Lincoln 20 Bargain Hunt

Today, we've headed to the beautiful city of Lincoln,

where we are guaranteed thrills, spills

and, you never know...

even the occasional profit.

So, let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

Our American cousins are

well familiar with the name Lincoln.

The word itself means a settlement by a pool or river

and the Americans have got hundreds of them all over the States.

But for us true Brits, there is only one Lincoln, and that's

in Lincolnshire - here -

which is where we began our search.

And here's a sneaky peak as to what's coming up. Oh, yeah.

On today's show, the Reds are a bit trigger-happy...

-Is that all right, Aaron?

-It's a bit late now, but...

It's a good job I like it.

..while the blues reveal their secret weapon.

You've worked some magic there, Dolly. I don't know how you did it, but you did.

-No, no.

-Just a weensy bit because, look, I'm a pensioner and...

Dolly, you are piece of work, if I can say that.

It has been a pleasure working with you.

That's all for later, but first, let's meet the teams.

Well, we're keeping it in the family today on Bargain Hunt,

with a mother and son combo, Val and Aaron for the Reds.

And for the blues, we have grandma and granddaughter, Karen and Dolly.

Hello, everyone.

-Hello, Tim.

-Lovely to see you.

Now, Aaron, apart from the obvious maternal connection here,

you actually share similar interests with your mother, don't you?

Yes, we do. We are both big football fans.

Unfortunately, Mum supports Man Utd and I support Arsenal.

But the important thing, I guess, is they both play in red.

Yes, well, that's a start, isn't it?

And you see each other every week.

You go and visit your mother awake a dutiful son?

I certainly do, and benefit from baby-sitting for my young son.

-Oh, really? What is your little boy called?

-Alec.

-Alec!

So, what do you do to unwind, apart from playing with Alec?

I'm playing hockey. That's probably the main sport that I got into

when I was seven years old. When I'm not doing that, I'm kick boxing.

Are you going to give us a kick, then? Go on.

Chuck your leg up and give us a... Oh, my God.

Yes, that's what you call a sporting kick, isn't it?

I knew I was going to regret that. Thank you very much.

Now, Val, you're retired,

which you clearly did incredibly early.

-And after 39 years' worth of teaching...

-Yes.

-Gosh...

-I know.

-That is quite an achievement.

-I loved it. Absolutely wonderful.

-And you like to do a bit of globetrotting?

-I love it, yes,

especially America.

I love going with my husband all the way around America,

-to different places, but we love Arizona the best.

-Do you? Glorious.

Anyway, now, what do you know about antiques, you two?

-Well, I like collecting paintings.

-Do you?

-Yes.

-Is that what you're going to go for it today?

-Yes, absolutely.

Well, you never know, such a nice, speculative area, isn't it?

-All sorts of extraordinary things can happen.

-Yes.

And we really hope they're going to happen to you too.

Thank you very much for joining us.

Now, Karen, you're no stranger to the odd antique, are you?

No, my dad used to work as an auctioneer in his part-time, so...

-Did he?

-Yes.

-Oh! Did I ever come across him?

No, I don't think he's ever met you, no. I think he would have told me.

Wow. Now, you like to do a little bit of travel too, don't you?

Yes, yes.

I just spent the last, well, just under a year travelling,

so I did America.

I've done that two years in a row and I've backpacked in Australia as well.

And what sort of things did you get up to in America?

I worked at a Girl Scout camp for two years.

It was really rustic. I don't think people thought I'd last, but I loved it.

You did, because you're tough, right? Very nice, too.

Now, Dolly, you've lady very interesting life. Tell us about it.

I was an evacuee at four and a half,

when the War began.

Well, it's a very strange thing for us, isn't it?

We can't contemplate whole families being carved up,

little ones being sent from their parents,

and you were only four and a half,

and you went to complete strangers.

I did, but I had an absolutely lovely house

and a lovely family.

-And...I had a lovely War.

-Well, how sweet is that?

So, when did you retire?

I retired 19 years ago.

And what do you get up to in your retirement?

-Well, I go sequence dancing.

-Do you?

Three times a week.

Just tell me, what is sequence dancing?

Well, it's sort of ballroom, you're in a circle, like...

And you're all doing the same thing.

-Oh, yes. What, you go to the left, you go to the right?

-Yeah, yeah.

You twiddle round and up and down, and cock your legs and do the hand.

-Do you have a little gin and tonic well you're there too?

-No, no, no,

they won't allow that is because we're all old dears, aren't we?

-We can't go out like that, can we?

-What do you mean, old dears?

-Can't you have a gin and tonic?

-Yes, but quietly.

Go quietly, oh, I see.

Now, how are you going to beat these Reds today? That's what I want to know.

-We're going to try our very hardest, aren't we?

-Mm.

Anyway, we're looking forward to it. You get your money moment now,

this is the £300, £300 coming your way. You know the rules.

Your experts await, and off you go!

And very, very, very good luck.

I think I could do with a bit of this sequence dancing.

Converting knowledge into profit for the Reds is Charles Hanson.

And Paul Laidlaw will be searching out a steal for the Blues.

This is your momentous hour, what's the plan?

What on earth are we doing here? What's the craic?

We're going to go and find something

very unusual hidden away somewhere.

We'd like to find something quite elegant, like ladylike, wouldn't we?

Like fashion or jewellery.

Dolly, are we of one mind?

No.

I'd like to buy something weird and wonderful

for about £30,

but makes about 300.

Oh, is that all you want, Dolly?

There's a guy over there that does that sort of stuff.

Good golly, Dolly.

Now, that's the way to make some lolly.

Right, now, teams, start the clock. Let's go.

-DUMMY MUTTERS

-Yeah.

-Let's do it.

-Follow me.

I think we should go round there and go left, don't you?

Well, I love that decisiveness and the instinct.

The wee kiddies folding chair?

£55. It's enough money, in all honesty.

How old do you think it is?

It could be as late as the 1920s or as early as the 1890s.

Totally agree with your taste, I love your taste.

-I just don't like the price.

-It's too expensive, no, no.

Good, good. You keep picking stuff up like that, Dolly, that'll work.

So, you have good taste, girls, but remember,

do control those purse strings.

There's a long way to go.

Meanwhile, Aaron's spotted something.

-Bring that out, Aaron, let's have a look at it.

-Look at that.

That's amazing, yeah.

I could see that in my grandma's old study.

-Yes, definitely.

-That's the kind of thing that she would love.

-Yes.

-So, what decade's this, Aaron?

-I'm getting '80s.

-'80s.

-'70s.

You think it is? That sort of era of Dynasty and Dallas and all of that.

-Yes.

-As a work of art, it's a marvel, but will it get a phone bid?

PHONE RINGS

-Hello?

-Not a chance.

No, OK. We'll leave you, thanks a lot, yeah. Thanks a lot.

-OK, all the best.

-Ciao, Charlie.

Right then, girls, so what other items take your fancy?

I like these.

-And I love that.

-I like this.

-They're loving everything here,

and what we need to do is love something at the right money.

Come on, teams, no buys between you yet.

Oh, hold on. Charlie could be onto something.

You know, the joy of this business, Val,

it's like a liquorice all sort, isn't it?

You've got so many objects, so many colours,

-and the eyes dart everywhere.

-Yes, they do.

There is one thing I've seen that I quite like,

purely because it's decorative - that bowl.

-Do you like it?

-Yes, I do.

-I like the colours on that. That's nice, that.

-I do.

It's decorative art. It's 1920s.

-I love the colours of it.

-Why?

I just find it really colourful, really bright.

It's something I can see sitting in your living room, actually.

Yes, and what's the bird in the middle?

Is it supposed to be a swan, a peacock?

Now, birds aren't my forte. It could be a griffin.

Now, just hold the base like that, on one hand,

and just give it a big tap.

Does it ring?

-There we go, the big test.

-Flick it.

Uh...no.

-I think it's cracked. Hold on...

-Really?

-Yeah, it's cracked.

-Aww.

Yes, it's been cut, what a shame.

I can't see a crack anywhere but, by doing that,

that dull, low thud isn't a good sign.

But it is decorative, yeah.

-Sir, may I ask you how much, please, is this bowl?

-15.

-15, and between friends?

-15.

-Thanks, mate.

-That you told, then, Carlos.

It's a bit crazed and it is cheap at £15

because, of course, it is a decorative art from the '20s and

it's made by the New Hall Works in Hanley,

in what we call the boumier ware style.

Do you see a profit at £15?

Do you know? If this came into my sale room, all day long...

I would guide it to fetch between £20 and £30.

So, I can guarantee you a pinch of a profit, but that...

isn't very good. Do you want it?

-Yes.

-For £15, it's...

-Yes.

-Is it a trophy?

-Yes.

-Is it a winner?

-Yes.

We'll take it, shall we, guys? Where's he gone? Let's give him a shout.

1-0, then, to the Reds.

Best you go and make friends with the dealer, eh, Charles?

Now, are the blues any closer to finding their first buy?

Oh, look at that.

A wee Gladstone-type bag.

The luggage does well at the moment.

I think we need one that that's in better condition than that,

-but luggage is good.

-Come on, I want to get on.

Crikey, there's no holding Dolly back.

Right, Reds, could this be item number two for you?

Val, what have you seen?

