite piece, Shell?

Favourite piece? What do you think?

-I really like the scales.

-Yes.

-Mark gave us such a hard time about them.

The scales your favourite piece?

You spent a magnificent £205. That was really hot.

-£95 of leftover lolly. Thank you very much. £95 to you, Mark.

-Thank you, Tim.

We absolutely understand the difficulty you've been having!

Super!

-So you're up for this?

-Yes I think I've found something that might clean up a profit.

Clean up? There could be a hint there.

I wonder if they'll pick up on that?

But the girls don't get to see the bonus buy till we get to auction.

-Something to look forward to.

-Absolutely.

You slip off and make sure that you get it.

Meanwhile, let's remind ourselves of what the blues bought.

Brian and Paul's first buy

were the mid-19th-century Copeland & Garrett wall plaques.

Then they found the late 19th-century German mantel clock.

But last, and not least, were the Viscount Linley walnut candlesticks.

What is our favourite piece, Paul?

I'd say my favourite is the Linley candlesticks.

-You, Brian?

-I like the Spode plaques.

You like those best. Great.

You spent a magnificent £285.

Here are 15 miserable smackers for you to find that bonus buy.

-Sorry!

-Thanks(!) I'll do what I can.

What you do, you do.

-Very good luck with your trawl.

-I think that might be needed for this one!

We are gonna head off to the auction. But before that,

I'm going to the most beautiful house - Mompesson House, Salisbury.

Gotta be careful how you say that!

Set within the walls of the world famous Salisbury Cathedral,

actually at Number 53, Cathedral Close,

is Mompesson House,

quite the most glorious Queen Anne house you're ever likely to find.

It also enjoys spectacular views.

But I'm here to take a peek at a spectacular collection of glass.

Rebuilt in the late 17th century,

Mompesson has stood in its present state since 1701.

Inside, you'll find one of the finest bequests belonging to the National Trust.

Mompesson now houses the Turnbull collection of English drinking glasses

of which this is only a small selection.

Actually, there are 370 pieces or so in the house.

The English glass industry was revolutionised in the 1670s

when a man called George Ravenscroft introduced glass with a high lead content.

This flinty-grey glass was very soon adopted

by the drinking glass makers

and baluster glasses of this form were produced.

This glass dates from round about 1700.

It's got a tapering conical bowl

and it then sits on this baluster -

it looks a bit like a squashed mushroom -

and on a foot that's been over-folded.

If you imagine that foot progressing to its normal extremity

the glass would be very thin by the time you get to the end.

So whilst it's still in a molten state,

it's bent and folded over on itself.

Hence you get this fold-over foot which makes it much stronger

and means the thing will survive without chipping.

I've selected this little glass to look at.

The indication of its usage is engraved on the outside

where we've got a hop and an ear of barley.

In fact, ale was brewed to a higher alcoholic content in the 18th century.

It was as alcoholic as wine.

You had weak beer, which was watered down stuff for everyday drinking.

Probably better for you than the water.

Or ale, which, in elegant society, you would drink out of a glass like this.

Now, this glass is the absolute epitome

of what an 18th-century drinking glass collector is looking for.

It's a cordial with a tiny little bowl.

Cordial was a drink that was made out of usually brandy

with various fruits soaking in it.

So, pick your blackcurrants,

prick them, soak them in brandy for a year or two,

decant it, and that very alcoholic cordial drink

would go into a little glass like this.

And joy of joy,

the top edge has been enamelled,

probably by the Beilby family.

This enamelling is powdered glass that's been painted on

and then fired on the outer surface.

Finally, and perhaps most amusingly, we have this little glass,

which is called a toastmaster's or firing glass.

You can see that the small bowl is very thickly drawn

and that's so that it deceives the eye into thinking

that there's more alcohol inside it than there really is.

At a smart affair, the toastmaster, who'd announce each of those toasts,

had to keep sober!

Yet he had to drink a little something to be sociable.

So this sort of glass would cut down on the amount of alcohol he's taking on board

meaning that he could continue with his job.

Anyway, the big question is today,

are we going to be in a position to raise our glasses and toast our teams over at the auction?

Cheers!

Still to come on Bargain Hunt:

our red sisters are still debating.

-I think so!

-I don't know!

And the blues clock up some profit.

Very good, Paul.

First, let's check in at Lawrence's Auctioneers in Crewkerne

to see how auctioneer Richard Kaye rates our items.

Wendy and Shelley's first item are these carpet bowls.

-Plastic, 1930s, in a box. They're complete.

-Yes.

And they have the instructions, if you don't know how to play.

It's nice to have them in their original box. Since they're probably 75 years old,

nice that they're complete and undamaged.

-Not sure about the plastic.

-No. These are in a different league.

-How much do you see them giving for this set?

-£20. £30, perhaps.

£60 paid. You need to be pretty hopeful.

Talking about being hopeful, next up is the snuff box.

-Is it a snuff box?

-It looks like one from here.

Looking at the bottom,

one can see that it's had four supports removed,

cabriole legs that would have been three-quarters of an inch long.

-Originally it was a dressing table box.

-Ah!

Those have been snapped off in order for it to be presented

to "The Wiltshire men in London",

whatever they were doing between 1861 and 1911.

It's commemorated with this box. We'll never know.

-£30, perhaps, maybe a little more on a good day.

-With the wind up its tail.

With the wind up its tail. But with its legs missing,

people will walk away from that.

I think you're absolutely right, Richard. They paid £85 for it.

It'll be a struggle to get that for it. Really.

-When you were a nipper...

-Not that long ago!

No, quite! That's my point! Do you remember going to the sweetie shop

and being presented with a fine Birmingham-made set of scales like these?

I never looked at the scales.

-You probably did!

-I did!

-I was looking at the liquorice allsorts!

-Which came pre-packed!

-What we have is something that would have stood on the shop counter.

It's nicely authentic and old-fashioned.

-Yes.

-I think that they might make 30 or £40.

Do you regard that as a bullish estimate?

-That's as much as I'd expect them to make. I don't think it's conservative.

-No, OK.

£60 they paid, our lads. We have a trio here, in my view,

of what might be termed really "sticky" objects

in terms of making profits.

-FRENCH ACCENT:

-So for certain they're gonna need the bonus buy. Let's have a look.

You spent £205, girls, which is magnificent.

You gave Mark Stacey £95. What did he spend it on?

This, Tim.

Now, this is... No, don't laugh, girls. It's wonderful.

It's a Royal Doulton stoneware soap dish

especially made for Wright's Coal Tar Soap.

It cost me £58.

Right. OK.

-What do you think, girls?

-It was made for a soap?

Wright's Coal Tar. All the information is on the bottom.

I love that little dragonfly, don't you?

-It looks really dunky.

-Dunky?

Sorry, Mark! Is this the kind of stuff you have in your house?

-I would have that in my house.

-Really?

This is the girl who bought the tobacco scales!

-Well, I just...

-OK. How much do you think it will make?

Well, they do vary. It could, on a good day, make 60 or £70.

-Look at his eyes!

-But on a bad day...

-Right.

-You obviously don't like it much!

That doesn't matter. Don't decide now. Decide later.

For the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks of the soap dish.

Well, Richard, one soap dish.

I think that's quite a pretty piece. The fact that it's Doulton will appeal to collectors.

I don't think anyone who buys this will put it in their bathroom.

-No?

-I don't think so. It's too nice for that.

No chips or marks on it. The glaze is even. Nicely marked on the base.

I see that making 30 to £50.

So enthusiastic. Brilliant.

£58 was paid by Mark Stacey as his bonus buy.

We won't tell him about your estimate, all right?

Keep that quiet for a bit!

That's it for the reds. Now the blue team.

Their first item is this German frightfully elaborate mantel clock,

like it's just come out of the showroom!

It's a test of time that has not stood the test of time very well.

Because when one looks at it closely,

there are all sorts of amendments and repairs to it

which I think will put people off a little.

What is definitely clear is that one of the finials on the case

has been completely remade

and also it's suspiciously glossy and shiny.

It's architectural. It's quite fun.

-It is.

-But terribly shiny!

Clock collectors, as you know, are terribly concerned about originality.

-Even if they're only spending 50 or £60.

-Oh, yes.

-Which is probably all this will make on a good day.

-50 to £60, you reckon? £70 paid.

The next item are the pair of plaques.

Apparently Copeland Garrett plaques.

-So collectible relief-moulded plaques with these classical subjects.

-Yes.

Rather ruined frames, aren't they?

The frames are not what people will buy them for.

-The collector might be more interested in what's in the frame.

-Yes.

Although the frames do give them a nice period feel

-and I'd rather have them in frames like that than modern frames.

-Yes.

-The plaques are not too bad condition.

-No, and nice subjects, too.

-How much do you think they're worth?

-They might make 60 to £80, if we're in luck.

Yeah. £95 paid.

Now we come to these jokers. A pair of brand-new candlesticks.

-The only thing classical about them is the shape of the columns.

-Yes.

-Probably not even ten years old.

-No.

But again, they're a pair of candlesticks and people like that.

But the intriguing thing about them is that they are stamped "Linley".

The quality is a little surprising in that respect.

Not as good as you'd expect from this...

He's associated with exceptional quality of craftsmanship.

Maybe these are not the best reflection of what he does best.

They're still a handsome pair of candlesticks and I think they might make 80 to £100.

Brilliant. £120 was paid.

So we're all on the right frame.

Just in case, we'll look at the bonus buy. Here it comes.

Paul and Brian, you spent a magnificent £285.

You gave him over there £15 only.

-Difficult job, that, Philip?

-Yes.

It was very difficult to find anything for sale for £15.

Here's the bonus buy. Oh. Yes.

-Wo!

-It is a rather neat barometer.

A little aneroid barometer.

Which I thought for 15 quid wasn't too bad at all.

Absolutely fantastic for 15 quid.

-Do you want to handle the merchandise?

-Definitely.

-We were looking at a barometer.

-We were.

-Not quite that size,

and you say it works.

The inevitable question, will it make a profit at auction?

I think there's quite clearly a profit in it.

I'm gonna predict a ten or £15 profit, I would have thought.

-Excellent.

-Well done, Philip.

They both love it. They both think £15 is a very inexpensive price.

You don't have to decide now. Decide later.

But for viewers at home, let's find out

whether the auctioneer thinks the barometer is set fair or not.

So, is all set fair for the auction?

Well, it says rain. And rain suggests disappointment.

It's the sort of thing that would hang in many homes. It doesn't have the rarity or scarcity appeal

to give it a great deal of market.

-Gives you something to tap at the bottom of the stairs.

-But it's set firmly at rain.

So low is the pressure and low is the expectation.

-I think ten to £20 at best.

-Really?

-Mmm.

He only paid £15, so it's pretty well spot on, isn't it?

-He'll be all right with that.

-Absolutely.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Is your cup half empty or half full?

My cup is always half full. But that empties it pretty quickly!

Well said!

Wendy and Shelley, we're at the auctioneers. How nice is that?

-Very!

-Yes.

-Are you excited?

-Yes.

Ever been to an auction before?

No. Car auctions.

Well, this is just the same

-and we hope people will pay thousands for your objects.

-Thousands and thousands, Tim.

First up, the carpet bowls. Here they come.

Lot 187. Boxed set of carpet bowls with instructions.

20, 22, £25 is bid.

£25 is bid. It's on commission.

28, now. I'm out. At £28.

-Come on!

-On my left at 28.

I'm selling now at 28. 30, new bidder.

32.

No? £32. Still on my left. Last time, then.

At £32. All done.

-Bad luck. Minus £28.

-Oh, dear.

-All is not lost.

Snuff box, engraved "Wiltshire men of London".

25, 30 £35 I'm bid.

-£35 I have.

-I'm surprised. I didn't think it would make that.

At £35.

Any more? At 35 and I'm selling.

For the last time at £35. All done.

-Bad luck, girls. £35, so it's minus 50 on that.

-Oh, no!

Lot 189 is a set of shop scales.

1940s, 1950s in date.

And 22, 25, £28 is bid. £28 I have. On commission again.

At £28. 30 now. I'm out.

-It's in the room now at 30 on my left.

-I'm amazed.

Selling at 30. Any further bids? At £30.

-35. 40.

-Good lord!

No? £40. Far left at 40.

I'm selling now at £40.

All done at 40?

That's not so bad. £40. Minus 20.

50, 70, £98.

Minus 98 overall.

OK. Shall we go for the...

What are you gonna do about the dish?

-Let's go for it.

-Why not. Go for it.

-Sure you want to do this?

-I think so.

-I don't know.

Sure you want to go with this?

-It's the difference between winning!

-Make your mind up!

I want to do it. Let's do it.

-They said that...

-Quickly!

-Fine. Do it.

-You're going with it?

Going with the bonus buy. Here it is.

Lot 193. Doulton stoneware soap dish.

Shall we say £50 for that? £50 for it?

At £50 if you will.

40, then to start. 40 I see. Who'll say five?

It's at £40. On my far right at 40.

At 40. 45 now. 50.

£50. By the cabinet at 50.

-£8 more.

-I'm selling at £50.

Any more? At £50, then, for the last time. At £50. All done.

£50. To get so far!

-Pants!

-Yeah, pants indeed!

Overall, you are minus £106.

-Gee!

-It was an experience!

-It was, yes.

-It isn't over yet!

-You could have won.

-We could have.

-OK.

-If it goes really badly for the blues, you could be ahead.

-How lovely would that be?

-Marvellous.

-Don't tell the blues a thing.

-We won't.

-Not a thing.

Things are going rather well today.

We don't want you to know how the reds got on, and you don't!

The first item is your mantel clock.

Here it comes.

Lot 209. Gothic revival mantel clock.

Bids. Start me here at 25. £28 is bid.

28. 30. Two.

35, now. £35.

38. 40.

Five. £45. To my left at 45. 50 seated.

55. 60. Five. 70.

Five. 80.

£80. Thank you. 85.

90. Five.

100 and ten.

£110, gentleman standing.

At £110.

And I'm selling now at £110 for the last time. All done at 110.

Plus 40. That is very good, Paul.

Very good. Now, the Copeland.

Lot 210. A pair of Copeland wall plaques.

From bids here I start at 45. 50. £55 is bid.

£55 is bid.

At 55. Can I say 60 for them?

It's at £55, then. And selling.

At £55 for the last time.

All done at 55 now.

Oh, no. That's minus 40.

You're back to square one!

A pair of walnut candlesticks

from the workshop of Viscount Linley.

Bids start me here at £30.

30 I have. 35.

40. Five. 50.

Five I have. At £55 now.

At 55. 60.

Bidding, madam? 65.

70. Against you. 75.

75, the lady's bid in front of me.

80, now. Gentleman on my right. It's against you.

85. 90.

£90 on my right. I'm selling at 90.

At £90 for the last time, then. £90.

All done at 90.

£90. Minus 30. Oh, bad luck.

What a helter-skelter that was!

-What a helter-skelter.

-We nearly done it, didn't we?

Nearly. Minus 30. No shame in that. What about the barometer? Are you going with it?

-We loved the aneroid barometer.

-You're going with it.

-We've got to.

Boys, you've done incredibly well. Even at minus £30.

We're going with the bonus buy, the barometer. Here it comes.

Lot 215. Mahogany aneroid barometer.

Start me here at £10, if you will.

£10 for it? At £10.

At £10.

Five anywhere? At £5. Five I see. Who'll say more?

At £5. Eight now.

Ten? £10. Back of the room at ten.

Selling at £10 only. All done at ten? Last time at ten.

Ten. There's a storm brewing.

Minus £5 on that.

Overall, minus £35.

That's not so bad.

-Don't tell the reds a thing.

-We won't.

-Don't tell the reds a thing.

We will reveal all as to whether that's a winning score in a moment.

I think both teams know they've made whopping losses.

What they don't know is the scale of the losses.

That's what I'm going to reveal now.

The team that has a seriously ginormous loss

is actually the reds.

Knew it!

Pretty good, minus £106, girls!

-If you're gonna do it, do it in style.

-You've done that!

It says here, "minus, minus, minus, minus, minus."

All I can say is bad luck.

-But you've enjoyed it, yes?

-Absolutely.

-£106 is quite a score!

Now, the victors.

They're looking kind of cocky, but still managed to lose £35.

It started off so beautifully, frankly.

Paul, with your mantel clock you made a stonking profit of £40.

£40 profit on the first item

and we thought you were in the money today

but it went downhill, didn't it?

Down the line it was minuses, but nevertheless, you won today.

I congratulate you with only minus £35.

Just don't do it again!

Join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting, yes?

Yes!

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