Secret Dealers
Season 5, Episode 27
Episode 26 | 41m 44sVideo has Closed Captions
Dealers are let loose in homeowner Michael’s Yorkshire semi.
Dealers are let loose in homeowner Michael’s Yorkshire semi, where a hoard of glittering jewelry including five gold half-sovereigns on nine carat mounts leads to a whopping five-figure offer. Other dealers join Mark in the second house, where they come face to face with Mavis and her daughter Sue in a battle for a twentieth century mahogany-based barograph.
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Secret Dealers is presented by your local public television station.
Secret Dealers
Season 5, Episode 27
Episode 26 | 41m 44sVideo has Closed Captions
Dealers are let loose in homeowner Michael’s Yorkshire semi, where a hoard of glittering jewelry including five gold half-sovereigns on nine carat mounts leads to a whopping five-figure offer. Other dealers join Mark in the second house, where they come face to face with Mavis and her daughter Sue in a battle for a twentieth century mahogany-based barograph.
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(dramatic upbeat music) (dramatic upbeat music continuing) (dramatic music fading) (lively music) - [Zaraah] Today, the Secret Dealers have their game plan to get their hands on all that glitters in this semi in East Yorkshire.
- Boxes.
And they're not just any old kind of boxes.
They're jewelry boxes.
- [Zaraah] Catching a glimmer in their eyes will be theses five gold half-sovereigns on 9 carat mounts, and a mound of vintage and antique gold, just waiting to be put on the scales.
- This will add up to a serious amount of money.
- [Zaraah] And with big cash at stake, the dealers might just turn on each other.
- Me and you are gonna be under a bit of pressure by a certain lady.
- The honey with the money.
- I want it.
- We are going to give her-- - A run for her money.
- A run for her money.
- [Zaraah] Leaving dealer-scheming aside, all this bullion belongs to Michael.
- I have an awful lot of stuff, because my wife's people were into antiques and jewelry and this sort of thing, so there's an awful lot of jewelry.
I must de-clutter.
I've got so much stuff.
It's the cleaning of them and, and looking after them, which is the thing that I want to do.
- [Zaraah] Whatever money he does make today, he's got plans for.
- I'm thinking about getting solar panels.
My car's a few years old now.
I may change my car.
(dramatic upbeat music) - [Zaraah] But before those plans come to fruition, he's got to face three hard-nosed Secret Dealers.
Is he ready to do battle, I wonder?
- I'll probably describe myself as not a hard negotiator.
Shouldn't be saying that, really, should I, but.
- [Zaraah] Surely he's worried about the dealers he's facing, like Alison.
- Alison I think is lovely.
We like Alison.
- [Zaraah] What about savvy Tim?
- We like Tim very much.
- [Zaraah] Or street-smart Mark?
- He's fine, fine.
No problem with him at all.
- [Zaraah] He seems very relaxed about meeting our scary dealers.
Time will tell.
(lively music) - Oh, look at this.
Bit fancy.
- [Zaraah] Okay, dealers, while Michael is out, you have just one hour alone in the house to place your sealed and secret bids on anything you want to buy.
- I'm going upstairs.
- I going in here.
Where are you going, Alison?
- Any room that you're not today.
- Oh!
Attitude.
Wow.
Now, look at this.
It's a cross between Madame de Pompadour's boudoir, with a bit of Alison Chapman thrown in, with all these folder-alls and frills everywhere.
Sparkly chandeliers.
But, we have gold, which is what the Secret Dealers love, and we've got lots of it.
And somebody has been a busy little bee in that they've weighed it all for us.
Basically, it's fairly standard 9 carat gold.
We've got these 1970s ID bracelets, which just don't sell anymore in this bark effect.
I went to a conference, and it was for the Assay Office, and it said that in the 1980s they hallmarked 33 million pieces of 9 carat gold, which is all out there, and only a fraction of it has been brought back into the market and recycled.
- [Zaraah] Well, it seems most of what's missing is in Michael's front room!
- This will add up to a serious amount of money.
And today, you've got the three most competitive dealers for gold, so it will absolutely be a tussle of giants.
So this is a four-figure bid, and it's giving me a hot flush, and the calculator is hyperventilating at this moment.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] So that's a promising first bid on the large collection of gold jewelry.
Next door, Alison has found even more labeled gold, in the form of five half sovereigns.
- And a half sovereign weighs approximately four grams.
And the fact that they've put 9.6 grams on the ticket isn't really any use to me, because the coin is a higher gold than the shank.
So I shall weigh that up.
I think it's gonna be a lot of scales today.
- [Zaraah] This home is turning into El Dorado for our dealers.
- All the sovereigns I would keep, and that where I'm hoping to have the edge today.
I'm hoping that Mark and Tim are just thinking of putting it all in a pot, whereas I'm hoping to retail.
That's my game plan, anyway.
- [Zaraah] And with that game plan in mind, she leaves her first bid on the five sovereigns.
- Oh, dear.
- Now what's Mark doing at the dressing table?
Surely he hasn't found more gold.
- It's all been weighed.
It's got the weights on.
Look, the ring, 2.7 grams.
Two point seven grams.
So all I have to do is get my calculator, put my calculator there, and punch in the figures that are on here, because the weight will be correct, I'm sure.
For me, and for the real jewelers, this has no other value apart from the gold value.
- [Zaraah] They're all on their calculators today.
And Mark places his first bid on the bedroom gold.
Alison, meanwhile, has uncovered more jewelry.
- Here we've got a little set here that would have been earrings, and with a little turquoise pendant.
And it's got, unfortunately, here I can see that it's been glued, so probably some stones have fallen from their setting.
To get this back on the road, it's going to require me spending money.
And what we really like, us jewelers, is we like to be able to buy it, clean it, and put it in the window.
- [Zaraah] Despite her reservation, Alison reserves the first bid on the Victorian turquoise pendant and earrings.
Elsewhere, plans are afoot.
- I think the honey with the money likes this jewelry.
- Well, if she likes it, she can buy it, but we are going to give her-- - A run for her money.
- A run for her money.
- [Zaraah] You'd better run quickly then, boys, because Alison's uncovering more stuff, including this silver and enamel compact, which has attracted a bid.
- It's like a jewelry shop in here, modern high street jewelers, there's so much of it.
Tim has put the weight on, which is 465 grams.
Now, in my opinion, you look at this, there's some things you might be able to sell, if you have the time to do it.
Or do you just melt it?
Well, I think that's gonna be a big talking point, because some people will want to melt it, and others might wanna try and save a few items.
And it's each to their own.
- [Zaraah] And no prizes for guessing what Mark wants to do with it.
- Scrap it.
- [Zaraah] And his bullion bid is placed next to Tim's, who is upstairs, working out his margins.
- We refer to these as dress rings.
So it's not a precious ring, like an engagement ring, which might have a diamond or a ruby.
And synthetic stones, even though they're set into gold, we refer to them as dress rings.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] And Tim's bid for the bedroom jewelry joins Mark's.
Alison, meanwhile, has sniffed out the large collection of gold jewelry downstairs.
- I have people who are always asking for certain, well, for dog charms.
And look.
How many dachshund owners are there out there that would love that?
Rope chains.
They're quite light.
They're hollow, but they look good.
And at the moment, people can't afford heavy, large, solid link chains.
But they can afford these.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] That's three bids on this pile of gold.
And there'll be a scrap to own it, whether it ends up as scrap or not.
- By the time I've finished with them, they'll be smarting.
- Okay, what have we got?
Oh, look, isn't that a surprise?
More gold.
Let's have a good look.
Little gold earrings.
These are Victorian, 15 carat.
Set with turquoise.
They've had a little bit of repair there.
Can you see the discoloration?
That's where glue's been used to set the stones in.
So they need to be cleaned, but it's nothing major.
And there's a little pendant that matches it.
So there's the pendant, and there's the matching pair of earrings.
And I'm gonna place a bid on them.
- [Zaraah] The turquoise pendant has garnered two bids.
And Mark's spotted the five half sovereigns.
- [Mark] Ten.
Ten.
- [Zaraah] More calculations done, Mark places a second bid on the half-sovereigns.
And now he's found the compact too.
- [Mark] Lovely blue guilloche enamel.
Nice quality.
Open up, you should have a little silver mirror in there.
There's no hallmark, but the hallmarks tend to be behind the mirror.
But it's silver, it's nice condition.
The enamel's not chipped.
Very important when you're buying enamel.
Have a good look at it.
You don't want it chipped, because it brings the down.
It's very hard to polish it.
In fact, it just doesn't look right.
And summertime, you can't do it.
But that's nice condition: Clean, honest, ready to be sold.
- [Zaraah] Well, at least he's not saying he'll scrap it.
That's two bids on the compact.
Alison, meanwhile, is lamenting bringing up the rear.
- Tim and Mark have been in here first, and it's never as much fun.
It's like having someone's leftovers.
But I wonder if they've missed these.
Lovely pair of drop opal earrings.
Look at that?
Look at the fire in those apicals.
- [Zaraah] Taking into account the opal earrings, she places the third bid on the bedroom jewelry.
- Bet he matches my last bid.
- And with Alison and Mark done in the closing seconds, slowcoach Timmy needs to get a move on.
- So this is the last room, and it's a big fraught out there, because we're running out of time.
So I just need to shut up and get on.
- [Zaraah] Timmy's bed makes it three for the sovereigns.
Now move along, Time.
- Silver and enameled compact.
Very pretty.
So we'll have a little bit on that.
- [Zaraah] Good.
That's three bids on the contact new.
Are we done, Tim?
- That's pretty.
- No?
- He's got a pair.
Victorian.
Turquoise earrings, and then a turquoise pendant.
High caret, 15 carat, typically Victorian.
- [Zaraah] At last.
That's all three dealers bid on the turquoise pendant and railings.
- Alison thinks that she's gonna be taking a lot of home with her.
Little does she know she is underestimating Timmy.
Some of this gold is staying right here in Yorkshire.
(dramatic upbeat music) - [Zaraah] The Secret Dealers have laid sealed bids all over Michael's home.
But it's the bling that's really caught their eye.
- This is a four-figure bid, and it's giving me a hot-flush.
And the calculator is hyperventilating.
= [Zaraah] But Alison and Mark see things very differently when they prospect for gold.
- To me, it's basically scrap prices.
- Whereas I'm hoping to retail.
- [Zaraah] All three dealers are hoping to walk away with these five half sovereigns.
And there's not one, but two mountains of gold to fight over.
But the precious yellow metal isn't theirs just yet.
They've first got to convince Michael to sell, which might not be easy.
- Some things, it's gonna be a little bit difficult parting with, and there's certain things that I can't part with, wouldn't matter what it was they offered me for them.
But there's other things that I think I'm going to have no problem with parting with.
- [Zaraah] But to make sure Michael gets a fair price, he'll also have the backup of the Secret Valuer.
So exactly how much of the dealers' cash could he take home today?
- This is the sum total of our best bids.
(gentle music) - [Michael] (gasping) £10,627.
Very good.
- You like the look of that?
- I do, yes, certainly.
- [Zaraah] That is a very good sum, Michael.
Let's see if our dealers can get you on your way, with a deal on the smaller pile of jewelry from the bedroom.
- I would love to take the gold home.
I would love to buy it.
However, I do want to make a profit on it.
- I know Alison really wants to buy this.
I can feel it.
- I want it.
- To me, it's basically scrap price, but Uncle Mark might play a little game.
- So, who do you think is gonna bid you the most for it?
- Probably Mark.
- Probably Mark.
And what about me and Goldilocks here?
- I think Alison's got her eye on those things, haven't ya?
- Oh, I think Alison's got her eye on these things.
Look, she's.
Look, look, she's already.
I can feel the daggers in my, back of my head.
- Oh, the tension is palpable.
Well, I will reveal first.
My bid is £1,100 for your box of jewelry.
- Very good.
Good.
- [Mark] And my offer is £1,400.
- That is better.
- And my offer is £1,046.
- I think you two's got a bit of catching up to do, don't you?
- I'm not jogging anywhere on that figure.
I'm out.
- I think you picked right.
Mark is your man.
I'm out.
- Number one buyer on "Secret Dealers".
- [Zaraah] Not yet, he's not.
What's the Secret Valuer's verdict?
(mellow music) Mark's opening bid has hit the top valuation.
But is it enough to seal the deal with Michael?
- Show me that.
- [Tim] You don't have to show him that, Michael.
- Don't show him anything - Don't feel under pressure.
- that you don't want to.
- Oh, gang up on Mark day.
Go on.
I can feel it already.
- Ah!
- Oh!
(Tim laughing) - Now, come on, that isn't bad, is it?
Please, Michael.
- No.
No, but it is worth a little bit more than what you've put down.
- Split the difference with him, Mark.
- Will you be quiet, Alison.
There's not-- - You said that well.
I'll settle for that.
Split the difference.
- [Alison] You get £1450.
- No.
You two give me a pony each, and I'll give the £1450.
- A what?
A pony?
- We're not giving you ponies, monkeys, or any other animal.
- No, no.
We deal in currency with the Queen on, not all these animals.
- [Mark] I can see you want a little more.
- Yes.
- So I'm gonna give you another £20.
There's my hand.
Let's have a deal.
- Okay.
- Thank you very much.
Pleasure.
Thank you.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] Now, Mark said he would play a game, but it felt as though he was the one being played.
- Mark likes to be seen as the big buyer.
Why shouldn't I encourage him?
- Good little lot.
Potential.
I can go to work with it.
I will earn money.
- It's the cockney in him, isn't it?
Or whatever he is, cockney, mockney, the barrow boy, he's just got to have that extra word, and that extra word is a few more quid.
- [Zaraah] Nothing wrong with a tiny profit, Tiny Tim.
Size isn't everything.
These sovereigns might only be halves, but there are five of them.
- One price, one price only.
Scrap, and that's all I'm gonna go to.
If they wanna go any more, bye-bye, they can have it.
- It's bullion.
It's got a value.
I would like to buy it, at the right price.
- [Zaraah] Famous last words.
- [Alison] How did you get hold of them?
- One of them was a Golden Wedding Anniversary present for my mother-in-law.
Couple of them, I bid on the internet for them.
- [Tim] He's a canny lad, our Michael.
- [Alison] You're a canny buyer, you are, aren't you?
- Off you go then.
- My offer, £554.
- My offer, £490.
- My offer, £580.
- £585.
- Oooo!
- £590.
- £595.
- So I'll just have a look at this valuation.
- [Zaraah] All three dealers have gone over the valuation, basing their bids on the bullion price.
It's now about their profit margins.
- Would you like to share it with us?
- Not really.
(all laughing) I'll show you when you've finished bidding.
I'll show you when you've finished-- - He's a cool dude, isn't he, Michael?
- [Mark] I think you know how to play this game better than us.
- I'm a quick learner.
- Oh, I gathered that.
- I've had to be.
- There's nothing left, really, for any of us, so I'm gonna drop out.
- There's no profit in it, is there?
There's, there's no money in it.
- Another fiver?
- £600.
- Well, I've gotta say, at £600, there is no meat on the bone.
It's been skinned, boiled, and it's definitely stripped.
Do you agree, Alison?
- I agree.
- So in that situation, I'm gonna step back and say, Michael, it's been a pleasure.
Thank you very much.
I'm now out.
(suspenseful music) - Okay, Tim.
- Thank you very much, Michael.
- Right.
- [Zaraah] Oh, Tim!
What have you done?
- I started off and I thought I want to make some profit here today, I want to earn some money.
And what have I gone and done?
Lost it.
Just like that.
- He had to buy them, didn't he?
£600 No meat left on that bone.
No profit.
- What about the marrow?
There's always meat on any bone.
- [Zaraah] Well, poor Tim felt more like a battered piece of cod than a piece of meat in the next deal.
He bid £65 for the silver enamel compact, but Michael wanted £70.
- Give the man £70.
- [Alison] You're looking like a fish.
Close your mouth.
£5 to you, Tim, to Michael.
- I feel like a fish on that marble slab right now.
- [Zaraah] So Tim was kippered for 70.
Alison then decided she wouldn't swim with the shoal on the Victorian pendant and earrings.
- I saw other fish to fry.
- [Zaraah] So they were duly caught by Mark for £320.
Now, would Alison's bigger fish to fry refer to the massive stockpile of gold jewelry from the living room?
So far, Alison hasn't bought a thing in Michael's house.
Now, is this large pot of gold going to be at the end her rainbow, I wonder?
- Gold, I'm always keen.
- Great mixed lot.
Vintage, Victorian, modern.
I'm buying it.
- I'd be quite happy to drop that little box into my shopping trolley.
- Alison is very keen.
She's chomping at the bit.
(chomping) What about you, Marky?
- Yes.
(Alison and Tim laughing) - He's playing his cards very close to his chest, Michael.
- I see.
- My bid for your collection of gold items, Michael, is £3,945.
(suspenseful music) - My bid is £4,070.
- And my bid is £3,952.
- Anybody prepared to go any higher?
- £4,080, Michael.
- £4,090.
- £4,100.
- £4,120.
- £4,130.
- £4,140.
- £4,150.
Now, you've noticed these little increments is because this is a very fine line here.
- £4,160.
- £4,170.
- £4,180.
(laughing) - Back to you, Alison.
- £4,190.
- £4,200.
- [Zaraah] All three dealers are desperate to go home with the gold, and they are forcing each other into higher and higher bids.
But who will hold their nerve to bag the gold?
(dramatic music) The Secret Dealers are in a bidding war for Michael's large collection of vintage and antique gold.
So far, Mark has the highest bid, £4,200.
But Alison's been holding back on the other deals so she can spend big on this one.
- £4,210.
- I'm sure you can do better, Alison.
- £4,250.
- £4,260.
- £4,270.
- They keep knocking you out, don't they, Alison?
- He's playing with you, Alison.
That's what he's doing, he's playing with you to get that price up.
Go on, girl.
- £4,000... - Go on, girl.
Go on!
(chuckling) - £4,300.
- £4,310.
- £4,320.
- £4,330.
- Nah, that's enough for me now.
- I'm out.
- I'll have a look at this?
- [Alison] You can.
(suspenseful music intensifying) - [Zaraah] Wow.
All three dealers went over the valuation.
There can't be any room for Michael to negotiate with Alison, surely?
(suspenseful music continuing) - Yes, okay.
- Lovely.
We got a deal, Michael.
Thank you, my love.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] Well, has Alison spent too much money?
- Well over the gold content.
So, for me, bye-bye.
You're welcome to the items, Alison.
- I intend to make a profit on everything that I do buy.
- [Zaraah] She sounds determined, doesn't she?
Well, we'll find out if she does make money later in the program.
But first, let's find out how much of our dealers' money Michael's reaped today.
- We've had a bit of bickering, we've had a lot of bidding, and we have spent a lot of money with you.
In fact, we have spent £8,731.
- Wonderful.
Thank you very much.
Hope you'll make a little bit of profit out of it.
- I'm not so sure about that, Michael.
- [Zaraah] Wow!
That's a great lump of cash.
(lively music) It's time to give two of our dealers some time off, so Simon and Mike will be joining Mark in our second home.
- I might be old, fat and over the hill, but I'm still a great antique dealer.
- I love competing against the other dealers, and I hope I'm always gonna come out on top.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] Well, dealers, your destination is here.
Inside this lodge are not one but two generations of family collections.
And the items the dealers will definitely target include a twentieth century mahogany based barograph, a Victorian weather-checker, to you and me, and a 19th century carved ivory crucifix.
It was all collected by 88-year old Mavis' in-laws, who were themselves antique dealers.
- When they passed on, it all came between my husband and his brother.
And so what we've got are just sort of some of what was theirs.
- [Zaraah] Since her own husband died, Mavis has moved into a smaller home, and daughter Sue was in the process of moving into her new home just around the corner.
And any money from the dealers is going to a good home too.
- Any money that's made I think will go to Susan, for the renovation of the cottage.
- Wow.
Thanks, Mum.
- Because she's still got quite a bit of work to do in there.
- [Zaraah] But if our dealers thought they might be getting an easy ride with this friendly pair, tactics are being discussed.
- Maybe we'll go down the sentimental route.
- Yes, yes.
- Yeah.
Play on the heartstrings.
- I'm getting old, and I need it.
- Absolutely.
- I need looking after.
- Yes.
You're only on a pension.
- That's right.
- Yeah.
- [Zaraah] If only our dealers had heartstrings to pluck.
(lively music) - Right.
Come on.
Come in.
And behave yourselves.
- Oh, I'm coming.
Alright.
- [Zaraah] So another house, another hour for the dealers to find and place secret bids on anything they want to buy from Mavis and Sue.
(lively music continuing) - You'll always find me in the kitchen.
- [Zaraah] Yes, but this is not a party, Simon.
- We've got two oil paintings on canvas, and what we're looking for is a signature.
I think it's Charles H Buchel.
And I think there's a limited amount of people that would actually be interested in buying this painting.
Whereas if we look at this painting, which, incidentally, is by the same artist, the subject matter of this is an altogether different matter.
People love oil paintings of children.
I am gonna leave a bid on both of them.
- [Zaraah] So that's both the Buchel paintings with a bid each.
And Mike's uncovered something scientific.
- The first thing we've got is a barograph.
Right, what is a barograph, you may well ask me.
It's a thing for checking the weather.
These are the papers which go on that.
And this is, it says, "Change", "Fair", just like a barometer.
And that is a vacuum press.
And it goes up and down and records the changes in the atmosphere.
Eh?
Good job I got a good education, isn't it?
- [Zaraah] True, Mike.
Those Victorians knew how to teach.
And with that, Michael places his first bid on the mahogany cased barograph.
Now, hasn't Mark already seen enough gold today?
We have a gold coin, Kruggerrand, is a South African denomination of coin, which everybody knows is 22 carat, it's very heavy, in a gold mount.
You'd obviously think the chain was gold, but it's not, it's plate.
So you, you know, you have to look at everything.
- [Zaraah] It seems like Mark can never have too much gold.
But he's not going to have it all to himself here either.
- Right, I'm gonna make your work a little bit easier for you.
- Go on then.
- [Mark] This chain is not gold.
- [Simon] So all we've got is a little 9 carat mount on it.
- [Mark] Correct.
- I'm just going to leave a bid on this Kruggerrand.
- [Zaraah] So that's two bids on the Kruggerrand, and I bet it won't be the last.
Mike, meanwhile, has struck brass.
This here is a brass contraption which hangs on the wall, like so.
This hangs off there.
You wind it up, clockwork.
This hangs at the bottom, like so, and you put your meat on it in a fireplace.
So it dates about 1870.
I shall leave a price on that.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] So the Victorian meat spit has hooked its first bid.
And something might have hooked Mark too.
- An ivory crucifix.
- It's, minimum, a Victorian.
These ivories are made in sections.
And if we look here, on the arms, that's got a joint there, and there's a joint here.
Now, this would be pinned into the cross.
But the cross has come away, so these are just holding it on.
But it has age to it, and it has a value.
So, I am gonna make an offer for it.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] So the carved ivory crucifix has its first bid.
And the kitchen, the two Buchel paintings have attracted a second admirer.
- I'm not really interested in that, but I could be interested in this.
Bit clumsy round the hands, if you gotta make a criticism, all round here.
So, whilst it's a reasonable painting, it's not top deck.
- [Zaraah] Michael Melody, an art critic?
Who knew?
- I'm well known for having the worst taste in art.
I've got bad taste.
- [Zaraah] We know, Mike.
But let's hope your bids are not in bad taste, as our homeowners have a special reason for loving these pictures.
- The portrait of the young girl is actually my grandmother when she was two years old.
And there was one painted of her father at the same time, my great-grandfather.
- I love it.
I think it's a beautiful painting.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] In the living room, a clock, some scales, and that mahogany cased barograph all attract bids from Simon.
Stormy weather ahead for the dealers predicted, I'm sure.
And now Mike's found the gold Kruggerrand, but he claims gold is not his forte.
- I tend to make a few mistakes doing this.
I'll put me entrance card in.
- [Zaraah] So does Mike really not know what he's doing, or is he just bluffing?
Elsewhere, it's the same old story with the Buchel paintings.
- This one's not so saleable, but.
What's it worth?
I don't know.
Pictures, I hate pictures.
- [Zaraah] So all the dealers have bid on the Buchels, and all have been sniffy about this gentleman.
Don't worry, Sir, sometimes these dealers don't know what they're talking about.
(clucking) - I haven't got a clue what this is for.
What is this?
Go on, have a look.
- It will go onto the wall, a bit like that.
- Right.
We've ascertained that.
- Now, with this...
Right, I think this-- - [Zaraah] Shall we leave them for a minute?
Mike's found Jesus.
- Ended up on a cross.
Apparently, the deed was done on Good Friday, though I've never understood that.
I would have thought it was a very bad Friday, personally.
But it's probably old, but the cross isn't that old.
But I do have a few religious members in the family, and I'll leave a little price.
- [Zaraah] So Mike's been tempted by the crucifix, which now has three bids.
And even though Tweedledum and Tweedledee still don't know what they've got, - I know what it's for.
- What?
- It's for hanging your coat up.
- (chuckling) I'm bored with it now.
- [Zaraah] They've still left bids on the Victorian meat spit, giving it three too.
With time running away from them, the dealers need to get their bids down fast.
So will Mark make it a full house of bids on the mahogany chest barograph?
- Yeah, it's saleable, but at a price, so I'm certainly gonna make an offer for it.
- [Zaraah] Yes, he does.
And with seconds to spare, Simon's found Jesus too.
- I have to say that's very nice quality.
If we look at that, we can see that that itself, all individually carved.
- [Zaraah] And with a third bid on the crucifix, miraculously, dealers, you are done.
(dramatic music) The secret dealers have placed their sealed bids all over Mavis' house, and a fight's brewing on a number of key items, including a 20th century mahogany cased barograph, a 19th century carved ivory crucifix, and there's a gold Kruggerand that comes with a bit of a surprise.
(lively music) Mavis is giving any money made today to her daughter Sue, who has moved to be near her.
- The intention was, from the word go, whatever we made I was gonna give to Susan, to carry on the work she's doing in her cottage.
- Thank you, Mum.
(smacking kiss) (dramatic music) - [Zaraah] Well, let's see if the dealers' best offers can finish the cottage off.
- On this card is the total amount of our highest bids placed today.
- Thank you.
Shall I do it?
- Yes, please.
- £3,360.
- £3,360.
- Will that do you?
- Yes.
- Great.
Well, it's a good start.
- Sounds very good.
- [Zaraah] That would be a tidy sum for Sue to finish the cottage renovations.
So let's start with a sunny disposition, and hope for a deal on the 20th century mahogany cased barograph.
(lively music) - It looks like it's in perfect working condition, which, if you're selling an instrument of any type, is obviously very important.
- This is a very, very nice example.
- Oh, the barograph will be coming home with me, there's no doubt at all about that.
- Well, my husband bought it.
And there was a gentleman had that barograph, and he beat him down as much as he could to buy it.
- Beat him down?
- He beat him down, yes.
He wanted quite a lot for it, and my husband didn't want to pay that much.
- You've kept it in beautiful condition, which is why I have offered you £140.
- Oh, yes - Okay.
- £260.
- That's more reasonable.
- You like that, do you?
- It's better.
- It's better, yes.
- I'm liking that a lot.
Up a third.
- Oh, that's even better still.
- That's even better still.
I still think it's worth more that that though, because I know what my dad paid for it.
- Well, I have to say, on this occasion, I think that's all the money for it.
So I'm out.
- I am joining suit, because I agree with Simon.
I mean, I've seen them sell recently, and I think it's the money.
- Right, we will accept your offer.
- Thinking, "Mum, Mum, don't, don't!
Let's try and get a bit more."
- I think we need to see what the independent valuer says.
- Well, you can look at, see what the independent valuer says, if you wish.
(suspenseful music) - [Zaraah] Mike's £10 over the top valuation.
Mavis knows a good deal when she sees it.
- Mm, there you go.
- Yeah.
- We'll accept your offer.
- Thank you very much.
- Thank you, Sue.
Wise goodsman, Mavis.
Well done.
Thank you.
(lively music) - You know, we don't want it, so yeah, quite happy to let it go.
I think he will have customers that I don't have for that, and I think he will definitely get a profit.
- That is my superior knowledge.
- [Zaraah] Up next is the Kruggerrand on a gold mount.
But it's the chain someone needed to pay close attention to.
- It's on a nice gold chain, it's got a mount.
I'll have pop.
I don't wanna buy it.
- My type of thing, and I'm gonna really try and buy this.
I think I've got a very strong chance.
The Kruggerrand was a 9 carat gold mount, but the chain wasn't gold, it was plated.
Now, what's gone on there?
What's happened?
Tell me.
- I think what happened really was that Mum didn't have a chain strong enough to take the weight of it, other than that one.
- Well, I must, before we go any further, confess that I didn't know the chain wasn't gold.
My eyesight ain't what it was.
- This is my offer for the gold coin, £705.
(suspenseful music) - Okay.
- I'll go next, if you like.
Save the best till last with Mike.
(chuckling) £655.
- I just don't believe I've done it, but I have.
- £800.
- I can't believe it.
I know Michael has definitely put that chain in as gold.
- Help.
- [Mark] We're gonna buy Mike some new glasses.
Is that okay, Michael?
- It's not glasses I need.
It's the full monty.
I want the stick, (all laughing) I want the dog.
But nevertheless, I've bid it, so.
- [Zaraah] Mike's mistake could cost him dear.
He's working on a fixed bullion price, and there's little room for profit.
- I know what the price is today, and unfortunately, it isn't £800, so I'm out.
- I can't go any more, for the simple reason I don't buy plate as gold.
Sorry, Mike.
- It's alright.
The stick's coming, and the dog is on order.
- [Mark] Woof!
- But don't feel too bad, Mike, 'cause it's seven to eight, but you know what it's worth.
You'll just have to hold onto it for a bit longer.
- I'm holding on to an awful lot of things at the moment, but I presume we're going to have a deal, are we, Sue?
- We are, yes.
- Yes.
- Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mavis.
Nice to have been robbed by you again.
(all laughing) - [Zaraah] Er, now Mike, don't you be blaming Mavis for your own mistakes.
- I was hoping it was an investment, and I'd like to keep it, and so it was worth £1,000.
Not dropping on my toes 'cause it's only worth £700.
- (chuckling) And the fact that he didn't know that the chain was not gold, I thought, - Oh, poor old Mike.
- poor old Mike, yeah.
- Oh, Mike made a ricket, isn't it.
Poor old Mike.
- [Zaraah] Poor old Mr Melody?
I don't think so.
Being a bit more cautious now, he pulled out early from the brass spit roast.
- They're not great sellers since they brought cookers out.
I'm going to step out of this on, Mavis and Sue.
- That's fine.
- [Zaraah] That left Mark to try and carve himself a deal at £115.
- Please just accept my money, ladies.
I'm begging you.
- He's gonna cry otherwise, if we don't take it.
- Ooh, bless.
- [Zaraah] But the painting of Mavis' mother as young girl in the Charles Buchel painting isn't leaving home anytime soon.
None of the dealers could get close to the secret valuation.
Besides, Mavis and Sue were unsure about letting her go in the first place.
- When it was a case of sell or don't sell, I think the heart just said, "You can't do that."
- [Zaraah] So far, Simon hasn't bought a thing today.
He's offered the lowest opening bids and dropped out of any bidding early.
- I will pay top money for the right items.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] Could he muster enough cash and conviction to do a deal on the 19th century carved ivory crucifix?
We can but pray.
- I can sell them, and this is quite a nice carved piece of ivory.
And actually, it's one of the better pieces in the house.
I'd really like to get it.
- Anybody can sell a cross with an ivory Jesus on it at a certain price.
So I've bid a very, very low price.
- I think I'm gonna be up against tough competition here.
- [Simon] How has this come into your keeping?
- That was an inheritance from my grandmother.
- [Mavis] And the trouble was it was broken.
It's still all there, but, unfortunately, it was broken.
- [Mark] At the moment, he's being held on with a green elastic band, - Couple of elastic bands.
- isn't he?
- Yeah, it was just we've never got round to having it repaired, because it doesn't really hold the same sort of sentiment to us as it obviously did to my grandmother, so.
- Right, do you want to start the bidding off?
- Yeah, let me go.
£200.
- Fair bid.
Mine is 125.
- Well, I'm in the middle, 150.
Do you wanna bid again, Mike?
- I'm not big on religious subjects, but on this occasion I might have left it a little bit light, so I'll just go £210.
- Okay.
- Well, look, £220.
- £230.
- Are we all done at £230?
- £240.
- £250.
- £260.
- £270.
- £280.
(suspenseful music) - No, I'm gonna stop there, 'cause I think the item is worth around about £300, so, in my opinion, that's enough for me.
Thank you.
- I'm gonna stop there, 'cause I thought the item was worth about 125, so I'm gonna stop.
- £280, Mavis.
That's my top offer.
- Okay, let's see what the independent said.
- [Zaraah] Simon's only £20 short of the top valuation.
Mavis and Sue could try for more, but this pair have been very fair so far.
- Not bad.
You're well within, well within range, two to three hundred.
- Are you happy with that, Mavis?
- Yeah, we're happy with that.
- Yes, we're happy with that.
- Can we have a deal?
- Yes, we have a deal.
- Thank you very much indeed.
- Thank you.
- Thank you very much, Sue.
- Thanks, Simon.
(lively music) - I'm really pleased I've got the crucifix.
Thanks very much, Mavis.
Thanks, Sue.
- You know, the price just went up and up and up, and I thought, "Whoa ho, when are we gonna stop."
- I think it's worth £300.
I think he'll earn £20 out of it, but I don't think he'll earn any more.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] Well, it's time to find out how much of our dealers' lolly Mavis and Sue have managed to bag today.
- In me hand here I've got the sum total of the money we've spent with you, and it's £1,780.
- Thank you very much, Michael.
- You're having it?
- Thank you.
- Well done.
- I'm passing it to my daughter.
- Oh, that is nice, isn't it?
- Well, you've had a good day.
- I've had a great day.
(lively music) - [Zaraah] It's fair to say that today was a golden day.
It was everywhere.
But the shiny stuff threw up some problems for some of our dealers.
Mark the Melt was alright.
The smaller pot of gold jewelry went into the pot for £1,550.
And just to prove he's not a cliche, he sold the Victorian turquoise pendant and earrings for £400, and the brass spit roast for £150.
And for all of Tim's calculations, or miscalculations, with the five sovereigns, - What have I gone and done?
- [Zaraah] He still managed to eke out a small profit when they scrapped at £635.
And the compact was sold for £80.
Mike Melody was definitely not the golden boy today, when he bought the Kruggerrand thinking the chain was solid gold too.
- I'm possibly in a slight bit of mud and mire.
- [Zaraah] And he was, when he sold it for scrap at at £50 loss.
- Help.
- [Zaraah] But help arrived when he sold the barograph and made, guess what, a £50 profit.
Luck, it would seem, is on the old devil's side today.
(Mike laughing) Little faith (indistinct) in Simon making a profit with the ivory crucifix.
- I think he'll earn £20 out of it, but I don't think he'll earn any more.
- [Zaraah] And it still remains unsold.
However, one dealer shone brighter than the others today.
Alison was forced to bid higher and higher for the huge pile of gold.
- They keep knocking you out, don't they, Alison?
- Go on, girl.
- £4,000... - Go on, girl!
Go on!
- [Zaraah] And her strategy of selling it as jewelry rather than scrapping it paid of handsomely.
Barring two pieces left to sell, she sold it for £4,800.
Now that's a 24 carat dealer.
(dramatic lively music) (dramatic lively music fading)


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Hit the road in a classic car for a tour through Great Britain with two antiques experts.












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