Episode 7 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts, with £200 each,

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

That hurts.

The aim?

To make the biggest profit at auction,

but it's no mean feat, there'll be worthy winners, and valiant losers.

So much!

So, will it be the high road to glory?

Or the slow road to disaster?

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

It's the third leg of our Antiques Road Trip, with treasure hunters

David Barby and Margie Cooper, in their open top, 1979,

Mercedes 350 SL,

and with two wins in a row, David is looking for a hat-trick.

I always like to get a little sparkler.

But I don't know, it's all the luck of the draw.

Margie has slowly but surely been growing her cash

over the last two auctions, which means she now has £294.40 to spend.

David, on the other hand, has more than doubled his money,

giving him a whopping £485.60 to splurge.

The route takes our road trippers from Alnwick in Northumberland

through the beautiful English countryside, to the final destination of Lincoln,

200 miles away.

But this leg begins in Bridlington on the coast,

before heading inland to the auction in the home of snooker, Sheffield.

Bridlington is a quaint seaside town,

bringing back some happy memories for David.

Do you know, this sort of holiday resort takes me back to

when I was very young, in the 1950...

er, 1960s!

THEY LAUGH

Yeah, right.

You were probably building sand castles here in 1643,

when the Royal troops landed to fight in the English Civil War.

But the only battle David faces today is with the Mercedes.

Right, now then, which is your shop?

-This is so difficult, getting out of this car.

-Now, which is your shop?

-Yours is up there, isn't it? The Georgian Tea Rooms.

-Yeah.

-And mine's here. All the very best.

-Is that sincere?

It's always sincere.

The first stop for David is Priory Antiques.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-David Barby. You're?

-Irene Cook.

-Hello, Irene.

Can you point me in the direction of somewhere, let's say silver?

-Do you have any silver?

-Yes, we've got some...

some nice silver buttons in here.

Yes, they're quite pretty.

Now, what's David up to here?

Silver is Margie's speciality.

Could he be playing her at her own game? Sneaky.

Right, these are quite small, they are probably blouse buttons.

They are for a lady. And they have got a female design on them.

I think the female is playing a lyre, so it's very Grecian, isn't it?

-What's the price on those?

-Well, they are 70.

-70!

Yes.

It's got to be a bit less than that.

-I was thinking around about £40.

-What about 50?

Can I say 45? Split the difference.

-OK.

-45.

-Yeah.

-OK.

-OK.

-That was quick.

-It was, wasn't it?

Can you take me somewhere else? Show me another object.

Nearby, at the Georgian Tea Rooms,

Margie has found some silver of her own.

Two Edwardian scent bottles, at £35 for the pair.

So, how cheap would those be?

I think, considering I did buy them at a car boot sale,

there's a little bit of money in it for me.

-Yeah.

-So, 20 quid, I'd walk away with a bit of a profit.

-A deal. Thank you.

-So, we'll put those there, and I'll move on.

Another quick purchase, most unlike Margie.

Little pally pencils that...

they collapse. They're great.

But look at this one, it's a miniature one. It's £19!

And I really like it.

Miniature propelling pencils were popular with Victorians.

They could be attached to charm bracelets for a lady

out shopping, or even used with a dance card.

And would you believe it? Here is a card that would have been marked.

And I've actually never seen one of these.

So there's a list of all the dances,

and then each dance would have somebody's name.

And I think this has been... Let me have a quick look.

Yeah, somebody's put Spiderman on there!

That's what they look like, and I've never seen one of those before.

It's original.

I'm trying to work out what the one step is.

I don't know, absolutely no idea.

You certainly don't see it in any of the modern dance programs.

Yeah, I quite like that, but I'm not convinced it's Victorian.

-Well, I could do it for 15, and throw in this card...

-Right.

..to make up a package. 12 at the very best. 12 at the death.

Yeah, not ten?

THEY LAUGH

You're amazing, you know? Absolutely amazing.

-Yeah, I know, aren't we awful?

-Hang on, just let my heart...

settle down a bit.

-OK, ten.

-All right.

-Yeah.

-Brill.

-Thank you.

-Do you think I'll make a fortune?

-No.

-Very striking.

-It is, isn't it?

-That's £40.

-It's very exhibition, isn't it?

At £40, it's too much for the type of pottery that it is.

-A 1960s West German vase, in case you were wondering.

-15.

-SHE WHISPERS

-25.

-My original price on that was £15.

-'Why are they whispering?'

And I'd like to keep to £15, if you don't mind?

-Don't feel under any pressure.

-Come down to 17.

£15.

It's got to be 15, I can't see it any more.

Erm, how about 16?

You're a hard woman. Really hard. Thank you very much.

£61.

I bet he'll use that "no change," line, all for the sake of a pound.

Have you some change, please, or would you strike that off?

-£60 exactly.

-You're a hard man, aren't you?

-Go on then, we'll make it 60.

-Cheeky beggar!

He got the vase for £15, after all.

Just as he's about to leave, David spots a rustic-looking garden bench.

But, with a price tag of £200, he needs to try it before he buys.

What exactly is he plotting?

-I think £60 is adequate.

-I can't come down to that.

-You can!

-I can't.

-68.

-We'll split the difference at 65 and that's it.

-I won't say anything more.

-68!

Good for you, girl. That will shut him up!

You've had your wicked way with me.

Perish the thought!

Margie is also settling her account.

£10 for the propelling pencil and dance card

and £20 for the pair of scent bottles.

