Norfolk 24 Bargain Hunt

It's 12.15, nearly lunchtime, so let's go bargain hunting!

With a budget of £300, our teams have one hour to find three bargains to sell at auction.

It's not easy, so they'll need a little help from our friends.

That's Paul Laidlaw for the Red Team.

I suspect we've got to be really cautious here. Ah, I've seen it.

-It's plate.

-It's plate.

-Oh!

And Jonathan Pratt for the Blue Team.

-What about that?

-Come on, ladies! Come on!

-Come on!

-Sorry, Jonathan.

-Sorry, Jonathan.

So today for the Red Team, we have the father and son combo of John and Paul.

-Hi, Tim.

-Hi.

-Very nice to see you.

John, your job is all about keeping an eye on the cash. Is that what you'll do on the programme today?

Well, yes, I think so. I'll hold him back rather than spending and running away with the money.

-Cos you're actually a banker?

-Yes. 34 years of it I've done now.

-So that keeps you out of trouble?

Absolutely. I don't have enough time for trouble.

-Now, Paul, it says here that you pull your weight in the office. Is that right?

-You could say that, Tim.

Being the epitome of fitness, I'm a sales and marketing manager for a well-known health chain.

-And probably clear to see that I preach rather than practise.

-Yes.

So how are you, a team of business professionals, going to manage, do you suppose, in Bargain Hunt today?

I think it's all about maybe taking a bit of a risk and spending a bit of money

because you've got to speculate to accumulate.

-I think that's a way to go, don't you?

-Do you agree with that, banking dad?

No, I'm more conservative than that. I'm going to be the one that holds him back rather than let his...

-Youthful enthusiasm, yes.

-I'll be more conservative.

-I can feel a bit of tension building up already between you. Anyway, very good luck.

-Thanks.

Now, for the Blues,

identical sisters, Geri and Wacky... I'm sorry, Jackie.

Now, you've lived your lives separately, most of your lives.

-But now you're living back together again.

-Yeah.

-Is that a scream?

-We get on 95% of the time.

-Yes.

-The other 5% we're shouting at each other. But we have a laugh, anyway.

-Well, that's nice, isn't it?

-Yes, it's very good.

-But identical twins is unusual, isn't it?

-Mm-hm.

-Do you have the same thoughts?

-Often.

-Sometimes.

-Often. Sometimes.

-So, Jacks, is there anything in particular that you like to collect, darling?

Well, I collect Murano glass. And I also collect swans, all different colours.

-And I think they're...what I call bon-bon dishes.

-Oh, lovely.

-Yes.

-Geri, what do you collect, darling?

-I've got a lovely collection of scent bottles, perfume bottles.

-And crystals is my main one.

-So how are you going to work as a team, though? Have you got a special plan?

-We will do and see what we will see.

-Great.

I think we're going a long way here. This is very exciting. Now the money moment. £300 apiece. Here you go.

£300. There's your £300. You know the rules. Your experts await. And off you go!

And very, very, very good luck! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

-We can hear the rain outside, so it's probably best to start in here.

-Yeah, absolutely.

-Lots of stalls here. What's going to catch your eye?

-Something silver?

-So lots of things?

-Anything, really.

-Remind me - what are we looking for?

-Not really got much of an idea about what we're looking for.

-But if we like it, and it's a good price...

-Which is the bottom line.

-Absolutely.

-Let's do it.

-OK.

-That's absolutely beautiful.

-Have you got any of those at home?

Yes. I've got teddies, trains, the penguins and the birds, and things like that.

-They're very expensive, new, from Swarovski.

-Yeah. But that is absolutely a dream.

-That dragon?

-Yeah.

-You can always buy it and take it home with you.

-It's absolutely gorgeous, that is.

'But I don't think Jonathan's a fan, Geri.'

-What about the screen here? The Japanese screen?

-We can't afford it. I know the price of that.

It's a '70s affair. And it's quite cool in the right quarters. It's not for you.

-I like this.

-Oh, look at this.

-Can I?

-Jackie?

-Just a minute.

Oh, wow! That's beautiful. I love that.

Glass is all about personal taste. If you like it,

-then you would hope that people in the auction room would like it as well.

-Yeah.

-But who wouldn't like something like that?

-Where's this made?

-Where's Zareh from?

-I don't know.

-Never heard of them.

No, it says on the bottom. You're buying a piece of glass that's got a name to it,

which is always a better investment. There's a bit of workmanship gone into it.

-I'd like to buy that piece.

-You've made your mind up?

-Yes.

-You've got to negotiate before you say things like that!

-If the price is right!

-What have I got?

-£42.

Well, 38. 35?

No. 38. Please? It's got to be 38. I'm sorry.

-You really like it. You decide.

-All right then.

-Yes.

-I'll wrap it up.

'One in the bag. But you do have an hour, girls.'

-What do you think of that traction engine up there?

-What are we looking at?

-1960s traction engine.

The nicest thing about that one is the box, in all honesty.

Mamod steam traction engines I see one a week. It's worth maybe £70 with that box.

-And is there a price on it?

-95.

-I mean, if you could buy it for 60,

you can't go wrong. But no harm in asking. See how long he's had it.

-Hi. Is this yours?

-No.

-Is he talking to someone?

This side is. Danny's on that side. What's up?

-Just the traction engine. Is there anything you can do on the price of that?

-For you...

-Special deals?

-What are you going to offer me?

-Well, round about the £60 mark.

-He's going to start crying.

'You're supposed to be helping, Paul.'

-£75. I'm knocking 20 off.

-60 is more than I'd have offered.

-It's a nice box.

-It's the best thing about it.

-Because you know you can buy the traction engine any day of the week.

-A bit dog-eared, though.

-I know, but...

-Surely for each corner we could knock another tenner off?

-We're going down!

-Just a little bit.

-Where are we at at the moment?

£65. That's my very best. That's so you can earn some money.

-Is there any way for another fiver just to give them a...

-Fighting chance.

-Go on.

-Cash?

-Cash.

Right there in your hand.

Lovely. Go on then.

-I hope you do well, boys.

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks for the sentiment.

'Sentiment indeed(!)

'Toys for the boys, more like it.'

-That's quite cute actually.

-It's got that nice effect.

-OK. Are you meant to have a bowl sat in there?

-Here it is.

-Exactly.

Well, that's not... Look - £28.

I mean, there's not a great deal of age to it.

It's a centrepiece to put on the dining table. A flower arrangement in it? £28.

-Again it's quite fun for that, isn't it?

-Yeah. I'd go for it.

Let's not sound too keen. We like to negotiate these things. I'll just see if there's anything...

-I'd offer 20 quid for it. It'd be a nice talking piece.

-It's unusual.

-It is, absolutely.

-That's why I picked it up because it's something that I haven't seen before. It's different.

-Exactly.

It's crudely modelled. As far as toes are concerned, that's like a bunch of sausages.

-There aren't any "toos" there, particularly.

-Any what?

-"Toos".

-Toes.

-Oh, toes. I was saying...

-"Toos".

-Oh, toes. "Toos".

-Um...

-I told you he was posh!

Thank you very much. I'm a comprehensive schoolboy, I'll have you know.

-You speak posh anyway.

-I know. I hang around with the wrong crowd. That's the problem. There's no mark on it.

-It's probably made in the Far East or something.

-Yeah.

It's decorative. If you got that for £20, you'll probably do well.

# Too much monkey business

# Too much monkey business Too much monkey business... #

This is black lacquer abalone, sometimes mother-of-pearl inlay,

little stationery box there. Lovely form.

This almost inverted Bombay form and then this serpentine slope in front.

Once upon a time, really valuable. Today, not quite what it was.

But it's fundamentally a good thing.

It opens to reveal a not unattractive and arguably useful interior.

-Not you guys, though.

-Well, sort of letter writing is not really as common.

-No.

-It's all emails.

'The Blues are still monkeying about, though.'

-Your maximum price? You're...

-20.

You're saying, "I don't want to spend more than £20 on an object", you know, which...

-She said 24 would be the least she would take.

-We'll have a think about it.

-Have a think about it.

'Don't think for too long, Jackie!'

-It's a tenner, isn't it?

-If it was worth £50, it wouldn't still be sitting there at a tenner.

-No.

'If only they could accurately predict how things were going to turn out.'

So what's the weather doing outside?

These days we watch the BBC weather forecast and we know exactly what's going on.

In the old days, they used one of these, a mercury stick barometer.

You can tell it's a mercury stick barometer because it's got a hollow glass tube visible at the top.

And either side of that glass tube are some silvered brass dials which have been engraved

with the prediction "very fair, fair, much rain" and so forth.

On the other side is something called a vernier scale.

And if I twiddle that knob down below,

you can see the scale goes up and down.

And you adjust that depending on what the movement of the mercury is

with the rising pressure or the falling pressure.

But the interesting thing about this mercury stick barometer

is the inscription at the top.

You can see inscribed the maker, F Molton, Dove Street, Norwich.

So how far is Norwich from us right now? From the showground, it's about three miles.

And the dealer who's brought this barometer into the fair

found it in a house clearance in Cromer, which is about 25 miles from Norwich.

So I reckon that since this thing was made, around about 1840, 1850,

it has travelled in its lifetime no more than, say, 30 miles,

which is nothing.

It's a fine example with this nice, cut mother-of-pearl inlay.

Further down the trunk you've got a thermometer

with matching silvered registers to the barometer part.

And then underneath is the reservoir for the mercury itself.

And the ugly reservoir is normally covered

by this finely-turned reservoir cover, which sits on like that.

So when you look at the thing complete, just how handsome is that?

Now, I'm going to take the vase cover off because it's loose

and I don't want to drop it. So I'll put it to one side while we re-hang.

So, 1840, 1850, what's it worth?

Well, the dealer's asking £1,200 for it.

Do you feel the pressure rising or falling?

# I don't need this pressure on I don't need this pressure on

# I don't need this pressure on... #

-What have you found this time? Nothing?

-No.

-All right.

-I thought I did, but I've not.

# I don't need this pressure on... #

Look at that!

-It's a handsome painting.

-Come on, ladies!

-Come on!

-I'm sorry.

-Come on.

-Sorry, Jonathan.

-Sorry, Jonathan.

'Keep them under control, JP.'

What is she asking? £65. If that were silver, that's a gift. That's worth £80 to £120 of anyone's money.

I suspect we've got to be really cautious here.

I've seen it. It's plate.

-Plate.

-Oh!

-No, no.

-No?

-Close. It's a nice thing, but I can't encourage you to buy plate.

'Lucky escape there, guys. Now, the Blues still have that monkey on their back.'

-Do you want to go back and get it now? Would you be happier to get it now?

-No.

-You would.

I would because once we've got it... We've told that lady to keep it.

Then we've got the rest of the time to find our last piece.

Why don't you go and say that we'll have it?

-Can we have it?

-Yes.

-Because we've only got 25 minutes left to get some more things.

So if you keep that for us, we'll be back. Thank you.

That is quirky, isn't it?

Do we know what this is for?

-Oil and vinegar.

-Oil and vinegar. It's a diamond of a thing.

There's not a lot of precious material to it. But you've got stoppers there.

-And I'm absolutely sure they'll be right to it. It's silver.

-Yes, there is a mark on it.

It's not a startling thing, but it's subtle. It's delicate. I think that is all right.

-And what do you think we'd...

-But what's it worth? About £50.

-Priced at £65. Can you do us anything on price?

-50.

-50.

-I don't see it making much. I think you're in that 40-60 bracket.

-Can I feel it?

-Yeah, absolutely.

-It's quite a tactile thing as well, isn't it, you know?

-Yeah.

It is nice, isn't it?

He's saying 48. That's his price. It's up to you.

I think maybe win a little, maybe lose a little, but I like it.

-Let's go for it.

-Do you want to buy it? 48 quid? We need to buy something.

-Yeah.

-48 quid.

-Go on then.

-It's interesting, isn't it?

-Shake the man's hand.

-Job done.

-£48.

-OK. Lovely.

-Cheers.

-Thanks for that.

-Nice one. Cheers.

-There you go, guys.

-Two things down and we're probably near enough on track now.

-That's about 100.

'You're doing well. But the Blue Team are racing ahead.'

-This is something that I wouldn't scrap.

-Yes.

-It's a lovely old brooch.

You've got a cabochon garnet in the middle.

Thank you.

You would've had like a hair panel in the back.

Yes, like a mourning brooch or even a miniature portrait.

And you've tested it as 18?

It's high-carat, yes. It tested over 15 carat.

Well, that's a really nice piece of Victorian jewellery.

It's the sort of thing I'm hunting for as an auctioneer all the time.

-It came in yesterday.

-How much is this?

I'm doing it for 230.

The gold value is just about that as these could be pyrope garnet.

And these could be almandines.

Whoever's made it has put a lot of time and effort into it.

It's got a replacement pin

or hinge at least, anyway, because it's come out on the side there. £230.

If I honestly say that we're close... If you're feeling really bold and brave, go for it.

-Shall we have that then, Jackie?

-Yes.

-We'll make a deal on that then.

-Good luck.

-We shall see. We shall see.

-It's a very bold move.

-Yes.

-Oh, well.

-We saw a rainbow this morning and we thought it might've landed just about here.

Gold. Oh, yes. That's our pot of gold.

'Now, you can never say our Blue Team are indecisive. Oh, no.

'Over to you, Red Team.'

It's a nice piece. There has been engraving on it at some time.

-And on the bottom. But you've got the cup.

-Yeah.

So I'll have a look while you have a look. How about that?

-Very classy. Gentleman's silver hip flask. Integral cups.

-It's engraved 1915... 1926 engraving on here.

Is the engraving charming you or is it boring you?

-Because that's important.

-I'd like to know what it means. It's clearly used. It's dented.

Looks like it's awarded for something.

So you've got the years 1913, '26, '36, '37, so there are gaps there.

Yeah.

-I should say to you - I hadn't priced it, really, to sell because of the sustained damage.

-I understand.

-It wouldn't appeal to the purest collector, but it's a functional piece.

-Yeah.

-It's something somebody would buy as a gift or a Christmas present...

-Yeah.

You can use it. I tell you what - I'll do 110.

-OK.

-It's the best I could go. It's giving me a little return.

-OK.

You're very kind. Thank you. Can we just have a wee confab about that? Yes? That's excellent.

-Can I have a look, Paul?

-Right, decision time for you guys

-because this is a charming little flask. It's worth 80-120.

-Let's go for that.

-You want that, don't you?

-He said he'd do it for 110.

-You've got to ask the question again.

-I'll give it a go.

-Yeah.

Are we doing a deal, gentlemen?

-Just want to go a little bit more, if you can, on the price of it.

-I can't find anything else.

I think he's saying no and I think we should respect that. I think it's all right.

-Should we go for it?

-Go for it.

-Go on. Go on. It's a deal.

-OK.

-Thank you.

-You're most welcome.

-Thank you, gents. Good luck.

-Thank you very much indeed.

'That was cheeky, Paul, but nice try.'

Time's up. The job's done.

Now, let's see how the Red Team spent their cash.

'Paul steamed in to buy the 1960s toy traction engine for £60.

'And they bought the oil and vinegar

'for a piquant £48.

'And they'll need a shot of something strong

'after spending £110 on a silver hip flask.'

-Good spend.

-Good, yeah?

-Absolutely, yeah.

-OK, JPP.

-Hello.

-Hi.

-That was good fun, wasn't it?

-It was good fun, yes.

-Perfect.

-So what's your end tally for money then? How much did you spend overall?

-We spent £218.

-£218.

So what do I want? £72 back, don't I?

-Have you got 72?

-You can have 72. We'll keep the tenner.

-OK. 82 then.

Cor, they're sharp, aren't they?

No wonder you're in business. Well-qualified lot. Here we go then. £82.

-82.

-Thank you very much. Here we go, Paul Laidlaw. You got 82 in the end.

-You almost only had 72. What are you going to spend it on?

-Um... I have my eye on a couple of things.

It all boils down to the price. You've had a great time. Thanks, chaps. Good luck, Paul.

Why don't we check out what the Blues have bought?

'Jonathan loved the Zareh vase,

'bought for £38.

'They went bananas over the silver monkey at £24.

'And they're pinning their hopes on the £230 Victorian brooch. Wow!'

You are adorable, you two, I tell you. What's your total again?

-£292.

-£292. Isn't that magnificent?

-Absolutely.

-Terrific twins.

-Mostly on one object, Tim!

-Don't worry, it's the total that we like being spent.

Anyway, £8 of leftover lolly, please. That's very kind.

I like the blue nails. That's all sweet with the team colours, isn't it?

-Absolutely.

-Now, this could make all the difference, Jonathan, your big expenditure of £8.

So it's a modest amount, but a lot is weighing on your shoulders here.

Well, I think with £8... I should be able to at least double it.

-Good. That's what I like...

-And we could need it, mightn't we?

-Yes.

-We might need it at the end.

-Yes.

-Well, I think you've been stupendous as a team. And I congratulate you.

But for the rest of us, we're heading off now to Wisbech.

That's it. In Cambridgeshire. Have you never been there before?

Well, it's marvellous. As you're about to find out.

The North Brink here in Wisbech is a stunning streetscape,

a testament to the prosperity of the Fenlands of yore.

At its heart is Peckover House,

home to a family of Quaker collectors and philanthropists

for 150 years.

In May 1877, Alexander, later Lord Peckover,

inherited Peckover House from his bachelor Uncle William.

Now, we don't have all that much stuff in this house

that dates from Alexander's time when he was head of the family.

But we are certain that this little cabinet did belong to him.

Now, on the face of it, this is rather a boring, walnut-veneered, miniature cabinet,

the sort of thing that's described as an apprentice piece

by a cabinetmaker who had aspirations for making the full-size variety.

That is until you start taking it apart.

Now, if we open the hinged top,

you see an amazing miscellany of family-related objects,

including this, a serrated, edged, single sheet of paper cut in a circle.

And within the inner circle, written out with pen and ink,

we have in miniature, "Our Father, who art in heaven."

It's the Lord's Prayer and dated at the bottom, 1823.

All within a hand water-coloured border.

So what's going on here? Well, if you were religious, this little piece of paper

you'd have nestling inside your silver pocket watch outer case.

It's just a little token of your religious affections.

If we open up the doors at the front,

it reveals a series of slightly graduated trays.

And if I take these out, we begin to reveal an extraordinary collection.

The bottom drawer is full of natural history specimens,

largely seeds applied to cards, like this one, look.

Wild liquorice from Madagascar.

And a whole host of other things.

The second tray, which is quite weighty, but relates to antiquities,

pieces of terracotta, Greek and Roman oil lamps.

Look at this. A bit of wooden comb.

In ancient times, if you wanted a comb, you took a piece of wood.

And you cut that piece of wood literally thousands of times to form the teeth.

And this little fragment of comb could be more than a thousand years old.

The next tray has in it things relating to Egypt.

These are called shabti or ushabti figures.

They're funerary figures and they would have been placed in a deceased person's tomb.

And they're supposed to accompany the deceased into the afterlife.

The next tray contains some nice polished examples of minerals.

The next contains stones, but I think quite interesting.

For example, this slab, in its own right, not worth much.

But it's got a little label on it, look, that says, "Porphyry from Rome."

And dated 1824.

And of course, porphyry was a most desirable material

for the Romans who ventured to Egypt.

This mineral was taken back to Rome and then turned into all sorts of vases and precious objects.

And it's a gorgeous stone because until the 19th century,

the only known source for porphyry was in Egypt,

and it was incredibly rare.

In the next drawer, we've got a whole series of envelopes

and objects relating to travel,

for example, this, which is a little Hebrew prayer scroll,

contained within an olive wood box,

and probably acquired from the Holy Land.

The next drawer contains a collection of shells,

carefully gathered by various members of the family,

no doubt on their travels. And look, a sweet little bottle, dated 1925.

And it's inscribed,

"Water from the famous River Gangites, old Philippi,"

which, of course, is in Greece and has its religious connotations.

What is the purpose, therefore,

of this collection of oddball objects gathered together in this cabinet?

Well, in the old days, these things were referred to as cabinets of curiosities.

Wherever you went with an enquiring mind,

you would collect and put together little groups of things, bring them home,

and then place them in a little cabinet like this

where succeeding generations would learn something, whatever it might be,

from the little objects that had been collected by earlier ancestors.

Great, isn't it?

The big question today is, of course,

will our teams over at the auction be collecting any lucre?

That's "cash" to you and me.

Well, we've come battling through the snow in inclement weather

to be at Abbotts Auction House at Campsea Ashe in Suffolk, and with our auctioneer Geoffrey Barfoot.

-Geoffrey.

-Good morning.

-First item for John and Paul is this Mamod traction engine.

-A traction engine.

-Did you ever have one of these as a boy?

-No, I didn't.

-But you wanted one?

-I probably did, yes.

-It's a good survival, isn't it?

-Yes, I see it as a collectable, but not a particularly valuable collectable.

No, quite. They made too many of them.

-We do get them in quite often.

-What's it worth?

-Well, I've put it in at 20 to 40.

-Oh, dear. £60 was paid.

-Bit too much then?

-Could be a bit of a struggle.

-Yeah. OK. Fine. What about this oil and vinegar cruet?

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

-Mm-hm.

Hallmarked round the rim. Yeah, that's quite fun.

-Somebody has cleaned all that up with a Brillo pad.

-Very over-cleaned.

-So what's it worth?

-I've got it in at 20 to 40.

-£48 paid.

-So they've paid a bit too much for that.

-Yes, that's going to be really uphill.

And then the last item is this incredibly bashed hip flask.

Interesting little lot. A bit battered and dented

and with these rather faint inscriptions along the top.

Probably a deerstalker

with these Scottish dates and inscriptions, places where he stalked, possibly.

-But as I say, very battered.

-What's it worth?

-I've got it in at £60 to £80.

-£110 they paid.

-Right.

-Could be a bit of a struggle because of the condition.

-Yes. OK.

I think they'll need their bonus buy, so let's have a look at it.

-Well, we've got depleted numbers.

-Yes, just me.

-What happened to John then?

-Weather conditions.

He's been snowed in. He couldn't even get the car up the hill home.

-Oh, Lord.

-Yeah, not good.

-Best to stay at home and be safe.

-Anyway, you and your dad spent £218.

-Yeah.

You had £82 of leftover lolly, which you gave to the ever reliable Paul Laidlaw.

-What did you spend it on, Paul?

-Ah!

-Ring a bell?

-Yeah, absolutely!

-We cast an eye over this.

-We did, didn't we? Yeah.

-And it was enough money.

But you know how I felt about it. A very, very elegant stationery box for a good desk.

How much did you get it for? We looked at this and we were like, "I don't know."

Well, I couldn't afford it initially with my £82.

-OK.

-But literally at the end of the day with the chap in his van,

-it was £80.

-80 quid.

-I mean, it's quite attractive, isn't it?

-It's smart.

-It's got this nice inlay bit on the top.

-Yeah. I trust you, Paul.

-But look, I'm going to be frank with you.

There's maybe more risk in that than some things I buy.

-Well, you and your father don't have to decide...

-I know, it's just down to me. Wish me luck, Dad, yes.

It'll be up to you, but after the sale of your first three items.

But right now for the viewers at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Paul's stationery box.

There you go, Geoffrey. Standard piece of Victorian papier-mache, I fancy.

Nice, little Victorian papier-mache and shell-inlaid stationery box

-with its original interior. Pretty little piece.

-It's nice, isn't it?

When you look at these interiors, so often they're not there, as they've been broken.

-It's got a bit of ripped paper, but by and large, it's all there.

-Yes.

-And condition is a big factor with papier-mache.

-The main problem is around the base.

-Oh, yes.

-Not easy stuff to restore.

-No.

-Oh, dear.

Anyway, there it is. It is what it is, even with its damage. What do you think it's worth?

-60 to 80.

-£80 paid.

-Right.

-Paul will be disappointed with that.

But they may not go with it. Who knows? That's the joy of the game.

That's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues, Geri and Jackie.

First up is this trumpet-shaped vase.

Very heavy. Bold in colour.

-Some would say hideous.

-Hideous, possibly! I can't see that being a big hit in a country saleroom.

-It looks like Bulgarian glass from the 1990s to me.

-Yeah.

-But one's been wrong before with modern glass, so...

-It's always possible.

-Perfectly happy to be proved wrong again. What's your estimate?

-I put it in at 20 to 30.

Very sensible. £38 paid. So they didn't pay a big price. It is a perfectly jolly lump of glass,

-but of no great quality.

-Yes.

-Good. Now, the centrepiece. Your monkey nut dish. Do you rate that?

-Not very highly.

-No.

-No.

-I don't think there's a great deal of age to that.

-Like brand-new?

-I'd say certainly within the last ten.

-Yeah. I rather agree with you.

-A bit quirky and a bit decorative and it's a bit of fun.

-So just a novelty item, really.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-And what sort of money, do you think?

-40 to 60.

-£24 paid.

-So they paid the right price.

-Could make a profit.

-No monkeying around with this, you know.

OK. 40 to 60 is a nice estimate. £24 paid.

-Yes.

-And last is the cabochon garnet brooch.

-Yeah. Not marked.

-But almost certainly gold.

-And that kind of Celtic look.

It is rather Celtic in design. It's in good order.

-And typical late Victorian?

-Yes, typical late Victorian.

-What's it worth?

-Well, I've got it in at a rather conservative 40 to 60.

-How much?

-40 to 60.

-You're joking, aren't you? No, you're not joking!

Well, they all went for this equally strongly.

They loved it at £230!

-I'll be delighted to be proved wrong. But it could be a big ask.

-There's a great chasm opening up here, I feel.

And not much money left over for the bonus buy. Only £8, in fact.

-Right.

-So let's see how Jonathan Pratt invested his £8 in the bonus buy.

-You spent, you naughty girls, £292.

-Yes.

You gave £8 only to JP. What did you spend your £8 on, Jonathan?

-Oh!

-A little inkstand, OK? Lovely brass, Art Nouveau inspired.

And I paid the princely sum of how much?

-£8?

-Fiver!

-Oh, brilliant!

-I think that's a nice little object for £5.

So, late 19th-century brass inkwell, in the Art Nouveau style - £5. Thank you very much.

-Profit?

-Absolutely.

-Will we make money on that?

-You'll make a tenner at least.

-Brilliant.

-Handle it.

-Handle it.

-Maybe more. It's the sort of sale that I think it'll do rather well in.

-You don't like it?

-I do.

-I love anything Art Nouveau.

-Yes.

-What do you think, Geri? Are you happy, darling?

-Yes. It's lovely.

-It's quite simply made.

-It's just stamped out of a piece of metal, basically.

-Yes, but look at the shape.

-That's lovely.

You can decide later. But let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Jonathan's five pounds' worth.

So, if you've only got £8 to spend on a bonus buy,

-hasn't he done well spending five on that?

-Yes, exceedingly well.

To go out and spend a five-pound note and buy something

of some quality that's likely to appeal, that's just brilliant.

-A nice little Art Nouveau inkwell.

-Isn't it just?

-Yes. Very stylish.

-What's it worth?

-I've put it in at 40 to 60.

-Paid £5.

-He'll be really chuffed.

-Whatever happens, he'll get a profit.

-It'll make up for the disappointment with the brooch, if indeed there is a disappointment.

-Yes.

-We'll see.

-Geoffrey, you've been very kind. Thank you.

-Thank you.

How do you see that one then? Put me in at £100 surely?

-OK, Paul, Paul?

-Hi.

-All right?

-No John-John? Just Paul-Paul, Paul-Paul.

-Paul-Paul and Paul-Paul.

-Feeling nervous at all, Paul?

-A little bit apprehensive.

But confident. It looks like a sort of nice few people about.

-So hopefully they will be keen to bid on our items. What do you reckon, Paul?

-Wait and see.

-Yes!

-He's confident.

-Well, John is responsible for the first item, the steam traction engine.

-He is.

-And here it comes.

-OK.

1960s Mamod toy steam traction engine.

There we are. All complete with its spirit burner and box etc.

Put me in at £20 to start? I'm bid 20 already, commission bid.

At £20 I'm bid. And five on the counter now.

At 25. 30.

At 30. Here at 30. Was there another bidder? 35.

-40. 40 is on the left-hand side here.

-(Come on.)

At 40 for the Mamod. Are we all done then at 40? And I sell at 40...

£40 is minus £20. Bad luck, John.

-Bad luck that you're stuck in that snowdrift.

-We'll blame it on him.

Anyway, here comes Paul Laidlaw's cruet.

Oil and vinegar cruet, hallmarked Birmingham 1922.

There we are. Nice little lot.

How do you see that one? Put me in at £20? 20 I'm bid in the front row.

-Come on.

-At £20 straight in.

£20 I'm bid. Do I see two anywhere?

At £20. 22. 25.

28.

30. And two.

32, seated on the right-hand side. At 32. Was there another bidder? 35.

Are we all done then at 35? And I sell...

£35 is, I'm afraid, minus 13.

It's a rather nice, little Edwardian silver hip flask

by James Dixon and Sons, Sheffield.

There we are. Inscribed with various Scottish locations.

Put me at £100 for it? For the hip flask, 100?

Well, 50 to start then surely?

Come along. With a bit of history. 50 I'm bid in the room now. At 50.

At £50 I'm bid on the counter. Five. At 55.

On the left here at 55. You're out on the counter at 55. 60.

Five.

-It's cheap, isn't it?

-70. £70 is on the right now.

At 70. Still cheap at £70.

-That's cheap, yeah.

-Are we all done then at 70?

I shall sell away then at £70.

Minus £40 on that, I'm afraid, lads.

-40. 60. 73. You're minus £73.

-Right.

-What are you going to do about the stationery box?

-There's no question.

-We'll go with the stationery box.

-You're not going to ring your father then?

-No.

-No?

-Definitely not.

-Let it be on your shoulders then.

-On my shoulders be it.

-Are we not in freefall?

A rather nice Victorian papier-mache,

gilt lacquer and shell-inlaid stationery box.

Nice shape. How do you see this one then? Put me at £100?

50 to go then? Come along, do,

for the stationery box. Well, 30 and up we go then. Come along. 30.

35 in front. 40 is in the middle.

It's a cheap little lot still at £40.

45 to the hand. 50 seated.

Five. A brand-new bidder at 55.

60. Do you want to be five, sir? 65 in front.

70 in the middle.

At £70 then seated in the middle.

Seated at £70. Right in the middle of the room then at 70. And I sell...

So bad luck, Paul. That's minus £10. And overall you're minus £83.

-Don't tell your dad. And don't tell the Blues, eh?

-No-one's going to be knowing about this.

-Now, Geri and Wacky...I mean, Jackie, how are you? OK?

-Fine.

-OK. Good. Not nervous at all?

-No, excited.

-Excited. Geri, you're not nervous at all?

-No. No.

-No.

-Anything you wish you hadn't bought?

-No.

-No.

-No. They're quite confident, these girls.

Well, first up is your glass vase.

And here it comes.

This very colourful glass vase, stamped "E Zareh" to base.

Handsome-looking vase there. Very colourful. Put me in at £20 to start?

-20 I'm bid. Seated at 20.

-Come on.

25. 25 is seated down here. At 25.

-Do I see eight anywhere?

-30!

25 is seated down here. It's not dear for a big vase.

-Up, up, up!

-Are we all done then at 28? A brand-new bidder. 30 seated.

-One more!

-Still with the original bidder.

-Up!

-Up!

-At £30... Thank you.

-OK.

-£30.

-That was...

-Never mind!

Well...

Minus £8.

That interesting silver-plated table centrepiece,

modelled as the seated monkey. And the glass bowl. Super quality lot.

-Put me in at £100?

-There he is.

-50 to go then, surely?

Well, 30 and up we go then? Come along, do.

Start me at 30? 30 seated. 35 with you.

-What did he say?

-You're in profit, girl.

40 seated. Do I see five anywhere?

Cheap little lot at 45.

-50 seated.

-£50!

50 seated right in the middle of the room. Do you want to be five, sir?

-Come on! Come on!

-50 seated then.

Are we all done at 50? 55.

-Oh, yes!

-Brand-new bidder down here at 55.

At 55. In front here at 55. You're out in the middle at 55...

-Hey!

-55 is plus 31.

The Victorian cabochon garnet circular brooch, circa 1870.

Where do you want to be on this one? Put me straight in at £50 to start?

-50?

-(Come on.)

-Well, 40 then, surely?

Nice Victorian brooch. Must be worth 40. 30 and up we go then?

-It's not looking good, this.

-No. Never mind.

At 30. Do you want five anywhere? 35 is at the back. 40. Five.

Back at the room at 45. Are you out on the counter? At 45 at the back.

At 45 at the back of the room then. At 45 and I shall sell.

50. Brand-new bidder at 50.

At £50 then. Are we all done at 50...

-Oh!

-Minus 180.

It doesn't sound too bad if you say it quickly.

Which means overall you are minus £157.

So that means between you, you owe £70 each nearly, just over £70 each.

-That's tough.

-It's not so good, that, is it?

-Tough!

-And you can help.

Well, I'm sorry about that, girls.

-So what are we going to do with the inkwell? Going with that?

-Yeah, we'll go with that. Might as well.

-Might as well.

-You're never going to lose on that.

-No.

-We'll have that.

The German, brass, Art Nouveau design inkwell

with the pear-shaped borders. How do you see that one?

Put me in at £40, surely?

Nice little inkwell. 40? Well, 20 to start then and up we go.

-Art Nouveau inkwell for 20?

-Up. Up.

I'm bid, sir, at 20. At £20 here on the left. At 20.

Do you want to be two? 22 seated. 24.

(24.)

26. 28.

30. And two.

-Jonathan!

-Keep going.

-Come on.

At 32. Are we all done then at 32...

£32 means you are plus 27,

which reduces your losses to only £130!

-Oh! Not bad at all.

-That could be a winning score. So don't say a word to the Reds.

-No.

Are we all done then?

-So, teams, have you been chatting?

-No.

-No? Not been chatting? No.

-Not to him anyway.

-And you've rung the old man?

-Rung the old man.

-Told him the score?

-Absolutely.

-He's in snowy Kent?

-Yes.

And I do have to reveal that on today's show,

we have had some of the most appalling losses I have seen for some years. Right?

-So there's nothing between either of these teams to be particularly proud about.

-Oh, dear!

Heavy, heavy minus scores.

-And the team with the most substantial losses just happens to be the Blues.

-Yeah, we thought that.

You are minus £130...

LAUGHTER

-..which is a bit of a cracker, isn't it?

-It's gutting.

But, you know, it's just down to one incredibly bad luck piece.

-But you've given us a great show. We had a real laugh.

-Fantastic laugh.

-That's what it's all about.

Thank you very much, girls. And the victors today who managed to win by losing only £83...

-On everything!

-..who didn't manage to make a profit on any item at all,

-but they nevertheless are the victors today...

-At least we're consistent!

I'm so sorry that John can't be with us. Great show, though.

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

-Yes!

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2011

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