Kingston 15 Bargain Hunt

We are in Kingston upon Thames today,

just ten miles southwest of Charing Cross Station.

But there is something very funny going on in this town.

Either they've got a drunken telephone engineer,

or we're all going to find our phones are out of order,

or we're going to press Button B.

I don't know. But let's go bargain hunting, eh?

It's here at the Kingston Antiques Centre

that our teams are going to be let loose

with their £300 to find three items in an hour.

So let's have a sneaky beak at what's coming up.

The Reds realise there is only one direction that matters.

It's got a purpose, but is it pointing to a profit? I don't know.

And the Blues know exactly what they want.

Are we in the game...

-for fun? Or are we in the game to win it?

-To win it.

But who will be today's winner at auction?

AUCTIONEER MUMBLES

Come on!

Yes! You got it.

Let's meet the teams.

On Bargain Hunt today, we have a team of work colleagues -

Patty and Ben.

And a team of friends for the Blues - Lana and Charlotta.

-Hello, everyone.

-ALL: Hello, Tim!

-Hi, hi.

Now, listen, Patty, how long have you known Ben for?

-Ooh, about five years.

-Have you?

-Yes, he was a student before he worked with us.

-What do you do?

We are both radiographers.

-How long have you been doing this radiography?

-33 years.

-33 years?

-Yes.

-Were you one of the youngest radiographers when you got your job?

-Yes, of course.

-In the UK, or in the world maybe.

-What do you like to collect, Patty?

-At the moment, it's glasses.

-How many pairs have you got?

-Oh, about 300 or so.

-You haven't!

-I haven't counted them lately.

-Would you call yourself obsessed at all?

-Yeah, a bit.

-A bit?

-I've got to stop.

-Have you?

-Yes, of course.

Now, Ben, when you're not working as a radiographer,

what do you get up to?

All kinds... all sports, badminton, a bit of go-karting.

-I'm starting to get into triathlons.

-Are you?

I consider myself a bit of a triathlete.

And for the triathlon, you have to run a bit,

you have to swim a bit and you have to bike a bit, don't you?

-Swim, cycle, run.

-Yeah. How are you getting on with it?

Usually near the bottom.

-But I am trying hard.

-Well, there you go. And it's good fun, though?

-Yeah.

-It gets you out and about and keeps you out of mischief.

-Absolutely.

-What do you like to collect, Ben?

I'm not as an avid collector as Patty, but I like military things.

I've got a few model racing cars at home as well.

But they've got to be in mint condition.

-Mint?

-Oh, yes, in the box.

Well, that is a very good principle actually with those things.

Don't touch it if it isn't mint.

So what are you two going to be buying today between you two?

-We'd both like to get something scientific.

-Yeah.

-Cos of our background.

-Well, lovely, and very good luck.

Lovely to see you.

Now, Lana, how far back do you go with your future mother-in-law?

-12 years.

-And Lana calls you Mama?

Yeah. My children call me Mama.

So sweet. Lana, what do you do for a living, darling?

Currently deputy manager for a care home

supporting people with autism and learning disabilities.

Right.

Soon to be a behavioural specialist across the company.

-What do you do in that line of work?

-Well, you...

Take a person and if they've got some behavioural issues

or areas that might help improve their lives,

I would analyse the behaviours and then try to put

an intervention in place to make their lives better, really.

-Charlotta, you come from the Low Countries.

-Yes, I'm a Dutch girl.

-You're a Dutch girl?

-Yep.

-What do you do to keep yourself busy?

I'm a shopkeeper during the day.

-Yes.

-And as a hobby, I play poker.

-Do you?

-I am a poker player, yes.

-Have you got that deadpan face, then?

-OK, yes, yes.

-So you sit there with...

-Yeah!

You sit there with a flush and you don't get pink.

No, no, no.

-Charlotta, you're not a big gambler, are you?

-No, not really.

What do you mean "really"?

-A game costs £10.

-Only £10 a game?

-Yeah.

But you have got experience in the antiques business, haven't you?

-A bit, yes.

-What do you mean a bit?

-I used to have a table in Portobello Road.

-Well, there you are.

-She's a Portobello Road dealer. My gosh.

-I'm a market girl.

You are a market girl, so you know how to drive a hard bargain.

Absolutely.

What sort of things did you sell in your time at Portobello?

Silver.

Are you going to be going for silver today?

-I would love to buy some silver. Maybe some Dutch silver.

-Yes.

And you're going to guide Lana through the minefield

that is antiques?

-Yes.

-That's the one, yeah.

-Is that true?

And of course, you're going to have your expert.

Anyway, now the money moment. £300 a piece. There you go - £300.

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

And very, very good luck.

Mm... Poker player, eh?

Now, let's meet our experts.

Ever-patient Kate Bliss will be assisting the Reds.

And David Harper will be getting his teeth stuck

into finding bargains for the Blues.

Patty and Ben, you're going to love this antique centre.

Any ideas what you might be looking for?

-Something scientific? We're both in the...

-Practical.

-Yeah.

Practical stuff.

Ooh, I think this is going to sound a bit exotic.

-We've got Lana and Charlotta.

-Charlotta, perfect. Yes.

I say, very glamorous. What are we going to be looking for, Charlotta?

I would like a little bit of silver

and maybe a bit of jewellery with a little bit of glam.

-I want my furniture.

-Furniture? Hm.

-Yep. The bigger the better.

-Lana, do we do glam?

-We do do glam.

-Do we?

-Yeah.

-Do we do bling?

We do bling.

Right, teams, your 60 minutes starts now!

BELL DINGS

-Let's go for it!

-Let's go.

Let's go.

-Go on and hide me.

-It says no ducks allowed. Oh, dear.

-Test me. I love it.

-OK, how old is he?

-Oh!

Hang on a minute - why are you drawn to that?

Well, I have no men.

Well, he's only 85 quid, not bad for a man, is he?

Yeah, he's very cheap, very cheap, yeah.

Oh, I don't know. He looks ARMLESS to me.

-Quite elegant.

-It's very ladylike, isn't it?

-Yes, it's quite low.

-Yeah.

Low chair, low price maybe, Kate.

It might be a little nursing chair cos often they were very low.

It's not really for sitting on for any length of time,

so you've got to sort of take that into account

-when you're thinking about the price.

-Hm.

So at auction, I would probably put an estimate in the current

market of sort of £30-50.

Something like that, maybe a little bit less, even.

That's a retail price, that's a fair retail price,

but it's just about how commercial it might be at the auction.

Yeah. OK, well we will move on and see what else we have.

We can always come back to it. Let's keep going.

You can indeed, Reds. There is still plenty to see.

Meanwhile, the Blues are looking at a silver bar brooch

priced up at £18.

-Has it got a meaning at all, you think?

-Yeah, I think so.

Looks Victorian, doesn't it? It's very Victorian in its shape.

-Yeah.

-And is it silver?

-Well, it's got markings.

-OK, what do they say?

-It's got a little flower.

-If you look at it that way...

-OK.

-What is it now?

-It's an anchor.

-Right, and what does that mean, Charlotta?

-Birmingham.

Well done! Fantastic. What a dream team.

-OK, so date is...circa 1900s, so very late.

-Yeah.

-Oh, there you go, it says 1896.

-Shall we think about it?

-Let's think about it.

-Do you want to think? That's fine.

It's a good start.

On the back burner it goes. So, from one cabinet to another.

What have the Reds spotted now?

-What is that at the front there, Kate?

-I don't know.

-It might be compass, maybe.

-Is that a compass? Ben likes compasses.

Do you? Could we have a little look in here, please?

There's all sorts of things. We've got medals...

We've got what looks like a little Dinky Toy in the back there.

Lovely, thanks Matthew.

-So, let's have a little look.

-That one's got a case.

-Yes.

Does it work?

Do you know what date it would be?

-Well, it certainly looks like World War II to me.

-£125.

Is that commercial, do you think?

They are collectible.

It was probably a standard-issue one,

so I don't think it's particularly rare.

It got a purpose, but is it pointing to a profit?

125 is the price.

Why don't we leave it to Matthew to see what the best price would be.

That would be great.

Thank you very much.

So, as the Reds wait on a price,

David is trying to impress the Blues.

-It's a little ebony box.

-Yeah.

-So, it's a piece of tree.

-Yeah.

See the nice little thread there? All in wood. Beautifully turned.

Great colour. Then, on the top, we have it mounted in silver.

Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1919.

That is as immaculate as it was the day it was made.

It just needs a little bit of polish on there.

-Yeah, that's not a big deal.

-And engrave it.

I think that is a cracking little object.

What's it worth?

-15?

-But will they get it for that price?

The Reds are still waiting for prices on their items.

Here is Matthew.

I've spoken to the dealer.

-They are happy to do £80 on the compass for you.

-Right.

And the lady with the chair would do £50.

-Oh, that's great. All right, well, let's keep that in mind.

-All right.

-Lovely, thanks, Matthew.

-Very lovely. Thank you.

-Shall we go this way?

-Yes.

-Now, what can they get the ebony box for?

-Let's bring in the lovely Vera.

Yeah.

-Hi, Vera.

-Hello.

I think you know where this is going.

-Can that be eight pounds?

-No, but it could be 12.

Can it be ten?

-Go on, then.

-Are you happy at ten?

I think that's a very good deal that she did. A very good deal.

There is profit in that at ten. Vera, thank you very much indeed.

And with that, the Blues bought their first item. Well done.

I'm liking this chair, Kate. More than the previous chair we saw.

-Oh, really?

-It's more practical.

-Mm-hm.

-Also quite decorative.

It looks in reasonable condition.

-I prefer that as well to the other one.

-Do you?

Now, this is really interesting

because I think the earlier chair is very traditional, very Edwardian.

-This is '30s.

-Yeah.

Quite Art Deco in shape with that tall back.

This one is oak with what's known as a bergere back,

which is the word for that cane work.

I'm just going to jump in there and have a closer look.

So this is very '30s with that carved little piece here.

-It almost looks like a sunburst, kind of.

-Yes, it is. It's...

Let's lift the cushion up, cos this is important

what the bottom is like.

So, you've got a solid seat there which I'm pretty sure

has been replaced.

I think originally the seat would have been bergere as well,

quite possibly.

