[UPBEAT MUSIC] NARRATOR: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts.

With 200 pounds each.

I want something shiny.

NARRATOR: A classic car and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

I like a rummage.

I can't resist.

NARRATOR: The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

Why do I always do this to myself?

NARRATOR: There will be worthy winners.

Give us a kiss.

NARRATOR: And valiant losers.

Stick 'em up.

NARRATOR: So will it be the high road to glory?

Onwards and upwards.

NARRATOR: Or the slow road to disaster?

Take me home.

NARRATOR: This is "Antiques Road Trip."

Yeah.

Welcome to the third leg of our trip with delightful experts James Braxton and Raj Bisrum They're gobbling up the miles in Somerset in their 1968 Renault Caravelle.

Délicieuse.

What is your favorite cake?

I really like treacle tart.

With custard?

With homemade custard.

You can't beat it.

You're a bit of a baker, as well, aren't you?

I'm very much an amateur baker.

But I seem to have hit success with focaccia.

NARRATOR: Focaccia fanatic and ardent antiquer and Jack Nicholson look alike, James is quite the dapper chap.

While road trip companion, Raj is a man with his eye firmly on the prize.

Somerset, lovely.

Beautiful, it's got everything, really.

And cheese.

We keep talking about food and drink.

I'm getting really hungry, James.

NARRATOR: Stop it, you two.

Both our experts started the trip with 200 pounds.

James now has a promising 309 pounds and 40 P to play with.

Whilst his nemesis Raj has nudged his total up to 241 pounds, 76 pence.

So two legs down, anyone changing their approach?

They were saying to me, oh, Raj, spend, spend, spend.

And then there's you, five pounds here, 10 pounds there.

Yeah, very tight.

If I see something I really like, I'm going to buy it.

I know I'm going to have it.

And even if it makes-- At any price, Raj.

Well, not at any price.

God, no.

No, don't start that again.

NARRATOR: We've not heard the last of this, have we?

After starting off in Bath, our experts have been roving around a fair chunk of Southern England.

Later they'll zip up to the Midlands before heading back to Somerset at Binegar.

Starting in Somerton, in Somerset, they'll wrap up this third leg of an auction in Woking in Surrey.

The gorgeous town of Somerton was once home to Saxon kings, don't you know?

Just love the stonework.

It really is very pretty, isn't it?

I really, really do.

It really is.

Absolutely.

Well done.

Thank you, James.

OK, pleasure.

Good luck.

On you go.

Have a great day.

Well done.

Well done.

NARRATOR: He hasn't done anything yet, but he's about to.

As James and the Caravelle depart, Raj is kicking things off at Market Cross Antiques, which is by the Market Cross.

There's some really unusual things here.

Very, very nice.

I wonder how comfy it is.

Yeah.

It's comfy as well.

NARRATOR: Yeah, take your time, Raj.

Well, here's an interesting pamphlet.

It's the Facts of Life.

NARRATOR: Blimey, I'll need that seat in a minute.

While Raj continues to rummage, James is winding his way through the Somerset countryside.

I don't know what Mr. Bisrum is up to.

I think he took the last auction to heart a little.

He wasn't expecting to be thoroughly trounced.

So I think he is going to use every little trick in his book to secure some good items at low, low, low prices.

NARRATOR: Time to find out.

Raj has his eye on something.

Now this is a really unusual piece.

This is actually a piece of William Moorcroft.

Moorcroft is a really big name and there are a lot of collectors out there.

But of course they all want the designs, lots of flower designs.

But this is an experimental piece.

Now to me, the collectors of Moorcroft, this should be a really unusual piece.

I've never seen anything like it.

NARRATOR: Is it experimental or chipped?

Either way, there's a sizeable 125 pounds price tag.

Better get [INAUDIBLE] Pete in.

Pete.

Yes.

Pete.

NARRATOR: That's it, Pete.

I would not have known that this was a piece of Moorcroft.

Well obviously, when I turned it over, yes.

They did a few of these glazes in orange and blues and greens.

I quite like it because it's different.

And I love different things.

I shouldn't be taking risks at the moment.

But what about 20 pounds?

20 pounds.

OK, I'll tell you what.

Think about it.

OK?

Because I've seen something else that you've got.

Just think about it for a second.

OK, you've got a set of four pens.

Oh, yeah?

NARRATOR: Oh, yeah?

He's not hanging about now.

There's 30 pounds on the four pens and Raj seems keen.

They're OK.

They're not in great condition.

OK?

I mean you've got two Parker ones.

Yeah.

Which is those two, which-- Are 14 carat nibs.

14 carat nibs.

Already sounds expensive.

OK.

I don't know.

It's the nicest lot.

I tell you what, Peter.

Yeah.

The Moorcroft and the pens.

Yeah.

25 quid.

Well, no, I couldn't do that.

You couldn't?

No.

35 pounds is the very best I can do.

30.

30.

Split.

Split.

30.

Yeah, 30 pounds.

Good deal.

Yeah, we got a deal.

Lovely.

Thank you, Peter.

NARRATOR: Raj is taking a leaf from Braxton's book of thrift.

That's a Moorcroft vase for 25 pounds and a group of fountain pens for a fiver.

That's not much.

And he's not done yet.

Time to call over another dealer.

Andrew.

Raj.

Do you know who owns this cabinet?

Yeah, I can do any deal you're interested in talking about there.

Yeah.

I'll tell you what I was thinking of doing.

OK, I've noticed on this shelf here, there's a little bosun's whistle.

Yeah.

And then you've got the telescope and the cigarette cutters, kind of like a little naval.

Little naval trio.

NARRATOR: Yeah, navel gazing.

Nice.

But a combined ticket price of 111 pounds, planning on splashing out, Bisrum?

If I could buy the three items-- I could do you a really good deal on them.

They came in a massive job lot.

So I've got quite a bit of room to-- OK, well, can I start making you an offer?

Yeah, come on.

Make me an offer.

You don't mind if it's a low one.

No.

No.

I'm very thick skinned.

You won't know.

You won't insult me.

What about 20 pounds?

That is low.

It is low.

But I did say I was going to start low, OK?

I know we can go up a bit.

I could do them for 25.

You could do them for 25?

Do those three for 25 for you.

Yeah.

I'm going to shake your hand straight away.

Thank you very much, Andrew.

Good luck to you.

NARRATOR: Andrew's generous discount means Raj leaves his first shop with a couple of full carrier bags.

Well done, boy.

In the meantime, James has hit it to the idyllic village of Hanbridge.

And he seems to be dreaming of England's green and pleasant land, me thinks.

It's all sort of roast beef, puddings, gooseberries.

And here we are here we are at The Lamb and Lion.

Now how quintessentially English is that?

This is more gooseberries than avocado, isn't it?

NARRATOR: How very Mr. Braxton.

He's come to hear how one man saved the precious traditions of this land for all posterity.

Music teacher Cecil Sharp was visiting Hanbridge in 1903, when he heard local folk music for the first time.

He set about discovering as many songs as he could with an ambition to allow future generations to plunder and enjoy his collection.

But it wasn't just the local music that fascinated him.

James is meeting Morris dancer Adam Garland to hear more.

He traveled everywhere on his bicycle, as you can see.

Lovely, and pipe.

With his pipe.

Very vital.

And he collected songs, tunes, and dances.

Isn't that funny in his pocket you can see the outline of a journal, don't you?

Yeah.

What a clever fellow.

And so why did he do it?

It was on the back of the Victorian arts and crafts movement.

There was a huge amount of passion out there for heritage and tradition in the country.

NARRATOR: For generations all the Morris men taught young lads how to dance, but very little was ever committed to paper.

By the end of the 19th century as fashions changed many musical traditions were on the brink of being lost forever.

One man was on a mission to save them.

Step forward, Cecil Sharp with pen and journal.

One of his first tours was here in Somerset where he spoke to hundreds of performers and collected 1,600 different songs and tunes and things.

JAMES BRAXTON: 1,600?

Absolutely.

And he produced a book specifically of the Somerset folk tradition.

And so it was his passion of wanting to retain this folk heritage and bring it back to the people and therefore keep it going and making sure that it's lived on into the future.

NARRATOR: As well as his books, Sharp toured the country sharing his passion lectures were a wide audience could discover England's cultural heritage in detail, from the melody of every tune to the steps and costume behind Morris dancing.

The bells are hugely important.

Originally you see on the badge, the bells were there as a sign of warding off evil spirits.

Morris dancing has always been street entertainment.

So some people say it's part pagan fertility and this.

I'm not sure it ever was.

NARRATOR: We may never know the exact origins of customs like Morris dancing but thanks to Cecil Sharp, those English traditions remain alive and well today, a fact about to be experienced by James.

Bob Cross from the Chalice Morris Men is here to make sure he's suitably kitted out.

Look out.

You'll have to keep the braces on in case there's a disaster.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But this goes over the head.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: The baldrick that goes over the top shows the team's colors while the hankies simply accentuate the dancer's movements, exactly what James will be looking for.

One, two, three, hop.

You have done this before.

You're a natural.

NARRATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, keeping 600 years of tradition alive, Mr. James Braxton.

Corners.

NARRATOR: Not one I did on strictly.

Sharpe's collection has inspired countless musicians over the last century and various forms of traditional Morris dances remain a vibrant part of many communities.

I'm freestyling.

NARRATOR: All testament to Sharp's great legacy.

Hey.

NARRATOR: Even if James is a few beats behind.

Just over 10 miles south in Crew Kern, Raj is dancing to his own tune as he heads to Antiques Bizarre, his final shop of the day.

He has a little over 186 pounds left to spend.

Afternoon.

Hi, I'm Raj.

How do you do.

Good to meet you, Raj.

I'm Anthony.

Lovely to meet you too.

Welcome to our center.

This seems like a very big place in here.

Yeah, we got 100 traders renting cabinets and space here.

- 100?

- Yeah.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: Sounds like there's plenty to keep you occupied.

Look at these, these double scented bottles.

These are beautiful.

These are 19th century ones, very highly collectible now.

I mean these are at top end of the range.

NARRATOR: Sounds expensive.

RAJ BISRUM: Toy cars.

These are not going to go up in value.

NARRATOR: Don't throw your toys out of the pram, Raj.

But you're about to get some company in the playpen.

Very good.

You know how people collect shoes?

This is quite a cool thing, though.

You can look at your shoes.

NARRATOR: Yes, James, it's called a mirror.

JAMES BRAXTON: Quite a fun thing to have in somebody's dressing room, wouldn't it.

NARRATOR: And the ticket says 70 pounds.

I want to try and make a profit on something.

There's no point in paying top money, is there?

NARRATOR: True to form, Braxton's keeping his purse strings tight.

But what about Raj?

I'm sure that some of you already know, but what this is, is a boot scraper.

This goes into the ground.

Put your boots on there, get the mud off.

And into the house you go.

And this is quite a nice one.

And I believe it's got some age, definitely Victorian.

But it could be earlier.

And it's 28 pounds on the ticket.

NARRATOR: Time for dealer Anthony.

RAJ BISRUM: You've got this boot scraper.

Blacksmith made Victorian boot scraper.

Yeah, I mean, it's got a bit of a nick in it.

Obviously somebody's bent it slightly.

But I still think that that could be OK.

I mean, I'd want to pay about 15 pounds for it.

I was fearful that's what you'd say, yeah, yeah.

Is 20 pounds any good, do you think?

RAJ BISRUM: Can we split the difference at 17 pounds?

Yeah, that should be OK. You sure?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that'd be all right.

RAJ BISRUM: In that case, I'm going to shake your hand.

Thank you very much, Anthony.

NARRATOR: That eight pound discount bags Raj one final item for the day.

Well done, OK, James, what have you got?

Slightly unusual, isn't it?

Look at these ones with the-- they're on sofas.

So these are these funny Victorian Staffordshire flat bags.

And this is presumably Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, but nice being on bits of furniture.

Apart from two arms, they're not bad, are they?

You know, what's a couple of arms?

NARRATOR: Sounds armless to me.

Hah.

Flat back figures emerged in the late 1830s.

Without projections behind they could sit flush against the chimney press on your Victorian mantelpiece.

A pair of staff figures 19 quid.

So what's what's that one say?

That says 45 AF.

If they were 19 pounds, they're worth having a go at.

NARRATOR: Let's see if dealer Tina can help clear things up.

We've got these two Staffordshire figures.

Yes.

Both damaged.

I don't know whether she wants 45 for the pair or 19.

NARRATOR: While Tina calls the vendor-- JAMES BRAXTON: Thank you.

NARRATOR: --James ponders some more pottery.

These are quite fun this is Staffordshire.

This used to be really popular in Victorian times.

There would be a little thing, maybe sandalwood or something like that like a cone of incense.

You'd light it, put it in here, and the smoke would come through the chimney.

So it is a rather fun sort of miniature thing.

NARRATOR: Hold on.

Here's trouble.

Hello.

Raj, do you remember these little burners?

Little burners.

Little burners and smoke used to come from the chimney.

Yeah, no, with Staffordshire these days, what you've got to be looking for is the unusual pieces, pairs, if you can find them.

NARRATOR: Funny you should say that.

No, no, no, Tina, come in here.

Raj.

This is serious.

Raj has been telling me about you know pairs are very important.

Oh, you've got a pair, one, two.

Have you ever seen a pair with seats like that?

No, no.

Nor have I.

Unusual, very unusual.

She said the very best on the pair would be 15.

15?

No.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Hang on a minute.

I'll buy it.

Thank you.

I don't believe it.

What is it with you?

What is it with you?

Go and wrap them.

Gift wrap them.

She seemed to give it to you.

I know.

NARRATOR: Poor old Raj needs a bit of a lie down.

Young James here seals the deal on the Staffordshire flat pack for 15 pounds.

And that concludes shopping for today.

Well almost.

- Here we go.

Look what I've got you.

Hey, look at that.

Very smart.

Ideal for a [INAUDIBLE] by the sea.

It is perfect.

Perfect sunshade.

Where does that go?

On the back there?

That's brilliant.

Yeah?

Look at this.

Look at us.

[INAUDIBLE] Couple of Charlies, eh?

[LAUGHS] NARRATOR: All right, shipmates, you're still a few miles from the sea.

But a trip to the coast beckons tomorrow.

JAMES BRAXTON: Let's go.

RAJ BISRUM: Let's go.

NARRATOR: Time to dream of sand castles.

Nighty night.

Morning, everyone and welcome to Dorset.

Dorset's glorious, isn't it?

It's a lovely sort of rural county, the county of Thomas Hardy, the great writer.

Gerald Baden-Powell with Bronte island where the scouts first went, the Jurassic Coast.

There's lots of fossils.

Lyme Regis.

Yep, Lyme Regis is where the very first fossil shop was opened.

Really?

Yeah.

NARRATOR: You're never far from the fact with Raj.

So far Mr. Bisrum has bought himself a group of four fountain pens, a Moorcroft vase, a collection of naval items, and a Victorian boot scraper.

Get the mud off and into the house you go.

NARRATOR: His canny spending leaves him with 169 pounds and 76 p to spend.

James has had a more leisurely start bagging just a pair of Staffordshire flat bags.

Apart from two arms, they're not bad, are they?

NARRATOR: Leaving him with 294 pounds and 40 pence.

Today is the last opportunity to shop before that Surrey auction.

So are you going to spend a lot of money today, James?

I am going to dig deep.

Do you think Surrey has a lust for rural bygones?

I have a feeling that Surrey is going to be bling.

Shiny.

Shiny, shiny, shiny.

NARRATOR: So it's all about the bling.

But before all that, our experts are heading for the Dorset market town of Warum, where James is being dropped off at the Vintage Shack.

Spend lots and lots of money.

Spend, spend, spend.

Bye.

Cheerio.

All the best.

Hello, James.

Morning, Jane.

Hello, Jane.

Good to see you.

This is rather fun, isn't it?

NARRATOR: Delightful.

Now think Surrey.

Think shiny apparently.

Oh, they got two applications, isn't it?

Icing or medical.

NARRATOR: Not much difference there then.

Quite well engineered, isn't it?

So slightly over engineered for icing.

That's medical.

I hate to think where that goes.

NARRATOR: Yeah, brings tears to your eyes.

JAMES BRAXTON: Tasting fork or back scratcher?

Look at the claws.

Oh, that is lovely.

In your own time, James.

This is interesting.

Is that something that somebody might have in a smart Surrey kitchen?

Or will they see that as merely another thing to dust?

You know, you can't put this in a dishwasher after all, can you?

NARRATOR: Perhaps not.

But the food scoop has 26 pounds on its ticket, tasty.

Anyway, food for thought, isn't it?

See, here's a nice item.

A whole profile, you'd shape this.

And often how profiles were given to the owner after a boat was built.

Quite a humble boat though, isn't it?

NARRATOR: Ticket price is 18 pounds.

Brine runs through my veins, you see.

NARRATOR: Sounds uncomfortable.

I've come from a long line of East Coast ships captains from Scarborough.

NARRATOR: Briny Braxton.

Wharr.

What's Bartering Bisrum pondering as he travels west?

There's no doubt about it since the last auction, James's confidence has gone, has gone up.

There's no doubt about that.

But is he going to be too confident?

We shall see.

NARRATOR: We shall indeed.

How is he getting on?

A very sort of Catholic image here.

This would be a huge convent.

Look at the proportion of that fireplace.

So it's double the size of that nun.

Now William Russell Flint was a very well known artist.

And he did a lot of work in Spain, mainly famous for lots of sort of topless beauties.

But I like this because it's known as an artist's proof.

So it's a mechanical process print.

But the artist has signed it.

So he would be given this big ream of prints.

And anything he didn't like, that hadn't reflected his picture correctly, he wouldn't sign and probably be thrown away.

But if he signed it, he had approved it.

So although it's the print, it has the hand of the artist.

(WHISPERING) It's definitely a buy at 50.

NARRATOR: Why are we whispering?

(WHISPERING) I'll be aiming for eight or nine pounds.

NARRATOR: Well, we don't want you hitting double figures do we, James?

JAMES BRAXTON: Jane, I quite like this.

Quite a nice Spanish scene, isn't it?

Yeah.

JAMES BRAXTON: What can you do it for?

I could do that for eight pounds.

Eight pounds.

Jane, put it there.

Thank you very much indeed.

I knew I'd find something.

So I've got that one.

Eight pounds in the bag.

Well, she must have heard you, James.

Even if you were whispering.

Jane, I don't know.

I want to buy another thing from you.

I'm slightly undecided.

I don't know whether to go for the hull or this strange scoop.

What could you do that for?

That one's not been in so long.

This one I could do-- JAMES BRAXTON: Don't kill yourself.

--20 on that one.

JAMES BRAXTON: 20 on that one.

Yeah.

JAMES BRAXTON: Could that be dramatic [INAUDIBLE] JANE: That one can [INAUDIBLE],, yeah.

I could do 10 pounds on that one.

JAMES BRAXTON: 10 pounds.

JANE: Which is a bargain.

JAMES BRAXTON: I think it's the hull for me, Jane.

Thank you.

10 pounds.

Very kind.

NARRATOR: Nicely done.

18 pounds spent and two more items to call your very own.

Meanwhile Raj has made his way to Bovington to learn about a feat of British engineering that helped turn the fortunes of the First World War.

Hello there.

Hi, there.

Hi, I'm Raj.

Welcome to the Tank Museum.

I'm David.

I'm the curator here.

It's quite important for me, this, quite emotional in fact.

I mean, I spent a short career in the army.

But I never got to go in a tank.

And so I can't wait to look around.

Shall we go and have a look at some tanks then?

Good idea.

NARRATOR: At the peak of the Great War, trenches stretched for hundreds and hundreds of miles.

And around 7,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded every day.

In an attempt to break the stalemate, the first Lord of the Admiralty, a rather youthful looking Winston Churchill formed a committee which he tasked with coming up with a solution to help protect Allied troops.

This is the tank we made the most of in Britain in the First World War.

Over 1,000 of these were made.

And it's your classic rhomboid shaped first World War tank, very distinctive when you look at it.

They are used to go forward from the front line, crush down the barbed wire, and hopefully let our infantry get across that first World War battlefield, the no man's land in between.

And follow up, get in the German trenches without getting held up and massacred.

It's actually an invention that's there to save British soldiers' lives.

The name tank came from a British attempt to ensure secrecy.

Plans were under the guise of water tanks to confuse the Germans.

And the early machines included rudimentary bridges ready to be rolled over enemy trenches to aid soldiers advance.

But the first tanks didn't come as a surprise to just the Germans.

How did they choose who to drive?

They actually put adverts in things like the motorcycle magazine to try and find people who have got mechanical ability.

And some of these chaps are actually volunteering.

And they don't know what they're going into, because the tanks literally haven't been built in quantities yet.

NARRATOR: This photograph shows the first group of tank volunteers.

It was their tanks that rolled across no man's land for the first time on the 15 of September, 1916 as part of the Somme offensive.

But weighing 28 tons, they moved at a snail's pace and were prone to break down, so much so that while 49 tanks were deployed, only 15 made it to the battlefield.

For the eight man crews who did see action, conditions inside the new invention were horrendous.

So, yeah, fairly tight and compact.

It certainly is, isn't it?

You need four men just to drive the tank, two other guys up the front, the commander and the driver together.

And then another 2 on each of the guns on the side.

So this is pre-health and safety.

When this engine had run for half an hour, the exhaust stacks going up in the middle glowed red hot.

So you're pumping out that.

They also quite often with early engines, they come away they actually the manifold separates from the engine.

So you're pumping carbon monoxide into the space.

You're firing the guns so you've got cordite fumes.

All of that as well, before the enemy are firing back at you.

You can see everything seemed designed to whack you whatever.

But actually the guys inside still thought they were better off than the men outside.

NARRATOR: Despite their drawbacks the tanks were able to break through the enemy lines and after three days of fighting, Allied troops had advanced two kilometers.

Our troops had these tanks, but did the enemy have any?

In the First World War, they actually only made 20 of their own tanks, something called an A7V, that was not very successful.

What they did manage to do was capture lots of our tanks that were broken down and they used more of those back against us.

So you'll see tanks just like this one rhomboid shape, but a German cross painted on the side.

NARRATOR: The impact of that initial wave of attack did enough to impress the production of 1,000 more tanks were ordered.

As production increased and reliability improved.

They were used in greater numbers and made a major contribution in ending World War I.

They're part of something perhaps we overlook, that Britain in the First World War uses its mechanical and its engineering and its industrial genius to help us win that war that's really a war of attrition.

And the tank alone doesn't win us that war.

But it's part of a combination of things that by 1918, it's the British Army that is defeating that very professional German Army in the field.

NARRATOR: Meanwhile James has meandered his way to Bournemouth, home to Molly's Den Antiques.

He has 276 pounds and 40p left to spend.

And there's plenty of options here by the look of it.

Goodness, this place is enormous.

I don't think it comes in my size, unfortunately.

There's a lot of stores.

I think I'm going to need a hand here.

Hopefully there's somebody on the counter.

NARRATOR: Thankfully there is.

James, meet Steve.

Steve, I want to pick your brains really, so you know what goes in and out.

Sure.

JAMES BRAXTON: So where you taking me to?

STEVE: Just over here.

This is the sort of stool I like.

Sure.

I like it jumbling.

Meant very nicely though.

NARRATOR: Well, how else could you take jumbling?

While James continues his treasure hunt, Raj is looking to put the finishing touches to his shopping in Dorchester.

He has a little over 169 pounds to play with.

But what are the chances he splashes the cash at Dannon Antiques?

Hello, there.

Hello.

I'm Raj.

John pleased to meet you.

Pleased to meet you.

RAJ BISRUM: May I have a wander?

JOHN: Yeah, yeah, have a wander around.

RAJ BISRUM: Thank you.

There's always something somewhere hidden away.

NARRATOR: Well, that's what you're hoping.

Ah.

Ah.

I see what I'm going to buy.

I haven't even seen a price sticker on it.

But where I've just been, the tank museum, this is wartime memorabilia.

There's a passage here, lines written in No Man's Land and it's dated 1917.

And with it is a picture of a nurse.

And then there's a hat here.

And on it, it says, preparing cap given by wounded soldier to Sister Scofield.

I mean, this is military memorabilia.

I mean look at this.

Talk about worn.

That's from the First World War.

Look at that.

That is fantastic.

The picture and hat.

He's got at 45 pounds.

This is history.

Going to have a go.

John.

- Yeah.

I've had a look around.

You've got some nice unusual bits.

I have to say that what really grabs me is this.

What would it be the best on that?

JOHN: 25.

RAJ BISRUM: 25.

That's not bad.

I have to say that's not bad.

Can I push you a bit more?

What about 15?

20?

At 20 pounds, John, I'm not going to quibble.

I'm going to shake your hand.

Thank you.

20 pounds?

Thank you very much indeed.

That's lovely.

NARRATOR: Excellent.

Raj is all smiles and his shopping for the day is done.

But James still seems tormented by the agony of choice.

JAMES BRAXTON: Quite like that rather interesting monocle there.

But it's just rather bashed.

Or we got the cufflinks, haven't we?

South African coins, 1896.

Need a jolly good clean, don't they?

They would wouldn't they?

They're held by this unusual chain, this one.

And then you've got this heavy pair of silver ones that are just plain.

So you've got plain one side and then the engine turning the other.

I'm always amazed by chain-link cufflinks, how long they last.

NARRATOR: Tempted by the shiny objects, James?

Or the 12 pound ticket price on each pair?

Wait!

There's more.

What have we got there?

There's also St. Christopher.

They've got any age to them?

Yeah, they got a bit of age.

Yeah.

Nine karat gold, quite sweet.

Yeah, it is.

Yeah.

14 karat gold, that one.

Getting better.

JAMES BRAXTON: It's quite a nice thing to have, isn't it?

It is.

NARRATOR: That's a combined ticket price of 19 pounds for the two St. Christopher's.

With those and the cufflinks in contention, Steve is off to call the vendor.

I said to Raj, if I'm going to take something to Surrey, I want something shiny.

And all they need is a jolly good clean.

So just wondering as a lot, if you could do us a deal on those please.

30 quid.

JAMES BRAXTON: 30 quid for the lot.

I'm very happy with that.

Yeah, James is very happy with that.

It is, yeah.

That's lovely.

That's really kind.

Thank you.

We'll just say 15 each.

Thank you.

Good deal.

A generous deal means our very own thrifty magpie has wrapped up shopping for the leg.

James adds his two pairs of silver cufflinks and his two gold St. Christopher's to the ship's hull profile, the William Russell Flint print, and the pair of Staffordshire flashbacks, having spent a less than whopping 63 pounds on the lot.

Raj was comparatively lavish with his cash, splashing 92 pounds on a collection of fountain pens, a Moorcroft vase, a Victorian boot scraper, a collection of naval items, and first World War memorabilia.

But what do they make of each other's buys?

Stand by.

I think James has done extremely well.

He bought a Sir William Russell Flint prints signed, eight pounds.

Eight pounds?

I can't believe it.

The bit I would buy from Raj is the boot scraper.

It's got a great country house look to it.

It's very nice, not that they have mud in Surrey.

Would I change anything of his for mine?

Absolutely no way.

NARRATOR: Almost compliments all round.

After circling the Southwest in search of antiques, our chaps are looking to see if their items will come up trumps at an auction in Woking in Surrey.

James, you only spend about five pounds on each item.

You mean I can spend more?

You can, yeah.

And you can also buy antiques as well.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

I can buy antiques for a fiver.

And I've proven it.

NARRATOR: Maybe so.

But is there a profit to be had?

Time to find out as the chaps pull up to their third auction of the trip.

RAJ BISRUM: Age before beauty.

NARRATOR: You old charmer.

Eubanks is a family run auction house with over 25 years experience.

But what does auctioneer Andrew Eubank think of our pair's offerings?

The William Russell Flint print, less desirable than they were 10, 15 years ago and prices really have fallen.

That said, I hope we might achieve somewhere in the region of 50 to 60 pounds for it, and on a good day maybe beyond that.

The German infantryman's hat is an interesting piece of First World War memorabilia, a great piece of history.

It's unique.

And that's certainly going to work in its favor.

We've had lots of interest.

And I expect that to do very well, possibly over 150 pounds.

NARRATOR: So lots to look forward to.

And with bidders in the room, on the phone, and online, what more could they ask for?

Let the competition begin.

NARRATOR: Raj seems all fired up, so let's get things started with his Victorian boot scraper.

Lots of bids online.

Have we 30 but I have to go in at 45 pounds.

45 pounds with the absentee bidder on commission at 45.

50 and I'm out.

Its online now at 50 pounds.

With a bid of online at 50, it is.

And 55, fighting over it online now at 55 pounds.

Final warning then.

A last chance will sell at 55.

RAJ BISRUM: Ping.

Ping.

Well done.

NARRATOR: Yes, the ping of the internet bids is music to Raj's ears.

That's a great start.

Remember, it's war out there.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: Well James, what else could you go into battle with but a pair of Staffordshire flatbacks, armless.

I have to start on commission at 15 pounds.

With me at 15 Do I have 20 anywhere?

Do I have 20?

20 in the room.

I see a room bidder at 20.

And 25 now.

Looking for 30, sir.

At 25 pounds, are you all done?

Last chance, sir.

Will sell at 25 pounds.

25 pounds, I think.

That's a profit.

Is it?

Yes, it is, James.

Do pay attention.

Do you think it's a good sell?

Yes, I'd be very happy with 25 pounds.

Without a doubt.

10 pounds profit.

10 pounds profit.

NARRATOR: Leave the math to me, chaps.

It's a profit apiece.

And next up is Raj's military memorabilia.

Really nice lot.

There's lots of interest.

I can see bids online.

But I have to go in higher than that at 110 pounds with the absence of Wow.

Raj.

That is good.

At 110 on commission, 120, 130 with me.

140, 150 with me.

At 150 pounds in front of me.

Looking for 160 anywhere?

All done.

Final warning at 150 pounds.

Well done.

Very good.

That's a nice lot.

That's a good profit.

NARRATOR: A very nice profit.

Raj takes a storming lead.

Now that's a profit.

Yeah, that's a profit.

Let's see if you can make up some ground, James.

It's your ship's hull profile next.

We've got bids on the book, but a low one at five pounds, just five pounds.

Oh, god.

Come on.

Five pounds is with me.

10 pounds online now.

At 10 pounds.

At 10 pounds online then.

Last chance with you.

15 now.

New bidder online at 15 pounds.

Looking for 20. at 20 pounds now.

20 pounds.

Now they've gone crazy.

It kicked off, is it?

At 20 pounds with you and selling online at 20.

That's not bad.

But it's only a tenner in the pot.

It's still a double up, James.

Come on now.

NARRATOR: Yes, doubling your money is nothing to sniff at, but it's still leaves Raj well out in front.

At least your boat sailed away into a profit.

NARRATOR: All right, Raj, let's see if your collection of fountain pens can keep this run of profit going.

15 on commission.

At 15 pounds with me with the absentee bidder.

And 20 now behind.

And I've got 22, 25, sir?

25 now.

And I'm out.

And it's in the room.

Gentleman by the pillar at 25 pounds.

And behind now at 30 pounds.

In the room at 30.

Last chance final warning will sell the lot at 30 pounds.

The man's an alchemist.

NARRATOR: Turning pens into profit.

Who writes this stuff?

Another great result for Raj.

