Episode 11 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts, £200 each and one big challenge.

-Cos I'm going to declare war.

-Why?

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

There's nothing in here.

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

Disappointing.

But it's not as easy as you might think,

-and things don't always go to plan.

-Push!

So, will they race off with a huge profit or come to a grinding halt?

-Terribly nervous now, James.

-This is the Antiques Road Trip.

This week, we start a new chapter with veteran road trippers

James Braxton and Jonathan Pratt. Goody!

Seasoned auctioneer James is quite the charmer

when buying and selling antiques.

-£40, Val.

-£42.50.

-I dare you.

-£42.50. £41 and I'll do it.

Done, because you're a horrible person!

And always asking the most important questions...

And for a cuckoo clock, do you need a cuckoo?

CUCKOO COOS

..James's opponent is young auctioneer Jonathan Pratt.

He seems to be quite a meticulous fellow...

I am just slightly concerned about that stone.

..but can also be prone to a bit of confusion.

You're looking at everything, and it can confuse.

Must be his age.

The question is, will James help or hinder?

You can hear him now, can't you? He's round there,

skulking around, putting me off.

The boys will travel in James's trusty MG.

She's prone to breaking down, but let's hope she goes the full distance.

With £200 in their back pocket,

can they uncover treasures that will make a stonking profit at auction?

This trip will start off in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

The chaps will journey over 300 miles to the deep south-west,

finishing off in Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

But this is day one of the trip.

We kick off with a bit of shopping in bustling market town Altrincham,

and we'll auction just over 20 miles away in Nantwich.

The town of Altrincham an ancient medieval history.

The old marketplace was a thriving trade centre as far back as 1290.

The arrival of stocks meant that any thieves and vagabonds

were put on public display. Better be on your best behaviour, boys!

Oh, dear, the heavens have well and truly opened.

Right, then, you two, what's your plan for the day?

-You're off to your first shop.

-Yep.

-I'm off to mine.

And I'm hoping to buy all five items immediately.

And go and have a coffee!

THEY LAUGH

What's your tactics?

I'm not competitive in the slightest,

I just like winning, that's basically it.

I'm just masking non-competitiveness.

I'm going to be searching for everything,

-my whole life is dedicated to beating you.

-I've seen you at work,

trying to catch me by surprise with this big wonder.

-Anyway, good luck.

-Thank you. And you.

-Let battle commence.

James seems to be in a jovial mood, even without his coat.

Will he get his hands on some treasures in his first shop of the day?

-Hello, James.

-Val.

-He's James.

-There's a nice calendar down here.

I'm just getting the feel of the place at the moment,

I like some goodies already.

Do you know Bruce Bairnsfather?

-Yes, yes.

-There's quite a lot in that window.

So you've got this nice plate, this wall plate.

I'll be flexible on those,

-cos I actually have another box full of them.

-Do you?

Bairnsfather was a great war cartoonist, so '14-'18 war.

Captain Bruce Bairnsfather was a world-famous cartoonist

who created satirical images from the trenches of the First World War.

His character, Old Bill,

a walrus-moustached soldier,

was much-loved for keeping up the morale of the troops at the time,

and his work is much sought-after today.

He was just a really important cartoonist,

who kept everybody's spirits up.

The only problem is,

and here's a funny one, you can see this sort of missile coming in.

Coiffeur In The Trenches.

This says, "Keep your head still, or I'll have your blinking ear off."

The only problem with ashtrays is they're not as popular.

This is a lovely piece, that. What's your little gold?

Is that a little pill box?

And how much have you got on your little pill box, Val?

It's 1927. I've got £195 on it.

I have a limited budget that I've got to spread. I think that's lovely.

And I think that's lovely.

-Looks like you're spoilt for choice, James.

-It is lovely.

What could you do the two for? So that's the pill box and the plate.

-I'll do the two for £200.

-£200, that's my total budget.

Could you do either of these two items at £90, Val?

-Not really.

-Not really. What could you do the two ashtrays at?

I'll do those at £40, just for the two ashtrays.

£40 for the two ashtrays.

And could you do 90 on that, Val?

-I'll do that for you.

-OK.

-I'll take those two, so 40 and 90.

-That's 130. Thank you very much.

Job done, thank you. I'm so pleased.

-Tina, could you wrap those for me? Thank you.

-Well done, Tina.

Everybody needs a Tina.

Hey, hands off, Mr Braxton, Tina's not for sale.

Blimey, you weren't joking

when you said you wanted to buy all your lots as quickly as possible.

It's only the first shop and you've already spent £130.

Meanwhile, in nearby Hale,

Jonathan is in tentative mood as he approaches his first shop.

I've walked a little way, and here it is. Still raining.

I've got no idea what to expect inside.

There's some painted furniture in the window, so I'm not so sure at the minute.

-Morning.

-Morning.

This is Porcupine, and what do you sell a lot of round here?

-Chandeliers.

-Really?

-A lot.

-Interesting.

-Glass of fizz?

-Well, why not?

-Why not?!

-James is driving!

-Join in the club!

Champagne on arrival, Jonathan. What's Val up to?

The Cheshire gentlemen, what do they want?

-This is a ladies' shop.

-This is definitely.

I have a few things, I've just bought a great croquet set,

a chap'll buy that.

I think, in all honesty, there's nothing in here for me.

The painted furniture is far too ready-to-go and priced accordingly.

I don't want to buy a chandelier, I've had my fingers burnt before.

It's a great shop, retail. Not much for me.

I've been offered a cup of coffee,

so I might go downstairs for a cup of coffee now.

Champagne, now coffee.

-You don't normally have six or seven chandeliers hanging in someone's sitting room.

-True.

But this is where you assemble them, clean them and you get them ready for upstairs?

-That's it.

-What else have you got?

-What about the croquet set? Is this complete?

-Yes,

they're very hard to find, croquet sets, now.

This one, would you take £45?

-You're obviously joking?(!)

-No.

Right, go on. Up we go.

If we said...

-..60?

-No.

-OK, what do you want for it?

-80.

-You want £80?

-Yeah.

Oh, blimey.

65.

Oh, come on, 70. 70's good, you know.

-Where's this coffee?

-On its way.

-Erm, 65.

-Done for 70.

-65.

£67.50. Go for it. Yes, we've done it!

Brilliant, lovely, thank you very much.

It obviously pays to have a nosy around in a lady's basement, Jonathan.

Well, OK, I did say that I wasn't going to buy anything.

I don't know, maybe the champ...

Maybe the sparkling champers might have helped.

I'm not disappointed, though. I think this is a bit of a speculative lot.

There is a chance of a profit, so I'm not too disappointed.

The boys are switching shops.

So, it's a case of one in, one out.

Take it easy, James,

you've already spent £130 and it's not even lunch time.

-Hello.

-Very nice to meet you.

-Hello, nice to meet you. James.

-I'm Val.

-Val.

-Yes.

-Another Val! I've just come from a Val.

-Yes, she is, I forgot.

-In Altrincham.

-I know her very well.

-Very good.

-I've got some fizz.

-Oh, lovely. I won't say no.

-Well, the other one didn't, either.

Eh-up! Watch yourself, James, Val's got the champers out again.

You like to soften up your client. Is she a skiing lady, then?

Yes, she's lovely, but I like skiing.

-It's a sort of Marquette, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Plaster of Paris, is it?

-Yes.

This is quite fun because it has the alpine theme. You've got your skis, your pole

and your St Bernard, obviously.

And, a glamorous early skier, look at that.

No skier should be complete without a tie.

SHE LAUGHS

-How much have you got on that?

-85.

-The best I can do, Val, and you can chuck me out of your shop.

-I will.

-35 is the best I can do.

-I'm sure you can go better than that.

-I can't, in fact.

-60.

-I can't do 60.

-Well, I can't do 35.

-You've got to meet me somewhere in the middle.

-I'm very happy.

-Otherwise that's staying.

-£37.50, I can do.

Good God, you're a pain in the butt! You beam the whole way through!

You can go better than that.

OK, 37.50.

-You keep repeating yourself.

-Yeah.

-The answer is, "no". You've got to go higher.

-General war of attrition, Val.

-Go on.

CLOCK TICKS

-You take a long time to decide.

-I'm just thinking about...

-45.

-I can't do 45.

I've got to save myself some money.

-So £40, and we will shake.

-42.50 and it's done.

-You see.

-£40, Val.

-42.50, I dare you.

-£41 and I'll do it.

Done, because you're a horrible person and you've got a great smile.

Thank you, Val.

Very close. Meanwhile, back in Altrincham, Jonathan is on a mission

to find some more gems for his collection.

-Hi, there.

-Hello.

-Good morning.

-How are you?

-A bit wet.

Well, you are in Manchester.

-How much do you want for this?

-I would have thought about 200.

-Yeah, crikey.

Looks like Val is trying to squeeze your budget too, Jonathan.

What kind of things do you like?

There's lots of things that catch my eye. Jewellery-wise, it depends.

-I like the bronze but I can't afford that. What's that, £2,500 or something?

-Yes.

It's a matter of filtering through that top veneer

-and seeing what's left within my budget that I can afford.

-Mmm.

Anything else you can show me?

We've got stuff downstairs in the cellar but it is a cellar,

-it is not another showroom.

-That's fine.

-If you'd like to have a mooch, you're welcome.

Thank you.

Ah, once more into the basement, dear Jonathan.

I'm looking for the delights. Oh, my word, here we go.

-I bet you James didn't look down here.

-'I bet he did.'

"To Church", I like engravings.

Whilst Jonathan scuttles about downstairs,

Val holds court at the counter.

A little canvas of a lady. That's got some age.

She's in shocking condition. Pretty girl, early Victorian.

It's a bit of a punt, but, you know. I'll have a think about that one.

Shallow Campana jardiniere with a stone base.

That's stone because it's chipped.

OK.

Right, three things that I'm interested in. That's the first.

-Yes.

-She's in appalling condition, isn't she?

-She is, make me an offer.

A tenner?

-Well, you said!

-Make it 20, and OK.

-£15?

-OK.

I'll take that for £15.

That's the first one. Erm, the terracotta clay, shallow Campana.

-Yeah, yeah. Make me an offer.

-£25.

-OK.

OK. Brilliant!

Yeah, I'm not doing anything with it.

-I'll just get this print and see what you think of the print.

-Yes, OK.

-That one.

-Oh, that one!

-Make me an offer.

-£18.

20 and it's yours.

I'll have a proper look at this. You can have a look at it.

Is it what I think it is?

It's behind non-reflective glass, which is a bit of a pain.

Yeah, it is.

-£18.

-OK.

-Brilliant.

Those three objects, I'll take.

Well done, Jonathan, your purchases so far are rather eclectic.

Looks like checking out the basement is your new number one manoeuvre.

Meanwhile, where's Mr Braxton tootling off to?

James is hurtling his way

to the magical world of cuckoo land in Tabley, Cheshire.

The museum was created by brothers Roman and Maz Piekarski.

They are widely respected in the world of horology -

that's the study of time to you and me.

Over the last 40 years, their passion for cuckoo clocks

has resulted in an enchanting collection

of over 600 cuckoo clocks of all shapes and sizes and is regarded

as the most important collection in the world.

Today, Roman opens the doors to enlighten James further.

What an amazing place.

For many of us, they think cuckoo clocks are Swiss, is that right?

No, cuckoo clocks are from the Black Forest in Germany.

After the Second World War, there was a big anti-German feeling,

and so they sold them

through Swiss agents, so everybody thinks the cuckoo clocks are Swiss.

-But why "cuckoo"?

-In the beginning, in our research,

we feel they tried to make a rooster clock, like an alarm clock,

but it was very difficult to imitate the rooster.

As they were doing it, they probably heard the old cuckoo and they went,

"Oh, two bellows, "two pipes, there's the cuckoo".

Then in about 1840, 1845, they made the quail which was one pitch,

so one bellow only, and it went on like that.

-Oh, so it's almost mechanical ease, isn't it?

-Yes.

Really...?

-Now, this big fellow's caught my eye.

-A clock fit for a king, huh?

In our opinion it's the most important cuckoo clock in the world.

-It was made for Frederick The First of Baden Baden.

-Right.

-In the 1860s.

-Yes, I love the figures here.

-They're all hand-carved.

This clock is an amazing testament to exquisite craftsmanship.

Many would go cuckoo over it!

In German folklore, they believed in the little people that come out at night

to do all the work in the houses and on the machines and everything.

-Thank you very much. I go away a wiser man.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Next stop for James,

it's 13 miles down the road in Tarporley, Cheshire,

where he's trying his luck in Tarporley Antique Centre,

hoping to bag a bargain.

James, you might find something interesting in the back room.

It's got all the weird and wonderful rusty, old things, that men like.

Toys for the boys, excellent! This is the boys' room, is it?

-We've got First World War grenades. We've got weapons.

-There we are.

Ahoy!

I've just found this nice group of medals, Great War medals.

I don't know a great deal about the Great War.

I know a little bit about the general history of it,

but a friend and a colleague of mine knows a great deal. I'll give him a call.

In the antiques' business it's impossible to know every single subject inside out

and seasoned expert, James, knows it's vital to have a bulging contacts' book that one can use

in times of need.

This man has priced them up at £60.

If I could secure them at £29, they would be a lovely bed fellow for my Bruce Bairnsfather.

Here goes.

Telephone call over, James is armed with the necessary information.

Will he be able to seal the deal?

-This is the particular thing I like in here.

-Let's have a look.

-It's your Great War trio.

My only conundrum, and I'm going to be totally straight with you,

I larged it yesterday in Altrincham and Hale and spent a lot of money.

Oh, you're going to give me the sob story now.

I am going to give you a sob story, but it doesn't matter, you can either say "yay or nay".

That is exactly what I have left.

£29.

£29 and no other small change?

I've heard this sob story before from other people, but you do it so nicely.

OK, that's really kind of you. Thank you very much, indeed.

You're welcome. Would you like them wrapped for that money?

Oh, well - dear, oh, dear, I wouldn't have the temerity to ask,

but now you're offering, lovely.

# Prince Charming Prince Charming

# Ridicule is nothing to be scared of... #

Our next and final shopping destination is 18 miles away

in the village of Sandiway, near Northwich.

Blakemere Craft Centre is set around charming Edwardian stables

and is home to a large antiques and collectables emporium.

James is there, but as he's splashed all his cash,

the only buying he'll be doing is at the ice cream stall.

-Thanks a lot.

-Thank you very much.

£1.75, I hope Jonathan is able to find similar value in the antiques store.

In here, this has caught my eye.

That little brooch at the back, it says it's a Peridot bug brooch.

Says it's in solid white metal.

It's worth looking at, as not all antique jewellery was hallmarked anyway.

So it might be late 19th century and that could be interesting.

OK, let's have a look at that.

What would be the best price on that?

-We can definitely do you 10% off it.

-At a push £30?

Yeah, at a push, we can go to £30.

Wish I had a stronger lens with me,

I'm slightly concerned about that stone.

I tell you what, I like it anyway.

What the heck, it's nice, there's a little bit of gold and silver,

if you can take £30, I'm not going to haggle any more.

Shopping's over, let's recap on what the boys have bought.

James blew every single penny of his £200 budget

and ended up with four lots.

The lady skier figure,

the medals, a gold pill box,

and the Bruce Bairnsfather ashtrays

Jonathan, on the other hand, was more cautious

and spent £155.50 on five lots.

The engraving,

a child's croquet set,

a terracotta jardiniere,

a bug brooch,

and a Victorian portrait.

So, what do they think of their chances at auction?

Now I've seen what James has got, it's all that panic about,

"Did I pay too much for that? Have I chosen the right objects for the right sale?" That sort of stuff.

So...yes, I feel a lot better now.

I think I have a chance.

Is Jonathan feeling a little rocky? I don't know.

I think his optimism waned a little when my pill box slipped on

his electronic scales and registered 14 grams!

That's great. I think my items, I like my items.

I think they have a theme, I think they're nice, clean items.

You know, my condition is good, pretty well on all of them, bar the skier.

And I think I might just have squeezed this leg.

Given the choice,

I think Jonathan might swap my four items for his five.

The boys have employed some cunning manoeuvres,

but what results lie ahead?

What a wonderful start to the first leg.

We've travelled from Altrincham, Greater Manchester,

and followed a south-westerly direction through Tarporley

to the final destination of the day in the historic

market town of Nantwich, Cheshire.

Nantwich is a small medieval market town with a modern edge,

yet still crammed full of ancient character.

The Great Fire in 1583 destroyed much of the town

but its rebuilding has left a wealth of beautiful timber-framed

buildings second only to Chester.

So, have our boys made a good gamble with their items?

There's only one way to find out, at their first auction of the trip.

-Here we go.

-Are you feeling lucky, Jonathan?

Erm...are you feeling lucky?

I'm feeling good, I think I've got some nice items.

-Whether the general public of Nantwich think so will be a different matter.

-Exactly!

Peter Wilson Fine Art Auctioneers has been established since the mid-50s

and specialises in many things, including furniture, jewellery and ceramics.

Today is the collectables and antiques auction.

Let's hope our boys walk away with tidy profits.

Quiet, please.

All attention to the front. The auction is about to start.

-I want steady profits. Steady, just chip, chip, chip.

-Honestly?

-Cha-ching, cha-ching.

-Not a snowflake in hell's chance.

-Cha-ching.

First up, it's Jonathan's engraving.

Will his basement buy come up trumps?

Lot number 23 showing now. We really like this. What may we say?

How much are we bid on this? I have £80 straightaway.

-At £80.

-Oh!

Five now do I hear? At £80, I'm bid at 80. Five anywhere now, quickly?

Don't hold back. At £80 only. At 80. Five, 90 now. At 90, and five now.

At 90, great value for money.

At 90, sold at 90.

Jonathan sets the standards high with an early profit.

HE LAUGHS

Well done!

Next up it's another Jonathan purchase - the child's croquet set.

We like this, ladies and gentlemen. What's it worth?

£80 bid straightaway. £80 I have. 85 anywhere now?

At 85, 90's here, 95 now. At 90 I have it. And five now? £90 only.

-Come on.

-All quiet at £90. Will be sold at £90.

-Sold at 90.

-Well done.

A profit's a profit, Jonathan. You've still got 3 to go.

Lot number 46, this terrific plaster figure, ladies and gentlemen.

The Lady Skier. £30 straightaway. At £30 bid, and five now. 35.

Your bid at 35, I'm looking for 40.

-Oh, I knew it.

-It's going to stick at this, by the look of it.

At 35, bid's there.

All quiet at 35. Disappointing, at £35 only, then. Your bid, 35.

Disappointing indeed. Hopefully your next item

will bring you better luck.

Back to Jonathan now and the terracotta jardiniere.

Lot number 57, terracotta garden urn. What may we say for it?

£40 anywhere for it now? £40, surely, for it.

Quickly now, £40 anywhere now do I hear? £40 now do I hear at £40?

A lovely thing at £40. 40 I'm bid. At 40, and five now do I hear?

At £40 only, a lonely bid of £40. Disappointing price.

At £40 only, then, if you're all finished and done at 40. All quiet.

-At £40.

-Oh, well, fair enough, £40.

-Steady gains here, Jonathan.

Can James catch up? His medals are next.

A group of medals. And I can start the bidding on these at £70.

-A bid straightaway. 75 anywhere now? At £70.

-You're in there.

-75, 80, 85, 90, 95. At £90 on commission.

-Good boy.

At £90 only, then, with me, on commission. Make no mistake.

-At 90, all quiet and done at 90.

-Well done, well done.

-Thank you.

-Very good, James.

-Thank you.

Sounds like James' friend gave some good advice there.

What about Jonathan's bug brooch?

Has it got a sting in its tail?

Lot number 78 is this delightful little bar brooch.

-Oh, isn't that pretty?

-It's a lovely thing.

I've got £20 bid for it straightaway. 25 anywhere now?

25, thank you, at 25. 30 anywhere now? At 25, the bid's there,

at 30 anywhere now do I hear? At £25, 30, 35.

-£30 only, at 30. Bid's here at £30 and will be sold.

-No, it won't.

At 30, your bid at 30.

-That's what I paid for it. My first loss.

-Oh, dear.

Oh, dear, Jonathan. £30 on the nose.

Still means a loss because

the auction house must take its hard-earned commission.

So far Jonathan is in the lead with four lots down, one to go.

Can James make the comeback

with his remaining two lots?

It's his gold pillbox next.

Lot number 88, this delightful pillbox.

£130 bid on commission, at 130, 135, 140, 145 now.

At 140, the bid's here.

-145 do I hear? At £140 it will be sold.

-Oh, come on.

-140 then.

140 - sold.

Not bad, but you obviously had higher hopes.

Oh, well, 140.

-It's still a profit, James.

-Still a profit.

Will the Bruce Bairnsfather ashtrays make some much-needed dosh?

These Grimwades, Old Bill...

You can't even see the chip in the photograph.

It brilliant, isn't it?

What may we say for these? 50 I'm bid.

Straightaway at 50. £50 on commission at 50.

55, 60, 65 now do I hear?

-£60, the bid's here. At 65 there.

-Very good.

That's taken out the commission at 65.

All quietened down at £65 then. 65.

-Well done. Well done, James.

-Thank you.

Oh, dear. Disappointing.

But one never knows what will happen at auction.

Finally, it's the badly slashed portrait.

Did Jonathan spot something special here?

Lot number 110.

This magnificent portrait. How much may we say?

-I've got £20 bid for it straightaway on commission.

-Fantastic!

25, at £25, bid's there. 30 anywhere else?

30 bid on the internet,

35, 40 now on the internet do I hear? £40?

-Come on, internet.

-45, 50 now. 50 on the internet,

55? 55. 60 now. 60 am I bid?

-At 60, 65, 70.

-They'll chuck it back when they see the condition.

-They'll chuck it back.

-80 now. At £80.

80 bid, 85, 90 now on the internet, at 90. At 90?

No, 85, your bid at 85. £85, last chance.

At 85, being sold, then. 90.

LAUGHTER

SHE MOUTHS

-100!

-Get in there!

-105 do I hear?

£100 bid in the room. Last chance, being sold at 100.

-Get in there!

-Well done. Well done.

Well, can you believe it? James and Jonathan can't.

Triumph is on Jonathan's side today.

Stunned. No words, no words for it.

Well done, well done. Very good, very good indeed.

Ah, well, the drinks are on you tonight, that's for sure, Jonathan.

So, all in all, a surprising and exciting first auction.

Our chaps started today's show with £200 each.

After paying auction costs, Jonathan's made a profit of £131.50,

so has £331.50 to carry forward.

And lagging behind is James, who made a profit of £70.60,

leaving him with £270.60 in the kitty.

It's the end of the first day, both chaps are in healthy profit,

but there's still four more to go.

On this trip, James and Jonathan will travel over 300 miles

to the enchanting climes of Lostwithiel in Cornwall.

On this leg, they'll make their way to auction number two

in Birmingham. Having left the auction behind in Nantwich,

the first destination is the ancient town of Leek in Staffordshire.

Leek is hailed as the Queen of the Moorlands.

The Pennines are on the doorstep of the town.

Once a booming silk town,

there are strong connections with the Arts and Crafts movement.

James has £270.60 in his pocket,

while Jonathan has just over £60 more,

as they begin the second leg of their trip.

-Here we are.

-Here we are.

-Nice shop front.

A lovely gilt swag above the door. Bit of a swag like you!

-Good morning, gentlemen.

-Hello!

-Welcome to the House of Antiques.

-Thank you.

-There are two floors.

-Yep.

-Is there a basement?

-Not that we know of, no!

-No basement.

-I don't mind starting upstairs.

-OK.

-I'll go upstairs.

-You go upstairs.

-I'll head off and leave you to it, OK?

-Yeah.

Looks like the basement tactic is ruled out here, Jonathan.

Upstairs for you, young man.

They're nice. How much are those?

Too much for you, I'm afraid.

How do you know?

-They're fire irons, or implement rests.

-225.

Put them down, Jenny. Put them down.

I don't enjoy taking a price from £100 down to 40.

Everyone can do that.

I want to find something I can make money out of without having to haggle too much.

Come on, Jonathan, get real!

Surely that's what buying antiques is all about!

There's a bit of Tunbridge Ware down there. Can I see that?

-I'm not mad about brushes.

-No, I'm not, either.

My speciality is Tunbridge Ware.

It's a perspective cube. Quite sweet.

I like that. I'll pop it down there.

This is a cabinet full of pottery

and it has a look of pottery about it, which is this little tray.

The decoration on it is very much 18th century.

Little cattle and sheep. A shepherd with a riverscape behind

and some buildings.

When you pick it up, you realise how cold it is. It's on a metal base and it's a bit of enamel.

It's a novelty item, it's a nice item

and it's very difficult to quantify the value of it.

It's a good collectors' type thing.

What would you let me have it for?

I could sell that for £70.

I think it's the sort of thing that might interest private people.

I will...

Should I... Shall I make it a fiver less?

Oh, crikey!

Think I should do that?

I'm never going to be one for turning down an extra fiver!

Hey, what's going on, Jonathan?

Surely you're the one that's meant to do the haggling!

Any more in your little treasure trove here?

Right. How about that?

-A nice bit of coral and it's a christening set.

-That's lovely.

You've got a little necklace.

-Yep.

-And then a bracelet.

What I like about this coral is the colour.

It's a nice bit. I like that.

Yippy-doo.

The popularity of christening gifts really kicked off with the Victorians.

A tradition that's still going strong today.

-He's broken, so...

-Is he?

-Yeah.

-"Paul Pry". Who was Paul Pry?

-He was an actor.

OK. Oh!

What's the significance of him having his pants down?

I understand that he was an actor who played the part of a buffoon.

I like the novelty factor.

I'm not a pot man, really.

You don't say, Jonathan(!)

This Staffordshire pepper pot is a novel choice.

Early 19th century, slip moulded.

And the fun piece of him with his pants down!

-What would you do for that?

-25.

I love it. I like it. I like it a lot!

I like it a lot. You're talking my money. There we go.

James will be jealous!

Hmm. Still not haggling, Jonathan?

-Right. What have we got next?

-How about those?

-Ooh! They're nice, aren't they?

-Yes.

A pair of glove stretchers from Canton.

The carving is absolutely stunning.

You've got loads of little people and trees, and on this side,

-you've got the little cartouche that's been left blank.

-Terrific.

They're very nice.

So gloves, natural things, made of kid, whatever thing,

and when you get them wet, they shrink.

So when they're damp, when you bring them home,

as they dry out, you stretch them.

So, you bring them back to their former size.

Ah, glove stretchers.

Just what you need in this day and age(!)

-Jenny, I'm going to make you a cheeky offer.

-Right.

-£50 for the three.

-60 and you have a deal.

60 and I have a deal? I'm very happy to accept. Thank you.

Neigh!

Jonathan, I see you have time to play.

I take a moment at home normally

and make sure I have a play on the rocking horse!

Oh, stop horsing around, you two!

-Did it please you not, then?

-I'm not just pleased, I'm delighted!

-Really?

Well, you've certainly made some interesting choices. Let's get a move on!

Just under 50 miles away, Jonathan is journeying south

to the town of Willenhall in the Black Country area of the West Midlands.

I have come here to Willenhall, to The Lock museum

to learn about locks.

Lock-making began in the area during Elizabethan times.

Number 54, New Road, Willenhall,

was once home to the Hodson family

and now opens its doors to the general public.

Willenhall is also known as Humpshire.

The locksmiths would develop humps in their backs

due to the long hours being spent over their work.

Resident locksmith Andy Middlebrook isn't humpy, but has a rather unexpected treat for our Jonathan.

What are you making on here?

We're making the bar for the bar padlock.

-That was the Hodsons' main type of lock that they made.

-OK.

I can show you there, it's great for locking double doors, single doors.

You can drill a hole in the wall and slide the bar into that and snap things into position.

If you take the key, drop the key in,

and when you unlock the bolt, it throws the bolt across,

lifts the shackle out of the way

and you slide the whole bar out.

It's like a lockable bolt.

I could do with one of those for home!

Would you like to have a go, Jonathan?

-Come round the barrier.

-I'll take this off.

Yes, one's stripy sports jacket is not suitable for this type of work, methinks!

-Like a pump of the bellows?

-Why not?

In for a penny, in for a pound!

-You've got to start as the apprentice!

-OK.

Start with a point. Start losing it.

Right. Come on, give it some welly! Put your back into it, man!

-I just keep going?

-Keep going. Put a pair of goggles on.

-Right.

-Look the part now, do I?

-You're getting there!

We'll move you on to forging the end of the bar.

Bring it round to your anvil.

-Tilt it up very slightly.

-I'm hitting the point, am I?

Crikey, this is a bit different

to hammering the gavel at auction, Jonathan!

-Work your way along it to the edge of the anvil.

-This looks rubbish!

-The more you do, the better it gets.

-OK.

I wouldn't give up the day job if I were you!

-This is like The Generation Game!

-Yes. So if you come round this side.

-I'll drop it in and you grab hold of the end I'm holding.

-Right, OK.

Then just evenly, flatly bring it round.

-Off you go. Keep going while it's still off.

-OK.

-Down a bit.

-I see.

-Yes, yes, yes. Touch it to there.

-OK.

-Look at that.

-There you go.

Your first bar padlock bar.

Fantastic!

-What's this big old thing?

-It's our floor press.

A press tool, so it actually punches out the shape of the...

Straight out of the metal?

Yes. It makes the front and back plate for the bar padlock.

So, we're then moving on to your bar

to make the bar padlock.

-You drill through there and it fixes inside?

-It fits on a rim, yeah.

-OK. This is one real beast, isn't it?

-Would you like to operate it?

Cos we can.

-One, two, three.

-Right. Crikey, we're going quite fast here!

-That's it.

-Was that it?

-Yeah, that was it.

-Blimey.

-So wind him back up again.

Because it's mounted on a block of sandstone,

the component that we've just pressed

drops through... There's the one we've just done.

Then we have to tap the metal through again.

And we're on for the next one.

-That's why this was called Humpshire!

-Yes, exactly.

-You'd be like this a lot of the time.

You'd spend 40 years standing at a vice that's the wrong height

and it ruins your actual stature.

I'm getting a bad back thinking about it!

While Jonathan has a quick lie-down,

where's that Mr Braxton?

He's a perfect candidate for banging a hammer and getting his hands dirty.

Not! He's shopping in Leek, hoping to get more items in the old bag.

-Hello.

-Hi, James. Julian. Pleased to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

What a great mix!

It's your first male shop owner, James.

Will you still weave your magic?

Can I have a little sniff around everywhere?

-"Sold."

-Yes, this morning.

-Put it down, James.

-Sorry.

-Put it down. It's nice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Where's that come from?

Just a local sale.

A stuffed chicken! What a weird thing to do!

-I thought the hands were nicely done.

-Very nicely done, isn't it?

-Some good whiskers on him.

-Yes.

Never mind the whiskers! Have you seen anything you want to buy?

We're still waiting for the frame.

-Have you got a frame?

-No, I'm still waiting for it.

And is this cheap, Julian?

60.

It's an Italian landscape.

It's got no figurative interest, which is a minus.

It's got rather bizarre silver birch trees in it.

You'd expect to have cypresses, which are long, elegant conifers.

For those of you who don't speak Braxton,

he means cypress trees.

Does he give a location for it?

Yep. My Italian's not hot, though.

1958.

-Had it had cypresses in...

-You mean cypress.

..I think it might have been more of a goer.

I've already bought three items.

This would be a fourth.

Quality problem. Lots of choice.

Ah, Julian. I'm undecided. I like that picture downstairs.

-My only conundrum, had it had cypresses...

-Oh, I give up!

-..are you open tomorrow?

-I am.

-You are.

I will come and see you tomorrow.

-Either way I'll phone you.

-No problem.

-Very kind. Very nice to see you.

-Thank you.

-OK. Bye!

-Bye.

Jonathan has now joined James back in Leek

for an antiques fair in the market square.

Let's just go down here and see what he's got.

This is uranium.

If you put a Geiger counter to it, it would go "bzzzz"!

They used a bit of uranium for the orange glaze.

That will be radioactive for ever!

I won't sleep with it!

I once found a little fob in the bottom of a box

which was worth £200.

And it wasn't even made of gold.

It had a calendar on it.

It was rattling round in something like this. Always worth looking.

All you need is one object.

How about your Art Deco lady on the onyx?

80 quid.

-I think it's been re-attached.

-Has it?

It's quite a Lorenzl look to it.

On the outset, it looks a bit clumsy.

but it has got a bit of definition to it.

It's just been battered a bit. Hasn't been looked after.

It's been abused a bit.

I think it is bronze. It's got the weight there.

It's silvered bronze.

Silver is very much a Deco colour,

associated with the motor car, the train. Everything was chromed.

I like the white onyx.

Green onyx or brown onyx would have killed this.

Can I squeeze you a lot?

You can squeeze me down to 60 quid.

Would you do it for 45?

-OK.

-45, OK.

It's worth a punt. I think it's a lovely item.

Thank you. Very kind.

That's rather fun.

You look at it and wonder what on earth it is. Very unusual shape.

Looks like silver, but the marks say EP, electroplate.

It's a little cigar lighter.

The only thing I can say that gives away its age

is this spiral fluting,

which would be early part of the Victorian period.

1840s or '50s, something like that.

The little flame in the top so you'd pass it around and light the cigars.

It's sadly not in great condition.

A bit of Blu-tac's been used as a form of restoration!

And little ones all the way round the outside as well.

It's sweet. On little ball feet.

-What's the best price on it?

-20.

-£20.

I mean, £20. I don't think I'd lose any money on it.

What do I do? What do I do?

Well, you could try getting a cheaper price!

I'll take it.

Yeah. Go on.

-It makes my day a little easier.

-Thank you.

-If I take that.

Oh, dear, Jonathan.

Three items bought so far, and still no haggling.

James has just heard that the Italian landscape is now framed.

Will this be his fifth item?

I'm going to the shop now

to see this frame Julian's found for the picture.

If it really works with the Italian landscape,

I'll go for it. I want to try and buy it for as near as £20.

Hi, Julian, again.

What's this about a picture being framed?

I found a frame. I remembered I'd got a frame at home

that fitted.

-That's better, isn't it?

-It lifts it up, doesn't it?

It does. It really lifts it. I like it.

Um, er, hmm.

Nutty problem of price, isn't it?

-£20.

-No, I couldn't.

I was thinking last night, how should I phrase this?

Any chance?

Uh...

What sort of price are you looking at?

-Sorry?

-What sort of area are you looking at?

£20!

Yeah.

With it framed, I can knock it out at about 40.

If that would help.

I'm very happy. Can we strike middle ground here?

What about 30?

Don't think about it, shake on it!

Thank you. Thank you. That's lovely.

There you go, Jonathan.

You should take notes from James. That's his fifth item in the bag.

Hello, James.

You're looking very relaxed. All over, is it?

Yes, you know. Nearly there. Ooh, crikey!

You're not supposed to comment!

Felt it sag in the middle there!

-How are you doing? Finished?

-I am finished.

I've finished here now and I'm moving off to a couple more shops.

-Got money in your pocket?

-I have a lot of money still.

-I'm going to sit back. I've done my work.

-Enjoy it. Have a coffee.

Get on. Get on.

I'll carry on rocking.

Very nice action on these cobbles.

So, Jonathan makes his way 27 miles away in Ashbourne, Derbyshire,

with plenty still to do.

He's definitely been a stranger to a bit of haggling.

So let's see what he gets up to in Ashbourne Antique Centre.

-Hello, there.

-Hello.

-Nice to meet you.

-Jonathan Pratt.

-Hello, Barbara Aycott.

-One floor?

-Yes.

-OK.

-A mixture of things.

-We've got a lot of different items.

Different dealers as well.

That little bottle. Is it a silver case, or just a plated case?

It's a plated case.

-No, it's a silver case, but the bottle's cracked.

-Oh, is it?

-Yes.

-Yes, it's cracked.

-With a lovely coronet on the top.

-Gorgeous.

-It's not English, is it?

-No. But it's an English label on the bottle.

But it actually comes with it.

Continental 800. Probably German.

-How much is that?

-40.

Now I'm thinking.

I really like that. I like the colour of the glass and the stopper with the crown.

It would be great if it was English and not cracked!

-Do you know what, I'll take that.

-OK. Thank you.

I like that. It's really pretty.

Crikey, Jonathan!

A damaged pepper pot, a cracked bottle and no haggling!

Let's see how you get on in the last shop of the day.

-Jonathan Pratt.

-Hello!

-Mind if I look around?

-Not at all. Please do.

-Thanks.

Manion Antiques is just across the road. Go on, Jonathan,

I dare you to have a haggle with shop owner Vivien.

A blue transfer-decorated porcelain cup from the 19th century.

Very pretty decoration on it with one or two minor chips.

A nicely-moulded handle, which is attached still, always a bonus!

And it's got a glass bottom.

But there is one little thing. There's a hairline crack.

You can hear it.

DULL ECHO

Running just down there.

It affects the price. OK.

I'm adjusting my thoughts about value.

What do you think?

-£30.

-Ooh! What about 40, then?

40's better. Will you accept £35 for that?

Sorry? Are you haggling?

For you, yes.

So I now have five objects.

And James will be arriving shortly.

Gosh, Jonathan! Five lots

and three of them are damaged!

Still, shopping's over,

so let's recap on what the boys have spent their money on.

James started this leg with £270.60 and spent £135 on five auction lots.

The Tunbridge Ware box

a coral necklace,

the glove stretchers,

a Deco figure,

and an Italian painting.

Jonathan, meanwhile, began with an impressive £331.50

and decided to employ the non-haggle tactic.

He spent only £185 on his five lots.

A pepper pot,

a Bilston pin tray

a Victorian cigar lighter,

a silver-mounted glass bottle

and a blue transfer mug.

So, who do they think has bought better?

I have the nicer objects.

They're nicer quality, if the condition may be a bit suspect.

Nicer quality, nicer age, nicer stories.

They'll sit better in the sale.

I think mine are slightly more get up and go.

They're cleaner, they're undamaged.

And I think generally, hopefully, I'll do better.

Right. The gloves are off. Both boys think they'll be victorious.

But only the bidders of Birmingham can decide.

They started in the town of Leek

and journeyed via Willenhall,

and Ashbourne

to their final destination, the city of Birmingham.

Birmingham, or Brum, as it's affectionately known,

is a thriving city in the West Midlands.

It's auction day as our sparring partners roll into town.

Here you are. Palace of Dreams, Jonathan. How do you think you'll do?

-I've bought some quite nice things.

-I've bought some nice things.

My two stars are the Art Deco figure and the picture.

Biddle & Webb have been established for over 50 years

and hold up to five auctions every month.

They specialise in fine art, antiques, silver and jewellery.

Now, settle down, the auction is about to begin.

First up, Jonathan's chipped pepper pot.

-There he is.

-Nice little thing, this.

Do I see £10 anywhere? £10?

-£5? Do I see

-£5? Come on!

-£5 anywhere?

£5 there. Do I see eight?

I've got £5. Do I see eight?

I'll sell at £5. Selling now at £5.

-I liked him!

-Well, he got a good old spanking, didn't he?

That's a whopper of a loss, Jonathan.

Next, James's Tunbridge Ware box. Maybe it will attract some interest.

Nice little bit of local treen!

OK. What shall I say for this, then?

£20. £20. Do I see £20 anywhere?

£10. £10 there.

Ten. Do is see 12? I've got £10. 12. 15. 18.

18? 20. 22. 25.

28? £25 there, then.

Are we all done at £25?

Oh, dear. We're not off to a good start at all.

Surely to goodness the little Bilston pin tray

will get you back in the running, Jonathan?

Come on, come on, come on.

Ooh. Telephone bid coming in.

What shall we say? £40. £40 anywhere?

£30 to start, then. £30 to start. Any interest at £30?

£30 at the back of the room. Do I see 32 anywhere?

I'll sell at £30.

-I'm going to cry!

-Here's a tissue!

We're not doing terribly well here, chaps.

-I don't know what to say!

-I don't know what to say!

Up next, it's the coral necklace and bracelet. Best of luck, James.

There's no justice in the world if it makes £20.

£20 for the coral necklace.

£10 to start. £10 anywhere?

Any interest? A coral necklace with matching bracelet.

No?

Pass and move on.

Oh, dear! Birmingham is not brimming with profits for the boys.

That's an unsold lot so I can move it on to the next!

Then why did she sell mine for five?

An unsold item means it moves on to the next leg.

Maybe it will fare better at the next auction.

That's not fair! That is not fair!

Another of your non-haggle buys, Jonathan.

Could it strike a light of hope for you?

Victorian silver-plated table cigar lighter of triangular form

with wavy, fluted body.

You never know. I might just...

Something to pop on your desk. What shall we say for this?

£20. £20 anywhere.

Do I see £20 for the desk lighter. £20?

15? 15 to start. 15 anywhere?

-15 there. Do I see 18?

-Come on, someone.

-Do I see 18?

-Come on.

-I'll sell at £15.

It's going to haunt me, the sound of that gavel!

And again another loss.

You need to rethink your tactics, Jonathan. Next up

it's James' handy glove stretchers.

19th-century Cantonese glove stretchers.

Box-wood knuckles carved figures in relief. Nice little things. What shall we say?

£10 anywhere? £10 for the glove stretchers.

£10. £10. Who said that?

£10 there. Do I see 12 anywhere? £10 there.

Do I see 12 anywhere? I'll sell at £10.

Oh, dear. Oh, well.

As expected, really.

It's better than a fiver!

So far, the boys are three lots down each.

Jonathan hasn't made a profit on any and James has an unsold item.

Could it get any worse?

I'm going back to buying pictures from basements!

That's what I'm going to do.

This is very disappointing, chaps.

Maybe Jonathan can claw back some profit with the silver-mounted bottle.

Oh - is that the one with the crack in it?

£20. £20 anywhere?

£10 to start?

£10 anywhere? Any interest at £10?

£10 there. 12. 15?

-You're away.

-Only got two bidders.

£18 seated. I've got £18 seated. Can I see 20? I'll sell at £18.

-There you go.

-£18. Dear, oh, dear.

Play nicely, boys!

Right, James, it's the scantily-clad Deco figure next.

The one you thought was bronze.

Lot 691A. After Lorenzl.

Decorative little item there.

What shall we say for this? £20 anywhere for the figure?

£20. £20 anywhere?

£10, then? £10 there.

12, sir? 12?

-It's worth more.

-15. 18. 20. 22.

25. 28.

30.

£28 seated.

£28. Do I see 30 before I sell at £28.

Joke, isn't it?

Could this be a record for the most disappointing results ever?

Shall we go home now?

It's the last chance saloon, Jonathan, with the blue transfer mug

with the glass bottom... and the crack.

£10. £10 anywhere?

£10 for this.

£5, then? £5 there. £8 anywhere?

£5 on the front.

-You're away again!

-I've got £5

and I'll sell at £5.

-Well done(!)

-Thank you, James.

There we go.

That's brilliant.

A loss on every single item! It beggars belief, Jonathan.

So, it's the final lot of the day.

Glass-bottomed mugs with cracks aren't big in Birmingham,

but perhaps the painting will be a hit.

Mario Bordi. Campagna di Siena.

Oil on board. Signed with label en verso. There's interest in this.

-Don't!

-Steady!

-I can start the commissions on the book at £60

-with me.

-Oh, please!

65. 70. 75. 80.

85. 90.

95. 100. 105?

110 with me. 120? 120 takes me out.

-120 in the room.

-Clearly mad!

130. 140.

150. 160. 170?

160 in the room, then. Are we all finished at £160?

-Very well done, James.

-Thank you.

-Very well done.

Best of a bad lot, that.

Good golly, so it is. Braxton has played a blinder.

£130 profit on one item.

He is the clear winner of the day.

For goodness' sake!

Well, that's it, isn't it?

That's it. It's all over.

Jonathan started this leg with £331.50.

He experienced disaster on every single lot

and made a devastating loss overall of £125.14.

Will Jonathan hopefully remember to haggle next time?

He's almost back to square one with the sum of £206.36.

James started this leg with £270.60.

And, after paying auction costs,

made a small profit of £47.86.

He takes the lead with the princely sum of £318.46 to carry forward.

There you go, James.

Sorry, that is the position.

The winner takes all.

The winner takes the key.

-I'm on the tee.

-I'm raising the game, James.

I'm raising the game.

I think you need to!