Episode 21 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts,

£200 each and one big challenge.

Testing, testing...

Who can make the most money buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK?

£35 cash.

The aim is to trade up and hope each item turns a profit.

But it's not as easy as it sounds and there can only be one winner.

Could you sell me two for a tenner?

Two for a tenner?!

So will it be the highway to success or the B road to bankruptcy?

I'm on my knees already.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

On the road this week two 'grands fromages' of the antique world -

David Barby and Philip Serrell.

I cannot believe we are doing 60 in this car.

I can't believe we are doing half that!

They're living it up in a 1971 Morris Minor Convertible.

Philip, could you get that scarf out of my face? Thank you.

Last Series David and Philip came fifth and sixth respectively.

Now, with £200 lining each of their pockets, they're both here to win.

If you could be less theatrical

and keep both hands on the steering wheel.

David, I would only ever criticise you

if your driving wasn't up to it...

and it isn't - you've got your foot on the clutch.

David Barby has been antiques-obsessed since a nipper.

A leading valuer and auctioneer, he's a dab hand at slashing prices.

Is that the very best you can do?

Honestly, definitely.

His opponent Philip Serrell is the ex-school teacher from Worcester.

He's not done badly as an auctioneer either.

On this trip he's praying for success.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today for the buying of antiques.

Pitted against each other in their search for antique gems,

they'll go head-to-head at auction at the end of every episode...

-55.

-..so it's all about snaffling up profits.

-I'm staggered.

-So am I, so am I.

This week's journey,

a race from Lincoln to Wotton-Under- Edge in Gloucestershire.

Our first leg begins in Lincoln then onto Horncastle with an auction face-off in Leicester.

What do you think of the car, Barbs?

It's wonderful. My Aunt Amy used to have a car like this.

I think we should call her Amy.

Amy it is. Red Amy.

-TO THE TUNE OF "Lady In Red":

-# Amy in red... #

Lincoln is a city immersed in history.

Its cathedral is the third largest in England,

while the castle contains one of the last four remaining copies of the Magna Carta.

It's also home to some fine antiques,

so our dapper duo better have those fivers at the ready.

Gosh this looks stunning, doesn't it?

-Oh, dear me, Barbs. Come on, out we jump.

-Ah!

-Come on, Barby.

-Oh, that's a welcome break, Phil.

-Where are you going to go?

-I think I'll head up here. What about you?

-Steep hill...

-Oh, there's a rather nice wine shop down there.

-You are looking for antiques.

-Vintage!

-Best of luck!

-Cheers!

And the prize for reaching the antiques first goes to David.

This is rather exciting this is my first shop...

hope they've got some decent stuff.

David's a bit of an old...hand when it comes to buying.

I'm looking right across the board... something that takes my eye.

Anything that is cheap enough or reasonable enough

that is going to sell at auction and make a profit.

Of course that means dealers beware!

His tactic - intimidation.

I'll do 30.

Using the Barby Stare...

DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS

Excuse me?

Could I trouble you to have this cabinet opened?

Oh, oh! Here we go.

And what sort of negotiating power do you have? And what's the sort of rule?

Well, the standard is usually dealers 10%. But...

SHE LAUGHS

How did I know you were going to do that?

Cos my next remark is going to be is that the very best you can do?

Last series that phrase was the scourge of antiques shops across the land.

Is that your very best? Is that the very best you can do?

What's your very best? Is that your very best?

And yes, he's about to start it all over again.

Oh, is that fun!

A table lighter in the form of a crocodile.

Can you just check on the very best you can do on that one?

If you don't haggle, I'll do it for £12.

Go on, agree with me.

It looks like you've been rumbled, David.

What a strange thing.

When smoking was fashionable, table lighters popped up everywhere.

Big in the '20s and '30s, stylish Deco versions were a must-have.

This is a snappy little novelty from the 1950s.

£18.50 down to £12 - not bad.

But he'll want more off it. You watch.

At ten it would be reasonable.

Yeah, OK. All right.

-And that would be at £10?

-Yeah, OK.

-OK.

You're definitely off the Christmas card list.

Across town Philip is about to do something very rash.

-Is everything for sale in your window?

-Everything.

-Everything is for sale?

Yup he's having a butcher's in the butcher's.

-How much are the ostrich eggs?

-Ostrich eggs, £15, sir.

Get out of here! Get out of here!

OK. So he's gone a little off-menu.

But ostrich eggs are popular when they've been emptied out like these ones.

Even more so when they've been hand-painted.

They also make rather striking trophies and decorative pieces.

But just on their own at auction... Well, Philip could end up with egg on his face.

-Could you sell me two for a tenner?

-Two for a tenner?!

-Yeah.

I'm here to make money, mate, not friends.

Yeah, but you'd make a lifelong friend. Can you do two for a tenner?

-Two for £15, how's that?

-Two for a tenner?

Two for £15 like we stated!

-I'll take 'em.

-I bet you want a carrier bag as well.

-I do.

-That's a fiver.

-Get out of here!

Go and get me a new fiver.

I don't quite know what I am doing here but these things do sell at auction.

So, you know 15 quid for the two,

I might double my money.

You might have a double yoker. It all depends on if you are going to do something clever with them.

David is still hunting for knock-down booty.

He's befriended dealer Jennifer Davidson in an attempt to seduce a profit.

Can I have a quick look at that?

-Oh, I love the cockerel on it.

-Hmm, me too.

It's really different, isn't it? What was that for, do you think?

-It's got that sort of almost lemon squeeze-type thing, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

The origin of the cocktail is hotly disputed.

But it's probably all to do with the tail of a cockerel.

Those different coloured feathers

represent the many ingredients combined to make a unique blend.

This cocktail decanter is from the 1920s, priced at £55.

I like that, what's the very best on it?

Um, I'll do 32 on that.

I just think it's really cracking, it's unusual.

Good sales pitch, Jennifer.

-Is that the very best you can do on it?

-Definitely.

I wouldn't dream of letting it go for less than that, honestly.

Jennifer's tough.

So David's next ploy is to push for a double deal on the croc and the decanter.

35 for the two.

-No.

-35 cash.

I can't do it, honestly. No, it's got to be 40.

Not even £39, it's got to be 40.

I am on my knees already.

SHE LAUGHS

You are so cruel!

No, I'm not. I've been really generous to you. I wouldn't do it for anybody else.

OK.

What have I done?! OK...

-What have

-I

-done, more like!

Thank you.

Smoothie. That's £10 for the crocodile and £30 for the glass decanter.

Oh, he's such a hard man.

Philip's finally on the hunt for a real antiques shop.

But after the eggs debacle, what's he scrambling for?

You've got to just try and buy four or five small lots,

and hope to double your money on each one. If I can find something interesting

and think laterally - I think that's the plan, think laterally.

Phew. So there is a game plan.

Hello! I'm Philip how are you?

-Pleased to meet you.

-You're name is?

-Anne.

-Anne and...?

-Nice to see you, Philip.

-Good to see you.

-My name is Bob.

-Bob.

-You like rocking horses, don't you?

-We breed them!

You breed them? Can I go and have a look?

-Go on then, off you go.

-Goodness me, look at this.

Looking at the reams of stuff Bob Warner has amassed,

Philip's lateral thinking would probably come in handy any time about now.

Lord above.

-We try to achieve the Aladdin's cave effect.

-I think you've done that.

It's actually difficult shopping in a shop like this - you're surrounded by so much stuff

that often you can't see the wood for the trees. There's stuff everywhere.

Look, it's like the start to the Grand National.

There's another three or four of them outside, two more in the hallway.

I don't know where he gets it all from.

So it's nay to a horse then.

Onto David and a spot of porcelain.

That Royal Worcester plate at £38 but it's got to be under £30.

Royal Worcester is famous for porcelain.

This 1909 plate has a high quality translucency which comes from firing

fine white clay and ground feldspar rock called petuntse,

with added ingredients such as bone ash.

In a high temperature kiln this produces a fusion like opaque glass which makes it translucent.

The sad thing about Worcester at the moment is that

production has ceased,

so these objects in time will become very sought after.

Jennifer thinks it's Victorian.

But the porcelain master is not convinced.

He's checking the date code of dots on the back.

There's 12 dots on the top,

12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 dots which brings it into the early 20th century.

So it's not 19th, so what would the price be on that?

Why should that make any difference?

Because it's not as early as I anticipated.

-SHE SIGHS

-Oh!

Yes, he is a pain.

-25.

-24.

24.

Aren't I good to you?

You've got to remember me in your will.

That's what Philip Serrell says.

SHE LAUGHS

Oh dear. Talking of whom, has Philip actually found anything yet?

We've got Mauchline Ware which is this Scottish

-transfer-printed ware from about 1900-1910.

-Yes.

And, I mean, I think at auction

these are like £10 or £15 a piece,

which is a bit more than...or a bit less, rather, than you've got them priced up at.

Mauchline, in Ayrshire, had a thriving souvenir industry in the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

Transferred patterns of famous land- marks were printed onto sycamore,

making a vast range of delightful storage boxes for snuff, jewellery, needles and bobbins.

I think that on five pieces I'd want about £75, that's about the death.

You couldn't do 60 quid?

-Make it 70 and we have a deal.

-65.

-Go on then.

-You are a gentleman I'll have those of you.

David's done with his shopathon, so he's indulging in a spot of history at Lincoln Castle.

In 1068 William the Conqueror built fortifications here.

And by Norman times, thanks to its wealth, this was the third city of the realm.

For over 900 years the castle has also been a courthouse and a prison.

So not surprisingly it's had a bit of a gruesome past.

Peter Tomlinson is a Cultural Services Advisor.

Gosh, Peter, what a fantastic structure! What is this?

It is. This building is called Cobb Hall and it's a 13th-century defensive tower.

Down there, it's a steep ladder, isn't it?

It is. This is a dungeon area of the medieval tower and it's called

an oubliette and that is from the French word oublier meaning to forget.

So in fact they put people down there and forgot.

What was their life expectancy?

How long would they have survived?

If they were thrown down there and they were injured

probably a matter of days, if that.

If they were fed they might have lasted a little bit longer.

-Dear, dear! Thank goodness we live in the 21st century.

-Quite horrific.

What else have you got to show me?

It's even worse upstairs.

One of the most famous hangmen in Britain wielded his rope here.

William Marwood created the long drop

which ensured a prisoner's neck broke instantly.

The length of rope required for a more humane clean break

was calculated from the prisoner's height and weight.

Before the 1820s all hangings had to be public.

So the people outside had to see executions taking place.

The point we're standing on was where the scaffold was situated so it would have been 20-feet.

Goodness me, that would have projected it high. Anybody infamous?

The first person to be hanged on this site was in fact a woman who was found guilty of poisoning

her daughter and she was brought into the prison and executed on this spot.

Oh dear, oh dear. Right, Let's go onto something happier, I think.

I agree, it's all got very gory.

But visitors to the castle cannot leave

without seeing its original copy of the 1215 Magna Carta.

My word, Peter, this is the holy of holies, isn't it?

This single document, devised by a group of medieval barons,

was created to stop King John exploiting his people and his power.

The King agreed to the terms at Runnymede near Windsor Castle.

It reduced his power, created a strong parliament

and became the basis of citizens' rights.

Only three other original copies exist, two in the British Library and one at Salisbury Cathedral.

Bishop Hugh of Lincoln was present when it was drawn up

and it's thought he brought this copy home with him.

Although what happened to it after that became a bit of a mystery.

It was lost in the cathedral for quite a number of years.

The story goes that they were doing some restoration work in the cathedral,

one of the workmen opened a drawer to move it out of the way

and they found folded up in the drawer the Magna Carta.

Goodness me!

This is a modern translation of the Magna Carta.

And these four points that we see here are the clauses

that were eventually written into English law which still apply today.

It's freedom of the church.

That one is trial by jury.

This one states that no man shall be taken, imprisoned or outlawed or banished.

-And this one states, "To no-one we will sell or deny the right of justice."

-The rights of man.

But what about the rights of antiques dealers?

That naughty Philip Serrell is about to get cheekier.

If that's possible.

That's a little Edwardian hanging shelf...

date's about 1910, something like that.

Bob's got that priced at £60.

It's split there, look, you can just see that split down there.

These could in fact date anywhere between 1890 and 1910.

Made of satin birch, they held books, porcelain plates or figurines -

a platform to show off prized possessions.

I'd want to buy that for 20 or 30 quid.

I'm going to put that down there.

Philip wants Bob to knock the price down. Ha!

Can we do a bit of a deal, in fact a large discount on those, Bob?

What are you offering?

I think at auction they're 20 to 40 pounds' worth so I need to buy them at 20 quid.

-No.

-What can you do them for?

-I'll do them for 30.

Let me have another look at them. What about 25?

No, 30. Leave me a little bit.

Remember those cracks? Philip does.

Look at that.

Oh, Bob, this is teaching me to look more carefully.

Look at that split down there, and another there, and another there.

And that peg's not original.

What have I done?

-Come on, Bob, 25 quid.

-Go on then.

-You are an excellent man. Thank you, Bob.

Gosh. Meanwhile David's being a clever boy.

He's phoning the auction house for a heads-up on what else to buy for the upcoming sale.

Ok, you think there'll be a market for silver.

So I go for small items of silver?

I can buy four or five objects.

Silver boxes, something like that?

And you. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.

So it looks like it's all about buying silver.

I don't suppose David will be telling Philip that.

With money spent and booty bought it's time to skip town.

-It's a hot old day, isn't it?

-Isn't it wonderful?

-Are we going where the wild road takes us now?

-I think so. We'll head north.

Drive on, Barby, drive on!

A well-earned rest is on the cards.

Who knows what they'll turn up tomorrow.

Day two. It's a gorgeous morning and David is at the wheel of the newly-christened Morris Minor.

Come on, Amy, God bless you, my love.

# Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. #

The gents are motoring 21 miles east to Horncastle.

Out of their £200 starter packs...

they've each bought three sets of goodies.

David's spent £64 while Philip has forked out £105.

-Are you pleased with what you bought, Barbs?

-Reasonably so.

-What about you?

-Pretty much the same.

Horncastle is an established honey pot for the antiques trade,

so there are plenty of places to have a nosey about.

It's also a picturesque market town lying between the rivers Bain

and Waring on the edge of the Fens.

Right, let's hop out, Barbs.

-Have you got a plan, Barby?

-Yes, do you want your scarf?

-No. I've got a plan.

We've got East Street, South Street, North Street.

As yet I can't find West Street.

But I am going to head north up to East Street and then come back south down to West Street.

Then I might go west across to East Street and then South Street...

You are confusing, aren't you?

All confusing.

Actually, this is the wrong way.

David, fresh with titbits on what sells at the Leicester auction rooms,

is shaping up to be the one who really does have a plan.

I'm going to look for something a little bit special,

something which has that little bit of sparkle,

something a little bit different.

Possibly in silver. And it's one of those situations that,

when I see the object I'll want to buy it.

For Philip, there's a lesson to be learned on why not to show off about map-reading.

I used to teach geography and at the minute I am just trying to work out whether this map goes...

that way or that way.

Or whether I should be... or should I be going...?

Um...

There's an answer to this, hold on just a minute.

That way.

Could Philip be on the right track this time? Let's hope so.

Now what's David up to?

I have got to find something which appeals to me,

would appeal to a collector (and at a very reasonable price).

But in true David Barby fashion he spots something pricey.

That's very nice.

At £135 the label says it's a case for a thermometer.

Well, at least it's silver.

It's very nice. Sampson Mordan, good name.

But is it going to sell at that auction?

Sampson Mordan and Co specialised in silver boxes,

propelling pencils and retractable pens.

This is more likely to be a pen or pencil case created between 1890 and 1910.

The chains allowed it to hang decoratively

from an ornamental clasp around your belt called a chatelaine.

What's the very best you can do on that, please?

Well, we normally do 10% but I can telephone the person and find out

-if they can do better.

-Could you? Thanks awfully.

Meanwhile Philip has at last found an antiques shop.

Well done, old fruit.

Be methodical.

The ostrich eggs prove Philip's tendency to think outside the box.

So what next?

I'm going to buy a chimney pot. People buy these, put them in their gardens.

What they're good for is you can have these out, it's a glorious sunny day,

you've got your barbeque going and just at the side of the barbeque

you've got this wonderful planter, cos that's what it's going to become, a garden planter.

45... Need to get the price down to about 20 quid for one.

It's back inside for a haggle!

How much discount can you give on those?

The rule is 10% over £10, that's usually what we have to stick to.

Meaning Philip won't be getting a chimney pot for £20. What about a cocktail shaker instead?

It's a bit of a pity here that this one's engraved.

"Pannal Open Meeting Best Net Score". Is that golf? Who knows?

But the important thing is it is by a good maker, Walker and Hall.

If you look at the little flag at the bottom it has a W and H on there

and it tells you it's by Walker and Hall.

Established by George Walker and joined by Henry Hall in 1853,

Walker and Hall were a successful Sheffield silver manufacturers.

Their staple output - tea services, cutlery and trophies.

It isn't silver, it's plated but, um...

..it's not the best in the world,

it'd be nice if the engraving wasn't on it but that's OK for a tenner.

What's the best you could do that for, my dear?

-On that one it would be nine.

-I just think that's quite nice.

-Did you say £8?

-I said nine.

Did you? It's terrible, my hearing has gone all... It's just an age thing, honestly.

-It wasn't eight?

-It wasn't, no, sorry.

-Could it be eight?

-No, it couldn't, it could be nine.

-Thank you very much, you're very kind.

-Hurts, that does. I'm hurt.

I'm actually really hurt. Yeah.

I'm sure you'll get over it, Phil.

Across town David's awaiting a final price for his silver case.

Just listening in at the moment, see whether it can come down in price.

£105, David, is the best.

Could they tuck it under £100, please?

No, she says she wouldn't earn anything. She can't take £35 off.

I couldn't budge her. Sorry, David, it's difficult.

I'm sticking my neck out if I buy that. But...

my strategy is that someone might go along to that saleroom

hoping to find something of that ilk

and be prepared to pay over the £105, which I think is reasonable.

I don't want to leave here empty-handed.

I tried twisting her arm.

Oh, dear, dear, dear. 105.

Decisions, decisions, David.

Yeah. OK, that's fine.

The heart has ruled the head.

Do you want a tissue?

-I'd like a receipt, thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

Well, done it. I know what Serrell's going to say, he'll say I've blown it.

But I like it. Something of quality and hopefully my reputation is intact!

As David prepares for that all-important show and tell,

Philip is about to enjoy a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal

with one of the few remaining Lancaster Bombers, at Lincolnshire Aviation Centre.

Do you know, I am just so excited today

because you look at all the heroes of the Second World War

and you look at what they flew,

it's sort of quite humbling in a way.

The museum is owned by two local farmers.

They've dedicated it to their eldest brother whose plane was shot down in 1944.

It's also a tribute to the 55,000 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives during the war.

-Hi, Phil, I'm Ian.

-Ian, how are you?

-Not too bad.

-This is just wonderful.

Engineer Ian Hickling is bringing 'Just Jane' onto the apron.

Built in 1945, she narrowly missed seeing any action in the Second World War.

But thousands of Lancasters like her did, helping Bomber Command win the war in the air.

There were over 7,500 built. Half of them were shot down during the war.

-It's just awesome, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's like being in the presence of some history.

It is. Unfortunately now there are only about 17 left in the world.

One of their most famous sorties

was in May 1943, when 19 Lancasters unleashed the bouncing bomb.

A unique cylindrical explosive,

it had to be dropped at a precise height and speed

so it would bounce along the water and hit its target.

Many of us know about that night thanks to the film Dambusters.

Those brave aircrews breached the Moehne and Eder Dams bringing chaos to the industrial Ruhr Valley.

-What was the life expectancy of a Lancaster pilot?

-About four trips.

Four trips and you were gone.

Yeah, that was it. And the average age of the crew was 22 years old.

Philip knows only too well the precariousness of flying planes like this into battle.

A dear friend won the DSO medal for bravery after flying his Lancaster home on just two of four engines,

following a harrowing 1944 bombing raid on Berlin.

When under attack the most dangerous position on board was the rear gunner.

They lost twice as many rear gunners than any other position on the aeroplane.

-So he was strapped in there?

-Yeah.

This is the most vulnerable bit because this is where the Messerschmitt

would have come and attacked you from behind. So how did this guy get out?

His parachute was actually outside the turret,

so he has to unstrap, climb out the turret, put his parachute on,

get back into the turret, turn the turret through 90 degrees and fall out through the side.

If you can imagine it. It's just unbelievable.

-Would it be possible to look inside?

-Of course.

Thank you, this is fabulous.

I tell you what, Ian, I don't mean to be rude

but I had a look at your behind earlier

and thought, "If he can get in there, I can." I'm now not so sure!

-Ha ha!

-Is this that girl expression - does my bum look big in this?

You're home and dry now.

Would you like to get in the pilot's seat so we can start it up and run it?

-Start it?

-Absolutely.

-You're joking?

-No.

-Pull yourself up, that's it.

-Yeah.

That's it, then sit in the seat.

So that's it now.

-Oh, I can fly one of these now!

-That's it.

Mag switches on.

-Right, you ready?

-How cool is this?

Right, here we go.

In their service during the Second World War,

Lancasters dropped over 608,000 tonnes of bombs

on more than 156,000 missions.

-For Philip this is an incredible chance to experience a vital part of our national heritage.

That's just the best day ever.

Honestly, I can't thank you enough. It's been one of the best days of my life.

-Good.

-Come on, I'll buy you a tea.

-Good man!

They've pondered. They've haggled. They've parted with their cash.

Now Philip and David must reveal what they've bought to one another.

-Hiya, Phil.

-Barbs, where have you been?

Have you had a good day? You haven't been waiting that long have you?

Hours and hours and hours... No, I've had an awesome day.

Discussion topic number one - Philip's cocktail shaker.

-That is extraordinary.

-Why? Have you got some gin?

-No.

-I know it's no great shakes.

Ha ha, no great shakes... Well, look on the bottom, it's Walker and Hall.

-Yeah, nice make.

-Nine quid.

That's very, very good, actually.

Why I say "how extraordinary..." I think that's quite cheap.

Extraordinary because I have bought something very similar.

That's lovely, isn't it?

Now that is a cocktail decanter.

If you were going to buy a new decanter like that, what would that cost you?

-Oh, a fantastic amount.

-£100, £150, £200?

-Yeah.

-Do you like that?

-Yeah, I do. I do.

Now for the Mauchline Ware boxes priced at £65.

They might make £20-£25 each, and I thought if I was unlucky they might make 15 quid a piece.

I think you're right, that is a very good speculation.

I wanted to buy something quirky.

-I bought that.

-Yeah, well, that's, um, quirky, isn't it?

-Isn't it quirky!

-Yeah.

-What do you think?

-How much did you pay for that?

-Cost a lot of money actually.

-A pound?

-Tenner.

Those ostrich eggs are up next.

Nothing antique about them apart from the pong.

Can you imagine sitting on one of those for...?

-Oh, have you smelt them?

-No, I don't want to.

Watch out, David, Philip has indeed come up with a cunning use for them and it involves you.

For me one of the highlights of this trip has been working with you.

Because I'd really value this.

-I'd like you... Could you sign that one for me?

-I don't think so.

-No, no, honestly, please sign it for me.

-You are selling this.

-Well, yeah.

-I don't want it to have an enhanced value.

I'd never thought of that.

Oh, yes, you had!

-I'll sign it afterwards. There.

-So you're happy to sign it afterwards?

Excellent, thank you. That's on camera now and we can put in the catalogue,

"David J Barby will sign this afterwards". Isn't he a lovely man?

In fact, I'm going to sign one now, Barbs. Give me a pen.

I'm going to sign it, "Best wishes, Philip Serrell."

-And I shall ask you to do the same.

-After the sale.

Another item, David's plate,

and it's bound to impress the man from Worcester.

Do you know, this stuff is so undervalued.

That plate was making £30 to £50 probably...25 years ago.

-That's at auction.

-Yeah, and we would get for that today £30 to £50.

-How much did you pay for it?

-£24.

£24. Yeah, you should make a profit.

But what about Philip's satin birch bookshelves for 25?

The thing I like about these is you can either have them free-standing

on top of a chest of drawers or you can hang them, can't you?

I have several of those at home with porcelain on.

-Do you want another one?

-No, thank you.

-Right.

They are very nice. I think that's a good buy.

The most expensive buy so far, costing David over half his cash...

the Sampson Mordan silver case.

-Little pencil holder.

-Pencil holder.

I think they had it as a thermometer holder,

but I think really it's too fancy for a thermometer.

-A bit of a thick old thermometer. You wouldn't want that put anywhere, would you?

-No.

If you had told me that was £30 or £300 I couldn't argue with you

-because I've never seen one sold before. What did you pay for that?

-£105.

-Really?

-Yeah, a lot of money.

-I think you bought well.

I think out of everything you and I have bought

-that's the best quality item.

-Do you really think so?

-I do.

That was all very polite.

But what's the real verdict?

The crocodile or alligator... if I had put any money on Barby NOT buying anything

it would have been on not buying that,

I would have thought that's not his thing at all, I can't get that.

He bought the ostrich eggs,

something I would never have thought of buying,

they are brand spanking new.

They stink cos they've just been blown

and some person might pay...oh, maybe £20 for them, I don't know.

I think his pencil holder or whatever it is,

I think that is a brave call - £105 for that?

That's the winner or the looser.

If he goes and loses £60 or £70, I think I might be up on him

but if he doesn't... Well, you can never be sure where Barby is.

So far our boys have legged it across Lincolnshire in hot pursuit of money-spinning treasures.

They've gone from Lincoln, out east to Horncastle.

Now it's a 75-mile beeline south to Leicester.

It's here the gents go head- to-head at auction to gain the first financial advantage of the week.

An industrial hotspot in the 18th and 19th centuries, Leicester has burgeoning boot and shoe industries.

But it's engineering that it's most well known for, a business that still thrives here today.

For our intrepid trippers though, there's a different agenda.

Your driving is atrocious. Will you not hold my hand?

Don't hold my hand.

Churchgate Auctions have been in business for 30 years.

Today it's a general sale, although collectibles and quirky items do well here.

Auctioneer Dickon Dearman is in charge of the proceedings.

-How are we going to do today?

-I think it's going to be a good sale.

-Really?

-We had a good viewing yesterday, a lot of public, a lot of trade buyers in,

a lot of collectors and, fingers crossed, we are going to have a good sale today.

-What is the best thing today?

-In today's sale?

-Not our lot...

-What he's trying to prompt you here is to say the best lot is that wonderful...

-Hush your mouth, honey child!

-..that wonderful silver pencil case,

-that's what he's really trying to get you to say.

-I see!

Funnily enough, that has tickled his fancy.

After all, silver was the hot tip David got from this very auction house.

My favourite piece has to be the pencil case.

And the estimate for that is in the region of £60 to £80.

So that's a nice piece, I'm anticipating that'll do quite well.

David has spent a considerable £169 on four lots - the croc lighter,

the cocktail decanter,

the Worcester plate and the silver pen or pencil holder.

Thank you very much.

While Philip has forked out £114 on five lots -

the ostrich eggs, two sets of Mauchline boxes, the bookshelves

and the cocktail shaker.

I'll have those off you.

It's all to play for, and as ever with an auction anything can happen.

Out of the starters' gate

is Philip's silver-plated cocktail shaker.

£20 only for it.

£20 bid, do I see £22 now?

22, 22, 24, 26, 28, £30.

I don't believe that. I do not believe that.

-Sold for £28.

-I'm staggered.

So am I, so am I.

With a surprising profit of £19 before commission

the crowd's won over, for now anyway.

-That is a very good result.

-Luck!

Next up, Philip's ostrich eggs.

He's signed one already. The other awaits the scroll of David Barby.

What shall we say for these then? £20 for them?

£20, £20 being bid, thank you, 22 now.

-22.

-For heaven's sake.

-25, 27, £30 I'm bid, 32 now...

It's the only thing I put my name to that won't bounce!

-Thank you, sir.

-£30.

You've doubled your money. You've doubled your money.

That's right, David, Philip's made a good profit on those...

putting him way out in front.

I hope it goes the same with me.

You'll do well, Barby. You've got more to double because you bought good things.

Let' see if that rings true with David's 1920s cocktail decanter,

with the lemon-squeezing stopper.

Lot number 30, interesting piece there now. Commission bid...

-£30.

-Well done, well done.

-Straight in.

32, 32, 35, 37,

-£40, 42, 45, 47,

-Well done, Barbs.

-47 do I see now?

Selling for £45...

Well done, Barbs, well done.

That's a £15 profit... a great start.

He'll lose a little of that to the auction house...

as our two experts know only too well.

All these auctioneers charge commission. It's never right, is it?

That's why you drive an Aston Martin.

Shhh. Don't tell anybody that!

Now for the Royal Worcester plate...

It's a nice piece, but will it clean up for David?

And lot number 40. The Royal Worcester plate, 1909, bluish-green.

Oh, isn't that beautiful? Isn't that lovely? It's extraordinary.

£20 straight in, £20, 22 now, 22...

-Come on...

-..25, 27, £30, 32, 35, 35 do I see now?

-Come on, come on, come on.

-£32.

32. Oh, well that's not bad.

An £8 profit.

But it should have faired better.

That was all right.

It's not brilliant but it's all right, isn't it?

Will the bidders get more excited about

Philip's late-19th century book shelves?

£10 is being bid, is there 12?

14, 16, 18, £20, 22, 25, 25, 27,

27, £30, 30 I have, £32, 32 anywhere?

Selling to you, sir, for £30.

£30. What's a fiver, Barbs?

-You haven't made a loss on it.

-Not till you take the commission off.

Indeed, after commission that will be a small loss.

Next up the first batch of Mauchline Ware boxes.

Philip has split his five Mauchline Ware boxes into two lots.

Here are the first two boxes.

-£20 on these.

-That's good, 22.

25, 27, £30 is my bid, £32, I have it, 35, 35 anywhere?

Selling for £32.

-That was OK.

-Respectable.

The crowd has seen the first batch -

has it whet their whistles for Philip's second lot of pretty boxes?

-Another commission bid. I'm opening at £30.

-That's good.

32, 35, 37, £40, 42, 45, 47, £50 now, 50 do I see?

Selling for £47.

-Well, that's good, Philip.

-That's all right, Barbs, isn't it?

That's a respectable profit of eight pounds.

Splitting up the Mauchline Ware was a definite advantage.

That's good, that's good, that's good. You are doing very well.

Now for David's bronze-finished metal crocodile lighter...

Philip couldn't believe he'd bought it, so could it lead to regrets?

The alligator... This'll do all right.

-Crocodile cigarette lighter.

-Yes!

-I have a bid of £22, is there 22?

22, 25, 27,

£30, 32... No.

-32, 32...

-Come on, come on, come on.

35... No. £35?

-That's a hell of a profit.

-Come on...

At £30. Thank you.

That's a hell of a profit, Barbs.

A £20 profit, proving that sometimes

the more quirky the item, the better.

-Well done, you.

-Oh...

-I'm really pleased for you. I'm really, really pleased for you.

Now for the final lot.

The silver Sampson Mordan pen or pencil case. If this bombs,

it could be curtains for David.

-And the scarce Sampson Mordan pen or pencil case.

-Well, here we are...

How's it going to do how's it going to do, how's it going to do?

What shall we say for this now, £100 for this piece?

Any interest at 100? Do I see £100...?

I'm going to open the bidding here at £50, commission bid.

55, 60, 65,

70, 75,

80, 85...

No. £85? 85... 85...

90 from this lady. 95...

£100...

-The bids keep rolling in...

-110, 120, 130...

-And again.

-140...

-And again.

-150...

-150, sir. 160...

-Well done, Barbs, that's a real good price.

-170? No.

£170...? 170, do I see?

No further interest. Selling to this lady for £160.

-Oh, yes!

-Well done, Barbs. Well done.

That's the biggest profit of the day.

No wonder he's delighted!

You've done really well with that.

You can give me a kiss.

I'm pleased, but I am actually not THAT pleased for you.

Well - at least he signed your ostrich egg, Philip.

It's been a positive start to the week for both our boys.

Out of his original pot of £200,

after paying the auction costs Philip has made a profit of £23.57.

Which gives him a stand up total of £223.57

to shop with tomorrow.

But David has beaten Philip to the finish line.

After paying commission,

he's made a profit of £52.59

which sees him leaving with £252.59.

So - will Philip let him celebrate? Probably not.

-Now, don't gloat!

-I want to go and spend it all at our next one!

-Have you got the map...?

-Don't put your arm around me.

-I am a demonstrative person, Philip.

-I'm getting wet.

Get in the car, for Christopher Columbus!

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip...

Philip takes haggling to a whole new height.

I'm trying to start sowing the seed of doubt in Richard's mind

as to how little this is really worth...

I can feel one of my headaches coming on.

And could there be a surprise in store at auction for David?

Look at the little look on his face!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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