Episode 29 Antiques Road Trip

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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,

and the competition's heating up.

Brackers, are you with me?

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.

-The first auction of this week's road trip caused quite a kerfuffle.

-Are you hearing this?

Charlie's £8 Staffordshire elephant sold for a staggering £2,700.

2,700 for the last time.

James, bless him, could have claimed defeat, but he soldiered on, winning auction number two.

-120.

-Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

But after losing £80 on a pair of frames, victory was short-lived.

I thought I had the deal of the century.

After a disappointing defeat at auction three,

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 week's 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.

It's the penultimate trip and they're heading for auction four in Glasgow.

First stop is the beautiful town of Blairgowrie.

Mixed yesterday, wasn't it?

The whole thing was hugely successful with one exception, of course, the frame.

-I hope it's not going to temper your buying.

-I'm afraid it is.

-Is it?

-Small units.

The redstone towns of Blairgowrie and its sister Rattray lie

on either side of the River Ericht.

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

-Its centrepiece is the Blairgowrie and Rattray war memorial.

-Are you going all in?

-I'd like to really get stuck in. You're going to be mean.

-Very mean.

-SCOTTISH ACCENT:

-You're going to keep your pound in your pocket.

-A thrifty lad!

-Look at this war memorial.

-Yeah.

-Anyway, I think we need to get antique shopping.

-Do you think so?

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?

-You go off with your £3.80 and see what you can do!

-I'm off to Dunkeld. Bye!

Intent on spending big, Charlie is straight to work in his first shop of the day.

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.

-Have a wander.

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 is 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.

A pair of 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.

But they're very pleasing on the eye.

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.

Before the negotiations start, James decides to add the toy mouse,

£30, the Victorian box for £120 and the Tunbridge box for £35.

As a total package, this comes to a whopping £265.

The monkey!

I've got four items here, David.

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.

James has filled his bag with three lovely lots and, back on the road,

Charlie is dropping him 16 miles south to the outskirts of Perth in Scone for a little outing.

-Where are we going?

-To Scone Palace.

The world and his wife have stayed here. Mary, Queen of Scots, Queen Victoria.

It's played host to a lot of people.

Once the crowning place of the kings of Scots,

Scone Palace occupies a unique position in the history of Scotland.

The Murrays are one of the great families of Scotland and have lived at Scone for the past 400 years.

Known by the title the Earl of Mansfield, they continue to live here today.

James is right. Scone has welcomed many influential people from Queen Victoria to the Queen Mother

-and Queen Elizabeth II. Today James is meeting guide Bill Younger.

-Hi, I'm Bill.

-Welcome to Scone Palace.

-Hello.

The drawing room is strongly influenced by the Second Earl.

A distinguished diplomat, he served as British ambassador to the court of Louis XVI of France.

He brought back many treasures and the piece de resistance is this writing desk.

-This is fabulous. Who's this made by?

-Riesener.

-Really?

-1781.

-1781.

-It's believed to have been given

by Marie Antoinette to the British Ambassador, the Second Earl.

He knew Marie Antoinette quite well.

When she was a young girl, he was ambassador in Vienna.

And when she was Queen of France, he was British Ambassador.

Jean Henri Riesener was the most famous cabinet maker of his day.

Marie Antoinette, the infamous French queen, presented the Second Earl with this writing desk

as a token of their friendship.

The Second Earl must have been a very important man.

-It was the most important court in Europe. Have you got a picture of this fellow?

-Yes.

-Lead on, Bill.

-This was painted...

-By Allan Ramsay.

-By Allan Ramsay.

-1759.

-He must have had a very glorious diplomatic career. Where was he then when that was done?

-Poland.

-He was in Poland?

-Yes.

Scone Palace is packed full of beautiful objects,

but it's best known as being the crowning place of Scottish kings.

-James is leaving Bill and heading out to the famous Moot Hill.

-A-ha! Here it is.

The Stone of Scone was used between the 9th and 13th centuries as a crowning seat.

It was kept in the monastic church and only taken out to Moot Hill for enthronements.

In 1296, Edward I marched north and removed what he believed to be the stone to Westminster.

It was controversially returned to Scotland in 1996

and now remains in Edinburgh Castle.

But which is the genuine one?

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

barely rating a mention. To the east end 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.

I like him. Thank you so much.

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?

Good earthenware.

Rope twist handle.

What fun is that!

-I like that. It's jolly heavy.

-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.

Good work, Charlie. Another substantial purchase under your belt. It's been a very busy day

for both our chaps and now it's time for some much-needed R and R. Night night, you two.

It's a new day and they're up and about for the final push before the auction.

James has been very cautious, spending just £45 on three lots -

the 1920s golf club, the clockwork mouse and the Tunbridge ware box.

James has £189.52 for the day ahead.

Charlie has thrown caution to the wind, spending £280 on four lots -

a set of four jelly moulds, two bronze vases, a Staffordshire figure and a stoneware lidded barrel.

He still has a whopping £2,153.40 to spend.

Charlie and James are heading west to Perth, where Charlie has a prior engagement.

-This is rather nice. Look at the river!

-Glorious!

Located on the banks of the River Tay, Perth is a town and former city in central Scotland.

It was considered the effective capital, due to the frequent residence of the royal court.

It's also home to one of Scotland's most famous regiments.

This is it.

-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.

Scotland's Black Watch is an elite regiment with 550 members currently serving in Afghanistan.

The Black Watch's history 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.

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.

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.

As the shopping hours draw to an end, we wave Perth goodbye

and journey on 27 miles south-west to Dunblane.

-What a lovely town! Isn't it?

-Lovely.

-There's an antique shop somewhere. Where is it?

-I don't know.

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!

Open for two years and stocked full of a mixture of antiques and collectables,

owner David is here to welcome both our treasure hunters.

-And the camera person.

-What have you seen?

-A side drum.

-Regimental drums. That's a snare drum, isn't it?

-It's got a snare on the bottom.

Oh, there she is again. Come on, move yourself.

-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.

-I'll step aside while you see what you can do.

-OK.

We've got this fabulous fellow here. You would have held it like that.

And you'd have your two beaters. But interestingly enough, it does have little feet.

So you can stand it down like that. And what people do is they just float a bit of plate glass on it.

-And you've got a very good occasional table.

-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.

-All this chat isn't normal. They're supposed to be competitors.

-Cock-a-who?

-Are they cockatoos?

-I think they would be. Or love birds.

-Love birds!

You were right with cockatoos. 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

and it's time for our gents to reveal all. Well, almost.

I'm going to kick off with something rather modest.

-Ohh. Jelly moulds, do you think?

-I think they're jelly moulds.

I think so. They're tinned inside. Zinced. Aren't they fun?

And they're Victorian.

And copper jelly moulds are doing well. I hear jellies are the new cupcakes!

Excellent. So they should make a tasty profit.

-So the first lot in Scotland...

-What should we have? Oh!

-There we are.

-Well done.

-Hand it to the golfer.

I like that. I'll hazard a guess here. You probably paid...

about a tenner for that, knowing it will make 25.

-I paid 15.

-Yep. And it will make 25.

-25.

Very good. Well bought, sir.

-But will James think the same about your Staffordshire figure?

-I couldn't resist Staffordshire.

-Not again!

-I'm afraid so.

-Not again!

-More Staffordshire.

-That's rather nice.

-Yeah, Neptune.

-£2,000-£3,000, isn't it? How much did you pay?

-What's it worth? No, seriously.

-200-300.

-I paid £100.

-I think it's a good buy.

-Yeah. Pleased to buy that.

-I'm coming out in a cold sweat.

-Don't worry - you've got your clockwork mouse.

Oh, I love him.

I love him. Does he go?

Well...with a bit of encouragement and a large stick, yeah.

-He does.

-I think a collector, German one, will...

-Don't overwind it!

-Busy little...

-OH!

-He's gone under the table!

-He's a busy little fellow.

Em, I think he's worth 40 quid.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-15.

-15? That's your standard buying price!

Now for Charlie's pair of Japanese vases.

-They're pretty, aren't they?

-They're not bad.

-I hate to be the bearer of bad news...

-Not bronze?

-They're a bit soft.

-Antimony or something?

-I just scratched the base and it came up silver.

-Oh, you think they're silver?

You can't keep a good man down, can you?

Jury's out.

I wonder what he'll make of the box.

A little bit of parquetry. Sweet.

-Actually, the quality's pretty good.

-They were very well made.

-30 quid.

-15.

15?

15...15...

Yes, a bit of a theme going on. Now for Charlie's Victorian barrel.

-That's really good.

-It really took my eye.

-Isn't that fun?

-Yeah.

-Do you think it might have been a flour barrel?

-Yeah.

-I think.

-80-120.

-I paid £100.

-Now for your Art Deco-style vase.

-Again, here we are.

Oh, hello.

Oh, I say!

-Is that Diana?

-It is Diana.

-Oh...

-She's gorgeous.

-Very Odeon-like, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Good auction lot, that, you know.

-A contemporary home would love it.

-It'll make 50 quid, I think.

-Charlie, time for your last lot.

-You've seen this because you spotted it.

-But I didn't have the purse for it.

Had you had the purse for it, would you have been tempted?

-I don't think I would.

-No.

-It's a just a little too brown.

At least you're being honest.

-But what will Charlie think of your drum?

-It's a hugely impressive piece.

And I think you and I we'd sit down here,

contemporary interior, float a bit of circular plate glass on that,

-and you have a very nice table.

-Hugely impressive.

You would know you were coming into a home owned by a man of bearing.

-That is not a gamble.

-Hopefully not, but time to hear what you chaps really think. Chin chin!

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?

-A large pothole.

-Oh, sorry.

-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.

-Kicking things off today is auctioneer Brian Clements.

-Hi, Charlie.

One thing you couldn't miss is the drum. It has been admired. And the vase.

The vase is yours? It's brown, big and heavy.

-Yes.

-What a magic comeback.

It might be a little off-putting for some people, just the sheer size.

Even buying a big reproduction vase of that nature would cost you a lot,

-so getting an oldish one for...

-For a lot of money!

-Well...

-A HUGE amount of money.

James Braxton started today's show with £234.52

and spent £138 on five auction lots.

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

and spent £440 on five auction lots.

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.

-He's no confidence in them.

Start the bidding at £30. 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.

-£7. Yeah, it is.

-Yeah.

-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.

-Lass commission, a couple of quid.

-Now, now, Charlie, no need to rain on James's parade.

But, yes, it's not much.

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...

-Yeah.

Oh, dear.

-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. And that was one of your hopes.

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.

Rossco...

-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.

-Oh, dear. We'll just roll...

-I'm still going to go big when we go shopping.

-Well done.

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

It was a risky purchase.

£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 'til 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.

-Rossco...

-Another arrow!

-Cheer up!

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

I could have stayed at home and just burnt £20 notes.

On this leg of the great road trip adventure, James wins the day.

-Well, a comprehensive victory.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Are we two-each, then, in terms of legs?

-I think we are.

-So it's all to play for.

-All to play for!

Two-all with five minutes to go!

James may have won today's battle, but he hasn't won the war.

He's got a lot of work to do if he wants to catch up his jolly old mate, Charlie.

He started today's show with £234.52.

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

Despite today's victory, he has a rather small £245.76 to carry forward.

Charlie, meanwhile, is still 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 on the last leg.

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

-Thank you.

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

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, it's the grand finale.

-James is put on the spot.

-They're over £300.

-I haven't got 300.

Charlie gets tempted.

-I could make it very appealing.

-Could you make it VERY appealing?

And they both start to lose the plot.

There must be easier ways to make a living.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd