Episode 18 Antiques Road Trip

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

If I have to declare war.

Why?

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

Gone.

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

Well done, buddy!

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?

I'm going to thrash you.

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

All this week we're out on the road with a pair of very cheeky chappies,

auctioneers Charlie Ross and Charles Hanson.

-I'm in a mood now!

-Turn round!

-I'm in a mood now!

The experienced Charlie Ross really has nothing to prove,

but he still keeps an eye on his reputation.

I don't want to walk out that door with you thinking, "That man Ross, he's a bounder!"

Is he?

As if he would!

And as both sidekick and competitor, we have Charles Hanson.

He always knows exactly what he wants.

The other one I quite liked...

was the...

WIND HOWLS

Well, despite the occasional dither, Charles made a large if slightly unlikely profit on yesterday's show.

What you've got here is a bottle stand. You've got this fisherman, smiling, smoking his pipe...

That is the worst thing I have ever seen in my life!

If you put it like that, of course...

I paid £6.

Selling at £28.

How on earth did you do that?

Charlie Ross also did very well, but not quite well enough.

What a fascinating bit of kit!

The tape measure, we could take that down to 30.

-And selling at £10.

-Ouch!

From his original £200, Charlie now has...

..weighing down his wallet.

Aargh! I simply can't lift it up! It's that heavy.

But the brand-new frontrunner Charles Hanson

has home-grown his £200 to a wonderful...

There's only a tenner between them,

as our boys stride into round 3, and it's full steam ahead

in their stylish, if slightly unreliable, 1960s Ford Corsair.

This car, Charlie, is playing up, I'm sure.

It's going to give us problems.

I'm hearing some funny noises, I must say.

Charlie and Charles are travelling over 300 miles

down the exotic East of England

all the way to Rye in East Sussex.

And on today's show they're leaving Grantham

and heading for their next auction in Beccles,

alighting first in Norfolk's most regal King's Lynn.

Now King's Lynn is a historic port,

dating back to the 12th century.

In medieval times,

the Hanseatic merchants of Europe wanted an English base, and chose King's Lynn.

As well as a rich maritime history,

the town also has a plethora of antiques emporiums,

and our boys are ready to spend, spend, spend,

but their vintage vehicle has just stalled on them.

There's something wrong.

There's something wrong.

-ENGINE TURNS OVER

-Told you so.

-You want a push?

-Yeah! Are you going to push me?

-Come on!

-Madam, your name is...?

-Denise.

-Denise.

-One, two, three!

-Make a name for yourself.

-ENGINE TURNS OVER

-You don't need to get...

-Charlie!

-Yes?

-Charlie...

either we're going to push it and push-start it or you're going to start it on the battery.

-Denise, you drive, then!

-I've just suggested that Denise starts it. Denise, get in the seat! Come on.

-Oh, this is lovely!

-You show us how, Denise.

Three, two, one! Let's go, Charlie! Come on!

# Denis, Denis

# I've got a crush on you

# Denis, Denis

# La-la-la

# Denis, Denis

# I'm so in love with you... # I'm terribly sorry.

-Yeah?

-This car's dead.

-Denise!

-I can't open the door.

-Well, this is meant to be for me, then.

I think we're going to have to give you the car! Can you open that?

Hang on, Denise. Let me just... Hold on, darling.

There we go... Denise!

You've been a sport.

-Thank you.

-You haven't helped at all, but you've been a sport.

-Thank you.

-Bye-bye.

-Denise, thank you very much.

-Have a lovely day.

-What will we do, then?

-I'm going shopping.

-Well, let's go together.

-No!

-Why not?

-No, no.

-Well...

-I don't trust you.

-Oh, go on, then!

-There's £10 in it, Charlie!

-Come on, old bean!

Here...don't worry, boys, we'll take care of the car. Just leave it in the middle of the street.

I don't know! What are they like, eh?

-You don't know where you're going.

-You don't know what you're doing!

You might think they'd have trouble finding their first antique shop,

but our boys managed to stumble upon several shops under one roof, a miracle!

Where are you going?

-Toss a coin to see who goes where.

-That seems fair.

-Heads or tails?

-Heads.

-You sure?

-Yeah.

Tails. Right, I think...

-Quick!

-Hold on.

-Too late! I've made up my mind.

-Hold on, hold on...

If you're not fast, then you're last!

And Charlie Ross is wasting no time at all!

-Charlie's the name.

-You're very welcome. Ian.

-And you are Ian?

Ah, and it looks like Ian could have just the thing.

-I've got the 1946 and 1947 Rupert annuals.

-Yeah.

Nice condition. I always look, er...

-for the front. Nice colours there.

-Yes, nice colours.

-The spine is intact.

-That's important.

-Er...price?

-3 shillings and 6 pence.

-Absolutely!

The annual is now worth considerably more.

It has become highly collectable.

-I see the price here is £105.

-Yeah, yeah. And that in itself is a good price.

You're a salesman, you are!

I try!

Elsewhere in the emporium, poor old Charles is struggling to find his first item.

I've got to be honest, there's pressed moulded glassware, there's decorative china,

and I use the word decorative to mean it's decorative!

And, Hanson, you're not buying academic wares here.

It's very ornamental, without being much more than that.

Meanwhile, Charlie cuts to the chase on the £105 Rupert annual.

-I would like to pay £40 for it.

-I would really want a little bit more than that.

-Yeah, yeah...

45?

Cheeky Charlie!

I'm a little bit doubtful, but I'm going to let you have it for £50.

-I'm going to shake on that.

-All right.

A good deal done. Wow! And how's his competitor getting on?

I haven't spent my money yet. Charlie Ross is in there dominating proceedings.

I'm quite happy just to sit back, take it easy

and let him do the negotiations. I'll then go in and find the treasure.

Back inside, Charlie is already eyeing up the treasure.

Old-fashioned but rather lovely.

That's the silver he's talking about, not himself!

For his second lot, Charlie is trying to bundle up a job lot of silverware,

including a tea strainer, grape scissors and a set of nutcrackers. Oh!

-I think 25's where I'm at, really.

-OK.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

If they make £100, I'll take you for a night out on the tiles.

-Thank you very much.

-But don't hold your breath!

-Right.

Smooth Charlie does it again, which is more than can be said for Mr Hanson.

No purchase yet and looking a bit lost.

So far, so good. I'm quite happy. I might actually call the auctioneer... Hello!

Blimey!

-Look who's back!

-Do you want on the back?

-Denise!

-On the back?

-Yes, come on, on the back! MUSIC: "Denis" by Blondie

-Where are we going? Antique finds?

-Yes!

# Denis, Denis Oh, with your eyes so blue

# Denis, Denis I've got a crush on you

# Denis, Denis I'm so in love with you... #

I was told Hanson has gone off on a motorbike!

What is that all about? He doesn't know, though, that I have had a call from the mechanic

and the car is ready. And I'm going shopping.

-# ..I'm so in love with you... #

-And he's not the only one!

Just down the road there's a special delivery at the Old Curiosity Shop.

-Oh, Denise!

-There we are. Look at that.

-You're a lifesaver.

-"Collectable antiques".

-Wonderful.

-I hope you do well today.

Denise, thank you ever so much. You have saved me from Mr Ross.

-Thanks for the helmet.

-Thank you.

-I'm shaken but not stirred.

-Shaken but not stirred.

Antique shop?

Antique shop. She was right.

TOOT-TOOT!

I'm alive still. Just about!

-And your name is...?

-My name's Ruth.

-Hello, Ruth. I'm Charles.

-How do you do?

-Charles Hanson from Derbyshire.

There's some really nice objects here.

What we have is a pen wipe.

You would have it on your desk with your inkwell and your quill pen or your fountain pen,

and after you'd perhaps written a letter or you'd got a slight blockage of ink,

you would use this wipe to keep your pen in good order.

-What's your absolute best price?

-That could be 45.

-Knowing the market we're going to, Ruth, I think that viably could do quite well.

-Right.

What we've got here are a very, very nice set of six silver pierced buttons,

which, in their original Morocco case, hopefully are all original

and in good condition.

-Ruth, they're very much in what we call the Arts and Crafts style, aren't they?

-Oh, yes.

They're priced at 125.

Right.

Er...

I suppose I could go down to 100 on them.

-£100...isn't bad, but I'll think about it.

-Right, OK.

-OK? Thank you, Ruth.

-OK, that's fine.

-Ruth, I do... This is quite garish.

-It is, exactly.

-It's not everyone's taste. Has it been here long?

-No, I've only had it recently.

-Hanson, you've got to start making some decisions,

because my time's running out. The first thing I saw was a duck.

And I love him because they say small is beautiful, and, Mr Ross, watch out!

I'll say yes to him

at £45. We have a sale. He's going, going, gone, if that's OK with you.

One down! Fantastic.

Ruth, the Moroccan light will be my gamble

-and I'll speculate at £15, I'll say yes to him!

-Right, OK.

-At £15.

Charles is really driving the deals here.

But will his luck hold when it comes to these buttons?

The ticket price is 125. I can do those for 90.

-Maybe £70.

-Oh, I couldn't possibly do that. They would have to be 80 on the buttons, all right?

-OK.

-I'm going, I'm going...they're gone.

-Right.

-Sold.

-Thank you.

-To Hanson.

-Three in a row, one shop, Ruth. Thanks ever so much. Wow!

-Jolly good.

-It's that easy.

Let's find out where that old Hanson is.

-Hello, is that Mr Hanson?

-Hello, Charlie!

-Well, I must say, we're in this together!

-How are you?

And I look round and you've just gone.

-How are you doing?

-I just want to let you know, Charlie, that the car is now running,

and I'm in it and I'm going shopping.

-Bye.

-Bye-bye.

I suspect he's done some Hanson buying again! Well, Dick Turpin stealing, more like!

Am I happy? Yeah!

Am I happy I'll make a profit? Yeah!

Am I happy Charlie Ross is going to be going down? Yeah!

So I need to get on and catch up.

While Charlie heads off to his next port of call,

Charles wants to find out more about the history of King's Lynn.

# I wish I was a fisherman

# Tumbling on the sea... #

Situated on the Wash, one of the largest estuaries in Britain,

the town has long been a centre for commerce.

For 1,000 years, over 40 generations of fisherfolk here have made a living from the sea.

Having secured his first catch of the day, Mr Hanson tracks down Paul Richards,

curator of True's Yard.

Now, I've come today to True's Yard.

A fisherfolk museum.

The fisherfolk lived in yards like this.

It's all about community and solidarity and a hard life, fishing in the North Sea.

And I, Paul, I came in like I've just come in, I'd say, "Look, Dad...

"here's my fish, here's my shrimps, here's my cockles and everything else,"

-you know, what do I do next?

-The women and children would do the sorting.

And they'd load the barrow up ready for the next morning,

and take fish and cockles to the market and around the streets, selling it.

And in this cottage here, we can go inside and have a look,

but 11 people lived in there in the 1840s.

-11 people?

-11 people.

-In the 1840s?

-Yeah, yeah.

And one lady in there, you'll see her photograph, she had 17 children in that cottage.

-17 children in there?

-Yes!

-Can we go and find Mother?

-You can go and find Mother and there's a nice armchair in there.

-Great!

-Let's go in.

-Thanks, Dad.

This would be my sitting room?

Yes...and also working room.

If it was bad weather outside, they couldn't work outside. They'd work on this brick floor.

-I'd work on the floor.

-Your wife and children would sort out the shrimps

and the other shellfish.

This is one room. It's where your family exists when they're together.

-Mum's got to be somewhere, but I can't see Mum anywhere.

-She's putting the kids to bed.

-Well, I better go there as well.

-Let's go and see the bed.

-You have to hang on.

-You do, don't you?

LAUGHTER

-So, here we are in the main bedroom.

-That's the only bedroom.

This is mainly for the kids. Three heads there, three heads there, so head to toe.

-So you'd have three children lying here that way...

-Yeah. And three that way.

The youngest child, babies, couldn't go on into the bed.

So the babies went into the baby box.

Look, it's quite nice.

Open it up... Look!

There's even a dressing gown in there. There's even a nightie in there.

And it's not even lined. All you've got, literally, is some...

I can't believe it. You've literally just got some what appears to be some sort of fabric,

-against a tin lining...

-Yeah.

-And be careful, baby!

-Yeah.

-Lights out!

-And Mum, my wife, would sleep here on the floor on a very thin mattress,

so she's have the baby to look after on her right, and on her left to keep an eye on the kids.

You know, Dad, if you and Mum wanted a bit of romance up here,

-you know, there's no time for that.

-No, that comes on Sundays.

-Sundays?

-Sundays, yeah.

-I thought Sunday is a religious day of rest.

-It is a day of rest

in the sense there's no fishing. But on Sundays the kids are packed off to Sunday school,

and Mum and Dad are on their own on Sundays.

-So hanky-panky day?

-I think so.

-Excellent.

-I think so.

Hanky-panky, indeed! But you can't have a fisherman's yard without fish.

It's here somewhere. All you have to do is follow your nose, Charles.

-A nice aroma, isn't it?

-This is real herring here?

-Yes.

What is so nice is the smell.

-The aroma is great.

-It really takes you back...

-Exactly.

-..To what was happening here...

-Yes.

-100 years ago.

Yes, we've rescued an important slice of our local heritage,

and it's been listed now, Grade 2, like the cottages, by English heritage.

Charles may be all at sea, but Charlie is taking the dry road.

Leaving King's Lynn behind,

he rejoins the antiques trail and crosses the border from Norfolk into Cambridgeshire.

His final destination of the day is Wisbech, 16 miles away.

Like King's Lynn, Wisbech is a market town steeped in history,

and is regarded as the capital of the Fens.

With Georgian buildings aplenty, Wisbech has often been used as a film location for period dramas,

adapted from Charles Dickens. So it's little wonder that Charlie Ross has...great expectations!

-Good afternoon.

-Hello.

-Charlie.

-Richard.

-Hello, Richard.

-Nice to meet you.

If I may, may I have a browse round on my own to begin with?

-You may.

-And then hopefully I'll be able to home in on something.

With a huge selection of glassware, furniture and some lovely jugs,

Granny's Cupboard is full to overflowing.

This feels as if I've died and gone to heaven here.

You just can't believe the amount of stuff.

Here is a late Georgian...

almost Victorian, I suppose, might be William IV,

mahogany bureau, cross-banded in mahogany.

And people say these things are unsaleable now.

Well, everything's got a price at some stage. I mean, that, in a saleroom, 20 years ago,

would have been...it's not the best, 540, 560, 580.

And that's the sort of thing that perhaps Richard's had for years,

and he might really take a ridiculous offer, £100 or something.

-Richard? I don't suppose you'd like £50 for it, would you?

-No.

-Not really.

-I didn't think you would.

-It could be yours for 100.

-That's really kind.

Charlie seems convinced that he can turn a profit on the unfashionable bureau,

but it could well come back to bite him on the bottom.

-I've spotted a bit of Sorrento, olive wood.

-Yeah.

-Well, it's, of course, the land of olives, isn't it?

-It is.

-I like a nice olive from Italy.

-And made for tourists.

-Definitely.

-Definitely made for tourists, wouldn't it be?

-1910, '20s.

-Yes. Could that be £20?

-No.

-No? You're very rapid with your responses, it's very good.

Well, with these sort of offers you'd have to be! LAUGHTER

-Do you £30 on the mirror.

-I'm going to give you £30 for it.

And he's not finished yet.

And I bought some things this morning of no great consequence, some bits of silver, silver plate,

well, mostly silver plate, and I thought I could bump up my job lot.

That is a sugar basin, silver plate. Don't worry, no hallmark.

-How much for the lot?

-35.

What? Tenner!

You'll be lucky. 30.

-15.

-20.

Oh, go on! £20!

Pure heaven!

Having secured another three lots for auction, Charlie is a very happy bunny,

as the first day of shopping comes to an end.

Early morning and our experts are up with the lark.

-But you know my old strategy? Try and get it bought early.

-Yeah, exactly.

So far Charlie's spent £225 on four lots.

The Rupert annual, the job lot of silverware,

the mahogany bureau and the Sorrento hand mirror,

leaving just £52.16 for the day ahead.

Charles, meanwhile, was a little more conservative with his cash,

spending just £140 on three lots.

The duck pen wipe,

the Arts and Crafts silver buttons and a rather garish lampshade.

That gives him a total of £147.65 for the second day of buying.

Now they're heading 55 miles east towards the administrative centre of Norfolk,

and the historic city of Norwich.

-Isn't it magnificent?

-It's fabulous!

-So I'm getting out now.

-You get out.

-I'll leave you to it.

-I'm going off to Bury St Edmunds.

-I'll see you later. Bye.

In the 11th century,

Norwich was the second-largest city in the country after London,

and regarded as one of the most important places in the kingdom.

Norwich Castle was founded soon after the Norman Conquest,

and, according to the Domesday Book,

98 Saxon homes were demolished to make room for it.

Tapping into such a rich historic location,

it shouldn't be too difficult to find some local treasures,

but, then, it is Charles we're talking about here!

Where are the antiques?

And it isn't too long before Carlos strikes it lucky.

"Anything old and interesting". That sound like Charlie Ross to me!

-I'm Charles Hanson.

-Hi, Charles.

-Your name is...?

-I'm Paul. Paul Moraski.

The painting over there is quite nice, Paul. Is it an oil painting?

-It's oil and I think it's dated 1887.

-Is it for sale?

-It is for sale.

He's a typical Victorian gent.

Here's his fob chain.

-And your best price is?

-£200.

-And with discounts?

-£200.

-And between friends?

-£200.

Well, I've been told it's £200 and there's no discounts. So I think, Paul, I'm out. Thanks.

How much was that again?

Oh, wow!

As a young boy, I always wanted one of these.

It's actually a coin cabinet.

If you were a collector and you want somewhere to house your collection of crowns or guineas,

you would acquire one of these.

-You can have it for £10.

-£10. What's £10?

Firewood would cost you that, wouldn't it?

-I'll take it.

-OK.

-£10, Paul. Excellent.

Case closed!

If you were in my shoes now, what would you buy?

-I'd buy that oil painting for £100.

-£100?

-NEEDLE IS LIFTED OFF RECORD

-I thought he said £200!

-Oh, Paul!

-As it's a display painting, you can have it for £100.

-You're giving me a headache now!

Did you hear that?

At that price, the painting is certainly on the money.

-And that's the absolute best?

-That's the very best.

If I said 80...would you possibly say, "Yes, Charles"?

OK, Charles, we'll do a deal at 80.

That portrait has to be one of the best buys ever.

From £200 down to 80, unless of course they saw him coming.

Yes! We got rid of it at last!

LAUGHTER

Ever get the feeling you've just been had?

While Charles cleans up in Norwich, his partner in crime has gone on ahead,

southwest to Bury St Edmunds, just over an hour away.

Ho-ho! This is the life, Hanson!

Profits, sunshine

and Bury St Edmunds!

Lordy!

Originally known as Beodericsworth,

it's thought that Bury St Edmunds was the site of a Roman settlement, later claimed by the Saxons.

Nowadays the place is best known for brewing and malting,

so what better place to start than a small libation in the smallest pub in Britain?

Looks like I've broken into a private party here.

-It's wonderful. Hello.

-Hello. How are you?

-Greetings.

-Are you the owner, landlord, whatever?

-I'm the manager, yeah.

-Nice to meet you. I'm Charlie.

-I'm Jack.

-I've come to learn all about your pub. Is it really the smallest pub in the UK?

-The smallest pub by drinking area, yeah.

-By drinking area? Good lord! How many people can you get in here?

The record was set in '84 when they got in 102.

-102?

-Yeah, just in this room.

Good grief! Now, what about the history of the pub? Has this been in one ownership for...?

-No, it became a pub in 1873.

-Yeah.

-Next door was a pawnbroker's who owned this little side building.

And they noticed the majority of their trade was alcoholics

who were pawning their possessions to go and buy booze with...

-I know the feeling.

-They turned their side building into a little pub to catch them on the way out.

Gosh! How extraordinary!

Is it just me or is this place a little strange?

This creature here, what is that?

-That's not a cat?

-It is a cat. It was actually found bricked up here,

-and it's supposed to be very lucky to brick a cat up.

-Really?

Yes, in a chimney. Not very lucky for the cat...

but it keeps the witches away.

-There's a three-legged chick in the glass bowl up there on the wall.

-Nice.

A human lower leg hanging from the ceiling.

There's a little creature at the bottom there. What is that?

That's a shed tarantula skin.

-A tarantula skin?

-I didn't realise this until I was given that.

They shed their skins a lot like snakes, and that's just the husk of a tarantula.

-Well, I might have to give you something to hang up here.

-Great.

Yeah, I think a photograph of Charles Hanson probably.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Pleasure to meet you.

-Wonderful.

It's almost time to call last orders on today's spending spree

and our two Charlies are reunited with just minutes to spare.

-We haven't got much time, have we?

-No. What's the plan?

Well, my plan is to run over there where you can see Past & Present and spend my money.

-And let me go to the more idyllic picturesque Hanson type?

-Yeah, that's more your sort of place.

Get a move on!

And for the final time today, let's get shopping!

It's got to really jump out and say, "Hanson, look at me. Hanson, look at me."

20 minutes. I don't think I should be looking at furniture.

With time ticking away, Charles spies a silver cigar cutter.

Your best price?

36 we start at...

I'd be looking for, say, 25.

I would buy it for 20.

I'm being cheeky, Richard, and if someone offers you more, I'll put it back.

-Anybody offering more?

-Going, going, gone.

-Looks like it's yours for 20, then.

-Are you sure, Richard?

-Go on, special offer of the day.

In the shop next door, Charlie is also banking on some silver.

-Tell me what that little object...

-I don't know what it is.

It's not a swizzle-stick. I don't know what it's for. It's not a toothpick, is it?

It's a silver thingamabob, Charlie!

-£20?

-Yes.

-I shall shake on that at £20.

There's a stool down there. It's marked at £35. Would you take £20 for it?

I'd take 25 for it.

£25, and I've done my shopping in no time at all!

Our boys are all spent up, and it's time for them to discover what the other has bought.

-Charlie, they say small is beautiful.

-Yeah.

-So let's start with my small one.

This is tiny!

Oh, I love it. It's a pen wipe. At auction it will make between

-£40 and £60.

-And it cost me £45.

-Oh, you've hit the nail on the head. Like it?

-Slim profit, but lovely object.

-Thanks.

-Well done. Would you like to see something of mine?

-Please.

This has been accumulated over the days from various establishments.

In each establishment I bought one thing and I put them all together in one sumptuous lot.

-And the whole lot, I suspect, cost you about £50.

-65.

Oh, lovely!

Very, very nice. I don't know how marketable they are.

-No.

-But they asked 125, didn't they?

-They did.

-And you bought them for 45?

-No, I wish. £80.

-Yes.

-If I saw this in an antiques shop, I would steer clear of it.

-Yes. And that's why I bought it!

Because it's going to show me a profit.

Ah, how interesting!

-A cigar cutter.

-How much?

I think that's worth £40.

Well, it cost me 20.

-Little French stool.

-I like it. Is that a gout stool?

-It might be a gout stool for you!

I like it.

You want a good lady of leisure to come and buy this.

-I do.

-And I suspect she might pay about £60 for it.

-Would she really?

-I hope so.

-Cost?

-How much?

-25.

-It didn't.

-It did.

-It didn't.

-It did.

-It didn't.

-It did.

It's a ceiling light, isn't it? Repro. This is hideous.

-For me, Charlie, it's full of Eastern promise.

-Mmm...

For me, it's empty of Eastern promise.

Ah!

To me, that's something which sadly is past its sell-by date.

-It is.

-However, I wouldn't be annoyed if you said, "Charles, put a 250 reserve on,

-"and make it 250-350."

-250's what it cost.

-Yeah, it's good.

-I think...don't forget, going to auction, we've got the 15% to think about.

-It didn't cost 250.

Take off 50.

It didn't? £200?

-Take off 50.

-It didn't? £150?

-Take off 50.

-No!

-No!

-Yes! £100.

-It didn't?

-£100.

What is it?

-Oh, it's a little collector's chest.

-Yes.

-It is.

-Age?

-Charlie, I don't think it's very old...

-Very old?

-I would say that this is approximately...

-50 years old?

-July last year?

It's the nicest plywood I've seen for a long time.

There we go, mate!

No, no! It'll make £50.

-It cost me £45.

-Oh, did it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, that's about right.

-Think so?

-Yeah. About right.

-No, it cost me £10.

-Oh...!

-Right. There we are.

-That's a lovely pierced oval hand mirror.

-I love this design. Very aesthetic.

-Yeah.

I just wonder whether...

-Oh!

-..What I've bought is the real McCoy.

I think it is.

I don't think he's a print.

-It's not a print.

-No.

-It's what I used to sell as "instant ancestors" to the Americans.

-Sure.

"Gee, hang it on the wall and that's my Uncle Joe!" It never was his Uncle Joe.

-Cost you £100?

-80.

Yeah. I don't know... It's not a great thing, is it?

But if I had to put a price on it, £140.

-Less commission, nice profit of £30 or £40.

-It'd help, Charlie.

-Yeah.

Having seen each other's purchases, what do our experts really think?

His star lot by far is going back to his golden age of auctioneering.

It's that wonderful bureau, mahogany. It's circa 1830,

and I truly thought it cost him 250.

To have bought that for £100 was a bargain.

His painting could be a bit of a sleeper.

£80. I think it'll make £140.

But, you know, it could make 200.

That would spell difficulty for old Rosko!

There's only one way to find out,

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

It's been a competitive third round from Grantham, via King's Lynn,

Wisbech, Norwich and Bury St Edmunds,

with the final destination of Beccles on the horizon.

Beccles is a medieval town in the heart of the Waveney Valley in Suffolk.

In the parish church, the union of Reverend Edmund Nelson

and local lass Catherine Suckling produced one of Britain's finest,

Admiral Horatio Nelson.

As our experts arrive in town, it's time to find out which of them will be sailing away

on their own HMS Victory. It's auction day!

-They're going to do really well for me today.

-It's packed.

-Is the car OK here?

-I shall be back in my rightful place at the top.

-Is the car OK here?

-It's fine.

-Are you sure?

Durrants have been conducting auction sales since 1853,

and Rebecca Mayhew is today's auctioneer.

She's kindly agreed to give her opinion on some of our featured lots.

My absolute favourite piece is probably the Rupert Bear annual

because of its rareness. It's still got lovely bright colours inside,

and I'm hoping it will appeal to quite a wide audience.

My least favourite item is Mr Hanson's collector's case.

It's of modern construction which is going to limit its saleability and attractiveness for the market.

The mahogany bureau is a good solid piece, but the bureau furniture market is still fairly poor.

But we'll see. It's an auction. Anything could happen and that's all part of the fun.

Quite right. Charlie Ross started today with £277.16,

and spent £270 on five auction lots,

leaving him with £7.16 in hand.

Charles Hanson began with £287.65

and has spent £250 on six lots,

leaving him with £37.65 in his pocket.

Now, then, are we sitting comfortably? Then, let the auction commence!

First up, Charles is firmly in the spotlight

with his garish, glass lampshade. Yuck!

Interesting piece. Where are you going to start me? 40?

-Come on!

-Shh!

20. Thank you, I'm bid.

It's the woman next to you who's bidding for it!

28. 30. At £30. Now, don't put her off.

It could be yours, madam!

Fresh bidder. 35. 38.

-40. 42.

-Oh, no!

-Gentleman's bid now at £42. Any more do I see at 42?

At 42. He's looking desperate. On my right at 42.

Great start.

Charles is off to a flying start. Next up, everyone's favourite bear,

or at least Charlie is hoping that that's the case.

The 1946 Rupert annual. It's in good condition.

One of the rarer ones. Got to be £50 to start it, surely? 50?

You're all quiet. 30.

Oh, dear. 10 to start it, surely?

-Come on, Charlie.

-10. 12.

15. 18.

20. 22.

25. 28.

28. Your turn, sir. 30.

30. Your turn again, if you like, sir. 35.

38.

40. 45.

50. 55.

Anyone else, then? I will sell at £55.

It's early days, but Charlie is finding the disappointment

a little hard to "bear"!

My big hope!

My big hope down the drain!

Next up is the oil painting,

and Charles is hoping this Victorian gentleman will leave him quids in.

Lovely piece. Where are you going to start me? Got to be 100.

-100, then, to get it going, surely?

-Come on.

-All quiet. 50 to start it.

Thank you. I'm bid at £50.

-55. 60 if you like.

-It's going.

60 now. 65. 70.

75. 80. 85.

-90.

-There you go.

-At £90, are you sure?

At £90.

Not a huge profit, but a profit nonetheless.

Hopefully there's a larger sum to be made on this next charming item.

Nice little lot, this. It's an upholstered French stool

on carved cabriole legs. Pretty piece. Start me 40 for it. 40.

20, then, surely? A nice little stool. Anyone for 20.

All quiet. 10 to start, surely? Thank you, I'm bid.

At 12 now. 12. 15. 18.

£18. Lady's bid in front. 20 now in the second row.

22, if you like, madam, yes. 22. 25.

Are you sure? No, 28. Completely fresh bidder. At 28 now. 30.

32. 35.

-Lady's bid at 35.

-Getting better. Is that the lady behind us bidding?

-Thank you, sir, you're back. 38. 40 if you like, £40.

-The lady behind...

One more, sir? No. At 40, then. Second row.

Make no mistake. Selling this time at 40.

-Well done, bean!

-May I say, madam, you have impeccable taste?

I won't be able to sell it!

Smoothie Charlie can put his feet up and relax.

He's made a tidy profit of £15 on the footstool.

Charles was against the clock when he bought this silver cigar cutter,

but at £20 he got it for a snip! Ooh!

I have three commissions bids and I must start at £40.

I can take 42.

At £40 with me. £40.

42 on the back wall. 45 with me. One more if you like. At 48.

I'm out. On the back wall at 48. Do I see any more.

Anyone else surely at 48?

Another success. Not bad for a last-minute purchase.

Well done, Charles.

This pretty Sorrento mirror could be one of Charlie's better buys.

I have commission interest and I need to start it at £35.

I'll take 8 if it helps. At £35 now. At £35.

At 35. At 38. 40. At £40.

Come on, Charlie! Keep going.

42, fresh bidder. 45, still my commission.

At 45, then.

A nice little mark-up on the mirror.

It's not all doom and gloom for Charlie.

He's still in with a chance.

This handy little cabinet is perfect for displaying coins.

But will there be any cash in it for Charles?

-The drawers. It's a nice, useful piece.

-Look at the drawers! Love it.

-As such I have commission interest.

-Great.

-And I've got to start to clear the sheets at £40.

-Oh, yes.

45. 50. 55. 60.

65. 70.

One more, if you like, sir. 70 commission bid.

75 in the corner. Completely fresh bidder, sir.

At 75 now. Do I have any more?

At 75, I think that's done it. We're selling now at 75.

Charles streaks ahead with that low-risk purchase.

A fantastic profit of £65.

# Hanson is the man

# He is the kiddy today. #

I wonder if Charlie can catch up with his beloved bureau.

He's banking on this lot to make a fat profit.

Well, you see it. It's got to be 200 for it.

£100 anywhere to get going?

-Nice piece. For 50, surely?

-Come on.

-No-one for 50.

You're all quiet. No-one wants it for 50?

I'm going to get tears in a minute. No-one wants it even for 20?

-Come on, Charlie.

-I'll give you 20.

You're a good man, Bruce. At 20. £20 I have.

It's a plea for help. 25. Thank you, sir.

Will you give me 30 now, Bruce? No, he's quiet.

30 I have close to me. Would you like 35, sir?

40.

It's a super piece for 40.

-At £40. At £40. At £40. I will sell it.

-Oh, dear!

At only £40.

Thank you.

That is a disastrous result for Charlie.

-Even Charles feels his pain.

-It's worth 150.

It just shows... Come to auction, you can find bargains

at Charlie Rosko's expense. Bad luck, mate.

The next lot are those pretty little silver buttons.

I've got three bids and I need to start these at £70.

At 70 with me. I'll take 5 if it helps. 75 on the back wall.

80 with me. One more if you like.

-75 off the wall?

-It's in the room now at £85. £90 close to me.

95. Your turn if you like.

100, completely fresh bidder. 110?

Back again with Bruce at 110. No?

Shake of the head. With Bruce, then, at 110. Any more do I see at 110?

Another success story for Carlos,

with an Arts and Crafty profit of £30!

Charlie's last hope lies with the job lot of silver,

bought from three different shops.

-I've got commission interest.

-If I could pull out now, I would.

25. I can take 28. At 28. 30. 32, commission's out. Your turn.

32. 35 here.

No? At 35, in the cap. New bid. 38. 40.

42. Fresh bidder.

45.

I'm thrilled with this, I'm thrilled.

Any more? 55, fresh bidder. At 55. Your turn. 60.

I'm nearly getting my money back.

-65. Seated bid I have at 65.

-65? I've nearly got my money back.

70. At £70 now.

Going to sell this time at 70.

-Well done.

-I've never been so excited about breaking even!

He might be happy to make his cash back,

but the silver gives Charlie a lacklustre finish to the auction.

-Charlie?

-Yes.

-Do you know why I've been losing money?

-Why?

-My jacket.

-What about it?

-I bet if you put my jacket on,

you won't make a profit.

-I think my duck will make a profit.

-Put my jacket on and see.

I bet it doesn't.

Are you sure?

It's time to put Charlie's lucky-jacket theory to the test

with the final lot of the day, Charles' duck pen wipe.

If I'd been in this jacket from the beginning, I'd have made a profit.

-It's a good jacket, Charlie.

-Goes well with the tie.

Shall I get you one?

I have four bids altogether.

And I need to start to clear the sheets at £80. I'll take 85.

85.

-90. At £90.

-Come on. Keep going.

I have commission still. 95, just in time. 100 still with me.

-At £100, anyone else? Going to sell.

-All done.

Fair warning at 100.

A "quacking" success which means that today's victor is...

Charles Hanson!

Do you know what? The jacket is not unlucky, Charlie.

The jacket is built with pedigree and pride.

-Well done, old bean.

-Thanks, buddy.

-I have had a thrashing.

-Until next time, Charlie.

Thanks for the memories!

Charlie started today's show with...

..and, after paying auction costs,

actually made a loss of £65.

Charlie has just...

to carry forward.

Charles, meanwhile, started with...

..and made a bumper profit of £131.30.

He has a whopping...

..to take forward.

Charlie, I think it's been my day throughout today,

and Suffolk has been so prosperous for me, I think we'll stay around here.

With your blessing. Let's try Sudbury. Let's try Lavenham.

-Long Melford, sir?

-Indeed.

-Let's stay local.

-If you insist, sir. I'll show you out.

-Thank you, Charlie.

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, the chaps' fancy car plays up again.

And it all seems like child's play!

Come on, Charlie, come on! Let's go!

And after a long search for antiques in Suffolk, their friendship has certainly blossomed.

Why don't we bring our wives over here for a joint holiday together?

I think that's a really good idea. Cracking idea.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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