Antiquing in Chicago, IL

Hold on, time out, back it up.

Unfortunately, you're totally wrong.

Absolutely not.

KEVIN: I don't have much to say other than I feel like I'm in my grandma's house right now.

I can do $200.

$300.

$300, $350, $400.

50% profit.

Cha-ching.

Come on.

WALBERG: ♪ Chicago, Chicago♪ ♪ That toddlin' town, that toddlin' town.♪ Hi, I'm Mark Walberg, host of Antiques Roadshow and Market Warriors, singing my way into the Windy City.

The word "toddling" is a bit of an antique when it comes to current vocabulary, but what better way to stroll into the Chicago Antique Market at Randolph Street than with an old treasure?

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, this flea market started as a once-a-year street event and has evolved into a once-a-month market with 200 antiques dealers.

Push it, push it, come on!

WALBERG: Looks like our warriors have come ready to wheel and deal, quite literally.

They know that when it comes to the Midwest, the Second City plays second fiddle to no other market.

Dealers our pickers have bought from before or never before will tell you the same.

DON COLCLOUGH: Chicago's the best shopping city in America.

It just has an abundance of older folks.

They have that ethic that they never threw anything away.

WALBERG: The target item will be chosen by the auctioneer at Abell Auctions in Los Angeles, California, where all of today's items will be sold.

This week for your target item, we want you to find something from the '70s.

We're looking for something that has a little bit of a pop of color, plastics, vinyls, mirrored furniture, that more contemporary streamlined look of what the '80s eventually became.

Good luck, and find us something great.

WALBERG: And as a special treat, here's what each of our pickers looked like during the 1970s.

Time will be kept by this Elgin pocket watch.

The pickers have one hour to find their target item.

It's back to the '70s-- groovy.

WALBERG: Starting now.

JOHN: '70s, my God, '70s is my era.

Disco, fabulous polyester clothes, and there was a lot of really good plastic, chrome and metal furniture made in the '70s.

Absolutely fabulous.

You can see what looks like a planet with these satellite images here.

Each of these tubes would hold a bulb.

There were some bulbs that were made in the '50s and '60s that looked like little starbursts, so I could just see this with those starburst bulbs.

But the price is way over the top, asking price of $950.

We're going down the right path.

Oh, can I ride?

Whoo!

No hands!

(laughing) Thank you!

I gotta get back to work.

WALBERG: A skateboard is as good a reminder as any that what Miller buys will be headed for Los Angeles, since skateboards originated in California back in the 1950s.

L.A. is oversaturated with 1970s, so I'm really looking for something not just kitschy, but unique.

I like the banana yellow, a great color.

DEALER: And it has this faux wood grain on the back.

Okay, $75 each?

Yup.

Oh, this is fun.

Is this from the '70s, the Limbo Party?

I like it.

It still has the record, the stick, even some of the faux grass.

It's $95.

I want to have a limbo party.

WALBERG: You'd be hard-pressed to date limbo any later than the '50s or '60s, Miller, so cross this off your list of potential target items.

Okay, well, let me think about these great banana yellow bar stools.

DEALER: Okay.

KEVIN: You know, Abell is right in the middle of L.A.

It's central for that kind of real kitsch mod.

And I think the margins are going to be good.

I'm going to take it from here, send it to where it's probably even more respected and make some money.

WALBERG: It's surprising to hear Kevin say collectors in Los Angeles are looking for kitsch, since it's the reverse of what he said at a previous auction at Abell, when he warned John Bruno the chairs he bought wouldn't make a profit.

I think they're too kitschy.

No.

WALBERG: And he was absolutely right.

Sold for $200 to the absentee.

Too kitschy.

What can you tell me about these over here?

WALBERG: Kevin finds a pair of slatted wooden chairs he's certain would appeal to the type of high-end dealers and collectors in Los Angeles.

They belong to him.

They belong to you?

What can you tell me about them?

WALBERG: Unfortunately, moments ago dealer Harold Corbin sold them to Barbara Rosin, who also intends to flip them, not at an auction, but at her retail gallery in Chicago.

KEVIN: You wouldn't flip them, huh?

ROSIN: Why, you want to buy them?

KEVIN: Maybe, if we can work a deal.

What would you flip them for, like for a quick buck?

We don't do quick bucks.

You go the long bucks, right?

Thank you.

Let's go way over the aisles, away from everybody.

The younger crowd today not only is collecting mod, but it's also playing poker.

It's got all the suits all over it, and it's functional.

It's priced really low, and I know I can go in and get a great deal.

This is all you?

DEALER: This is all us.

This is great.

Like, '70s kind of thing?

'60s, '70s, '50s.

It's very colorful, it's coordinated all the way around.

If it doesn't catch the eye, it's not going to sell.

Right.

I'm going to take a quick buzz around here, but you actually got something in your booth I'm interested in, so I might be back real quickly.

DEALER: All right.

I have a question for you.

Did you redo these?

Yes, I did.

Is the fabric original to the '70s?

The fabric is just vintage, it's from, like, the '60s.

But the vinyl is new.

It's new vinyl, okay.

I'm looking for something that's 100% from the '70s.

Is this from the '70s?

It looks... DEALER: This is from the '70s.

These are from the '60s.

These are from the '60s, and this one's from the '70s.

Oh, it has a little... A ding on it.

A little ding on it, okay.

You have a great booth, I love the colors here.

Oh, wow.

I love these.

How much are these?

DEALER: The chairs are $1,000 for the pair.

And the sofa's $1,000.

I can't even afford one.

Thank you very much.

It looks like we're moving on.

Now this is interesting.

Hi, is this your stuff?

It is.

Come on over.

I know you!

Oh my God!

(laughing) How are you, Don?

I didn't know you knew your way to Chicago.

I'm just discovering it for the first time.

Hey, talk to me about the chairs.

The first pair I've had.

What are you asking for them?

Not nearly enough.

(laughing) I'll be the judge of that.

I'd take $375 for the pair.

Cheap as grass.

WALBERG: Who is John kidding?

The Philippe Starck ghost chair is one of the most famous chair designs of the 21st century.

He must be getting a head start thinking about what he's going to buy in the Shop 'Til You Stop round.

I'm going to go shop.

Hey, how you doing?

Good, Bertoia knockoffs or...?

They're Knoll.

What era?

