Cash in the Attic from the Homes Under the Hammer

AS the presenter of BBC’s Homes Under the Hammer, housewives’ heart throb Martin Roberts is used to the inside of a saleroom. But how will he fare when his own possessions are auctioned in the Cotswolds next week for a celebrity version of daytime antiques show Cash in the Attic?

At the Cirencester auction rooms of Moore Allen & Innocent on Friday, May 1, treasures from Martin’s home will go under the hammer. But while regular members of the public have used money raised on the show to buy treats like going on holiday or refurbishing their kitchen, celebrities like Martin, who lives near Bristol, are aiming to make as much cash as possible for their favourite charity.

Among Martin’s lots is a limited edition animation celluloid featuring cartoon favourites including Fred Flintstone, Scooby-Doo, Dick Dastardly and Muttley, Yogi Bear, Top Cat and many more. The cel is signed by the directors who lent the production company its name – Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera.

Auctioneer Philip Allwood said: “This is a fantastic piece of work, featuring dozens of cartoon stars whose names and faces are instantly recognisable to anyone who grew up during the 1960s, 70s or 80s. The cel is numbered 227 of 400 and, following the deaths of Hanna in 2001 and Barbera in 2006, this limited edition piece bearing their signatures will obviously appreciate in value.” It carries an estimate of £600 to £800.

Martin is also offering for auction a collection of whiskies in a wood and brass presentation display stand. Each comes with a name plaque and description card. The display stand was used as a promotional tool for the United Distillers’ Classic Malts of Scotland range in selected bars and pubs in 1988.

The case features 70cl bottles of 15-year-old Dalwhinnie, 10-year-old Talisker, 12-year-old Cragganmore, 14-year-old Oban, 16-year-old Lagavulin and 12-year-old Glenkinchie, and it shows great restraint on the part of the owner that only the Lagavulin has been opened and tasted.

Philip said: “Buy this lot at an off-licence – without the highly collectable display stand and information cards – and you’re looking at a bill of about £225. We’ve estimated this collectors’ item at £200 to £300.”

Other items retrieved from Martin’s attic include a signed Gloucestershire cricket bat (estimate £80 to £120) and a pre-war typewriter by the German manufacturer Rheinmetall. With its rosewood painted coat and faux ivory buttons, the machine was designed for enjoyment rather than the mundane office functionality of its black counterparts. It carries an estimate of £50 to £80.

Outside of the Cash in the Attic collection, another classic typewriter – the Hammond Portable – carries an estimate of £100 to £150. While built with a keyboard and space bar that folded up towards the keys, it’s the sheer weight of this machine that ensured Hammond lost the race against the much lighter Remington for the portable typewriter market. It was produced between 1923 and 1927 when – like its portable model – the company folded.

Finally, where can you pick up a classic 1940s Ferrari, a Mercedes 300SL and a World War Two Jeep for around a hundred quid each? In this financial climate, the sarcastic answer might be ‘your nearest car showroom’, but the reality lies at Moore Allen in the form of children’s ride-in toy cars.

The red Ferrari has an open top and a leather-looking seat, with a 0-60 time dependent on the pedaling power of its young occupant. Similarly, the green Jeep looks rugged enough, but its off-road ability will be determined by the toddler in the driving seat. The cars are fashioned in metal and, although reminiscent of pedal cars of the 1950s and 60s, were manufactured far more recently. Each carries an estimate of £80 to £120.

The Mercedes 300SL, meanwhile, comes with every modern convenience. Its chassis is fashioned from lightweight plastic, it has automatic transmission and is powered electrically – there will be no frantic peddling from the owner of this nippy model. It carries an estimate of £50 to £80.

Typewriters by Rheinmetall and Hammond
Toy ride-in cars
Classic Malts of Scotland in promotional display case	A signed Gloucestershire cricket bat
A signed Hanna-Barbera cel featuring cartoon characters