We're doing this on a 24-hour turnaround.

You got a make-it-go-away price?

Hundred bucks.

Would you do $190?

I'm in the business to make money.

What'd you pay for it?

KEVIN: Wow, good God.

Now $200.

Are you kidding me?

Now $300.

Yes!

Oh, wow.

MARK WALBERG: When you're a peaceful town of under 3,000 residents, you're bound to take liberties, even with your own peace and quiet, if only to liven things up.

Hi, I'm Mark Walberg, host of Antiques Roadshow and Market Warriors.

And that's what happens twice a year here in Liberty, North Carolina.

This 100-acre farm on the outskirts of town becomes the Liberty Antiques Festival, where 400 dealers merge with upwards of 10,000 customers to form a thriving marketplace more than three times the local population.

On the other 50 weekends, you're more likely to find produce to pick than antiques.

But for our four warriors, even picking pumpkins is a tipoff along the lines of a Rorschach test.

Variations in size, shape, color, even condition will appeal to each of them differently, which is why no two pickers are exactly the same.

JOHN: Oh, look at you!

(laughing) MILLER: Should I give her eyelashes?

I would.

Hey, John, you're quite a good artist.

WALBERG: Today, only one of their signature styles will end up squashing the rest, and it'll happen in the most challenging competition to date.

Everything the pickers buy here in Liberty, North Carolina, will hit the auction block in Radford, Virginia, in less than a 24-hour turnaround.

The less time there is to generate interest from potential bidders means the harder it will be to sell all of their items.

Our pickers know this time, there's no room for even the slightest of errors.

And they can't help but think about mistakes they've made in the past.

The pressure is overwhelming, and it's bound to make at least one of them crumble.

Who's it going to be?

Let's find out.

First challenge, the target assignment, which will be made by Ken Farmer at Ken Farmer Auctions, where all of today's items will be sold.

The target item for this week is to find something that's 20th-century American, but it has to be before World War II.

There's so many things that you could find from that time period.

Arts and crafts, studio porcelains, folk art, art pottery... Good luck, guys.

It's a big, wide open category, and we look forward to what you're going to bring us.

That's a huge category.

It should be, right?

That includes Art Deco, Art Nouveau, everything.

American.

American.

WALBERG: What they buy has never been more important.

The same goes for how much they spend.

Instead of our usual second bonus round, this time a bonus award of $50 will be added to the auction profit total of the one picker who spends the most amount of money on any single purchase made here today, whether during Shop 'til You Stop or the target round, which is moments away from getting started.

Time will be kept by this fretwork clock.

Pickers have one hour to find their target item.

You're used to spending money.

You're good at spending money too.

Oh, I like to spend my money, I do.

WALBERG: The round starts now.

BENE: I've never been to the Liberty Antiques Festival.

I am so pleasantly surprised.

There's a lot of really good-quality old stuff.

THOMAS WELCH: You see a tremendous amount of tramp art that's just framed like that.

They wouldn't have any of this.

What makes this a special piece, or a bit better anyway, is the fact that it has the heart.

Yeah.

So you know, the Pennsylvania Dutch, they had this whole heart thing at the time.

So a lot of them aren't painted at all, and so they would look like this.

BENE: When people collect folk art, they're always looking for hearts and hands, but it's been painted silver.

I would like it to be just the plain wood.

Then I would buy it.

Whoa, look at these.

DAVID KANE: I just got them out of a house from a lady in Hickory, North Carolina.

And she's had them for almost two generations.

I would buy them right now, but I have to buy something that's American.

And I know these are not.

They're either German or English.

Carved about 1820 to 1850, somewhere, hand-carved.

Early 20th-century American, I mean, that is so broad.

We can look for American Indian things, things as great as Tiffany.

I see a lot of great, nice country American stuff here, and I think we're going to make some money today.

Virginia decoys.

Decoys are Americana.

They're beautiful, they're wonderful little sculptures, and if you find the right one, you hit pay dirt, believe me.

Maybe it's something we'll come back and look at if we can't find something a little more special.

JOHN COOPER: This chair right here, let me show you something really cool about that.

These are balloon backs.

They're Pennsylvanian, all original paint decoration.

You see the Federal shield, American eagles?

I mean, that's just terrific.

About 1840, 1835.

They really are nice.

I'm thinking about my second round later on.

I got to buy something a little later than these are.

Later than those?

Yeah, like early 20th century.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Look at all the beautiful country.

I'm seeing a lot of great things.

That's 19th century.

We have to really focus on 20th century.

It's going to be a little harder than I think because a lot of these people brought out their really good old stuff.

Of course it makes it difficult.

WALBERG: Kevin's not the only one backpedaling on the assumption that the target assignment would provide them plenty of latitude.

All three of his opponents are coming to that same unexpected conclusion.

I thought I'd have a lot more things to choose from.

This is very interesting.

WALBERG: Ken Farmer's timeline offers an opportunity to pick through four decades of collectibles.

But 40 years can seem brief when considerations such as price, quality and instant curb appeal are key factors as well.

BENE: There's a lot of really old stuff.

This is an antique show.

Everything is way before the 40-year time span that we were given.

WALBERG: And those 40 years include two devastating events: World War I and the Great Depression.

Both created stark realities that lasted for years, including cutbacks in manufacturing of a wide variety of goods and products.

There's not a huge distinction between buying in North Carolina and selling in Virginia.

They're both comparable markets.

The things that I'm looking for are things that are generally related to the South-- interesting, unusual butter churns and pieces that really have a history here.

See, these are popular down South.

You see them with different faces, and it depends on the potter on the value.

So this is by B.B.

Craig, a face jug worth $850.

This is something that a southerner could really understand and that you could flip at market in the South.

WALBERG: Her opponents might suggest Miller has, at times, stretched her southern roots to the point of almost breaking.

This time, seeing is believing.

The uninitiated might have a very different take on B.B.

Craig's style or his subjects, because some folk artists speak louder to the folks who've grown familiar with their unique brand of storytelling.

B.B.

Craig passed away a few years ago.

He's the most famous North Carolina folk potter.

Oh, like in South Carolina it's Dave.

Okay, Dave the Slave.

Those are very valuable.

And in South Carolina, you're looking for pottery that's from Etchfield, South Carolina.

This is Catawba Valley pottery.

Thank you, Pamela.

I'm going to keep this in mind.

Ken runs a pretty cool auction, and he concentrates on Americana, one of the things I love.

I've always collected it before I moved on to the more modern stuff, so I just got to kick myself back to where I was about 40 years ago.

Oh, this is fabulous.

It's a Doulton patent Arts and Crafts.

The detail of the tapestry itself is like you're looking at a piece of linen.

But with Americana, more than anything else, it's dating it for real.

Your instincts could tell you that, "Oh yeah, that's definitely from the timeframe," but I got three other people I got to prove it to.

This is 1881 to 1912.

I've got to be careful and make sure that's something that's locked in.

The others could very well call me on this.

I can't afford to take that chance.

Back to the fray.

Here we are...

In the mud!

KEVIN: Good morning, how are you?

DAVID EHRICH: Doing well.

I can't read your writing on here.

Could you come show me what this says?

Vintage elephant.

Vintage, okay, we got you.

It's an antique, but it's vintage.

I've never seen the elephant before.

I've seen some, but I've never seen that paint before.

You think it's original paint?

It sure looks it.

It's original paint, yes, it is.

Is it a Hubley, or you don't know?

I'm not sure.

Yeah, it looks like it's got the nice original paint on it.

Unusual paint, too.

It's almost like a pearlescent.

It's a pearlescent-type paint, and you know, even in his mouth the paint is a pearlescent.

You could never reproduce that paint.

Well, you could reproduce it today, but it wouldn't look old like that.

I've collected for years, and these are actually from my collection.

And I've just decided I can't keep everything, because I live in a museum, so... (laughing) I think I found a pretty cool doorstop.

I believe it's a Hubley.

It's like a circus-type animal, and that was very popular in the 1920s and '30s with Ringling Brothers and all that stuff.

And it's only $45.

I'll tell you what, for you, I'll do $45.

But... All right.

You repriced it!

No, I didn't.

It was $58.

I thought it was $45.

And that's too cheap to start with, but I'll even work with you.

I'll do $45 on it, it's a wonderful piece.

$40 work?

Sure, that sounds good.

All right, good deal.

Good luck.

Thank you so much.

Appreciate it, thank you much.

WALBERG: Play close attention here, because frankly, I've never seen anyone handle this situation more effectively than Bene does.

She's about to talk herself into buying something with a very expensive price tag and conspicuous flaws.

BENE: I saw that tricycle from all the way over there.

Where did you get that?

We bought it from an estate in Bedford County, Virginia.

And we bought it from the original owner.

Really?

Do you think it was painted at all?

Yeah, I think her dad did to save it.

She got it for Christmas in 1938.

She got it for Christmas in 1938.

It was her toy.

Oh, I do like that.

It's a very unique item.

It is, wow.

It's all original.

It looks like it was originally red.

A lot of times, when this happens, if you have an expert that knows how to take this off, they can get it back to its original paint underneath.

Wow.

But just to have the original parts and everything, even the hubcaps...

Exactly, everything is complete.

WALBERG: Hold on, you mean everything is complete, including the tricycle's complete surface repainted completely in brown.

And that particular shade of brown is a dead ringer for the color of rust.

A rust-brown tricycle may bring out a bidder's inner child, but it also could evoke the memory of getting a tetanus shot.

I haven't seen an original hubcap, and on such an old tricycle before.

Well, you seem to have a very healthy price, $625.

It's probably worth double that.

Really?

I'm going to leave it here for just a second.

I like the tricycle.

It's all intact.

It has all of the spokes.

Everything there is as if it was purchased in 1938.

Original rubber still on all three wheels.

And usually, the rubber would get all cracked and break off.

The only thing wrong with it is the paint color, but that part is an easy fix.

This tricycle is the kind of project that somebody would buy to restore themselves.

All the pieces can be stripped easily by an amateur.

You restore it yourself, this is like a hobby, and then you can resell it and make some real money.

And I looked at comparables really quickly.

I saw a high point of $1,200.

So I think even in this condition, I might be able to sell it for close to the $600 mark.

WALBERG: This happens to most pickers at least once in their lives.

They fall deeply in love, and whether the object of their affection is a person or literally an object, its flaws are almost invisible.

I know you have this price set at $625.

I want to know what your best price on this was.

Best price, $550.

I'm thinking maybe in the $350s?

(laughing) No, no, I can't do that.

Very, very lowest?

$475.

I don't think I could make any money at $475.

Well, whatever you think.

I can see where even at the price now, you can make double.

Really?

Yeah.

$400?

Meet me in the middle, $400?

$475 was my lowest number.

To have the original parts on it, it wouldn't take that much to get it back to its original condition.

How about $450?

$425?

Yes, I can do $425.

Oh, great, thank you.

You made a deal, okay.

Okay, that's great, let me pay you.

I'm going to have to run maybe, so I'm just going to carry this.

Thank you.

All right.

I'm going to bring this under here so it doesn't get wet.

Oh, it's a food trunk.

SHERRI KELLOG: This is a primitive picnic basket.

You keep your bread here so it wouldn't get wet.

And then put your fruits and foods down here.

And something tall standing here, yeah.

Never seen another one like it.

You think it's an itinerant?

Just somebody making it for themselves?

I think it's personal use, this is, yes.

I love the detail on the top.

And on the side...

The side you do have a star.

Which would be very typical on barns and everything.

The stars that hold the finials into.

WALBERG: Finally, John has the chance to catch the star he's been chasing for months on end.

What timeframe do you put on it?

I'm not really sure.

Primitives is a guess.

Yeah.

I know in my heart it's from the first 20-30 years of the 20th century.

It just screams Americana.

It says that era, but I can't prove it.

And that's part of the problem with this.

You've got to be able to prove this.

Where did you get it?

An antique store in Alabama about 25 years ago.

They knew nothing more about it?

No, they did not.

It's just a fabulous piece.

Thank you.

Wow, thank you, that's wonderful.

MILLER: Oh, that's right up your alley.

Is it something that you had as a child?

(groaning) Oh, Miller!

Cruel, cruel.

Yeah, I think so.

(both laughing) Good thing I love you.

(laughing) Hi, how are you?

How are you?

Good.

WALBERG: Miller is so focused on finding a target item, she didn't see the welcome sign dealer Jason Clodfelter put out especially for her, and it seems as if Jason is too shy to point it out.

MILLER: That's a neat tramp art jewelry box.

What year do you think this is from?

CLODFELTER: Probably from the 1930s.

I think the paint has been with it since they put it together there.

Paper lining inside I think is probably original to it.

Do you think this used to be a cigar box?

Yeah, you can see the tobacco stamp from it.

If you look here, you can see part of the original paper label before they painted over it.

You have $125.

Yeah, I have $125.

I've got some room on it, so I could do $80 for you.

Would you be able to do $60 for me?

We'll do $70 then.

$70?

And I can budge a little bit more for you.

Okay, you've got a deal.

Great, thank you.

And I bought this for you this morning.

Oh!

I love it!

And it has my name on it!

Oh, my goodness!

Thank you, Jason!

I really appreciate it.

Appreciate it, too.

I'll come back and shop this afternoon.

We'll be here all day.

I love it.

Now I'm rocking.

I gotta make a decision soon.

This is not as easy as I thought it would be.

But this is a real Americana show, and you can see the quality of the Americana here is very deep.

And that pushes most things back into the early to mid-19th century.

So here's the deal.

I like the phonograph, I like the lunchbox.

I can't 100% positively date the lunchbox, but I think the lunchbox is going to do better at auction.

Hello!

Found what you needed?

I don't know, let's go talk.

You've got $175 on it.

What could we do?

Could you do $150 for me?

You know what I really want to pay for it?

What?

Don't be upset, but I want to pay $50.

Of course you want to, of course.

Of course I want to pay $50, that's what I want to do.

So where can we go in the middle?

How about $125?

No, I got to get... $75?

How about $90?

$85?

$85 is a deal.

All right, I love it.

I love it, I want to keep it.

Enjoy your picnic.

I will, I will!

KEVIN: Come on, Bene.

Am I late?

You have a minute.

A minute?

Just one minute.

BENE: Wow, what time is it?

KEVIN: It's a minute left, not even.

Oh, here's Miller.

Oh, hey, Miller.

You made it.

Bruno's having a hard time out there.

Here's some fun: I'm racing against time now to get back, my scooter breaks down.

The field's a little muddy and mucky.

The scooter failed me!

It keeps bogging down in the muck.

Yeah, I can move, but I got to bum back.

It's hard to move fast.

What time is it?

There he is!

He didn't make it.

It's 11:16.

It's 11:16 and he's not here.

Close enough for government work.

Oh, I'm so sorry, John.

We have to figure this one out, Bruno.

Hey, listen, we each need...

I think it's $50.

You'd do this to me?

Hey, where's your scooter?

It got stuck in the mud.

WALBERG: Now the pickers will assess each other's items to determine if each of them fulfilled the target assignment: 20th-century American pre-World War II.

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

Wrong or right, majority rules.

And this time, each picker will reveal what they spent.

If their opponents think they overpaid, they'll say it with the push of an antique button.

All right, Bruno, you were the fashionably late one.

All right, I'll go first.

Is it a trash can?

It looks like a treasure chest.

It's a picnic basket.

You would put your food goods in here, you have a spot here that is made to put like breads and things so that they don't get onto the food and get wet, or anything like that.

And then you have a higher spot here.

It's American?

It's American.

And 1930s?

I think '20s, 1930s, yeah.

What'd you pay for it?

They had it marked at $175, I got it for $85.

I don't know how well it'll do at auction.

What are they going to buy it for?

As a lunch box, no.

It's going to be a decorative object.

I could see kids' toys in it.

It has nice worn paint.

You can use it to decorate.

It might make a little bit of money.

Do I get a thumbs up?

Yes, you do.

May I get the $50 back?

No.

No.

That's not going to happen, and we're not going to hit you with a "No Sale" because you might make some money.

I think I'm being nice.

You're up, Mill.

Great tramp art box made out of a neat cigar box.

And you can see the old cigar paper on the bottom.

Oh, that's great, it's good to see that.

Tramp art is from the 1930s, 1920s.

And this definitely meets the category.

No, you definitely met the category.

Thank you.

Now, what did you pay?

I paid $70.

What was it marked?

$125, but I don't know if you're going to make money at auction, though.

I think the interior is in excellent condition.

Do you think the paint will hurt it, seriously?

No, I don't.

Because most tramp art, they want to see the natural wood or the simple red stain, or something like that.

One of the other things that bothers me... You took $50 from him, so he's going to come at you pretty hard.

I gotta get my money's worth.

The lining, putting in the faux-alligator in there may detract or it may make it more desirable.

You just don't know.

To me, it's more desirable.

Somebody could buy it right now to hold their remotes.

But I don't know if they'll pay $75 or make a profit.

The colors are what bothers me, but I love tramp art.

We'll see what happens.

Fit the category, but I don't know about the price point.

I want to "No Sale" you, but I won't "No Sale" you.

I'm on the fence again.

But either way, you did good.

All right, Bene.

Oh, very neat.

It looks like a Deco.

So what we have here is a Junior Road Master tricycle.

And everything on it is original.

Bought in 1938, so it met the category.

MILLER: What do you think about the paint?

The paint is not good.

But the paint is actually the easiest thing to repair on this.

But it takes a lot of TLC to fix that paint.

It does take a lot of TLC, but I think there's room in it.

Even if a dealer buys it, there's room to make money.

It's the kind of thing you could go to somebody who paints cars.

You know, bring this down and have this painted and baked on it with enamel.

What do you think?

I think you get a thumbs up.

Oh, I think you definitely did it.

Yes, thank you.

What'd you pay for?

It was marked $625, I paid $425.

Wow.

Similar ones have sold in the $1,200s.

In this condition?

Well, no, but somebody could buy this for maybe $500 or $600, restore it, and still make money.

And how much do you think it's going to cost to restore that, though?

I don't want to push that button, but I think I have to, Bene.

JOHN: I think we do.

KEVIN: There's nothing in there for you because I don't think you're going to make a dime.

I don't think you're going to make money on it.

I think somebody might be able to make some money on it.

All right, so we ready?

I got an early 20th century, probably 1920s.

I believe it to be Hubley, elephant door stop.

When's the last time you really came across an elephant door stop?

It's a real one, it's not a repro.

Yeah, it's real.

People call these, you know, 1940s, 1920s.

But it's early 20th century to me.

You met the challenge.

Did I make the challenge?

Yeah, you met the challenge.

What did you pay for it?

I only paid $40.

Oh, wow.

He paid nothing.

The paint's not great, though.

Yeah, but the price is great.

The price is great.

I like it.

It's got an unusual opalescent original paint.

BENE: I haven't seen that in a while.

I'm hoping to sell this for $100 at the auction.

Yeah, I can see that.

No "No Sale" for me?

I would love to, but no.

MILLER: You'll make a profit.

There we go.

WALBERG: Was John's picnic hamper worth showing up late?

We're going to fast-forward past the bonus and Shop 'til You Stop rounds to Radford, Virginia, to see how well it does at Ken Farmer Auctions.

Remember, John paid $85.

This is this metal hamper box, pretty cool.

That is pretty cool.

$50, and start me off $50.

$50?

Now $60 to go.

$60, now $70.

Now $80, now $90, now $100.

$110, $120.

$120, now $130.

$140.

Bid at $140.

Now $150.

$150, now $160.

Brian, when have you ever seen another one?

You haven't, have you?

$150, go $160.

$150, I have, we're done.

Anybody else?

$160, $160?

Sold $150.

WALBERG: Let's rewind the clock back to Liberty, North Carolina, for the bonus round.

The pickers are meeting Virginia dealer Thomas Welch, who has been in the antique business for 20 years and specializes in American furniture.

So I had a couple things that I wanted to show you.

The first is this little child's cupboard.

It's coastal Carolina, and the period is between 1820 and 1850.

You're calling it a child's cupboard.

Only because of the size.

Cute little thing.

It is, it's a neat piece.

So the next group here, mid-century modern, Italian-designed stacking chairs designed by Giancarlo Piretti.

Period is about 1975.

Very sleek.

They are signed, too.

Oh, beautiful.

And then the last piece.

Classic Philadelphia Windsor low-back armchair.

Probably 1790 timeframe up to about 1810.

Absolutely perfect condition.

JOHN: It has split-peg construction, too.

Exactly.

That's nice.

Why are we here?

So your challenge is to try to figure out which one of the three of these items that I have priced the highest here today.

Oh, that you have priced the highest.

Right.

Simple question.

I think you're up, kiddo.

I don't know if I should go with my gut.

This is very tough.

(whispering) Tough one.

You're up.

All right.

You're not supposed to be talking right now.

We're supposed to talk out here.

No, you can't talk about it.

I think you priced the cupboard the highest.

Kev's turn.

I'm not quite sure, but little child's chest.

Okay, Bene's up.

The Windsor.

Okay, guys.

So three of the four of you got it right.

It is in fact the little child's cupboard.

And the reason, of course, that it is the highest priced at this show is it's in North Carolina.

So of regional interest.

In this market here, the cupboard is $2,200.

The Philadelphia Windsor, $1,600.

And the Piretti chairs at about $1,400.

Okay, since I guessed wrong, what are they getting?

So the three of you that got it right, you get $50 towards your auction profit.

Cool, I like that, all right.

WALBERG: Now it's 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 downpour you saw during the bonus round is now off and on.

We'll see what happens, starting now.

Are we ready to shop?

Always ready to shop, come on.

I don't want to get drenched, so see you.

Let's go shop.

From the time we buy this to the time it's auctioned, we're doing this in a 24-hour turnaround.

So there's not going to be a great amount of time for this to be previewed, put up on the website, have people look at it.

What that means to me is I've got to find something that's going to be recognizable.

People are going to be looking, "Oh, I want that."

It's got to be that kind of item.

WALBERG: When John says recognizable, I think he means the kind of piece bidders are familiar with and whose relative value isn't difficult to decipher.

I wonder if he realizes he just ruled out his favorite kind of flea market find: the type that prompts one to ask "What?"

and "Why?"

Let's get serious.

I'm walking along, I'm seeing all kinds of great things.

I turn a corner, and here's this fabulous oversized whirligig.

Three different figures doing classic whirligig things.

Sawing wood, washing clothes...

The colors are pop, pop, pop.

Oh, it's just a wonderful piece.

WALBERG: This giant whirligig may elicit that "Oh, I want that" response, but its size is likely to inhibit many of those responders from saying, "Oh, I'll buy that."

With a 24-hour turnaround, potential bidders won't have much time to decide where to put it, especially if forced to choose between big art depicting clothes getting washed, and a big washing machine that actually does the family laundry.

What kind of age do you think this is?

I want to say '40s.

Original condition.

Just the right amount of wear, just the right amount of damage that you'd want to see on something like this that was used outside.

So what are you asking for it?

I'm asking $650.

Oh, $650.

What can you do for me?

It's late, it's getting wet.

We're standing here in the rain.

$475.

I really want to do $400.

We'll cut to the chase, $425.

$425?

Yeah.

$425.

We started at $650, I got it down to $425.

I'm a happy camper.

Now I gotta ask you about something else in your booth.

Okay.

Tell me about this killer chair.

This is fabulous.

This is a mid-century Chippendale.

I think it's like '50s.

Yeah.

Might be late '40s, something like that.

What do you ask for something like this?

I'm asking $2,400.

Oh, ming... (laughing) And that's the truth.

Got a dime.

Dime goes in.

Very cool.

This is a dice game with playing card illustrations on them.

They're great fun.

It does work.

So you put in your dime and you take your chance.

The bar would have a schedule of a straight, a flush, would pay a certain amount, usually in drinks.

That's the way a game like this is played.

It was an incentive to get people at the bar to drink more.

I love the graphics on it.

Horseshoes for luck.

Clovers for luck.

Got $80 on it.

What can you do for me?

What do you think?

I asked you first.

(laughing) I put my price on it.

What's your price?

What's my price?

I'm getting too old for this.

$40.

No.

I got more than that in it.

All right, give me a number.

I'll do $70.

$50.

Will you do $50?

I'll meet you halfway.

$60.

Done.

I like it.

This is the sort of thing coin-op collectors love.

They're not going to spend hundreds and hundreds, but it's certainly a $200 or $300 piece.

WALBERG: It seems as if John got a low enough price to give him room for profit, and potentially a sizeable one at that.

But you have to wonder how many coin-op collectors are likely to find this item when there's been no promotion or marketing with less than a 24-hour turnaround before auction.

Let's rock and roll.

I've got my good luck charm.

I, as a southerner, think I have an advantage here because I know what southerners prefer.

WALBERG: This isn't the first time Miller has flaunted her southern roots in a southern state.

She laid it on thick with dealers in Kentucky.

Okay, what would you take to put it on hold?

I'll just do it for you.

Oh, yay.

My southern charm's working a little bit in Kentucky.

WALBERG: And played it to the hilt in Georgia.

We southerners stick together.

Okay, so you got to help me out here.

WALBERG: Since this is the first competition in which the pickers are buying and selling in southern states, Miller thinks her best chance of winning could be with items only southerners would know to buy.

And where's Marvin from, North Carolina?

He is actually from South Carolina.

I'm from South Carolina.

This piece, since it's not being marketed by the auction house, needs to have instant auction impact value.

WALBERG: Her opponents know that also, but Miller is setting her sights on things they have little hope of finding.

In the target round, two of her three opponents gave us reason to believe Miller's assumption is at least partially accurate, since both Kevin and Bene passed over pieces made by Burlon Craig, one of North Carolina's most famous craft artists, without giving them a second look.

I love Mose T. I had always wanted a piece of Mose T., but a lot of what he painted, you know, I really didn't care that much for.

But I grew up in cotton country, and that one just kind of appealed to me, so...

I can see why, it speaks to me as well.

We're both from South Carolina.

Exactly.

MILLER: Mose T sells quite well in certain southern regions, but I just didn't feel that it would really do well in the Virginia marketplace.

In the target round, I was looking at some pieces by B.B.

Craig.

And those pieces were priced over $600.

And then instantly after I stepped out of Jason and Steven's booth, I saw a piece by B.B.

Craig, and that's just what I was looking for today.

What are you asking for this?

I've got it priced $235.

Need at least $165 out of that piece.

Oh, gosh, $165?

Yeah.

MILLER: It's not the character jug that B.B.

Craig is known for.

But snake pieces are also highly collected.

What if I offered you $85?

Oh, couldn't do it.

Way more than that in it.

When it was in production, it was very popular.

But it was after his death they really realized the scope of what he had done for North Carolina pottery.

He really brought the trade in that region back to life.

I've got to take it to auction.

So I think... What area is the auction?

Virginia.

He's still popular there.

I know.

I think, you know, I could come up to $100, but...

I could get it down to about $120 is about the best I could do on it, though.

This one does have the cobalt blue in it instead of just the two-color swirl.

This is a three-color swirl piece, which makes it a little more attractive and wanted by collectors.

You've gone to $100, right?

Could we do $110, would that make it any better?

Okay.

Would that make it workable?

Okay, you got a deal.

All right.

$110.

Thank you.

Okay, yay.

I wanted to make the deal at $100, okay, and you were nice and worked with me.

We made a deal at $110.

Squeezed $10 more out of you.

MILLER: I'm a little concerned about selling this in Virginia because I'm afraid it won't have the same resonance as it does in North Carolina.

But I still think that being the regional market that it is, and the South, it's going to do well.

WALBERG: There's little guarantee the Craig pottery she bought will appeal to bidders unfamiliar with the artist's work.

So if Miller buys a second piece in this round, it would be safer if she hedged her southern bets.

MILLER: So I see this doorstop of a Boston terrier.

I'm always attracted to dog pieces.

There's a large audience of dog collectors.

How much are you asking for this doorstop?

$100.

$100?

Yeah, it's probably a Hubley.

It's original paint.

Those used to sell for about $225 at auction.

Would you work with me on the price there?

Yes, I will.

For this Hubley-esque, or do you think it's just... Well, I do think it's probably a Hubley.

It's not signed, but I do believe it to be because of the style and everything.

Okay.

And it's of course original surface.

I will do $75 for you.

And you'll make money on it.

It depends on what auction you're sending it to.

I'm really afraid to pay more than $50.

I would like to sell that to you for $50, but I would lose money if I did.

Right.

And I'm in the business to make money.

Well, who's not?

We all are.

That's the name of the game.

That's true, it is the name of the game.

Don was very friendly, and the more I just stayed and talked to him, the more he dropped the price, and it just worked to my advantage today.

Miller, I'll do $70, how about that?

How about $60?

$65 and we got a deal.

What's $5?

$5 is $5 this day and age.

I'm afraid to pull the trigger.

You're going to make money.

Don, can I show you what I just bought?

Sure.

I bought a B.B.

Craig jug.

Very good.

It's a swirl, too.

(smooth jazz playing) Okay, Miller, your beauty has caused me to give in.

I'll do $60 on it.

Oh, thank you, Don.

You brought sunshine out of this rain.

Give me a hug, there you go.

Thank you, thank you so much.

Make a fortune.

Thank you, Don.

BENE: I made contact with Dave when I was doing the target round.

The wooden chairs with the faces, that has my name all over them.

I love them.

They're unusual.

And the detail on the faces, the glasses on the woman... To carve this in such a hard wood is very difficult.

And carve against the grain.

Yes.

You know, I never looked underneath.

Well, look underneath.

There's probably been some... Repair on them.

These are modern screws right here.

This is a Phillips-head screw.

New pegs put on over here.

But they're made fairly strong.

You see how they're mortise keyed like the Arts and Crafts period.

Exactly, they want to show how furniture is put together.

Okay, this one has had less repair.

Flathead screws, original.

And then this is the original what they call hide glue, that wet glue they put on hot.

Made of animal hide.

Look at you, look at you go.

(laughing) You have $325 there.

And I wanted to know... $275, how does that sound?

$275, that's good.

I'm more around $170.

Good God!

Yes, I need to resell these.

So I want to know if you have room at $170.

No.

No, okay.

What can you do?

Probably like $225.

$225 is decent.

Could you do $190?

How about $200?

$200 is a deal.

I would do that.

Great.

$200, thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you again.

I walked by Otto's booth, and I noticed the clock in the back was a beautiful ogee clock.

Make you a really good deal on that ogee.

I'll do $150.

Wow.

BENE: It had nice decoration, and as I went closer, I noticed that the clock was working and it was keeping the correct time.

That immediately got my interest because a working clock is a clock that sells.

It's completely restored.

Did you restore it?

I did, that's what I do.

Do you mind telling me what you did?

We cleaned and oiled and replaced several of the bearings.

It's signed on the back, restored.

And this is the restoration date.

And the other selling point on this particular clock would be the face.

Yes, and that's a reverse painting on glass?

That is correct.

Okay.

Which means that the image you see here is painted from the back.

WALBERG: This would have been the time for dealer Otto Gibbons to mention if any touch-up or repainting of the image was done during the restoration.

You can tell Bene is pleased not to hear it because there's more value if this reverse painting is in good condition and all original.

Inside the clock, this particular piece of paper, which is all original.

We did not have to mess with that.

And it gives the history of the clock and how you're supposed to operate the clock.

I was wondering if I can make you an offer?

You can make it, sure.

I was wondering if you would take $100 cash.

Cash.

For all the service work that was put into that clock...

I know.

How about we do $115?

$115?

$115, I will do that for you.

Great.

Thank you.

And I really appreciate the discount.

That's a great deal for me.

BENE: The three items I purchased today will be going into an auction tomorrow.

That is a little nerve-wracking because there's just not that much time to advertise it.

But most good auctioneers don't advertise everything because there's always last-minute additions, and that's what people come to an auction for.

You want them to find surprises.

Pouring rain's not going to make it easy, but it's open season out there.

I'm pretty much going to concentrate on some nice 19th-century country furniture to send to auction because we're going to be selling in Virginia, we're at Ken Farmer's Auction, they do great with country furniture over there, and I've got it everywhere around me.

Gee, look at the chair.

(chuckling) This is very neat, where'd you get this?

Isn't that cool?

Actually, we got it in Atlanta.

(whining voice): I don't want to sit here no more.

Don't make me eat my mashed potatoes.

Luckily, most of the dealers are all prepared, they all have tents, and all their good stuff is underneath the tent, well-protected.

So yeah, it's raining, we're going to be wet, but we're going to be buying.

WALBERG: When Kevin is on a mission, he's as focused as they come.

So when he says he's going to find 19th-century country furniture, you better believe it.

19th-century country furniture, here he comes, and nothing's going to stop him.

Nothing except for just about anything Asian, that is.

I found a really large Japanese lacquered tray, which is like that big.

You just don't see them.

In really nice shape, and has the eagle on it, it has all the wonderful lacquer decoration you want to see.

If I clean it up just a little bit, it's going to look perfect.

Hopefully get it for $75.

We'll see what happens there.

You got a make-it-go-away price?

$100.

$80?

$90.

$90?

$85?

Trying to grind here.

$90.

All right, we'll do it, $90.

For $90, I think that's a shoo-in for profit.

That's a really nice piece.

And I still have to keep in mind the strategy of the more money I spend, I get a $50 bonus.

Maybe I come out with the strongest item.

But I'm not going to spend a bunch of money just for $50 in a bonus round.

I'm really going to try and make some money.

Hey, I'm back.

Hi, Kevin.

Good to see you again.

This chest right here.

Yes.

What would be the make-it-go-away number?

Well, you know about the chest, circa 1830 Pennsylvania, central Pennsylvania.

That's original paint decoration.

Country Sheridan.

Tagged at $1,200.

You could have it for $900.

It's got wonderful paint decoration, it's all original.

I can tell, I looked at it real nice and close.

You could see all the craquelure in there.

You could see it's worn in all the right places.

One hinge reset here.

You could see right where it used to be.

And now where it is.

This was done a long time ago because it was filled properly.

Right.

WALBERG: Kevin was on the verge of pointing out the hinges himself, but the dealer beat him to it.

When an experienced buyer delays mentioning the flaw of a piece, it's a signal to the dealer that he's ready to make him an offer and that the dealer won't be getting his asking price, at least not from this customer.

It's not the kiss of death, but it is something that people would look at.

$900 is your absolute best price on this?

Yeah, the antique fairy didn't give me this, I do have to make a little money on it, so...

I'll throw a number out there, and you can kick me or you can kind of work from there, but like $650 on it.

I can't do it.

Just got it, the first time it's been out.

I've got three straight shows coming up.

I know I can get the offer I originally gave you.

Can't work with me at all on it, huh?

I'll do $800, and that's my best offer.

I mean, that's absolutely rock bottom.

Can't even meet me at $700, huh?

Nowhere in there?

$750, we'll split it.

$750?

You got a deal, man.

I'm going to buy a nice trunk for $750.

I'm going to take a shot with this.

You're going to get a heck of a piece of furniture for $750.

KEVIN: I worked the best deal I could from, like, $1,200 down to $750.

I'm still very confident I stand good chance of making a profit.

It is 100% original paint, and the paint condition is absolutely superb.

It's just about mint.

And back in that point of time, the people who did this were paint-decorating furniture because essentially they couldn't afford mahoganies and cherries and walnuts.

So this was a poor man's piece of good looking furniture.

WALBERG: Although we won't find out until the day of the auction, Kevin's price tag of $750 was the most money any of our pickers paid for one item here at the Liberty Antiques Festival.

That means he'll be starting off the auction with a bonus profit of $50.

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

Here are Miller's lots: a tramp art box, a cast-iron dog door stop and a Burlon Craig ceramic jug.

Bene's lots consist of a Junior tricycle, an ogee shelf clock and a pair of carved oak chairs.

Kevin's lots include a cast-iron elephant doorstop, a Japanese lacquer tray and a painted blanket chest.

John's lots are the following: a metal picnic hamper, a coin-operated game and a whirligig on stand.

Now it's on to Radford, Virginia, where all of their items will be sold at Ken Farmer Auctions.

The auction house is filling up with bidders from the New River Valley and surrounding 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 from behind the scenes will be all four of our pickers, who just found out about the $150 hammer price on John's metal picnic hamper, earning him more than a 75% profit.

I must admit I am a little surprised, but it's a little piece of folk art.

It's a fabulous piece of folk art.

It is different.

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

Remember, as a result of winning the bonus round, John, Kevin and Miller all are starting off $50 in the black.

And Kevin has an additional $50 profit for spending the most money on a single item, $750 on the blanket chest.

All right, here we go.

Burlon Craig folk art North Carolina jug.

And that's a good one.

How much on that?

$50, now $60, where?

I have $50, to bid $60.

Anybody give me $60?

Anybody $60?

Really?

$60, now $70.

At $60, to bid $70.

Anybody give $70?

Wow.

Sold $60, 471.

Oh, I... That's horrible.

The veneered ogee shelf clock.

That's in good condition, Steve.

A note with it says it's in running condition.

And we've got a nice reverse painting on the glass.

$50 bid, bid $50.

On ogee clock, $50 bid?

$20, then.

(groans) Oh, come on.

$30, now $40.

Back to you, ma'am, $40, now $50, sir.

$50 bid.

Yup.

Now $60.

$60, now $70.

I got the woman behind you at $60.

Would you go $70, madam?

So you now have it at $70.

I'm looking for the woman behind you at $80 perhaps.

$80?

I got $70 now.

$80, bid $80?

Sold, $70.

(groans) Got a nice big oriental serving tray here.

Who will give $50 on that to start it out?

Anybody?

$40 for it?

Who wants it, $30?

$30, now $40, now $50.

$60, $70, $80.

There you go.

At $70, bid $80?

Oh, come on, it's huge.

You can get a lot of Budweisers on that, Bobby.

(laughing) $80, bid $80?

Sold, $70.

That's horrible.

I'm shocked my Burlon Craig pottery piece didn't sell for higher.

Maybe it's the quick turnaround.

Maybe it's people didn't know it was there, who knows?

All right, round two, here we go.

The coin-operated gambling game.

$100 to start me out, $100.

$100 start?

$50, then.

Did you all see this, it's pretty cool.

You press that lever and the little dice flop all around.

Oh, man.

$30, start me out there.

$30, now $40.

$40, now $50.

$50, now $60.

$60, now $70.

Bid $70?

$60, now $70?

Sold $60.

Broke even.

I like that, it's neat.

It's a fabulous piece.

A little tramp art dresser box.

Who will give $50 to start out?

Oh, please.

$30, give $40.

Anybody give $40?

Anybody else want in at $40?

And $30 or $40 bills, anybody give $40?

I don't think you're going to be very happy with that turnout there.

Does anybody want to give $40?

Sold, $30.

Oh, man.

Wow.

Ouch.

Next is the oak carve-backed chairs.

All righty, who will give $200 starting out?

Anybody give $200?

Anybody interested in them?

Give $100 for them, then.

Oh... At $100, give $100.

He's trying.

Selling them to somebody, folks.

You better get in if you want them.

At $100, bid $120.

At $120, can't go wrong with that price.

Yup.

Now $130.

$130, now $140.

It's slowly moving, Bene.

He's getting into it.

$140, $140?

Last call, anybody else?

Anyone want in?

At $130, give $140?

Sold, $130.

JOHN: Oh, you got skunked.

I don't believe it.

All righty, on the cast-iron elephant.

Who will give $50?

Yes.

Anybody give $50, now $60.

$50, bid $60.

Anybody give $60?

Now $70.

At $70, anybody give $70?

Sold for $60.

$20 profit.

Wow.

Those chairs...

I know, I'm bumming on you on the chairs.

I thought those were better than $120.

They need more marketing time, I think, but... We knew what we were in for.

I just thought people would just love them.

The power pieces are here to come right now, so let's see what happens.

It could be anybody's game.

How about this 19th-century paint-decorated chest?

Beautiful paint on this, folks.

Who'll give $100 to start it out?

Now $125.

(groans) At $125.

$150, $175...

Wait a minute, now.

She bid $150.

Do you want $175?

Are we having mother and daughter competition here?

Oh, let's not confuse it at the beginning.

That usually kills it right there.

Now $175.

I have $170.

Are you kidding me?

$170, now $180.

$180, giving $180?

Now bid $190.

It's a great painted piece of furniture.

$190, give it $190?

$190, now $200.

Now $225.

Where are all the bidders?

At $225.

$225 now.

$250.

Bright paint, bright paint.

$250, now $275.

Don't stand a shot.

Anybody else?

$275.

Now $300.

At $300, you get $300.

$300?

Sold $275 in the back.

That's no money.

A really fun tricycle.

That's a great one.

$100 to start me out.

Oh, my God.

$100?

Well, $50 then.

What?

$50, now $60 to go.

$60.

There's no weight limit.

$50, now $60.

$80, bid $80.

I got $70 over here.

You're all out.

$70, now $80.

$80, now $90 to go.

Now $100.

Anybody bid $100?

Sold, $90.

(groans) Oh...

The bulldog cast-iron doorstop.

All right, I got $110 to start you out.

Who will go $120?

Oh!

$110, bid $120.

Anybody own a bulldog?

Is it a bulldog?

It's a Boston terrier.

$110, bid $120?

Are we done?

Anybody $120?

Sold, $110.

Yes!

Good job, Miller.

Good girl.

Yay!

"Yay!"

Whoa!

Got an American folk art whirligig.

That thing has all three of those people going around doing stuff.

On the whirligig, $100 start me out, $100.

Anybody bid $90?

$50, then.

$50 on the whirligig.

Now $60, now $70, now $80.

Now $90, $100, $110, $120.

$120 here, now $130.

Anybody $130?

Yeah.

$140 back to you, ma'am.

$140, now $150.

$150, bid $150.

Now $160.

$160.

Only $10 more.

Oh, come on.

$160, bid $160?

I got $150, anyone $160?

$150, are we done?

Did you see it go around?

You need to run back there and play with it a little bit first.

No, she doesn't.

"No, she doesn't."

(laughing) Where were we, $200?

$150, now $160.

$160, bid $160.

I got $150.

Are we done, anybody $160?

Sold, $150 to 432.

Wow, John.

Oh, man.

WALBERG: The winner and only picker to end up with a profit is Miller Gaffney.

Mill!

Miller!

$10, you win?

Beat out at $10.

What do you mean, $10?

I won.

All my shrewd buying paid off.

It did.

Well, Kevin, I know you're probably disappointed in what your blanket chest did.

And I can't say that I blame you because it was a nice one.

We just didn't have the right people there.

You can't ask for any more honesty than that from an auctioneer.

Right on target.

This was a real true test of a warrior.

We had 24 hours to turn our items around at auction.

My strategy was to buy smart, and I came out on top.

I liked them because they were different.

Turn to PBS fo I go to a lot of auctions.

The last ones I saw were probably in the '80s.

And I bought them then and I made good money on them, so I'm hoping to do the same thing again.

It's something that I won't have to have any work done to, and I think I can sell them fairly rapidly.

I have a show next week, so I'll probably be taking them to that show.

Very happy with the purchase I made.

Sold $130, then, to 427.

Today we purchased a whirligig with three moving figures for our whirligig collection.

I've seen lots of single whirligigs with those figures on it.

It's the first time we've seen three on one whirligig.

We saw this at the Liberty Antiques show.

I saw it, and the price was $450.

I have never paid that much for one whirligig.

It was more than I would spend for my personal collection.

It was very nice to know that it was coming up and that I'd have a second chance for it.

And indeed, I did get it