They're from the '70s.

But you can tell they're real by a couple things.

The big thing is the solder joint goes past, and it leaves this little nub.

On the fake ones, they usually round that off so it looks, like, finished.

There's a rubber coating on the originals.

A lot of the fake ones are just painted.

And also, the screws, they don't have matching screws on the real ones.

And a lot of the fake ones, they, like, will have the same color as the piece.

What are you asking for them?

WALBERG: Pickers have $1,000 for both rounds of buying, but they need to save at least $150 in case they incur a target round penalty.

$375 apiece?

That's going to be a tough retail, but I can think about it.

Thanks, good talking to you, man.

Shoot me an offer if you're interested.

JOHN: Time is getting tight.

The thing is, I'm not seeing anything that's really going "punch, punch, punch" that's in the price range we need.

So I'm going to have to really negotiate and haggle here to see what I can find.

Hello, my friend.

How are you?

Just fine.

What can you tell me about this cool little side table?

When do you think it's from?

Probably late '60s, early '70s.

Now would you consider the table and this to go together?

I consider it like a pair, because it's the table.

And the chair.

And I priced them individual, but I can definitely give you a price on them as a pair.

Because people do that with bedroom sets too, right?

They'll take bedroom sets and price them all individual for the pieces, but they'll actually sell it as a set too, right?

WALBERG: Kevin's off his game.

Calling these items a pair after the dealer clearly said he'd sell them separately is making the same mistake with our rules that happened only once before.

Nine Bakelite bracelets.

JOHN: They would not, under any circumstances, have sold those bracelets separately.

No, they would have sold them separately.

Then it's not a set.

WALBERG: And don't forget who sounded that penalty buzzer.

(makes buzzer sound) What would you be able to sell, like, the chair and this end table for?

$35 a piece, $65 for both of them.

They're made by the same people and it's all the same set.

Yeah, they have the same caps, the same vinyl in it.

This is a sling for magazines and stuff in it.

You wouldn't be interested in, like, 45 bucks for the pair, would you?

I cannot do that.

But 60 bucks for the pair.

60 bucks for the pair, huh?

If I send that to auction where they sell nifty mod stuff, do you think I'll make some money on them?

I do think.

At an auction, you probably ought to pull $75 to $100 apiece on them.

That's what I'm thinking.

50 bucks cash, right now.

Cannot do it.

Cut me in the middle, $55?

$55, done.

I'm going to buy them, man, I like them.

I think they're cool for 55 bucks.

DEALER: '70s stuff is probably the most upcoming and hottest thing on the market right now.

The '50s, '60s, a lot of wood, a lot of... and all of a sudden this was all new.

It was clean, it was crisp, it was real ultra-modern looking.

And that's kind of what people are doing again.

The real crisp, clean, mod look is in right now.

Oh, this is great.

This '70s stuff is so much lighter and easy to carry than that old Victorian stuff.

Hi, guys, how are you?

Good.

Are you guys the dealers here?

Is that 1970s?

It is.

How much is it?

$350.

$350?

And that's a banquette.

It had a table in the center.

Sure.

When I found it, it was like this.

Wow, you have a great eye.

Orange is hot.

Yes, isn't it?

Oh, let's have a seat.

Would you like to join us, Mike?

I'll let you two ladies handle this.

Wow, this is great.

Does it have any marks?

Let's take a look at it.

WALBERG: It's true, Orange County is an easy drive from Los Angeles.

But I hope Bene isn't taking its nickname, "The Big Orange," literally.

While it's a color that sits well with Bene-- check out her favorite hat and her favorite chair-- for most everyone else, this would be a whole lot of orange.

There's a little mark here.

Yeah, I think that can come off.

That could be cleaned.

And I love that it's orange vinyl.

You can clean it.

WALBERG: Sorry to interrupt, but I don't think orange is easier to clean than any other shade of vinyl.

BENE: And it screams 1970s because of the orange.

Yeah, it does.

This is the right color.

And you said $350?

I was wondering if you could help me out here.

I can do $200.

Will you help me out?

How about $300?

How about $225, could you do that?

How about $250?

How about $240, and we'll call it a deal.

I have cash.

Okay.

That's right, thank you very much.

I appreciate that.

Sure, sure.

I found it at an estate sale, and I reclaimed it from somebody's basement.

The person who purchased it actually never set it up.

They had intentions of setting it up and doing some remodeling, but it lay in the basement for about the last, what, 35 years?

WALBERG: Had Bene heard this revelation, she'd be having second thoughts.

A banquette is a tricky item to sell at auction.

For any hope of making a profit, there would need to be multiple bidders who not only have a passion for bright orange vinyl, but who have space with the right dimensions to put it to use.

I've seen a few cool '70s things.

The thing is, I'm not seeing anything that's in the price range we need.

I think my best chance right now, believe it or not, are the ghost chairs.

WALBERG: Let's be clear about what John is considering.

Instead of buying authentic 1970s Knoll chairs, he's going to make a play for the chairs he knows were made much later on.

Finally, he's playing this game to win, even if it means bluffing his way through this round.

The advice he dismissed a long time ago from his biggest rival suddenly is making an impact.

You have to buy what you think you can make money on.

It's all about the profit margin.

The rules of the game say that if two or three, or the majority rules, that something is or is not real, that's the truth.

I don't know which way I'm going to go with this, what I'm going to do.

I don't have a plan to sell this yet.

But I'm a gambler when it comes to my stuff, so if I can get the right price, it could work.

Hey, Don.

Don: Hey, John.

Come talk to me.

Oh, I don't know if I want to talk to you.

Come on, I've got to beat you up a little bit.

You want to ask me if you can give me more money than I want?

I'd love to be able to do that, but these really do interest me.

Give me a killer price, get them out of your booth because it matches nothing else, and make an old guy happy.

How close to $375 do you want to get?

I want to get way below that.

You're not going to get way below that.

I got to, I got to.

What I really want is an even deuce.

I paid $250 for the pair.

Okay, I'll give you $250.

No, that's not the way this works.

300 bucks, that's it.

I gotta make 50 bucks.

That's a half of a tank of gas.

A half, not even a full tank, it's a half of a tank of gas.

Let's shave another $25 off that.

Can't do it, can't do it.

That's $12.50 apiece.

WALBERG: John knows these Starck chairs retail for over $400 apiece, so he has a good idea what his profit margin would be if he gets a good deal.

JOHN: I can't get you below $300?

All right, I do like them.

And for $300, I'll take a chance.

And for old times.

Thanks, John, appreciate it.

We'll do that, $300 even.

Kevin was in a booth that I want to go check out.

Normally, when you see a lot of the late '60s pieces, I'm hoping that I'll find my '70s piece right in beside something.

Is this from the '70s?

DEALER: It would say so, yeah.

Is it signed?

Do you know who made it?

It's handmade, but I don't think there's any signature on it.

Got $28.

How about $20 on it?

Someone might say that this is from the '60s.

What else do you have here from the '70s?

Let's look around.

Do you think this is from the '70s, my friend?

I mean, a lot of stuff, it crosses late '60s, early '70s.

But you're probably looking at '70s.

They're both going to be the same thing.

They're going to tell me it's 1960.

WALBERG: Of all the pickers, Miller is having the hardest time getting anchored in the '70s.

Maybe that's because she isn't old enough to have experienced that decade the first time around.

DEALER: That's definitely from the '70s because I had one of those when I was a kid.

I like it, let's play, okay?

Oh, that's fun.

I won!

Over $1,000 at auction just a couple years ago.

Mint in the box.

This one is not.

I've got $25, I'd take $20 for it.

I was looking for quirky today, and this might have it.

But how do we know that this is 1970?

They might push back.

WALBERG: Miller knows enough to second-guess herself, but guessing of any kind will leave her vulnerable.

That's 1966, I can't get it.

DEALER: Oh, okay.

What are we going to do?

We're in trouble.

What do you have that you know is from the '70s?

Nothing?

Make way, make way, winner coming through.

Winner coming through.

WALBERG: You're about to watch John Bruno do something no picker has done before.

It's the equivalent of laying down a bogus word in Scrabble and avoiding a challenge.

Well, we all bought furniture.

Right.

That's very interesting.

WALBERG: The target assignment was the 1970s, and John knows these chairs were made much later than that.

Not only is he convinced about their profit potential, he's determined to avoid a target penalty by bluffing his way through the assessment.

The rules don't require target items to fulfill the assignment.

The final determination is made by majority rules.

John thinks he can convince his opponents these chairs are from the '70s, and that's all he needs to do in order to avoid paying each of them a $50 penalty.

Does he have what it takes to pull it off?

Or is he underestimating his opponents?

We're about to find out.

They're heavier than I thought.

They are.

'74, '76, somewhere in there.

Really?

Ghost chair, yeah.

Second issue.

WALBERG: You can tell already Bene isn't buying it, and John knows it.

That's why he made up that bit about the chairs being second issue.

He's winging it here.

BENE: That's also sold today.

They are.

From Design Within Reach.

Yeah, but this is not that.

One of the things that Design Within Reach doesn't have that the originals do have are the plug bottoms.

WALBERG: Nice touch, Bruno.

The devil's in the details, and in this case, you'd be the devil, making up the details as you go along.

How do you know that?

I know that.

Those look very similar to chairs from the '80s.

What did you say?

They're very similar to chairs from when?

WALBERG: Double trouble, John.

Bene's piqued Kevin's interest now, and all it should take is a few real facts to get him to realize you're bluffing.

'80s, '90s and even today, that's what they're making right now.

What are they?

DWR.com.

All right, we'll all play the game.

WALBERG: Except you're the only one playing "liar, liar, pants on fire."

Let's hope these chairs make you enough profit at auction to have made these shenanigans worth the effort.

BENE: Oh, here they go.

This is it right here.

Every company's making them now.

Yes, they are, but it's not this.

Oh, yeah, it is.

I'm just going to take a look... You've got to prove it to me.

You know what, John?

I don't think I have to prove it to you.

Those plugs don't mean anything.

Oh, those plugs are exactly it.

I just have to get Kevin and Miller on my side.

Show me about these plugs, I want to know about these plugs.

This one has plugs on the bottom.

Let me see...

I got to look first.

Bene, you're wrong.

KEVIN: I don't know, she sounds pretty convincing to me.

WALBERG: John is past the point of no return.

He has little chance of faking out Bene, but his amped-up performance is an all-out effort to persuade Kevin.

Bene, you're making 100% sense to me.

WALBERG: It doesn't seem to be working.

Now, wait a minute, wait a minute.

Miller?

Miller, 30 seconds, where are you?

Where is she?

Okay, okay... WALBERG: Their heated discussion caused them to lose track of time, only to realize Miller is moments away from incurring a penalty for being late.

It's likely she'll have to cough up the $150 John's been working overtime to avoid.

KEVIN: It's gone.

BENE: It's 10:15, Miller's not here.

Time is up.

Is Miller late?

She's late.

Good try, you're late.

I like the volcanic lamp, though.

You're exactly one minute late, I'm sorry, sweetie.

On whose clock?

On all of ours.

You've missed a whole argument.

WALBERG: Actually not, guys, because it's bound to continue now that you must assess each other's items to determine if they fulfilled the target assignment, the 1970s.

We already know John Bruno's chairs do not.

The question is, will the majority rule for or against him?

Let's find out.

Unfortunately, you're totally wrong.

Those chairs were made in the 2000s.

Not with the clear tabs.

The clear tabs are made right now.

You are absolutely wrong.

You can get them right here, look at the pictures.

I could see the pictures, I can't see the feet myself.

You can't see the tabs.

WALBERG: What a lucky break for John Bruno.

Look, I'll say that I think you've fit the 1970s category, fine.

But where you need to be afraid is these are a dime a dozen in L.A., and that's where you really take the biggest risk.

There you go, Miller.

WALBERG: But if they're a dime a dozen, how could they be from the '70s and not made later, as Bene is saying?

Miller's concession to John means Kevin has the deciding vote.

I believe you, and I believe some of him, and I'm just not versed enough to say.

I'm going to give you one of these.

So it's in.

Thank you all very much.

They're in because I don't know enough.

I appreciate what you're saying, and you're probably right, but...

The proof is in the pudding.

WALBERG: As surprising as it may be, John gets away with his bluff.

All right, guys, I feel like I'm back in my childhood over here.

Look at all this cool stuff.

I got a really cool set of chrome and Naugahyde chairs and a table set.

Was this sold as a set?

He was going to sell it as a set, singly, however you wanted it, he'd sell it.

It was made by the same manufacturer, came out as a set.

Whoa, back it up.

He was "gonna" sell it as a set?

KEVIN: Yeah, let me explain to you how it's done.

Yeah, please.

KEVIN: There's many dealers that have bedroom sets, and you can buy the whole set, or they'll sell you a bureau out of it, they don't care.

How was it presented?

Was it presented as a set?

I said, "Are you selling this as a set?"

He said, "I sure will."

Kevin, you just said it to us yourself, they were willing to sell it separately, and that makes it not qualify for our game.

If they're willing to bust it up, it's not a set, bubala.

It really isn't.

So you need the $50 that bad, right?

You're actually going to take two matching pieces because he was willing to sell them separately and call it not a set?

I'll give you the $50.

WALBERG: Not only does John Bruno get away without a penalty, he collects on Kevin's penalty with Miller's late penalty still to come.

Talk about adding insult to injury.

Let me see what you got.

Classic 1970s lava rock lamp.

Yup.

With a neat glaze.

BENE: The tag says 1960s.

Oh really?

Do you know that the tag says 1960s?

Well, it's a good thing... And I know it's 1960s.

It is '60s.

1960s.

Oh, this is a double dip here.

Lava glaze, West German, '60s.

Do you want to pay out on being late, or do you want to pay out on buying something from the '60s?

It don't matter, you can only pay once.

There's no arguing about the late penalty.

I'll go for it.

Hey, $50's $50.

I am just racking up the cash today.

You're up, Bene.

Okay, guys, welcome to my 1970s dinette.

Please have a seat.

Okay, come on.

Okay, everybody, what we have here is a bright orange corner banquette from a 1972 kitchen.

I don't have much to say other than I feel like I'm in my grandma's house right now.

All right, that is what I want to hear.

Absolutely, you're absolutely right.

Bene, it's very groovy, I got to admit.

Yes.

My favorite word.

I like it, I'm comfy.

The only thing is, unless you know somebody opening up a restaurant and they want this actual dimension, they're going to want something bigger than that for a restaurant.

I think you face a big risk.

It's a small one.

You can put a nice, round table here.

You could fit it in any kitchen.

If two people want it and they want to pay for it, they're going to fight over it, you're going to do well.

And if there aren't two people, it falls flat.

We all know that.

I honestly think it's cool.

It's a calculated risk, I love it.

Thumbs up, thumbs up.

And you got a double from Miller, and you never get that.

WALBERG: You've seen the Elgin pocket watch.

Now let's learn about the Chicago connection.

This particular model made in 1904 is named after B.W.

Raymond, mayor of Chicago.

There are two kind of pocket watches.

This is a hunter's case, when the dial is not visible at all.

This particular Elgin watch is a solid 14-karat case with elaborated gilt dial, hand painted, and 17-jewel movement.

The more jewels, the more accuracy to the watch.

This watch is valued at $3,000.

WALBERG: Did John Bruno's gambit pay off?

Did these 21st-century Philippe Starck ghost chairs John claimed originated in the 1970s make a profit at Abell Auction in Los Angeles?

We're going to fast-forward our game clock ahead of the rest of the flea market buying and bonus rounds, and find out.

Remember, John paid $300 for the pair.

And online, original ghost chairs sell for upwards of $400 apiece.

But here's the bad news John won't find out till later on.

The auction house has determined these aren't Philippe Starck chairs because they're missing the logo that would identify them as such.

This will bring their value way down and could mean John is about to get faked out by his own fake-out.

Let's find out.

The ghost chairs, Philip Starck style.

On the pair, $50 for the pair.

I have $20 for the pair.

$30, bid $40.

$40, bid $50.

$60, $70, $80, $90, $100.

$125, $125 is the lady in the front row.

$150?

Sold, $125 to 1950.

WALBERG: Now it's time to rewind the clock back to Chicago, Illinois, for the bonus round.

The pickers are meeting Chicago dealer Don Colclough, a former cabinetmaker who specializes in 20th-century antiques.

COLCLOUGH: So what we've got here is a painting by a local artist named Bill Olendorf.

It's an acrylic painting.

It's a Chicago scene.

MILLER: Capturing your beautiful architecture.

COLCLOUGH: We got it, don't we?

JOHN: You've got some gorgeous architecture.

So Don, what's the challenge?

The challenge is to date this painting to the decade.

JOHN: To the decade.

KEVIN: Let's see the back of it.

Sure, let's take it over.

Painted on Masonite.

KEVIN: Canvas laid on Masonite, right?

JOHN: Did he do any commercial contracts or commissions?

He actually worked as a commercial artist for advertising agencies, and he quit his job and decided to become an artist full-time.

I know this is acrylic, but there's also pen here.

Yeah, there's pen and felt.

It's a felt pen and acrylic.

Yes, that's another identifying factor too.

JOHN: I'm closest, so I guess I'll go first.

Shoo, shoo, shoo.

Okay, okay, okay.

It's screaming somewhere between the '50s, '55 to '65.

But it was an ad agency, so I'm going to say '60s.

Okay.

So what do you think?

I think it's 1960s.

1960.

Okay, thank you.

What is your guess?

1960s.

1960s, okay.

Thank you.

So what do you think?

I'm going to say the 1970s, okay?

Okay, thank you.

All right.

Hey, guys, come on back over here.

Let's see who got this one.

Well, we have somebody dead on, and that would be Kevin.

Sweet, awesome.

Kevin, what made you think 1970s?

The Masonite on the back with the canvas laid on the Masonite, it kind of was done a lot back then.

I guessed the '60s because to me, they used this palette.

In the '70s, it was more mod, bright orange, yellow.

So I really was thinking '68.

KEVIN: It's great to get it right, but what did I win?

I'm dying to know, what did I win?

You win $50 towards your auction profit.

Oh, sweet, excellent.

Be careful now, you don't want me with an extra $50.

Yeah, you're going to need the extra $50.

Yeah, right.

WALBERG: For our second bonus round, we bring you a twist.

The pickers were told to buy an item at the Walnut antique show in Iowa they would need to sell at the flea market in Chicago.

Let's go.

WALBERG: They each were given a budget of $300.

Let's see their deal-making in Iowa as a prelude to watching them try a Chicago flip.

What are you asking for this?

DEALER: This is made by Hubley, original paint.

When you drop the money in, this just moves.

So it's what we call a semi-mechanical bank.

It's $60.

I'll take it for $60.

KEVIN: Give me something in the $300 range.

Francis I sterling.

By Reed & Barton, the pattern is Francis I.

$280.

Oh, I could do it.

Cool, I'll buy it off you for $280.

This is worth well over what I just paid for it in scrap.

You have a nice Bakelite clip there.

You can tell it's Bakelite from the smell, and you rub it, and you immediately smell formaldehyde.

Yeah, this is Bakelite.

What is your best price on that?

DEALER: For you today, $50.

Yes, I think I will take it for $50.

Talk to me about this.

Those were given out as little premiums to advertisers.

They're only focused on one station.

You can't get your competitor.

And go $150, I'll make $25.

All right, $150.

MILLER: Let's do it.

JOHN: Last chance to buy it.

I'll give you a good price.

MILLER: It's all you.

KEVIN: Unfortunately, since I bought this, there's been a downturn in silver.

This weighs 10.71 ounces, the market's at about $26.

That means I'll be lucky to be offered $250 for this.

Let's go find a silver guy.

I'm coming to see if you can help me out.

It's Francis I, great shape.

I don't have too much hollowware in sterling, but I know George might buy it.

The main thing is what you paid for the piece.

This item was priced at $68.

Just under retail, I paid $50.

So I already have a leg up.

Are you a Bakelite... are you a collector?

Too much, yeah.

That's what happens.

Well, I like collectors.

I was wondering... That's a bar Bakelite pin.

It's around $75 or $80.

I was wondering if you'd be interested in buying it from me.

No.

No, not going to buy.

I'm going to keep looking.

I like that, I really like it.

You've got some neat pieces, and tell me about this cool... what is this?

1950s or... DEALER: 1957 red Corvette.

I knew it, I love a fast car.

MILLER: What are you asking for this?

$150, but I could sharpen my pencil for you.

Would you be interested in buying a bank?

I'll sharpen my pencil big time.

Maybe we can do a trade, huh?

Maybe so-- yeah.

Okay, okay.

JOHN: I don't know which way I'm going to go with this, what I'm going to do.

And these two charming people approach me about the microphone.

And it's got the five, five years.

What's five?

WOMAN: Five years ago we had our first date, the best of friends in high school, and we reconnected.

34 years.

She had her life, I had my life.

It's all good.

In high school, I couldn't date her because she was dating another guy.

So I just stayed away.

I'm his third, and I'm his last.

I like the five in it, that's all I like.

We're married.

Oh, you're married now.

Three and a half years.

Through Navy Pier, that's where we... Had one of our memorable dates.

Your memorable dates.

WOMAN: I still get emotional when I talk about it.

MAN: And we got married... WOMAN: I can give you $165.

I can't be without cash in my pocket.

Is this your anniversary?

We connected today, we had a date.

No, no, no.

JOHN: Give me $165, get out of here.

WOMAN: To have a memory, you have to make a memory.

This will always be a memory.

So thank you, thank you.

Are you George?

That's me.

About a week and a half ago, I bought this beautiful Francis I hollowware bowl.

And the market's kind of... GEORGE: I don't deal in it for the weight.

I'm dealing in it for what it is.

It's beautiful Francis I. I would pay the full scrap value.

That's what it'd be worth to me.

Tell me what you would pay for it?

If it's $28 times ten, $280 plus a little more.

So it's like $300 in scrap.

You would pay $300?

Sure would.

It's a deal if you want it.

Okay.

I have this piece of Bakelite that I'm trying to sell.

I just bought a big estate recently.

A bunch of Bakelite bar pins.

The prices have come way down.

I've been selling Bakelite since the '80s.

They go up and they go down, just like the stock market.

At this point in time, quite frankly, I'm not buying.

You're not buying it?

You know, the economy is questionable.

Exactly, okay.

People who have Bakelite, they're not doing well.

The market has come down.

I'm very worried right now that I will not be able to get even what I paid.

Mmm... Look, you obviously make the best falafel in Chicago, right?

I believe that.

Look, I got the best bank here to sell you, my friend.

The best what?

A bank.

Uh-huh?

Okay?

You want me to hold it?

So what's this?

What's that?

It's an elephant.

Okay, and what do you want me to do?

I want you to buy it, it's for sale.

How much?

$120.

No.

I'm not antique, I don't like elephants.

Get me toys for my boys, I will buy it.

Get me balloons, get me balloons.

Look, it's going to bring you a lot of money.

You put money in the bank and then it grows.

Under the pillow, that's where I put the money.

I would pay 50 bucks.

No, no deal.

No deal at $50.

Hold it.

I won't embarrass you, I will add ten dollars more.

$60 a deal.

Okay, so $60 it is?

$60 deal.

I get free food all day long?

You got it.

Any time I'm in Chicago?

You get falafel.

I'm going to do it for $60.

Deal, I got the elephant.

I got the bank.

I love it, I love it.

Bank of America.

It is good.

Right now, I might inside feel like I'm very despondent and cry a little bit.

But no, I'm going to be my usual self and just really try to get them to buy my pin.

You have a very eclectic '70s booth here.

Can you guys help me out and buy this from me?

It will look really good in your booth.

This is Bakelite.

Yes.

Yeah, I could buy this.

What would you pay me for that?

Give you $40 for it.

I'll take the $40.

That would be the best deal I've had all day.

That's the best offer you've had all day?

WALBERG: It's now time to Shop 'Til You Stop.

It's an untimed round where our pickers can buy one or two items, but no more than that.

The round begins now.

If I was a cutthroat dealer, I could have sold my microphone for more.

But to me, I truly believe the karma continues.

This will pass on, and this will come back to me in much bigger ways later.

WALBERG: We must have very different ideas of karma, John, because the stunt you pulled during the target round is as cutthroat as it gets.

And wait till you find out the karma you had at auction.

Smart move to stay indoors because I think there's a good chance outside you could get hit by lightning.

If not also by Bene.

JOHN: So now here's kismet.

When I walked down the stairs carrying the microphone and I bumped into that fabulous couple, I kept looking out of the corner of my eye.

A man is taking wonderful pieces from the '20s, '30s, '40s, '50s and repurposing them.

Old microscope.

This is an old microscope?

A microscope base, put the shade on it.

That's a hairdryer.

If you can believe Grandma would have ever used that.

Probably melted her hair, but who knows.

JOHN: This is so cool.

It looks like a Buck Rogers spaceship.

Made out of a 1950s vacuum.

It was very expensive, like $600 range.

Really?

Back in those days.

All-cast aluminum.

We took the motor out of it.

You can use it as a cooler or a roll-around purse.

Oh, wow.

It's got security on it, the light.

If somebody opens it and drops it.

Yeah, you can tell if anybody's been into your whatever you got in it.

It also could be like sort of an industrial pet.

Yeah, so you could take it.

Come on, Fido, we're going for a walk.

There we go.

All right, so what do you ask for something wacky like this?

Oh, in the $350-$450 range.

Wow.

I love this.

Vintage, explosion-proof phone.

Where would this have been?

In military use or...?

Some of them are military, some of them are naval.

This is actually out of Eli Lilly.

Centrifuge.

Oh, son of a gun, yeah, you put the test tubes in there and it would spin at high speed, and that would be used for separating chemicals in the test tube.

All right, I got a question for you.

Something that has caught my eye, the Aunt Jemima clock.

Now this you pretty much have done nothing with, this is the way it is.

Aunt Jemima Breakfast Club, "Eat a Better Breakfast."

I love what's on the back.

The Aunt Jemima cookie jar, get it for $1.

You've got $125 on it.

What can you really do for me on that?

$100.

Oh, got to get a little lower than that.

$75?

No.

You won't go below $90, huh?

Well, if you buy something else.

Okay, all right.

Now let's go look at something else.

I think this is pretty nifty too.

I can't guarantee it, but I think it's the only one here.

JOHN: You know, I have a feeling that pretty much everything here is the only one here; you're as wacky as I am.

WALBERG: Of all the repurposed items in Peter PeGan's booth, you may have chosen the hardest one to flip at auction.

Being able to decipher the original purpose of a repurposed object is a selling point.

Potential bidders are more likely to recognize a hair dryer or a vacuum cleaner than a centrifuge.

$325 on the lamp, and $125 on the clock.

What can you do for the two of them?

Uh, I'd go $400.

I would like to do $300 for the two.

That would be the sort of thing.

I'd like to do $300 for the two also.

I'd be a buyer.

(laughing): But now I am a buyer.

You find these two items here anywhere, and I'll give you $300.

Well, come on, we're both one-of-a-kind kind of guys.

$375.

Make it $350, we got a deal.

Sold.

$350?

All right.

All right, we got a deal.

There's a trip, and here's $60, ten back.

$20 back, really?

We'll do that.

JOHN: Thank you very much.

So that'll make it $340.

Oh, I've been in this business close to 40 years.

My family always did it.

There were eight of us children, and my parents did it because that's all you could afford.

Kids would tear up a typical 1960s dresser.

So in the good old days, you could buy a cherry dresser for $15 and Dad would refinish it with gym floor stripper, and that would be our chest of drawers.

And it's still around today.

So out of necessity, but it turned into careers.

I have two other brothers.

It's a total career for them also.

You're a doctor; I really appreciate it.

MILLER: I want to look at that red bear table.

I saw from far away this eye-catching red bear.

That's what I'm looking for, that's what works in L.A.

It's whimsy, something out of the ordinary.

The condition's great, the paint's great.

It's just a cool piece.

Tell me about this little teddy bear.

DEALER: Concrete, from the '70s.

It weighs about 100 pounds.

It's a hefty little cub.

Okay, would you work with me on the price any?

You got $158.

$125.

What about $95?

Um... that's almost half price.

I think $110's really the best I could do.

(groans) Mercy me.

WALBERG: Since you're calling the animal a cub, why not tell the dealer his price is more in line with Papa Bear than Baby Bear?

If I get you some falafels, can that take it down to $95?

DEALER: You're killing me.

WALBERG: And I bet you thought my idea was crazy.

Oh, maybe if you bought us a round of ice cream from up there, I could maybe come down to $95.

The lemonade blueberry is delicious.

How about lemonade from the falafel stand?

WALBERG: Is she really willing to risk losing this deal by pushing dealer Dave Allen to take lemonade instead of the ice cream he really wants?

Okay, you buy four lemonades, and $95.

Okay, you got a deal.

I'll be right back.

I got to get the lemonade first.

WALBERG: Talk about the power of persuasion.

Miller got an extra $15 cut off the asking price, less the price of four lemonades, which I assume will cost less than the ice cream she talked him out of.

Actually, I don't think this will amount to much of a savings at all, except of course for the calories.

MILLER: Okay.

My friend better be good on his word.

He told me free food all day long for that bank.

I'm back!

Dah!

Look at the line, zoom in the line.

I know.

We're going bankrupt with this lady!

Hey, I'll leave you alone, but can I get four lemonades?

Yes.

MILLER: You're the best.

Bye, Mini, I'll be back.

You'll be back?

WALBERG: Four lemonades on the house?

You got to hand it to Miller, she really knows how to work a room.

Even if that room is a falafel stand.

I'm a lemonade girl.

Did you think I could do it?

Whoo!

I was good to my word.

You were.

$95.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

My wife and I, we've been in the antique business for 12 years.

Miller, she doesn't take no for an answer, but she knew the right price.

Hello, Mr. Modern.

Hey, how are you?

This is a cool modern painting.

That came from my son's apartment.

He decided he wanted to change some of his art.

I like it.

Do you know who the artist is?

We know nothing about it.

It's definitely unusual.

Everything you have is unusual, but I'm drawn to this light fixture over here in the corner.

It looks like a spaceship.

I like the whole design.

Yeah, it's the whole abstract, '60s look.

So you can actually take it here and extend it if you wanted the light closer to you.

Does it have a finial here at the end?

No, no, there's three lights in there.

And you've got a switch you can turn one, two or all three on at once.

Okay, so what's the price tag?

It's marked $85.

I would sell it to you for $70.

Do you know if it's by a certain maker?

It's probably Lightolier, would be my guess.

Okay.

It's hard to tell without opening it up, and I haven't opened it up.

Where would you feel comfortable?

About... $55?

$55?

Well, I wouldn't be making a lot of money on it, but all right, I would take $55.

Oh, you would?

You got a deal.

All right.

COLCLOUGH: I quit my job in 1979, and I was a woodworker, a cabinetmaker.

And I decided that I wanted to try this business full-time.

When I went into woodworking, I started buying older furniture and refinishing it on the side.

So there was this logical... and the wheeling and dealing was the hard part, learning how to trade with people.

All right, thank you, my dear.

Thank you, take care.

Okay, we'll see you again.

Yes.

I have virtually been through the entire flea market.

What do we have here?

In here, this is their business, this is what they do.

DEALER: Silver leaf over oak.

We rebuilt it.

There were a couple of missing pieces and finials we hand-carved out of wood.

You restored it?

I restored it.

Many homes had their own chapel, so this was used as a chapel in a home.

KEVIN: You're not going to find the type of person in here that wants to unload something to me to send it to auction and make money.

If that could happen, they'd be doing it themselves.

You did a fabulous job.

Thank you.

KEVIN: Outside, I feel more comfortable where they'll actually sell you something for a really good price just to make it go away.

And then I can actually profit off that when I send it to auction.

Now, here you have a little sweetie.

Here's a very rare, 100% original baby model coffee grinder.

With a lot of these, the smaller they are, the better they are.

They're more functional for the average person to have in their house and actually use them.

It's a great little cast-iron piece and it's all original, it's all there.

$1,650.

Not cheap.

I'm really going to try and keep my purchases very economical.

You take my $50 bonus, my $20 profit on the silver bowl.

If I can make $50, $75 on an item and I can do that over two or three items, I'll be golden this week.

The cool little ice bucket I saw.

I think I can get that really cheap.

You want to talk a little something with me on the ice bucket?

See if we can make a deal?

Okay.

Cool, kitschy.

WALBERG: The kitsch factor may work for or against him, but even if he pays the full asking price, Kevin won't be taking much of a risk with this ice bucket.

KEVIN: What can you do on it?

I have $30 on it?

Yeah.

I could do $24.

$20 even, $20?

I've already given you 20% off.

How about we split the difference?

$22?

All right, I'll pay 22 bucks for it.

Okay, all right.

Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

It's very cool.

DEALER: I'm in business with my sister and my mom.

We have to have everything color coordinated.

My mom likes to do everything like era-wise.

She always likes to have a theme.

This month it is our bamboo tropical theme.

Next month will be our nautical theme.

It's a real family business.

KEVIN: Abell's will sell antique, kind of primitive furniture really well because there's a good country calling at that auction.

So I'm actually going to look for some country stuff right now.

This looks like a really cool, little miniature coffer.

It's a sweet little thing.

It can be, you know, used as a little pen holder, whatever, but it's a miniature coffer.

1910, somewhere around there.

But it's based on like a pilgrim style piece of furniture.

$75, let's see what they'll do.

The best I can do on that is $60.

60 bucks?

50 bucks?

50 dollars?

I can't do it.

$60's it, my man.

$55, come on, give me a five.

I'll give you $5.

$5, yeah, $55?

Sure.

All right, I'll do it with you.

DEALER: The hand carving, the wood that was used, the integrity of the box, and it's still in fabulous shape for its age.

It's a cool piece, and he picked well.

All right, thank you.

Enjoy, thanks.

All right.

I am still really bothered losing ten dollars on the Bakelite pin.

But I noticed two armchairs all day, vintage, retro for the California market.

I'm absolutely sure these are L.A. moneymakers.

WALBERG: Ten dollars could mean the difference between winning and losing this game.

But in the scheme of things, the $240 Bene spent on the orange banquette and the $1,000 price tag on the pair of armchairs she seems determined to buy are likely to make ten dollars a negligible loss no matter what happens at auction.

This sets the stage for anybody's apartment.

They have the nice, big, beefy arms.

They're low and wide.

They're just like space age almost.

Where did you get such fabulous pieces?

I bought these from a senior citizen.

Only one owner before now.

Yes, she kept it in such great condition.

It's fiber bond polyester and polyurethane foam.

The condition of this is pristine.

These are the original cushions, and I can show you why.

Look at that, that is old foam right there.

Because it's a darker yellow, and that's what you see in old foam.

At auction, I'm hoping to get $1,000 to $1,200 for this.

WALBERG: Bene feels certain these chairs would make a big profit if sold at her auction house in Massachusetts.

Predicting comparable results in Los Angeles seems less certain, especially since Southern California has a much larger inventory of mid-century modern furniture from which to choose.

I know you paid a lot for these, and I was wondering if there was any way I can have these chairs for $600.

I'm sorry, no, there's just no way.

You know, I paid a lot of money for them.

I've had to store them.

Yeah, so wouldn't it be good to just get some money to just be done with it?

No, they've been together since 1960s, you know.

I really don't want to separate them.

But the sofa, people can buy sofas on their own.

You can easily sell a sofa to somebody who's just moving into a mod apartment.

Can we agree on $700?

Okay.

I can work with it, yeah.

Okay, thank you so much, Loretta.

I appreciate it.

You're welcome.

You drive a hard bargain.

Oh, thank you!

WALBERG: Being told you drive a hard bargain wouldn't be a compliment in every business.

But haggling is a time-honored tradition at flea markets.

And dealer Loretta Prasad can't help but respect a buyer who is able to lower her bottom line.

PRASAD: I used to buy used stuff to fix the house up, right?

And then it got to the point where everything I bought, when people visited, they wanted to buy it from me.

That's how I got into the business.

I've had the chairs approximately a year.

I was attached to them.

I didn't want to see them go, and I wanted to see them stay with the couch.

But I got tired of paying for storage, and she seemed as though, you know, as if she was really interested in them and she really wanted them.

So I said why not let it go?

Seven.

You've got yourself a pair of club chairs.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate your help.

These are mine, yay.

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

Here are Miller's lots: a 1960s lamp, a glass-top table with bear base and a mid-century hanging lamp.

Bene's lots are comprised of an orange vinyl banquette and a pair of Homecrest fiberglass chairs.

Kevin's lots include a chrome chair and magazine rack, an ice bucket and a miniature chest.

And finally, on to John's lot.

In addition to the Philippe Starck style chairs, he also purchased a repurposed centrifuge lamp and an Aunt Jemima clock.

Now it's on to Los Angeles, California, where all of their items will be sold at Abell Auction Company.

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

They include dealers trying to buy low to flip these antiques, and others are collectors who may be inclined to spend more for what they really want.

Watching the bidding from behind the scenes will be our four pickers, who were just told about the $175 loss John took on his non-1970s, non-Philippe Starck chairs.

BARATTA: Sold $125 to 1950.

JOHN: Oh, man.

I took your side on this.

JOHN: I know you did.

Don't cross this line.

JOHN: That'll be tough for you with the $700 chairs.

KEVIN: Right out of a George Jetson cartoon.

Oh, yeah, they're fabulous.

I like the red upholstery.

I think I bought with my heart.

I think you paid too much.

Maybe, but... we never know.

When they sell for $300, you'll say, "I knew I was right."

And when they sell for $1,200, you'll be, "I knew I was right."

(everyone laughing) Either way.

WALBERG: This is the moment we've been waiting for.

Remember, as a result of the sale of their Iowa items, Kevin is $20 in the black.

John has $15 profit to help offset the loss he took on those chairs.

Miller broke even.

And Bene is starting off ten dollars in the red.

And as the winner of the first bonus round, Kevin has an additional $50 profit.

I think it's up for grabs, I really do.

It's anybody's game.

KEVIN: It's anybody's game now.

WALBERG: All right, here we go.

All right, on this suite of furniture, you have the chrome armchair and the magazine stand.

$50 for both pieces?

$20 for both pieces?

Thank you, I have $20 bid.

$25, $30, $35, $40, $45.

$50, $60, $60 in the back, yes or no?

Come on.

JOHN: Wow.

BARATTA: Sold for $50.

Are you kidding me?

BARATTA: To buyer 1815.

Oh, my gosh.

Oh, that is a shock.

And on the white ceramic lamp, $10 for the lamp?

$5 for the lamp?

Come on.

BARATTA: $7.50?

$10, $15?

BENE: There we go.

$20, $25?

$25?

Sold $20 to 1467.

Here we go.

$50 for the banquette?

$50 bid?

Oh, let's see hands.

How about $20 for the banquette?

$20?

Oh, there we go.

$30, bid $40?

$40?

Thank you.

$40 to $50, yes or no?

Yes, come on.

Sold $40.

Oh, we are all crashing and burning.

I haven't.

Feel like you just got punched in the gut?

Oh, my God, I feel horrible.

I am bringing up the rear.

Big winner so far.

Kevin, what do you define big as?

Over zero.

Anybody nervous?

I'm terrified.

You should be nervous.

I'm ahead right now.

Okay, are we ready for the next round?

I'm not, but got to do it.

Sit tight.

On these great molded fiberglass chairs.

He said great.

With the red cushions.

$50 for the pair?

Thank you, I have $50 bid.

$50, bid $60, $60, $70, $80.

$90, $100, $125 in the black shirt.

$150, $175, $200, $250.

Keep your hand up.

$350, $400.

JOHN: Whoa.

$400 is in the back.

$400 now $450, yes or no?

BENE: Yes.

Sold $400 to 5081.

Oh, no!

On the red bear table here, $50 for the table?

$20 for the table?

Thank you, $25, bid $30, $35, $40.

$45, $45?

$50, $55... $55?

Sold $50 to the front row.

Ooh.

No.

I don't believe that.

On the ice bucket, $10 for the bucket.

Oh, this is nice.

Oh, a low opening.

Thank you, $10, bid $15, $20.

$25, $30.

BENE: Oh, there you go.

$35 to the gentleman, $40?

Sold $35.

Wow.

I'll take it, 50% profit.

All right, on the electric clock here, the Aunt Jemima clock.

I have $50 for the clock.

$60, $70, $80.

I have as an absentee, $90?

$90 to the audience.

Oh, good job, John.

$100 here as an absentee.

$110, $110 bid $120?

BENE: Oh, wow.

Sold $110 to the audience.

Nice profit.

Cha-ching.

That was a great buy with your Aunt Jemima clock.

The Aunt Jemima clock was purchased by an African American.

The way the Chinese are buying back Chinese, a lot of African Americans are buying Black Americana.

The more pieces of Black Americana they're selling are the negative stereotypes.

Because if we forget, it could happen again.

And the best way to never forget is to keep it, not destroy it.

Okay, here we go.

BARATTA: Here's something you don't see every day.

A lamp made of an old centrifuge.

Everybody needs one of these.

I have $20 bid, thank you.

$20 bid, $25?

$30, $35, $40, $45, $50, $50?

$55, it's the lady, $60.

$70, thank you, $70 bid $80.

$90?

$100, $125.

Sold for $100, 5081.

On this small Brittany walnut coffer.

$20 for the box?

$10 for the box?

Thank you, $10 bid $15.

I have $15 in the audience.

$20?

Sold $15 to 190.

Nice little miniature.

JOHN: Oh, that was beautiful.

Gone.

BARATTA: 2-1-3-0, on the hanging lamp.

$10 for the lamp?

$15, $20, $25, $30, $35, $40, $45?

Show them how it goes up and down.

$45, yes or no?

$50?

$60, $70, $80?

Sold $70, this will go to buyer 33, please.

JOHN: Wow.

WALBERG: And the winner is Kevin Bruneau.

Oh.

Barely.

Hah!

$38 win.

I have a problem buying really big things, and it didn't pay off for me this time.

I wasn't going for any items that I thought I could lose hundreds on.

I thought I could stick it out and win, and I did.

Turn to PBS for stories that define the American experi Td the most fabulous little red bear coffee table.

What drew me to the bear was it's so whimsical, so unusual.

The area that I sell in, a lot of people are really into nature and things.

So I think everyone will... a lot of people will really love that.

I was surprised there wasn't more interest because I thought it was so great that I thought a lot of people would be bidding on it.

BARATTA: Sold, $50 to the front row, 1950.

I hope it finds a good home.

I always like to sell stuff to people who really like it.

And if it doesn't, I'd be happy to keep it.

Today at Abell's, I purchased an orange banquette.

I own a 1940s Colonial-style home, and I have a breakfast nook where it will be perfect.

It actually reminded me of one that I had in the home that I was raised in.

And so I liked it because it was like a booth that we could all sit around and have a breakfast meal together and be a little closer than a table with four chairs.

Very pleased with the purchase.