Episode 7 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts with £200 each,

a classic car and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

That hurts.

What do you think?

The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

-There will be worthy winners and valiant losers.

-What have I done?!

So will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

-Put your back into it!

-Shut up, James!

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

It's a brand-new Road Trip, and we're hitting the tarmac

with a pair of thoroughly dashing gents and antiques experts,

Thomas Plant and James Lewis.

If anyone wasn't sure that I was a country bumpkin and a bit slow before...

James, I don't think you're slow at all. I think you're quite sharp.

Thomas Plant is an auctioneer with a passion for all things shiny -

jewellery, watches and silver.

I am like a pig in the proverbial when it comes to things like that.

James Lewis is also an auctioneer who began his antiques career

at the age of six by bidding on a bird cage for his budgie.

Now, however, he's more fond of ducks.

GABBLES LIKE DONALD DUCK

Yes...

Our affable duo begin their adventure with £200 each

and are travelling in this gorgeous little 1953 Morris Minor.

It's fresh, James! We have the mustiness of the Morris Minor.

It was the Morris Minor? I thought it was you! I thought it was the suit.

Really? Oh! Oh! Oh, James, that's so uncalled for!

Thomas and James will be travelling over 800 miles,

looping their way from Largs on the Scottish West Coast

up to the Highlands, down to the Lowlands and back again,

eventually finishing in the country's capital city of Edinburgh.

On this first leg, we're starting off our mammoth journey in Largs,

crossing over to the East Coast,

before heading back to the auction showdown in Glasgow.

Our first stop of the day is Largs, Ayrshire,

a seaside town famous for invasions,

firstly by the Vikings, who brought war and pillage,

and then by the Italians, who brought ice cream and antique dealers.

-Can you see it?

-That's it!

-Blue sign.

-Brilliant.

Narducci's is a huge family-run emporium stacked with fabulous furniture

and all manner of collectables.

Luckily, owner Franco is on hand to help,

and Thomas has a watertight strategy.

Just concentrate, think, but don't be too cautious.

Yes, be bold, be brave.

James, meanwhile, is drawn immediately to something familiar.

Any resemblance to me is merely coincidental.

I just have a little bit of catching up to do on the hair. Twins!

You said it, James.

Now, what's this Thomas has spotted with a ticket price of £65?

I might ask about that.

Don't leave it, Thomas.

Too late! James has spotted it too.

It's quite interesting.

The market in Chinese things is booming at the moment.

Under Chairman Mao, people in China

were not allowed to retain anything from their imperial past,

so things were destroyed, things were buried in gardens.

Now China's opened up to the West

and the head of every successful Chinese business

is wanting to buy back his own heritage, so this sort of thing,

although it's not great quality, it's very fashionable.

Franco!

Can't believe it. Not quick enough.

Yep, you have to be decisive in this game, Thomas, if you recall.

-I like this. Do you mind if I offer you a cheeky one?

-Be cheeky.

-I was thinking around 45, £50.

-That's very cheeky.

-I know.

-That's very cheeky.

-I know. I know.

-And you'll be totally justified in saying no.

-Try me again.

I was thinking that it could easily make 70 or 80 at the auction.

Then less commission. 55?

£60, there you are.

I think the 60 is very fair, but I think it will still show me a loss.

-The very best I could do is 55.

-OK.

-Does that help you?

-Yeah. OK, we'll take that. Thank you.

So, with one purchase already snatched from his grasp,

Thomas's only option is to get his act together.

CLATTERING

Oops! Not sure Franco approves.

Oh, Thomas. It's only the first leg!

I could listen to James droning on and just drift off to sleep.

Has he finished yet?

No, he hasn't, and whilst you're snoozing,

James has sniffed out a couple of perfume bottles.

-How much are they?

-£60 a pair.

-£60 for the two. They're not a pair.

-Yeah.

-That's unusual, isn't it?

-It's a pretty one, isn't it?

-Do that one for 35.

-What would be your best on these two?

How do you see them?

I see that at 25.

And I think that would make 20 at auction.

So I think they'd make 45, so 30?

-I can't really do them for 30. £35, how's that?

-32?

-33?

-Oh, go on!

It was painful enough saying 32,

because I knew you were being fair anyway.

No pressure, Thomas, but James has already bought three items.

Time for a light bulb moment.

It's a good piece of Deco - an original lamp, a hoop dancer.

The really good ones would have been in bronze, and this is in spelter,

and the chroming is slightly damaged,

but, look, it's definitely 1920s.

But, obviously, cos it's not a great quality one,

the definition isn't there in the face,

and I expect that to be reflected, really, in the price.

Let's see if Franco agrees.

-That's a bit of fun. How much is that?

-£65.

-65.

-What would you do if I was really interested in it?

-55.

-I was at round about 30.

-Couldn't, honestly. You're halving it.

-Can't do it for £30.

-What can you do?

To you, 40.

-35?

-Can't, honestly.

-You can't?

-I've come from 65.

I know you have, I know you have.

You need to come up a wee bit to meet me.

The thing is, I was thinking, because Glasgow's quite a cool city,

and it's full of cosmopolitan people, that is a lovely object.

-Go on.

-Thank you.

Phew! Thank goodness for that. Something's in the bag at last.

He may be three purchases up, but James is clearly not done yet,

and now he's found something else to tickle his fancy.

These are probably made in India, turn of the century,

almost certainly for the Western market.

How much are they?

£15.

Would you take a tenner for them?

I'll take 12.

Go on, then.

I'm not going to haggle you any more than that.

No flies on our James today. So, just to recap,

he's hoovered up two perfume bottles,

a carved wooden Chinese figure

and the little silver-coloured jug and bowl, all for £100.

