Antiquing in Springfield, OH

I think it's a reproduction.

Oh, no!

Cheat on him, come on.

No!

You already bought all of it?

Yeah!

Just let it go!

I have $500...

Yes!

Are you kidding?

Unbelievable.

You're stuttering.

Hummina hummina.

♫♫

the Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market

holds its extravaganza event

at the Springfield, Ohio, Fairgrounds,

where over 2,500 dealers display their wares inside and out.

Few flea markets in the Midwest rival this event

in scope and size,

which is why these two shows draw buyers and dealers

from all over the world.

Among them are our market warriors.

In the political arena, Ohio is a bellwether state

that forecasts national elections

with a consistent degree of accuracy.

Will the Buckeye State be as reliable in determining

which of these four pickers will turn what they buy here

into the most profitable items at auction in Los Angeles?

We're about to find out.

If you can't find anything here today,

you're in the wrong game.

♫♫

Hey, guys, thanks to the rich clay deposits here in Ohio,

it became known as a major pottery production center

in the early 1900s.

Set in front of each of us are four clay pots

made out of Ohio clay.

They're in their bisque phase,

which means they've only had a first fire.

They don't have the final touches

that make them so unique.

Reach inside, grab your $1,000,

get all fired up

to make some smart buys

and bring some value to our brand.

WALBERG: Here are the rules for today's competition.

There are two rounds of buying.

Each picker gets $1,000.

I got $1,000.

Got $1,000.

And $1,000.

WALBERG: Miller, what are you doing?

KEVIN: It's a bit disturbing.

JOHN: You spread them all out

and you place them all down.

I'm just making sure you didn't cheat, you know?

(laughing)

WALBERG: The target item will be chosen by the auctioneer

at Abell Auctions in Los Angeles,

where all of today's items will be sold.

JOE BARATTA: For the target item this week,

we'd like you to find something cast iron-- banks, toys.

You want to make sure, though,

that they are the antique American pieces

and not the reproduction Chinese pieces.

WALBERG: The target item must be one item only,

unless what they're buying is being sold as a set or a pair.

There you go, right, right?

I think we can do something there.

Yeah, I think we can do that.

KEVIN: No repros today.

JOHN: Never repros.

Cast iron will fool you.

WALBERG: Game time in round one will be kept by this mantel clock.

Pickers have just one hour to find their target item.

All right, guys, let's go.

Let's go make some money.

WALBERG: Starting now.

JOHN: So our target item today is cast iron.

Now, that opens a big door.

That can be doorstops, that can be toys...

It's cool.

It's also a bank.

It's not going to fall in the cast-iron category.

It's Americana, it's historic, it tells a story,

and you can still use it.

You can put money in the bank,

you can hold the door open with a doorstop.

It's a fabulous thing, to be able to use an antique today.

This is something I've never heard before.

They were used on all the windmills in the Midwest

for counterbalance.

The head rotates with the direction of the wind.

Right.

It's got a tail on it, just like the tail of an airplane.

So this is going to be the other side...

This is the counterbalance to the weight.

It's priced at $2,200.

You just ruined it for me.

(both laughing)

Got any great cast iron in here?

No?

Thanks for your honesty.

KEVIN: As I'm looking through here,

I'm seeing a lot of items that are really decorative.

They really don't have a value

that you can actually reference a price to it.

You can see all the repurposing people do on stuff today.

It's kind of a cool thing.

This booth is filled with all repurposed items.

Look at the crowd in this booth buying stuff.

I don't know if we're not in the right section,

but we got to make money.

That's our goal right now.

These are really cool.

These are the old alarm bells right here, the fire bells.

Fire collectibles are really hot.

$385.

I don't think we can make any money at auction, though.

Actually, it's for the pair.

And they turned them into light sconces.

Not only are they cast iron,

but they're actually decorative lighting from old fire bells.

This is your booth, sir?

I was taking a look at those...

DEALER: Bell ringers?

Yeah, bell ringers you got over there.

Might be something we could talk on later?

Willing to talk turkey?

You got it.

Excellent.

Thank you very much.

I can't forget where that guy...

I know where he is, he's where the smoke's coming from.

MILLER: I love

great garden pieces of cast iron.

If the rust wasn't so bad, these are great.

I think that'd be a lot of fun to find,

and I think that would do really well in Los Angeles.

Whoo, we got a lot to cover.

Yeah, I'm trying to find that extraordinary piece,

something unusual,

something that really stands out above the others.

I'm looking at the rooster.

That's a neat piece,

but I don't think a rooster would sell well in Los Angeles.

WALBERG: Really?

I live in LA, and I love roosters.

They're my favorite bird.

But it's a good thing you're moving on,

because that rooster is made out of sheet metal.

Oh, my goodness.

For $295, it's a nice dog doorstop,

but the price is a little high.

Okay, I'm moving out.

So, next building.

The only thing I've seen so far is that doorstop.

So I've got a lot of ground to cover here.

This is enormous!

I had no idea.

So we can do it, I can do it.

I've got to just figure out where the good pieces are.

BOB: Cast iron's very specific,

so I'm under the gun.

(grunting)

I have to remember that whatever I buy,

I do have to carry across the finish line.

Can you tell me a little bit about this guy here?

DEALER: It's not had the hole drilled in it

like so many people do, you know--

for flowerpots and stuff they'll drill holes in the bottom.

It's all in its original condition, spider and all.

Spider spider, not spider spider.

Oh, spider spider?

That's... what holds them up is called a spider.

I didn't know that.

I thought you meant that you were adding character

by, you know...

By including Charlotte and her web underneath, no.

I would use it as an outdoor fire pit.

That would be cool, that would be cool.

May I ask what you're asking for it?

I want $125 for it.

Hmm...

Maybe we could work on a slightly better price, maybe?

Maybe extremely slightly.

(laughing)

KEVIN: Antique sewing machines are wicked collectible.

This is a great early one right here.

I'm far from an expert on them,

but I know when I see a good one.

What can you tell me about your sewing machine right here?

Do you know who made it?

Um...

I know the name...

It escapes you?

Yes.

I can call my husband

and ask him what the name of it is for sure,

because I know he knows.

He knows?

Yes.

Do you think you could get in contact with him pretty quickly?

Yes, I can.

All right, see what he has to say.Hold on.

These are very collectible,

and sometimes the more simpler ones that kind of, you know,

just looks a little dirty, looks a little worn,

they're worth more money than you could ever imagine--

hundreds and hundreds, even some of them thousands of dollars.

Gah...

I told him you would know.

Darn it, Frank.

I'll tell you what, how about 100 bucks?

Yeah, no, I'm not going to go that low.

No?

No.

I'm going to stick to the $175.

Oh, I can't nowhere near buy it at $175.

Okay, better luck next time though, we tried.

I can't...

I can't go at...

You know, like, how about $130?

You want to go there?

Well, Wilcox... it's Wilcox.

It's a Wilcox.

I knew...

I was thinking Wilson.

It's Wilcox and Gibbs?

Yes.

All right, let's go look.

WALBERG: Once he hears the maker is Wilcox and Gibbs,

he becomes less interested

because there's too much inventory in the marketplace

for him to turn a profit at auction.

Kevin has as good a poker face as any picker,

but if you look closely,

you'll see him react with a grimace after hearing the brand.

All right, I'm going to let you go.

I knew I could come up with the name someway.

You?

We!

Yes.

Hey, thanks, we tried, all right?

If you change your mind, come back.

I will.

Thank you.

I've been up and down every aisle here.

I haven't seen anything

that really gives me any interest at all

as something I'd want to send to auction that's cast iron.

I haven't seen any good banks, I haven't seen any good toys.

I've been really thinking about those sconces, and you know,

you've got to think of all things and aspects here.

They are right next to the sausage booth,

and if John Bruno gets a whiff of that,

he's going to be right over there

and he's going to be buying before we do.

WALBERG: It may be too late.

Something smells good.

KEVIN: It's not a joke.

The lure of the sausage.

That smells so good.

I'm so hungry!

It's definitely part of my competition

I have to think about.

Crossroads.

Cast iron that way, or is it that way?

Well, when in doubt...

WALBERG: Lucky for Kevin,

John Bruno went in the opposite direction of the sconces.

Cast aluminum.

WALBERG: But his other two opponents are closing in on them fast.

MILLER: Fire engine light.

I love this.

$385.

WALBERG: Even a market warrior can get lost

in the maze of a flea market.

I think we're going that way.

WALBERG: Kevin doesn't have much time to remember

how to get back to the booth with those fire alarm sconces.

KEVIN: It all looks the same now, that's the problem.

WALBERG: The clock is ticking for all four pickers,

and now that Miller and Bob have spotted those sconces,

they could head back at any moment

to make a deal ahead of Kevin.

MILLER: Okay...

Give them the go-around.

There's another building, though?

Is that the next one?

Oh, that's neat.

You like it?

Where's that going?

To him.

MILLER: He already bought them?

Yeah.

Where'd you buy these from?

Francis, he's right there.

Right there, that booth right there?

WALBERG: No one can accuse Miller

of letting a good thing pass her by.

Even if she can locate the dealer

who sold those horse heads,

there's little guarantee he'll have any more of them left.

Who's Francis?

You are?

I love those horses.

Those are cool.

Oh, my goodness, I wish I bought them.

Well, I've got one left for you.

Where is it?

He didn't buy all of them?

No, most.

Yay...!

You saved it for me!

Well, I don't know yet, let me see it.

We'll take it out and you think about it.

He told me you're from North Carolina.

North Carolina, that's right.

I'm from South Carolina.

Where?

Greenville.

Greenville, man.

Where did you get these,Francis?

You wouldn't believe it: South Carolina.

I knew it!

I knew it!

That's why it appealed to me, right?

Real horse country.

That's real horse country.

Okay, what kind of deal would you give me?

I'd do it for, like, $175.

Can we go $125?

You'd have me looking for a job.

Oh, Francis.

$155?

$165.

Okay, can we meet in the middle between $165 and $155?

We're talking ten dollars' difference.

For neighbors.

Neighbors?

North Carolina, South Carolina, come on.

Oh... $160, that's it.

Come on...

That's it.

Okay, and that's it?

That's it.

Okay, I think you got a deal.

Okay.

Thank you!

Thank you.

WALBERG: Miller is the first picker to buy her target item.

Francis, you have the best things.

WALBERG: And that means Kevin can breathe a bit easier

because that's one less opponent to worry about

nabbing those sconces out from under him.

He's not out of the woods, or the maze, yet.

KEVIN: Let's go down here.

WALBERG: With time running out,

Kevin still can't find his way back to that booth,

and since Bob is still looking for his target item,

he easily could circle back

and buy those sconces ahead of Kevin.

Cast iron.

Who knows about this?

Well, it's an old cast-iron Scottie.

It's the first one like that that I've seen.

Perfect doorstop.

Very good doorstop, yes.

Has some nice age to it.

What timeframe do you think?

I'd say it's probably around the '20s or so.

Yeah, that's when Scotties were really big and popular.

I wish I could find a mark on it somewhere.

I've looked it over; I don't see one anywhere.

You can see all the pourings in there, the way it was cast.

I have $48 on there.

I could do $44 if you're interested.

I like your bracelet.

Oh, thank you.

That's very sharp.

WALBERG: John's wardrobe can be an ice breaker with dealers,

and that helps him try to get a better deal.

How much are your glasses?

Oh, aren't these fun?

They are.

They're 1950s Italian aluminum.

You have great teeth and glasses.

All right, $30.

That's great.

WALBERG: John is off and running

now that dealer Renee Giermann has admired his bracelet.

I wish I could trade you the bracelet for the dog.

(both laughing)

Which of us would come out ahead?

(laughing)

I don't know, I think you might.

Can I get you down to $35?

How about $38?

Wouldn't do $35, huh?

I have to call my husband about that.

It's actually his dog.

Oh come on, cheat on him, come on.

No, never, never!

I can't.

$37.

(laughing)

Six.

All right.

Okay, cool.

Thank you, I beat you down.

Yeah, you did.

Thanks for playing.

Come on, that's half the fun of it.

Now don't show this to everyone else, though.

Oh no... "I've seen her..."

You'll be plenty safe.

"She'll take less."

Thirty-six.

Okay, very good.

Thank you very much, it was a great show.

Thank you, happy hunting.

Thank you.

WALBERG: That leaves just Bob and Kevin

with not much time to buy their cast-iron target items.

Now it's even more likely

they both will set their sights on those wall sconces,

and it could come down to who gets there first.

Kevin is making one wrong turn after another.

KEVIN: They all look the same.

WALBERG: And Bob... actually, it looks as if Bob

has another plan altogether.

DEALER: Are you fondling my iron?

I'm sorry, I said please!

I know that most serious cooks

have at least one cast-iron pan in their collection,

and it's usually an older one.

And these pots here?

This is an American version of a wok as you can get.

Wow.

Seriously.

Now, why is it called a Scotch bowl?

These were used by the Scots

because the Scots came over in the 1870s.

And this is the utensils from old England...

Really?

But American-made.

You know your cast iron.

It seems like I came to the right guy.

If somebody wanted to use it decoratively,

they could put oranges in it

or, you know, anything like that on the countertop.

But you could still cook with it.

Yeah, I mean...

Don't use soap!

Early American wok.

You have to treat it with oil, right?

You can use sandpaper, steel wool, Scotch pads, but no soap

because it deteriorates the oils inside the pan.

You have $45 on it.

What'd be your very best?

(sighs)

I'll go $30.

$20?

Flip you for the difference.

Let's meet right in the middle at $25

and I'm going to walk out of here with something that's good.

$25.Awesome.

You got yourself a cast-iron deal.

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

Wow.

I just got a major lesson in cast iron.

We got to roll.

WALBERG: The only thing standing between Kevin

and that pair of Worcester, Massachusetts,

alarm bell sconces...

KEVIN: I think we're going that way.

WALBERG: ...is remembering where they are.

KEVIN: I know where we are, we're in the...

Wasn't he right over here?

We were right near the youth building.

WALBERG: Eureka, he found them.

I got to find my buddy in here.

Where'd he go?

Can we shoot for $300, cash money?

I realize you're giving me a deal.

How many, one or two?

It's not for the pair?

Oh, heavens no.

It's by the piece.

It's by the piece.

I've got three of them left.

Oh, I really thought it was for the pair.

No, no, no.

That's not good.

$385 each.

WALBERG: It seems finding his way back to Indiana-based dealer Don Orwig

wasn't as hard as admitting to someone

who specializes in industrial design

that he made a huge mistake in the price of the sconces.

KEVIN: That hurts.

Yeah, I don't get this stuff for nothing; I have to buy it.

I know you don't, it's very cool stuff.

If I could find it on the road, I'd get it cheaper,

but I can't.

And it's not something

you're going to find another one like very soon.

No, it's about the coolest thing I've found out here.

Thank you.

And you've sold them before, huh?

I have, yeah.

I've sold several; I got three left.

All right, I'm going to buy one for 300 bucks

and take a shot with it, all right?

Does that work for you?

You bet.

WALBERG: This is as close to crying uncle as we've seen Kevin Bruneau.

From the very start, it was as if he was reconciled

to finding not much at this market.

Thank you.

You betcha.

WALBERG: And now he just paid what he thinks is too much.

Let's hope he can muster one final burst of energy

to propel him back to home base before time runs out.

Where's Kev?

KEVIN: We're not even nowhere near it.

I bet he's lost now.

We're heading right here to the building, correct?

Kevin?

I don't think Kevin's going to make it.

KEVIN: What kind of time we got?

Okay, 30 seconds!

Heavy, heavy, heavy...

I see him!

JOHN: No, no, it's a lookalike.

Darn, it is him.

BOB: Come on, Kevin!

I got it, I got it.

Wow!

That was heavy, heavy, heavy.

Oh, that's cool.

Very cool.

WALBERG: Now the pickers will assess each other's items

to determine if they fulfill the target assignment, cast iron.

The pickers can reject any item for whatever reason they choose.

Wrong or right, majority rules.

It's a Rockwood Worcester fire alarm bell

that's been repurposed into a very cool wall sconce.

Is that how you say it?

Yeah, Worcester, that's right in my backyard.

(in Boston accent): Worcester.

It's spelled "War-sess-ter," but where we come from...

they never did get that right.

BOB: You know, I saw three others there.

I know, he had a selection...

Is it more East Coast?

No, definitely right in an industrial kind of, you know,

loft-type setting,

this is a cool-looking piece.

You're starting to buy the way I normally buy.

Well, I mean, we had to look for cast iron,

and I just think it was really cool-looking.

It's very cool.

I give you a huge thumbs up on this.

Good job, Kev.

Okay-- you're up, Bob.Awesome.

I bought from a cast-iron expert here at the market.

It is a Scotch bowl from a company called Griswold's.

Do you know about the Griswold manufacturing company?

He told me a little bit, yeah, but...

They made some of the greatest cast-iron cookware--

frying pans, the pots-- they're really collectible.

It's got a much more burnished patina than you normally see.

Yeah, it almost looks like it's bronzing.

It does.

It really does.

The inside of it looks like a piece of...

like Japanese metal.

BOB: There's a date on the bottom there,

and it was made in Erie, Pennsylvania, which is...

Is it a Griswold?

Yep.

Hmm.

You're sure it's cast iron?

Yep.

It's definitely cast iron.

I just don't know if it's a Griswold.

WALBERG: It really isn't your day, Kevin.

The Erie mark does in fact mean it is a Griswold.

BOB: Can I get a thumbs-up, guys?

(all agree) That's awesome.

Thank you.

I normally go for the funky stuff, you know that.

This time, I went for more traditional.

I went for a Scottie.

Probably Hubley, unmarked, definitely 1920s.

Let's take a look, let me see.

It also just would be cool sitting on a mantel or whatever.

I mean, doorstops sometimes are a little bigger.

I think it could be a bookend.

I think it's a reproduction.

I do not.

You don't?

I do not.

I don't think a good one from the 1920s

would have a mold blowout in the front right there.

I don't think so.

Oh, I totally disagree, I've seen so many that do.

Nobody's going to bother reproing something like this.

Sure they do.

They're going to repro the Aunt Jemimas,

they're going to repro one of the more famous doorstops.

Okay, we'll see.

They're not going to repro this.

You're just worried that they'll beat you.

It's cast iron-- I give him a thumbs up.

Cast iron.

Good job, John.

And it's nota repro.

Okay.

You're just nervous and jerky.

(laughing) All right, let's put this away.

Okay, Kev and John, can you go around and pick that up for me?

Oh, look at this.

Put the back brace on for this one.

Be careful, be careful!

Wow.

All right.

What is it?

It's a horse, come on!

This is something that is from South Carolina

and used to be probably on a horse farm, at the entrance.

And look at the detail on this.

BOB: It's great, I love the teeth.

MILLER: The carving... and I think

it's going to do really fantastic in Los Angeles,

which has lots of horse collectors.

I'm going to tell you what this is,

because I know what this is.

This is supposed to be what they would put

on the outside of French meat markets

to let them know that they had horse meat in there.

Okay, but it could have been for the stable...

We're not eating horsemeat in America,

so this is going to do really well in Los Angeles

with all the horse collectors out there.

It's great-looking, Miller.

It's a cool-looking thing.

JOHN: It's fabulous.

I just don't know where it's going to go out there.

Or the age, yeah, not sure.

But it's definitely cast iron, so thumbs up.

All right, everybody, good job.

We all did it, we all met the criteria.

I got to say, when I first heard the challenge,

I was like, "Really, cast iron?"

But there was a lot of it.

WALBERG: You've seen this clock.

Now let's hear more about it.

We're standing here in front of a Herschede clock,

which was made in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Herschede was the first to add Canterbury chimes.

This has the Canterbury chimes and the Westminster chimes,

which you've got a lever there you can switch to change that.

This particular model was made in 1928.

The dial is either a nickel or a silver plating.

The hands are made out of steel.

If you notice this little award piece here.

This was awarded in 1915 as a grand prize at an exposition.

WALBERG: Time for the bonus round.

The pickers are on their way

to meet Columbus, Ohio, dealer Tom Delach.

KEVIN: Hey, how are you?

Hey, guys, how are you?

WALBERG: Tom specializes in folk art, sculpture and wood carving.

He's about to show them an antique whirligig.

Fabulous stuff.

Well, thank you.

It is of the late 19th century.

What makes it fairly significant

is that the paddles are still original.

KEVIN: Yeah.

So many of these, the paddles are replaced.

I love its face.

BOB: Yeah.

Frequently, these were used to ward off animals or birds,

you know, so if you're planting seeds in a garden...

So Tom, what's the price on this piece?

$3,500.

Yeah, yeah.

Actually I would estimate, at the right auction

at the right time, it could bring well above that.

Okay, so are you guys ready for the big question?

Okay.

Yeah.

All right.

A lot of pickers, they have to ship things.

Part of it is not just the size and dimension,

but it's the weight.

The weight.

So what is the weight

of this whirligig with the base?

That's the question.

And Miller?

Okay, men, would you mind stepping back?

I need a little privacy here.

Right, right, right.

MILLER: Step way far back.

How long does it take to weigh it, Miller?

Ooh!

Okay, let me see.

(whispering): I think it's 9.8.

Okay.

All right, Kev.

I'm up.

Four-and-a-half pounds.

Okay.

You're up.

I'm up.

That's unique.

Well, I'm sort of trying to compare.

(whispering)

Okay.

Give them hell.

You're up.

I'd like to treat it like a barbell.

That's not a bad idea.

Okay.

Well, numbers are in.

Let's find out

who... it...

Come on.

Come on, come on.

...is!

JOHN: Whoa!

The weight is six pounds seven ounces.

So the winner is Bob.

Yes!

All that weight-lifting, I know how much things weigh.

Awesome, thank you.

Miller, you were in second place.

Oh, no!

This time, you're not getting a cash prize.

(fake crying)

But you are getting a $50 bonus towards the auction.

WALBERG: That means when the auction at Abell's begins,

Bob will start off with $50 in the black.

Thank you so much.

That's a good prize.

Very cool.

Yeah.

See ya.

What, you don't want to buy it?

(laughing)

WALBERG: We're about to start round two of buying,

called Shop 'Til You Stop.

It's an untimed round,

and pickers are allowed to buy one or two items,

but no more than that.

The round begins now.

KEVIN: I always approach the second round

to go out there and just throw my feelers out.

Sort of mingle with what's out there in the flea market.

Vornado fan.

This thing blows some air, look at this thing.

There is a lot of cool decorative stuff here.

The antiques, ah, not so much.

They're worth about 250 bucks,

and that's right where this one's priced.

BOB: What I know of Abell is that it's a very eclectic crowd,

so I'm going to look for things that say Hollywood, mid-century.

There's a big lunchbox market for collectibles.

This one's in great condition; it has its original thermos

and the glass isn't broken inside.

But I also know that there are a lot of dealers

that shop at Abell's, so I need to keep my costs down

so that I can increase my profit margin,

because dealers obviously spend less

and mark it up for their shops.

You have $175 on that.

What is, like, your best price on it?

$160.

This is definitely something for me to think about.

Okay, I feel like I'm ahead of the game

compared to all of my competitors.

Look at the pig!

Isn't that great for a barbecue?

Ooh, now we're cooking.

I've been burned before.

Sold for $550.

MILLER: And that's the last thing I want,

is to be burned again.

That could do well in L.A.

You got to buy right to do well at Abell's.

WALBERG: Kevin continues to mention

the slim pickings he's been finding at this flea market.

I don't even know what to call this stuff.

WALBERG: Just because a picker says he isn't seeing good stuff

doesn't mean it isn't there.

KEVIN: Decorative.

WALBERG: Watch as Kevin passes through a corridor

that to his left contains a pair of green metal chairs

followed by a pair of rattan chairs

without seeming to notice either set.

Nothing for the antique picker.

WALBERG: Now watch as Bob passes through the exact same corridor.

These chairs have great lines.

I could absolutely see them

appealing to an Abell's audience.

I love the rattan element.

Rattan can be indoor or outdoor.

It often depends if there's a layer of shellac on it.

This I would easily put outside.

It's great furniture for an L.A. buyer

because they could use it all year round.

The only thing that I see

is this little bit right here is loose,

but it's not broken.

And frankly, if this was broken in half,

I wouldn't even think about it because it's too difficult.

The asking price on these is $150,

so I feel like this is something I could consider

because if I could get them down maybe to $100,

I stand a chance of making some money.

I was curious about the rattan chairs out there.

They're marked $150 for the two.

I'll do $125.

I think they're probably from the '50s.

They have a label.

One of them's got a little label at the back

that says "Made in British Hong Kong."

Really?

Very sturdy, very comfortable.

I'm noticing there's just a little ding in the middle,

but I feel like if I could weave it in, it would be okay.

I don't think it would be a problem.

BOB: And these are great, too.

They're wonderful.

I'm thinking they might be Russel Wright.

They could be.

What are you asking on those?

Uh, let's see.

I'll do $60 for the two.

Okay.

MILLER: Is that a poster behind you or a watercolor?

Watercolor.

Ooh, and I like your chairs.

Can I sit down on them?

Go ahead.

Hi.

Hi, how are you?

My name's Miller Gaffney.

Nichelle Powers, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you, Nichelle.

WALBERG: Dealer Nichelle Powers and her husband Lee

specialize in mid-century modern.

They're based in Cleveland, Ohio,

but travel to many shows and flea markets in the Midwest.

MILLER: Tell me about these cool things.

What I know about them is they belonged to my grandparents

and I just thought they were so awesome, I rescued them

because they were actually thinking of getting rid of them.

One of them was kind of badly broken,

but three's going to make it a great number.

Oh, I know, I wish it was four, wouldn't that be great?

We had to retire one of them,

but I just thought it would be great to bring them out anyway,

the three.

You think they're from the '70s?

They are from the '70s.

And original fabric?

Original fabric.

Okay.

So you're saying $200 for all three?

Mm-hmm.

They're very comfortable, so sleek-looking.

What are you asking for

if I just do the two chairs, not all three?

Just the two, I'll do $130.

Okay.

Is there any way we can do $100?

Um, why don't you meet me in the middle at $115?

$115?

Then my grandparents won't be so upset with me.

Okay, let me think, let me think, let me think...

Think about it.

I don't want to lock that in.

I kind of want to look around and see what else I find.

Is this your table?

DEALER: Yeah.

Sweet.

WALBERG: As much as Kevin suffered through the target round,

who'd have guessed he'd be back looking at more cast iron?

Oop, how much is it broken?

I find that to be a good technique,

to break it first and then ask, you know?

Cast iron toy stove.

Looks like it's got some age to it, huh?

But every piece is there.

This crescent stove is a nice one.

This is from the 1920s, 1930s.

They repro-ed these in the '50s.

This is an earlier one.

You can easily tell the repros by the terrible casting

that you would see in, like, the "Crescent."

It would be muddy, it wouldn't be nice and sharp like you see.

They lose the nice, tight lines that you see

that go around the decoration.

What have you got on it for a price?

I can't even tell what price it is, it's been faded,

so that kind of tells me you've had it for a little while.

Yeah, I can take $65 for it.

65 bucks?

That'd be the best, huh?

That's it.

Well, I still got a little time to shop,

so I'm going to take a breeze up the alley,

I'm going to take a breeze down the alley,

and if maybe it's still here,

maybe we can get a deal together.

Okay.

Cool.

These are fabulous.

These are made out of old skis.

This you?

DEALER: Yeah.

Come on over.

Sit down with me.

These are really neat, all old skis.

Every piece of material is from old skis.

Old skis.

Yeah.

Dare I ask you

what the pair of these are going to cost me?

Uh, they're $700 apiece, $1,200 for the pair.

Apiece!

$1,200 for the pair.

Skis are 20 bucks a pair,

and there's ten pairs of skis in one chair,

so $200 before you start.

What's the best you could do on a pair of them?

$800's been turned down,

but $900 hasn't, I'll tell you that.

All right, this I have to think about seriously.

I have to make a decision in the next 40 minutes, so...

(laughing)

Well, take your time.

(laughing)

BOB: Oh, wow, the Telescope Folding Furniture Company

in Granville, New York.

This is an aristocratic series.

What's the price point on all of this?

They were selling for, recently,

between $200 and $400 on each chair, $1,295 on the whole set.

Awesome-- thanks for showing it to me.

I came across another rattan set.

There were more pieces.

They were asking $1,250,

and frankly I think the ones that I saw earlier

were much cooler and much earlier,

like, we're talking three decades older.

So it's making me think that those rattan chairs

might be something I should really consider.

BOB: Hey, Miller.

Hi!

You ready to have a seat and relax a little bit?

Yeah, are you?

Yeah, what do you think of this '70s rattan?

Um, it's really cool.

Is it comfortable?

Yeah, I got all of it for $250,

so, you know, we'll see how it does.

Oh, you already bought all of it?

Yeah, it's amazing, so...

Wow.

Yeah.

Way to go, and it's in good condition.

Right.

Whoo.

I'm impressed, Bob.

It looks good.

WALBERG: Bob is playing a trick on Miller.

He didn't really buy this set of furniture,

and his mischief could backfire

if it ends up planting a message in her head about buying rattan.

Remember, the two rattan chairs he's considering buying

are still sitting unsold

in plain view of anyone who passes by.

Let's see what's here.

This is neat.

Oh, my goodness.

My winning horse.

What are they selling this for?

"Last one, $220."

Huh.

And there's another one.

WALBERG: What Miller thought was the buy of the day

during the target round,

when she nabbed the last horse head in the market,

is now seeming like she's shopping at a factory outlet.

(whirring fast rewind)

I've got one left for you.

He didn't buy all of them?

Yay, you saved it for me!

WALBERG: How could each one of these horse heads be the last one,

and how many of them are there, anyway?

You've got to tell me about the horse.

They're decorative, they're not old.

I had nine of these and I had four of those.

I can't believe this.

Why don't you think they're old?

Because I know where I got them.

He had hundreds of them made.

Whoa...

WALBERG: This is a shocking discovery for Miller to make late in the game

and adds even more pressure for her to make smart choices

in the second round of buying.

KEVIN: Is it okay if we could take a look

at your Jazzbo Jim?

Yeah, sure.

WALBERG: Jazzbo Jim is known as a minstrel toy,

designed to reinforce black stereotypes

portrayed in minstrel shows of the late 19th century.

Offensive in nature, since they depict African Americans

in a prejudicial manner,

these pieces can be highly prized by collectors,

many of whom are African American.

KEVIN: They don't look like much,

but these old tin toys are very collectible.

Oh, yeah.

I got a partial original box.

And a partial original box,

which in itself is a nice little thing.

It looks like a Christmas present.

Look, it actually has an original tag in it

from it being a Christmas present.

Paint's all great, the lithograph is wonderful.

How much is a piece like this?

$625.

KEVIN: You know, maybe if you're going to sell it online

you could actually pay that price,

because I've seen them sell for a lot more money online.

But if you're going to send it to auction,

you've really got to do your best to get them down.

So if I asked you to do, like, $450 on it, would be cash money.

We could do five.

Five would be the best?

Yeah.

It's a really cool thing.

Bottom of it's got good color on it.

Right.

Pretty hard to find in that condition.

Very hard to find in this condition.

$450 wouldn't do it, huh, cash money?

$475.

$475?

It's a really good one.

WALBERG: Notice how Kevin won't look the dealer in the eye

as he tries to grind him down to the price he wants to pay.

It's a strategy that often works in his favor.

$450 cash money, man.

I could probably do four-and-a-half on it

if you want it.

That's a good early toy right there.

I appreciate you working with me.

Let me get that wrapped up for you.

Awesome.

KEVIN: We got it for $450,

and the way I do my buying, my little mathematical scale,

we're on the real low end of wholesale right now

where we purchased this at,

so we probably only have to go up

when we go ahead and sell this at auction.

And it sure is a heck of a lot lighter

than the cast-iron bell I had to carry around before.

Hi there.

I'm back again.

Okay.

I was wondering about the chairs, the two rattan.

I'll do $100.

I was hoping $80.

No.

Okay.

(laughing) $100's your bottom?

$100 is my bottom.

(laughing)

Could we do $90?

Um...

Please?

Um, well...

He's not paying any attention.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

I'm going to take these back to home base and think about that,

and see what else I see along the way.

Enjoy.

Thank you.

So I feel good about the chairs.

I think I'm going to lock it in at $115.

Nichelle, you got a deal.

All right.

Yay!

MILLER: Just for the chairs.

Do you think Lee or somebody could help me?

NICHELLE: Yeah, he could help you.

Thank you, Nichelle.

I'll come back and we'll get those in the car.

You're so welcome....

So nice to meet you.

Happy hunting, find more things.

I'm going to go in a little bit lower

and see if I can make a cash deal right now,

at maybe $800 and see if he'll go for that.

If he does that, I'll pick them up right now

because they are so unique.

(sighs)

Straight up, I want to do $700 for the pair.

I'm sure you do.

Okay.

Hey, we're talking.

There's a lot of things there's a lot of room on.

The tag on those really was $699.

Although I'm happy to make a deal happen,

what I told you is the last price.

$900 for the pair?

Couldn't go eight, huh?

DEALER: Already turned down eight.

$900's the number.

I think I got to go for them.

I mean, I just love them.

Yeah, I've never had a piece in my booth

that's turned so many heads as those chairs.

Every third person, boom, boom, boom, they're all over them.

900 bucks, all right, sold.

Aren't they wonderful?

You want to buy them?

I'll sell them to you right now.

(laughing)

Heck, they're out of my price range, and I bought them.

WALBERG: John is the third picker to buy a set of chairs in this round.

We got a little Julie Newmar action here.

She's looking very sassafras.

And Peter Marshall, who I realized later went on

to host the Hollywood Squares.

His glasses were a little bit bigger,

and I think he had some lambchop sideburns by that point,

but I'm not seeing things

that I am going to have a huge profit margin on,

so I could do this or I could do the chairs.

I'm thinking, but I don't have a ton of time.

WALBERG: For most pickers, the choice between an undersized poster

of an obscure movie such as The Rookie

and an original Russel Wright folding chair

would be a no-brainer.

Let's see which one Bob ends up choosing.

I'm under the gun a little bit, so I was just wondering,

your Julie Newmar poster, are you able to do $20 on that?

What was on it?

You have $35.

Yeah, I'll do $20.

Okay, I'm not in the place to buy right now,

but I need to, like, see how much I can get for things.

Right.

That's going to be, you know,

something I have in the back of my head, all right?

That would work.

Awesome, I appreciate it.

Hi, Tom!

I told you I'd be back.

Tom, is this your painting?

The painting is Rick's.

Hi!

I'm Miller.

Miller, I'm Rick, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Tell me about this.

Her name is Melissa Valier.

She's a contemporary artist.

She would go out to California to visit her father.

They would paint together.

So it is a California painting.

It is.

Okay, now what are you asking for this?

Uh, $900.

Oh, a little steep for me.

You know, I like your little... the Dali,

what is this here, engraving?

People like a big name at auction.

It's a multiple, but you know what,

at this point, I know a big name sells.

WALBERG: Hey, Miller, just about everything sells.

The question is, what will it sell for?

That Dali may not be a limited edition,

in which case it might be wiser to say, "Goodbye, Dali."

What are you asking for that?

That's $425.

Oh, come on.

It's a good size, it's not overbearing,

and it does have the certificate here.

But I recently was on eBay and I saw one for $800.

Oh no, I see some that went for $300 and $250.

Well, you got to look at the condition and it's signed.

It's a good piece.

Would you take three?

No.

So where would you go, where can we meet in the middle?

If I'm offering three

and you've got $425...

$375, it's yours.

Can we do $350?

I'll do $350.

Deal.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, Rick.

Bye, Tom, bye, Rick!

I'll see you later!

BOB: As a designer,

my eye goes directly to the chair to the far right.

Not only does it retain

the original Russel Wright tag in the back,

but I love the age and patina on it.

I think the way that the arms have aged is really beautiful.

It almost looks like a verdigris copper.

I'm only allowed to buy one more item, so at the end of the day,

if she's not going to sell them as a pair, I have to choose,

and the choice is simple for me: it'd be this one.

Okay, got some we've got condition issues here.

Maybe I should go back to The Rookie for $20.

BOB: While I like the patina on the chair,

I just noticed that the arm is bent.

Patina's one thing, wear's one thing, but a bent arm?

That's another.

I need to think for a second.

BOB: I like Julie Newmar,

I think she's got, like, a real fun, West Coast vibe,

and I feel like the poster's going to make me money

whereas the chair, I don't know if somebody would pay enough.

I mean, if I could get it for $20,

maybe I can make a profit.

Hi, I'm back.

You're back.

Yes.

You're like a bad penny.

Oh my gosh!

That's never how I thought of myself, but thank you.

WALBERG: Looks like dealer Judy Travelston, a retired librarian,

is about to get a second go-round at haggling with Bob.

Not only is this Judy's first time selling

at the Springfield show,

this is her first time ever as a dealer at a vintage show.

That may give Bob the upper hand for the second time.

BOB: And are you only selling them as a pair?

You gave me a price as a pair.

They could be divorced.

(laughs)

Yeah, I'll tell you, it's funny,

I mean, I really love the patina,

but it also has this bent arm, you know?

Yeah, I know.

What is your rock bottom on each one?

I told you $60, right, for the pair?

So, all right, $30 for this one.

And $15 for this one?

No, $20.

(laughing)

BOB: Because of the bend and because of all the stuff,

could we do $15?

Please?

Uh...

Well, it's one less thing for me to carry home,

and I'm sure it's going to a good home.

Thank you, I'm happy to take it off your hands,

and I really appreciate you working with me on price.

Thank you, you're lovely, thank you.

Okay.

Bye-bye.Bye-bye.

Hello?

Hi.

How are you?

I'm good.

Can you tell me where the gentleman was

that was in this booth before?

He went for a walk.

I take my turn, then he has his.

Oh, that's your husband?

That's my husband.

Oh, excellent, so then I can talk to the boss.

You can talk to the boss.

I had originally asked him about this,

and he told me that the best he could do was $65,

and I'm wondering if you'd be willing to, like,

grind another $15 off for me to sell it for $50.

I'll do it.

You will?

I'll do it.

I like dealing with you better.

That's awesome, because you put me

right at a price point I want to be.

We're going to shake on that now?

We're going to shake on it.

We should probably move this along pretty good

before he comes back

and maybe, you know, gives me a hard time.

She immediately bit at $50.

I probably should have said $40,

but hey, we got a good deal at $50.

You got to talk to the boss

when you want to get something at a good deal.

All right.

Thank you so much.

Awesome, thank you.

Bye, now.

Bye-bye.

WALBERG: Let's review all the items and what the pickers spent.

Here are Kevin Bruneau's lots:

A Worcester Rockwood fire alarm sconce,

a Jazzbo Jim wind-up toy,

and a miniature cast-iron stove.

Bob's lots are comprised of a Griswold cast-iron bowl,

a Russel Wright folding chair,

and a pair of rattan and bamboo chairs.

Miller's lots include a cast-iron horse head,

a pair of chrome chairs with upholstery,

and a Salvador Dali lithograph.

John's lots consist of a cast-iron Scottie dog

and a pair of vintage Adirondack chairs made out of skis.

Now it's on to Los Angeles,

where all of their items will be sold at Abell Auctions.

The auction house is filling up with bidders from the L.A. area.

They include dealers trying to buy low to flip these antiques.

Others are collectors who may be inclined to spend more

for what they really want.

Watching the bidding behind the scenes

will be all four of our pickers,

but before they do, do any of them have buyer's remorse,

or do they think any of their opponents

should have buyer's remorse?

Let's find out.

I'm not a big fan of the cast-iron pot, I have to admit.

It doesn't have anything to it, it's just a pot.

It has a $25 price tag

as opposed to a $300 or however much you guys paid.

The bell?

I just don't know if anybody's going to go for that as a lamp.

Making fun of my cast iron.

Well, yeah, your cast iron.

John, I do believe it was one bookend.

That wasn't a bookend.

That's not even a bookend.

JOHN: Beautiful doorstop.

Shh.

Shh.

This is not even a bookend.

This is a miniature figurine.

Circa 2006.

His dog was from 2006, and her horse was 2010.

KEVIN: I've seen that at five different flea markets.

At the same show, I saw two more.

It's a later reproduction, but still...

What was the key word you just said?

I heard it, I heard the word.

Re-pro-duc-tion.

No, but it's the patina and all the other factors

that make this piece.

Do you know how to make that patina?

Throw it in the ocean for a day.

You don't want to know what they use?

With "Rustique."

(laughing)

(hissing)

That's a $1,000 one.

KEVIN: Does that come in a can?

BOB: Yes, exactly!

My ski chairs are going to walk all over you.

You're going to send them to auction?

JOHN: How many have you seen?

Two.

How many have you seen?

At $900, two's enough.

I spent a few bucks,

but sometimes you got to buy big to make big.

You fall in love very easily.

I do, don't come too close.

Hmm... (men laughing)

Okay, let's see what happens at auction.

Yeah, we will.

Trust me, we will.

WALBERG: All right, this is what we've been waiting for.

Don't forget, as the winner of the flea market bonus round,

Bob starts out $50 in the black.

Here we go.

All right, on the Samson folding chair.

$50 to start this chair?

How about $20 to start this chair?

I have $20 bid, now $30.

$20, bid $30.

$30, bid $40.

Already made a profit.

$40, bid $50?

$50, now $60?

Sold $50 to buyer 1850.

More than tripled up.

On this pair of chrome and blue upholstered chairs...

Those are cool.

Very cool.

$30, bid $40.

$40, bid $50.

$50, now $60.

$60, bid $70.

$70?

It's in the second row.

Sold $60 to buyer 2071.

KEVIN: I can't believe it.

All right, now I have the Scottie doorstop.

$20 for the doorstop.

$20, now $30, bid $40.

$50, $60, $70.

BOB: Wow.

AUCTIONEER: $60's on my right, now $70.

Sold, $60 to buyer 3946.

You know, sometimes the old guy knows a few things, you know?

Come on.

All right, on the salesman's sample stove.

$20 for this item.

I have $20 bid, now $30.

$30, bid $40... $30, now $40?

Sold-- $30.

KEVIN: They bring anywhere

from $100 to $125.

That surprised me, yeah.

Well, Bob's up $85.

JOHN: What blew me away were the purple chairs.

They were cool, I thought they should have did more money.

Yeah, that I don't get.

Your little Pound Puppy doorstop did well.

Honey bunny, learn something from the master, come on.

You got lucky.

Scotties.

Luck?

You're calling skill luck?

BOB: I'll tell you, I'm most surprised by the stove.

I really thought it would have brought a little bit more.

I'm sure you're loving it though, right?

You love it when I'm down.

That's just the first group.

Anything can happen.

Right.

It can.

All right, on the fire bell, $20 for the fire bell.

$20 bid, now $30.

Now $30, bid $40.

$40 new bidder, now $50.

$50, bid $60.

$70, bid $80.

Three hundred?!

$80, $90; $90, now $100.

Now $100, now $125.

$125, bid $150.

$150, now $175.

Sold for $150 to buyer 726.

Oh really, Kev, $300?

It's the only thing I could find in cast iron.

All right, I have $50 to start the horse, now $75.

Bid $100, bid $125, bid $150, $175, bid $200.

$200, now $225.

$250, $250, $275, $300, $325, $350...

Wow.

$350, $375.

$375, $400.

$400, now $450.

Are you in the audience bidding?

$450, either one of you?

Sold, $400.

Are you kidding me?

Unbelievable.

D-d-d-d-d... BOB: Amazing.

He's stuttering.

Hummina hummina...

All right, on the bowl.

$20 to start the bowl?

How about $10 to start the bowl?

I have five, now ten.

I just need $25.

Ten to $15.

$15, now $20.

$20 to $25.

Sold, $20, to buyer 3222.

All right, $5 loss.

Oh, yes!

Miller, you're up there.

These are huge surprises.

Yeah, your horse head was a huge surprise.

No, no-- a retail...

Just let it go.

I bow to you.

Oh, I like that.

One more time.

If you missed it the first time,

you'll never get it again.

I hope I can make some money in round three, let's go.

It's got to be better than this.

This is going to be a good round.

On the Adirondack ski chairs, I have $500 to start the chairs.

I have $500, $600, $700.

I have $800 here, now nine.

I have $900, I have $1,000, now $1,250.

$1,000, bid $1,250?

Sold for $1,000.

That was my number.

You were lucky on that one.

I'm... that's not luck, girl.

That's bunny slope luck.

That's skill.

(Kevin laughing) That's skill.

All right, on these two chairs,

I have multiple bids on them.

I have $200 to start the chairs.

$200, now $225.

$225, now $250.

I have $250.

BOB: Yes!

Now $275.

Looks like it goes for $250 to buyer 2507.

Oh, nice.

JOHN: Very good.

All right, on this toy with the box,

I have $50 to start this item.

I have $50 bid, now $75, now $100.

$125, bid $150.

Now $175, $200, $225, $250.

$275, $275, $300, now $325.

$325, $350, $375, $400.

$400, now $425?

Sold, $400, to buyer 1959.

I lost on all three.

All right, on the Dali illustration,

I have $100 to start the Dali.

I have $100, now $125.

$125, now $150 here.

Now $175?

$150, now $175?

Sold for $150 to buyer 2507.

WALBERG: And the winner is Bob Richter.

Yes, I knew I won!

Congratulations.

My new strategy seems to be working.

Keep the prices low, low, low, and I won.

Kevin, the reason I don't think your cast-iron stove did well

is because there's a lot of these salesmen samples.

I think it just becomes a saturated market.

Miller, the Dali print,

there are a lot of fakes, unfortunately, on the market.

Being that there are so many fakes,

people are a little apprehensive in purchasing these works.

Turn to PBS fo

that I found that I really, really like,

blue and chrome chairs.

AUCTIONEER: Blue upholstered chairs, $20 for these chairs.

MAN: I'm really happy with the price.

And this is actually for my little studio.

AUCTIONEER: Sold, $60 to buyer 2071.

There is a character to both of them,

and the blue did catch my eyes immediately when I saw them.

I had also in mind to buy the ski chairs,

but they go over my budget, so, you know, I wish.

At first I saw a Russel Wright folding chair.

AUCTIONEER: All right, on the Samson folding chair.

Looks something that's very antique.

And so with my friend,

we used our little phones and, like, we Googled it,

and we had a hard time finding, like, what it was exactly,

but to find it on the label that was written

the name of the designer made us think

that it could be something that was worth something.

AUCTIONEER: Sold, $50 to buyer 1850.

WOMAN: I'm starting this new business.

I'm looking for old furniture and trying to sell them.

Mid-century furniture seems like something

my generation would be looking for.