Look at that little meerschaum pipe with the dog on the top of it.

What I like about that is the fact it's in its original case,

of circa 1880 and, of course, back in that Victorian time,

smoking and novelties in shape and size were all also very popular.

I wonder where the owner is of it.

Hi there, boss, how are you?

We've just seen this nice... What have we seen?

A little meerschaum pipe, in its case,

with a dog on the top.

That is really lovely, I do like that. Look at that little dog.

-No, what dog is he?

-I think it's a boxer, do you think?

-Yeah, pug maybe.

Yes. Aww, that's lovely.

What I love is that if you just close the box as well,

do you see, Aaron? Look at the glow, look at the wear,

look at that back - beautifully worn.

And it would be about 1885-1890.

And it's got novelty value and it's a sort of internet/online lot.

The auction's online. It's the sort of thing, because it's complete,

could do very well. Aaron, are you a fan of it?

I really do like that and, yeah... Being a pet lover, yeah.

-Is it priced or not?

-No.

-No. What's it worth?

If I asked you a similar question... Often you can be guided

too much by price and ticket tag.

What's it worth?

-40 to 50.

-I'd say over £100.

-Really?

Oh, Lord.

-40 to 50...

-Let's ask our main man.

Sir, how much is it?

It was 45, it can be 40.

Could it...? Could it be 35, do you think?

To give you a fighting chance, it can be.

Oh, thank you. That's really kind of you.

Do you know what? If that came into my auction tomorrow,

I'd happily say to a vendor it's worth between 40 and 60.

-So, 35...

-It should do quite well.

I say shake the man's hand.

Thank you very much indeed.

-Thanks a lot.

-Cheers.

-But you're not a Forest fan.

So, £35 for the hound and two items down.

I'd say that's pretty good going, which is more than I can say

for the Blues, who are still empty handed.

You've had half of your time, girls.

Karen likes...

"Quite nice," this is a reaction.

So, it'll be French, it'll be mid-20th century,

slightly influenced by the Art Deco...

Not bronze, you know, it'll be spelter.

Any damage, any breaks, or chips, or cracks... Yeah, it's fair enough.

-How much is it?

-I don't know, what it's worth? It's worth...

30 to 50, £40-£60, something like that.

It looks nicer from that side as well, look.

-Sorry?

-We'd love it at 20.

-We'd love it at 20.

-'Oddly appealing.'

'Come on, Dolly, do your dealing.'

-Is that...?

-The deer?

-How much is he?

Can he go down to 20? I don't know how much...

-We don't know where it started!

-I was looking for at 35.

-Aww.

And would you do anything on that?

25.

You were right first time round, Dolly, to be honest with you.

-You guys like it.

-I like it, yeah.

-I do.

-20.

20! Well, yeah.

You've worked magic there, Dolly. I don't know how you did it, but you did.

-Get in, shake his hand!

-Ah!

Thank you very much.

'Ah, didn't she do well?'

Dolly, you were amazing there.

"Could that be £20?" And it was £20, as if by magic.

So you keep doing that. And we've got one down.

Hang on, she hasn't finished. What's she spotted now, Paul?

-How much is that?

-Are you looking at the clock?

-Yeah.

I know you're French, it's lovely.

'Oh, lordy. Flirting will get you everywhere in this game, Dolly.'

The best price - 150.

-Euros?

-No.

THEY LAUGH

-Not a weensy-weensy bit down?

-No, no, no, no.

We're wading in too deep, too quick here. OK?

-Rein them in, Paul.

-Do you...? I've got to ask, why do you...?

-I don't like it.

-You don't like it?

-I like it.

-Are you going to buy it?

No, she likes that.

-Do you like that?

-I do. It's eye-catching.

-Do you love it?

-Mm-hm.

-Wee secret? (I love it.)

-I love it.

-It's amazing.

Where's it from?

-And industrial chic... Well, it's French...

-OK.

..and it's going to date to the mid-20th century.

-Does it not look industrial to you?

-It does.

-Futurist.

I think it influences the Futurist movement

and these are people that were looking at modernity

and were thinking what they were going to be inhabiting in

-20 years' time, technology!

-How much money will it make?

"Does it go?" is a question. Does it work?

Ah, there you go. That's good. That's good. Yeah.

Do you reckon?

You want to buy it, but you want to buy it for £100.

Dolly, given that you seem to exert mind control over dealers,

try and buy that for £100. Do you like it?

I do now if it's...

-Can she do this twice?

-I think she can. I've got faith.

-Could you possibly, possibly go down...?

-No, no.

Just a weensy bit?

Because look, I'm a pensioner and... THEY LAUGH

And this little girl...

is going to university.

-No, best price 150.

-Aww.

-What do you think?

-I think it's a lot of money. It's too much.

-140.

What do you think?

Do we want it? Do we want it? Are we going to grab it?

-We want it, yeah.

-Well done, folks, it's a good thing.

-Shake your hand.

-Yeah, good.

-Merci. Good work.

-Merci.

-Merci.

Tres Bien, ladies.

No items for 30 minutes and now two come along at once.

Halfway through and our teams are

level pegging with two items apiece.

Can't relax, but can feel

slightly smug, I would say.

-We're ahead of the game.

-I think so.

Excellent. Well, I'm going to leave you to it.

I think it's time for a cuppa.

The Brits, well, some would say

we have an obsession with tea.

And why not?

It's refreshing, it's extremely quenching

and the history of tea drinking in Britain goes way back.

In fact, not only do we have a history as tea drinkers,

but we have a whole lot of accoutrements related to tea

that are extremely collectable.

Not least, I have to say, the tea caddy.

Now I promise you, if you went out around the

2,000 stalls here in Lincoln,

you would find literally hundreds

of little wooden tea caddies.

And I can guarantee you that if you did that search,

you would not find a tea caddy

that is better than this tea caddy.

So, what makes this the most desirable tea caddy amongst

all the hundreds of tea caddies that are sitting out there for sale?

For a kick-off, it's the timber.

If you look carefully at the top,

you'll see lots and lots of whorls.

That's because this bit of timber on the top is a veneer

and a very specially selected veneer, which is called burl,

a tree that, 50 years ago, was scarred by cutting it

in a certain way so that it grew a wart.

A painful wart on that tree, which,

season after season,

grew bigger and bigger until a cabinet maker came along

and he lopped off the wart and then he sliced that wart.

And the result of that sliced wart

is all this busyness.

Not only is the top of this tea caddy covered in burl walnut,

but it continues across the front,

the canted corners, the sides and back.

If you open it up, you've got the traditional two divisions,

but these two divisions have got the original covers

and they too are inlaid in precious burl.

Inside the divisions,

the inner surface is covered in what is left of silver foil that

was used to stop the tea from being

tainted by the timber.

And someone has resisted doing anything about replacing

the silver foil, and that means that this tea caddy

is in near-miraculous, absolutely original condition.

All it needs to do is to go to a cabinet maker

to give it a jolly good clean and polish.

But apart from that, you leave it exactly how it is.

After that refreshing process, this will be worth,

to a connoisseur, between £700 and £900.

What would it cost you down the road there today?

It could be yours for £160.

Now that's what I call a good cuppa.

No tea break for our teams,

as they both have one item left to find and 20 minutes on the clock.

Ahoy there! Let's check in with the Reds.

It's in pretty good condition.

It's scratch built, it's quite crude

and it is of course tin.

So, what's the best price on it?

-Five and a half.

-Five and a half?

You mean £55?

-SHE LAUGHS

-No, 500.

-OK, OK.

-That's a bit too...

How much we got on us? How much have we got on us?

We can't afford it, but that's OK.

If you don't ask, you never get, do you? Thanks a lot.

Mm, nice try. You still have

one more item to chalk up though, Charlie.

Do cows actually wear these?

-I'm sure somewhere they do.

-That's so heavy.

Cows only wear bells when their horns don't work, Karen.

Boom, boom.

OK, I'll get my coat.

That looks in good condition, that's nice.

And it looks like it's got a little space

to keep your records at the back.

-Why does it inspire you? Does it take you back?

-Yes, it does.

My grandmother had an old wind-up gramophone like this

and she used to play lots of records to me when I was a little girl.

What I like so much, Aaron, is that

stylised chrome plate back because it almost takes you back

to an era of those jazz times,

of the 1930s-'40s.

I think it's that period.

Today, again, in the sale room, whilst these ten years ago

where were two a penny, they again have inspired young collectors.

-Does it work, first of all?

-I don't know.

-Is the seller here?

Sir, may we have a quick word?

-Yes.

-Oh, good. Can you show us how to work it?

You're a good man.

I think... That's it, thanks a lot. We're going to roll back the years.

Are you ready, Val? Give me an old move. Give me a Deco move.

There you go.

MUSIC PLAYS

I like it. I think it's great.

It's not scuffed. It's in good condition.

And the all-important question...

I know. What is the absolute, absolute, absolute best price

you could do for us?

130.

You couldn't go down to 120,

because I think with 120 we stand a brilliant chance of...

Give me the money.

-"Show me the... Give me the money and run."

-120?

-Yeah, fine.

-Oh, thank you.

Does Aaron have a say here, Ma?

-Is that all right, Aaron?

-Well, it's a bit late now, but...

It's a good job I like it.

-TIM WHISTLES

-On that note, the Reds are done and dusted. Well done, team.

Which just leaves one Blue item for the full set.

Groovy.

Don't leave Dolly behind, now.

-What about this?

-What have you got?

-Ah, yesterday's news.

-OK.

Aww.

-A brass slipper box.

-Oh, how lovely.

-Do like that?

-Is there any value to that?

-How are you doing, buddy?

-All right.

-My companions love your brass slipper box.

-20 quid, the slipper box.

-It's no money, is it?

-Can you believe it's 20 quid?

-It's nice, isn't it?

The reason it's 20 quid is...

Old-fashioned.

I get Dolly liking this because

it's a traditional, homey piece.

-Yeah.

-But Karen, on the other hand, you're a dark horse.

My mom tells me off for leaving my shoes in the middle of the floor.

Well, look, it's going to date to the interwar period.

Brass-bound wood, and the condition looks fantastic.

You've got no issues there, it's done no work, it's not been abused.

-What do you think?

-I like it ever so much, but can we come down a little bit?

-She's in again, she's off.

-That's cheap enough, really, to be honest.

Honestly. 17 quid?

17 quid?

-What about 16, and that's it?

-Go on, then.

-Thank you so much.

-Do you think it'll make any money?

-Yeah, I think it will.

-Good job, really. Dolly's done a deal.

I've got to say, the pair of you are something else.

And, Dolly, you are a piece of work, if I can say that.

It has been a pleasure working with you.

-Next time I go shopping, would you come with me?

-Yeah.

-Take her everywhere.

-Karen, what is she like?

Well done, Blues. Slippers on, now.

Feet up, as time is up.

Well, blow me down, my biggest fan.

Let's check out what the Red team bought

and find out if it was a breeze.

Despite the crack, they were bowled over by the Lusterware at £15.

The meerschaum pipe was up next. They paid £35.

And finally, they danced off with the gramophone for £120.

Now, Val, is it true that you went off-piste and did all sorts

of naughtiness on your own?

I certainly did. I just saw something and I fell in love with it,

-and I bought it without either of them knowing.

-Oh, dear.

You could get slapped, you know, for that.

Anyway, so tell me, darling, which is your favourite piece, your third item?

-Oh, my gramophone.

-Your gramophone's your favourite?

-Yes.

-And does the son agree with that?

-Of course not.

-What's your favourite?

-The meerschaum pipe.

And is the meerschaum pipe, Aaron, going to bring the biggest profit?

-Absolutely.

-I think it might.

-So there we've got some predictions.

How much did you spend in to-to?

-I spent £170.

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

Thank you, Aaron, that's very nice.

I won't bother to count it, I trust you. And it's straight over to Charles Hanson.

-Thanks, Tim.

-What are you going to do with that, Carlos?

I think I'll buy something with maybe a hop, skip and a jump,

which has a swagger.

Do you know? Sometimes I think you're off your trolley, mate.

Anyway. Very, very good luck with that.

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

First up for the Blues was the group of Deco deer.

The buck stopped here at £20.

Closely followed by the Art Deco mantel clock. They paid £140.

And finally, they got all warm and fuzzy over the slipper box,

and paid £16.

Now, Dolly, what's this about you driving hard bargains?

-You've got to, haven't you? That's what we're here for.

-Exactly right.

And you have the right attitude. Which is your favourite piece?

Well, I liked the slipper box,

though it isn't the most expensive, but I did like it.

That's your favourite favourite? Isn't that nice?

-Do you have a favourite favourite?

-It was the same, the slipper box.

-Is that going to bring the biggest profit?

-I don't think so.

-What do you think is going to bring the biggest profit?

-I think the clock.

-The clock?

-Yes.

Well, we've got some predictions, and how much did you spend?

-£176.

-Gosh. Can I have £124 of leftover lolly, please?

-You can.

-Thank you.

-There we go.

-Thank you.

-And...the last bit.

-Thank you. Very good. There you go, Paul.

-Thank you, Tim.

There you go. A nice little challenge for you,

but the challenge to which you are remarkably good at responding,

-I have to say.

-That's kind of you, Tim. I do try.

-You do.

Anyway, good luck with your search, Paul,

because right now we are going to shove off to the auction.

We've come an hour south from Lincoln to be with Colin Young,

-in his saleroom in Bourne.

-It's good to see you here, Tim.

-We're looking forward to great results.

-Profits.

-That's what we'll try and get you.

-Exactly.

Whether we will with this lot, though, is another matter.

First of all, we've got this Boumier ware bowl.

What can you tell me about Boumier ware?

Not a great deal, really.

I suppose, in a way, it's a little bit, in the market terms,

it's a poor man's Maling, or a Wedgwood,

because it's got this wonderful, lustrous colour about it,

but it is not going to hit the heady heights that you would expect

from those other factories.

-How much?

-£25-£40.

No worries at all. £15 paid.

That is the right estimate, Colin Young, thank you very much.

Now, we move to the Victorian era,

when ladies smoked cheroots,

and there's a cheroot holder to die for, with a little dog on it.

-Yeah.

-What will it make?

-They don't make a lot of money, I'm afraid.

£10-£20. It would have to be a bit more exotic than just a dog on it.

-OK, they paid £35. They paid too much for an old dog, right?

-Indeed.

Now. Moving on, then.

We go to this wind-up gramophone, which is a portable, very nice.

I love the chromium detail, don't you?

The kind of Jazz Age zigzags.

Somebody's taken, in detail, quite a lot of trouble with this thing.

And of course it's in brilliant condition,

or it seems to be in brilliant condition. What's it worth?

I've put an estimate of 25 to 40,

which covers what virtually every model of that makes.

That's not enough, Col.

£120, they paid. £120. I mean, that is a stiff old number, isn't it?

-It's a lot.

-OK, on that basis they're going to need their bonus buy,

so let's beetle off and have a look at it.

Val, Aaron, this is exciting, isn't it?

In trusting Charles Hanson with £130 of leftover lolly is

a dangerous thing to do at the best of times.

He's looking rather threatening, if you don't mind my saying so.

So rather quickly, Charles, you'd better show us

what you spent the 130 on.

I tried really hard to spend the entire amount,

but I couldn't find that object.

So I bought a bundle of joy, a bundle of joy, all in.

This collection here. Look at them. What do you think?

-Oh!

-Do have a handle, and I'll just give you...

-Grab one.

-There we go.

And we've got here, for example,

a wonderful East Yorkshire swagger stick, ebonised,

with a plated collar, so it's like that, and you would walk like that.

We've got a lovely cane in my hand here, as well.

Another swagger stick in your hand there.

And they're just, Tim, and team,

a nice collection of 19th-century sticks.

This is also a measure. Can you see? You've got the inches on there.

And this is probably late Victorian, again, 1890.

And, to me, it's a bundle of joy, and it tells a story of history.

I think it's perfect for a retired teacher.

-What, for giving people the stick, Val?

-So how much were they?

-They were £40.

-Oh!

-40. £40.

What do you think?

Not bad for a collection of sticks.

So how much profit do you see in them?

I would hope, perhaps, between anything from between 50 and £100.

-Oh!

-Absolutely.

-OK, are you happy with that, Val?

-Very.

-Very.

Now, let's check out what the auctioneer

thinks about Charles's sticks.

OK, Col, here we go, look. Nice collection of stick work.

-What do you make of that lot?

-It's a nice little combination, isn't it?

We've got, starting from this side, a bull's-eye-ended dandy cane.

You've got a Rabone-marked dip stick there, swagger stick,

a little bit of a riding crop. That's quite nice as well.

Yeah, good combination.

I think there's nothing there that drags my eye to say this is a fantastic item.

Well, I suppose what are we they going to say on those?

-£50-£80, maybe.

-OK, fine. Well, Charles, clever old stick, paid £40.

-So that's OK.

-That's all right for those.

-Perfect.

Right, moving onto the Blues.

We have got Karen and Dolly,

and their first item is the Art Deco figure, or group, with these deer.

Yeah.

It's an interesting one. I think this isn't all that old.

There's quite a few of these seem to be appearing on the market,

-so my guess is it is probably only £50-£80.

-That's all right.

-Is that OK?

-Do not worry. £20 paid.

-For £20, it is pretty good, isn't it?

-Brilliant.

-Well, there we are.

Anyway, good luck with that. Now, you've got this...

Catalogued as a brutalist mantle clock.

-Now, tell me about this, Colin.

-Well, it's a bit of an odd thing.

We've actually given it two descriptions -

-Art Deco and brutalist.

-It stinks to me of Deco, I have to say.

But you're right. It could be just after the war.

I mean, it's hideous in many respects,

but rather wonderful in another, isn't it?

-It's actually the hideousness of it that I do like.

-Yeah.

OK. How much?

-£80-£100.

-Fair enough, that's a good punt.

£140, they paid, so they went slightly over the top but why not?

-I mean, find another one.

-Precisely.

And the last item, which is the ultimate in traditional 1930s

house furnishing, is this slipper box, in brass.

TIM LAUGHS

-It's fantastic, isn't it?

-It is great.

-You don't really see too many of these coming up for auction now.

-Not at all.

I remember, at one time, these used to come on the market so regularly.

They would make £30, £40, they would.

I think, perhaps, the reason why we don't see them very often now

is because they just don't really make any money.

-No, there's not much point to them. Actually, how much?

-£10-£30, maybe.

That's a nice broad estimate. £16 paid.

So, there we go. We'll have to see what happens.

It will all boil down to

whether the brutalist clock is truly brutal or not.

And if it does its worst, they'll need their bonus buy,

so let's go have a look at it.

-Now, Doll, Karen, how are you doing?

-Good, thank you.

You gave Paul Laidlaw £124 of leftover lolly.

Paul, show us what you spent the £124 on.

-Ladies, see what you think of this.

-Oh! That's silver.

-Yeah. It is silver.

-What is it?

That's English silver, and that is a tobacco or snuff pouch,

depending on one's preference.

It's smithed by George Unite,

a highly regarded smith,

and it dates to the early 20th century.

But, how do you get into that?

-Where's the handle?

-Do you have to push it?

You are spot on, you are very close. Watch this.

That's it. "Fancy topping up the pipe, old chap?" Little pinch.

-Ta-da!

-Ah!

-The sophistication in the engineering

and the silversmithing here defies belief,

because that closes near invisibly.

-What do you think of that?

-I quite like it.

-"Quite"?

-Well, I don't really know much about it.

-How much did you pay?

I paid £65.

Very nice. How much profit?

I think that will go down well.

I think that's worth £70-£90, all day long.

-That sounds good, doesn't it?

-Well, your pick, girls, after the sale of your first three items,

but right now let's find out what the auctioneer thinks

about the squeezy snuffbox.

-There we go, Colin.

-Thank you.

A little box to intrigue.

Now, fairly common at auction.

George Unite, "GU" in there,

so that's going to be a fairly easy thing to throw an estimate

straight at you with - £60-£80.

OK, Paul paid £65 and he's pretty canny.

OK, fine, are you going to be able to squeeze the buyers a bit today,

-do you think?

-I'll squeeze as hard as I can.

-Look out, buyers.

Very good, Colin. Now, you best grab your gavel, and rush to the rostrum.

Let's get the sale under way.

Now, Aaron, Val, how are you feeling?

-Nervous.

-Are you?

-Yes.

-I mean, it's exciting

because you've had to wait a long time to get to this moment.

We've done the shopping. We've done the leftover lolly, we've done all this business

-and here we are.

-I know.

-And Colin Young is going to control our destiny.

That's a thought.

Now, for a kick-off,

you've got the Boumier ware lustre, New Hall bowl. Here we go.

Really nice lustrous one. Who's going to start me at £30?

£30, anyone. 30. 20 to go, surely. £20, anybody?

£20, anyone? 20.

-10 from us.

-10.

-15, 18.

-Yes.

-Profit!

£20 bid down here.

-Two again now, surely.

-Oh, is it down there? We're moving.

30 bid. 28 bid.

-Internet come in now.

-Last call.

No, selling then at £28.

28 is plus £13. You are plus 13. Well done, kids.

That is back of the net.

Now, the cheroot.

The Meerschaum cheroot holder. Multiple bids already.

Plenty of bids. And we start at 12 bid.

15 bid, 18 bid. 20 now. 18 bid.

-Go on.

-20 from anywhere else now? 20 bid. At 20 bid.

-Get the internet!

-Anyone else want to bite on this one?

At 20 bid.

£20, we're all done. We're in the middle of the room,

-selling at £20.

-Sell it for 20, which is minus 15.

You had plus 13, you are now minus 2.

OK, now, here comes the gramophone.

The Gilbert Geisha Gramophone this time.

A nice wind-up one from the age of Jazz.

Who's going to start me at £30?

-Nobody into jazz? £30.

-It's lovely.

£30. 20 to go, surely?

20 bid with you.

22 way in the distance. 25, 28. 30.

At 32. 35?

35 bid, 38 now. At 38 on the internet.

Bid 40? That's a no in the room.

All finished and selling then on the internet at £38.

Two bidders on the internet and we'd be there.

Anyway, 38 is two short of 40, which is £82 down the drain.

Plus the two you were down before equals minus 84.

We have to think sticks, right.

-You going to go with the lot of six for £40?

-I like them.

I liked them. They were unusual.

-Let's beat the sticks, hey?

-Let's put our faith in Charles.

-OK.

-You've decided?

-Yes.

You're having a punt.

We're going to give it some stick and go with the sticks

and here they come.

Six in the lot, there's plenty to choose from.

Start me straight in at bottom estimate at £50.

50? 30?

£20 anybody?

£10. 10 is down there.

12 bid. 15?

18, 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 35, 40, 42,

45, 48, 50. 55, 60. At £60 bid.

-At 60, are we all done?

-Internet come in.

-65 surely?

One person has got a swagger,

it must be the expert! At £60.

Five anywhere else? I will take two.

62, and 65 on the net. At 65.

70 is the last call. Are you sure?

No, selling on the net then at £65.

-Well done.

-65. Well, that's plus £25.

That is better than a kick in the proverbial, isn't it?

That takes you down from 84 to 64

that takes you down to 59. Minus £59.

-It could have been worse.

-It could but it could have been so much better, couldn't it?

Anyway, such is life , baby.

The thing is, say nothing to the Blues.

Well, this is exciting, isn't it? Do you know how the Reds got on?

-No, they haven't told us.

-Very, very good.

-Very secretive.

-I don't want them to tell you.

OK. First up then is the little deer and the doe reclining,

Art Deco, and here it comes.

French Art Deco figure group,

standing and recumbent deer on an onyx base.

A great little lot there. Starting at £80? 50? £30?

Look at what we're selling here.

20 to go. It's venison at this price.

£20 bid. 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 35,

38, 40, 42, 45,

48, 50, 55, 60.

£60 bid. Five surely?

I'll take two if it's going to help either of you.

At 62, 65. 68 now? No. 65.

68 anywhere else?

Front has it then. Selling at £65.

£65 is plus £45, look at that!

£45 just like that.

-Now, stand by for the so-called brutalist clock.

-Oh, the clock.

A mantle clock, a very, very unique item.

Who's going to start me at £100?

What shall we say for this? £100. 80 to go then surely.

50 if we have to.

£50?

30? 30 is your bid.

I'll take five if you like.

Let's go slowly. 30 bid. Five now, surely.

Any more now? 35, 40, 45.

It ought to be over £100 for this. 45, 50, 55, 60.

There's an awful lot of clock there for £60.

Anybody else going to join in?

The whole world's seen it on the net,

do you have any bids from the world? No, so it's in the room then

and it's selling, then, you've all decided, at £60.

-No. £60, that's minus £80.

-I thought it was a good clock.

-It was a good clock.

-Minus 80.

There we go, Lot 140 is

the early 20th century slipper box.

Who's going to start me at £40?

Really nice embossing on this. 40?

30 to go then. £30.

£20.

Just think, when you get home with your pipe and slippers.

£20? £10?

Uh-oh!

Doesn't anybody use these any more?

£10?

£5? £5 bid. Six?

At £5, six on the internet,

thank goodness for the internet!

8 bid - the excitement continues.

All the action is over the world.

Somebody bidding on the internet!

We're at eight.

May I say nine? If it's going to help people out.

Nine bid.

Do I see 10? 10 on the internet.

11 surely? He says, let them have it.

Any more bids then? Selling at £10.

£10 equals minus £6, which means overall you're minus £41.

-Now, what about the snuffbox?

-We definitely love it.

-We love it.

The auctioneer loved it too cos he put 60-80 on.

You paid 65, Paul. He rates it as a bonus buy.

Let us hope that he is right.

George V Silver snuffbox by George Unite.

Who's going to start me at £50?

A low start. 50, and we'll count from there. At 50. 55 anywhere else?

£50 bid. At 55. A bidder hovering. £60 bid.

At £60. Five surely.

At £60 bid. Any more now? At 60. I'll offer it at 2.

Please.

At 60 are we all done? It takes all my commission bids out.

At 60. Done and finished at £60.

£60, Paul, is minus £5,

which means, overall, it is minus £46.

Minus £46.

Don't say a word to the Reds and all will be revealed in a moment.

Thank you very much.

-Well, what excitement today. You teams been chatting at all?

-No.

-Not about the score.

-Not a word.

It's no secret that neither team is walking home with a profit today.

So it's just a question of the scale of the losses today, I'm afraid.

It's barely close enough to count,

but the team with marginally more losses than the others are the Reds.

Oh!

And your minus score totals 59, OK?

-Right.

-Which is bad luck, isn't it?

-It is.

I mean, minus £82 on that wretched gramophone was a body blow

from which anybody would find it difficult to recover.

But Hanson came to the fore with his £25 bonus buy,

which was really kind on the old sticks, but it wasn't enough.

Anyway, minus £59.

Lovely mother and son team. You've been brave and great.

-Thank you and we've loved you.

-Thank you very much.

-It's been wonderful.

But the victors today, grandma and granddaughter

go away with no cash but the victory sign and minus £46.

So not a great score, I have to say,

but a score that is sufficient to keep you ahead.

-Yes.

-Was it good for you?

-It was great. Loads of fun, thanks.

I'm very, very pleased. And good for you, Paul.

And, as usual, a pleasure to see you on the show.

So, here we go. Join us soon for some more bargain-hunting. Yes?

ALL: Yes!