Now, the other thing to take into consideration is the cushion.

The thing about the cushion is you've got to be careful that

it's not foam-filled

because a lot of auction houses will not sell anything

that is foam-filled because it doesn't comply

with modern fire regulations.

They can't legally sell it.

The good news is about this one is

-you can feel that it's actually full of springs.

-Oh, great.

You haven't got foam in there.

So, that's good news.

Now, the question is - what somebody would pay for this.

-The ticket price is 58. Beech-framed they say.

-Beech?

-It does look like oak, doesn't it?

-It could well be beech.

-That looks like oak to me.

-I would bid on this chair.

I probably wouldn't bid, myself, on the previous chair.

We probably need to go and get Matthew, then.

Whilst the Reds consider the bergere chair,

the Blues are also honing in on yet more four-legged items.

Wow.

-What do you think of those chairs?

-I think they're lovely.

-Nice.

They're really nice.

I like the left one very much because it is a clear one.

-The other one looks slightly greyish.

-OK.

A real design icon, I think, that chair, isn't it?

It's the Ghost Chair designed by Philippe Starck.

So it's quite a well-known brand, well-known name,

-well-known designer.

-What sort of period are we?

Oh, gosh, very modern.

-I mean, late...

-'50s, '60s, '70s?

No, no, no, absolutely late 20th century.

-Oh, right.

-Yeah, but absolutely cool.

I would love to go for that if you are in agreement.

So at least if it collapses we don't to actually get hurt.

Yeah, then we go home quickly and leave her alone here. Yeah.

-Yeah.

-How does that feel?

-Game of chess, anyone?

HE CHUCKLES

-Does that feel good?

-Feels good.

-Very good. OK.

So, pick it up, have a look on the underside,

make sure there is no damage or repairs.

-And this should be a mark there, Lana, as well. Turn it around.

-Ugh.

-That's it.

-What do I do?

-And on the back of the chair... Just here.

There we are. Isn't that just lovely?

-Yeah, a few scratches. It looks a bit dirty, but nice.

-Come on, then.

-Let's have a team discussion.

-Yeah.

-OK, time is really...

-I've got a price in my mind.

-OK.

-What is that? What is the price?

-35, £40.

-Stay there.

-Yeah.

-Talk about it. I'll have a word with somebody.

Thank you so much.

So whilst David heads off to negotiate

on the asking price of £65, it's back to the Reds.

But they haven't moved.

What do you think of this table?

I like it. It's nicely turned and everything.

But, again, it it's dark, dark wood, isn't it?

It's for a certain kind of household which doesn't exist anymore.

Well, Victorian pieces have gone down in price.

Generally speaking, that's true. But it's a lovely decorative piece.

It's quite sought after by an interior designer

who might be looking for something a bit more interesting.

It's all in quite good order and it's not too bad on price.

-It's OK on the price, isn't it?

-Have a little look, Patty.

-What does it say?

-It's 135.

Now, I wouldn't want to pay 135.

At auction, it might make anything from £70-100.

So what do you think of the two? What you think maximum for the two? 150?

You think that would be...?

I think we need to talk to Matt. See what he can do for us. Matthew!

And is if by magic, Matthew appears.

Oh, hi, there. Thanks ever so much.

Matthew, we really like this chair. You've got it priced at 58.

We were wondering what the best would be on that.

But also, if we took the games table as well, what you could do.

OK.

So the Reds are awaiting some furniture prices.

What about the Blues and their furniture?

Right, OK, situation is that in an antiques centre,

-so they're not all here, the dealers.

-OK.

They are making a call to see what the best price is.

-While the phone call is being made, we need to look and scout.

-OK.

So, turn around, there is a cabinet.

Look and scout in that cabinet.

With both teams waiting on price news, I'm in a reflective mood.

The peculiar thing about this business is that when you get up in

the morning, you have no idea what you might find that particular day.

Well, today, I found these two.

On the face of it, they're incredibly spangley, aren't they?

That's because they are both made of solid silver.

This silver has been nicely cleaned.

When I first saw them, I thought, "What a lovely pair of frames."

But if I put them side-by-side,

the one on this side has got a beaded curved pediment to it.

And the one on this one has got what is called

a swan-neck pediment to it.

The swan neck flanks the mask of an angel,

and then running down the sides of the frame, there are two niches -

each in the form of an oval shell containing a couple of saints.

If we look at the other frame, you can see it follows the same theme.

The difference in the pediment that I pointed out,

and then we have a saint - probably St Peter -

standing in the middle with a couple of draped columns

either side of him.

Here, the sides are entirely made up of beading and foliage.

Most silver is marked, and indeed these pieces are marked.

Over here, we've got

a very badly struck mark which seems to be a monarch's mug shot.

Over here, there's an oddball mark that has two Xs

and another device next to it.

Frankly, to decipher these marks is quite beyond me.

But I know that the quality of the manufacture in these two

silver frames is very high.

You have to form the figures of the saints,

you have to give the silver this very rich texture,

and you do that by hitting a small blunt instrument

against these in between services, which is called matting,

and you do that not once, not twice,

but several hundred thousand times

over the surface of the entire piece,

which gives it this textured look.

So, when were they made?

And where were they made?

Well, my best guess would be that these frames weren't made

in Europe at all.

I think they were made by a colonial silversmith in one

of the Spanish or Portuguese territories in South America.

In the 17th century,

the Spanish were removing vast amounts of silver in South America.

And, it's quite likely that these two frames were made there

at that time and then brought back to Europe.

There is a risk factor involved in acquiring silver of this type -

if you are wrong and it's a late 19th-century reproduction

and it was simply churned out in some quantity in Holland, say,

the value of these two frames might only be as much as £300 or £400.

If you are right, though, and they were made in Columbia, or Peru,

or Brazil in the 17th, early 18th century, you would have

a pair of frames that could be worth as much as £1,500 to £2,000.

What was the asking price? £380 for the two.

Do you fancy a punt? I think yes, don't you?

Back to the shopping, and with just the one purchase made

so far by the Blues, both teams are still waiting for prices.

Here we are, here we are. Get ready. Brace yourselves.

-They will do 35 on the chair.

-35?

-I think that's fantastic.

-Thank you very much. Yes.

-Happy?

-Yes, very happy.

-Lovely.

-Tell them it's sold.

-Thank you so much.

-Brilliant.

Thank you for doing that.

Well done, Blues. That's your second purchase made.

Wasting no time, the Reds have moved up a floor as news on the chair

and table finally arrives.

-Great, now you are in charge of upstairs, aren't you?

-Yeah.

First of all, any news from Matthew?

We asked him about a couple of prices.

That's right, now he's gone down to 65 on the table, 45 on the chair.

The table was priced at 135, so that's a fantastic discount.

Yeah, very generous.

The chair was priced at 58, so that's come down to 45.

So, altogether we are looking at, what, 110 for the two items.

-Go for it, definitely.

-What do you think, Patty?

-Definitely!

-Definitely.

-I'm sold. I'm sold.

-Good.

-Let's do it.

That's a pretty firm "Yes, please," I think.

But we still need a third item and time is ticking, literally in here.

We have about 15 minutes which isn't long.

Could we also have a look

-at the telescope?

-CLOCKS CHIME

Gosh, all the clocks are working in here, aren't they?

-They've all struck at the same hour.

-Let's have a look at it.

Lovely, thank you very much. Thank you, Marion.

So, let's leave the Reds looking at the telescope.

Meanwhile, the Blues have found yet more furniture.

-OK, tell us why you like that.

-I don't know. I just like the style.

But then, I guess it's quite particular.

Someone is going to have to like it in auction, aren't they?

Yeah, but you know, it is very much the market, isn't it?

It's 1950s, looks like a melamine kind of top.

I think it probably is.

-Oh, look it's a cocktail cabinet!

-Nice, that's why I like it.

Is it going to make money, though? That's the thing.

I don't think it is. I like it, but...

I think it's 100-150 in auction.

-However, I'd like to see it in a 20th-century sale.

-Forget it.

Keep it in mind because time is running out.

If we went out of time, we're going to have to dash an offer of 150

and try to get it.

-Exactly. Good thinking.

-Come on, then, but well spotted.

So, the Blues are leaving the sideboard to one side

and are the Reds still focused on the telescope?

-What do we have here? World War II telescope.

-£85.

-Canadian.

It's probably three draw, so it pulls out like so.

-And it pulls out here.

-Oh.

SHE GASPS Wow.

Now, this would be... Oh, look, now this is the good bit.

Look. We've got Telescope Signalling REL Canada.

-I mean, that has to be...

-1942.

-I like it.

I think 85 is a bit too much.

I'm thinking, really, it could be £20-30 at auction.

We've only got one more to buy. Oh, here is Marion.

Hi, Marion. What news? Come on in.

Well, I spoke in to the dealer and we can go down to 70.

Very fairly priced for your antiques centre,

but we've got to put them into an auction.

Well, what about 65 on that. Will that help?

Do you know what I think, you two? I think we've got about ten minutes.

We've got two items.

I think we should have another very quick look around here

-and we can always come back to these.

-Yep.

-Is that all right, Marion?

-Yeah, that'll be fine.

-I'll put it back.

-Thank you very much.

This way, guys. On the double.

So, the telescope is put on one side,

but what have the Blues spotted now?

-This.

-Oh, do you like that? OK. What is it?

-A box.

-A box, yeah.

-Sounds good to me, yes.

Good colour, isn't it? Good colour.

-Oh, look, those metal things with... how you call...hinges.

-Hinges.

Let's have a look at that. Let's have a look at this then, Charlotta.

-Yeah.

-So it's a little Victorian box.

Could have been a tool box, storage box.

So it's almost like an industrial-quality thing, isn't it?

-Yeah, and lots and lots of handles.

-Handles. Let's have a look.

-Well, look at that.

-Gosh, yes.

This theme was made cheaply, but made to last for a very long time.

-Yeah.

-And it has.

-So, well constructed, good colour. Time is running out.

-Nice article.

-Would you use that as a coffee table?

-Yes. Nice.

-Very nice.

-OK, you two stay here. I'll go and get a price.

-OK, great.

-Thank you.

Look, there's a Sputnik lamp. I was born the day Sputnik went up.

-SHE LAUGHS

-Were you?

-Yes.

So what date... When was that, Patty?

Oh, well, actually it was the 4th of October, '57.

325, Patty, is on that, a little bit out of our reach.

Yeah, I think it is.

That Sputnik type thing though over there.

But, again, everything is too expensive.

Right, you two. OK, here we go, right?

-Two prices.

-Yeah.

-The French sideboard 245.

-Right.

Yeah, from 275.

The pine box - 55 is the very best price.

Ah, we were thinking 40, 45.

It's not going to happen. It's 55 or nothing. Where are we?

What have we got in reserve? The two pieces.

Yeah. Well, our choice...

We saw the brooch first, but are we in the game

for fun or are we in the game to win it?

-To win it.

-Then we go for the brooch.

But we don't know how much the brooch is.

Hang on, we've got one minute.

-Shall I get a price on it? Stay there.

-Yes, please.

-Thank you.

Guys, we have got literally a minute left.

We've got to make a decision.

I like the telescope but you say it's too expensive,

so shall we try again?

I think we need Marion and I think we need to talk price.

-Absolutely.

-See if we can do any better.

-OK.

-Marion, are you about?

-Yes.

Great, Marion, come on in.

We all really tight for time and we're struggling rather.

We do like the telescope

but I think it's a wee bit too expensive for us.

Can we do anything else at all?

Well, we've gone to 65. Let's do another five - 60.

-OK.

-All right?

Could you do 55 just for us?

-It's pushing it but I'll do it. REDS:

-Thank you.

-55, happy?

-Yes.

Wonderful. Marion, thank you so much.

-BOTH:

-Thank you.

-Basically, we're scuppered.

-Yeah.

-Right?

-We have to buy something in the next 15 seconds.

-Yeah.

-OK.

-You can buy the brooch for ten pounds.

-Right.

You can buy the French cabinet for 245 or the pine box for 55.

What are we doing?

-The brooch.

-The brooch.

-The brooch.

-HE WHISTLES

-Hallelujah.

-Nice.

BELL RINGS

Wow, that was tight because those 60 minutes are up.

Let's check out what the Red Team bought, eh?

A 1930s framed nursing chair with bergere back was £45.

They're gambling £65 on this early 20th-century mahogany

inlaid games table.

And finally, they spotted the Second World War

brass telescope, which cost them £55.

-So, was that great or was it great?

-Yeah, great.

-Very exciting.

It was great. Now tell me, how much did you spend?

-£165.

-£165 is mature.

-£135 of leftover lolly.

-Yes.

-Who's got that?

-I have.

-Have you? Well done.

-There you go.

-Very good, lovely.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-My favourite piece is the chair.

-What about you, Ben?

-Uh, probably the telescope.

Telescope's a favourite. Is that going to bring the biggest profit?

Um... I don't think so.

-No.

-I think...

-You don't see a profit through that?

Well, no, I do, but not the biggest profit.

The biggest profit, fair enough.

What is going to bring the biggest profit?

-I think the chair.

-Do you?

-I think the chair.

-You think the chair?

-Yes.

-OK, fine.

Well, we'll find out in a minute.

-Kate Bliss, here's a nice lump of money for you, darling.

-It is.

-Look at that.

-And what are you going to do?

I might go slightly down at the rustic route.

Anyway, super-duper. Why don't we, right now, though,

check out what the Blue Team bought, eh?

A silver-mounted dressing table container was ten pounds.

A Philippe Starck Louis Ghost chair cost a clear £35.

And, finally, they're pinning their hopes on this silver bar brooch

for ten pounds.

-Well, that was fun, girls, wasn't it?

-Yes indeed.

Cor, Charlotta, you don't half know your silver.

I love it, yes. I really like it. Yes.

Excellent. Which is your favourite piece?

-I think, out of the pieces, we bought a chair.

-Yes.

It is a Perspex...

Yeah.

Perspex chair, I love that.

-You like that? It's your favourite?

-Yes, yes.

-Do you agree with that?

-Yeah, I'd agree with that.

-It's nice.

-Which is going to bring the biggest profit?

-Maybe the brooch.

-Maybe the brooch.

-Do you agree with that.

-Yes, maybe the brooch.

Because we went on the cheap today.

-Did you?

-Yeah. For the cheap, yeah.

OK, well, how much did you spend in total?

Uh, we've spent 55.

On all three pieces?

-Yeah.

-Very good, isn't it?

-This is a joke, isn't it?

Did you really? £55?

Yes, we went for the win, you see.

OK. You've gone for the jugular, I'd say.

-THEY LAUGH

-OK. 55 is £245.

I don't think I've ever had so much left over.

-Like £245.

-I know.

-You're girls. I thought you'd go out there.

-It's terrible.

-Big spenders, yeah.

-Big spenders, but not at all.

Well, here we go. Our only hope for a clean sweep is David Harper.

Big hope, oh, my gosh, but they're in it to win it,

as they have said, and I think this is part of their tactic.

-Yeah, well, fair enough.

-It's all based on price with you two,

-wasn't it?

-Yeah, indeed.

-It was, yeah.

I'm going to try and buy something different.

Yeah, and spend a lot on it cos you've got a lot to spend.

-THEY LAUGH

-Anyway, good fun with that.

Meanwhile, we're all going to trot off brievement to the auction.

Well, we've trotted to Bedford to be at Peacock's auctioneers

to be with Lindsay Vintiner.

-Lindsay, how lovely to see you.

-And you.

You're going to need all your strength today, my girl,

because look at this furniture.

First off, you've got this so-called bergere armchair.

We have indeed, yes.

How difficult is this going to be to sell?

Incredibly difficult, I'm afraid, Tim.

It's quite a nice shape, isn't it,

but the caning needs some work doing to it.

-Will you get £20, do you think?

-I hope so.

-Yeah.

-But not much more.

It's a toss up, really, whether you get ten, 20 or 30, isn't it?

It is indeed.

-Yeah. OK, fine. Well, they paid £45 and it's just too much.

-It is.

And then they've gone on, look, with the games table.

Falls into the same category, doesn't it?

The brown furniture category sadly.

-What's your estimate?

-It's useful. It's a nice size. 20-30.

£20-£30, OK. £65 paid.

And then we move to this telescope, which is at least old.

It is, yes. Anything of military interest is a good seller

-at the moment.

-Yeah.

-I think we could do quite well with this.

-How much?

-40-60.

-I think you're in focus there.

£55 they paid.

And I can see it making that.

So that's their only ray of sunshine.

The rest of it, I think, is going to be a disaster

and they'll need their bonus buy.

So let's go and have a look at it.

Wow, this is a big one, as they say. Ha!

£135 of leftover lolly you gave Kate.

-What did you spend it on, Kate?

-Well...

I know you wanted some furniture.

Cor, this seems familiar.

Now, remember the Blues were also offered this trunk at £55.

Open it up. It's made of pine

and in pretty original order, I would say.

-How old do you think it is?

-Early 20th century, I would say.

If you look at the hinges and the handles, those have certainly

-got a bit of age.

-How much did you pay?

-You're straight in there, aren't you?

-Well...

On the money.

I paid 55.

Oh.

Now, the reason I bought this is it may look pretty rustic

and distressed, and a bit of a tatty old box,

-but these things are commercial because...

-And it's got a flat top.

It has got a flat top, exactly, so you can store it easily,

shove it under a bed.

It's got a nice sort of shabby chic look about it,

which is commercial these days, and £55 I don't think is too bad.

Will it make any money?

Well, your guess is probably as good as mine on this one, Ben.

I can see it making a little bit on the right day, yes.

So, Patty, do you like it or not?

-Iffy.

-Iffy.

-Iffy.

If you don't see it making a profit and you want to reject it,

then you can do so, but not right now, OK?

-No, open mind.

-Have a think about it, let's see how you get on, but

for the audience at home,

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

Well, there we go, another clapped out old box, look.

I don't think it's beautiful enough to be a toy box

at the end of the nipper's bed, do you?

-No, it is a bit mean, really, isn't it? I suppose.

-Isn't it?

I mean, I don't know. It's come out of a shed.

I just wonder whether, once upon a time,

it wasn't military, that it didn't have shells in it,

or something in it.

It has a sort of wartime feel to it.

Yeah, it would be nice to make that connection, I suppose.

-Yeah, OK. What's your estimate?

-Ten to 20.

£55 paid.

So we'll have to hope that the team don't go with the bonus buy,

which they almost certainly are going to be desperately needing.

That's it for the Reds.

Now for the Blues, which looks a bit lonely over there.

What you've got is the ebony dressing table box,

which came out of a huge set.

It would have done, yes.

It is silver mounted at least.

-Anyway, will it make ten pounds?

-I hope so.

-Ten to 15.

-It should do, shouldn't it?

-Yeah.

-They only paid ten pounds, so that's all right.

-Good.

-And then you've got the Kartell plastic chair.

-Do you like that?

-I like it, yes.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

It's iconic in its way.

-You see them in hotels, restaurants.

-So, what's it worth?

-60-100.

Well, they'll be well pleased with that. £35 paid.

-That's absolutely brilliant...

-Good.

-..Lindsay, thank you.

And, lastly, we've got this very ordinary little bar brooch.

-What's the estimate on the brooch then?

-10-20.

Ten to 20, and they paid ten pounds. Perfect.

On that happy note, they're not going to need the bonus buy

but let's go and have a look at it anyway.

Well, girls.

You spent £55, that's all.

Good Lord.

£245 of leftover lolly went to David Harper.

What did you buy, David?

OK, something completely and altogether different.

Oh, that's nice.

-Isn't that lovely?

-That's cute.

A boxed Hornby train set, tin plate.

-Especially for the girls.

-Especially for the girls.

Girls and boys both enjoy toys, Tim.

-Oh, yes, that's right.

-So there we are.

-Particularly train sets.

-Yeah, particularly.

-With the instructions...

-Nice.

1950s, 1960s, all there, complete, which is why I've bought it.

It's remarkable for any toy made for a child

to still be in original condition with all its bits and pieces

and its box.

And very often the boxes are worth more money than the objects

they once housed because they were always destroyed,

so there we have it, it's complete.

How much did you pay for it?

Ah, here we go. Straight down to the money.

OK.

We spent £55 on all of our objects.

I spent exactly the same amount of money.

55 on this one piece.

-Do you think it's going to make a profit?

-I think it will, yeah.

-How much do you reckon?

-Well, I think 50-70, 70-90.

It's got to be that.

And it's all complete. And that is the point, isn't it, really?

-OK, fine, girls, you've gripped that.

-Yes, thank you.

-Very good.

OK, well, right now let's find out

whether the auctioneer rates David's train set.

Lovely, Lindsay, another little challenge

for you to unpack, darling.

-Thank you very much.

-Hmm.

Imagine it's Christmas Day in 1958 and you unwrap this lot,

and there inside, complete with the instructions,

-your Christmas present.

-Indeed.

-Look, it's all...

-It's all absolutely...

-In good condition.

-Super.

Pair of Pullman coaches as well.

-Yeah, look at that, cor.

-Yeah, a lot going for it, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

-Clockwork of course.

O Gauge, tin plate and all of that. OK, how much, then?

-30-40.

-OK, £55 paid by David Harper.

So there you have it.

Maybe they'll go with it, maybe they won't.

That's the excitement of the auction.

On commission now at 320. Up £320.

Bids on the book for these now at £320.

322 online now. 324 at the back.

Here now at 324.

At £324 now back of the room.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Are you feeling nervous, you two?

-Excited.

-Are you?

-Really excited.

-You've got a sweepstake at work, have you?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-You have, oh.

-Yes.

-So there's an edge to this for you.

-There is, yes.

-Yes.

-A lot is riding on this.

-OK, fine.

Anyway, first up is your nursing chair, the old bergere chair,

and here it comes.

Armchair there. Deco type there. £30 for this chair. 30.

£20 the chair, then.

Anyone interested in the chair?

-Ten anyone?

-Come on.

-Come on.

-Don't be shy. Ten, lady's bid. Thank you. Now at ten.

-At ten pounds.

-HE MOUTHS

Now the cane chair now at ten.

12 anywhere else?

At ten pounds. Now you can't say I'm not trying. At ten pounds now.

At just ten pounds only.

TIM MOCK CRIES Unbelievable.

-Patty, I knew we should have won.

-Minus £35. OK.

-Patty.

-Stand by for the table.

-Come on.

Victorian games table there.

Nicely inlaid this. Up for £20.

Start before it, then.

20. Ten. Tenner again.

Ten, lady's bid. Thank you.

Now at 10. At ten pounds now.

We've got 12 online. 12.

14. 16.

18. At £18 now it's lady's bid. 20.

20 online. 22. At £22.

Now it's the lady's bid.

24. 24 online now. 24.

26. 28. It's going to Belgium at the moment.

At £28 now. 28 bid's online.

-You're out in the room. For just £28.

-One more, one more.

-Nothing.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Cheap enough, isn't it? 28.

That's two off 30.

-35. That's -37.

-OK, telescope.

£50 the telescope.

Must be 30. 30 the scope.

I've got £30 bid online. Now at 30.

-Come on, gain your focus.

-Up for £30 now.

Bid's online now at 30.

-32. 34. 36. 38.

-Come on. Get it. Keep going. Keep going.

-Flat out. Come on.

-38. 40. At £40. 45.

-Out at 45, the telescope now selling then. At just £45.

-Come on.

-GAVEL BANGS Oh!

-How disappointing.

That's minus ten pounds.

You were -72, you're now -82.

-What about the box?

-What are you going to do?

-Are you going to go with the box?

-Yeah, we're going to go.

Do you want to open the box or not?

-We think it's going to bomb, but we're going with it.

-Are you?

-You're absolutely certain you want to go with this box?

-Yes.

-Come hell or high water?

-Splinters and all.

-OK.

Yeah, we're going with the box.

OK, we're going with the box, there's no deflecting.

-And here it comes!

-Here we go, £20, are we?

-20. 20, lady's bid straight in.

-Yes.

Thank you, she's keen. At £20 now. 22 online now.

-At 22.

-Come on.

-24.

At £24 now, it's the lady's bid now at 24.

26. New bidder here now. 28.

Look at this, Kate.

-Well, a little way to go.

-At 30, 32. £32 now. 32.

-Come on.

-Are you sure, madam? It's behind you at just £32.

-GAVEL BANGS

-£32. That is £23 down,

which means you are -£105.

-OK. £105 might be a winning score.

-It could be.

-So, don't say a word to the Blues, all right?

-No.

Lana, Charlotta, do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-No.

-No, you don't want to know.

-OK.

-Moving on. You've got that little ebony table box.

-Yes.

Which is very clever to buy for ten pounds. You found it, David,

-I think.

-David did.

-Ten to £15 is their estimate on that.

-That sounds good.

-It came out of a great big set, but so what?

Ten pounds for this, then. Must be ten.

Fiver. I've got ten pounds bid online. Straight in now at ten.

-That's more like it.

-12 in the room here now, at 12. At £12 now.

In the room bid now at 12.

-At 12 now. 14. At 14 now. 16.

-Good, good.

16 in the room now. At 16.

-18. At £18. 20 I have now. 20. 22.

-Yes, come on.

24. Now at 24.

At £24 now, it's the lady's bid now.

You're done online. It's the lady's bid now.

-At £24.

-Good result.

GAVEL BANGS

-Very good result. That's £14. I'm liking it.

-Yeah, so am I.

Now, Philippe Starck.

I've got here just £40 start. It's non-commission now. At 40.

And £40 now. At 40.

45. 50. At £50.

On commission here now at 50.

At £50 now.

-Hey, come on. We're on a roll here.

-That's good.

In the room here now at 55. At £55 now the commission's up.

Look at this, gosh. You're going to get above it all two lots.

-Nice.

-£55.

-Come on.

-GAVEL BANGS

-£55 is plus £20.

-20, OK.

Thank you very much.

That's £34 you are up there.

Now, your bar brooch for ten pounds.

Sweet little brooch this. Ten pounds for it, then.

Five to get on, then.

Bar brooch. Who's a fiver?

Five is bid at that. Thank you, sir.

At five pounds only now.

-Come on.

-At five now. Is there six anywhere else?

At five. Six online here now.

-Six. Eight. Ten. At ten pounds now.

-Come on.

-Ten.

-12 to my left here now.

-Yes!

At £12 now. 12.

Got 16 online now. At 16. Are you 18, sir?

At £16 now. 16. The bid's online, then.

Are you all done? At £16.

18 the lady's bid now. At 18. New bidder here now at 18.

(Golden gavel roll around.)

Lady's now. Are you done online? In the room at £18.

-GAVEL BANGS

-18 is plus eight,

which means you are... Eight and four is 12.

Plus 42.

Plus £42.

Yes! Thank you.

You have £42 to go home.

You have a profit on every item, which is really swell.

Now, what are you going to do about this bonus buy lark?

Are you going to preserve your £42 and park the train set

or if you love the train set and you really rate it

and you're prepared to take a hit

if it doesn't get the price? Then that's your punt, girls.

What are you feeling?

How much is it? He said £40?

-55.

-55.

-55 he paid.

-We stick.

-Yeah, we're staying where we are.

-OK, fair enough.

We're going to sell the bonus buy

even though you're not going with it, so here it comes.

Nice set this. £50. Start me for the set, then.

£50.

30 to get on, then.

Who's 30 in the room?

20 anyone, then?

20 bid, thank you, sir. At 20. At £20 now. At 20. 22.

At 22. 24, sir.

-24. 26. 28. At £28 now.

-Come on.

It's a room bid now at 28. Need. 30 online.

At £28 now. 30. Right at the room here now at 30.

At 30. 32.

£32 now, bid's to my right. 34.

At £34 now. The bid's at the back of the room now at 34.

Not do this. It's the gentleman's bid. At £34.

-Ahh.

-Oh, well.

-GAVEL BANGS

-£34.

-Good decision, yeah.

-Well done. Well done.

-It is -21.

I have to tell you, that is... Yeah, you're right.

So you're OK, girls.

Now listen, don't go getting big headed about this, all right?

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

-all right?

-OK.

-Well done.

Well, what a jolly programme we have had today.

-It has been so jolly-jolly, hasn't it?

-Jolly-jolly.

-Has it been jolly-jolly?

-Jolly-jolly-jolly.

Well, there we go. I think it's been so fabulous.

I'm so disappointed we have to have a runner-up.

The runner-up today, by a huge margin,

just happens to be the Reds.

-BOTH: Oh!

-Never.

You lost on every single mortal thing, as you well know.

-We lost well, didn't we?

-Yeah, you did.

£105 down the proverbial is quite a deep pit to fall into, isn't it?

-It is.

-Anyway, there we are.

You've got a sweepstake going on back at the works, right,

with all the consultants and the nurses and everybody else.

We have every sympathy for every one of you who predicted a profit

because it ain't worked out that way.

-But we've had great fun, yes?

-Oh, yes.

-Yes.

We've loved having you on the show and you had a good time.

-Loved it.

-That's the main thing. The victors today

go home with £42, how about that?

-Whoo-hoo!

-Hey!

THEY LAUGH

What are you like, eh?

-Are you taking the mickey or something?

-Never.

Just cooling yourself down.

-Tim, you...

-That is so fun, isn't it?

And it was a perfectly normal bow tie earlier.

Yeah, and then we won.

-Yeah. Thank you so much.

-That is fantastic. Isn't that pretty?

OK, here's your £40.

OK. There we go. There's 42.

-Happy?

-Very happy.

-Very, very happy.

Now, you made £14 on the dressing table pot.

Very good find, David.

The Starck chair made you £20 and eight pounds on the bar brooch

means that you have entitled yourselves to enter the ancient

-and noble...

-Yes!

-..order of the Golden Gavellers.

THEY CHEER

-Now, your bow tie has wound down, I'm glad to see.

-It has.

It's got tangled up in your hair actually.

There we go.

-And one for your collection, David.

-Thank you very much.

Very, very nice, which is a great moment for us

cos to make a profit on every single item is a rare occurrence.

-Yes.

-And it was even enhanced by the fact that

-you didn't go with the bonus buy.

-No, we didn't.

-Sorry.

-Which was a pretty clever thing, actually.

Thank you very much for joining us.

-Thank you.

-We have had a great day.

Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!