Thomas is not going to be outdone.

He's on the hunt for something else. Something Chinese.

Looks like a bronze pot.

It's the myth of two dragons,

fighting over this flaming pearl, the eternal pearl,

but it's Chinese and it's very nice quality.

-I quite like it. Franco?

-Uh-huh.

-£28, if it's any good?

-28.

-28.

-Can we do a deal at 20?

-25?

22?

On you go. £22. I'll go for that.

Good deal. Thank you. And I've just noticed these here.

-Have these sold?

-They're just in as well!

They're bamboo. They're decorative, they're big.

I'd say they are 1900s, wouldn't you?

I wouldn't say they're ancient. What have those got to be?

-£40 a pair.

-They are the flavour, aren't they?

They're very decorative.

Would you do those, if I gave you 50 for the lot?

No. No. 60. I can do £60. Wee package for you.

-So, bought that for 22, quite happy. 35?

-Go on.

-Is that all right?

-That's OK.

Excellent work. So, Thomas has bought a Chinese bronze bowl,

a pair of Oriental bamboo vases and an Art Deco lamp, all for £97.

Our boys are all shopped out in Largs,

and are now back in the old Minor,

heading for the next destination, Kilbirnie.

-That is stunning!

-I've never actually seen a loch,

so I'm really looking forward to it.

-No!

-No, I haven't seen one! I'm very excited!

And you still haven't seen one, Thomas.

THAT'S the sea.

Their destination in Kilbirnie is The Stirrup Cup,

where Thomas is dropping James off.

Thank you very much. Thank you!

-Have great fun.

-Don't forget to pick me up!

-No, I won't.

It's full of antiques, curios and vintage goods,

but is there anything here to attract our James?

The Road Trip has visited this shop before,

and owner Greta is determined that James doesn't leave empty-handed,

so she's nipped next door to her house

to fetch something rather unusual.

Now, I always think these look very pornographic,

as you can probably imagine.

Funnily enough, this curious object is actually a Coco de Mer,

the largest seed in the entire plant kingdom.

This could be the deal of a lifetime for James,

as the polished ones are the rarest,

some fetching several thousand pounds.

-The Coco de Mer, how much could that be?

-30.

-30?!

-£30.

Will they appreciate it at auction? £30.

-It depends how much the Glasgow people know.

-Yeah, that's it.

Because they are highly collectable now.

The Seychelles island they're from,

there's only one Seychelles island that they're from now.

The trees are extinct on the other...

Not allowed to export them, either.

No. They're not allowed to export them, that's right.

So it's got to be an old one, hasn't it?

There are sanctions on them.

I like it. Will you take 20 for it?

25.

-22, and you've got a deal.

-Och, 25!

-Go on, then.

-I hate haggling. Go on. 25.

-Thank you very much.

James, how could you haggle her down?

Now, is there anything else while you're here,

like the painting perhaps?

It's quite nicely done with cottages and figures in there.

It might be worth a punt at 25.

James phones his auction house for a bit of background information.

It's J, it could be Gilmuir.

Yeah, that's the right period.

Thank you very much.

There are Gilmours, James Gilmour listed

as a marine artist painting little rocky coves,

that's what he is best known for. £25.

I'm not going to haggle. I'm not going to knock you down.

£25, you've got a deal. Thank you.

So, James now has a Coco de Mer and a painting all for £50. What a deal!

-Thank you. Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

And it looks like the painting might be a bargain, too.

We're seeing James Gilmour oils and watercolours of this size

making 150, 170, 140, 190.

So, yeah, great, pleased with that.

James has high hopes for his purchases,

but right now, it's time to hook back up with Thomas.

The boys have left the West Coast behind

and are heading to the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh.

With over £100 burning a hole in his pocket,

Thomas heads straight for the shops.

-I'm Thomas.

-I'm Terri.

-Terri, nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you too.

Cabaret Antiques is brimming

with all kinds of curios and collectables.

But, most of all, it's stacked to the rafters

with what Thomas loves more than anything.

I absolutely adore jewellery. That is my most favourite thing.

I'm like a pig in the proverbial when it comes to things like that.

Is there anything here to fall in love with?

This is something I got yesterday, which I think you'll like.

Ooh!

That's amethyst and silver.

-It is marked 800.

-800.

-It's going to be German, absolutely.

That's not £800, but the Continental Silver Mark

and shows that it was made in Germany.

It's in the Art Nouveau style,

which in Germany was called Jugendstil,

meaning "young style".

120 to you.

Ooh! I don't have enough money to spend on that.

That's a pity.

100. That's it.

-It is lovely.

-It is, it is.

-It's a huge risk.

-No, it's not!

-What do you mean, "No, it's not"?

No, it's not. It's quality! Quality!

-It is super.

-Yeah.

Leave it there and it'll sort of glint at me and shine.

Well... Oh, God.

It is good.

Yes, it's good, but at that price?

Best to focus on something else,

like a pair of binoculars, for instance.

They're rather fun, aren't they? They're field glasses.

-With the compass on.

-With the compass, yeah.

"Bakery, fresh fruit and veg..." The supermarket over the road.

-30 quid to you.

-If I buy that brooch...

If you buy the brooch at 100, you get those for 20, so that's 120...

I can't afford those at 20.

Oh, well. Forget it then.

Let's not fall out yet. There's no need. Please.

You can have that and as I can't remember what I paid for this,

you can have that as your lucky penny. And that's it.

100 for the two.

Is that it? 100? Is that it?

-You couldn't do two figures?

-No.

-You sure?

-Shake.

-Please.

-No.

-You sure you can't do any more?

-No.

-Really?

-Yes. Come on.

Would you take a fiver off?

-No.

-Go on.

-No.

-Go on.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

No, come on, come on. No, no, no. I don't care. No, no.

Come on. Fair's fair.

I've been sucked in by you, Terri.

-Thank you very much.

-OK.

-That's very kind.

Thomas has decided to spend £100 on the amethyst brooch

and gets the pair of field glasses for free.

Thank you.

What have I done?!

Now, now, you've still got £3 left.

While Thomas heads off to his next shop with his remaining pennies,

James is up the road,

bracing himself for a rather uncomfortable appointment.

Hello, I'm James. Good to see you.

Hello, I'm Chris Henry. I'm the Director Of Heritage

here at Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

The Surgeons' Hall was developed as a teaching museum

for medical students and was initially set up in 1505,

after the Pope decided to permit the human body to be dissected.

Oh, my goodness. You've got some strange bits and pieces in here!

Many of the exhibits have been donated

and Chris is taking James to see one man's particular obsession.

If anyone out there is a bit squeamish about the dentist's

I suggest you go and make a cup of tea.

Here we are. This is the dental collection.

-I'm sure you're cringing already.

-THEY LAUGH

Nervously going to start feeling my mouth.

50 years ago, Menzies Campbell - not the MP, but a dental historian -

donated his unique collection of teeth

and dental instruments to the museum.

Campbell's collection includes examples

of some of the earliest dental work,

including a replica of some ancient dentures.

What you can see is the two extra teeth

have been wired together at the base,

along with the teeth that still remain within the jaw.

-So that would be 600...?

-Yes, 700 BC. Something like that.

-700 BC.

-Yeah.

Dentists had to rely on natural materials to make dentures.

Elephant ivory was used, but gave people very bad breath.

Then, hippopotamus ivory.

It was more resilient and did not yellow quite as badly.

Later, dentures took an ever more macabre twist.

Human teeth were also used for dentures.

We've got an example here, in which has the front set is human teeth.

Which were known as Waterloo Teeth.

The teeth were taken from casualties at the Battle of Waterloo.

-I have to say, I don't really fancy it.

-No, I can't say I would.

I think I'd prefer mine to be hippo teeth. I think.

The development of dental instruments was equally innovative.

Dental drills were pretty poor, because they were hand-driven,

so you couldn't get enough speed up.

But the great breakthrough came in 1864,

when Harrington invented the clockwork drill,

You had a key, you stuck it in here, wound it up.

You could get two minutes of drilling.

That's quite a weight.

Yeah. But it was a huge improvement on what had gone before.

This is an amazing collection,

but, I have to say, one that's slightly...uneasy.

-But thank you very much. Thank you.

-You're welcome.

-Really enjoyed it.

Ouch!

While James recovers from a fascinating -

albeit unsettling - museum, Thomas is determined to spend his last £3.

Hello.

Perhaps husband-and-wife team Robert and Valerie can help.

Luckily, Thomas does have a plan.

I have just bought some field glasses.

But I was thinking it would be nice to slip a hip flask in there.

This pair are very accommodating

and happen to have rather a nice hip flask to show Thomas.

You'd have to be good at haggling.

That shouldn't be a problem.

Lovely.

It's got the pewter cup with it.

So you fill it with your whisky. In it goes. Then down it.

You said I've got to be good at negotiating.

-Mm-hm.

-If I put down what I have left... That's all I've got.

-Three British pounds.

-Are you sure?

-I promise you.

-We don't want to turn you upside down.

-You can turn me upside down.

Would you do me a favour?

-Do you promise never to come back?

-I promise to come back loads.

-With money.

-With proper money.

-OK, you've got a deal, Thomas.

That's very kind of you.

-Thomas, I think you are the luckiest man I know.

-Spent up!

With every penny dispatched with,

it's time to meet up with James and leave Edinburgh behind.

They're heading 20 miles towards the East Lothian coast

and the settlement of Fenton Barns.

Thomas is all spent up.

But James still has £50 to splash about,

so perhaps this small emporium might have something tasty on offer.

-I'm James. Hi.

-Nice to meet you.

It looks promising.

There are plenty of small collectables here.

It's just about finding the right one.

This is a little Victorian...locket.

On one side, we've got a hinged compartment that we open up,

and there it's got a glazed compartment in the centre there,

which was probably for a lock of hair.

I don't think it's gold. Um...

It's probably gold plate or it could, at a push, be Pinchbeck,

which was invented by a Doctor Pinchbeck.

It's a metal that looks like gold, feels like gold,

but just isn't gold.

Owner Helen has priced the locket at £35, but James won't pay that.

Look, what about 30?

How about that for an absolute knockdown, giveaway price?

It's sweet but just unfashionable.

Would you take 25 for it, then?

-SHE GASPS

-28.

-I'm not going to knock you down.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

That's both experts shopped out.

Thanks very much. Thank you. Bye-bye.

So let's remind ourselves of what goodies they bought.

Both chaps kicked off their road trip with £200 each.

Thomas spent every penny of his budget on five auction lots,

comprising an Art Deco table lamp, a pair of bamboo sleeve vases,

a Chinese bronze bowl,

an Art Nouveau amethyst and paste brooch,

a pair of field binoculars with mounted compass

and a pewter hip flask.

James, meanwhile, spent £178 of his cash on five lots.

A large Coco de Mer,

an oil painting by James Gilmour,

an Anglo-Indian milk jug with sugar basin

paired with two silver and glass scent bottles,

a Victorian gold-coloured locket

and a Chinese hardwood carving.

So, go on, then. Let's hear what they really think about each other's items.

I don't think he's got anything that is going to storm through

and make huge profits.

The brooch, I don't know, I'm not a massive costume jewellery person.

I know it's amethyst, but it doesn't do anything for me.

But he knows his jewellery,

so fingers crossed that'll do well for him.

That Coco de Mer is just so nice.

I have always wanted one.

I think they're amazing things.

So 25 quid - how does he do it?!

It's been a fruitful first leg,

beginning on the West Coast, in Largs,

travelling all the way to the East Coast via Edinburgh,

and now back again to our auction venue, Glasgow.

-Nervous?

-The pressure's on.

Come on.

The theatre of dreams is McTear's,

and there's plenty here to attract the Glaswegian buyers.

Well, maybe not everything.

Hold tight, chaps, auctioneer Hamish Wilson is about to begin.

First up is James's Chinese figure, the one Thomas missed out on.

At £30 here. £30, do we see five?

40, 45. At 45, any advance on 45?

50 is bid there. At £50, any advance on 50?

At £50, five is now bid. At 55, £60.

£60 is bid. Do you want to bid five, sir?

65. 70 is bid now. At £70, any advance on 70?

Well done. Making money.

£70, last call on 70.

70.

-You would've earned a little bit, wouldn't you?

-Two quid.

-£2?

-Yes.

Not quite the stoking profit James was hoping for,

but a profit nevertheless.

It's better than a loss, isn't it?

Continuing the Chinese theme, it's Thomas's bronze bowl.

I'll start it low at 30, do I see five?

-At £30, five is bid there.

-Straight through.

40, 45, sir? 45.

50, at 55, 60, 65.

Any further bids at 65? 70, new bidder.

At 75 now. At £75 are we all done?

80, new bidder.

-Coo!

-Fresh!

80, are we all done? At £80...

Well done. Well done. Well done.

That did well. A good start for Thomas.

Thank you, James. Thank you.

Can James make up some ground with his gold-coloured pendant?

At £18, do I see 20? 20 is bid there and five with me.

At 25, do I see 30? £30 is bid now.

At 35 against you now. And 40 is bid now.

At £40, do I see five?

I thought I was... I'm dead on.

Are we all done then? £40.

-I'm pleased with that.

-I bet you are.

Yes, a solid profit, even after the auction house

takes its well-earned commission.

You'll be walking out of there buoyed.

I'm buoyed with my, so far, eight quid.

Thomas's bamboo sleeve vases are up next.

-£10 only.

-Don't start at £10!

At £10, do I see 12 now? At £10, 12, 15.

18, 20 and five.

At 25. Did someone else want to come in? At £25.

-Come on!

-Selling, then, on £25.

I kept thinking I was going to get told off by the auctioneer.

That's, I think, very cheap.

Oh, dear. Yeah, that's a loss for Thomas.

Moving swiftly on, James's painting by Gilmour.

He has high hopes for this one.

-This time, I'm bid £30.

-Straight in.

Five is bid. 40 with me, sir.

It'll be fine. It's creeping up slowly.

45, 50 now. 55?

£50 is bid. At 55, new bidder.

-The hammer's not fallen.

-£55!

Finished at £55.

No!

God, that's dreadful!

It's James's turn to be disappointed,

although he has made a profit.

-Sweet smell of profit all the way.

-Yeah, I suppose so.

It's still anyone's game and Thomas's Art Deco lamp is next.

-At 35, 35.

-It's going to go. Go on.

-£40, at £40.

Five now, 50, at 50, 55.

Do I see 60? 60 is bid now.

65, new bidder. 65, 70, 75.

£75, are we all done, then, on £75?

-80, new bidder.

-Go on, go on.

On the telephone then at 80. Are we all sure now?

£80 is bid. Last call on £80.

-Brilliant, brilliant.

-That makes it up a bit.

-Happier now!

An excellent profit for Thomas. He's back in the lead.

-Brilliant! Brilliant!

-Oh!

Up next is a job lot for James.

He's combined his silver metalware with two perfume bottles.

-I'm bid 40 here, at £40.

-Straight in.

£40, five now. At 45 and 50 against you.

55 and 60 against you.

65 and 70 against you.

It's going to reach more than I thought.

75, 80 against you. 85.

90 now. 95.

100. 100 is bid.

-110...

-Don't cry out.

Any advance on 110? At £110.

It did well. Yes!

-How much?

-110.

-I missed that because of the bear hug.

The bear has done well. James has moved ahead.

I'm pleased with that. That's a good result.

Thomas has also combined lots.

He's put his freebie binoculars together with the hip flask.

I'm bid £20, at 20 only.

-We're in straight profit.

-25 straightaway, do I see 30?

30, 35, and 40.

Five, sir? Go on.

-Go on!

-Go on!

At 45, do I see 50? Thank you. At 50, any advance on 50?

One more, sir? At £50, does anyone else want to come in?

-It's the hip flask.

-Profit.

-It's the hip flask which did it.

-Yes.

An excellent profit there. Thomas is edging his way back.

-Well done.

-No, I'm pleased about that. REALLY pleased.

-240.

James's last lot of the day, his Coco de Mer,

or as they say in Glasgow, "bum nut".

This time, interest here, I've got to start the bidding here at £85.

90 is bid. 100, 110, 120, 130, new bidder. I'm out.

-140...

-He paid £25 for this.

-Told you.

-170, 180.

-Told you.

190, £200 is bid.

220 now, 240, 260. Any further bids?

-Go on, go on.

-At 260, 280.

-Can you believe this?

-300.

-Told you.

-At £300, £300.

-Well done, James.

In the corner then at 300. Are we all done then?

£300, last call on 300.

Good Lord.

-Yes!

-Well done. Well done.

What about that? A stonking profit of £275 for James.

For a seed.

Fantastico! Brilliant!

It all hangs on Thomas's amethyst brooch now.

Bought for £100.

At £15, do I see 18?

At £15, do I see 18? 18 is bid there, 20 with me, sir.

-Uh-oh.

-25.

-Oh, my God.

-Not looking good.

At 25, do I see 30?

Come on. Over there.

30, thank you. At 30, any advance on 30?

Oh, my God.

You're not stopping me pointing them out when it's your thing! Oh, no!

£30, are we all done?

Ouch!

Big hole.

Yep, disaster for Thomas.

I've learnt my lesson there. I've learnt my little lesson.

Both our experts started this leg with £200.

After paying auction costs, Thomas has made a small profit of £17.30.

That leaves him with a respectable £217.30 to carry forwards.

But James is this leg's super trouper.

His Coco de Mer shot his profit up to £293.50,

which means he takes forward a delectable £493.50 to spend.

-Well done, James.

-Thank you.

-You must be feeling cock-a-hoop?

-It's all luck. Come on, let's go.

-Are you excited?

-Yes.

Our boys are heading on to the next leg of their road trip.

It's just beautiful.

I think Scotland is dire when it's raining!

But...you can't beat it when it's like this.

On this journey, Thomas and James will be travelling over 800 miles,

looping their way from the Scottish west coast up to the Highlands,

down to the Lowlands, and back again,

eventually finishing at the country's capital city, Edinburgh.

However, on this leg they're starting off in Balloch,

next to Loch Lomond,

and ending on the east coast in Dundee for their auction.

But the Morris Minor has other ideas.

Oh, no! No way! Look at that!

Oh, no. It's really bad now.

-What a disaster!

-Hitch.

-Hitch? Let's get out, then!

Brilliant!

See, that's the way you do it, Thomas! Hello.

-Is there any possibility you might give us a lift?

-What a nice lady.

Oh, Balloch. I can see the sign.

The boys are off to Loch Lomond Antiques and Art Centre,

Thomas with a modest £217 in hand,

James with his gargantuan £493, so good luck, chaps.

If you know of any wonderful bargains I should be looking at, feel free to point them out.

Thomas is already up and running with Doreen.

-I want to look at this drinking set.

-OK.

I seem to do quite well with things which are alcohol-related!

This Art Deco silver-plated travelling cocktail set

would be fabulous for the jet set!

-There's the three cups.

-I think there might be four.

-I think this lifts off.

-Oh, there's another one there? Oh, cool!

And I think there's more inside.

It's quite fun, really. I love these things.

We've got on that 45, but can maybe take it down to 40,

but I think...that's all we could do.

-D'you think so?

-Yes.

-25.

-Maybe 30.

-Maybe 30?

No. 36. 35, then.

-What about 30?

-Can't do 30, no, I can't.

32.

-OK! 32.

-Thank you. Brilliant.

That's fine, it's fine!

Thank goodness for that.

So, a drinks set and a kiss from the lovely Doreen.

Not bad going, Thomas!

James has got Doreen's husband Brian looking after him.

-I wonder if he'll get a kiss?

-Can I see the little cannon, please?

I wonder what that was for.

-Could be for matches, couldn't it?

-Matches, yes.

-I wonder if that's the striker, actually?

-Yes.

It's a funny old thing.

This Victorian match holder with the cranberry glass barrel

seems a steal at £28.

-Would 15 quid buy it?

-20 is the bottom line on that one.

-Is it?

-Yes.

-Do a bit more off it?

If a pound helps, we'll do it for 19.

-I'm not going to argue with you. I can see you're doing your best.

-Thank you.

Well, you have got nearly £500 burning a hole in your pocket!

Anything else, James?

How about that shield-shaped box just in there?

We've got 90 on it. 75?

OK.

Can I make a cheeky offer of 50 on that?

-If we could split it to 55...

-55... Yeah, OK.

Mm, that was easy - but James seems distracted by something else.

It's a weird thing!

-What do you think? Improvement?

-Yes!

This extraordinary piece of tribal art

is an open-eyed mask with monkey cresting, dating from the 1880s.

-Without question, this is early. I'm thinking it might be bronze.

-And brass over it.

It's just that wonderful colour in there, that darkness.

And then you turn it over,

and it's just been polished for 100 years or more.

-94 on there...

-Which is far too much.

-Yes.

65 probably is the bottom line there.

Mm. I feel a bit of a job lot coming on

for the silver-shaped dressing-table box and the bronze mask.

65 and 55. A hundred the two?

Yeah, I think we could do a hundred on the two.

-You've got a deal.

-Thank you.

-Brilliant.

Ooh! James does seem rather taken with the mask.

Now, has Thomas stopped flirting with Doreen?

-These have just come in, have they?

-Yes.

-Oh, that's so sweet!

-I thought that was very pretty.

This 1900 moustache-and-comb set

has a silver and tortoise shell element to it.

Tortoiseshell is endangered, but since this antique utility

was made before 1947,

That means Thomas IS able to sell it at auction.

-Ticket price - £35.

-But what a present

to give our narrator... with his little moustache!

He-he-he(!)

Size isn't everything, Thomas. Time to do a deal with Doreen.

What's that going to be, in your world, this one here?

£35.

Now, with the cocktail set secured for £32, can Thomas

wheeler-deal for the £35 grooming kit?

Can I give you 50 for the both?

-Go on.

-OK.

-Yeah?

-50 for both.

-50 for both.

-Be lucky.

-Thank you.

-Brilliant.

-Thank you. That's us.

What a charmer!

Thomas has managed to get both the drinks set

and the 'tache grooming kit

for £50. Brilliant.

At the other end of the shop, James has negotiated on

a dressing table box, a vintage mask and a match holder.

But he's not finished yet.

-The pair of toast racks.

-Yes.

-Ooh, these could fit the bill,

-at £98.

-What could they do?

-Eh...80?

-Oh, blimey.

What would you like to pay for it?

I was thinking...a good bit off that.

-Yeah.

-Don't worry.

-To give you a fighting chance, how about

..78?

-Hmm.

-75? Touching somewhere near?

-Would you do 150 the three?

-One more bid and we can do it.

-155?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-You've got a deal.

-Thank you.

-Brilliant. Thank you.

Crikey. So, after one last haggle, James has got the silver box,

the silver toast racks and the mask for £155.

And with the match holder at £19, that's not bad for a day's shop.

Thank you.

The pair are riding high and, great, the motor's been fixed.

Good old James

gives Thomas a lift, 30 miles east, to Stirling,

and the famous Wallace Monument.

It looks marvellous, doesn't it?

It's lovely. I'm really looking forward to this.

William Wallace was a Scottish hero who fought and died

trying to free Scotland from English rule.

Here to tell the tale is archaeologist Murray Cook.

This is the National Wallace Monument.

It's built in 1869, to commemorate William Wallace

and his famous battle at Stirling Bridge.

Proudly positioned on the Abbey Craig, overlooking the site

of his greatest victory, this Gothic tower captures the drama

of Wallace's campaign.

Wallace is THE national hero. He's from relatively common origins.

He's not a member of the establishment,

not a member of the aristocracy.

He didn't say no. He just kept fighting. He didn't surrender.

I mean, he's a hothead.

Named Braveheart, Wallace inspired the Scots to stand up

to their oppressors, the English.

The choice of weapon was the sword, believed to resemble this one.

Probably some element of that is Wallace's sword.

The Wallace sword was restored by King James IV in 1505.

Standing at five and a half feet,

it's unlikely that Wallace would have actually used this in battle.

-Wallace was a big man.

-Six foot ten?

-He's between six and seven feet.

You'd have to be very big to wield it.

Certainly big, to smash that into someone's body

and then pull it out again. It's a big sword for a big hero.

Just hold your breath, because, really, this view is incredible.

It's just a spectacular panorama.

Oh, my!

From the top of the monument, it's possible to see Stirling Castle

and the site of eight battlefields,

including Bannockburn and, of course, Stirling Bridge.

The rugby pitch is where the Battle of Stirling Bridge was fought,

where 5,500 troops died. Just on that spot.

-You are looking at bloody ground.

-And also, with the weight of troops

and knights and all that machinery of war they had,

they got there and they realised, "Oh, it's far too late to turn back."

They were stuck.

The English made a tactical error in crossing the too-narrow

Stirling Bridge, so giving victory to the Scots

and making Wallace a national hero.

However, Wallace paid the ultimate price.

He was later captured - and hung, drawn and quartered

by the English in 1305.

But his legend lives on in this grand tribute.

A Victorian looking at that feels that's a primitive past.

We're now moving forward, "Look what we've achieved."

I think they should be very proud of what they achieved.

Well said, Thomas. Especially for a Sassenach.

But it's time to get back to shopping.

Speaking of which, James had driven 20 miles to Alva, to Glentana Mill,

where he's hoping to conjure up his own antiques adventure.

-Hello, there.

-James, nice to meet you.

-Nice to see you.

Glentana Mill houses 15 dealers and hundreds of collectibles.

Although James has just over £300 in his pocket,

nothing seems to be tickling his fancy.

£890!

HE SIGHS

Don't give up yet.

A picture may say 1,000 words,

but in this case, James, it's just two -

is that still life saying "buy me"?

Here we've got a 19th-Century Scottish school still life

oil on canvas of a vase of, sort of, meadow flowers and grasses.

Probably painted around 1890. It has a bit of a look to it,

but just wondering whether I should go for that.

Well, at £65, it would be rude not to.

It's time to negotiate with owner Ellis.

What could you do on that for me?

-Could probably do 55.

-Hmm.

-What were you thinking about?

-About 30.

-The best I could do would be 40.

Well, that does seem reasonable.

-Looks like I'm buying a picture off you, then.

-Right.

-£40.

-Yeah.

With his loot in the bag, it's time for James and Thomas to reunite

and Thomas has devised one way to kill off the competition.

-Oh, Thomas!

-Not me.

-Argh!

-That's not me.

-That's you!

-I promise you.

-It smells like poo.

-Well, thank goodness the roof's down. Moving on,

our boys are heading over an hour east, from Alva to St Andrews.

Ah, St Andrews, look! Look! Look!

James drops off Thomas, as he's got his own plan of action.

-Look at that. Isn't it marvellous?

-Oh, fantastic!

-Are you a bit jealous?

-I want the Cyberman's hat.

I'll see what I can do.

Thomas is hoping to get something curious from Curiosity.

Happy to help are two shop assistants. Hugh Grant?

No, Peter and Peter. Smart dandies with the same name.

Would you mind if I had a quick look?

-If you see anything, give me a shout.

-Thank you very much.

Oh, what's this?

These are so funny, they're so, sort of, '50s,

you know, good, sort of, seaside humour, which we now find fun.

"Don't forget you promised to teach me to drive a car, too."

Just married. Of course, some cards are by famous artists,

which make them more appealing.

-There's a Mabel Lucie Attwell there.

-This collection contains at least

one saucy postcard by famous graphic artist Donald McGill.

Postcards like these sold in their millions

-and are now highly collectible.

-There's 78 cards here.

I'm wondering if I can buy the album off you for about £40.

For the whole album, we'd be looking at something a bit more

-than 40, I'm afraid.

-What would you be looking for?

120, that was the sort of figure that we were looking at.

They're not worth that at auction. No, all right. Thank you very much.

I think my work is done here.

Oh, Thomas is playing tough!

I'll tell you what I'll do. Seeing as you're interested in them all.

All of them, I can do them...

Roughly about 80 of them there, I can do them all for £50 for you.

-£50?

-£50 for the lot.

-Deal.

-Deal. That's a deal. Thank you, Peter.

Well played, Thomas.

A no-nonsense approach and a great discount, but he's not finished yet.

That's a mad thing.

An egg.

A wooden egg. And a coat of brass over it.

God, I've never seen something like that before.

An oak and brass decorative egg. Ticket price, £12.

Looks in-ter-esting, but any idea what it is?

What do you know about this?

I'm going to be honest with you, we don't know a great deal about it.

We think it's fairly old, about 80 years old, but we're uncertain.

-Obviously, covered in brass.

-Um... It's a mad thing.

I think it's a curious object. Quite distinctive, very decorative.

What can you do on that?

To be honest, I think that's a very fair price, as it is.

But seeing as you've bought that. Together - £60.

-£60?

-£60, for the two.

-55, for the two.

I tell you what, halfway and we'll meet with a deal there.

-55?

-57.50.

-57.50. Madness. So, that would cost me 7.50.

Go on.

What a nice chap.

Goodness, Thomas seems to be on a shopping spree.

This is a moulding plane. Really nicely made.

The appeal is that they're really lovely decorative objects.

And also, some restorers do still use them.

There are all types of blades in there.

When you're wanting to do a bit of moulding,

I think it would come out like that. Can that be pennies? Not literally.

Thomas, seeing as you've bought other stuff from us,

that's 22 at the moment. Ten pounds, it's yours.

I'll take it, then.

I've bought three things off you now, haven't I?

Well remembered.

Curiosity may have killed the cat,

but Thomas is the cat that got the cream. £67.50 well spent.

Now, he's on a roll. There is no holding our Thomas back.

Now, he has heads for a rather appropriately-named shop.

-Can I have a rummage?

-Yes, have a rummage.

Felicity runs this establishment,

a budget antiques and shabby-chic combo,

and with just under £100 to spend, it's perfect for Thomas.

-Ooh, this is quite good!

-But what is it?

I think it's a tool for scraping a wooden plank of some description.

It's stamped up here. This could be the answer to my prayers.

I could put this...with my plane.

Good thinking.

Adding what looks like a wood shaver to his wooden plane mould.

That would make a job lot.

-What's this got to be?

-A fiver.

-I'm not going to argue with you.

-Good!

-I'm not going to barter, I'm not going to haggle,

I'm not going to try and knock you down.

-Just take it like that.

-I'm going to take it like that.

Give you a fiver, cos I don't know what it is.

Well, mission accomplished, on a tight budget.

Elsewhere in St Andrews,

James is also hoping for some last-minute items.

-Hello, there.

-Hello.

OK, James, what's on the shopping list?

It's either got to be something on its own,

something to go with the silver,

or something to go with the canon.

There's an eclectic mix of goodies here,

but what will sell at auction? Maybe owner Anne can help.

We have something quite unusual up there as well.

I thought you would point out the Romans!

I can see the Romans from here.

This set of fibreglass Romans originally stood outside a pub.

Ticket price £280.

If I'm lucky, they'd make 50 quid. They're mad!

And they're completely unique.

HE LAUGHS

Not surprised!

Then you could buy the horse as well, couldn't you?

You're going to try and bankrupt me!

Has Thomas been here and paid you?

Time's a-ticking, and James seems to be losing the plot.

I'm going to offer a really cheeky, silly, low price.

Oh, crikey!

Only because I think they're the most crazy things I've ever seen.

-I think they're probably worth nothing.

-I'll go with that.

I'll offer you a crazy price of 20 quid.

Oh now, come on!

-I know, it's crazy.

-50.

Oh!

25.

Oh... What else are you going to buy?

Good question. Didn't you say you were looking for some silver?

How about those? How much could they be?

How much do you want to spend in this shop?

They're worth a tenner to me.

-All right, you can have them for a tenner.

-Right.

What James has is an Edwardian silver boot hook and shoe horn,

for £15 less than the ticket price.

But Anne's still trying to push the Romans on to him.

-They're completely bonkers.

-50.

I don't want them, I just think they're crazy.

30 quid. You stick your hand out if you want to.

-Deal.

-You do? £30!

I do not know who's more crazy, you or me.

They may be unusual, but that's £250 off the asking price.

How does he do it?

Well, it's a bit of company in the back of the car, isn't it?

So that draws a line under the shopping for this leg.

Let's refresh the old grey matter as to what the boys bought.

Thomas started this leg with £217.30 and spent £122.50

on five auction lots. They are:

an Art Deco travelling cocktail drinks set,

a 1900s moustache brush and comb in a case,

an album of early 20th-century postcards,

an oak and brass bound egg,

and two early 20th-century tools.

James, meanwhile, started with a luscious £493.50

and parted with £254 exactly.

He bought a bronzed tribal mask,

a collection of silver comprising a toast rack,

a pair of shoehorns, and a dressing table box,

a Scottish School still life,

a Victorian novelty vesta,

and a pair of life-sized figures of Roman emperors.

So, what do they think of each others' buys?

We've both bought some real tat.

The little moustache set is great, with the brush and comb.

I think in the right sale, it might return a decent profit.

The classical figures.

I mean, has he had a taste bypass?

Has he had a lobotomy?

Has his front brain been removed? What was that?

I think the result is going to be touch and go.

I bought some real rubbish, but mind you, so did he.

It's been a memorable leg of this trip.

Kicking off in Balloch, and then shimmying along

to historic Stirling,

before a wee trek to St Andrews via Alva.

Now, they're on their way to their final destination, Dundee.

There we go. Slip it in there.

-All right, James?

-Make sure the handbrake works.

I will. If you get out, it might be a bit better!

The auction battleground is Curr and Dewar in Dundee.

They've been established auctioneers and valuers since 1862.

Auctioneer Steven Dewar is in charge today.

Steady yourselves, it's time to begin.

Oh, dear. Well, here we go.

-First up is James's rare African mask.

-Interest opens me up at £80.

-There you are, see.

-And £80 it is on the mask. £80.

Are you all done at £80? 90. 100.

-And 10. And 110 now.

-Go on!

Any advance on £110?

Well, you've doubled your money.

James won't need the mask to cover his face in shame

as he's made a healthy profit.

-Do you slightly wish you could take it home?

-Take it home!

-Yes, exactly. That's the thing.

-But you can't.

-I know.

Thomas is next with his job lot of tools comprising

the wood shaver and the moulding plane.

-At £10. 12, sir. 15. 18.

-Into profit.

-In the hall there, £18.

-Is there anybody else there?

-18 quid! I've lost money on those.

-No, you haven't.

-Yes, I have.

-No, you haven't!

-£18.

-Broken even.

-Broken even.

-What a disgrace!

Yes, after auction costs, you'll barely see any of that.

But at least it isn't a loss, Thomas. Next are James's silver lot.

A toast rack, dressing-table box, and boot hook and horn.

Interest starts me off here. £50.

At £50. 60. 70.

80. 90. 100. And 10.

-110 commission. At £110. Any advance on 110?

-Go on! Yes!

You did well to get that.

That'll be an even bigger loss after commission.

But at least James is keeping his pecker up.

Take it on the chin 100%. My fault. I paid too much.

-Can Thomas catch up with his mysterious decorative egg?

-£15.

-18. 20. 2. 25. 28. 30.

-Go on!

30 commission bidder. Any advance, then? £30 I have.

Well done!

They may laugh, but this double yolk has quadrupled in value.

Best profit so far on that bloody egg!

James is hoping to strike it rich

with his Victorian novelty match holder.

20 seated. 2. 25. 28. 30.

30 in the room. £30.

Yay!

-It's all right, I suppose.

-What do you mean, it's all right I suppose?

Everything can't make three figures!

Honestly, there's no pleasing some people!

Thought it might have made a bit more, but it's fine.

Will these fun postcards wish Thomas bon voyage?

Interest starts me off at £25.

-I told you.

-28. 30. 2. 35. 38. 40. 2.

-Go on!

-At £42. Last chance, and it will sell.

45. 48. £48 seated...

-at £48 now.

-Go on!

50. 5. 60. 5. 70. 5.

-75 seated.

-Go on. Go on!

James, what are you doing? This isn't even your stuff!

-You bidding, sir? And 5.

-One more.

-90. And 5.

95 in the front. At £95. All done at £95.

Well done!

Well done.

James rallied the bidders,

but it's Thomas who'll keep this healthy profit.

-That's doubled your money.

-But still, yes, that's great.

Will this gruesome twosome help James conquer the antiques empire?

A pair of life-size bronze composite figures. Roman emperors.

For the pair of them, interest starts me off at £30.

-There you are, you see.

-35. 40. 5. 50. 5. 60. 5.

£65 in the hall.

70. 5. 80. 5.

At £90 in the hall. 5. 100.

And 10. 120. 130. 140.

150 is bid down the right. And 150 is bid. All done.

-No way!

-Yes!

Last chance. They're 150. Thank you.

-Well done, James. Well done.

-That is so wrong on so many levels!

Would you Adam and Eve it?

These Romans had the last laugh, putting James firmly in the lead.

-I thought that was bonkers.

-No, I think they're brilliant.

Could the quaint moustache brush

and comb set give Thomas the miracle he needs?

-Going over to my right.

-I can't see many moustaches.

18. 20.

-2. 25. 28 standing.

-He's sporting a moustache.

-At 28 - are you all done, then?

-Brilliant!

-It is, isn't it?

A tidy £10 profit here for Thomas. But James is still top of the pops!

He has got a moustache, as well!

I know. He wants to trim it.

Er... He can hear you!

Staying with Thomas and his last lot,

it's the smart travelling cocktail set.

-Interest starts me at £35.

-Profit, brilliant.

For the cocktail set - 40. 5.

50. 5.

-Yes, it's worth that.

-Bottom estimate.

-Last chance, then. £60.

-Yes, well done.

-Double money.

A great return there, Thomas.

But your profits will definitely not

shake or stir James's winning streak.

So that is the sweetest little profit throughout every single lot.

I love that.

Will James's oil-on-canvas be the final death-"nail"

in Thomas's antique dreams?

What will we say? £200? £100?

100 bid, thank you.

And 100. 120. 140. 160.

200. At 200 now.

Any advance at 200? 220.

240. 260. 280.

280 is a commission bidder. Last chance.

-James!

-Yay!

-Wow!

-Profit!

Wow! With an unbeatable £240 profit,

this still life proves that James really is the master!

-Jolly good.

-Lunch is on you!

-That's why I bought it.

Thomas started this leg with £217.30 and after auction costs

he's made a decent profit of £66.92.

That leaves him with £284.22 to carry forward.

James lifts this leg's cup.

He started with £493.50 and after making £303.60 profit,

he's accumulated a humongous £797.10 to carry on to the next leg.

-Congratulations!

-Well done you, two great profits!

Well, a great profit from your end. So what are you on now?

-Sort of £1,000, is it? Is it £100,000?

-Um, getting there!

-I'm feeling positive about today's results. Very positive.

-Good.

Let's go!