VO: The nation's favorite antiques experts, £200 each and one big challenge.

Well, duck, do I buy you or don't I?

VO: Who can make the most money, buying and selling antiques, as they scour the UK?

What's my wife up to?

VO: The aim is, trade up and hope that each antique turns a profit.

But it's not as easy as it looks, and dreams of glory can end in tatters.

Do I hear 1,500?

VO: So will it be the fast lane to success or the slow road to bankruptcy?

I can't keep this posture up for much longer.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

This week's road trip takes us to beautiful Scotland, and entertaining us along the way are antique experts Charlie Ross and James Braxton.

JAMES (JB): Where are we, roughly?

CHARLIE (CR): Get Aberdeen... VO: Charlie Ross is a renowned auctioneer and map reader, and a true professional who has a weakness for the cheaper things in life.

I couldn't quite see whether it said £5 or 50p.

I couldn't quite tell.

VO: James Braxton is an auctioneer and a surveyor who is drawn to items of great quality and design.

They're more look than substance, I would tell you.

VO: Auction number one will go down in Road Trip history - Charlie's £8 Staffordshire elephant sold for a staggering £2,700!

I'm leaving, I think my road trip is over.

VO: Ha-ha.

James could have given up, but he knuckled down and managed to claim victory at auction number two.

Brilliant.

Absolutely brilliant.

VO: From his original £200, James now has £301.06 to continue the battle.

After his gargantuan win in the first auction, Charlie's £200 has grown considerably and despite his loss at the last auction, he still has £2,396.10 to play with.

Well done.

CR: I had to take my hat off to you yesterday.

JB: I know.

CR: Stunning performance.

Rather like assaulting a mountain with an icepick, I think.

VO: Along with their stylish 1954 Sunbeam Alpine, they're traveling from the northeast of Scotland over to the west before ending their journey in Ayr.

Today we're leaving Aberdeen and kicking things off in Tarland, concluding with an auction showdown in Hamilton.

What are you gonna buy today?

Are you going to spend a bit more of your...

I didn't have... Now, I seriously would like a spend a few hundred quid on something.

Oh, Tarland!

Ah, Tarland.

VO: In the 18th century, Tarland was an important trading center.

It had a weekly market and six fairs throughout the year.

Today its village square is overlooked by the old kirk and has the granite war memorial as its centerpiece.

Tarland may be small but it's home to our experts' first shop of the day.

Oh, what a lovely view.

Well driven.

Another chapter.

Another day.

Third leg.

I have got so much money I don't know what to do with it, but I've got to spend it.

Come on, remind me.

What's the figure, Charlie?

Approximately 2,400.

Plays £300.

Yeah, but I was pathetic in the last round, wasn't I?

Mind you, you come from a position of strength.

You don't need to do much, just coast, I would.

I don't want to coast, it's not in my nature to coast, I want to spend.

Spend, spend, OK. Shall we go and see what they've got?

Yeah, come on.

Let's come on.

VO: Tarland Tower Antiques has been open for 18 years and is run by owner George.

It has a large warehouse and four smaller rooms stocked full of beautiful furniture and interiors.

Time for our boys to divide and conquer.

Look at that bed!

You've got the money for that bed.

Isn't this fabulous?

VO: Determined to spend his dosh, Charlie gets tactical.

I'm phoning the auction room just to find out what they... What they're good at, what they sell really well.

Oh hello, is that the auction rooms?

It's Charlie Ross.

I'm just putting a little call in.

Do you have any specific areas which you're strong in in the saleroom?

He's cheating!

Thanks a lot, OK, bye-bye.

Brackers, were you listening in on that?

I was.

You are such a sneaker!

Nothing gets past you, does it?

Anyway, steer clear of big brown furniture.

JB: Right.

CR: There's a shock.

Small pieces of furniture are particularly good.

And has he got a picture section in his auction?

I didn't ask him.

Look, I'm wasting time, Brackers.

I've given you all the information you're going to get.

VO: With that, it's pretty clear that furniture is off the shopping list.

CR: What exactly are they?

Are they not for sort of sake or something?

It would make sense, wouldn't it?

Yeah, I bought them in a house in the middle of nowhere.

So...

He's got a jolly...

He looks a little bit like James.

VO: Sake is a Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice.

The Japanese believe that in order to enjoy it to its fullest, the sake cup you drink from should be as beautiful or as interesting as possible.

This unique pair are priced at £45 each.

Would you do 20 quid for the two?

DEALER: No.

CR: No?

No, not for the two, but I think you should have a think about it, though.

Um, yes.

Cuz they're just a bit different, and that's the kind of thing you might do really well on.

VO: Charlie, while you contemplate spending, George has taken James to see a rather interesting 1950s print of Balmoral.

I think it's an advertising poster that's been over varnished.

I bought it with a bunch of other stuff.

It's lovely, it's really lovely.

Who's the artist here?

Kenneth Steel.

It's very much in that railway tradition of posters, isn't it?

It's got that sort of golden color, the varnish over the years.

I like it, and he's done it all with a big old spatula, hasn't he?

DEALER: That's right.

JB: (LAUGHS) VO: Born In Sheffield in 1906, Kenneth Steel was a watercolor painter and this is one of his prints from Royal Deeside.

What could that be, George?

Cheap?

DEALER: £25.

JB: £25, you've got a deal.

DEALER: I think you'll do OK. JB: Thank you, thank you.

VO: Well done James, you've made the first purchase of the day.

Unfortunately, Charlie doesn't have the same sense of urgency.

Well you wouldn't, would you?

Stop sitting on your wallet and get some money out!

You just want me to come down to your level, don't you?

You want me to stick my dosh into something and burn it.

That was... As you know, that is furthest from my thoughts.

VO: After some tough love from James, Charlie's gone back out in search of a bargain.

Oh my God, isn't that wonderful?

VO: The shop is wonderful.

This is a garage full of... brown furniture.

Are the alarm bells not ringing, Charlie?

Hamilton's quite near Glasgow, a bit of an arts-and-crafts overmantel there, that's a cheap little lot.

CR: Is that very cheap?

DEALER: Yep.

CR: Made by Rennie Mackintosh?

DEALER: I think it could be!

I think it's more likely to be Jimmy Mackintosh.

(THEY LAUGH) £25, you can't go wrong.

Is that all it is?

George, you're just beginning to come to my sort of way of thinking here.

VO: What on Earth is going on?

Now James has jumped on the garage bandwagon.

This is an antique assault course - are you sure you boys are fit for this?

That's a big picture frame.

There's two of them.

VO: I can't even see what you're looking at.

Oh, those frames.

£150.

JB: What, for the two of them?

DEALER: Yeah.

DEALER: Is that good or bad?

JB: That's good.

CR: I think it's phenomenal.

Would you like them, Brackers?

I would quite like them.

Brackers, this is my Christmas present to you.

Really?

You can have them.

That's very kind.

That is very kind, Father Rossco.

If you can't get a profit out of 150 quid on that pair of frames... Go on George, they're mine.

VO: Very risky buying something you can't properly see, James, but if you're sure!

Is that a bookcase?

Yeah, see I would sell you that as well.

VO: Oh not again!

Where are you looking now?

CR: Would it have had a marble top, or...?

DEALER: Yeah, but I've got the marble top.

Over the top of that bed, you'll see the marble top.

Look behind.

Oh yeah, I've got it, got it.

It's an open fronter, is it?

Yes.

Are these...

These aren't gilt metal, are they?

DEALER: No, they're wooden.

CR: They're lovely.

VO: Charlie am I mistaken here, or did the auctioneer not say to avoid large furniture?

What's this jobby?

Victoria... Um... 150?

Take 100 quid for it?

DEALER: Yeah.

CR: I'll have it.

Right.

VO: I'd love to congratulate you on finally making a purchase but I think it's a bit of a risk.

Finally back outside, and Charlie's on a roll.

He's spotted an Edwardian mahogany writing desk.

How much is that?

That's...

I couldn't do it for less than 220.

CR: How much?

DEALER: 220.

That would be me.

Let's pull that out.

They did say, the saleroom, small pieces of furniture.

This is a little lady's writing table, leather top, and it's got a little compartment here, has two drawers, one and a half?

I wouldn't move, that's a bargain at 220.

Don't you normally start at sort of...

I'm not known for my discounts, you know.

(THEY CHUCKLE) I'm sure there isn't a Scotsman in the land that's known for his discounts!

I know you just said 220 and that was... Could you do 200?

I could restore this piece, as you know, and I know I could sell it no problem, so I'm gonna stick with... Go on, yeah.

Shake on it.

No, I think that's very fair.

Very fair, I was being a bit of an old... cheapskate there.

I think it's worth CR: every penny.

DEALER: It is.

DEALER: It's worth every penny.

CR: It's great.

VO: And now he's started spending he just can't stop.

There was an overmantel in the top shed there, got a hint of Mackintosh.

It does.

A very small hint of Mackintosh!

And it's the right money.

Yeah, what was it?

I can't remember what you quoted me.

DEALER: £25.

CR: You did.

Do you know, at 25 quid, even I won't argue with that.

VO: With £2,076.10 still to spend, I should hope not!

And what about those unique sake cups?

I take your point about those two little... DEALER: I could do something special on them.

Oh!

You are a tempter.

That is the thing you should be going out of here with.

I'll do the two at 50 quid.

CR: 50?!

DEALER: For the two.

It's the right time for that Oriental stuff at the moment.

They're a bit different, they're huge characters, just like you!

Absolutely wonderful salesman!

I just think the two of them, the two of you...

I'll tell you what, George, let's shake on that.

DEALER: Cheers.

CR: Four things.

Yep.

It's been an absolute... dream here, it's been fantastic.

VO: It's certainly been a busy morning - Charlie finally parted with his cash, buying brown furniture, brown furniture, brown furniture and a pair of sake cups.

James came away with two extremely large frames and a print.

VO: But the excitement's not over yet.

Charlie's heading 32 miles east to Blairs, where he has a prior engagement.

St Mary's College was founded in 1829 when John Menzies of Pitfodels, the last member of an old Aberdeen Catholic family, donated his mansion and estate of a thousand acres to the Catholic Church.

Today it's known as Blairs Museum and it gives a unique insight into Scotland's Catholic history and heritage.

Showing him round is former pupil, teacher and now museum manager Iain.

Well, Blairs is basically what used to be a junior seminary, so it was basically a boarding school for boys of secondary school age who were thinking about becoming a Catholic priest.

Right.

So I was one of them, a long time ago.

CR: Oh, were you?

IAIN: Way back in the 1960s.

And that's where your thoughts were at that time?

At that time, yes, but I've now been married for 33 years... Oh have you?

So you obviously took a different course!

It changed, but then after that, I was actually here, and my wife taught here as well, for the last nine years before the college closed, 25 years ago now.

VO: From its establishment, Blairs College was recognized as a safe place to receive and preserve artifacts relating to Scotland's Catholic heritage.

Their collection of paintings spans more than four centuries, featuring some of Scotland's most renowned historical figures.

Today, Charlie has come to see the highlight of the collection - a full-length memorial portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots.

IAIN: Mary had been imprisoned in England for something like 19 years, it was basically house arrest in various castles.

Yes.

She still had a small staff of 10 to a dozen people, so of that staff she chose these two ladies in waiting to attend to her at the execution and then there were... four of her supporters were also witnesses at the execution itself.

And there was some pressure on Elizabeth to have her executed?

Yes.

I think though, is it true that she didn't want to have her executed, or...?

Yes, we actually have the death warrant, or a copy of the death warrant, over here.

Can see Elizabeth's signature... Elizabeth's signature there.

..in the top right hand corner.

VO: When Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558, she brought with her a reformed religion, which became known as Protestantism.

However, many considered her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots - a Catholic - the legitimate sovereign of England.

And with no direct heir, Mary was the closest successor to the throne.

Perceived as a threat, Elizabeth had her arrested and after 19 years, she was tried and executed for treason - a decision that has caused much speculation.

Some people believe that she was given it in a pile of papers and signed it, not realizing what she'd signed.

CR: I've heard that story, funnily enough, yeah.

Other people believe that she meant to sign it, but she didn't mean it to be carried out immediately.

But then her ministers do exactly that - within days, Mary is executed and they come back and tell her that it's been carried out, and supposedly Elizabeth was furious and at the same time, in floods of tears that it had happened.

Yeah, yeah.

Almost her last act is very, very symbolic, because she's wearing this scarlet underclothing, and that scarlet color is the same color of vestments that a priest would wear on the feast day of a martyr.

A martyr, yes.

So Mary, almost in her last act, is saying, "I'm being executed because of my faith, "and not because I'm a traitor against Elizabeth."

A really strong statement, isn't it?

That's right.

Iain, it's been an absolute delight, thank you so much.

VO: What a fascinating insight.

Charlie, you've been truly spoiled.

Bless you.

And as the day draws to an end, both our experts need their beauty sleep.

Night-night.

As the sun rises on a typical Scottish morning, our dynamic duo are, once again, on the road.

And it's not raining.

JB: Now, have we creeped over to the west coast now?

CR: No, we can't have got quite to the west coast, can we?

No, no, sorry, we've crept down the coast, look, there we are.

VO: So far, James has spent £175 on two auction lots - the 1950s print and the large pair of giltwood frames, leaving £126.06 for the day ahead.

How exciting.

Charlie meanwhile hit the first day's shopping hard, spending £395 on four lots - the Edwardian lady's writing desk, a pair of 19th century sake cups, an arts-and-crafts oak over-mantel mirror and the 19th century bookcase.

So he has £2,001.10 to spend.

They're leaving Tarland behind and traveling 40 miles south to Montrose, where James will start his day's shopping.

JB: Montrose, have you ever been to Montrose before?

CR: I haven't.

VO: Montrose is the northernmost coastal town in Angus, and in 1777 was the birthplace of doctor and radical MP Joseph Hume.

For 30 years he was a leader of the Radical Party and became the self appointed guardian of the public purse.

Smoothly done, Brackers.

Slippery smooth.

I don't even need to get out here, CR: I can just shuffle across.

JB: Can you?

Yeah, good luck, old chum.

Thank you.

Spend, spend, spend!

Oh!

VO: Today, George Eaton Antiques is James Braxton's first port of call.

Hi, James.

George.

Hi, nice to meet you, George.

This is my sort of shop, you know, it's a foraging shop.

This is lovely, dominoes set.

And it's made with bone here, bone faces with ebony backing.

There's a more interesting set, they're up to nine, which is a rarer... Usually they're only up to six.

Oh, I see!

It's a set and a half.

Oh, that's very good, again.

These ones go up to nine.

So you've got another... You've got another three numbers to conjure with, haven't you?

VO: Generally the most commonly used domino sets are double six and double nine, although double 12, 15 and 18 are popular for games involving several players.

And how much are these then, George?

Um... 25.

Really?

That's a lovely lot.

OK, what other curios have you got for me, George?

Oh... Is that a sort of Continental piece, that?

It's WMF.

Oh, it is WMF.

Yes.

And how much have you got on that, George?

That...

I had 150 on it, but as with everything... Everything is negotiable in life, isn't it?

It look as though it has the most beautiful polished glass liner.

Isn't that lovely piece of glass?

Er!

VO: Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik, or WMF, is a German art nouveau producer specializing in metalwork from the late 19th and into the 20th century.

And a lovely stylized border, sort of beech...

Almost like a beech leaf.

I suppose it's a stylized... um, vine leaf or something.

Vine, it's got grapes on it.

Grapes, hasn't it?

Give grapes to somebody in hospital, that would restore their spirit, wouldn't it?

Lovely, beautifully modeled, that's a lovely item.

VO: Yes, you are modeling it rather beautifully.

And while James continues his search for lovely items, Charlie is heading 15 miles inland to Letham.

VO: The largest village in Angus, Letham is famous for its Victorian market, which takes place in early July.

I'm absolutely chipper.

I phoned up the man in the antiques saleroom where we're going to, and he said, "Don't buy furniture, it doesn't sell very well", so I ripped straight into buying three pieces of furniture.

Never listen to the experts.

That's what Winston Churchill said, "Never listen to the experts."

VO: Time will tell, Charlie.

Let's see what gems you can uncover in Lovejoy Antiques.

VO: Sounds promising!

CR: Is it Barbara?

DEALER: Yes, it is.

CR: I'm Charlie.

VO: Housed in a converted stable, Barbara and her husband have been in the antique business for over six years.

Barbara, there's an extremely jolly person down here looking at me.

Yes.

Who looks like a Chinese bronze...

It is bronze!

Yes.

Look at that, pretty miserable.

Laughing.

And...

I think that's James Braxton.

Quite jolly.

Yeah.

How much is this object?

Hundreds and hundreds of pounds?

No, no, no, just 100.

Would £50 buy him?

No.

70 might.

You've got me tempted here!

I think he's absolutely splendid.

I wish I knew more about these things.

These faces must be the four faces of man, or whatever, but I don't know quite what they signify.

VO: Actually, the four faces of a Chinese Buddha represent pleasure, anger, sorrow and joy.

It's believed that a Chinese Buddha will both protect and bring good luck.

50 won't buy him?

No.

70.

CR: 70 will?

DEALER: Mm-hm.

CR: Sold!

DEALER: Well done.

Sold!

I knew I'd find something in the end.

I think that's a cracker, look at that.

The four faces of James Braxton.

VO: Oh, Charlie!

Meanwhile, James has been drawn to art deco.

And red trousers.

Where did they come from?

Do you remember the building?

They were Montrose Picture House.

Great '30s feel to those flowers, isn't it?

Very art deco.

I like those, how much have you got on those?

£30.

£30, and you get the two for 30?

Yeah, it's a sash window.

Sash window.

Operated, one above t'other.

Yeah.

One in front of the other, I see.

And they slide down...

They look good together, don't they?

I like those.

George, I'm going to have those.

OK. VO: Very nice James!

And feeling confident, he strides on to haggle on the dominoes priced at £25 and the WMF grape dish at 150.

Is there any chance, George, I could do those two for £95?

Struggle... That's all you've got?

That's all I've got.

Bar the pence.

George, thank you very much indeed.

VO: Well done James - that's an amazing £80 saving!

And after spending £95, you've got £1.06 to your name.

Ha.

I'd like you to have the £1.06, as a bit of luck money.

Thank you very much, it's been a pleasure.

It's been really great fun.

VO: James, you are well and truly spent.

And after a very successful day's shopping, James is giving himself a treat and heading 13 miles south to Arbroath.

VO: On the North Sea coast, Arbroath is perhaps most notable as the home of the Arbroath smokie.

The lucky James Braxton is meeting smokie expert Iain Spink.

Hi, good to meet you, Iain.

So, what...

This looks all good stuff.

Yeah, well, this is... You are the true home of Arbroath smokie.

Right.

And I'm gonna make some smokies for you in the place where they originally came from.

VO: In the late 1800s, the fishwives originally smoked the fish in halved barrels with fires underneath, trapping the smoke under layers of hessian sacking.

Iain uses these traditional methods to make his famous smokies.

JB: And smokie, the fish is a herring, is it?

IAIN: No, it's a haddock.

JB: It's a haddock, is it?

Smoked haddock, yeah.

It has to be a haddock to be a proper genuine Arbroath smokie.

I see.

You're an old pro at this.

Oh, I've had a bit of practice.

And is this quite a quick process, Iain, then?

It is, relatively, actually, they take about 40 minutes to cook them right through.

Really?

That's them from raw to fully cooked.

Fabulous.

And as you're going to find out, quite the best way to experience a freshly made smokie is straight from the fires.

Yum, yum, yum!

I'm looking forward to that.

VO: The fish are gutted at sea, washed and boxed, ready for auction in the market.

They've all been pre-prepared with a layer of salt, a layer of fish, layer of salt, layer of fish.

And they're left in the salt for several hours.

Really?

So we're gonna hang these fish on the sticks here.

VO: The fish are left to hang on the sticks for about 20 minutes to let the excess water drip off them before being moved over to the smokie pit.

The hessian, and what part... That dampens it all down, does it?

That helps to keep the... keep most of the... the air out of the fire, but still allows the fire to breathe.

And so the last one, you're dunking then?

Yeah, just giving it a bit of damp, just keeping it damp.

If it's too dry, it may catch fire.

Iain, do you come from a long line of smokers?

I'm a fifth generation smokie maker.

Yeah, my family's been involved in this for...

The smokie making side of things, a couple of hundred years, and before that, they were fishermen as well.

Fabulous.

I noticed that it's an Arbroath smokie, so we have a preface here - does that mean anything?

Well, an Arbroath smokie has a protected status now, PGI, it's Protected Geographical Identification.

I see, so like Champagne, JB: so like Melton Mowbray... IAIN: Exactly the same.

JB: And all that sort of thing.

IAIN: That's correct.

Oh, congratulations.

And who... Did you get that?

My father, my father worked on that over three years, to get that status for the smokie, and it's been great for us.

It's been great for us, because I wouldn't necessarily say it helps sales as such, but it ensures that anybody who buys an Arbroath smokie anywhere will know that is has been made in Arbroath, it's the real thing.

Now, how is our fire doing?

The fire is looking good.

Oh, look at those!

They have changed, Iain.

Yeah, they're a nice golden color now.

They look very good.

Very good indeed.

So James, would you like to try a bit?

Oh, I'd love to, Iain.

OK, we'll hae a nice juicy pair here, let's try this one.

They look good, Iain.

They look beautiful, even coloring, nice and golden right through, so... Just rip them off there.

So break the pair in half, and what I do here is, I hold the fish with what was the head end towards me, give it a gentle squeeze, and you can see the flesh come off the bone like that.

Perfect, isn't it?

Split the fin down the middle, open it up like that, look at that.

Absolutely... And you just take the bone out in one!

It's as simple as that, and all that beautiful white meat there is bone-free now.

Look at that, and the flesh is so good, isn't it?

It's just lovely and moist, and white... Just the way it should be.

That... That is really good.

Can I have a bit more?

Yeah, help yourself!

It's just so beautifully cooked.

That is perfect fish.

VO: What a treat you've had, James, and whilst you recover from your lovely indulgence... Charlie's making his way to Barry.

A small village in Angus, Barry lies at the mouth of the River Tay.

It's Charlie's last chance to flash his cash and Anderson High Antiques is his final shop of the day.

Open for two years, it's located in part of a 19th century school.

Owner Kate and husband Ed have been in the business for 15 years.

After browsing, Ed shows Charlie a set of six Royal Doulton coffee cups - hand-painted by May Wilson and priced at £48.

MW.

Who is?

MW is May Wilson.

Right.

Who is one of the ladies that we collectively refer to as the Scottish lady artists, who bought the pottery blanks, they were all artists... ..mostly associated with either Glasgow School of Art or the Edinburgh School of Art.

CR: How interesting.

ED: And they painted these beautiful... That's interesting now, these...

So they bought the...

I think they bought the glazed object by the looks of things, and painted over the glaze?

Precisely.

So why are they so cheap?

..he said, shooting himself in the foot.

There is one cup, which has had a repair on it.

Oh yes, there it is here.

The little handle has been glued.

Yep, yep.

It could be better repaired.

CR: I actually find them really charming.

They're nice, aren't they?

And as I say, the thing is, in the central belt of Scotland, people who collect these things will know who that is.

Fantastic.

Might be quite an interesting one for you.

Sold.

Excellent!

Do you know I said "sold", without even talking about a price.

I'm very happy to do for you what we would do for the trade, basically, which might be to make it, say, £43.

£43.

I think I've probably got £43.

VO: Lovely final buy, Charlie - and with your shopping done, it's time to see what you can make of each other's purchases.

Now, Brackers, I'm going to reveal my first thing, you know the four faces of Buddha?

Yep.

Well, I've renamed the four faces of Buddha the four faces of Braxton.

It's lovely, how much did you pay for it?

I paid 70 quid for it.

I think it's great fun, very humorous.

I think it's a winner.

Good.

VO: It's certainly different, and Charlie's decided to combine it with his sake cups to make one auction lot.

JB: I think the sake cups are very humorous, great fun.

CR: Yeah.

JB: But, um... We'll wait and see.

We'll wait and see.

VO: Come on James, let's see your first purchase.

It's a rather nice little souvenir of where we've been.

CR: Balmoral!

JB: Balmoral.

I like that.

Did it cost less than 50 quid?

JB: It did.

CR: Then you're alright.

This is by a person called May Wilson, who decorated porcelain, and every single piece, the cups, the saucers, are all monogrammed.

Another winner for Rossco.

Hope so.

VO: And next is hopefully your winner, James, the beautiful sash windows.

That's the top, and this is the bottom, and it came out of the Montrose Picture House.

Isn't that lovely?

I think they're great, I quite like those cabochons in the middle of the top one.

Yeah.

They're rather fun, I like those.

VO: Glad you like them Charlie!

But what will James make of your over-mantel mirror?

That looks superb.

Love the carving.

They look like stylized poppies or pomegranates.

What will that make at auction?

I would have thought they'll estimate that 80-120.

JB: The carving's very good.

CR: 25 quid.

No!

JB: No!

CR: (LAUGHS) Father Rossco, how could you do this to me?

VO: Chin up, James - you've got your lovely domino set next.

Are you a dominoes man?

I haven't played dominoes for years.

This one is one to nine.

Good Lord.

They're rather fun.

I paid £15.

Very cheap.

Double your money, 30-40 quid?

Yeah, I hope so.

VO: Charlie, it's time for your lady's writing desk.

These little sides open up... Nice compartments for letters and what have you.

Got a bit of damage, but... 300-400?

That's what I would hope.

Cost 220.

Oh, another... Another Rossco winner.

Anyway, last item.

Are we WMF here?

WMF.

We are.

Very stylish.

It's very stylish, isn't it?

Very stylish.

They do like WMF.

VO: You both have one more lot to reveal, however, they were so big that they've had to go straight to the auction house.

The benevolence of Father Rossco saw me walking away with those two fabulous frames, a pair.

CR: I know.

JB: For 150.

Were they big!

VO: Right, Charlie, enlighten us on your last lot!

It's an open fronted bookcase, it's got a shaped marble top.

JB: Yeah.

CR: It's mid-late-19th century, but it's got gilt decorated mounts, and I paid 100 quid for it.

I don't know if you managed to get a peep at it.

I saw the marble top, and I saw its front, I saw the gilding, and it's a lovely piece at £100, he was very kind to us.

VO: But, will you be as kind to one another?

Time to hear what you really think.

I think he's let himself down a bit with the sake cups.

One of them's chipped.

£50.

I think Father Rossco may struggle to get out of that one, but knowing his luck, he might get away with it.

His best buy, undoubtedly the large frames.

They are great, and I think they'll double his money.

VO: Our experts have been on a voyage of discovery from Tarland to Montrose, Letham to Barry, finally crossing to the west and arriving in Hamilton.

Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west central lowlands of Scotland and it's home to Hamilton Auction Market, one of the biggest auctioneers in Lanarkshire.

CR: Do you think when you see your frames, that they'll only be three sided?

They will have rotted away.

I mean, I don't know how long my bookcase is, cuz I could only see one end of it.

VO: You both certainly took a gamble there with your rather large purchases, but it's auction day and we'll soon find out if it's paid off.

LS Smellie and Sons Ltd were established in 1874 and are a sixth generation family run business.

CR: Oh, look!

JB: Look, here are...

In all their splendor.

Fabulous, fabulous, and yours!

Oh good Lord, so it is!

What a fine piece, what a fine piece.

A decorator's piece, isn't it?

A decorator.

Very much so.

Will they appreciate it up here?

Of course they will!

Shall we find our other things?

Yeah, come on.

Let's go and see the auctioneer.

VO: James Henderson is our auctioneer for the day, and he's kindly cast his eye over our experts' purchases.

The sake cups, I particularly like those.

Although they're both damaged, they are quite nice and they've got a bit of interest on it I would imagine.

I think they'll do quite well.

The large giltwood frames, three meter by two meter is a size that might put folk off, they are pretty big.

VO: James Braxton started today's show with £301.06 and spent exactly £301.06 on five auction lots.

Charlie Ross began with £2,396.10 and spent a splendid £508 on five auction lots.

VO: It's the day of reckoning - should Charlie have listened to the experts?

First under the hammer is his bookcase.

What's it worth?

£100?

100 for it now.

100 for it now, 100.

Any 50?

30 then for it now.

VO: Oh dear, this isn't looking good!

At 30 bid, surely one more here?

30 bid, at 30 bid, five, at 35, and 40.

45, come on, sir.

At 45, and 50, at 50 bid.

Come on!

At 55, and 60 now.

At 60 bid, at 60.

At 60 bid.

£60, it's too cheap!

At 60 bid, five.

At 65.

Keep going!

At 70 now.

At 70 bid, at 70 bid, bid, 70 bid...

Bit more!

70 bid, bid, 70 bid, all done at £70.

Rossco!

You only fell a little, didn't you?

VO: Never listen to the experts, eh?

Oh, Brackers.

VO: James, next in the spotlight are your rather large frames.

What are they worth now, £100?

£100.

..for the pair there, 100.

Area of 50?

£50?

Straight in, straight in.

Straight in, straight in.

I'm bid 50, at 50 bid, at 50 bid I'm bid, at 50 bid.

There must be some opposition!

At 55, at 60.

At 60 bid, and five.

At 65, at 70.

At 70 bid, at 70 bid I'm bid.

Come on!

70 bid, bid, 70 bid, bid, 70 bid... A bit more, bit more, bit more!

All done at £70.

Steal, Brackers.

A steal!

I thought I had the deal of the century.

VO: Ouch!

Not what you were expecting, eh?

Do you know what I'm thinking?

What?

Thank God I let you buy them!

(THEY LAUGH) VO: Next in the line of fire is Charlie's lady's writing desk.

150.

100 I'm bid.

(MUTTERS) At 100 I'm bid, at 110.

At 110, at 20.

At 120, 130.

At 140.

At 150.

160.

170.

He's got rhythm.

At 180.

190.

At 200.

At 200 I'm bid.

At 210.

At 210.

At 210 I'm bid, at 210 I'm bid.

At 210 I'm bid, at 220 now.

At 220, 230.

My money back, sort of getting my money back.

At 230 I'm bid, I'm bid at 230.

Come on!

I'm bid, I'm bid at 230, 230, 230, 230.

All done.

Try one more!

At two-three-oh!

JB: Well done, Rossco.

CR: Well... Could have been a lot worse, couldn't it?

A brave move, wasn't it?

That could have been a picture frame.

VO: Very lucky, Charlie.

Before commission, that's a small £10 profit.

Your turn, James - what will Hamilton make of your 1950s print?

30 for it now.

20?

£10 surely now.

10 I'm bid, thank you sir.

10!

Come on, come on.

There's a lady bidding, 12.

At 12, at 14.

At 14, 16.

At 16, 18.

At 18.

20.

At 22.

At 22, at five.

At 25 and eight.

And 30 now.

At 32.

At 32 I'm bid, at 32 I'm bid, at 32 with two, bid now, two with a bid now... Another bidder!

35 now, at 35.

And eight... Brackers, you're on form!

At eight with a bid now, eight, eight, eight, eight, 38, at eight, at 38, at eight, all done at £38.

(GAVEL) Oh God, I feel as though I've almost painted it myself!

VO: Well done James!

It might be small, but at least it's a profit!

13, in the pot.

VO: Charlie, it's time for your over-mantel mirror.

£50?

30 then.

30 I'm bid.

New buyer!

At 30 bid.

And five.

40... five.

50.

JAMES: At 50 bid, at five.

JB: Well done, Rossco.

At 60, at 60 bid.

JAMES: At 60 bid, at 60 bid.

CR: Come on!

At 60 bid, 60 bid, bid, five now.

At 65, at 70.

At 70 bid, at 70 bid.

At 70 bid, bid, 70 bid, bid, 70 bid, bid, 70 bid, all done at £70.

CR: Brackers!

VO: £45 is great profit.

James, the pressure's on!

Can your sash widow slash your losses?

£20 for them?

10 then?

£10?

Your man's at it again!

At 10, at 10, I'm bid at 10.

At 10 a bid now, at 10, 12 now.

14.

16.

18.

And 20.

And two.

At five.

And eight.

At 28.

JB: Go on.

JAMES: At 28 I'm bid.

At 28, at 28 I'm bid.

JB: Go on!

JAMES: At 28, at eight, at 28, at eight, at 28, at eight, at eight, all done, at £28.

30 now, just in time.

CR: Oh, 30!

JB: 30.

30 bid, two now.

At 32.

Go on, go on son.

JAMES: And eight.

And 38.

JB: Go on son.

At 38 I'm bid.

At 38.

At 38 I'm bid.

Well done, that man.

Brackers, you're working them from behind!

All done at £38.

Well done the auctioneer.

You've slipped out of that one!

I did slip out of that one.

VO: I'm afraid, after commission, that's not a whole lot.

Next on show is Charlie's set of Royal Doulton coffee cups.

What they worth now?

£30.

30 for them now.

20, 10 then.

Bid at 10, at 10 I'm bid at 10, at 10 with a bid, 10, 10, I'm bid, 12.

At 12, at 14.

16.

18.

20.

Two.

Five.

At 25, at eight.

At 28, at 30.

At 30 bid, at 30 bid, at 30 bid, bid.

Fresh bidder, two.

At 32.

And five.

At 35.

And eight, at 38.

CR: Ooh!

JAMES: At 40 now, at 40 bid, at 40 bid, at 40 bid.

Nearly getting my money back now.

Two, at 42, at five.

Come on, one more!

And eight.

At 48, and 50 now.

Yes, that's the way.

At 50 bid, bid, 50 bid, 50 bid, 50 bid, 50 bid, all done at £50.

Thank you, sir.

Well, got me out of trouble.

£50, well done.

VO: Another close call, Charlie, but still a profit!

Next to face the music are James's dominoes.

Lovely lot.

Unusual set, 20 then, £20 for them.

Oh, you're in at 20, you're in profit.

At £20 I'm bid, at 20 bid, two now.

At 22.

And five.

At 25 and eight.

At 28.

And 28, at 30.

At 30, at two.

At 32, at five.

At 35 I'm bid.

At 35.

At 35 I'm bid.

What a result, man!

At eight now, at 38.

At 38, at 38, at 38, at 40.

At 40 bid.

Brackers, this is stellar-galactic!

40 bid, bid, 40 bid, all done at £40.

CR: Well done, mate.

You're a canny man, Braxton!

A canny man.

VO: What a relief, James, you're back in the game.

Time for Charlie's combined lot, his bronze Buddha and a pair of sake cups.

£80 surely?

50, no less.

£50.

Hang on, hang on, look.

At 60.

And five.

And 70.

And five.

See, I told you that lady would be after it.

100.

At 110.

At 110, at 120, at 120, 20, 20, 130.

At 140.

At 140, bid.

At 140.

At 140, at 150 now, fresh bidder.

CR: I'm into a profit.

JAMES: 160.

CR: I'm into a profit.

JAMES: At 170.

At 170, at 180.

At 190.

You're a money machine!

220.

At 220.

240, at 240.

At 240.

Try one more.

At 240 I'm bid.

At 240 I'm bid, five.

At 245.

At 245.

245.

At 245, all done.

At £245.

Well done Rossco, what's that?

Pffff!

That is amazing price.

VO: Fantastic result Charlie - your Buddha certainly brought you luck and prosperity!

That is very good.

Well done, well done, well done.

CR: Thanks, Brackers.

JB: Well done.

VO: It'll take a lot, but can James's WMF grape dish turn it in his favor?

30 for it now, £30, 30 I'm bid.

I'm bid at 30, at 30 bid.

Five, at 35, at 40.

At five.

At 50.

At 50 bid, at 50.

JB: Go on.

JAMES: At 50 bid.

Go on, go on.

At five.

At 55.

55, get in there.

At 55, at 55, at 60.

Well done.

At 60 bid, at five.

And 70.

At 70 bid.

He's working on it!

JB: Well done.

CR: Working on it.

And 80... and five.

And 90.

CR: Ooh!

JB: Well done.

100, at 100.

At 100, I'm bid, I'm bid.

At 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100.

All done at £100.

CR: Ooh!

JB: Could have been a lot worse.

Brackers, I tell you what, I thought it was dying at 50.

You came with a late burst, Brackers.

I thought it was dying at 30!

VO: That was a good profit to end on, James, but I'm afraid it just wasn't enough for auction victory.

Round three goes to Charlie.

To drop 80 and... steep hill to climb.

The one thing, you know, and if you'd said, "No, after you, Father Rossco, you have the frames," I would have lost the money and you'd have been alright.

Oh, you're a canny fella!

It's pure... Shows how it's done, pure luck.

Go on, let's go for a curry.

Good idea!

VO: James started today's trip with £301.06 and after paying auction costs, made a disappointing loss of £66.54.

He's now got £234.52 to carry forward.

VO: Charlie, on the other hand, started today's leg with £2,396.10.

He spent wisely and made a small £37.30 profit.

Charlie still has a sizable £2,433.40 to kick off the next leg.

Well done, Father Rossco.

I suppose I'm driving!

You are.

Winner takes all.

It's rather like golf, you're teeing off.

I'm teeing off, yes.

Well, another one down.

Another one down, what a lovely...

It was fun, wasn't it?

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, the competition's heating up.

You're going to be mean, aren't you?

I'm going to be very mean.

VO: Charlie meets his match.

Can you do that for 80 quid?

No.

VO: And James gets straight to the point.

JB: How does that sound?

DEALER: You don't mess about!

JB: No.

I go straight in there.

DEALER: You don't mess about.

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