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The Travelling Auctioneers - Season 5 Episode 3 -
A Secret Stash Helps a Family in Need
A Secret Stash Helps a Family in Need
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00:00Back on the road in our trusty travelling auction house.
00:03On the hunt for treasures hidden in homes all across Britain.
00:09Oh, yes.
00:10Finding value in those overlooked objects, auction supremos, Izzy Barmer.
00:15Getting excited.
00:16James Broad and Bryony Harford.
00:19Wow, the star lot of the day.
00:22And transforming has-beens into must-haves, restorers, JJ Chalmers.
00:27Woo!
00:28Robin Johnson, Lauren Wood and Saf Fakir.
00:31Brilliant.
00:32Our mission?
00:33Beautiful.
00:34To give those unloved and forgotten gems a new lease of life.
00:37Woo-hoo!
00:38And make their owners some much-needed money.
00:41You've got three to four thousand.
00:43Everything we find and fix will go under our gavel as we bring our auctions to you.
00:50Four thousand, one hundred pounds.
00:53Wow.
00:55You know what we say.
00:56Have gavel, we'll travel.
01:04Isn't this lovely?
01:06Isn't it gorgeous?
01:08Hampshire in the summertime's hard to beat.
01:10Bea and Robin are making their way to Gosport, just over the water from Portsmouth.
01:15The maritime fortress that powered England's 19th century naval dominance.
01:22Do you know some of the things that Hampshire's famous for?
01:25No, tell me.
01:26Battle of Trafalgar.
01:27You've got all the facts, Robin.
01:29Well.
01:30He's great at a pub quiz, you know.
01:33But come on, you two.
01:35We have a mission to begin.
01:37What about this one?
01:39You rich?
01:41Oh, yeah, just about.
01:43They're meeting brother and sister Dave and Diane at the family home of their mother, Hazel, and late father Peter.
01:50We were brought up in a close family.
01:52I remember times when, with mum and dad, we all used to hug and go, happy families.
01:58Yeah, and mum and dad just kept the family together really well.
02:02Yeah.
02:03Dockyard worker Peter had suffered for many years with pulmonary fibrosis.
02:08Hospital visits were common until Dave received an unexpected call.
02:13And the consultant phoned me up and said, I need to let you know that your father's very poorly.
02:19He said, I'll be very surprised if he's here in two days.
02:23I think dad thought he had maybe two to three weeks.
02:28Yeah, he did.
02:29And he said to us, too, that one of the things he wanted to do was see mum before.
02:38Mum Hazel, now in a care home, was reunited with Peter for one last goodbye.
02:46And when he said, I love you, Hayes, that's the whole ward.
02:49Just crying.
02:51The family was devastated.
02:54Their rock had gone.
02:55Dad passed away at the end of January this year.
03:00He was just the centre of everything.
03:03Everything was dad.
03:04Amid this very difficult time, Dave and Diane now face the task of putting their parents' house on the market.
03:12When dad passed and we came into the house, we had quite a shock, actually, at what we found.
03:18We didn't realise that he had so many collections.
03:21The main shock to us were these little matchbox cars that he'd been collecting for years with his friend every Tuesday when they went out shopping.
03:31We need help.
03:32Well, don't worry, Dave.
03:34Bea and Robin are heading your way.
03:38As much as I'm loving your ten-mile-an-hour drive, Robin...
03:41I'm going to change now.
03:42Let's go, let's go.
03:44That's right.
03:45Crack the whip, Bea.
03:47Ah, look, I think this is it, just here.
03:49Ooh, nice trainers.
03:58Hi, how are you?
04:00Hello.
04:01Do you want to come in?
04:02Yes, please.
04:03Hi.
04:04Hi, I'm Dave.
04:05Hi, Dave, I'm Bea.
04:06Nice to meet you.
04:06Robin, nice to meet you.
04:07What a lovely house you've got here.
04:09It's a two-bedroom bungalow and there's outbuildings as well, so if you want to have a little mooch around, go and see where you want to look at.
04:15Brilliant.
04:15Help yourselves.
04:15All right, well, do you want to start us now?
04:19It's a bungalow.
04:20Come on, you.
04:21Come on, Ben.
04:21Nice try.
04:23This may only be a two-bedroom bungalow, but it packs a mighty punch, filled with mum and dad's belongings along with Peter's collections.
04:33Nothing under here.
04:35And we have just one day to sort and sift.
04:38B has a mountain to climb in her quest for uncovering enough items for auction, while Robin is on the hunt for potential treasures in need of attention.
04:50No, I don't think they're going to be worth much.
04:52Righty-ho.
04:53Well, let's hope B has some better luck in the hallway.
04:58Didn't expect to see that.
05:01Let's hope this is a good stamp album.
05:04Let's have a look.
05:08So, what we're really looking for is the Penny Black.
05:16Yes, this is exactly what we want.
05:19The Penny Black was the first ever adhesive stamp that we had in 1840, but it only lasted a year because it was so hard to see that red cancellation ink that was put on top of that black stamp.
05:33The Penny Black revolutionised mail delivery by standardising postage costs and simplifying the mailing process.
05:42But the easy removal of the red ink meant it could be reused, hence the reason for its limited run.
05:48I would say at auction, without having a proper look, we're probably in the region of Ā£100 to Ā£150.
05:55That's a nice little find.
05:57These two albums of Victorian used stamps were Dad Peter's pride and joy and are a fantastic start.
06:05Onwards to hopefully find more auction gold.
06:09Ooh!
06:12Look at that!
06:14I think I know what this is.
06:19Yes, it is.
06:21So, these are fantastic.
06:23They are Mason and Hamlin of Boston, so American.
06:27Travelling organs.
06:28You could literally take it on the back of your horse and cart in the 19th century and into the 20th century.
06:35And preachers would have it and they would turn up at their congregation.
06:38They would preach and they would sing and they would play.
06:41And they actually won the Paris Exhibition in 1867.
06:47They got first prize, so they were completely sought after.
06:50Founded in 1854 with their ground-breaking organ harmonium, Mason and Hamlin quickly earned a reputation for world-class organs and pianos.
07:01So much so that French composer Maurice Ravel chose their pianos for his debut American tour in 1928.
07:09Ah, here he is.
07:14It's the travelling organeer.
07:16Why didn't I think of that?
07:18Well, what have you found here?
07:20What do you think?
07:21There's a couple of crucial components missing by the looks of things.
07:25Just a little bit, yeah.
07:26Pedal boards are normally attached to the organ bellets.
07:30Right.
07:30Some rods, but these ones are just, you know.
07:33Loose.
07:34Sounds like a lot of work.
07:36Because it could be really sellable.
07:40It could also be really broken.
07:44I have every faith in you, Robin.
07:47I'll give it a go, but I can't make you any promises.
07:51No, that's fine.
07:51The good thing about these little travel organs is, oh, they travel.
07:57So I'll see you in a minute.
07:58Thanks very much.
07:59It's a lovely find and could sell well at auction, but it needs some of Robin's expertise first.
08:07Better get the alfresco workstation up and running and set to work reviving the tired travelling organ.
08:14The little blue van is ready and waiting, packed with tools, gadgets and all sorts
08:20to revive tired bygones.
08:23So, what's the plan, Robin?
08:26Doesn't play anything.
08:28These bellows need to go up and down to feed air through this organ for it to play a sound.
08:35And they're operated by these pedals.
08:37Well, tell a lie.
08:38They're currently not operated by these pedals.
08:40So, really, my first task is to reconnect these pedal boards to the bellows of the organ.
08:47Now, the only thing I've got in the van which I think I can manipulate into that sort of shape
08:53is a bit of aluminium welding filler rod.
08:57Well, let's hope they work.
08:59Bea will struggle to sell it if you can't get it working.
09:01And use those pliers to bend it around 90 degrees.
09:09Happy with that.
09:10That'll go in the pedal board end.
09:14And that shuts down on that to keep it in.
09:16So, that looks pretty good.
09:19Very clever.
09:20Now, this rod is a bit too flexible.
09:26It's doing the job.
09:27The bellows are going up and down.
09:28But in an ideal world, I'd have a steel rod there.
09:33That's not cutting it at all.
09:35Looks like it's back to the drawing board, I'm afraid.
09:41While Robin is overcoming his obstacles, Dave and Diane have faced their own too.
09:47They've suffered double heartbreak.
09:50Dad, Peter's passing, and then just months earlier, Dave's youngest son, Dean, had a fatal car accident.
09:58In October, October 17th last year, Dean had an accident in his car.
10:03I won't lie, it has been horrendous these last months.
10:08And it just makes you realise that life is very precious.
10:12It's not just something you can just go, yeah, I'm alive and tomorrow.
10:16You can't just take it for granted.
10:17And, in fact, Dean always...
10:19I taught him how to ride motorbikes and mopeds and bits and pieces, and it's ironic that he passed away in a car.
10:28But on the front of his motorbike, on his fairings, he always put YOLO on it.
10:34So YOLO is you only live once.
10:36And he always believed that.
10:38He believed that if you want to do something, you go and do it.
10:40It's just so difficult watching David and, you know, David and his family going through all of this.
10:48Obviously, you know, I've lost my nephew.
10:51I've lost my dad.
10:53My brother's very ill.
10:54And just being a part of that, it's just been heartbreaking.
11:02It's been exceptionally tough for Dave and Diane's big family.
11:06Between them, they have eight children and ten grandchildren, ranging from two to eight years old.
11:12Yeah, for me personally, I want to do something nice for the grandchildren.
11:18My grandchildren, Dad's great-grandchildren.
11:20So we can all just get together and have a holiday, because a lot of grief is...
11:24The way we coped is being together.
11:26Dave and Diane loved family camping when they were little.
11:30The money raised from the sale of their parents' beloved collections
11:33will go towards recreating those trips with their grandchildren.
11:37With Dean's wife, I think for her to go camping in the first instance will be a big experience for her.
11:46So I'd like to be somewhere local at first, and there's a fantastic campsite in Southampton.
11:51Making new happy memories is vital after going through so much tragedy.
11:57Eventually, I would love it.
11:58I want to get everyone abroad.
12:01Perhaps France, probably go on the Eurotunnel, because that would be exciting for the children as well.
12:05And it's up to us to help make that special holiday a reality.
12:10Each room of their parents' home is packed full of items just waiting to be discovered,
12:15and box upon box for Bea to get stuck into.
12:20Ooh, there's plenty in here.
12:23The spare room looks ripe for a rummage.
12:26I am a sucker for a wicker basket, and it looks like we've got quite a few.
12:31Ooh.
12:32Ah, not just any old wicker basket.
12:37We've got a beautiful picnic set, and by the looks of things, I don't think it's ever been used.
12:45And considering we've got a nice little group lot here,
12:50we can definitely make this Ā£30 to Ā£40 at least.
12:55Gathering momentum B, and it looks like the spare room could be stacked with more treasures.
13:02Closed box.
13:04Going to have to open it and have a look.
13:06So this, as soon as you see it, it screams typically French.
13:10So having these sort of gilt brass figures up here, with this alabaster, almost plinth base,
13:16is very typical of 19th century, coming into the 20th century, French clockmaking.
13:22I think we'd get certainly between Ā£30 and Ā£40 for it.
13:27I like that, and a nice 19th century period piece.
13:30For a small room, it's packed quite the punch.
13:37Let's check in on Robin with the Trixie travelling organ.
13:41Can you play chopsticks?
13:45It's quite hard work.
13:48The louder sound isn't coming from the keys.
13:51It's coming from the air leaking from the bellows, unfortunately.
13:56And to do a proper job of this would require me to completely remove the bellows,
14:00soak them all in warm water until the glue softens enough to remove them,
14:04fix every single hole.
14:06I wish I had the time to do this justice, to restore this to its former glory,
14:11so it played on every pedal stroke, but I just haven't.
14:15What I can do, however, is close it up and make it look as good as possible,
14:20really make it shine.
14:24Robin's starting his clean-up with some methylated spirit.
14:29It's doing a great job so far,
14:31leaving a really nice, clean surface ready for waxing.
14:34The wax not only protects the wood,
14:37but gives the travelling organ a lustrous sheen.
14:40I think that looks great.
14:42The wax has finished that off perfectly.
14:46Our focus now is to sell this travelling organ
14:48as a decorative piece or as a project to a prospective buyer.
14:53And now he's finished waxing, Robin can look for his next project.
14:58Now, Dave has found some of Dad Peter's collections
15:01for Bea to cast her eye over.
15:03So, I'll come round here to have a cup of tea with Dad.
15:06Dad was sat over there in his chair, as you know where he is,
15:08and I was sat here, and he said to me,
15:10put your hands out, put yours out.
15:12And you're like, there you go.
15:13Oh!
15:13Yeah, quite.
15:15Oh, my goodness, what is that?
15:17Wait, have a look.
15:19Hopefully, it's got as much value as it does weight.
15:22Feels like pocket watches.
15:24Yeah, yeah.
15:26But they can't all be pocket watches.
15:28All pocket watches.
15:29I believe there's around 40-odd.
15:31You are joking.
15:32No.
15:33Are they all silver?
15:35Yeah.
15:35I think there's a couple of world gold ones in there.
15:38Brilliant.
15:39I think there's quite a few Victorian ones,
15:41but I imagine that's quite common.
15:42Well, they're more collectible if they're sort of Georgian,
15:47or if they've got a name on them that is quite rare,
15:50you know, or a particular silversmith or watchmaker.
15:54So, there are a lot of factors that make pocket watches,
15:56you know, interesting.
15:57In the late 17th century, style icon King Charles II
16:01turned the pocket watch into a must-have
16:04by debuting the newly introduced gentleman's waistcoat
16:07as the perfect home for this revolutionary timepiece.
16:11Pocket watches, they come in and out of fashion,
16:14but they're strong again.
16:15So, 40, say.
16:18Yes.
16:18Minimum, minimum we're looking at here
16:20is sort of Ā£450 worth of pocket watches.
16:24Minimum.
16:24Right, yeah.
16:25And I'm sure there'll be some examples in here
16:27that will be standalone.
16:29What a find.
16:30Bea will split these into different lots
16:32to maximise their value at auction.
16:35Was your mum into all of this?
16:36No.
16:37No, no, no, no, no.
16:38It would be a case with mum.
16:40Dad would, if he went down the auctions,
16:42he'd come back and mum would go,
16:44oh, God, Peter, what have you got now?
16:46So, obviously, the money that we're hopefully going to make
16:49at the auction, there's a holiday.
16:51I promise you I will do my very, very best.
16:55I really, really will,
16:56because I want to raise some money for you
16:58to enjoy your time together.
16:59Yeah, brilliant.
17:01Thanks very much.
17:02And Robin's doing his best
17:04to raise as much money as possible too
17:06and hoping the garage will come up trumps.
17:09To the untrained eye,
17:12this would look like a rusty pile of junk,
17:15but this is a pile of rusty Morris junk.
17:19And judging by the age of it,
17:20it's probably from a Morris 8.
17:23This wheel once belonged to Peter's pride and joy,
17:27his Morris 8 car.
17:28Introduced in the 1930s,
17:30the model was once a bestseller
17:32and the most popular British car at the time.
17:34Good spot, Robin.
17:36Hello.
17:37Hello, you.
17:37What are you doing out here?
17:39Playing in the rusty metal.
17:41Yes, boys and their toys.
17:43This is essentially
17:45all the running gear with Morris 8, I reckon.
17:48Wow.
17:49So I thought the wheel
17:50would be quite a nice thing to clean up.
17:52But will it do well in a local auction house
17:54that isn't specialists on cars?
17:56I guess the shinier I can make this wheel, the better.
17:58I like this idea, Robin.
18:00Good find.
18:02We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?
18:04But if B's unsure
18:05whether it will be popular at auction,
18:08don't spend too long on it.
18:10What a lucky little find that was.
18:13First things first, though.
18:14Before I paint it,
18:15I've got to give it a bit of a clean.
18:17And the little blue van
18:18has just the tool for the job.
18:20For stage one,
18:22all I'm going to use is this wire brush
18:24to get the worst of the pitting off.
18:27All the loose paint,
18:29just like cleaning your teeth.
18:32Get that plaque out.
18:33Blimey.
18:34I'm glad you're not my dentist.
18:36While he scrubs away.
18:38Indoors,
18:39B's continuing her search
18:41in one of the bedrooms.
18:42Oh, I'm always hoping to find Narnia one of these days.
18:50Never mind about the lions and the witches,
18:52what lies above the wardrobe?
18:54Ah, but look on top.
18:58I'm going up.
19:01What are these?
19:03Ah, so I think these are a collection
19:07of Victorian and later
19:09shaving jugs or shaving scuttles,
19:12they were called.
19:13These were really collectible
19:15and a gentleman's sort of toy,
19:18if you will,
19:18something that was his in the bathroom,
19:20something that was a delicate piece as well.
19:23And what you can see is
19:24they've all got this lovely decoration.
19:28Emerging in the late 19th century,
19:30the shaving scuttle or shaving mug
19:32kept water hot,
19:35perfect for the groomed Victorian gent.
19:37I reckon we could get
19:39maybe Ā£10, Ā£15 for them,
19:41so it's worth a go.
19:43Keep going, B.
19:44There's still lots to find.
19:47Back at the van,
19:48Robin's finished scrubbing
19:49the Morris 8 wheel.
19:51The wheel's come up really nicely now.
19:53I've got the worst of the surface rust off
19:55and now it's ready
19:56for a bit of renovating paint.
19:58Now, if I was doing this inside,
20:01I'd do it in a well-ventilated area
20:03and I'd wear a mask,
20:04but because I'm outside,
20:05it's lovely.
20:06Not much wind blowing
20:07and I'm not at much risk
20:09of breathing this in.
20:10That's as may be,
20:12but it's always best
20:13to wear a mask, Robin,
20:14even outside.
20:16A little bit of matte black paint.
20:18God, look at that.
20:19Straight away,
20:21that's starting to look really good.
20:24That's the first coat done.
20:25It's looking really nice.
20:28God, I wish I could get a spray paint
20:30that does that for me.
20:31Ah, get out of town.
20:32You look fab for 21.
20:34Looks 50 years younger, this wheel.
20:37While the wheel dries in the sun,
20:40Bea's found something inside.
20:42Nice bit of furniture, this.
20:45So these are what is known as monk's benches.
20:48So they were made for the monks in the monasteries
20:51that didn't have much space in their rooms,
20:53so they had to have functional pieces of furniture.
20:56And I reckon we can get between 30 and 50 pounds for it.
21:00Glad we found this.
21:03The monk's bench can join Bea's finds
21:06of the two albums of Victorian-used stamps,
21:09four wicker baskets,
21:10the 19th century French clock,
21:13the big bag of gents' pocket watches,
21:15and the shaving mugs.
21:17Also going into the catalogue
21:18are Robin's finds of the travelling organ
21:20and the original Morris 8 wheel
21:22that are both still under repair.
21:25But there's plenty more places to explore
21:28that hopefully house more of Peter's collections.
21:34Let's see what's hiding in here.
21:36This is the ultimate man cave.
21:52I don't think I have ever seen so many Matchbox cars.
21:57I love the stories as well
21:58because there's a real kind of homely feel to it.
22:01So the chap that started it for Leslie Products,
22:04his name was Jack O'Dell,
22:06and he was making larger-scale models already,
22:09not under the Matchbox name.
22:11And then his daughter went off to school one day
22:14and the school said,
22:15you can't bring in toys that are bigger than a Matchbox.
22:18And she told this to her dad when she was quite upset.
22:20So he said, I've got an idea,
22:23which is where the Matchbox name comes from.
22:26By 1968,
22:28Lesney was the largest die-cast toy manufacturer in the world.
22:32And just a year later,
22:34the output had soared to a million units per day.
22:39So, how are you getting on?
22:40Ah, hello!
22:41Let's see you've found the small collection.
22:42This is unbelievable.
22:44I've never seen a collection like it.
22:46That's amazing, isn't it?
22:47Isn't it?
22:48Dave estimates there to be around two and a half
22:50to 3,000 models in here.
22:54Blimey!
22:55He'll get a toy and he'll open it up
22:56and he'll go, oh, it's got this.
22:58Dad, have you not got that one?
22:59He goes, yeah, but if you look at this one,
23:00the steering wheel's a different colour.
23:02But it's those things that make the really valuable ones
23:05super valuable.
23:06And the other thing I've noticed,
23:08we've got loads of these wonderful blister packs.
23:10Now, these came in in the 80s.
23:12Right.
23:13But what makes some of them super valuable
23:15is those really early, the original matchbox boxes,
23:19you know, the little ones.
23:20And I can't see any of those.
23:22Are they yellow?
23:24They are.
23:24So, do you mean these?
23:26I absolutely do mean those.
23:29Oh, my goodness.
23:30This is exactly what we're after.
23:32Really?
23:33Because these are the super early ones from the 50s,
23:37the originals, because they say a Lesney product.
23:40Could we have struck motoring gold?
23:42With so many cars,
23:45Bea will have to split the collection
23:46of nearly 3,000 models
23:48into a number of separate lots,
23:51each making anywhere between Ā£30 and Ā£150.
24:00There's so many bits and pieces.
24:03It's...
24:04Well, if we tried to keep them all at home,
24:06like Dad, I'd fill my attic up.
24:08And yours.
24:09There's just so, so many little collections.
24:13Really quite interesting things as well
24:15that I remember Dad buying from the local auction house.
24:20Now, let's find Robin.
24:23Hello.
24:24Some little stools or side tables.
24:27They're quite interesting.
24:29A little bit tired, though.
24:31Might take them out of the van and see what the boss says.
24:33And just when you won't be, she turns up.
24:36What do you think of this?
24:37I think it's very cute.
24:39Yeah?
24:39What is it, a stool or a table?
24:41I...
24:42It's stool height and size, isn't it, but...
24:44Is it sellable?
24:45Yeah.
24:45I mean, definitely only 20th century, though.
24:48What if I was to tell you
24:49that there's another three of these in the garage?
24:52That makes it a lot more sellable.
24:54Yeah?
24:54As a little group lot, yes.
24:55OK.
24:56Problem is, they've all got this sort of staining on top.
24:59So, what have you got in mind
25:01to make these stools auction-ready?
25:03A little bit of a clean-up.
25:04Keep a little bit of the patina.
25:06OK.
25:07Maybe more sellable?
25:08I think there's a nice little group lot there.
25:09Cool.
25:10Well, do you want to help me carry the other three out?
25:13Er, not really, Robin.
25:15OK.
25:16Looks like you're on your own.
25:18You'd better make a start
25:19getting these mahogany stools looking their best.
25:22To clean these up,
25:25I'm going to use methylated spirits
25:26and a microfibre cloth,
25:27and that'll get the worst of it off.
25:30Robin knows all the tricks
25:31to bring a lovely, shiny gleam.
25:34Sometimes with wood, less is more.
25:37And really, what I run on here
25:38is less grime to give it more luster.
25:42And after a good bit of elbow grease,
25:44we're ready for a light oil finish,
25:46which feeds the wood
25:47and enhances the colour and grain.
25:50That looks great,
25:51and I'm really, really pleased.
25:53Well done, Robin.
25:54And they could now fetch
25:55between Ā£30 and Ā£50 at auction.
25:58But first, don't forget the other three.
26:01While he continues,
26:03where's Bea?
26:05I hope that Robin's working hard.
26:08If not.
26:10Don't worry, he is.
26:12There's still so much exploring to do,
26:15and Diane has left out the family jewels.
26:17Anything catching your eye, Bea?
26:19I've got some really unusual bits of jewellery here.
26:25Hi!
26:26You've found the jewellery.
26:27I have.
26:28And what a collection.
26:30Now, I'm guessing all of this wasn't Peter's,
26:32wasn't your dad?
26:33No.
26:33No, it was his mum, so my nan's.
26:35Your nan.
26:36Yeah.
26:36Right, OK.
26:38So this little collection of ingots,
26:39just on their own,
26:41are going to be about Ā£100.
26:42Auction estimate, 80 to 120.
26:44OK.
26:45So there's value in silver still.
26:47It's very strong.
26:48Yeah.
26:49Those silver ingot pendants
26:50could be a nice little earner.
26:52What else can we find?
26:54There's not much gold here.
26:56Is that...
26:57I can show you something.
26:59OK.
26:59So, a couple of weeks ago,
27:00I was looking at the box,
27:02lifted up the lid,
27:03and this mirror fell off
27:04and fell forward.
27:05And on the back,
27:07there was this box.
27:08Oh, it's glued on.
27:10It's glued on.
27:11And it must have been glued on here
27:12and it's obviously come unstuck,
27:14maybe with the heat we've had.
27:15Yeah.
27:15And...
27:16Oh, my goodness.
27:17There's some gold.
27:19Oh, my...
27:19A secret stash of gold.
27:22Oh, my goodness.
27:23What a clever lady she was.
27:25She hid her gold.
27:26Ooh, we love a secret stash.
27:28Ooh, that's a weighty piece.
27:29That's...
27:30And that looks gold to me as well.
27:33375.
27:34So, that's nine carat.
27:36Yeah.
27:37So, that alone is going to be,
27:39at auction,
27:40Ā£600 to Ā£800.
27:42Really?
27:42Just that one.
27:43Yeah.
27:44Oh, my goodness.
27:46What a fantastic find.
27:48There could be further lots
27:49totalling big bucks in this box.
27:52That little tie pin there,
27:53just that, at auction,
27:55is Ā£120 to Ā£180.
27:58Wow.
28:00Well, I'm glad that mirror fell off.
28:02Are you happy for all of this
28:03to go to auction?
28:04Yes, I am.
28:05There were some other pieces in here
28:07which I really liked.
28:08Yeah.
28:09And I remember my nan wearing,
28:11so I've taken them for myself.
28:12Absolutely.
28:13But a lot of this,
28:14I mean, I wouldn't wear it
28:15and I would just put the box
28:18in the bottom of the wardrobe
28:19or in the cupboard.
28:20I would rather it went to somebody...
28:23Oh, we would enjoy it.
28:25Oh, it's always hard
28:26parting with special heirlooms,
28:28but it's all going to such a good cause
28:30for that big family holiday.
28:33The day is coming to an end
28:35and Robin has found some steel rods
28:37for the travelling organ
28:38just in the nick of time.
28:40Although the diameter is a tiny bit thicker
28:42than the aluminium,
28:44it's nice and stiff
28:45and I can use this as a template
28:47or pattern
28:48to get the bends in the steel
28:51which is a lot harder to bend
28:52and a lot harder to cut.
28:54So I only want to do it once.
28:57Good thing you had a go
28:58with the aluminium earlier, Robin.
29:02How about that, eh?
29:03Genius!
29:06That works much better.
29:08Come on, give us your best Liberace.
29:15Oh, dear.
29:18Terrible musician.
29:19Great restorer.
29:21You said it.
29:23You can't be good at everything, Robin,
29:25but even with holes in the bellows unfixed,
29:27at least it makes a sound now.
29:29It looks great,
29:32it makes a noise
29:33and hopefully it will go to a great home.
29:35And with all your hard work,
29:37it could fetch up to Ā£80.
29:39Now that's music to my ears.
29:42With time running short,
29:43Bea has got her eagle eye mode
29:45firmly switched on
29:46and wants to find one last lot
29:48to take to auction.
29:51Ooh!
29:53Wow!
29:55Another collection!
29:56Look at all of those!
30:01Another secret stash!
30:04This time,
30:05a collection of sci-fi comics
30:06from the 1970s.
30:09Oh, my goodness.
30:10It goes on and on.
30:12What we're looking for
30:13with something like this
30:15is condition.
30:16That's where the value is.
30:18You know, if they are mint,
30:20which I have to say,
30:22these pretty much are.
30:23They look like they've never been read
30:26or even opened.
30:28They've had slight discolouration,
30:30but, you know,
30:31these are from the 70s.
30:32So, for a mass collection like this,
30:36I would say auction estimate,
30:38we're probably looking in the region
30:39of Ā£50 to Ā£80.
30:42And there'll be people out there
30:44that have a number of these
30:45and not the full collection.
30:47So, hopefully,
30:48we'll get somebody
30:48that buys the whole lot
30:50because there's two in here
30:51they don't already have.
30:52This bumper lot
30:53will join the day's other finds,
30:55including Robin's
30:56four mahogany stools
30:57and bee's discoveries,
30:59the collection of gents' pocket watches
31:01and the rather versatile monk's bench.
31:06Paint's all dry.
31:07Look at that.
31:09Beautiful.
31:10Looks 50 years younger.
31:11Ready for auction.
31:12Meanwhile, Robin's restoration
31:16on the Morris 8 wheel
31:17has worked wonders.
31:19It's now auction ready
31:20and has an estimate
31:21of Ā£15 to Ā£25.
31:24Time to shut up shop.
31:27What a lovely day.
31:28Absolutely.
31:30Brilliant.
31:30Absolutely fantastic.
31:31Really enjoyed that.
31:32Well, thanks so much for having us.
31:34It's been an absolute pleasure,
31:35hasn't it?
31:36It has been brilliant.
31:37Loved it.
31:38And have you ever been
31:38to an auction before?
31:39Probably about 30 years ago.
31:41A bit different now.
31:42Lots of online bidding.
31:44And this one will feel
31:45a little bit different
31:46because it will be
31:47more emotional for you.
31:48Yeah.
31:48But we are here
31:49to do everything we can
31:50and Robin will be
31:51right next to you, won't you?
31:53I'll hold your hand
31:53while we watch
31:54Bee Work and Magic.
31:55Brilliant.
31:55We're really looking forward to it.
31:57Well, we'll see you then.
31:58Thank you so much.
31:58You're welcome.
31:59See you later.
31:59Take care.
32:00Bye.
32:00Bye.
32:02Great work, everyone.
32:04You know, Robin,
32:05I've never seen
32:06so many much-bots cars
32:08in my life.
32:09A whole shed full.
32:10A whole shed full.
32:15After a whirlwind day
32:16of finding items,
32:18it's now over to Bee
32:19to nab some high-value bids
32:21at the auction.
32:25A few weeks later,
32:26we're deep in the
32:27Oxfordshire countryside
32:29in the village of Tetsworth,
32:31located on an ancient road
32:32that was once
32:33a busy coaching route.
32:35Oh, Bee.
32:38Oh, no.
32:39Your heels.
32:39Oh, no.
32:40I'm going to have to tiptoe.
32:41Bee, you're so glam.
32:45We're at the Swan
32:46at Tetsworth.
32:47No stranger to majesty,
32:49Elizabeth I
32:50was rumoured
32:51to have stayed here
32:52in the 16th century.
32:54A fitting stage
32:55for our Queen of the Rostrum,
32:57Chief Auctioneer,
32:58Bee.
33:00Careful for your head.
33:01Oh, yeah.
33:01Watch your head.
33:02I've not got that problem.
33:05OK, there we go.
33:07Right, let's have it there.
33:08As we set up shop,
33:09the heat is on
33:10to raise as much money
33:12as we can
33:12for Dave and Diane's
33:14big family camping getaway.
33:16They've travelled
33:17over 90 miles
33:18to say goodbye
33:19to their parents' collections.
33:22Hello.
33:23Hello.
33:23What have we got here?
33:24Wow.
33:26Do you remember?
33:27Oh, wow.
33:27Yes, yeah.
33:28Amazing what you can
33:29actually do with it.
33:30I've done a really good job with that.
33:31So how are you guys
33:32feeling about the auction today?
33:34It's exciting.
33:35We're dragging down auctions
33:36all the time when we're in.
33:36Yeah.
33:37Really?
33:37Yeah.
33:37That's like a second home to you.
33:39Yeah, it is.
33:39Knowing that things
33:40that he collected
33:42over the years
33:43are going to go back
33:43to the auction
33:44and, yeah,
33:45he'd love it.
33:46Today,
33:47Bee's hoping to
33:48rake in the cash
33:49with Peter's
33:50many collections,
33:51including
33:52a surprise find
33:53of an enormous
33:54hoard of coins.
33:55These coins
33:58have come
33:59as a bit of a surprise
34:00to me today
34:01because we didn't
34:02find them
34:03in the property.
34:04However,
34:05they've come to light
34:06since
34:06and what a fantastic
34:07surprise they are.
34:09So this is a whopping
34:10collection
34:10of 1947 coins
34:13and what that means
34:14because of the date
34:15is that they are
34:16effectively
34:16half silver.
34:18I think they'll be
34:19very pleasantly surprised
34:21when I get up on the roster
34:22and sell these.
34:22Oh, it's so exciting.
34:25The auction's
34:25about to kick off.
34:27As bidders fill the room,
34:28auction clerks
34:29Becky and Jason
34:30sharpen their eagle eyes
34:32online.
34:33All we need now
34:34is a travelling auctioneer.
34:36Well, hello,
34:38ladies and gentlemen.
34:39With the auction
34:40about to begin,
34:41it's time for Dave,
34:42Diane and Robin
34:43to take their seats.
34:46Excited anticipation
34:47is building
34:48for what's about to go
34:49under Bee's gavel.
34:52I am delighted
34:53to be here
34:54selling today
34:55on behalf of
34:56the lovely Dave
34:57and Diane.
34:58Good luck, everyone.
35:00Let's begin.
35:02Bee is wheelie excited
35:03about Peter's
35:04massive car collection
35:06which has been split
35:07into several lots
35:08to increase
35:09their saleability.
35:11First to go
35:11is a large lot
35:12of die-cast,
35:13matchbox and corgi
35:14heavy goods vehicles.
35:17Where shall we start?
35:18Ā£30 for the whole lot?
35:20Yes, online.
35:2130, we've got.
35:2232, 35, 38, 40.
35:26Yes.
35:26Keep going, Becky.
35:27Sing it to me.
35:30Yes.
35:32Yes.
35:33Music to my ears.
35:34Ā£100 we're up to.
35:37Wow.
35:37The internet bidders
35:38are racing
35:39to win these miniature motors.
35:42Ā£170
35:43and we're away.
35:45Wow.
35:45What a high-octane
35:47start to the auction.
35:48Well, they did all right,
35:50didn't they?
35:50Didn't they?
35:51Didn't they just?
35:52Are you happy?
35:53It's incredible.
35:55Up next,
35:56the last-minute collection
35:57of pre-1947
35:59silver British
36:00two-shilling coins.
36:01I have bids
36:04all over my auctioneer's book
36:06and I have to go in here
36:07at Ā£424,
36:08Ā£54,
36:09Ā£8,500,
36:10Ā£520,
36:10Ā£550,
36:11Ā£580,
36:12Ā£600 I'm up to.
36:14Yes way.
36:15At Ā£600.
36:18Thank you very,
36:19very much.
36:20I gasp.
36:21Well, this is a nice surprise,
36:22isn't it?
36:23Unbelievable.
36:23Actually unbelievable.
36:24That'll do very nicely.
36:26Thank you very much.
36:27Shall we keep going?
36:28Why not?
36:30Next is one of Robin's
36:32restorations,
36:33the Mason and Hamelin
36:35late 19th century
36:36travelling organ.
36:38You've got to give it
36:38a bit of a...
36:39..a bit of a pump.
36:43Oh dear, Robin.
36:44It's a good job
36:45you're a great restorer.
36:47If you're going to play it,
36:48it might need
36:49a little bit of attention
36:50to the airbags.
36:51OK.
36:51Otherwise, beautiful.
36:53Yeah.
36:53Thank you, Robin.
36:54You did a great job on that.
36:55Did you like that?
36:56Great job.
36:56Loved it.
36:57But please don't ever
36:58play again.
36:59My sentiments exactly.
37:02I've got bids here
37:03on my book.
37:0340, 45, 50,
37:0555 and 60 pounds
37:06I'm up to.
37:07And 60 I have.
37:09Fair warning to you.
37:11Thank you very, very much.
37:13Music to our ears
37:15and more money
37:16to add to the pot.
37:18That was really good.
37:19I think that was
37:19100% down
37:20to my demonstration
37:21as well.
37:22Do you think that?
37:22Absolutely.
37:23And we can turn it out.
37:24No comment.
37:24Next, the two albums
37:26of Victorian used stamps.
37:29A much-loved collection
37:30of Dad Peters
37:31that Dave and Diane
37:33have put a high reserve
37:34of 500 pounds on.
37:36I'm going to go in here
37:37with interest
37:38this time
37:38straight in.
37:39350, 380,
37:41bid me 400.
37:42Are we done?
37:43All sure.
37:44At 380.
37:47Unfortunately,
37:48the stamps
37:49didn't beat the reserve price,
37:50but never mind.
37:51Plenty more to go.
37:5210, yes,
37:57it does help.
37:58Then Bea gets busy
38:00with her gavel.
38:01At 280 pounds.
38:05With another lot
38:07from the Epic Model
38:08Car Collection.
38:09At 20 pounds.
38:12The Monk's Bench.
38:1410 we have,
38:15I'll take it,
38:16online at 10 pounds.
38:17The Morris 8 Wheel.
38:19At 20 pounds.
38:21The four wicker baskets.
38:24At 10 pounds
38:25and I'm selling.
38:26Along with lot.
38:28At 10 pounds
38:29for the collection.
38:30After lot.
38:33Dad,
38:33Peter's collection
38:34of shaving mugs
38:35didn't tempt
38:35the bidders of Tetsworth,
38:37but plenty more to go.
38:38Next to go under the hammer,
38:43the lovingly restored
38:44and now very shiny
38:46four mahogany stools.
38:47Take it away,
38:48Robin.
38:50They're really nice.
38:51I think they're
38:51Dutch inspired,
38:52I'd say.
38:53Good condition,
38:53very solid,
38:54very heavy.
38:55And now,
38:57polished and waxed.
38:5810 pounds then.
39:00Thank you very much.
39:0210 pounds we have
39:03in the room.
39:0412,
39:04thank you online at 12.
39:06Madden bid me 15.
39:09At 15 we're in.
39:1018.
39:12One more little bid.
39:14At 18 pounds.
39:16We're there, Robin,
39:16we're going to sell.
39:18Aw,
39:19someone's got a real bargain there.
39:21I think the new owner
39:23will be quite happy
39:24with them for 18 pounds.
39:25Yeah.
39:25Onwards with five
39:28Victorian silver
39:29Gents pocket watches
39:30selected from another
39:31large PETA collection.
39:34And the internet
39:35is way ahead with me.
39:3685,
39:3795,
39:38100,
39:38110,
39:38120,
39:40130 pounds.
39:42140 competition
39:43at 140 pounds.
39:47Perfect timing
39:49for another lovely result.
39:51Now the collection
39:52of nine silver
39:53ingot pendants.
39:56I look down at the screen.
39:57100,
39:57120,
39:58130,
39:59140 is bid.
40:01At 140.
40:02Thank you, sir.
40:03I was wondering
40:04when you were going
40:04to get involved.
40:05At 150.
40:07We're in the room.
40:08I'm going to put
40:09the gavel down.
40:10At 150.
40:12You're out on line.
40:13Gentleman seated.
40:14At 150.
40:16A tidy sum
40:17for the silver ingot pendants.
40:18It's all helping
40:19stack the cash
40:20for the much-wished-for
40:22camping holiday.
40:24Bee and her gavel
40:26are making short work
40:27of the secret stash
40:28from Nan's jewellery box.
40:31At 190 pounds.
40:34Thank you very much.
40:35Striking a decisive snap
40:37on the 18-carat gold tie pin.
40:40At 110 pounds.
40:41A nine-carat gold
40:43rope twist necklace.
40:45At 180.
40:48And a pair of
40:4918-carat gold
40:50oval cufflinks.
40:53Thank you very much.
40:55Wow.
40:55Brilliant.
40:56And for the final lot,
40:58a nine-carat gold bracelet
40:59Nan had hidden
41:01in the jewellery box.
41:03And I have bids
41:05absolutely all over my book.
41:07I have to start here.
41:08500, 520, 550, 580, 600, 620, 650, 680, 700 pounds.
41:15Internet's carried on.
41:16720, 750.
41:18All done.
41:19All out.
41:20All smiling and happy.
41:22At 750.
41:24Gabble's raised.
41:25I'm selling all the way.
41:27Blimey.
41:28That's what you call a result.
41:29Well done, Bee.
41:31I just can't believe it.
41:32Let's go cup of tea
41:33and we'll work out the total for you.
41:35That's a good idea.
41:36Yeah.
41:36Some spectacular sales there.
41:39I think they've made enough
41:40for a luxury tent or two,
41:42but where they'll be taking them
41:44depends on how much they've made.
41:46Did you guys have a good time?
41:48Brilliant.
41:48Absolutely brilliant.
41:49She was brilliant, wasn't she?
41:50You were fantastic.
41:52Thanks.
41:52And when the bidding started,
41:54I could see you were totally enjoying it.
41:55Oh, I love it.
41:55Floating round the room.
41:56I love it.
41:57Yeah, unbuilt.
41:58Really good.
41:59Do you want to know how much
42:00bees earned you?
42:02Go on, then.
42:03Go on.
42:03After the auction house
42:04have taken their fees,
42:06just over Ā£6,200.
42:09Oh, what?
42:10Wow.
42:11Well, that's a lot of money, isn't it?
42:13That's a few camping trips.
42:15Great, isn't it?
42:16Gone all emotional.
42:18Yeah.
42:18Yeah.
42:19Thank you so much.
42:20It's our pleasure, isn't it?
42:22It really is, yeah.
42:23It certainly is,
42:24and isn't it marvellous
42:25that the family's cherished collections
42:27can contribute
42:28to making this holiday dream come true?
42:32I don't know if it's all sort of sunk in yet, really.
42:35It was just such a shock.
42:37Yeah, I'm almost trembling inside.
42:40I'm going to have some great days.
42:41I'm going to get them camping.
42:43Oh, Dave and Diane,
42:44we are ecstatic for you all,
42:46and we wish you and your families
42:48a much-needed and well-deserved holiday.
42:52Definitely drinks are in order.
42:54Time to celebrate, I think.
42:55Yeah.
42:56Oh, step, step.
42:58That's the hardest thing I've done all day.
43:00I'll join.
43:01Watch those heels beep.
43:04Onwards to the next challenge.
43:06Safe travels.
43:06We'll see you next time.
43:36See you next time.
43:48.
43:50.
43:50.
43:52.
43:54.
43:56.
43:57.
43:58.
44:00.
44:02.
44:02.
44:04.
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