Lincoln 22 Bargain Hunt

We're at the Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Fair -

one of the largest in Europe, don't you know?

So, no time to waste.

Let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

It's a lovely day here in Lincoln.

The crowds have turned up in force,

so the race is on to find those bargains.

Let's have a quick squint at what's coming up.

'The reds feel the ups and downs of negotiation.'

-Would £20 buy it?

-What about 25?

-Meet in the middle?

-27.

-LAUGHTER

-BLOWS TUNELESSLY

-'The blues are full of hot air.'

-LAUGHTER

-Thank you very much.

'So, let's meet today's teams.'

On the show today, we have father and daughter Gerry and Beth.

And for the blues, we have father Ricardo and son Tom.

-Hello, everyone. Lovely to see you.

-ALL: Hello.

-Gerry, you're retired, but what did you use to do?

-I was a teacher for 43 years.

17 of which I was a head teacher.

Then I took early retirement and I missed it, so I went back to supply teaching.

-You were a devil for punishment.

-Absolutely!

-Tell me, you have a love for fast cars.

-I do, indeed.

In the 1970s, I was a semi-professional rally driver

and drove to international standard.

Now I just organise events.

-What sort of motorcars did you go rallying in?

-My favourite was the Escort RS2000.

-It's the one I had most success with.

-That's quite a hairy thing.

-Absolutely.

-Beth, you also have a love of motorsports.

-Yes, I've been brought up into it with my dad.

I compete regularly now, but I also help him organise events as well.

-Do you drive your own car?

-On occasion, but usually my partner drives our little Peugeot 106.

-What else do you get up to?

-I also like to do pottery as well.

I quite like going to the gym, so I like a variety of hobbies.

Very good luck.

Now, chaps. Tom, you're a student. What are you studying?

I study landscape architecture and town planning at the University of Sheffield -

the design and implementation of anything which isn't a building.

It's not just digging up allotments and rearranging old ladies' front gardens?

No. That's more gardening.

It can work on a larger scale, large town areas.

-Laying out cities and things like that. Very varied.

-Exciting stuff.

-Very exciting.

-Richard, tell us about your love of biking.

-I started when I was young.

I rode to a fairly good standard

-and then discovered women and drink, basically.

-Oh, yeah.

-You grew up?

-I grew up, yeah.

When we were on holiday, when I was a lot older,

my son took a photo of me on a beach in profile in a pair of shorts.

I'd ballooned to 14 stone and he put it on a media website.

I saw this fat bloke and thought, "I've got to do something." So I got my bike out again.

-Good for you!

-Three years ago, I started biking again.

Tom-Tom, did you do that deliberately to shame your father?

-He didn't tell me about it.

-It was, yeah, cruel but...

-Cruel.

I feel the £300-moment coming on. There's your £300, Bethan.

-There you go, Tom.

-Wonderful.

You know the rules. Your experts await and off you go.

And very, very, very good luck. Just like two peas in a pod.

'Hoping to hit the jackpot today for the reds is:

'Trying to make the numbers work for the blues is:

'Gosh! You're wearing well for your years.'

-I want to get something silver.

-Really?

-Something classy and silver.

-Quality silver item.

-Not plated. Silver.

Can you tell the difference between a bit of silver and silver plate?

-Um...

-No.

-No.

-But I'm sure YOU can.

-Yes, I think I probably can.

-What do you want to buy?

-I don't know. Ceramics, maybe?

-Ceramics, yeah. Plenty of bling.

-Plenty of bling?

-Your dad likes bling?

-He does. He likes his bling.

-Silver, jewellery, yeah.

-Anything like that.

Well, let's go for it, guys, cos there's plenty of it in there.

Right.

'So, both teams have strong ideas on what they want.

'Now they just have to track them down!'

-Is that silver or silver plate?

-That's silver. I'm assuming.

I don't know much about hallmarks.

Let's have a quick, simple hallmark lesson.

'Stand by for some excellent expert advice on silverware.

'Off you go, Charlie.'

This is silver. What you must have is the lion. Can you see the lion?

The lion passant. Then the other marks. Here, you've got a crown.

Now, each assay office has a different mark.

If something is made in London, it has a leopard's head.

Made in Birmingham, it has an anchor.

A crown - this is made in Sheffield. Then it has a letter date.

Stylistically, looking at that, we're probably thinking 1920, 1930.

-So, perhaps not quite an antique.

-Right.

Silver, yes. Let's find something that isn't silver.

Generally speaking, if something's not silver, it will have EPNS on it.

Or other words. There, AA - Electro Plate.

It hasn't got the old lion on it. Put it back in the pot.

-Right.

-OK?

-Rid of!

'You tell 'em, Charlie.

'Armed with new silver-spotting knowledge, do the blues have an advantage over those reds?'

That's nice, Beth, that silver claret jug.

A claret jug? All right. Let's have a look at it.

I like the detail on it.

It's priced at £24, so that's telling me that it is plate.

I see why you were drawn to it because It's a lovely shape.

It's maybe turn-of-the-century, so late 19th, early 20th.

-You do really like it.

-I do.

-Definitely.

-Both of you like it?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Dad and daughter in agreement!

-Absolutely.

If you like it that much, I think we should have a wee go for it.

We're interested in this piece. It's labelled at 24.

-Could we do any better on it?

-< I could do £20 for it.

-Could you make it 18?

-I couldn't, unfortunately.

-OK.

-£20?

-I'd go for £20. I think that's a fair price.

-Well done. You've made your first bargain.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-< Hope you do well with it.

-What's that? Five minutes and our first item?

-Well done.

-First one in the bag.

'Five minutes in, eh? Not bad, reds.

'As you say, the first one in the old bag.

'Aye-aye! Silver seems popular today.'

What have you got there? A pair of sterling silver coasters.

Coasters are good things because everybody likes a coaster.

-Mm-hm.

-I quite like them.

-And they're stylish.

-And jolly nearly Victorian. Do you want to look at them?

-Yeah.

-May we look at your coasters, sir?

-Do you like them, Tom?

-Well, yeah.

There you go. Sterling, pretty good condition.

It's obviously quite a thin gauge because you can see various marks,

-but I think they're pretty things.

-I like them.

How much could they be, sir? Can they be £30?

Or is that just being too rude? I don't want to be rude. I like them.

I need to make a phone call on those.

Could you make a phone call for us? That's very kind.

'Whilst the blues wait on a telephone call,

'the reds prepare for a recap with Anita.'

-So, we've got the shiny bit. We've got the bling.

-Yes.

-So, are we thinking pottery, maybe?

-Ceramics, bit of pottery.

-Yes.

-What kind of ceramics do you like?

-I like Poole Pottery.

-Oh, I LOVE Poole Pottery.

-Do you?

-I love Poole Pottery.

A nice big slab of that beautiful...

-A lovely bowl in those bright colours.

-Yeah.

'It seems they've settled on a plan.

'Now, they just need to find a needle amongst that haystack.'

-I'm afraid the best they can be is 40.

-Yeah.

Right, guys, we need to buy something at some stage.

-What do you reckon?

-I think they're right on the money.

So you're not going to lose a lot. You're not going to make a lot.

Two coasters for 40 quid, silver, I think that's all right.

-We're going for that, then?

-Yeah.

-We're going to make our first buy!

-Are you excited?

-I am excited.

-Sir, we're going to have those. Happy, guys?

-Yes.

-Wa-hay!

-Super-dooper!

-Thank you very much indeed.

'Great. At ten minutes in, that's the first purchase for the blues.

'It's one-all. Meanwhile, it looks like Anita's spotted something

'which she wants to share with her team.'

Got a bit of Poole up there.

Gerry! Poole Pottery!

-He likes the Poole.

-There it is!

-Is that what you like?

-That's what I'm looking for.

-This is smashing.

-Be better if the inside was colour as well.

So it means you have to put it up reasonably high.

-But that's from the '70s.

-Yes.

It's from the Delphis and Aegean range.

-If you think of that time it was the psychedelic period.

-Yeah.

Flower power, all that sort of stuff.

What I love about Poole

is that Poole always reflected the times that they lived in.

So, a nice piece of '60s, '70s Poole.

-Looks in good condition, as well.

-Looks in good condition.

-Now, do you like that?

-I do.

-I quite like that.

-Do you?

-Like you say, I think it'd be nicer if it had colour inside.

-Yeah.

Let's have a wee look. £38 on that.

I would try to come in around about 20,

so you're thinking of the lowest possible price,

and see if there's any negotiation on that.

It's better, sometimes, than saying, "What's the best you can do?"

"Is it possible...?" "Can it be bought for...?"

"We'd like it if there was more colour inside."

"Do you have some other Poole which maybe gives us more colour?"

So, if you go from that angle, you might get a deal.

-You can handle this one, Dad.

-It's your one, Dad!

-Ask him if he's got any other Poole.

-I will.

'Go on! Get to it, Gerry!'

Excuse me, have you got any other Poole or is that the only piece?

-I think that's all we've got left.

-I like it. We all like it.

We'd have preferred if the inside was coloured.

-It's a nice size.

-It is.

We're thinking would £20 buy it?

I know it's a nice day, but come on! £20? What about 25?

-Meet you in the middle?

-27?

-BETH LAUGHING:

-By my calculations...

-22. You've got a deal.

-Thank you very much.

You're both quite good at bargaining.

-Anita's taught you well.

-LAUGHTER

Delighted. Thank you very much indeed.

'You know, you should always trust Anita. Great.

'That's the second purchase made for the reds.'

-You like a bit of music, don't you?

-Yes!

Look at this!

"Besson & Company."

What do we know about that?

"From London, England."

It's not a tuba, it's too small. What is it? A horn of some sort?

-< Tuba.

-It IS a tuba?

I thought tubas were bigger than that.

BLOWS TUNELESSLY

'Cor, what a racket! Don't give up the day job, Charlie, eh?

'You'll burst a blood vessel.'

-LAUGHTER

-Thank you very much!

-Have we got a hat?

-I didn't know you were musical.

LAUGHTER

There's a man laughing at my playing!

-I like it, though.

-Besson & Company, I have heard of.

"Prototype", 198 Euston Road, London.

-Has that got any age to it?

-Good condition. It has got some age.

'20s, '30s, I would have thought.

Yeah. 1920. It just struck me as being...a lovely thing.

It seems to me, as an old expert,

-that it still works particularly well.

-He's going again.

-Stand back.

BLOWS TUNELESSLY

That's Mozart's third horn concerto.

You probably don't recognise it, but it is - my version of it.

How much is it?

-I think that's all right.

-How do they do at auction?

You've got two lots of buyers. Someone that wants to play it.

From a purist's point of view, it wouldn't be as good as a new one.

But what about that as a thing to hang on a wall in a pub?

It's a really stylish looking thing.

What do I think that would make at auction? 50 quid.

-50 quid?

-That's what I think it would make.

It's a question of how much flexibility there is in there.

I'll do it for 40. It'll give you a chance.

I like it and I reckon it's in good nick and quite eye-catching.

-Do you want that, guys?

-Yeah, we'll take it. Cool.

-Thank you.

-Thanks a lot, mate.

Cheers, lads. Brilliant.

'Well done, blues. Pleasant music to me ears. A second purchase made.'

I'd really like a one-off small piece of furniture.

A nice chair that's got something quirky about it would be lovely.

-You would like a nice wee chair?

-Yes.

-There's a nice little corner chair over there.

-Let's have a look.

-Ah, yeah. That's very sweet.

-Yeah.

I like the curves on the back.

-That's nice. What's it made from?

-It's made from oak.

And you have this straw, cane.

What I like about this are the nice lyre supports here.

-Do you want to have a look at the price?

-Go on!

-LAUGHING:

-There you go.

-£145.

-Hm.

-It says circa 1900 as well.

-So it's quite old.

-It is a pretty chair. It's a functional chair.

As well as that, it's decorative.

Do you want to have a look elsewhere?

We've got a bit of time left. Do you think we should see if there's something else?

-Then we can come back.

-Yeah, but just...

clock where we are, all right?

-We've got a wee bit of time.

-Yeah.

-That's a good choice. She's got a good eye.

-She has.

She's me daughter. ANITA LAUGHS

'Ah. All right, something to think about, reds.

'Don't leave it too long - only 15 minutes left.'

I think we'll get to the T-junction, turn left

and you've got to keep your eyes peeled, guys.

Cos what we want to avoid is that desperate last-minute purchase,

where it can all go HORRIBLY wrong!

'Yup, we've seen THAT more than a few times, Charlie.

'Meanwhile, the reds are still looking for a chair.'

-How about that one?

-You like that?

-Yeah. The one behind the antlers.

Let's have a wee look.

Let's take Rudolph out the way.

-It's quite a nice one, that one. It looks in good condition.

-It does.

-How old do you think it might be?

-Again, turn of the century.

Late 19th, probably. It's a Victorian chair.

It's in oak again, but this is a mid oak.

It's been stained a darker colour.

-The one that you liked formerly was a light oak.

-Yeah.

In today's market, light oak is more desirable.

The lighter the oak is, the better.

-I wonder what price it is.

-It's priced up at £100.

-Is it?

-Priced up at 100.

-Which one do you prefer?

-The first one, the corner chair.

-OK.

I prefer the light oak to the dark.

I would say that your other little chair

-is more in keeping with today's tastes...

-OK.

-..than this Victorian one.

-OK? Move on?

Move on.

'We're 50 minutes into the shop and both teams still need to make one more purchase.'

-We need something big.

-Big, yeah. Imposing.

-What's it going to be made of?

-I don't know.

-Do you like 20th-century stuff?

-Not particularly.

-No.

50 quid. It's going to make £35 at auction

and you're going to blame me!

There's a bishop's chair there.

-Not quite as quirky as I was looking for.

-Uh-huh.

-We've got five minutes left. Feeling anxious.

-Getting a bit anxious. We're struggling to find something.

-Do you think we should go and get that chair?

-Yes.

-I think it might be a good idea to go and...

-Let's head back.

I think you're absolutely right. We could wander down there for ever.

We've got four minutes to buy something!

'What did you say about last-minute purchases, Charlie?'

-I'm worried now.

-What...?

Burmantofts art pottery. >

Burmantofts art pottery, that is a good make.

Late Victorian, good collectable pottery. How much is it?

< 125.

It's unmarked. We're pretty sure it's Burmantofts.

-What do you mean you're pretty sure it's Burmantofts?

-Sorry?

-What do you mean you're pretty sure?

-I would be happier if it was impressed "Burmantofts".

'I'm sure you would, Charlie. Blowing £125 on unmarked vases

'isn't usually considered terribly wise.'

Now, do you guys know where we're going?

-I think it's in this tent here.

-Oh, right.

Yes, there it is.

Oh, yes. There it is.

Somebody's put a bag on that. I hope that isn't saying that it's sold.

-Has it been sold?

-Oh!

Oh, dear. Well, you take your chances.

-Someone saw in it what we saw in it.

-Obviously must have done.

-Never mind.

-We'd better get a move on and find something else.

'Time's fast running out.'

What are we going to do now?

-I quite like that red one. Shall we go for that one?

-Which one?

-The red leather one.

-We'll go and have another look.

If we march straight up the top and see if there's anything there, we can come back for it.

Something would have caught your eye. If we're going back that way, you've got to go for that chair.

If you go up this way, you might find something, but you might not!

And we're in the same situation. We've got to be decisive here!

-OK.

-OK, go for that chair, then.

-Go for the chair? I quite like it.

OK. Let's go for it, then.

'Bad luck, reds. It happens, I'm afraid.

'Now you've really got your work cut out. Two minutes left.

'The blues are still deliberating. Come on, guys! Make a decision!'

How much do you reckon it'll make at auction?

-CHARLIE LAUGHS

-100 quid.

< Burmantofts sells for over 200.

It could make more, yeah, yeah.

-I'm just telling you what I think it will make.

-115?

< 120.

I'll meet you in the middle, 117.50.

-Go on!

-Go on, go on, go on.

< 117, forget the 50p.

-Oh! Shall we shake at 117?

-Did you hear that? £117.

For a Burmantofts pot. Guys, you've taken a gamble.

-We have.

-That's what it's all about.

I'm sure that's... It's great, stylistically.

-I love the decorations.

-CONTESTANTS LAUGHING

We're going to win or lose! You can't do anything else.

But you've bought something I really like.

-I would really like to have seen Burmantofts...

-Let's not focus on that.

-Let's not dwell.

The fact is that is a good thing and you've spent a load of money on it.

-Well done.

-Yes, indeed.

£117 is the most ridiculous price I've ever spent on anything in my life.

'Yeah, well, win or lose, that's the blues' last item bought.

'Meanwhile, those reds are feeling the pressure.'

-There it is.

-That's the one.

-That's the one.

-I think we need to go for it.

-'You certainly do.'

-Go and talk to the gentleman.

-See what you can do.

-OK.

Hi. We're looking at the chair.

-We were wondering if you could maybe do £50 for it, please?

-Ooh!

Well, it's up for 100. 70 and you've got a deal.

-70? Yeah, we'll take you up on the 70.

-You pleased with that?

-Yeah.

-You've had a bargain again.

-Three items done.

-Well done, sweetheart. >

-Brilliant. Super job.

-Are you happy?

-Yes. Definitely.

'In the nick of time, the reds made their last purchase.

'That's it. Shopping time is officially over.

'They poured £20 of their budget into the silver-plated claret jug.

'£22 was spent on a Poole Pottery bowl.

'And finally, they forked out £70 on a Victorian elbow chair.'

That was so disappointing, the chair had been bought.

-Yeah.

-The big thing is, don't burst into tears about it.

What did you spend in toto, Betho?

-We spent £112 altogether.

-£112? Is that all? Gosh.

-OK. I'd like £188, please.

-Yeah.

-Of leftover lolly.

-You got the other £3?

-There you go.

-Thank you very much.

We do watch out for these things. Straight over to Anita.

Meanwhile, why don't we check out what the blue team bought?

'A pair of silver and cut glass wine coasters cost them £40.

'The brass euphonium also set them back 40 notes - mainly flat.

'And finally, a Burmantofts pottery baluster vase cost them £117. Wow!'

-I'd never heard of it. I think it's rare and valuable.

-And you're a musician!

They never stop talking, this lot!

-Anyway, how much did you pay in total for all your lots?

-£197.

£197. I'd like...£103 back of leftover lolly. Thank you very much.

-You've clearly had a stressful time, Charlie.

-I've had a wonderful time!

-Good luck with that.

I'm going to show you now a Victorian deception.

Not so much smoke and mirrors. More, perhaps, a pipe dream.

When is an antique an antique and a fake a fake?

Well, I have found us a conundrum.

I'll take the glass cover off

so that we can see what's enclosed within.

And if I turn it up,

we've got an oak case that is trying to look 17th century.

Crudely carved, look,

with the cresting, two dragons flanking a central pineapple,

the emblem of hospitality.

Then the oak case inside carved with leaves

in the 17th-century style.

Actually, it was made by a Victorian craftsman

in about 1860 or 1880.

It was to go into a gentleman's room,

a library or collector's space, to show off something precious.

So it's an oak display case

made in the style, at that period, of 200 years earlier.

So it's not a fake. It's not been made to deliberately deceive.

It's simply in a popular Victorian style.

But what of the precious object that it's enclosing?

Well, what we've got here is an unusually long stemmed pipe.

The idea being that the tobacco burns hot in the bowl

and the longer the stem is before it gets to your mouth,

the cooler the smoke is going to be.

And if I just tweak these brass wires that retain it,

and take it out of the case, we can have a close look at it.

It is exquisitely made.

Now, the person that made the case wanted you to believe

that this thing dated from about 1650.

I don't believe that that's so.

I think this bit of glass was produced in Nailsea,

somewhere like that, in about 1850,

to deceive you into thinking it was 200 years older.

It's a fake.

There's no extant glass pipe that survives from the 17th century

and I don't think they ever made glass pipes in the 17th century.

So, what we've got, then, is a case here that is NOT a fake -

it was made simply in a style at the period -

enclosing a glass object which definitely IS a fake,

and was made in about 1850 to deceive. Brilliant, isn't it?

What does this concoction,

this interesting - fascinating even - concoction cost you out there in the fair?

Well, it could be yours for £40.

Fake or fortune?

Colin, I can't tell you how lovely it is to be back in Grantham.

It's like a second home, I suppose.

How many years have I been coming to your saleroom? At least a decade!

-It is.

-The red team today have gone with the plated claret jug.

Which, I have to say, is the most worn-out, bashed example

-I think I've ever seen.

-Yeah. I think you've summarised that.

-It's an old one, but it's seen an awful lot of service!

-Certainly has.

For the most clapped-out claret jug in the western hemisphere,

how do you estimate that?

Let's hope a 25 to 40 estimate makes people look at it, rather than think, "That's a bit tired."

-£20 they paid.

-OK.

-Next is the Poole bowl.

Which is terribly white inside.

Yeah. A bit of fruit in there just to make it a useful object.

Has Poole gone off in value in the last ten years?

Certainly, in the last ten years there's been a change.

The very best 10%, prices have risen

and it's still a really strong and vibrant market.

But for anything other than that 10%

everything else really has slipped a little bit.

I take it this bowl is in the 90% bracket.

I'm afraid it's definitely in the 90% bracket. 25 to 40 estimate.

-I think it's going to be a bit of a scrape to get to that.

-£22 paid.

That'll be all right. They may make a small profit on each of these.

-Their last item is the elbow chair.

-It's had its legs chopped down.

Why have an inch and a half come off those legs?

A whole variety of reasons could have been there.

-To do with somebody's height?

-It could be that.

-You never know, could have had problems with its casters.

-Yes.

Could have had splitting and damage to it so they just reduced it

to a height that makes it look presentable.

It's at a presentable height, if you happen to be vertically challenged.

-You could nip into that and be very, very happy.

-Yeah.

Nip in with 40 to 60 and I'll be very happy.

-£70 they paid.

-OK.

-There you have it from the master's mouth.

We are going to struggle for the reds.

They're going to need their bonus buy so let's have a look at it.

Now, Beth, Gerry, you spent £112.

You gave Anita £88. What did you spend it on, Anita?

-Ooh.

-Oh, right!

-Interesting! ANITA GIGGLES

I thought I would buy a piece of quirky glass

and I was drawn to this.

It's a little inkwell made up of all these little joined-up balls.

We can see the little lid here.

It reminds me of, I don't know, Mickey Mouse or something!

I think it's very, very charming, but tell me what you think.

How much did you pay for it?

-ANITA LAUGHS

-That's a question, girl!

-Straight in there.

-I paid £40 for it.

Following on, how much do you think it will make at auction?

I haven't seen one before.

I think its novelty value will help it along.

But really, I'm not very sure what it will get.

-Is it old?

-It is old, yes. It's probably turn of the century.

-So it's a real antique, then?

-Yeah.

-Do you like it, Beth?

-I do quite like it. Yes.

It's quirky, which I like. I think that's a nice piece, actually.

And I like glass, so anything glass is good for me.

Pens, old-fashioned pens and inkwells is a collectable area.

-So who knows?

-Fingers crossed.

For the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Anita's little inkwell.

There you go, Colin, one spherical inkwell.

That's an interesting lot. I've not come across one of those before.

CHUCKLING: I don't know what to make of it.

It's got some age. Look at the fittings. It's probably Edwardian.

I feel there should be another one.

-You've got blue ink in one, red ink in another.

-Yeah.

-It feels like a desk set to me.

-Yeah.

You might have a glass roller. We've got one bit that's left over.

-I think that's highly likely.

-What's your very, very best estimate?

I've put a very bold 25 to 40, not based on comparables -

-because I couldn't find any.

-Fair enough. Anita paid 40.

-OK.

She rates it. Who knows? She might be right.

That's it for the reds. Now for the blues. They've got a mixture!

-First up are these sterling silver mounted moulded glass dishes.

-Yeah.

Not the greatest combination.

The quality of the moulding is fairly poor.

Again, the silver work on the top looks a little bit beaten

and a lot of rubbing on the beading.

-They don't do a lot for me, it has to be said.

-How much?

-£30 to £50.

-OK, £40 paid.

-Now, next up is the euphonium.

-Mm-hm.

-Is it a collectable? Yes.

-Yeah.

I think it's more likely to be bought for decoration than being played.

Somebody who is in a band is going to want a good quality instrument.

I think this is not the sort of thing they'll be buying.

-50 to 80 is going to be the mark for it.

-Fantastic!

-They only paid £40.

-Fine.

-Now, your challenge is going to be the last item.

-Right.

The Burmantofts studio pottery pot.

-Do you like it?

-I do like it. What's going to be the challenge?

Making the right amount of money cos they pushed the boat out.

It is the type of pottery that I like.

Good texture on it. I do like the colouring on it.

-I can't be that negative about it.

-Good.

-I like the thing.

-£50 to £80 is going to be the mark for it.

-You don't like it enough.

-Do I not? Oh, dear.

-You have to like it £117 much!

-Right.

I'm not going to say never. There's the possibility for that.

-Burmantofts collectors are on the rise, I've noticed.

-Yeah.

-Definitely the case.

-It will depend on your performance

strictly on this Burmantofts pot.

If you crack it, they're not going to need their bonus buy.

If you fail, they certainly will.

And I've a funny feeling they're going to need their bonus buy.

Tom and Richard, this is exciting. You gave Charlie Ross £103.

Not a lot of people would do that, but you did.

-Charlie, what did you spend it on?

-I didn't spend all of it, chaps.

I spent £65. It's a superb, I think,

example of a shooting stick from the Edwardian era.

Bamboo, wonderful brass mounts. It's in full working order.

It's strong enough to support you and it cost £65.

-Really?

-I'd like to have bought it for £50.

It cost 65 and I think there's a slim profit in it.

-What a marvellous thing! Do you like it?

-It's fantastic.

-It is.

-In good condition.

-It's super condition.

-When you think of those boring aluminium ones with leather seats.

-And they cost as much money.

-That's bamboo.

-Well, I'm jiggered.

It's very, very nice. I'm impressed.

-You reckon it'll make money, Charlie?

-I'd like to see a profit, but I reckon it'll be a slim one.

-It's not going to make £200.

-He's not committing himself.

-No.

I think it could make £75, £80. It might make £100.

-We're very impressed. We like it.

-I like the finish.

-Happy with that?

-Very, very happy.

-Thanks, Charlie.

Why don't we, for the audience at home,

find out what the auctioneer thinks about Charlie's shooting stick?

-Tally-ho!

-OK.

-Look at that in bamboo!

-Isn't that a good example?

-That IS a good example.

-And in such good nick!

-Action's nice and clean as well.

It's a good thing. Very rare to find one in such good condition.

When they're in poor condition, an average, sort of £25 to £40.

I think we'll stick with that as an estimate, 25 to 40.

Then people know and go just that little bit further

because it is a very good example.

-Will they go as far as £65?

-They might do, with a push.

-Might they?

-Yeah.

-Charlie Ross rates it and who knows, it might get that.

-Anyway, good luck today.

-Thank you.

-Thank YOU.

Beth and Gerry, this is exciting.

We've got a crowded saleroom, an excellent auctioneer and some stylish gear from you.

-How excited are you, Beth?

-Very. It's my first auction.

-You've never been to an auction?

-No.

-How marvellous!

-Me, too.

-You, too?

-I've never been to one.

-What have you done all your long life?

-What a wasted life!

Let's hope it's a memorable experience.

First up is the claret jug.

-Here it comes.

-Lot number 182.

A silver-plated claret jug. Who's going to start me at £50?

50? £50 anybody? 30 to go, then?

£30 anybody?

20, if you like. Surely £20? Ten? Ten bid...

-We're off.

-Off and running.

..12 anywhere, do I see? 12 bid. The excitement continues. 15 bid.

18 now? Going this time, then. Second row has it at £15...

-Minus £5.

-That's not too bad.

-OK, now the Delphis.

A really big fruit bowl this one. £30 anybody? £30?

Thank you. 30. It's a size and a half this one. 30 bid.

32 now, do I see? At 30 bid. Two now, surely. At £30 bid.

-Selling to a maiden bid, then, at £30...

-Well done.

That's plus £8. Which means, overall, you're plus £3. Ooh!

-We're in profit!

-Yeah. Now the elbow chair. Look out!

A Victorian elbow chair. Really nice studded leather panel work. 100?

50 to go then, surely? 50? 40, if you like.

- £40? 40. - That's not looking good, is it?

I'll take 20 to go, then...

-20?

-That's SO cheap!

-..Look at what we're selling here!

Is there two? You know you need it, sir. Two. Five bid. 28 now...

More, more, more!

..The last call, then. Done and finished at £28.

Two off 30.

That's minus 42. And you had three, so that is now minus £39.

-Oh, dear.

-You've got to double the profit on the inkwell.

-Be careful.

Minus 39. Going to go with the bonus buy, the inkwell?

-I think yes. Yeah, we'll go with it.

-Yes?

-Yeah, definitely.

Lot number 188

is an early 20th-century novelty crystal inkwell

in the form of stacked cannonballs.

Who's going to start me at £50?

30 to go, then, surely? £30 anybody? 20, if you like. £20 anybody?

Ten, if you like. A very unusual lot, if you're into militaria.

£10 I'm bid. Ten bid. 12 anywhere? 12. 12 bid. 15?

15. 18. Gentleman's bid. £20, surely? 20 bid. 22 now? 22. 25?

No? At 22. The bid's at the back for the cannonballs.

-Oh, dear.

-Those about to bid, we salute you.

All done, are we, then? Selling in the room at £22.

-That is minus £57.

-Oh, dear.

-Oh, well.

-Say it quick, doesn't sound a lot.

-Quite. It could be a winning score.

You could still be victors, if you play your cards right.

LAUGHTER

-So, Tom, how is it with you?

-Good. Very excited.

Intrigued to see how it goes down.

I have to say that the father's a bit nervous.

-I'm nervous about one item.

-Which one's that?

-The vase.

-The Burmantofts vase?

-Yeah.

If all else fails, you've got the shooting stick to fall back on.

-Actually, to sit on.

-LAUGHTER

First up are the coasters or ashtrays with the American mounts.

Lot number 204

is the pair of American sterling silver and cut glass wine coasters.

Start me at £50 for them. 30 to go, then?

20 to go, then, surely? At 20. Ten, if you like.

Ten do I see? 12 anywhere else? At £10 bid...

Oh, matron!

..Second row has it at 12. 15? 15 bid. 18 bid. 20 bid...

-We're going up a bit.

-Sssh!

..22 bid. Five, may I say? 22, are we all done and finished?

Going, then, at £22...

Minus £18. That's a wicked stab in the back.

205 is the euphonium this time. Who's going to start me at £80?

50 to go, then, surely? 50? 40, if you like.

£40, anyone? £40, anyone? 40?

Surely £40? There's a lot of brass there.

30 to go, then? 30? £30, anybody?

30?

£20, anyone? Lady's bid at 20. 22. 25. Five bid now.

Five. Let's get on. 25. 28? No...?

-Oh, these are our bankers, Tom.

-Eh?

-This were our bankers!

-I know!

I can't believe this!

..It's your bid at 25. Do I see 28? At 25.

28, do I see? Going at £25...

-Minus £15.

-I thought that was a cert. 40 quid!

-Dead cert that was!

-Stand by for Burmantofts.

-Really looking forward to this(!)

A Burmantofts pottery baluster vase. Who's going to start me at £50?

- Oh, God! - 50? Low enough start. 40 to go?

£40, anybody? 40? £40? 30, if you like.

£30 bid. At 30 bid. Two do I see? And two?

At 30 bid. Two do I see? Two bid. Five bid. 38. 40?

At £40 I'm bid. Two now, may I say? 42.

At 42. 45? 45 bid. 48 now? Go on. Have another one...

LAUGHING: We paid 117 for it!

..At £45.

You are overall down a stonking tube with a stonking bad result.

-What are we doing about the bonus buy?

-We're going for it. Trust him with our life.

-LAUGHING:

-Trust him with your life!

-Yes. Did you trust him with a Burmantofts?

-Yes!

-It was his recommendation.

-Well, he's much better on shooting sticks!

No, seriously, it hasn't been your day today,

so let us hope that this stick sticks it to them.

Early 20th-century shooting stick.

Bamboo shaft, very good order. Who's going to start me at £50?

50? 40 to go, then? £40, anybody? 40?

- 30 to go, then? £30 I'm bid... - It's the wrong audience!

..32. 35. 38 bid. 40? 40 bid.

42? Two bid. 45? 45. 48, may I say? 48 if you wish? 48 bid.

-50? £50 I'm bid. 50. Five...?

-Nearly.

..Do I see five?

At 50 bid. Two or not now? Selling in the front row at £50.

-£120 worth...

-How much did we spend?

-..of losses. Not much!

-Only spent £197!

-You spent 197 plus 65.

-So it's perfectly respectable.

-Is it?

-It's a disaster!

-Could be a winning score!

-Listen. This is not, believe me, this is not a disaster.

-Isn't it?

-No.

-LAUGHTER

-This is an average performance.

Don't say a word to the reds because, seriously, £120 could be a winning score today.

With blood baths of this scale, anything could happen.

-It's war out there!

-It's war out there!

Well, some days is good days and some days is bad days and today happens to be a very, very bad day.

It isn't so often that each team and each bonus buy

turns out with a minus score next door to it.

That is what has happened today, ladies and gentlemen,

with the exception of one team, which did make an £8 profit.

But that was wiped out by the tidal wave of losses elsewhere.

So, universally, nobody has done particularly well.

It's just a question of scale,

and the team with the largest losses today are the blues.

GROANS/CHEERS

Actually, £120 worth of losses, but let's not dwell on it.

-Eh?

-Let's not.

-No. Move on.

-Just move on to the positives.

-Did you have a nice time?

-It was the best day of my life. LAUGHTER

-He's had a very short life.

-Absolutely! You're terribly young.

I'm glad you had a nice time. Thank you for joining us.

-The winners, though, have won by only losing £57.

-Yay!

-Which is quite an achievement.

-Absolutely.

-Well done.

-Are you happy with that, Beth?

-Yeah.

-Hope you had a good day.

-Lovely.

Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!

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