Episode 27 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!

Sometimes a man is in need.

The aim? To make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat -

there'll be worthy winners and valiant losers!

Knobbly nick-nacks!

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

It landed on the rug!

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

Jostling for pole position on their second leg of this week's road trip

are intrepid master antiquarians, Charles Hanson and Charlie Ross.

Worldly-wise Charlie Ross is a record-breaking auctioneer,

with over 25 years' experience.

He knows what he wants when he sees it.

I want that! I want that! I want that!

While the hungry young pretender Charles Hanson

is an auctioneer and valuer that will do almost anything to seal a deal.

The car! The car needs washing. I'll wash the car, anything else?

Both Charles and Charlie started the week with £200

and after the first leg,

Charlie has £226.30 to splash on more goodies.

Charles, however, is sliding backwards,

and starts this leg on only £172.20.

So he'll be hoping for success today to get him back in the game.

Charles and Charlie are cruising in a 1971 Triumph TR6.

But it hasn't always been plain sailing.

I can't get it into gear.

Let's hope it's more reliable on this leg of the trip, eh?

This week Charles and Charlie are travelling around 500 miles

through the glorious heartlands of England -

from Tarporley in Cheshire

to Itchen Stoke near Winchester in Hampshire.

On this leg of the trip they begin in Chesterfield

and end up 50 miles away at an auction in Grantham.

-This is your county!

-Absolutely!

-Derbyshire is a great cricketing county.

-Yeah!

We're also heading to a wonderful, wonderful town with a wonky spire.

The wonky spire is an iconic landmark in the town of Chesterfield.

Which is the chaps' first stop.

It's also home to one of the largest outdoor markets in Britain.

Time for Charlie's bargain-buying blitz to begin.

And Charles wants him to look for real antiques today,

and steer away from his usual knobbly nick-nacks.

-Stop it! Give me my hat!

-Go on inside!

Give me my hat! Give me my hat!

Dear, oh, dear! What on earth is Charlie wearing?!

-See you later! Be big and be bold.

-Natty(!)

-I'll be big and bold.

Marlene and I - We're going to hit it off.

Best foot forward!

CHARLIE HUMS TO HIMSELF

-You must be Marlene.

-I am that. And you must be Charlie.

-I am indeed.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Lovely to meet you.

-You can have a browse, do what you want.

-I'll have a good look.

Typical pressed brass roundels.

Nice cut glass inkwells.

Charlie's spotted a miniature portrait in a fake ivory frame,

with a ticket price of £38.

I am just looking at a little thing here which is of no great age -

-although it might be Edwardian.

-Yeah.

It's probably as late as 1950s.

But, so what, because it's a charming object,

and I think we can safely say this is ivorine, or something.

Yes, I'd have thought so.

And it's almost based on the Girl with the Pearl Earring.

That's a famous picture, isn't it?

If I bought that, Charles would get frightfully cross with me

for buying something that isn't antique,

but, you know - who's winning the competition, Charles?

Yes, indeed. Good point, Charlie. Well made.

But what kind of deal can Marlene come up with?

How hard can you try on that?

-25.

-Can you...?!

That's trying quite hard, isn't it? £25 - well within my budget.

So I'm going to have that, if I may.

Right. I'm going into the deep depths!

Mind the step there, old boy.

Rummage, rummage...!

There's loads for me to look at! Absolutely loads.

Oh, what have you got here?!

-Hey!

-I know.

What do I like?

Knobbly nick-nack alert!

Charlie is fanatical about cricket

and he's just spotted a Victorian cricket print.

Without a ticket price.

What do I love in life? Cricket!

Well, that explains the outfit.

"Winge-worth cricket club team..."

-Winger-worth.

-Oh, I beg your pardon. Oh, what a fab thing!

I LOVE the image of it all!

-Is it ever-so cheap?

-I can't price everything...

-This is priceless!

-You can imagine! You tell me how cheap.

-A fiver.

I'll pay a fiver for it.

If you want that for a fiver, you can have it for a fiver.

Are you sure? It's not everybody's cup of tea, is it, frankly?

But...it's wonderful!

I want that! I want that! I want that!

-Well, you have it, Charles.

-I want that. Fab.

And what Charlie wants, Charlie gets.

You know what Charles said to me?

He said when you go out shopping this time, he said,

I don't want you buying any knobbly nick-nacks!

And there's a knobbly nick-nack!

He just can't help himself can he?

Among the many items in Marlene's shop,

is this Edwardian nursing chair with marquetry inlay.

That's caught Charlie's attention.

That would have been, originally, part of a nine-piece salon suite,

-I think, don't you?

-Yes.

-Look at all that workmanship.

-Yeah.

The ticket price on the chair is £30,

and Marlene is offering it for £15,

but cheeky Charlie is still trying to haggle her down to ten!

Where would you get a chair with all that inlay on for £10?

-Here, I would've thought!

-Not for £10!

-£12?

-No!

-£15..?

-Don't. I'm always happy to do a deal, but...

No, £15. I'm not mincing around any more - 15 quid.

Deal done at £15 for the chair.

-I've got three bits, there'll all make a profit.

-Have a nice day!

Thank you so much for looking after me.

Hold on, Charlie. You've forgotten something!

Charlie! Your hat!

Oh, my hat!

-That's worth more than the things I've bought!

-To you, it is!

Thank you very much.

One shop down, and he's bought three items already.

Which only cost him £45.

So, he's still got £181.30 to spend on the rest of the trip.

Meanwhile, it's Charles's turn to get shopping,

and his first shop is Bolsover Antique Centre

where he's meeting Carol.

-I'm Charles.

-Pleased to meet you. My name's Carol.

-Hi, Carol. Great centre!

I'm after something that's quite quirky, auction-friendly...

-Anything you can point me in the right direction of.

-Yep.

-We'll have a look around, shall we?

-Thank you, Carol.

OK, time to unearth some real gems and get back in the game, Charles.

Sometimes, with all these cabinets it's like a needle in a haystack.

But it will yell at me. It might prick me, and that's a good sign -

you've found the needle, you've found the treasure.

Charles' dreams of finding treasure may have just come true.

But is it the real McCoy?

Peculiar coin...

"Walking stick penny, dated 1912."

-And stamped "RMS Titanic". Carol?

-Yes.

This little walking stick penny here...

Do you know who the owner is, at all?

Just ask him was it stamped recently

or has it got some possible pedigree?

-Yes. I'll check on that.

-Thanks, Carol.

The Titanic coin, has a ticket price of only £8.

But if it's genuine, it could be worth a lot more.

If that penny had been on board Titanic,

it's worth £1,000.

And the interesting thing is,

it's sitting in a cabinet that's full of real history.

So, who knows?

Carol has rung the dealer who believes the coin to be genuine,

but Charles just isn't sure.

-I'll give it some thought.

-OK, that's fine.

-Thanks ever so much.

Thanks, Carol. Thanks.

Maybe I ought to go for a really rare carving,

or something that I have a passion for.

And with that in mind, young Charles has spotted not one,

but two rare Far Eastern carvings.

-I mean, this here has the old label that's come from a museum.

-Yeah.

An antiquities department.

The ticket price on this Indian goddess figure is a big 150.

I'm really tempted to go all Oriental, and speculate a bit.

Because life's too short.

This Chinese seated immortal figure is also £150.

And as both the carvings and the Titanic penny

are owned by the same dealer,

Charles wants to speak to him direct,

to see if he can strike a deal.

Hi, Ray.

Ray, if I bought all three items, being a Derbyshire man,

you'd want to meet me somewhere between £150 and £120, would you?

No. He's a good man, he says 150 is his absolute best.

£140?

Ray, call it £140 and you've got a deal.

If you don't speculate with the exotic

and if you don't go Eastern, you never know.

Are you sure, Ray? Go for it, he says.

Derbyshire man says go for it, I'll go for it.

Thanks, Ray. Going, going, gone. Sold. Thanks, Ray.

I'll take them all. These objects have a chance.

They're either worth £25-£30 each or they're worth £500 each.

And what are we riding on the Road Trip? A roller-coaster!

And life's too short. Done.

So, with that bumper deal done,

Charles has spent a huge £140 of his £172.20

on two tatty-looking Far Eastern carvings and the dubious penny.

Let's hope the gamble pays off, eh?

With little left of his budget,

Charles decides to take break from shopping

and hop in the car to Old Whittington,

three miles north of Chesterfield.

He's visiting an old pub where one of the most significant events

in the history of the English Crown was plotted.

The pub is now a museum called the Revolution House,

and Charles's guide is curator Anne-Marie.

-Hi. I'm Charles Hanson.

-Hello, Charles, Anne-Marie.

-And this is Revolution House.

-It is indeed.

-Fantastic.

-May I come in.

-Certainly.

-Thank you.

-After you.

Wow!

Tell me why it's called Revolution House.

Well, it's named after the revolution of 1688,

which some people call the Glorious Revolution.

And that's the revolution that deposed James II

and replaced him with William and Mary.

It was three centuries ago,

at this former ale house called the Cock and Pynot,

that three local noblemen -

including the Earl of Devonshire and the Earl of Danby -

began plotting events which led to the overthrow of King James II.

When James II came on the throne in 1685,

why only three years later was he out of favour?

He wanted to impose laws without Parliament's consent.

That and the fact that he was a Catholic,

which they also didn't like very much.

The treasonous noblemen were supposed to meet

on nearby Whittington Moor, where nobody could overhear them,

but rain forced them to seek shelter in the pub.

So maybe if I'd been in that pub, in the 1680s,

I may have heard some whispers coming from over there.

You might well have done.

-Because over there was the room called the...

-Plotting Parlour.

And it's now demolished, sadly.

I thought you might like to see a picture

of what it looked like in 1788 -

one of the first illustrations that we have.

So, back in 1688,

the building might have looked a lot different,

but would have still comprised rooms like kitchen, stables, groom house

and, of course, the plotting parlour.

Behind you is an important chair.

It's a replica of an important chair.

It's called the Plotting Chair,

and it's recorded from at least 1788,

that this was the chair in which one of the conspirators actually sat.

-May I take a seat?

-Certainly. Which is great.

But if it was the original chair, we wouldn't be able to let you sit in it.

-Would you not?

-No.

-Why not?

-Well, it would be far too precious.

Oh. And I'm not? Fine.

The real Plotting Chair is preserved by the National Trust at nearby Hardwick Hall.

All this talk of plotting has got Charlie thinking.

I'm plotting to beat my friend Charlie Ross

on the Antiques Road Trip. How do I do it? Any suggestions?

Well, if you can get hold of any of this...

This is a puzzle jug.

-Yes.

-It's known as Brampton ware.

This style of pottery was made mostly in the mid-Victorian period -

1830s, 1860s -

but what you do with it is fill it with beer,

and then try and get people to drink out of it without spilling it.

Yeah, I like it. And what do you want for it?

-Oh, no, I'm afraid I'm not selling it!

-Oh, really?!

Oh, well, that's it. That's done, then.

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 is considered to be

one of the most important events in the evolution of the powers

of Parliament and the crown.

And the Revolution House takes its place proudly in that history.

With the tour of this legendary pub almost at an end, Charles has

convinced Anne-Marie to give him one for the road, from the puzzle jug.

Alcohol-free, obviously.

SHE LAUGHS

No, it hasn't. Oh, my goodness me! It hasn't... It hasn't worked.

Look at me. I'd better change my shirt now.

-Thank you, Anne-Marie. Thanks.

-Silly boy.

And with that, he is back on the road again.

Meanwhile, Charlie Ross travelled to the old spa town of Matlock,

where his search for knobbly knick-knacks

continues in Matlock Antiques.

-Hello, how are you doing?

-Hello, my dear. Are you the boss?

-Yeah, well, stand-in boss today.

-Lots of bosses. Are you all bosses?

-Boss, boss and boss, yeah.

-I'm Charlie, and you are?

-Lynne.

-Lynne.

-And Judy.

-And I'm Judy.

-Judy.

-And Margaret.

-LJM!

If you stay in that order, I'll remember.

Oh, lordy, Charlie, stop chatting up the ladies

and get down to the business of buying!

That really is unusually large, isn't it?

There's an amber cigarette holder down here with cheroot holder,

which appears to have a gold rim round it.

Ticket price on the cheroot holder is £8.50, but I think Charlie

is more interested in the scrap value of the gold.

Wrapped it up for you.

18-carat gold.

What's the scrap price of 18-carat gold today? £20 a gram?

Something like that?

You're not far off the mark there, Charlie.

-In its original box as well?

-Yeah.

-Probably be a fiver, couldn't it?

-Probably could.

-Probably could.

Could you put that on one side, my dear?

That'll be another knobbly knick-knack, Charles, I'm afraid.

It's time, old boy, to start buying some real antiques.

Who had one when he was a child? Charlie Ross.

Who used to smash them into each other

and render them completely valueless? Charlie Ross.

He's been all over the shop and still hasn't splashed any cash.

But, hold on, maybe Steve, who's a dealer here, can help.

You've got proper antiques inhere, haven't you?

Yeah, that might interest you, that one at the bottom.

Creamware jug.

Isn't that so primitive and delightful?

That ribbon, paintwork round the top, it's so crude, isn't it?

I mean, it's a real naive charm.

"When this you see Remember me And keep me in your mind

"Let all the world say what they will Speak of me as you find."

I think that's glorious.

There's no ticket price attached to the 18th-century creamware jug,

and it's seen better days, so it shouldn't be too pricey.

Is that delightfully cheap in its horribly bashed state, or is it...?

20 quid, sir.

Do you know, I think at last today, I am going to have that, if I may.

At last today, I'm going to buy something that Charles Hanson,

my oppo, will REALLY like.

And if he doesn't like that, I'm going to pick it up and smack it over his head.

That's not exactly cricket, old bean.

Finally, Charles has found something he is really happy with.

He's off downstairs to retrieve the item Lynne has put aside for him.

-Did you put a cheroot holder aside for me?

-I did, yes.

-Thank you.

I really would like that.

Well, the gold. You can have the other bit(!)

-HE LAUGHS

-Right, thank you!

-Right.

-I have only got a tenner. Would you give me a fiver?

-Fiver?

-Yeah, £5 is fine.

-That seems a very reasonable deal.

-Been lovely to meet you, ladies.

-Lovely to meet you, yes. Come and see us again.

-Bye-bye.

It's the end of Charlie's Matlock bargain-buying bonanza. Oh, lordy!

So, with a good night's buying in the bag for both boys,

it's time for bed. Night-night.

It's a brand-new day on this road trip,

and Charles and Charlie are in high spirits.

BOTH: # Wobbly, wobbly knick-knacks

# Wobbly, wobbly knick-knacks

# Wobbly, wobbly knick-knacks... #

Thrifty buyer Charlie has bought five items so far -

the fake ivory portrait frame, a cricket print,

an Edwardian nursing chair,

an amber-and-gold cheroot holder, and a creamware jug.

This lot only cost him £70,

so he can afford to splash out £156.30 today.

In contrast, Charles started this leg of the journey with £172.20.

Yesterday, he splurged £140 on two Far Eastern carvings

and a bronze penny, stamped "RMS Titanic".

So, he only has £32.20 to spend today.

I am not in it now to make attempts at margins.

I am in it as a high-risk contender to make a fortune or lose it all.

"I'll either make a million, or I am going to lose it all!"

The chaps are heading from Derbyshire

and across the border into Nottinghamshire.

They're on their way to the bustling old market town of Mansfield.

Robin Hood's legendary Sherwood Forest lies just to the east.

-So, this is my stop, Charlie.

-It is.

-This is where we depart.

-Good luck, keep in touch.

-Good luck.

-Got any money left?

-Yes, lots.

-Do you want a loan?

-No loan!

Charlie's first stop is a little shop owned by Jonathan Selby.

-I'm Charles Hanson.

-Jonathan Selby.

-Good to meet you, Jonathan.

-May I wander round your shop and browse?

-Absolutely no problem.

That's quite stylish.

This is interesting. What are these two cupboards down here all about?

Charles has spotted the set of watch restorer's cabinets,

in pine and mahogany, that came from a house clearance.

Open the drawers up, you'll see we've got old...

Pocket watch. Parts of pocket watch.

Pocket watch escapements, pocket watch movements.

We've got drawers full of...

Goodness me, look at that!

Old straps in here.

Look. Any old strap.

You've got a really good mix of all sorts of clock parts

in the two cabinets.

There's a ticket price of £40 on each cabinet but, oh, dear,

Charles has only got £32.20 left in his back pocket.

What's the best price on the two together, mate?

JONATHAN SIGHS

-70.

-Really?

They could be quite good for auction, because they tell a story.

-What's the absolutely best price?

-To you, 65.

-Oh, no!

I'm afraid they're well out of your price range, Carlos.

Time to walk away, mate.

That's the very best?

He's not giving up, is he?

-£60.

-Oh, don't say that! I've got to walk away.

£30 each.

-I could buy one, but it would be nice to keep the two together.

-OK.

Because they come from one home and, you know, we don't want break-ups.

Mrs Chest and Mr Chest, they want to stay together.

But my entire money is £32.20.

Would you do me a deal?

-For one?

-For two.

-For two. No, I can't do two.

-Aww!

He's like a dog with a bone with those watch cabinets.

He's not going to leave it alone, is he?

There's nothing I can do, is there? I couldn't do a job for you?

-No, I think I've got everything covered.

-Oh, come on!

Oh, come on, Jonathan. Just look at his little face!

Not wishing to give up yet,

Charles has even asked the rest of Jonathan's family for suggestions.

The car, the car needs washing! I'll wash the car. Anything else?

Got a falconry aviary, you can clean it.

You can clean the falconry aviary out!

Clean the aviary out? Are you serious? Where do you keep a falcon?

Jonathan's son keeps a falcon in the back garden.

Oh, Charles, what are you letting yourself into - guano?

Put it there. That's a job done. I've got to worry about this falcon.

There's no going back now, Charles.

Let's hope the bird's not in a bad mood, hey?

Ah, this is the man himself. This is the falcon.

Wow. He looks like a gladiator.

-What's his name?

-Maximus.

-He is a gladiator.

-Yeah.

-And the cages...

JONATHAN LAUGHS

-Oh, man!

-Yuck!

Oh, there's flies in here as well.

I told you - guano.

-Smells as well.

-Oh, dear.

-Oh, dear! OK.

-Charles...

-And this is just one night's mess?

-That's just one night's mess.

-It really smells, doesn't it?

-Nasty!

-A deal's a deal, isn't it?

-It is indeed.

You know, you can't start backing out and being soft.

No, you're doing a really good job there.

-HE COUGHS

-Oh, lordy!

When you've...made a deal...

you stick to it. Thanks, Jonathan.

I really hope now that my lot makes a small profit.

Now go and wash your hands, Charles.

He's certainly game, isn't he, our boy?

So, with the deal done, he's walked away with two

watch restorer's cabinets for £32.20 and a clean birdcage.

Well done, Charles.

And now you're broke, why don't you have the rest of the day off, mate?

Meanwhile, Charlie, or is that Billy Bunter,

has travelled southeast to Southwell,

a beautiful conservation town where Lord Byron once lived.

And with £156.30 still burning a hole in his pocket,

he is heading for a part of town called the Bull Yard,

to meet up with shopkeeper Julia.

KNOCK ON DOOR

-Knock, knock. Hello.

-Hello.

-I'm Charlie.

-Hello, nice to meet you.

Nice to see you. Thank you for letting me into your lovely shop.

-What a lovely town!

-It's fantastic, yeah.

-May I have a look around?

Yes, of course. Feel free.

They played cricket with top hats!

Leave it alone, Charlie. You've already got one cricket lot.

He's rather...

I was going to say he's jolly. He is anything but jolly, isn't he?

A Spanish peasant from Valencia.

Now, that's a name on there, isn't there?

-I mean, this is what, 1880? 1860, 1880 date?

-I think so, yes.

-Yeah.

A watercolour, on paper. But it's got a good image.

I just wish he was smiling about more.

The 19th-century framed watercolour, by an artist called Luke Price,

has sparked Charlie's interest, but it has no ticket price attached.

I notice that he is priceless.

I was thinking something in the region of 65.

-Quite a teaser that one, quite a teaser that one!

-I'm open to offers.

Quite a teaser.

Canny Charlie is mulling that one over,

while he sees what else is on offer.

That's rather splendid.

Oh, that's wonderful!

What a great idea to go by my bed.

Clock and lamp. Or on my desk.

How brilliant! God, that's a great bit of Deco, isn't it?

The Art Deco brass-cased desk timepiece and lamp

have lit Charlie up, but at £245, it's way out of his budget.

So, what's a man to do, eh?

I don't have that amount of money left on me at the moment,

but I really like that. Really like that.

That is not a knobbly knick-knack.

-No, it isn't.

-That is anything but a knobbly knick-knack.

Why don't you make me an offer on it?

-I could tell you what I've got left. Makes it simple, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

-Shall I tempt you with a price?

-Try me.

-I'll try you, then.

-Try me.

-Hang on, we're going to sit down.

-Brace yourself!

-I'll sit down.

This could be really disappointing, or the bargain of the century.

Wait for it, old boy.

What if I halve it - 120?

HE SIGHS DEEPLY

-Am I tempting you?

-HE STAMPS FEET EXCITEDLY

I'd rather do a deal and you buy something than you walk out with nothing.

If I gave you £100 cash, is that too mean?

The cheeky devil is still trying for a bigger discount!

120 on that, and I will throw in that picture as well.

-120, and you'll throw in the picture?

-Yes.

-Mwah!

-120 for that and that?

-Yes.

-Yeah?

-Yippee!

-Deal.

-Oh, you've made an old man very happy.

-Good.

-I love that.

What a terrific deal! Two items for less than half the original price.

Time to hand cash over and leave, before she changes her mind. Quick!

-That is just fab!

-You're very welcome.

-Yum.

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

And, Hanson, if you call these knobbly knick-knacks,

-I'll have your guts for garters.

-Steady, no need for threats.

So, with those final purchases in the bag,

the old boy is done with shopping.

Time for Charlie to hop back in the Triumph TR6

and motor east to Newark, to the home of an intriguing collector.

-How are you?

-I'm very well, thank you.

-How lovely to see you.

John Mollins, also known as "The Iron Man",

has made it his life's work to preserve one of Britain's

most enduring domestic appliances - the iron.

He has a collection of around 800.

Good grief!

# Oh, any old iron Any old iron

# Any, any, any old iron... #

And 240 of these make up the world's largest collection

of British gas irons.

What made you buy your first iron?

In my house, we had a stone fireplace, and I thought,

what's missing is a few oil lamps or heating to go by the bed.

And when I saw an iron, I thought, "That'll look nice on the hearth."

In the near 40 years that John has been collecting,

he's gathered examples of all types of irons from throughout history.

When was the first traditional iron? What I would call an iron?

And they all seem to be more or less the same shape.

It was called a sad iron.

-S-A-D?

-Yeah, S-A-D, or flat iron.

-Why "sad"?

Because it looks like a lump of...nothing.

The sad, or flat iron, was heated on an open fire or stove.

After that came the charcoal iron...

-Blimey, that looks like an extraordinary piece of kit.

-Yeah.

..which was heated by filling it with embers from the fire.

That looks extraordinary. It looks like a dreadnought.

These look quite interesting contraptions.

-The ones with the holes in the side.

-Spirit irons.

The spirit iron works by burning paraffin or methylated spirits to heat the sole.

And if ironing with a container full of highly flammable liquid

wasn't dangerous enough, then how about the gas iron,

-invented around 1859?

-And they all work on the same principle -

a flexible hose from the mains gas, connected to the iron.

The gas is lit as it comes in?

Yeah, it would have been a box of matches job, and a big bang.

-Quite a dangerous thing, isn't it?

-Very dangerous.

-Must have blown up!

Yeah, you had to throw a match in and do a runner for two seconds,

and then, hopefully, it stayed alight.

Throughout history, irons have been used in the home

and in laundries, where rows and rows of women would spend long days,

shoulder-to-shoulder, pressing the cloth of the upper classes.

Crikey!

-That was when laundry was laundry.

-Quite a sweatshop, I think.

-Yeah!

And there were different irons for different garments.

There's one here for top hats.

-Gosh!

-That was warmed on a gas mantle.

You'd get just the exact temperature, and experience

would tell you that, and you iron away on the top hat.

-Too hot, and you've got a hole in your hat.

-What a lovely thing.

It must be quite a thrill when you've found something.

It's lovely when you find the thing you've been looking for

and you've only seen in a book.

Your mate has got one, another collector's got one.

Your heart misses a beat.

By the 1930s, housewives not only wanted the iron to function well,

but also to look pretty.

And multicoloured gas irons came on the market for those who could afford them.

-The standard was mottled grey.

-Yes.

-You paid a little bit more for a bit...

-For a flash colour.

-For a flash colour.

-What's the most you've ever paid for an iron?

Come on, I'm asking you the question!

£1,000.

-Crikey! Really?

-Yes.

This one. Very rare iron.

-That's one of the gems.

-Well done.

So, why do you collect irons?

I just like the way they are manufactured,

and the beautiful casting.

I just like to maintain something in history.

Well, it's an amazing collection. Absolutely amazing.

And presumably, you aren't finished?

-There are still one or two gems out there.

-Yeah.

Now, I take it that you are an expert ironer yourself?

Not very good at all.

I seem to end with more creases than I started with.

HE LAUGHS

I mean, you are interested in the manufacture of them,

where they come from and how rare they are.

You're not interested in how well they iron?

-Couldn't care less if they iron or not.

-CHARLIE LAUGHS

On that note, I think I will go home and do some ironing.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you for coming.

-Absolutely wonderful.

Now, with the history of ironing all straightened out,

it's time for Charlie and Charles to clap eyes on each other's goodies.

This could be interesting.

They're meeting at picturesque Newark Castle.

Go!

-Oh!

-Oh!

-Hello, Charlie.

-You're not laughing?

-No, I like.

That's really quite unusual. A little table, studio lamp.

Yeah. Desk lamp, I think, but with clock in working order.

Yeah, I like that, Charlie.

But, what I like, with my great passion for history,

-we go back to, what, 1790?

-1810?

-It's a wonderful jug.

-It's a bit worn. Is it creamware? It's creamware, isn't it?

-I call it creamware.

-And the calendar is period, or just a reproduction?

-I think it's period.

If you look at the back of it, it goes along with the picture.

-But it's just nonsense.

-Yeah.

-What's over here?

-A picture.

-Really? That's quite good, isn't it?

-I quite liked it, but it's got a lot of history.

-It has, Charlie.

-A lot of history. I'm afraid that's coming through here.

-That's good, I like it.

So far, Charles is impressed. Now, let's have a look at his lots.

You can have a look - three, two, one, go!

Good Lord!

Watches, HUNDREDS of watches!

-Have you been to a watch repairer?

-He's, I think...

-No gold?

-No.

-No silver?

-No.

Charlie, I have no idea what this Indian lass is worth,

but we do know she is period, and she is certainly 100 years old.

-That's history, isn't it, old boy?

-It's fantastic.

Tell me about your coin. Somebody has stamped "RMS Titanic" on it.

To me, it's just a romantic token, and it cost me £5.

-Did it?

-Yeah.

-They saw you coming.

I'm not going to hang around with knobbly knick-knacks.

Sorry?

-Could you say that again?

-Good luck. And may the best man win.

I think he probably will.

He's a cheeky so-and-so, that Charlie.

Now, with the formalities out of the way,

what do they really think about each other's lots?

He's got a wonderful lamp that the more I looked at,

the more it shined a spark of a profit.

Really, everything he's bought, I am unnerved by.

I can't believe he bought a bit of Titanic frippery.

And for Charles to say, "Do you think they gave them to everybody

"as they were going on board?", yes, Charles, I really think they did. Just in case it sank(!)

I LOVE the Indian figure.

Do I know what it's worth?

I haven't got a clue, and full marks to him for having a go.

And Charles is all about having a go.

And now, it's onwards to the auction.

On the second leg of their road trip,

these two proper Charlies have travelled from Chesterfield

in Derbyshire to Grantham in Lincolnshire.

Grantham, a town with origins from an old stagecoach route from London,

is most famously known as the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton,

and Britain's first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

The depth of the Lincolnshire auction house will know

no boundaries when they uncover, unravel, sell my Indian figure.

-You never know, Charlie.

-You do.

-You never know.

-I do.

Golding Young of Grantham have over a century's worth

of auctioneering experience, but they move with the times,

and today's lots will also be bid for online.

Colin Young is today's auctioneer, with his hand firmly on the gavel.

Now, he's seen the two Charlies' goodies. What does he think?

They're all good, interesting items, which are likely to attract bids.

The lamp is a really nice thing.

The Indian carved figure is quite an interesting item.

We usually get quite a bit of interest presale in these things,

questions for condition reports,

and all that sort of thing, which usually is quite positive.

Charlie Ross started this leg with £226.30,

and has spent £190 to make up six lots.

Meanwhile, Charles Hanson started with a mere £172.20 to spend.

He used that up and cleaned out a falcon's cage to assemble four lots.

Yuck!

The Zen warriors of antiquity are about to do battle.

First up is Charlie's Victorian cricket print.

It's one of his classic knobbly knick-knacks,

but will it bowl the auction crowd over?

Start me at six. Six, six bid. At six bid, let's get on then.

-Well done!

-At six bid. Eight anywhere else? Surely.

-Get it sold!

-Eight bid, ten bid, 12 bid.

-Oh, it's flying!

-15. 18 now. 18 bid?

-At £15 bid...

-Well done, Charlie.

-15 at the back of the room.

At 15, we're done, we're finished, and we'll sell this time at £15.

-Marvellous!

-Well done, Charlie. Well done.

-Congratulations.

Well, that knocked them for six. Good start, Charlie.

And he is up again,

with the Edwardian nursing chair with marquetry inlay.

So, if everyone is sitting comfortably,

let the bidding commence.

20 to go then, surely. £20, anybody? 20?

Ten if we must. £10 to go, surely?

£10, it's only £2.50 a leg.

Ten, 12, 15, 15, 18, 18, 20, £20 a bid.

-Two bid, five, no?

-Ooh, madam!

-22 bid.

Well done, bean.

At 22, the last call now. 25, 28, now 28 bid.

-30, do I see now?

-Well done, Charlie.

-Last call at £28...

Another small profit, increasing Charlie's lead.

You're flying. And I commend you.

And now it's Charles's turn, with his coin stamped "RMS Titanic".

Will his treasure sink or swim?

Who's going to start me at £100?

-Rare thing.

-100, 100?

-Rare thing.

-50 to go, then. 50.

-Come on.

30, then.

30. £10 bid, ten. 12 anywhere else now?

£10 a bid, 12 do I see now? £12 a bid. 12 do I see now?

12 bid, 15 bid, 15 bid, 18 bid, 20 bid. Two now. 22.

25 bid. 28, 28, bid 30.

-30 bid, 32, 35, 38...

-Come on!

£35 a bid. 38 now, surely? At £35 a bid. 36, 38.

At 38 and bid. At 38 bid, do I see 40? 40 bid.

-Oh!

-42 now. Any more? No?

At £40, we're done and finished, and selling this time at £40.

-Great!

-I think my road trip has hit an iceberg.

-Thank you very much.

Your ship's come in with that tidy profit, Charles.

You're back in the game.

Charlie's turn now, with his amber and gold cheroot holder,

and a portrait framed in fake ivory.

Fake it may be, but can it turn a real profit?

30 to go then, surely. £30, anyone? 30. Come on. 30 on the net.

At 30 bid. 32 anywhere else now, surely?

At 32, 35... 35 in the room. Any more now?

At 35, last call, done and finished, the lady has bid. Selling at £35.

A small profit, but a profit nonetheless.

But Charles is still in the lead.

-Look at me. Look at me.

-I have looked at you quite enough today.

It's Charlie again with the Art Deco lamp and desk timepiece.

Could it be time to make some money?

Start me at 100 for it. 100, 100? 80 to go then, surely. £80, anybody?

I'll take 50 if we have to, but that really will be giving it away.

£50, 50. Come on, humour me. 50, 50 bid. Five anywhere else now?

£50 a bid. Five, surely?

-Well done.

-Now do I see 55? I've got five, 55.

Bid 60. 60, 65.

70, 70 bid.

-I've got 75.

-Well done, Charlie.

-80 in the room.

-That's better.

80, no more here. £80 bid. Five anywhere else now? £80 in the room.

Five is the last call, then. Are we all done?

Selling this time at the back of the room at £80.

A stinging blow for Charlie there. He'd hoped for more than that.

Up next are Charles's watch cabinets that cost him

an afternoon cleaning a falcon's cage.

Will they fly for him today?

-Who's going to start me on this lot? £40, 40.

-Come on.

-£40, anybody? 40.

£40 bid straight in.

-Ooh!

-£40 a bid, at £40 bid, anyone else now?

Is anybody else go into joining? 42. 45, 48. Bid 50. And five?

-I'll ask you for two, if you like.

-One more!

52? No, £50 bid anywhere else?

Last call, done and finished, selling down here at £50.

-Well done!

-Good man. I'm happy.

Charles is happy, and so was the falcon.

Next is Charlie's Valencian peasant watercolour, by Luke Price.

Could the price be right today?

50 to go then, surely. £50, anyone? 50?

Let's get everybody excited. Start me at £20. £20 anyone?

£10?

£10? I thought you were going to bid on your own item, for a minute!

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

15 bid. 15. At 18 bid.

-At 18, it's on the internet.

-On the internet?

-It is.

-It's going to the National Gallery!

Yes. Or the National Asylum.

-LAUGHTER

-18 bid. 20 or up now then.

Selling at £18...

I can do no more for you, gentlemen.

The auctioneer did his best there,

but that's another disappointment for Charlie.

£18. Look at me.

How will Charles's gamble on his carvings go?

First under the hammer is the Chinese lacquered Immortal.

Could its chance of profit live on with this crowd?

£50, anybody? 50?

30 to go then, surely. £30, who's first in? 30?

I don't believe it.

20 to go then, surely. £20.

-I'm going down.

-Faith!

At 22 bid. 25, 28.

28, bid 30.

32, 35, 38.

It's worth a gamble. It's worth a gamble.

42, 45, 48. Bid 50.

50, do I see? 50. 55?

At 50, last call in the room, selling at £50.

Shame.

Oh, dear, the gamble failed, and that's knocked his profit.

There's not much between the two now.

It's the turn of Charlie's oldest antique -

the 300-year-old creamware jug.

But will the crowd pour any money into it?

Who's going to start me at, what, £50 for it? £50, anybody? 50?

-50?

-It's a real bargain.

-30? 20 to go then, surely.

£20, we'll give it away at 20. £20, who's going to join in? 20 bid.

At 20... 25.

25. 28 now. At 25 bid.

28 on the internet. 20 and 30 on the net.

32 in the room. 32 in the room.

35. 38 now. 38 bid.

Going this time at 38 in the front row.

-Well done, sir.

-Well done, sir.

Not what he had hoped for, but these two are neck-and-neck.

It all rides on Charles's final lot - his mythological goddess.

With a small profit, he'll win. But with a big loss, he loses.

Let's start at £100 for it, 100. Bit of an unknown quantity.

-It is, absolutely.

-Certainly is.

-Let's gamble.

-100? 80 to go.

-Rare thing.

-Who's going to be first in at 80?

£80, anybody? 80?

50 to go then, surely. £50, 50.

OK, start at £20 for something that's, what, 350 years old?

-Absolutely.

-Thank you.

£20 a bid. At £20, two do I see now? 22, 25, five bid?

28, 28, 30, 32, 35, five bid, 38.

40, at £40 a bid. 45, 45, 48, 48, 50.

£50 a bid. 50, 55, 60...

Come on, sir, one more!

-Look, it's his money, not yours!

-One for the road.

He might buy you a cup of coffee, you never know your luck!

60 on the net. At 60. 65, no? 60, it's on the net, then.

Two if it's going to help you out.

Last bid is on the internet, selling at £60.

-You never know how far that online bidder may have gone.

-Probably 62.

Charles's speculation on the mythological goddess

didn't win out on this occasion, but has it put him off trying?

After all that that verbiage, you're back where you started.

Charlie, my plan won't change. I will continue my art of speculation.

-Or just wishy-washy along in the middle.

-No.

-One day, I will get it right, and I will make our fortune.

-OUR fortune?

-Our fortune.

-Well done, old bean.

It was a close thing, and although Charles Hanson has won this battle,

he's still losing the war.

He's slowly leaking money,

while Charlie is keeping his head just above his £200 starting pack.

Charles Hanson started this leg with £172.20, and after auction costs,

has lost £8.20, leaving him with £164 for the next leg.

Charlie Ross, meanwhile, began this leg with £226.30.

After costs, he's lost £14.52,

giving him £211.78 going forward.

Funny old game, isn't it?

-All that work, and we're back where we started.

-I know.

-But Charlie, you've got to keep speculating.

-I will!

You know, I am determined to either be the victor at over £1,000,

or take myself back to zero.

Cometh the man, cometh the hour, cometh to Walsall.

Walsall... HE TOOTS HORN

-..here we come.

-Exactly.

And on to the next leg, boys.

On the next episode of the Antiques Road Trip, we have a few surprises.

SQUEALING NOISE Oh! Did you hear that squeal there?

And the rivalry gets ugly.

Ow, my ankle! That's my ankle!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd