Episode 9 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.

My sap is rising.

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

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Could you do 50 quid on that?

So, will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

Your steering is a bit lamentable.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

We're out on the road with a right pair of rascals,

auctioneers James Braxton and Charles Hanson.

James Braxton is the grown-up one, well, sort of,

and keeps young Charles in check.

-Don't say sorry, just do it.

-Sorry.

-Don't say sorry.

-Sorry.

-Don't say sorry!

-OK, OK, OK.

Once he sniffs out antiques there's no stopping him.

Oh, smells of antiques.

This is Charles Hanson. He's having a bit of trouble with his helmet.

Can't get it on.

And he's a right scaredy-cat too.

If you turn the handle...

-Will it hurt me or not?

-No.

-Is it a trick? Is it a trick?

-No.

From his original £200, James now has £246.80 to flash about.

Meanwhile, young Charles Hanson is ahead.

He's managed to add to his £200 kitty with a wondrous £373.10.

Ha-ha!

And James's pride and joy, the stylish 1952 MG, will ferry them about.

He's slightly nervous because Charles is at the wheel.

And quite rightly.

And with no hood they're at the mercy of the weather.

-Now, Charles, are you getting to grips with this?

-Yes.

-Oh!

-Exactly. Your steering is a bit lamentable.

-Sorry.

-Concentrate.

-I think it's some grease on the road.

-No, it isn't.

On this Road Trip James and Charles

will travel 400 miles from Dulverton, West Somerset

via the Isle of Wight to the land of golden beaches,

Truro in Cornwall.

On this leg, they're starting at the Dorset coastal town of Poole

and heading for auction two in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight.

This is young Charles's first stop where he hopes to splash the cash.

Hello, sir.

-Nice to see you.

-What a wonderful shop. Charles Hanson.

-Brian, Ethan.

-Good to see you as well.

This drinks decanter was made to stop the servants

from having a quick snifter.

It's unusual because it's also a games compendium.

The evergreen, the fairly boring, but the fairly attractive

oak and brass mounted three-glass Tantalus.

495 is a bit steep even for "have-a-go Hanson".

The name Tantalus comes from a Greek mythological figure who was tantalised by objects

that he could never reach.

We've also got inside a chess set, the draughts,

the cribbage board, the pack of cards, the die,

and everything else.

The really important matter is to check the condition of the decanters, Brian.

-Are they OK?

-They're OK.

-These are OK, nice Tantalus.

Oops, goodness me. No, it's OK.

-There's a few chips. There's a chip there.

-Is there a chip?

Brian, there's a chip there, mate.

-There's a chip there.

-Let me have a look.

They could be cheaper. They could be cheaper.

Do you know, I never knew that.

I'll drop it to 150 then. I'll lose money on it.

Well, Brian, that's good of you. It's just the chips.

We've dropped another tenner, to 140.

Would you take 120?

I'll take 130, I'll meet you halfway.

-130...

-Is that OK with you, Ethan? Is that all right?

-Yeah.

-130.

-130.

It certainly pays to be thorough, Charles. Excellent work.

Meanwhile, James has tootled forth, nine miles away,

to the village of Lytchett Minster.

Ooh.

Running.

Button Shop Antiques is the first on his list

and, by Jove, he's certainly keen.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello!

Hello, I'm James.

Hello, James, I'm Thelma.

-Hello, Thelma, how are you?

-Nice to meet you.

-Hello, young man.

-This is Matthew.

Ooh, there's a lot of little helpers here in Dorset.

This is rather nice, isn't it?

Poole Pottery.

I love the glaze of them. It's like an eggshell.

It's a sort of beaker, I'd imagine, isn't it?

Yes, it is, really, yes.

And the plate, also, is Poole Pottery.

Poole Pottery, that's lovely.

The price on the beaker is £6 and the plate is £12.

And here's a pottery tray, also £12.

Now, this... What is this?

This is Devon Ware.

Devon Ware.

"A place for everything and everything in its place."

It's not very well done.

And, hold on, something's winking at me.

I like it, I like that stiff leaf pattern.

When buying antiques, it pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve.

It's so beautiful.

-It is cracked.

-Oh, I see what you mean.

Dead as a dodo, isn't it?

-Terrible shame!

-I know.

One little crack makes the whole of it sound dead.

It does, doesn't it? That's what happens when anything's cracked.

Um, Thelma, is this very cheap?

Yeah, it is about £20, I would think.

Has somebody tried to restore it?

Well, it might be, because the jug that goes with it

has had some horrible gold bits put on the top of it.

-Somebody's had a go...

-Somebody's had a...

-They have.

-There's a little amateur restorer out there, isn't there?

-Yeah.

I'm just going to do a little test if you don't mind.

It looks very vicious, but I promise it's not very vicious

because I'm going to do it very lightly.

The coin test is pretty nifty

because it highlights any lumps and bumps of repair work.

Now, I'm not doing it on the paint, just on the glaze.

-Yes, I know.

-And it's not sticking at all.

-So it hasn't been restored.

-I don't think it has.

No, it's just that crack there.

What do you have on the jug, Thelma?

-£10.

-£10.

I like the Motto Ware as well.

Yes, it's nice, isn't it?

And I like these two.

Could you do the whole lot for 40?

Yes, all right.

-It's being a bit mean on that one...

-Well, say 45, then.

But quite realistic on the others.

Say 45.

I shouldn't have opened my big mouth!

You said it!

-Well, you know, I've got to eat.

-Can you do 40?

I'll tell you what, shall we break the difference?

-OK.

-Do you want to do, what, 42?

-42.

-42. I'm very happy with that, Thelma.

To clarify, James paid £30 for the Royal Worcester jug and bowl,

£7 for the Branscombe Ware pottery tray,

and a fiver for the Poole Pottery Coronation plate and beaker.

The big wheels are moving once more.

The chaps are together again and it's dry.

The boys are heading to Christchurch,

the most easterly coastal town in Dorset.

Charles is taking some time out from shopping.

He's off to visit one of the most intriguing museums in the country.

This is it, Jim.

Looks good, doesn't it?

The museum of leccy.

-I'll see you later.

-Good luck.

Bzzzzzzz!

See you later, OK?

Housed within an old power station,

the museum provides a potted history of the world of electricity.

Bright spark Charles is meeting with Ian Peterson to find out more.

The power station was originally built in 1903

to supply the trams that ran directly from Poole to Christchurch.

The museum's pride and joy is the electric number 85 tram.

She was built in 1914

and is the last complete surviving Bournemouth tram in existence.

This tram's reasonably unique,

because in this part of the world, one of the main industries was holidaymaking.

So you could afford to have nice, luxuriant seating inside.

Yes.

It's the beginning of affordable commuting.

You could live in Christchurch and easily work in one of the hotels in Bournemouth, for example.

So trams like this were quite revolutionary.

DING

I can see over here it says that we're on the number 85,

"Please do not spit in the car."

-Yes, well, it's an unhealthy thing, isn't it?

-I think so!

I should jolly well think so, Charles!

Not only did electricity have a huge impact on the commuter,

it also revolutionised the 20th-century household.

Domestic appliances were rare in postwar Britain.

The freezer was almost unknown

and in 1957 only 15% of the population owned a fridge.

-Obviously, electricity has changed people's lives.

-Yes.

Electricity has made life easier.

Things like washing machines have had such a fundamental social effect.

And this is what people actually forget about electricity, because everybody's used to having a fridge.

Everybody's used to having a washing machine.

At one time people used to talk about washing day and it was complicated and everything else.

But it's also given us all sorts of things which would have been luxuries, which we take for granted.

This is a Morphy Richards toaster here.

What, 1980s?

-No, it's 1950s.

-Oh, I'm sorry!

That is a design classic.

That is still being emulated today. I can't say copied,

but it certainly inspires a lot of the modern toasters.

But the one I really like, which I think you'll like as well,

this is an American toaster. It was made in about 1935.

You put it in the centre of the table

and you put a slice of bread in each...

-Yes.

-And then you just closed it up,

and when you wanted to do the other side, you carefully did that.

Isn't that wonderful?

-And it's just brilliant, isn't it?

-Isn't it?

Yeah, wonderful.

This is our representation

of a 1950s, early '60s kitchen.

You've got all sorts of mod cons that we take for granted.

We've got a beautiful cooker, a washing machine,

we've got a fridge.

A lot of these things you'd have to be earning a fair bit of money

for something like this.

All these items, all these things that we rely on today,

they became possible because of electricity.

And they really did change people's lives.

So, without electricity, we would certainly have a very different world.

Time to say cheerio to Charles

and find out what live-wire James is up to.

He's on his way to sunny Lymington, in Hampshire.

The good weather is definitely raising his spirits.

And for the first time the sun has come out!

I'm feeling rather jolly about this.

This is glorious.

He's very sprightly today, isn't he? Running everywhere.

-Hello. James.

-Hello. Frank.

-Hello. Nice to meet you.

-And you.

-May I have a good look round?

-Certainly.

Frankly Frank is the owner of Browse, in Lymington.

And already something has caught James's eye.

I like this. It looks like a tea caddy, doesn't it?

It's a biscuit tin.

I think it's rather fun.

Huntley & Palmers were very famous for these

and they produced a range for Christmas and other occasions.

There would have been custard creams in there, Hobnobs and whatever.

But they were packaged in different boxes

and people started collecting them.

William Crawford & Sons Ltd was founded in Leith in 1813

as the local bakery.

And like many biscuit manufacturers,

they produced an array of novelty tins

which can be rather popular at auction.

I can't see a price tag on it.

-Can that be a cheap fella?

-It can be a cheap fella.

-Ah-ha.

-Erm...

-Tenner?

-Tenner... Say 15.

-15?

You've got yourself a deal, Frank. Thanks a lot.

Now, James, this is it. This is glorious, isn't it?

-The Isle of Wight.

-Amongst the yachters.

-We're like pirates!

THEY LAUGH

-Pirates are like this!

-Yeah, exactly.

Let's go and make our fortune, mate.

It's been a packed day for the boys

and now it's on to the ferry and off to the Isle Of Wight.

Heading along the coast, their first stop is the village of Chale.

James and Charles have adventured over the Solent to the largest

island in England.

From east to west, the Isle of Wight measures just over 20 miles.

The village of Chale is situated on the south coast of the island

and is in the area known as "the back of the Wight".

Don't you know?

The fellows will both be shopping in Chale Antiques

and with three barns crammed full,

they should hopefully find something to tickle their fancy.

We've got a vice.

We've got two metal... two metal winders here

and two huge mahogany...

mahogany cheeks here,

which are bound here, but on a very sturdy table.

That is the objet trouve - the found object.

An object of practical use that has aesthetic beauty.

Maybe, you know, we're near the coast,

maybe something to do with the ship.

Rather nice.

Meanwhile, I'm going to find out a little more about that fellow.

Do you have names for these barns?

He's tracked down the owner Michael, who thinks he knows what it is.

-Out of there. Out of there!

-What's up? What's up, mate? Excuse me.

-Out of there.

-It's first come first served!

-Out of there.

-Michael...

-Out of there.

-Can I go in this barn, Michael? Ow!

Oh, steady! He's serious about defending his patch, you know!

This is a 19th-century bookbinder's vice.

-Bookbinder? I thought it had a purpose.

-Volume in there.

It's a very unusual thing, but now it's very sculptural

and decorative and could be used in all sorts of places.

And how much is that?

Oh, it's got to make around about 150...

-I think that will be worth...

-It's great fun, isn't it?

-Very unusual.

-Michael, could you do 100 on that?

-HE GASPS

-I could do a little bit off that but not a great deal.

-A little off 100?

Off the 150. I would take...

..squeezed, 120. I think that's a good buy.

Michael, you have a deal.

Crikey, James. No flies on you! That's his fifth buy of the day.

No wonder he's looking so pleased with himself.

But no luck for young Charles, and if he doesn't hurry up,

-he'll miss his lift.

-Wait! James!

Next stop for our excitable road trippers

is the fair town of Shanklin.

-And the sun's so nearly got his hat on!

-So nearly?

-And now...

-The sun has got his hat on.

-Almost! Hip, hip, hip, hooray!

-The sun has got his hat on and he's coming out to...

-Play!

With us! With us!

Don't give up the day job, chaps!

Shanklin is a charming seaside town lined with thatched cottages

and is usually famed for its glorious weather.

Sadly, the sun doesn't have her hat on today as the boys roar into town.

But let's hope the prospects are brighter for Charles

because, so far, he has only bought one item.

Eeks!

-Hello. Good afternoon. Charles, nice to meet you. Your name is?

-John.

-Hi, John. And you are?

-Sally.

-Able assistant? Hello, Sally.

That's the spirit, Charles. Go get 'em!

I'm not going to hang around, I've got to really pull it out of the bag.

And it's not long before he spies some old treasure.

I love Roman coins and here you've got a wonderful hoard of Roman coins.

This could be the Hanson hoard of Roman coins going to auction.

If only these coins could talk, you wonder how many hands have patinated

the coins and given them real pedigree.

And John, have they come from one hoard or have they come from...

-They were found on the mainland.

-On the Isle of Wight?

-No, on the mainland.

-Were they really?

-Yes.

-These were all found in one place?

-Yes.

-That's wonderful.

See, I would happily...

All of these coins were dug out of the ground and this is real treasure.

If I said, "John, I'll buy the whole lot..."

-Right.

-How much would they cost me?

-That lot there?

-Tell me. One price.

-John, think about it.

-50 quid.

-£50. There we are.

A Hanson hoard of Roman coins for £50.

I'm very tempted to buy these.

What do I think? I've done quite well, John.

I've done quite well, but sometimes...

If I gave you them for 40 quid you'd double your money.

Oh, don't say that, John. Don't say that. Don't say that, John!

Go on then, £30.

-Come on, £30.

-The Hanson hoard is going, going...

I told James I wanted treasure and Pirate Hanson has found his loot.

Sold! You're a good man. £30. Isn't that wonderful?

£30 for a hoard of Roman coins.

Ah-har, me hearties!

Finally, more booty for Pirate Hanson.

Booty in hand, Charles now heads eight miles north to Ryde,

the largest town on the island.

The sun's shining, we're happy.

-Hello, sir.

-Hello, my friend, how you doing?

-How's life?

Island Antiques is Charles' last shop.

He's only got two items, but is he worried? Nah, not our boy.

This is quite nice. This is a very novel

little oak stationary desk-stand. Probably pewter.

Over the years it has tarnished, but look at that really stylish design.

It's 1910 and it could be yours for £30.

That's quite nice.

Think, Hanson, you've got to get thinking now,

what's going to take your fancy?

Got a whole array of plate and silver and jewellery.

And the best price, Anthony, on this little...

-..envelope stand?

-20 quid.

-20 quid.

Sometimes on your road trip, you need a stocking filler.

That one item which is a stocking filler. Merry Christmas.

-I'll take it, OK? £20. I'm going to take it.

-Christmas? Moving on...

James Braxton started this leg with £246.80 and spent

£177 on a Branscombe tray, a novelty biscuit tin,

a Royal Worcester jug and bowl, a coronation plate and beaker

and French oak book binders.

Charles Hanson began with £373.10 and spent £180

on just three auction lots - a Victorian tantalus,

Roman coins and a pewter mounted envelope letter stand.

Right, time to find out what they think of each other's wares.

I firmly believe James is a dapper guy from the south

who has a certain swagger.

And, at the moment, my mate, he's just buying a bit of tat.

He is massively in the lead. He has got clear water between us. £100.

But I think I've got him on this one.

It's been an exciting second leg travelling from Poole

via Lytchett Minster, Christchurch, Lymington

and then a voyage to the Isle of Wight,

where we popped into Chale, Shanklin and Ryde.

And the boys love the Isle of Wight so much,

today's auction will take place in Shanklin.

-James, this is it.

-Into the auction. Yes, stop. That would be good.

-Where dreams are made. The Hanson hoard comes good.

-Let's see.

Squeeze a small profit. OK?

-After you.

-Great.

-"Children not permitted."

Island Auction Rooms has been established since 1850

and holds two auctions per month.

Today, we have two auctioneers in charge of proceedings -

Tim Smith and Warren Riches.

Quiet, please! The auction is about to begin.

First up, it's Charles's magnificent but nibbled tantalus

and games compendium.

Someone start me at £100.

-Anywhere? 100 in the middle.

-Yes!

We've got 100 right in the middle. 110 anywhere?

110. 120. 130.

140. 150. 160. 170.

180. 190. 200.

210. 200 in the middle. 210 anywhere?

210, the phone?

-On the phone?

-210 on the phone. 220.

-230.

-I can't believe it, Jim.

240. 250. 260.

270.

We're going to sell at 270, all done at 270 on the phone.

-Yes!

-Well done.

-Thank you. He's over there. Good man.

-That's very good.

-I can't believe it. I can't believe it.

-140?!

-I'm cooking gas, Jim.

I'm cooking gas.

So, next up on the road trip roller coaster

is James's Branscombe pottery tray.

-20 is on my right.

-Brilliant.

-Two anywhere?

22. 24.

-24. 26. 28.

-That is brilliant.

26 then, we're selling in the room at 26.

-Well played, buddy. Good profit.

-That's good. 19.

You more than trebled. That is a result.

Keep it going, Jim.

And now for Charles's treasure. The hoard of Roman coins.

-Coming in at 55.

-Great.

65. That takes him straight out. 70, he's back in. And five?

75? 75 on the net. 80?

-I am delighted, Jim.

-We're going to sell at 75 to the internet.

-Well done, well done. That's great.

-I'm delighted, Jim. I am.

-Doubling your money.

-I can't grumble. I'm delighted, buddy.

I think you'll get a job at JP Morgan.

You're a great generator of wealth. Just what you need.

It's James's novelty biscuit tin next.

Can it give him a much-needed lift?

20, I am bid. Two anywhere?

At £20 at the back of the room. At 20.

-22. 24. 26. 30.

-Here we go, James.

-32. 34.

-Yeah, go on.

-£34 then, all finished at 34?

-Oh.

-34. That's all right. That's double.

-That's still £19 profit. Happy?

Sort of!

This Royal Worcester jug and bowl may be damaged,

but can it catapult James into the lead?

32 on the net. 34 in the room? 32 on the net. 34 anywhere?

The net has it at 32.

Oh, yippy-do(!)

-Jim, it's a profit.

-It's just not happening.

It's just not working for me.

I don't know what's gone wrong. The wheels are coming off, chief.

It's Charles's Art Deco letter stand now.

Will it put him even further in the lead?

20 bid. Two, can I say? I've got 20.

22 in the middle. 24. 26. 28.

And 30. And two.

30 in the middle. Two anywhere? I've got £30. Right in the middle.

Going to sell at 32 in time. 34.

36, will you say?

34 right in the middle, we're going to sell at £34.

Delighted.

-I'm happy, Jim.

-34. That's good.

-Thank you.

-Well done.

-I'm delighted.

Small profit.

-Small profit.

-Working profit, I always like to say.

Jim, every pound is a winner, OK?

Fingers crossed for James.

He's hoping for a right royal profit with his Poole pottery plate

and beaker.

£20 I'm bid. 20.

Two anywhere? £20 on my left at 20. 22. 24.

26. 26. 28. They're cheap

at £26, below me at £26.

28 anywhere? 28.

-Well done.

-30. 32. 34.

Go on, keep going.

All finished, 32 then.

I sell in the middle of the room at £32.

-Brilliant.

-Well done. You got a good buy there.

-Fantastic.

-Steady work.

Yeah, you're grinding it out. You're grinding.

So now it is James's last stab at the lead.

Will that big lump of a bookbinder's vice be the winning ticket?

-Nice lot, this one. Someone start me at £100.

-Commission's at 100.

-£100 I'm bid on commissions.

-Brilliant!

-And 10. 120.

-120, a good thing. 130. 130. 140.

-I'd never have thought...

-One more.

-140. 150. 160.

Away, buddy. Heck.

160. 170.

At 160, then. It goes at 160.

-Jim, I am in admiration, buddy.

-I'm pleased.

-Well done, that man.

-I would never

in my wildest dreams have thought that. I commend you, buddy.

Who would have thought that? Well done, James.

So, has James done enough to win?

He started with £246.80

and, after paying auction costs, made a small profit of £55.88,

giving him a respectable £302.68 to carry forward.

Well done.

But there's no stopping Charles.

He started with a delightful £373.10

and accumulated a bumper profit of £130.78,

making him today's clear winner with a whopping £503.88 going forward.

Didn't you have faith in young Hanson?

I did, but I just didn't think that compendium was going

-to make so much money.

-I know. I'm delighted. I can't believe it, Jim.

-But listen, we're going back now...

-I think almost indecent,

if not vulgar profits!

-Vulgar!

-Jim, you make your own luck. I got lucky.

-You did get lucky.

It's full steam ahead for James and Charles,

who are both competing for the winner's crown.

I compare and contrast you and I and, for some reason, I'm on top so far. I don't understand it.

Lady Luck is favouring you.

James and Charles are travelling 400 miles from Dulverton, West Somerset,

via the Isle of Wight to the county town of Truro in Cornwall.

On this leg, they're beginning in Dorset's ancient market town of Dorchester

and will auction in the Devon town of Torquay.

Dorchester has been the county town of Dorset since the 12th century.

Founded by the Romans, the town was also the inspiration for Thomas Hardy's novels,

the world-famous author being born just a few miles from here.

But back to the present day, our antique hunters are ready to spend, spend, spend.

-This could be your comeback.

-Do you think?

-On one condition.

-What?

-Buy big.

-I will, I will. No ceramics for me.

Don't nobble those knick-knacks!

Let's start with James as he goes for a good old nosey

with £302.68p weighing down his wallet.

A pretty chair.

Look. Nice needlework back.

Let's see what it feels like.

Acid test with upholstery is to sit in it.

What you don't want when you sit in something is the front seat rail to dig into your thighs.

And even with a large Braxton bottom it's not digging into my thighs.

It's a comfortable occasional chair for a sitting room.

Rather nice. What have they got on it? 50 quid. Doesn't seem a lot of money.

Yeah, it's nice.

I like that. A definite candidate. Have to keep it away from Mr Hanson!

-Don't want him hovering.

-I'm over here, James!

-Oh, there he is!

-I'll leave you.

-Get thee hence!

-Sorry.

-Hello. Is this your stall?

-It is.

-Hello. James.

-Gillian.

Can you come over? I saw... Something caught my eye here.

Your rather nice chair.

-Have you got a price on it?

-It says £50. Total bargain.

Well, very often I find sellers always say total bargain!

This time I mean it!

Now I'd love to buy it for less.

How much less?

If I could buy this for 40, it would be splendid.

OK.

Gillian, thank you. That's very kind of you. Thank you.

Yeah, that's good. Solid as a rock. Just slipped it down there. Good.

And just when you think it's all over, James spies something else.

Talking about chairs, just look at this fella.

We've got a nice little bench here.

It suddenly caught my eye. We've got nice metal, wrought iron bits here.

We've got the wooden bits here. Must be valuable. It's chained up.

The backs are fine.

The acid test is sitting in the fellow. It's got a nice... It's nice and flexible.

This might be the quirky, profit-winning lot I need.

Looks like there's plenty of room for the Braxton bottom on there.

John, the owner, arrives.

-Could this be cheap, John?

-It can be £40.

-£40, John?

You chancer, you!

I wasn't going to shake your hand then!

-John, could you do it for 30? It would really help me out.

-Yeah.

That's really kind. Thank you very much indeed.

-Well done.

-That's it.

We're in! We're in!

While James works out how he's going to fit his furniture in the car,

Charles has nipped away to another shop.

And he's got £503.88p cash to splash

and it's still burning a hole in his pocket.

Wow. This place is huge.

Now Charles might be a bit silly sometimes, but there's no mistaking his love for antiques.

There is so much here, I can't believe it. I'm in heaven.

# Heaven, I'm in heaven

# And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak... #

Quality is improving and my sap is rising.

Oh, steady, Charles.

I need something to inspire me at the moment.

Finally, after that soliloquy, he's found something to fire the imagination.

Gosh.

This is a really stunning box.

In terms of quality, you won't beat it.

You've got this rosewood...veneer, over mahogany.

And what makes this box really interesting is one has this little crest or family armorial.

Sadly, it's...on opening, it's really in pieces.

You've got the old full front,

which would support your letters, your stationery,

your envelopes. The nice thing is...

It's inscribed, "Green. Maker 163. Oxford Street.

"To the Royal Family."

So I would have thought this box was early Victorian, circa 1840.

And probably made for an upmarket family.

It's definitely spiked his interest.

Dealer Martin moves in to talk money.

Martin, what's the best price?

-25 quid.

-Oh, really?

Tempting. But it's the condition.

Very tempting, actually.

Would 20 be even more tempting?

Oh, come on, Charles! The man's named his price. Stop dilly-dallying.

For £20, I will. Thanks, Martin. £20, yes. Why not?

It has a pedigree. I can do some homework. And sometimes you buy an object for its pedigree.

Thank goodness he's managed to buy something.

Meanwhile, James is heading 20 miles north to Ilchester in Somerset.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum represents the flying arm of the Royal Navy.

With four exhibition halls, over 90 aircraft and over 2 million records and 30,000 artefacts,

it's the second-largest naval aviation museum in the world.

And wannabe Biggles Braxton is like a big kid in a sweetie shop

as he meets up with curator and aircraft restorer David Morris.

He's in for a remarkable treat.

What's this fascinating room containing?

Well, very much behind the scenes.

This is the museum's restoration facility and engineering department.

It's in here that we deal with conservation work and restoration work on all of the major objects.

David and his team are like detectives, piecing together the life story of a plane.

The Grumman Martlet is the museum's current project.

What are we looking at here, David?

Well, this is a very good example of just how we're discovering so many different layers of paint

from many different dates and years. We understand them fully now.

The dark blue we know is the most recent colour in the 1960s.

This colour comes from late 1940s, early 1950s.

This colour is particularly interesting. We now have it dated to being April, 1941.

And is that somebody keeping scrupulous accounts?

No, this is all done by analysing

and deducing all of the information that we've found

on the aeroplane itself.

There are very, very few written documentary records concerning this.

All of our evidence has been built up just by studying the object.

It's forensic science and archaeology.

The Martlet is a work in progress,

but the real success story is the restoration of the Corsair KD431.

It was in service from 1944-1945.

During WWII, Goodyear built more than 4,000 Corsairs for the Navy and Marine Corps.

In a meticulous inch-by-inch process,

workers removed the 1963 paint layer

and restored the plane's original finish.

Lucky James climbs aboard.

-So this is the start of this mechanical archaeology.

-It is.

It's that blend of paint archaeology, forensic science, fine art restoration,

all rolled in together as a new package of how we restore a 20th-century mechanical object.

-And was this a successful aircraft?

-Absolutely.

The Corsair at the time was pretty well the Top Gun fighter of its day.

It was one of, if not the fastest single-engine fighter.

Very heavily armed, very manoeuvrable, very long range.

A very good aeroplane indeed.

David, it's been really fascinating.

Every success with the Martlet and what goes on beyond that.

But my most pressing problem now is to lever my frame out of this fella.

Time flies when you're having fun,

but that's enough excitement. The boys are back together.

-What is Somerset famous for?

-Cheese.

-Cheese?!

-Cheese and also...

-Scrumpy!

-..cider!

-Scrumpy, lad.

-Scrumpy, lad, yeah.

So it's onwards for the lads,

south to the ancient town of Honiton in Devon.

And Charles is raring to go.

Honiton...

Honiton, Honiton. Is it a haven for antiques shops?

It is. It's a long, long street.

The town is world famous for lace products.

In the 19th century,

Queen Victoria had her wedding dress made of prestigious Honiton lace.

And it's crammed full of antique shops.

Shouldn't be too difficult to find some local treasures,

but then Charles is navigating.

Oh, lord.

Antiques over there.

-Any one. Are you having that one?

-I'm over there.

He's not much better on foot.

I'm sure I saw an antiques shop up here, but... Hello.

This is crucial.

-Oh, watch out!

-Oh, hell...

How does he get through the day, eh?

Thank goodness he's found a shop!

-This looks great. Antique "Chick".

-Chic.

Hello, sir. And your name is...?

-Charles.

-I'm a Charles!

-Well remembered.

-I recognise you.

I'm not really a Charlie. Are you a Charlie?

-Sometimes. Some people call me Charlie.

-Likewise.

-Depends how good friends they are.

-Exactly.

This is a little plated...

Plated is what it's described as, but I think it's probably silver.

It's a small little Indian tumbler,

but it's called plated. That's quite sweet and it could be yours for £18.

I think it's silver.

-Charles, how much is this little tumbler?

-We've got £18 on it.

-Yeah.

-It's rather nice. Not had it too long.

-No.

-Doesn't take up any room.

-I know somebody who will pay 15 quid.

-£15.

-Tops.

-There you are.

-OK, thanks, Charles.

-15.

£15. Well...it's a sweet little tumbler and it might get me started.

I'm going to say, Charles, at £15 it's strike two. It's a sale at £15.

Last of the big spenders, eh, Charles? Meanwhile...

..the debonair Mr Braxton is a man in control.

He's striding down the streets of Honiton hunting down some more treasures to add to his cache.

-Sometimes he gets a little distracted and peckish.

-Oh, pasties.

And he's great with road safety.

Remember, only cross the road when the green man's there, OK?

In another life, he was a lollipop man.

Let's join him as he checks out the goods in Grove Antiques.

The first non-antique item he's found is owner Lesley.

What about over here, Lesley?

They're quite sweet, the birds. Who's done these?

Colin Clements, who's a member of Somerset Guild of Craftsmen.

Can I have a look at the blackbird?

He does them big scale as well?

-All in different fossil woods, generally.

-Very dense woods, yeah.

What could that...?

Is there a low price on that? Or is it just a high price on it?

-Em, I could do it for 50.

-You could do it for 50.

-For 50.

-I could.

-I like this, Lesley.

It's very nice. It has a very nice sculptural quality, which I like.

Lesley, I will give you £50. That would be very kind.

Thank you very much indeed.

Meanwhile, Charles is still wandering about in historic Honiton.

-Hello?

-And it seems that Charles has visited Lombard Antiques before.

-Hi!

-Hello, Charles!

-Good to see you again.

-Long time no see.

-It is.

-How are you?

-Very well.

Great friends. With only two items in his clutches, Charles needs to buy. Is he feeling the pressure?

-I would like to buy a really iconic piece of furniture.

-Here we go.

-Which has a look about it that could race away.

-I've got a lovely Liberty stool.

-Where?

-Through the back here.

-Is it marked Liberty or you just know?

-Not marked, but Liberty did do this.

It's an Anglo-Moorish range that they did from about 1880.

-Yes.

-It's got really tightly turned panels, which are here.

-Yes.

-Which have all been separately hand-turned.

-This decoration on the top is very unusual.

-Yes. Nice, isn't it?

-Shame about the upholstery. But a definite Liberty example?

-Definitely.

-Yeah.

I was hoping for about 650 for it, Charles.

And I would probably part with my entire budget.

That's £468...

88 pence.

-Barry, you're a piece of work!

-Thank you!

-You've got me going.

But I might take it downstairs into the light.

Hang on. £650? It's a gamble for you, Charles,

but it's a huge drop in price for Barry.

I just don't know about this.

-Life's a struggle, innit, Charles?

-Innit?

Blow it. You've got to speculate and at £468.88, that wipes me out.

-Are you ready for a sale?

-Charles...

It takes all my profit down to the bare bones of nothing.

I'm going to say something which is your favourite saying, "Is it between friends?"

-Is it between friends? Yes.

-OK, Charles.

-Happy with that?

-Done.

Money going, money up in smoke.

Let's hope that stool turns a wee profit in Torquay.

-Sold.

-Sold.

-We've done it! That's my entire money gone.

What have I done? Life is too short.

If you don't make money on that, I'll turn this into a sweet shop.

Did you hear that? A sweet shop if we make a loss.

Back inside, Charles is emptying his purse.

You know what, sometimes you carry money around and you get sick of it.

That's me out. I'm completely out of pocket, Barry. Thank you.

-I tell you what I'm going to do.

-Yes?

-I'll give you 1p for luck.

-Really?

-All right? A lucky penny. You can't spend that.

-OK, OK.

I'll look at this on the day of the auction and I'll say, "Barry, look at me. Bring me some luck."

Time will tell at auction whether your boldness pays off.

While Charles frets about blowing his budget to kingdom come,

James is travelling 30 miles away to Bovey Tracey,

a small town in Devon.

For the final time today, let's get shopping with Mr Braxton.

-Good. Hello.

-Hello. Hello, James.

-Hello. And your name is...?

-Tina.

-Very nice to meet you.

Now while Charles only has a penny to spend - let's not go there -

James is playing safe with some £200 still unspent.

I like this. That's a nice box. A rather fun carved box.

What's that made out of? Oak. With a pine bottom.

That has very much a look of the amateur craftsman about it.

Rather fun, isn't it?

It doesn't really sit very happily, the lock.

Or maybe it's just the fact that the key's gone.

Maybe it does sit happily.

That's rather nice. That's a possibility.

-Tina, how much is this fella?

-48.

-48.

Any chance of... How negotiable...? Has it been here for years?

Em, a couple of years. I'll be honest. I'm not dishonest.

Well, if it's been here for a couple of years, do you think it's possibly

-the price that is stopping it from being sold?

-Em...could be.

-You want a price off of me?

-Yeah.

-28.

-28.

It's quite fun. It's quite fun, Tina.

It's been fiddled around. It's quite a nice box.

Top price I will give you is £20, Tina.

-No, come on. Go up a little bit. 23.

-23? You have a deal, Tina.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

The gents are now all shopped out.

James Braxton started with £302.68 and spent £143 on a framed armchair,

an ebony blackbird,

a deed box

and a Victorian garden seat.

Charles Hanson began with £503.88p and spent the lot

on a lady's jewellery box,

an Indian silver tumbler

and a fine Liberty and Co stool,

leaving him with only a penny in change.

Now, what do our experts really think of each other's purchases?

Charles Hanson is full of surprises, isn't he?

What an amazing buy. He's got the conviction about it.

Believes it's Liberty,

it has the style.

Huge risk with that.

He's really playing the game and he has to be admired for that.

I like James's objects. He's bought very, very well.

Nothing stands out because they're all good knobbly, knobbly furnishings.

Not knick-knacks this time!

Let's get back on the road and head to auction.

I brought a flag along for a bit of luck.

I need the whole country behind me now.

It's been a competitive leg

starting in Dorchester via Ilchester, Honiton, Bovey Tracey

with the final destination of Torquay on the horizon.

Well, look at this.

Oh!

Torquay in South Devon is hailed as the English Riviera.

This was the home town of the queen of whodunnit novels, Agatha Christie.

-It's a small auction house.

-Small auction house.

-But you know what they say.

-Small auction house, big profits.

Acorns can grow.

Maybe my stool can become evergreen.

-Well, good luck, Charles.

-Thank you. Whatever happens, James, it doesn't matter.

-You're going to need it.

-Thanks very much. Be careful!

-It's that way.

-Let's go.

-Up we go, James.

-Profit all the way.

Going, going, gone.

West of England Auctions is a long-established business with proprietor Warren Hunt in charge.

Now then, are we sitting comfortably? Let the auction commence.

-There's a crowd here.

-There is a crowd, isn't there?

-Good luck today.

-Good luck. Battle of the boxes, and the stool.

First up, it's Charles's rosewood box with aristocratic connections.

-Start me at £10?

-Come on.

10 is bid. Thank you, sir. Can I see 12? 12 bid. 14. 16.

18. 20. 2. 24.

-26.

-You're in profit.

-28.

30. 2.

-34.

-I'm away.

38. 40. 2. 42?

44. 46. 48. 50.

5, sir? 60.

5? £60. Can I see 65?

New bidder at 65.

70. 75?

£70 in the front here. Can I see 75?

£70. If we're all done at 70.

That's a good profit.

Charles is off to a flying start. Speculative buys really can pay off!

£70. That's a good price.

Next up, it's the needleworked chair

that's strong enough to hold the Braxton bottom.

Start me at 20.

10 is bid. Can I see 12? I've got a £10 opening bid.

Can I see 12? It's bid.

14. 16? £14. Can I see 16?

-We're not faltering, are we?

-18. 20?

-At 18.

-All done.

-If you're all done at 18.

Very cheap chair.

It's early days,

but James's chair certainly hasn't interested the bidders of Torquay.

I thought that was a dead cert. Nice light colours, light wood.

-£18?!

-£18.

Oh, dear. Maybe the little ebony blackbird will swoop in

-with a lovely profit, eh?

-Start me at 20.

It's a quality little item. 10 to be off. Thank you. 12?

12 is bid. 14. 16.

18. 20. 2?

£20. Can I see 22?

At £20.

-Ah, 20. There we are.

-Cheap.

Sadly, it fell off its perch.

The thing is, though, if my stool makes a huge loss, you're in the lead.

-Hm.

-Hm.

Cheer up, James. It's the Victorian carved box

that didn't close properly next. Oh, dear.

Start me at £20?

Let's get there quickly. 20's bid.

-Can I see 22?

-Yes!

-Sorry? I've got a 25 bid.

26. 28? 26. Can I see 28? New bidder at 28.

30. 32. 34. 36?

£34. Can I see 36? Back in at 36. 38.

40? £38.

-Can I see 40?

-Go on!

£38.

You made a profit.

Third time lucky, James. Phew!

Thank goodness for that much-needed profit.

Now it's Charles's Indian silver tumbler next.

That's if the porter can find it.

-On the bench.

-On the bench, Scott.

Start me at £20?

10 to be off?

10 is bid. I've got a 10 bid. Can I see 12? 14. 16. 18.

20. 2. 24. 26. 28.

30. 2? £30.

-You're spot on.

-Yeah.

-£30. Are you all done at 30?

Good man. That's great. I'm happy with that. Very happy.

Another success, Charles.

The profits are coming thick and fast, old boy.

-It's double up day today!

-It's very good.

Next up, James is hoping to tempt the hoteliers of Torquay

with his wrought-iron garden bench.

A lick of paint, you're ready to go. 10 to start me?

10 straight away. Can I see 12?

12. 14.

16. 18. 20. 2. 24.

26. 28. 30?

-£28. Can I see 30?

-Come on.

Are you all...? 30 is bid, thank you. 32.

34?

-Go on.

-32. Are you all finished at 32?

Uh! Yeah.

Oh, dear, James. Not a brilliant way to end.

Not my day, is it?

But finally it's Charles's Liberty stool,

the one that he blew the remainder of his dosh on. A high-risk gamble.

Will it pay off for the cavalier Charles?

I've got a couple of small commission bids. I'll start at £80.

Can I see 90? Is bid.

100. And 10.

120. 130.

150. 160? 150 with my buyer.

Can I see 160? 160's bid.

-170. 180.

-We're starting low.

190. 200.

-And 20.

-Don't worry.

-240.

260. 280.

300. And 20. 340. 360.

380?

-360. Can I see 380?

-He hasn't started to bid.

-380.

-Ah! A bidder on the telephone.

400.

And 20.

440. 460.

480?

-No.

-460. Can I see 480?

480. 500. >

Asking 500.

And 20. >

540?

540. 560.

-Profit, profit.

-Oh! And another. The battle of the telephone bids.

-600?

-600?

620.

-640.

-640?

640?

660?

-Well done.

-680?

680?

It's really hotting up.

700? 700.

-800?

-800?

You're going to make a thousand.

-1,000?

-1,000! Has he got it?

-And 50.

-Yes!

1,100?

Unbelievable!

No.

At 1,050. Can I see 1,100?

I'm over the moon.

-Over the moon. Yes!

-Well done, well done!

Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Well done.

-Wonderful.

-Well done.

-Oh!

Well done, Charles. A very brave purchase

giving you a thoroughly deserved profit.

You are today's winner by a mile.

-Come on. You can buy me a bottle of champagne.

-You're on.

James started this leg with £302.68

and, after paying auction costs,

made a loss, sadly, of £54.44,

leaving him with just £248.24 to carry forward.

Charles, meanwhile, started with £503.88

and made a bumper profit of £439.13.

So Charles has a whopping £943.01 to take forward.

-James, I am in dreamland.

-You've done very well. Well done.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd