0:00:01 > 0:00:04It's a game, innit. And the buzz you get.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07It's better than sex, I tell you!
0:00:07 > 0:00:11All over Britain, a unique breed of entrepreneur is on the make.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14It's just become 100 years old so it has just become an antique.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Flames are beautiful. This will be so easy to sell.
0:00:19 > 0:00:24For these real-life Del Boys, everything and anything is for sale.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27What do you think of that? You know who it is, don't you?
0:00:27 > 0:00:32For fresh stock, they head to a very particular type of auction house...
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Mickey Mouse, three, four, four.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Anybody else want a bag of earmuffs for six quid?
0:00:38 > 0:00:41..sifting through the junk in search of buried treasure.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45That's a genuine Rolex watch.
0:00:45 > 0:00:46He's bought a Porsche, hasn't he?
0:00:48 > 0:00:52- It's moody, isn't it? I can tell by your face.- Yeah.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55But will any of these dealers discover the lot that will
0:00:55 > 0:00:57make them millionaires?
0:00:57 > 0:01:00- If it was authentic, you know. - £200,000?
0:01:02 > 0:01:05I'll find a nice something that is worth millions of pounds
0:01:05 > 0:01:08and I can never work again!
0:01:13 > 0:01:14Right. We're here.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18It's auction day at Fables in Essex.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21A chance for punters to view lots before the bidding starts.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24Wow.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27It's a Buzz Lightyear mug.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29So, yeah.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33I believe if it's not valuable yet, then it will be.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39This is one of Britain's many trash and treasure auctions -
0:01:39 > 0:01:42a world away from Christie's and Sotheby's
0:01:42 > 0:01:44where almost anything can turn up for sale.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52- Brilliant. They'll sell, actually. - Will those sell?
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Married traders Sharon and Al have carved out a niche
0:01:55 > 0:01:58dealing in low-end items.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01It's not a toad. It's a thing, sort of... Peperami.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04No, you're calling it Peperami. It says Peperami.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07But what's it look like to you?
0:02:07 > 0:02:09People like buying rubbish.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12The more shit it looks, they're more likely to buy it.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Here you are.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22- Yeah.- Five. Six.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24- Yeah.- Seven, madam.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Eight.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Brilliant, wasn't it?
0:02:30 > 0:02:32- Ten pounds. - Whole lot for eight quid.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38They look great.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Good, cos I got three boxes of 'em.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Sharon and Al quit their jobs two years ago
0:02:44 > 0:02:46to concentrate on becoming dealers.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51They sell at car-boot sales and online,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55and their three-bedroom semi is now home to a thriving cottage industry.
0:02:56 > 0:03:02My latest moneymaking scheme is cake stands.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06So we had a load of plates that I couldn't sell
0:03:06 > 0:03:12and decided to let monsieur let loose with the china.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17And as it happens, he sort of has a knack for drilling
0:03:17 > 0:03:22holes in plates, which does actually make a change from dropping them.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24There you go.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25Hole straight through.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30That's another one done.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33What do you think your mark-up on this venture is?
0:03:33 > 0:03:35At least 400%.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47The trick is to try and keep the pattern all in line.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51I'm putting them on the floor because it's a bit windy today.
0:03:51 > 0:03:52- That's a fiver.- Is it?- Yeah.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Always keen to find the next big seller,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58the couple are taking their hunt for new stock further afield.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Thank you very much.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10- Look at this.- Nice big map.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13- Where are we?- Calais.- Calais.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18They're planning a road trip to an auction house in northern France.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- Will we have time to go and have a little look?- Yes.- Well, find it...
0:04:23 > 0:04:28- Find it.- Find it, have a look around, so we'll be there Saturday for the viewing.- Yes.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33I personally think that they will have something far more exciting
0:04:33 > 0:04:36than we find in our own markets.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39What's always the most famous thing that people go for?
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Right, if it's not a cook, it's perfume, it's lingerie,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46deco-ey stuff. It's always French.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Art, like paintings, it's always French. Yeah.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51I haven't got a clue what it's going to be like.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55I mean, we don't actually speak a word of French.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57What do you think of France, Al?
0:04:57 > 0:05:00I'd rather not answer that, thank you.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04He's had a bad experience with the French.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07It's just experience I've had with them, so...
0:05:07 > 0:05:10And actually, I'm not that impressed, either,
0:05:10 > 0:05:11because the one and only time I did go,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13when I went with my mother,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16cos we wanted to have a go on the hovercraft, and we got out
0:05:16 > 0:05:20the hoverport, and I kept on flagging these taxis down and nobody stopped.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23So we spent the entire time stuck in the hoverport.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Sharon and Al are making the 350-mile trip
0:05:31 > 0:05:33in another of their recent purchases.
0:05:33 > 0:05:34A lot of space to fill.
0:05:37 > 0:05:38A very lot of space to fill!
0:05:42 > 0:05:47The couple bought the Gothic-style hearse at auction for £1,000.
0:05:49 > 0:05:50Er, what do I expect?
0:05:52 > 0:05:56A lot of confusion. A lot of us arguing.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59A lot of me, for some unknown reason, closing my eyes
0:05:59 > 0:06:02and covering my ears because I think we're going to crash into something.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06Other than that, a lot of bargains.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09We're on our way to France. Here we come.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18Some dealers are happy searching for treasure a little closer to home.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23OK, that is jade. Actually weighs 37 pounds.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Probably the biggest piece of jade in south-east London.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32South London trader Ernest has been wheeling and dealing for 20 years
0:06:32 > 0:06:37and his shop in Tooting Market is stuffed full of unusual artefacts.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43OK, this is the Tibetan singing bowl.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Some of these masks you can see up here.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Why do you like the masks so much in the African style?
0:06:48 > 0:06:53Because, yeah, I'm African. I like the African things. You know?
0:06:53 > 0:06:56I'm keeping to the roots.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01Ernest was born in Gambia, but moved to England when he was 12 years old.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05One of the most curious items he trades in is home-made.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Ancient Egyptian crystal healing
0:07:10 > 0:07:13is what the rods, my art, are all about.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Once you're holding the rods, you feel the energy there
0:07:17 > 0:07:22because the rods are balancing you energetically.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24So, you know, if you're stressed out
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and you hold these rods for 10-15 minutes, you will feel better.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Many of the goods in Ernest's shop
0:07:34 > 0:07:37come from his local auction house, Greasby's.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40It's a hobby. It's also a passion, you know.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43You just like to be there, looking at things, discovering things,
0:07:43 > 0:07:47making a profit, having a deal.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Nice bowls.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54The auction sells items from house clearances,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57as well as police seizures and liquidated stock.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02That's very nicely tuned, actually.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08Hope nobody else is interested in these ones cos I'd like these. Mmm.
0:08:10 > 0:08:16If I can get them for about £40 each, double up on my money.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17Should do.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23You've got a two-foot hand-carved African drum,
0:08:23 > 0:08:28nice little ornaments they make, sitting in the corner. 15 quid?
0:08:28 > 0:08:3015, thank you.
0:08:30 > 0:08:3416. 18. 20.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Back of the room at 20.
0:08:37 > 0:08:3920. 22, 25, 26, 20, 30.
0:08:39 > 0:08:4332, 34, pounds.
0:08:45 > 0:08:4845. Same buyer.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52£50.
0:08:57 > 0:09:03With commission, Ernest has paid £160 for all three bongos.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Could've been 20 quid.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07One of them I paid 50 quid for, which is quite a bit of money.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11Well, at least I got the main thing, the drums. So I'm happy with that.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Not all of Ernest's acquisitions come from the auction.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26never seen anything like that. This is really an interesting find,
0:09:26 > 0:09:30you know. It's a bronze chess set.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Incredible-looking bronze chess set.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36That's a pawn, because there's 16 of these.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38I don't play chess, by the way.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40That's a knight.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44To me, it looks like a wizard, you know, the cloak. Maybe Darth Vader.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Ernest bought the chess set at an antiques fair
0:09:49 > 0:09:52but he's unwilling to reveal how much he paid for it.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Ah, this is the dark king. That's me.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01He believes it may be an original work of art.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08The brief research I've done is the names of the artists...
0:10:08 > 0:10:15There's three names of artists coming up regarding this artwork here.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20One of them, the most famous, is Henry Moore.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25Henry Moore was one of the twentieth century's most famous sculptors
0:10:25 > 0:10:28and his works can sell for millions of pounds.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33If these are real, then
0:10:33 > 0:10:36I'm sure the Tate would want to have them.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40You know, because it might be the only one in the world.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45On the low estimate, we're looking at a couple of million,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47so...yeah, I could be...
0:10:47 > 0:10:51And I'm thinking on the realistic estimate for this,
0:10:51 > 0:10:52five to ten million.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Not all the traders at Greasby's are hoping to land the big one.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Some of the most popular lots are the unclaimed bags and suitcases
0:11:05 > 0:11:07which have been lost at airports.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12This one's someone that's been on holiday cos it's...
0:11:12 > 0:11:14all the clothing's creased.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Bit oily and everything like someone's had sun cream...
0:11:20 > 0:11:24The toiletries, that'll be broken down into another lot.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26We'll split the footwear
0:11:26 > 0:11:28cos some people like to buy the footwear.
0:11:28 > 0:11:34The bric-a-brac crate - they're just the odds and sods we receive here.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38All we leave in the case is a bag of dirty clothing.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44When it comes to the bags and cases,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Stevie and Denise from Canterbury
0:11:47 > 0:11:50are two of the auction's biggest customers.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Well, we've got loads up in the loft,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56there's a few at mine as well.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00We've just put it up, up, up, so now it's all bowing.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02It's bowing in my house, her house...
0:12:02 > 0:12:06We've had up to eight suitcases each to bring home once,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08we brought about 15 home.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Going a bit crazy. But we had all that to wash.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Are you helping me? Good girl. See, you know what we do.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19After meeting on the school run,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Stevie and Denise went into business together
0:12:22 > 0:12:25selling the second-hand clothes at car boot sales.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27And this all has to go on hangers
0:12:27 > 0:12:31when we get there at five o'clock in the morning.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33That is an early one, Denise, innit?
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Yeah. I'm like a zombie, but we get it done.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41The suitcases normally cost around £40 each at the auction.
0:12:43 > 0:12:49If we sell every item for £3 and we've paid £1.50 per item,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51that is 100% profit.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Which is what I want to make.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Stevie has three kids with her partner Paul,
0:13:00 > 0:13:01and Denise has two young children
0:13:01 > 0:13:04including a seven-year-old son with Asperger's.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08It's hard with the kids on my own anyway,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12but I'm willing to try and do something to be able to
0:13:12 > 0:13:17say to the kids that I COULD do it with my friend and that, so...
0:13:18 > 0:13:20All the clothes have to be washed and ironed,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22no matter how personal the item.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Look. Here's me boxers.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Head boxers.
0:13:29 > 0:13:3150p.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36I've had a whole suitcase of just poo. Just poo.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39I mean, people probably just thinking, what's she going on about?
0:13:39 > 0:13:41But the whole thing was poo,
0:13:41 > 0:13:46and we just literally had to get 'em out, throw 'em in the bin...
0:13:46 > 0:13:49We did cut the lining out and we did sell the suitcase.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54What I might do, I'll just put this on a 30...
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Stevie and Denise plan to open a second-hand clothes shop
0:13:57 > 0:14:00and have put in an offer on a local premises.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04- INTERVIEWER:- Where's this shop, then? - Right here.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07This is the shop we're hoping to get, to open up.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11We'll try and get a mannequin for the front window,
0:14:11 > 0:14:15and then clothes rails, clothes rails.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Obviously, rails coming off the walls.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24We spoke to the lady, she's told us the man has accepted the offer.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28But he still hasn't put it in writing.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29So she can't call us.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32But she was like, "It's looking really good, Stephanie,
0:14:32 > 0:14:33"it's really looking good."
0:14:33 > 0:14:38So - I'm sure estate agents ain't going to say that to you
0:14:38 > 0:14:42if it's, like...50-50, still, you know?
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Stevie and Denise are hoping to make some serious money
0:14:48 > 0:14:50when the shop opens for business.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54If I can be a millionaire, I'll be a millionaire.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57But I won't forget my roots.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59I won't be one of these, like, in 30 years' time,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02if I've got loads of money, like, "Oh, who are you?"
0:15:02 > 0:15:04FRENCH ACCORDION MUSIC PLAYS
0:15:07 > 0:15:10S'il vous plait.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Quicker.
0:15:12 > 0:15:13Nah.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18La...la gen...la jen...
0:15:19 > 0:15:20..est qui di...
0:15:22 > 0:15:25..si louement...s'il vous plait.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29How much is that, please?
0:15:29 > 0:15:30Nah.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Cash only, please.
0:15:33 > 0:15:34Spot on.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Sharon and Al are headed for an auction house
0:15:37 > 0:15:42in the town of Abbeville - 70 miles south of Calais.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44SHIP'S HORN SOUNDS
0:15:51 > 0:15:53See? Looks just like England.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58It's a maiden voyage overseas for the hearse.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04You start to wonder if the French are going to find this funny.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06After all, they've got no sense of humour.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10We might have things thrown at us.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13CHILDREN CHEER, HORN BEEPS
0:16:17 > 0:16:21After three hours, Sharon, Al and the hearse
0:16:21 > 0:16:23are almost at the auction.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Oh! The world is our oyster.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Don't know what to look for.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30I'll be like a kid in a candy store.
0:16:31 > 0:16:36The old hands will be going, I'll be going, "Ahh! La-la-la-la!"
0:16:36 > 0:16:37I'll be doing all that crap.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42- Al is just positioning. - This looks like the place to me.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Just like in the UK,
0:16:48 > 0:16:50there's a chance to view lots before the sale.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53Whoa...
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Bonjour.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04That's the sort of thing I'm after.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07Art Deco, innit?
0:17:09 > 0:17:11CONVERSATION IN FRENCH
0:17:13 > 0:17:14It's broken.
0:17:15 > 0:17:20It's Eros, innit? Ain't he supposed to have a...bow in his hand?
0:17:20 > 0:17:24This is actually...what we'd classify as a high-class auctioneer's house.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Auction house, rather.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Mega, mega, mega money
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Absolutely what we would be after.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38Mega bucks.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40The couple want to know more
0:17:40 > 0:17:43about a pair of antique resin light stands.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Excuse me - um...
0:17:46 > 0:17:50No comprehend Francoise. Do you speak Englese?
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- No.- Ah.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Excuse me - this? Does it...?
0:17:55 > 0:17:57- Ah, non, mais...- Oh...
0:17:57 > 0:18:00- This comes off? - Yes, yes.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03- In two parts. - Two parts. Lovely, thank you.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08These are really exactly the sort of thing that we would go for.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Very sought-after in England.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Madame, you interested as well?
0:18:18 > 0:18:20WOMAN SHOUTS IN FRENCH
0:18:20 > 0:18:22A little? Ah!
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Outside, the hearse is attracting attention.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Excuse me?
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- Vehicule... - Verculer...
0:18:43 > 0:18:45- What, the engine? Vroom-vroom? - No.
0:18:47 > 0:18:48The car is break?
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Carries a brick?
0:18:51 > 0:18:53AL LAUGHS
0:18:53 > 0:18:56If you want to carry bricks, you can.
0:18:56 > 0:18:57- You l'amour?- Oui.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Ah!
0:19:00 > 0:19:02This? We make offer.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04SHE LAUGHS
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- Goodbye!- Aw!- Yes - time.- Aw!
0:19:08 > 0:19:11- I know. Desole.- No!
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Oh, Monsieur...
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Monsieur, you break my heart.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19What does he mean, he don't like it?
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Got no bleeding taste.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- Look at the carving as well - nice bit of carving.- Yeah, yeah.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37Normally, a drum like this, you'd be talking about 180, 190.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39But I'm doing a deal on them right now,
0:19:39 > 0:19:41cos I'm wanting to clear them up.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45In south London, Ernest has found a potential buyer
0:19:45 > 0:19:49for one of the drums he paid just £60 for.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51I'm saying 150 for this one as it is.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Nothing less?
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Can't do anything, really, because like I said, on eBay,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00when you go online, you're talking about 180.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06- Two, four, six, eight, ten... - Yeah? Lovely. Thanks.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- Yeah, man - nice one. - Cheers, man.- Yeah, later.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Ernest almost trebles his money on the drum.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19But it's the mysterious chess set that is uppermost in his mind.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23He's paying a visit to a specialist reference library
0:20:23 > 0:20:26to try to establish who might've made the pieces.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Yes, so, what I'm doing here is I'm researching.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34I cannot confirm for my self...
0:20:35 > 0:20:38..but I'm familiarising myself
0:20:38 > 0:20:40with many of the images of these artists.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43Hm...
0:20:43 > 0:20:44I'm looking at Henry Moore.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Now...this is, um...
0:20:48 > 0:20:52He done a lot of work, Henry Moore - this is the king and queen, here.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53When you look at this,
0:20:53 > 0:21:00it's actually not far different from the finish on here, you know?
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Some of the chess pieces also bear a striking resemblance
0:21:05 > 0:21:08to the work of two other modern artists -
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Lynn Chadwick and Kenneth Armitage.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13You know, it's very similar.
0:21:13 > 0:21:20Obviously, feeling this looks like Kenneth Armitage, this chap here.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22You know, if you look at the legs, here,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24the legs are very...
0:21:24 > 0:21:25They're very close.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28I don't know if you can get a close shot of the legs on here.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34It's, like, these lines are like a...a signature, as such.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37You know, these lines. Um...
0:21:37 > 0:21:39You wonder if someone would copy that.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Kind of pretty sure this is the real thing.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Next stop for Ernest is his local auction house
0:21:52 > 0:21:56to draw on the experience of auctioneer Christine.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00This is one of the pawns.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03This is, um...you know... So there's eight of those.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06It's a full chess set, you know? So there's eight of those.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11I've never seen anything like that for a chess set, that's for sure.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Yeah. This is a picture of some of the other pieces,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- looking at...bit more of them.- Hm.
0:22:18 > 0:22:23Oh, wow. Madame Butterfly's glass!
0:22:27 > 0:22:29What do you think...it feels like...
0:22:29 > 0:22:33you know, it's old, a bit of age to it or something?
0:22:33 > 0:22:37No, I think it's modern. I don't think there's any age to it at all.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39- Oh, OK.- Where d'you get 'em from?
0:22:39 > 0:22:43I found them in an antique market in Kent.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47I can't think that you would've bought something like that
0:22:47 > 0:22:49at an antique market and they didn't know what they were selling.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53- My instincts are telling me that it's a copy.- OK.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55That's just my gut reaction on it.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Wow, OK, yeah.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00But you do really need to find somebody that
0:23:00 > 0:23:02specialises in this type of thing.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03Yeah. It feels like that.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06If it turns out to be nothing, you've lost nothing,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09but if it turns out to be something, you've got everything to gain,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- so you're doing the right thing. - That's it.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16You know, everyone has aspirations that they're going to find
0:23:16 > 0:23:18something one day. Why not?
0:23:18 > 0:23:20If...
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Pretty boring if you just go through life thinking that there's
0:23:23 > 0:23:25not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32- Looking at the catalogue. - Get her out.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Whilst they're still waiting to hear back about the shop lease,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Stevie and Denise are planning a trip to buy extra stock.
0:23:43 > 0:23:49- What time? - Probably not even do the school run.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54A few men's ones.
0:23:54 > 0:24:00Quite a lot of men's suitcases, which is what we will be after this week.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05I won't go no more than 40-45, so even if people bid at 60 quid,
0:24:05 > 0:24:06they can have 'em.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10If it goes over the price, I won't get caught up in all that madness.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Last time, there was two blokes, they was going mad!
0:24:19 > 0:24:21As well as sticking to their price limit,
0:24:21 > 0:24:25the pair are also hoping to land some designer labels.
0:24:25 > 0:24:30I would obviously look for Armani, Lacoste,
0:24:30 > 0:24:35that's a bonus cos as soon as you put that on a rail, it's gone.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39This is all unclaimed baggage.
0:24:41 > 0:24:46There are more than 40 bags and cases up for grabs in the sale.
0:24:46 > 0:24:52Lot 49 is a brown case of mixed clothing, 16 I have.
0:24:52 > 0:24:5318, 20, 22,
0:24:53 > 0:24:5624, 26, 28, 30,
0:24:56 > 0:24:5832, 34, 36, 38,
0:24:58 > 0:25:0140, 45. Here at 45.
0:25:01 > 0:25:02GAVEL BANGS
0:25:03 > 0:25:06We've got three out of three so far.
0:25:08 > 0:25:1022 at the back. No?
0:25:10 > 0:25:1220 in the front, then.
0:25:13 > 0:25:1626, 28, 30.
0:25:16 > 0:25:2132, 34, 36 in the centre.
0:25:22 > 0:25:23GAVEL BANGS
0:25:23 > 0:25:28Lot 87 is a large blue holdall of ladies' clothing.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33Stevie and Denise have managed to win eight of the suitcases.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35How much did you pay?
0:25:35 > 0:25:40Er, between about, I'd say 35-45, we paid.
0:25:40 > 0:25:46That's without the commission, so probably about 50 quid a suitcase.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49How will you know when you've done well?
0:25:49 > 0:25:53When we've had a look. Had a little, like, rummage through it.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58The girls will have to wait
0:25:58 > 0:26:01until the end of the auction before they can collect the cases.
0:26:01 > 0:26:06Sometimes you get some good bits, then sometimes you get really bad...
0:26:06 > 0:26:10that you can't even wash and you have to throw
0:26:10 > 0:26:12cos there's no point in having them.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16But in the shop, we're hoping to be able to dye it, to alter it.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Denise is very good with her hands.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23- Boys.- Hello, boys!
0:26:28 > 0:26:31I swear they're getting smaller.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40There, that's a nice jacket.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45It's quite a nice suit. Wow.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48That looks good.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Some jeans. Jeans always go quite well, anyway.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54See, look, and then you've got another Tommy Hilfiger shirt,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57but look at it - look at the state of it.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01See, it's not like Chanels and all that sort of stuff,
0:27:01 > 0:27:07but it's still stuff that people we know will buy, definitely.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Check them bad boys out!
0:27:10 > 0:27:12What can you do with them?
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Use it as a tent.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22Designer labels may be thin on the ground, but there's still plenty
0:27:22 > 0:27:27of new stock to fill up the shop, and Stevie and Denise head for home.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Hello?
0:27:36 > 0:27:42Well. We're stuck on the A2 or something.
0:27:42 > 0:27:43We're stuck.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46It's over-heated and it's lost power.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47DISTORTED VOICE THROUGH PHONE
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Is it going to get us home or what?
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Is there water in? Did you put water in?
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Those two heads are missing.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07There and there. They're missing.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10That one's missing.
0:28:10 > 0:28:11They're all beheaded!
0:28:14 > 0:28:16It's auction day in France,
0:28:16 > 0:28:22and Sharon and Al are sampling the local food ahead of the sale.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27- I could just have the quiche. - Supposing it's got...squid in it?
0:28:27 > 0:28:29If it's got squid, it's got squid, ain't it?
0:28:29 > 0:28:31I'm not eating it if it's got squid.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33I'll pass.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36You don't want anything?
0:28:36 > 0:28:41You have never eaten quiche for years.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44You always moan about it. "I ain't eating that."
0:28:44 > 0:28:47So why are you going to pretend you're eating it now?
0:28:47 > 0:28:52I think we'll just settle for the Pot Noodle that I brought with me.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Lunch over, the couple head for the auction.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02- Our spirits are high, aren't they, Alan?- They are.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05Yeah. We're ready for a bit of trading.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09Hopefully, we'll get some more goodies.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17The sale attracts dealers from across northern France,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21and Sharon and Al are interested in the resin light stands
0:29:21 > 0:29:24they spotted at viewing day.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27THEY SPEAK IN FRENCH
0:29:44 > 0:29:47BIDDING IN FRENCH
0:29:52 > 0:29:54I'm not understanding a bloody word!
0:29:55 > 0:29:58I don't even know what lot number we're on.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00I'm lost.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19One lot went for five euros, I thought, "Oh, right, I got that."
0:30:19 > 0:30:21Since then...
0:30:28 > 0:30:29We've missed it!
0:30:33 > 0:30:35Stick it.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40What a bleeding waste of time that was.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43Didn't understand a word.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45I knew it was going to be hard,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48I always said that was one of the pitfalls, but blow me.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53I couldn't keep up. I didn't understand it.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56It's been like a blind man watching a silent movie.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Pointless.
0:30:58 > 0:31:03Maybe we should have got a French CD and listened I think.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06But then, I've made this mistake before.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09I thought I learned how to speak Spanish and then
0:31:09 > 0:31:11when I got there nobody could understand a word cos
0:31:11 > 0:31:14I learnt a totally new language altogether for the region.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17- What language did you learn instead? - I learnt Catalan.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25In a last bid to salvage something from the trip,
0:31:25 > 0:31:28Sharon and Al head for the local flea markets.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34We've got literally 25 minutes to dash around this one.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38And we've got to dash off for the ferry.
0:31:38 > 0:31:39Right, so we've got to go.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Just what Al needs...
0:31:53 > 0:31:55Oh, I'm in my element now. Rubbish.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01- Is it a real one?- Yeah. - How much is that?
0:32:04 > 0:32:0620.
0:32:07 > 0:32:08The scythe.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11You can always cut it down.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15- How much is it before you pull it out?- Six euros.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Love it.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Look at it! It's magnificent.
0:32:20 > 0:32:21Six euros, ten.
0:32:24 > 0:32:29A bit crumpled up, but I believe that to be £35 worth.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39Any off? 15?
0:32:42 > 0:32:44- Yes.- Thank you.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48The scythe is fantastic. The wheel...
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Dream come true.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Cutting it fine, the couple head for the ferry.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00Can you wait a minute and I'll pick it up!
0:33:05 > 0:33:11I know the wheel, I'm going to get 700% on that, minimum.
0:33:11 > 0:33:12I know that.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16There's the whole fun of doing what we do, it really is.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20It's not about making a fortune out of it.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23It's about getting something totally so damn obscure
0:33:23 > 0:33:27that no-one else would even look at and then selling it.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41In Canterbury, Stevie and Denise have had news about the shop lease.
0:33:43 > 0:33:49They wanted us to take a three year minimum, but we only wanted a year.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52And they've accepted someone else's offer for a five year lease.
0:33:52 > 0:33:58And there's no way we're going to put our name to five years yet. No way.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01That one looks like a second hand shop anyway.
0:34:04 > 0:34:09With new premises to find Stevie receives more bad news from Denise.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13We were doing really, really well
0:34:13 > 0:34:16and it was getting really good,
0:34:16 > 0:34:21but I just can't juggle my boy with Asperger, which is
0:34:21 > 0:34:25really difficult to be able to give this my time
0:34:25 > 0:34:30when I've got to give all my time to my son.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33For now, Denise has decided to withdraw from the partnership.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38But with a house full of clothes still to sell,
0:34:38 > 0:34:40Stevie is going it alone.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45Cos the lease has fell through on the shop,
0:34:45 > 0:34:49I've decided to do a little pop up shop for now.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53Stevie's Second Hand Pop Up Shop.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56I've always got ideas.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59Ideas just come to me all day, every day,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01it's just whether they work
0:35:01 > 0:35:04or whether I move on to the next one, really.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Most of the mum's down the school know,
0:35:07 > 0:35:12and I have told them to tell their mums and their sisters and whoever.
0:35:12 > 0:35:18Today, Stevie's home, next week, Stevie's shop.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21- What will you do if nobody turns up? - Cry.
0:35:23 > 0:35:28Today really is the start of something big for me.
0:35:39 > 0:35:45Right, thanks everyone for coming to Stevie's second hand item event.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48It's 11 o'clock and we're officially open.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50CHEERING
0:35:53 > 0:35:5625p a pair, or five pairs for £1.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01You got £1 for now, yeah?
0:36:01 > 0:36:06What do you think of this idea of having a shop in your front room?
0:36:06 > 0:36:07Yeah, I think it's a good idea.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11When the boot fairs have ended, people need somewhere to go to.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13So I think, yeah, it's a great idea.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15My friend, she's just bought a jumper.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19- Are you liking your jumper, Sam? - We shop at Stevie's shop.
0:36:21 > 0:36:22She's doing a really good job.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26It looks good in there, it looks really, really good.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30You've always got to have a plan B. Always.
0:36:30 > 0:36:35Nice one. Thank you. I've sold about 30, 40 items.
0:36:35 > 0:36:42All at £3 an item, so I've made probably just over £100.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46People have said they probably won't go to Primark now
0:36:46 > 0:36:51and buy a £5 T-shirt because they can buy a Next T-shirt for £3.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54My mate who came around earlier, she was well chuffed.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58- They said they'd definitely come back. Let everyone know.- Yeah.
0:36:58 > 0:37:05I will definitely open up a shop somewhere down the line. 100%. 100%.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11All right. OK.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16In Essex, another would-be dealer
0:37:16 > 0:37:19is just starting out in the buying and selling game.
0:37:20 > 0:37:21I've got to that age now...
0:37:23 > 0:37:27..I want to do something where you wear clean clothes everyday.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31Fed up with being dirty, but it pays the bills,
0:37:31 > 0:37:33that's the main thing.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36After 25 years on building sites,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Steve's decided to try and make it as a trader.
0:37:41 > 0:37:42Everyone wants a deal,
0:37:42 > 0:37:46everyone wants to pay less than what they have to pay.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49So if I can supply that service...
0:37:50 > 0:37:53..then, yeah, I'm up for that.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57Earn more money, have a happy life, comfortable life,
0:37:57 > 0:38:00not have to fight for the next paycheck.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04I'd like to have a big warehouse stacked to the ceiling with stuff.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08A list of clients, a phone that's constantly ringing.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11At the minute, doing this, seems like a very long way away.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18So far Steve has only been to two small local auctions,
0:38:18 > 0:38:22- with mixed results.- Right.
0:38:22 > 0:38:29These are about battle UFOs. Just an impulse buy, really.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31I didn't plan to get them.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34But I do need to buy more things, more bulk.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36To be honest, there was another four
0:38:36 > 0:38:40and they turned out not to be any good.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43They're like a helicopter inside a shell
0:38:43 > 0:38:45and you battle it against the other one.
0:38:49 > 0:38:54- Who do you think will buy these? - Uh... Well...
0:38:54 > 0:38:57I don't know. A few watches.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Another recent purchase is a batch of men's watches.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05The only issue I've got...
0:39:05 > 0:39:07I don't know how... This is...
0:39:07 > 0:39:13It boils down to not taking good enough look at the product.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17Which I felt I did at the time. A Briel watch, there.
0:39:17 > 0:39:23How I missed that? It's got a cracked screen. I was gutted.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26You have got to get things out of the boxes,
0:39:26 > 0:39:29have a good feel of them, make sure all the parts work,
0:39:29 > 0:39:31fiddle about with it.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36After exhausting his local auctions,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Steve's now planning a trip to a much larger sale.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44Reading what's on here and actually seeing the item is totally different.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47The samurai sword could be worth a look.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50Says early samurai sword but there's ways of telling.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52But until you get there you're not going to know
0:39:52 > 0:39:56until you start handling it and looking at it.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59German M42 helmet.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03It sounds funny, but I do like the look of that German war helmet.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06I did see a thing about it and they're quiet collectible...
0:40:06 > 0:40:08at the right price.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14A little bit nervous but excited at the same time.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17This is totally different to the one I've been to before.
0:40:20 > 0:40:21Here we go.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27Southgate Auction in North London sells goods
0:40:27 > 0:40:30from house clearances and private vendors.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Lovely. Cheers, darling.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43Just finding that little bit of treasure that's hidden, you never know.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45But that's the thing, antiques aren't my thing.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51A bit of Five Star!
0:40:51 > 0:40:54You've got some sort of collectible cars here.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57There's always people are after them.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Excuse me, sir. The samurai sword.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02- The samurai sword?- Yeah.
0:41:02 > 0:41:07- It's sort of disappeared. - Oh. That's interesting. OK.
0:41:07 > 0:41:13I can't actually tell you why, but it's been withdrawn for the moment.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17This is totally different to what I thought.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21There's so many people. Everyone's sniffing out for that bargain.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24But that's what it's all about.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26Can I have a look at number 27, mate?
0:41:30 > 0:41:32- You going to wear it? - HE CHUCKLES
0:41:32 > 0:41:33Wear it inside.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37Nothing like a bit of war memorabilia, eh?
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Yeah, we'll see. We'll see.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44..Is a German helmet.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48World War II.
0:41:48 > 0:41:5050 over there. 55.
0:41:52 > 0:41:5455, sir.
0:41:56 > 0:42:0060. Five. 70. Five.
0:42:00 > 0:42:0380. Five.
0:42:03 > 0:42:0590.
0:42:05 > 0:42:0885 bid. 90 anywhere?
0:42:10 > 0:42:14After tax and commission, Steve's won the helmet for £100.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17Beautiful.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21To be honest, I like anything to do with war.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23I'm excited to have that.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27I just need to sell it now. I don't want to keep it for myself.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29I'd like to think I'll double me money,
0:42:29 > 0:42:32but I just have to look into it. I have to look into it.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35There should be some profit in there.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42To find out more about his chess set,
0:42:42 > 0:42:46Ernest's paying a visit to a leading bronze foundry.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50Finding out who cast these pieces, you're halfway there because if they
0:42:50 > 0:42:54cast it then they will know who commissioned it for it to be made.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57They will know whether it's real or not.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03The workshop is one of London's oldest and renowned sculptors,
0:43:03 > 0:43:07including Henry Moore, cast pieces here.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09Wow. Oh!
0:43:09 > 0:43:12What's happening here? Wow.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18- Nice to meet you.- Yeah. A nice old shed you've got here.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20It's lovely, isn't it?
0:43:20 > 0:43:23You wouldn't think some of those incredible pieces
0:43:23 > 0:43:25get made in places like this.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28It looks like something you see in the ET movies, you know,
0:43:28 > 0:43:30the aliens coming out of their eggs.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32It's amazing. Wow.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35The business has been in the family of managing director
0:43:35 > 0:43:39Philip Freiensener for three generations.
0:43:39 > 0:43:45They're lovely castings. They're beautiful.
0:43:45 > 0:43:46Beautiful little things.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53What I feel it is, I feel it's all from that period.
0:43:53 > 0:43:57That's one thing I'd be certain of is by saying that it shows...
0:43:57 > 0:44:00- So what's that, 1950s...? - 1950s, 1960s.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04Probably mid-'50s, something like that.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08There's nothing on here that looks like they were done last week.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11I would say looking at the feel, colour and putty,
0:44:11 > 0:44:14they're all from that period.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19Little bit sort of Henry Moore, Lynn Chadwick
0:44:19 > 0:44:21but I would suggest that they were all...
0:44:22 > 0:44:26- ..Armitage. - I'll show you some pictures here.
0:44:27 > 0:44:31- Lots of research.- Yeah.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36That's him there. That's Lynn Chadwick, that one.
0:44:38 > 0:44:42No, sorry. Now I see this, it does look very similar.
0:44:42 > 0:44:44Yeah, because I've seen many versions of this
0:44:44 > 0:44:47when I was looking at a reference book.
0:44:47 > 0:44:51It does look like a bit of a collaboration.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55But the chances of someone fraudulently copying
0:44:55 > 0:45:01all their styles so well, it would be impossible to believe almost.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04Because they're done so well
0:45:04 > 0:45:08that you feel that it's got to have the touch of each artist.
0:45:10 > 0:45:14It's great that you're saying what I'm feeling.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18The next thing is how would I get to authenticate it?
0:45:18 > 0:45:24I do have a contact who's a dealer. Who actually...
0:45:24 > 0:45:29deals with all the artists from this particular period.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32He would be a very good source to speak to.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35- Thank you very much.- That's fine.
0:45:35 > 0:45:39- Thanks for bringing it in. - Yeah, nice to meet you too.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46I've literally told all the brothers and sisters,
0:45:46 > 0:45:48the ones who know me, I've told them all, I've said,
0:45:48 > 0:45:52"Look, I finally got something back from the white man."
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Yous have been going to Africa taking diamonds and gold,
0:45:55 > 0:45:58so now I've got this art work.
0:45:58 > 0:46:00It's very interesting, actually, I like that.
0:46:00 > 0:46:02What reaction do you get when you say that?
0:46:02 > 0:46:06They're like, "Yeah! Make sure he doesn't steal it off you."
0:46:15 > 0:46:20Today we're hoping to get quite a lot of money for the wheel in particular.
0:46:20 > 0:46:21I think that's a good earner.
0:46:22 > 0:46:26I actually would like over £40 for it.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31Safely back in Essex, Sharon and Al have put the wagon wheel
0:46:31 > 0:46:34which they bought for about £5 into auction.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39There's the wheel.
0:46:39 > 0:46:44I think it should have been turned around the other way, it looks better the other way.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47The couple have also entered some of their other stock into the sale.
0:46:50 > 0:46:51That's me flashing bunny ears.
0:46:55 > 0:47:00They're Marble Blasters, little toys. I've got about 290 of those.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03I thought I'd throw a few in.
0:47:04 > 0:47:08It's the wheel, on which Sharon's placed a £40 reserve,
0:47:08 > 0:47:10which is attracting attention.
0:47:12 > 0:47:13Someone's looking at it.
0:47:17 > 0:47:21- Did he make a note of it at all? - I don't know. But he was interested.
0:47:23 > 0:47:25Well, we live in a 13th century property
0:47:25 > 0:47:28that used to be owned by Henry Ford.
0:47:28 > 0:47:33We've got a big baronial lounge and it would look quite nice in there.
0:47:34 > 0:47:37And that's if it's at the right price.
0:47:41 > 0:47:45So, lot 123, which is the French wagon wheel ceiling light.
0:47:45 > 0:47:47Starting at £20 for this lot.
0:47:47 > 0:47:49£20 I've got here. 22.
0:47:50 > 0:47:5325. 25. 28. 30. And two.
0:47:56 > 0:47:58- It's going quite well.- Very high.
0:48:00 > 0:48:0232. 34. 36.
0:48:05 > 0:48:0738. £36 here. 38 I'll take.
0:48:08 > 0:48:1138. 40 I'm looking for. £38 only then.
0:48:11 > 0:48:1340 I'm looking for.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16£38 on my right-hand side. At 38 then.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22Bidding on the wheel falls £2 short of the reserve price.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26People just don't know a bloody bargain when they see one.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28- What's the matter with them? - Just don't know.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33308 is a large quantity of children's new wrapped
0:48:33 > 0:48:35Marble Blaster toys.
0:48:35 > 0:48:39£5 here. Six I'm looking for. Six anywhere?
0:48:39 > 0:48:43Despite the setback, Sharon and Al fare better on their other items.
0:48:44 > 0:48:48The Marble Blasters, I mean, there's only 22 in there.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50They sell for nine quid.
0:48:50 > 0:48:54Really struggled to sell them, so I'm glad they're gone.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56They sell bang on reserve.
0:48:57 > 0:49:00They manage to sell four lots making £31 profit.
0:49:03 > 0:49:07And as the auction moves outside, they decide to reinvest.
0:49:09 > 0:49:15That pump there, two bid. Five. Eight. £8 a bid. A tenner. Ten bid.
0:49:15 > 0:49:2012. 12 bid. For 15 a bid. 15 the pump. 15. Sold at 15.
0:49:23 > 0:49:25Yeah, we got our pump.
0:49:25 > 0:49:26Three quid more than I thought.
0:49:26 > 0:49:28I thought it went up to 12, suddenly it went to 15.
0:49:31 > 0:49:32As well as the water pump,
0:49:32 > 0:49:35the couple snap up an antique knife sharpener,
0:49:35 > 0:49:40a steel man hole cover and yet another scythe.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45What money we did make, we've already reinvested.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49We've ended up with a nice lot of stuff
0:49:49 > 0:49:52that's going to make us even more money.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01All auctions are swings and roundabouts.
0:50:01 > 0:50:03Buying and selling's all swings and roundabouts.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05It's always a gamble.
0:50:05 > 0:50:10It really is always a gamble. But then, I'm always optimistic.
0:50:10 > 0:50:15There is a huge possibility like when our working season is over,
0:50:15 > 0:50:19the close season of boot sales to then make more trips up to
0:50:19 > 0:50:23France and clean up, really.
0:50:23 > 0:50:27I have bought a CD so I can actually hear it this time.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31There is always money in muck.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33You don't have to keep horses to get it.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46Sold. Sold. Sold. Sold.
0:50:46 > 0:50:48That's 9,500, that's an M35.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53That's like 12,500.
0:50:53 > 0:50:57Hoping to get a good return on his German war helmet,
0:50:57 > 0:51:00Steve's researching prices online.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03I'd love to get involved in all the war memorabilia, definitely.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06Be honest, my grandad was in the war.
0:51:06 > 0:51:11But I do know he was a prisoner of war with the Japs for four years.
0:51:11 > 0:51:15The only I did ever ask him, I asked him, "How did you get caught?"
0:51:15 > 0:51:18And all he said was he didn't run fast enough.
0:51:20 > 0:51:23Make some use out of it.
0:51:23 > 0:51:27The more I get for it, the more I can put into the next buy.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33Just get me helmet checked out.
0:51:33 > 0:51:35That didn't sound right, did it?
0:51:35 > 0:51:39Encouraged by his research, Steve's considering putting
0:51:39 > 0:51:42the helmet into a specialist military auction in nearby Rayleigh.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50Hello. All right there? Good morning. Nice to meet you.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53- And you.- Right. Here we go.
0:51:54 > 0:51:56M42 as I'm led to believe.
0:51:57 > 0:52:01- Indeed it is. How did you come buy it?- I got it at auction.- OK.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04I had a little look around, I did find some numbers on it.
0:52:04 > 0:52:08- Generally there is.- Q66. - Right, OK.
0:52:08 > 0:52:10It's a shame you haven't got the leather insert.
0:52:10 > 0:52:12- I know.- That's a shame.
0:52:12 > 0:52:14Just for your guidance, we've got a very good military sale.
0:52:14 > 0:52:18We've got about 400 lots of militaria and memorabilia.
0:52:18 > 0:52:21So I think it would do reasonably well it if was to go into sale.
0:52:21 > 0:52:25That's brilliant news. Great stuff.
0:52:25 > 0:52:28The sale offers militaria from around the world,
0:52:28 > 0:52:30attracting specialist dealers
0:52:30 > 0:52:34and Steve decides it's the best place to try and sell his helmet.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37180 is bid. 180. 190.
0:52:37 > 0:52:41As the auction gets under way, the room is full of potential buyers.
0:52:41 > 0:52:43Are we all done?
0:52:45 > 0:52:50Fingers crossed I might get more than I was expecting. Who knows?
0:52:50 > 0:52:52Lot 1865.
0:52:52 > 0:52:57Black German military helmet. straight in at £80.
0:53:00 > 0:53:0385 anywhere? Are we all done at £80?
0:53:03 > 0:53:07And five. 90. Five. £100. At £100 now.
0:53:07 > 0:53:13Any advances? Last chance then. I shall sell at 10... 110, new bidder.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15Going on again, 120.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17At £120.
0:53:17 > 0:53:21Last chance. are you all done? At 120.
0:53:21 > 0:53:23Sell at 120. Thank you.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27It might not be a big payday,
0:53:27 > 0:53:29but the helmet is the first lot Steve's ever sold.
0:53:31 > 0:53:36Bought it for 85, with the commission and everything, it was 105.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39So I've made £15.
0:53:39 > 0:53:43I'm not going to retire on that, but again, it's all about learning.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56Convinced his future lies in trading,
0:53:56 > 0:53:59Steve's even converted his shed into a lock up.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03Want it to be full of stuff.
0:54:03 > 0:54:05I don't even want to be able to open the door.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08I want to squeeze in, fight my way through.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11Keep it all out of the Mrs' way.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13Yeah, I think it will be a nice little area.
0:54:13 > 0:54:17I'm not too fussed what it is as long as it's going to make me money.
0:54:17 > 0:54:22As long as there's a profit in it, that's what it's all about. Profit.
0:54:22 > 0:54:24Making money. So, yeah, it's good.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32In West London, Ernest has an appointment with
0:54:32 > 0:54:36a top 20th century art dealer to value his chess set.
0:54:37 > 0:54:40I already feel and understand the outcome.
0:54:40 > 0:54:43Therefore there's no space to be really,
0:54:43 > 0:54:47really excited because it's already expected something like that.
0:54:47 > 0:54:53Maybe when the money's there and looking where to spend it,
0:54:53 > 0:54:57I might get excited now and then, but I'm not going to be jumping
0:54:57 > 0:55:01and cuddling anyone because the man's told me it's worth five million.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10- Ah, good afternoon. Ernest. - Keith Champman.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12Nice to meet you. How are you?
0:55:13 > 0:55:18Keith Chapman is an expert on the three artists Ernest believes
0:55:18 > 0:55:20made his chess set.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23- Did you find any markings on anything?- No, I've been looking.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28Sometimes the markings are tiny.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30I've looked so much that I thought I saw some marks,
0:55:30 > 0:55:32but maybe it's just my mind.
0:55:33 > 0:55:35I've never seen anything like these.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40That's very Henry Moore.
0:55:40 > 0:55:43That's very, very Henry Moore.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47That's very Kenneth Armitage.
0:55:47 > 0:55:49It's sort of...
0:55:50 > 0:55:54- It's a bit stiff.- Stiff?
0:55:54 > 0:55:57Well.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00Yeah, it is stiff, it's bronze.
0:56:00 > 0:56:05To me they don't look as though they were cast in the 1950s.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07When do they look like they're casted?
0:56:07 > 0:56:10To me they don't look desperately old.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12They maybe 20 years old.
0:56:12 > 0:56:16- 30 years old, something like that.- OK.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19From what I can see, they're just copies of...
0:56:19 > 0:56:23Miniature copies of these artists' work.
0:56:23 > 0:56:29Somebody has come along, makes a chess set using those three artists.
0:56:29 > 0:56:35- This is what... OK, that is what you feel is happening here?- Yeah.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37- It's definitely not that artist? - No.- OK.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40These are all patented green.
0:56:40 > 0:56:45Armitage at that sort of time he would rarely use that green.
0:56:45 > 0:56:49- It would be brown. - There's always something unknown...
0:56:49 > 0:56:52- Well, there is. - ..about artists or whatever.
0:56:52 > 0:56:56For instance, the fine works that were unknown,
0:56:56 > 0:57:01- whether it's The Beatles or Bob Marley, whoever.- Yeah.
0:57:01 > 0:57:07Henry Moore's work was tremendously well documented, but there is
0:57:07 > 0:57:10always the slight chance that something might be missed.
0:57:10 > 0:57:16- Thanks very much.- Sorry my news wasn't quite what you wanted it.
0:57:16 > 0:57:20- No need to be sorry. Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:57:27 > 0:57:31I know he's wrong. And these experts do sometimes make mistakes.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34I'm going to continue the research and I'm going to find that
0:57:34 > 0:57:36information that proves that it's real.
0:57:36 > 0:57:40- So you're not giving up? - How can you give up?
0:57:40 > 0:57:42If you've got something like this, how can you give up?
0:57:42 > 0:57:47Every time you look at it you know it's something incredible.
0:57:47 > 0:57:51I'm going to prove him wrong. This chess set is history making.
0:57:56 > 0:57:59It's Kate Moss! Hello, madam.
0:57:59 > 0:58:02Now that I've got your attention, can I interest you in some earmuffs?
0:58:02 > 0:58:05£3 a pair. Keep yourself lovely and warm when you're watching the rugby.
0:58:05 > 0:58:09One day I will buy something and I will make a bloody fortune.
0:58:09 > 0:58:10This is Willie Morgan.
0:58:11 > 0:58:15- How much have you paid for it? - A tenner.
0:58:15 > 0:58:17You've done very well.
0:58:17 > 0:58:20I can feel some money on the end of this.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23A top end buyer, at £3,000 I would thought.
0:58:24 > 0:58:26HE CHUCKLES