Newbury 8 Bargain Hunt

Hungerford is famous for its many antique shops,

and quite the prettiest way to get there is by boat,

travelling along the Kennet and Avon Canal.

I'm on The Rose Of Hungerford. She was launched in 1982.

She even carried the Queen in 1990,

when Her Majesty officially reopened the canal.

With 11 million visitors to this waterway each year,

it's certainly kept busy.

She did over 200 trips last year,

and works hard raising money to maintain the area.

I can't spend all day messing about on the water -

let's go Bargain Hunting!

I'm here in the town centre, amongst all the antique shops.

And our teams have got £300 and just one hour

in which to buy three items to take off to auction.

I wonder which of our teams is going to sail to victory in today's show?

Coming up, the Reds get desperate.

-I love it, Martin.

-He loves it, Martin!

OK, you don't need to beg!

While the Blues have expensive taste.

That's a bit more unusual, isn't it?

-£2,250!

-Oh, OK!

Slightly over budget!

And at the auction, the teams can't believe their eyes.

Is this your lot?

Thank you, Gavin, well done.

Gavel's up.

Gosh, you are marvellous!

Well, that's all for later. Now, let's meet our teams.

And for the Red team, we have friends and colleagues Martin and Gavin.

And for the Blue team, mum and daughter Denise and Eleanor.

-Hello, everyone. ALL:

-Hello!

-Ooh, that was very enthusiastic!

Now, you two, how long have you known each other?

We've known each other about seven or more years.

We were entertaining on cruise ships,

and we kind of joined within about two weeks of each other.

Right. So what were you doing on the cruise ships?

We were entertainment officers, so we were doing ballroom dancing,

quizzes, game shows, bingo - all kinds of light entertainment.

Now, you create quizzes and game shows?

-That's right.

-Tell me about that.

-When we worked on the cruise ships,

we met someone who actually supplies the quizzes and the game shows for

the cruising industry. So we work with him now as part of his group,

making quizzes, game shows,

and we've moved into computer games as well.

Have you? Now, you're a bit of a performer, aren't you, by definition?

Yeah. What really got me into performing was doing musicals at school.

Oh, brilliant. Such as?

-Fiddler On The Roof.

-I love it!

-I love that musical.

-You didn't play the big part, did you?

-I did, I was Tevye the Dairyman.

-Is there anything you can't do?

Erm, yes, several things.

Now, Martin, you're also a performer, aren't you?

I am indeed. I do close-up magic.

-Can you do one for us?

-I can do a very quick one, yes.

Are you up for this, girls?

-Absolutely.

-To match the red fleece, a red handkerchief.

This is normally the first trick that most magicians learn.

So I'm going to do it very, very slowly.

-You see, look, nothing up the sleeve.

-The camera's on, remember this!

Just going to put it in there, look,

keeping the hands nice and spread.

And now watch closely. One, two, three, and it disappears.

-Oh, no!

-Now, what I'm going to do,

I'm going to turn back time and go back to the start.

So, if I reach into my pocket, I can produce a handkerchief.

-Oh, but it's a black one.

-This is more than a black handkerchief -

-this is a black hole. Anything in the black hole?

-Nothing at all.

-No?

But if I reach into the black hole, from within,

I can produce the red handkerchief!

CHARLIE LAUGHS

How's about that, then?

APPLAUSE

This is fantastic. How is this going to impact on your shopping today,

you two? Are you going to just be performing all the way around?

We're looking really to buy low and sell high.

I look forward to seeing what you're going to buy.

Now, Blues. Now, Denise, you're a teacher, of all things, aren't you?

Yes, I've done quite a lot of teaching.

I used to work for a major airline,

and part of my role there was to do online training.

-Yes.

-Which I thoroughly enjoyed, so I got the bug, really, from that.

So I then actually did my formal teaching qualification,

and I now teach in an FE college in Surrey.

Brilliant, and you enjoy that?

-I very much enjoy it, it's challenging...!

-Yeah, I'm sure.

-All teaching is challenging, isn't it?

-But rewarding as well.

Yeah. Now, you are a person to have around if someone has got a birthday,

-aren't you, or an anniversary?

-Um...

You've got a special skill, haven't you?

Don't be shy!

I'm famous for making cakes, much more when the children were younger.

My favourite was probably a rocket cake that I made for my son -

he was three at the time.

And we had sparklers as the boosters.

I remember his face just lit up when I walked out with it.

I'd have liked one of those! Could you make one later for us?

-Oh, if I have time!

-That would be good!

Now, Eleanor, you're into wildlife conservation?

I am, yes. I'm a student, just finishing my degree,

-I've got, like, three weeks left.

-So, any exams coming up?

I've got one in three days, actually, so...

Will you be taking your books round as you shop?

Maybe if I've got time, I've got my notes with me, so...

-Are you confident about them?

-No. But it's fine.

Oh, come on! She'll be all right, won't she, Mum?

Yes, she's a very diligent student.

So, during your studying, did you manage to travel at all with that?

Well, I spent four weeks in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

I was studying the river dolphins for my dissertation.

So, while you were in the Amazon rainforest, did you see exotic animals?

I saw lots of macaws, there's different species of macaws there.

I saw howler monkeys, woolly monkeys, but, yeah, it was pretty cool.

-Are you looking forward to the shopping?

-We are, really looking forward to it.

-We are indeed.

-Are you going to be of one mind or not?

Yes, she'll agree with me.

She shook her head!

THEY LAUGH

-We'll see.

-No, no, we're a good partnership.

I've got some money for both of you, which is good news, isn't it?

I'm going to give you £300.

There you are.

And, chaps, 300 for you, which you'll probably make disappear.

Off you go, have a great time.

Your experts are waiting for you now.

Off you go!

Well, I don't know, we've got wildlife and we've got magic.

Something will happen!

Let's meet today's experts.

Looking good for the Reds, it's David Harper.

And kicking into action for the Blues, it's John Cameron.

What's the plan, what are we going to buy?

I quite like Victoriana, maybe something Sherlock Holmesy?

I'd quite like to get something maybe quite small, silver?

Maybe like a silver ashtray or maybe a bronze effigy or something like

-that?

-Are we going to be spending a lot of money or a little money?

In the middle.

Right, team, your time starts now. ALARM RINGS

-Let's do it.

-Let's do it.

-Well, let's go shopping.

-OK!

The teams are off. The Reds are full of confidence.

We've got a good eye for this kind of stuff.

Oh, if you do say so yourself, I like it!

Jumping straight in, what are the Blues hooting about?

What about those little owls there? Quite cute.

That's Sampson Mordan - a very good maker, Sampson Mordan.

I don't think I've ever seen a set of four of those.

They made novelty silverware, one of the best names, in fact.

-£950.

-OK.

-Well, we've got champagne taste and beer money, I think!

THEY LAUGH

-That sums us up, that does!

-Keep looking.

Well over your budget, Blues.

-Are the Reds doing any better?

-I really know nothing about glass.

-I don't fancy glass.

-OK, so why are we looking at glass, then?

Just because it was the first cabinet that we came to.

OK, well, let's move away from that department, then.

So, the Reds know what they DON'T like,

but do the Blues still like their pricey items?

-Well, these are really nice, but I think they'll probably be too expensive.

-The rings?

-Yeah.

-Remember, we are buying retail and going back to sell it wholesale,

so there is the art, there is the challenge there.

Now, are the Reds about to box clever?

Can I just say, I really like this dragon box?

Tell us why.

For me, it's a little bit Arts and Crafts. I like the dragon motif.

-OK.

-Because, you know, I like mythical creatures and Dungeons And Dragons,

-that sort of thing.

-Gavin, what are your thoughts?

I must admit, at first, I did think this could be a unicorn on top,

-to be honest.

-Would that be better?

-Well, yeah, maybe.

-Yeah.

-I still think it's a dragon.

-OK. Fair enough, OK, fair enough.

-I think you're right, Martin. You could certainly describe it as being

kind of Arts and Crafty.

This has certainly been made by hand.

The brass work has been cut by hand, so has the dragon,

the rivets are all put in by hand and, you know,

when we talk about Arts and Crafts, something can be Arts and Crafts in style, but is it in period?

I think it probably is. Look at the age, I mean, that is not new.

-There's 100 years there.

-Yeah.

-There's no doubt about it.

It's a completely handmade object, but it's not trying to be handmade

and perfect to make it look almost machine-made.

-It's obviously screaming that it is handmade.

-Yeah.

-And that's what makes it perfect.

That's what gives it the character. OK, well, it's £78.

This pretty much goes against basically what we said we were going to do,

Martin. If we can get it down to £50,

we could probably get a profit on that, but I am not paying £78 for that, Martin, and that's final!

Oh, my gosh. He's very strict, isn't he?

-I think we need to talk to somebody.

-Shall we talk to a human being?

-Let's talk to a human being.

-You stay there,

-I'll go and get one for you.

-While David goes off to slay the price,

do the Blues still have fine taste?

-So what are these for, then?

-Little shot cups, aren't they?

-They're sweet.

-What have we got there?

Original rare set of six silver shot top cups. £245.

-So...

-Ooh!

-Again, that's most of our budget.

Yes.

So the Blues are trying to find cheaper items.

But how's David fared with the price on that box?

OK, chaps. Here we go.

-OK.

-Right, first best price was 58.

-Which is close.

-Close. Not bad, not bad.

Knowing what I know, I said to him, "If you agree on 50, we'll have it."

He's agreed, so you own a dragon.

-Fantastic. That's really great.

-This is definitely you.

This is very me. But we need to find something that's very you now.

-Yeah, I want something.

-Gavin, lead the way.

-Well done, Martin.

-Thank you.

-Is that the first dragon you've ever bought?

Not my first, no.

That's one item down in just ten minutes.

Now, the Blues still need to find something in their price range.

That elephant egg cup's quite nice.

It is quite nice. It says it's silver filled.

It's got £18 on it.

Not a lot of money. I doubt there's much age to it,

but that would have some potential, because its novel.

-Yes, it is.

-And it is silver. And at 18 quid, you could probably get a couple of quid off that.

I think, you know, that might be worth a punt.

Would it matter there's only one?

No, I think it would matter,

but that's why it's probably got £18 for the single one.

But maybe we'll sort of mark that as one to consider if we get stuck,

-shall we?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-Come on, let's move on.

-OK.

One to keep on the back burner, Blues.

Now, Reds, what are you making a noise about?

-Wow!

-This is stunning.

-I know. I can't actually get over this.

Now, this is the sort of thing that I'm definitely looking for.

-This is lovely.

-What on earth are you two up to here?

-You've got to love a gramophone!

-I love a gramophone.

There's only one volume control on these things.

Do you know how they used to quieten them down?

Have you heard the saying "put a sock in it"?

Literally, just put a little sock in there, and it numbs the sound.

Isn't that great? Let's just have a closer look at it.

The horn itself has been patched and welded in places, look.

-Yeah.

-The quality of it isn't fantastic.

-No.

-And I just wonder whether it might be something that was made

not here, but maybe in one of the Empire countries.

But what I want to know from you two, we know it's a gramophone, but how old is it?

-'30s,

-'40s? Ooh... Earlier.

-Earlier than that?!

-Earlier.

-Well, that's even better, isn't it?

-I'm quite confident.

-Can you imagine this maybe in a restaurant or a bar

or something, shined up maybe or something?

It's a really nice kind of decorative piece, I think.

I really like it. I REALLY like it.

It's got £89 on it. I think, if we can get them down to 70,

that leaves us with loads of money for another item.

Shall we try and do a bit of a negotiation on this?

-Do you want to help us, or can we do it?

-Of course. I'd love to watch you do it, and the thing is, Martin,

-Gavin loves it.

-I love it, Martin!

-He loves it, Martin.

-OK.

-Please!

-You don't need to beg.

Now, Ian, what are your thoughts on the gramophone?

It's a single use needle, so unfortunately, we don't

-have a needle here to let...

-All right, OK.

-..let you play it.

So it's had its single use.

-That's it.

-Well, Ian, it's got £89 on it.

-What's your best, Ian?

-The very dearth on it is 60.

60? That's even better than you were hoping for.

Sold, I think. Yeah.

-Shake his hand.

-Ian, thank you very much.

-Good man.

-Sweet.

-Excellent.

The Reds have found their groove.

Two items bought in 20 minutes.

The Blues, meanwhile, are weighing up all options.

I quite like these.

It's unusual, because it's got a case rather than...

The box. The box has pretty much probably been made for them afterwards.

£20.

But just a set of graduated weights, basically.

People do collect them and, at £20, they're not extremely expensive.

-They're a bit boring.

-We can...

-She's pulling a face. She's pulling a face.

-She's pulling a face at you?

She's giving me that, "No, Mum, that's rubbish."

That look about her!

So, while the Blues are still searching,

time to check in with David and the Reds.

I'm loving the guys' enthusiasm, it really is infectious.

I mean, the second item, the gramophone, not a great love of mine,

but by the end, I loved it as much as them,

purely because of their enthusiasm.

I think, so far, we've done really well.

Two hits, two very quick deals.

-Let's press on.

-Cool as cucumbers.

The Blues, on the other hand, still have to buy their first item.

Right, guys, we've got halfway around this place, so we can go back,

retrace our steps, have another look around and then perhaps, you know,

earmark a few more items on the way.

-What do you reckon?

-I'm kind of thinking maybe we should

-go back to the elephant egg cup.

-Yeah, I really like the elephant,

-I think we should go back for it.

-Let's go for it, let's go back.

OK, on they went with a trumpety-trump.

Trump, Trump, Trump.

MUSIC: Nellie The Elephant by Toy Dolls

Now, I can see why you like it, and I think this does have some commercial appeal.

It's an elephant, it's novel, and I think it would make a good christening present, don't you?

-Yeah. I really like it, I think it's really sweet.

-Can I feel the weight of it? Oh, I see, yeah.

Yeah, so this is a very fine sheet of silver,

which has been pressed into that shape and then filled to give it weight.

-It's quite common.

-You could get a little engraving in there,

-couldn't you?

-You could get a little engraving in there, but I think,

it's a silver piece that, yeah, and, look, the asking price is £18.

-I think we should go for it.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

Do you want to ask Auntie Rita what the best price is we can

-get on that?

-So what kind of price would you do it for?

-How about £15?

-Yeah? Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Yeah. I think 15's a good deal.

-That's fine, I think that's great.

-Are you happy with that?

-Yeah.

-Shake Auntie Rita's hand.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

OK, girls, well, that is our first purchase in the trunk.

-Oh!

-Sorry, it's not the last you're going to get from me.

Let's leave this with Rita, and we've got to carry on shopping. Come on, let's go.

Off you go, Blues. The Reds, however, have found some silver,

but seem to have lost David.

-Italian silver salt dishes, are they?

-800 silver.

-Is there a stack of them?

-They're Italian, there's a stack of those, yeah. That's nice, actually.

What about that egg for a thimble,

sort of like mother-of-pearl on the outside?

Little things like that...

We've got to keep looking, there's so much more to see.

I know, I know, I know, I know.

Almost halfway through the shopping, and the Reds have lots of options.

What about the Blues?

-What have you seen?

-Well, I did sort of mention maybe about a glass,

or glassware.

-That's a bit more unusual, isn't it?

-Oh, it's WMF.

WMF, so let's look at that price tag.

2,250!

Oh, OK! Slightly over budget!

Only £2,000 over budget, ladies.

Now, are the Reds tapping away?

No, it doesn't work. There's some old documents here.

These are interesting, from 1930s.

£22, but...

-A walking stick.

-Yeah, it's warped as well, by the look of it.

-Yeah, not the best.

-Yeah.

-OK, let's keep looking.

-OK, nice, nice, nice.

While the Reds walk on, what do the Blues have their eye on?

OK, what have we got here? Original old glass magnifying glass.

I'm not sure about the age of it.

Any sort of idea on age on that, do you think?

I would think 1920s, because of the cut and the colour of the glass.

Yeah? You think it's that old?

It's got £79 on it.

At that price, I'm not sure about a profit at auction.

-How about 40?

-Could you shift it just a teeny bit more?

Well, I'll do it for 35.

-Yeah?

-Yep, yep.

-OK, thank you very much,

-I'd like to shake your hand on that one, thank you.

-You're welcome.

There we are, brilliant. At £35, I spy a profit.

Let's hope so. So that's two items bought, and just £50 spent.

Time to have a word.

Well, well, well. How good are you at negotiating?

You're sort of halving the prices here, aren't you?

-We're ruthless!

-But you haven't spent enough money, have you, really?

Are you really going to chance leaving this man with £250?

Maybe not.

-To be honest, he has warned us.

-I have warned them.

The next item may be a bit more pricey.

£245 and leave him with a fiver!

Take advice from your old uncle Charlie.

'While the teams keep on shopping,

'let me show you something I picked up on my travels.'

You're looking at this, thinking, "What is it?"

It's a rudder from a crew of 1884, one of the Oxford college crews.

Wadham College, to be precise.

Why did I buy it? Because it's history,

and because I think it could well represent quite a profit.

On the face of it here, you've got the names of the eight rowers

and the names of the cox, but look at the weights in those days.

9 stone 4, 9 stone ten.

I don't think anybody of that weight would get in a crew nowadays.

They're more like 15, 16, 17 stone.

And at the bottom here, it's got "5 Bumps".

Well, they were rowing in a set of races called the torpids,

where one crew lines up behind another, behind another.

You catch up the crew in front, you bump them,

and then you get promoted, and they achieved five bumps.

They must have been going rather well.

Some time ago, I bought a very similar object,

and I researched the names.

I found a living relative, contacted her, and said,

"I've got this piece of history belonging to your grandfather.

"Would you be interested?" She said, "Rather! I've heard about his rowing.

"How wonderful to have something like that!"

Well, I'm hoping to do the same thing with this one.

It cost about £30.

With the right amount of diligence and research,

and if I can find a living relative,

I might be able to turn this into north of £200.

So back to the teams, it's two-all and there's just 20 minutes left.

Now what have the Reds spotted here?

I had a look on the shelf here. It's described as an incense burner.

-It says oriental - could be Chinese or Japanese.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I love it, because it's got the dragons again,

so it's keeping that theme going.

Well, it's 160.

-Shall we at least have a look?

-OK, go on, then.

Right, now, Martin, what do you know about incense burners?

When you think of Oriental carvings, you think jades, normally.

I don't know whether this is jade or not.

OK, let me have that lid whilst you look, yeah?

If that was jade,

you would be holding tens of thousands of pounds worth of censer.

-OK.

-But the quick test, if it's jade, I will not be able

to mark the base, because it's a hard stone.

If it's a soapstone, meaning it's a much cheaper stone,

and much easier to carve, I'm going to scar it.

So what I'm going to do, I'm going to go on that foot there where it's

already got marks...

-Mmm.

-So, that's soapstone.

-That's got to be soapstone.

-That is soapstone.

-Which means it's less valuable?

-It's much less valuable.

-This will have to go back on the shelf.

-I think so.

-Well, well found - let's go and find something else.

OK, let's look for something else.

As the Reds speed off, are the Blues still taking a considered approach?

So, what's this, erm, little horn?

It's a drinking horn, really.

-Oh.

-£18, it's not silver.

Yeah, it's not very expensive.

I noticed there's quite a lot of salt and peppers.

Pepperettes and salts?

I think, with something like this, you're looking for some novelty.

Now, there's a novel pair - they've been modelled as pales.

-Yes.

-Oh, yeah.

-They've got £75 on those.

Could we just keep those in mind, and we'll have a look,

-cos we haven't seen other stalls?

-I quite like those.

-OK.

-Come on, Jack and Jill, let's go up the hill!

-Ha-ha!

One for the maybe list, Blues?

Meanwhile, the Reds are showing David the silver they found earlier.

I've been looking at these little Italian silver dishes.

-What have we got there?

-We've got an 800 under there, I think.

-OK, what does that tell you?

-It's 80%, is that right?

Yes, effectively. It's 800 parts out of a 1,000 pure silver.

-Solid silver, OK.

-So, remember,

British hallmarked silver is 925 parts,

so this is of a lower grade silver.

It says Italian on there, but under here, it says,

"Miracoli & Milano", I think.

Very good! Where did you get that from? The cruise ships?

Yeah. We spent a lot of time in Italy, yeah.

They were quite positively made for somebody of wealth,

-because they wouldn't have been cheap in their time.

-No, of course.

I would say, looking at the markings there,

they're probably 1920s, 1940s, maybe - something like that.

-So, a bit of age to them.

-Got a bit of age, yep.

I believe, though, I'm just having a quick count,

-and I think there's actually only five.

-Yes, there's five.

-Yes, there is.

-Because, normally, for a table setting,

you'd have either four or six.

You'd want an even number, wouldn't you?

Yes, no, you're right, you're absolutely right. I think they probably started life as six.

-Oh, OK.

-What purpose do they have? Are you interested in talking to Ian about price?

I think we should keep looking, we can always come back.

-We've got time, actually.

-OK, great.

So, one for the back burner.

-How's the browsing going, Blues?

-Oh, that's like a, erm, gavel?

Little auctioneer's gavel - I've got one of those.

Now, we're aiming for a golden gavel.

You might have to settle for a brass one, love, all right?

More confidence, John! Now, where are the Reds at?

I think we're really going to have to pick up the pace -

you've got 14 minutes.

-14?

-14.

-Oh, no!

-Right!

-14.

-I thought you meant four zero!

-Less talking, more action.

Or just more buying!

Now, the Blues were trying to spend big.

-This I like.

-What is it, a hip flask?

Yeah. It's got £195 on that.

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

-You don't want to spend big now, no?

Well, I... We've still got 250. I don't mind going up to 100.

If we could get that for 100 quid, would you buy it?

-I just want to ask you now.

-OK, well, can I have a look at it first?

What we're looking for is damage to the enamel,

because this is literally powdered glass that is mixed with oil.

And then they'd literally paint it on in these little

pre-arranged wire cells and then, basically, it's fired to vitrify it,

then it's sanded down, so it's flush and polished.

So what base metal is it? Is it silver, then?

Yeah. That's got 925 on the bottom there.

-OK.

-I really like it.

I think it's really pretty. It's really different.

We're agreed we like it?

-We love it.

-Yeah, definitely.

-You don't want to pay more than 100?

-Yeah, 100 is really top limit.

-OK, right. You have a look at that, OK?

-And I'm going to see if I can contact the seller.

-OK.

So the ladies check for damage.

But can John get it for a good price?

-Right, girls.

-It's so nice.

-Are we still liking it?

-Yes.

-I'm afraid I've got some sad news.

-Oh.

-Yeah.

You've just spent another £100.

-Good item.

-Smashing.

-Well, OK, I will certainly drink to that.

£100 on a hip flask and the Blues are all bought up.

But the Reds still have one more to go.

Do you know what? That's it, you've come to the end.

-We've reached the dead-end.

-That is it. So it's now back...

-Crikey.

-..and buy something...

-OK.

-..in 11 minutes.

Right, let's head to the front door, have a quick look at the Dinky Toys,

-and, if not, mother-of-pearl egg.

-Let's do it.

-Mother-of-pearl egg?

-Yeah.

-I haven't seen a mother-of-pearl egg.

Less haste, more speed, Reds! The Blues, however, can relax.

Right, girls, there we are. Ten minutes to spare.

-Smashed it!

-Had a good day?

-Yeah.

To be honest, it's been fantastic, hasn't it?

-Yeah, it's been great.

-Who said buying antiques has to be hard?

It's all smiles in the sun for the Blues.

Are the Reds still motoring around?

I mean, look at that. That is a cabinet full of Dinkyness, Martin!

I don't really know Dinky Toys, but I do like toys.

That is actually really lovely.

The train is gorgeous.

Look at that lovely blue. What train is that?

I'm pretty sure that's the Mallard,

-which was one of those land-speed record holders for trains.

-Yeah.

-Right, we are really pushing it for time.

-OK.

-Do we want to have a look

-at your egg very quickly?

-You've got seven minutes.

-Seven minutes?

-Seven minutes.

-Then let's press on.

-OK.

-Let's have

-a very quick look.

-I don't know if pressing on is the right thing.

-OK.

-I think just buying something might be better.

Right, it's just up here on the left, isn't it?

It's back here. Right next to the silver salts.

-OK.

-We're looking at the mother-of-pearl egg this time.

-OK, I'm not in love with that.

-OK.

-I'm not in love with that at all.

-Let's go for the train.

-Let's do it.

Right. OK, nothing like cutting it fine, is there?

-I know, I know.

-OK, you've got three minutes to handle it.

Well, it's all fully attached, which is nice...

Well, it was. That's all right, it hooks.

OK. I want you to tell me what it's made from.

OK, it appears to be tin plate.

-Yeah.

-And it says underneath that they are Dinky.

Yeah, Dinky... Dinky Meccano.

-OK, that's nice.

-What's the ticket price?

-20 on there, I think.

What's the best, Ian? Two minutes.

I do know the dealer and I can let you have it for 17.

-If that's any good.

-I've got to shake your hand on 17.

-That's marvellous.

-Hopefully, you're OK to run them over.

Thank you. Oh, very good, very good, Ian.

-Very good. Well, really, you have no other place to go.

-No.

Congratulations. Right to the line. Brilliant stuff, guys.

-Brilliant stuff.

-Excellent.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Hello? Yes, well, if you're listening, teams, your time is up!

-Well done, guys, off we go.

-Brilliant. Let's do it.

Let's remind ourselves just what the Red team have bought.

First up, they fired into action with a dragon casket.

Price paid, £50.

Next, they bought a gramophone to the tune of £60.

Finally, will their train and carriages be chugging into profit?

Acquired for £17.

-Well, Martin and Gavin, how was it?

-It was wonderful, great.

You didn't make him disappear, which I thought you might.

-What do you mean?

-Well, magic!

-Oh, charming!

-We did need him.

-We really needed his advice.

-We really needed him.

-Ha! Thank you.

-Yeah. Did you need them?

-Yeah, I learned a lot from them, actually.

I really did. How to dash around and just do it in the nick of time,

-under serious pressure.

-Is that it?

-Yes.

-Brinkmanship.

-Yeah.

-What's your favourite lot?

-It's got to be the first thing we found.

-The Dragon box? And yours?

-Absolutely in love with that gramophone.

-Lovely decorative piece, Charlie.

-In love with the gramophone.

Marvellous. What'll make the biggest profit?

-It's gotta be the Mallard Dinky Toy.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Oh, you're right in agreement with that?

-Absolutely, yeah.

We got a great price, and there's plenty of room for profit on that.

Good. You only spent £127...

-That's right.

-..which leaves 173.

-OK.

-Hand it over.

-There's the three.

-Yes, we would like the 170 as well.

-OK.

-I know it's a lot to leave this man with.

-It's one heck of a risk.

-Slightly worrying, really.

-There you are!

Well, what are you going to do with it?

Well, I'm going to try and find something that the Red team today

have been searching for unsuccessfully all day.

The elusive lot! What will he find?

Well, let's remind ourselves just what the Blue team have bought.

Marching into action was their elephant egg cup, bought for £15.

Next, will they see a profit with this large magnifying glass?

It cost £35.

And finally, they hope to be toasting success with the enamelled hip flask.

Price paid, £100.

Well, girls, you were being really rather frugal, weren't you,

-at the beginning?

-We were.

-What's your favourite lot?

-I think we both like the hip flask.

-Are you in agreement with that?

-Yes.

-It's beautiful.

-The hip flask?

-Yeah.

-What's going to make the biggest profit?

-Well, we hope...

-Probably hip flask.

-It was a really good discount, so we hope...

-Yeah?

-So hip flask, hip flask, hip flask!

-All the way!

-Are they right, John?

I think so. It's a smashing item.

We all liked it and I think that's a good sign.

Wonderful. Well, it's always nice to see someone spend a chunky amount of

money on something. Now, you've spent £150,

which means you must have £150 left over.

-We do, yeah.

-Well, hand it over!

Because you know what's going to happen to it, don't you?

It's all going to this delightful man here.

What are you going to spend it on?

Oh, I don't know, but I could buy quite a lot with 150!

You certainly could.

So while John goes off to spend quite a lot of it,

we're off to the auction.

Well, I haven't come far, just to Newbury,

but to SAS auctions and to Thomas Plant.

-How are you?

-Very good, Charlie.

-Good. Another good sale lined up?

-Yeah. And thank you for coming.

A huge pleasure. Now, Martin and Gavin, the Red team...

-Yes.

-..they've bought three items here and we start with this casket.

-What do you think?

-Well, the casket, which looks like it's home-made,

it's a scratch-built one, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

-Probably from Wales, with the Dragon on there.

-Yeah, you'd think so.

-Well, one would hope so.

-Yeah.

-It's made out of old timber and good, solid bits of brass.

I think it's a slipper box.

Rather nice with that dragon, to have a toy box.

-But you wouldn't get many toys in it, would you?

-No, not really. No.

What would you estimate it at?

Um, £30-£50.

Yeah. Well, not too bad. They're in with a sporting chance, I suppose.

-£50 paid.

-Sporting chance?

I don't think so. I think that horse has bolted.

-Has it? Shall we move swiftly on...

-Yeah.

-..to item two, the gramophone?

We actually do a lot of gramophones.

-Yes, I know.

-And this is what one would call a foreign copy.

-Where was it made?

-Probably made on the Indian subcontinent.

But it looks the part?

It looks the part, but it isn't the part.

And as such, you won't have put a huge amount on it?

No. It's a £40-£60. It's a really decorative thing.

At least they didn't go over the top. They paid £60. Top of your estimate.

And I think they knew what they were buying.

Now, you like trains, don't you?

-We do like trains here. We do a lot of trains, actually.

-Hmm.

This is a Dinky carpet train.

-Yeah.

-Its condition lets it down.

We like toys in great condition, almost like they're box fresh

and that's when they REALLY have a value.

I'm afraid, this instance, this one is quite badly damaged,

but I think they knew that when they were buying it,

otherwise they wouldn't have bought it.

We've put £20-£30 on.

Well, you might be pleasantly surprised to know they only paid 17.

-17?

-Yeah.

-Well, it's got a sporting chance of making a good profit.

Good, good. Well, whether it has a sporting chance or not,

they might well need the bonus buy, so we need to have a look at it.

It's a bit of a tense moment, isn't it, chaps?

I mean, you've spent a certain amount of money, but not that much,

and you've left the great man here with quite a lot of money.

Perhaps he's bought something really big and exciting?

-Well, let's have a look.

-Yeah.

Right, who's going to do the magic trick?

-Well, it'd have to be me.

-OK, three, two, one...

Reveal... Oh.

-Oh, it's disappeared!

-And I've got it here.

THEY LAUGH

OK. Grab one each.

-Thank you.

-So, is this a little pepper and salt cellar, I believe?

Yes. Now, what were we looking for, guys?

-BOTH:

-Silver!

Yes. I've come to the rescue. I have bought you some silver.

-So, how much did you pay for these?

-Bang on £20 for the pair.

-Really?

Are they worth much money?

I think there's a possibility they could make more than £20, so a possible triple the profit.

Well, you don't have to decide now.

You've got plenty of time and then, at the auction,

you can make your decision.

Meanwhile, we'll see what Thomas Plant, the auctioneer,

thinks about these.

Right, Thomas. One bonus buy. Or, should I say, two bonus buys.

Well, I don't know that you can really go wrong with these.

-They're hand-cut glass...

-Yeah?

-..on Sterling marked bases.

-And they're a pair of peppers.

-Yeah.

-For one's breakfast table.

-For YOUR breakfast table.

-For my breakfast table.

-I do like a good breakfast.

-And they're not particularly valuable,

-but I dare say you put something on them?

-£20-£30.

-Yeah, well, £20 paid.

-Well, I think David's done very well.

Well, moving on to Denise and Eleanor and the Blue team.

They started with this extraordinary egg cup.

-I tell you what...

-Yeah?

-That is one big egg cup in there!

-Well, it is an elephant!

-Yeah.

-You're looking at a big duck's egg there, really.

-Yeah.

And it's silver filled, so it's got a silver skin to it.

-Yes.

-It's good fun!

-Somebody'll buy that, won't they, for their child?

-Yeah.

-For their boiled egg in?

-Of course they will.

-Yes!

Of course. And I've seen, you know,

-I've seen people looking at it.

-Estimate?

-£20-£30.

-Well, £15 paid.

-Right, well, brilliant.

-The second item is the magnifying glass.

-The large magnifying glass.

-It is a whopper.

-It is a whopper.

It's got a big cut end to it. But these things are made up.

Yeah, absolutely. The top never started with the bottom, did it?

No, this has come from probably

a very, very fancy pair of salad servers or something.

Yeah, it could have been. It could almost have been a central drop

-of an enormous chandelier!

-Absolutely. Absolutely.

It's come from something, it's been cut down... Although it could have been made.

-Yeah.

-And this has been bunged on the end and it's a good desk.

-It's a really lovely prop.

-Value?

-£20-£30.

-Well, 35 paid.

Well, yeah. I think they'd be a bit sticky with that.

Yeah. And the third item, I love the colours!

It's immensely bright.

-It's quite modern, probably made in the last 30-40 years.

-Yeah.

We called it a white metal, but it is silver,

-because it is stamped 925.

-Yeah.

-It doesn't bear a hallmark,

which means that we can't actually call it silver,

so we've called it white metal.

It's in Champleve enamel, very decorative.

-I think it's more of a lady's hip flask...

-Mmm!

-..cos it is so pretty,

so I've really priced it accordingly.

-Yeah? Which is what?

-£60-£80.

I think they got carried away here. They paid £100 for it.

I mean, that could be quite sticky. I've been generous with my estimate.

Even with your notorious generosity, not quite there.

Well, I will really, really try for them on that.

However hard Thomas tries, they still might need a bonus buy,

so we need to have a look at it.

Well, well, well. This is boiling down to quite something.

It'll be a competition between you, girls, and him,

cos YOU'VE spent half the money, HE'S got half the money to spend.

-I wonder what will happen?

-I didn't let you down. I've gone for

something rather classy that I thought reflects the both of you.

-Oh, that's very kind of you.

-Here we are.

-You're not impressed?

-What is it?

-Well, it's a champagne cork by Lalique.

-Ah!

I think that's a really nice item.

I think that has good appeal and I only spent £40 on it.

So what would people do with it?

It's just a decadent novelty item by one of the finest glass-makers

in the world and, being a champagne cork,

I thought that's going to really appeal to a wide audience.

-What do you think it will make?

-Well, I really think that

that's a nice thing and I'd be looking for it to make,

-sort of, £70-£100...

-Wow!

-..with the wind in the right direction.

I wonder if the auctioneer thinks that the Lalique will fly?

Well, here we have John's bonus buy.

Yes. The Lalique paperweight.

-Yeah.

-In the form of a champagne cork.

-Mm.

-Well, it's a traditional thing, isn't it,

to save one's champagne cork from momentous occasions in one's life,

-such as weddings, christenings...

-Yeah.

-..21st birthday parties.

And Lalique decided to mould one in glass

for that special occasion itself.

So, yes, I can see the commercial aspect to this completely

-and it's got a name to it.

-Good name. Functional and good condition.

-Ticks all the boxes, doesn't it?

-It does, ticks all the boxes.

-All the boxes to the estimate?

-£50-£80.

-Well, that's OK. They paid £40. Well done, John.

-Well done him.

I could see a profit in that.

That's wonderful. One of many profits.

-Well, I hope so.

-Indeed. I look forward to seeing you on the rostrum.

300. 320. 340.

-At 340, selling, then.

-Have you been to an auction before?

This is the first time.

And yours?

My word. A couple of auction virgins!

Can you feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins?

-It's certainly very warm in here.

-Oh, right! Yeah, that's adrenaline.

Here comes your casket.

This is the 20th century

oak-and-brass-bound casket of rectangular shape,

hinged top, decorated with a flying dragon.

Start me here at £20. 20 I have.

Straight in. 22. 25. 28. 30.

Five. 40. Five.

45, gentlemen's bid. 50 now.

55. 60.

60!

Back in at 65.

At 65, and I'm selling.

At £65. 65.

-Yes!

-Well done.

Well, Martin in particular.

-Why, yes!

-What a fantastic performance.

Here comes your gramophone.

You're up £15 and it cost £60.

Lot number 221, a 20th-century foreign-made gramophone,

probably produced in the last quarter of the 20th century.

It's very decorative.

Very decorative. And I can start the bidding with me here, £20.

-Oh, dear!

-£20.

At 20. For the gramophone at 20.

The horn's worth more than that, isn't it, David?

Yeah, I'd hope so.

20 I have, thank you. 20 it is. Any advance on 20?

22 now. 22.

Once at 22. Twice at 22.

All done, then?

-Kevin, is this your lot?

-Oh, dear.

Minus £38, I'm afraid.

Which is not so good, is it?

This is the little Dinky set here. It's a Nigel Gresley train,

comprising engine and two carriages in LNER blue livery, so the Mallard,

the carpet train. Bids here with me, straightaway, at £20.

Straight away at £20.

At 20 it is. Any advance at 20?

At £20 I have.

£20 against you all at 20.

20 once, 20 twice...

Are we all done, then, at 20?

-Oh, 20...

-Well, that's levelled it up, really,

and, with a £3 profit out of that that, you're only down 20.

'And now, time for the bonus buys.'

What do you think of these peppers? Going to go with them?

-Yeah, definitely.

-Come on, let's do it, let's do it!

I don't think it'll be catastrophic.

-No.

-No, but then, nothing's really been catastrophic, has it?

Except possibly your gramophone.

That was a minor catastrophe.

Don't look so fierce! LAUGHTER

Lot number 227.

A pair of cut-glass table peppers,

with white metal bases supporting engraved glass bottles

and very nice, these, and I go straight in at 22. 25 now with me.

25, 25 it is.

Come on, baby. Yes, come on.

Good looking lot, these ones here.

For the peppers here, at £25 I'm selling...

-That's all right.

-A fiver up.

-It's a fiver.

So you're only down £15.

Which isn't too bad. It might be a winning score.

-Could be.

-Don't speak to the Blue team.

And we'll find out shortly how they've got on.

Well, Denise and Eleanor, you are wondering whether

-the auction can be as exciting as the buying, aren't you?

-Hopefully!

We're going to kick off from the egg cup at £15 and here it comes.

Lot number 240, Continental Sterling marked novelty egg cup.

I can start the bidding with me here at 22.

-Yes!

-You're into a profit, dear.

25? 25 bid. 25 now. 28?

28 I have. Any advance?

At £28, I have here, once, 28 twice, all done, then, at 28.

£28, that's a profit of £13! In percentage terms,

you've very nearly doubled your money.

Here comes the magnifying glass.

Lot number 241 is a silver-plated cut-glass handled magnifying glass

and I can start the bidding with me here at £15.

-Start me at 15.

-Oh, dear.

-At 15.

10, then? 10 I've got. At £10 it is.

At 10. Great prop, this one.

£10 I've got. Is there any advance on 10?

10 once. 10 twice.

Oh, dear, the magnifying glass, £10.

So that's a £25 loss. Not great.

But we've still got a hip flask to go.

A white metal enamelled hip flask

with curved, rectangular body over Champleve design.

Plenty of interest. 65, 70 I have.

75, 80, 85, 90.

90 it is.

Oh, so nearly there!

Gavel's up, then. £90...

Internet, 95 online.

100 on my book.

God, you are marvellous!

Gavel's up. £100.

That's amazing. You paid 100 and you got 100.

Well done.

'Now, are they going to go with the bonus buy?'

-What are you going to do with this paperweight?

-Go with it.

-Trusting you.

-We're going to go with it.

-You're sure you're going with it?

-Yes.

-You're going to trust this man?

-Yes.

-Are you sure? I mean, just take another look at him!

What do winners celebrate with?

Champagne! They pop corks!

Here comes the paperweight and it's only got to make a £12 profit

-and you have lost any money at all.

-Come on!

Lot 247,

a modern Lalique novelty paperweight modelled as a champagne cork,

with me here at £20.

And two. And five.

-No.

-Come on!

-Oh, no!

-28 I have online.

30, with a nod. 30, he said yes.

35 now. Any advance?

35 once, 35 twice...

It's online. All done, then?

-35 it is.

-Aw!

-I think that's a great disappointment, don't you?

It's a £5 loss, which turns your loss

of 12 into 17. When you go out of the room, don't give anything away.

When you have a chat or a cup of tea with that Red team,

if you bump into them, say nothing.

Don't let them have an inkling as to whether you made a profit or a loss,

because we'll find out very shortly.

Well, I have to say, this was closer than the closest 100 metres

-I have ever seen run in my life. Have you enjoyed it?

-Very much.

Good, good. Have you enjoyed it, girls?

-We have indeed.

-Yes.

-Have you been talking to those naughty Reds?

-No.

-No, not at all.

-Talking to the Blues?

-Not a word.

-Wouldn't dare.

-Well-behaved.

But I have to say that you both lost money.

THEY GROAN

But one team lost more money than the other team.

The runners-up are...

The Blue team.

THEY GROAN

Because, I have to say, after all that effort,

you just came away with a small loss of £17.

THEY GROAN But it's been fun, hasn't it?

-It has.

-We've really enjoyed it?

-We've really enjoyed it.

And just a couple more bids from that auctioneer

and who knows what would have happened?

Here we have the smuggest of smug teams,

who, of course, have romped home winners by only losing £15.

-Haven't we done well?

-£3!

-Well, it's been marvellous having you on.

-Lovely being here, thank you.

-We've had a great day.

-Great fun.

-Great fun?

-Great fun. Yeah.

And never can there have been a closer competition.

Anyway, don't forget to check out our website.

Details on the screen and to follow us on Twitter.

In the meantime, do please join us for more Bargain Hunting.

-Yes? ALL:

-Yes!