Episode 26 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!

I'm loving that, bird.

The aim, to make their biggest profit at auction

but it's no mean feat.

Yes!

There will be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Don't I look handsome?

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

I'm going now!

This is the Antiques Road Trip...

..yeah!

It's a brand-spanking new week

and we're hitting the road with a right couple of gents,

yes, it is antiques experts Charlie Ross and Thomas Plant.

-Let this trip begin!

-Yes.

Charlie is the old dog of the antiques trade,

having clocked up a phenomenal 25 years running his own auction house

and he is now sought the world over for his charm and wit, so he thinks.

-May I kiss your hand?

-You may indeed!

-Mwah!

Undaunted is his worthy opponent, young whippersnapper

and fellow auctioneer, Thomas Plant.

His particular penchant is for jewellery, watches and silver.

Oh, yes, and hats.

Thomas is taking the wheel today as our pair

set off on their antiques adventure with £200 each to spend

and a natty little 1971 Triumph Spitfire to zip around in.

Those windscreen wipers don't look right to me.

-They have broken already!

-That doesn't bode well.

The plan for our dear experts is to travel over 400 miles from Somerset

deep in the West Country,

right the way up to Shropshire via North Wales,

before looping back down to finish their trip in Bedford, Bedfordshire.

Today, we are beginning our journey in the village of Watchet,

watch it, hah!

They'll meander the sleepy roads of Somerset, pop over to Devon,

then finish up at the auction showdown in Frome back in Somerset.

Phew!

# The future's not ours to see..

# Que sera sera. #

Oh, maybe not.

Oh, well, the first stop is in what's it? Watchet.

-Watchet.

-Watch it!

-Watch it!

Now, this lovely village gets its name from wacet,

a natural blue dye found in the local cliffs.

And the harbour here is famed for inspiring one of Britain's

most iconic poems,

Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner.

I hope that's not a bad omen for our fellows as it is time to shop.

-A Smugglers Cave!

-This is where we are. Come on, Roscoe.

-After you.

-Age before beauty!

-Thank you!

Standing by to assist is shop owner Simon and manager, Candy.

-Hello, madam. I'm Charlie.

-I'm Candy. Welcome.

-Candy, what a lovely name.

-I'm Thomas. And who else is this?

-This is Simon.

-Simon is the owner to the shop.

-Nice to see you.

-Hello, Simon.

-And trust our Roscoe, he is straight in there with the girls.

-Candy!

-Yes.

-Can I borrow you?

-He's already in there.

-You can, certainly.

Smugglers Cave lives up to its name, a veritable treasure trove

of everything from kitchenalia to chests of drawers.

Surely there will be some serious antiques for Thomas to get stuck into?

-Oh, dear. He's started with the hats already.

-I need this for Roscoe.

Ooh, gee!

Look at that!

So what we've got here is a cast-iron water pump.

This is for the garden, isn't it? Oh, isn't that wonderful?

Cast-iron, Victorian, I would have thought. Lovely handle. Whoa!

-Steady, Eddie.

-It's not light!

That could be my first purchase.

It's just up my street. Just something. It's big, it's bold...

It's £45. Let's see what Simon can do. Simon, I found this in the back.

-Not everyone makes it back there!

-Only weirdos!

No comment.

I've got a figure.

-35.

-What about 25?

-30.

-Can we do 28?

-We are splitting hairs, I know.

-28, if it helps.

-It does help.

-You're a star.

-First purchase, high and dry. Well done, Thomas.

Now, let's see how Charlie is getting on with Candy.

And he's only after one thing, you know.

So no silver in the shop at all?

-We've only got the Rhode Island Red bowl.

-That one there?

-Yes.

-Nice thing.

-I will have a look at it.

Tell me the history about the Brabazon Rhode Island Red Challenge Cup.

Rhode Island Reds are beautiful, deep red hens,

that lay fabulous dark brown eggs.

They are very popular because they are quite hardy hens

and they do lay very well most of the year.

-Unlike a bantam they won't go off lay.

-Are you a farmer's daughter?

-Yes?

-Well, yes and no.

-Well, there's a shock!

The way you are going on there. It is a beautiful, beautiful cup, actually.

-The quality is superb.

-Yes, Charlie, but it is £125.

Lovely shape and handles.

Would you do £75 for that?

No.

-Can you get close to where I am?

-I can say 90.

I tell you what, I'll pay you £85 for it, cash.

-All right, sir, you have a deal.

-May I kiss your hand?

-You may indeed!

Mwah!

-That Candy is a good egg, isn't she?

-Yes! My first buy.

Wonderful.

Oh, hold up, Thomas is venturing to the bowels of the shop again.

What is this down here? Is it more junk? Oh!

PSYCHO MUSIC

Oh, my God.

It's like something out of a horror movie, all these creatures.

But, this is a porcelain-headed doll by Armand Marseille.

It's got the A and the M. It's got the thing there.

Armand Marseille here.

Weighted eyelids, teeth, this is real human hair.

Yuck!

Armand Marseille began manufacturing dolls in 1865,

creating a company which sat at the heart of the German

doll-making industry for the next 60 years.

At its peak, the company produced over 1,000 doll heads a day.

The rarer examples of which can now fetch thousands of pounds.

Sadly, I don't think these fall into that category.

Has anyone else bought bits of body? I can't buy bits of body.

I get letters saying, "You're a weirdo.

The evidence is stacking up against you, Thomas.

Right, Simon, I'm just going to get something. What am I doing?

-What am I doing?

-I really don't know, Thomas.

I really don't know, old fruit.

-What can they be?

-Dolls.

-Yes.

-£60.

-Oh!

-For all of them.

-They are horrible.

-Beautiful.

-They are not beautiful. At all.

-Is £60 too much?

-Too much.

50 if it helps, but I think you will do well with them.

£40. That is a good buy.

Yes, but it just looks so odd though, a man buying dolls.

-It takes all kinds.

-Mmm.

I'm going to think about it, do you mind, but thank you.

-You will do well.

-Well, I don't know. I don't know.

While Thomas mulls over the dolls, Charlie has gone all Alpine.

-It is a goatherder's.

-Oh, a goatherder.

-Is that definitely a goat's foot?

-Yes, that's a goat's foot.

WEST COUNTRY ACCENT: That is a goatherder, my lover!

That is a goat's foot. High on the hill...

-# High on the hill Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo!

-#

HE HUMS

# Folks in a town that was quite remote heard

# Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo. #

How much is it?

-Oh, come on, bird, stick a price on it.

-40 quid.

-40 quid, bird?

-Yes.

It's one of those antiques that you've got to say to somebody,

-where are you going to find another one.

-I'm loving that, bird!

What you think, my handsome?

WEST COUNTRY ACCENT: I tell you what, no haggling, I'll give you 30 quid right now for it.

Cash. Done. I am loving you, bird.

These two are getting on famously, aren't they?

Fab. Look at that. # High on a hill, a lonely goatherd...#

While Charlie's all chipper, Thomas is, well,

continuing his obsession for headgear and breathing apparatus.

Oh, for goodness' sake, Thomas!

-Where are you going?

-Every time I see you you're in a damn silly hat!

This is a gas mask.

I do know it is a gas mask, after all,

I was wearing one in the war, Thomas!

Have you bought what you wanted to buy?

I may have bought something, I may not.

All you need to do is look around the shop and see what is missing!

Thomas is feeling the pressure now.

It is time to make a decision about...those dolls.

35, I would like to see you take them to auction.

£30 and I will take them off your hands.

Like a nutcase.

Yes. OK.

Two items now. Right, I'm going to give you some money now

and then I am going to walk out of your shop.

On your head be it, Thomas, on your head be it.

Meanwhile, Charlie is zipping up the road to another antiques' emporium.

He has already bought two items but seems hellbent on buying more.

-Hello, my dear.

-Hello, how are you?

How do you manage to find such wonderful temperatures here?

Oh, God, it is absolutely frightful, isn't it?

-At least we don't have the snow.

-Nice to see you. Charlie is the name.

-And you are?

-Janet.

-Nice to see you, Janet. May I look round?

-Of course!

Now, don't forget, you've only got £85, Roscoe.

A magnificent clock and candelabrum, aren't they splendid? Very French.

That isn't priced.

That'll be beyond my price range but I thought I would just admire it.

Admire away, old boy. But you ain't got the money for that beauty.

That's an interesting charger, isn't it?

Now, this looks a bit more like it.

Is it Newlyn?

I wondered if it might have come from the Newlyn School.

The Newlyn School was part of the Arts and Crafts movement,

founded at the end of the 19th century.

Based, funnily enough, in Newlyn, Cornwall, it became

famous for its beaten metalwork, particularly with fishy motifs.

-I like these, they are almost like owls, aren't they?

-Or shrimps!

-You are making it more Newlyn with shrimps.

-I am trying!

How much is it?

-Ah-ha! Now you want to know.

-I'd better ask.

-I must ask the boss.

I can't go out of the shop without asking the price of something.

There isn't a ticket on it so a spot of haggling might be in order.

It's...

Got to be worth, I would hope, more than £10 which I'm going to offer.

The owner of the shop doesn't seem to be available

so Charlie is going to have to reckon with Janet.

-Look out, Janet.

-How much do you want?

20.

-What a temptress you are. 15? Can you add 10 and 20?

-16.

Oh, no, don't start doing that nonsense! 16? No, 15. Full and final.

-All right, then.

-Are you happy with that?

-I am.

-You don't need to make a phone call?

-He's not answering his phone.

Well, that serves him right, if he wants 120 quid for it then, doesn't it!

Three items already and it's only day one. Rock'n'roll, Roscoe!

Time to hook back up with Thomas in the little Triumph Spitfire.

I bought one lot which you are going to die.

You are going to see it and think, Thomas, what have you done?

I wonder what that could be, Thomas?

The boys are heading a couple of miles south to Sampford Brett,

where Thomas is dropping Charlie off to do a tad more shopping.

They've come to Keith Richards' antiques.

INTRO TO (I CAN'T GET NO) SATISFACTION

MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY

No! Not that one.

-Greetings!

-Bye-bye.

Treat that car properly.

While Charlie finds his way to the shop,

Thomas has an appointment 23 miles south-east in Stoke St Gregory,

in the heart of the Somerset Levels.

One of the last remaining wetlands in Britain,

the Somerset Levels have been at the heart of the basket weaving

industry for centuries, because, where there's water, there's willow.

From man's very earliest days, we've grown and harvested willow

to make everything from durable containers to fences.

Wickerwork was heavily used to package and transport goods.

It was a bit like the bubble wrap of its day.

Nestling in the centre of the Levels,

is a company which still makes willow baskets

and all manner of other extraordinary wicker creations.

Thomas has come to meet Jonathan Coate whose great-great-great-great

grandfather started the company all the way back in 1819.

-Hello, I'm Thomas.

-Jonathan.

-Jonathan, nice to meet you.

-Tell me, have you always been involved in this?

-Yes, all my life.

And your family, it's your generation?

-Yes, I'm the seventh generation.

-Seventh!

-Yes.

What I'm really interested in is the process.

-Could you take me through the process?

-Yes, we certainly can.

That would be really exciting.

The whole process starts with raw materials,

the branches of a willow or withies, as they are called.

We've got some willow here. This was actually literally cut today.

Before the willow can be used,

it needs to be first boiled for ten hours. Then stripped.

Traditionally, this was done by the women and children of the village.

They would strip it with a brake which is basically a piece of spring

steel, which they would have out in the garden or by the back door.

And one rod at a time, pull it through the brake, turn it round...

All by hand?

All by hand.

Go on, Thomas, have a go.

-And push it right down in between the brake.

-All the way down?

That is fine. Back towards you. That's it.

You are a professional here.

-A professional here. All the way in, yes?

-Yes, that's it.

All the way out.

It comes off quite easily, doesn't it, in the end.

Look at that!

Once stripped, the willow is made into baskets

and, here, these come in many shapes and sizes.

You've got loads of coffins!

The mad thing is, my grandmother was buried in one of these.

And I didn't know it was a wicker coffin,

or I can't remember that I knew.

All I heard was the creaking of the wicker.

It was like somebody arriving with a Fortnum & Mason's hamper.

But, no, there was Grandma inside there.

Thomas is keen to learn how to weave a basket.

But Jonathan's latest commission is for a number of willow coffins.

Stiffen up, Thomas.

This one's been staked up, so it's ready to put the siding on.

So, using one rod at a time, we'll tuck that in there.

It may seem a bit morbid, but there's a reason why there's been

a growing interest in wicker coffins over the years.

So quick!

And that's because they're very environmentally friendly.

-OK, Thomas, your go.

-Brilliant.

-In we go. So, in there.

-That's it.

-In it goes.

-Yeah.

I don't think I'm ready yet for an apprenticeship.

I think I need a bit more toughening up on my hands. Ooh!

Funny, Jonathan's not saying anything.

Let's stick to the day job, eh?

Jonathan's range is not restricted to coffins by any means.

The company gets some unusual commissions, one of which was

a giant chess set for the show-jumpers at the London Olympics.

They were decorated, for decorating the jumps?

The jump we made,

it was a giant table the horses were jumping over, that was chequered.

And the pieces were standing around to lead the horses into the jump.

Brilliant.

And, hidden away inside one of Britain's most iconic hats,

-more of Jonathan's handiwork.

-We actually make these little baskets

which go underneath the bearskins.

-The bearskins for the guards outside Buckingham Palace?

-That's right.

-Each one has its own little basket inside.

-I'm going to have a go.

Hm, there we go. Thomas just can't resist a good hat.

Oh, what a big head. Nothing fits.

Suits you, sir!

Actually, you always feel sorry for them,

thinking, God, this is really heavy.

And they're uber strong, standing up, their core strength.

But, actually, it's not too bad, if you've got the right one.

Jonathan's really not impressed, Thomas.

THOMAS GIGGLES

Meanwhile, Charlie's itching to spend some money

in the eponymous Keith's shop.

Oh, and here's the man himself.

-Hello. Charlie.

-Hello, Charlie.

-Nice to see you.

-And you.

Show me around, you've got things here?

Yes, I've got this room here,

and another room just as we go through here as well.

-I recognise that lady.

-Yes.

Margaret Thatcher. Isn't that wonderful?

-Lead on.

-Come through.

Uh-oh. Keith's lured Charlie into the first-class lounge.

It's glorious.

Glorious. Glorious.

Glorious present, yeah.

They might all be glorious, old fruit,

but quite out of your price range. Back to economy for you.

I'm just going to nip back

and reacquaint myself with Margaret Thatcher again, if I may?

He always was one for the ladies.

How much is that, in terms of...,

Um... It's 95 now.

-It can be £60.

-Can it!

-It can be £60.

-That's ridiculously reasonable, isn't it?

-It's very reasonable indeed.

-Oh, blimey.

That's within my budget, just about. HE GIGGLES

I think I've got to feel her.

This teapot's not for pouring. HE LAUGHS

Almost as famous as Mrs T herself was her alter ego

in the satirical 1980s TV puppet show Spitting Image.

So popular was the show that it spurned a host of merchandise,

much of which is now highly collectable.

This teapot was made in the pottery capital of Stoke-on-Trent.

Look at that.

"Denis, come here!"

I think I feel a deal brewing.

60 quid.

-Or 50, if it's going to help.

-What a wonderful man.

You're the first man I've ever dealt with who's brought down the price

without me asking. HE LAUGHS

I knew you were going to ask.

50 quid.

At 50 quid...

-Are you sure you're happy with that, before you shake on it?

-I am.

I think that's wonderful.

I hope that one doesn't backfire on you.

Nicely done, though, Charlie.

It's been a bumper day for our Charlie.

Now, both experts could do with a decent bit of shuteye. Nighty-night.

The sun has come out, at last, for our esteemed experts,

and spirits are high.

-# Oh, what a beautiful morning!

-Oh, what a beautiful day! #

Yes, long may it last.

It's very sticky on the old "accelerateur".

Well, you know, you'll get used to her.

If I was driving, that wouldn't have happened by now.

CHARLIE LAUGHS

So far, Charlie has pushed the boat out, spending a whopping £180

on an Arts and Crafts copper charger,

a goat's herd staff,

a silver cup and A Margaret Thatcher teapot,

leaving him with a mere £20 still to spend.

Thomas, meanwhile, has struggled to part with his cash.

He's spent a paltry £58 on a Victorian water pump,

and those rather spooky dolls.

That leaves him with a gargantuan £142 to splash about.

Thomas and Charlie are heading 34 miles south east

to the delightful town of Crewkerne in Somerset.

Crewkerne's been a travellers' watering hole for hundreds of years,

positioned on the old London to south west road,

and is most famous for the sails that were made there

for Nelson's flagship Victory.

-Pull in here.

-Pull in, pull in.

-Ah!

-Well done.

-I'm over here.

-I'm going this way.

With some catching up to do,

Thomas is hotfooting it straight to Antiques Bazaar.

It's a huge trading centre, home to the stock of 45 dealers,

and presided over by a very welcoming owner.

-Morning.

-Good morning, how do you do?

-I'm Thomas.

-I'm Anthony, nice to meet you.

-Very nice to meet you.

-I'm going to...

-You're welcome to have a look around, yes.

I hope everything's labelled. I'm here to give you a hand.

-Thank you, Anthony.

-OK. Good luck.

So, how are you feeling today, Thomas?

What's quite lovely about this buying experience is that

my last one, first day, was with Roscoe.

And all I heard was, "Oh! Will you let me have this!"

So, I'm feeling quite relaxed.

I don't like sharing shops.

Now, don't get too relaxed there, old boy.

The pressure's on to get buying, you know.

-I love that.

-HE TUTS

£750.

-HE TUTS AGAIN

-Why do I like the expensive things?

HE HUMS

No need to rush, Thomas, we've got all day, mate.

I want to spend some money.

The wind has gone from my sails.

It's ugly.

Huh. Not as much as I am, I assure you.

Ah! What are those?

What I've got is a pair of prints here.

You've got Queen Victoria, and the other one is Prince Albert.

In tiles on the floor is a name.

It's got "Baxter Prints". They're quite well framed.

They're a bit foxed. But they are Baxter Prints.

Now, are they £12 each or £12 for the pair?

-Luckily, Anthony is waiting in the wings.

-What have you found?

Well, a pair of prints, Victoria and Albert.

Do you think they're £12 the pair?

No, I would say definitely not.

Do you think we could have them for £12 for the pair?

I think that would be a little bit unfair on them.

What could we do?

I could do them for 15.

-£15?

-£15.

I'm sure you're not going to knock me on that. Humble money, £15.

Humble money, is that what they say?

-Humble money?

-Humble money, yes.

Humble they may be.

But, thank the Lordy Thomas has bought something at last.

Across the road, Charlie's arrived at another large emporium.

-Good morning, sir.

-Good morning.

-How are you?

-I am fine.

-The name is Charlie.

-Hello, Charlie.

-And you are?

-Eddie.

-Eddie.

Steady, Eddie.

I was extremely profligate with my spending yesterday.

I come to your establishment, and I'll own up with £20.

One £20 note is all I have in the world.

-Oh, dear, oh, dear, I feel sorry for you.

-No, don't feel sorry for me.

There'll be something I can buy, won't there?

-Have a look.

-Without a doubt.

-Have a look.

No auctioneer should be without one. That is the biggest gavel I've seen.

I should think you'd break your rostrum

if you brought that down and sold something.

Put it down quickly before you do some damage, Charlie.

Now, talking of damage, what's he spotted now?

Here, we've got an 18th-century Chinese ginger jar.

Damaged, yep.

Would have had a wooden lid, which is missing. But that's not a problem.

It's got some nibbles out of it.

But it's priced at £6.

Huh, crumbs.

That is within my budget.

I could even buy another piece of Chinese pottery to go with it.

In fact...

I think I'm allowed to buy like-for-like items.

I feel a bit of a collective lot coming on here.

Time to do a deal, me thinks.

I'm thinking a way of solving my problem here, Eddie.

-You are, are you?

-Well, I thought I might go off to the Orient

with a collective bundle of things.

-That might be a way forward, mightn't it?

-Possibly, yes.

Look at him go. He's like a dog with a bone now.

Potty for pots.

-Never seen Margaret Thatcher there before.

-No. That's spooky.

No, no, I'm not going to buy her. I've already got one of her.

-Oh, dear, you're in trouble.

-Yeah!

So let's count up the pots then.

One, two, three...

-Four damaged pots. Would you be happy?

-I'd be happy with that.

-£20 note?

-Yeah, go on.

-You are the man, sir.

May I give you the order of the £20.

Your last chance to regret it. You'll be all right?

-That's all right.

-Thank you very much.

So, while Roscoe is completely spent out,

the same could definitely not be said for Thomas.

Luckily, he has another shop to go to.

He's heading into the county of Devon just nine miles

south-west of Crewkerne to the village of Tytherleigh where he's

-pinning all his hopes on the Trading Post.

-Hello.

-Let's see how he gets on then.

-What's your name?

-Andrew.

Andrew, I'm Thomas. Nice to meet you.

Come on, Thomas, you've still got £127 to spend.

Can you spy anything to buy?

-Shh, can you hear the sound of the sea?

-Quite a nice shell purse.

Mother of pearl, brass fittings, very popular, very French, actually.

We see a lot of these about but they're quite popular things.

They're quite pretty, aren't they?

Nice jewelled item. A jewel of the sea.

Using shells to make purses became very popular at the end of the

19th century when Victorians began to take holidays by the seaside.

This purse might well have been bought as a souvenir,

-so time to seal the deal with Andrew.

-Andrew, what can that be?

-30 on that one.

-30. OK. You couldn't do it for 25?

Yeah, we could do, yeah. It's a nice thing.

-If we go to 20, that's got to be the rock bottom.

-Rock bottom. OK.

All right, I'll have that. £20, thank you very much.

At least you've bought something. That's Thomas's shopping completed.

Let's find out where Charlie has got to.

He's continuing the rural Somerset theme and is heading six miles north

to the lovely village of Shepton Beauchamp.

Charlie has come to meet avid collector and archivist,

Andrew Hall.

-Andrew.

-Hi.

-Good to see you.

-Yes.

-I know why I'm here, to see your

-lawn mowers? That's right.

-How many have you got?

-1,100 at the last count.

-1,100?

-1,100.

Hidden away in no ordinary garden shed, is just part of Andrew's

vast collection of vintage lawn mowers.

It's listed in the Guinness Book Of Records

as the largest in the world.

I don't believe it. How many mowers can you get in a shed?

In this one, just short of 600.

The history of the lawn mower is tied up with two very British

traditions, the great country house estates and the evolution of sport.

At the end of the 18th century,

acres of lawn like those at Blenheim Palace were

cut by over 200 labourers every ten days using scythes,

but as the Industrial Revolution kicked in,

all that was to change with the invention of a new labour-saving

device, the lawn mower.

At the end of the shed is a particularly special example.

This, in actual fact, is the oldest known motor mower in the world.

Is it really? What a privilege to see it.

-You can sit on it if you want, as well.

-Can I really?

This lawn mower was painstakingly restored by Andrew who

rescued it from an old sporting ground.

The lawn mower has played a huge,

-huge part in all British sporting life.

-That's right.

I think, to be fair, the history of the lawn mower and the development

of the lawn mower goes hand-in-hand with the development of sport.

Yeah, Wimbledon, Lords, croquet lawns, the great lawns of England.

In the garden, Andrew has ferreted out a few of the earliest mowers

to show Charlie, one of which dating back to the 1880s,

played a key role in sporting lawns.

-These early small machines had two purposes.

-Yeah?

One was, the line marker for tennis courts were not invented yet,

so what they actually did was they lowered the cut on these

machines, cut the lines out with this machine

so at least you could see a difference in colouration.

And that gave you the line.

The second use of these machines

is they became known as ladies machines.

I like it already. I like where you're going there.

-They're manageable for a lady.

-That's right.

Larger machines needed a little more horse or donkey power.

This, presumably, is pulled by something.

Yes, we class this as a small pony mower or a donkey machine.

So you'll have a donkey, somebody leading the donkey.

Somebody will be leading the donkey with a carrot on the front.

And then somebody on the back.

It's hugely labour-intensive, isn't it?

It is, but don't forget that labour was cheap then to what it is today.

By the Edwardian period, mowers were still a luxury with only

the very rich being able to afford one like this from 1907.

Do you know what strikes me, first of all, looking at that machine?

It looks more sophisticated than the equivalent motor car.

Yes and more expensive too. This machine in 1907 would be £125.

That's a huge amount of money.

That equates today to something like 15,000.

Extraordinary.

In those days, actually, it would have bought your house.

It would, but, you see, the other thing is with motor mowers of this

period, they wouldn't have been used by the gardener,

they would have been used by the chauffeur

because he was the person who knew about petrol engines.

-A gardener wouldn't have had a clue, would he?

-Yes.

A chauffeur to mow the lawn, eh? Those were the days.

Well, what an enlightening visit for Charlie, but it's time to leave

Andrew's lawn mowers behind and motor off to meet Thomas.

It's the moment of truth

when our experts reveal their purchases to one another.

The boys have regrouped in the pub.

-Roscoe.

-Yep?

Roscoe, are you going to reveal first? Senious prioritus, I say.

How was your shopping?

Terrible, I don't want to talk about it!

Reveal! Get on with it, get on with it.

HE SINGS DARTH VADER THEME

That's the funeral march by the way,

you don't want to be doing that too much!

-Roscoe!

-Yes.

-Right! Now, I saw that in the shop.

-So how much did you pay for it?

-85.

Oh!

You're dancing a little jig there, aren't you? Profit, profit, profit.

Oh, Thomas likes that one, but what about a cup of tea with Mrs T?

-Can I pick her up?

-You can pick her up.

The only time you'll ever pick up the lady, look at that.

-The lady's not for turning.

-No, no.

-£40-£60 they make.

It cost 50 quid, so you know, we're in the middle there.

-You're in the middle.

-By which time I'd got rather short of cash.

-Yep?

So I went random today and without further ado,

I bought an 18th-century Chinese ginger jar which is knackered,

er, a prunus blossom one which is later but in good order,

and a couple of random pots, and the whole lot was 20 quid.

-Oh, bargain.

-Can you yodel?

-No, I can't yodel.

Because I'd like to see you yodel!

-# High on a hill and a lonely goat

-# Oh lay ee odl lay ee odl ee hoo!

-That actually came into the bargaining.

-Did it?

-Yes, we sang it together as a duet. Candy and I.

-You and Candy, yes!

-Yes, I have a bit of a soft spot for Candy.

-I bet you do.

That Candy certainly made an impression.

-Right, I didn't spend all my money, I have to say.

-Thomas!

I tried, I tried!

The village pump, the village pump.

Have a look.

-Yep. I would imagine you bought it for 25 quid, did you?

-28.

-Fine, isn't it?

-Absolutely.

-Can't go wrong.

-You've got a couple of Leblanc prints, have you?

-Baxters.

-I hope they were cheap.

-Yeah, they were really cheap.

-They need to be cheap.

-£15.

-For the two?

-Yeah.

-Sauce pot!

-You sauce pot! What have we got here?

-Well, this is the horror show.

-Ready for this?

-Has it got something in it? I hope it has.

Oh, dear! THOMAS LAUGHS

-Is that a bit of Armand Marseille?

-Top marks, Charlie.

-So that's just a do-it-yourself kit, really?

-A do-it-yourself kit.

But it's a dolly kit. I think that is worth 75 to 80 quid.

I paid £30.

-Thomas, well done, old bean.

-Well done, Roscoe.

-May the best man win.

All jolly cordial if you ask me, but what did they really think?

It's all about Charlie's silver bowl. I mean he bought that so well.

It's going to fly away at the auction.

The next lot is the teapot, it's fantastic.

I love those teapots.

Who's going to win?

Well, I hope it's Roscoe because he spent all his money

and wet Plant has hardly spend £100, so well done, Roscoe.

Pretty obvious looking at Thomas's things that he's had a pretty

tough time at that old shopping, but he's played safe.

The village pump, 28 quid,

will sell for 40 or so.

A pair of Baxter prints.

Like so many things,

Baxter prints are just not worth what they used to be worth.

But at £15 for the two, they're a safe buy.

It's going to be quite interesting, it's going to be nip and tuck

as the last gavel comes down. We'll wait and see.

All will be revealed very soon.

Shifty.

It's been a very jovial first leg,

kicking off in Watchet,

meandering around the delightful county of Somerset,

popping into Devon

and now back into Somerset again

for the chaps' first auction in Frome.

Right, come on. Once more into the breach.

Today's battleground is at the large rural auctioneers, Cooper & Tanner.

So what does auctioneer, Dennis Barnard,

think of our experts' choices?

With regard to the case of dolls, they look a bit sad in there

actually, just their heads and bodies. Because there's so much

work attached to them, I think sort of 30, £35 is probably top whack.

The Maggie Thatcher teapot, I know there's lots of them around but

it is interesting and I'm thinking perhaps 60, £75,

something like that.

The silver cup is particularly attractive, it is engraved,

which makes it less saleable, but I would be very surprised

if it's less than 150, £175.

I like it.

Our experts began this journey with £200 each, and over the last

two days, Charlie has spent every single penny on five auction lots.

Thomas, meanwhile, only managed to part with a measly £93 on four lots.

Dearie me!

-Have you got butterflies in your tummy?

-I have.

-Have you?

Are you nervous?

I've got that same feeling as when you're about to go out to bat.

Everything could all be over in a quick flash.

Right, chaps, concentrate. The auction is about to begin.

First up is Charlie's copper charger, possibly Newlyn School.

Start me, somebody, at £10. £10, quickly.

10 we've got, 15, 15. 20, sir?

20, 20. 20, I'm bid.

22, 22, 25, 25.

Look at that, look at that, I told you!

32, 32, 35, 35 at the end.

35, right there at 35.

Anyone else coming in? 35.

A stonking £20 profit for Roscoe's charger. Well done.

I'm in the money!

-It's Thomas's pair of Baxter prints up next.

-Go on. Go on!

10 then, for these two pictures. Five we've got, five we've got.

-We've got eight, eight pounds.

-That's too cheap. That's too cheap.

8, 10, 12? 12, 15? 12, 12, 12.

-Go on! One more.

-£12. We've got this one I think at £12.

Yours for £12.

Well, there we are, £12, three-pound loss.

And sadly there will be even more loss after the auction house

takes its well-earned commission.

Well, they were Baxter prints at the end of the day!

-And I tried to buy them for £12.

-Did you?

-Yeah.

-That's the spirit.

Now it's Charlie's collection of damaged pots.

Now then, who's got £20 to start on that jug?

£20 start straight away.

Five? 30. Five, girls?

-Good girl!

-Stop!

35, 40, 40 with you, sir.

You've got to bid on some of my lots now!

At £40.

Roscoe is on a roll, another £20 profit.

-Well done.

-Very sporting!

Now, will Thomas scare the bidders off with his suitcase of dolls?

Who's got 20? £20? 16 then, 16 for these dolls.

16 with the lady. 16.

-18 now?

-Go on, go on!

-£16 for you, madam. £16. Anyone else coming in?

-That's it.

18, 18.

20 there, madam? 22, two seven? 22? 24, madam?

24. 26 now, sir? £24 with the lady.

At £24. Are we all done then at £24?

I think Thomas has got the frights now. Another loss.

It's not going well.

Will Charlie's luck continue though?

It's his Alpine staff up next.

-£40? £20.

-That would be a steal.

-20, 20, 20, now five.

-You won't find another one in this room I should think.

-No!

25. 30.

-There you are.

-35? 35.

-We're in Percy profit!

35? Are you sure?

42 if you like? 42, 45, 48?

45 with you, sir. 45.

All done at £45 then.

He's done it again.

Yodel-ay hee-hee!

Well, Thomas's luck has to turn, surely?

And it's his mother-of-pearl purse up next.

Start me, somebody, at £20.

10 then. 10 for the purse, 10 to go up, 10 with the lady.

10, 10, 10. Have we got 15?

-15, and 20, and five, five?

-Go on, go on.

-30.

28, sir? Have you got 28, sir?

-Go on, he's got 28.

-28? No.

25 with the lady. 28. 30?

Oh! £28!

One more, come on! One more.

We're all done at £28. I'm still the auctioneer.

LAUGHTER

-Thomas!

-Sorry I get carried away.

You will get carried away soon if you're not careful!

A profit for Thomas at last.

-No wonder he's getting a little exuberant.

-Still behind in the game.

Go away, Roscoe.

Yes. Play nicely, children.

It's Charlie's big purchase next, his silver cup for prize hens.

I know where I'm going to start, I'm going to start at just £100.

We've got £100. 110.

110, 120, 130, 140.

We've got 135 on the book, John.

Have we got 140? No. 135.

135, there you are. 140.

140, 145 with my silver man? Not bidding.

140, down here at 140. Are we all done? At 140.

A stonking profit for Charlie. It really looks like it's his day.

-Profit Roscoe, they call him.

-Profit Roscoe.

It's Thomas's last chance to catch up, but his Victorian water pump

will need to make over £140 for him to stand a chance.

Let's start, £20 to start, shall we? A garden feature, £20 there.

Straight in at 20.

30, 30. 35. 40, 40, five?

Oh, you're on fire!

-50, 50, five? 60.

-Thomas!

They're not threatening you, are they?

No, no! I promise you, I've got nothing to do with it!

Have you got 65?

70 now, 75, 80, 80, 85?

80. With you. At £80.

All done at £80.

Not as much as he needed, but still a splendid £52 profit for Thomas.

At last he can celebrate.

-Mwah! Mwah! Thank you.

-What about me?

-Aww!

Lordy, look at that!

Now, any takers for the last lot of the day?

It's Charlie's Margaret Thatcher teapot.

Shall we start at £20? £20? Mrs Thatcher.

£20 we've got, 20, 20, 20.

We've got five. Five.

30, five, 40, five, 50, five, 60,

-70, 80, 90, 100.

-Ooh! Roscoe!

110? 100, 100.

Are we all done? Anyone else coming in? £100.

Ha! The Iron Lady managed to turn our Charlie

yet another luscious profit.

Well done, Roscoe.

-Pumps and Thatchers to you.

-Pumps and Thatchers!

Both our experts started this leg with £200,

and after paying auction costs,

Thomas has made a decent profit of £25.08.

That leaves him with a respectable £225.08 to carry forward.

That rascal Roscoe, on the other hand, has triumphed today.

He's made a bumper profit of £95.20,

which means he takes forward £295.20 to spend next time.

-How was it for you, Thomas?

-Go away. You gloat!

-I never realised you'd gloat!

-I'm not a gloater!

No, well done, you deserve it.

You know you don't mean it.

-We both ended up with more money than we started with.

-That's what we wanted.

Next time on Antiques Road Trip,

Charlie resorts to dressing up to get a deal.

Ha-haa! Ha-ha-haa! Just like that!

-And Thomas, well, he just likes dressing up.

-There you are.

I could be a pirate now, couldn't I?