[ Horn honks ] -[ Laughs ] -We're back on the road in our trusty traveling auction house... -Go, go, go!

-Come on, van!

-...on the hunt for treasures hidden in homes all across Britain.

-Finding value in those overlooked objects... -...auction supremos Christina Trevanion... -Oh, that's brilliant.

-...and Izzie Balmer.

-Ta-da!

-Transforming has-beens into must haves, restorers JJ Chalmers... -I'm delighted with that.

-...and Robin Johnson.

-Look at that.

Doesn't she sing?

-Our mission?

-Huh.

-To give those unloved and forgotten gems a new lease of life.

-And make their owners some much-needed money.

-We've probably got about £1,500 to £2,000.

-[ Gasps ] -Everything we find... -...and fix... -...will go under the gavel in our traveling saleroom.

-Popping up in the most surprising of places... -...we bring the auction to you.

-I've got to start this at £700.

-I can't believe it.

-At £1,500, sold.

[ Laughter ] -You know what we say -- have gavel, will travel.

♪♪ -Do you get travel sick?

-I might today.

-Yeah.

-[ Laughs ] This is quite a road.

-Today, JJ and I are en route to Astley and Tyldesley, just 8 miles from Wigan.

Have you ever heard of a Wigan kebab?

-No.

I mean, I know kebabs, but... -Meat-and-potato pie?

-Okay.

-And you pop it into what the locals would call a barm cake.

-Barm cake.

Like a white roll.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Yeah.

Okay.

The concept of a pie in a roll isn't that foreign to me.

For me, that is the taste of, growing up, a Scotch pie, like a lentil soup or something as a chaser.

-A soup chaser.

I love that.

-Lunch will have to wait, because waiting for us are Matt and Paula.

-Give us, give us.

-Matty, you do know it's all going.

-I know, I know, but I just need to have a look.

Silver spoons.

Typical set of 10 -- there's only eight.

-[ Laughs ] -They've been together for nearly 25 years.

-Met in Eccles, Christmas.

-December 1989.

I was on a night out with my friends, and you was on a night out with your friends.

-I was the one that you said you'd never get with.

-That's very true.

He was a punk.

-Punk rocker Matt grew up to become a builder and, 10 years ago, built the house the couple now live in.

-I build houses, extensions.

-New builds.

-Anything to do with the building trade.

-And it was his dad, Bill, who inspired him.

-Me dad -- you could write a proper novel on my dad, couldn't you?

-He was an absolute great character, to be honest.

-Sadly, three years ago, the family suffered the tragic loss of Bill.

-When Matt's dad passed away, we all came together.

We gave Matt's dad a fantastic send-off.

-It was hard, but we still stuck together.

-Matt and Paula had to clear Bill's house, a task made more difficult by Bill's passion for collecting.

-Matthew's dad was definitely somebody that was an enthusiast of all kinds of things.

-Clearing me dad's out was a real burden.

Must have been three, four days.

We had five skips on the drive.

And then I was making journeys back and to with the stuff that I didn't want going in the skip.

-Which was nearly all of it.

[ Both laugh ] Yeah.

-Never been opened.

-What are we doing with these?

[ Laughs ] -Sorry.

I might keep these.

Let me stick these at the back.

-It turns out, as well as his dad's collections and keepsakes, Matt inherited his father's collector habits.

-I can't throw anything away.

That's -- It's in me DNA.

-Matthew is definitely like father, like son.

There isn't a room in the house he hasn't took over with his -- with his collections of stuff.

-But it's not just the house that's full.

The couple have so much stuff, it's overflowing into the summerhouse and even into a shipping container in the garden.

-Well, that's not something you see every day.

Time for a clear-out.

-It cannot be easy.

-Yeah, because they're not just items, they're memories.

-Yeah.

-But if they're just sitting in boxes, you know, how much are you taking from them?

Could they be creating memories for other people?

-I think it's too much to try and... -Do it ourselves.

-Yeah.

-And we definitely need their help.

We've got so much stuff, we wouldn't even know where to begin.

-Yeah.

-Let's hope that the day goes smoother than this road.

-It can't be any bumpier, can it?

-Can't wait to give Matt and Paula the help they so desperately deserve.

Wow!

-There we are.

-Lovely!

Oh, oh!

-Coming to greet us.

-Oh.

[ Dog barks ] -Hello.

-Nice to meet you.

-Lovely, lovely.

Nice to see you.

-What a lovely part of the world.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Well, I was going to say "peaceful," but I can hear the dogs.

-Yes, that's my business over there.

I run boarding kennels, so all them dogs are on their holidays.

-Oh, well, what a lovely place to come for your holibobs.

-Thank you.

-How can we help, though?

-We need help to sort out a big collection, and we just didn't know where to start.

All over the house, in sheds, everywhere.

-I wish it wasn't.

-That's the real reason why we're here.

-So, are we okay to have a good nose-around and, you know -- -Oh, yeah, of course.

-Anywhere you want to go.

-With free rein to roam, the hunt can begin.

While Izzie starts her search for any possible auction hits... -JJ's mission is to breathe new life into old things that need some TLC.

-"Knight Rider."

How awesome is that?

Wow!

That is something that a Bond villain would have on their desk.

Raar!

-I'm starting upstairs, and it's hard not to resist a rummage through the bedroom drawers.

I love it when I see the words "sovereign."

Sovereigns and half sovereigns can attract big bids when they go under the hammer.

The certificate for this set dates them to 1988, but...

This isn't right.

You can tell, from the heads, that's the wrong monarch.

I've got Queen Victoria.

Now, she's a good 100 years earlier than Queen Elizabeth.

I'm wondering if these are fake.

I don't think the coin size is quite right and I think the thickness, from what I can see in the case, is far too thick for a sovereign and for a half sovereign.

They clearly aren't related to this certificate.

They are not a 1988 UK Kingdom Gold Proof Set.

Time to bring the buyer in.

Matt?

-Yeah.

Right.

-Need to have a chat.

-Yeah.

-Basically my question is, where are they from?

Have you got any provenance?

-No provenance.

They're not me father's.

These are what I've bought.

These are what I've purchased meself on a car boot.

-Did you pay a lot for them?

-No, no.

I think I paid 35 for that.

-I'm certain these are fake.

But the good news is that the other two are the real McCoy.

This half sovereign could fetch £180 at auction, with the full sovereign valued at over £300.

-I'm in a gamble on a car boot, and it may pay and it may not.

-Well, you never know.

We're yet to find out.

-No.

We'll see.

-We will definitely find out.

And this makes our first dent into Matt and Paula's belongings.

Music to the ears of their six daughters, who don't share their dad's passion for collecting.

-Don't think they will go through what I went through.

It's a really big ordeal.

You wouldn't think it is, but you're looking at the stuff that they've got, and it's hard.

You don't want to let go.

But then now my daughters that have my collection and me dad's collection, I couldn't imagine.

So that's why we've decided to clear.

-One of my daughters has even said, "Mum, we'll put a skip out on the front, and everything we'll just fling in the skip."

Well, that wouldn't -- You wouldn't like that, would you?

-That wouldn't line with me.

-No.

[ Laughs ] -I'd never rest.

I'd haunt them.

-Let's hope there's no ghosts of auctions past in the shipping container.

What is this?

It's like some sort of... [ Grunts ] ...like, farm machinery, I think?

Ooh!

It's really cool.

It seems a bit jammed.

It is a quirky bit of machinery, but, actually, it just looks cool.

I'd love to try and get some of its bells and whistles working and just get it kind of singing.

And who knows?

Someone might have a home for her.

That someone might be an interior designer.

But before I can get to work on it, I need a moment to set up the mobile workshop.

And we're open for business.

All set in Astley.

Let's get stuck in.

♪♪ I think this is a seeder.

So, you'd pop your seeds in here, and then, up on its front wheel, you push that along, and it sort of spreads and plants your seeds.

So, as jammed as it is, there is a bit of life in it.

It's not completely seized.

So I'm going to give it a good clean-up.

But before I do anything, when you've got something that looks like this, that's this covered in rust, the simplest thing to do is just to coat the whole thing in oil.

So I'm going to get it off my bench and I'm going to drench it.

-While you get oiled up, I'm leaving no nook unopened... More towels.

Lots of towels.

...and no cranny unexplored.

Well, this is something you don't see every day.

It's a Sinclair ZX spectrum.

Now, Sinclair are known as being amongst the first of the home computers in the UK, and they were aimed at a mainstream audience.

We really are going back to the future -- the 1980s, in fact, when the likes of Commodores and Spectrums were all the rage.

It's good that we've got the computer here.

It's even better that we've got the games down there.

Retro gaming is becoming increasingly, increasingly popular at auction, but often, it's actually the games that have more value than the computer itself.

Here, we've got the two, so it's a win-win situation.

Matt's looking at £60 to £80 for this package.

And today's game of hide-and-seek has only just begun.

Curious to see what might be hidden outside, I'm heading to the summerhouse.

Well, this has immediately caught my eye.

I love these.

It's a surveyor's stick, so it's used for measuring.

It's got these three sections.

So, actually, we can see this goes up to 16 feet.

And a surveyor would use this to measure the heights of things.

Surveyors use plastic or digital versions today, but these old ones are great decorative pieces, and at auction, interior designers go mad for them.

This would be perfect for JJ.

If he could repair that split, that would be fab.

It would all help improve the value of this.

They're really, really popular.

I'm going to go and find JJ.

I'm sure he's not busy.

-No rest for the wicked.

-I come bearing presents, JJ.

-What have you got here?

-For you.

I've got an exciting little project.

-It's bigger than the van.

-It's fab.

It's just -- It's seen better days.

-Yeah.

-So, you'll probably spot straightaway the problem down here.

-Oh, yeah, you've got a crack right there.

It's like the screws have been... -And what metal do you think this is meant to be?

-That'll be brass, so it should be much shinier than that.

-Golden, shouldn't it?

-...came out of the factory.

-Something like this is going to be bought as a visual item to look fantastic in someone's home.

-The good news is, just from a glance, that, actually, the numbers and whatnot are in good condition.

And, yes, it's got some scrapes and whatnot, but I think some of that will just be dirt.

If you kind of remove a little of that dirt and that grime and that top layer of finish, you can feasibly have it looking as good as the day it was made.

-Good as the day it was made?

That's a bold claim, JJ.

I think any improvement you can do to this is actually going to add to the value.

-Well, that is music to my ears.

Alright.

-I'll leave you to it.

See you later.

-You too.

-While JJ gets the measure of my fab find, I'm heading back inside to see what else I can snap up for auction.

You look busy.

-Oh, yes.

I'm packing up all Matt's dad's cameras.

-There's a lot of them.

-Yeah.

That's what his dad did for a living in his later years.

When he retired, he started doing photography work for weddings.

-So it's sort of a hobby, but a hobby that paid him money.

-Exactly, yeah.

And he loved it, as well, yeah.

-How will you feel once the items are all gone?

-Big relief.

Can I have my house back, please?

Don't get me wrong.

I do understand his feelings with his dad 100%, but I will be relieved to get a lot of my house back, yes.

Yes.

-Have you had any thoughts about what you might like to spend the money on that JJ and I manage to raise for you?

-I mean, we've been in this house now for 10 years, and there's things that we need, we need doing, and there's things that I particularly want.

So, yeah, it'd be nice, maybe, to throw the money back into the house.

-Now, that's what I call motivation.

Let's get these cameras gone.

Well, certain cameras can be very popular.

It sort of rather depends what you've got.

Well, they're good makes, aren't they?

There's a good name.

-Yeah.

-And, you know, you can still buy the film for a lot of these, as well.

-Oh, can ya?

-There are definitely some photography diehards out there who prefer film to digital.

And if they like the lenses, as well, this collection could make up to £100.

I found a way to cash in on the old-school cameras.

Any progress with your time machine, JJ?

-Right, that's generally coated.

And all sort of nuts, bolts, anything that I think that should be moving, I will get some oil deep into.

This is what we call penetrating oil.

So it's designed to find its way into the heart of a mechanism.

-This clever machine is the brainchild of an American called Samuel Leeds Allen, who founded his farm-and-garden-equipment company in 1886.

Over his career, Allen was awarded over 300 patents for his inventions that made working the land just that little bit easier.

-So, a bit of oil, a bit of elbow grease, I've got it working again.

The front wheel, when engaged, that rotates, which kind of turns this axle in here.

And then, when you look inside, well, you can see it runs through the center of it.

And so as that turns, that would be dropping the seeds.

And this is a plow, which would create a furrow in the ground.

Then the seed would drop into it.

And then these two little blades back here would close it back up.

It's absolutely genius.

And maybe 100 years later, it's working again.

It's looking good, but I don't think it's quite ready for auction.

So, I'm just going to use a little bit of methylated spirits.

Meths is great to use on wood.

Unlike white spirits, it cleans without leaving a greasy residue.

I tell you what's particularly lovely.

You can now see the green paint that was originally on there, and that is really adding to the charm.

Actually, I'm going to do essentially the same to this handle, as well.

So, a bit of fine wire wool and a bit of the meths.

Just continue that work up onto the wood.

And giving this machine a gentle clean, rather than a tough old sand, has revealed a rather lovely nod to its history.

See some of the original writing from the manufacturer.

I think it says "Planet Jr., registered USA."

And it says "registered trademark."

Right.

Job done.

It's even got a lovely sheen.

Ready for sale.

Let's get that off to auction, and I'll go off and find something else.

-Thanks to JJ's elbow grease, this could make £40 to £60 at auction.

That's really good.

-That's more potential cash in the bank and more clutter cleared, which also means that there's more chance that Paula can make her house a home again.

-Matthew bought me the summerhouse a few years ago, and it was intended to be a lovely outdoor space where I could read my book, I could sit in the shade, and that never happened because Matthew decided to put his collection of his dad's stuff in there.

-It just grew and grew, didn't it?

-It grew and grew.

So, getting my summerhouse back would be fantastic.

-It's time Paula had her house back.

-It is insane.

Thank you.

[ Both laugh ] -Progress.

-But not nearly enough.

There's still plenty of rummaging and restoring to do.

-You're talking my language, Izzie.

Alright, well, so far, so good.

This is just a lovely piece of kit that is coming apart, I'd imagine, as well as it went together in the first place.

I love getting my teeth stuck into this kind of work.

Ultimately, it is just very tarnished.

And, so, a little trick I used to use when I was in the Marines was to cover it in toothpaste.

Now, don't get me wrong, my kit in the Marines never got to be like this.

It was just only when something was issued to me and it was particularly old.

It is as simple a case as taking some toothpaste and just coating the whole thing and leaving it there for a good while.

If it makes your teeth shine, it makes brass shine.

Once covered, the brass needs a good rinse.

Clean that toothpaste off, and then it's a case of repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat.

Here goes.

You use a cloth and then just start giving them a good buff-up.

Step 2 -- tackle the split in the wood.

Right.

I'm going to glue this up now.

So, first of all, I'm going to use this, the old tongue depressor, to split this up a wee bit.

Running glue along the full length of the crack, top to bottom.

I'll also just pop a wee clamp on it for good measure.

While the wood glue gets to work, I can retrieve the brass.

So, the toothpaste and the hot water has removed all the grime that was caught in all the little corners and in the screw holes from it.

But there's nothing better than a bit of abrasive metal cleaner.

And it's just a case of wiping it on, wiping it off, and repeating, repeating, repeating.

Where there was once muck, there's now brass.

Time for some gentle sanding, and to finish... a finish.

I'm going to put wax on it, because it won't just protect it and enhance the grain, it will also allow them to slide nicely within each other, because, ultimately, the wax will help it run smoothly.

The grain just comes up gorgeous.

I think that's what Izzie was asking for.

-It was, JJ, it was.

But let's see if you can put it all back together.

-So, now it really does look how it did when it was first made, that beautiful kind of red color.

And I think it has cleaned up beautifully.

I would say Izzie is going to be happy with that, and that's the most important thing, isn't it?

-Nice of you to say so, JJ, but the acid test will be how it does at auction, where it could collect between £40 to £60.

Time I revisited the summerhouse... That would be for JJ.

[ Laughs ] ...to see if I can clear it for Paula... Gor, they got a lot of stuff.

...and transform it into the relaxing room she dreams of.

Oh, this is what I like to see.

Boxed toys, boxed vehicles.

All the names here -- Corgi, Matchbox, Hot Wheels.

Matt's dad's collection of toys and cars could hold some value.

Some of these are boxed, some of them are unboxed, but toys sell.

If we split this collection into a few lots, we could get some speedy bids between £150 and £200.

It's another great find to add to the sovereigns, computer, and JJ's planter.

It all means Paula's house-renovation pot is adding up.

-Don't forget the surveyor stick, Izzie.

-Not a chance, JJ.

-After all this searching, I think we've earned ourself a break.

I thought I saw you coming in here.

-Hello!

-Got your eyes on anything?

-Oh, my statues?

[ Laughs ] -Exactly.

Something like that.

"Open Yorkshire Classic, novice, third place."

-Right, he doesn't have my hair, but he does have my body.

[ Laughs ] You don't seem convinced.

-I'm not going to say anything.

My mum taught me, if you've nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

-Anyway, how is it going?

-Alright, well, there's a lot to look at, isn't there?

-Yeah.

It's just the fact that it's everywhere, so it takes a lot of time to look through it.

-That's why they need you and me.

-Well-said, Izzie.

They need you and me to keep hunting for anything that can make an impact at auction.

-Another excuse for another drawer rummage.

I have a sneaking suspicion we might have some gold here.

Yeah, so, that's 9-karat gold, and, actually, I've got a double whammy of my hallmarks here.

On the clasp itself, it says "9K" -- 9 karat.

On the link here, it's got a full set of gold hallmarks with the all-important "375," which is 375 parts out of 1,000 that are gold, which equates to 9-karat gold.

Unfortunately, this chain is broken.

It's very lightweight.

So on its own, its value isn't really that much.

This one, I suspect is gold, as well, simply from the color, the look, the feel of it.

Again, I would expect it to be 9-karat gold rather than a higher grade of gold.

And, yes, I've got a "375" there on the link and, again, "9K" on the clasp.

So, confident, very happy that that's 9-karat gold.

Together, these could bring in up to £40.

But I'll keep an eye out for items to add to the lot.

What have we got in here?

So, you see these all the time.

These are simulated pearls.

So they're not natural pearls.

They're not cultured pearls.

They're simulated pearls.

They were all the rage in the 1950s and the 1960s.

The shiny part of the pearl, that luster, on a simulated pearl, it's formed by mixing a load of different ingredients together, including fish bones.

So you do get a pearly finish, but it's only a very thin layer.

So with wear and with age, that starts to degrade and you start to get, like, the plastic bead below.

They're just costume jewelry.

Costume jewelry always sells.

And there are some low-value watches and vintage trinkets, too.

As a couple of lots, they could make up to £100.

Doesn't seem much, but it all adds to Paula's renovation fund.

-Good work, Izzie, and there's still more to do.

My sustainability sinews have once again started to stiffen.

Look at this.

It was poking out in here.

[ Laughs ] Old trucks.

This.

[ Gasps ] I literally had one of these as a kid.

That's awesome.

And this is even cooler!

Look at that!

Formed in the late 1940s and named after Minnesota's Lake Minnetonka, this American manufacturer released the iconic Mighty Dump Truck in 1965.

It became the company's best-selling toy of the century.

They're worse for wear, of course, but I reckon there is some value in them, particularly as a nice lot.

I reckon we could group that together and get them sold.

Cement mixer, bulldozer, a couple of trucks.

So much fun.

-We're really making progress now.

But finding good homes for Matt and his dad's possessions is quite the responsibility.

-By 33, served in the Royal Air Force.

He worked on the railways as a chef.

Started off in the '60s as a door-to-door salesman, selling Hoovers.

He was a car salesman.

He did American cars.

And then he did a catering company.

-Yeah.

You know, he could turn his hand to absolutely everything.

-Yeah.

-Very lively, very confident man.

-We were both big car-boot enthusiasts.

I remember going in the '80s with me dad, when I was younger.

The collection -- it's not about the money.

It's about them going to somebody else that's going to enjoy him like me dad did, like I did.

-Matt's dad would have hated to see them end up in a skip or end up in the bin.

I think he would be very, very happy to know that they'd gone on to somebody that was another collector, maybe.

And that's what we want to do, don't we?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Mission accepted.

Let's keep these away from a skip and get them played with by someone other than JJ.

-Right.

This is going to be a lot of fun.

First and foremost, they just need a good clean.

I mean, this one is literally full of water.

I'll just, uh... beep, beep, beep!

Right.

Hot, soapy water.

They can't go to auction like this.

No, they're not going to look brand-new, but I'd argue that this looks like well-loved, well-used construction machinery.

They may not fetch a fortune at auction, but their real value is in all the enjoyment.

Same goes for a good cup of tea.

-JJ, brought you a nice builder's brew there.

-Oh, look.

And that's a proper builder's brew coming from you.

-Yeah, definitely, yeah.

-So, all of this stuff -- was this -- Did this belong to your children or... -No.

I purchased this on a car boot.

-Right.

-I saw them all lined up and I thought, "That's a good one for the little grandson."

-Oh, right, right.

Not for you.

-No, no, no, no.

I'm well too big for these now.

-This is something you remember playing with as a kid.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

As a kid, yeah, I had stuff like this always.

-Yeah, same.

-I think I was destined to be in the building trade.

Yeah, I used to help me dad when he bought properties.

-You've got a very sort of eclectic collection of stuff.

Like, what is it?

I know some of it came from your dad.

But some of it you've picked up over the years.

-Yeah, of course, yeah, yeah.

I like auctions.

I like buying stuff.

Anything that I like the look of, if I just see it and I like it, I'll try and buy it.

And I think I've got that off me dad, because that's what he did.

He just loved buying things and then keeping them.

-So, how are you feeling about stuff moving on, particularly your father's stuff, I suppose?

-It's hard, but it's got to be done.

It's got to be done, and, you know, let someone else enjoy it.

-Like I say, I will give this all a good clean-up, and hopefully, who knows?

It could go on to somebody else's grandson.

-Lovely.

Thank you very much.

-Oh, brilliant.

-Cheers.

Thank you.

-And thanks for the cup of tea.

-No problem.

Anytime.

-Fully fueled, I can put the finishing touches on these special toys.

Right.

Job done.

That's them all clean.

This is a lovely lot, isn't it, for auction?

Bit of color, bit of fun.

If these don't sell, they'd happily come home with me.

-They will definitely sell, JJ, and should add another £30 to £50 to the kitty.

Back inside, I'm keen to see if there's anything else of Matt or his dad's collections to uncover.

These two are First World War medals.

So, this one is known as the British War Medal.

This one is the Victory Medal.

Then we've got here our Defense Medal and our War Medal, both for World War II -- 1939 to 1945.

Now, these medals aren't actually inscribed.

World War II medals aren't named.

Even without a name or number, these medals might still make £30 to £50 at auction.

Particularly to a collector just starting out.

You know, it's a nice little lot to get them started.

The other thing, of course, not to underestimate is someone out there, if they're looking for that one medal to complete their set, they're going to pay a lot of money for it.

It's an exciting little lot.

But we are up against the clock today, and I'm pushing on, keen to make one last find.

What are you doing here, Matt?

-I'm just boxing up the last of the coins of me dad's collection.

-So, is this just a selection?

-This is a small selection of what me father had.

These boxes all over.

I'm just having the last look.

-Bingo!

Just what we needed, a find to cash in on and a lot of space created.

How many sacks do you think you've got?

-60, 70, possibly.

-Wow!

-Yeah.

-That's a lot.

This limited-edition set of silver piedfort coins -- piedfort, French for "heavy measure," means they're all twice the thickness of ordinary coins.

So, for a set like this at auction, you'd probably be looking at about £60 to £80.

It's what we call -- It's a proof set.

So these coins -- they've never been circulated.

-Yeah.

-They're in mint condition.

-Yeah.

-It's in a proof set.

It does carry more value.

So, that's an Olympic Games one, isn't it?

-Yeah, the countdown to London 2012.

-We've got the Commonwealth Games here.

-The Commonwealth.

Yeah, that's another one.

-So, for these two sets together, you might be looking at perhaps £100 to £150.

But it really depends what you've got, because some of these sets can be hundreds of pounds, some of them can be perhaps £30, £40.

-Correct, yeah.

-But it's a really collectible market.

This is an incredible collection.

There are nearly 30 separate lots here.

Added together, their potential value is up to £2,200.

With the coins firmly in the bag, our day of wading through decades of collections and keepsakes is done.

-Izzie's unearthed a drawer full of delightful jewelry, an icon of '80s entertainment that Matt picked up, and some snappy cameras that, along with the die-cast delights and extremely valuable coins, belonged to Matt's dad.

-And JJ's restorative powers have reduced landfill, breathed new life into rusty relics, and brought beauty back to a tired tool.

-Well, what a day.

-It's been fantastic.

Thank you so much.

-A real eclectic mix of stuff.

Just fascinating.

And, yeah, the stuff I got to work on was, yeah, wonderful.

-Good.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

-Well, we've got the best bit to come -- selling it all.

-Oh, I can't wait!

-Yeah.

-Fingers crossed.

-Alright.

-Bye!

Bye!

-See ya.

-Before we move on, there's a tricky three-point turn to navigate.

-Oh, come on!

No!

Yes!

-Yay!

-Oh, you went for it.

-I'm fine.

♪♪ -It's the big day, and we're in Cheshire.

Time to find new homes for Matt and his dad's collectibles, help Paula get her house back, and pay for some renovations.

And Matt was very focused on the day with getting the job done, getting the stuff cleared, but I have a funny feeling it might hit slightly differently today, particularly with his dad's items.

-Well, you're there to help him and support him.

-Yeah.

-I'm there to make the money.

You're there to give the hugs.

-Well, and I do good hugs, I like to think.

-Hosting today's auction is the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.

Once the largest inland waterway dock in the UK, this historic hub was where goods from ocean-going ships arrived before being moved to narrow boats and sent nationwide.

-Ah!

It's in one piece.

-Now it's our turn to set up and move some precious goods onto pastures new.

-But for Matt and Paula, it's a difficult day, because they're saying farewell to some cherished collections.

-Hi, JJ.

-Oh, hello.

What a lovely day for it.

-Beautiful.

-You couldn't have asked for better weather, could you?

-No, you couldn't.

-No, it's fantastic.

-What do you make of all this?

-Excellent.

-Yeah?

-Excellent.

-Yeah, I can't believe it.

-This has turned out really good.

That wouldn't move an inch.

Now it's -- -Yeah?

It moves now, doesn't it?

-That's it.

It's in working order.

You could use it.

-Yeah.

-Just think it's a cool-looking object.

-Just to -- Yeah, just to leave and stood up somewhere, just so you can see it.

-How are you feeling about the auction as a whole?

-Excited.

-Yeah?

-Nervous.

-Mm.

-It's going to be hard, but it's got to be done.

So we're apprehensive.

-In which case I'll make sure this is all looking its best.

You guys go and get yourself settled, and I'll be over in a wee moment, okay?

-Lovely.

-Alright, see you later.

-See you later.

-See ya.

Bye.

-Helping me with the auction are the team from Adam Partridge Auctioneers, bringing with them bidders on the phone and two online platforms.

-So, as we take our seats and Izzie readies her gavel, let's see if the sun keeps shining on Matt and Paula.

-What a beautiful venue here for an alfresco auction.

First up, the gold jewelry found on Paula's landing.

I can start this one straight in at 110.

Looking for 120, 120, 130.

Looking for 140.

I have got 130.

We're all sure, then?

Selling at £130.

-Excellent.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Never expected that.

-It's a good start.

[ Cash register dings ] Now, here's something that's been squatting in Paula's summerhouse -- one of the die-cast car lots.

-I know that Matt and Paula would love to get their summerhouse back so they can actually sit in it, rather than using it as storage.

I've got a bit of 25 flashing up at me here from the Internet.

Let's go 28.

-Yeah.

-And 30.

And 2.

35.

38.

40 bid.

Looking for 5.

Asking 50.

45 is the bid.

Do I see 50 now?

45 is bid.

Looking now for 50.

50 and 5.

Looking for 60 now.

Let's keep going.

Don't stop.

65 bid.

Looking now for 70.

If we're all sure, £65 is bid.

Selling.

Fair warning at 65.

-The summerhouse clearance has begun.

The bids are rolling in, and I'm up next.

Who doesn't love a little Tonka?

I think some of the rust that's added to them is quite endearing, because they look like they've come straight out of the quarry.

A lovely set of them, as well, to either just be enjoyed, popped on a shelf, but let's be honest -- this needs to go to somebody for the kids, the grandkids.

These should continue to be enjoyed.

-Let's go 10.

£10.

-Listen, I want these to sell, because I want someone to use use them.

-Use them.

-I've got the two Internet bosses bidding.

12.

Right.

14.

-Yeah, go on.

-16.

-Go on.

-This is, like, the easiest bidding, as well, because they're next to each other.

24.

26.

-Go on.

-30.

-[ Gasps ] -Well worth it.

Go on.

-36.

38.

Thank you very much for being such good sports.

£36 and selling.

Sold at 36.

Thank you very much.

-They don't have kids or grandkids.

They're playing with them themselves.

That's what's happening.

Result.

Good to see these stay out of landfill so they can be enjoyed again.

In quick succession, Izzie's gavel comes down on the camera collection... -All done, then.

Selling at 25.

-All goes for it.

All goes.

-...the retro computer and games... -Bid now at £50.

Sold.

-Good.

-That's alright, that.

-...the First and Second World War medals... -42.

44.

46.

48.

50 bid.

Flurry of bidders at £60.

Fair warning -- £60.

And sold.

-...and the costume jewelry and watches... -And we're going once, twice, three times and selling at £45.

-...adding just over £170 to the pot.

And the show goes on.

-Oh, my goodness!

This is one of my favorite items in the auction.

The surveyor's stick rescued and restored.

-A very charming item -- surveyor stick.

18 foot in length.

And it's had a full restoration on it.

And now you've got this beautiful, delicate cherrywood showing through, brass features to allow it to actually extend, and that will, as I say, go up much taller than I am.

-Let's go 20, then.

£20.

Thank you, sir.

£20.

A man of taste at 20.

Looking now for 24.

26.

28.

30.

32?

At £30, lady's bid.

It's here in the alfresco room at £30.

Selling, then -- congratulations, madam -- at £30.

That's a lovely buy you've got there, madam.

Well done.

-She really does.

[ Cash register dings ] And another summerhouse item sold.

-Which brings us to the American-made planter.

-When I found it, it wasn't in working order.

It was all bunged up with mud, dirt, dust, you name it.

It's now functioning.

It's one of these items that just looks beautiful.

-Start me at 20.

£20.

25 -- even better.

28, sir?

28.

Thank you.

Looking for 30 now.

35.

38?

Thank you, sir, for your bids at £35.

Thank you very much.

-Take that?

-Take that, yeah.

-Well done, JJ.

That elbow grease did the job.

-Well worth the clean-up, as far as I'm concerned.

-And now the stars of the show.

We have the start of a rather fabulous and large collection of coins that belonged to Matt's dad.

-A sporty number first -- a set of coins to commemorate the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Let the games begin.

-£100 to start.

100.

110.

Looking for 120 now.

I'll squeeze you in.

Come on, Platform 2.

110.

120.

Looking for 130.

Looking for 140.

I'll try and get you in, Platform 2.

-Oh, please.

-Looking for 150.

Platform 1 slow.

150.

Thank you.

Would you like 160?

It's here on my right at 160.

Selling at £160.

Sold!

And a big grin from Matt.

-We're happy with that.

-Next, just one of the piedfort sets, including a coin paying tribute to Kew Gardens.

-Now, this one's big.

-"Kew" bidding.

-200.

210.

220.

230.

240.

250.

-A nice bidding war.

-Looking for 260 now.

-260.

-Did you have any idea this was in the house?

-No.

-No.

-Not this one.

[ Both laugh ] -I had to hide them.

-Last-minute bid there, keeping me on my toes.

260, I've got you.

All done then.

Selling, pipped to the post, at £260.

-That's a good one, that.

-Yeah.

-I liked that one.

-Whoa!

The coins are big-ticket items.

The coin hunters are out today for youse.

They really are.

And there's plenty of coins to hunt.

Over the next half-hour, Izzie works her way through the coin lots, including a collection of British and foreign coins with a 1997 silver proof £1... -At £75.

Sold!

-...the London 2012 silver proof coins... -Selling at 85.

-They're making bids, making bids.

-...a Britannia silver proof collection... -Fair warning at £70.

-...and a 2010 piedfort box set... -All done and selling at 75.

-...adding another £350 to the pot.

-Now the final two lots.

-Now this is one.

-Will the sovereigns coin it in?

Matt has an excellent eye.

He bought this at a car boot.

-[ Laughs ] -And I can start this at £280 on commission.

-290.

-280.

Looking for 290.

300.

-Go up.

-Looking now for 310.

Good investment, wasn't it, Matt?

-Yeah.

-Good return.

£300.

Looking now for 310.

Selling at £300.

-I'm happy with that one.

-Now that we've sold it, I can tell you that Matt paid £40 for that at a car boot.

-A £260 profit.

[ Cash register dings ] If the half sovereign does half as well, we're all winning.

-We have our Elizabeth II half gold proof sovereign.

-Come on.

-Another one of Matthew's car-boot purchasers.

I can start this with bids at 140.

Looking for 150.

-It's still good.

-At £140.

Looking for 150.

All done, then, selling at £140.

-Another healthy addition to the bank balance and a final, fitting tribute to Matt's dad.

-I think he'd be -- He'd love this.

-Oh, me dad would be -- He'd be in his element.

He'd love it.

-I mean, look at those -- Look at that blue sky.

He's looking down.

-Yeah, he is today.

-How are you feeling after that?

-[ Sighs ] Emotional, but excited, as well.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, it's been a good auction.

-It's not been a good auction.

It's been a great auction!

Every single one of Matt and Paula's items sold.

-Well, what an absolute raid that was, particularly the coins.

I know Matt was really nervous about them, so to see all of them going, and, ultimately, some of those are going to go to new collectors and, actually, they're going to get the type of joy that Matt got from them.

-All of their items sold, and to see their smiling faces, it's why JJ and I do it.

-Now my favorite part -- revealing just how much money we made for Paula and Matt.

-How's your day been?

-We did well.

-Yeah.

We really enjoyed it.

-Yeah.

-I've had so much fun with both of you, because it's been sort of riding the highs and lows, but, let's be honest, mainly highs.

-Yeah.

Yeah, definitely.

-For us, it's been good, I would say, yeah.

-And I've loved selling the items for you.

-You sold them all.

-Oh, thank you.

You did well.

-Did my best.

-You did.

-So, you are taking home -- this is after auction fees have been taken out -- just over £2,800.

-Oh!

Well done.

-That's alright, ain't it?

-Well done, Matt.

-I'm happy with that.

-Yeah.

-That is fantastic.

-Thank you very much.

-Brilliant.

-You got your summerhouse back.

You've got your rooms back.

-Yes.

-A little bit there to start on those renovations.

-Yeah, exactly.

-Yeah.

Loved it.

Thank you very much.

See ya.

Bye-bye.

-Thank you.

-Bye!

-We're really happy because we've made a really good start on clearing the house of all the collections of Matt's dad's and Matthew's, as well.

We didn't want the children to have to do it at a later stage.

-Izzie was fantastic on the auction, got everything that we had was sold.

So we're -- Fantastic.

Yeah, really good.

-Back on board, yeah.

♪♪ What a day.

-It's been glorious, hasn't it?

-We had sun.

We had sea -- or waterways.

-I think, you know, well done to you and me.

-Definitely.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