Episode 17 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts....

-That's cracking.

-..£200 each...

-Wonderful.

..a classic car and a goal, to scour Britain for antiques.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

I'm all over a-shiver.

The aim? To make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

-No-brainer.

-Going, going, gone!

There will be worthy winners and valiant losers.

So, will it be the high road to glory...

-Push!

-..or the slow road to disaster?

How awfully, awfully nice.

This is Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

Today we blast off on the second instalment of our road trip

adventure with auctioneers Claire Rawle and Paul Laidlaw.

I can't wait.

It's the market, not the auction room, that is going to save you.

-Yes.

-Or break you.

Oh, yes. Lots of excited people in there wanting my lots.

-Steady, steady.

-Desperately wanting my lots.

Steady!

Oh!

New girl Claire clinched the lead on her first outing, with a World War I

periscope. She is playing Paul at his own game.

£110 for the periscope.

The old hand didn't like that, I tell you.

He remains as supportive as ever, though.

I've got pressure on me now to keep it up.

-Added pressure.

-Good, good!

Now, now, Paul.

From his original £200, Paul's got

£279.60 to stick in his back pocket.

Claire also began with £200.

She is ahead by a whisker with a total of £300.30.

They are roaring around town in this sporty 1968 TVR Tuscan.

My head is so firmly wedged in the roof lining!

With every bump, a wee contour in the roof of the car.

It's like something out of Tom and Jerry.

Your head just going like that.

Oh, dear!

Paul and Claire set off from Wooler in Northumberland.

They will take in the sights of the North East,

traversing through Yorkshire,

to finally land in the town of Stamford in Lincolnshire.

Today our adventure begins in Roker,

an area within the city of Sunderland,

and we shall auction in East Boldon

in Tyne and Wear. Now, has Paul any tips for the lovely Claire?

Have a minor breakdown in front of the shop owner.

"There's nothing here!

"There's nothing here to buy!"

Then throw yourself on their mercy.

Well, I'll remember that later.

Gosh, he's very dramatic!

Very kindly, Claire is dropping Paul at his first shop in Roker.

Here we are. A spooky guy waiting for you there.

Told my dad I'd be here.

-That's nice of him.

-We'll go for a coffee later.

That's nice of him. He's not looking too well, though!

I should keep an eye on him if I were you.

-Have a good day!

-And you.

Well, not too much, though.

Yeah, go on!

Stop larking about, you two.

We'll catch up with Claire later.

Now, who knows what will happen in here?

Hello, pleased to meet you. I'm David.

Good to see you.

You've got a certain thing going on here.

-Giraffe.

-I noticed. Holy Moses, a real one?

-Yes.

-What on earth?

What's this little beauty?

Is there any age to that?

A miniature chest of drawers.

Who doesn't want one?

Look at this, the drawer linings.

I'm looking for dovetails,

I'm looking to see the sophistication of the manufacturer.

No sophistication.

It's old cigar boxes.

Look at this. Colorado Finest.

Fantastic!

Priced at £50, will owner David be open to discount?

How good a deal can you do me on the chest of drawers?

Don't look at that.

I'll do you 25 quid.

Do you know, I think that's a gift in 1980!

-It would have been more in 1980.

-It would've been.

No, 25 quid? It's a gift.

I'll leave you a little bit in it.

Not necessarily.

It's rustic and I think it's yesterday's news, that's my problem.

So much that we see is yesterday's news.

Blimey! It's tough Laidlaw today.

Elsewhere, Claire is reminiscing about her good luck so far.

With the periscope, do you know, I hadn't even looked at it before.

I was just standing, chatting, looked down and thought,

"OK, that looks interesting," picked it up.

This is rather nice, isn't it?

French periscope. Lovely quality.

That's how I find it goes a bit with me,

so I'm hoping it will happen again.

A-ha! For some, it's so simple.

Back to Paul.

Claire is in the lead, you know.

Jeez! Stop mentioning that.

I'll kick off.

Oh, sorry I'm breathing.

Thank goodness he's found something.

You've seen these before.

They are candle snuffers.

You knew that. You know what candle snuffers are for, don't you?

They are for putting out your candle.

No, they're not.

Stop saying that - it annoys me, the pedant.

Gosh, he's in a mood.

Candle snuffers are for trimming the wick of one's candle.

Quite right. Therefore, these gadgets

are actually wick trimmers and

a candle douser or snuffer to put the flame out.

We're looking at 1770.

1770, come on!

This is powdered wigs territory and frock coats and genteel living.

All right, love.

What's he up to now?

Looks like he's got his metal mojo working.

He has spotted a pair of brass candlesticks

and a pretty copper pot.

If I grabbed the candle snuffers and a pair of candlesticks,

that makes sense.

If I tried to buy...

Ignore the price tags, please.

If I tried to buy...

That's a pretty little lot, is it not?

A pair of brass can...

You see, that's old school.

Ah, the combined price for the snuffer,

the candlesticks and the copper pot is £55.

Can it be cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap,

and then we'll talk about your chest of drawers?

I think he wants it cheap, David.

I'll do you 30 quid the lot.

Where were we, we were 25 quid for the wee cigar box lined chest?

Yes.

25 quid for that and 30 quid for that.

I'll do you 50 quid the lot - there you are.

And you've got a deal.

OK, sir, thank you very much indeed.

Good deal.

No hesitation for Maestro Laidlaw.

Generous David has sold the miniature chest of drawers for £25

and the mixed metalware, also for £25.

Wow!

Meanwhile, Claire has travelled a short distance away

to the South Tyneside village of Cleadon.

Legend has it that Charles Dickens stayed at the local inn here.

But today it's Claire's turn and she is here to shop

and find profit earners.

-Hello!

-Hello.

-Judith. Hello.

Rachel. Nice to meet you. I'm Claire.

Now, Judith is the proprietor here.

Stand by, because Claire is looking to get some bargains.

That's quite sweet. The trouble is,

people just don't like cleaning copper and brass any longer.

Better not tell Paul!

Now then, what's this?

Hopefully photographic slides. Let's have a look.

OK.

Oh, OK.

That's the deck of a ship.

I don't know if it's titled at all.

Glass negative slides.

Produced in stereoscope, the two.

They are in their original box.

Probably for using with a Magic Lantern in the early days.

Before people went to the cinema,

you would go to the Magic Lantern shows.

Magic Lantern shows were very popular with the Victorians.

A precursor to the modern-day movie,

they featured projected images accompanied

by live music and narration.

They are very collectable because some are very, very interesting.

They are a record of the area and they will date from the late

19th century. Might be slightly earlier than that, sort of 1860s.

Time for some narration with Judith.

You've got 95 on those.

I could do 45 because I got those quite cheap.

All right, that's what I like to hear!

Kind discount.

Oh, thank you very much.

Thank you. It's a pleasure, thank you.

Judith has been kind.

The collection of glass slides for

£45 is Claire's first purchase of the day.

Back to Paul. He's journeyed south to the coastal town of Hartlepool

in County Durham.

Mesolithic man once hunted here in the deer-rich forests.

Our very own hunter-gatherer is preparing to spear his own plunder.

-Here comes Paul.

-How are you doing?

-All right?

-Yes, pleased to meet you.

-Good to see you. I'm chomping at the bit, Alan.

-OK.

And he's off for a good rummage.

Look at this. It reclines.

Yes, you won't have to fall when you've had a few whiskys!

Exactly, because the whiskys are there.

A few whiskys and you won't have to fall far.

Look, it's very low to the ground.

-When you've had enough...

-Just slide off!

Put your bottle and glass back in there, then just slump to the floor.

That is fantastic, is it not?

It certainly is.

Now, come on. You're on a mission to beat Claire

and owner Alan is being extra helpful.

You want to check out the attic?

Just watch your head here.

Because it's the attic where everything is.

This is where he is going to find his gem, I know it.

Paul's laser eye focus has found something.

Uh-oh.

-That's not just a walking stick, is it?

-No.

It's a sword stick.

A proper good one.

So, what we have here is a Victorian gentleman's means of

defence when he is wandering the back streets looking for a carriage,

having just walked out of the opera, and the bad guys jump out of

the dark and say, "Hand over your wallet!"

And he says,

"Be gone, braggart, and don't be back or I'll call the Peelers!"

-That's exactly what you need.

-He should be on the stage!

A good find, Paul.

Reasonably collectable, as well, and not a bad one.

I've seen worse. What can it be, Alan?

I was hoping to get 50 quid for it.

Oh, I'll make you a cheeky wee offer.

Stress the cheeky. 30 quid.

Can we go to 40 and then I'll make just a little bit on it, which makes

-me happy.

-Oh, do you know what?

Yes, and here's hoping I make a little bit.

-You'll definitely make a little bit.

-Then we're both happy.

You'll definitely make a profit, I'm sure.

He's found his prey in the attic.

Now, what else is lurking?

I've just pulled that out of the back, actually, to clean it up.

-Is that what the matter is, just dust?

-Just dust.

But what the heck is it?

That, for my money, is about the sexiest

standard-lamp-cum-occasional-table I've seen in years.

That is going to date to 1930, 1935, and what is the aesthetic?

It's Art Deco, isn't it?

For once, it's fair to say it's Art Deco.

It's a much abused term.

That is going to polish up an absolute treat.

You put a nice period-looking pagoda-type silk shade on there,

you stick your martini on there next to the funky armchair and

you feel good.

Do you like?

Depends on what price you can get from Alan.

Can I get 50 quid for it?

-40?

-What?

-30?

-You'll be in freefall.

-All right, 30, 30.

Well, I don't want to go more than 20 quid.

-Yes, that's good.

-Sweet?

-Yes, let's do it.

-Happy with that.

Brilliant.

An Art Deco standard-lamp-cum-table for £20 and the gentleman's

sword stick for £40, excellent work.

Claire has journeyed northwards to the coastal town of Tynemouth.

A busy shipping route for centuries,

the North Sea is also one of the most perilous stretches of water.

Over 150 years ago,

a shipwreck led to the foundation of

the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade,

a unique coastal rescue service

made up of courageous volunteers from the local area.

Claire is meeting with brigade secretary John Wright

to find out more.

Follow on this way and prepare to be surprised.

Oh, OK, thank you very much.

On the cold evening of the 24th of November 1864,

a series of raging storms carried three ships into the notorious

Black Midden rocks.

Despite the wrecks being yards from the shore and the coastguard giving

their best efforts, 32 souls perished that night.

Locals could only watch on, helpless.

One of the witnesses to the wreck was Sir John Morrison, who was

a soldier that was in charge of the gunners in the castle.

He thought that if a trained body of men had been available to help

the coastguard, a lot more lives could have been saved on the night.

Morrison approached civic dignitaries

John and Joseph Spence and a public meeting was arranged.

120 men signed up and the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade was born.

Initially trained by Her Majesty's Coastguard,

the team quickly impressed.

Joseph himself formalised the rules of the brigade in a pamphlet

which was then circulated around the coast by the Board of Trade.

It was this formalising of the functions of the breeches buoy drill

that was the key of the trained body of men.

-Oh, right, so it became much more organised, in other words?

-Yes.

The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade

is the only company that has a modern

set of breeches buoy equipment.

Very simply, this is a rope rescue device,

which passengers of wrecked ships can climb onto and be hauled ashore.

The sea air gets into the breeches buoy and then it's your job, Claire,

-to haul them ashore.

-Save this poor stricken soul...

-Yes. Off you go.

-..who's probably even more terrified

at this very moment, coming across.

Then a man doing communications would shout,

"Man ashore!" The captain will shout, "Avast hauling."

Then we ask the sailor how many people are on the ship and hopefully

he says five, not 30!

-Yes, because it's pretty exhausting.

-Yes, very exhausting.

What they used to do in the old days,

if there was anybody in the crowd standing by that was fit,

they would ask for volunteers.

So, it's still very much an ongoing thing, is it, the Life Brigade?

Oh, yes. The modern TVLB

has 22 volunteers from all walks of life.

We have electricians, doctors, administrators, teachers,

retired people even.

Funded entirely by donations,

the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade are the only specialist coastal

organisation on call 24/7 to all of the emergency services,

attending around 120 call-outs per year -

proving that the terrible night of

the 1864 shipwreck disaster has spawned

an organisation of heroes who have saved hundreds of lives.

Time to call it a day and break for a nice bit of shuteye.

Nighty-night!

# Good morning, good morning

# We've talked the whole night through... #

Wakey-wakey! Our road trip wheels

are on the move once more and our pair

are really rather taken with the racy TVR.

The car is all right, isn't it?

-It's OK.

-It feels a bit cool, it's working.

Well, yes. It feels actually pretty robust, doesn't it?

-Quite tough.

-Yeah.

And we get some admiring glances.

-It's a head turner.

-I like to think it's me, but it's not all about me,

-is it?

-Surely not, I'm sure it is.

He's a charmer.

Let's remind ourselves of what our twosome have bought so far.

Paul has four lots...

The mixed metalware,

the miniature chest of drawers,

the gentleman's sword stick and the Art Deco lamp-cum-table.

Paul has £169.60 for the day ahead.

Our current leader, though, is Claire.

She's being super cautious.

She has one lot, the 19th-century glass slides,

giving her an ample £255.30 to spend.

Ever the gent, Paul's dropping Claire

in the seaside town of Whitley Bay.

-Ta-da. Well...

-Here we are.

-Looking good.

Philip and Linda own this fine emporium.

Claire has got to pick up the pace and start spending her cash.

I have to say, I do rather like cats.

-He is quite eye-catching.

-Quite fun, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Oops.

It's heavier than I thought it was going to be.

Italy, so presumably a souvenir type piece?

I don't know. It's got no name to say where it came from,

just that it originated in Italy.

-Yeah.

-It's all hand-painted, I think, isn't it?

I think it is, yeah. A sort of Italian Wemyss Ware.

-Yes, exactly.

-He's quite goofy.

There was a style. What do you think it is - '60s, '50s?

I would say, yes. Early '60s, late '50s.

-Yeah.

-But it's in good condition. It's not got any damage on it.

-Yes.

-With it being so tall you would think it would get

-knocked over, wouldn't you, yeah?

-It would have it ears knocked off,

or certainly head.

This always makes me very nervous handling this.

It's like I'm going to have a slight spasm and...

-Drop it.

-I'm always quite nervous of ceramics.

That's why I tend to go for things that don't break too easily.

-Right.

-Mind how you go, then.

What's your best price? Cos you've got £25 on him. So...

I'm sure we can do something to help on that one.

-Music to my ears.

-Yeah.

Why don't we do it for 15 for you?

What do you think, mate? £15?

Meow!

He's just begging me to buy him, isn't he?

-Oh, I'll go for it.

-You're going to have him, are you?

-Lovely. Thank you very much.

-Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah. Right, let's put it down before I smash it to pieces.

Yeah, we'll wrap it up for you.

One purchase down and she's on a roll.

Oh, a leather suitcase.

One of my favourites.

Is that for sale, or is that just a doorstop?

Nice old one. I'm sure we could sell it to you if you like.

Now, Claire bought a suitcase in the first leg and made a nice profit.

Could this one do the same?

-I could be working to a theme here.

-Yes.

I just actually love old luggage

and leather goods, which makes me sound slightly weird.

But I love the quality, and also the romance that goes with it.

-Yes.

-Because these were very much in the day when...

That's got initials on the front, as well.

-Yes.

-The person who originally owned it.

-AEC, yeah.

Nice order. I always like it if it's got the labels on, because, I mean,

people did use to scratch them off.

Because then that sorts of adds to the romance of the travel.

You think where it's been.

I just love the...

Well, the lady that came from, it had been her parents',

-when they got married.

-Oh!

They took it away with them on honeymoon.

-Oh, how nice.

-That's how it's initialled and everything.

Oh, right. What price would that be?

Well, we've got 45 on it at the moment, Claire.

-Yeah.

-So possibly we can do

something to help you on that one, yeah.

Yeah, because I know what they make at auction...

Yes, at auctions they are not going to bring as much as that.

No, no. I would hope at auction it might make, sort of, 20, 25.

Can you come down somewhere closer

to that where I can make a bit of a...

Well, I wouldn't really like to come down as low as 20,

but we'll do it for 25 for you if there's enough room in there.

We'll split the difference and 22?

Yes, all right. We'll do that.

-Excellent. My cat and my suitcase.

-Great.

-Thank you.

Thank you very much, Philip. That's excellent.

There we have it. £15 for the pottery cat

and 22 for the vintage suitcase.

Meanwhile, Paul's off on a mission to the town of Blyth.

At the time of the First and Second World Wars,

the north-east of England was significant,

due to its naval shipbuilding and weapons industry.

This, combined with the long, exposed coastline,

made Northumberland a prime target for a German invasion.

In 1916, the MoD gave orders to build

Blyth Battery to ensure the coast was defended.

Paul's meeting with Colin Derwood to get the lowdown.

Colin, how are you doing?

-It's a pleasure to meet you, Paul.

-I like the look of your beach hut.

Come on, we'll go and have a look at it.

Blyth Battery has the most intact

coastal defence buildings in the world,

with the First World War observation post

being the only surviving example of its type.

The armoured turret was a look-out post for

gathering intelligence.

Oh, man. What!

So the whole cupola revolves?

Yes, the whole lot rotated and from

the sides there was smaller gear wheels,

shafts, and you can see some of the original plugs...

-I see, yeah.

-..where there was a cranking mechanism.

-Hand?

-One either side for to rotate the whole top.

Fantastic.

The operator would have either stood in a basket suspended from it...

-What?

-..or on a base.

-Right.

-Remembering it doesn't turn very fast.

It only has to follow a ship.

And from that door there, and that door there,

was a nine foot Barr & Stroud split-image rangefinder.

-Yes.

-A big brother to this one.

-Yeah.

This enabled the artillery spotter

to observe anything unusual at sea up to several miles away.

The information could be passed

downstairs and they would have phoned it

across to the gun platform,

where the guns could have been loaded and ready

-to take enemy action.

-Oh, my word.

What a thought.

I'd love to have been here in 1918.

A howling gale blowing like today, guys cranking the cupola,

and the Kaiserliche Marine cruising up there.

-What!

-Yes, it would have been tremendous.

Enemy action, action stations!

It is absolute...

What a gem of a place.

I think it's safe to say Paul is in his element.

When World War II loomed,

another battery post was built to strengthen defences.

Again, this sweeping horizon,

-whereupon the enemy could be lurking.

-It's beautiful.

I've got to say, for the guy in 1918 it could be quite terrifying,

the hum of a Zeppelin engine overhead. But I don't know in 1940,

the prospect of the horizon being black with landing craft...

-Enemy ships.

-That's... That's seriously hairy.

It's different, different.

With the advent of World War II, the Blyth Battery was still a deterrent

to a Northumberland invasion.

Colin, what number of men served here during the war?

There was five officers and 110 regulars

from the garrison artillery.

They were supplemented by men of the Home Guard,

who used to come down from 1940.

But by 1944, the threat of an invasion had subsided

and when all the regulars went away for the big push in Normandy, it was

-the Home Guard who ran this all by themselves.

-Dad's Army.

At the end of the Second World War, the guns were removed

and the battery became popular beach chalets in the '50s

and thereafter was used by lifeguards.

This continued use has ensured its survival.

Baywatch, eat your heart out!

So we've gone from the Great War and Zeppelins,

the Second World War invasion threats,

and now we are enjoying this as...

Its legacy is educational, isn't it?

It's as educational centre, exactly, yes.

It's went from wartime to education.

Over 100 years.

Isn't that fantastic?

Well, I've got to say, I have had the best couple of hours

-I've had in many a moon. Thank you very much.

-Pleased you've enjoyed it. Thank you.

Blyth Battery is the lasting testimony of a small

British town playing a vital role during the war effort

and, thankfully, still survives to this day.

Claire's also travelled to Blyth.

She's got over £218 to play with.

Johnny Boy's Antiques & Modern Furnishings

is her last shop of the day. So watch out, Johnny.

Ah, John, hello. Hiding behind your desk.

-How are you? I'm Claire.

-I'm fine.

Rustic walking sticks.

I always like looking in cabinets. What have we got here?

A Sikes hydrometer. Is it all right if I have a look at that?

-Yes. Feel free.

-Right.

Quite nice little instruments, these.

I like the boxes, as well, with the original plaque in the top of it.

There we go. There it is.

I think it's for, I don't know, is it the brewing industry or...

It's sort of specific gravity.

You sort of measure it.

One little weight missing. It's a shame, very often,

because they were only very small brass ones, aren't they?

It's got its thermometer in it, though.

Sikes hydrometers were used by

distillers to measure proof of alcohol,

and hence the duty payable.

It isn't dated but I would think, looking at the quality of it,

we are looking at a very late 19th, early 20th century.

No price on it at all...

I've got to see 40.

It's a nice item. They're quite collectable,

but they've got a reasonably limited market. So 25 no good?

-30?

-28?

-Go on.

-28?

OK. Yeah. 28's good on that one.

-No problem.

-The other thing I noticed, John,

when I came in, some walking sticks over here.

Which I think would make a nice little group, actually.

I quite liked the look of these.

I think that was the other I quite liked.

I was thinking maybe £5 to £8 for the group?

As a nice little group? £5?

Cheeky! She'll stop at nothing, that one.

They've got a price of a tenner each!

-Make it ten.

-Eight.

Go on.

Thank you very much, indeed. That's good.

You're lucky, Claire, that Johnny is so generous.

Thank you indeed, Johnny.

The hydrometer for £28 and the walking sticks for £8.

Wow!

Meanwhile, Paul's got winning on his mind.

I'm looking for the piece that's been missed, that

is going to fly under the hammer and reverb.

Leave Claire in the rear-view mirror.

Game on, Paul.

He's travelling to the Northumbrian town of Amble.

And look, just across the field lies the historic Warkworth Castle.

Artique is Paul's final shopping destination.

This is a huge emporium. There's around 30 dealers here.

-Is it Mark?

-It is Mark.

-How are you doing?

-Nice to meet you.

Paul has £169.60 weighing down his wallet.

What is going on here, then?

Be still, my beating heart.

I turned around, looked down, period photographs.

Aerial photographs. Who takes aerial photographs?

The military and spies, do they not?

OK, I'm interested.

You got me.

German naval units.

There you go. Aerial photographs, open water and dock.

You'll recognise this name, Tirpitz.

Battleship length, 815 foot overall, built at Marinewerft Wilhelmshaven,

the home of the German Navy.

OK. I'm seriously interested.

I can tell you for nothing they are mid-20th century, are they not,

so we're probably, possibly looking at the Second World War.

Well, he's certainly cheered up.

Look at this! A Narvik Class III destroyer.

A group photo of U-boats at Danzig, similar at Kiel.

Absolutely fantastic stuff, this.

A Dutch gunboat and M-class minesweeper.

Wait a minute - here's a box.

Description, stereoscope and German naval views.

Don't get me started about stereoscopy.

Incredible subject. Traces its...

This is the viewing of photographs

through a viewer, giving a 3-D effect. £45.

Come on. That's not a lot of money by any measure.

What might it be worth? Well, the truth of the matter is,

I suspect the photographs and the stereo viewer may not be related,

they may have been brought together.

If I'm right, the more valuable element, arguably,

is the aerial photographs.

The World War II reconnaissance photographs are a real find.

Could this be his flyer at auction?

Dealer Mark is on hand to talk money.

Caught my eye. Stereoscopic photographs of German battleships.

Fantastic, Second World War.

I'm really into stereoscopy.

I see the stereo viewer, I see it in what looks like Admiralty grey,

and I think, "I've got a wartime package here."

I am wrong, as you probably know if you're familiar with this lot.

-Because the viewer itself is post-war.

-Right.

It's late '60s, '70s.

And it is for large-scale stereo views, not these.

Not the smaller ones, OK.

So I know that we could do... For the whole package, we can come down.

It's £45 on it.

-Yeah.

-We could do that for 30.

There's no point clowning about.

-30.

-Yeah.

-Done deal.

That was thrilling.

The potentially lucrative

World War II aerial reconnaissance photographs

and the large stereoscopic viewfinder for £30.

And that completes our second leg shopping extravaganza.

Paul has a total of five lots - the combo lot of metalware,

the miniature chest of drawers, the gentleman's sword stick,

the Art Deco lamp and table,

plus the batch of reconnaissance photographs and stereoscopic viewer.

HE WHISTLES

Paul has spent a total of £140.

Claire was a little more cautious, but also bought five lots.

The collection of glass slides,

the pottery cat, the vintage suitcase, the Sikes hydrometer

and a group of walking sticks.

For all that, she spent a total of £118.

Come on, you two. Thoughts on one another's buys?

I was a bit confused by... Well, I thought they were library steps.

But I gather it's a lamp.

I don't quite understand that.

I don't think that cat is Claire Rawle.

I think if I swapped anything,

I quite like his little chest of drawers.

OK. I think maybe I claw back the deficit

and go into the lead with this one.

You heard it.

Laidlaw just jinxed himself at auction.

Let's hope not.

It's auction time, and our road tripping pair

are heading for their second auction at East Boldon in Tyne and Wear.

Let's do a bit of de-misting, I think.

You're breathing too much.

I can't see. Stop breathing, please.

OK, I'll just suffocate myself for you.

-Right, well, here we are.

-Still in glorious sunshine.

-Beautiful, isn't it?

-Clash of the stereo views begins.

Yes, may the best man or woman win, eh?

This family run auction room has been on the go for over 30 years.

Our auctioneer today is Giles Hodges.

Come on, spill it, Giles, about our duo's offerings.

The Art Deco standard lamp,

great 1930s, classic of the period, might fly,

especially because we're online as well.

Well, what do we say about the ceramic cat?

Icon of the 1950s.

Not to everybody's taste.

Quiet, please. The auction is about to begin.

Quite comfortable, isn't it?

-Let's slide off this.

-Oh, you can't take these two anywhere.

First up are Claire's batch of walking sticks.

I hope they're a very discerning audience for walking sticks.

Somebody bid me a tenner for all the walking sticks.

-Please.

-Tenner I'm bid.

10 in the room. At £10.

15, anyone else now?

15. The bid's upstairs at 15. 20? 25. 25.

At £25, we're upstairs.

30? At £30, downstairs right.

At £30, ladies and gentlemen, in the room at 30 quid.

Look at that. Not bad, Claire. A good profit to start proceedings.

I'm trying not to look too smug at the moment,

because I think it could be all downhill from here, but still...

That's not the spirit, Claire.

Paul's next with his Art Deco lamp-cum-table.

What attracted you to your standard lamp?

The fact that it's beautiful!

I'm bid 10 to start, at 10.

£10? 10. 15 by the door.

15. 20? 5. 30. 5. 35 by the door.

Anybody else? At 35, 40.

-£40.

-No!

What you mean, no? It's lovely, I'm telling you.

In the room at £40 for the last time.

-£40!

-Very good.

Paul Laidlaw!

£40, beautiful.

Yeah, precisely.

And this means you're just behind Claire in the profit stakes.

Next, it's Claire's pottery cat.

Do you wish it was still back in the sanctuary?

-A tenner and away.

-Cheeky!

Bid me a fiver, then. £5 upstairs.

5, 10, 15.

£15, all done, ladies and gentlemen?

At 15.

OK, so I've lost a little bit on that.

I think you did well there, to be honest.

On we go.

Can Paul's metalware lot help him edge into the lead?

£10 starts me.

15. Straight in the room at £15.

20, anybody now?

£15 on the right.

At £20. 25.

At £25 in the room. We're waiting online, yes or no, £25.

Another break even means Claire still clings on to her lead.

THEY LAUGH

Oh, behave, you two.

It's Claire's Sikes hydrometer next.

30. At £30. 30. £30?

Anybody else for a fiver?

35? Got the hand.

At £35. 40, anybody else?

40, downstairs left.

£40. 45. 50. 55.

£55, upstairs right. Your bid, sir.

That's more like it.

Claire's launched further into the lead.

-Smile. Keep smiling.

-I can't. I'm struggling.

I'm getting aching cheeks, you know.

Maybe the miniature chest can cheer you up.

-Is my bottom lip quivering?

-Stop it! Stop it!

Somebody start me, £20 for it.

£20, we're in straightaway at 20.

£20. 25. 30. 35.

35, shakes his head. At £35.

40, anybody?

At £35, last chance.

All done at £35.

Nice little earner, Paul,

but it's not enough to move in front of Claire.

-There's a lot to be said for low expectations.

-Yeah.

Claire loves her vintage luggage, it's the suitcase next.

I'm bid straight in on commission, £10 to start me.

15. £15. 20.

25. 30. £30 online, 35.

It's against you now, 40. 45.

At £45. It's gone quiet to my left. At £45, in the room at 45.

Luggage is a good bet for profits, eh?

Claire's still in the lead.

I'll be keeping my eye out for more of that.

It's Paul's stereoscopic viewer and aerial photographs next.

He loves this lot.

50 bid, straight in at 50.

-At £50.

-Straight in at 50?

-60. 65, 70. 75. 80, 5.

£85.

Someone wants them in the room.

95. 100. 110. We're upstairs at 110.

You're out online. 120. 130, 140.

150?

We're still upstairs. You're out downstairs at 150.

Are we all done at 150?

-Well done.

-In the room as well.

And that wasn't through gritted teeth, Claire.

An astounding result, well done.

Can Claire's glass slides help her catch up on Paul?

-What are the nerves like?

-Not good.

£40. Straight in on commission.

£40? Anybody for another five?

At £40, for the last time, ladies and gentlemen.

At £40?

Somebody got a bargain.

Bad luck, Claire.

And to finish the proceedings, it's Paul's gentlemen's sword stick.

Fingers crossed.

Not too hard.

I've got two commission bids. 80 starts me.

At £80.

That's where I hoped it would end.

85, 90. 95. 100. 110. £110 upstairs. Anybody online?

At £110, are we all done, ladies and gents?

At £110?

-Fair enough.

-Here endeth the journey.

Another monster profit for Paul.

-I think we need coffee and a bun, don't you?

-I think we do.

Lead on.

What an auction, and I think we can work out the winner, eh?

Here are the calculations, anyway.

Claire began leg two with £300.30,

and after auction costs made a profit of £33.70.

Claire's grand total to carry forward is £334 exactly.

Paul started the second leg with £279.60

and left Claire far behind with a huge profit of £155.20.

The Laidlaw is back.

He is today's victor

and has a mighty £434.80 for the next leg.

Good man.

Two down, Claire.

-Two down.

-Yeah. We're getting there.

It's 1-1, and it's still all to play for.

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, it looks like Paul and Claire

-need a new sat nav.

-It's just like being in the Mediterranean.

It seriously could easily be abroad.

Until you get out of the car and quite a wind hits you.