-£30.

-Thank you very much. I'll need change, after all.

-Sure.

-If you give me ten...

-Just in the nick of time.

-Margie!

-Hello.

-Hello, darling!

-I'm moving on.

-How are you doing?

OK. You?

I'm just going out here. You can come in now.

-I'm going to go in your shop.

-OK.

Best of luck across there.

He's probably been in and bought all the bargains, but never mind.

I don't know what David will have bought. Something quirky!

-It's behind you!

-There's loads of things. It's really interesting.

-You've just got to think, you know.

-It's behind you!

What's going to sell well?

Oh, for the love of...

This is a funny old thing, isn't it?

Look at that! It's a very imaginative piece, isn't it?

Yes, it is. A real cartwheel from a real cart.

The only thing missing is the horse.

Prrr!

Ha! Thanks, Margie.

Now, go and find something David hasn't bought.

What about that Mackintosh-style oak cabinet at £65?

I could do it for 40.

-40's a good price.

-Yeah.

-Especially with the glass -

-the bevelled glass.

-I do like the glass. It is nice, yeah.

I'm just trying to imagine, is somebody going to...?

Like it as much as you do?

Absolutely!

The only way that you feel confident is that it becomes so cheap.

I know it sounds pathetic but a couple of pounds off 40 would help.

-38?

-Oh, great.

-Well, I'll buy it.

-OK then.

-Thanks a lot.

All shopped out in Bridlington, it's time for our experts to move on.

Yeah, thanks, guys. Who's going to carry that cabinet

and huge great bench off to auction, eh?

Back on the road, our experts head to Hull,

where Margie is making a pit stop

for an Humber-lievable driving experience.

You love Humber cars.

I'm not so sure I know what Humber cars look like.

Well, they're rounded.

They're so typical of the 1940s, 1950s, aren't they?

You can't think of a quality car without thinking of a Humber.

Quality cars! Here? Are you sure?

That's more like it.

This is a private collection of 28 Humber cars, owned by Alan Marshall.

-I think you'll find all the best stuff's kept in here.

-Oh, my word!

What an amazing collection!

Alan's businessman father started the collection in 1960

with a second-hand Humber and used it to deliver potatoes.

These silver dream machines, favoured by the ruling classes,

were nicknamed old faithfuls for their reliability.

By the 1920s, the company, founded by Thomas Humber of Sheffield,

had established itself as a motor car manufacturer

of the highest quality.

Its original owner was Baroness Rothschild.

This, of course, was the debutant era of the big dresses

and high hair. Diamonds and fares.

The doors hinge backwards.

Then, what Humber did was raise the floors by about six inches

to cover the transmission tunnel,

so it allowed the ladies to walk in forwards, without having to shuffle.

And she could do a complete turn and then sit.

I was told the baroness actually used to sit at this side here.

She was quite vain and she loved to be seen by the people on the side of the road.

If you had the Pullman, this was the bees knees.

The cars were particularly popular with the Royal family.

King George VI had a fleet of 47 Humbers.

For anyone that was anyone, these were the cars to be seen in.

It was formerly the property of Edward and Mrs Simpson,

in their courting days.

-My word!

-It's the only one of its type in the world that we know of.

It's called the Humber Snipe. It's a 1932 model.

Because of the couple's clandestine relationship,

this unique Royal car was ordered with a very special spec.

You can see it's got a very small back window and very dark inside.

I think you get more of an impression by sitting in

and sitting right back.

Imagine you're going around the streets of London.

-Nobody can see you in the back of the car.

-Totally private!

Open the cupboard doors at that side.

-There's a lovely reading lamp in there.

-Oh, look at that!

A cigar lighter.

There's even a little safe-deposit box under the carpet.

I'm sitting where Mrs Simpson sat.

Fantastic, eh? Anything down...?

-Ooh, hang on!

-I've checked.

Have you checked? I fancy myself in here with a future king.

Well, if you want to be a queen, Margie,

you'd better get accustomed to the lifestyle.

Bring your tiara with you.

I haven't brought it with me, what a shame!

Right, here we go. Not too far. I don't want to use all your petrol.

-Right, I'm ready.

-Elbow on the armrest, please.

-Elbow on the armrest.

-Hand up vertical.

And wave!

CAR HORN

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Tell you what, you're very good at that!

Now, Margie, don't get too comfortable in there,

because it's time to rejoin David in the Merc and get shopping again.

And, rather uncharacteristically,

the master is getting a little jumpy.

And now I'm being quite truthful with you - I'm in a panic mode.

So, I may buy the first thing I see.

Oh, right!

David and Margie are travelling 60 miles across country

to the next shop in Harworth,

a small town in the county of Nottinghamshire.

Here we go! There it is!

Oh!

Harrison's is quite literally a warehouse full of antiques.

Surely there's something here for David,

if he can make it out of the car, that is.

CAR HORN

Stop it!

Are you trying to announce your arrival?

-Hello.

-Good morning.

-David Barby.

-Charlotte Harrison.

Pleased to meet you.

And, as David get into his stride,

it's not long before he's drawn to a piece of Bretby Art Pottery.

-I'll give you that for £5.

-You're not giving me it.

-I'm paying £5 for it.

-You cheapskate!

-I've got another piece.

-Yeah.

-I could have combined with that.

-Right.

One of those West German vases, stands about that big.

I just thought that might add a little bit of interest.

So, David's thinking of combining this vase with his German one.

Come on, man! A fiver's hardly going to break the bank.

It's stencilled, isn't it, design?

Er, no need to rush a decision, eh?

Right, just let me continue my perambulations.

No problem.

Well, food for thought then and time for a ponder and a wander.

What about a nice piece of silver?

A hallmarked vase by Walker and Hall of Birmingham.

It's quality.

£84!

What's the best on that?

I would allow you to have it for 60.

-What about 50?

-Meet you halfway - 55!

It's too much. And the school board?

Right, the price on that is 200.

-Oh, sugars!

-Produced by Orme and Sons,

one of the most respected makers of billiard tables,

this late 19th-century school board

could be a nice little earner for David.

-I know it's got the button missing on the end...

-It has.

So, for that, I can knock you off £20 then.

Just 20?

Well, how much do you think you'd like to pay?

Could it be 120?

I would say... My lowest I can take

is 150. I'm being good to you.

150.

-Crikey!

-Thank you.

That's something you don't see every day.

You've been lucky today selling that.

Oh my God, you've taken that hand so quickly.

Well, Charlotte scores on the board but Barby is still after a winning pot.

-That vase, would you throw it in with that?

-If you want me to.

Thank you very much. I'm happy. OK, lovely.

But, will they go snooker loopy for this

over at the auction in Sheffield?

-How much are they?

-£40.

I'm just going to look at this really bad one.

The pictures are of winners of the renowned St Leger's Stakes -

a horse race that has taken place in Doncaster since 1776.

This one's called...

Blue Bonnet.

Blue Bonnet by Touchstone. Winner of the St Leger in 1812.

Got to go for these, haven't we?

Margie is taking a £40 punt on the gee-gees.

But, what are the odds on them doing well at auction?

40's the absolute...?

-Oh, yes.

-Oh, yes.

-That is an absolute...

-Steal.

-It's a steal, yeah.

-I'm not going to argue with you. Thank you very much.

-One, two...

-Lovely!

Three, four.

No, £40. You give me 20s.

See how honest we are!

-I'll give you the benefit of the doubt!

-What an idiot!

Gosh, she's hardly got any money as it is and now she's giving it away.

-Right, here I go.

-Good luck to you.

-Bye.

As Margie goes next door, it seems David has not been idle.

This is a piece of Worcester porcelain.

And it's quite a well-known design.

A little bit rubbed there on the gilt,

but this is in the form of a shell with coral.

You've got the lizard going up the side there, all in gilt.

This is typical sort of 1880/1890 top-quality porcelain.

Really very nice.

I like that. I'll ask the price on that.

-£50.

-Is that the best?

Yeah, I would say so, yes.

-Would you do it for 40?

-Er, 45?

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Right.

Another item for David. Hurrah!

Now, remember that silver vase he liked?

Like a magpie, silver. It draws me.

He got the price down to £55.

Can Margie do any better?

Nice vase.

1930s...

..Walker and Hall.

How much is this, Charlotte?

-I bet it's going to be too dear.

-That's £85.

-Yeah.

Jolly nice.

How much is it worth to you?

It would be half.

I would go as low as...50.

You're being very fair but it's just got to be a dead cert.

If you really want it, I will let you have it for 40.

£40. Yeah.

Hold on, that's £15 less than David was offered.

-It's a bargain at half the price.

-Do you think so?

It's not a bargain, it's a good buy.

It's not a bargain, it's a good buy.

More like an excellent buy, Margie.

Thank you very much.

Now she's on a roll, Margie's off to Rotherham

to squeeze in one last shop.

-Hello. Hi, Margie!

-Hi!

-How are you doing?

-Not that brilliantly in the last hour.

Oh, dear! Come through, have a look around.

-Yeah, OK. You're mainly furniture, aren't you?

-Mainly furniture.

Yes, I'm just trying to find a little piece to go with my last item,

which is to do with writing or miniatures

or something like that.

I've just thought about that little silver charm bracelet.

It's got some dancing slippers on.

It's very nice. So, how much?

Well, it should be 45, er, £40.

I think that's too dear for me.

You see, I've bought something else.

-Mmm.

-Yes, that's very nice of you...

It cost me 25. Do it for 35.

Margie has gone miniature mad.

-We'll shake on that.

-Thank you very much. I hope you'll do well with it.

I do, too. I do, too.

Well, that wraps it up. Shopping completed,

let's remind ourselves what our experts have snaffled up.

Margie began this leg with £294.40,

and has spent £183 on five auction lots.

She's bought a pair of Edwardian scent bottles,

a miniature Victorian pencil along with the dance card,

a 1960s Silver Charm bracelet, an early 20th century oak cabinet,

three varnished lithographs of racehorses and a silver vase.

David, meanwhile, started off with £485.60,

and parted with £323 exactly,

for five lots comprised of a 1920s bench, two pottery vases,

a Royal Worcester bowl, a set of six Art Nouveau buttons

and a mahogany snooker game scoreboard.

Right, let's see what they thought of each other's purchases.

I think he's bought really well today.

The risk is the billiard scoreboard

but, there again, if somebody's got a billiard table, erm,

that could do really well.

The items I don't think will do well are those lithographic prints,

which are in such an awful state.

Made to look as though they are actual oil paintings on canvas

but they are not.

OK, Mr smarty-pants. Let's find out!

From Rotherham there's one final push on to Sheffield

and auction day.

I think we're going to do quite well here, Margie.

-Well, I think you might!

-I really, really do.

-I'm not as excited as you are!

-I'm getting quite excited about this.

-Margie, all the best.

-And to you, too.

-Thank you.

Today our experts are doing battle at Sheffield Auction Gallery,

which has been in business since 1840.

Auctioneer Robert Lea is ready to lead proceedings.

-Here we are, here we are.

-Here we go.

First up for Margie, it's the pair of Edwardian scent bottles.

28, a marker.

28...£30. 32...35... 38...£40.

£40...42...45...48...50.

-£50, hammer's going to drop!

-It's a fair price.

The sweet smell of success for Margie

and a good profit on her first lot.

-That's excellent. He sold those well.

-He did, bless him.

David's vase combo is up next -

the 1960s West German piece and the more traditional Bretby.

-£28 this lot and you're paying for the two.

-28?

30, I'm after.

£30 it must be to take the commission...

Come on, come on.

That's one, there's one over there.

Looking at 32 to progress.

£30 standing bid.

32, gentleman on my left.

-Oh!

-Got to be 35. 32 only.

Anyone offering any more? They've got to go! Over now, it's 32.

Oh, he's trying so hard.

-Ugh!

-It's a profit.

Not a bad start for David but Margie takes an early lead.

-It's not £30 profits like yours!

-Look at...

SHE LAUGHS

Now it's Margie's bundle of the Victorian propelling pencil

and dance card with the Silver Charm bracelet.

Must start the bidding at...

£18, 20 I'm after.

£20 I need to move on.

-With me at £18 on commission...

-Oh, my Lord.

-..22, 25, madam.

I'm out.

Disaster.

Margie's cards are well and truly marked as she makes a loss of £20.

25? Oh, that's ridiculous.

Next it's David's star buy, the Royal Worcester nautilus shell

and he's banking on this being a huge success.

40 I'm after.

-£40, it must be elsewhere.

-Eh?!

£40...42...45...

-There you go.

-..48...50...

He's on the hook.

-I can't believe it!

-On my right so far.

Hammer's going to drop at £50.

-Are we finished?

-Oh, £50. Oh, that is ridiculous.

Not quite the profit David was expecting,

giving Margie the chance to catch up.

Let's see if she can close the gap with the silver vase

that David ALMOST brought.

Lot of interest for,

to start the bidding at...

-£50

-..£55.

60, I'm after, elsewhere...

Has it stopped at 60?

Should go for 80, should go for 80.

..£70, gentleman on my left so far...

-Should go for 80.

-Anyone else for 75? It's going to go. All over £70.

-Margie, that was good.

-Bit disappointed.

A silver lining for Margie and another healthy profit.

-That's another £30!

-Yes, I know, but the last lot got wiped out.

David's set of Art Nouveau silver buttons is up next.

They're crackers!

£30, 32 I'm after. 32...35...38. I'm out for £40.

-42...45...48...

-Hey!

-..No?

-45, I'm with the lady so far.

-Oh, no!

They're so cheap!

£50. 55...60.

55 in white so far. Must be 60 elsewhere.

Somebody said, "They're so cheap."

-55, top of the shop...

-They are cheap.

..they've got to go!

All bid at £55 with the gentleman?

-It's a profit!

-Well...

-..at least I made £10.

-Well done.

David's making small but steady profits

but will they be enough to win him the day?

Now for Margie's tired old horse prints but has she backed a donkey?

-Quite a bit of interest in these. Must start the bidding at £110.

-Oh!

MARGIE LAUGHS

110. 115 I'm after...

-Oh!

-115, 120, 125...

-Oh great!

-With me at 120 so far.

-Anybody else at 125?

-Oh, that's great.

Shout at me if I've missed you. All done at 125?

Hammer's going to drop.

-Sold!

-Wahey!

Racing ahead with the prints,

the odds on Margie winning have just been slashed!

Very good.

I thought they were absolutely appalling!

THEY LAUGH

I thought they were appalling! Oh!

Now it is David's rustic garden bench.

Will it leave him doing cartwheels of his own?

(Come on.)

-Starting at the bottom. 20.

-Oh, don't!

-£20.

22...25...28...£30...32...

35...38...40...two...45...48...

50...five...60...five...70... five...80...five...

90...five....100.

We'll do 105...ten.

No, 105 so far.

-Oh!

-Oh!

-Well done.

A respectable result on the garden seat.

Please be upstanding for Mr David Barby.

More mock-intosh than Mackintosh, it's Margie's final item,

the oak cabinet.

Need 28 move on. 28...£30...

32, madam? Looking at 35, now...

-Oh, this is a thrill.

-..35...

-Good Lord!

-Yeah, go on, just a bit more.

-..with shelves.

35...38...£40.

-42. Seems cheap, this...

-Made a profit.

-42.

-..42, new bid, 45.

-Yes!

-48...50...

-Oh, it's a sweet little thing.

Untidy figure, let's have a half-century...

MARGIE LAUGHS

-Yeah, it's going.

-..60 now...

-Oh, I planned it like this!

-55 in stripes.

At £55, are we done?

Oh, bless it.

I really liked that. I don't care.

-It's made a profit.

-It's made a profit.

Which puts Margie on course for her first victory.

-I doubted that it would...

-I know you would, I know you did.

Right on cue, it's the snooker scoreboard.

David needs a big break on this if he's going to defeat Margie.

Quite a bit of interest in this.

170...180...190...

200...210.

(Yeah, two people at it.)

You can relax now, David.

-..230...240...

-Look at this.

..250...260...

He's potted the black.

-..270.

-THEY GASP

-260 on the phone. So far at 260. Needs to be 270...

-Come on.

-We need a bigger break...

-We do!

-Shh!

-270, new bid.

-280...

-(Come on.)

-290...300...

-Just thought I was getting ahead.

310...320...

Hammer's going to drop! All done, are we, at 320?

In the home of snooker...

-Well done, home of snooker, told you.

-Oh!

Well done.

Look at that, top marks for David as he pockets the princely sum of £170.

I think I need something quite strong.

-I'll go for an orange juice, come on then.

-Yeah, come on, but well done!

Margie started this leg with £294.40

and after auction costs she's made a profit of £79.40,

increasing her spending power for the next round to £373.80.

David started with £485.60 but even after the costs

he has made a profit of £137.84,

increasing his stash of cash to a mighty £623.44,

claiming his third victory in a row.

I'm going to keep trying, and I'm going to keep hopeful.

And I'm going to burst into tears in a minute!

The route for the trip

takes our intrepid travellers from Alnwick in Northumberland

down the North East coast

and on to the final destination of Lincoln.

But this leg begins in Sheffield

and finishes at auction in Nottingham.

Sheffield, home of the three Ss - snooker, steel and...sunshine.

-Oh, this looks exciting!

-Look at this glorious day.

Oh, there's the Emporium over there.

The first shop for David and his bulging wallet of £623 is the Sheffield Antiques Centre,

where owner Danny is waiting.

-Hello!

-Hello.

-What have you got to show me, then?

Easy, tiger!

Vanity Fair prints. There's a set of three.

-I can do you a good price if you're interested.

-What's a good price?

Well, make me an offer.

-They're marked up for 68.

-Oh!

Where's the smelling salts?!

That's not too bad, they're good stuff.

They're all the Spy section.

Spy cartoons were drawn by portrait artist Sir Leslie Ward.

Between 1873 and 1911,

he caricatured over 1,300 popular public figures

for the Vanity Fair magazine.

They've got to be very, very, very, very reasonable.

I'll do half price, seeing it's you and you're good-looking.

You've spoken one truthful word, yes.

-Shameless!

-So...

I'll drop another tenner if you give us a kiss.

-Oh, you know you want to.

-So that brings it down to how much?

-What were we on? Say 60 is 35...

-That's 20.

-Probably about 25 now.

25... Two kisses would reduce it to...five.

Yeah, not that bloody good!

Right, so you're offering me these at about £18, aren't you?

I am, really, when you do the sums right, yes.

Go on, remember the kisses.

They're a bonus, by the way. Not a punishment!

£15.

-Deal.

-Come on, then, pucker up.

Oh! Two, you said.

That's the best bit!

-Sealed with kisses, a deal done at £15.

-Oh, gosh, what have I done?

What have I done is what I'm worried about!

# Kiss me... #

OK, shall I continue looking whilst I'm here?

Cartoons and kisses under his belt, David is left wanting more.

Well, this is, erm... It purports to be a charcoal drawing.

And this is the sort of image

that you would have had drawn for Punch magazine

by Gunning King.

I'm interested in that one, I've bought the Spy prints,

-and I think that could go with the Spy prints.

-OK...

So I've got...I've got cartoons of round about the same period,

so that would have been Vanity Fair, and that's probably Punch

or some ecclesiastical magazine or something like that.

That's 23, it's a little on the top side.

It's no frame and it's badly stained. What's the best you'd do on that?

Is that with or without more kisses, David?

# Kiss me... #

£18 for you, sir.

-18?

-Yes.

OK, so that's £18 and 15 on those. Super, er... Can I settle up in a...

Do you want to take that down, and I'll settle up down there?

-Yes, certainly.

-Shall I settle up with you here now?

We've... Yes, I've got to give you the money.

Penny, are you going to take the money for me?

There's five, ten,

and that's £15.

-I think I ought to have those wrapped up, don't you?

-David, crisis!

-What?

-As we put them back down again, one of the frames broke.

-Sorry.

-Oh!

-I know... We were being so careful.

What do you think?

-Can you make some allowance, please?

-You've had kisses.

-I know. Can you let me have the three at tenner, then?

-Yeah, deal.

-Well, that's...

-Penny, money back. Give the gentleman £5 back.

Thank you very much indeed. OK, I do appreciate that, thank you.

Over at the Antiques Emporium, Margie wants to spend her £373 -

oh, and 80p - but is feeling a bit stuck.

I haven't got a clue, it's not like going to the fish shop,

"Shall I have plaice or haddock?" is it?

No, you just don't know what's going to...

You can't say, "Oh, today I'm going to buy

"a silver cream jug, Georgian," because you might not find it!

So that's why it's so difficult.

Come on, Margie, David manages.

Oh, he manages!

I will! At the end of the day,

but this is a little bit sort of... a bit trinkety here, a bit trinket.

That's a nice piece of furniture - it's a Georgian corner cupboard,

very plain, very simple, probably around about 1760, 1780.

145 for that one.

-Well, he won't want to pay that! Anything else?

-Not bad.

-Oh, that's nice.

-Yes.

-Have you just done that up?

-Just brought that one in, yeah.

What's the price on that one?

-65...

-45 to you.

But David's noticed the table is a marriage,

where two pieces of different furniture have been combined.

-How much might did you say?

-45.

That's a marriage.

DANNY CHUCKLES

35.

-40.

-35.

Go on, then.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank YOU very much. Thank you very much.

Right, let's have a look at these corner cupboards now.

I can do that one... I'll do that one for 75.

And that's your best on that?

That'd be 60. It's got to be worth 60.

Missing shelf inside.

-55. It's got to be about £55.

-It's got to be 50.

-It's got to be 55.

-50, sir.

Go on, then, because things are so bad, I'll take it, yeah!

Margie hasn't been quite so lucky.

Empty-handed, she's itching to get into the Antiques Centre.

Lagging behind, Margie makes a beeline for what she knows best,

the silver.

Oh, that's a Charles Horner. They're nice, very collectable.

Charles Horner of Halifax

made his fortune making thimbles in the 19th century,

allowing him to invest in more decorative silverware,

such as hatpins.

-I've been having a long root in your cupboard.

-Right.

And you've got some very nice things.

So...the dreaded...chat.

-How much for that one?

-So if I bought all three...

-Yeah.

You've got £30 on each. Could you talk 70 for those?

I'm not making anything!

-Oh, dear.

-No, so 25 each is the bottom line, really.

-You're getting tough with me.

-Yeah.

-I don't blame you.

So we're saying £75, yes? For the three.

Thank you very much, thank you.

20.

Once she starts spending, there's no stopping her,

and it doesn't take long before something else catches her eye.

Oh, my goodness, what is that?

If that was refurbed, I could see that fetching really strong money.

-Really?

-I could, yeah.

-You do surprise me!

I think there's a definite future, as they say, in that one.

SHE LAUGHS

-It definitely looks antique.

-Yes.

-That's got a fantastic look about it.

-Yeah.

-I've just...

-How much is it?

-£25.

Well, I must admit, I quite like it.

SHE MOUTHS

Oh, God, I quite like those as well.

These are really interesting, actually.

-They were full of acetate diagrams of machinery.

-Yeah.

-And railway signage.

-They seem to be just boxes there.

-And they're just boxes.

-Right.

-I see the whole package at 65.

-I can't, I just can't do it, no.

£85 for the boxes and the fan.

While Margie splashes the cash,

David has jumped in the jalopy

and is heading 30 miles to Buxton.

David has travelled to the Buxton Museum to meet curator Ros Westwood

to find out all about the Douglas Collection and the man behind it.

-Hello!

-Hello, I'm Ros.

-Hello, David Barby.

I've come to see something rather special.

-You've come to see something which isn't normally on show...

-Oh, right!

..and, er...which is very popular,

and we're the only museum, I think, in the country

-with Houdini material.

-Houdini material.

Hungarian-born but American-raised, Erik Weisz was a global phenomenon.

Better known as Harry Houdini,

he became the greatest illusionist of the 20th century.

And how did you get hold of this?

It comes to us from Randolph and Hetty Douglas.

Local lad Randolph Douglas loved locks.

Son of a silversmith, he had a fascination with

the mechanics of keys, padlocks and escapology.

His life was to change at the age of nine-years-old

after meeting Houdini at the Sheffield Empire in 1904.

Randolph Douglas went to the stage door

-and said, "I think I know how your trick worked."

-Oh, really?

And Houdini thought, "Hmm, better check this out,"

and he went round to the house for supper.

-Yes.

-And...

-He knew the trick.

-Randolph had worked out the trick.

-Goodness me!

And in honour of his hero, he called himself Randini.

It's said that if Houdini was playing in England,

Douglas was behind stage.

From that initial meeting, the pair became lifelong friends.

Houdini would send Douglas

postcards and artefacts from all over the world

which later formed his collection,

now preserved in the vaults of the museum.

-Is this Houdini or...?

-This is Houdini as a young man.

But you can see, "Best wishes, your friend, Houdini."

And dated, er...1920, that one is.

Oh, that is lovely.

-What an elegant guy.

-He was quite a stunner.

-Yeah.

Inspired by his handsome hero,

Douglas would practise great tricks of his own

under the guise of his alter ego, the Great Randini.

-This is Randini.

-Oh, that's...

-1913.

-That's him in a suitcase or box.

-Turn it over.

And try and read.

"Endurance test.

"Remained in steel trunk in upside-down position

"three hours and ten minutes.

"The only means of getting air, through the hinge gaps in the trunk."

Oh, dear, I find that quite uncomfortable.

Douglas designed many tricks of his own,

and whenever he met Houdini, they would exchange ideas.

But there was one in particular

Douglas created especially for the great illusionist.

On one occasion, Douglas invites Houdini back to the house

and demonstrates the hanging upside down

and getting out of a straitjacket trick.

Within two years, Houdini has perfected that

and is doing it on the bridges in America

to rave crowds watching it.

Oh, there he is, upside down.

And this is the upside-down trick on which...

-erm, which is based on Randini's designs.

-Ideas.

-Ideas.

Sadly, Douglas never made it as a performer,

but he lived his dream through Houdini

and his collection of press cuttings.

And so the pages go on until we get a whole pile of blank pages.

And the blank pages go on and on and on

until all of a sudden...

..you get the news, November 14th 1926,

and the death of Houdini.

And you sort of... just those empty pages,

you can feel Douglas getting a real hit in the stomach

with the loss of his friend.

But why the empty pages?

Probably because he had the cuttings

and he would have done it later.

But then, all of a sudden...

..the news comes through, and those have to be put in first.

And then he loses...