I better shape up.

I need a result.

NARRATOR: Well, it's now time to test the theory that Surrey likes shiny with James's cufflinks.

With me on commission at 20.

Looking for 25 anywhere.

25 and I'm out and the gentleman standing at 25 pounds.

In the room 25 pounds.

Room has it 30.

In a new place now at 30 pounds.

Looking for 35.

That's more like it.

In the room it is.

Final warning then.

Last chance.

We'll sell the lot at 30 pounds.

NARRATOR: The profits keep rolling as James doubles up again.

Doubling up on 10 and 15 isn't really doubling, is it?

Well, it's doubling, but it's small beer.

NARRATOR: Time to see if the bidders take to Raj's Moorcroft vase.

With me at 25 on commission at 25.

Looking for 30 anywhere.

25 pounds.

And if I'm 30 and I'm out and it's online at 30 pounds.

A bit more, bit more.

[INTERPOSING VOICES] AUCTIONEER: --at 35 now.

It's coming in at 35 pounds.

And 40 online.

Looking for 45.

Ting, ting, ting, ting.

At 40 pounds.

It is on line at 40.

Last chance.

Final warning on this one.

Will sell to the bidder.

Thank you.

Was that a bid in the room.

Sorry, I missed you.

I can't see you, but it's yours at 45 pounds.

Yours madam at 45.

At 45 pounds.

Don't put it down.

For goodness sake.

Talk about spinning it out.

[GAVEL HAMMERS] Good buy.

What a good buy that was.

With some gentle encouragement, that's yet another profit for Raj.

That's not bad for a chipped vase, is it?

It's not chipped.

It's not chipped.

Will you be quiet.

NARRATOR: I'm with you, James.

Next is Mr. Braxton's two gold st Christopher's.

Fingers crossed.

Travel safe.

On commission at 25 pounds.

With the absentee bidder, 30.

And I'm out now and it's online.

35 at the back of the room with the lady.

40 now online and 45 in the room at 45 pounds but 50 online.

50 pounds on the internet.

Go on.

Go on.

At 50, last chance then final warning will sell the lot.

50 That is a good profit.

That's a good profit, isn't it?

Really good profit.

NARRATOR: Certainly is a good profit.

But James is still trailing as we come to Raj's last lot.

Braxton is back.

I'm in the ring.

NARRATOR: Fighting for Raj's corner is the collection of naval items.

At 65 pounds.

Wow.

Well done.

70 anywhere?

65 pounds, my top commission bidder at 65 anywhere?

Last chance and final warning.

Will sell this lot straight to the book at 65 pounds.

NARRATOR: A maiden bid, but a lovely profit.

I'm really happy with that.

I would be.

That's not a bad profit at all, is it?

That's a great profit.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: Yeah, a great day for Raj.

But can James steal the show with his William Russell Flint print?

At 55 pounds, I start on commission at 55.

Looking for 60.

The lady now at 60 pounds.

On my left in the room at 60 pounds.

In the room on my left at 70.

And 75.

80 Madam?

80 pounds in the room.

80 pounds.

At 80, we have but 85 online now.

And 90 now on my left at 90 pounds.

Room bidder has it at 90.

95, they're back online.

And 100 now with the lady seated at-- Broken that barrier.

Broken that barrier.

110, they're back online at 110 pounds.

120, thank you.

One more 120 pounds with a lady at 120.

Looking for 130.

We've got 130 back online.

Online on the auction room is at 130 pounds.

Go on, Madam.

Final warning then.

Last chance.

One more.

One more.

You sneaky devil.

Thank you at 140.

But they're back online at 150 now.

At 150 pounds all done then.

It's online on the auction room and selling at 150.

- Top [INAUDIBLE] - Not messing with that.

[INTERPOSING VOICES] - That is a good profit.

Put it here, Raj.

That's worth a shake of the hand.

Well done, James.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: Yeah.

That's a great result for the print.

And its profits all round.

But who will be crowned king of the low spenders today?

- Shall we go?

- Yeah, let's go.

Let's go.

NARRATOR: James started with 309 pounds and 40 pence, a sterling effort saw him bag a profit of 162 pounds 50 after costs, pushing his total up to an impressive 471 pounds 90p.

Raj started the leg behind James with just under 242 pounds, a stunning auction today saw him collect a profit of 190 pounds and 90p after costs.

So although he trails James by around 40 pounds, Raj is crowned today's winner.

Well done that, man.

So we're just under 500 pounds each, are we?

I think so, roughly, yeah.

That's not bad going.

Not bad, is it?

Here we go.

Here we go.

Onwards and upwards.

NARRATOR: Cheerio then.