Stafford 11 Bargain Hunt

Stafford is blessed with ancient architecture and tales to tell.

King Charles I used this magnificent Tudor house

during the English Civil War to plan, plot and rest his noggin.

Of course, he finished up by losing not only the war but also his head.

Let's hope that today's teams manage to keep theirs.

Let's rally the troops. TRUMPET PLAYS

And let's go Bargain Hunting, yeah!

Today we are at the Stafford Antiques Fair.

I tell you, our teams are going to have a struggle today to

get around this lot in an hour.

So many people. Anyway, let's take a peek as to what's coming up.

The Reds hunt for gadgets from yesteryear.

That is a little contraption, isn't it? It's perfect.

The Blues search for bygone bargains.

No sartorial elegance.

And there are surprises all round at the auction.

I can't believe this.

Go on!

But before all that, let's meet the teams.

On today's show, sporting red,

we have an engaged couple, Matt and Nicki.

And on my left, on the Blues, a pair of chums. Steve and Russ.

-Hello, everyone. ALL:

-Hello.

Thank you very much for dressing up for the occasion.

Now, I can't ignore your extraordinary getup.

Particularly in the hat department. What's all this about, Matt?

Well, Tim, we are part of the British Steampunk Society,

a community of people interested in Victorian-inspired science fiction.

So your role in your partnership in steampunk is what?

I make a lot of the contraptions and the equipment, things like that.

-Nicki makes a lot of the dresses.

-So she is the costumier

And you are the props department?

-Yes.

-Do you live in a Victorian house?

Yes, we've got a Victorian terrace in Gloucester and we've managed

to put back into it all the things that were taken out in the 1970s.

-Lovely.

-And restore it to some of its grandeur. But with a little twist.

What's the twist?

-Well, we are steampunks.

-THEY LAUGH

-Brilliant. Now, Nicki, you are about to get married.

-We are.

Are you going to have a special celebration?

Yes, we thought we would do a steam punk wedding. We thought we had to.

Where is it going to be?

We'd like it around Gloucester Docks because they are Victorian.

It's near to home. So that would be great.

But we are still trying to source a venue that suits what we want.

And, Matt, how do you feel about today's competition?

Are you going to be good at it?

I think the other team don't stand a chance.

LAUGHTER

-Anyway, good luck.

-Thank you.

-Very, very good fun. So, Steven.

-Tim.

You look as if you're familiar with the bow tie.

You are not just taking the mickey, are you?

No, we can only try to compete with your sartorial elegance, Tim.

Right. So you're fond of all the gentlemen's gear, are you?

Yes, I just like a type of gentlemen's attire from a more

-civilised time.

-Mm-hmm.

And will you be buying things that relate to this on Bargain Hunt today?

-Yes, we both like cocktail parties from the 1920s.

-Oh, right.

-Bit of Art Deco perhaps?

-Yes, absolutely.

But the other thing you like is to do a bit of foraging, don't you?

-Absolutely, yes.

-Tell us about that.

-I like to forage for fruits, sloe gin is my speciality.

-Oh, yes.

That I enter into one of the local fairs.

-It's been voted Best In Show for the last three years.

-Good stuff.

Now, Russ, you are in training for an incredibly important

international sporting event right now.

Yes, Steve and I are undergoing some very high-carbohydrate diet

and we are doing some high-altitude training.

And next month we'll be taking part in the

Pooh Sticks World Championships.

I love it, don't you? Now, tell us about pooh sticks

for those who don't know about pooh sticks.

It's a very in-depth technique of dropping

a stick off of a bridge, running to the other side of the bridge

and seeing whose stick comes out first.

-Right.

-We are obviously all out to win. To be the world champions.

But we have a horrible feeling that we could be

beaten by a five year old in the first round.

-We'll give it our best try.

-It could happen, couldn't it?

So, you are used to all these high octane competitions.

What about Bargain Hunt? You know what the form is?

We know all the tricks.

Do you? Oh, well. Here we go. A couple of experts.

Now, the money moment. £300 apiece. There is your £300.

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

And very, very, very good luck.

I feel a bit of a punk here.

Huh! Who are guiding our Bargain Hunters today?

He's hoping to strike a chord with the Reds. It's...

She'll keep cool under pressure.

Kate Bliss teamed up with the Blues.

So, you steampunks. Exactly what are you looking for today?

I'm looking for some silver, delicate silver items.

-I can see you are well prepared there.

-Absolutely, yes.

Looking good. So what are you going to be looking for?

Cocktail-making stuff. Twizzle sticks. That type of thing.

Something unusual. Interesting. Quirky.

Or little contraptions, something like that.

I hope you're interested in snuff boxes,

hip flasks and maybe some silver picture frames.

OK, teams, your time starts now.

KLAXON BLOWS

Let's go shopping.

-We better get started.

-Absolutely. Hurrah!

Let's get to it. We've got some silver on this one.

Do you want to have a look here?

-Yes, sounds good.

-Yeah? Let's have a little look.

You said hip flasks. There is a hip flask straightaway.

It might be quite expensive, that's the only thing.

Is that a silver one or plated?

-It's all silver.

-It's all silver? Can we have a little look at that?

Of course you can.

That would be perfect for your sloe gin, Blues.

Lovely, thank you very much.

This is quite nice and plain. It's quite slim, isn't it?

-It is.

-It would fit in the pocket really nicely.

-Curved?

Yeah, that's so it will fit in really neatly.

Against your body. Have we got a hallmark?

-You've got your...?

-I have. Let's have a little look.

-Yeah, I think its '30s, isn't it?

-1943.

It was made during the war because people bought

silver during the war as a form of currency if it went the wrong way.

-365, though, guys.

-Right, you would have to come down.

What would be the best on that?

The very best, to give you a chance...

200.

What would that sell for, Kate, do you think?

I would probably say anything from 80 to 150.

I think we'll give it back to the gentleman. Have a think.

We can always come back.

Trust your experts, teams. They've got eagle eyes.

-What have you spotted?

-That.

-What is it?

-Well, I don't know.

That's why I looked at it. Oh.

Dymo-Mite Tapewriter.

You know all those little bits of tape where you print

out your name or...

-A label creator.

-Stick them on...

-Little badges and things like that.

It's a nicely made, isn't it?

But it's not got a great deal of age to it, has it?

I don't know whether it's any good for us but it's interesting.

-It's lovely.

-There we go. It's...

-41.

-Priced at £41.

-It's not going to sell really.

-No.

-Someone is going to look at it and go, "What can I do with that?"

-Yeah.

I think the same thing. I think a lot of people will pick it up

like I just have and go, "Oh, what's that?"

-Yeah, but are they going to buy it?

-It's a no-buyer I think, isn't it?

So much choice. So little time.

As the Blues are finding out.

Let's go that way.

-It's hard, isn't it? So many things.

-There are lots of things.

It's very difficult.

-What about those, Kate?

-Those are stick pins for a cravat.

-Right.

-Or tie.

-Maybe a little bit out of fashion perhaps at the moment.

-Right, yes.

Probably why I like them.

I like your style, Steve. But will KB like these vases?

I'm not sure how old they are.

I'm curiously drawn to them for some reason. Are they a pair, Kate?

-I think they are a matched pair.

-They have a nice look about them.

How much, sir? 250?

Rather beyond our price range, I'm afraid.

You would need a big wallet for that sort of cash, Blues.

Talking of which, what have our steampunks stumbled across?

-I like the little silver purse.

-Yep.

I love these little silver chain mail purses and things like that.

-But it's not perfect so we just want to have a look at...

-We'll see...

-Found something you like?

-Yeah, I like that one. I think that's nice.

-Do you think it's a possibility?

-It is.

-If you don't mind something that's not quite perfect.

-No, no.

You know, it's OK but value is going to be low tens.

It's not going to be big money.

But, yeah, it's worth asking the question and finding out

if it's saleable.

How much is the little purse?

-The little purse. Let me have a look at it.

-Please.

'It seems our stallholder is a little shy

'but he is not shy about doing a deal.'

£40.

40. It's lovely.

Go on, then, Matt, are you going to do the negotiations?

Would you take 30 for it?

You are bigger than me so I will have to, won't I, I suppose?

Yeah, go on. LAUGHTER

-Has he just done the deal?

-He has just done a deal.

'You didn't get your chance to have your two penny worth there, Colin.'

I've never seen a deal done so quickly ever.

Stick with me, chap.

Well done, Reds.

Only ten minutes down and you are steaming ahead of the Blues.

They are struggling to find their first item.

-I quite like this box here.

-Is this mother-of-pearl, Kate?

It is mother-of-pearl, yes.

Thank you very much.

-Well spotted, Russ.

-This is a card case.

-Right.

You see them of this design with abalone shell or

-mother-of-pearl, like in this case.

-It's very striking.

-It is.

This one has got a papered inside, which probably isn't original.

I suppose a purist would like the original lining, wouldn't they?

-That's right.

-Is there anyway of telling how old that is?

Look at the hinges. Look at the clasp.

I would say it's 20th century rather than Victorian.

-How much is that, just as a matter of interest?

-80 on that.

-80?

-Yes.

-Mm.

-It's a bit steep, that.

-Let's pop that back.

Yeah, I think we'll leave that one,

but what about the hip flask at the back there?

Well spotted, Russ. May we have a look at that please, madam?

He's got a good eye, hasn't he?

He has, hasn't he? It's silver, isn't it?

Now that's quite nice cos we've got a monogram on there. Dated 1879.

Which is in keeping with those hallmarks.

Is that the original stopper there?

It certainly looks like it. Let's have a little look.

It's a screw top, like that. Then the cork inside acts as a stopper.

-I see.

-Looking at it up close, is that more likely to have been

a perfume bottle rather than an alcohol bottle?

No. It's definitely a hip flask. And I'll show you why.

-Because that comes off and there you can...

-You can drink out of it.

-I like that.

-Brilliant.

-I do like that.

-Neat, huh?

-BOTH:

-Yes.

-I like that.

-Really neat.

And they have even gone to the bother of gilding the inside

so the alcohol does not corrode the silver.

The other really nice feature is that you see the faceted glass.

It's not just been moulded, they've gone to the trouble of cutting

it and faceting it, which just gives it a real air of quality.

Can you see that with sloe gin in there, Russ?

I can see that with sloe gin, Steve.

What do you think it would make, Kate, at auction?

Well, if I was being really mean,

I'd probably put an estimate of 70 to 100.

But hip flasks are very commercial. And this is a lovely quality one.

So it may make over the 100 if two people want it.

-How much are you selling that one for?

-120.

And what would be the price for two fine English gentlemen and lady?

I can come down to 105.

If you could drop it to 90, we'd say yes.

-I'll go 95.

-What do we think then, guys?

-I think we should go for that one.

-Is that a deal?

-95.

-Right.

-OK.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks, Kate.

-Thanks for your help.

Great! First purchase. Tick off the list.

-Number one.

-Number two and three now. Come on.

-Let's go.

-OK.

Lovely stuff, Blues.

But things won't be handed to you on a silver platter.

Although there's lots of it around.

I love this little vesta.

Generally, vesta cases, the average price for them

-at auction is somewhere between £25 and £40.

-OK, so...

-So you've got that as your...

-Problem.

OK, no worries.

Lots to weigh up there, Reds.

But has Mr Young found something that could tip the balance?

-Oh.

-I love little things like that.

-Right. Yeah.

It's a sovereign scale.

You get your half sovereigns and your full sovereigns in it.

Something mechanical, something Victorian. Does that appeal to you?

Definitely interested in that one.

And you've got the box as well.

-The original box.

-Yeah. That's really nice. I like that.

-Gorgeous, isn't it?

-It's lovely, actually.

It's a really nice little piece.

I don't know, it's just delicate, isn't it? It's made of brass.

It's got that weight. I think it's lovely.

-I like it.

-We love contraptions and things like that.

And that is a little contraption, isn't it? It's perfect.

Yeah, it is. I like that, yeah.

-For a collector or anything, it's ideal, isn't it?

-Mm.

And it's so beautifully made.

-How much is it?

-The very best you can have is 60.

-Do you think we could make a couple of quid on that?

-Whoa.

You'd make a bit out of it. But if you got it for 50.

-I think 50 is a good price. I really do. Yeah.

-He says he can't do it.

Honestly, I can't.

Would you take 55?

-Please.

-Oh, go on, then.

-55.

-55.

-He's in like Flint, isn't he?

My goodness, there's no stopping this man.

So, 20 minutes gone. The Reds have two buys, the Blues have one.

Maybe Steve and Russ need to call for help.

And I've found just the thing.

We're all 100% familiar with these things, aren't we?

There are billions of them about and everybody is using their

mobile phone at all times of the day or night.

But in the old days, around about 1900,

you might have been using one of these.

Well, not this particular model, because this happens to be

a very unusual and rare tin-plate toy example of a candlestick phone.

And this type of telephone started to be made

just at the end of the 19th century.

By the 1920s, it had grown a little dial on the bottom

because by the 1920s, we started getting telephone exchanges

and automatic dialling of numbers.

This one has no dial on the bottom

and therefore I would date it at somewhere between 1900 and 1910.

The real candlestick phone had some dry cell batteries up

the shaft of the candlestick, which is what powered up the phone.

It had no bell unit within it.

The bells were in a separate box, usually screwed to the wall nearby.

And the clever thing about the candlestick phone is this.

You'd pick up the receiver, which is the bit that goes into your ear,

and make the connection.

In other words, you'd answer the call.

And to speak into it...

you'd use this adjustable microphone on the top.

And that would enable you to have your conversation.

So the child at home, copying Mummy and Daddy on the phone,

would do precisely this

and learn what the etiquette was for answering the phone.

And for the child, here's the bell on the side of the candlestick phone.

You wind the handle like this and this incredibly simple mechanism...

BELL RINGS

..gives you the impression of the telephone ringing.

Now, are these common or garden toys? No, they are not.

So my advice would be, if you can find one of these

things in a fair like this for £12, you should get your money out PDQ.

Because I fancy, in a specialist toy sale, a wee toy tin-plate

telephone like this could be worth between 50 and £80.

So get on with it.

Get connected.

A little out of our price range, that one.

Back to the shopping. And there are 30 minutes left.

The Reds haven't got far with item number three.

What are we looking for?

-Inspiration?

-Yes, inspiration.

You're not the only ones.

The Blues are desperate to find their second item.

What about these wooden boxes here? Are they good buys?

Well, that one's a little bit more modern.

That one's a tea caddy there.

-Lovely Georgian mahogany one.

-I love tea caddies.

-Do you?

Well, let's have a look at it.

Now that is quite nice inside, isn't it? Look at that.

Originally, this would've had a lead lining, to keep the tea fresh.

-Yes.

-And of course, you've got two divisions

for two different types of tea.

-Right.

-There you can see traces of the lead, look.

-I see.

Just there on the inside.

And it's actually a soft wood box.

And then veneered in mahogany.

And they've saved the best bit of mahogany veneer for the lid there.

You can see it's got that lovely grain in it.

Now, at first glance, this says to me that... Actually,

I wonder if that is original. That inlayed oval there.

Because very often on Georgian tea caddies you see a shell inlayed,

or an inlayed motif there and on the front.

Do you want to have a look, Steve?

Yes. Do you think that was a label in there, with a crest on?

I'm just going to check that out with my glass.

Cos I can see a little bit of what's known as stringing there.

Which is very fine inlay.

Can you see there's a little chequered effect,

-just around the outside there?

-I see, yes.

Now, it would be very difficult to keep that

and change the oval veneer here.

So I do think it's original to the piece.

You've got a few condition issues.

A little bit of veneer missing down here.

But open it up...

and look at that. I mean, isn't that lovely?

-It's £45. That doesn't sound bad.

-So he's come down.

It originally had 75 on it.

And how much do you think it might make?

I would say £30 to £50.

So with 45, we're pushing our luck a little bit?

We're towards the top end, yeah. But let's put it back and have a think.

Meanwhile, with two buys in the bag,

the Reds are getting a bit big for their boots.

It's easy, this.

THEY LAUGH

This is the life. This is the life.

Come on, you pair.

You might be good, but there's no point resting on your laurels.

Cos you know what happens wi' laurels.

They're wreaths. And we ain't leaving it to the death.

Come on, team.

Quite right, Colin.

Now, Blues, it's been said you have a cup of tea, you get some sympathy.

-That is quite nice, actually.

-I think that's wonderful.

-Would it be a tea caddy?

-It is a tea caddy.

I think the gentleman is going to get it out for us.

Great. Let's have a look.

-It is silver-plate rather than silver, of course.

-Right.

We've got clearly engraved there - White Star Line, Liverpool.

If this wasn't engraved, you'd have a pretty standard

silver-plated on copper tea caddy.

Probably at auction...

15 to £20. If that.

But you've got this lovely engraving.

And on the back - First Class.

Which says it all, really, doesn't it,

about the quality of the piece?

Absolutely. It does look very good.

Now, that dent on the back there is a shame,

because that is going to put a few people off.

-What do you think, Russ? Do you like it?

-Yeah. I do like it.

And I think it's got the appeal for people

that like the history of that shipping line as well.

-Mm.

-So we'd be looking sort of 1920s for that, would we?

I think... The '20s, would you say?

'20s, '30s. Yeah, '20s, '30s.

-I'm leaning towards it, Steve.

-So am I.

-Um...

-60.

-You'd do it for 60?

May we be really cheeky and ask for 45?

-We're very keen.

-I tell you what I'll do, you can have it for 50.

50. What do you think, Russ?

What would we be thinking at auction for something like that?

Because it's got that White Star Line interest on it,

I'd certainly sort of put £40 to £60 on it.

It has got that crease.

But, you know, it's an affordable piece for somebody who's

really interested, who wants to start their collection.

-I think that's item number two.

-Yes.

-Yes?

-Let's go for it.

-Quite happy?

-Yes.

-I'm OK with that.

-Good.

-Good decision.

-Absolutely.

-OK.

-Thank you, sir.

-Well done.

Bravo, Blues. Let's hope it's plain sailing for the last 20 minutes.

-Down the next aisle. Up and down.

-This one? Yeah.

Now, have the Reds run out of steam as they search for their third buy?

We've not really looked at anything. We've... It's been very quiet.

-OK.

-I think we need to get a bit of energy into this.

To get that last purchase done.

KB's got the right idea.

They've got some cocktail shakers there but...

-They're not very striking.

-Right.

-I'm not inspired at this point.

-Let's keep going.

-No sartorial elegance.

Hurry up, Blues.

I'll be calling last orders shortly.

While the Reds might soon be toasting their final buy.

What about that?

Gosh, that's really... Go on, then, what is it?

-Don't you know what it is?

-I have no idea what it is.

-No?

-No.

-Do you know what it is?

-That looks like part of a gas lamp

or something like that.

-OK, um...

-But it seems to be sealed.

It seems to be sealed at both ends.

What if I just do this?

There you go. Two sections.

Twisted pewter in the centre. Comes apart.

It weighs a tonne!

Very solid glass. There doesn't seem to be anything inside it.

-Filament or anything.

-Filament.

-You don't know what it is?

-No, I have no...

-Do you?

I would think it is a collector or distiller of something.

Something to do with gas lamps.

There is residue on the inside of it on both sides. So no, I don't know.

OK. Well, the great news... Shall we ask the stall holder then?

What is the story on this? What is it?

Well, I believe it came originally from an apothecary's.

They probably had some liquid in it, like on the shelf.

-More than that, I do not know.

-Oh, so you don't know what it is either.

Well, that is three.

So really you need to now be asking the expert what this item is.

-Please.

-Oh, go on.

-Go on.

-I haven't got clue what it is either.

But I think... It is just intriguing.

-The expert?

-Absolutely.

It is intriguing enough to sort of have a look at.

So on the basis that we don't know what we are buying and you don't

know what you are selling, what sort of figure do you want for it, sir?

The grand sum of £10 for it, sir.

£10. It's the bargain of the day.

It might go to auction and make an absolute fortune.

Yeah. We may be... Watch this space.

-Is it our third item?

-Yeah.

-Oh, we can't hang around like this.

-Ten.

Oh, he just beat me to it.

-Smashed it.

-Let's spend the last 15 minutes with our feet up.

-Let's go!

There is a really good Chesterfield sofa out there.

-Oh, yeah, we are following you.

-Goodbye.

You just relax, Reds. The Blues, though, can do no such thing.

So what do we think, anything? No?

Nothing is leaping out at us at the moment.

Well, let's keep going. Let's go back into here.

With time running out, the Blues have decided to divide...

and hopefully conquer.

And it is KB who gets the ball rolling.

-Thank you.

-So, what would this be?

I thought at first it might have been what is known as a pounce pot,

used to powder wigs.

But because it is much later, I think it is a pepperette.

-But it is quite unusual.

-What sort of age would that be?

I am just unscrewing it, see if it will give me a clue.

I think it has got a bit of age to it. It is certainly 20th century.

-Perhaps have a look elsewhere, come back if we can't...?

-OK.

Do you want to do that? You are not struck on this.

-Not... No.

-Well, there is this or there is your mahogany tea caddy.

-Do you want to have a think about it?

-Yes. Russ?

How long have we got to think about it?

-You have got eight minutes.

-Oh, that is loads of time!

-OK.

-Come on, quick, eight minutes to have a really quick scan.

-OK.

Time is not on your side, Blues.

Meanwhile, our punks are auditioning a new recruit.

This bargain hunting is easy, isn't it?

Bargain hunting is easy, but so is being punk.

Oh, Lordy!

-BOTH:

-Far too modern.

Bad luck, Colin. Now, back to the Blues.

And they have only got five minutes left. Chop chop.

I was looking at some Minton plates,

but I think they are going to be way out of our price range.

Yeah, that is a bit expensive.

Should we see it they will do just a wee bit more on that tea caddy?

-Yeah. We got them down to 45 before, didn't we?

-What do you think?

-Yeah.

-Come on then, quick.

-I'll see if I can negotiate.

We got him down to 45 before, do you think he'd go for 35?

-Do you know, on the inside, it is nice.

-It is.

-Yeah. I do like it.

Well, why don't you go and have a chat, Steve? Where has he gone?

-Where is our man?

-He's down there. Quick, Steve!

-Right.

-Quick!

-So what do you think about this?

-It is not the sort of thing I like.

-I am not into the wooden box type thing.

-Right.

But this is more Steve's stuff.

He likes it. And we'll...we'll see what he is going to come back with.

How are you doing, Steve?

-What is the verdict?

-Trust in me.

The man said, being as we are so nice. And he likes you.

£40.

-Hurrah, good man.

-£40?

-Yes.

-Are we done?

-Yes.

BELL RINGS The end is nigh, folks.

In fact...

the end is now!

-Hurrah!

-Hurrah! Hup, the Blues!

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

Is there any profit in this white metal purse?

Did they pay way over the odds for the brass sovereign scales at £55?

And will they work out what this is in time for the auction?

The mystery item cost £10.

-Well, you punkers, was that fun?

-It was fun, it was great.

-You spent a miserable amount of money, though.

-I know!

-I can't believe how little we spent.

-How little was it, actually?

-£95.

-Good Lord! OK,

-£205 of leftover lolly, please.

-Indeed.

-£205. Thank you.

That is a huge wodge. Which is your favourite piece?

-My favourite piece was the silver purse.

-Silver purse.

And do you agree with that, Matt?

My favourite piece is the sovereign scales.

-And are the sovereign scales going to weigh in the most profit?

-Of course.

Do you agree?

-No. I think the silver purse.

-Very good for you.

Well, those are the predictions anyway. And good luck with that.

Now, Colin, you are off the hook now.

You have a complete blank canvas and £205.

-That is a lot of money, isn't it?

-That is a lot.

-It is.

I think I'm going to have to keep with the punk attitude

and buy something mainstream.

-Mainstream?!

-Oh!

-Look at the fear in your eyes.

-I know!

The sin beyond all sins. Well done, Colin.

Right now, though, we are

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

Will they be the toast of the auction with his Victorian hip flask?

£50 was paid for the electroplated tea caddy.

And this mahogany one cost them £40.

Cup of tea, anyone?

OK, you two look-alikes. Ha-ha!

They say imitation is the best form of flattery, don't they?

Anyway, which is your favourite piece?

-My favourite piece was the hip flask.

-Hip flask?

-Yes.

-It fits Steve's sloe gin in it as well.

-Exactly.

That is why you are joined from the hip, you two.

-Do you agree with that, Steven?

-Surprisingly, I do.

Well, that is a miracle.

And will your hip flask bring the biggest profit, Steven?

-I think it could.

-Really?

I think our White Star Line tea caddy will bring the biggest profit.

-Do you? You don't get a sinking feeling with that?

-No.

-I am very buoyant about it.

-THEY LAUGH

Touche! Excellent. So how much did you spend in toto?

-£185.

-185, I would like £115 of leftover lolly, please. Thank you.

-Which is a nice little wodge.

-It is.

-Isn't it, Kate?

-Thank you very much.

-Spend wisely.

-I think I can do some damage to it, definitely.

Whatever you do, go forth and multiply, that is the answer.

Thank you very much, Kate. And good luck with that.

Meanwhile, we are going to prepare ourselves for the journey

to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Well, we have whizzed the 60-odd miles

from Stafford to Stratford-upon-Avon.

And very nice it is to be at Bigwood's saleroom with Mark Ashley.

-Good morning, Tim.

-Good morning and very nice to see you, Mark.

Now, we have got a nice mixture here.

First of all, the white metal mesh lady's purse.

It is decorative. Someone might find a use for it.

It could be silver, couldn't it?

Yes. Not marked, but it most probably is.

-I think we have probably called it white metal.

-Yes.

Did you notice? Is it missing

a couple of bits of decoration on the bottom?

-Two balls.

-There probably would have been a whole row of them.

-Yeah.

-So condition issues on it.

-It is not a high-value thing.

-What do you think it will bring?

-We've only put 10 to 20.

Oh, have you? Well, they paid 30. They'll just about get

-their money back, depending.

-With a bit of luck.

And then we go on to the rather amusing sovereign scales.

I mean, the very fact that you had to use a scale to

weigh your coinage would be a bit worrying, wouldn't it?

Well, you see, in the day when gold coins were gold,

of course what had happened way back was people would trim a little bit

-off the edge of every coin that passed through their hand.

-Yeah.

Then, of course, it added up.

So you see, you'd have one of these to prove that the coin

-you were being offered was the right thing.

-Yes.

-What a process.

Anyway, what is it going to bring?

We've only put 15 to 25, but actually, I think

-it could do a bit better than that. Cos it has got the box.

-Yeah.

-You often see them without the box.

-It needs to.

-It could do all right.

Needs to. Cos £55 is the target.

-So there we are. Lastly, this is an interesting object, isn't it?

-It is.

It is unusual. A lot of people have wondered what it is.

It is actually the very first type of soda -

-well, not siphon because the soda siphon follows - soda maker.

-Yeah.

You'd have soda in the top, water in the bottom, shake it vigorously,

hence it's robustly made, cos otherwise it'd explode.

I like that. It is quirky, it's different.

-I think someone will go for that.

-Yeah. How much?

-I rate that, 40 to 60.

-Good on you. £10 paid.

Well, I think they have done well. It is a good thing.

Lovely. Well, we have all learned a little something.

-Perfect.

-Anyway, that is great.

If you are right and the soda maker bails them out,

they won't need the bonus buy.

If you are wrong, they will need the bonus buy,

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

Well, kids, £205 went to Colin Young. Colin, what did you spend the 205 on?

-I went out and spent 75. What about that for a contraption?

-Wow!

-Oh, my goodness.

-So, it's a money box, is it?

-It is a money box.

And, as I am sure you have already guessed, it is

based on a World War I tank.

-Yep.

-That's it, absolutely.

Probably made in the '30s, something like that.

There is a big old question to ask here, though, isn't there?

Quite an explosive question, really.

-How much is it going to bring?

-Yes, what do you think?

I know plenty of tank collectors,

and I would expect that to realise anything up to £100, £120.

-OK.

-Brilliant. Thank you very much, Colin.

Right now, though, for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Colin's tank.

Isn't that the most extraordinary thing, Mark?

Well, that is fun, isn't it?

It is very well modelled as a First World War tank.

And I love the fact that someone has used baked bean cans,

I think, to make these turrets. It is great.

But then when you start to look at it a little closer,

you start to see it is probably not as old as it would like to be.

I really wouldn't put it as trench art of the 1914-18 war.

It looks like it has been spray painted in here.

These certainly don't look terribly old.

-But it is decorative.

-Yeah.

-It is a good-looking thing.

-They probably made this ten or 20 years ago.

-Most probably.

Yeah. But it is a good, fun object.

And if you want a money box that looks unlike any other money

-box, it is great. What is it worth?

-We have put 25 to 35 on it.

-OK.

Well, Colin paid 75. But you never know,

something extraordinary might happen in the auction.

Next, for the Blues, they have the very nice little drinking flask.

-Do you like that?

-I do. I like that very much. Nice quality.

It is good glass. Silver.

Got the nice removable cup at the bottom of the gilded interior.

-I like that.

-What is it worth?

Well, we've put 80 to 120 on it.

Because it is a Victorian one, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-I like that.

-The team paid £95, so they paid the right money.

I'm not so sure about this tea caddy,

though, cos it is only plate, isn't it?

-How do you rate that?

-Well, we have put 30 to 40 on it.

Which I think could be a little optimistic

cos at the end of the day, it is a silver-plated tea caddy. I think

-the inscription...

-White Star Line, Liverpool.

Hm... Makes you think possibly off the Titanic.

-Ooh...

-I think that is what they're trying to make us think.

Anyway, 30 to 40. £50 paid. I think that is too strong a brew for me. Ha!

Moving on is the tea caddy, the Georgian mahogany one.

Now, that is a period piece and absolutely fine.

Well, 20 years ago, this would have done really well.

-But the market has gone.

-So, what is the current price then?

-The massive sum of £30 to £40.

-Well, fair enough, they paid £40.

Anyway, if they do as well as I think they're going to do with

the silver flask, they won't need their bonus buy,

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

-Now, Kate Bliss, this is exciting. You had £115.

-Are you ready?

-I remember seeing this, yes.

-Ah!

-Cos you didn't like it at the time.

-I wasn't quite certain, no.

-But I did like it.

-Yes.

-OK.

-Well, I think this is really neat.

It is, obviously, in the form of a bowling ball.

We have got a little bit of gilt detail on the top.

And inside, you would put your pepper. The engineering is lovely.

It fits together really nicely.

And you have got, on the bottom, a little maker's name -

Mappin & Webb.

-And what did you pay for it?

-I only paid £20.

I am liking it more and more.

So if that doesn't make a profit, I will be seriously disappointed.

-Are you happy?

-Yes.

-OK, brilliant.

-Ever hopeful.

Let us, for the audience at home, find out

whether the auctioneer thinks it is just lot of old balls.

-Now, how charming is that?

-Well, I like this.

It is high-quality silver-plate.

But it is such a great novelty pepper pot.

And people collect novelty pepper pots.

-What is your estimate?

-30 to 50.

-Might make 60?

I think it could.

OK, £20 paid by the clever Kate Bliss.

Let's hope the team go with it.

-Are you taking the sale today?

-Yes.

-We are in safe hands.

40. 40. Five. 50.

-Now, Matt, Nicki, this is exciting.

-It is.

How many auctions do you get to go to?

-Not many. We have only been to a couple, haven't they?

-Have you?

-Yeah.

-But you are not auction virgins, anyway.

-No, not virgins.

-We are not virgins.

First up is your purse. And here it comes.

Start me off. Who has got £15 for it?

Surely. Tenner then to start. Thank you, sir. Ten.

12, the lady. Who has got 14 for me?

At 12 then. It is the lady's bid.

Are we all sure? I'll be selling at £12.

I can't believe this. This is...

-£12.

-£12 is minus £18.

Bad luck on that. But it ain't finished yet.

This is rather nice.

A little set of brass warranted sovereign scales.

-And I can start this straight off here at £30.

-Yes!

-Yes!

-Bid me five.

At 35, sir. I can take you on a little way. 40.

Come back five, Sir. 50. Five?

-Oh, go on, sir.

-Go on.

You really ought to, sir.

-At 50. Nice to have the box.

-Don't want to miss it, sir.

It is £50 then with me on commission. And I will sell at £50.

Are you all sure?

-£50.

-Well, better than his 15 to 25 estimate, anyway.

But sadly, minus £5. You are minus 23.

Now, this was a little bit of a mystery item,

but I believe it to be a very, very early soda water maker.

You put soda in the top, water in the bottom, shake it all up,

and that is why it is so robust.

Rare thing, surely. £30 for it.

Not getting biddy with the fizzy, are they?

You will probably never see another one.

So if you don't buy this one, you will regret it.

Who has got £10?

Not exactly effervescent.

Surely £5. Sir, thank you very much.

Gentleman's bid at £5.

He will have something that no-one else in Stratford has got.

At £5. Do I see eight?

I'll sell it then at five. Are you all sure?

£5. Minus £5, which means overall, you are minus 28.

Now, are you going to go with

the tank or are you going to park

it at minus £28, which could be a winning score?

MATT LAUGHS

I don't know.

We feel Colin has found such a fantastic thing that is us,

-we are going to take a chance on it.

-For the fun of it.

-Absolutely.

-We are going to go with the bonus buy, and here it comes.

Painted metal money box there. Fashioned as the Great War tank.

Rather nice, we think.

They are probably baked bean cans at the side.

That is rather fun, isn't it?

So surely, who has got £30 for it?

Start me off. Who has got £10 for it?

Two people, straightaway. I saw you first, madam, at ten.

15, gentleman standing. 20, madam. Five.

30. Five.

30 back you, madam. The gentleman is out. I am at £30.

Are we all done?

This is going in the tank, isn't it?

The lady at the back at 30, and I'll sell.

There's probably that in the money box.

At the very back, seated, madam. You were there all the way. 40.

-Have another, sir? Surely.

-Go on, have another.

It probably has got some money in it as well, you know.

45. 50, madam.

Five, sir. Fallen asleep?

It is back to the lady. The lady's bid at £50.

And I'll sell. £50.

50 is minus 25. Which means you are minus 53.

Anyway, you are in it for the fun.

-We are.

-Thank you very much for coming and playing.

-Don't say a word to the Blues and all will be revealed in a minute.

-OK.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

-OK, Steve, Russ, how are you?

-Good. Really nervous.

-Do you know how the Reds got on?

-No idea at all.

Good, we don't want you to know. First up is the flask.

And I pray God it makes its money in the auction today

cos it is worth 120.

-Here it comes.

-That is a good flask.

Isn't it? Handsome flask, that. Love it.

That surely is £100, isn't it?

Who has got £100 for that? Any less and it is given away.

50 then to start me.

Sir. 50 bid. Do I see five?

Good thing. Five. 60. Five.

70. Five.

(Keep going, keep going.)

Five. 80, I am back to you at the moment, sir. At 80.

-Do I see another face? It is a good thing.

-It is.

Surely we will have another. 80 then.

-It has levelled at five on the net.

-No!

-90, sir. Will you kindly...?

Thank you. 90, bid in the room.

-We paid 95?

-90, I think.

I have 90 in the room. And I will sell it in the room.

-Come on!

-Oh, dear!

£90.

God. I mean, so close, lads.

It is just a touch, that's all.

Just bad luck. Minus five.

OK, now, the copper tea caddy.

Plate on copper, the little tea caddy there. It is inscribed.

Nice little piece.

£30 for it. 20 to start me. Who has got £20?

Start me off. Madam, 20, bid at 20.

Do I see five? Thank you, madam. 25.

30. Have another. 35.

40. 45.

50. And five, madam.

No? Are you sure?

We are even at 50.

It could be from the Titanic, you know. Lady in the room at 50.

I'll sell at 50. Are you all sure?

Yours, madam, £50.

Which is no profit, no losses. Wiped its face.

So you are still minus £5.

Let us hope for this caddy now.

Lovely little thing. It is high quality.

-Would you believe I can start it at a measly £25?

-Oh.

Do I see 30 bid? You are surely not going to let it away?

-It is a lovely one.

-Come on!

-30, sir. I am now with you.

My commission is lost.

-Gentleman's bid at 30.

-Come on!

-Madam,

surely you were thinking about it. 35. 40, sir. It is a good thing.

At 35, I am back to you, madam. Are we all sure?

Be selling it now. Are we all done?

One more.

-35.

-Shocked from Sussex. It could be a winning score, though.

-There we go. We are going with the bonus buy?

-Absolutely.

We are going with the bonus buy. We are all trusting Kate.

We think it is a lovely object. And here it comes.

Mappin & Webb. Princess plate.

Little pepperette in the form of a bowling ball.

-Isn't this a very good thing?

-Yes!

-Yes!

-I like this.

-£40, surely.

-Come on!

20. Who has got 20? That is for nothing.

Madam, at £20.

It is still a cheap thing at 20. Five on the net.

30, madam. It is a good thing.

You are in profit. Well done, Kate.

I have 30, the lady's bid in the room.

-Get on!

-Make us a quid.

-We want an overall profit.

-Lady's bid at 30.

-Go on!

-It is going to sell at 30.

-One more.

-Are you sure? 30.

I can't believe this. At £30,

you made plus £10.

You were minus £10 before.

Now you have got absolutely nothing.

It could have been a lot worse. Well done, you.

And so listen, getting absolutely nowhere

might be the best thing you ever did

today cos that would be a winning score.

Hold that thought. Don't say a word to the Reds.

And all will be revealed in a moment.

Very good fun.

Gosh, this is exciting, isn't it? The denouement. Have you been chatting?

-No.

-No? Not at all. So nobody knows anything about the score.

Well, it is no secret that nobody is going home with any money today.

THEY LAUGH

That is the name of the game. So nobody has got huge profits.

But there is a running-up team, as usual.

And the runners-up today, I'm afraid, are the Reds.

The Reds, with a minus 53 score.

But don't get too cocky, because you didn't make any profits.

They actually wiped their face, which for a winning team to

make no profit, no loss, to get absolutely nowhere through

the whole experience but yet to win with nothing is an achievement.

So it is a special day.

-So, you steampunkers, right, it didn't work out, did it?

-No.

-Cos it is all minus all the way down the line.

-We were robbed.

Robbed, you were?

-Well, you were robbed and bled white with all of this pain.

-I blame Colin.

Anyway, I'm not going to go through it.

-Except to say, did you have a nice time?

-We had a fantastic time.

-Brilliant.

-Yes. Well, thank you for dressing up and looking so splendid

for us and taking the trouble. Which is fantastic.

As long as you've had fun, that is the main thing. Keep at it.

Keep the day jobs.

But for the victors, who managed to score

nothing on anything that they bought....

In fact, they had a minus ten.

But fortunately, Kate came forward with the bonus buy,

which made £10, which wiped everything clean, so that was fine.

A satisfactory result, wouldn't you say?

We are not retiring, but we loved the day.

Anyway, it has been great fun.

Such fun you should really have a bird's-eye at our website

and of course join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!