Episode 14 Antiques Road Trip

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

Well, duck, do I buy you or don't I?

Who can make the most money

buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK?

Look at the colour.

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

But it's not as easy as it looks

and dreams of glory can end in tatters.

Thank you.

So, will it be the fast lane to success

or the slow road to bankruptcy?

Bad luck for Tom, that's £50 down.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

It's the fourth day of this road trip

and Thomas Plant and Mark Hales are once again sailing

through the countryside to the purr of the 1967 Sunbeam Alpine.

New boy Mark is keen to up his game.

I've got to have two good buys to catch you up.

Two good buys and I need you to fail miserably at the same time,

so it's not an easy situation.

Maybe you might have to take a few risks.

But I do have a little strategy, actually.

I'm desperately going to try to avoid things

that I think have a £10 profit.

Yes, good plan.

So, throughout the week, Thomas, a veteran antiques valuer

and auctioneer, has had his eye turned by a shapely figure.

It's so horrid, but it's...it's lovely.

Even her bottom is rather delightful.

-HONK

-But has come a cropper

when it comes to keeping his eye on the road.

Oops!

Mark is also an auctioneer with a passion for ceramics,

who can see the good in every pot.

They're not going to set the world alight but I'm very pleased anyway.

But when it comes to sealing a deal, he prefers a bit of...

ooh-la-la. Mainly on the cheeks.

# Je t'aime, je t'aime

# Oui, je t'aime

# Moi, non plus... #

Our experts started the week

with £200 worth of crisp notes to spend.

After the third leg of this road trip,

Mark is being lapped by his rival.

So far, the new boy has made a respectable £287.33.

And despite suffering a recent auction defeat,

Thomas is still the front runner

with a massive £455.78 to play with.

Which means Mark has got to win over Lady Luck

to even get to smell victory.

I can't have you galloping away in front of me. I need to catch up.

This week's road trip started in Portrush in Northern Ireland

and takes our boys some 460 miles east to the beautiful village

of Pontrila, South Herefordshire, for the final showdown.

Today, though, they begin in Newport, Pembrokeshire,

and motor their 48 miles to the auction in Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire.

-See, we are coming into this sign at Newport.

-There we are.

This Newport, not to be confused with the other,

bigger Newport in South Wales,

sits on the south-west Pembrokeshire Coast

and is known for its great beaches.

Sadly, though, beaches are not on the schedule today.

-Right, here we are, Mark.

-Yes.

-Look at that.

Right, we are going shopping.

They're heading for the Carningli Centre

a shop specialising in lots and lots of railwayana.

TRAIN WHISTLE

Thank you.

Right, what's Mark found? Oh, that's a big one.

Goodness me. What on Earth is it for, that large,

with one handle and it's only supposed to have one handle?

It's alloy. "Food mixing bowl."

Oh, well, they don't make them like that any more.

So which one of our intrepid antiques hunters

will bag the first bargain? Thomas, you got something?

Probably taken me 10-15 years to realise that this is Edelweiss.

But you get them in everything.

You get them carved out of wood, you get them on bone brooches,

so, you know, it's probably 1920s.

Switzerland and Austria were really popular places to visit,

not just as we go now for skiing, but it was to see the mountains.

I mean, I love the mountains.

-I love going to the mountains and I like skiing...

-Eh?

I just love the mountains. They do something to me...

-Come on, concentrate, man.

-After a week in the mountains... I mean, I like to spend two.

You sort of tend to get sort of full of energy...

We'll come back to him in a minute.

Can someone just say something sensible, please?

These are rather nice.

GWR, Great Western Railway. Buttons.

Very, very collectable.

Indeed they are.

These coat buttons date from the 1930s

and would have been worn by staff of the Great Western Railway,

which linked Wales and south-west England to London.

-Hello, Anne, I'm Mark.

-Hello.

-How do you do.

-Anne, there's no price on these.

-Just £10 for the set.

-Aren't they lovely?

-Yes.

I wonder. Yes.

They're very tempting. Very tempting.

I wonder, can we do a little bit with the price?

Could they be £7 for the six?

£7 for the six... Can we go for eight?

-Anne, they're lovely.

-Right.

-And £8 is fine.

-I'd like those, please.

-Right.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-I'll have those.

Not the big bold buy we were hoping for, Mark, but there's still time.

Meanwhile, Thomas's mind is back on the job, thankfully,

and he's found a nice police truncheon.

SWR. Here it says South Wales Railway.

I quite like that we're in South Wales.

(This is a real bit of Welsh history.

(These truncheons, the painted ones, are widely collected.)

The SWR was built in 1845 to transport coal

from the Welsh valleys to London,

but only lasted 17 years before merging

with the Great Western Railway.

This railway police truncheon dates from around 1850

and is priced at £100.

-Would you do it 80?

-Can you meet me halfway? 90?

What, 75?

HE LAUGHS LOUDLY

No.

-Go on. It has got a bit of damage.

-Do you know what I mean?

-I'll do you 80, and it's a deal.

-Oh, OK.

-Yeah?

-Go on then.

You're a star.

Great, they're both up and running, but Thomas is off on one again.

Oh dear.

I think Mark's bought something...pedestrian.

I've taken a risk. What is it with me?

I come into a shop, I say I'm not going to spend any money,

and then I start buying things, taking risks.

But I think my risk I've taken is a good, calculated one.

Well, sounds like Mark's reluctance to splash some cash

is rubbing his rival up the wrong way.

I heard your very expensive purchase, £8, I think it was, wasn't it?

I thought you wanted to make big profits this time? More than £10!

It's an illness, Thomas!

Well, as Mark contemplates the wisdom of yet another cheap buy,

for the Sunbeam Alpine, it's the road again.

So, it's goodbye to Newport

and hello to Hannah Pen-ffynnon, near Llangeler,

in the neighbouring county of Carmarthenshire.

Apologies for any mispronunciation.

Mark wants to go back to school

and the bell's just rung at the West Wales Museum of Childhood.

-I'm Mark.

-Hello, Mark. I'm Hilary. Croeso.

Welcome to West Wales Museum of Childhood.

-Let me show you around.

-Thank you very much.

This museum is packed with childhood memorabilia.

In fact, there are some 10,000 artefacts crammed in here.

Much of it the personal collection of Hillary and her husband Paul

who've had a passion for these things for much of their lives.

As well as the toys,

there's also a mock-up of an old classroom

from the first half of the 20th century, with its wooden desks,

chalk boards and milk bottles

that hark back to 1946 and the first free school milk for all.

There are also gruesome reminders of the tough side to school life.

In fact, when classes come, we actually put them in here.

We actually get the children writing on the slates

and we show them the canes.

-Look at that.

-My goodness.

-And the sound of it, I mean.

You just whoosh it through the air and they can imagine it.

And for the really sadistic teacher, a knobbly one, look at that one.

-What about this one?

-Now, what is that?

-What on earth is all that about?

-That's a backboard.

-A backboard?

-If you're slouching in class,

if you put this bit behind your back,

in front of your arms,

you've got to stand in the corner for 20 minutes like that, that teaches you deportment.

Oh, really? Keeps your back upright.

Yes, so 20 minutes of that, you'd remember not to slouch.

This isn't familiar to me, but I think I might know what it is.

I'm just wondering....

I'm trying to catch up Thomas Plant at the moment.

He's been doing terribly well. I'm still there.

Do you think you might have to wear one of these at the end?

I'm just wondering, if I haven't caught him by the end of the week,

do you think maybe I should stand in the corner with that on?

-Oh, yes.

-Looking very solemn.

-Oh, dear!

Oh, dear. This museum

also has an impressive collection of Welsh-produced toys.

The country was a magnet for big-named toy manufacturers,

like Louis Marx,

Triang and Mettoy, producers of Corgi toys.

They originally came to Wales for war work,

liked the place and stayed.

And in the 1950s, they brought in Corgi cars.

They wanted a name that was small, cute, and very Welsh.

And you had a relatively new Queen on the throne at that point, so, Corgi.

-Welsh corgi, wonderful.

-Absolutely.

And they were huge.

I mean, there was 5,000 people working there at one time.

-Not many toys are made in Wales any more, but this one is.

-Ah!

This is a firm called Timber Kits.

They're up in North Wales and if you turn...

-There you are.

-So, toys still produced in Wales.

-He's rather lovely, isn't he?

-He's great fun.

Another toy that marks the end of a great manufacturing area

is this, the Silver Racer,

one of the last mechanically driven toys before the advent of batteries.

If you'd like to...

-Aha.

-..see this.

-I like that.

-Isn't that lovely?

-I've had lots of motorbikes. Tinplate?

-It is tinplate.

-1950s?

-'50s, yes.

It's German. It's Tipco.

And this is in good order. Isn't that nice? Can I have a go?

-Yes, go on. Have a go.

-It'll be fun, won't it?

Right, I don't know how we're going to get on this floor

but let's see what happens.

Wonderful.

And time to return to the world of grown-ups

and Thomas is on his way back to Newcastle Emlyn,

a town perched on the banks

of the River Teifi, the second longest river in Wales

where the majority of the population, 941,

according to the 2001 census, speak Welsh.

But Steve, owner of the Emlyn Antiques Centre,

is cutting Thomas some slack with the language. Thank goodness.

-I'm Thomas.

-Nice to meet you, Thomas. I'm Steve.

It's all right. Has it got age? I'm no great one on furniture.

I'm not great on furniture.

Don't know what I'm doing looking at it?

For heavens' sake, then, put it down! Huh.

-What's this then?

-Dough bin.

-Dough bin, oh, yeah.

Dough bin were used for mixing bread dough and allowing it to rise.

Fairly obvious, really.

This one's priced at a lot of dough - £220.

It's got a nice patina to it.

KNOCK ON WOOD

Got a bit of worm, but I think that's not kicking out.

I think it's Victorian. Would've been in a pantry.

A real country cottage farming thing, probably.

Its uses now in the home are for towels,

so to speak, outside a bathroom or on a landing.

I don't know what they're worth, I've never sold one.

Look, what can it be?

-The best on that is 150.

-Really?

-Yeah, really.

Can I offer you 100 for it?

125.

Oh, go on.

-125.

-Go on.

-120.

-What do people use them for round here? Blankets?

-Blankets and plants.

-Take the top off and put plants in them.

-Really?

-Yeah.

What, for 110 quid, because you'd sell it to me for 110, wouldn't you?

LAUGHS

Yeah, I'll sell it to you for 110.

LAUGHS

Um...

-Really, they do that?

-Yeah.

-All right.

I'm going to take a huge risk.

Good man.

-I don't think you're taking a risk.

-You don't think so?

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?

For a man who doesn't like to buy furniture,

there's a danger this bit of dough could fail to rise.

Thank you, sir.

So, with the shopping over and a nightcap beckoning,

our boys head for bed, ready to do battle again tomorrow.

It's day two, and Thomas and Mark have hit the road again,

but all is not well...

I've got a wet bottom.

-I don't think...

-Actually, my...

Actually, yeah, I think I've just joined the wet bottom club!

Great, wet pants all day - lovely!

OK, then - moving along...

So far, Mark has only bought one item, and spent just £8.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

Thomas, on the other hand, is shooting for the stars.

He's spent a monstrous £190 on two auction lots.

He's now feeling smug enough to pile...some pressure

on his less experienced Antiques Road Tripper.

-You've got to start buying, Mark.

-I know, I know.

You've been very badly behaved recently, spending very little money.

-Sensible.

-No, I don't think it is, it's boring!

Quite right!

So, what can Mark pull out of the bag today?

Our boys are heading for Haverfordwest, in Pembrokeshire,

a town dominated by a castle,

where Mark plans to offload his outspoken opponent.

-She's all yours.

-Wonderful, I can't wait.

-I can't wait!

-Well, don't break her.

-Don't break her!

-Don't break her!

-Now...spend some money!

Right, off you go, Mark -

while Thomas is banged up here.

This castle has been a prison of some sort since the 12th century.

Even when Cromwell set about dismantling it

after the English Civil War,

a county prison sprang up within these ruined walls.

Only remnants of the actual jail remain,

but it's the castle's long association with the penal system

that Thomas has come to find out about.

-Hello.

-Hello, Tom, welcome.

-Simon, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Thank you for having us, it looks fascinating.

This building, once the prison governor's house

and later the Pembrokeshire Police Headquarters,

is now home to the county museum.

Upstairs, there's a stark reminder of the type of weapon

used to apprehend criminals in these parts.

This is a particularly interesting object,

because we think it is one of the early Pembrokeshire Police firearms.

Were they such a lawless lot that the police had to be armed?

Mid-Victorian Haverfordwest, and the suburb of Prendergast especially,

were pretty rough places - you had thousands of navvies

who brought the railway to Haverfordwest in the 1850s.

-Irish navvies...

-Not just Irish, but people from

depressed rural communities across Wales.

And people regularly carried knives and other sorts of weapons,

so the police had to be fit for duty,

and unfortunately, assaults on the police were very commonplace.

-Really?

-All the records have survived, and it really was

a very difficult time to be a police officer.

I always thought it was, "Fair cop, guv,

"I'll come down to the station with you."

Unfortunately not, society was very red and raw

in tooth and claw,

and this is one of the protections that police officers could call upon

in an emergency - on the barrel is engraved,

"County of Pembroke," which means that it was an official weapon.

This pistol dates from 1850,

and would have been the last line of defence for the 78 officers

of the Pembrokeshire Force.

-Can I hold it?

-Of course.

-So, this is a mid-Victorian - well, 1850s -

mid-19th century police pistol.

I wonder if it was already pre-loaded, then they'd sort of just,

you know... Or did they stand sideways on? I bet the recall on this

would have been, one arm, it would have ripped your arm ligaments.

But if you missed them, you could use it as a real blunt force trauma

on their head or something.

Archive documents suggest that by the 19th century,

the police were battling a rising tide of lawlessness

in Haverfordwest.

With 76 pubs in a town of just 6,000 people, wow,

there was bound to be trouble!

For offenders, conditions at the 110-cell castle prison

were harsh.

Men, women and children have to break barrels of stones,

they have to work the treadmill to grind the corn,

-which gave an income to the prison.

-Yeah.

And there was this horrible, repetitive task, oakum-picking,

which is this great black mass of tar,

filled with fibres, which they'd have to remove,

to try to reconstitute rope, which would be sold for the Royal Navy.

Everyone was given tasks to destroy their spirit and independence

and to, you know, make them cowed as much as they possibly could.

Prisoners also had little to eat - breakfast

was one pint of gruel and 8oz of bread.

Men, women and debtors were also separated,

and crimes, petty by today's standards, included

leaving your apprenticeship without permission

and having an illegitimate child.

While the prisoners and the police are long gone,

Haverfordwest's contribution

to eight centuries of penal history in Pembrokeshire remains standing.

Back down the hill, in the centre of Haverfordwest,

Mark's been immersed in furniture -

and more furniture - at Tree House Antiques.

Donna is on standby to lend a hand,

and with just one item in the bag, our boy is feeling the pressure.

Bit of a rush, because I've only got today - got to find something today.

Must find something TO-DAY.

Yes, TO-DAY, not...next week.

Can I ask you about a box over here?

-Little bit of damage around the keyhole, as there often is.

-Yes.

That could have an insert or something - it's just very pretty.

-How much is that, can you find out for me?

-Yes, I can.

I mean, is it a tenner, something like that?

-Oh, I think it would be a bit more than that?

-Would it? Lots more?

-Could you find out for me?

-I will.

-Just in case - it's very pretty.

That's right. With not a ticket price in sight,

time for Donna to play "middle man" and nip round the back

to consult the camera-shy owner on getting a deal.

-# Cryin'

-Cryin'

-# Waitin'

-Waitin'

# Hopin' you'll come back

# I just can't seem to get you off my mi-ind... #

Is my luck in, Donna? How much is it?

Well, he wanted £20 for it, really, but we can come down a little bit.

-What would you...?

-It's a pretty little box, not rare or anything,

I just...have to buy something today. If he'll do it for 15,

I'll have it - because I've got room, then, haven't I?

-Yes. That's fair enough, you can have that for 15.

-Yeah?

-Wonderful, I've made a purchase!

-That's good, we're all happy!

-You've got the day started.

-Yes.

A box - not exactly the big spend we were hoping for,

but at least Mark's moved into double figures.

Oh, and there's more...

-Was it this one in the corner?

-Right in the corner, Donna, please.

I rather like that. It's got to be a good price, though, Donna, honestly.

-How much is it?

-Well... It's £50.

It's 50, is it? Let's have a look.

That's not expensive.

It's decorative, it's nice, people like a sun dial.

A little bit of paint...

I think that's great. Erm...

Oh, dear, though, I don't want to pay £59, I really don't, honestly.

I'll tell you what, Donna, I won't mess you about -

you can either do it or you can't.

If it were 40, I'd buy it. £40, I'd buy it.

-Oh...!

-All right?

-Well, seeing as it's you!

-Yeah?

-Yes.

-And to seal the deal...

-Thank you, £40.

-# Je t'aime

# Je t'aime Oui, je t'aime... #

-Smoothy!

-# Moi, non plus... #

So, our new boy is finally motoring.

With the wind in his hair, he's heading 31 miles east

to Carmarthen,

and seems ready to take on the world - well, Thomas, anyway.

Must buy two more items...TO-DAY.

I think I'll just let Thomas carry on with his psychological warfare,

and let it go in one ear and out of the other. I'll do things my way,

and I'll get the result I need my way.

Oh! That's fighting talk!

Carmarthen claims to be the oldest town in Wales.

The Mount Antique Centre, where Mark is heading,

hasn't been around that long, but judging from the amount of stuff,

you'd think it had. Cor, look at that!

Crammed!

I'm looking for something with a decent profit in, obviously.

I don't care what it is any more - I've thrown all that to the wind.

Oh, hark at him! Watch out, Thomas!

-Gone, gone, gone...

-In fact...

-I like it here, interesting things.

Oop! Let's see what we have here.

That's really nice. Not very good quality, minor factory -

I think it's Scottish, Portobello factory, north of Edinburgh.

In fact, it began life in Staffordshire

and was sent to Edinburgh for decorating.

It dates from the 1920s, and with that rare Charlie Chaplin figure,

it's sure to appeal to movie buffs.

-Jack...

-Hi.

This is great fun, great fun!

That's really nice. Erm,

I'm a ceramics man, so, immediately, got a nasty old crack there,

bit of restoration there...

I really do like it, but... but it's all in the price.

Erm, have you any idea? I mean, can it be considerably less?

-I've got to ask.

-I can try and get hold of one of the traders there,

-that's the best way to get the best price.

-OK.

-I will come back and let you know what they say.

-Tell them I love it.

I really don't want to pay £52. I don't really want to pay £42.

But whatever I can get it for, I've got to have it, I must buy it,

it must be worth a go, it could be a sleeper in any sale anywhere,

it could be the sleeper.

Mmm! The word "sleeper" is often used

to describe an antique that's been undervalued.

So, could Mark be on to something?

It's all down to that phone call to the dealer.

Mark, I got hold of the traders, and they said the lowest they could do

would be £40, and that's the absolute rock bottom.

-No point in offering them 35 or anything, seriously?

-Seriously.

They wouldn't take it, I'm afraid, £40 is the absolute rock bottom.

-I think we've got to have that, then.

-Ah! Thomas!

Mark's here. I hope he hasn't nicked all the bargains.

Well, you'd better chop, chop, then, Thomas.

Upstairs, Mark's finally thinking big,

and it's £95.

-Lovely pine bench, I really like that.

-I can tell you,

the very best she will go down to on that

-is £70, and that's her absolute best.

-That's her bottom line?

-Yes.

The attractive Gothic ends suggest this bench came from a chapel,

and Mark's hoping for some divine intervention on the price.

Do you think she'd do it for 60?

I'll give her another ring, and just...

-Tell her what I'm going to do with it.

-I will do.

-It's going in a local sale, and deserves to find a good home.

-OK.

Mark - she said she'd meet you in the middle at 65,

but that really is the absolute lowest - no more room to move.

-You know, I think that's enough money, but I'll say yes.

-Good lad!

So, with one more item in the bag - ha! -

and another in the back of a car, Mark heads off,

leaving his rival, Thomas, in danger of disturbing the peace.

THOMAS BLOWS ON EUPHONIUM

Oh, dear - maybe he should stick to the day job.

I think I could have found my third purchase.

With vintage cars short on space,

these trunks would have been the answer - packed with clothes

and strapped to the boot or roof.

Now, they're popular with interior designers,

doubling as blanket boxes and even pieces of furniture.

It's another coffee table.

It's another coffee table, isn't it?

It's a... Just cleaned up, waxed up.

Shame it's not leather, but... I'm going to take it away.

If I was a porter in a railway station,

I don't know if I'd make a good one,

but I'm going to find out how much I can get it for.

Well, with a price tag of £49 and made of canvas and leather,

it's certainly worth a gamble,

unless there's something else, Thomas, that takes your fancy.

A-ha!

I quite like it, it's probably like a...

It says here, "Victorian hop or grain scoops."

It's Victorian, and you can imagine a big vat of grain or hops,

and scoop in and out it comes, you know?

Some big guy scooping the grain in and out.

It would make something great for your kitchen.

At 65, though, it's more rusty than rustic.

That's tetanus central.

Maybe that's part of my bargaining. Tetanus central.

Maybe Thomas is hoping this grain scoop

can scoop up the same huge profit

his grain measure made earlier in the road trip.

Do you remember Portlaoise in the Republic Of Ireland?

Any advance in line at 340, all out and done?

-Fair warning to you, at 340 Euros.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Brilliant.

-Wonderful result.

-340?

-You're going to have an awful lot to spend in Wales, aren't you?

Yep, a massive 250 Euros.

So...

-I quite like it.

-Right.

It's a good plant pot, good for your kitchen, BUT...

-Ah, right.

-These are really dangerous.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Really dangerous.

-They are quite sharp.

-What're you thinking?

-20 quid, cos of that damage.

20 quid, I think, should be fine.

-I shall give him a ring, just in case.

-I can't believe that.

Quite sharp edges on it, so would you accept a £20 offer?

It's your lucky day, he said 20's fine.

-20's fine for that?

-Yep, 20's fine for that.

-That's all right. And the trunk...

-Right.

I'd like to offer 30. So 50 for the two.

Aye, that should be fine. Go on then, yeah. Yeah.

-You think so?

-Yeah, well it should be fine for 30 for, that,

-cos it's been here a while.

-Has it?

Oh, well that's a good sign, isn't it?

So, at £50 for the two,

could these items secure Thomas's lead in this competition?

Thank you very much.

Well, we'll have to wait and see.

First they must show each other their items.

Hmm, this should be interesting.

-Here we are, Thomas. Are you ready?

-I'm ready.

-OK.

-Ta-da!

-Oh, right, that's very nice.

-You like it?

-Yeah. A sundial.

I didn't think you'd like that. I'm pleased.

How old do you think it is?

I don't think it's got enormous amounts of age,

I just thought, "It's an auction piece."

It's got character.

So, the thumbs-up from Thomas. I wonder how long that'll last?

Goodness me, I like that. That's lovely.

South Wales Railway.

-Very rare.

-Very rare.

Really, really like that. Deserves to do well.

Now, talking of railways...

Just a little thing, but I couldn't resist it, as always.

GWR buttons, well, it's quite good.

It's fitting that I've bought a truncheon

and you bought something railway.

Yes. 1920s, GWR brass buttons. £8.

A small profit, I would have thought. Maybe two, three pounds.

Maybe a bit more, but knowing you, Mark...

-As much as that?

-You have such good luck.

-£20. 20-25.

-Yes. That's what's going to happen.

-I can hear it now.

-I hope not.

Ooh, meow.

Now, will the grain scoop bring back auction nightmares for Mark?

I saw this today and I thought of you.

And I had a jolly good look at it and I thought, "Grain scoop?

"Lightning can't strike twice.

"I'll leave it alone, but I bet Thomas sees it."

-How much did you pay, Thomas?

-20 quid.

-Did you?!

Well, you can't go wrong, surely to goodness.

So, fair words from Mark, but I fear for his box.

-Does it open?

-Yes, it does, Thomas.

-Is there anything inside?

-No, Thomas.

-And I think it was a good buy.

-Really?

-It's a good little box.

-It's so boring.

-It's not a rarity...

-It's so boring.

..but it's clean and tidy and it's beautifully inlaid.

Look at the colour, the stained fruitwood...

-It's not beautifully inlaid.

-It's beautiful.

I don't think he liked it, Mark.

So, next item.

You may think it's just a trunk.

It's actually a very fine example of a trunk.

It is? Oh!

A car trunk? Oh, well that makes a difference, doesn't it?

You know, it just needs a bit of waxing up,

it will come out beautifully.

It's a super trunk. A lovely size.

Aw, he's all sweetness.

But just wait till Thomas sees that battered jug. Ha!

You have to educate me on this one.

Um, large following, many Chaplin collectors,

and, honestly, extraordinarily rare.

-It's restored all the way round the rim.

-No, it's not.

-And restored round the base.

-It's not restored round the rim.

-Well, I can see...

-There's a very small section on the rim,

there's some minor chips and there's a star crack in the base,

but this is the important thing. It could be a sleeper.

-That...concerns me.

-Good.

-That's a good thing.

-Good. Good.

-It's a shame that it's so restored.

-It's not "so restored", Thomas.

-And damaged and crazed.

-You've got to stop knocking things.

Boys, boys.

We're talking ceramics, here. That is 98% a super jug.

The moulding is crisp and clean,

the colours'll not rub, these are overglazed colours.

-That's enough. You do go on, don't you?

-I know, I'm sorry.

Well, yes. He does a bit. Still, moving swiftly on.

Is the top supposed to be domed?

It's a dough bin.

-LAUGHING

-Jolly good. It's a dough bin.

It's rustic, 19th century, very country.

Oh, I do like that. That's lovely.

-Right. Here we go.

-I can see exactly what it is.

Oh, Thomas, this is a beauty. A beauty, Thomas.

Good thing, actually. Nice pitch pine. I like it, I do like it.

I like it, too. That's why I bought it. I bought it because I liked it.

-Now, how much did I pay for it Thomas?

-£80?

-No, Thomas. £65.

Ooh, that's brilliant, Mark.

It is. But what does Thomas really, REALLY think of Mark's items?

Again, has he been buying safe? Yes.

Has he bought bold? Not really, he's bought safe.

It's a bit of a yawn fest.

Ow!

His truncheon? Well, extremely rare.

Extremely rare.

If I'd have seen that before him,

undoubtedly I would have bought that.

Overall, I think Thomas did very well, actually.

So, with no further ado, it's off to the auction.

Thomas and Mark started this road trip in Newport, Pembrokeshire,

and after a number of pit stops,

they're heading for Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire.

Their rendezvous with destiny, auctioneers Jones and Llewelyn.

Do you know, I always feel excited at this point?

-Really? I feel extremely nervous.

-It's catch-up day for me.

-Well, I think I'm not going to do very well.

-Oh, rubbish.

This auction house sells everything,

from fine antiques to household goods and furniture,

and master of ceremonies today is auctioneer Hethin Jones.

And Hethin knows what's going to happen.

The dough bin is the one that I like the best,

obviously because it's a traditional piece of furniture

and it should sell well.

The Chaplin jug, is the first one that we've ever sold in this auction

and I would say it's the first one that I've handled and seen.

Hopefully it'll make a good price today.

My least favourite is the trunk. I can't specifically say

there's something wrong with it, but it has a limited market.

There you are. Mark started this leg of the road trip with £287.33

and has spent £168 on five auction lots.

Thomas, on the other hand, started streets ahead on £455.78,

but has gambled £240 on four auction lots.

So, can Mark make up lost ground?

Let's get going.

Oh, you might think this auctioneer was more used to selling livestock,

the way he speeds through the lots, so better pay attention, folks.

Right. Here comes Mark's sundial.

HE CHANTS AT SPEED

What a beauty.

25, 30 here.

35? 35.

Lovely one there. 35.

35. Yes, you did. 35, 159.

-So, what was that?

-I don't know. What did it fetch?

-I think it was £35.

-I made a loss anyway, Thomas.

Mm. But hardly anything to worry about at this stage, Mark.

Now, anyone fancy a vintage trunk for the car?

HE CHANTS AT SPEED

30, I've got 30 out the way.

-HE CHANTS AT SPEED

-32...

Last call at £32. 32.

-Eh, got away with that.

-Got away with that.

Only just, Thomas. Only just.

But now, Thomas thought this box was a Plain Jane,

but will the bidders agree?

At five I'm bid. Five I've got.

HE CHANTS AT SPEED

£10, I've got 10.

£12?

And again, 15, 15, 15.

-HE CHANTS AT SPEED

-Open the gate, £20 I'm bid. And two now.

At £22.

One, one more.

28? 24?

26? 26.

Come on, one more.

27, then. 27.

One more? 27, he goes, there,

last call, last time at £27. 27.

-He's done well. Well done.

-It did me proud.

Oh, Mark is nudging ahead, look.

But now it's Thomas's rare secret weapon.

Will Mark's fragile lead take a beating?

I've got £35 I'm bid.

At 35. 35.

£40. I've got 40 here as well.

45 for you. 45. 47.

47. £50. 50 bid.

Last call, last time out. £50.

-PEN TAPS

-73.

Unlucky, Thomas. Genuinely unlucky.

Ridiculous. Should have been £150.

Mm, I bet you're glad it wasn't, Mark.

Right. You're back in the dock.

Let's pray that there are some train buffs in the crowd,

or at least button collectors.

HE CHANTS AT SPEED

Five. Five I'm bid, then. £5 I'm bid. Selling at £5.

A fiver. You lost a bit of money on those, but not much,

because you only paid £8 for them.

Mm. Well, someone's got a good deal there, and it's not Mark.

Thomas's grain scoop is up next.

He made a packet on a grain measure recently,

so can he do it with the scoop? I bet not.

£28 I'm bid. At 28.

28 I'm bid.

At 28, this is a disappointing price, here.

£28, then.

Last call, last time at £28.

-PEN TAPS

-It all adds up, Thomas.

-It all adds up.

Well, that's one way of looking at it.

Now, Mark's Chaplin jug.

Is this the sleeper he predicted?

And I've got three bids on the phone

can I come straight in at £115, I'm bid.

-115?!

-Go, go, go.

At 115.

£115 then.

I'm selling at £115.

< 120.

-I've got 120 here.

-You've got to go more, sir.

I've got 120 here as well.

130? I'm out, you're in. At 130.

I'm selling at £130.

PEN TAPS God, well done you. £90 profit. Come on, you must...

I'm pleased. Of course I'm pleased.

Well, he doesn't sound it or look it.

Still, that profit, before costs,

puts our new boy firmly in the lead today.

So, can Thomas's dough bin make some real bread?

A lovely item here now, then.

50. Five. 60. £60 I'm bid.

70 at the back. £70 I'm bid. At 70. At 70.

80. 90. 90.

100.

£100 I'm bid.

-I'm selling at 100.

-TAPS PEN

-Could be worse.

-I have lost £30.

It's not a lot of money to lose.

Well, you say that, Mark, but you're not trailing really badly.

And not even a disaster with the pine bench

will knock him off the winner's podium now.

£55, I'm bid.

At 55. At £55 I'm bid.

Come along, now. Go on, then. Good man.

At 60. £60, he owes, and at £60.

PEN TAPS You've had a loss.

I can afford a very small loss.

Oh, you can afford a small loss. Look at you.

You tell him, Thomas.

-3-1 up. 3-1 up to you.

-I'm on schedule.

You're on schedule to overtake me next week.

-Clawing it back.

-Unless I do something amazing.

-Which you probably will.

-Which I probably won't.

Under pressure, that's when you pull it out the hat.

So, with the results in, it's Mark who claims victory today.

Thomas started this leg of the road trip with a huge £455.78,

but lost £67.80 after auction costs today,

leaving him with £387.98.

So, it just shows how unpredictable this game can be.

Mark, however, began with £287.33

and made a profit of £42.74 after auction costs,

leaving him with £330.07 going into the final round.

Looks happy. Which is nice.

Oh, we can tell we're in Wales.

-We certainly can.

-Drizzle. I hope the next couple of buy days

-aren't going to be like this.

-Me, too.

-Oh!

-Urgh! My bottom is wet!

-Come on, then.

Oh, no. Not again.

I hope it's the car's fault.

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, Thomas has a funny turn...

I need to sit down. SHE LAUGHS

..Mark thinks he's an estate agent...

A rather nice suburban detached. Two large double bedrooms. Bathroom.

Garden to the front and rear.

..and the Sunbeam Alpine... Well, has had enough.

The car is making an extraordinary noise.

It's smoking.

Why does this happen to me?

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd