Episode 24 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.

-Lord, above.

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

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

-What a dilemma.

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

If I wasn't in the same car as you I'd let your tyres down.

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Our two experts this week are those two stalwarts of the antiques trade, Philip Serrell and David Barby.

Get your hand off my knee!

Look that's what you do. When you start criticising my driving.

-I wasn't criticising your driving. Just keep your hand off my knee.

-I wouldn't want to touch it.

Auctioneer Philip Serrell adores all periods of antiques,

and particularly enjoys the social history aspect of his job.

Well, you can clearly see it was a truncheon.

-But these aren't for beating up your local antique dealer?

-No.

David Barby was a precocious talent. His interest in antiques started when he was just 12.

Ever since then, he's used that knowledge to his pecuniary advantage.

# Money, money, money... #

But it's hard to believe that they've had the time to buy any antiques at all.

What with all this mucking about. Look at them. Dear oh, dear.

I've got a small head...

What do I look like aye?

-Caesar Augustus.

-Thank goodness you can't see me.

Do I look like Gladiator?

Both experts started this week with £200.

David surged into the lead early on.

He did very well with his buttons and he's in the lead.

Auctioneer One bidder on the counter at 150 and selling away.

He starts this leg with a handsome £483.22.

Philip also did splendidly. His £6 tyre spreader made a staggering £74 profit.

£80, still at 80 on my right today.

That's brilliant. Brilliant, brilliant...

His spending money for the day is a very respectable £262.53.

But David's still ahead by more than £200.

And Philip's going to have to work hard to stay in the race.

This week's road trip is a leisurely stroll from the east to the west of England

from Lincoln to Wotton-Under-Edge.

Today's leg kicks off in Brightlingsea

and ends in St Ives for auction.

Do you know what Barbs? I'm looking forward to today.

Why's that, give me three good reasons.

The sea. The side. That's two good reasons. I like the sea side.

-Me too.

-I'm going to get a kiss-me-quick hat.

What is it with you guys and your matching outfits?

Brightlingsea was renowned for its shipbuilding and fishing industries - particularly oysters.

These days, it's better known as a popular destination for tourists.

Just the ticket for our day-trippers.

Lovely pair, aren't they?

Phil's first stop is Cellar Antiques And Clocks.

Right, man on a mission. I'm going to be really mean because I've got to be mean.

I'm not even going to look at prices. I'm just bidding.

-I like them goats. How much is your goat?

-How much is it?

-Yeah.

-Can I make you a silly offer on this?

-A silly offer?

-Well, it's going to be ever so silly.

-He's 170.

I'm going to insult you. I was going to offer you like 35-40 quid.

That's why it was silly. He's quite fun, isn't he?

Yes, he is, but he'd also take up most of you budget, you old goat!

I keep looking at ship's wheels everywhere I go.

Yes, you do, you bought one in the last show.

What's that off?

That's off a 28-foot river cruiser. Built on the River Thames, just before the turn of the century.

And it costs a reasonable £52 if you like that sort of thing.

I'm not sure what you could ever do with that. I suppose you could always scrap it.

I think what people use those for are coat hangers.

They put a shaft in the centre

and you can hang your coats on it.

What a man! Is £20 any good on that?

Yeah. I might be having that then, let's put it down there for a minute.

As Philip haggles, David leaves Brightlingsea and heads north to Colchester.

This beautiful 15th century timber-framed house

was built by William Gilberd, physician to Elizabeth I.

Today, it houses Tymperley's Clock Museum.

It's one of the largest collections of clocks in the country,

which were bequeathed by local businessman and philanthropist Bernard Mason.

David's guide is Catherine Newley.

-Hello, very pleased to meet you.

-Hello, I'm Catherine.

-Would you like to come in and see the collection?

-I can't wait.

Bernard Mason began collecting Colchester-made clocks in 1927.

Although Colchester was not one of the biggest manufacturers of clocks,

the collection is interesting from a social history perspective.

It shows the evolution of clock production in the town over a period of several hundred years.

Are these the earliest clocks in the collection?

These are the earliest and they're lantern clocks, mainly because they look like lanterns.

They date from the middle of the 17th century?

Some are, some are slightly later, beginning of the 18th century.

Lantern clocks started going out of fashion with the introduction

of long-case clocks in the 18th century.

So here, we've got a clock that dates from the 1730s and you can see the lacquer work on it

but what's interesting is on the clock face we've got different cities around the world

that were presumably part of the trade route

so we've got, Jerusalem, Boston Newfoundland, San Salvadore, Lisbon...

How do you tell what the time is let's say in Jerusalem? Or Boston?

-When the hour hand points towards the city in question that means it's noon in that city.

-Oh, right.

It's very simple, isn't it?

It's the early version of London, New York, Tokyo.

What an advance in clock design and manufacture from lantern clocks to this.

Ah, I was always told that that section there could be secured with a peg inside

and that would stop the servants from taking the clock or anybody else round

and they'd finish their labours, let say a quarter of an hour, half an hour, even an hour earlier.

Simultaneously with the development of static, lantern

and long-case clocks, travelling timepieces or watches developed.

This is the inner sanctum, isn't it?

This is a couple of the pocket watches from our collection.

The one on the left is the 1725 one, and the one on the right is a later one, 1775.

They're both pair cases?

Pair case, as the name implies - two cases. The outer one was for protection.

It's hard to believe now, but the pocket watch revolutionised the way we live.

For the first time ever, a time-keeper was available,

which was both accurate and portable.

What I like about this

is the actual movement itself...

wonderful structure.

Beautifully pierced.

But time is of the essence, David, and you should start shopping.

I've had an exciting day. Thank you very much indeed.

Back in Brightlingsea, and still in Paul's shop, Philip spots something else to tickle his fancy.

-Paul, can I have a look at this scribe?

-Most certainly.

A scribe scores a fixed line in the timber,

so that you have a straight line to cut. And this one costs £15.

What you would do is adjust this here up and down here.

Then you would run that down the timber

and these little nails would score the timber.

Early tools could be hugely collectable, and sought after.

And with the maker's stamp on there.. and it's a beautifully made thing if you look at this it's rosewood.

I think it's a really nice thing.

-You want the ship's wheel?

-I'll give you 25 quid for the two.

-26.

-25, and I'll take 'em done deal and walk away.

-Is it cash?

-It'll be cash.

-All right done.

-I have been! Thank you ever so much.

So that's £20 for the ship's wheel and £5 for the scribe.

That's not dear. Well, more than nine pence.

His sightseeing over,

David leaves Colchester and heads towards Halstead. His next stop,

Halstead Antiques Centre.

Which looks to me as if it's stuffed with...stuff.

Hello. David Barby.

-Good to meet you. Ken Hewitt.

-I'm looking for silver.

Unusual pieces, quirky...

And I hope that we can negotiate on price in certain things.

Yes, David, those magic words - "negotiate" and "price" your favourites.

Who are you up against, Philip, Philip Serrell?

Dear Philip. Yes, nice, nice, nice guy.

We rag each other, but we're old friends.

Till after the show.

David soon sniffs out a cabinet full of silver.

The dealer who owns the items has emigrated, leaving unpaid debts.

And Ken is able to be flexible on price.

Now, just give me an example.

This is priced at £125,

-what sort of price are we looking at on that?

-Everything in there I'll go half on.

-50%.

-That really is quite encouraging.

If you want to pick out the pieces you like, we'll put them on the desk and... Like that?

This is a glass jar.

I think somewhere along the line,

it's had a new base to it because I can feel the putty inside.

So I think that's a new base.

So, that goes back in the cabinet!

This is a Victorian silver sauce boat.

It's by Charles Sunnock.

This is London 1899.

It started off life basically as a simple Georgian design,

and then during the 19th century they put more embellishment in

like all this sort of punchwork and Repousse decoration.

But if they'd left it plain and simple, being an exact copy of the Georgian one

it would have been worth more.

David knows a bargain and he's not finished yet - saucy!

A little quaich.

A quaich is a shallow two handled drinking cup, which originated in Scotland.

Good weight, isn't it.

I like that.

Right.

Useful for the whiskey.

-I think we may do some business on one or two pieces.

-Good, excellent.

Philip's finished in Brightlingsea,

and heads into Halstead, where David's also been buying antiques.

On the way, he stumbles upon Old And Modern Furniture.

Jo, the dealer behind the counter, is a bit camera shy,

you won't see her, but you'll certainly hear her.

I'm going to have a good look at this pine desk.

The top doesn't lift up at all, it's got a drawer,

looks fairly old,

replacement wooden handles.

It's priced up at £65.

What's the very best you can do on this for me?

£65.

She's quite elderly.

I don't quite think she's got the hang of this business really.

Is that it? The price is what it is, is it?

Steady!

I can see why she doesn't want to be on camera.

60.

Yeah!

-Do you want to have another think about that?

-No.

There you go.

Try harder! Get heavy with her!

What of these weights? They're £20 is that all of the weights here, yeah?

No, that's that one on it's own.

-That one on it's own?

-Yeah.

-Cor!

You'd better sit down, cos I'm going to be mean.

I'm going to bid you a fiver for the weights.

How much? Oh, no!

SILENCE

How much do you want for them?

-15.

-Oh, come on Jo!

Perhaps you'll have more luck with Jo's husband, Mike. Who we also don't see.

How often do you leave her in charge of this shop?

Oh, dear me! She's blooming like a dragon trying to deal with.

I'm asking if you'll take a fiver for these weights. Good man.

You've got to buy Mike a beer when you see him.

-Have I got them?

-Buy him a beer next time.

-Thank you, my love.

Hang on, off camera, this.

< (Thank you so much, thank you. Mwah!)

Oh, she's not so elderly.

Moving swiftly on... Back to that half-price silverware in Halstead.

This is quite a nice little copy

of a Georgian helmet-shaped cream jug. If I turn it upside down,

there's the helmet.

With all this silver at half price, it's a snip at £62.50.

This is quite a nice Scottish origin piece

although it was made in Birmingham.

it's a Scottish quaich, and it was intended for gruel, porridge, liquids...

anything which you could sup out of a tin like this...

So that would be £62.50.

Finally, the sauce boat

even at half price, it's still £122.50.

The three items together would cost £247.50.

I'm going to offer you £180 for the three.

It's not enough, I'm afraid.

£200 for the lot.

-Can we split the difference at 190?

-200's good.

-190.

200's good, come on.

Would you do £190 for me, please, please?

You're a very hard man.

-But I like you. Go on. 190.

-Thank you very much.

So, the sauce boat cost £90, and the other two items, £50 each.

Now, can I have your name and address in case they don't sell?

BOTH LAUGH

Philip Serrell.

-Is he coming tomorrow?

-You've taken all the good things. There'll be nothing left for him.

Poor Philip...

Their shopping for the day now over, it's time for our chaps to put their feet up.

Let's hope they don't get too comfortable...

It's the second leg of Philip and David's trip across Essex and Suffolk.

And both our chaps are eager to spend, spend, spend.

It's a pleasure to work with someone who's got so much experience.

You mean "as old as I am" - is that what you're trying to get at?

I don't know anyone who's been alive that long.

So far, Philip's been cautious with his money, and has spent a mere £30 on three items.

He's left with £232.53 to spend.

David, on the other hand, has been a bit more extravagant.

He spent £190 on three items of silver.

His spending money for the day is £293.22.

This morning, our two chaps are still in Halstead.

It's a pretty little village in rural Essex,

and regular competitor in annual flower shows. Blooming marvellous!

Halstead is also where they used to film Lovejoy, so it's perfect hunting ground for our boys.

First stop for Philip, Halstead Antiques Centre.

That is, if David's left him anything.

A ship's wheel! And as we know they're really rare things.

-Can I buy three?

-No, you can't, Philip!

But Ken has something you might be interested in - a Wedgwood dinner service.

The trouble with that is, if you're going to buy a part service.

It's difficult for people to know what to do with it and I think that you and I are of a certain age.

Young people don't collect things that.

I think these things are a bit like Black Forest gateau and Berni Inns. They've had their day.

David, however, has exhausted Halstead,

and is on his way to the delightful village of Steeple Bumpstead.

Well, I think I spent quite a lot of money yesterday, so I'll be a little bit careful.

First stop, Bumpstead Antiques and Interiors.

-Good morning to you. Graham Hessel.

-Hello, Graham, pleased to meet you.

Can I afford anything?

It depends how hard you're going to bargain, but I'm sure we'll find something for you.

-I hate bargaining.

-Well, that's OK then.

Lying toad! Come along then.

In particular, I noticed the card case.

Ivory card case, 19th century. Quite a nice one. It has a little bit of damage to it.

If you take that off you'll see the damage.

That has to fit exactly as pagoda roof there,

otherwise when people put it back and they've forced it down, it doesn't fit.

Isn't that lovely? So what's the price?

The price would be 550, so probably a little bit higher than you've got.

You're quite correct. It's beyond my price range.

Back in Halstead, Philip finds something that is within his price range.

Ken, can I have a look at this truncheon, please?

23000 keys.

-You're the Halstead jailer, are you, Ken?

-There we go, help yourself.

You can clearly see it's a truncheon.

-But these aren't for beating up your local antique dealer.

-No.

These are very much ceremonial.

A Victorian period, decorated truncheon with hand painted crown. "VR"... Victoria Regina.

That's Queen Victoria, there's the crown.

Ken at £65 it's just too much money for me. It's a lovely thing.

I'd like to buy it at £30/35. If I have to go to £40, I would.

Let me give him a call, and see what he can do.

But there's no reply from the dealer, so Ken does the negotiating himself.

I wanna buy it off you for £30 that's what I really want to do.

What's he got? 65 on it, that's more than half price.

I know. Can I do £35? 35 and I'll have it here and now.

I'll get my money out of my pocket, if that'll tempt you.

-If you do £40, I'll shake hands.

-I'll have it. Thank you so much.

Up the road in Bumpstead,

David hones in on something for the suave man about town.

It's a hat box.

Hawkes & Co. Piccadilly, London - it's got the right address.

There's nothing inside it.

But what a very nice decorative item.

And a nice price too. £225.

It's got to be really, really, really cheap. £50.

Time to put your negotiating hat on, David.

What's the best you can do on that?

What would you like to offer me?

I don't want to be insulting, but I think it's got to be well under £100.

The very best I can do on that...

And it is the very, very best. £125, and you're getting it virtually at cost price.

But even at cost price, it's still too much for David, who leaves without buying anything.

Back at Ken's, Philip discovers the treasure trove of cut-price silver that David found earlier.

At least what's left of it.

That is a piece of silver, 1944, sort of, almost late Art Deco.

This is it looks a real plain Jane,

and it says here it's dated 1895 and it's a silver dipper,

or a little tumbler. I quite like that.

Hang on, isn't that the jar that David rejected?

Out of the three, that's very decorative and I like that one.

-What's she got on that?

-£85.

And as I said I'm keen to get something back on these to recover my cost

so knowing that you need to make some money last and final offer I'll do that for half price.

-That's very good is that 40 quid.

-£42.50.

-I don't do 50s.

-£43.

-40 quid. I'll have them both at £40.

-£40.

-Good man, you've got a deal.

Thank you very much. I'm really pleased with both of those.

So that's £40 for the truncheon,

and £40 for the silver jar.

And that's a result, Philip.

David's now finished in Steeple Bumpstead,

and is off to the quintessentially English town of Saffron Walden.

It's one of the best preserved examples of a medieval market town

with every style of architecture from the 12th to the 21st century.

Next stop, dealer Paul Lankester.

-Good afternoon.

-Very pleased to meet you.

-And you, welcome.

-I'm looking for the elusive bargain.

Well, I almost hope you don't find it.

That's a terrible thing to say.

-It means I've made a mistake somewhere.

-No! Not at all. There's always bargains to be had.

David's panicking because he's only got two hours left to shop.

I'm still looking.

I'm still looking. Getting more and more despondent.

But David's eagle eye soon swoops upon something glassy, but not classy.

This is a Murano glass...

dish, 1950s, '60s...

Tinted glass with gold fleck inclusions and this green band

is on the periphery of this glass which is spun by hand.

At £12.50, that's not a bad buy.

When you're looking at glass, you always look at the base

see the amount of wear, because if it's an old piece

it would have been put on a table and moved around

so you would have scratch marks on the bottom.

This has scratch marks that I don't think has been reproduced.

Somehow the colour appeals.

But can he buy at the right price?

Panic.

Panic. Don't panic, Mr Mainwearing!

I'm panicking. What's the best you can do on that?.

-Are you struggling at the moment to buy something that you need to buy.

-Yes, struggling.

If I'm very generous to you I'd let you have it for £10.

Could you go under £10? £8?

-£8...

-£8.

-Even I could make a profit on it for £8.

-It's still here.

But I like it.

But you don't have things in your shop that you don't want to sell.

I want to sell it, was rather hoping for a bit more

than the £8 you seem to be offering me.

£9 and we'll come to a gentleman's agreement.

I would like that for £8.

Against my better judgment, I will agree.

-Thank you very much.

-It's my pleasure.

Philip is taking a break from shopping, and is off to visit Layer Marney Tower.

At 80 feet, it's England's tallest Tudor gatehouse.

His guide is current owner Nick Charrington.

-Nick, how are you?

-Very well, Philip.

-Good to see you.

-This is just wonderful.

-It is, it's great.

Nick's parents paid a mere £8,750 for the house.

They bought it on a whim back in 1959, when nobody wanted to buy old properties like these.

Although the house is open to the public for six months a year, it's still very much a family home.

It's sort of a mad Tudor building.

They were very competitive in those days about who could build the tallest, the biggest

I think Henry Marney quite keen to do his stuff.

Let's go and have a look.

Lord Henry Marney, as Lord Privy Seal and Captain of the Bodyguard,

was one of Henry VIII's most important and influential courtiers.

Although the house was never completed, it still has over 100 rooms and 400 windows.

It was built around 1518-1520 that sort of time.

Did you two decide the dress code beforehand?

It was a time when all the courtiers were building like crazy.

They were encouraged by Henry VIII.

He believed that if you were a significant person, you had to have a significant building.

And as the king, of course he had the most of them

and he inherited the throne and took over 24 royal palaces

and when he died, he left 67.

In fact, one of the very first visitors to the house

was Henry VIII, who stayed for a couple of nights in 1522.

So your records show that Henry VIII stopped here and the probability is that this was his room.

Yes, either this room, or possibly the one below.

The idea was you had the King's set of apartments.

Then on the floor below, the Queen's set of apartments.

A visit from the King and his wife, Catherine of Aragon, was a great honour.

It was his way of thanking Lord Marney for a lifetime of service to the Crown.

And the tour's not over quite yet. Next, a visit to the roof.

This is the original staircase we're on now

and so you've got the original oak posts and then the oak treads.

-I love those boards there.

-It's terrific. Lovely big gaps to look through.

They're not lovely to look through. I don't have a head for heights.

OK, we're now on the roof. We're about 70 or so feet up.

-Sorry that was not very clever.

-Thanks very much indeed.

-DIRECTOR:

-Are you all right, Phil?

-Yeah, terrific(!)

You might not want to take in the stupendous views, Philip, but we do.

Drinking wine and eating sweetmeats on the roof was a favourite Tudor pastime.

But it's clearly not one of Philip's.

I'm going back down now. Thank you very much indeed.

As Philip recovers from his dizzy spell, back in Saffron Walden, David works up a sweat -

not a pretty sight.

They're very butch, aren't they?

I remember when I was in the Boys' Brigade,

we had such equipment like this and they were heavy then,

although I can't remember them being as heavy as they are now.

I think these are Victorian dumbbells.

And they're cast iron and they're £15.

Let me have a word with Paul and I'll see if I can get them reduced.

Ah yes, David. It wouldn't do to pay the price on the label.

Interestingly, I was looking through a book,

the other day, and I discovered a picture of the Boys' Brigade.

-I was in the Boys' Brigade.

-Were you?

Boys' Brigade were exercising using these exact dumbbells.

-Rugby Baptist Church.

-Would you like to have a look? "Boys' Brigade at drill."

1890 and look they're all holding the dumbbells.

That's not you, is it?

1890. Thank you very much(!) That is extraordinary and yes, those are the actual dumbbells.

But at £15, they're more than David wants to pay. Let's dumb 'em down.

-I tell you what I'll do, ten quid.

-What about eight.

-No, no...

-You let me have the other one for eight.

I know, but these, look...

Look these are 15 and I think they're worth £10.

I can't let them go for less than that.

-That's your very best?

-Very, very best.

-OK, £10.

That's a deal. I can't shake.

Will you gift-wrap them for me?

DAVID LAUGHS

Ha ha ha, blooming ha-ha(!)

The shops are shut, and it's time for Philip and David to reveal what they've bought.

But what will be good enough to win at the auction?

Let's lean over, shall we?

-Oh, that's lovely.

-Good weight.

-What you me or it?

Both of us. It's Birmingham, 1938. That was £50.

-Oh, that's cheap, isn't it?

-That's reasonable.

Secondly, it's the ship's wheel.

-This is rather like deja vu, but everything's reduced.

-It's a bit of a recurring theme!

Oh, I think this is better than the last one.

Do you? Well, it's 1898, River Thames.

-Well, I think it's fantastic.

-It was £20.

-This is quality.

Oh, those are good.

Have you got the other one?

I quite like these dumbbells.

I remember using similar ones when I was in Boys' Brigade.

-£10.

-Those are all right aren't they?

-I think they're OK.

-I bought this.

-Ah! I know where you got that from.

I gave him £40 and I thought I've never seen anything like that before

and there's a reason why I've never seen anything like it. It's got all this new plaster.

That's good value. It's worth it for the silver, isn't it?

Now, for David's next item, the Murano dish.

Well, I like this because of its colour. It looks to be Murano.

I think we're looking at probably 1950s-'60s.

This was probably one of my more expensive items actually.

-This was a fiver was it?

-Ah £8.

Next up, the weights.

Oooh, that is heavy, isn't it?

Yours were a lot heavier.

-Do you like that?

-Yeah.

-I bought them for a fiver, the lot.

-That I think is worth £20 on its own.

That is lovely I like that a lot.

More silverware from David - his helmet-shaped jug.

I tend to go for a lot of silver.

That's a nice thing, isn't it?

It's 1911,

London hallmark. I just thought it was so, so beautiful. For £50 I couldn't resist it.

-I just think it's a lovely thing.

-I think so.

I really like this because this is simplicity in itself.

Rosewood. You turn it, look.

We've got a maker's stamp just there and it's for marking timber, isn't it?

-That is very elegant, I love that. You didn't pay a lot for that did you?

-No, a fiver.

-That is cheap for something beautiful.

-It is. Let me guess. Another bit of silver.

Yes, Philip, you're right,

another item of silverware from Ken's cut-price cabinet in Halstead.

-And you got there before me, correct?

-Oh, dear oh, dear! Yes.

And I don't blame you at all. What did you pay for that? A hundred and what?

-No, no. I paid 90.

-I think that's a very, very, well-made thing.

-Would you honestly have bought that?

-I would have.

I'm awfully tempted to use the next one that I've bought.

I just thought it was a really nice, Victorian ceremonial truncheon and I think it's a bit of fun.

-Yes, lovely old chap.

-And I think that was cheap.

-How much?

-40 quid.

-Oh, that is cheap.

-And I think there might be £50 profit in that.

-It's worn at the top there.

It might be worn a bit more in a minute!

I wouldn't do that to you, Barbs.

I think your cream jug is just the best by a distance.

-Sauce boat.

-What did I say?

-"Cream jug".

See brain's going now.

It's age, don't worry. It'll happen to me eventually.

It's all very good humoured now.

But what do they really think about their rival's purchases?

His best bit's undoubtedly the silver sauce boat.

If I'd got in the shop before him, I'd have bought it.

I didn't like the weights. Unless somebody wants a good doorstop.

I'm not quire sure that I can see David and dumbbells. Barby and dumbbells?

That jar, that blue jar, which I rejected...

There's an awful fear that it might go for about £80 and I rejected it.

You're laughing now, David. But you won't be if Philip beats you.

So far on this road trip, our two chaps started off in Brightlingsea,

and haggled their way to Saffron Walden via Colchester,

Halstead, and Steeple Bumpstead.

Today, they're heading into the ancient town of St Ives -

the one in Cambridgeshire, not Cornwall.

You talk about St Ives and I'm sure most people think of Cornwall.

I'm sure they do, I'm sure they do.

For the past thousand years, it has been home to some of the biggest markets in the country

held under the watchful eye of its most famous resident.

Oliver Cromwell.

-Are you a Roundhead or a Cavalier?

-A cavalier.

-I've always thought you took a fairly cavalier approach to things!

-Haha!

Hyperion Auctions was founded in 1995, and hold sales

every two weeks of antiques, furniture and collectables.

But how does auctioneer Lester Day think our chaps will do?

Now, what about our lots? Mine in particular.

This sauce boat,

I would say that we're probably going to be looking at around for one £140-150 mark.

And have you had any muscle-bound men coming into the sale room

as I bought those dumbbells.

We have had a lot of interest in them. Probably...

..£10-£20.

-I bought that lovely scribe, the woodworking tool in rosewood

-It's very nice. Nice condition.

-What do you think it'll make?

-I think £20/30.

The truncheon is fantastic. We're probably looking at around the around £100 mark.

Encouraging words indeed!

Especially as Philip has some catching up to do.

He started this leg with £262.53, and spent £110 on five items.

David, however, had £483.22 spending money,

and spent just £208, also on five items.

The auction is about to start and an expectant hush descends.

First up, David's dumbbells.

They brought back happy memories but will they pull their weight?

A pair of cast iron Boys' Brigade dumbbells. Showing here as modelled,

we'll leave him for a little while, might build his muscles up.

-I have commissions in at 15.

-Well done, Barbs.

Do I see 18? 18. Do I see 20?

At 18... GAVEL BANGS

At last that made a profit, eight pounds.

And that's one up for David!

Next up, Philips wheel.

It's the second he's bought, but will it help him to victory?

Little bit of interest in this,

I have 30, do I see 32?

30, do I see 32?

at 30 pounds. GAVEL BANGS

Start as you mean to go on! That's a £10 profit to you.

David paid £8 for his green glass dish.

But what will the bidders think?

Starting down at ten pounds. £12?

This is David Barby looking wounded again.

Do I see 18? 20, 22?

Selling at 22 pounds. GAVEL BANGS

-Well done, Barby.

And it's a decent little profit of £14, but David is not happy.

Barbs, you do make me laugh. You do wounded better than anybody I know.

Now Philip's brass bell weights. He paid a fiver for them.

I have, ten pounds bid do I see 12? I've got 12, 15,

18, do I see 20?

At 18 pounds. GAVEL BANGS

Well, they certainly helped you punch above your weight.

-I'm creeping in, Barbs, creeping in...

-That's brilliant.

At £90, the sauce boat is David's most expensive item.

But will it make the most profit?

We have 70 do I see 75?

75, 80, 85?

I've got 85, do I see 90? £85, do I see 90?

At 85 pounds. GAVEL BANGS

Oh, no! That's the first loss of the day of £5.

-Oh, David...

-I saw you smile.

Not at all.

I was so happy for you to make a profit.

At last!

You're such a rat.

Next up, Philip's rosewood scribe.

Let's hope it's not a write-off.

I start you down at 12 pounds, do I see 15?

Got 15, do I see 18?

Selling at 15 pounds. GAVEL BANGS

Philip hoped for more than a £10 profit,

but David seems more upset than he is!

Oh, that's disappointing. That really was disappointing...

-You look heart-broken I must say.

-Yes, I feel for you.

NOT! Can David redeem himself with his second piece of silver,

the George V quaich?

Right in on commissions at 50,

do I see 52? 50, at 52?

55, 58? We've got 58, do I see 60?

At 58 pounds? GAVEL BANGS

It's made a profit, but only £8.

Well, done, Barbs. That's put you back where you started.

Don't rub it in, Philip...

It's time for Philip's Victorian jar, which David saw first,

and rejected.

19th century, Bristol blue glass rouge or powder pot.

That's a lot of rouge!

I have commissions down at 30, do I see 32?

32, 35, 38? I've got 38, do I see 40?

40, 42, 45, 48?

-I'm staggered.

-At 48, do I see 50?

Selling at 48 pounds. GAVEL BANGS

It's another small profit, but a profit nonetheless.

Next up, David's final piece of silver - his £50 cream jug.

Silverware hasn't been selling well today can this do any better?

I have commission bids here at 40,

42, 45, 48, 50, 52.

At 52 pounds? GAVEL BANGS

And the profits just seem to be getting smaller.

Has your Midas touch deserted you?

The auctioneers had high hopes for Philip's ceremonial truncheon.

But can it live up to expectations?

50 do I see 55?, 55, 60, 65,

70, 75, 80, 85,

90, 95.

Selling at £95. GAVEL BANGS

-That was so good.

-That's all right!

You can be excited, Philip!

You've just made a profit of £55, the biggest of the day.

Shall I drive you down to the bridge?

-I will drive and throw myself over!

-Really, is it that bad?

Oh, terrible.

Cheer up, David! Philip may have won this leg's auction,

but let's see who's in the lead.

Philip started the day with £262.53.

After paying auction costs and commission, he made a profit

of £59.70 and takes £322.23 forward to tomorrow's show.

Do I see 20, got 22.

David did less well.

He had £483.22 spending money.

After commission, he made a loss of £14.42.

He takes £468.80 forward to tomorrow's show.

But with only one leg to go, he still has a commanding lead.

We all right for fuel, Barbs?

-Which one's the fuel tank?

-You do worry me.

-You never stop. Did you know you never stop talking?

-Well, you can't with you.

Even in your sleep, you never stop talking.

On tomorrow's show, Philip picks up tips from the master in an effort to catch up,

Is that your very, very best?

While David's had enough of antiques buying for one day.

I'm going to sit in the car and sulk.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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