Southwell 4 Bargain Hunt

Reading railway timetables can be tricky at the best of times.

But in the 19th century,

local time differences across Britain

caused no end of problems when using public transport.

But more of that later.

First, it's time to go bargain hunting.

We're in Nottinghamshire at the Southwell Racecourse antiques fair.

Armed with £300 and 60 minutes on the clock,

our two teams have to buy three items

that hopefully will give them a profit when they sell at auction.

Let's have a glimpse at what's coming up.

The Reds are put to the test.

-Where do you think it was made?

-Er, abroad, because it says foreign.

Foreign, yes.

And the Blues practise their bartering skills.

-I'd be thinking probably more about 30.

-What about 40?

-BOTH:

-35?

While over at the auction, there's joy...

Get in. Wahey!

..and disappointment.

Come on!

OK, but all that is coming up later, so let's meet today's teams.

And for the Reds we've got friends Zach and Fraser,

and for the Blues we've got married couple Hugh and Rita.

-Hello. ALL:

-Hello!

So, where's home for you two fellas?

We both live together in Sheffield, but I'm originally from Dover.

-And I'm originally from Scunthorpe.

-Tell me how you two met.

We actually met at university.

We lived across the hall from each other

and my first day I got a big knock on the front door,

and there was little shy Fraser there, kicking his feet, saying,

"Can we be best friends, please?"

-Are you serious?

-Yeah.

-You're forgetting

the four cans of lager that I was holding.

-He had some cheap beer as a present for me.

-Oh, I see. Oh, right.

OK. And I see you've got a love of drama and film.

Yeah. I studied drama at university

but decided it wouldn't be a career for me.

But we're big fans of the cinema.

We go to the cinema two, three times a week.

I'd probably say my favourite film is Quadrophenia, actually, yeah.

My dad introduced me to it at a really young age

and it's just kind of stuck with me.

Fraser, I believe you share your birthday with a celebrity.

I have the exact same birthday as Justin Bieber,

so it's always kind of figuring out where I'm at in my life

in comparison to him.

I remember my 21st birthday - my mum organised a nice meal for me

and everything, but then I saw on the news next day

that he got a Lamborghini.

At the end of the day, he might have a Lamborghini

-but I'm on Bargain Hunt.

-Exactly.

And if you're watching, Justin,

you've got to apply like anybody else.

OK. So, when it comes to the tactics...

Stay away from metals. We don't really know much about them.

-No.

-And probably go for the weirder items.

Good luck, boys. I'm turning my attention to the Blues.

Rita and Hugh. What part of the country do you two come from?

We're from Melton Mowbray, where the pork pies and Stilton come from.

-Oh, yes, famous.

-And they only can come from Stilton or Melton.

Hugh, tell me, how did you meet Rita?

Well, we met on a Michael Caine film.

Noticing Rita was rubbing her back, I thought I might be able to help

as I used to be a reflexologist

so that was how I managed to get talking to her.

What do you do on these films? What are you working as?

Normally I'm a body double and a stand-in for some major actors.

You probably can't mention them or could you?

Well, I could say I was the body double

for the late Robin Williams on Night At The Museum,

which was a really nice gig to get, dressed as Teddy Roosevelt.

Oh, right. So, I'm assuming when you met

it was a leap year because I believe,

Rita, you did the proposing.

I got a shop to put a big love heart in their window

asking Hugh to marry me.

-Absolutely lost for words.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Well, you weren't quite lost for words, because you said no.

LAUGHTER

You said no?

I actually wanted to ask Rita myself.

So what about today? Is there a plan?

We're probably just going to look for something

that we think's going to sell.

Something with animals on. Maybe a duck-billed platypus.

I've been around quite a few markets,

and when it comes to duck-billed platypuses,

in 45 years I've never come across one

so you might be asking a lot today.

I know, but we've got to get it in there.

OK, but before either of you can do any buying,

you're going to need some money.

-Yes?

-Yes, we are.

-Yes.

-So, £300 for the Reds.

Blues, there's your £300.

-And off you go to meet your respective experts.

-Thank you.

Well, we could be in for a bit of drama today.

Shining a spotlight on the best antiques to buy

are two knowledgeable experts.

Giving direction for the Reds, it's David Harper.

And uncovering the best buys for the Blues, it's Gary Pe.

So what would your dream purchase be?

One of those old, like, 1950s toy, like, cars

that children used to have.

I think something for the garden would be really good.

My grandad was a rabbit breeder so I've got to find something to do

-with that. That would be quite interesting.

-OK, yeah.

You're a strange team, you two, aren't you?

-Something silver. Maybe something practical.

-Glittery?

-Yes.

-Yes.

Teams, your time starts now.

-Let's go.

-Let's go.

-Get set, go.

-Go!

And they're off, and it's not long before the Reds spot something.

-What about this selection of spoons?

-Tell me why you like them.

They're in a nice neat matching box

that looks in relatively good condition,

-so I presume that maybe it could be worth something.

-To be honest,

I don't think there's much quality there, so I'm going to veto that.

I'm going to second that veto.

Well, there's no messing with these boys.

Could decisiveness be the name of the game here?

What period rocks your boat?

Deco and nouveau.

-What about modern?

-Not particularly.

Poole Pottery, English.

It's functional because it's a clock.

-It's doesn't kind of leap out.

-No. OK, right.

Nice try, Gary. Now, how are the strong-minded Reds doing?

I think they look quite different.

I quite like them, to be honest.

They've got that kind of '50s deco look to them.

They're individual, though, aren't they? They don't come as a set.

We could possibly ask for them as a set.

Now, the thing with decanters is you always check to see

-if the stopper is original to the bottle itself.

-Right.

Now you can tell with these two, they are absolutely original.

-Matches up.

-Yeah, they're matching.

And that one looks right as well.

The other one...

Little nibble. Can you see?

-Yeah.

-So, look, if you turn that upside down now.

Are you ready?

You'd better be good at catching this.

I was on the cricket team school, let's try it.

-OK.

-Ah, oof...

-No, no, no.

That's fine. Now we need to lock it.

One...two and a half.

-No.

-Yes.

-Really? I didn't know that.

-Perfect.

-Great tip, there, David.

Number one has passed the test. Apart from a couple of nibbles.

Number two...

Similar sort of age.

Nibble there.

So they're all very well nibbled, are they?

It's not fantastic quality.

Number three.

Hmm... It's a bit dicky, but they've got the look.

I'd want the three for 20 quid as a chancy lot.

-Good afternoon, sir.

-Hello, there.

I don't know whether this is worth dragging you in for this.

-Right.

-You might be very disappointed.

-How much do we want to pay him?

-About £20.

Well, they cost me 30 for the three.

I'm quite happy to sell them to you for £31

and then I make a pound.

If it's all right with Fraser, I'd like to accept that.

-Yes?

-Fraser?

-Yeah, let's do it.

Well done. Shake the man's hand.

Well done, boys. That's your first item bagged.

Meanwhile, Gary is still trying to impress Rita.

-I spotted something there.

-Uh-huh?

-Very sculptural.

-Nice.

-Yeah?

-Very white.

-Yeah?

-It's a torso.

-I like that, actually.

-Male version of the Venus de Milo.

-Yes.

I wonder how much it is, though. Is there a price on it?

I think we have to ask, don't you think?

Hi. What can I help you with?

We're just really interested in this piece.

Can you tell us a little bit about it?

My sister bought it from a vintage fair

probably about 20 years ago and she's had it ever since,

but she's just literally decided to part with it.

-It's plaster, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Now, dare we ask, how much that is?

We had £50 on it.

-Oh.

-I'd be thinking probably more about 30.

We could...

What about 40?

-BOTH:

-35?

That would be really good for us. No, 34.

34, because if they go up in fives...

And it's Rita's age.

-Right, OK...

-THEY LAUGH

Do you know what? Go on, then, we can do it for 34.

-Thank you.

-That's lovely.

-Beautiful, that's great.

-Thank you very much.

One torso in the bag, and a nice bit of haggling, Blues.

Well done. Both teams have secured one item each,

and all within the first ten minutes.

Now, it is back to the boys who have found some Eastern promise.

-That looks quite different.

-OK.

What is it about that that you like? The teapot?

-All of the gold outline.

-It's really, like, intricate and pretty.

-Quite detailed, isn't it?

-OK. OK.

Well, there you go. There's one cup. Talk to me about that.

-It's very small.

-It is very small.

Where do you think it was made?

-Erm, abroad, because it says foreign.

-Foreign, yes.

It's a tourist piece,

but more likely something that might be brought back

after the Second World War so after '45, there were bases in Japan,

you know, for Allied troops.

And when they were coming back home,

they were all bringing back tea sets for girlfriends, for relatives.

And I think it falls into that sort of category.

-So you're saying there's quite a lot of it out there.

-There's a lot of it

out there so I would say it's a no.

The Reds know exactly what they want.

The Blues, however, are still finding their bearings.

-Right, which way?

-Shall we turn...right?

-Turn right?

-Right, OK.

Ooh. Guys, I quite like this.

Now, I know you were looking for a duck-billed platypus.

I've found you a duck.

-Is that a wine decanter?

-It is a decanter, yes.

-Probably for oil because of the stopper in there.

-Yeah, I would say.

-I would say oil.

-This is probably from the 1940s.

-Right.

-OK.

-But it's very much

in the style of a very famous ceramic designer, Sandoz.

Edouard-Marcel Sandoz was an Art Deco artist

who created figural and animal sculptures

using bronze, ceramic and stone.

So, while this isn't one of his, it does mimic his work.

The more I look at it, the more it's growing on me.

-It's actually a nice piece.

-I see it's got £10 on it.

-What's your best price you can do that on that?

-Eight.

-I think... Do you like it?

-Yeah, OK. Go for that.

Yeah, I think eight is really good.

Thank you very much.

It certainly is a bargain, Blues, well done.

That's your second item in the bag after 16 minutes.

As time continues to count down for our teams,

I'm off to find out about a Nottinghamshire man's mission

to save one very special clock.

In the 1970s,

a Nottinghamshire railway worker called Roland Hoggard

put a massive 18-foot clock on the side of his barn wall.

He'd spent years renovating it after buying it

as a broken collection of pieces for just £25.

So why am I telling you all this?

Well, that clock was the very one

that overlooked the platforms at St Pancras Station

ever since it opened in 1868.

Roland's clock represented the importance of time

for the railway network.

It's easy to forget that in the early 1800s,

there was no such thing as one standard time in Britain.

Towns across the country kept their own local times,

often with as much as 20 minutes' difference between them.

The need to synchronise time became imperative.

So, in the 1840s, the railways adopted Greenwich Mean Time,

a common time for all stations.

To help passengers,

huge clocks hung above all main-line station platforms

and London St Pancras was no exception.

For more than a century, it towered over the platforms,

but by the 1970s, its future was uncertain.

I'm meeting Alan Midleton from the British Horological Institute

to learn more about its fate.

Well, St Pancras station was in great disrepair at that time.

British Railways had planned, I think, to pull the whole place down.

It has fortunately been saved,

but what wasn't saved was the station clock, this large dial,

which was planned to be sold to an American.

But as they took the dial off the wall,

it was dropped and, of course, it's made largely of stone and slate,

so that was the end of that dial, really.

So that's when the dial was bought by Roland.

So unusual was Roland's purchase that he made the news.

The idea of not only preservation,

it's to make something which would have been scrap

and bring it back to working order again.

Roland Hoggard was a retired railwayman

who'd started work aged just 14.

Not just passionate about railways,

Roland was also a keen clock collector,

so the chance to buy the broken St Pancras clock was unmissable.

They said to him in the office,

"Well, how on earth are you going to get all this home?"

And he said, "I'm a railwayman. By the time I get downstairs,

"it'll all be loaded into the back of train," and it was.

They'd loaded the whole lot into the train,

off it went to Nottingham and then got back to his home,

which is quite close to here.

Fantastic.

Roland pieced the huge broken clock back together,

fixed it to his barn wall and got it working again using a car battery.

So how difficult was this for Roland to restore?

The main part is the dial.

A dial of that size, all of which was in pieces,

much of which has been lost, he had to rebuild it.

So up went the scaffolding at the end of his barn

and he spent something like 18 months or so

actually rebuilding this dial

and then fixing the hands,

getting it all attached to the clock mechanism and away it went.

When Roland passed away in 2014,

the British Horological Institute inherited the clock.

Although they're currently restoring the dial,

the 15-foot long hands are on display.

-They are enormous!

-They are quite large, yes.

They're the largest pair of hands we have in this building, yes.

They're in remarkable condition.

We actually re-gold leafed them. Now they really look brand-new.

And it's not just the visitors here that benefit from Roland's foresight

to rescue one of our best-known industrial relics.

When St Pancras underwent a massive refurbishment in the early 2000s,

the craftsmen used the original clock to make a replica,

which is now in St Pancras Station.

What a great story.

Back at the fair and, 20 minutes in,

the Blues are looking for their final item,

while the Reds still need two more.

Now, could this be the toy the boys are looking for?

-I think it might be. I think if might be.

-OK.

It depends though. How old is it?

OK. Well, what...?

No idea still!

I mean, it is - it does look a bit old. It's got a bit of rust to it.

But it might have been left outside for a while.

But its style - what style is it?

I want to say, like, 1930s maybe. I don't know.

Bit later than that. With that red and cream, it's '50s or '60s.

It's not in very good condition, though, is it?

-No, no.

-It's got a lot of marks and paint and stuff like that.

Yeah, but it will definitely appeal to toy collectors.

What have you got on the little fire engine?

The absolute low I can do is 25.

25 quid.

-I think it's a bargain.

-Very happy with what he said, to be honest.

-Yeah.

-Would you have it?

-Yeah, I'd definitely have it.

-Let's have it.

-Let's do it, yeah.

-Lovely, we'll have that, thank you.

-MAN:

-OK, brilliant.

-We'll call back later.

-Thanks a lot. Well done, boys.

-Awesome.

Object two. You're on fire!

Ah, Very good, David,

and it's exactly what was on Zach's wish list.

That's now two items for the Reds.

Back with the Blues and they still have £258 to splash.

The toy money boxes.

I think from here they're not that old, as you can see.

-You can see.

-The paint is too new.

-So, no. I don't think so.

-No.

Moving swiftly on, and the Reds think they're on to a winner.

I like the look of this.

-You like the look of that?

-Yes.

-Why do you like the look of that?

Well, I did have a little tip-off about these kinds of items and brass

and I heard how someone bought it for £5 and it sold for over £60.

-Do you know what it is?

-No idea.

-It's for putting hot pans on.

Yes, or a hot kettle.

-A hot kettle.

-Oh.

-It's called a trivet.

But the thing is, there are trivets and there are TRIVETS.

That is quite an ordinary trivet.

But do you recognise the coat-of-arms?

-It's British, isn't it?

-It's British.

Yeah, it's the royal coat-of-arms.

It's British. So if that's the case, this is a 19th-century piece,

probably the latter part of the 19th century,

screaming Queen Victoria,

1887, the celebration of 50 years on the throne,

or 1897, 60 years on the throne.

A lot of these things were made in commemoration.

-Have you just said they made lots of these?

-Of course they did.

-Yeah.

-That is may be why it's got £12 on the tag.

-It's cheap enough.

Is it going to sell for much more than that, do you think?

It might make its £10 or £20 worth in auction.

I think if we were at a different point in the day,

when we didn't only have one item left to select,

-I think we would go for this.

-Yes.

Because we've got a fair bit of time.

-We have actually.

-We've only got to make one more selection,

I think we should probably move on and maybe come back to it.

OK. Listen, I don't think it's going to go anywhere, is it?

Come on!

-Is that us being cool?

-Yeah.

No, definitely not, actually!

While the Reds work on their cool credentials,

the Blues have found something shiny.

This should please Rita.

-A Georgian tea strainer.

-Georgian. Hmm... I wonder if it is.

It looks silver or is it silver gilt?

-Obviously it's silver.

-Let's have a look at it.

-Shall I get it out?

Let's take it out.

It is gilded in the interior. Now there's a purpose for that,

because silver and acid don't interact well.

-No.

-So obviously a coating of gold is ideal

so that, you know, it retains its look.

Now, if it's silver, there should be hallmarks...

-There you go.

-Yes, there you go.

I think you're quite right, I think it is Georgian.

Why has it got a squeezy bit there?

Because it's not for tea bags, obviously.

If I take that teapot...

Yeah.

-See that spout?

-Yeah.

What if I insert that...?

Oh, and you pour the boiling water on to the tea.

In there, and by the action of...

And that catches any leaves that come out instead of... Yeah, OK.

-Is there a price on it?

-There's no price.

-Shall I go and ask?

-I think we should.

-OK, I'll go and ask.

Rita's off to consult the dealer, who's a bit camera shy.

-MAN:

-You'll never find another one, they're as rare as hen's teeth.

-OK.

-Right, I've had a word with the dealer.

He says that these are very rare.

He wants 150 for it,

but I've got him down to 110.

But personally, I still feel that that's too much of a chance.

So the Blues play it safe.

Zach, on the other hand, wants to pull something out of the hat.

-Rabbits!

-Oh, my...

-I don't particularly like them, but they are...

-They are rabbits.

-They are rabbits.

-Not the response Zach was looking for.

So, moving on.

Do we like a bit of Clarice, Clarice Cliff?

-Yeah, yeah.

-1920s, '30s Art Deco kind of thing, yeah.

The earlier period. OK, what do you think?

I think she's one of my all-time heroes of the 20th century.

She was born in the late 19th or early 20th century

but at the age of about 11 went into the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent

and worked her way through different departments

-so she could learn new skills.

-Wow.

And she became so good that the salesmen took her designs

and they showed them to the retailers. The retailers loved them,

came back to the factory and said, "We want to stock this range."

It's a lovely thing, but this is the bottom range.

It's not the hundreds of pounds, it's the low tens of pounds.

So what kind of margins do you think we're going to make on that, then?

Well, she's got £22.50 on it, 22 quid, so we'll get for 20 quid.

It'll probably make £30.

-I don't know if we want to aim higher. I don't know.

-Yeah.

Yeah, we can achieve more.

Decisiveness yet again, Reds, but, with 50 minutes left,

they'll need to find something soon.

So will you, Blues.

-Right.

-These.

-Oh, OK.

They're majolica tiles. They look to be possibly English.

-Early 20th century.

-Or late, late 19th century.

Yeah.

-So would they be on the fireplace?

-Yes, it's one of the uses.

So, obviously the panels have been framed to hang on a wall.

Let's have a look. Shall we put this on top of this chair here,

so we can have a better and proper look?

-Some of the glazing's very, very slightly cracked on that tile.

-OK.

It's not a crack, it's what you would call a craze.

-Oh, right, OK.

-Unfortunately, there's a backing here.

-I think we need to call in the dealer.

-OK.

-Can we?

-OK.

-Hi.

-Hello.

-Could you tell us more about this?

Yes, that's been labelled up wrong somehow.

They're Art Nouveau. They're from a fireplace and they are Minton.

The Minton mark on these tiles is hidden on the back.

Consequently, it's impossible to confirm conclusively

that these tiles are late Victorian and not later productions.

-They are Minton, you've seen the mark?

-Yes.

-So did you have these framed yourself?

-Yes, we have. Yes.

-Oh, OK.

Right. They're English.

-Right.

-Obviously, English majolica.

That would be from 1890 to about early 1905.

-Yeah.

-Priced at £95.

-That's a bit too much for me.

-Yeah.

I would still be thinking maybe £45 the pair for those.

I could do £50 for the pair.

Can you just drop it a bit?

Just £1 because they go up in £5 increments.

-49?

-Could you do 49?

-Yeah, I'll do 49.

-Do you think we could make a profit with that?

That's close to 50%, so that rocks my boat.

-Fantastic.

-Excellent.

-We like them.

-Yeah.

-We like them.

Another decorative item bought and our final item.

So that's it.

It is, Hugh. Well done, Blues.

You're all done and dusted and with ten minutes to spare.

It's down to you now, Reds.

-That's different.

-Oh, wow, that's really cool.

-It's a walking stick, isn't it?

-It's a walking stick, yeah.

Made from what, then, Fraser?

Well, that's definitely the antler of a...

-A deer.

-I've no kind of what kind of wood it is, though.

It's probably a root, isn't it?

It looks a bit like a root, unless it has been twisted.

-Quite a cool thing.

-It's really cool, yeah. It's very different.

I think this is in line with what we've been talking about all day.

Being a bit weird and out there, taking chances on it.

I think it's a particularly nice one.

I don't know whether it's got a great deal of age to it.

-How much is it?

-WOMAN:

-£35.

Knock a tenner off for us, £25?

I'll do 28.

28.

Well, you know what?

Where will you find another one for £28?

There's nothing like this anywhere else, is there?

I think £28 is a good deal.

It's fine, and it's our third purchase, yeah?

Three distinctly different things.

-Yeah.

-Are you sure? No Clarice Cliff, no trivet.

Er...

Yeah!

You've got seven minutes to run and get the trivet if you want it

-or you buy that.

-Let's get this.

I'm not into running, let's go get that.

We'll have it, thank you. Thank you very much. Well done, chaps.

Well done, Reds. That's your third and final item and.

with seven minutes to spare, I'm going to call time early.

Let's remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

First up, they got this set of three Art Deco-style decanters for £31.

Next, it was this retro-style fire truck. Price paid - £25.

Finally, this rustic walking stick set them back £28.

Well, David, I think a case of two cool dudes go shopping.

-Er, three, Eric. Please include me in this.

-Oh, OK.

Yes, of course. So, Fraser, favourite item?

It's going to have to be the shepherd's crook, I think. Yeah.

It's just odd. I quite like that.

But of the three items,

which is going to give you the biggest return?

The toy car, maybe. You sounded quite confident about that one.

-Yeah.

-Zach, what about yourself? Just tell me your favourite item.

It's going to have to be the toy car. It's what I was looking for

and I also think it's going to bring the most amount of profit.

So not a massive spend, lads, was it?

-£84.

-So you're going to give me £216, is that right, Fraser?

I should do, yeah. There's one.

OK, splash the cash, come on.

Straight across there.

Mr Harper, is there something out there that's caught your eye?

Yeah, there is, a few things.

These are a couple of butch, kind of manly young men.

Exactly, see the way they plume themselves up?

I've got something in mind.

-Something a bit butch and manly.

-Oh, you are a cool dude.

So, while David goes off to find something rather manly,

let's remind ourselves what the Blue team bought.

First up, the male plaster torso seduced them at £34.

Next, was the porcelain duck decanter, billed at £8.

And finally, this pair of Art Nouveau-style tile panels for £49.

Well, Gary, I thought that was

something of a steady shop - would you agree?

Very focused. They knew what they wanted.

So, Hugh, tell me your favourite item.

My favourite item was the torso.

I think that's a really lovely decorative item.

Which is the one that's going to give you two the biggest profit?

I think it's going to be that one

because I think if a couple of people like it,

they're going to pay lots of money for it.

OK, Rita, what about yourself? What's your favourite item?

The Art Nouveau tiles.

It ticked all the right boxes, as far as I was concerned.

Which of the three is going to give you the biggest profit?

I think there's a good chance

that that might be the duck jug that Gary picked out.

-Total spend was?

-£91.

So who's going to give me £209?

There we go.

Thank you. So, Gary.

-Thank you, sir.

-So, £209. You could do an awful lot of good with that,

-couldn't you?

-I think so.

I think I'm going to go for something dramatic.

So while Gary goes off for a dramatic bonus buy,

we're going off to the auction.

Well, we've headed east and we're in the city of Lincoln

and we've come to the saleroom of Golding, Young and Mawer

and I'm joined by Colin Young.

Well, welcome, Eric, back to the fine county of Lincolnshire.

Thank you. Let's get on with the business, let's talk Red team.

Their first items are these decanters

which strike me as probably 1950s.

Yeah, absolutely. Very much of the period.

I suppose now it comes under that market of retro, really, doesn't it?

Described as sugar-glass decanters.

I suppose that's this granular texture, isn't it?

It is, yeah. It's the finish that has been applied to it.

-Very pretty things. Estimate?

-£25-40 for all three.

They paid £31. I think that was a pretty good buy, don't you?

-Yeah. They're decorative at £10 each, aren't they?

-They are as well.

Second item that they purchased

was this retro-style fire engine of sorts.

Difficult to date really - '60s, '70s, '80s.

I suppose it could even be modern-day.

It could. I mean, it's got a little bit of rust on it

which would intimate that it has got some age about it.

As for estimate, we've put £25-40 on it.

OK, they'll live with that, the two boys,

especially because they consider this their best buy

and they paid £25 for it.

-OK.

-So we'll watch and see.

And item number three is this very rustic-looking walking stick.

I mean, there can't be another one out there, can there?

Not quite the same, it has to be said.

No! Look at that, it's the weird and wonderful, it really is.

I don't think it's going to excite walking stick collectors,

but it's got to be worth £25-40.

They paid £28 for that.

-OK.

-So three reasonable buys.

They may not need their bonus buy,

but let's find out what it is anyway.

-Feeling the tension, boys?

-Yep.

-A sense of excitement?

-Yeah.

-Oh, yeah.

-Good. We want you buzzing, don't we?

-Oh, buzzing, buzzing.

-David, these boys gave you £216 to go and spend.

-I know, I know.

-So would you like to reveal your bonus buy?

They're looking very worried, they are.

-Oh.

-It's a trunk.

It is a trunk and it contains manly tools.

Wow!

You've got trays and trays of old tools,

but I think you've got a double whammy here.

You've got somebody who might be interested in tools,

old ones and then you've got the trunk itself.

Late 19th, early 20th century.

It's pine, it's been ebonised,

but it's got that wonderful beat-up look.

-I like it.

-I agree. I like it as well.

-What would you use it for?

Maybe convert into some sort of wine container,

so it would be a bit edgy and cool.

It's got multipurposes, hasn't it?

That's what I was hoping in the auction.

It's not just going to be sold to a bloke who wants it in his shed.

-So what do you think I paid for it, Zach?

-I'd say 150.

-Good, you're the kind of guy I like. 65.

-Oh, right, OK. Nice.

How much do you think it's going to fetch at auction then?

I'd love it to make 100 quid.

I see no reason why it couldn't touch three figures.

Remember, you don't have to make your mind up now.

Wait till you've sold your first three items

and then you make your decision.

But, meanwhile, let's find out what the auctioneer has to say

about David's box of tricks.

So here it is.

It's a painted pine tool chest with a good number of tools.

Classic combination of a good tool chest

that's got a selection of tools,

of which none of them are of any real value,

but they do make the lot look good, don't they?

Yeah. How do you reckon it?

40-60, based on there's got to be £30-40 worth of box there

and there's just a little bit in the chisels

and bits of kit that's in there.

David went out. He paid £65 for that little ensemble.

It's got possibilities, yes?

Yeah, fingers crossed. Might be the extra bid or two.

Well, let's see if the Reds go for it.

But let's move our attention to the Blue team.

This is Hugh and Rita and their first item is the torso.

-What do you think?

-There's going to be a lot of people

looking for this type of interior

and I think the traditional antiquity collector would

-certainly spend at least £50 on something like this.

-Oh, yeah.

So in terms of estimate we'll go for £50-80.

Paid £34, which I thought was quite a good buy.

-That's quite a good buy.

-Yeah, I think so too.

So the second item is this white porcelain decanter.

I think Gary wielded a certain amount of influence

in this purchase.

He could see it possibly being by a man called Sandoz

but it's not marked.

No. That's where my big concern comes in that it's not very old

and that's very clear, which means mass production and,

yeah, might be sort of £5-15.

-He only paid £8 for it.

-That's perfect, then, isn't it?

Well, there you go. So hopefully it will turn up trumps for them.

But the third buy was this pair of tile panels.

Art Nouveau style.

Yes. I think that's as close as we can get in terms of dating them.

I mean, it's really strong colours, nice and vibrant.

The sort of thing you would expect

in a late Victorian cast-iron fireplace.

Have these been taken out of that and reframed?

I think it's the other way round.

I think they're modern ones that have just been framed up.

-Estimate?

-£25-40.

Yeah, paid £49 for them.

Well, all things considered,

I think it's going to be well worth considering the bonus buy

so let's find out what it is.

Rita and Hugh, you gave Gary £209 to go out and find a bonus buy.

Gary, we'd like to know what you spent it on.

Well, remember that torso you got so excited about?

-Yeah.

-Well, I thought this provided the perfect combination.

And something dramatic.

-Beautiful.

-That's really nice.

A male nude and an angel.

Has it got any age to it?

Yes, this would be sort of late 19th century, early 20th century.

Is it a limited edition type thing? Do you know how many there were?

I don't know. I don't know. There's a title to it.

-It says Hope.

-Hope.

-Oh, right!

-Ooh!

-That's very apt.

How much did you pay for it?

-30.

-Wow, bargain.

How much do you think this is going to fetch at auction, if we're lucky?

-Double.

-Double. OK, I can live with that.

Remember, you two, you don't have to make your decision now.

Wait till you've sold your first three items

and that's when you decide.

But in the meantime,

let's find out what the auctioneer has to say

about Gary's dramatic print.

Well, here it is, Colin.

A little bit eerie for me, I have to admit.

It's entitled Hope.

A monochrome print, copyrighted from 1894,

very much of that sort of period.

And I suppose, really, a difficult seller in today's market.

-What do you reckon it?

-Well, £25-40.

Generally, they make next to nothing, but it's big, it's bold.

It's got a good strong frame on it,

it should be worth that as a wall filler.

Gary spent £30 on it.

OK. Just don't see much of a profit for him.

All right. Well, let's see whether they go for it.

But in the meantime, who's going to be the auctioneer today?

Well, it's my favourite part of the job,

so you're going to be landed with me.

This is could be interesting.

40 bid. 5, 50. 5.

60. 5. 70. 5. Sold.

Gentleman, how are we?

-Good, thank you.

-Yeah, really good.

-Ever been to an auction before?

-No. No.

-That's why they're smiling, Eric.

Well, you're just about to find out what you're in for.

But either way, it is an exciting place to be.

We think so and we've been doing it for donkey's years, haven't we?

-Absolutely.

-OK. So your first item's coming up.

It's the three Art Deco-style decanters.

Paid 31. Coming up now.

Lot 260, three Art Deco continental sugar-glass decanters.

Who's going to start me, then? £50 for the lot.

£50, anybody? 50, 40, 30.

-It's only £10 each.

-Go on.

£30? 20 to go, then. 20? Look at what we're selling here.

£20, anyone? 20, and 10.

£10. 10 to go, then.

10 bid. At 12, 15, 15, 18, no? 15 but a bid. 18 now, surely.

-That's it. Keep it rolling.

-18? 18, 20 bid, 2 bid, at 2, and 5.

-This is what we like.

-Go on!

-Come on.

-On my left here, then.

The net's out. Sells in the room at £25.

Oh, £25.

They deserved to do better, boys,

but, hey-ho, they're in at minus £6.

The next lot that's coming up

is your retro-style Hook And Ladder fire chief push-along toy.

You paid £25 for it.

Coming up now.

Lot 262 is a retro-style Hook And Ladder fire chief car.

Who's going to start me at £40 for it?

£40, anybody? 40?

30 to go, then. 30? £20, £20, and 10 to go, then.

-10.

-Oh, come on!

10 bid, 10. 12 now, do I see it?

12 bid, 15 bid, 18 bid, 20 bid, 2 now?

At £20 bid, 2 for anybody else now.

-The dream purchase!

-Come on!

28 bid, quickly.

28 bid. 30.

-Go on!

-LAUGHTER

-30. 2 now, do I see?

-Yes!

30 there. 2 from either of you now?

32 on the net. 35.

-Yes!

-35 back in the room, then.

Any more bids? Last call for everybody.

Selling in the centre of the room at £35.

Get in!

Well done, boys.

Plus 10, which gets your rolling total to, wait for this, plus £4.

-Yes!

-Great.

-£4!

-So, we've moved out of the minus.

You're into the positive.

We've got your third item coming up.

You paid £28 for it. Let's see what the walking stick market

is like in this part of the world.

Lot number 264 is the rustic walking stick with horn handle.

Who's going to start me at £30?

30? 20 to go then, surely.

£20, anybody, 20? 10?

-Oh, come on.

-£10, thank you, sir.

10 bid. 12, 15, 18? Nope.

15 bid. 18 for anybody else now?

-£15 bid, last call.

-Oh, come on!

At £15, are we all done?

We sell, then, at £15.

Lost our profit.

-Boo!

-OK, 15...

So that's minus 13,

so we're at minus £9.

-Single figures.

-The question is, are you going to go with your bonus buy?

I think so. I want to.

I do have faith.

It's your tool chest with all those tools.

David paid 65 for it.

It can work.

OK. Off you go.

Lot number 269, 19th or early 20th century

ebonised pine tool chest this time.

Shall we say £80 for it?

-Let's say more.

-£80. £50. Anybody?

50? 40?

-Oh!

-£30 to go, then, surely?

£30, anybody? 30, quickly now for the tool chest.

£30, Victorian tool chest.

30 is bid. At 30, bid 2.

Making it 2. 2 bid. At 2. 5? 5 bid. At 5. 38 now?

-Come on.

-At £35. Are we all done? 8, now, surely?

£35, we're on the market.

38 on the net. 38 bid, 40 now?

£38, net bidder has it. At £38, 40?

Last call for the room, then.

On the net, then. Selling on the net at £38.

Done at 38.

38. Ouch.

Erm, either way, it gives you a minus 27 on that.

We're now at minus 36.

-Pleased with that, boys?

-Can we borrow a fiver to get home?

Is that all right?

-Listen, boys, not a word to the Blues, OK?

-Yep.

-So, Rita and Hill, how are you feeling?

-Excited. Nervous.

-Very excited.

-Yeah, you are.

There's a hint of trepidation here, Gary, isn't there?

More than a hint!

Have you been to an auction before?

-I have not.

-Many years ago. I used to go with my dad.

Well, either way, your first item is about to come up.

It's that sculpture of a male torso.

You paid £34 for it.

Let's see. That is a stylish thing.

Lot number 285 is a modern simulated marble sculpture.

This time, the male torso there.

Start me at £80 for it. £80, anybody?

80? 50 to go, then, surely.

50? Who's first in? £50?

50? 30? £30, quickly now.

30 is bid, at £30 on the net.

At 30 bid. 32 now, do I see?

Come on. Oh, come on. £30 bid, 2 for anybody else now?

Maiden bid has it. Any more bids?

-No!

-Come on.

-Oh, come on!

-Come on, come on.

-It's all action on the internet. At £30 bid.

-32 on the net.

-Hooray!

-32!

Last call, then, selling at £32.

-ALL:

-Oh!

32.

Minus 2.

So, the next item is the continental porcelain decanter. £8.

-There's got to be a profit in this, Gary!

-Got to, got to.

£30 do you have for me?

£30, anybody? £20.

£10, anybody?

Tenner. £5, anyone.

-£5.

-Oh, come on.

Fiver. A couple of pounds.

Start with a pound.

1. At 1 bid.

We've broken a duck, at 1 bid.

-Oh...

-3 bid, 4 bid, 5 now.

Do I see from anybody else?

5, front row. 6 bid, 7. 7 bid, 8? No.

At 7. It's lucky 7 in the front, then.

At £7, front row has it. Selling then at £7.

-Sold.

-Oh, no!

-Oh, minus one.

Minus one!

Minus one. Running total now, minus three, OK?

Right, here's your pair of Art Nouveau-style panels.

You paid £49 for them.

They're coming up now.

Lot number 289

is the pair of Art Nouveau tile fields, this time.

£40, anyone? 40? 30? 20 to go, then?

10?

10 is bid. 12 now? 12 on the net. 15 in the room. 18, 20, 2.

Quickly now. Two fabulous-looking things.

22, 25, 28.

-Ooh, good.

-Come on.

-30 in the room.

32 now. 32, 35? 5 bid.

38? 38. 40? No.

-Go on, 40. Go on.

-At £38.

Is there 40 from anywhere else, then?

At £38, last call for everybody. Sells on the net at £38.

Oh!

Minus 11.

So, you paid 49, sold for 38, minus 11.

Gives us a rolling total of minus 14.

Oh!

It is not the end of the world.

I know, I keep saying this to people, but, either way,

it does beg the question, are we going with the bonus buy?

-Yes.

-Gary paid £30 for it.

You get a lot of print for your money, a lot of good frame.

-A lot of frame, yeah.

-Yes, yes.

-The auctioneer's got faith,

cos he thinks it should be worth 25-40.

Lot 294 is the monochrome print titled Hope.

Who's going to start me at £50 for it? 50?

Nearly the size of the rostrum, it is. £50.

-It is big.

-It's a great piece.

-It's gorgeous.

30? £20, anybody?

£20, do you have for me? 10?

£5?

No!

A pound is bid.

Wow.

What a bargain, that is.

£1 is all I'm bid.

£2 is bid on the internet.

£3 is bid.

The condition is very, very good on it, as well.

Selling then at £3.

All I can do is apologise, but say that's the market.

Oh, right.

-Sorry.

-OK.

Minus 27. Now gives us a rolling total of minus £41.

Oh, well. It's OK.

OK.

Hey-ho. You win some, you lose some.

Erm, one final word -

not a word to the Reds.

-No.

-No worries.

-We're schtum.

So, are we still full of the happy factor?

That's what I'm saying. Yes, yes, yes?

It's been a very close competition between you.

Now, listen. No, don't get too excited...

..because nobody made a profit.

So, nobody's taking any money and I can tell you now,

that there's only £5 in it.

-No.

-Ooh!

Yes! So, we do have a winner and we do have a runner-up,

and the winner on this occasion

are the Red team.

-Yes!

-Oh, yes.

-Well done.

-What's happened to you?

Well, while they go over the top, OK...

-Over the top.

-..you were let down big time...

-By the bonus buy.

-..by the bonus buy.

-But it was beautiful.

-But well done, Blues, anyway.

And what do we say?

Look at these faces on these lads, eh?

It looks like they've done the triple, don't they?

-It does.

-I think it's more shock than anything else.

-Absolutely.

-You did make one positive.

You did make a profit on the children's toy, didn't you?

Yeah, yeah. Well, I said, I said that was my dream item...

-Yeah, you did.

-..and it pulled through.

Well, it did pull through, because it gave you minus 36 as a total.

So, as I say, £5 in it.

But, either way, have we enjoyed ourselves, everybody?

-Yes, yes.

-That's what it's all about.

And we do hope that you've enjoyed watching at home.

In the meantime, you can catch us on our website,

or follow us on Twitter.

But better still, why not join us next time,

for some more bargain hunting. Yes? Yes!