You know, his friend has gone, and you just sort of get so...

I always feel very sad when I get to this.

There are just four pages, and that's it.

Ros, I...I don't really know what to say,

because there's overwhelming sadness.

You show me two lives, intertwined.

Houdini and then his adoring fan, Randini, or Mr Douglas.

Thank you very much indeed. It's been absolutely fascinating.

Back on the road, Margie has made a quick escape of her own

to carry on shopping in Chesterfield.

In you go, then, Margie.

Right, it all looks very, very interesting.

Ah! Ah-ha-ha! What are these?

Ah...

These look nice.

Four...silver...salts.

Normally, you have a...a salt and a little salt spoon.

Everybody can have one, can't they?

Rather than keep... offering the salt pot around.

So they're 135, which is just a little bit...

which is too much for me.

-So what can you do for me?

-Well, I can do you those for 75.

Yeah, 75, right.

-Bearing in mind...

-To give you a chance.

Bearing in mind I've got to sell them at auction mighty quick.

-Yes, exactly, but...

-So a teeny bit more?

-Erm...70?

-I was thinking 65.

-OK, yeah. You got me.

-That's fantastic.

-Give you a chance.

-That gives me a chance.

Bye, thank you!

So, David said I'm good at buying silver.

That's what I've done. And I'm very pleased.

Good, Margie. Now, talk of the old devil - where's he got to?

Ah, he's off to Leek. It's his age, don't you know!

Isn't that a stunning view? That really is lovely.

Only joking! Following the Industrial Revolution,

Leek became a major producer of textiles and silk.

Now many of the town's mills have been converted into flats

and even antique shops. Like this one.

-Hi, David Barby.

-Hello David, how are you?

-I'm fine. Your name is?

-John.

-pleased to meet you, John.

Thanks, John. This emporium covers 40,000 square feet.

Wow! Better get a shift on, David.

This is a nice barometer. This one here is a beauty.

In fact, there is a picture with that. I'll go and get it.

Hmm - could this be two for the price of one?

All right, David. Actually, this came from the same house.

I believe they came together.

I can see the association now. The sailors, and the anchor.

Yep, lovely, isn't it?

If you would like to give me, say, £30 for the barometer,

-I'll throw the picture in, because I'd like to keep them together.

-£30.

I've just looked at the face and it's a paper face.

25 for the two pieces. That's the best I can do.

Hmm.

-You've twisted my arm.

-You've broken mine!

THEY LAUGH

Oh, dear.

With the clock ticking, David still needs to find that star buy.

Could it be here?

Hello, it's David Barby. You're...?

-Robert.

-I have a limited time to find a bargain.

I'm sure you'll find one in there somewhere.

-Will you help me?

-I will, come on, then.

Hot on David's heels - look who's rolled into town.

Wow! What a massive place.

Tick-tock then, Margie. No time to hang about, darling.

This is quite an interesting piece of furniture.

Although it has been altered in its day.

It dates from probably the beginning of the 20th Century.

Round about sort of 1910, 1915, before the First World War.

And it smacks of the sort of style that we know as Vienna Secessionist.

And this was a group of artists

that broke away from the mainstream art style, which was Art Nouveau.

One thing that worries me very much

is that it's not in its original state.

You know, we've got one, two, three, four original sections missing,

haven't we? And they would have been projecting hooks there and there.

And probably larger ones, for hats. So that all is replacement.

Which would be for hats and coats and things.

Looks like Margie's found the outdoor section.

Looks like, is that a genuine one? That's a lot, 75 quid.

Oh, it weighs a ton.

It's got that nice little fleur-de-lis there.

Which has broken off, there.

These Victorian hoppers were part of the household guttering system.

I think I'll just have a word with that chap downstairs.

Both decorative and functional,

they would have funnelled rainwater into the down pipes.

-I just thought it was quite interesting.

-That's lovely.

-Yeah, and a very faded ticket.

-Is it?

The faded owner says...£40.

£40. Is there a little bit more?

-Does 38 sound better?

-Shall we go for 35?

-No.

THEY LAUGH

Oh, God. She's beating me up. I'll go to 35.

Fantastic! Thanks, mate, very much.

-How much is it?

-275.

-That your very best on that?

Your very best?

I'll strike a deal with you. If it'll help you, I'll do it at 225.

Let's have a look at it from a distance.

I'll pull it out.

It is a monster. Could you do it at 200? Give me a margin.

I'll go 210.

£210.

We all have to take a gamble from time to time.

I know, I know.

All right, 210.

Oh, my God, what have I done?

£210.

Every time I make a big, big purchase, it goes backside uppers.

HE LAUGHS

Backside up is the polite way of putting it.

Absolutely.

-Ah, look who's here!

-Have you done well, love?

-You'll never guess what I bought.

-Really?

-Did I miss something in there?

-I think you did, actually.

-What did you buy?

-You'll have to find out, won't you?

It's for me to know and you to find out!

Don't worry, David, not long before you discover all,

for that's the shopping all done and dusted.

So let's recap on what our experts have bought.

Margie began this leg with £373.80

and spent £260 on five auction lots: a 1920s electric fan,

a set of six archive boxes, three Charles Horner hatpins,

a set of four Edwardian salts, and two Victorian cast-iron drain heads.

David kicked off with a bumper £623.44,

and has splashed out £340 on five lots.

They are: three Leslie Ward Spy prints

and a drawing from Punch magazine, an oak top table,

a George III corner cupboard,

a barometer with a photograph of two sailors,

and an early 20th-century hall stand.

So, chap and chapess,

What do you think of each other's pieces?

I was really surprised at what he bought this time.

Interesting item, but is that going to make the money?

And he spent over £200 on it. Bit of a worry for him, I think.

So, have I got a chance? Maybe. I've got some quirky items there.

I think she's chosen exceedingly well. And quite varied.

She bought those, what I thought rather uninteresting hatpins,

for £75, which was an absolute gift.

And I can see those going for over £100.

Whether, in fact, I shall be excited at the auction, I don't know!

It's been a busy old trip from Sheffield

via Buxton, Chesterfield, and Leek,

and there's just one last jaunt -

on to the auction in Nottingham.

I think it's going to be your day, Margie.

Feeling a bit confident.

-Are you really?

-Yeah, I am.

-Oh, that's good.

Today our experts are doing battle at Mellors & Kirk,

presided over by Nigel Kirk.

Kicking off, it's Margie's well-seasoned

Edwardian salt cellars.

30?

30 I am bid. Thank you. At 30. Five? Five. 40? 40.

45? 45. 50? £45.

(Oh, you are joking...!)

55. 60? £55 to sell?

Oh, golly gee.

Forget the table salt,

it's smelling salts that Margie needs after that loss!

Shall I lodge a complaint?

Ten pounds? Oh!

Can David do any better with his first item?

The George III corner cupboard.

20? 20 I am bid.

£20 and five? 30?

30. 35? £30.

I shall sell it for 35. 40? £35.

That is so stupid. Don't you think that that is ridiculous?

Oh, dear. A loss for David too.

-That is terrible.

-It is terrible!

-That's 15...

-Oh, God.

-Oh, dear, dear...!

Can Margie's silver hatpins hold it together?

I like these.

30 bid, thank you.

At 40. 50? 50. 60 for you?

60 in the corner. 70?

70 now. 80? 90?

8...£90. £80 rather! It's my bid.

Here at £80. You're quite sure at the back? At 80.

Well, at least they made a profit.

Hooray! The first profit - £5 for Margie.

So... shall we have an early lunch?

Don't worry. Mine's next.

Yep, the pressure's on, David.

It's his oak barometer and sailor picture, next.

£20 for it, please. 20 I am bid.

Thank you. At 20 and five. Five.

30? 30. 35? £30. Five anywhere?

£30 all done.

That's wiped out on the commission.

A small ray of sunshine and a small profit,

but not enough to get David out of the red.

-Well, you couldn't expect any more, could you?

-What was it - 35?

-No, 30.

-Oh, is that all?!

Next up for Margie, it's the pair of cast iron rain hoppers.

£30 for them, please?

30 I am bid. Here on the book at 30. 35. 40 for them?

40. 45. 50. 55.

60. £60, against the room.

With me the bid, and selling on the book at £60.

-That is good!

-Actually made a profit!

At last! She's broken the downward trend.

Hallelujah. The dinner's on me.

HE CHUCKLES

A bag of chips each?

David's prospects are looking sketchy.

But can he boost his piggy bank with the cartoon collection?

20 I am bid. Thank you, at 20.

25, madam. 30, sir? 30. 35?

£30 only bid.

I can't believe this... I can't believe this!

£40, 45, and 50? £45 all done.

All done at 45. 492.

-That was OK, wasn't it?

-At last, something for David to smile about.

Or maybe not.

That cartoon should have done 60 in its own right.

Margie's storage boxes are up next.

But will they prove to be a DRAWER in the quiet auction room?

£20 asked for them. 20. 30. 40? 40. 50 for them?

£40. £50? 60? £50. Back of the room. Selling. £50.

-I've only lost a tenner.

-Not as bad as you thought.

Oh, thank you so much!

What is going on? Another loss.

Perhaps the boxes should have been consigned to the archive!

Come on, David. You've got some catching up to do.

With a pretty little oak table.

£20 please? 20 I am bid. At 20.

Five, 30. 35. 40? 45.

Oops! Seems to have cleared the auction room.

Selling at £45.

-Should've done better than that.

-Yeah, should have done.

With such small profits and so many losses,

this auction could go either way for our experts.

I do not have any hope.

Can Margie's vintage fan create a stir?

£20 for it, please? 20? 20 I am bid.

Thank you. At 20 and five?

30? 30. Five? £30, in the front row. Any more? £30. I shall sell it.

Another five. All we're capable of is fivers.

Oh, dear. A cool response to the electric fan.

It was hardly worth carrying it out of the shop!

It weighs a ton!

Now, David's Star Buy. The oak hall stand.

£50 for it, please? £50, I am bid.

At 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100.

110, 120, 130 140, 150 for it?

-£140!

-Oh, no!

Oh, no!

A gob-smacking loss on David's most expensive item

which can only mean one thing.

-Congratulations, you've won today.

-Sorry for your loss.

But I'm still in the lead.

David started out with £623.44,

but after auction costs, he's made a loss of £106.10,

decreasing his stash of cash to £517.34.

Margie started with £373.80 and after auction costs,

she's also made a loss of £34.50,

decreasing her spending power to £339.30.

-Well, Margie, well done!

-Yep.

-You've won at auction!

-Yeah, great!

-How do you feel?

-It was a funny old day, wasn't it?

-It was.

But don't you feel elated?

She does! She does! Margie finally claims her first victory. Yippee!

But who will win at the final auction?

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd