Lincoln 7 Bargain Hunt

Today we're in the cathedral city of Lincoln but, did you know,

it shares its name with 51 other places across the globe?

There are Lincolns in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand,

French Polynesia and, of course, there are really quite a few

in America.

Forget the globetrotting, we need somewhere more local,

an antiques fair, so let's go bargain hunting.

We're at the Lincolnshire Antiques And Home Show today,

one of the biggest in Europe.

Our teams have got £300 and just one hour in which to buy three items

to take off to auction, so let's take a look at what's coming up.

'The Reds are the last of the big spenders.'

She says you can have them for a pound!

The pair for a pound. Shake the lady's hand!

'And the Blues are just as careful with their brass.'

Michael, it's a fabulous restoration.

Ian, I wouldn't give you £10 for it, it's dreadful.

'But will all their hard work pay off?'

-32, 35.

-Good!

-Come on.

-BOTH: Yes!

But that's all for later.

Now, let's meet the teams.

Today we've got two pairs of good friends.

On my right for the Reds we have Fiona and Susan,

and on my left for the Blues, Ian and Mike. Hello.

-ALL: Hello.

-Good morning.

Now, Fiona, how did you two meet?

Well, we met about 20 years ago when we both moved into new houses

together and it was a new development.

There was no entertainment so we had to make our own fun.

So, Fiona, when it comes to the shopping,

you're going to be holding the purse strings, aren't you?

-I am, yes.

-Tell me why that is.

-I'm an independent financial adviser.

-Are you?

Have you always been good at numbers?

Um, reasonably good at numbers,

although my husband might disagree with that!

-What, when it comes to the shopping?

-Yeah.

Now, Susan, any good at numbers?

-No, so I'm going to leave it all up to Fiona.

-Marvellous.

-Much easier really.

-You'll be a spectator, won't you?

-Yes, I will.

-Yes. But you've had an interesting past, haven't you?

-Up in the skies.

-I have.

The same as Fiona was an air traffic controller

for the RAF for 12 years.

-Were you?

-So, we've got this interest in airlines.

Yes, I was a stewardess

way back in the glamorous '60s and '70s.

That was the time to be an air stewardess, wasn't it?

It was, it was fantastic.

-You spent about three weeks going around the world...

-Oh!

and that was great, great fun.

Then I became a tour manager, a freelance tour manager.

I've managed to go to 96 countries.

96!

You've nearly done half the countries in the world.

-Yes.

-Good. When it comes to shopping, how's it going to be?

Probably the same as everybody else, buy low, sell high.

Oh, really, how totally original!

-I know!

-Well, good luck with that shopping.

Now, Ian and Mike. Ian, how did you meet?

We met during a pub quiz, didn't we?

Mike was doing particularly poorly in a pub quiz and he needed some help,

some answers, and he asked me because I was clearly the best at

-the pub quiz at the time.

-Did you win?

No.

Did you come second?

-No.

-Did you come last?

Fifth, six, maybe.

-Mid-table.

-Anyway, what do you do for a living?

Head of communications for a regeneration company.

So we repackage old brownfield land and sell it on to house-builders

and commercial occupiers,

so quite an interesting job.

That is interesting.

What do you do in your spare time?

I'm a bass player by trade.

-Are you?

-So I've played in quite a few bands across Yorkshire.

Got a bit of a speciality in slap bass.

Slap bass? Can you give me a demonstration?

So, a bit like this.

-Oh, I see.

-You've got to really hammer the strings, Charlie.

-Have you?

-It comes out with a sort of bow-bow sound.

Wonderful! Now, Mike, you work for a telephone company?

I do, I work in the training department.

I've been all over the world, lived in India

for a short period of time, which was really good.

Really? Now, you've got a bit of a story, haven't you, about India?

Yes. I was working out in India and my boss was over at the time

and we had an office in Delhi.

He had to fly down to Bangalore at the time and said to me,

can you go into the office tomorrow, really important,

I need you to go in and go to this meeting.

I said, no problem, I'm going to go back to the hotel, straight to bed.

-As you do.

-Back to the hotel, a quick pint before going to bed.

-What?

-There was a little Bollywood party taking place for the launch of

a film so I sloped in there and had a couple of drinks.

The next thing, there was a camera in my face and they were

interviewing me about the Bollywood film.

I pretended I knew all about it and I got a ring in my pocket.

It was my phone ringing and I was live on Indian TV

and he was watching it in his hotel room in Bangalore.

What a fantastic story!

-Got busted.

-You're a sportsman, aren't you?

I am. I'm a keen runner and a keen cricket player as well.

What's this about marathons? How many in how many days?

A friend and I did five marathons in five days to raise money for charity.

How long did that take to recover?

It took longer than five days to recover.

It took about three months before I could run again after that.

-Really?

-Oh, I was in bits. I was in terrible bits.

Incredible!

Now, when it comes to shopping, who is going to be in control?

I think you in the first instance.

Mike's got a more brutal character than me.

-Brutal?

-Brutal, absolutely, when it comes to negotiating.

Absolutely horrible.

-Oh, dear.

-But we're buy low, sell low types, Charlie, so,

frankly speaking, we'll be happy with a single-digit profit.

Well, any profit is a good profit on Bargain Hunt.

I've got the money for you.

I've got £300 for you and £300 for you, girls.

Now, have a great time, join your experts and off you go.

Well, the high-flyers versus the quiz masters,

but who will make the biggest profit?

Time for the teams to meet their experts.

Wise as an owl, it's Raj Bisram for the Reds.

And, teaching the Blues a thing or two, it's Kate Bliss.

Tell me, what sort of thing are you looking for?

Militaria maybe and some silver.

Silver is something I would be looking for.

-Something nice and old.

-Something a bit oriental because I think that

seems to be selling very well at the moment.

-What about you, Ian?

-'50s and '60s memorabilia.

Oh, something a bit retro?

Absolutely.

Square up, teams, your time starts now.

BELL RINGS

A little bit cold, shall we go indoors?

-Yes, please.

-Let's go then.

Let's start over there. Come on.

I think it's time you went inside!

Good luck.

-Great silver stall down here, guys.

-OK.

Do you know what this is, funnily enough?

You don't see these all the time. Do you know what that's for?

Is it for tea?

For an instrument?

No, it's wine.

-Oh, right, OK.

-It's a wine funnel for straining in case you get to the

sedimenty bottom of the bottle.

-Oh.

-And the price ticket is 245.

A bit out of our price range.

Well, it's going to take a lot of our money, isn't it?

But it is a nice thing. There's lots of nice things here.

Have a little look.

'The Reds are silver spotting, too.'

There's two little tiny candlesticks.

There's no doubt about it, they are sweet.

They are Walker & Hall, which is one of our best makers as well.

-Is it?

-Yeah, Walker & Hall, very, very good maker.

-I didn't know that.

You can feel straightaway that they are plate and they have

plate marks on them, OK?

Age wise, these are probably 1920s, 1930s.

-Oh, really?

-Yeah, but they're dinky little ones.

But, I mean, if you like them, and we could get these at a fair price,

my goodness! There's got to be a profit in them.

There's only £6 on the ticket.

I'd be going in and offering them £2.

-Would you?

-Yes, I would.

-Really?

-Yes.

-That low?

-That low.

-Whoa!

-Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

-Well, what do you think?

-Are you happy with those?

-Yeah. No, I do like them.

-You sure?

-Yeah.

-Let's do it.

I'm going to go and talk to the stallholder and see what can happen,

but if I can't get them for two, what are you prepared to go to?

-Four or five.

-Four or five, I should think.

-OK. All right, well, wish me luck.

-Do your best, Raj.

'While Raj goes off to enquire, the Blues haven't moved.

'Ian has spotted a potential purchase.'

What do you think of this little item here, Kate?

The little trinket box?

Just thinking in terms of it being a usable everyday item for someone.

Do you know, that is very sweet.

It is silver. You can tell straightaway.

I love these little dimples that you get in English silver

where it's just been worn over the years.

-Authentic.

-Yeah.

-Used.

Exactly that. Nice and plain on the top.

You've got to be a little bit careful with plain pieces in case

the engraving has been rubbed away so the silver is thinned.

Is there a hallmark on there as well?

There is. Let's have a look.

It's normally on the edge there, do you see?

-Yes.

-I'll get my glasses.

-Does it tell us?

-This is intriguing that you spotted this because I

would say that's quite a feminine piece, Ian.

Is this appealing to your feminine side?

Absolutely, I wish it didn't come out, but it's come out instantly!

What are you going to keep in it, what will you store in there?

Well, traditionally, a lady would have this on her dressing table

and she'd pop her little earrings in it or her rings.

Very pretty, OK.

And little trinkets.

-Um... Are you happy with this?

-I like that.

-I like that, yeah.

-45 is a pretty reasonable price, I would say.

Obviously the cheaper we can get it, the better.

SELLER: I could do it for 35 if you're interested.

-I think 30.

-35 is the best I could do.

I have to tell you, fellas, that that is a very generous offer.

For an English silver trinket box which is probably Edwardian in date,

I would say. It ticks a lot of boxes.

-What are we thinking here?

-Well, we are tight northerners,

we're happy to meet you halfway.

I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll put something else with it.

Oh, excellent.

It's across there and it's a brass telescope.

Oh, I can see it there, yeah.

'Ah, that sounds intriguing.

'Could a two-for-one deal be done here?

'Back with the Reds and Raj has news on those candlesticks.'

Would you believe it,

£2.

-Fantastic.

-Result!

-Well done.

-The deal is done.

Fantastic. Fantastic.

-First buy.

-In how many minutes?

I don't know, we've got plenty of time.

Let's go and have a look. Come on, let's go.

'Well, a bargain bought in seven minutes actually, ladies.

'Not bad.

'Now, Blues, let's see that telescope.'

Good brass telescope. How about that for 15 quid?

What do we think? Golly.

Check that.

-Check its quality.

-Does it work?

-Try it.

Did you ever go to sea, Mike?

I didn't. Perhaps I should have done.

Very nice.

Do you know, that's very clean, isn't it?

It's a good, clean thing, and it was in a huge box of things from a clearance.

How old would this be?

That would be, I'm going to guess around 1920,

-but it could be a little bit earlier.

-OK.

-Any other marks, Mike?

-No marks on it.

-Normally they are named. If they are named, if I just show you.

-Yes.

If they're named, they're normally named there.

-Just on the inside.

-Just on the inside of the first one,

but that's not named.

If you want to buy a telescope,

what would you pay for that in a shop these days?

Well, £50 for two items.

What do you think, Kate?

Well, I would say to you that leading London names on telescopes

have a dramatic defect on the price.

-OK.

-But it's a lovely example and £15, I think,

is a very reasonable price.

Is it likely to make 15, or...?

Hopefully, it would make more.

Yeah, I would put, a nice example like that,

-a period telescope...

-£20-£30.

Yeah, I would put 20 to 30 at auction on it

so I think you've got a jolly good chance there. With your trinket box as well,

I think we're out of the blocks and absolutely racing.

-BOTH: OK.

-Sounds like we have a deal.

-Thank you.

-Wow.

'So, that's £35 for the trinket box and a £15 telescope.

'A double deal, and all within ten minutes.

'Well done.

'Now, what have those Reds found?'

Do you both like that?

-I do quite like that.

-Yes, I do... quite like that.

-"Quite", OK. Not good enough to be buying it.

-No.

-A calendar, I think. A 40-year calendar.

-Mm.

-Tat, I think.

-Yeah.

'It's nos all round,

'but the RAF air traffic controller, Fiona,

'is on the hunt for some militaria.'

I don't suppose by chance you might happen to have any RAF brooches?

I have one RAF.

-You do have one?

-I do.

-Oh! Oh!

Oh!

It's a little Second World War one

and it's a wishbone.

-A wishbone one.

-To wish you good luck.

This is exactly what you were looking for.

-It is.

-Let's have a look at it.

-Look at that.

-Oh, that's nice.

Isn't that pretty?

Who would have actually worn this type of brooch?

They would normally be given as a present to a sweetheart.

This is a sweetheart brooch.

I've actually got one myself.

You wear it to balls or parties and they're just lovely little items.

Fantastic. Militaria items are really on the up, they're very, very collectable.

Everybody wants them and I think just because this has got

the little wishbone, it makes it even more sought after.

It's got the nice insignia, painted RAF enamelled.

-Excellent.

-The price at £15, that's not bad.

Could you tell me, what is the very best you could do on it?

I can take 20% off that so it will come down to £12.

It's a good price but I would say,

is there any chance you could take ten for it?

To give you a chance and because you've asked nicely, yes, I'd do ten.

-That's very kind.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you so much.

'Wow! You're racing through this shop, Reds.

'A second purchase in 20 minutes.'

Plenty of time.

Come on, let's go for a stroll.

'Yes, plenty of time and plenty of cash.

'You've only spent £12 on two items.

'While the teams continue shopping,

'I'm off to see an example of Lincolnshire's famous RAF heritage.'

BELL RINGS

If I wasn't an auctioneer,

I've always rather fancied myself as a firefighter.

After all, it's not everyday you get to sit in a World War II fire engine.

To tell me a little more of this one's history, is the owner,

Steve Shirley from the Museum of RAF Firefighting.

-Hello, Charlie, nice to meet you.

-Hello.

Can you tell me a little bit more about this beast?

Yes, certainly.

It's a 1941 War Office Type One fire engine,

known affectionately as the "Wotty".

-The Wotty?

-Yes, this type of vehicle would have served quite literally in

any RAF base or, indeed, American air force station during the war.

This vehicle is one of only three survivors in the world.

-Yeah?

-And it's the only one that is fully restored and on the road.

Gosh!

It actually went to Normandy six days after D-Day.

-Gosh!

-In fact, that's why it's in this camouflage scheme.

Oh, D-Day camouflage?

Yes and when the RAF actually took over bases in occupied France...

-Yes.

-..we were then able to launch attacks with Spitfires etc

into the heart of Germany

and these fire engines would have provided the cover.

So, where was it at the end of the war?

It actually served right through to, we believe, the Berlin airlift,

and we have documentary evidence that it was in Berlin in 1946.

-My word!

-It returned to England in the '50s where, unfortunately,

it was subsequently scrapped.

But then rescued?

Then rescued and fully restored by a chap called Tony Corbin

in the 1970s.

So, arriving on the scene,

you would have to jump out of here and then go into the planes?

That's right. In fact, it had to be done that quickly that one guy was

dressed in an asbestos suit so that he could quite literally walk into

-the flames and pull people clear of the wreckage...

-Crikey!

whilst other fireman would put the fire out.

So, how many people were onboard?

There were actually a crew of five.

-The guy in the asbestos suit.

-Yes.

-The driver.

-Yeah.

-And three other guys in rubber boots, a pair of overalls

and the only protection they had was a tin helmet

with an asbestos curtain which protected their face.

A pretty terrifying job.

Still is. Still is today!

I'm sure. It needs a huge amount of bravery.

Yes, and there are many recorded incidences of RAF firefighters

getting bravery awards for rescuing aircrew from crashed aircraft.

Well, thank you, Steve. It's been absolutely fascinating.

-I couldn't have a lift, could I?

-Yes, certainly, no problem.

In fact, I've got another question.

I couldn't drive, could I?

-Yes, you can.

-Marvellous, thank you very much indeed.

FIRE BELL RINGS

Marvellous!

CLUTCH CRUNCHES

Oh!

'From driving a "Wotty" to driving a hard bargain,

'let's see how our teams are getting on.

'With two items each and 30 minutes left,

'they're both searching for their third.'

-Let's go over there.

-All items a fiver on the left.

Yeah. Hm...

Sadly, I don't think they'd make a fiver at auction.

'Keep looking then.'

-I do like these.

-What, these? You like these?

Yeah. Little hair clips.

-Do you like them?

-I do quite.

We could probably get those for a pound!

Well, let's see what else we see.

Yeah, sure. We've got plenty of time.

'Can I remind you that you have £288 in your pocket?'

I have to say, I'm getting into this, let's not spend any money!

'In the meantime, the Blues are keen to spend, but on what?'

Oh, what about that for the band?

What do you think?

'This should appeal to Ian's musical side.'

Trombone, very nice.

-Yeah.

-You tend to try and hold it...

I play the fiddle so I haven't got a clue.

-Like that.

-OK.

Like that.

-Nice action.

-Yeah?

Plays well. Who's it made by?

A good make. Boosey & Hawkes.

That is a good make, actually, isn't it?

They're quite a leading English maker, aren't they, of instruments?

I think it's seen better days though, hasn't it?

Yes, slightly worn around here and on this side as well.

What's that bit for?

It's a valve so that's where you blow out your

sputum, so to speak.

-Lovely.

-Out it comes.

-Oh, how lovely.

I'm really glad I asked that!

Shall we go and ask a price?

What do you think? Are we serious about this?

I think we should at least ask the price.

No, it's awful.

You can't buy that, it's a tatty old trombone.

-I'll tell you what...

-You wouldn't want to buy that, surely?

Michael, it's a fabulous restoration.

Ian, I wouldn't give you £10 for it, it's dreadful.

'Well, that's the end of that then.

'Mike says no.

'The Reds need to be convinced, too.'

SELLER: Toby jug for a fiver.

-1920s.

-Should make a little profit.

You don't like it, Sue, I can tell.

Sue. No? He's smiling at you.

I know, that's what worries me!

'How can you resist such a charming man?

-Is it Bakelite?

-It will be Bakelite, yeah.

Is it quite heavy?

Yeah, I mean, it's a lovely Art Deco shape, isn't it?

-There's a mark there, 45?

-It seems a lot of money, 75.

BOTH: Yeah.

It's got a lovely Deco look but, at that price, I think...

-It's a bit, it's a bit heavy.

-What else have we got?

'Keep looking, Blues.

'20 minutes left on the clock.

'After so much browsing, the Reds seem to have lost their direction.

They can't decide what they want but, now, a revelation!'

We came here sort of thinking about...

..a champagne bucket.

-Yes.

-But we've seen the other things, so...

We haven't found a champagne bucket.

We haven't found the champagne bucket at all.

I wonder if there is any... outside?

Have we got time just to pop out and have a look?

I think so. Push hard.

Push!

'That wasn't on your wish list!

'Take it from me, it's chilly outside.

'If you're happy to brave the elements, go ahead.

'The Blues, however, are considering something a bit more warm and cuddly.'

-There's some little bears...

-What about the bears?

-The bears are nice, actually.

-The bears are quite nice, aren't they?

What about this dog here? My wife would love that.

-Would she?

-She would.

Do you know, that is quite sweet.

I love his little glass eyes.

Yes. He's very old, you can see he's very old.

Probably '50s?

-Oh, really?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-Tricky. No name or no label on it.

-Right.

-Look at those silky ears, though.

-SELLER: That's a Steiff.

-It's a Steiff, is it?

-Is it? OK.

-So, Germany.

So, Steiff is the name to conjure with when you're talking about

stuffed toys, but I think before we go any further,

we'd better find out the price because Steiff often means

-quite a high price.

-Expensive.

-SELLER: I would love 55 on it, but...

-OK.

The dog's... Do it for 30.

-You'll do it for 30?

-Yeah, and that is...

-OK.

-He's very pretty and if you say it's quite unique,

not one of the standard items, maybe the rarity might encourage the value?

Yes, I mean, because it hasn't got the Steiff name on it or the little

telltale button in the ear...

-OK.

-You've got to rely on collectors knowing that the design of it,

the model of it is a Steiff.

-Right.

-I think, actually, it's in pretty good condition.

So why did you make a beeline for this, Mike?

-Well, so, we have a dog.

-Right.

We have a little liver and white Dalmatian called Poppy.

And the wife has got me now to be a dog person.

And people who are dog lovers will spend money.

-Yeah.

-She spends money like it's going out of fashion on this dog

so if she saw that in the auction, I think, like other dog lovers,

she'd be keen to buy it.

Would she? I'm going to bring Ian in here, who's being very silent,

and studying this quite carefully.

-What do you think?

-Yeah, a couple of, a couple of little marks, here.

I'm not sure about the face, in all honesty. I mean...

Those puppy eyes, Ian. Look at the eyes on it.

25, I think, is sensible.

-25? OK.

-We'll take it off your hands now for 25.

-Deal?

-Definitely.

-Good man.

-Superstar. Thank you.

-Excellent.

-Is that it? Have we done it?

-We've done the deal.

-Fantastic! Well done!

-Excellent.

Do you know? I think he's rather sweet.

-That's a beautiful dog.

-Yeah.

-£25, it's a bargain!

Well done, guys, well done! Well, that's your three items.

-Fantastic.

-I think we'll make a profit with those three, Kate, I really do.

'Well, let's hope so, Mike!

'That's it, all three items in the bag.

'Now with ten minutes left and one item still to find,

'how are those Reds getting on?'

Now, this is an actual...

This is an ice bucket rather than a champagne bucket.

It's a bit too small

and I don't think it's got a huge amount of age to it, too.

I think it's fairly new as well.

So, ladies, are we going to go for the ice bucket?

BOTH: No!

Oh!

So, what are we going to go for?

We are going to go for the diamante hair clips?

-I think so.

-So we are going back inside?

-Yes, we are. Yes.

-Let's go, then.

'The Blues have finished, but there's no holding them back

'when it comes to messing about.'

That's another fine mess you've got me into, Ian.

'Now, are those hair clips still there?'

Oh, they are, they're still here.

Oh, wow, they're still there! Fantastic.

Right, I think you know more about these than I do.

-So tell me.

-Well, they're diamante hair clips.

All of the stones are still there.

Yeah, they look in fairly good condition.

And actually, if you break this, you can replace it.

-Oh.

-Oh, you could, couldn't you?

You could just... All you've got to do is buy another little comb.

-Yeah.

-So that's perfect.

-I think they're lovely.

-I think they're gorgeous.

There, they're very blingy.

They're very blingy, but bling is in.

They've got that 1920s, 1930s look about them, haven't they?

-Yes.

-So that's the kind of age that I would put them at.

They're not exactly the same shape, though, are they?

Is that on purpose?

Well, I think it might be because I think you might wear one

-above the other in a...

-Oh, yes!

-In a hair arrangement.

That makes sense. That makes sense.

Especially if you've got, if you've got your hair up, you know?

Yeah, that would make sense.

One on top of the other. Oh, brilliant, yes.

£3 each. I mean,

why don't we make a really cheeky offer and offer the lovely lady £1?

-Oh, let's.

-Shall we do that?

Let's try. Oh, are we going to be really cheeky?

We've nothing to lose. If you don't ask, you don't get, I've always said so.

Where is the lovely lady?

'£1? This will be interesting.'

Oh, hello, hello, hello.

Is the very best on that pair £2?

SELLER: Oh, go on, you can have them for a pound.

-Can we?

-It's a steal.

"You can have them for a pound!"

A pair for a pound! Shake the lady's hand before she changes her mind!

She's so nice, that's why.

Ah, thank you.

'Well, the last of the big spenders have finished their hour

'with a £1 purchase. Incredible!'

Ladies and gentlemen, your time is up!

HOOTER SOUNDS

I dread to think what Charles is going to say to us.

Come on, let's go!

Now, let's remind ourselves what the Red team have bought.

'First up, they paid a staggering £2 for a pair silver-plated

'Walker & Hall candlesticks.

'They then went deeper into their pockets,

'spending a full £10 on an RAF enamel brooch.

'And finally, they paid a sparkling £1 for a pair of Art Deco diamante

'hair clips.'

Susan and Fiona.

I don't know what to say, really.

I mean, if I gave my wife £300 and said go shopping,

she would spend 310.

I give you £300 to go shopping, and what do you spend?

£13!

Did you enjoy yourselves?

-Oh, it's been fab.

-We've had a fabulous time.

-We've had such a great time.

-What's your favourite item?

Candlesticks? Do you think?

Yeah, I still like the RAF brooch even though it was £10.

Well, after all, it was the most expensive lot, wasn't it, the RAF brooch?

It cost £10!

-Which will make the biggest profit?

-I, I think the candlesticks might.

But I don't know about Fiona. Do you think?

-Yeah, I think the candlesticks.

-The candlesticks. How was it, Raj?

It was fantastic. I mean, they never set out to spend so little.

-No.

-It's just the way it evolved.

By my calculations, you've got £287 to hand over.

-I have.

-Raj, are you going to be safe with this lot?

I think so. I think so, Charlie.

What are you going to do with it?

Well, I'm certainly going to spend more than £1.

OK?

So, while Raj goes off to splash the cash,

let's check out what the blue team have bought.

First up, they spent £35 on a George V silver trinket box.

They then spotted a 20th-century brass telescope and £15 was paid.

And finally, a soft toy dog was theirs for £25.

Mike and Ian, a swift purchase or two.

Absolutely. No hanging about, mate.

No. Right in, weren't you?

Kate was a fantastic expert and I think we've got three profitable items.

Oh, I say, you don't feel a golden gavel coming on, do you?

Fighting talk! What's your favourite lot?

Definitely the teddy. So we've got a teddy dog.

-Yeah.

-Absolutely beautiful.

-You like that too?

-I'm sure it will make a profit at auction.

Sure? I love this fighting talk!

-What do you reckon?

-The silver trinket box was my favourite,

but I also think we'll make a profit on the little dog.

Well, you spent, what? £75?

-We did.

-Medium rare spend, isn't it?

It does mean you've got 225 to hand over.

We have.

Oh! What's she going to do with it?

Yes, something of quality, fine taste.

Fine taste.

-Just like my gentlemen here.

-Oh!

Oh, my word! So, while Kate goes off to exercise her fine taste,

we'll go off to the auction.

We've come down the road to the auctioneers,

Golding, Young & Mawer in Grantham.

Now, I'm with the man that runs it all.

Colin, how are you?

Good to see you, Charlie. Nice to be here.

-Now, Susan and Fiona had £300.

-OK.

They started by buying this pair of candlesticks.

Right, very nice. Good, strong Arts and Crafts look about them.

-Yes.

-Top maker as well, Walker & Hall.

-Yeah.

OK, they're not silver, but they are silver-plated

and the condition is really good on them.

-Yeah.

-I've put an estimate of £10-20 on them.

-Do you know what they paid?

-No.

-£2.

-Really?

Now, the brooch.

Well, RAF subject matter is always very popular,

particularly when you are in Bomber County.

-Yes, of course.

-And you're here in Lincolnshire.

So all the signs are very, very positive for you.

-Good.

-Erm, the metal, well, it's not silver, it's not gold.

-No.

-It really is a base metal so it's going to be at the bottom end

of the range for something like this.

-Yes.

-Again, I've gone fairly strong with an estimate

of £10-20 once more.

-Well, they paid £10.

-Yeah.

-So should be OK.

Yeah, looks promising.

Now, they bought these really stylish hair grips.

-What do you think?

-I think they're great.

They are just so strong in their Deco design.

Yeah. What about a value?

£10-20.

They paid £1 for these.

-Really?!

-A pound!

-Yeah, they probably are worth every penny of that pound.

So with any luck they won't need their bonus buy but they just might.

Let's have a look at it.

Frankly, girls, the amount of money you gave Raj,

I expected him to leave the country.

£287.

I'm surprised he is still here.

It's called Bargain Hunt!

Yeah, we just got a bit carried away.

I think you may have done a very wise move there,

but let's see what Raj has got for you.

I did say I was going to spend more than a pound, didn't I?

-Yes.

-Yes, you did.

-Right?

Ooh, that's lovely!

-OK.

-I like that!

-Don't drop it!

-That is super.

This is an 18th-century Chinese tea bowl.

Fabulous.

Now it's quite a rare thing, that's why it cost so much money.

-OK.

-It cost me £2.

-Whoa!

-No way!

-Fantastic!

Well done, Raj!

-Can we have a look?

-Yes, of course.

It's quite extraordinary, in this day and age,

you can buy something like that...

-Isn't that beautiful?

-..provenance, that pedigree, that age, for £2.

-Amazing.

-That's fantastic. Isn't that gorgeous?

So, what kind of profit are we going to make on that, then, Raj?

-£40-60.

-Really?

Really? That much?

Yeah, absolutely. I think on this one, let's wait and see.

Oh! Hedge my bets!

That's absolutely fabulous.

Thank you, Raj. That's really good.

Wonderful. Well, Raj thinks £40-60.

Will Colin the auctioneer think £40-60?

Well, give a man £287 and that's what he buys.

-18th-century.

-Yeah.

Nice enamel decoration on it.

-Yeah.

-A really good example.

In general terms, something like this would easily be

the best part of 80, maybe £100.

-So it's all looking rather good, isn't it?

-Yeah, superb.

The only problem is, I think, with that crack in it,

I think I should break the trend of my 10-20.

Erm... But unfortunately, I can't.

-10-20.

-10-20.

-Any good?

-Well, he spent more than a pound, as you can well imagine.

-OK.

-He bought it for two.

That's just amazing, isn't it?

He couldn't have chosen anything better.

I think they might just make a profit,

and that's what it's all about.

Now, on to the Blues, Mike and Ian.

They start off with this little ring box.

Yeah, a good thing, isn't it?

Lovely shape to it, the silver is in good order.

-Yes.

-Strong lot, £40-60, I would say, on this.

Lovely. Ian liked this, paid £35.

-Very good.

-Now, what about the telescope?

Telescope, well...

It looks shiny, looks impressive, but, you know,

the leather is missing off it,

it's been polished to within an inch of its life...

-Keep going!

-It really, really has.

Erm, so, a good example would clearly be over £100.

Let's go with, say, 25-40, and that should get everybody excited about it.

That's good. And they only paid £15 for it.

I think that was a very good purchase again.

Now, what about the dog?

It's the type of lot, we will either have the screen lit up,

arms in the room, lots of commission bids,

and everything happening with it,

or it's going to be one of those we're begging for that very low

first bid before anybody dares put their arm in the air.

Dependent on whether people think it's Steiff or not?

Indeed, that's going to be it.

I've no reason to doubt that being one of the possibilities for it.

-No, no.

-I've put 25-40 on it.

Well, I think we might just be all right there,

because they paid £25.

However, they may rely on their bonus buy.

Let's have a look at it.

Well, boys, £225 you gave to Kate.

I hope you've bought something of fine quality, Kate.

Well, I hope you expect nothing less of me, Charlie.

-Are you ready, boys?

-BOTH: Yes.

OK.

-So...

-Ooh.

It's a little silver item.

-Is it a match holder?

-It is.

-Top of the class.

It's a little...

It's known as a Vesta case, actually, for matches.

It dates to about 1905.

It's hallmarked. Do you know where it's been made?

Look at that! Straight in there.

-Yeah.

-Do you know, I searched for hours for that.

-You found it straight away!

-Do you think something like this would

-LIGHT up the room, Kate?

-ALL: Ooh!

-See what I did there?

-I like it.

Well, it didn't come cheap.

But it did come with another one as well.

-Ah.

-So you've got two for the price and I like this one because you've

got a lovely Art Nouveau daisy on the front

which is a little bit unusual when it comes to Vestas.

They're not a MATCHING pair?

Oh, dearie me!

I paid 90 for the two, which sounds a lot of money.

-It is a lot of money.

-You left me a lot of money.

But I'm hoping, because you've got two in the same lot,

I'm hoping somebody will bid and want them for their collection.

How much do you think they'll raise?

Somewhere between 70-100 on the two of them, I would hope.

Well, Kate hopes, you hope.

Does the auctioneer give us cause to hope? We'll see.

Well, what do you think?

Very nice. You've got two extremities in terms of value,

-style...

-Yeah.

-..and quality.

-Yeah.

You've got the very sort of thin repousse work

on the smaller rectangular example.

-Yeah.

-20, £30, that sort of range for that.

-Yeah, yeah.

Erm, but then you're onto that really sort of refined,

circular example, which has got the engine turned decoration,

which again, condition looks really good from here.

-Erm, so that's got to be £30-50.

-Yeah.

Add them all together and I suppose you're looking at maybe £50-80

-for the pair.

-Kate did spend money.

-Right. OK.

-Yeah, £90.

-It seems a little heavy.

-Yeah.

-I think we may struggle with that.

Yeah. Well, you're going to have to work extra hard with that gavel.

-As ever.

-But I have utmost confidence in you.

-Have you been to auctions before?

-Yes, just the one.

Just one? Did you buy anything?

-No.

-Did you try to buy something?

No.

Why were you there?

Just to see what the experience was like.

So we kick off with the Arts and Crafts candlesticks.

-And you both chose these, didn't you?

-Yeah.

-You both like them.

Let's see what the auctioneer can do with them. Here they come.

A pair of early 20th-century Arts and Crafts silver-plated

dwarf candlesticks. 10 bid, 12 now, do I see?

At ten, 12 now, do I see it?

£10 bid. At ten, 12 is bid, 15 is bid, 18 now, 20, 20 bid.

2 now. 22, 25.

5 is bid, 28 bid.

30 bid, 32 now.

-Gosh.

-Look, £30 bid, you're OK at 30, that's good.

2 if you wish, sir. At £30 bid. 2 for anybody else now, then.

The lady seated bid down here, then going this time, then at £30.

Yes!

£30. That gives you a profit of £28 on one lot.

-My God.

-That's amazing.

Now comes your really expensive lot.

RAF broach this time, wishbone back on it.

£20, anybody? 20 is first.

10 if we have to. 10, 10 is bid in the front row.

Ten, 12 now, do I see?

The net's going to have to roll to 12, wasn't quite quick enough.

12 is bid, 15's bid, 18 now.

18 for the bid, surely, 18, do I see now?

18. 20.

-Front row has it at 20.

-2 now, surely.

At £20, I'm bid, 2 not, then going at £20.

Yes!

# Double your money and try to get rich... #

That is plus another ten, then.

You are up £38.

Wow.

And you've got a pair of diamante hair clips.

You don't like these so much, do you?

-You're not so keen on them?

-To be honest,

they're not really that useful for me, Charlie, these days.

Deco and decadence.

OK, starting with £1.

1 is bid, 2. At 2, 3. 3 bid, 4 bid, 4, 6, 8 bid,

10 bid. It is 12, 15, 18 now, 15, 18, 20, 20 bid.

2 now, at £20 bid,

at 20, the bid's with me, 2 on the net. 5, 5 bid, 28 now,

at 25, commission bid with me.

28 now on the net.

-28 on the net.

-30 now.

This is extraordinary.

£30 I'm bid, 2 for anybody else now?

That's 2 now, may I say all done and finished and selling,

make no mistake at £30?

-£30!

-Yes!

Well done, girls.

29, that's amazing.

-Do you know how much money you've made?

-No.

£67!

And you only spent 13!

Do you want to make it even bigger with this substantial bowl

that cost £2?

Yes, I think it might get up to 30.

-You're not worried about the crack?

-It could easily.

-There isn't a crack.

-You're going with it?

-Yes.

And the hare goes.

Lot number 246, 18th-century Chinese export bowl this time.

1 is bid, 2, 3.

4 now. At £3 bid, 4 now, do I see 4, 5, 6 now on the net.

6, 8 may I say, now.

8 is bid also.

10 now. £8 bid, 10.

Any more now, then? At £10, last call for everybody.

It's your last chance. I'll offer you 11.

Going this time, then, at £10.

-Yes!

-Listen, you've done really well.

That's £8 onto £67, which means you have made a very,

very tidy three quarters of a hundred.

-Oh, my God.

-£75.

Steady on, you nearly knocked the cabinet over.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

-That's brilliant.

Thank you, Raj.

Stop kissing Raj!

I know you're very euphoric, jumping up and down,

but not a word to the Blues.

2 is bid, 4 bid, 4, 6.

Right, Mike and Ian, you didn't spend a massive amount of money,

but you're quite pleased with what you bought, are you?

We think so. We think we might make a bit of a profit.

We are quietly confident.

Are you? We are starting off with a wonderful ring box.

Here we go. Come on, Mr Auctioneer.

George V silver trinket box, this time.

Beautiful D outline on it, good legs on it as well.

Who's going to start me at, what, £50?

Who's first? £50, anybody?

50 is bid on the net already.

At 50, bid, 5, now, may I say?

-Kate, you're right!

-Five for anybody else?

At £50, are we all done at five?

50 bid, 5 for anybody else now, then, at £50, are we all done?

I'll take five now. Maiden bid has it, then, selling this time, then,

at £50.

Well, I have to say, that's the way to do this, isn't it?

It's a great start.

Only one bid, straight in, straight out.

-That'll do.

-Marvellous. So you're ahead of the game,

you've made £15 profit and you've still got a telescope to come.

Lot number 265 is the three draw telescope this time.

£30. £30?

20 if you like, then, £20.

Come on, get her started.

Exactly what's wrong with it?

This is a great looking thing.

Start me at £10, then.

-£10 bid.

-What is wrong with this?

It only takes one to start it.

12, 15, 18.

-Oh!

-Yeah, now we're in profit.

At 18 bid, I think that everybody in the back row needs to have a bid on

this one because clearly, you can't see it.

18 bid. 20 now do I see?

At 18, it's a great lot!

All done, then, going then, selling on the internet, then, at £18.

-No more.

-Two profitable items.

-Squeeze.

-Well, well, well.

You made £3.

£3. Which means you're now up £18.

Erm, you are just a woof from a golden gavel.

Let's hope we're not BARKING up the wrong item!

No, no. Here it is, the dog, of course.

A plush, jointed dog in the manner of Steiff

Who's going to start me at £40 for him? 40. £40. 40, quickly now.

£40. 40 is bid. At 42 now.

-You've made a golden gavel!

-I have £40 bid.

2 for anybody else, at 40, surely 2?

2 now do I see? It's not working, is it?

At 40, now, 2 now may I say? Last call for you, then,

going at £40.

-Great, that's a good price.

-That is amazing.

Yeah, pleased with that.

Well, you've got a golden gavel.

As a little aside, you've also made £33.

Well, the silver Vesta case. Oh, this is exciting!

-What are you going to do?

-Oh, I'm so nervous.

We don't want to set alight to our profits.

-What do you think?

-Erm, we think it's a little bit heavy.

Pricey.

-We'll keep the 33.

-We're going to stick with our profits,

-I think, Kate.

-Are you?

-We'll say no.

-We'll say no.

-You're not going with it?

-Here it is.

-Pairing of Vestas,

Edwardian example and that wonderful circular example.

I have a massive bid of 40 on the book.

So we go 40, 5, 50, 5, 60.

5 now for the room, at 60, five, now, surely?

At 60, 5 now for anybody else?

Are we all done, then? At £60.

Good decision.

Good decision, fellas!

You've ended up with a £33 profit and...

A golden gavel.

-Oh, wow!

-Fantastic!

-Congratulations, boys, really well done.

-Thank you.

Not a word to the Red team, OK?

What a titanic tussle!

You've both done so well, teams, amazing.

You've both made profits.

What is more, you both have golden gavels!

-Yes!

-You do!

So it's so exciting.

-Well done. Well done.

-But who are the winners?

You haven't been talking to one another, have you?

ALL: No. No.

Well, I can reveal that the winners are undoubtedly...

the Reds!

BOTH: Yes! ALL: Well done.

Thank you.

Well, Blues, hard luck, you did so well, you made £33.

I'm afraid Kate's had to rush off,

but you didn't go with the bonus buy which was rather a sensible move,

-if I may say so.

-Well, that's why Kate's left.

Very good. Well, I've got £33 for you.

-There we are.

-Thank you.

And in my pocket here is a glory of golden gavels.

Take one.

Well done. Wear them with pride.

Pin them on.

Now, you Reds.

-Yes.

-Well, that was just an extraordinary performance.

You spent £13, and you turned it into £75.

I mean, this is extraordinary dealing.

Here is your £75.

-Thank you.

-And here are your golden gavels.

-Oh!

-This is what you came for, ladies.

-It's really what I came for.

-I know.

-I know, isn't that marvellous?

-You wanted them.

-Fantastic.

And you got them. Have you had a good time?

-Fantastic, fabulous time.

-Brilliant.

-Good. Have you enjoyed yourselves?

-Thoroughly.

-Brilliant time, thank you.

-Fantastic.

Well, don't forget to have a look at our website and indeed,

to follow us on Twitter.

In the meantime, do join us for more bargain hunting. Yes?

ALL: Yes!