Episode 19 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts

with £200 each, a classic car...

We're going round.

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

I want to spend lots of money.

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

Oh, no!

-They'll be worthy winners...

-Yes!

-We've done it!

..and valiant losers.

You are kidding me, oh!

So, will it be the high road to glory

or were the slow road to disaster?

-What am I doing?

-Got a deal.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

This week's crusade sees two authorities in auctioneering

wrangling for Road Trip supremacy.

We're on the homeward run now of our road trip.

-I'm going to miss your company.

-Oh, Philip!

-Isn't that emotional?

-Yeah. No, no.

I too you.

Former geography teacher, now seasoned salesman,

Philip Serrell has discovered the sympathy-card tactic.

I'm £100 behind at the minute.

Ah!

James Braxton's an expert in tracking down treasure,

-but that doesn't stop him scouting for bargains.

-50p?

It's a king's ransom, isn't it?

Our two connoisseurs of all things curio started with £200.

On the fourth stretch, there's still over £100 separating them,

but the tables have turned.

Over the course of the last three auctions,

James now has £335.50 to spend.

But Philip's still in the lead, and has £463.30 to put to use today.

This being opportune moment just to say that I'm slightly ahead of you?

-I think that might verge on gloating.

-I wouldn't do that.

Both the chaps me to step it up a gear

as they manoeuvre this magnificent 1955 Austin-Healey

towards their fourth auction.

So, what's your plan, James? Are you going to go all in?

I think, the old, old adage, "the better you buy,

"the better you sell."

You got to be tough.

You can't...you can't be all smiles in this game.

You know, grannies, small children, clear a path.

Brutal, Mr Braxton.

The fellas walloping 920-mile quest sees them

careering from central Scotland through the borders

to the lakes, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside

and culminates in Newport, Shropshire.

The fourth push is a tour of the Northwest,

starting in Frodsham, Cheshire, and ending in Liverpool.

-Do you like this car?

-I love this car!

I think it's a bit racy, isn't it? I like the louvered bonnet.

Yeah, and a leather belt. It's a fabulous car!

For centuries, Frodsham has been a part of the Cheshire salt district,

using the river Weaver to export the salt,

but Frodsham's most famous export

is Take That's singer-songwriter, Gary Barlow.

We've got the weather of the southeast in the northwest.

-Absolutely!

-And that's what we do for the place, you know?

On our road trip, we bring out the sunshine.

First stop is the 15,000-square-foot Lady Heyes' Crafts

And Antiques Centre.

That's if James can get out of the car. Ooh!

THEY LAUGH

Anyway. All right. Seamlessly done. I think this...

HE LAUGHS

Oh, dear!

Graceful certainly doesn't spring to mind.

James's first port of call is the Antiques Emporium.

Based in the Edwardian room, there's a huge collection of antiques

and collectibles, vintage toys and jewellery.

Always look up in these places. Look up and look down.

Now, there's a powerful image.

Barrie A F Clark. A fabulous Spitfire.

It seems like looking up has paid off.

On a bit of ply.

It's obviously a print, but what a...

What a strong piece of work.

And the nice thing about this particular print

is it's framed as one. So, it's a total package

and it's nice and big.

That would look stunning in a contemporary flat.

I can see it's had a couple of bashes. What's he got on it?

45.

I might take it down and see if there's any more damage.

One, two, three.

Careful.

No. I'm going to need something...

Are you quite sure?

Don't do this at home, but it's all right.

I do yoga, so I've got a good balance.

Famous last words.

Yoga or Yogi?

-HE GRUNTS

-It's resistant.

It's not as bad as I originally thought there.

It's a nice bit, that.

And at least it's not Arts and Crafts

like he's bought for the last two auctions.

Now, James just need to get a good price

from one of the shop's dealers, Anthony Goodband, known as Larry.

-It's a good-looking item, isn't it?

-It is.

In a modern interior, it's going to be a nice feature piece, isn't it?

Yeah. The boys are going to love it.

The girls are probably not going to see that as the great addition

that you and I might think into the interior.

That's right. It depends on how big the garage the boy has to put it in.

Could you do something like 28 on it?

-We could come down to that, yes, yeah.

-28?

-Yeah, yeah.

Larry, you've gone and got yourself a deal. That's fabulous!

And James's first item for auction is done and dusted.

Here you are. 28. Lovely. Thank you. Bye now.

And James has even managed to charm antiques restorer Patrick Young

into giving the Spitfire print's scuffed corner

a little spit and polish.

Well, a bit of teak wood stain, actually.

Well, Patrick's done a fabulous job with that.

Great start for James, then.

Meanwhile, Philip is heading southeast, staying in Cheshire,

but bound for the small town of Sanbach.

The historic market town is known for its Saxon crosses at its heart.

These likely ninth-century sandstones

are elaborately carved with animals and biblical scenes,

forming one of the finest Saxon monuments in Britain.

This is just a really, really pretty place, isn't it?

Facing the crosses, is the appropriately named

Saxon Cross Antiques, run by John Jones.

-Hi. Philip.

-Hi. John.

-John, good to see you.

John's been in the business for 25 years,

following in the footsteps of both his parents and grandparents.

So, he should know a good thing or two about antiques.

We're going to go to a sale room in Liverpool.

And so, I'm thinking

Liverpool - maritime.

I've got exactly what you're looking for.

John's got a fine collection of model boats.

How old is that?

I would put it at the turn of the century, 1900, 1910.

-It is scratch-built.

-And what's your ticket price?

Ticket price on that is 50, but I can do you a good deal on that.

How much is a good deal?

20 quid. All the bits are there, but it's had cat damage.

-But if you look inside...

-So, it really is scratch-built.

Scratch building is making a scale model from raw materials

rather than from a kit.

But Philip's not committing to it just yet.

I quite like this, actually. Look at that.

That one's the old Pony Express.

And I think it's MOBO.

And how much is that?

Erm, I've got 75 on that.

It's nice that it's not been painted or restored.

-When was that made, John?

-Early '50s.

We think this one was just called The Pony Express,

which you've got there with the traditional guns.

MOBO, standing for mobile toys,

were made by British toy manufacturer

D Sebel & Co between 1947 and 1972.

They specialised in sturdy, steel ride-on toys.

So, could you do...could you do 40 for the boat and The Pony Express?

I will to 50,

and you've got me right down.

-Give me five minutes while I just have a think to myself.

-Yeah, sure.

Philip has over £450 to spend.

John's already given him a £75 reduction,

but Philip's playing hard to get.

I think £50 is too much money for the two. I really do.

Would 40... I mean, let me just do this. Look. Let me just...

I put that there and I put that there.

I think that might act as an encouraging enticement, wouldn't it?

40 couldn't do.

Can you help me out at 45 for the two?

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

-45.

Thank you very, very much, indeed.

Better get some more money out, hadn't I?

So, that's 30 for MOBO ride-on horse and 15 for the model ship,

and Philip's got his first two items for auction.

Meanwhile, back at The Antique Centre,

James is still making his way around the units.

-Hello. James.

-Rose.

-Hello, Rose. Very nice to meet you.

Along with her business partner, Rose Bryant has been running

the attic here for six years looking after three different rooms.

What do you have in here, then, Rose?

I'm going to Liverpool, so that's on the Mersey, isn't it?

Famous for its shipping, its connection with New York

and all that.

Oh! Hold on. Erm...

-Some boxes here.

-Boxes?

-That might be interesting, that one.

-That's a very unusual box, isn't it?

Captain. Captain Corbet. What does that say? RN, is it?

Or RI?

What's...?

-RN, Royal Navy.

-Oh, right.

That's quite nice, isn't it? Nice bit of oak.

Unusual shape, isn't it? So...

Navy, oblong, erm, charts, isn't it? Do think it's a chart box?

It could be. I thought telescopes, but probably, yeah.

I think, Rose, you might have the day.

I think it could be a telescope.

What could you do on this, Rose? I'm going to be hard on this one.

-Oh, dear.

-It's a sort of take... It's a take it or leave it.

-65.

-That's what you originally thought.

-Yeah.

-What are you offering?

-What I...

I'd love to buy it for 28.

He seems to have a thing for £28.

I do like it, yeah.

-38.

-38?

-Yeah, that's it.

What about we meet in the middle? 32, Rose.

-Go on, then.

-32!

-Go on, then.

That's really kind.

James did say he was going to be ruthless today,

and he's got himself his second item, a 19th-century oak box

with an engraved brass plaque, for £32.

That's the three, Rose. There's the ten and there's the 20.

-Lovely.

-Thank you very much, indeed.

I think he's miscounted and overpaid.

We'll call it £33 then, James. Hmph!

Meanwhile, Philip's been heading north to Altrincham

to visit Dunham Massey Hall,

a Grade 1 listed Georgian house that belonged to the Grey family,

also known as the Earls of Stamford since 1736.

Philip's here to learn about a very unique period

in this stately home's history.

Really is just glorious!

In 1914, Britain was in the throes

of the biggest military conflict in its history.

The First World War saw millions of British servicemen

return home from battle injured.

By 1915, there was a real shortage of hospitals

to care for the wounded.

The solution was to convert over 3,000 houses across the country

into private military hospitals including Dunham Massey.

Today, the Hall is owned by the National Trust

and housing collections manager

Katie Taylor looks after its contents.

-Nice to meet you.

-What a fantastic property, isn't it?

Yeah, it's beautiful.

This auxiliary hospital, named the Stamford Hospital,

was part funded by the Red Cross and part by the Grey family.

This private contribution was a common commitment

made by wealthy families for their part in the war effort.

At the outbreak of the First World War,

there were only 7,000 hospital beds in the country,

so there was a massive shortage.

The hospital was in operation from April, 1917, to January, 1919,

taking 282 patients overall.

Each room was given a separate role,

some of which have been recreated as part of an exhibition

to mark the centenary of the war.

This room became the recreation room.

And this is where the soldiers,

those who could get out of bed, would come and eat their meals.

-They would play games...

-They would've eaten there?

-Yep.

That's quite humbling, isn't it?

Men were brought from France and Belgium for treatment

in the makeshift ward here.

The Stamford Hospital was for the lowest ranking soldiers,

known as Tommies, a generic term for a common British private.

And these come from a home where there's no running water,

no electricity, outside lavatory, no bath...

And then you've got all this around you.

-An 18th-century mansion house.

-Yeah.

This place must have been a real change for them, a real surprise.

There would have been 25 patients in the former drawing room.

Now, each of these beds tells the story of a soldier that came here

for common, wartime illnesses or injuries.

Despite horrific circumstances,

war forces medical advancement, like the Thomas splint,

introduced in 1916 by orthopaedic surgeon Hugh Owen Thomas.

Says here, "Leg was in a Thomas splint on admission,

"wound very septic and penetrating."

Well, he had a compound fracture, so the wound was open.

80% of people who had a compound fracture

before this Thomas splint was invented

died from shock, which is fluid loss, blood loss basically.

This reduced the mortality rate to just to 7%.

Blimey!

So, in a way, the war gave us the Thomas splint,

-which saved people's lives.

-Every war produces different weapons.

It produced different injuries...

Means that medical science is always evolving because of conflicts.

One of the most seriously injured soldiers treated at this hospital

was Private William Johnston.

He arrived with two pieces of shrapnel in his brain,

so they needed somewhere the doctors could operate,

which has been recreated again today.

So, this is a stairwell that's become an operating theatre.

Yeah, it was primarily because there was a sink

as part of a loo just outside there,

which would have been a great spot for people to rinse out bandages.

Not only did the family give up their home,

but Lady Jane Grey, the sister of the Earl at the time,

also trained as a voluntary nurse.

She assisted during Private Johnston's operation,

holding a torch for the doctor whilst he extracted the shrapnel.

The world of nursing was a far cry from the society life

she would have led if there hadn't been a war.

She remembered being very frustrated because she didn't realise

when she was boiling a pan of milk that it would boil over.

There were so many life-skills she had to learn

in order to the fulfil this role

that lower class girls would have just...would have just known.

So, as much it was a different world for the Tommies,

it was an entirely different world for women like Jane.

The hospital closed in January, 1919,

and the Hall was once more a family home.

This has been a really, really memorable trip for me.

-And it's a special place. Thanks very much. Thank you.

-Thank you.

While Philip finishes soaking up the house's impressive stories,

James is still in shopping mode, edging his way east to Romiley.

Set within the borough of Stockport,

the village of Romiley borders the Peak District.

It's named comes from an Anglo-Saxon word

meaning spacious woodland clearing,

as up until the 19th century, it was predominantly an agricultural area.

James is here to meet Peter Green, who's owned Romiley Antiques

and Jewellery for 30 years.

-Hello!

-Hi.

-James.

-Peter. How are you?

-Peter, very nice to meet you.

The pressure's mounting on James now that he's over £100 down,

after being £100 ahead.

So, Peter's giving James some potential pointers.

-There's a pram here.

-No, not for me.

-Picnic basket.

-Not for me.

-No?

Erm... This barometer... It's quite nice.

It's not for me that fellow. Nope.

But finally, James's found something himself.

Peter, I think this...this is more me.

It's got a bit of colour and we got a bit of sea.

The interesting thing with this charger is... Unfortunately,

you know, it's old,

it's suffered, you know, temperature changes and it's crazed,

but it's quite well done and, from afar, that looks quite good.

We got marine interest.

We're going to Liverpool. It's famous for its maritime history.

It's actually a Dutch wall plaque, as referenced on the reverse.

It's of Texel Island, off Northern Holland.

It has a ticket price of £30.

-What can we do it for? Can that be cheap?

-I don't know.

-What would you like to pay for it?

-I'd like to pay 15 for it.

Can we do it at 15?

You can have it for £15.

-Peter, I'll take it for £15.

-That's a deal.

-Thank you very much, indeed.

And that's James's third item for auction.

-Thank you very much, indeed, Peter. I'm pleased with that.

-Very good.

Now our gents are done for the day. So, sweet dreams, fellas.

Wakey, wakey, then.

The sun doesn't have his hat on this morning,

so the roof's certainly up on the Austin-Healey,

as are two antiques professionals step on the gas again.

I'm beginning to f...know exactly how sardines feel.

Yeah. I hear... A little bird told me

that you got in and then they put the roof over you.

I couldn't possibly comment on that.

Good luck getting out then, fellas.

But they've got a lot to do today.

Philip has spent just 45 of his £463.30

on a ride-on horse and model ship.

James has over £250 still to spend

after picking up a Spitfire print, Dutch wall plaque

and an oak box for £76.

So, they've got a busy shopping day ahead.

Nice that they've got the weather for it, though.

Talk me through your leaks there.

-Well, I think I've got one here...

-Yeah.

-..that's dribbling down on my right thigh.

-Excellent.

-I've got one here that's dribbling on my left knee.

-Good.

And the one in the middle...

-I don't want to tell you where that's going.

-No.

Yeah, please, don't.

Our soggy sardines began their jaunt in Frodsham

and are looping round the northwest.

Next stop is Sale, in Greater Manchester.

The commuter town of Sale has been dated to prehistoric times

after a flint arrowhead was discovered by the Victorians.

Philip's here to target Manchester Antiques Centre... Ha!

..for some auction spoils. But you can lead a horse to water...

Hello, horsey. How are you?

..with Philip you never know.

-John, good morning.

-Good morning to you, sir.

-How are you? All right?

-Exited?

-Looking forward to this.

-Oh, no!

John Long, the second John of the trip so far,

specialises in antique furniture.

Blimey! You've got some stockers, haven't you?

It's quite a nice thing, isn't it,

but it's got a bit of a tectonic shift in plates

right around the top of South Africa... South America.

South Africa? I used to teach geography!

Thankfully, you did give up your day job, then.

That's a bit of a fun one, isn't it?

It's probably an old Blackthorn stick.

They've got a really sweet, little duck or a goose's head on it.

Quack, quack.

Uh-oh! I think he's gone quackers.

And there's no price on it. I'm going to take that down

and just ask John...

how much that is.

-That's lovely, isn't it?

-Collectors' item.

-It is. How much is that?

£270.

-Look at the eyes.

-Oh, yeah!

They've got tears running down them now, John. I think they've got tears.

I think I made a mistake.

I think I should have asked you what the cheapest thing in the place.

-One Bechstein piano.

-How much is this?

-Make an offer.

Under £10.

Make an offer.

-I'll give you a fiver for it.

-You can have it.

The German company Bechstein is one of the top piano makers

and brand-new, upright pianos can cost several thousand pounds.

Second-hand ones, though, are a different market.

I can't sell them anymore.

-You'll sell that for a fiver?

-I will.

I'm warming to you.

The two best makers in the world

surely are Bechstein and Steinway, are they?

-Correct. You can sell a Steinway.

-Really?

-Very easy.

-I'm hoping you can sell a Bechstein.

Well, it's yours now.

Ha-ha! Methinks John could be having the last laugh here.

Come on, Phil, I've got something more in your price range.

-So, how old's that one do you think?

-I'm guessing from the '30s.

And has it got any history or...?

Well, actually, it's funny you should ask that.

-That came out of my mother's garden.

-Really?

-So, I know where it's been for the past 50 years.

-Do you know what?

-That in good order...

-Yes.

..would have been hundreds of pounds, wouldn't it?

It would. Yeah, I agree. £280.

It's glazed stoneware, so that might be a little steep for Philip.

-No. No, I can't do that.

-Well, where are you on this, then?

I've got to try to buy that for somewhere between 40 and 50 quid.

What do you reckon? Would 40, 50 quid buy it, do you think?

-Not really, no.

-OK.

Come on, Phil! It was his mother's birdbath.

Right. £90. Under 100. You can't fail. You can't.

No. I can! I can fail. I'll give you my best.

-60 quid, and that's me finished.

-Very difficult.

-That'd be OK.

-You done?

-Done.

That's a staggering £220 off the asking price.

And a piano for a fiver. £65 for the two.

Philip's been even cleverer,

removing the broken part of the pedestal,

in the hope that it makes it more saleable.

So, I bought a piano. I bought a water feature.

What do you think of that? Not much, eh?

Neigh!

Did someone mention hay?

Meanwhile, James is navigating his

way north to the city of Salford.

Since the closure of the Manchester Docks in 1982,

there's been a huge regeneration of Salford Quays.

Manchester's unique waterfront is now an arts and culture hub.

The award-winning Imperial War Museum North

was designed by internationally acclaimed architect

Daniel Libeskind, who's also responsible for the master plan

for the Ground Zero site in New York.

Today, James is meeting the museum director, Graham Boxer.

-Good morning, James. Nice to meet you.

-Good morning.

-What a very impressive building.

-Oh, it's an amazing building.

It's sort of three parts that you can see.

It's the earth shard, which slopes away here,

the air shard, which rises up into the sky,

and also on the other side of the building, near the canal,

the water shard. Three shards of the globe fractured by war and conflict.

The museum specialises in showing how war shapes lives

by telling personal stories,

no more harrowing than those of the millions of people

sent to prisoner of work camps around the world

during the Second World War.

Young Army Captain Ronnie Horner was posted to Singapore

in January, 1942, to defend the British colony against the Japanese.

Within a few weeks, the British Army were defeated

and Ronnie was captured.

So, Graham what have we got here?

This is the suitcase that belonged to Ronnie Horner,

and we can see his initials on here - RMH.

And this would have contained all the items

that he took out to Singapore with him. And he kept it with him

when he was in the prison of war camp.

In May, 1943, when he was moved from the prison of war camp in Changi

to work on the Thailand-Burma railway line,

he took this with him.

The infamous Burma Railway is also known as the Death Railway

and made famous by the film Bridge Over The River Kwai.

Around 100,000 died during its creation.

It wasn't just the heat and humidity,

or the backbreaking labour,

but also the poor living conditions and lack of food.

Two of Ronnie's belts.

-This is the one that he was wearing when he went to Changi.

-Yeah.

And you can see the width, the circumference of his waist.

And this one here is what he was like

when he came out six months later.

God... It's a child's, isn't it?

You wonder how they survived

and how they actually were able to do any work at all.

Despite the huge risk, Ronnie kept a diary for three years,

hidden behind a panel in his suitcase,

to remember his experiences during the camp.

"I find that as the day goes by, thoughts crop up,

"memories are revived

"and instances occur that quite obviously will be forgotten

"if not noted down."

Ronnie survived the appalling conditions at Changi Camp

and sailed back to Britain

after Japan surrendered in August, 1945.

But some prisoners didn't wait for the end of the war to escape.

Germany's infamous prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III

had not one, but two escapes.

The Great Escape film tells the story of one, but just before that,

three different prisoners successfully fled the camp

using entertainment as a decoy.

So, these items, Graham, what's their link?

Well, these items belong to Oliver Philpot.

He was an RAF pilot that was shot down.

Philpot was sent to the high-security camp.

Along with two other prisoners, he planned his escape meticulously.

Philpot knew that if he actually managed to get out,

he would need a cover story to help him reach neutral territory.

He decided that he would take on the role of a travelling salesman,

so he needed to look the part.

He took his military service tie, which is what we see here,

and he made it look less military, as you can tell,

by putting this sort of white stitching

into the tie all the way along.

It's very cleverly done.

He asked a friend of his, a fellow prisoner of war in the camp,

to actually make this compass for him.

And the person who made it took parts of a gramophone player

and converted them into the compass.

The key to the escape was a strategically placed wooden box.

Philpot and his co-conspirators dug a tunnel

whilst hiding in the bottomless box near to the barbed wire.

After 114 days of digging, on the 29th of October, 1943,

the three men escaped.

He eventually managed to smuggle himself onto a vessel

bound for Sweden, then it was easy for him to get back to England.

What a great story. So, two objects that aided his flight.

-Absolutely.

-Thank you, Graham.

-Thank you for coming. Fully enjoyed it.

After returning home, Oliver Philpot went on to have two sons

and three daughters, and died aged 80, in 1993.

They're just two of the many incredible stories

of the brave men and women affected by war

that you can find at the museum.

With one or two items each still to buy,

James is joining Philip back on the road to Ramsbottom, Lancashire.

The skyline of this picturesque market town

is dominated by the Peel Tower commemorating Sir Robert Peel,

former Prime Minister and founder of the police force, who was born here.

So, where is Ramsbottom, James?

Erm, Ramsbottom is down there, lad.

-We're both in the same shop, are we?

-There'll be lots of competition,

-running around.

-Really? I don't think much about that.

I can't see them running for anything.

They've got to sort the car out first.

This is a bit floppy, mate.

-It goes sort of like that.

-Let's just leave it be.

-Go on. Go on.

Never mind.

Memories Antiques Centre has two floors of antiques,

collectibles and vintage items.

So, knock yourselves out, fellas!

For once, can I be the upstairs man and you be the downstairs man?

-JAMES LAUGHS

-OK, go on. Go on.

-Don't be too lucky there.

-I won't. I'll try hard.

James still has over £250 to spend

and he's hoping dealer Mavis Newton can help him spend it.

-Have you got any fresh goods?

-Nice things over there in that cabinet.

-What? In this one?

-Yeah, that one there.

The sticking-out-one, as I call it.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Philip is with his third John of the trip,

dealer John Roberts.

John, without getting it out,

what might that truncheon be?

Erm, 60.

Let's have a look, then.

Now, a lot of these were ceremonial, weren't they?

I think there is some writing on it somewhere.

Holborn, that's London?

-Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

-It's a bit rubbed, isn't it?

It is a bit worn, well used.

See, see, that's a preparatory statement just to try

to get the price down a little bit more. It's...

So, you agree it's quite well used and rubbed?

It's... Well, it's 100 years old.

Not sure your plan's working, Philip.

Back with Mavis, will James carry out his plan to be tough

with everyone from kids to grannies?

-Can I look at this medal group here?

-Yeah.

So, 3945, the Italy Star, the Africa Star,

the Atlantic Star and the 45.

It's a very nice group.

They're marked at 55.

-55.

-Can I squeeze you, Mavis?

Could you do it for 30?

-That'll be fine, yes.

-Would that be all right?

-Yeah.

-You got...

You've gone and got yourself a bargain.

Surely, it's the other way around.

Upstairs, Philip still rummaging through John's wares.

John, well, I'll just have a look at that book -

The Short History Of The Lancashire Fusiliers.

Oh, yeah, I just got that recently. Yeah, it's quite in.

-That's quite cheap.

-Oh, I like it this.

-Can I have a look at it, please?

-Yeah, sure.

It is a little book... Well, it is the shortest...

It does what it says on the tin. It's a short history

of the Lancashire fusiliers.

I just think that's quite a nice little thing.

And this is a record of their...just their various actions, isn't it?

-That's right, yeah.

-Well, what I'm thinking is...

I'm wondering if I could do a package of that and the truncheon.

There's a good market for both military

and antique police memorabilia,

so if Philip gets them for a good price, he could do well at auction.

See, I think that's going to make, again, £50 to £80,

which means I've got to try to pitch it...

try and buy it at 40 quid, realistically.

Is that going to be any good?

-60 for the two.

-I really don't think I could do it.

I'll tell you what, 50 for the two.

-That is the best.

-And that's it finished?

-That's it finished.

-OK, you're a gentleman.

-I'm going to have the pair of them.

-Right. OK.

Thank you very much, indeed.

So, that's £50 for Philip's fifth and final lot,

and that's him finished for the day.

James, meanwhile, is still being ably assisted by Mavis.

Mavis, the only reason I've asked you to open this cabinet

is I like big, sculptural objects

and this rather cute doggie is quite big,

as pottery figures go, isn't he?

-He's gorgeous, actually.

-Do you know who the maker is?

-SylvaC.

Got a sort of cutey look, tongue hanging out, isn't he?

-Is it all right, Mavis? Is it damaged at all?

-No, it's perfect.

Condition is key for SylaC figures as damage will devalue them.

They were produced from the late 1920s

by Staffordshire ceramics company Shaw and Copestake.

Larger figures are generally worth more.

That's nice because it's large and normally, they're only usually

about that big and they're not glazed.

-They're only small, aren't they?

-Mm. That lovely.

-Could this be cheap?

Gina, how much can the dog be? £65.

-£30.

-Can you do it for 30?

-Yes.

-I'll take it for 30.

That's 30 for the SylvaC dog, another 30 for the medals,

and James's shopping is done.

So, let's remind ourselves what they bought.

Along with his last two items, James has a Dutch wall plaque,

a Spitfire print, an oak box ready for auction

and he spent just £136 on his five items,

just over a third of his budget again.

Philip also has five lots -

a birdbath, a ride-on pony, a piano, a model ship,

a truncheon and a military book. And he's only spent £160.

Just a third of his budget, too.

They may have been playing it safe,

but what do the chaps think of each other's objects?

Phil, the canny fox, has bought well again, hasn't he?

I do like his boat, which he's paid little money for. £15.

An upright piano...a fiver? Seems cheap to me.

I think I bought good items on this one. Let's hope this leg is mine.

I think James has been really, really clever with what he's bought.

We're going to Merseyside, the waterfront.

He's bought that really good Delft plaque with a shipping scene on it.

He's bought that lovely box with Captain whatever-his-name-was,

with RN, Royal Navy.

That's going to do well. But the real but is the dog.

I think the dog is a dog.

If you say so, Philip.

After a 136-mile loop of the Northwest,

our experts' fourth journey is drawing to a close

at auction in Liverpool.

I think it's fantastic here. Yeah, look at that!

That's the Liver bird, isn't it?

Has a great New York feel about it, doesn't it?

Liverpool's had strong links with America

since the growth of the cotton trade in the 19th century.

Now, the boys are on their way to do some trade of their own.

Now, is there anything of yours, James,

that you've got just that little bit of a wavering on?

Do you know, Philip, I'm feeling very smug here, but no.

That's great. That's made me feel really good. Thanks a bunch, mate.

-Bang on trend with prints and sentimental dogs.

-Oh, yeah...

It's the way forward.

I'm not so sure,

but we'll soon see as the boys arrive at Cato Crane Auctioneers.

That's if they make it inside in time.

THEY LAUGH

Holy shmoly! Well, James, here we are.

Doesn't get any easier, that.

And it's over to the fourth and final John of the journey,

-auctioneer John Crane.

-Ten pounds is... Sorry. Too slow.

# Big, bad John... #

With over 35 years' experience in the business,

John's cast an eye over Philip and James's picks.

One interesting item is the truncheon.

Depends on who's on the internet

and if we picked up a specialist buyer.

One item which might cause a bit of problems is the piano forte.

Problem with pianos -

restoration costs must be taken into consideration.

I'll be very surprised if we sell it.

So, it could be an interesting auction for Philip.

How's that piano of yours?

Well, rather fortuitously, the rubbish van has just arrived.

We'll have to wait and see for that one.

As first under the hammer is Philip's ride-on pony.

Sh! Concentrate because my horse is coming up.

-The Pony Express.

-The Pony Express.

-Yes. MOBO Pony Express.

£20 is bid straight in on the internet.

It is an internet sort of lot, isn't it, Phil?

25, the gent there.

30 on the internet. 35 is bid now in the room, standing.

All done at £35, your bid, sir.

Just breaking even. Washes its face, that one.

Just a fiver profit for Philip's first item.

Let's see if James's first lot, the Dutch wall plaque,

can do any better.

£20 to start me off. Commission bid of 20. £20 is bid.

-Commission bid, James.

-20? Is that the best we can do? £20.

It's a nice thing. £20. Make it 22 somebody.

22? 22. 24?

£26 is bid. I'm going to sell. I'd like a little more, really.

-For £26...

-So would I...if you put it that way.

There's no reserve.

Do you know what, that's a bit of a relief to me

cos I thought that was going to make £50 to £80.

Did you?

Shut him up, didn't it?

But £11 profit is a good start to closing in on Philip's lead.

Next, it's Philip's model ship.

-I'll take 25 to start you off.

-What?

-25 is bid. 30 over there.

The lady's bid over there at £30. I'm going to sell at £30 now.

All done at 30. It's your bid, madam.

£30. That's not bad, is it?

Take what you can get, fellas.

-We're not going to walk out of here with bulging pockets, are we?

-No.

-Bulging what?

-Pockets.

-No. No.

But James's Second World War medals

could entice a specialist militaria buyer.

What do you think you might get?

I don't know. £50, £60.

£20 for these.

20 is bid over there. 20.

25. Thank you, I'll get internet in a second. 25. 30, sir.

35 with you, sir. 35. 40 at the back.

Internet now is £45.

45 on the internet. Any further bid in the room, now?

50 is bid in again. Thank you, sir. £50 is bid.

£50, your bid, sir. Make no mistake...

£50. £50.

James was right at £50,

and that's £20 profit to help inch closer to Philip.

Next, it's Philip's birdbath.

He's taken a gamble by removing the broken base.

I heard somebody over there talking, and they said,

"If that had had the base,

"then I would have been all over that like a rash."

You're really bitter this morning, aren't you? Very, very bitter.

I can start the bidding at 30, and 30 is bid.

£30 is bid.

-35 on the internet.

-35 on the internet.

-40 on the internet.

-We've got two bidders on the internet now.

-Two bidders.

That's useful.

-45 on the internet now.

-Do they know it's not going to go in an envelope?

All done at £50.

That's enough I think, isn't it?

-Terrible, you are.

-Sold at 50.

Oops! Philip's gamble hasn't paid off.

He's ended up with a ten pound loss.

-That's a relief, that is.

-It could've been a lot worse.

James is up next with his SylvaC dog figurine.

Look at that. This is lovely.

Start me at ten pounds on the SylvaC terrier.

Ten is bid over there. Ten. 12, the gentleman here. 14. 16.

18. 20. 22, sir.

24. 26. 28. 30.

First bit of bidding I've seen in the room.

-34, sir.

-36. Oh, profit, James.

38. 40.

40. This is remarkable!

-This is bidding in the room.

-£44, right in front of me here.

I can feel you creeping up behind me.

And another profit for James. Watch out, Philip!

Next, it's auctioneer John's pick,

the antique truncheon and military book.

-When we say on it? £20 to start me out.

-Oh, ouch!

20 is bid. 25. 30.

-35. Worth a bit more than that, I think, isn't it?

-No.

40 on the internet now.

-40 on the internet.

-42. 44 on the internet.

I'm getting worried now, Philip. Well done. Well done.

-46 is bid in the room. 48 on the internet.

-Oh, dear.

-48.

Do you want to round it up to 50, madam? 48 on the internet.

I'm selling now.

It could've been worse, couldn't it?

-That could have been like Armageddon.

-Yeah.

Philip could be losing his grip. It's his second loss today.

Now, it's over to James's beloved Spitfire print.

God, I do love my Spitfire. What do you think?

-God, do you know? I'd buy that.

-You did.

What's it worth, gents?

-A lot of money.

-£20 to start me off, come on. Anybody?

20 it's a nice thing. £20 is bid.

Anybody else? 25, Mr Berry.

-26, sir.

-Oh, you're off to the races.

-27.

£28 with you. 29 now.

-30 with you.

-30.

-£30. 31 will do another one. £32.

Why waste the bids? Take it up in fives, chief.

You happy with that now, Mr Berry? £32 then. We're going, Berry.

And that's another profit for James.

He's now got one last chance to try and get the edge on Philip.

The maritime theme of his final item, the Royal Navy oak box,

could do well in the port of Liverpool.

-This is it.

-You can give up.

-If this makes 100 quid, I'm in trouble.

-It won't make £100.

-What do we say?

-£20.

What about, erm, £20 to start me off.

-I told you.

-£20 is bid. 20.

25? 25. 30 with you, sir. 30? £30.

-All done at £30?

-No, keep going at £30.

All done and finished, ladies and gentlemen. £30.

What a crying shame to sell something like that for £30.

-I got out of jail there, didn't I?

-£30! I know!

No-one likes a poor loser, and that's James's first loss today,

but Philip's final item, the piano, is a potential winner.

Brand-new Bechstein pianos can cost thousands,

but as Philip's got his so cheaply, he could seal a win

if it makes good money.

If that Joanna makes 100 quid, I'm stuffed.

Who would have thought be able to buy a Bechstein at five pounds?

-That's bonkers.

-It is bonkers.

And then be worried that you might not make a profit on it.

-Amazing.

-That's the real bonkers bit, and I might not.

Who will give me £50 for it? It's worth it, ladies and gentlemen,

just a bit of money spent on it

and you'll have a very, very fine instrument.

Come on. £50. £20 if you like.

-I'll give you ten, Mr Crane.

-How much?

-Ten.

-Ten pounds your way. That's profit, chief.

-Ten pounds is bid.

It's worth a lot more than that, I think. Ten.

-It needs a lot of restoration.

-Can you give me 20 for it?

-15.

-15... Is that your best bid?

And I'm doing you a favour.

-The man's clearly an expert, isn't he?

-Is that the best you can do?

-Yeah.

-Any further bid anywhere else? All done?

I think you're the proud owner of a Bechstein piano, sir.

That's not bad. At least you've a bit of profit there, chief.

Who would have thought it? An upright piano for a fiver

making a tenner profit?

I'm not complaining because I think that, you know,

-it was a real gamble taking it on, wasn't it?

-Yeah. Yeah.

Philip's lost today's leg.

Setting off with £463.30, and after auction costs,

he's lost £14.04,

leaving him with £449.26 for next time.

James started today with 335.50, and after auction costs,

he's up by £13.24,

bumping his budget to £348.74.

But Philip's retained the lead.

So, it's all to play for in the final leg.

Dear me, James.

Start the car. Well, you've narrowed the gap.

I have narrowed the gap, but I expected to do more narrowing.

-Are you driving?

-I'll drive. Go on, good man.

Cheerio till next time, fellas.

Next time, it's all getting very sentimental on the final leg.

-And you've been my little ray of sunshine.

-I have.

Philip tries to squeeze a profit...

I think I'm going to put that down.

..while James finds himself in a tight spot.

Do you want a lift out?

Well, I haven't had any breakfast,

so I got no sort of core strength.