VOICEOVER (VO): The nation's favorite antiques experts.

£200 each, and one big challenge.

Cuz I'm here to declare war.

Why?

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

There's nothing in here.

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

AUCTIONEER: Disappointing.

(GAVEL) VO: But it's not as easy as you might think - and things don't always go to plan.

CHARLIE: (SHOUTS) Push!

VO: So will they race off with a huge profit or come to a grinding halt?

Terribly nervous now, James.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

VO: This week we start a new chapter with veteran road-trippers James Braxton and Jonathan Pratt.

Goodie!

VO: Seasoned auctioneer James is quite the charmer when buying and selling antiques.

VAL: You see.

JAMES: £40, Val.

VAL: £42.50 - I dare you.

£42.50?

£41 and I'll do it.

VAL: D'you know you're...

Done.

Because you're a horrible person.

VO: And always asking the most important questions.

And for a cuckoo clock, do you need a cuckoo?

(CUCKOO) VO: James' opponent is young auctioneer Jonathan Pratt.

He seems to be quite a meticulous fellow.

I am just slightly concerned about that stone.

VO: But can also be prone to a bit of confusion.

You're looking at everything and it can confuse.

VO: Must be his age.

The question is will James help or hinder?

JONATHAN (JON): You can hear him now, can't you?

He's round there...skulking around, putting me off.

VO: The boys will travel in James' trusty MG. She's prone to breaking down but let's hope this time around she goes the full distance.

With £200 in their back pockets can they uncover treasures that will make a stonking profit at auction?

VO: This week's road trip will start off in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

The chaps will journey over 300 miles down to the deep southwest finishing up in Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

But this is day one of the trip, we kick off with a bit of shopping in bustling market town Altrincham, and will auction just over 20 miles away in Nantwich.

VO: The town of Altrincham has an ancient medieval history.

The Old Market Place was a thriving trade center as far back as 1290.

The arrival of stocks meant that any thieves and vagabonds were put on public display.

Better be on your best behavior, boys.

VO: Oh dear, the heavens have well and truly opened.

Right then you two, what's your plan for the day?

You're off to your first shop.

JON: Yep.

JAMES: I'm off to mine and I'm hoping to buy all five items immediately.

JON: Go and have a coffee!

BOTH: (LAUGH) JAMES: What's your tactics?

I'm not competitive in the slightest, I just like winning!

That's basically it.

I'm just masking non-competitiveness.

I'm going to...I'm going to be searching for everything.

My whole life...my whole life is dedicated to beating you.

JON: I've seen you at work.

Gonna catch me by surprise with this big wonder.

JAMES: (LAUGHS) Anyway, good luck.

Thank you, and you, yeah.

VO: Let the battle commence.

VO: James seems to be in a jovial mood...even without his coat.

Will he get his hands on some treasures in his first shop of the day?

JAMES: Hello.

James.

VAL: Val.

VO: He's James.

JAMES: I'm just going to...

...There's a nice calendar down here.

JAMES: I'm just getting the feel of the place at the moment, you know.

Alighted on goodies already.

That is lovely, isn't it?

VAL: Guaranteed.

JAMES: And how much have you got on this one?

Tina, how much have we got on that?

The picture...is it...?

£1,950 something, yeah.

JAMES: So a bit beyond me, Val!

(LAUGHS) VAL: No, I was going to say!

VAL: Do you know Bruce Bairnsfather?

Yes, yes.

VAL: Well, there's quite a lot in that window... JAMES: Oh lovely.

So you've got this nice plate, this wall plate.

VAL: I'll be flexible on those cuz I actually have another box full of them.

Do you?!

JAMES: Bairnsfather was a Great War cartoonist so 14-18 war.

VO: Captain Bruce Bairnsfather was a world-famous cartoonist who created satirical images from the trenches of the First World War.

His character Old Bill, a walrus-mustached soldier, was much loved for keeping up the morale of the troops at the time and his work is much sought after today.

JAMES: He was just a really important cartoonist who kept everybody's spirits up.

The only problem is... And here's...here's a funny one.

Here's a funny one.

Here, look - you can see the sort of missile coming in.

JAMES: Er, coiffure in the trenches, keep...keep your head still or I'll have your blinking ear off.

The only problem with ashtrays is that they're not as popular.

This is a lovely piece that.

What's your little gold...is that a little pill box.

VAL: Pill box.

JAMES: And how much have you got on your little pillbox, Val?

VAL: It's 1927, I've got £195 on it.

JAMES: I have a limited budget that I've got to spread.

I think that's lovely.

And I think that's lovely.

VO: Looks like you're spoilt for choice, James!

Just lovely.

What could you do the two for?

So that's the pill box and the plate.

I'll do the two for £200.

£200.

That's my total budget.

Could you do either of these two items at £90, Val.

Not really.

JAMES: Not really... What could you do the two ashtrays at?

I'll do those at £40 just for the two ashtrays.

£40 for the two ashtrays.

And could you do £90 on that, Val?

I'll do that for you.

JAMES: OK.

I'll take those two.

So £40 and £90.

£130.

Thank you very much.

Job done.

Thank you.

I hope...I hope they go for a...

I'm so pleased.

VAL: Tina, could you wrap those for me?

Thank you.

JAMES: Oh, well done, Tina.

Everybody needs a Tina.

BOTH: (LAUGH) VO: Hey, hands off Mr Braxton, Tina's not for sale.

Blimey, you weren't joking when you said you wanted to buy all your lots as quickly as possible.

It's only the first shop and you've already spent £130.

VO: Meanwhile in nearby Hale, Jonathan is in a tentative mood as he approaches his first shop.

JON: Well, I've walked a little way and here it is.

Er...still raining.

I've got no idea what to expect inside.

Erm, there's some painted furniture in the window, so...

I'm not so sure at the minute.

VAL: Morning.

JON: Morning.

Here we are.

This is erm...Porcupine.

VAL: Porcupine.

JON: And you sell a lot... What do you sell a lot of round here?

VAL: Chandeliers.

JON: Really?

VAL: A lot.

JON: Interesting.

Glass of fizz?

JON: Well... DEALER: (LAUGHS) Why not?

Why not!

Everybody else does!

JON: James is driving!

VAL: Join in the club!

VO: Champagne on arrival Jonathan?

What's Val up to?

JON: The Cheshire gentlemen, what do they want?

This is a ladies' shop.

This is...this is definitely...

I mean, I have a few things I buy...

I just bought a great croquet set.

A chap will buy that.

I think in all honesty, there's nothing in here for me.

The painted furniture's far too...ready to go and then priced accordingly.

I don't want to buy a chandelier.

I've had my fingers burnt with those before.

It's a great shop, retail.

Not much for me.

JON: I've been offered a cup of coffee so I think I may as well go downstairs for a cup of coffee.

VO: Champagne...now coffee?

JON: You don't normally have sort of six or seven chandeliers hanging in someone's sitting room.

True JON: But this is where you assemble them, you clean them and you get them ready for upstairs.

That's it.

So what else have you got here that you can show me?

What about the croquet set?

What is it...is this complete?

VAL: Yes.

They're very hard to find, croquet sets nowadays.

JON: So this one, would you take £45?

You're obviously joking.

No.

Ah, er...right, go on.

JON: Er... VAL: Up, up we go.

If we said... S...sixty?

VAL: No.

OK, what do you want for it?

VAL: £80.

JON: You want £80?

VAL: Yep.

JON: (EXHALES) (SOFTLY) Blimey.

JON: £65.

VAL: (GASPS) Oh, come on.

£70.

£70's good, you know that.

Where's this coffee?

VAL: On its way!

JON: (LAUGHS) JON: Erm...£65.

VAL: Done £70.

£65.

£67.50 D...go on, go for it.

We've done it!

JON: Brilliant, lovely, thank you very much.

VO: Well, it obviously pays to have a nosey around in a lady's basement, Jonathan.

Well, OK, I did say that I wasn't going to buy anything and er...I don't know, maybe the chan...the champ...the...bla maybe the sparkling champers might have helped.

I'm not disappointed though.

I think this is...

This is a bit of a speculative lot.

And there is a chance of a profit, so I'm not too disappointed at all VO: The boys are switching shops this morning, so it's a case of one in and one out... Take it easy Mr Braxton, you've already spent £130, and it's not even lunchtime.

Hello.

Very nice to meet you.

JAMES: Hello, nice to meet you.

James.

James, I'm Val.

Val?

Another Val!

I've just come from a Val.

Oh, yes she is, I forgot, yes.

JAMES: In Altrincham.

VAL: I know her very well.

Very good, very good.

Yes.

Glass of fizz?

Oh lovely.

Wouldn't say no.

Well you might as well.

The other one didn't either.

VO: Ey up, watch yourself James.

Val's got the champers out again.

JAMES: You like to soften up your clients.

Is she a skiing lady then?

VAL: Yes, she's lovely but I like skiing.

JAMES: It's a sort of Marquette isn't it?

Plaster of Paris is it?

VAL: Yes.

This is quite fun because it has the alpine theme so you've got your skis, you've got your pole and you've got a St Bernard obviously and a glamorous early skier.

Look at that.

No skier should be complete without a tie!

VAL: (LAUGHS) JAMES: How much have you got on that?

VAL: £85.

The best I can do, Val - and you can chuck me out of your shop... VAL: I will.

JAMES: £35 is the best I can do.

I am sure we can go better than that.

I can't in fact.

VAL: £60.

JAMES: I can't do £60.

VAL: Well, I can't do £35.

Got to meet me somewhere in the middle.

I'm very happy... VAL: Otherwise that's staying.

I've... £37.50.

VAL: Good God, you're a pain in the butt!

You've obviously been the whole way through.

You can go better than that.

JAMES: OK...hold on.

£37.50.

VAL: You keep repeating yourself.

Yeah.

VAL: And the answer is no.

Come on, you've got to go higher.

Gener...general war of attrition Val.

VAL: Go on.

You take a long time to decide.

Yeah, no, I'm just thinking about... £45 and it's done.

JAMES: I can't...I can't do £45.

I've got to save myself some money so £40 and we will shake.

£42.50 and it's done.

You see!

£40, Val.

£42.50.

JAMES: £42.50... VAL: I dare you.

£41 and I'll do it.

VAL: D'you know, you're...

Done.

Because you're a horrible person.

And you've got a great smile.

Thank you, Val.

VO: Hm, very close.

Meanwhile back at Altrincham...Jonathan is on a mission to find some more gems for his collection.

JON: Hi there.

VAL: Hello.

Good morning.

VAL: How are you?

A bit wet.

Well, as I say, you are in Manchester.

JON: How much do you want for this?

VAL: I would have thought about £200.

Yeah, crikey!

VO: Looks like Val is trying to squeeze your budget too Jonathan.

VAL: What kind of things do you like?

JON: There's lots of things that catch my eye.

Jewellery wise...it depends.

I like the bronze but I can't afford that, you know.

Is that £2,500 or something?

VAL: Yes.

JON: Yes.

So it's a matter of filtering through that top veneer...

Yes.

And seeing what's left within my budget that I can afford.

VAL: Mm.

JON: Anything else you can show me?

We've got stuff downstairs in the cellar, but it is a cellar - it is not another showroom, it is a cellar but if you would like to have a mooch you're very welcome.

JON: Thank you.

VO: Ah!

Once more into the basement dear Jonathan.

Looking for the delights... Oh my word, here we go.

I bet you James didn't look down here.

VO: I bet he did!

JON: "To Church".

I like engravings.

VO: Whilst Jonathan scuttles about downstairs, Val holds court at the counter.

A canvas of a lady, that's got some age - she's in shocking condition.

Pretty girl, early Victorian.

Bit of a punt, but you know...

I'll have a think about that one.

Shallow campagna jardinière, with a stone base though.

That's stone.

That's stone cuz it's chipped.

OK. JON: Right, three things that I'm interested in.

That's the first.

Yes.

She's in appalling condition isn't she but... She is.

Make me an offer.

JON: Tenner?

Well, you said!

Make it twenty and OK. JON: £15.

VAL: OK JON: OK, £15.

VAL: OK JON: I'll take that for £15.

That's the first one.

Erm...the terracotta clay, shallow campagna.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Make me an offer.

JON: £25?

OK. OK...

Brilliant.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, I'm not doing anything with it.

JON: I'll just get this print and see what you think of the print.

VAL: Yes, OK. That one.

Oh, that one!

Make me an offer.

JON: £18.

VAL: 20 and it's yours.

Have a proper look at his.

Here you go, you can have a look at it if you like.

Is it what I think it is?

Gosh.

It's behind non-reflective glass I think as well.

VAL: Yeah.

Which is a bit of a pain.

VAL: Yeah, it is.

JON: £18.

OK. Those three, those three objects I'll take.

VO: Well done Jonathan, your purchases so far are rather eclectic.

Looks like checking out the basement is your new number one maneuver.

VO: Meanwhile where's Mr Braxton tootling off to?

VO: James is hurtling his way towards the magical world of Cuckooland in Tabley, Cheshire.

VO: The museum was created by brothers Roman and Maz Piekarski - they are widely respected in the world of horology - that's the study of time to you and me.

Over the last 40 years their passion for cuckoo clocks has resulted in an enchanting collection of over 600 cuckoo clocks of all shapes and sizes and is regarded as the most important collection in the world.

Today, Roman opens the doors to enlighten James further.

JAMES: What an amazing place.

For many of us they think cuckoo clock's Swiss, is that right?

ROMAN: No, cuckoo clocks are from the Black Forest in Germany and after the Second World War in particular there was a big anti-German feeling and so they sold them through Swiss agents so everybody thinks the cuckoo clock's Swiss.

What you've got to try and remember is that everything was made within a 25 mile radius of each other, all in the Black Forest in southern Germany.

So it's that localized - 25 miles?

Yep.

JAMES: And did they do the whole thing, the people in the Black Forest - did they make the movements and make the cases?

ROMAN: It was a pure cottage industry where you'd have a family making cabinets, somebody making movements, another family making hands, weights and then it was all put together by a fitter if you like ROMAN: and then exported.

JAMES: Right.

(CUCKOO) JAMES: But why cuckoo?

ROMAN: Well, in the beginning we, in our research, we feel that they tried to make a rooster clock, like an alarm clock but it was...very difficult to imitate the rooster and as they were doing it they probably heard the old cuckoo and they went "oh, two bellows, two pipes, there's the cuckoo", then about 1840, 1845 they made quail which was...(WHISTLES)..one pitch so it was one bellow only.

Yeah.

And it went on like that.

Oh, I see.

So, so, so...almost mechanical ease isn't it?

Yes.

JAMES: Really?

(CUCKOO) And for a cuckoo clock, do you need a cuckoo?

ROMAN: Of course you do!

Course you do.

What we have here is very very interesting.

This is not a clock but it's Black Forest and in the early days of photography you used to have to stand there for ages when you had your picture taken so to keep people occupied they used to say ROMAN: "watch the birdie".

JAMES: (LAUGHS) (CUCKOO) JAMES: Now what are you showing me now?

Well I'd like to show you this clock here which is a cuckoo and echo.

(CUCKOO) (ECHO) And how is that done?

I can show you on this clock here which we've taken the dial away... JAMES: Yeah.

ROMAN: And...you can see the cuckoo and echo working.

JAMES: Oh, I see, so there's separate bellows at the back.

ROMAN: Yes.

Which are reversed inside with the pipes so that it throws it round and muffles round and it sounds like an echo.

What you've got to remember, in the Victorian days, the more your clock did, the more entertaining it was... JAMES: Yeah.

Yeah.

ROMAN: The happier people were.

There was no television, radio, so your clock had to do everything.

These look like English bracket clocks but these were made for the big houses, the stately homes, the very wealthy people.

JAMES: I've just noticed these moving eyes.

What are these?

ROMAN: These are bracket clocks with the eye turners in the bottom and they were made in 1856 in a village called Eisenback in the Black Forest.

JAMES: Now this big fellow's caught my eye.

Clock fit for a king, huh?

In our opinion it's the most important cuckoo clock in the world.

It was made for Frederick I of Baden-Baden.

Right.

Back in the 1860s... JAMES: Yes, I love the figures here.

ROMAN: They're all hand-carved.

VO: This clock is amazing testament to exquisite craftsmanship - many would go cuckoo over it!

ROMAN: In German folklore they believe in the little people that come out in the middle of the night to do all the work... Yeah.

In the houses and on the machines and everything.

JAMES: (LAUGHS) Well, thank you very much.

I go away a wiser man.

Thank you.

JAMES: Thank you.

VO: It's the end of a long day and the chaps will rest in the village of Tarporley.

Another busy day awaits tomorrow.

VO: It's day two and we're 13 miles down the road in Tarporley, Cheshire.

VO: James is visiting Tarporley Antique Centre, hoping to bag a bargain.

Ah... VO: Yesterday James proved he's a gambling man, he spent a whopping £171.

He bought the Bruce Bairnsfather ashtrays, the eye-catching gold pill box and the ski figurine.

This leaves him with a measly £29.

VO: Jonathan has remained steady, he's spent just over £125 on four items - a child's croquet set, the terracotta jardinière, the engraving and the rather tatty painting.

This leaves him with just under £75.

Game on!

DEALER: James, you might...find interesting in the backroom...

It's got all the weird and wonderful, rusty old things that men like.

Toys for the boys.

Excellent!

This is the boys' room is it?

DEALER: We've got First World War grenades, we've got weapons.

There we are.

Ahoy.

Just found this nice group of medals, Great War medals.

I don't know a great deal about the Great War.

I know a little bit about the general history of it.

But a friend and a colleague of mine knows a great deal, so I'll give him a call.

VO: In the antiques business it's impossible to know every single subject inside out and seasoned expert James knows it's vital to have a bulging contacts book that one can use in times of need.

This man has priced them up at £60, now if I can secure them at £29 they would be a lovely bedfellow for my Bruce Bairnsfather.

Here goes.

VO: Telephone call over, James is armed with the necessary information.

Will he be able to seal the deal?

This is the particular thing I like in here.

DEALER: Let's have a look.

JAMES: It's your...it's your Great War trio.

My only con...conundrum - and I'm going to be totally straight with you here - is...I larged it yesterday in Altrincham and Hale and spent a lot of money.

Oh, you're going to give me the sob story now!

Yeah, I am going to give you a sob story but it doesn't matter - you can either say yay or nay.

That is exactly what I have left - £29.

DEALER: £29 and no other small change?

I've heard the sob story before from other people but you do it so nicely... OK, that's really kind of you.

Thank you very much indeed.

OK, you're welcome.

DEALER: Would you like them wrapped as well for that money?

JAMES: Oh, well... Dear oh dear, I wouldn't have the temerity to ask but now you're offering... lovely.

VO: Meanwhile Jonathan is on his way over to the village of Blackden near Crewe, just over 20 miles away.

VO: He has a special invitation to a rare 16th-century timber- framed building called The Old Medicine House believed to have been built for an apothecary.

But herein lies an even more remarkable twist to the tale.

In 1970 Alan and Griselda Turner discovered through an architect friend that the house was to be condemned and demolished.

We were living in that house there which is basically three up and three down with three children and we needed more space and the architect that we found said it was very difficult to extend a timber frame building and the best way to do it was to bring another timber frame to join it on.

VO: Determined to save the Old Medicine House, the couple managed to dismantle the building piece by piece and move it 20 miles and attach it to their own home here in Blackden.

VO: The house is an amazing piece of history and Griselda has made some fascinating discoveries over the past few decades.

GRISELDA: Here is the display of the artifacts going back...

This was found in the house?

This was found in the house, this is a stirrup.

We found stuff mostly actually in the fabric.

OK. And when we were taking it down my husband, Alan, told the workmen that if they found anything unusual they were to stop.

VO: In 2004, The Blackden Trust was set up to preserve the history of the house and visitors are warmly welcomed.

VO: And another amazing discovery was found in the rafters of the house.

GRISELDA: Right, and these are...these are the shoes.

VO: In the 16th century, shoes in the roof were used as a protective charm to ward off evil spirits.

GRISELDA: This house is multiply protected, it's protected by the shoes and also by the quatrefoils on either side of the window.

JON: Yes, yes.

The gothic motif, particularly for churches obviously, so...

So you've taken these out of your roof.

OK, they're here in the house in boxes.

Have you replaced them with anything else?

GRISELDA: My son actually hid his first trainers up there... Oh good!

So...so...yes, the tradition still continues, yes.

JON: A pair of old running shoes!

GRISELDA: Yes, yes, indeed.

VO: Because this house was once owned by an apothecary, local herbalist Sue is on hand to give the lowdown on ancient herbal remedies.

So...take me through all this - the medicine here.

Really this house is a history of herbs and medicines going back to the 16th century when we thought an apothecary lived here, right up until the 20th century when the famous XX oils were made here.

They were a cure all.

JON: Oh really?

SUE: Anything you had wrong with you, this would cure it.

And when we re-erected the house here, lots of seeds and things fell out of the timbers.

JON: Yeah.

And plants that had never grown here before started to come up like opium, poppies and feverfew - all things that were used in folk remedies, so we decided to plant a herb garden outside.

JON: Shall we go and have a look?

Would you like to come and have a look at the garden?

JON: Please.

I'm going to see if I can identify any myself.

This sort of cabbagey-looking plant at the front here...

They're actually pop...opium poppies.

JON: Oh, they're the poppies, that's right.

Yep, yep.

Of course they are, I recognize the leaf now.

SUE: Do you recognize this one?

JON: Well, I do...I've got this in my garden at home and this is alchemilla.

It is.

We call it lady's mantle, the folk name for it.

JON: But what on earth is it useful for?

SUE: In the 18th century it was said that if you'd been breastfeeding and you wanted to reshape your breasts afterwards, that you would place the leaves of the lady's mantle on your breasts to firm them up again.

JON: So sort of a cosmetic surgery of the 16th century.

It is, yes yes.

JON: Wonderful!

VO: Come on Jonathan, get off the herbs and refocus on making a buxom profit at auction.

You need to get a move on for a spot of shopping.

VO: Our next and final shopping destination is 18 miles away in the village of Sandiway near Northwich.

VO: Blakemere Craft Centre is set around charming Edwardian stables and is home to a large antiques and collectables emporium.

VO: James is already there, but he's splashed all his cash, the only buying he's doing is at the ice cream stall.

Thanks a lot.

Thank you very much.

£1.75.

I hope Jonathan's able to find similar sort of value in the antiques store.

JON: This is quite nice quality actually.

JAMES: Jonathan.

JON: Hello.

JAMES: How are you getting on?

JON: Oh, crikey.

Er...I'm alri... Look at you!

What flavor's that?

I'm relaxing.

It's lovely, strawberry.

If you find your purchase I might buy you one of these.

JON: There's a lot to see in here.

I'm surprised... How long did you spend in here?

I spent no time in here, I just had a quick little look, so you just carry on.

Don't worry, don't worry about time.

I won't, I won't!

Bye.

Goodbye and good luck.

JON: Thank you James, thank you.

It's nice to see a man scratching around, isn't it?

JON: You can hear him now, can't you?

He's round there, skulking around, putting me off.

I'm trying to concentrate, I'm trying to get on with the job and he's there, licking his lolly, giving it all that.

Cor!

Eagle...knicker elastic.

VO: The heat is on for poor Jonathan, don't listen to that cheeky beggar Braxton - he's winding you up.

In here I'm looking at the back, this caught my eye - that little brooch at the back here.

It says it's a Peridot Bug Brooch.

It says it's in solid white metal.

Well, it's worth looking at because not all antique jewellery was hallmarked anyway, so it might be late 19th century and that could be interesting.

OK, just have a quick look at that.

JON: What would be the best price on that?

DEALER: Er, oh, we can definitely do you 10% off it.

At a push £30, I suppose.

DEALER: Well... Yeah...yeah, at a push we can call it £30.

JON: Wish I had a stronger lens with me.

I am just slightly concerned about that stone.

Erm...I tell you what, I like it anyway and what the heck, it's a nice style, there's a little bit of gold and silver.

If you can do it for £30, I'm not going to haggle anymore than that, JON: I'll take that for £30.

DEALER: Yeah, we'll do that.

VO: Phew...thank goodness you found something Jonathan.

Top marks for not allowing James to put you off your stride.

VO: Shopping's now over - it's time to have a look at one another's purchases.

Jonathan, how're you feeling?

Bubbly?

Er...terribly nervous now James.

I...I've got this all under wraps here.

JAMES: Oh, come on, bring it on.

JON: Now the story is with this, we went downstairs for a coffee and she'd only just bought this and here it was.

Really, fresh goods then?

JON: Fresh goods.

JAMES: Looks...oh!

JON: A little croquet set.

Oh, isn't that sweet.

There we go.

What - is this for the smaller home or is this indoors?

JON: (LAUGHS) Yes!

It's a child's croquet set, I suppose.

Oh, a child's croquet set, that's rather nice.

JON: I imagine it probably is.

Well, that looks very good.

Can I see a ball?

JON: You can have a couple.

Lovely.

Very good.

There you go, always wanted a couple.

JAMES: And how much did you pay for them?

JON: Seventy... No, £68.50 I think it was.

JAMES: £68.50.

JON: £67.50!

But what do you think?

Well, best of luck with that!

Well, you know... JAMES: Right, here's my first purchase - two ashtrays.

Oh, they're kind of fun aren't they?

Not normally erm...something you should really buy, ceramic ashtrays, is it?

JON: Is this Bars or whatever his name is?

JAMES: Yes, Bruce Bairnsfather.

JON: Yep.

JAMES: One of which is chipped.

JON: I noticed that.

You noticed that.

Yep.

I mean...

Honing in on the errors are you?

Well, no, no, no, no... JON: Far be it from to try and, you know, pick fault in things.

JAMES: How much do you think I paid for them?

JON: You paid £15.

I paid a lot more than that.

JON: Did you?

JAMES: I paid £40.

Did you?

OK. JAMES: Cuz the Bruce Bairnsfather prints, I think...that'll carry the day.

JAMES: Goodness me!

There's quite a garden theme to your purchases isn't there?

JON: (LAUGHS) So we've got this.

This sort of terracotta planter.

OK it's not in the finest of condition, I say.

To say it's got a few chips is a slight under-exaggeration.

JON: I would say it's probably end of the 19th century, early 20th century.

JAMES: So would I. JON: Shallow campagna terracotta urn.

How much to you think it's worth?

I would pay anywhere between £30 and £60 for it.

JON: I paid £25 for it.

Well I think you're in with a shout with that one.

JAMES: OK, here's my second.

Enjoy.

JON: Oh, look at that.

Isn't that very cute.

Little pill box.

Oh nine carat gold!

Nine carat gold.

Go on, bring out those scales, chief.

JON: Right, here we go.

JAMES: I...does it measure terracotta your scales?

Er...well, you can see the scratch marks on there.

Right, here we go.

JAMES: Slap it on.

JON: 14g.

JAMES: 14g.

JON: So, if you're paying up to £120 for it, you're on the money, for gold value.

JAMES: Yep.

VO: Sadly the value of this little pill box lies in the weight, but hopefully someone will buy for its beauty and not for its scrap value.

And I paid £90 for it.

Ooh, good!

I'm going to stop smiling...

I didn't see it, but then you bought it before I got in there.

I did.

JAMES: Come on, man of mystery, what have you got?

Oh, look at this, this is very glam.

It's got some age.

What are you dating that at?

JON: 1840 thereabouts, 1850.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm getting a... JON: Not in great condition... To me... Again, this was in Val's basement.

JAMES: I think...I think if it gets through the viewing process you've got a profit there.

JON: We might have to put a little bit more clingfilm on there.

JAMES: Here it is, a big fella.

You've peeked, haven't you?

JON: No, I haven't peeked, I haven't peeked, I wouldn't wanna peak too soon!

You've probably seen it before.

A reveal!

Go on.

Enjoy.

Oh, well, actually... Was this at the back of the room..?

It was.

By the wrapping area?

JAMES: It was.

It's plaster of Paris.

It's one of those sort of Marquettes.

I've always felt that these were sort of a decoration for French radiator covers.

You know they had those big radiator things?

JON: It's not without fault.

She's lost her toes I think at some point and it's been stuck back on again.

I was told it was a skiing injury!

That's why she's sitting down.

She's hurt her knee as well, look!

She's twisted her knee.

How much did you pay for it?

JAMES: £41.

Yeah, I think that's a good price.

JAMES: OK. JON: Yeah.

JAMES: Go on, show me your fourth.

JON: My fourth object.

JAMES: Ah!

Now who's this by?

It's an artist's proof.

JON: It's an artist's proof by someone called Freeth.

It's behind, sadly, non-reflective glass, which doesn't... Oh, no, it's just filthy!

JAMES: I think it just needs cleaned.

JON: That might be a thing to do.

This looks like another basement purchase.

Is it?

JON: (LAUGHS) Yes!

JAMES: How much did you pay?

Erm...£18.

JAMES: This is... this is my fourth and both my... JON: Is this the cutlery from lunch?!

JAMES: This is my final.

Here we are.

Oh, OK. Blimey.

A nice little Great War group, medal group here.

1415 star and erm... British war medal... JON: OK, yeah... JAMES: And the Victory medal.

JON: Solid silver, were they?

JAMES: Yeah, that one.

JON: Yeah.

JAMES: And I paid...my remaining money...I paid £29 for them.

Oh, I think that's...that's a good buy, James.

JON: Good buy.

Thank you.

VO: But are the boys being truthful with one another?

Now we've done the reveals I am...oh...I'm a little more confident again now.

I've...erm...now I've seen what James has got...

There's all that sort of panic about - did I pay too much for that, or have I chosen the right objects for the right sale and all that sort of stuff, so... Erm...yeah, I feel a lot better actually now.

I think I have a chance.

Is Jonathan feeling a little rocky?

I don't know.

I think his optimism waned a little when my pill box slipped on his electronic scales and registered 14g!

That's great.

I think my items...I like my items.

I think they have a theme to them, I think they're nice, clean items.

You know, my condition... my condition is good pretty well on all of them bar the skier and I think I might just have squeezed this leg.

Given the choice, I think Jonathan might swap my four items for his five.

VO: The boys have employed some cunning maneuvers but what results lie ahead?

VO: What a wonderful start to the first leg: we've traveled from Altrincham, Greater Manchester and followed a southwesterly direction through Tarporley to the final destination of the day in the historic market town of Nantwich, Cheshire.

VO: Nantwich is a small medieval market town with a modern edge yet still crammed full of ancient character.

The Great Fire in 1583 destroyed much of the town but its rebuilding has left a wealth of beautiful timber- framed buildings, second only to Chester.

VO: So, have our boys made a good gamble with their items?

There's only one way to find out - at their first auction of the week.

JAMES: Here we go.

You feeling...

Feeling lucky, Jonathan?

Erm... Are you feeling lucky?

JAMES: I'm feeling good.

I think I've got some nice items.

Whether...whether the general public of Nantwich think so will be a different matter.

JON: Exactly.

VO: Peter Wilson Fine Art Auctioneers has been established since the mid-50s and specializes in many things including furniture, jewellery and ceramics.

Today is the Collectables and Antiques auction.

Let's hope our boys walk away with tidy profits.

Budge up!

VO: The ever effervescent Robert Stones is today's auctioneer.

Rob joined the business in 1982 and has worked as an auctioneer all his working life.

They've bought some really nice things actually which we're quite excited about so the sale I think is going to be pretty successful.

The croquet set's the most unusual thing, I haven't seen one of those before so that's going to be interesting.

The gold box I think is something which is going to do reasonably well because obviously bullion at the moment is doing well.

The one that worries me the most is definitely the painting that looks as though somebody's jumped through the middle of it.

Speculative of course because it is quite good quality but on the other hand the condition of it is not very clever so we'll see what happens with that one.

VO: James Braxton blew every single penny of his £200 budget and ended up with four lots.

VO: Jonathan Pratt, on the other hand, was slightly more cautious and spent £155.50 on five lots.

VO: Quiet please, all attention to the front.

The auction is about to start.

I want steady profits, steady - just chip, chip, chip.

JON: Honestly?

Cha-ching!

Cha-ching!

Not a snowflake in hell's chance... JAMES: Cha-ching!

Cha-ching!

VO: First up it's Jonathan's engraving.

Will his basement buy come up trumps?

Lot number 23 showing now.

We really like this.

What may we say?

How much will be bid on this one?

I've got £80 for it straightaway... Oh!

ROB: Five now do I hear?

At £80, a bid at £80, and five anywhere, now quickly.

At £8... Don't hold back.

Only at £80.

£85.

£90 is there now.

£90 bid, at £90 here.

At £90 and five now.

90, at 90.

Great value for money.

ROB: All finished then at 90... (GAVEL) Sold at 90.

VO: Jonathan sets the standards high with an early profit.

JON: (LAUGHS) JAMES: Well done!

VO: Well he may laugh.

VO: Next up it's another Jonathan purchase - the child's croquet set.

ROB: We very much like this, ladies and gentlemen.

What's it worth?

£80 bid straightaway.

At £80 I have it.

£80.

£85 anywhere now?

At £85.

£90's here.

£95 now?

At £90 I have it, £90, and five now?

Come on.

(INHALES) ROB: £90.

All quiet at £90.

Will be sold at £90 only there.

At £90... (GAVEL) Sold at £90.

JAMES: Well done.

VO: A profit's a profit, Jonathan.

You've still got three to go.

ROB: Lot number 46, this terrific plaster figure, ladies and gentlemen.

The lady skier.

£30 straightaway, at £30, bid at £30 and five now, £35.

£40 now?

£35, your bid at £35.

I'm looking for £40.

At £35... Oh, I knew it.

ROB: It's going to stick at this by the look of it.

£35, bid's there.

At £35, all quiet at £35.

ROB: Disappointing.

At £35 only then... (GAVEL) Your bid £35.

VO: Disappointing indeed, hopefully your next item will bring you better luck.

Back to Jonathan now and the terracotta jardinière.

ROB: Lot number 57, lot number 57.

Terracotta garden urn...at what may we say for it?

£40 anywhere for it now?

£40 surely for it.

Quickly now.

£40 anywhere now, do I hear at £40.

£40, now do I hear it?

£40.

A lovely thing at £40.

£40 I'm bid, at £40 and five now do I hear?

At £40 only, a lonely bid of £40.

Disappointing price.

At £40 only then, if you're all finished and done at £40... All quiet (GAVEL) at £40.

Oh well, fair enough.

£40.

VO: Steady gains here Jonathan.

Can James catch up?

His medals are next.

ROB: A group of medals and er...I can start the bidding on these at £70.

Bid straightaway at £70.

£75 anywhere now?

At £70 a bid... You're in there.

ROB: £75, £80, £85, £90, £95.

At £90, on commission at £90 and five anywhere else?

Good boy.

At £90 only then, with me, on commission, make no mistake, at £90, all quiet and done... (GAVEL) at £90.

JAMES: Well done, well done.

Thank you.

JON: Very good, James.

JAMES: Thank you.

VO: Sounds like James' friend gave some good advice there!

What about Jonathan's bug brooch - has it got a sting in its tail?

ROB: Lot number 78 is this delightful little bar brooch... Oh, isn't that pretty.

ROB: It's a lovely thing.

I've got £20 bid for it straightaway.

£25 anywhere now?

£25 thank you, at £25.

£30 anywhere now.

At £25, the bid's there.

£30 anywhere now do I hear.

At £25.

£30.

£35.

£30 only, at £30.

At £30, bid's here.

At £30, it will be sold... No it won't!

ROB: At £30 only then.

(GAVEL) At £30 your... That's what I paid for it.

My first loss.

JAMES: Oh dear.

JON: There we go.

VO: Oh dear Jonathan, £30 on the nose still means a loss because the auction house must take its hard-earned commission.

VO: So far Jonathan is in the lead with four lots down, one to go.

Can James make a comeback with his remaining two lots?

It's his gold pill box next.

ROB: Lot number 88, this delightful pill box.

£130 bid on commission, at £130.

£135, £140, £145 is there now?

At £140, the bid's here.

£145 now do I hear?

At £140 it will be sold... Oh, come on.

ROB: Make no mistake, at £140 then... (GAVEL) £140, sold.

VO: Not bad but you obviously had higher hopes.

Oh well, £140.

Still a profit, James.

Still a profit.

VO: Will the Bruce Bairnsfather ashtrays make some much-needed dosh?

These Grimwades Old Bill... You can't even see the chip in the photograph.

It's brilliant, isn't it?

ROB: What may we say for these?

£50 I'm bid straightaway, at £50, five anywhere now do I hear?

£50, on commission at £50.

£55, £60, £65 now do I hear?

£60, the bid's here.

At £65 there.

Very good.

ROB: £70 now do I hear?

That's taken out the commission at 65.

All quiet and done at £65 then... (GAVEL) 65.

JON: Well done James.

Thank you, thank you.

VO: Oh dear, disappointing but one never knows what will happen at auction.

VO: Finally it's the badly-slashed portrait, did Jonathan spot something special here?

Lot number 110, 110 - this magnificent portrait.

How much may we say?

I've got £20 bid straightaway for it on commission.

Fantastic!

ROB: £25.

At £25, the bid's there.

£30 anywhere else?

£30 bid on the internet.

£35, £40 now on the internet, do I hear, £40?

Come on, internet!

ROB: £40 bid.

£45, £50 now, £50 on the internet.

£55?

£55.

£60 now.

£60 am I bid?

At £60, £65, £70 now... JAMES: They'll chuck it back when they see the condition, they'll chuck it back!

ROB: £75, £80 now.

At £80.

At £80.

£80 bid.

£85, £90 now on the internet.

At £90, at £90... No?

£85, your bid at £85.

Bid's there at £85.

Last chance, at £85, being sold then... £90!

(MOUTHS) One hundred.

ROB: £100!

JON: Get in there!

ROB: £105 do I hear?

£100 bid in the room.

Last chance.

Being sold at £100... £100 bid there.

JON: Get in there.

Well done, well done.

Well done.

VO: Well, can you believe it?

James and Jonathan can't.

Triumph is on Jonathan's side today.

Stunned.

No words.

No words for it.

Well done.

Well done.

Very good.

Very good indeed.

Well, the drinks are on you tonight, that's for sure, Jonathan.

VO: So, all in all, a surprising and exciting first auction.

Our chaps started today's show with £200 each.

VO: After paying auction costs, Jonathan's made a profit of £131.50, so has £331.50 to carry forward.

VO: And lagging behind is James who made a profit of £70.60, leaving him with £270.60 in the kitty.

VO: It's the end of the first day; both chaps are in healthy profits but there's still four more days to go.

VO: Next time, our dynamic duo head for Leek in Staffordshire.

VO: Jonathan gets his hands dirty.

MAN: Would you like a pump of the bellows to start with?

JON: Oh, why not.

In for a penny, in for a pound today.

MAN: ...you've got to start as the apprentice.

VO: And James meets a hot chick.

JAMES: And where's that come from?

DEALER: Just a local sale.

JAMES: A stuffed chicken!

DEALER: Yeah.

JAMES: What a weird thing to do.

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