Episode 10 Antiques Road Trip

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

-Do I buy you or don't I?

-Who can make the most money buying and selling antiques across the UK?

-What's he up to?

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

-But it's not as easy as it looks and dreams can end in tatters.

-Do I hear 1,500?

Will it be the fast lane to success or the slow road to bankruptcy?

I can't keep this posture up!

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

It's the penultimate trip for our pair of respectable gents, Charlie Ross and James Braxton.

James Braxton, believe it or not, is an auctioneer and surveyor with an eye for antiques and fashion.

Seasoned Charlie Ross is an auctioneer of great experience who likes to drive a hard bargain.

-Would you take £100 for it? Or is that being rude?

-That's being rude.

James's original £200 has increased to a meagre £234.52 to begin this day's shopping.

After his huge win in the first auction, Charlie's £200 rocketed

and he now has £2,433.40 to flash about.

They're cruising through beautiful Scotland in their classy 1954 Sunbeam Alpine.

-Where are we? Stirlingshire?

-Yes...Perthshire!

This road trip sees our experts cruising from Cromarty in the north-east of Scotland

over to the west before finishing up in the coastal town of Ayr.

On this leg, they're heading for auction in Glasgow.

First stop is the beautiful Perthshire town of Blairgowrie.

The redstone towns of Blairgowrie and its sister Rattray lie

on either side of the River Ericht.

Blairgowrie, or Blair as it's known locally, is Perthshire's second largest town.

Its centrepiece is the Blairgowrie and Rattray war memorial.

I want you to spend up. I've thrown the gauntlet down. I want the two and a half on the table.

You are just desperate for me to spend money, aren't you?

Intent on spending big, Charlie is straight to work.

A-ha!

-Are you Mr Roy Sim?

-I am, yes.

Greetings. Charlie Ross here. Nice to see you.

To see you nice. Established in 1975, this refurbished showroom is a whopping 5,500 square feet

and is stocked full of fabulous antiques.

I'll take my coat off and have a good look round, if I may.

I see one or two things that take my eye already.

I love the dining table.

Meanwhile, 12 miles west from Blairgowrie finds our poor second-placed expert

about to land in Dunkeld.

My approach to Dunkeld

is to try to find items of sort of under £25.

I've learnt my lesson. There's no reward for big money. It's just too much risk.

So I'm going to go cheap. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

-I'll be keeping my money in my pocket.

-What's new?

A small picturesque town, Dunkeld is one of Perthshire's gems.

It lies on the bank of the River Tay which, at 119 miles, is the longest river in Scotland.

Here it is. Let's have a little squint. Oh, that looks promising.

Housed in a converted church, Dunkeld Antiques is run by owner David

and has been established for 25 years.

After James's usual considered browsing, he spots a £30 Schuco clockwork mouse.

-What about your little mouse?

-That in the right place might do OK.

But it's a little bit loose and hasn't got a tail on it.

-I'll be a bit loose after 100 years!

-It's getting on a bit, isn't it?

-Does it work, Dave?

-It should do.

-Schuco was a German toymaker founded in 1912.

They produced small felt and plush-covered mechanical tin-plate toys.

-What a lovely motion there.

-He's just a big kid!

Meanwhile, back in Blairgowrie, Charlie's found himself a pair of Japanese vases.

They're eastern metal vases

with elephant handles and birds. Well, that's correct.

They're late Japanese.

And they're 20th century. Not earlier than that.

And the decoration of the gilded bronze is not particularly good.

But they are simply bronze, attractive.

They are £185, which...

You know, I don't think I could be that rude to Roy and offer him £50

because he might show me the door.

There are some little copper jelly moulds, which are quite fun and largely...

I was going to say largely affordable. Possibly.

-Charlie! If anyone should be complaining about affordability it's James!

-A-ha!

Amongst all the Mauchline ware, the Scottish souvenir ware, is a bit from nearer my home -

Kent. Tunbridge ware.

Ah, look. From the outside, it's this perspective cube, with all the different woods here.

Sometimes called tumbling cube.

It's quite a simple one. It doesn't look terribly old.

Quite sweet. You'd expect to pay somewhere in the region of £20-£40 for something like that.

After a lot of serious browsing, one of our chaps is finally ready to get down to business.

I did actually look at that pair of bronze vases and then I saw the price, Roy,

-and I closed up your cabinet and did a bit of a runner.

-Well, you know, everything's negotiable.

-They may have come in a house clearance.

-Em...

-On the other hand, they may not.

They came in on a deal.

-I think if they went to auction they would probably make £60-£80.

-Well, what's your best?

What's your best?

I would certainly pay...

95?

Oh! Not if they make 60 or 80 at auction! I'm not here to lose money!

But I'm ambitious.

You are. I think I would like to pay you £50 for them.

50 quid. 60, there's a deal.

-60 quid!

-Deal.

-That's really kind of you. I appreciate that.

-While I'm here, there's some rather pretty copper jelly moulds.

-Mm-hm.

-I like a copper jelly mould. They've got no marks on them, but 19th century.

-They are.

Victorian jellies were not like the sweet jellies of today.

They were just as likely to use these for blancmanges.

The set of four have a price tag of £48.

-I'm going to make you one offer for these.

-Right.

-And I'm not even going to be negotiable.

-I'd like to pay 20 quid for them.

-Deal done.

-I should have said 10!

-Oh!

-Right.

-I knew you were a man I could do business with. Fantastic.

And now James has found something sporting for £80.

And this one, David, tell me. I don't know much about golf clubs.

There is a resurgence of interest in hickory-shafted golf clubs now.

And they are quite collectable. If you look, they've got the shape

-of what they call the long-nosed putter. It's an Edinburgh maker.

-OK.

-And it's a very nice piece.

-I'd like to buy that if the price is right.

-OK.

-That would be great.

-OK.

15 on that, 15 on that,

25 or 30 on that

and 25 on that.

-You don't mess about, do you?

-No.

-I go straight in there, David.

-You do.

-Straight in there.

-I can't get close on that one.

-I can't get close.

-What can you get close on?

-Would you like a parcel price?

How about £60 as a parcel price? I'd see a profit in those for you.

-What about 45 for the three?

-That's what you suggested already!

-He's as sharp as a tack, David!

-Sharp as a tack.

-I tell you what I'll do.

-What?

Why don't we actually just say 60 or 45 and I'll toss you for it?

-Oh, blimey, I hate that.

-Well, it makes it easy, doesn't it?

-Does it?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-Right.

-OK.

-I've got to call, have I?

-Yeah.

-I'm going to say heads.

-OK.

Heads it is!

You're a very kind man. I didn't think it would happen.

-I'm not an audacious gambling man, but you're very kind.

-And you can have your 2p back.

-Thank you.

While James has been enjoying himself, Charlie is heading east to Rait. Rait's a small village,

barely rating a mention.

To the east is a large farmstead, originally built in 1837.

This has been converted to become an antiques centre with a group of 12 dealers.

Gosh, he does look dashing in that car, doesn't he?

Charlie's been drawn to Alistair McClelland's Antiques,

where a fine figurine at £180 has caught his eye.

I'm hot on Staffordshire at the moment. I had a bit of a tickle with a bit of Staffordshire.

It's Neptune.

That's rather delightful. Very simply modelled, isn't it?

The glazing is nice. Figure's nice. He's a bit doleful.

Did you have to fight for him tooth and nail or did he come in the back of a cupboard?

-Everything in here I have to fight for.

-What a terrible tragedy. It really is so unfair, Alistair.

I was rather hoping you'd done a clearance and found this in the back of a cupboard.

-110 to you, Charlie.

-Oh, I say!

Would you take £100 for it, Alistair?

-Or is that being rude?

-It's rude, but, yes, you can have it for 100.

I'm going to buy that! I like him and the condition of him.

I don't think it's looking £2,000-worth,

-but I could see it making 150, 160?

-Yeah.

-I really could.

As usual, happy with his purchase, he's popped next door into John Walker Antiques.

Scottish pottery barrel with lid.

19th century. Stoneware barrel.

It says here, "AF", which means "At fault".

It doesn't look too bad to me. Frankly, you'd expect there to be...

What a wonderful barrel!

Oh, it's damaged at the bottom, but you'd never use a barrel like that for putting liquid in,

so what does it matter tuppence if it's damaged?

It's a lovely piece, but at £125 I'm sensing a negotiation.

-Watch out, Brian.

-Can you do that for 80 quid?

-No.

Well, that's a simple answer.

-Because it's damaged, I could probably bring it down to 100.

-Is it the lowest price?

-Yes.

-90?

-No.

-Still show me the door?

-I would.

-Sold to the man in the corner.

-Thank you very much, sir.

-Thank you.

So far, then, a productive shopping day.

But the boys are taking a short breaking and heading west to Perth,

where Charlie has a prior engagement.

-This is rather nice. Look at the river!

-Glorious!

Lying on the banks of the River Tay,

the fair city of Perth is located in central Scotland.

Once considered the country's capital,

it's also been known as the Gateway to the Highlands,

and is home to one of Scotland's most famous regiments.

-Museum of the Black Watch, otherwise known as the Royal Highland Regiment.

-Here we are.

-In this beautiful spot.

-Lovely spot.

-Various memorials here.

-Iraq, Afghanistan.

-Very, very sobering, isn't it?

-I know.

-I'm in for a history lesson, am I?

-You are. Very much.

Scotland's Black Watch is an elite regiment

with members serving most recently in Afghanistan.

The Black Watch has a history

that stretches back almost three centuries.

-Major Proctor, I presume.

-Charlie, nice to meet you.

-Thank you very much for letting us in today.

-Grateful that you're here.

-I'm looking forward to a history lesson.

-Thank you.

-Where do we begin?

Let's just go next door here.

The Black Watch was raised in a unique way.

In the wake of the 1715 Jacobite rebellion,

companies of trustworthy highlanders

were raised from loyal clans of Campbells, Frasers,

Grants and Monroes.

The government decided they required to have some form of Highland watch

to try to keep the peace between the Lowlands and the Highlands.

General Wade was the commander of the army in Scotland

and he realised that he would have to have

good intelligence and communications to be effective.

Because of their dark tartan and their job, watching the Highlands,

they were given the Gaelic nickname Am Frieceadan Dubh - Black Watch.

When the First World War started in 1914,

nobody could have foreseen the huge sacrifices of the Black Watch.

Some 50,000 men went through the ranks of the regiment from 1914 to 1918.

Some 25 battalions of one sort or another.

And of that total, 8,000 were killed.

And there on the wall you can actually see the 8,000 names,

but apart from the 8,000 being killed, 20,000 were wounded.

And of that 20,000, there were probably many who died later on,

-when the war finished.

-That's virtually 50% casualty rate!

-50%.

-That's a one in two chance of being killed or wounded.

-Correct.

Here we have some artefacts from World War One.

And some of the most poignant are the French prayer book and the New Testament bible.

And the sergeant's drinking cup.

All received direct hits and saved their owners' lives.

You'd retain a certain belief in religion, wouldn't you,

if your bible had saved your life?

When war broke out with Nazi Germany in September, 1939, the Black Watch were once again called to duty.

Charlie, you'll see in here the Roll of Honour,

much smaller than the Roll of Honour you saw for the First World War.

A change in fighting style and an improvement in war tactics led to fewer deaths among soldiers.

We were in Blairgowrie the other day and the war memorial in the centre, it was very relevant.

The number of names from the First World War and the significantly smaller number from the Second.

And generals had learnt,

-you know, as one said, "I won't have a large butcher's bill with nothing to show for it."

-No.

Charlie, you've had a fascinating insight into one of the world's most celebrated regiments.

What a privilege. Meanwhile, on the other side,

-James is heading for Rait Antiques Centre.

-We're leaving Perth.

I've got two in the hopper. Three!

Three lovely buys, all at £15 each.

I'm going to stay to my word - nothing over 25.

Fine words, sir. And with that he's straight to work.

-Hello?

-Pleased to meet you. Geoffrey Smith.

-Very nice to meet you.

Always look up because there might be nice lighting fixtures and look on the top shelf.

Very suitably, we've got this vase. Isn't that lovely?

That is very stylish. We've got Diana the huntress.

She's always depicted bathing or with a bow.

In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt.

Often portrayed with bow and arrow and with a deer or hounds.

This vase has a price tag of £48.

Geoffrey, can you make my day? Would £18 buy that?

-You're being very rude to me.

-I know.

-£18?

I like to do it with a smile, though.

Double it and we might talk.

-How about... Could you do it for 25?

-I'll split it with you.

-Oh, no, I don't want splitting.

-Come on.

-25, Geoffrey. Come on.

-30, come on.

-Come on. 25...

-Come on. Goddess of your hunting.

-28, Geoffrey. Can you do 28 for me?

-Go on.

-28.

-We have a deal.

-Thank you.

-We have a deal.

-I love that.

-Big, stylish fellow.

-Happy hunting.

-Happy hunting.

Just over £25, but a good purchase all the same.

-That's very kind.

-Thank you.

James and Charlie are back on the road.

They're journeying 27 miles south-west to Dunblane.

-What a lovely town! Isn't it?

-Lovely.

A small cathedral city and former borough, Dunblane lies on the hills

above the Forth valley and Stirling.

The beautiful cathedral in the centre dates to the 12th century.

-There it is.

-Ah, fabulous.

The Old Curiosity Shop. Very Dickens.

It's very Dickens, isn't it? Right, well, good luck.

-Let's get in there.

-It's the last shop before the auction.

-It's going to be a bit of a squeeze.

-The hare and the tortoise!

-Reminds me of the Black Watch.

-But that's more your style, the big fellow, isn't it?

-What a double act!

-What's the big fellow?

-Price?

-Yeah.

-110, I think.

-110. My word.

James, you can have the first shot if you want.

-I'd rather go for the big one.

-It's probably more commercial.

I like the big one.

It's a very impressive side drum,

but at £110 it's a bit pricey.

-Could I make you a cheeky offer?

-You can, but...

-35?

-Oh, no.

-What do you think on this, David?

-The lowest I could do that is 70.

-70?

-Yes.

-OK.

Fine, fine, fine. And I think that's a fair price.

It's a lovely piece. It's doing lots of things.

Now Charlie has spotted a rather large vase with a ticket price of £200.

-It's very heavy.

-I bet it is.

It's a Brannam ware pottery. One of the Staffordshire potteries.

-It's a nice piece.

-Give me a bit of your knowledge. It's got a bit of colour.

It's got a good bit of colour. It's that treacly glaze.

-They did a lot of that stuff for conservatories.

-Yeah.

-Big old plant stands and things.

-Almost like early Doulton Lambeth.

-Exactly, exactly.

That is a big fellow. Look at it.

It's three foot something.

Now, what kind of deal can you get?

-160.

-Can you do it for 160?

-Yeah.

-Look at that.

Mr Braxton, I'm going to put my neck on the block here. I'll ask you to make a decision for me.

-I'll buy that for 160 or the small drum for 40.

-Right. You've got the budget! Play the game!

-Play the game? Go for it?

-Yep.

-I'm going for the Brannam.

Another big spend. Well done, Charlie. All that's left is for James to make his move.

-David, may I take the big drum for 65?

-You're welcome.

-Thank you very much indeed.

James's final purchase brings this shopping trip to a suitable end.

Charlie Ross began with £2,433.40 - ridiculous! -

and spent £440 on five auction lots.

The four Victorian jelly moulds.

A pair of Japanese vases.

A Staffordshire pottery figurine.

A 19th century barrel.

And the large Brannam vase.

James Braxton started with £234.52, and spent £138 on five auction lots.

A 1920s golf club.

The clockwork mouse.

A Tunbridge ware box.

The Art Deco vase.

And a large decorative drum.

Time to hear what you boys really think.

Charlie, I think, has it again.

What a fabulous Staffordshire figure. Neptune.

I don't know. Is it another £2,000-£3,000?

The drum is fab. Love the drum. And the drum will make well over £100

without any doubt at all in my mind.

It's been a fabulous jaunt from delightful Blairgowrie,

via Dunkeld, Perth, Rait and Dunblane,

with the auction house in Glasgow finally in their sights.

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and is on the River Clyde in the west central lowlands.

With its stunning Victorian architecture and lively vibe, it's the perfect spot -

-oops! - for auction number four.

-What was that?

-This looks a bit smart for us, Charlie.

-Too good for our goods!

Established in 1842, McTear's Auctioneers is one of Glasgow's largest auction houses.

It's the moment of truth. Let the auction begin.

First to go under the hammer is James's 1920s long-nose golf club.

£50 again. 20 again on this one. 10 again, surely. £10.

Got to go at 10, surely. 10 is bid.

-How about that?

-All done at 10? 12?

Any advance at 10? Going now at 10. Are you all done?

It's going now. £10 for that lot. And it's away to 6513 for £10.

-You'd have been better off putting that in your golf bag.

-Story of my life.

Not a great start, James. And certainly not a hole in one.

This is not boding well for the Schuco mouse, really, is it?

-Now for Charlie's four copper jelly moulds.

-Come on.

20 again for the set. 10 again, surely. 10 is bid.

12 I've got here. 15 on my left.

-He's got a commission bid.

-Any advance at £15? Going now...

All done? Going at £15. 1935 for that one.

That was bargain of the day.

Oh, dear. Another loss.

Next to face the music is James's clockwork mouse.

30 again? 20 again, surely? 20 bid.

Any advance? 22 bid. 22 on my left. Any advance on that?

-All finished now?

-Are you bidding?

On the left at 22. All done? Selling at 22.

-It's a working profit, isn't it?

-It is. It's a meagre profit.

-A meagre profit!

It very nearly dragged back the loss from the putter.

Well done, James. Finally a profit.

After commission, probably a slim loss!

Yeah, it was a narrow squeak. So far James is slightly in the lead.

Can Charlie's vases shake it up?

20 again, surely. £20 for the pair.

20 is bid. Any advance? At 20. Any advance at 20?

All done now at £20. Going now. 25 is bid now. I'll take 30.

25 is bid now. All done now? Any advance at 25? Going now.

Not quite the result you were looking for.

Ouch. That's two losses out of two.

I think I've come up short!

Next, it's James's Tunbridge ware box.

Start the bidding at £30. 20 we're bid here. Commission.

Commission!

At £20. All done now? Going with the commission at £20.

-Are you all done? Selling at 20.

-20. Steady work.

Another small profit. At least one is going in the right direction.

Could history repeat itself with Charlie's Staffordshire figurine?

For the lot, £50 on this one? 30 again? 30 bid.

-Any advance?

-30?!

What?!

All finished now? 35 is bid. 40. 45. 50.

55. 60. 65?

No, £60 is bid now. Anyone else?

At £60 for that lot. 65. At 70.

-Come on!

-75. 80? No, 75 is bid.

-Left-hand side at 75.

-80?

On the left at 75 for that lot. 75.

Oh, dear. This is not looking good.

If you can't get over 100 quid for an 18th-century Staffordshire figure...

-No big spenders in Glasgow today.

-That's made a serious dent in my 2½ grand.

Oh!

Constantly reminded.

Stay positive, James!

You're making slow, but steady progress. Next up, your vase.

-Lovely.

-Start bidding at £50?

30 again. 20 again. £20 bid. 25. 30. Against you.

Any advance? At £30. Any advance?

-Oh, come on.

-All done now? Any advance?

-Oh, no...

-All done now.

-Oh, Brackers...

£30. That was a wasted opportunity.

Yep, sorry, James. After commission, that £2 profit is, in fact, a loss.

-So instead of gaining money on that, I've lost.

-You've lost.

Under the spotlight next is Charlie's 19th century barrel.

Now please hold it up! Come on, hold it up.

He's not doing it.

Start me a £50 on this one. 50 is bid.

-50.

-Oh, he's...

-50 is bid.

-Come on!

-65.

-70.

-65.

-70. 75.

-Come on!

70 is the lady's bid. Any advance?

All done and selling at 70. Any more at 70?

Sold at 70 and away to 415.

Roscoe...

-It could have been worse.

-You're absolutely right. Could be less.

Dearie me. That's another big loss, Charlie. It's just not your day.

Now it's James's last stab at a big profit. It's the drum.

It was a risky purchase, but will it play off?

£100 again on this one? 80? 50 bid.

-50 bid! Straight in!

-£60 is bid. Right-hand side.

70 here. 80 if you wish. 90, sir. 100.

-110? £100 is bid now.

-Brackers is back!

I'll take 110. At £100. Going now. Sold at 100.

-Well done, old bean.

-I've broken that three-figure mark.

-You've made a profit overall.

You saved the best till last. Well done, James. A great profit.

There's a fortune for me to be made in the dealing world, isn't there?

Last, but not least is Charlie's most expensive lot,

the large stoneware vase. Can it pull him out of despair?

-Lift it up, man!

-80 again there? 50 bid. Any advance? At 50.

60 here. Any more? 60. 70 if you wish. 60 is bid.

At 70. 80. 90. 100. 110?

-£100 is bid.

-We can do better!

-110 if you wish there. Any advance?

-Oh, buying it for £100(!)

-All done at 100? £100.

-Roscoe...

-Another arrow!

-Cheer up!

Oh, dear, Charlie. Your game plan well and truly backfired on you today.

Well, a comprehensive victory.

James started this leg with £234.52.

After paying auction costs, he made a small profit of £11.24.

Despite being victorious, he has a rather small £245.76 to carry forward.

Charlie, meanwhile, is way out ahead.

He started with £2,433.40 and despite making a devastating loss of £206.30,

he still has a hefty £2,227.10 to spend.

Oh, look at this. This is service. Thank you, my man.

-Thank you.

-Such a pleasure to work with you, Mr Braxton, sir.

This Antiques Road Trip has taken our experts from Cromarty

down the stunning north-east of Scotland over to the west,

to their final destination in Ayrshire.

On this last leg, they're heading for the final auction in Ayr.

First stop is the village of Kilbarchan.

SPLUTTERING Oh! My hat's come off.

There must be easier ways to make a living, mustn't there.

A village in the west Central Lowlands,

Kilbarchan's church steeple dominates the village skyline.

Built in 1755, it houses a bronze statue

of Robert 'Habbie' Simpson,

Kilbarchan's famous left-handed piper.

Not a lot of people know that!

(SCOTTISH ACCENT) There's plenty for you to get your teeth into.

Established in 1950,

Gardner's Antiques has a vast array of antiques and collectables.

And with its strict "no haggling" policy,

I wonder how the chaps will get on.

-It goes a long way.

-Goodness me.

-Look up there!

Oh, oh, oh, God.

-Good luck, Brackers.

-Good hunting.

And with that, Charlie gets straight to work with owner, David.

-That's rather a sweet, very sweet little propelling pencil.

-Mm-hmm.

Tell me,

it would be too much for me to expect that to be gold, wouldn't it?

-I think probably.

-It looks gold to me.

-I'll have a look.

-I certainly don't see any marks on it.

-It's not priced, no.

-It's not priced as gold, certainly.

-It isn't but I was just wondering whether it might be!

-I don't see any marks on it.

Perhaps I should be taking a little gamble.

Lets do a bit of Sherlock Holmes work on here.

I think that's absolutely charming.

And the price of that is...

£20.

This would've been kept in a small purse belonging to a lady,

perhaps if she went out dancing and had a little dance card

and wanted to write down the names

of the people that she had been chosen to dance with.

That's the sort of thing you'd find in a smart purse.

I think it's a charming little lot.

-I'd like to make an investment, if I may?

-Absolutely welcome to do that.

It's not a big one but hopefully, I'm going to find more.

£20 well spent, Charlie.

David's "no haggling" policy sure makes for speedy negotiations.

This looks interesting.

I'm going to sit down. Look at this!

Oh, 'ello! Ha!

All damages to be paid for. Oh!

Slightly vulnerable to damage, this one.

Erm, but what a piece!

Ahem! Damage caused by you, I think, James.

This is what the impressionists and the Victorians,

that 1850 period to 1900, this is what they love.

We've got some deterioration, like a sort of dry rot, there.

Putting the dry rot, the cracks and the other damage aside,

this is still quite a nice piece, isn't it?

-Yeah, OK then, James. So what is it?

-What have we got on this?

£68?!

This is my first purchase.

I love this piece and it's going to make me a large profit.

I really hope so, James.

This rare early Meiji period Japanese container

could've been used to house kimonos or even Japanese jim-jams.

David, can you tell me about this fellow?

It's rather taken me eye.

Erm, Japanese. Probably early 20th century, possibly a bit earlier.

Quite a lot of Japanese import brought into Glasgow.

With it being a bit port city.

A lot of ships' captains and crews bring back, brought things home.

-You haven't got the lid for it?

-We don't have the lid to that.

This one's as it stands, I'm afraid.

-A few wee knocks and bumps but a bit unusual.

-Yeah.

-I know the terms. There you are, my good man.

-Thank you.

I shall take the ticket off it, then.

£68 spent. Well done, James.

What about Charlie?

There's something rather ornate and small.

I imagine an inkwell.

Yes, it is an inkwell. French.

Champleve enamel.

Not brilliant enamelling, but really not bad quality.

And then we've got a little porcelain plaque at the bottom, here.

It's really quite a charming object. It is... £54.

I think this is worth more money than £54. I really do.

Champleve is a technique in which troughs or cells

are carved out with a metal object and filled with enamel.

-I think that's really quite sweet. I'll have that, sir, if I may.

-Thank you very much indeed.

So, while Charlie's been enjoying himself,

James has headed 15 miles south-west to Kilbirnie.

Kilbirnie is a small town in North Ayrshire.

Amongst many old buildings stands the Walker Hall,

a memorial hall dedicated to Dr Walker,

one of the first physicians in the town.

But there's no time for sightseeing.

James has got some shopping to do.

Stirrup Cup Antiques opened five years ago

in this rather lovely barn conversion,

and James is hoping owner Greta may have a couple of bargains for him.

-Greta Logan.

-Greta. Very nice to meet you.

I like this, though. Very nice art nouveau sort of like a table centre.

It's definitely art nouveau, very continental colouring, the green and the gilt.

So it's definitely French.

Nicely finished underneath. I rather like that.

It's got a good look to it. It's got £45 on it.

Let's see if I can get something off on that.

Before he gets down to the nitty gritty,

something else catches his eye.

-Look at these bottles.

-Well they're Drew of Piccadilly, 1905, I think.

-Drew.

-Something like 1905.

They look it. They are fittings out of a travelling case, aren't they?

-I would say so.

-Yeah.

In your leather travel case, around the edges,

you had these sort of pockets and they fitted into these things.

Those five, there, and I like your stand there, your nouveau stand.

What sort of price could you do for the two sort of lots there?

Well...

-Very difficult...

-Yeah, uh-huh!

The two at the back, I had £120 on just on the two.

Good on you, Greta.

For all five silver bottles, James is looking at a total price of £245.

That's £67.24 more than he's got to spend.

Are you going to put your hand in your pocket for over £300, James?

-No, I haven't got 300.

-You haven't got 300. Here we go, here we go!

-How much have we got left?

-I think she's got the mark of you, James.

£250 on the lot.

I won't buy all of them.

Haven't really got the money and all that sort of thing,

but that's pretty.

Greta, would you take 140 for that, that, that and that?

-160?

-160...

-In the middle?

-OK, then.

-Ha ha ha!

£150 lighter, and James is still spending.

I'll tell you what, I've hardly got a penny left,

and I forgot about these.

I saw your rather nice, your sort of Hercules doorstops.

What do you call these? Is this a Scottish thing?

I think that's got to be for tying a horse.

You'd put them in the field, and it was just for tethering an animal?

-They did come out of a coach house.

-How much are you selling these for?

-30 for the two.

-30 for the two?

-Yeah.

-Greta, would you take a tenner for this one?

-20.

-20. I can't do 20.

15, then.

Could you do 12?

-OK, James.

-12. That's really kind. Thank you.

-Three items!

-Are you happy now?

-You need some cash!

-I would like some cash, thank you.

-Take me to your till.

The road trip is moving us on once more, leaving Kilbirnie

and burning a short 10 miles west to Fairlie,

where James has given himself a little treat.

Here we are. Lovely. Nice big gates. This is more me.

-Ah!

-This is more me.

-Oh, it's a bit like going home for you!

Situated fairly near Fairlie,

Kelburn Castle is James Braxton's first port of call.

What a great, great morning! This will look superb, won't it?

Originally built in the 13th century, Kelburn Castle is the seat of the Earl of Glasgow,

and is thought to be the oldest castle in Scotland

to have been continuously inhabited by the same family.

The present 10th Earl of Glasgow

is meeting the lucky James Braxton to show him round,

and tell him more about two of his extraordinary relations.

Now, who's your fine fellow here?

Oh, I see. This, in fact is my great-grandfather,

and he was a naval captain, and near the end of his career,

-he was made governor of New Zealand.

-Oh, fabulous!

He was loved. He had a huge family and he was loved by the Maoris,

and he went round and visited all these various Maori communities all over New Zealand.

Well, he looks a very splendid fellow, doesn't he?

He does. I think he was painted to look splendid.

-Did he bring anything back from New Zealand?

-Yes, he brought a lot back.

One of the most interesting ones was this one, which is a Maori cape.

This is... One of the Maori chiefs gave this to my great-grandfather,

and it actually doesn't look particularly interesting,

but it is unique, and this is all made out of kiwi feathers,

and I don't think you'd be able to do that now.

I think legally, it would be impossible to have a cape like that.

-So this is all feathers?

-Absolutely. All kiwi feathers.

A national symbol of New Zealand, the kiwi is a flightless bird

that holds a special significance for the Maori.

It is symbolic of their elder brothers and sisters,

representing protective spirits.

And is this one of many in the world?

There was a Maori who came here to see it,

and he said there were less than a dozen of these in the world.

My great-uncle Alan

was one of those magnificent men in their flying machines,

and he was one of the pioneers of aviation in the very early days,

and he held the record for three weeks when he'd flown his aeroplane

something like 400 yards, and that was the record,

-but the record was broken three weeks later by somebody else who did it better than he did.

-Oh, no!

-So they were accumulating...

-So he had a glorious three weeks.

Alan Reginald Boyle was born on 8th October 1886,

and was the son of the seventh Earl of Glasgow.

What really fascinates me about it is the fact that

the wheels are just like sort of bicycle wheels.

They're tiny, aren't they? You can see how treacherous they were,

but you can imagine them hitting something and just pitching.

Well, I think that's actually what happened to my great-uncle.

Unfortunately, his aeroplane turned over, and he landed on his head,

and from that moment on, he had a slight memory problem,

so it was jolly dangerous, as you can see, they were hardly protected.

-It must've been a very exciting period if you had the courage.

-Yeah.

-Those pioneering Edwardians.

-That's right.

The castle is steeped in history, both inside and out,

but one of the more modern aspects is on the south side of the place.

This is a great departure from your normal Scottish castle, isn't it?

Yes, well, it was actually the idea of my son and daughter,

who got to know these Brazilian graffiti artists

who were longing to paint a Scottish castle and do a...

It's a mural, isn't it? We call it graffiti, but it's really a mural.

They came and stayed here.

Anyway, they managed to persuade Historic Scotland to let them do it,

which surprised me.

-Were you rather hoping they might be turned down?

-Yeah, I was.

Anyway, he wasn't turned down, and they went ahead with it.

But now that it's been done,

I actually think it's really very, very good.

It's tremendously imaginative.

So, James, a mixture of old and new.

Meanwhile, Charlie is cruising 15 miles south to Kilwinning.

Situated just outside Kilwinning

is the beautiful Dalgarven Mill.

Rising through four floors and powered by a six-metre waterwheel,

this is one of the oldest and tallest grain mills surviving in Scotland.

It's a beautiful rural location,

and it's also home to Byre Antiques And Collectables.

Nice to see you. It's Shane, isn't it? Now, this looks interesting...

What appears to be a leather volume...

I'm going to open it up and see what's what.

Gosh!

Ah, that's good, it's instructions.

This looks a really interesting compendium.

Roulette.

Cribbage boards, chessboard.

Fantastic!

And I suspect here we will have the roulette table.

It's fantastic! And the pack of cards. I think the pack of cards is probably original.

What date is this?

1920s.

I notice, Shane, that it hasn't got a price on it.

It's just in, in actual fact.

-Oh, is it?

-It is, it's a new piece in.

-What sort of money's that?

My best trade on it for you, Charlie, would be £40.

-And that, the £40 is the absolute death...

-Absolutely.

-Leave the door if you don't pay.

-Exactly.

-Sold.

-Thank you very much.

Thank you very much indeed. I think that's great.

-I love it.

-I'm glad you like it.

-I think all your furniture's been restored, hasn't it?

-It has.

-I'm a furniture restorer.

-Yeah, yeah.

Have you got anything that's waiting to be restored?

The one piece I have got is the Georgian washstand.

-It doesn't really look as if it needs restoration.

-Just tidying.

-If you see the beading...

-Oh, yes, I can see.

The drawer fronts...

This lovely piece of Georgian mahogany is being sold

without the bowl and the jug.

Well, I'd better ask, I'm not intending to buy any furniture,

-but that might be irresistible.

-I could make it very appealing.

-Could you make it very appealing?

-I could.

If I could do it for £50?

CHARLIE SIGHS

I... It's...

-I can see you're struggling with it.

-It's a great price.

I mean, I would say I'd give you £35 cash for it,

and if it could be done for that...

Well, if I said to you, if you met me halfway

and we do it for £40, for a piece of Georgian furniture?

I couldn't actually say no, could I?

I think it would be rude to say no.

I think it would be very rude to say no!

This has got to be the deal of the day. Well done, Charlie.

With the auction just around the corner,

our chaps are back on the road, heading north to Largs.

This is glorious, isn't it?

Very Scottish Riviera.

A former cinema, Narducci Antiques has been open since 1969

and is the scene for our final show-stopping showdown.

-Are you feeling lucky, Mr Braxton?

-I am. Oh, look, there's a staircase.

Do you think there are things up there?

Oh, that's where the bargains will be! Unseemly rush there.

What have you got for £15.76?

Well, we cater for most pockets so, nothing take your eye?

It hasn't, really.

Well, maybe Franco here can inspire you

with this rather large Ayrshire glazed salt box

with a broken lid. You might even get a deal on it, James.

-I can do that for a tenner, if it's any good?

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

You say a salt box.

-Just for keeping the salt dry, keeping the dampness from it.

-Yeah.

What about a fiver, Franco?

-Eight quid. I'll meet you in the middle.

-Seven and I'll do it.

-On you go, we're here to sell.

-Thanks.

Excellent piece of negotiating there, James, and very clever

taking Ayrshire pottery to an Ayrshire auction.

A pair of quite fancy wall brackets over here.

They look as if they're brass.

They are. They're pretty blooming stylish. Chunky!

I think they are originally made for electricity,

but early electricity. They're early 20th century and I like those.

God, I'd love to buy those for less than 100 quid. Ho-ho!

Well, if anyone can seal the deal, you can, Charlie.

-They're nice, aren't they?

-Yeah, early 20th century, I suppose.

-What sort of money are they?

-£60?

I quite like your opening gambit there. They've got good weight.

-Good look too.

-And they're a very good look, aren't they?

If I pulled out 40 Scottish notes, would that do the deal?

-No, but if you put a friendly 50, you can have them.

-A nifty 50?

-A nifty 50 and it's a deal.

-I think they're fantastic.

-Thanks.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

-You look spent up.

-I am almost spent up. And you?

-You find something?

-Yes, I did, and I'm very pleased with what I bought.

And with that, it's time to go,

and see what our two good-natured gents are so pleased about.

James started this last leg of the road trip with £245.76

and spent £237 on five auction lots.

He bought a lacquered Japanese box,

an art nouveau mirrored platter,

a stone horse tether,

an Ayrshire glazed pottery salt box,

and spent a substantial £110

on the collection of silver bottles.

Charlie began with £2,227.10.

He spent £204, and also has five final auction lots -

a games compendium,

a pair of brass wall sconces,

a champleve inkwell,

the delicate propelling pencil,

and a Georgian mahogany washstand.

I liked his washstand, and at £40, that was daylight robbery, I think.

You know, dear old Roscoe,

he likes to pretend he's a sort of bumbling old idiot,

but he's on the money, isn't he?

James has bought some really great lots.

I like his stoneware trough.

Cost noth...£7?! Robbery!

It's been an eventful final leg for our two excited experts,

from Kilbarchan via Kilbirnie,

Kilwinning and Largs.

Auction day is here, and it's the final showdown

for James and Charlie in Ayr.

Now, I've been chasing furniture down for some decades now.

Every time I see something, I say I'm never going to buy any more English brown furniture.

Then a piece comes in so cheaply

that you really think that there is a profit, and there never is.

Established in 1933, Thomas R Callan

is a family-run business of auctioneers and valuers,

selling over 25,000 lots every year.

So, for the last time, let the auction begin.

First to go under the hammer is James's Ayrshire lead-glazed bin.

-Look at that.

-It looks gorgeous.

-Lovely.

Is there 60 for it? £60.

40? £40?

40 I'm bid in the corner.

At 40, any advance? 45. 50.

Cost seven.

Any advance on the 50? Corner at 50. Are we all out at 50?

I think he's over-egging it a bit.

All finished, then, at £50?

-GAVEL BANGS

-Well, well, well.

-Mr Braxton!

That's very nice. Sensational.

It certainly was, James.

That's a brilliant profit to start on.

-That's wonderful.

-That's good, isn't it?

Now for Charlie's inkwell.

Decorative wee piece with a hand-painted porcelain base,

with its cherubs.

30. £30.

30 I'm bid. 35. 40. 45. 50.

55. 60.

At 60. Any advance on 60?

65. 70.

75. 80. 85. 90.

95. At 95, behind me at 95. At £95.

Any advance on 95? All finished, then, at £95.

Well done, well done, my word.

-My word.

-95.

I didn't think that was going to happen, did you?

Oh, ye of little faith.

Fantastic result, Charlie. Just £2, now, behind James.

-We've got a battle on today, Brackers, haven't we?

-I know.

We are in lot 103, then. A lovely late-19th century propelling pencil.

There you are. For the pencil, 50 for it?

£50? 40? £20?

£20?

20 I'm bid. 25.

30. 35. 40.

At 40, any advance on 40?

# Double your money and try to get rich... #

At 40. Are you all out? All finished, then, at £40.

-GAVEL BANGS

-449.

-Very good. Very good.

I'm warming to this auctioneer on every lot he sells.

You're on to a winning streak here, Charlie,

and are edging out in front.

Oh, I tell you what - they look the business.

Let's see if James's silver bottles can shake things up.

£100. £100 for three. 100 I'm bid. At 100.

110. 120. 130.

At 130, any advance on 130?

140.

At 140, any advance on 140?

-At 140, any advance?

-140 plus the premium...

All finished then, at £140?

GAVEL BANGS You got a profit. Got a profit.

-A couple of quid...

-Yeah.

-..after commission.

Yes, James. The auction house must take its earnings,

but chin up - it's still a profit.

Lot 177, the games compendium.

Up next is Charlie's games compendium.

80 for it? 80? £60.

£60, compendium?

40? £40?

20, then. 20. 25. 30. At 30.

35, behind me at 35.

40. 45.

At 45, behind at 45. All finished?

-Selling, then, at £45...

-GAVEL BANGS

475 at 45.

-Wiped its face.

-Yeah, I'm not wildly thrilled about that.

I thought it was a good lot.

What a pity. I really thought that would do better.

Time for your mirrored platter next, James.

This is your chance to race into the lead.

-80 for it. 80?

-Ooh, that's lovely.

40? £40? Beautiful condition. £40?

Giving me the heebie-jeebies, this is.

-£20.

-But that's ridiculous.

At 20. 25. At 30.

35. At 35, are we all out?

All finished, then, at 35...

-GAVEL BANGS

-477, 35.

-James, I'm disappointed with that.

-So am I.

Chin up, James. Despite the £5 loss, you're still out in front.

-Cor, it's coming down to the wire, this one, Brackers.

-I know.

Next on display are Charlie's brass wall sconces.

80 for them, 80? £40?

40 I'm bid. 40, any advance on 40?

45. 50.

At 50. Corner at 50. Any advance on 50?

At £50 for the pair.

They're cheap, aren't they?

-At £50, it's the corner, 55, new bidder.

-55, new bidder.

At 55, any advance on 55? Are we all out?

Middle at 55, finished, then, at £55.

-GAVEL BANGS Oh, dear. I really had confidence in those.

-A squandered opportunity.

Another opportunity gone.

And to think, it started off so positively.

Next is James's horse-tetherer.

It's an ancient throwing stone from the Highland Games.

-THEY LAUGH

-I'll take 40 for it? £40?

20. £20, a tether?

10. At 10, I'm bid, at 10.

15.

Bidding? 20 in the corner.

25. At 25, lady at 25. Any advance on 25?

-Good investment.

-Are you all out?

All finished, then, at £25.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Well done, that lady.

-Well done, madam.

-Well done.

What are you going to tie on to it?

Your husband?

Behave yourself, Roscoe. James, that was a very good investment.

James is currently in the lead, and his Japanese box is up next.

-Oozes quality.

-Oozes quality - it's a bit like its owner.

£100 for it? 100?

80?

£40?

£40?

40 I'm bid, at 40. Any advance on 40?

You're away. 45.

50. 55. 60.

65.

70.

-75. 80. 85.

-Brackers!

-90.

On my left at 90, any advance on 90?

Keep going.

At £90, any advance on £90? Are we all out?

All finished, then, at £90.

GAVEL BANGS Oh...

It's not a bad result, Brackers, to be honest.

JAMES LAUGHS But compared with your purchase price?

-Come on, it's a profit, old boy.

-I know, I know. I'm pleased.

-Chin up, Brackers.

-I am pleased.

James, you've ended on a high. With one lot to go, you're in the lead.

Charlie, it all comes down to your washstand, mate.

You'd need to make a profit of £36

to be able to declare victory in today's show.

80? 50, then.

-50, I'm bid.

-£50.

-At 50. 55.

60. 65.

At 65. 70.

75. 80.

85. 90. 95.

-Well done.

-100. 110.

120.

-130.

-Oh, Brackers!

-130, any advance on 130?

At £130, any advance? It's the back at 130.

Are you all out? All finished then, at £130.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Well done. Well done. £130.

Down to wire, though, Brackers. Absolutely down to the wire.

What a result, Charlie, and a fantastic profit

to end this road trip adventure.

-Well done, Roscoe. A deserved winner.

-Gosh.

-Down to the last lot though. Doesn't come closer than that, does it?

-No.

James began his last voyage with £245.76.

After paying auction costs, he made a profit of £41.80.

He ends this week with a not-to-be-laughed-at £287.56.

The legendary Charlie Ross

was always going to be a tough nut to beat.

He started this leg with £2,227.10 and made a healthy profit of £95.30.

Charlie wins in spectacular fashion with an enormous £2,322.40,

and all monies raised will go to Children In Need.

-I feel rather deflated now, Brackers.

-Where's everybody gone?

-I don't know.

-Is it all over? Your last lot was that.

Do you think we can go up to the Black Isle and start again?

JAMES LAUGHS

Yeah, I'll be buying Staffordshire.

THEY LAUGH

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd