Episode 12 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts. With £200 each...

-I love that.

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

-Yippee!

-I can see better with those.

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

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

We're going to have a row!

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

He's just about killed that.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

It's the second leg of our road trip

and experts James Braxton and James Lewis are hitting the highways in their 1983 Beetle convertible

and they couldn't look less like a couple of Beach Boys if they tried!

This car is... I think the yellow can only be described as rather rude.

-LAUGHTER

-It's so strong, it's vulgar.

-It's fantastic. It deserves to be on a beach somewhere.

-It does.

-With a surfboard sticking out of the roof.

-Yeah.

It's very much out of its environment, isn't it?

Well, I think we are too.

Stick with it, boys. Their usual environment is the auction room.

James Braxton has 20 years' experience in auctioneering, a kind of Jack Nicholson of the saleroom.

And a bit of a joker.

-A tenner?

-Er...no.

-And a star of One Flew Over The Auction House.

Get it? Here's Jamesie!

His sparring partner James Lewis is also a seasoned auctioneer with a business in Derbyshire,

-but he shops dangerously.

-Ow! I just stabbed myself!

And isn't afraid to get his hands dirty in order to win.

That is turtle poo.

Turtle poo to you too!

James Braxton had a poor first auction which resulted in a small loss

and now he only has £186.84 to play with.

James Lewis had a better time of it

and increased his initial £200 to £268.34 to spend on today's road trip.

The route for the week ahead takes our intrepid road trippers from Ampthill in Bedfordshire

across the Channel to Jersey and back again to the final destination of Leamington Spa,

covering almost a thousand miles.

Epic!

But today's trip begins in Woodstock in Oxfordshire

and ends up at auction in Swindon.

-I think Oxfordshire is glorious, isn't it?

-It is lovely.

No, it's not that Woodstock. No hippy-dippy, flower power festivals here.

This Woodstock is the home of the UNESCO World Heritage Site,

Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

James Lewis is dropping James Braxton at his first shop of the day

and the bells are ringing out for their arrival.

-There we go.

-Good. Thanks a lot.

-All righty...

-Good luck, but not too much luck.

-Have fun.

-Thank you. Bye.

-Bye.

Woodstock Arts and Antiques is run by a Mr Michael Jackson. Sham on!

-Hello, James. How are you?

-Hello. Nice to meet you.

-Good to see you.

I never knew that Michael was alive and well and dealing in antiques in Woodstock.

-I am slightly behind.

-Right, OK.

-I'm against an awesome competitor, Mr Lewis.

-Yeah.

He has slipped, not clear water,

but, you know, 60, 70-odd pounds in front of me at the moment.

You'd better get shopping then, hadn't you, Jimmy?

-This cabinet is full of goodies, is it?

-The whole shop is.

-The whole shop.

-Great look to it, isn't it?

-Hmm.

I really like that poodle. It's very well done.

It has a sense of humour. It has a certain naive charm about that.

It certainly does. Mid-19th century Staffordshire at £28, in case you were wondering.

But this, this rather sweet owl, isn't it...?

-That's a candle snuffer.

-That is just fabulous.

Humorous and naive, the owl is Royal Worcester and has a ticket price of £55.

Worth a punt, James?

At the other extreme, what a lovely little '50s, mint and boxed tea set!

Never been used. Some poor little kiddie had it as a present and it stayed there.

High days and holidays didn't quite come.

Old toys, particularly if they're in their boxes,

I mean, that's not a bad little thing.

That's great, isn't it?

I do like that. What could that be?

-A tenner?

-A tenner.

These two little bits...

-It's really got to be another 40 for those.

-40 for those.

Shall we strike middle ground there? I'd love it for 30.

-Would £35 buy them?

-35 would do it.

35 and 10 - 45. That's really good. Thank you.

-Super, sir.

-Thanks a lot. Thank you.

-I appreciate that.

Yes, now beat it!

A joke. I'm sure dealer Michael Jackson always finds that amusing.

After dropping off James Braxton, James Lewis has driven on eight miles to Oxford.

Known as "the city of dreaming spires",

a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold,

Oxford is home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

James has adopted a little bit of student chic to mark the occasion.

His first port of call is Antiques On High.

-Hi there.

-Hello.

-Can I leave that there?

-That's fine.

-I'm James.

-I'm Caroline. Nice to meet you.

It isn't long before James spots something that looks like a silver sugar basket.

Unmarked with a family crest.

I think it's early. I think it's 18th century.

I'm hoping...

-I'm hoping it might be Irish, the fact that it's not marked.

-OK.

-What could that be?

-35 on there... I can get 30.

-Is 20 any good?

-He wouldn't do 20. He might do 25 if he's in the right mood.

I could ring him and see if it's got a chance.

25, save your phone bill. Take a gamble.

Let's do it, James. LAUGHTER

Quick and easy! Not much wrong with that. Let's hope it's silver and not silver plate.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Cheers.

-Bye-bye.

James is off to a good start with a little time on his hands, so he's staying in Oxford

to visit a man with a passion for wind. Sounds rude, but I'm saying nothing.

James has come to meet Andy Lamb, curator of one of the world's largest collections of instruments

at the University's Faculty of Music.

-I'm James. Nice to see you.

-James, welcome.

-Hi.

What an amazing collection of clarinets and blowy things!

-Welcome to the Bate Collection.

-Is this place open to the public?

-We absolutely are.

This is one of the finest collections of musical instruments in the country, if not the world.

We're a global resource.

The collection was donated by Philip Bate,

a radio and TV producer from the early days of the BBC.

As a scholar of musical instruments, his love of music started as a child

after seeing a concert at his school. After that, he just had to get a instrument of his own.

-He got a clarinet, did he?

-He did, yes.

What his mother did was she asked around friends and family

and somebody came up with an instrument which he happily handed over

and it was not quite what he was expecting.

-What was it?

-It was an 18th century instrument.

-No, really?

-And is that in your collection still?

-It certainly is. We can go and have a look at it.

-After you.

The early clarinet is one of over a thousand instruments at the Faculty.

The collection shows the musical and mechanical development of all wind and percussion instruments

from the Renaissance and the Baroque to modern times.

-This is Henry.

-Hello, Henry.

-Hi.

-Is that THE clarinet?

-That is THE clarinet.

-Let's have a look.

-It's obviously in boxwood and ivory.

-It's boxwood, ivory.

We know that this was made by Miller

and that tells us that it's pre-1790s.

OK. Tell me, Henry, are you an expert on 18th century instruments?

-Well, yes, I am.

-Oh, fantastic!

The experts are getting younger. It's a bit like policemen!

PLAYS "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

-Very good, very good.

-Thank you.

I have to say, it does really make me feel old

when the experts are playing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

LAUGHTER

Throughout his life, Bate collected and studied musical instruments,

scouring junk shops and markets.

He used his woodworking skills to restore items in the collection and when he later mastered metalworking,

he turned his hand to even more musical marvels.

-This is one of the ones he made himself.

-OK.

There's a number of things that are wrong with it design-wise,

but considering he wasn't actually an instrument-maker himself,

this is a very, very good effort, a very good design.

It's made from stock trumpet parts.

So what did he base this design on?

It's based on a 17th century trumpet design.

-We've got an English version of it just over here.

-That one?

-Yeah.

By a maker called Simon Beale.

Wow, that is fantastic!

-Beale was an interesting man. He was state trumpeter to Oliver Cromwell.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Does it still work?

-Yes, absolutely.

-Go for it. Let's hear the sound.

PLAYS TUNE

That is wonderful.

By the mid-1960s, Bate was convinced his instruments could be used for a much greater purpose.

-DEEP SOUND

-Hello!

As London and Edinburgh Universities already had their own collections, he donated his to Oxford University

on the condition that it was a teaching collection with a specialist curator,

more importantly, that the instruments would be maintained and played.

Oh, my word!

-Here we go.

-No...

-Oh, yes!

-That's huge.

-Come on, give me the horn.

FAINT SOUND

My goodness!

PLAYS SOME NOTES

Finally, James Lewis finds a use for all that hot air.

-That was better.

-That was convincing. Well done.

-Where was that from?

-That is a Swiss alphorn.

I think I've stretched my ribs!

LAUGHTER

Congratulations and well done. You've passed the test.

Thank you very much. I feel quite faint.

Whilst James Lewis has been mastering the horn,

James Braxton has "Beetled" on to Bicester 15 miles away.

-Hello. James.

-Hello, James. Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-I'm Karen.

-Karen. This is a lovely place, isn't it?

-Yes, it's very refreshing.

The Old Flight House covers 6,000 square feet and has 50 dealers under one roof,

so a personal guide is probably the best way for James to go. Carry on shopping!

Before long, our Jack Nicholson lookalike has spied a silver charm bracelet for £33.

Maybe it reminds him of The Shining!

Now, could that be a silly price of, say, £20?

-A silly price?

-No, not a...

-That would be a good price, wouldn't it?

-How about 21?

-£21, you have a deal, Karen.

-I just like the number.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-I'm very pleased with that, Karen. That's very kind.

-Good.

-There's the 20.

-Perfect.

-And the one.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much indeed, Karen. Bye.

-Bye-bye.

Just like that, the first day's shopping is done. Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?

But rest up. There's more to come in the morning. Night-night, boys!

Having regrouped and counted their pennies to see what's left, our bold boys are back on the road.

-How many did you buy yesterday?

-One.

-Only one? Really?

-Just one thing.

I bought three quite low-value items, if I had to give a clue.

So far, James Braxton has spent £66 on four buys -

the owl candle snuffer, the Staffordshire dog, the 1950s children's tea set

and the modern, silver, chain-link bracelet, which leaves him with £120.84 for the day ahead.

James Lewis, meanwhile, has spent just £25 on one lot -

the 18th century, Irish silver sugar basket,

which means he's got £243.34 and a heck of a lot of buying to do,

but then he's like that.

Before he starts his shopping though, James Braxton is giving James Lewis a much-needed head start

by dropping him off in Chipping Norton.

-Chipping Norton, eh?

-Yeah.

-Well, home of...home of many people in the news.

-Is it?

-David Cameron, Rebekah Brooks, Jeremy Clarkson.

-Oh, really?

-Rowan Atkinson.

You're right in the hotbed of it.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-I had no idea.

Thank you very much.

Well, good luck, but not too much.

Oh, dear.

-Well done. Have fun.

-Thank you.

-Don't buy any bargains. Cheers.

-Bye!

James's first shop of the day is the very modern-sounding CoCa, run by John Cooper.

-Hello there.

-Hello.

-I'm James. Nice to see you.

-How do you do, James? Pleased to meet you. I'm John.

As antiques go, John has an eclectic mix of large and small,

some smaller and more eclectic than others.

That's a completely weird object, isn't it?

-Can you imagine James Braxton's face if I bought that?

-Go on, I dare you!

What do you think it is then?

I think... I think it's Japanese.

And this section is carved out of a nut.

-The parasol, the face and the cane, I think, are bone.

-Yeah.

-Or the tongue might be stained ivory, but more than likely, probably bone.

-Right.

And I think it's probably a figure from a Japanese comedy, about 1900, 1910. What can that be?

15?

-I'll have to make you a cheeky offer of a fiver.

-A tenner and it's yours.

Eight and you've got a deal.

-Only because it's totally stupid.

-Go on then.

£8, you've got a deal. Thank you.

-There we are. Thank you.

-That's very kind. Cheers.

-That's great.

-Nice to meet you.

-Have a good day.

Back in the Beetle, James Braxton has driven to Gaydon in Warwickshire to take a much-needed pit stop.

With a bit of time to spare, James has come to the Heritage Motor Centre near Banbury,

home to the world's largest collection of historic British cars.

And he's driving a VW Beetle! Has the man no shame?

Hopefully, curator Tim Bryan will forgive him.

-Hello.

-Hello, James. Welcome to the Heritage Motor Centre.

-What an amazing place!

-All British cars here?

-Yes, everything in the museum is built in this country,

right from the 1890s up to the present.

I'm rather ashamed to tell you I've come up in the VW, our German cousins.

The Germans have had quite a lot to do with our industry over the last few years,

so I'm sure that's a good connection.

In the 1970s, the newly formed British Leyland company sorted out

all the old motors it had in storage, turning up vintage vehicles of all shapes and sizes

from the Mini to the Land Rover, Rolls-Royce to the Aston Martin.

Although the collection focuses on iconic British brands,

the motor industry first began in the home of James's VW.

This is where the story starts. You mentioned German cars.

This is a replica of a German car.

This is a replica of the first Benz car, built back in 1886.

-It looks like a trap, like a horse and trap, doesn't it?

-It is.

In 1886, Otto Benz, when he built this car, it was based, I guess, on the technology of the time,

so a bit of horse-drawn technology and also a bit of bike technology.

-The wheels look very much like a bicycle tyre.

-They do, don't they?

-What is this?

-These are solid rubber tyres.

But it's got hardly any features you'd recognise.

The steering, of course, is a tiller, so if you want to move it, you can do that.

And of course, there's no boot, there's no windscreen.

But it can only do about nine miles an hour, so it was very primitive.

The story I love to tell is it's said that Mrs Benz actually drove it first, rather than Mr Benz.

Mr Benz had to run along behind with his toolbox to make sure it didn't break down.

A bit like some of our classic cars on the Road Trip then!

But it's not just old bangers that make up the collection.

There are a few well-known models from the silver screen where the car really was the star.

Those of us who are old enough to remember the original Thunderbirds series of the '60s and the '70s,

this takes you back to that. This is Lady Penelope's FAB 1.

This is a glorious piece of pink, isn't it?

It certainly is. It's the pinkest thing we have in the museum.

It's a bit of a curio, but very popular all the same. It does actually run.

The car was supplied by the Ford Motor Company for the 2004 film version

and is based on a Ford Thunderbird.

F-A-B!

From one of the campest cars in the collection to one of the coolest...

Ah, Mr Bond, I've been expecting you.

The James Bond fans will, of course, recognise the V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day.

-Die Another Day.

-Yes.

-Was that on the ice with the Jaguar?

-That's right, yes.

Again, a fantastic bit of technology. You have to have deep pockets

to own and run one, but really the flagship of the Aston Martin fleet.

As far as many people are concerned, this is one of the iconic British cars, so it's great to have it here.

No longer in production, the V12 Vanquish would have set you back around £160,000

and that's without an ejector seat!

One of the things I think that this place is really successful at

is getting people to think about and look at their memories of cars,

so people think, "My dad had one of those cars,"

or, "We went on holiday in that sort of car," or, "That was my first car."

A real trip down memory lane and the best of British all under one roof.

And with that, it's time for our special agent James Braxton

to get back in his classic car and on the road.

Oh, less 007, more...

Herbie Goes Bananas?

Time now for James to head down to Deddington to continue his shopping.

His final shop of the day is the Deddington Antiques Centre, run by dealer Brenda Haller.

It's got a bit of weight to it.

-Good.

-Brenda's shop is famous for the Deddington Duck.

Not an ornament, but a move.

Duck!

Too late!

Slightly concussed, James spots a rather curious curio.

-A bombilla.

-Is that what it is?

-Yeah. It's for tea.

-Ah!

-So it's a South American thing.

-And this is a gourd.

-Yeah.

You put your leaves or whatever and the water in there.

-Because it was all pretty messy stuff, you drink through the straw.

-How amazing!

-That might be a possibility, Brenda.

-Let's hold it out.

-Let's keep it out.

Next up, James has his eye on a white metal bowl which Brenda thinks is an ashtray.

Yeah, that's one that slots on, you know, when they had a table at the side?

-Oh, I see.

-You'd slot that one on to a piece of wood.

-It's got dragons on it, has it?

-Dragons, yeah.

If you saw that, you would think Chinese,

then you turn it over and you've got the Arabic script. Isn't that interesting?

-Leave it out. You held it more than 2 seconds, so you're interested.

-You're reading me, you see!

You crafty dealers.

He seems to be starting a collection of possible maybes.

There's a piece of Japanese silver there. Could have been a tea bowl, trinket bowl, sake bowl.

-Who knows?

-Yeah.

-Nice price at £22, but they don't seem to know what it is.

I reckon it could be a rice bowl lid. Well, it is if you hold it the right way up, James.

But he's not done yet. He's turning into a bit of a magpie today.

-Oh, that's a good weight.

-It's not silver. Silver plate.

-Any other redeeming features?

It's nice and heavy. Walker and Hall. Can't get better than that.

-And actually it's a perfect thing for you to put your goodies on.

-It is, isn't it?

-Let's have a look what it looks like.

-Put it on there. Very good.

-Fantastic.

-Sets them off, doesn't it?

James has selected the gourd jobby at £68, the white metal bowl at £78,

the silver lid at £22 and the tray at £38.

A grand total of £206. How's he going to manage that when he's only got £120.84 left to spend.

-I see the package at £100.

-You do?

-Is that...?

-This is a one-off deal.

-One-off.

-I don't do this for anybody else, but because you're so lovely...

-You're too kind.

-..I will do it. I want you to win.

-Good. Thank you.

Obviously the Jack Nicholson approach goes down rather well.

-Good on you, James.

-Thank you very much. In the till!

A selection of items at half price. That's as good as it gets. Well done, Jack. I mean, James.

14 miles down the road, James Lewis has travelled on to complete his shopping in Yarnton.

With only two lots in the old bag, he's got some catching up to do.

-Hello.

-Hello there.

-You all right?

At the Yarnton Antiques Centre, manager Mia Pratley is busy, so James goes on independent patrol.

The great thing about these little tins was that there were Jacobs Biscuits

and other makers who were designing these novelty tins just to help try to sell their biscuits.

I suppose from about 1900 to the 1930s.

And they're now really sought after.

But one thing that is so important is condition.

And there's a hole there for some reason. Could that be a tenner?

It might be worth a go.

With a price tag of £18, James is going in with a cheeky offer.

-A tenner. Is that any good to you?

-Please.

-Yeah?

Star! OK, thank you very much. Bye-bye.

-You have a sale.

-Yay! It was worth a go.

-Finally.

-Brilliant. OK, well, that's one.

-And once he's started, there's no stopping him.

Next on his shopping list is a 19th-century Regency ormolu pocket watch stand,

circa 1825.

-Looks nice.

-Could you offer 20 for me?

-I'll try for you.

Shortly followed by a string of ivory beads for £30.

It's legal to buy and sell items that were made of ivory before 1947.

So, James, what to do?

-15?

-15.

-Just give it a go. See what happens.

-Right, OK.

-Thank you very much.

-What would be your absolute best?

-Whilst Mia phones the dealer, James gets back into the cabinets

just in case he's missed something.

-As it's you, yes, she'll go 20 on the stand and 15 on the ivory.

-Brilliant.

-OK?

-That's a deal. Thank you.

He really is on a roll now.

-The little pig that says, "Scratch me," on it.

-A bacon roll!

-There you go.

-Thank you. Oh, that's funny.

It would have had a bit of sandpaper or something there, do you think?

Not necessarily if the box slid in. You'd have the striker on the box.

On the side...

At £9, the Victorian brass match case is a cute novelty item,

but he's not committing just yet, not when he's just spotted a tortoiseshell and bone trousse,

the Chinese equivalent of a Swiss Army penknife, at £55.

It's a knife, a pair of chopsticks and a little bone implement for digging bits out of places.

Tortoiseshell is now covered by the same laws that protect ivory,

but because the trousse pre-dates 1947, it's legal to trade.

-25. Just see.

-..You've got 55. He's offering 25.

Another cheeky offer gets a cheeky response.

I won't say what she called you. She says for 30 you can have it. She can't go down to 25.

Go on, James. What's an extra fiver when you've still got £190 to spend?

-Don't be tight.

-Deal.

-Thank you.

-Thanks very much.

-OK.

So James has lucked out in his last shop. That's the biscuit tin for £10,

the pocket watch stand for £20, the ivory beads for £15

and the oriental trousse for £30.

-How much do I owe you?

-75, please.

And with one last throw of the dice he takes a £9 gamble on the pig matchbox holder.

-I like buying small things.

-Good luck with that.

-Thank you.

With both our experts well and truly shopped out, it's time to feast their eyes on each other's buys

in a quiet country retreat.

-So how have you found it? Confident?

-No, tricky this time.

-I found it very tricky.

-Let's see how tricky it was.

-OK.

-There we go.

-A good mixed bag there.

-It is a mixed bag.

-What do you think is your winner?

-That, probably.

-Yeah.

-1936, stagecoach. Made in 1936.

They seem to make £60-£100 in auction in a bit of ropey condition. In mint condition, £200.

Shame yours is a bit battered, then.

-Next...

-Just look at this.

-Oh, he's rather good, isn't he?

-Japanese nut and bone.

-But look...

-Fabulous.

So the eyes come out on stalks. And age?

-What do you think?

-1910? Something around there?

I don't know. These seem all a bit crisp. I don't know.

Interesting. I've never seen the like. How much did you buy it for?

-He was eight quid.

-Did you spend anything more than £10?

-That was 25.

-But I think it's Irish silver.

-So he's still not certain.

-Anyway, how about you?

-Here we go.

-I, rather like you, have gone slightly around the world.

-Oh.

-I like the gourd.

-The bombilla.

It's one of those, South American as you know.

Oh, I like that. I like that.

-How much was this?

-I bought that and this little fellow over here for £55.

-I love that.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-How much have you spent?

117.

117 only?

-I know!

-Could do better.

-Good luck at the auction.

-Thanks very much.

Yes, you always say that, boys. Now tell us what you really think.

I think he'll do very well with the novelty biscuit tin. £10. It's got to have interest in it.

Without question, my favourite thing is the gourd. Is there a great profit? Probably not.

-There might be a few pounds in it.

-He hasn't seen the thing to lure his hand deep inside his pocket.

It's been very shallow diving in Mr Lewis' pocket thus far.

Miaow! Saucer of milk for James Braxton.

From Yarnton, our boys embark on the final 33 miles of today's trip to the auction in Swindon. Lovely.

-This is lovely. Very pretty.

-Isn't it? Very nice.

-I expected a more urban environment.

Yeah. Loads of car parking. Bodes well for private buyers!

Today our boys are battling it out at Kidson Trigg Auction House, a family business,

that not only serves the local buyers, but internet bidders from around the world.

Is Mark Anderson as impressed with their items as they are?

There's a couple of interesting lots. The calabash gourd with the drinking straw.

I think that's potentially going to be interesting.

The other lot that springs to mind is described as a sugar basket.

We're in a bit of a dispute. James thinks it's silver. I'm not entirely convinced.

It's got the construction of old Sheffield plate. The expert buyers will hammer it out

and it'll show in the final price.

Controversial! James Lewis started out with £268.34

and spent £117 on six lots,

leaving him with a cash stash of £151.34.

James Braxton started with £186.84

and bought six lots, spending £166,

leaving him with £20.84 in hand.

Nice.

First for James Braxton is the Royal Worcester owl candle snuffer and the Staffordshire dog.

-Quite a humorous pair.

-Yeah.

£20 anywhere? £20 to start me?

10 to get on, surely. 10.

£10 bid. 15 where? At 15. At 15.

You're out in front, madam. £20. 5 again. 25. 25.

30 would you like? £30 bid. 35. 35. 35. Would you like 40?

At £40. £40.

With the lady at the front at 40. One more? No more. At 40. All done?

Any further calls? Selling then at £40.

-Well done.

-A small profit, isn't it?

Any smaller and it would be a loss! A lucky escape, James Braxton.

Time to lift the lid on James Lewis' first item, the novelty biscuit tin.

-I had confidence in this.

-And this was bought for £50?

-10.

In good condition these make £80.

How much for one in bad condition?

Oh, thanks(!) He's killed that.

£20? Surely worth that. £10 anyone?

Thank you. I'm started at £10. At 10. 15?

20 would you like? At £20. £20 here with the lady.

At £20. £20. Have we any further calls?

-£20 is all I have for this?

-He's unlikely to get any more, is he?

Crumbs. I'm sensing a bit of tension here as James only doubles his money. He's going crackers.

-It was worn, James.

-A bit worn.

-It was worn.

Next, James Braxton's children's tea set.

-I paid £10 for this.

-Don't tell anyone.

£10 to get on for this. No interest at £10?

Surely there's somebody out there. Buy it for somebody you don't like.

How about a fiver, then? £5 at the back of the room. 10.

15. At 15. Shakes his head. At £15 at the back of the room.

I will sell, make no mistake. If there's no further calls...

At £15, then. All done?

£30-£40 estimate. It was so exciting, wasn't it?

£15. Tiny.

But it's still a profit. Just.

Next, James Lewis' lot is the string of ivory beads.

They're useful for restoration.

-I'm no ivory fan.

-Who'll start me on those, then?

£20 to start me, surely. £20?

£20 I'm bid. At 20. 25.

At 30. At 35.

40. At 45.

Shakes his head. At £45 on the right-hand side.

At £45 in the room. All out at home?

I'm selling at 45 if there's no advance. At 45.

-45.

-Well done. That's 30 quid.

James is slowly, but surely creeping ahead with another healthy profit.

James Braxton's next lot is the modern silver bracelet.

Let's hope it gives him the profit he so desperately needs.

-It's pretty, isn't it?

-It is.

-Who's got £20 for the chain? £20?

Come on.

£20? 10, then, to get on, surely. £10 at the back.

We've started. £10 the bid. Who's got 15?

-£15 for the hand over there.

-Good. 15.

He shakes his head. He's out. At 15 on the left.

Are there any further calls? Done and finished? Fair warming at home.

-Sold for 15.

-Not a lot of internet action on my lots.

-A loss.

A loss.

It's just not James Braxton's day, is it?

-Next, it's the 19th-century ormolu pocket watch stand for James Lewis.

-Oh, here we are.

Who's going to start me off at £30? Surely got to be worth that. 30?

20 to get on? 20? £20 I'm bid, thank you. 5. 25.

25. £30. 5, surely.

At £30. That's all I have for this.

At 30. In the room at £30. 35?

-Are you bidding against each other?

-No!

-You want to watch doing that.

Go on! Do bid against each other!

Go on! Bid against!

-At 30. For the last time. If there's no advance, I will sell at £30.

-Back of the room!

-35.

Your turn to go again, sir. 40.

45, thank you. 45.

Are you sure? At 45. 45.

One more? Maybe? At 45 at the back of the room. I've tried for you.

What can I do? £45. I'm selling.

A timely profit. Maybe the other James could do with the husband and wife bidding on his items!

I was more amused by the husband and wife bidding against each other.

That's all right. Double money.

Next for James Braxton is the oriental silver lid he bought as part of a job lot.

-Your little silver bowl.

-Who's got £20?

£20, surely. Who's got £20? £10?

£10 for the hand at the back. Who'd like 15 here? 15.

Would you go again? £15 on the left-hand side.

At 15. At 15. For the last time. 20 to the 'net.

At £20. Do you want to go again. Shakes his head. £20 to the internet.

-£20.

-Selling then at 20.

-20.

-That's not good, is it?

-No.

If you want to go home now, James, it's fine. We'll hold the fort.

Strike a light! It's the Victorian match case, but will it spark any interest?

£10 note to get on? £10 to start this one? Thank you. The lady's there at 10.

-£10.

-You're away.

-£15. 20 again?

Yes, £20 I'm bid. At 20.

5 again to the internet bidder.

At 25. Want to go again, madam?

Out at the front, then. At home at £25.

All done and finished? 30.

£30. £30.

Fair warning at home. Selling to the internet at £30.

-Done. At £30.

-That's not bad.

-30. Brilliant. Pleased with that.

So you should be. A great mark-up. James is as happy as a pig in...

profit.

Goodness, gracious! Time for James Braxton's next item.

-A gourd, elevated to artistic status.

-It's a gourd lot!

-It is.

-Look, I do the gags.

-And it comes with a Chinese bowl.

Yeah, OK.

Start me off. Who's got 40? £40?

40. Who's got 20, then, to get on?

£20? It's got to be worth that. £20 anywhere?

Interesting lot. £20 at the back. £20 bid. Who's got 5?

-At 20. At 20.

-Come on! It's worth more!

Should be worth more than that. I rated it more like 60 or 70.

-Definitely!

-Come on. At £20. At 20. At 20.

5 anywhere else? It's the young gentleman at the back.

-If there's no further calls, I have instructions to sell.

-Oh, no!

You're all out except for the young gentleman? Selling at £20.

-Ouch!

-That was rather disappointing.

-I'll say! A loss of £35 would wipe the smile from anyone's face.

Bad luck, Brackers, old boy.

The next lot has caused a little controversy.

It's the Irish silver sugar basket. Or is it?

Here's the basket. Irish silver. Or I'm hoping is Irish silver.

We have a difference of opinion, myself and James, on this one.

I believe it's silver-plated, James believes it's silver. We are selling it as white metal.

-He thinks it's silver plate because it's not marked.

-Who's going to start me off?

£50 to get on? £50 for it? £50?

-Surely it's got to be worth that.

-They've written "silver metal".

55 anywhere else? 55. 60. 60 in the room.

Out at home at £60. At £60.

-It wouldn't make that if it was silver plate.

-They have written silver, though.

Against you at home. At £70. £70.

Is there 5 anywhere else? I'd like a bit more, please. At £70.

Finished at home. Anyone else? At £70. 5 in the corner. 75. 80. 85.

90. Starting to roll now. 95. £100. Would you like 10, madam?

110. Shakes his head.

That's because it's silver!

Want to go again? You sure? 110.

-Go on.

-All out at home. At 110. I'm selling if there's no advance to the lady at £110.

-Good.

-Well done.

-That's double your money.

-Well, whatever its silver pedigree, the bidders love the sugar basket.

Sweet. Next, it's James Braxton's final lot, the Walker and Hall tray.

Quite a lot of wear on it.

Is there £10 to get on for this? £10, surely.

Who's got a fiver for it? £5 to get started. In the middle.

-At 5. At 8.

-Go on!

-At 8.

We've 10 on the net. Going crazy!

At £15, the lady on the left. At £15 then, all done? If there's no advances, I will sell. At 15.

That's yours, madam. 318. Thank you very much.

-Oh, James.

-Oh, James, indeed! It's been a bad day for James Braxton.

So much so, they've gone all mute. Both of them.

James Lewis' last lot is the Kobe Japanese novelty and the oriental trousse.

Who's going to start me off? 40?

£40, thank you. At £40. 45. 50.

55? 55 on the left-hand side. At 55.

55. 55. 60. 65.

-It's all around us.

-75. 80.

£80 there. 80. At 80.

At 80. At 80. At 80. Are we done?

Are we finished? All out at home?

The hammer's up at 80.

-Well done.

-Good.

A final flourish for James Lewis and another tidy profit to end with.

You should be smothering that auctioneer in kisses.

After you. James Braxton started the show with £186.84

and after auction costs he's made a loss of £63.50,

sending him through to the next round with £123.34.

James Lewis started with £268.34

and after auction costs he's made a profit of £153.60,

taking his total to £421.94

and claiming his second victory in a row.

I think I'll drive, James.

It will keep my mind off the obvious disappointment.

Oh, this seat's wet!

Oh, dear. Now come on, boys, cheer up. It's still all to play for.

-On to the next.

-On to the next.

Next time: when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

All the way to Jersey and it's not just the locals having a hard time.

I wonder what 34p buys you in a very splendid antiques shop.

-You're a hard man.

-I'm not that hard! I haven't given you a price!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd