Salvage Hunters

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JonRB

Original Poster:

74,402 posts

271 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
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I've looked to see if there is a thread running on this TV show but, although it has been mentioned in other threads, it doesn't have its own thread. Until now.

I really like this show. It's about Drew Pritchard (http://www.drewpritchard.co.uk/) who specialises in Architectural Salvage and goes around the country buying stuff and then selling it. Pretty formulaic stuff not unlike Jordan Hembrough in Toy Hunter, and Bruce Crompton on Combat Dealers, but I like the show and am interested in antiques, collectables and upcycling.

Personally I could happily watch entire shows where Alex the French Polisher restores stuff but usually he only gets a couple of minutes. Definite scope for a spin-off show there because his skills and techniques are quite fascinating.

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
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I must admit, the Quest channel where this lives tends to be my default when there's no Top Gear or QI on Dave. 😁

And I know what you mean about the restoration work, the show needs to show more of that part of the job.

JonRB

Original Poster:

74,402 posts

271 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
quotequote all
CoolC said:
And I know what you mean about the restoration work, the show needs to show more of that part of the job.
Yes, totally. In the latest series they allow a couple of minutes of showing Alex working on something (in the past it was just send it away then show what it looks like when it comes back) and I've found it really interesting. I would love it if there was a show devoted to restoring furniture, not unlike the format of Wheeler Dealers in fact.

dodders

44 posts

163 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
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Perhaps this could be a new revenue stream for me....selling tickets to my workshop while I get paid to restore clients furniture!!

Salvage hunters is the more realistic antiques programme on the telly
Dread to think how many hours and miles spent in that luton and also wonder how many places they go and there's nothing worth buying!

mph1977

12,467 posts

167 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
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dodders said:
Perhaps this could be a new revenue stream for me....selling tickets to my workshop while I get paid to restore clients furniture!!

Salvage hunters is the more realistic antiques programme on the telly
Dread to think how many hours and miles spent in that luton and also wonder how many places they go and there's nothing worth buying!
and they aren't afraid to show that some trips result in a couple of marginally profitable pieces despite the time for drew, the chosen minion and the diesel for the van ...

Edited by mph1977 on Wednesday 1st April 12:28

Escort3500

11,829 posts

144 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
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Really enjoy the programme. Yes, it's a bit stage-managed in parts (you don't drive 4 hours across country unless there's something worthwhile at the other end) but Drew comes across as a fair bloke and has a nice manner about him. Gets to some great places too

JonRB

Original Poster:

74,402 posts

271 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
quotequote all
Escort3500 said:
Yes, it's a bit stage-managed in parts
Yes. You do get the impression that sometimes items are seeded rather than being genuinely discovered by accident, but it's a good show.

One thing that irritates me is that Drew says "to be honest" very, very often and, to be honest, it's really starting to get on my nerves. smile

SydneyBridge

8,500 posts

157 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
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Drew does very nicely judging by all the cars he buys and stuff he seems to ship all over the world.
Cracking programme, he has a section in Liberty of London on the top floor, has some lovely stuff for sale

baldy1926

2,136 posts

199 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
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I find it very enjoyable as well. He sometimes increases the offer if he thinks it to low and seems to be very fair in his offers. He must have large overheads with the large team of restorers that he seems to have.
One thing that does really annoy me are the camera angles where the crew are in front of drew. He walks towards the camera when going into rooms where he finds items. So the crew have been in first to find the items it would just make it more realistic if they followed him..

retrorider

1,339 posts

200 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
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baldy1926 said:
I find it very enjoyable as well. He sometimes increases the offer if he thinks it to low and seems to be very fair in his offers. He must have large overheads with the large team of restorers that he seems to have.
One thing that does really annoy me are the camera angles where the crew are in front of drew. He walks towards the camera when going into rooms where he finds items. So the crew have been in first to find the items it would just make it more realistic if they followed him..
Researchers have been weeks before Drews visit to pick out items.One of my accounts is on it this series,so will be interesting to see if they pick what i like when i go to see him...

Mr GrimNasty

8,172 posts

169 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
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Drew would be no good at poker. His negotiation skills are very formulaic and he has a very rigid set of tells. The best one is the droopy eyelid thing he does when he's getting something ridiculously cheap and he knows he's mugging them off.

American Pickers is much better. They get crazy prices for some of the motorbike parts they find, and the hoarding hillbillies/tramps they meet are hilarious.

JonRB

Original Poster:

74,402 posts

271 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
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I do love this show but sometimes the scripting seems a little obvious. For example they hold out their hands to shake before the other person has said the final price. Getting a bit ahead of themselves on the script.

JonRB

Original Poster:

74,402 posts

271 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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Quest TV have a pretty good Catch Up / On Demand service on their website.

Many episodes, plus additional clips and an interview.

http://www.questtv.co.uk/salvage-hunters-catch-up-...

tfin

366 posts

121 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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Love this programme. Scripted or not, its a lot better than most other things these days.

Quest is too. Its pretty much my go to freview channel these days.

baldy1926

2,136 posts

199 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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Is Quest available on freesat

bobbo89

5,151 posts

144 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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Been watching this for a few months now as Quest became my new go-to channel. As already said, I think more could be made of the resto bits at the end rather than them just being a quick round up to end the programme.

Also, its not impossible that Drew could on here, he's a big petrol-head who's into old VW's and Land Rovers. T2 Detectives have recently prepped an old 60's Beetle for him to race at Goodwood!


Steamer

13,846 posts

212 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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Dog called 'Enzo' - I'd say there is a good chance he walks amongst us.

JonRB

Original Poster:

74,402 posts

271 months

Wednesday 29th April 2015
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It's all starting to get a little formulaic, sadly. At the very least they could use some new incidental music because it's really starting to grate now.

Part of the problem is that, as a mature show, sellers are now anticipating Drew and steering him to stuff they think he'll like. Also, his "discoveries" are just getting so painfully telegraphed now - the thing he wants to buy just happens to be propped up right there. Like in Wheeler Dealers when Mike Brewer visits a parts store and all the things he needs are right there to hand.

Kind of like that bit in Red Dwarf when Lister has the Luck Virus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOE7qTAK87o
"What a stroke of luck!"

The worst recently when Rebecca phoned up saying exactly what stock they needed and Drew just happened to be in a place that sold what she was talking about and the exact items were there in front of Drew. rolleyes



FailHere

779 posts

151 months

Wednesday 29th April 2015
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It's nice to see the stuff he comes up with, of course it's set up for tv and someone has scoped it out before, and I've no doubt that as a result of previous shows he's getting in to places he may not have had access to before.
It would not be watchable if the show consisted of showing him driving half-way across the country to see a load of crap.
It's only a snap-shot of the real world, I doubt his business would survive if it really was him driving to Scotland to buy a dish-rack, that he subsequently sold for £50 more having delivered it to Brighton.
It's more about nice shots of interesting things, in interesting places. You are right about the music though.

petrolsniffer

2,461 posts

173 months

Thursday 30th April 2015
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One of my fave shows i know it's probably all carefully scripted/scouted It's just abit more interesting than the avg antiques shows.Drew seems like a proper bloke just like guy martin but in a different kind of way.

Who spotted him on the last for the love of cars episode at the auction?

Wonder what he might of bought?