Oswestry 18 Bargain Hunt

Here's a bit of a brainteaser for you to get the grey matter going.

What do you do if you've got a spare hour? You've got £300

in your back pocket, and you're in a fair crammed with goodies!

Well, you go bargain-hunting, of course! Hah!

Boy, have our teams got a challenge on their hands today!

The Oswestry Showground is packed with hundreds of stalls.

Our teams will have to get their skates on.

Why don't you relax and get comfortable?

The Red Team are on a mission.

We've got to win this one, Phil.

And the Blue Team will do anything for a bargain.

These two girls are going to stare deep into your soul.

-I'll make you the best offer you've ever had.

-Ooh!

-Yes!

-Yes!

-THEY CHATTER

'But who will be the winners and the losers at today's auction?

'Let's meet our contestants.'

Today we have a team of friends for the Reds, Nick and Rob.

And for the Blues we've got aunt and niece Helen and Laura. Hi, guys.

-Hello!

-Hi, Tim.

-Lovely to see you all.

-So, Rob, you met in Nick's pub, yeah?

-Indeed we did,

-about 18 months ago.

-You obviously had a good time.

-Well, yeah. He keeps good real ale.

-Is that what it is?

-That's the secret.

-You watch Bargain Hunt in the pub?

-I do, because I work night shift.

I pop in for a pint when Bargain Hunt's on, and Nick and I watch it,

-and we got quite good at saying, "They paid too much for that."

-Yes.

-Or, "That'll make a few bob."

-It's very easy

to be an armchair critic, though, isn't it, as we'll discover today.

Now, Nick, you're in the pub trade. What's it about this real ale?

It's difficult stuff to keep well, and it's one of the few things

the supermarkets can't provide, cask-conditioned real ale.

Unfortunately the pub industry is in decline.

-It's one sector of the pub industry which is seeing a resurgence.

-Yes.

People like it. It's organic, it's natural,

and we're proud of the stuff that we keep.

So what are your team tactics going to be today, lads?

We're going to be looking for quality. That seems to do well.

-Maybe a bit of furniture.

-Spend the money. That's the point.

-I think so.

-Some really stonking stuff, yeah?

-Yeah.

-Smashing job. Lovely team. Now, girls,

-are you quaking in your boots?

-No.

-No!

-You're both in the pub industry too.

-Yeah. We are.

-You're not rival pubs by any chance?

-More or less.

-We might be!

-Are you?

-We're about two miles apart.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-This is going to be the war of the pubs!

I love it! So, what's your favourite aspect of working in a pub?

-It's the banter with the customers.

-Is it?

-Oh, yeah.

-Definitely.

-We've got a high wall, and when they're sat in the garden

I'll pour water over them. They think it's the dog having a wee.

-HE LAUGHS

-I love the banter.

I like having a good dance behind the bar when the music channels are on.

Oh, yeah? So, what are your team tactics today?

To spend as little as possible and make a big profit.

-Is that it?

-Yeah.

-Haggle, haggle, haggle.

-THEY LAUGH

-Well, very, very, very good luck.

Now, the dough-re-mi. Here we go, look. There's your £300.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-You know the rules.

Your experts await. Off you go, and very, very, very good luck.

Do you know what I feel like? A drink!

And I'm not alone. Our rival pub teams are warming up.

-Cheers, Phil.

-Cheers.

-Cheers, Phil.

Will Philip Serrell be toasting victory with the Reds...

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

..or could David Harper be celebrating with the Blues?

Right! The clock has started.

-So, girls, are we nervous?

-A little bit.

-Are we excited?

-Very!

-Got a plan?

-Um, yeah. I think quality, quality, quality.

-Are we going to go blow some money?

-Oh, yes.

-Come on, then. One hour!

A bit of pub pride in this, if the opposition's another local.

-We've got to win this one, Phil.

-I just saw the price tag.

-I nearly fell over!

-Don't touch it if it's too expensive to break!

THEY LAUGH

Right. Come on, then.

-Are you feeling a bit blinded by it all?

-I am, actually.

-Yeah! It does get that way.

-It's not as easy as it looks!

-Especially when the clock is ticking.

-I know.

-I was looking at that.

Yeah, let's have a look at that. What on earth is it, do we think?

Um, it's a little bit small for a bread bin,

-unless it's for, like, a milk roll.

-THEY LAUGH

It could be for biscuits, I suppose. Is it a biscuit barrel?

-It's got a padlock.

-Yes, it has.

So it's probably for keeping savings in or special things in kitchen.

-Yes, it could be, couldn't it?

-Yeah.

-So you could keep biscuits in there.

You could keep tea in there. Now, it looks Continental to me,

-and so do you. Did it come from the Continent?

-No.

THEY LAUGH

-I bought it in Swansea.

-Is Swansea on the Continent?

You might need a passport to get there.

Well, I think I was right. It may have been bought in Swansea,

but if you look at the base, we've got some markings. Just numbers,

reference numbers, and it looks very '60s, '50s, even.

-It's a bit funky and retro. What sort of money is it?

-20.

-20. It's a bit wacky, isn't it?

-It is a bit wacky.

I think it's wacky. I was drawn to it when I saw it.

-It's quite groovy, isn't it?

-It is groovy.

-Could it be drastically cheaper?

-£18.

-18.

-15.

-Oh, she's in already.

-SHE LAUGHS

-15 great British pounds.

-Go on!

-Go on. Yes.

You've done a deal. Well done. Thank you very much. 15 quid.

I think that's the best 15 quid anybody could ever spend.

There's nothing wrong in that at all. A nice quick purchase,

-within about three minutes. I love you two!

-Get in, Hel!

-Come on.

-Let's go.

-We could do really well.

Get in, indeed! A cracking start.

Reds, are you hot on their heels? Because I am.

This is quite late because of these turnings,

so it's sort of 1900, 1890, 1900-ish.

If it was early, they'd have actual turnings there.

And these things used to be... I dunno, £300, £400, £500.

They've completely fallen out of bed. I don't know how much that is now.

130. I imagine we'd do a bit better than that.

If you wanted to buy that and make a profit on it,

-it's got to be... An auction estimate on that today is £60 to £90.

-Yeah.

Excuse me. What about the whatnot? What's the best we can do on it?

Best price I can do for 60.

-She's probably not dear at that.

-OK. Thank you very much.

What do you mean, "thank you very much"? You haven't started yet.

-Have you bought anything yet?

-We're sort of...

-Meandering?

-We're cogitating.

-Cogitating?

-Isn't that cheap at 60 quid?

-£60?

-Yeah.

-Is that per shelf, or what?

£60... It doesn't seem expensive to me.

-No, it doesn't.

-Not that I'm saying anything!

I'm not allowed to express an opinion.

I'm only muttering a few thoughts while I wander my way out of here.

Bye, lads!

-At 60 quid, I think that's cheap.

-Shall we get it, then?

-Dive in.

-We'll have that.

-We'll take that. Thanks very much.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

-Right. Onwards and upwards, chaps.

Thank you, Mr Wonnacott, for that little bit of help there.

Just a little nudge. Has it nudged him over the cliff, or are we all right? I think we are.

'Are you questioning my judgement there, Philip?'

It's a mass-produced thing, probably from the '70s, looking at it.

But it's jazzy, isn't it? Sort of thing you'd have in your bathroom.

-Yeah.

-With bubbly things in.

Or you could fill it with... fantastic, probably cheap perfume.

-So we smell high-class!

-Or mix them all together.

That's what I do, yeah. Have you noticed?

How lovely is this?

Just chilling out on a grassy bank in the sunshine.

Those teams are off bustling about, doing what they must do,

and this is the moment when I do what I do,

which is to find something to chat to you about.

And today I've found three beautiful objects.

Are these bells really beautiful?

Well, the funny thing is

that since the worldwide increase in metal prices,

if you were to take these three bells and go and weigh them,

they're worth about £500 in scrap.

Because the very best bells are cast in bronze,

which is exactly what these things are.

And if they're hung in a belfry for long enough,

they get this gorgeous dark green, rather dusty patination.

Now, I guess the oldest bell of this trio is this fellow.

You can see that it's got that dark-green colour,

but on the outer surface, there's some flaky grey paint.

Most of the grey paint has come off now,

but look at the green that exists underneath the grey paint.

This bell had been knocking around for 100 or 200 years

before the grey paint was put on a hundred years ago,

so it's potentially 17th or 18th century.

That is the oldest bell of the three.

Now, this fella is a standard bell that you'd find in a belfry

with about eight other fellow bells.

I guess that bell is probably early 19th century.

But this big fella in the middle I think has the most practical purpose

for anybody today. If you imagine this thing set up on its frame -

there are the two ferrules perfectly balanced and placed like this -

it would violently swing the bell like this,

and you get this lovely chiming noise.

Oh, my Lord! I feel a bit like Quasimodo here.

Anyway, three charming examples.

We know there's £500 worth of bronze,

were you to want to go and melt them down.

I suspect individually

each of these bells is worth about £500.

So, the asking price -

these could be yours for £650. Does that ring your bell or what?

It's a cocktail shaker,

and it's electroplated nickel on silver.

What I love about this one is just the way it's engraved.

-How old would you put it?

-Um, I would think it's...

first half of the 20th century, isn't it?

-Might be 1930s.

-What do you reckon?

-I don't know. How much is it?

-35 quid, the ticket price is.

-35?

-You've got the action, haven't you?

-Yeah, I'm there.

-Look at him.

-I'm Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise? Very impressive. So, what's the verdict?

-I think it's a nice thing.

-Yeah. Maybe come back to it.

-Maybe come back, possibly.

-Right. Come on, then.

-Come on, girls.

-I don't know a lot about cars.

Now we're talking. It's a 1965 or 1966, ladies. It's a Super Minx,

-the right colour, with a red trim, manual gearbox...

-Look at that!

-Shall we go for a spin, David?

-Oh, I love it! Don't you love it?

-I've now got three Super Minxes. One, two, three.

-Get in!

David, you old charmer!

-You look the part. He does look the part.

-Hello, hello, hello!

-No. I think it's more goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.

-Do you?

Nick! You should be nicked for that gag.

-So you know exactly what it is, don't you?

-Yeah.

-It's a desktop thing for, like, ink and your pens.

-Yes.

-Quills!

-Your quills. Exactly.

Date-wise, what sort of date would you put on that?

-Um, um, er...

-Don't look at the ticket!

Um...

I don't know. Maybe '30s or something?

-No. Earlier.

-Earlier?

-Oh, yeah. 1880.

-Look at the dovetail joins.

-Oh, yeah.

-See how fine they are?

Real high-quality thing, but something that was mass produced,

because anybody who was a clerk, or you were running a business,

or keeping paperwork at home, you would need something like this.

-Er, £65.

-I do like it, but not for 65.

No. It might make, um... What's the trade on this one?

-What have we got on it?

-65 on there.

-I'll do it for 50 and that's it.

-Is that the trade price, yeah?

I think it might do that in auction,

but I don't think there's going to be any profit in it.

-I'll make you the best offer you've ever had.

-Ooh!

-And this is on camera?

-THEY LAUGH

-£30.

-No, I couldn't do it. I'm sorry.

You've got to be willing to go lower than 50.

-49.99.

-40? 40?

-49.

-Come on. 40 English pounds.

No. Really rock bottom would be 45. I could not go below that.

All right. Go on. Tell him, then! Tell him... You've won!

-45.

-How can you?

-But the smile's gone.

Smile's gone, look. Well, I'll live with that, anyway.

You've got a nice piece, and I'll think of you when it's on television.

THEY LAUGH Thank you very much. Well done.

-Do you like that?

-I think it's interesting, Phil, yeah.

It's an old sort of, er, blotter.

And you can see here, stationery would have gone in there,

various letters that you've replied to or got to reply to.

This is like a Tunbridge Ware band around there,

and Tunbridge Ware is lots of little pieces of wood,

different colours, glued together then sliced off and laid on there to form a pattern.

But then you've got these stylised dolphins, this figure here.

I think it's a smart thing.

It's not Tunbridge Ware. Any idea where it's from?

Er, no. You say it's not Tunbridge Ware?

No, no, no. To give us a clue, look...

Ah! It'll be Sorrento, then.

Sorrento were famous for producing these inlaid wooden wares,

little trays... They were done for the tourist market.

But this is like a Rolls Royce of Sorrento Ware, really.

I think it's a smart thing. If that came into auction,

you could put 60 to 90, 80 to £120 on it. Do you like it?

I think you've got the collectors of Tunbridge Ware,

and, as you say, it's a nice thing and it's usable.

Well, I think we need to get a price on it, maybe.

-What's the best price on this?

-I can do it for a one-er.

-A one-er? There's 120 on it.

-That's the death.

-Couldn't do it for 90?

-No.

-What do you think, Phil?

-It's up to you guys.

-It's really up to you guys.

-I think it's a nice thing.

-Yeah?

-I'd say so. Yeah. We'll take it.

-Thank you very much.

-Done.

-It's a deal.

£100 spent, but will it soak up a profit?

We'll see.

-It could be almost anything you want it to be, couldn't it?

-Yeah.

-What's on the books here? Sorry, I didn't see.

-40.

-40. Shall I tell you what I think it is?

-Yeah.

Well, on the inside here is enamel,

almost a cloisonné, so I think it's a Chinese piece.

And this, I think, is cinnabar lacquer.

Now, cinnabar lacquer is a sap from a tree,

a lacquer from a tree, and it's put on in layers.

It can take many months to build up the right layers.

Then, when you've got a box with a few millimetres of lacquer,

then the craftsman - this is mind-boggling -

-will hand-cut and chisel out the decoration.

-Oh, my God.

It's absolutely bonkers. It's a wonderful thing.

-That is definitely hand carved.

-Oh, my gosh!

I'm unsure of its age, and this is the thing with Chinese items.

-It's difficult...

-Yeah.

-..to tell. I don't think it's ancient,

-but it could be early 20th century. What would be the trade on this? Sorry to interrupt.

-35.

-35? Is that the absolute death?

-Yeah.

-Really?

Um, OK. Thanks for that. Thanks.

I want you to tell me if you like it.

I think, if it is a cinnabar lacquer, which I'm quite sure,

it's an absolute bargain, 35 quid.

Personally I think you've got to have it.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-That should be a guaranteed profit-maker.

-If it doesn't, then, you know -

-On your head be it,

and you'll have to buy us the car and take us on a road trip.

-You have to buy us a Super Minx!

-I will come up with loads of excuses.

Don't worry. I will be blaming anybody but myself.

Go and try and work a bit of magic. Every pound counts. Go on.

It certainly does, David. Don't you agree, boys?

-Do you like the Vesta case?

-I do, but it's too much money.

-I think it's a stonking thing.

-Let me just see what I can do.

-All right.

-Yeah.

-When I tell you, that will be...

-OK.

-If I can do it and make a turnover, I'll do it.

-Of course.

-Absolutely.

-I think that's lovely.

Let's just have a chat, guys. Where has he gone?

I talked to the wrong one then.

-TIM LAUGHS

-Keep it together, Phil!

What you got there, Rob?

It's all go. How's the bargaining going, girls?

-Would you take £20?

-No, I wouldn't.

-Please?

That was an interesting question. Try another one.

-Higher. Higher.

-Lower!

-Higher!

-THEY LAUGH

-All right. A maximum of 25.

-No. 28.

28?

-28. Come on.

-Give him some money.

THEY LAUGH Well done. Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

-It's worth £33,000, that.

THEY LAUGH

Not a bad buy!

Thank you very much. That's brilliant.

-And you two are done.

-Great!

Boys, you need to regroup and close the deal fast.

We have lost him. Do you like it?

I think it's lovely. I think it's unusual, yeah.

I'll get you a price on it. I'll do it for 60 quid, then you've a chance.

I think that's a really nice thing. As Vesta cases go,

you'll struggle to find a better one, because this is meant to look like a miniature cigar case,

and then your Vestas are in here. So it's the Rolls Royce of Vesta cases.

-So... Where have you been?

-I was looking at something up there.

-What?

-A little silver toast rack.

-How much is it?

-It's £55.

-So you got a little silver toast rack for £55...

-Or this one for 60.

-That's 60 quid. Do you like that?

-I do like it, yeah.

-I think that's a nice thing.

I think that's lovely. You'll find 101 toast racks all over the world.

-I think that's cute. You've got five minutes left.

-It's unusual.

-You've got five minutes left.

-How much is it?

-It's 60 quid.

-Down from 89 quid.

-It's a deal.

-It's a deal?

-Yes.

-Five minutes. Stop the clock.

Yeah, I think we'll take that. Thanks very much.

Right! No more haggling. Time's up.

But before we find out how much leftover lolly our experts have

for their bonus buys, let's remind ourselves what the Reds have got.

We've got to win this one.

They all agreed the walnut whatnot was a bargain at £60.

Then Philip found a Sorrento Ware desk blotter,

and he set them on fire with his silver Vesta case.

-So how was it? Was it good, Rob?

-It was good. It was very good, yes.

-Up to expectations, Nicholas?

-Yes, very good.

You spent £220, I'm told.

-That means you've got £80 of leftover lolly somewhere.

-£80.

£80. There you go, then. That's a good round for you, isn't it?

-Off down the pub.

-Good luck, chaps.

Why don't we check out what the Blue team bought, eh?

THEY LAUGH

15 quid. I think that's the best 15 quid anybody could ever spend.

David is confident the decorative box will return a profit.

-I'll make you the best offer you've ever had.

-Ooh!

Helen worked hard to drive down the price of the Victorian inkwell.

That should be a guaranteed profit-maker.

And finally, will David's prediction prove correct?

They paid £28 for the cinnabar trinket box.

-There's a heck of a lot of laughing going on.

-Oh, yeah.

Too much joy on Bargain Hunt, I'd say.

So, you've obviously had a very, very good shop, haven't you?

-Oh, yes.

-What did you spend overall, then?

-£88.

-You mean that's the leftover lolly?

No, that's how much we spent. We've got 212 left.

212? Just terrible! £212...

Why do we bother giving you 300? That's what I want to know.

-What's going on here? What are you going to do, Dave?

-I don't know.

I'll need a lot of time. That's a lot of money for me to go and blow.

-Find something super-profitable, like you're so good at doing.

-Right.

Very good luck to you trio. The rest of us are going to shove off now.

We're going to go somewhere really, really interesting.

Welcome to Bantock House -

no grand stately home, but an unassuming Georgian farmhouse

set in the suburbs of Wolverhampton.

It's a house that's been lived in and loved by the bourgeoisie,

local industrialists rather than aristocrats, lords and ladies.

You won't find hanging on the walls of this house

works by the great and old masters -

no Titians, no Stubbs.

But what you will find are a series of paintings

painted by the Cranbrook Colony. Have you ever heard of 'em?

The Cranbrook Colony were a group of artists

headed up by GB O'Neill, who painted these two pictures,

based in Cranbrook in Kent.

And they produced a style of genre painting

which was particularly popular amongst the industrialists

of the West Midlands and the Northwest,

the sort of paintings that might have hung in this house originally.

Now, what's exquisite about the Cranbrook Colony pictures

is their depiction of an idealised life and children.

Here we've got two little kiddiewinks,

and they raked up some hay, and they've made a little nest,

hence the title, Nestlings.

But somebody, some naughty little girl or boy,

is burrowing away under the hay here,

and you can see their face just tucking out.

A seriously naughty boy is here on the outside

gathering up a kind of ball of stuff, which you just know

he's going to throw over the girls.

Over here we've got another girl-boy subject,

here a naughty boy sitting in the corner dribbling.

At his feet he's got his slate,

on which he should have been doing his letters,

and a book discarded on the floor. He's obviously in disgrace,

but this girl is coming around the corner bearing a plate of fruit.

It's as if she's coming to say, "Well, cheer up, old man."

"It can't be as bad as all that."

Some would say that these paintings are incredibly sentimental,

which of course they are - and that's the point,

because the patrons, the rich industrialists from Wolverhampton

who so loved these pictures liked to have them in their house

because it reminded them of happy, clean,

wholesome and healthy childhood...

..a way of life threatened as a result of the Industrial Revolution.

Right. Let's get to the auction house.

We're meeting up at Marshall's saleroom,

except for Rob on the Red Team. He's decided that Bargain Hunt is not for him.

Undeterred, Philip Serrell has arrived with his bonus buy.

£220 was spent by you and Rob, £80 going to your man.

What did you spend the cash on, Serrell?

Well, just a... I bought these,

which are boxwood, and they would have contained sort of...

medicine bottles or pots or whatever. I just think they're quite nice,

-and they were £20 the two.

-I've got you trained, Phil.

-Absolutely right.

-Not like you.

-No. Unusual for me, these.

I'd be really disappointed if they didn't make you a profit.

-You could put your paper clips in them.

-I think they're rather nice.

-You could put your takings from the pub in it.

-We have a few more than that,

to be honest with you, but we do have some slack days.

-Well, there you go, you see.

-Maybe the tips for the girls.

-Perfect.

-I paid £20 for them.

I would be very surprised if they made less than...

30, and I don't think they'll make over 55.

-I think between 30 and 55.

-You're confident there's a profit?

-Yeah.

-OK. Excellent.

-Right?

-Good stuff.

-Nick, you don't choose now.

You choose later if you want to go with them or not.

But for the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Philip's little pots.

Nick, how do you rate those? Do you think they're anything to do with medicine?

No. They're not apothecary pieces. They're a nice bit of turned treen,

I suspect for the dressing table. Little powder pots.

But they're well turned, and people like treen.

Yeah. I used to do things like that in the lower-fourth woodwork class,

-on a little lathe.

-Did you, now? And did you get top marks?

-Not bad marks, actually.

-No detention?

Oh, never any detention, no. I didn't like getting smacked.

-Now, how much?

-Er, £30 or so.

-OK. £20 paid.

-That's fair enough.

-They're a bonus buy,

but I don't see a lot of profit in those.

Anyway, next is the handsome, and, I fancy,

-greatly undervalued walnut whatnot.

-They've dropped hugely in value.

It's still a nice example of its type,

but they fetch a fraction of what we used to get.

-I mean, that was £200 to £300 standing on your head.

-Oh, easily.

Structurally it's sound. Nice bit of inlay. It's OK.

-What's your estimate, then?

-80-120.

-OK. £60 paid.

-It should turn a profit.

-Yeah, I think so.

-Good. Good.

-Next is the Italian blotter...

-Mm!

..which you have to admit has got a lot of work in it.

Yeah. I mean, it's one of those touristy pieces, really.

Ideally you want it to be a nice bit of English marquetry or Tunbridge Ware,

then the market would be buoyant. It's not a great seller. It's decorative.

-That's always got a chance.

-Somebody will love it.

-How much?

-50 to 80.

-£100 paid.

-That could be their dark hole.

-Ouch!

-It could be the Sorrento pit

into which they're about to descend.

-HE CHUCKLES

-Lastly they got their Vesta case.

Solid silver, look! Very nice. Hallmarked.

Always collectible. Nice hallmarks. Good shape with the fluting.

-Good little collectible item.

-What do you think a Vesta collector is going to pay for that one?

-40 to 60.

-£60 they paid.

So they paid towards the top end on that.

They'll need all the profit they can generate out of that whatnot,

and it may not even then be enough. Anyway, that's it for the Reds.

Now for the Blues, and this is an engaging trio. Just look at that!

-Nice mix.

-Kicking off with this Secessionist box.

It's very much, as you say, right in that Vienna Secessionist style.

The decoration is transfer-printed rather than painted or tube-lined

that we see in other factories. I think it's a basic workman's piece,

-a sandwich box, something of that type.

-Really?

You see a workman taking it out on the fields?

-Well, it's not...

-Walking up all those steep hills in Austria?

It's not airtight, as you'd expect a biscuit or -

-In leather trousers?

-HE CHUCKLES

-So what's your estimate, then, Nick?

-£40 or so.

-OK. £15 paid.

-That's good. There should be profit in that.

-There definitely ought to be.

-Good.

-Next is the encrier,

this rather dull Victorian two-bottle inkstand.

Yeah. It's not the best of its type, but inkstands do sell well.

Oh, good. Well, I'm reassured, because that's quite a black, dark, dank mid-Victorian one to my eye,

but it all boils down to the price, doesn't it? They paid £45.

I don't think that's too bad. It just needs a bit of spit and polish.

-Got the two inkwells there, which is good.

-That's a big factor.

-I'd like to see it make £80 or so.

-They might double their money?

-Could do.

-That would be exciting.

What about this Chinese cinnabar-lacquer-style box?

-Do you think that's any good?

-That magic word "style", isn't it?

It's got a cinnabar look about it.

I think it's probably machine cut rather than hand cut.

Bit of age to it, early 20th century,

-but a good, decorative bit of Chinese art.

-How well will this do?

-We've put 60-plus on it.

-£28 paid.

Here we've got three items bought way below the low estimate

-in the auction.

-It's that canny David again, isn't it?

It's that canny David, stiffening up his team.

They won't need their bonus buy, but anyway we're going to go and have a look at it.

-The sale's on for you. We've got the punters coming in, which is lovely. You excited?

-Oh, yeah. Very.

You won't be excited about the £88 you spent. How cheap is that?!

-We gave you 300.

-It's called Bargain Hunt for a reason!

-Ooh!

-THEY LAUGH

She's right. £88 - is that the right strategy,

because £212 went across to David Harper.

-And what did you blow it on?

-I think you'll like this.

-OK.

Tell me what you think. It's not a camera!

It's a novelty table lighter. It's got its original box,

-which is fantastic. It's called a Photo Flash table lighter.

-Oh!

Oh, it's getting better. Did you like the "flash" bit?

THEY LAUGH

Probably 1960s, I think. I'm not over-sure.

I've never bought one before. I've seen them but never owned one,

and I just thought it was really funky and jazzy and wacky.

The first thing to do is to take it out of the box.

So there is your camera set up in 1960.

-It's very James Bond!

-Very, but just in case you're lost

in your sitting room, and you can't find where the fags are,

-you've got a little compass!

-Yes. It's good fun.

I mean, it's a seriously wacky Japanese novelty item.

-Do you like it?

-I don't know.

-Oh.

-I'll have to have a think. I'll have to have a think about it.

-How much do you think I paid for it?

-Not a clue. Really wouldn't know.

The best price I could get it for was £55. That was it.

The big thing is, would you pay £55 for it? Honestly?

-Probably not.

-Yeah.

-THEY LAUGH

Anyway, you don't decide right now. You decide later,

but for the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about David's little lighter.

-There we go. It's a lot of fun.

-There it is.

A sweet little thing, really. There is a collector's market for these.

-Yes. I mean, you got the box. Look.

-All the component parts are here.

The condition's not great, which is a massive factor in these things.

Yes. Somebody who smoked 40 a day, and lit them all with that lighter

-for a lifetime.

-Yeah. But it's a quirky collector's item,

so there is a market for it. It's an internet-based sale,

-and it will be an internet purchase, I'm sure.

-What sort of price?

-40 to 60.

-OK. £55 paid, so they're pretty well spot on.

-Of course, they may not take it.

-They might not.

The big trick is to achieve these massive estimates.

-Are you taking the sale today?

-I shall be, Tim.

We're in safe hands.

So, Nick, here we are. Excited?

I am, yeah. Quite excited, Tim. Yeah.

You never know what will happen in an auction.

-That's the fun of the thing, really.

-Plenty of people here.

Plenty, which is a good sign. First up is the whatnot. Here it comes.

Lot 84 is the Victorian marquetry-inlaid walnut-veneered four-tier whatnot.

Good classic design. Nice condition as well.

I've got commissioned interest, you'll be pleased to know.

I can start the bidding straight in at... Wait for it...£100.

-Oh, well done!

-Well done, you.

-Fingers crossed.

Any advance, now? £100 bid. You coming in, sir? 110.

120. 120, I'm holding. Worth another one, surely.

130. 140 with me. Going to try one more, sir?

140 I'm holding. On commission with me. You're out. 140 I'm bid.

With me at £140. Any further bids? Have you all done?

150 online. 160 now. The bid's with me on commission. 160.

£160. If you're out online I'm selling now.

-160!

-I'm in the wrong job.

-Oops!

-Good stuff.

-That's £100 profit.

-Nearly £100 lost.

-Plus £100 on the first item!

-Well done, you.

-This never happens!

-I might lose this for you.

-Now, here comes your blotter, Phil.

Lot 85 is the Italian grand-tour revival

Sorrento Ware desk-top stationery folio.

Bit of interest, as well. I'm going to come in on commission at £100.

-That's good.

-I take my hat off.

110 now. 110 now. Any further bids in the room?

110 online. Commission's out. It's all online.

-110 now. At £110.

-I told you it was a nice thing.

Make no mistake, the bid's online at £110.

£110, so that's plus £10, which means you've now got £110

of your own profit. Cor! Right!

Six is the Edwardian hallmarked silver Vesta case.

Nice decoration, this, with the fluting

almost simulating the cigars. We're going to say 40 for it.

£40 anywhere? £40? 35? 30?

Thank you, madam. 30 bid in the front row. 30 offered.

Five anywhere? Five behind you. Thank you, sir. Bidding, madam? 40.

40 bid. Five behind you. Bidding, madam?

£50, front row. At £50. The bid's in the front row.

-Come on! Yes!

-In the front row. At £50, all done.

-At £50 I'm selling.

-That wipes out your £10,

which leaves you with plus 100. Now, what you going to do?

All the responsibility is yours.

Are you going to go with the two medicine bottles?

The worst I can do is lose 20 quid, and I like them, Phil.

-Good. So the decision is made.

-If they wipe their face,

-I'll be quite happy, Tim.

-All right. Fine.

Lot 90 is the 1920s turned boxwood ladies' dressing-table receptacle.

Two of them in the lot. That'll be £30.

25? £20? £20 anywhere?

£15? Tenner? For the two, not each! Thank you, sir. Ten bid.

Any advance on a tenner? Got to go. Selling at £10.

-£10.

-Cost you a tenner. I'm sorry about that.

-Not to worry.

Minus ten... That is plus 90.

Had to bring some respectability to your score. You got far too much.

-There you go. Plus 90, all right?

-Not too bad. Not too bad at all.

Don't tell the Blues a thing. No point in spoiling their day.

-Happy?

-Yeah.

-Do you know how the Reds got on?

-No. Haven't got a clue.

-Good. We don't want you to know, actually.

First up is your biscuit barrel, and here it comes.

Lot 105 is the 1920s Vienna Secessionist ceramic-and-metal box.

Nicely decorated. We're going to go £40 for it.

Nice bit of Vienna Secessionism. £40 for it.

-35. 30, surely.

-Oh, no...

-Come on!

Someone recognise the quality of this for £30.

£20. We're going the wrong way! £20, surely! Someone bid me £20.

-Come on!

-Smart little box. 20 online. 25.

30. Bids online now. They've all been waiting online.

-Just woken up. Five now.

-Yes!

-35 online.

-It'll be Austria.

-Come along. Don't stop now. Nice little lot, this.

You all done? Selling online. It's against you all in the room.

-Selling online at £35.

-£35. I don't care.

-That's still plus 20.

-I am happy.

-I'm happy with that.

Lot 106 is the Victorian ebonised and walnut desk stand

with two nice little glass inkwells in there. 60 for it.

50. £40 if you like. £40. £40 anywhere? £40.

Thank you, sir. 40 bid. Any advance on 40?

-Come on!

-45 online.

-Yes!

-Keep going. £50.

-Yes!

Bids in the room, £50. Any online? Five online.

-Yes! Good online.

-55 online. You sure, sir?

It's 55 against you. You sure? You all out? The bid's online,

-£55. All finished?

-That's £10.

-I'm happy.

That is a profit. You have got two profits.

-What is going to happen with your third item?

-A very good item.

Nice-quality lot, this bit of Chinese export ware, red lacquer

and carved panelling. What am I going to say - 50 for it? 45?

40 to start me. Anywhere, somewhere. £40, surely. Who's coming in?

-The bid's online.

-£40 online. Thank God for online!

Ought to make a bit more, I'm sure. I'm bid 45.

And 50. Still going.

-55. Any advance on 55?

-Should be 100.

-You finished? Done?

Online at 55. The hammer's hovering. I'm going at £55.

£55. That's very good. That's two off 30.

That's 25. That's plus 27.

27 and ten is 37, plus 20 is 57. That is plus 57.

-That is not bad.

-£57! How about that?

What are you going to do about the bonus buy? This is a bit chancy,

because... We know it's chancy. What are you going to do?

-You can stick.

-God, here we go.

Or you've got £57 to stick in there.

-What do you think?

-Yes.

-Are you going with it?

-OK, no.

-You're not going with it. It's coming up now anyway.

-I can't believe it!

-Lot 111

is the 1960s KKW Photo Flash novelty table lighter.

Got the original box with it, which is nice.

£40 anywhere? 35.

30. Someone snap it up. Thank you, sir. 30 bid.

Right at the back. 30 offered. Any further bid? It's in the room,

-standing at £30. Anyone online?

-Get online!

The bid's in the room. £30, if you're all sure that's all.

-At £30, selling...

-Yes! It's sold for £30.

-Oh, thank God!

-It's minus 25.

-What do you mean, "Yes! It's sold"?

-HE LAUGHS

-Well, I can tell you, girls,

this is a special moment on Bargain Hunt. Don't talk to the Reds at all,

because you have made a profit on all three items.

-All right?

-Yes!

The golden gavel that once ruled supreme on this programme

makes its comeback, because we found some more golden gavels,

and you are the first team that have won a golden gavel

-for absolutely yonks.

-Yes!

-Get in!

-Thank you!

-Thank you! Ooh!

-Got a snog then!

-Oh, sorry! That was a plus!

-Why are you thanking him?

-I helped in the beginning!

-Do you want a snog as well?

-What? I want one too.

-THEY LAUGH

-Don't talk to the Reds.

What an incredible programme we've had today! Both teams making stellar profits.

-Oh!

-Get in there!

-But have these teams been talking to one another?

-No.

-No.

Well, sadly we do have to have a runner-up on Bargain Hunt,

and the runners-up today are...the Blues.

-Oh, no!

-Get in there!

-Oh!

-The Blues have managed to lose by winning £57.

-Oh, well...

-Which is a pretty queer old kettle of fish, I have to say.

Anyway, £57 coming across here. You didn't go with the bonus buy,

-which was one of your wisest moves today.

-Well done.

As a result, not only did you take £57 in the way of profit,

but you made a profit on each of the things you bought between you,

and as a result, I'm going to be able to present you

-with a golden gavel.

-I've never seen one.

-No.

Well, the new golden gavels come in the form of a pin.

-Oh!

-All right? This is something for each of you girls

to wear with pride, and because we've had such a stellar performance

-from you, my friend...

-No, Tim! Not me as well?

-Yes, you as well.

-Oh!

A successful expert in a golden-gavel occupation

is allowed to have his very own pin,

so you can pin that to your bosom, David - careful as you go -

-and wear it with pride.

-I will.

-Congratulations,

and I hope you've had a great time. You've got money and something to show for it.

But the big winners are over here. £90 of profit,

-which is phenomenal, isn't it?

-Thanks very much, Tim.

£100 off that whatnot, for a kick-off,

was a considerable effort, wasn't it?

And you got a nice profit out of the Sorrento blotter,

so well done for that, Phil. But not a profit on each item,

which is what makes that performance very clever.

But there you go. What are you giggling at?

He can share it with us. We'll go up for a drink.

Well, same town. What could be better? We've had a great day.

-Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-Yes!

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