An Antiques Roadshow guest was left flummoxed after discovering the true value of an item she had purchased from a fair for just 20p. The BBC programme visited Newport in 2000, where experts valued some of the rarest old finds.
The guest explained she had picked up a novelty biscuit tin in the shape of a race car when someone had moved into an old people’s home and their possessions went up for sale.
Expert explains the tin's history
The expert said: “Biscuits, when they first came onto the market, were often sold in elaborate tins and packaging, I think really to promote the biscuits. By the 1920s, 1930s, you could buy trains, planes… you name it, a biscuit tin was made in that form. Now this of course meant people had lost interest in the biscuits, but of course they’d collect the tins.”
He added: “Here we have one called the Meteor, a racing car of the 1930s. It’s very loosely based on a car that was driven by Sir Henry Segrave. It’s a very stylish, streamlined image with wonderful flowing colours, and as you go along I like the way the wheels have this dynamic feel to them.”
Rarity and condition
“Many of these were then thrown away once they were empty, they were simply a novelty item,” he said. “As a result, they’re quite rare. Collectors are keen to buy them – there was even an exhibition in the V&A in London years ago on biscuit tins. The remarkable thing about this one is it is effectively brand new. There’s very little marking on it.”
He noted: “The only thing missing is there would have been a headlight, with a switch here so you could actually push it along in the dark with the headlight glowing, which would have been more exciting. Otherwise it’s pretty immaculate.”
Valuation revealed
He eventually revealed: “20p? I think it’s worth quite a bit more than that now, I think you did very well. How about £200? Does that sound good?”
But the guest was clearly disappointed, responding: “Well I had been told it was worth a bit more than that! About £1000.”
The expert let her down gently, telling her: “No, I would say that was too much. I would say, with the condition it’s in with the light and everything missing, two or three hundred would be about right.”
