Epsom and Dorking Bargain Hunt

Isn't this glorious? Epsom Downs racecourse in Surrey.

This place has been the scene of tremendous glory

and also disappointment.

It's seen great wins and tremendous losses.

Does this sound familiar?

Let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

Bargain Hunt is a bit like a day at the races.

If the going's good, the teams can simply study the form

and decide when they want to take a punt.

But it's possible to fall at the first fence

and to trot off with the trophy.

On today's programme, the Red Team make no sense.

Who doesn't need a giant fork?

Do you know how much the Queen spends on your cap badges?

So, quite possibly the biggest horse that's ever lived.

Whilst the Blue Team makes eyes at the stallholders.

-Let's see your wink.

-There it is.

Time for them to meet the teams, don't you think?

On today's programme we've got two teams of

very, very, very good friends.

For the Reds we've got a brace of Davids.

And for the Blues we have Nao and Anna.

-Hello, everyone.

-ALL: Hello.

-Hello.

Now, David D, I feel I should salute you

because you're military men, right?

Just finished from Sandhurst's 44 week commissioning course,

and that's where myself and Dave met.

Really good time there in phase one training,

and we've now joined the same regiment or corps.

Have you? Good for you.

So, when you're not about to do it for Queen and country,

what do you like to get up to?

I like to keep fit, Tim - cricket, football, badminton and tennis.

But I've had the unique opportunity of doing

equestrian during my time at Sandhurst, so that's been all the way

from kind of learning how to trot and canter up to some jumping as well.

-Really?

-So, really good fun.

So, is that something you're going to go on with?

Certainly something I'd like to do again. It was a great opportunity.

And that will typify, I guess, your time in the Army, really, won't it?

There'll be opportunities to do a whole load of stuff

-that isn't commonly available.

-That's exactly it.

Travelling, sports, adventure training, all sorts of stuff.

-I'm hoping to go to Kenya next year as well.

-Yes.

Has the Army taken you all over the world, David?

Not all over the world, but I've been able to go to Germany

and the UAE so far with the Army, which has been fantastic.

And what's this about you being a bit of a Bradley Wiggins?

I do enjoy doing a lot of cycling.

I've cycled all up and down the UK and across it as well,

so, yeah, I do love to get on the bike.

What you like about the bicycle so much?

What I really like is the freedom.

You can get up in the morning,

decide where you're going to go and just make a beeline for it.

-It's a lot more liberating than the car.

-Exactly.

You've been through the leadership business, right?

Who's your leader today, or are you jointly in command?

-It's me, hands down.

-I think our expert, actually.

-Don't know!

I can see this working out terribly well! Only joking.

Anyway, very, very good luck.

Now, girls, your friendship goes back quite a long time, doesn't it?

Quite a long time, yes.

We've known each other since we were still this high - 11.

Our eyes met across the classroom and we've been best friends ever since.

Very good. What do you do for a job of work, Nao?

I'm a doctor. I work in a hospital in East London.

I work in the acute medicine department,

so it's very sort of go, go, go, busy, rush and on your feet.

-So this is emergencies, essentially, is it?

-Kind of.

After they've come out of A&E, all the medical patients go to

the acute medical unit and that's where I see them.

So if they're going to get really, really ill,

you're there, standing by?

I'm there! Yeah.

-Which is the stressful bit, I guess?

-Exactly.

It's stressful but I love the buzz and I love the adrenaline rush

and it keeps me on my toes.

Now, Anna, you are a high-flying employment lawyer.

I'm an employment lawyer, yeah.

Don't know about the high-flying part.

Well, that's just the modesty bit kicking in.

-So, what's the best bet of your job?

-Winning.

-Is it?

Yes, going to court and winning.

Nothing like it, absolutely brilliant.

So just like the movies, is it?

I wish it was just like the movies but, yeah, sometimes it is.

And the culture is big in your life, too?

I like to pretend to be a bit cultured, you see.

I like going to the theatre and opera and the ballet.

-And making the most of what London has to offer.

-Exactly right.

And what sort of tactics will you two girls be having today, then?

Are you going to go for a bit of China, or...?

-I'm quite a big furniture fan.

-Furniture?

-Yeah, going big.

Yeah, I'm not big on the furniture.

I'm more about the jewellery, I think. Smaller, cheaper.

-Sounds like you're going to get on terribly well!

-I think so, yeah.

-Absolutely marvellous.

You need to go on a leadership course, like you two need.

Anyway, now we go with the do-re-mi. Here's your £300 of cash.

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

Very, very, very good luck.

I always fancied doing a bit of employment law myself.

So, that's our teams. Now, who are their experts?

Giving all his attention to the Reds, it's David Harper.

And working her magic with the Blues, it's Natasha Raskin.

Now, Anna, we are like the Sugababes,

the Destiny's Child of antiques today

and is it going to be poptastic? What are you thinking?

-I think we're going big and bold.

-I want to go small...

OK, well, hopefully we'll find big, small, something in between them.

Let's go find them.

Well, this is a bit of a diversion from your normal daily job.

-It certainly is!

-The three Davids.

David number one, what are we looking for?

-Anything we can find, anything quirky.

-Quirky. Number two?

Something big. Something that's going to add value.

-And number three says it's time to go shopping.

-Let's do this!

Yeah, let's do this indeed! Your 60 minutes are under way.

OK, so keep your eyes peeled. Look for imaginative lots.

-I'm very much doing the magpie thing, magpieing.

-Shiny.

You're magpieing.

That's fine, as long as you swoop in on something fabulous.

How about the riding crop?

-Riding crop? OK.

-Looks nice.

-Shall we have a look at it?

-I see a hallmark there.

What does that tell us...?

Let's have a look.

So, we can see, I think that's a London Mark for 1920.

-OK, so quite old, then?

-Quite old, and that is super quality.

So, you've got the antler here, the silver collar

and what looks like malacca, which is a very expensive wood.

It's a good-quality thing.

It's a very long leather,

so it's probably, would you suggest, for carriage use?

-Potentially. I've never ridden a carriage myself.

-No? OK.

I've never whipped a horse in a carriage either.

You never have done? OK.

Because if that was a horse,

you were riding the horse and you're going to whip it,

its bottom would be about here,

so it's quite possibly the biggest horse that's ever lived,

so I would suggest it's probably for a carriage.

That's priced at 136.

If you want it for yourself, it's an absolute bargain,

it's a proper piece of kit.

To make that new today would cost you a few hundred pounds.

But in auction, I think in general sale, that might be 80-120.

80-120, so it's quite highly priced. That's quite steep on that.

It's a well spotted object but I think,

unless we can get it for substantially less,

which I don't think he will, it might be a struggle.

I think we should leave it because it's a specialist item, isn't it?

-It's a good piece, so...

-Good spot, there, good eye.

-Number one, did you spot that?

-Yeah, yes.

-OK, OK.

Number two, you have to spot something decent now.

David three is really cracking the whip with his boys.

Now, will Natasha also leave her mark?

They're really, really beautiful.

I'd be very surprised if these have a price tag less than,

you know, £100, £50, something like that. They are lovely.

So, we've got crocodile skin here

and probably not actual crocodile skin, I wouldn't imagine.

Probably faux, but nice dyed blue, quite good order,

the original fitted case, we would hope. And flip those up...

-I just think they are divine.

-For a good price!

Now, £80 is the price, I can see that.

I think that that is not asking the Earth,

but I have a feeling that at auction they would make in the region of

40, 50, 60, so it's a little bit of a tricky one

-but they are beautiful.

-They are lovely.

-What's your gut feeling?

-If we can get them down a little bit.

-Get a good deal.

-Give him a bit of a wink.

Show me your wink again!

LAUGHTER

-Let's see your wink.

-There it is.

-£50.

-£50.

-Good man, thank you very much.

-What do you think, £50?

-I think so.

-I think so.

-I think it's a good deal.

-Shall we do it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Oh, excellent!

-Thank you so much.

Crikey, Moses! That's how it's done.

Our blue magpies swoop in for their first shiny purchase.

-That was a little bit of womanly charm.

-I think that speaks volumes.

Let's see if we can use some more of that over here.

Shameless, but effective tactics, girls.

David two, it's your turn to blow us away.

-Come on, then, David two.

-What about these cannons, here?

-Thought you might be drawn by those.

-Keen eye on them.

Tell us everything you know.

105 millimetre cannon, this, wheeled.

So, this is a scaled-down model of something that would have originally

been made early in the 19th century, Napoleonic Wars, probably.

I would suggest certainly 19th century.

All right, well, your copies of 19th-century cannons are £10 each,

so let's just have one each, shall we? Dave one, can you...

Oh, thank you.

See, I like that one.

So, what have we got there, then? Three models.

I like them. They're good, novelty things.

They're man-tiques, these guys.

These are the kind of object that men buy for themselves

to put on their desks or their sideboards or windowsills.

Do you think that they would make money?

I think if we got them for 20 for the three, there'd be a chance.

-They're just a bit quirky.

-Yeah, yeah.

Shall we go for it? Shall we go for 20 for the three?

-Yeah, let's do it.

-Shall we try, then?

Can we do 20 for the three?

Yes, we can, but I'll do an extra special deal

and I'll throw in the two little juniors for free.

Oh, good man, good man! Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you very much.

-Good man, indeed.

What a deal! We get five cannons for 20 quid. You boys are good.

So, that's both teams up and running and firing on all cylinders.

Now, what's Tasha found here?

For me, this is just the most joyful thing I've ever seen in my life.

-It's a very a happy vase.

-It's joyful.

She doesn't get out much, you know.

OK, so I'll tell you what I like about it.

I really, really like the novelty aspect of it.

The fact that it's a corn on the cob/jug/vase

is just beautiful.

I like the fact that it's a little bit crude.

It's sort of the glazing bleeds in from the brown between the cobs,

it leads into the green of the stems.

Having a look at the bottom,

I'm not entirely sure what the maker is there.

It seems to be kind of late Victorian or early 20th century.

It does have a potter's mark on there.

I just think it is just such a good bit of fun pottery.

And having a little look around it, the handle is a little bit scary.

It looks like it's not come off, but it's thinking about it,

and that's just not something that's happened over time.

That's exactly what happened in the kiln.

So, it's just a sort of sold as seen fun, novel...

Would you be willing to take a risk on something that's so crude?

I don't know. I don't know. I think it's too soon.

I feel I wouldn't want to commit to it yet.

Is this desperation stage?

-I think it might be, yeah.

-If we're running out of time.

-Please don't forget about it...

-We won't forget your corn on the cob.

..as I think it's lovely.

If it means that much to you we'll rethink it later, maybe.

I think that's fallen on deaf ears, Tasha, don't you?

-OK, if we're desperate, grab a cob.

-Absolutely.

There's a standout theme over in team 3D, though.

Military cap badges are amazingly well collected all over the world.

These things are good news.

They're never worth a fortune unless they're incredibly rare.

What regiment are you in?

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

-Both of you?

-Yes.

-OK.

-Our cap badge over there.

-Is that you?

-It is, yes.

-We're going to have to have a look at your cap badge.

Let's have a look.

-So, this is something that you will wear on a daily basis?

-Absolutely.

You've got the horse there with the ball and chain,

which represents the mechanical energy which is harnessed.

You've got the lightning bolt there,

which represents the electrical element to our corps,

and then the globe down the bottom, there,

which represents being deployable to wherever we need to go.

-Fantastic.

-Yeah, it's a lovely cap badge.

-Isn't it just?

-Yeah, very nice.

And is that as new, do you think, as the cap badges that you two wear?

Yeah. It looks quite shiny, so it could well be, yeah.

Do you know how much the Queen spends on your cap badges?

-I don't, no.

-I haven't asked her, but...

-Well, how much is that one?

-£9.

-£9?

Well, I reckon she spends more than £9 on your cap badges,

-I would suggest.

-Maybe.

-So, it's not a bad price.

But in auction, as a single object, it's not going to, you know,

make too much, is it?

Not pinning our hopes on that, then. The old ones are the best ones!

BOTH: Whoa!

Are you doing deals behind my back?

You like the vase? You like the pot? Which one are you thinking?

I think it's got a bit of wear and tear. It's clearly been used.

Well, I'm having a good old shufty.

And with 20 minutes left, it seems Tasha has more joy to spread.

So, obviously coming from Scotland I'm a big Arts and Crafts fan.

As I walked past this I thought, "Oh, how delightful is that?!"

It's an oak Arts and Crafts stationary box. Boxes are quite hot.

It's really nice on the inside. It's pretty immaculate.

It's period Art Nouveau and I just think

that these brass brackets are just absolutely gorgeous.

-You know, we've got all of the hinges.

-I love this.

I agree. I like solid wood.

-Yeah, I think people will like that on their desks.

-OK.

-But the price tag is £55.

-Oh, a bit steep.

And the lady will go to 45.

I mean, I could ask for 40. I just asked in passing.

-But it does tick the boxes for you?

-Definitely.

-I feel like trying for 40 though.

-If you can get it down to 40,

-then we're sold, too.

-Wish me luck.

-Good luck!

Not that you'll need it. I think that's a dead cert.

Now, those Davids have a question.

Who doesn't need a giant fork?

Me.

Oh, my gosh.

You two are an interesting couple, aren't you?

-OK, talk to me.

-Well, it looks hand-carved.

Oh, yeah, it's definitely hand-carved.

-Obviously it's a giant fork.

-Is it a functioning object?

Was it made for a purpose? Or is it just a display piece?

Little bit of dinner there.

-Right, ladies.

-How'd you get on?

Oh, my goodness, I'm working up a sweat here.

The lady was a lady and she liked the cut of your jib

-and she said 40 shall do it.

-Brilliant!

-So, are you quite happy with that?

-Yeah, we've got a deal. We'll take it.

-Excellent.

I think for a solid bit of oak, surely we're onto a winner there?

-BOTH: Think so.

-OK, two down, one more to go. Let's do it! OK.

So, now, Dave one and two, how's the fork pitch going?

I just think it speaks out to me, speaks volumes.

-It speaks volumes about you two.

-What can it not do?

It can't feed you.

Well, it could, you know.

I mean, somebody could hold that while I ate my dinner off that.

This sounds to me like an army officer's mess game.

Me, too.

It's a hardwood, so it's pitch pine.

And in actual fact, pitch pine is as hard as oak,

even though it is a pine.

It's quite light, very sturdy and it's got a great colour and,

yes, great on a wall or in the officers' mess.

It's a bit wild, it's a bit funky, and actually I do like it.

What's the price, though, team?

It's £35. I've got a wife and six children to feed.

I'll do 30 quid for you.

OK, D1 and D2, decision time.

-I'm sold, yeah, yeah.

-Happy with that. Let's do it.

-Yeah.

They were sold on this the moment they clapped eyes on it.

Thank you very much indeed.

You're welcome. Good luck.

And that's two apiece.

-Has something caught your eye here?

-We like this whole stall.

-We like the wine quite a lot.

-Are things getting that tough?

-I think they might be.

It's going to be right down to the second, I reckon.

Any plan of attack here? It's a military campaign, chaps, come on!

-Do we may be want something more quirky?

-A bit more quirky.

I'm quirky!

Something nice, intricate, detailed usable.

-Are you looking for a big money spend?

-Yes.

Well, that's decided then. Just the small matter of finding it all.

-It's time to get serious now.

-Yeah. I've got to have my game face on.

Game face on.

-I love that vase.

-No.

Oh, my gosh. You're trouble, you two, aren't you?

Nothing too exquisite, I don't think...

Don't take all day, teams. Less than five minutes left!

That top one, on the top tier of the case, is that silver?

-Birmingham, 1930, I think it is.

-OK. That's a rather nice thing.

-Very pretty.

-Look at the very lovely, crisp hallmark there.

Now, it's important to see that, actually.

Because silver, it's a very soft metal.

It's a precious metal, but it's soft,

and of course it tarnishes very quickly.

So, it's cleaned regularly

and of course it rubs away the hallmarks, but there you go.

This is a good, usable thing.

Very often, silver, in its weight,

is worth more than the intrinsic value of the piece.

This would always be worth much more than its weight

because of what it is.

A spectacles case is actually quite a rare thing.

I like it.

It's a pretty item but the main thing I like about it is it's usable.

It's kind of a piece that you could use for your glasses,

-to keep them in.

-And what a cool thing to have.

-Yeah.

Quite possibly the original velvet lining. It's a good thing.

Can you help us on the price?

Cost price - you can have it, my cost price is 120,

-you can have it for cost price if you want it.

-OK.

-Yeah.

That's very good of you, thank you.

-OK. 120.

-Happy with that.

-Yeah.

-Two and a half minutes to go.

-Let's seal the deal, yeah.

I think we've sold it to ourselves and you've helped there, as well.

-So, 120?

-120. I'm happy with that.

-We've got a deal.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you, thanks.

Stand easy, chaps.

-Two minutes for a cup of tea. On me.

-Let's do it.

With no time for tea, the cob vase seems to have grown on the Blues.

We go in there, all guns blazing and say,

dear lady, we need your cob.

We want your cob in our lives.

-We need a cob and we want it cheap.

-OK.

Hello, hi. So, we've got our eye on the corn, right?

We're wondering what kind of deal you can give us?

I have put it on for 35 but I can...

Best price possible is 25.

-I don't know if that's going to work for us. We were thinking closer to 18.

-18. Say 20, it's yours.

-I don't know. I don't know.

-What do you think?

-Shall we do £20, something like that?

-Let's do it.

-All right.

-I think we'll do it.

-It's a deal. Thank you.

Time's up, you horrible lot.

Let's remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

They shelled out £20 for the trio of cannons plus two free miniatures.

In a two pronged attack, they staked £30 on the pine fork.

Having clapped eyes on the silver spectacle case

they paid £120 for it.

OK, Dave, Dave, Dave.

I've been longing to do that all day.

-Had a nice time?

-Great time, yes.

-Was it a good shop?

-Fantastic shop.

-Did the boys obey orders, David?

-Remarkably they did. From a corporal as well.

-Good fun.

Now, David, tell me which is your favourite piece?

My favourite piece has got to be the fork. The large fork.

It was quirky, it was fun and hoping it makes some profit at auction.

-You all know about pitching in!

-Absolutely, yes. Teamwork.

And, David, which is your favourite piece?

It's got to be the fork as well.

-Something handcrafted, something big like that.

-Very good.

-And is the fork going to bring the biggest profit?

-I don't think so.

I think the biggest profit is going to come from the cannons.

Biggest profit prediction there. David, do you agree with that?

-No, I think it's going to be the glasses case.

-Do you?

Yes, silver there's got to be a value to it.

OK, we have a split decision there. How much did you spend in toto?

-£170.

-£170. I'd like £130 of leftover lolly, please. Thank you.

I won't bother counting it. You're an officer.

And hand it over to our gentleman, David.

What are you going to spend the 130 on?

We started with a bit of a military theme

and I thought this was the way we were going to go,

so I'm going to go back to the beginning

and I'm going to get you boys something you're going to love. Very military.

OK. You are such a tease, David Harper. Relax up, chaps.

Meanwhile we're going to check out what the Blue team bought, aren't we?

The silver spoons proved to be stirring stuff, bought for £50.

They then moved on to the Arts and Crafts stationery box for £40.

Not to everyone's taste,

they settled on the corn on the cob shaped vase for £20.

Yum yum.

-So that's it, is it?

-This is it.

-Final buy.

-Number three item.

-Yep, it's a corn on the cob.

-It certainly is.

I've seen those before.

It's rather fun, isn't it, in that sort of lead glaze majolica style?

-Yes.

-Which is your favourite item?

-I think it's the corn.

-This might be it! After all of that protest I think this might be it.

-Yeah.

-This is the favourite. Is it your favourite too?

-It is, yes.

OK, lovely. That's great. Is it going to bring the biggest profit?

-Probably not.

-We just don't know.

-You spent how much, all told?

-110.

-110, I'd like £190 of leftover lolly.

-Hand it over.

Painful.

-You're not keen on passing that over, are you?

-We're not.

I'm very keen to get rid of it to my friend, Natasha.

What are you going to spend your £190 on for our bonus buy?

I'm going to steer clear of anything cob related and I'll try

and find something befitting of two beautiful young professionals.

-So it won't be vegetable but it might be mineral?

-It might be mineral.

We'll look forward to that. Anyway, you relax up, girls,

because we're heading off on a bit of a trip.

We're going to Winchester

because we're going to visit the Royal Green Jackets Museum.

Atten-shun!

Winchester is the former capital of England.

The place where the Domesday Book was assembled

and once home to great kings and conquerors.

Here in the Peninsula Barracks, which were built on the site of a castle

built by William the Conqueror, is the Royal Green Jackets Museum.

The Royal Green Jackets were formed from three infantry and rifle

regiments, including the 95th, which were made famous by the Sharpe

historical novels which you may have seen on the TV.

OK, old bean?

The 95th Rifles was an experimental corps when founded in 1800

and were the first rifle regiment in the British Army.

They dressed in camouflage green jackets as opposed to

the bright red worn by infantry regiments

and provided sharpshooters who were the first to be sent into battle.

Through the 19th century, the Green Jackets were involved

in numerous campaigns that took them all around the world,

but there was one particular journey in the troopship

Warren Hastings where the troop's bravery was well and truly tested.

Museum curator Christine Pullen is going to tell me about it.

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

What exactly happened on the Warren Hastings?

The troopship left Cape Town in South Africa on

6th January 1897 on their way to Mauritius.

On their journey, they veered eight miles off course

and hit some rocks off the small island called Reunion.

They were worried about the stability of the ship

and how they get troops off.

The captain of the ship, Commander Holland,

-asked the troops to get down below decks.

-Below decks?

So you can imagine the situation.

They'd been blown off course, they struck a rock, they are being

buffeted about, they have been ordered below to act as ballast.

-So they are the first to go to Davy Jones' Locker when they sink.

-Yes.

The commander thought it would be wise to wait until sunlight to

get the women and children off the ship so it would be less dangerous.

With the sheer power of the sea battering the vessel, the situation

became so treacherous that the women and children had to be helped

off the ship in the pitch black and with the storm in full force.

There was a real threat of drowning

as not everyone on board could swim and the waves were fierce.

One soldier, Rifleman McNamara, bravely set off with ropes

securing them to the rocks enabling the escape of non swimmers.

And how many people were on board?

There were 993 passengers so there was a lot on board.

And how many survivors were there?

-Luckily enough there were only two casualties.

-991 survivors.

That is extraordinary, isn't it?

To get that lot overboard and safely ashore, incredible.

And they even managed to salvage some of their belongings

from the shipwreck as well, including the regimental silver

that would have been used at the time.

It's amazing that the regiment would travel on campaign and around the

world with sets of queen's and king's patent solid silver cutlery.

That's right.

I think all standards were maintained wherever they went in the Empire.

And what is this plaque?

This shield is made from timber from the wreck of the Warren Hastings.

We have the two regiments here on board.

The first Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps and also

the Second Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment.

The officers are listed along with the captain of the troop ship.

-So that's incredibly pertinent to the wreck.

-Yes.

Well, Christine, I think it's brilliant that all these

things exist and are perfectly cared for in your museum.

And thank you very much for telling us all about it.

The big question today is just how brave are our teams

about to be over at the auction?

I'm about to head into the auction now.

But first, spot the deliberate mistake.

We find ourselves in central London.

We find ourselves at High Road Auctions in Chiswick,

we find ourselves with Ross Mercer. Ross, good morning.

-Good morning, Tim.

-How are you?

-Very well.

Well, I'm disappointed by the look of these cannon because, I suspect,

uniquely, they all came from Woolworths and not very long ago.

-What do you think about them?

-No great age, are they, Tim?

They're ornamental, if someone wants one on their desk.

-They're a bit of fun but no quality there I'm afraid.

-Exactly.

-What's your estimate?

-We said £30 to £50.

-Generous.

Well, that's marvellous. £20 paid.

Next up is this so-called pitchfork.

Well, it's a sort of pitchfork, isn't it?

Yeah, I think someone's been quite industrious.

It's hopefully someone with a second country property maybe,

-decorate their kitchen.

-OK. Perfect. Made in the East. Good.

-What's your estimate?

-On that we've said £20 to £40.

-Well done.

£30 they've paid, in the middle. You'll probably make it, too.

But the object that I think is going to have a bit of a problem

may well be this engine-turned spectacle case.

-So, do you like this thing?

-I do, actually, Tim.

There's...uh...it's had an easy life, the spectacle case.

No dents, no-one's sat on it which is quite handy.

And we do quite well with objects of virtue...

-so, I think there will be people after it.

-Very good.

So, what's your estimate?

-We said £100-£150.

-OK, £120 paid.

-Right.

I'm a bit nervous about it though

because they've stuck a lot of money in one object.

Anyway, if they don't get to the mark with the spectacle case

they're going to need the bonus buy so let's have a look at that.

Now, £130 you gave to Dave in the way of leftover lolly.

-So, Dave, what did you spend it on?

-OK, ready, boys?

OK, this should be right up your street

and I reckon you two are going to tell me all about it.

Over to you, D1.

-D1?

-I have absolutely no idea.

-Over to you, D2.

-Let's have a look at it. It's a whistle?

-Oh, it's a periscope.

-What kind of training have you been given?

-It's a periscope.

-Yes. It's a Lee Enfield rifle barrel periscope.

It's a proper military issue, 20th-century.

you've got the crow's foot on there. You know?

This is something that is vitally important if you've got a rifle.

The theory is with this gadget that you bung that up

the end of the barrel and take a squint through that mirror

and it will show you if there is an obstruction up the barrel.

Anyway, that's the theory, Dave, right?

That's the theory and I thought just perfect for you military boys.

-How much, he's asking, how much did you spend?

-What do you think?

I mean, it's a good piece of machinery that,

-it's really well made.

-30 quid?

-30 quid, bang on, D1.

-Happy days.

-Yes.

-How much do you think it will make then in the auction?

Well, it could... 30 to 50 as an estimate.

OK, happy with that, chaps? You heard his prediction.

Well, right now, why don't we check out what the auctioneer thinks about Dave's gadget.

What do you make of that?

I think it's quite fun, Tim.

A bit of a novelty but we like our militaria here,

it seems to do quite well so we'll see what happens on the day.

-So, what's your estimate?

-On that we have said £20-£40.

-Very good.

£30 was paid by the David Harper and he clearly rates it too,

so, we'll see what happens.

Anyway, that's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues.

First up are at the six rather lonely coffee spoons which

-I'm pretty certain never started in that case. Do you agree?

-I do, yes.

It's an earlier case, probably predates the spoons by 20 years.

And there is little bits of fault with some of the enamel work

-which might, they might struggle today.

-What's your estimate?

-Well, on those, we've said £40-£60.

-OK, £50 paid.

Actually slap bang in the middle.

Natasha is very, very pleased with the correspondence box,

the stationery box.

And I have to say, it is nicely made, isn't it?

It's nicely fitted, it's nicely joined as well.

I think...not very useful today

-unless you're still writing letters on your bureau, Tim.

-So how much?

Well, we said £30 to £50.

OK, £40 paid by Natasha so, I think that's fair enough.

Anyway, and lastly is this corn on the cob...jug.

It is an out-and-out fake, really, probably trying to copy

Minton of the late 19th century, so just really of decorative value.

-Which would be?

-£20 to £40.

-Well, only paid £20.

So...OK, fine, thanks for that, Ross.

I think they may get their comeuppance with the enamel

and silver coffee spoons and if they do they're going to need

a bonus buy, so let's go and check it out.

-Well, girls, this is exciting, isn't it?

-Certainly is.

-"Certainly is".

I can't tell you how excited I am.

Anyway, the fact of the matter is, you gave Natasha Raskin £190.

Girl, what did you spend it on?

I bought you two a really fun pair of items.

A pair of gorgeous Art Deco, I hope, bookends that are beautiful.

Take one each and enjoy them because they're a pair.

A lovely duo like you two. They're really lovely material as well.

Sort of basic wood, the tree element is very Art Deco

with the geometric shapes but the actual owls

themselves are formed of two tagua nuts,

which are Ecuadorian seeds from a sort of palm tree

that grows in Ecuador, and they are so beautiful on the outside

they've got this almost tortoiseshell effect.

-Well, now, what do you think?

-I would buy them if I could.

-How much did you spend on them?

-That's the important question.

Not a huge sum of money for a beautiful decorative

-pair of bookends. I spent £56.

-Not bad, not bad.

Not cheap, but I did get them down from around 70, 75.

-What are we going to make?

-Well, hopefully, £70, £80, £90.

-I don't know.

-So, anyway, there's a nice prediction.

And on that happy note, why don't we for the audience at home check out

what the auctioneer thinks about Natasha's nutty bookends.

Now, Ross, there we go. I think they're charming.

Yes, well...it's certainly something which has been handmade.

And that appeals to a lot of people. Treen as well as exotic nuts.

They could very well have been someone's tourist gift.

Exactly, I think they're quite sweet. What's your estimate?

Well, on those we've said £30 to £50.

Well, Natasha paid £56 so she's probably paid near the top

end of it.

-Yes, she's obviously passionate for that.

-Exactly.

Well, you're wielding the gavel, right? Yes?

Yes. And I will do everything that I can for her.

I'm sure you will. We are in safe hands.

Well, stand by.

We are about to go into battle and first up are the battery of cannons.

Here they come.

Lot number 20, cast iron and brass miniature models

of cannon, of course.

Some interest here. Bids start at £15. I have 15. £18 bid now.

18 bid. 20, then, 2? 24, 26? 28,

-30 now? £30.

-£30.

-30, 5? 35.

At £35 in the seating, at 35.

At £35, last chance, I'm going to sell now at £35 only.

Well done, chaps. Good profit. That's £15.

The next lot is lot number 21, the unusual pitch pine fork.

Bid me 10. At £10, I'm bid at 10. Can't get any more? At £10 bid.

At 10? 12, may I say? £12? £14, £16?

-Yes.

-Bid 18? £18. Bid 20, sir?

-Go on!

-£20. 5? 25. 30 now.

£25, the gentleman has bid. I'm going to sell them at £25. All done?

£25 is minus £5.

They don't like Transylvanian forks here in West London.

-I find that surprising.

-You are still plus £10.

Lot number 22, the rather nice 1930s silver spectacle case.

-Really good-quality lot here. Bids start again.

-Against the wall, £60.

-With me at £60.

-That's OK, opening bid.

65 bid, 70. 75. 80, Sir? At £80 bid.

At 80. 5? 85. At 85, 90.

5? Fresh bidder. 95 bid. 100. 110?

At £110, 110. At £110, gentleman has bid at 110.

And I'm going to sell at £110 only.

£110. It's minus £10. So after that lot, you have got nowhere.

You have nothing. No profit, no loss.

What are you going to do about the bonus buy, then?

-I mean, having nothing could be a winning score...

-Let's go for it.

-Yeah.

-You're going to do it?

-Yes.

-You are going with the bonus buy? Lovely.

I can tell you now that the auctioneer's estimate is £20-£40.

You paid £30, David, so you're slap bang in the middle.

And you are absolutely right. This military stuff does seem to be hot.

Let's find out how hot it is. Here we go.

Lot 26 is a part of the Lee Enfield cleaning kit.

It is the barrel bore periscope inspection tool.

-Bids start at

-£8. 8?

At £8, which seems pretty mean, to me. Straight in at 10.

£10 I am bid. £20 on the internet.

At £20, £30 now on the internet.

At 30. At £30 I am bid.

Any over £30 on the floor?

At £30 on the internet, I'm going to sell. At £30 all done.

One more... Oh!

£30 is what he paid! Again, nothing.

Which is better than getting somewhere which is in a minus score,

right? So that is the positive.

Whatever you do, say nothing to the Blues. On a need-to-know basis.

-OK, well, is this delicious, girls, or is it delicious?

-Very delicious.

Very, very delicious.

We have got the coffee spoons with the enamel details

and here they come. How exciting is this?

Next lot now. It's lot 39, the cased set of silver coffee spoons.

-Guichet enamel, £10 I am bid. At 10. 15.

-OK, here we go. 20.

£20 bid. 5?

£30, new buyer. At 30, 5? £35 now on the left-hand side. Still at 35.

Make it 40. One more?

-£40.

-Yes!

-£45 now? Gentleman has bid on my left? And £45 now.

Last chance, I am going to sell at 45.

-£45 is minus £5. Better than I thought. Well done.

-So close.

The next lot then, lot number 40.

This is the rather fun little correspondence box.

In the Arts and Crafts style. Bids start here, £20 bid.

-£20 is all right as a starting point.

-26. 28.

28 bid, 30? At £30, left-hand side at 30. I will take 5...

-He's looking nervous.

-32? 34?

At £34, 36 now. We are getting very excited up here.

At £36 on the internet. 38.

-At £38, make it 40? £40.

-40 bid.

-OK.

-On the internet, now at £40.

Looking for 5. On the internet now at 40.

-We need a profit on it!

-£45.

-45!

At £50. On the internet at £50.

-£50. That's better. That's better.

-All done.

I am going to sell now. At £50. At 50.

On my right with Jackie, at £50, I'm going to sell.

-£50.

-There you are, I told you it would be all right.

Plus £10 on that one. Which means you are plus £5.

The next lot now is the corn on the cob jug.

Where do we start the bidding? £5, surely?

Come along, you mean lot. I will lend you the money! £5 bid.

At 5. 8.

10. 12, my dear? £12 bid. 14? 16? 18?

-Yes.

-Stood in front now, £20.

-Keep going, couple more.

-£20. Last chance. I have to sell now.

-At £20 only...

-No, no, no.

He sold it for £20. It wiped its face.

Yes! Listen, you are £5 up.

Profit. That could be a winning score.

What are you going to do about the tagua nut bookends?

-This is a big decision, here.

-I think...

-What do you think?

Maybe leave it. We said if we were in profit...

We did agree, if we were in profit, we wouldn't. No, it's not happening.

No bonus buy. But we are going to sell it anyway and let's find out.

The pair of unusual carved treen tagua nut bookends.

£10 bid? 15? Bid 15, 20?

5 now?

£25 bid, 30 in front. At £30. Internet, are you coming in?

At £30, the lady has got it now. 30. Sold.

-How much did you sell?

-£30!

-Is that all?

You are so...

£30 is minus £26. Except you never went with it.

-Which means you are plus £5.

-We'll have that. Very happy.

-And all will be revealed in a moment.

-OK.

-Bravo, girls - bravo the trio.

-Well done!

We have had fun, haven't we? Now, do you know the scores?

-Anybody know the scores?

-No.

-You don't know your rivals' scores? No?

Well, we have got a serious chasm between our teams today,

-I have to say.

-Oh, no!

-We don't have losers any more, we only have runners-up.

And the runners-up today by a chunk are...

the Reds.

-Oh! How can that be?

-I know, how can it be? You was robbed, I know.

-And you finished up with absolutely nothing.

-Great.

Normally, that would be a winning score, getting nothing.

But today, it wasn't good enough against our young pros over here.

I tell you, our young pros did really,

really well because they have made £5 of profit.

Well done us!

-So there is nothing between you. You just happened to get lucky, girls, didn't you?

-I think so.

-No, skill, I think!

-You have got the skill.

The correspondence box I predicted would make you a nice profit, which it did.

You didn't go with the bonus buy, that was your wisest move today.

You preserved your £5.

You have been excellent sports and it has been such fun.

Why don't you join us soon for some more bargain hunting? Yes? Yes!