Episode 8 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.

Going, going, gone!

Yes!

How do I look?

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

Yes!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

I'm going to become a bin man!

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

I like it when you're chasing me!

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

It's all to play for on this fifth and final leg of the Road Trip

between our hardy antiques experts, Mark Stacey and Will Axon.

-Let's go for broke!

-Shall we?

-We've got no option, really.

Our intrepid duo have made a pact to spend every penny they have

in the aim of being crowned this week's winner. Brave boys!

Mark's a seasoned barterer and has used all his experience to get that cheeky smile back on his face.

While Will's cabinet fever has taken a turn for the worse.

The walls seem to be closing in on me.

Having started the week on £200, Mark and Will will finally both begin a leg

with more money than they started with.

Mark is in a rich vein of form with stonking great wins in the last two auctions.

He has £296 to start this final leg.

While Will's snapping at his heels with £251.86 to spend.

So, as they prepare to risk everything for victory,

our antique experts ride into battle in their noble white steed,

a classic 1963 Triumph TR4.

This week's Road Trip is whisking us through no less than five counties.

The boys started the week in Hastings, East Sussex,

visiting Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire

before their final auction in the London suburb of Ruislip.

Today, we're kicking off in Gosfield in Essex

before finishing at an auction showdown in Ruislip.

-Oh!

-This looks like it, Mark.

-This is it.

Hoping the rain doesn't put a dampener on things,

the boys' first stop is at Gosfield Shopping Village.

-Cabinet Room, that sounds like us.

-Or the war room!

This huge shop is the perfect place for the boys to start their battle to blow their budget.

I like this. This is a really nice ink standish or a desk stand, really.

And they've got down here, "A rare Regency desk tray. 1810".

And it says here enamelled and gilded,

but, actually, it's meant to be Boulework.

Boulework was named in honour of the pre-eminent artist in the field of marquetry, Andre Charles Boule.

He perfected the fashion of inlaying brass and tortoiseshell in the 17th and 18th centuries.

In order to trade tortoiseshell and ivory, it must predate 1947,

although it's still not to everyone's taste.

It is in a terrible condition.

I mean, it's got a lot of the brasswork missing,

and some of the silverwork on it, I think is actually later.

With a starting price of £135, dealer Glenn is on hand to make Mark a very good offer.

We could go to 50, I think, for that one.

50? Oh, gosh! That's really a shock to me.

Because that's the sort of figure I was hoping to get it for.

-Will you put a reserved on that for me?

-Certainly.

A whopping £85 off the asking price, eh? Great start, Mark!

Now, what's Will up to?

Now, I know Staffordshire's not hugely fashionable at the moment, but they're a good subject.

Two huntsmen...

..one with his crossbow and his spaniel,

and the other one holding up a deer.

You're right! They're not in vogue these days,

and at £75 you'd better ask Beta if she's amenable to a deal.

ALARM SOUNDS

Oh, crumbs!

Wasn't me!

-There's a lot of silver.

-A lot of silver!

Well, now you know you can't get them for a steal, Will!

I mean, my budget sort of leaves me at sort of £50, really, for the pair.

-I was thinking about that price.

-Were you?

-Yeah.

-Oh, dear!

-So, are we agreed?

Ooh!

Strike while the iron's hot, why not?

But Will's playing it cool

and has also put his item on reserve.

It looks like the long game for these two boys.

It's a little piece, a gentleman would have it on his desk or in his library for keeping matches

or vestas.

You keep them in here.

But it's just a sweet little thing, because you've got a sort of Alpine walker here

with his backpack there...

and his walking cane.

And this is like a barrel here.

This item's also marked at £135.

Are you going to aim low again, Mark?

Do you think if I bought the two items that I could get that for £70?

-70, plus the 50 for the...?

-Yes.

120 in total.

-I think we could do that.

-Can we do that?

-I think we can.

-Well, let's shake hands on that, shall we?

-Thanks very much.

Cor! You're on fire, Mark!

But Will seems to have fallen into that old theme trap again.

I might have fallen into a stag and deer theme,

because, look, there's quite a stylish bronze stag at the back there.

I mean, it's very much in that sort of Art Deco style.

And having been reduced in price several times,

it now has a ticket price of just £80.

If I was going to be interested in it, it would have to be a sort of similar...similar figure

to my last lot, sort of £50.

Mmm...so £50 off?

-Bearing in mind...

-It's already...you see?

Well, that's because no-one else has bought it, so I'm doing him a favour.

No alarm bells ringing for you, then, Will!

-I think we can...

-Do you think we could do that?

-Yeah, yeah.

-Do a favour.

-You see, this is very difficult for me,

because as soon as you say, "Yes", I feel like I ought to say, "Deal!"

But our cunning expert is looking to add one more item to his bundle,

hoping he can knock more money off when it's time to pay.

This caught my eye.

They've got it down as a French ebony and ivory inlaid watch box,

circa 1840, so we don't have to worry about the fact that it's got ivory in it.

Mmm...pre-1947 ivory's not everyone's cup of tea,

but, at £75, Beta is back again to talk shop.

I know your price already!

You do, don't you?

Hey! I think we all do, Will! £50?

-I might throw a cat among the pigeons and say 40 this time instead of 50!

-Oh!

You will disappoint me!

45.

-Oh, go on, then! Well, I'll tell you what, put it with the other bits...

-Uh-huh.

-..and I'll come up in a minute and we'll tot it all up and see where we're at.

-OK.

That's £145 for the three items, Will,

over half of your remaining budget.

Now to negotiate a deal on the bundle.

130?

40?

I'm going to be really mean and say 135.

-135.

-It's a deal! Good!

-Deal.

-Lovely. Oh, lovely, lovely.

Lovely jubbly! So, that works out at £45 for each. Well done, Will.

But methinks your nemesis will be happier after that shop.

Mark's taking control of the wheels after that shopping extravaganza and is heading to Suffolk,

to the rather impressive surroundings of Kentwell Hall in Sudbury.

But we're not here to admire this beautiful home, rather to hear of its salacious past,

where infidelity began one man's road to ruin.

And, you know, our Mark loves nothing more than a bit of scandal.

Waiting to meet him is the Hall's present owner, the larger-than-life Patrick Phillips.

-Strange things have happened...

-Really?

-..in this house over the centuries,

-and it's one of the intriguing parts of living in a house like this...

-I bet!

-..is picking up all these bits.

-It is!

-And the more scandalous they are, the more I like it.

I love scandal. Shall we start?

LAUGHTER Why not?

Richard Moore's father originally inherited the house from his uncle, the Lord Mayor of London,

Sir John Moore. When Richard wed Sydney Arabella Cotton in 1796,

they made Kentwell their marital home.

But it was a marriage not without its troubles,

for within these walls lies a story of passion and intrigue.

But why would we start the scandalous tour in the kitchen?

Ah! Well, this is, of course, one of the places where the staff congregate,

and they were peeking through this door, so we hear, or read,

-and they could see the stairs at the end of the corridor.

-Oh, yes, of course!

And the wife of the owner of the house, Mrs Moore,

was seen ascending those stairs with the new young steward

-with whom she'd spent many an evening going over the house accounts.

-Well, of course!

He was checking the figures.

Shall we move on?

Patrick's bringing Mark into the library to tell us more.

-We're getting into the thick of the tale.

-Are we?

Now, tell me, tell me more, Patrick.

When the staff saw Mrs Moore and the steward ascend by the backstairs together,

-they knew something was afoot, because she would be expected to ascend by the main stairs.

-Yes.

And so they all beetled across into here...

and were listening for sounds above.

And they report that they heard two lots of footsteps upstairs,

and they heard the creaking of the bed...

The next day, when the staff go up to the bedroom,

they make close inspection of the bedding,

the condition of which they report to their Lordships.

I would love to be one the Lordships, wouldn't you?

And it was in this great dining room that Sydney Arabella's scandalous shenanigans were finally exposed.

Mr Moore and Mrs Moore were dining a deux in here.

A butler was standing wherever butlers stand,

and an altercation arose between Mr Moore and Mrs Moore,

and Mrs Moore took the water carafe and poured it all over the head of Mr Moore.

-In front of the butler?

-In front of the butler...

and stormed out of the room.

So, the butler used this incident to explain to Mr Moore

that did he know that his wife had been doing more than the accounting with the steward?

Anyway, Mrs Moore was immediately banished from the house by Mr Moore...

"Get out of here, you..." whatever it was they said in those days.

-So, there was no question? He took the word of the butler and out she went.

-And out she went.

Well, we must assume she and her lover lived happily ever after.

Ironically, it was the aggrieved Mr Moore's life which took a sorry turn.

Through gambling debts, the money he had spent on the house and the divorce,

his finances spiralled out of control.

The house was sold, but, sadly, his debts were insurmountable and he was committed to a debtors' prison,

where he died soon afterwards.

-Well, that was a juicy little tale from the early 19th century.

-I hope it didn't shock you!

I need to go and lie down and get over it.

A juicy tale, indeed.

So, while Mark's mopping his brow,

Will's travelled west to Finchingfield in Essex,

hoping he can add to his auction arsenal.

Finchingfield, a picture-postcard village with its duck pond, village green and medieval cottages,

was once home to the author of The Hundred And One Dalmatians, Dodie Smith.

Will's arrived at Finchingfield Antiques and he's not wasting any time.

With just over £100 left, you'll need to pick wisely.

An 18th-century hand-blown bottle.

With a good deep base.

Now, this I like, this little...

..glass rummer...

I mean, from the shape, it's going to be circa 1800, 1810.

It's only £40, which seems reasonable.

Time to get owner Peter involved.

I just wanted to check the... check the condition.

Right, it's just got a little nibble here and there, but...

PING!

-Nice ring.

-Perfect.

Perfect!

Star-cut base, square foot...

-Can you move a little on the price for me?

-What would you like me to move to?

-20.

-20?

I'll do you an absurdly ridiculous price...

of 25.

-25?

-Mmm.

-It's worth taking a punt at that, isn't it?

-I think so.

-£25.

-Mmm.

Will just can't help himself.

He's going back to the wine bottle to try and match them up,

but with no price on it, Peter's making a call to the dealer with an offer of a tenner.

And it's good news!

-Done.

-Nice one.

-It's all yours.

-That's all right, isn't it, for a tenner?

-I think it's a nice thing.

-Yeah, it is, isn't it?

-Yeah.

There's quite a nice cordial glass here, as well,

which would sit quite nicely with my two lots so far.

Trouble is it's had a repair and it's just got some nibbles on the base as well.

With £39 on the ticket, Will has offered £25 for the glass and Peter's worked his magic again!

-Is that a deal?

-It's a deal.

-Good work.

-You've done it.

Well done.

Nice going, Will. That's £60 for the group.

Back together, the boys are heading 50 miles south-west to St Albans.

And quick as you like, they've found Fleetville Vintage Emporium.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-I'm Mark.

Georgina is the lady to help you around this indoor flea market.

-Nice to meet you.

-Hi, Will.

These are what you call a gu vase because of the shape.

You've got this slender body and then this central knop.

But at £120 it's a bit out of your league, Will.

Well, I suppose it might be worth a chance.

Unfortunately, the owner isn't in the shop at the moment.

However, Mark has found something to gee him up.

Now, this is quite interesting.

This, I think, is from a horse on the Manchester Ships Canal, if you see the MSC.

I'm almost sure they would have belonged to a horse

that was pulling maybe the barges or the canal boats.

The blinkers would have been used to prevent the horse from being distracted on the towpath.

They're late-Victorian and are priced up at £35.

Do you want to do the deal at 20?

-I'd rather do it at 15.

-Oh, Mark!

Because then it gives me a bite.

-Well...

-And I haven't finished shopping yet.

-No, I do appreciate that.

You know, I might find another thing.

-OK.

-I might not, mind you!

-OK, seeing as I got a kiss and a hug...

-Oh, my gosh!

-It's 10, then?

-No, it was...

15 it is!

10! Come on, kiss and a hug, go!

Oh, you old smoothie! Our Georgie is a game girl, you know!

Now, as luck would have it, Will has bumped into Riccardo, the owner of the gu vase he was interested in.

I've got £56.86 in my pocket.

-I want to give it a punt, see what happens.

-Yeah, OK.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Oh, lovely work!

-We can do that.

-Shall we do it?

-Yeah.

-Good!

Well, let's go and have a word with George. Did you see that? That was a stroke of luck!

So, Will is all spent out, and, Mark focuses his attention on a large glass bowl.

It's got quite nice decoration going around it,

a sort of diamond-y upper border.

I mean, it's really... it's a huge piece of glass.

But with £161 left in your pocket and £50 on the ticket,

what are you going to offer Georgina for it?

£20?

Could you meet me at 25, Mark?

Yes, I could. Thank you, George.

A big purchase, Mark, but for a small price.

With money still to spend, Mark has made his way to Hertford,

the county town of Hertfordshire,

With time running out, he's heading straight t see Bonnie

at the sweetly named Honey Lane Antiques.

-Bonnie, that's amazing, isn't it?

-It's beautiful.

-I tell you what, that would look stunning if you had a big mansion, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

-Nice and big.

-In your downstairs cloakroom!

Cloakroom?

Wherever it hangs, this late-19th century beaten-brass charger is priced at £150.

We could do that for 130.

-Can I put...can I reserve it?

-You certainly can.

-Can I put it down there?

-Yes.

Looks like you're hooked, Mark!

And Bonnie's not finished trying to get all of your remaining £136!

What about if I threw a cannon in?

-A cannon?

-A nice cast-iron and brass cannon.

-Oh, that's quite...

-For £136 for the two.

-I think it's great fun and it goes well with our sort of armorial theme.

-Indeed.

Come on, Mark, the clock's ticking. It's time you made your mind up.

-Life's a gamble, isn't it?

-It is.

-The choice is yours.

-I know.

-But I don't...I'm not good with choices.

-You see...

I can see Tim now going, "Oh, Mark's dithering again!"

Oh, good grief! No wonder! Stop dithering, man!

-This...oh!

-Oh, careful, dear!

-Some kind of a mythical sea horse with the...

It's called a hippocanthus.

Ah, Bonnie's trying to see if another lump of metal will add weight to the deal.

It's a decorative pierced brass dish, probably early-20th century.

-So the cannons, this...

-That.

-And the charger.

-And the charger.

-Well, they kind of fit, I suppose.

-They do.

-Because they'd make a nice interesting lot, wouldn't they?

-Indeed.

-Shall we do that?

-Yes.

-I think you couldn't possibly go wrong.

-Bonnie, come and give me a hug.

Because I think they'll... I don't care if they make any money.

It was a pleasure meeting you.

So, at the very last minute, Mark has managed to spend all his money,

just like Will, who set out on this leg with a meagre £251.86

but managed to bag five lots.

The watch box.

The glass collection.

The bronze stag.

The Staffordshire figures, and the gu vase.

Mark began this leg with £296,

and also went for broke on his five lots.

The holder.

The glass bowl.

The horse blinkers.

The ink stand, and the bits of brass he's combined into one lot.

So, with the storm clouds circling above, is this the sign of things to come

as our boys head to today's auction?

On the last leg of their Road Trip,

our seasoned experts have zigzagged their way

through Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire,

starting out in Gosfield

and ending up in Ruislip for the auction.

-Well, Mark...

-This is it.

-This is it.

-Our moment of judgment.

-The battle lines are drawn.

-Shall we go and find out?

-After you, sir.

The final battlefield is at Bainbridges,

an auction house of 30 years standing.

Presiding over our proceedings is auctioneer and owner Peter Bainbridge.

Now, brace yourselves. Peter is a good, old-fashioned auctioneer.

First up is Will's 19th-century ebony and ivory French watch box.

Let's have a bid. Will it be... who's going to give me £20?

-20 to go. 10 to go, then, please. Come on.

-Oh, come on!

For goodness' sake, it's unusual. Tenner bid. Thank you. 15 now.

I've got a bid at 10. 15. £20. £25? Thank you.

£30. 35 now. 35. 40.

40 I'm bid. Got a bid at 45 anywhere?

Got a bid at 40 at the back of the room. Any advance on £40?

-All done today at 40.

-Puh-puh-puh!

Selling at £40. Last time.

It was very close, Will.

Close is not good enough, I'm afraid. That's a loss, Will.

Next in line is Mark's Continental silver spill holder.

I'm opening the bidding here at £80. Do I hear 90 anywhere?

I've got a bid at £80. 90? My bid is £80. Take 90 now.

-Is it going to go up?

-Come along, let's see another bid!

Thank you. 90. 100 I'm bid. 110?

I would. 110.

120 now. £110. I've got a bid at 110.

120, I've got a bid. 130 now?

130 bid. Thank you. 140 anywhere?

140. Thank you. 150 now.

Are you all done at 140?

Well done, Mark. You've doubled your money. Good work.

-I need it, Will.

-OK...

Oh, he's never happy, that boy!

It's Will's glass rummer, cordial glass and wine bottle next.

Opening bid, what say now, £20?

10 to go, then, please. Your starter for £10. 10 bid. 15 now.

We've got a bid at 10. Do I hear 15? I've got a bid at £10. 15.

-20 I'm bid. 25?

-It's going on a bit.

£30. 35 now. 40?

At £35. 40 anywhere? Got a bid at 35. Another bid, sir, at the back? £40?

-At £35. Any further bids? 40 I'm bid.

-Just... Go on!

Got a bid at 40 now. We're selling at £40 for the last time today.

At 40. Any further bidding? We're selling at £40 for the last time.

All done. 40.

231. Sold.

That look says it all. Another loss, Will.

Mark's rather large glass bowl is next.

Here it is. Have a look at the stage, then, please. Isn't that lovely?

It's so big, isn't it?

This comes probably from a wash set, ladies and gentlemen.

And, er... or you could use it as a footbath.

You could put fish in it, couldn't you? £20?

£20 to go. £10 to go, then, please.

At the back. 10 I'm bid. 15 now. 15 I'm bid. Thank you.

20 now, please. 20 I'm bid. 25? 25 bid. 30?

30 I'm bid. 35?

35 bid. 40.

40 I'm bid. 45?

I've got a bid at 40. Any further bids?

We are selling today at £40 for the last time.

Are you all out at 40, then?

Oh!

OK, big sighs, but that is another steady profit, Mark!

Can Will's stag finally turn him a profit?

£20 to go, then, please. Come on! Let's get a move on at £20.

Opening bid at £20, surely to goodness?

What's going wrong? 20 I'm bid. 25 now? The bid is £20.

25. Thank you. 30? 30 I'm bid. 35 now, please. 35. £40 now.

-I've got a bid at 35. 40 anywhere? 40, come on!

-Surely!

£35. Any further bids? I'm selling today at £35.

Any further bids? For the last time today, then, at £35.

So, another crushing loss for Will.

I guess the bidders found it a bit "deer"!

Ha-ha! Never mind!

I think I'm going to have to write my letter of resignation!

Well, if you need a seconder...! Er...

A touching piece of moral support there, Mark!

Perhaps you're blinkered by your own success!

Very collectable, £20?

Quite collectable, £10?

Thank you. 10 I'm bid. 15 I'm bid. 20 now, please.

£20. 25. I've got a bid of £20 at the back of the room.

-Come on! They shouldn't...

-You're in profit.

Make it 25, will you? At £20. Come on, a bit of imagination!

25, thank you. £30. 35.

£40. 45?

Are you all done and finished at £40? Any further bids?

40 and selling to number 93.

-Thank you.

-£40.

-£40, that's all right.

That is all right, Mark!

There is no distraction for you in your pursuit of profit!

It's your pair of Staffordshire huntsmen up next, Will.

I figure these should yield you a return.

£20. £20, ladies and gentlemen, please, with a spaniel, remember.

So, anybody interested in dogs. £20.

Ooh, 10 to go, then, please. Come on. Show me somewhere.

Tenner bid, thank you. 15 now? 15 I'm bid. 20 now. 20 I'm bid.

25? I think you should.

So does Will!

They're lovely! At £20. 25. That's better. £30, sir?

Oh, madam, and you're a horsey person!

Yeah, but it's a spaniel.

Oh, but look at that little goatee!

-£25. £25.

-That's enough. It's all right.

£25. Are we going to 30? We are selling at 25.

30. Thank you.

-35?

-Go on.

-I've got a bid of 30 at the back of the room.

-One more,

-to make me break even.

-30.

No. At £30. Any further bids? Selling at 30, then.

Last time today at £30.

-Sold for 30.

-Gosh, Will.

Gosh, indeed! It's really not been your day today!

But how will the bidders react to Mark's big blow-out?

His large brass platter and brass accompaniments.

-Oh, I can't bear this!

-Here we go.

I think large is a bit of an understatement.

Look at the damn thing!

- It's huge. - It is huge, isn't it?

You could sublet it, madam!

And you also get with it a pierced brass dish over there,

-which is pretty dull...and a miniature cannon.

-It's not dull!

It is.

OK, for the lot, what are you going to give me, £20?

20 to go. Come on, it's been polished. You don't have to. £20.

Well, it's worth thinking about! 20 I'm bid. Do I hear 25 now?

25 at the back. At £30? £30, thank you. 35?

35, thank you. £40?

At £35. Another fiver?

-Go on!

-She's shaking her head.

35 at the back of the room. Any further bids on 35, then?

Selling at £35, all done.

-Gosh!

-35, 74. Well done.

Ouch! I bet you're brassed off with that!

That stonking great loss means Will could be back in with a chance,

if only he could make a healthy profit on his last lot,

his bargain buy, the gu vase.

Come on, somebody give me a £10 note. 10 I'm bid. 15. £20.

-It's going on, it's creeping up.

-£20. 25.

£30.

£30 I'm bid. 35 anywhere? 30 I'm bid. 35?

35. £40? 45.

£50?

Got a bid of 45. 50 anywhere? Got a bid of 45. Looking for 50 now.

£50.

55? Got a bid of 50. In the front row at £50. Be able to take 5 more.

We're selling at 50. A gu vase at 50. Any further bids?

All done. Gu and gone!

-"Gu and gone!"

-Gu and gone!

Huh! Gu and gone with your chance of victory, Will!

No beginner's luck here, then!

It's Mark's last lot.

The Boulework inkstand or pen stand.

Peter estimated £40-£60,

but can our Stacey go out as winner of this week's Road Trip on a high?

50 to go, then, please. Come on. 50 I'm bid.

60 now. I've got a bid of £50. 60 anywhere?

We've got a bid of £50. 60 anywhere now?

I've got a bid of £50. 60? Thank you. 70 now, please.

70 bid. Thank you. 80 now. 90?

100 on the book. 110.

-120.

-Oh!

-120. 130. 140.

-Oh, this is going very well!

-140. 150. 160.

-Ker-ching!

170.

180.

190.

-200.

-Gosh! It's good.

210. 220.

230. 240.

250.

-£240.

-Yeah, mate!

£240 now. Do I hear 250? We've got a bid at £240. Do I hear 250?

Another bid, 250?

250?

Selling at 240, then.

Here at 240. For the last time today at £240.

Are we all done at 240, then?

-Sold at 240.

-I can't believe it!

-£240!

-I cannot believe that, Will!

-Mark, you've got it, you've got it, mate!

-£240!

-Oh!

Top job, eh?

That's a cracking profit of £190 before costs, Mark,

and don't you look pleased with yourself?

Come on. Let's get some fresh air and a drink!

-A stiff drink!

-Come on.

So, Will Axon's debut turned into a disaster!

He kicked off this leg with £251.86,

but after auction costs made a dismal loss of £91.96,

and ends this Road Trip with just £159.90.

Mark Stacey started this final leg with £296.

He earned a fantastic £109.90 profit after auction costs,

making him not only today's winner,

but also the winner of this week's Road Trip!

He's left with a grand total of £405.90.

Well done, Mark! All profits go to Children In Need.

Oh, well, that was a tale of two halves, wasn't it?

A tale of two halves, I should say! Your half and mine!

-Sorry about that!

-Listen, it's all fair in love and war.

It's been a great road trip, guys!

You're clear this side. Yes, go on.

Safe motoring.

# By the sea, by the sea

# By the beautiful sea

# You and me, you and me... #

Now it's time to join a brand-new set of Road Trippers.

We're way down in the West Country.

Old hand Phil Serrell at the wheel, plus keen learner Tom Scott.

-Are you Tom or Thomas?

-I'm Tom.

-Phil. Good to meet you, mate.

-Yeah.

You looking forward to this? I didn't mean to touch your knee then, by the way.

-That's all right, don't worry.

-Later on in the week, perhaps.

-Yes!

Really? Hmm...

Dealer Tom may be a Road Trip rookie, but he should know a

thing or two about antiques, having grown up in the family business.

-It is, sadly, way out of my price league.

-You want to put it back then!

Phil's been around, it's safe to say, and as an auctioneer,

he knows quality, but he doesn't always buy it.

Hellfire and damnation!

Phil and Tom start out with £200 apiece,

a 1980s Lancia Beta Spider and a map of Cornwall.

Penzance is this way, Land's End's got to be that way.

-Penzance is that way?

-Yeah.

-OK. I'll do a quick handbrake.

-TYRES SCREECH

-Ha-ha!

Our trip begins at the far south west corner of Britain,

at St Buryan, before wending its way around several counties,

to reach Wareham, in Dorset.

On this leg, we start out at St Buryan and make for an auction

in Ladock.

Phil, here. St Buryan. This is your place.

-We've got to find a shop, haven't we?

-Let's keep them peeled.

-Hang on. What have we got here?

-Oh, there it is.

Boathouse Antiques. This looks lovely, mate.

-You're going to have a great old time in here.

-I'm going to enjoy this.

-Right!

-I'm out of here. I've got to go to find my shop.

Hope she doesn't break down.

So, the old hand is the first to hit the ground, strolling, and no prizes

for guessing exactly what owners Martin and Trisha specialise in.

-So what are these?

-These are dead eyes,

which are part of a boat rigging.

There would have been a large rope going through here

-and then another one here and this would go up to the mast.

-Oh, right.

-And are those collectable?

-Yes, they do, yeah.

You've got £28 on those.

To me, they're like 10 or 12, but let me put them by.

-Put them by.

-See what we can do.

-Put them by.

Utterly useless, those, but that's just my sort of thing.

While Phil explores his seafaring side,

Tom's at the wheel of the Lancia, discovering that long hair

and open-top cars can be a tricky mix.

I feel like I need to buy a headband in the first shop we get to.

Or have a haircut.

Tom and his troublesome locks are on their way to St Just,

the most westerly town in mainland Britain,

so could this be our most westerly antiques shop?

Logical.

-You must be Vicky.

-I am, yes.

-I'm Tom. Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

No sign of an Alice band in Bygones.

Or any of the big French antique furniture that Tom usually

specialises in. I'm sure he'll keep his hair on though.

This is great. A good decorative piece, this one.

It's an urn, so there should be a tap in here. Hopefully...

-And he's off.

-Has got a few nibbles on it though, but it has...

-It's got plenty of nibbles. And it's got the tap.

-Got the tap.

How much is it?

£10. £10.

What can we say?

Eight quid and it's yours.

-Call it a fiver and we've got a deal.

-Call it 8.

6. 8.

6.50.

-7,50, it's yours.

-7, deal.

-7.50!

-I'll take it for 7.50. I think that's brilliant fun.

-Phew!

Is every deal he does going to be as hard-fought as that?

First buy for the beginner.

Back in St Buryan, Phil's uncovered yet more seafaring stuff.

These things here, I think they're interesting.

What do they make at auction?

I would expect a copper one like that to make £50 or £60.

Ah, a ship's lantern.

So how old is this?

This one is probably World War II, I would think.

-But the glass looks all right.

-Yes.

And that strikes me that if that was polished up, it would

make quite a nice lamp, wouldn't it?

Yeah, it is a lamp.

I think I'd like to buy the lamp and I'd like to buy these dead eyes.

I've chucked all my eggs in one marine basket then.

I feel a salty lot shaping up.

Can I give you £40 for the two?

-That really is too tight.

-It's me being mean, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Um, for you, we could do 50.

-That is a good price.

-I know. It's a cracking price.

That was brisk work. A rate of knots, even.

Now, any sign of young Tom adding to his old pot?

-Do you mind if I open up the...?

-No, have a look.

That's a very old Moorcroft vase. But not very colourful.

Vicky's right. Moorcroft is famous for its brilliant colour,

divided by tube lines, in the same way that a cake is iced.

Nice though, isn't it? It's got a lovely shape to it, lovely feel.

What have we got? £65.

What could be your absolute best dealer-to-dealer,

first time Road Tripper, deal?

My very best, £40 and it's yours. That's a bargain.

I'm thinking more like 30. We can do a deal at 30.

We can do a deal at 35 and it's yours.

-I'll bring it over to you.

-I've seen it.

-Not 35?

-Not 35. I can do 32.

-Cash, today?

-Right now.

Go on, then. You've got a bargain. Done.

-I feel like I've been done.

-Yeah(!)

Well, they both sound happy enough.

Good start, Tom. Phil's still at it, too.

Seems like he's settling in, in fact.

Nothing seaworthy this time, though.

This is a walnut fire screen

and this would have sat in front of a fire, strangely enough.

You've got a ticket price on that of 68.

-What's the best you could do that for?

-40.

I think I'm going to buy that. I think that's really lovely quality.

-Go on, here we go, £40.

-£40.

-You're an angel, thank you very much.

He's not always in such a good mood, Trisha.

Tom, meanwhile, is back on the road and heading for Ashton,

where, deep in the Cornish countryside, he's about to see

an astonishing collection of vintage electric guitars.

-Guy.

-Tom.

-Pleasure to meet you.

-And very nice to meet you too.

Thank you. I hear you've got a great collection to show us.

Guy's passion for all things rock began back in 1963 when a friend

somehow booked up-and-coming group The Beatles to play

a concert at his school. Guy was smitten.

And 50 years later, he has over 140 twangers crammed into his home.

-So, why guitars? What's drawn you to the guitars?

-They ARE rock 'n' roll.

They define rock 'n' roll, the styles, the shapes.

The way they've evolved over the years.

There was a trade embargo between this country and America up

until the late '50s, so we never saw American guitars then.

And that's why in 1958 we have the very first commercially built

British guitars.

It's fantastic, beautifully made. It's a stunning piece, isn't it?

It is a stunning piece.

This is the earliest known surviving guitar built by Jim Burns

and this dates from '58 and almost certainly

it was the guitar advertised in Melody Maker on December 10th, 1959.

Guy owns examples of just about every axe fashion,

from the '50s up to the '90s and beyond.

Now, the '80s weren't one of our most tasteful eras

and so Guy also has a machine gun-shaped guitar,

inspired by Rambo, and this little treasure.

Well, this is probably the most unusual custom-built

guitar of all time,

and this is the Blue Moon guitar that was specially

made for the band Showaddywaddy

when they launched their version of the oldie Blue Moon.

It's obviously been featured a number of times on television,

but more recently, I managed to meet up with the band

when they were in Falmouth and that was the first time they'd seen it

since the very early '80s

because the guitarist at the time, Russ Field,

didn't find it a very comfortable guitar to play.

Because if you can imagine playing a guitar with dangling feet

just below your waist...

Yeah, I can see what you're getting at down there.

So many guitars and so little time.

Since his rock epiphany back in the '60s, Guy has been in a lot

of bands, but things didn't quite turn out as you might expect.

You must be itching to just give us a tune. Can you do that for us?

I wondered if you were going to say that, because actually

I don't play guitar.

Crikey! Turns out, he's actually a drummer!

Hang on, is Tom really playing that thing?

Actually, miming.

CYMBAL CRASH

While Tom's been wigging out,

Phil's made his way from St Buryan to nearby Penzance.

Probably not for the sunbathing.

Enough promenading. Time to go shopping at Antiques And Fine Arts.

-Bracing, isn't it?

-It's a nice day for Cornwall(!)

Bloody hellfire!

-I'm Phil. How are you?

-It's a bit fresh today.

-Are you both shops?

-Yeah.

On one side, Jeff has traditional antiques,

and next door, the more vintage 20th century stuff.

Maybe a little cheaper, Phil hopes.

I'd like to spend somewhere around, I don't know,

between 15 and £30-35, something like that.

-Well, right behind you.

-We've got a pair of bed ends here.

Don't worry about the first look! The good thing about this...

Those look like they're worth a pound.

Yeah, but there is something to recommend them.

Yeah, I know what that is

-because I've sold furniture by this lady, Betty Joel.

-Absolutely.

It was her husband that was designing

and she thought she could do it better than him.

I've got to say, looking at these, I think she was probably wrong.

Well...

One of England's finest bespoke furniture makers during the

'20s and '30s, Betty Joel crafted Art Deco-inspired interiors for the rich and famous.

-This is the best way to put it, she's the Clarice Cliff of furniture.

-Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah, and even Clarice had her off days, I'm sure.

That label, though, has to be worth something.

In horrible things of our time, these are up there.

I'll do you a good deal for it, don't worry.

-Can you throw in paraffin and matches as well?

-That's very cruel.

-I know.

-£25.

We've agreed that they're worth a pound.

All we've got to do now is agree what the price of that is worth.

I'll give you £20 and I'll take them.

OK.

You're a gentleman. Thank you very much indeed.

I hope Phil knows what he's doing.

He's rejoined Tom and they're now heading for Falmouth.

Did you know Falmouth has the deepest natural harbour

in western Europe?

And was once Britain's most important port.

Tom, however, is more interested in the shops.

-Morning, Chris.

-Morning.

-How are you doing? Nice to meet you.

-And you?

-Yeah, very good, thank you.

Looks like an interesting sort of place though. Packed, too.

Phil will be arriving later. But meanwhile, Tom's first in to bat.

Look at this.

That's fun. I like that.

Many uses, but just great for whacking the dust out of your rugs.

Or anything you fancy. Maybe a bit of cricket in the afternoon.

-Straight to long on!

-I like this. This is great. Nice chunk of oak.

Good bit of woodworm in the end. It's well used.

I'm going to have a word with Chris about this.

-Tom certainly doesn't hang about, does he?

-Chris, I love that.

-That's great.

-OK.

-Does it have a price on it?

-No price. I'm assuming that's...

A low price.

A very, very low price, I'm sure.

What about a tenner?

Needs to be lower than that, Chris.

-I was thinking more like a fiver.

-Go on, then.

-Fiver, great. Deal.

-OK.

-Thank you very much.

Well, whatever that stick was used for, Tom's got it cheap.

-He wants more, too.

-What sort of things are you interested in?

There's a couple of bits in the window I wanted to ask you about.

-There's a little fire extinguisher down there.

-OK.

-That's great, isn't it?

-Nice thing.

"To operate, turn the handle to the left, work like a pump." Brilliant.

-That's probably about 100 years old.

-It's a great piece, isn't it?

That's good fun. It's a good piece to hang on a wall somewhere.

-Pretty cheap.

-How cheap?

Well, it's £28. That's pretty cheap.

-That's your ticket price.

-A very low ticket price.

-£18.

-OK, let's say £20, then we won't have to change a note, will we?

-£20.

25 for two, we're done. Brilliant.

So, while Tom heads out of town, I think that's the way actually,

the big man is already hard on his heels.

Ah, seems he's already at browse mode.

That's a fairly grotesque bit of Bretby, isn't it?

Very good spot.

Chris is impressed.

That could be very cheap.

I don't even like it.

There's a bit of a pattern forming here.

Is it Phil's latest tactic to buy stuff

-he really can't stand the look of?

-It is absolutely horrible.

A loving cup has at least two handles for shared drinking.

This slightly tatty example from Derbyshire dates from 1905.

That's the issue with that, isn't it?

I don't know what the price on that is,

but I think that's got to be a gift with that chip.

-Yes. What's a gift?

-You don't want to know what I think a gift is.

I think that's got to be 15 or £20.

-With a chip in it.

-OK. I'll do it for £20.

-Really?

-Mm-hmm.

He didn't see that coming!

This is what you've got to bear in mind. This is a typical Bretby pot.

And the first rule of buying any pot is if it's damaged, leave it alone.

So what am I going to do? Yeah, here we go.

Let's put it in the pile.

Oh, well. Like those bed heads, it's cheap enough.

Now, is there anything else hideous that Phil's not at all keen on?

-That might be something. Wine labels.

-Some of those are silver.

Some are unmarked silver.

Some are silver plate.

I think they're interesting.

-OK, Chris. What's your price?

-You said you could do 20 for that.

I agreed 20 on that cos it's got a chip and I've had it some while.

-Could you do those for the same?

-No.

-What could you do those for?

The absolute minimum on those is going to be £40.

The pot's at 20, the labels are at 40, that's £60.

Can I give you £50 for the two, which is 30 for the labels

-and 20 for the pot?

-Yeah, I'll accept that.

-You're a gentleman. Thank you very much.

-That's Phil done for the day, then.

-£50.

-Thank you very much indeed.

Not Tom, though. He's making his way ten miles north to Redruth.

-Hiya.

-Hi.

-Walter.

-How are you doing?

-Tom. How are you doing?

-Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you. How's it going?

No prizes for guessing what sort of thing Tom might pick

up in Thornley Trading.

-This is definitely a lighting shop. Look at all this.

-Yep, Tom!

Thanks to some hard bargaining,

he still has over £130 in his pocket.

There's a nice ship's lamp in the window down here.

I like the look of that.

How bizarre! Another ship's lamp.

-A nice original one.

-A good chunk.

Nice, yeah. Clean up nice.

Don't know the history of that one, tell you the truth.

-OK, so it's...

-It's local.

-Yeah.

I love it, but 175 is just way out of my price league.

I'm looking at £60.

Nah, I couldn't let it go. I paid more than £60 for it myself.

-I could do 70.

-Definitely not going lower than 90.

Meet me in the middle. £80.

Nah.

£80 cash...

-We could do a deal right now.

-It's less than half price, man!

I'll wrap it up.

-85, you've got a deal. 85.

-80?

-No, 85. Come on.

-85.

-Deal.

-Done.

Phew! Tom's finally splashed out. Wisely not spent it all, though.

Phil started out with £200

and he spent £160 on five auction lots.

The Bretby cup.

The drinks labels.

The bed ends.

The fire screen, and the ship's lantern with the dead eyes.

Tom also began with £200, and he spent £149.50

on five auction lots.

The Irish paddle.

The Moorcroft vase.

The filtration urn.

The fire extinguisher, and another ship's lantern.

After beginning in St Buryan,

this leg's trip will be decided at an auction in Ladock.

-What are you worried about today?

-Only the five lots I've got in.

That Bretby mug, yeah?

Probably one of the worst things ever known to mankind.

Run a very close second by my Billy Joel bed ends

and an Edwardian fire screen that nobody wants.

Oh, Lordy!

There's a healthy turnout for today's auction, and auctioneer

Philip Buddell is ready to start.

First under the hammer, Phil's least favourite lot,

the Bretby loving cup,

with a chip.

Ideal for all you into a bit of love this weekend. Start me at £20.

-20, I'm bid.

-That's a relief.

At £20 on the Bretby loving cup. At 20.

-At £20, I'm bid. At 20.

-He can drop the hammer, I don't care at all.

26, 28. 28, I have in front.

At 28, 30 at the back. At £30.

It's getting there.

I'm absolutely...staggered.

32, I have. 34 at the back.

At £34. 36.

36, bidding in the front here. At £36. 38.

38 in the second row.

40 in front. At £40, I can breathe again.

At 40, I'm bid. At £40. 42, would you say now?

Against you. Shame to miss it for another £2.

I'll lend him a pound!

At 42. 44.

At 44. Come again. Surely.

At £44, have you all done? If the gavel's up, I sell.

Bidding in front at £44.

44, 133. Thank you.

So much for Phil's chipped pot advice!

-Bargain.

-That's all right.

-Well done!

-Thank you.

Well done, Victor!

Time for Tom's possibly Irish paddle or bat... Bit of old wood?

Looking for someone with a canoe.

Where are you going to start me on this one?

£5, thank you. 5, I'm bid, on the Irish paddle. At £5.

-At £5, a fairly useless piece of equipment.

-What's he saying?

At 5, I'm bid. At 6, would you say now?

£5. 6. At 6, I'm bid. At £6, a brave man here at 6.

-7. Come on!

-At 7, I'm bid. At £7. £8.

-Racing away, Tom.

-Yes! Here we go!

At 9, I have. We're in the big money, almost.

10 at the back. At 10.

-That's it.

-Bidding at the back of the room, at 10, I have for the paddle.

At £12, I'm bid. At 12, I have. 14.

-At £12 on the oak paddle.

-Come on!

-14.

At £14. £16.

At £16. Let's face it, if you take this home with you, it's a

wonderful talking point round the dinner table.

-At 16, I'm bid. Bidding in front. 18.

-18, come on!

-We're going to get there!

-You're away!

At £20. 22.

At £22. It should be worth about £100.

At 22, on the paddle.

Could be Irish, could be Cornish, could be Welsh, could be Scottish...

Could be sold in a minute.

-That's got to be good.

-Selling at £22. Bidding in front.

£22, you lucky man.

Now, that should stir things up.

-You pleased with that?

-I'll buy some more of those.

-Yeah.

-Brilliant.

-There's a bloke got one down here, but he wants £40 for it!

HE LAUGHS

OK, the labels. Phil actually liked these.

There we are. What have you got to say on those labels?

-Start me at

-£10. Ouch.

£10 on the labels. Where's your sense of adventure?

19th-century Sheffield plate.

And a silver one there. Thank you. 10, I'm bid.

At 10. I have £10.

On my left at 12.

At 12, the labels. 14 at the back.

-£16.

-You've got three or four bidders.

I'm bid at 20. At 20, bidding to my left,

at £20 on the white metal labels. 22 at the back.

At £22, £22. I have £22.

And 4. At £24. 26. At 26, I'm bid.

Ouch!

Really?

-These are cheap!

-That's REALLY cheap.

At £26. 8 to advance it.

Selling at £26. Bidding at the far end of the room.

Selling.

26, to 139.

Oops! That's a blow.

-Is there happiness written all over your face?

-No!

No!

Will this be a nice little urn-er for Tom?

-What will this make, then?

-This, mate...

The only thing this'll make is a good plant pot with a weed growing

-out the top of it, I think.

-Start me at £20.

-Come on! Yes!

Mid-19th century, some age with it. Lot of use left in it,

if you want to do a bit of filtration this weekend.

Start me at 10, then. 10, I'm bid.

-At

-£10. You're getting too good at this! Instant profit straightaway.

-At 12.

-I'm beginning not to like you, Tom.

Oh, here we go. Look at this.

At £12. 14.

At 14. 16. At 16, £16. 18.

At 18, I'm at 18. At £18, bidding in the front row.

-I tell you what, I should do this for a living.

-I thought you did.

At £18...I sell.

All done at 18. 20 or not?

£18.

Another solid profit puts Tom in the lead.

-That's you racing away, you see?

-That's all right.

I'm getting quietly kippered here!

What you've done is you've lulled me into a false sense of security.

Now, can another of Phil's unloved acquisitions get him

back in the game?

If I get out of this without being burnt, it's a result.

Right, who's going to start me at £40 on the bed head and foot boards?

£40, designed by Betty Joel.

40, I'm bid. 40, I have. At £40.

-At £40, I'm bid. At £40.

-Start the car, I'm off!

What is going on here?

That certificate alone is worth £50.

Forget about the bed head and foot boards. At £40, I'm bid.

45, I'll take. At £40.

Where is your sense of taste and your knowledge?

Bidding at the back, 45. 50. At 50, I've got. 55?

At £50, against you on the right. Bidding on the left.

At £50, if you're all done for 50. Should be worth double.

At £50, I sell. £50. 114.

Oh, Betty's bed to the rescue!

That's good going.

What my mother's going to do with those, I don't know!

Tom's Moorcroft. Again, hardly typical.

Are you going to start me on this one? £30 on the Moorcroft vase?

30. 20, then.

£20 on the Moorcroft. Thank you. 20, I'm bid. At £20. 22.

-24. 26. 28.

-Come on.

32. 34. 36 in front.

At £36. 38 at the back.

-38. 40 on my left.

-You're fine. You're fine.

40 on the early Moorcroft. 42.

42, you won't find many earlier than this. 44.

46. Fresh bidder. At 46. 48 at the back.

-At £48. 50, I'll take.

-I'll definitely take 50.

All done on this 1916-17 piece of Moorcroft.

At £48 and I se... 50.

At 50, I'm bid at 50.

At £50, I have. And 5, will you say now?

55. At 55, I have. You shake your head,

you will be disappointed not to have taken this home today, sir.

At £55, the lady's bid. All done at 55. The gavel's up. Selling.

55 to 203.

The new lad is more than holding his own here.

This is the bloke who says he's a novice,

hasn't done this before, really anxious about it... Yeah(!)

Can Phil's fire screen start the fight back?

Let's get away on the fire screen. At 20. £20.

Most of you, I know, haven't got fireplaces.

That's a point I hadn't thought of.

You can always use it as a decoration in the room, can't you?

£10, surely. 10. Thank you. 10, I'm bid. At 10. I have £10.

The fire screen at 10. I'm bid 12.

14. At £14.

£16. At £16. £18.

20, I'm bid. 20, I have. 22.

24. £24, I have. At 24.

-You shake your head. Bidding on my right at 24.

-Ouch.

Is that it?

-Yeah.

-Struggled.

At £24. Have you all done for 24?

24, Mrs Richards. Thank you.

Oh, dear. Another big loss.

Even more after commission.

-It should have gone for 40.

-Shut up!

-At least 40.

-Shut up, please.

Shut up! Shut up!

Time for the big lantern showdown. Tom's first.

I've got various bids left on this one.

-I have to start the bidding with me at £80.

-Well done! That's good!

How does that happen?

That's great.

Fantastic.

-At £80.

-I am surprised.

£80. 85, I'll take now. At 80.

At £80. I have at £80. At £80. 85.

85, 90, we're bid. With me at 90.

Come on, another one and it's washed its face.

At £90, I have. 95, will you say now? 90. Are you bidding?

Or stretching?

At £90. All done. 5 or not?

Selling at £90.

£90.

I thought Tom knew his lights.

If mine does 90, I'll be pleased with that.

Mine did 90. Yours... You should be up into three figures, easy.

-You know what the difference is, don't you?

-Clear glass.

-Polish.

-You polished it.

-Polish.

Will polishing pay? Don't forget the dead eyes either.

-I have to start the bidding with me at £70.

-That's all right.

With me at 70. 70, I have. At 70.

At £70, I have. 80.

At 80. 90, with me. At 90.

At £90, I have for this marvellous Masthead lamp.

At £90. I'll take 95.

Yes, I'm looking at you, sir.

95. Yes. I knew I could rely upon you for 95.

Unfortunately, I have a bid of £100 here.

LAUGHTER

So, 100, I'm bid. At £100. I have at 100. At 100, bidding with me at 100.

I'll take another 5 from you, if you like.

-Not on this one.

-Are you sure?

Right, at £100. 100, I have. And 5 anywhere else in the room?

At £100. 5 or not?

£100.

Game on! Phil is most definitely back in this.

The question is, Tom,

is your extinguisher going to put your fire out?

Good question.

Where are you going to start me? £10 on the fire extinguisher. 10?

5, thank you. £5, I'm bid on the fire extinguisher.

At £5, the bid. £6.

£7. At 7, I'm bid £8.

£8, £9. 9, I have at 9 on the brass fire extinguisher. 9. 10, in front.

This is going to struggle. Big time.

14 on my right. At £14. 16. The bidding in front.

£18. Bidding in the middle at 18.

20 on my right. At 20.

And 2. 22. In the middle, the bidding at £22.

At £22, all done. I sell at £22.

£22 to 239.

That £2 profit will be a loss after commission

and Phil is the winner today.

-Sun shines on the brave, doesn't it?

-Exactly.

-Well done, mate.

-Come on.

Tom began with £200 and, after paying auction costs,

he made a profit of £20.24.

Phil also started with £200 and after paying auction costs,

he made a profit of £40.08.

So Tom's the loser,

but he's certainly giving the Silver Fox a run for his money.

It was close.

Too close!