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'll be worthy winners-- Give us a kiss.

NARRATOR: --and valiant losers.

Come on, 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.

ANNOUNCER: Warning.

Today's forecast calls for blue skies.

NARRATOR: On this fourth leg of the trip, we're horsing around in sunny Southern England.

JAMES BRAXTON: New forest?

Ponies.

Ponies.

Yeah, we are in the beautiful new forest.

NARRATOR: With two blue sky thinkers, James Braxton and Raj Bisrum.

JAMES BRAXTON: Yes, isn't that lovely?

Beautiful.

NARRATOR: Raj has been steeped in antiques trading since the tender age of 10.

And he's very much in tune with the ancient landscape.

I mean, this has been like this for thousands of years.

Thousands of years.

Yeah.

RAJ BISRUM: Thousands.

NARRATOR: While James is no less a legend of this game, ever ready to steal a bargain.

You can expect to see some sort of highwayman rushing out at any moment.

The only highwayman I've seen in the New Forest is you, James.

Both are aficionados of old stuff.

Began with 200 pounds.

Raj has now traded that up to hold 432 pounds and 66 pence, while James is a hair ahead of him.

Well, he's got a bit more, having accumulated 471 pounds and 90p.

It is close.

Today they're driving a dashing white darling, the 1968 Renault Caravelle and it looks as if they've made a new friend.

RAJ BISRUM: Hello, Hello, Daisy.

Want to say hello to James?

NARRATOR: After starting off in Bath, our experts have roamed around a fair chunk of Southern England.

Later, they'll zip up to the Midlands before heading back down to Binegar in Somerset.

On this leg, they begin in the New Forest village of Brockenhurst and aim for auction in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Crikey Moses!

Two more new friends in the New Forest.

Giddy up.

You obviously live in this area.

I'm very blessed to live here.

You are.

All the best to you, yeah?

Enjoy the of your stay, guys.

- Thank you very much.

- Thanks a lot.

Thank you Bye.

Cor, they're friendly sorts around here, aren't they?

So Brockenhurst should be just the place to kick off with some more shopping.

This morning, Raj is dropping James off at his first job, where we'll hope for a little less horsing around and maybe a bit of dog work.

Here's my job.

How exciting.

Here you go, James.

- Great, thank you.

And don't forget what I said.

Spend everything you can.

I will.

OK, see you, James.

Hurry back, James.

JAMES: Bye.

Good luck.

NARRATOR: Come on then, James.

Time to shop.

Hello, James.

Hi, I'm Pam.

Hello, Pam.

This is lovely.

NARRATOR: I'll say.

Pam has an electric shop, I mean eclectic stock, including many pieces brought back from her travels in France.

And speaking of which-- So we've got a little light here that's rather nice.

That is.

That's lovely.

That's actually-- I would have-- yeah, that is a Deco piece.

NARRATOR: Oh, yes.

This table lamp ala Francois perhaps dates from the early 20th century.

You'd think something like that might be made of bronze.

But this is a sort of wrought iron, isn't it?

No, I think that's the sort of poor man's version.

Yeah, but quite pretty.

Is that quite cheap?

Well, it depends what you call cheap.

I have 55 on it.

But there is always movement as you know.

JAMES BRAXTON: Yeah, that's-- I quite like that.

NARRATOR: That's a possibility then.

But James is on a real rummage this morning.

PAM: Do you want a hand or are you all right?

JAMES BRAXTON: I think I'm all right.

PAM: OK. Any breakages will be paid for.

NARRATOR: You told them, James.

Interesting.

Behind there, there's a coromandel, Chinese coromandel screen, which is lacquer and applied, applied bits of-- generally they were mother of Pearl and bone.

I might ask about that.

NARRATOR: Actually I think this is a Japanese screen with a type of lacquer work which is called Shibayama.

Right.

Let's get down and dirty.

NARRATOR: After you then, James.

So I'm after the screen.

But to get to the screen, I've got to uncover a couple of items.

NARRATOR: Yeah, well, keep at it then.

Oh, my gosh.

Remember, you break it, you buy it.

James.

This is the screen.

It may be to far with the screen.

It's missing quite a lot of bits, isn't it?

Missing the top bits as well.

What's the other side like?

Oh, yeah.

It's also missing a ticket price.

I quite like this.

The more effort you put in, the more you're going to get out.

So I'm going to start unpeeling the stuff.

Unpeeling.

NARRATOR: Lord, unpeeling he goes.

And your little Kashmir table, the carved one.

NARRATOR: Yeah, definitely Kashmiri, North Indian subcontinent.

Well done, James.

JAMES BRAXTON: Quite nicely carved.

PAM: It is nicely carved.

They're beginning to do slightly better these.

That is an old one as well.

It's not one of the sort of really modern ones, but it's quite sweet.

JAMES BRAXTON: And they're very frustrating.

PAM: I think they're an intelligence test to be honest.

JAMES BRAXTON: Yeah.

NARRATOR: Well yes.

Hold on, James.

JAMES BRAXTON: You just have to-- you have to keep working and then finally it finds its form.

PAM: And as you can see, dust comes free with that one.

Dust comes fee.

PAM: Yeah, no charge.

NARRATOR: Very reasonable then, Pam.

What's the asking price?

I've had that one.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That can be 50 pounds.

50 pounds, yeah.

NARRATOR: So James now has his sights on this table, the little French Art Deco jobby, and not forgetting the substantial screen.

Oh.

And then a bit of china.

So, that's the great thing about antiques.

You can see the world.

PAM: You can indeed.

NARRATOR: Pam's offered this three item around the world jaunt for 130 pounds all in.

Well, it's cheaper than the flight.

JAMES BRAXTON: Could I do the lot for 110?

PAM: Oh goodness, could we meet in the middle at 120?

120?

You read my mind.

PAM: Brilliant.

JAMES BRAXTON: Thank you much indeed.

That's great.

NARRATOR: Such a gent, James.

So he has the screen for 50 pounds, the table for 40 pounds, and the lamp for 30.

Well done.

Thank you, Pam.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: In the meantime, Raj has traveled onwards.

He's heading for the New Forest Village of Beaulieu, which is home to the British National Motor Museum, where Raj is strolling off to meet curator Richard.

Hi there.

Hello, Raj.

Nice to meet you.

What a fantastic place.

This enormous museum celebrates every facet of our automotive heritage, from the supercharged to the frankly silly.

But today, Raj is here to learn about a very British sort of motoring obsession, caravanning.

And Richard's taking him into the museum's backstage archive rooms to learn more.

Well, leisure caravanning actually started in 1885, with William Gordon Stables.

Wanderer was the first caravan, The first leisure caravan.

And as I say, William Gordon stables built that himself.

He was an ex-naval officer.

He was a surgeon.

And he had to retire early from due to ill health in his mid-thirties.

And he was looking for something to do, I think.

So he built this caravan and he went from Twyford in Berkshire back to his town of birth, Inverness in Scotland.

NARRATOR: This near 600 mile journey, horse-drawn, was the first caravan holiday.

And William Gordon Stables chronicled his adventure in his 1886 book, The Cruise of the Land Yacht Wanderer (SINGING) I'm a wanderer.

Yeah, I'm a wanderer.

I roam around, around, around, around.

Once he published his book of course, people reading it, the wealthy and the aristocracy, were thinking what a great idea.

So it became more popular.

And in fact, the Caravan Club was formed in 1907.

And he became vice president.

NARRATOR: The Caravan Club championed this new hobby in its early years.

And it grew quite quickly in its initial stages as well, from those first 11 members, within five years they had nearly 300 members, 267 I think in 1912.

And a third of those were women.

NARRATOR: Caravanning afforded these Edwardian ladies all sorts of new freedom.

A chance to go out into the countryside and actually take part in activities which would have been bards than before, hunting, fishing, sports, that sort of thing they could do.

So they would get together as groups, usually unmarried women would go off in a caravan to the country.

And here we can see a leisure caravan just before the First World War.

This actually to most people I would say, would be much more recognizable as a caravan.

Absolutely.

This will probably be a single horse would be pulling that.

And so quite often, caravans would actually be hired out for the day.

So we're looking at the change from the wealthy starting to be able to hire a caravan just for the day to go out into the New Forest or a day trip to the seaside as they're doing here.

NARRATOR: But as the pursuit became more popular, the First World War loomed.

And the new caravans took on a more serious purpose.

They soon learned that they could be used for accommodation.

They could be used as ambulances.

So the Caravan Club members actually donated 50 caravans to be sent across to the front.

NARRATOR: After the war ended, caravanning for leisure took off once more.

So you have returning servicemen, who have seen caravans in action and how useful they could be.

And at the same time, the government was selling off lots of surplus materials.

And so lots of enterprising businessmen could buy this material quite cheaply and make trailer caravans.

One such one was the Navarac Caravan, which was actually made from aircraft parts.

NARRATOR: These new caravans were designed to be towed by motor vehicles.

And Richard's taking Raj on a little trip to see an early example.

Richard, is this one of the first commercially made caravans?

It is.

This is an Eccles Caravan, really the first commercially produced caravans.

RAJ BISRUM: What year were these first manufactured?

The company started in 1919, so right at the end of the First World War.

This caravan dates from 1926.

So they went all the way through the '20s.

And Eccles is still a well-known name today.

Wow, fantastic.

NARRATOR: From these beginnings, caravanning grew in popularity through the 20th century, becoming one of our most beloved hobbies and giving the masses access to life on the open road.

Raj is quite taken.

He'll be buying one.

I quite like this.

In fact, if you don't mind, Richard, would you shut the door and leave me to read my book?

Ah.

Life doesn't get any better.

NARRATOR: You said it, Raj.

Don't get too comfy will you or drop off.

Now James has traveled on to the market town of Ringwood, where he's sauntering off into his next shop, not a care in the world.

Hello, James.

Oh, hello, James.

My name is Peter.

Hello, Peter.

Good to see you.

Take me to your cheaper parts.

The cheaper?

The bargain basement?

Bargain basement.

It happens to be upstairs.

Perfect.

Perfect.

Follow me.

NARRATOR: We shall, Peter.

We shall.

So up these lovely stairs.

Here we are, James, at the bargain basement.

Yeah.

First thing that catches my eyes is this wonderful oil lamp.

How much is that then, Peter?

Don't look at the label.

Glasses on.

Do you need to-- watch your head.

Watch my head.

Well, we've got that marked at 225 pounds.

It's too expensive.

But if not that lamp, maybe a spotlight.

Peter's lamp is not only oil lamps, but it's am dram.

Peter is just directing a local theatrical production.

So that's his life.

You can tell it, can't you?

NARRATOR: He does have a dramatic flair.

But is this an item I see before me or just an old pot?

Look at this.

Just feel the weight of that.

JAMES BRAXTON: That is a wee beastie.

Yes that is a wee beast, isn't it?

Yeah, it's a substantial French copper cooking pan and lid.

Look at that.

You could really-- you could cook something up in that, couldn't you?

I've got a very lovely dish that I do, sausages and lentils with a bit of paprika.

That's a lot of sausages.

That'd be lovely, wouldn't it?

It would feed an army.

NARRATOR: Certainly would.

There's no ticket price on it.

So Peter will find out what the cost could be while James browses the rest of the shop.

When you come back, I want a soliloquy from one of your latest productions, Peter.

Soliloquy?

Well, I could give you, I am the very model of a modern Major General.

But I don't think I will.

Come on now, Peter.

Our James is the very model of a modern antiques maestro methinks.

What think thou?

JAMES BRAXTON: A brown cheese drainer.

Blessed is the cheese maker.

(SINGING) I am the very model of a modern major general.

I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral.

I know the kings of England and I quote the fights historical, from marathon to Waterloo in order categorical.

Oyster dish here, aren't they?

(SINGING) I am very well acquainted too with matters mathematical.

I understand equations for the simple and quadratical.

About binomial theorem I am teeming with a lot of news.

Bamboo, the blessed material.

NARRATOR: But he hasn't spotted anything else that takes his fancy.

So back to that copper pan he goes.

But what can Peter propose?

You're a man of the amateur dramatic, aren't you?

Yes.

I want a dramatic-- Dramatic, well, let's say 90 pounds.

I'll give you 70.

75.

75.

You have yourself a deal.

Thank you very much indeed.

Thank you, Peter.

That is a fine item, isn't it?

NARRATOR: It's an absolute star.

But just as James is paying up, look who it is.

Oh, here he is.

Hello, James.

Hello.

- Hello.

- I'm Peter.

Raj, Peter.

Peter, Raj.

Lovely meet you.

Look at that.

Big money passing hands.

Can I just check it?

Check it then.

Oh my goodness.

Peter, you are in luck.

These are all real.

NARRATOR: Thanks for checking, Raj.

But James is spending some serious cash today.

For him to spend that much money on one item.

Yeah.

I mean-- Have I done well?

I can't-- Peter, you don't know how well you've done.

OK.

Believe you me, that is normally a month's budget for him.

But I hope I can find something as well.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: So it's goodbye to James and the hunt is on for Raj.

It's a papier mache apple.

I should really buy it for James, teacher's pet.

NARRATOR: But how's he feeling now he's cased the joint?

Even though James got here first, I'm sure he's had trouble buying here, because there's not very much you can buy for a fiver.

So that leaves the door open for me.

And I'm sure I'm going to find some bargains.

I like this shop.

Very comfortable.

NARRATOR: Come on, Raj.

You need some buys.

What's this?

Well, these are quite interesting.

I'm not a fisherman.

But I do like sporting items.

And these are very unusual lures.

Yeah, attractive to fish and to Raj.

Focus.

Focus.

That's 148 pounds on a price ticket, which is way over what I would want to pay for them.

But they are interesting.

If I could get these at 30 to 40 pounds, I know it's a lot to knock off.

But if I could get them for that, I'm going to do a deal.

NARRATOR: That's a big ask.

Can Raj's powers of persuasion reel Peter in?

Who writes this stuff?

I've got a price in mind.

Can I make you a crazy, crazy offer?

I was hoping that if I could get those for 35 pounds, there'd be a small profit in it.

I'll happily pay you 40 for them.

- I'll go for 40.

- You will?

I'll go for 40.

You'll go to 40?

Shake hands then.

Yeah, lovely.

Fantastic.

So we've done a deal at 40 pounds.

NARRATOR: That is a generous and kind discount from Peter.

But might fate deal Raj another good hand?

I mean, this is a nice brass crib board.

I mean, you know, it used to be a great pub game, crib.

But I still play crib.

I love it.

Not a lot of people do these days.

But it's still a nice-- it's still even a nice decorative piece.

NARRATOR: That might date from the early 20th century.

It's ticketed at 23 pounds.

Peter.

Peter.

Are you there?

What have we got here?

Nothing Earth shattering.

OK, I do warn you.

The crib board.

Yes.

Can I offer you a tenner for it?

You haven't got a lot of money on it.

10 pounds then.

We have a deal.

Thank you very much indeed.

NARRATOR: So, all that remains is to pay Peter and skedaddle.

Thank you.

Thank you very much indeed.

Lovely to see you.

You too.

Thanks again, yeah.

NARRATOR: And that swift deal brings us to the end of a jam packed first day on the trip.

So nighty night, chaps.

But another bright summer morning finds our two boys back in the car and raring to go.

James, a lovely, beautiful morning in Hampshire.

What a lovely day.

It's gorgeous.

Well, it's the Caribbean of the UK, isn't it?

RAJ BISRUM: I don't think I could go that far.

NARRATOR: But Raj has hooked two lots, the fishing lures and the cribbage board.

He still has 382 pounds and 66 pence in his wallet though.

While James has collected four lots, the Oriental screen, the art deco lamp, the Kashmiri table, and copper cooking pan.

He still has 276 pounds and 90p left to cook with.

And of course Raj had a sneak peek at that pricey pan as James was paying for it.

But it's a more decorative than usable these days, that pot.

Oh, excuse me.

It's a lovely heavy pan.

We could magic up some magic dishes in that pan.

A nice big bouillabaisse.

Oh.

That'd be nice.

Welks and eels.

Welks and eels.

That's what we need.

NARRATOR: Nah, What you want is buys.

This morning, their first shop is in the village of Wickham, a pretty and pastoral place with roots dating back to ancient times.

JAMES BRAXTON: Fantastic.

In we go.

Well, good luck.

There it is.

RAJ BISRUM: Yeah.

Enjoy your lovely handbags.

Let's hope so.

And clothing.

Enjoy your day.

Have a great day.

Goodbye.

Bye, bye, bye.

NARRATOR: Raj is headed straight for Warwick Lane Shopping Center, where he's meeting Steve.

Hi, Steve.

Hello there.

Oh, Raj.

And you must be Steve.

NARRATOR: Indeed he is.

This is a large place with plenty of stock.

So Raj better look shipshape.

We're near the sea.

How's that?

NARRATOR: Ridiculous.

But it's not a life on the ocean wave he's heading for this morning.

RAJ BISRUM: I mean these could be a good buy.

If I get left up the creek without a paddle.

NARRATOR: You might be right, but what's this then?

RAJ BISRUM: The whole world of telecommunications is changing and people are collecting old telephones, Bakelite telephones are fetching lots of money.

And so are some of the 1960s and '70s telephones now.

They're even making money.

And what I found here is an exchange, an old exchange telephone system.

NARRATOR: This vintage device known as a dictograph comes with a small phone extension and plenty of retro charm.

Hold the line, please caller.

It's really an interesting one, because I mean the exchanges got land channels, typists, planning, drawing office.

I mean this probably would have been used by a council or something like that.

If I can get this at the right price.

It's got 30 pounds on the ticket.

I'd like to get this for 20 pounds or below.

NARRATOR: Steve can speak to the vendor by phone probably.

RAJ BISRUM: I will give her 20 pounds for the two items.

OK, all right.

And it's going to be cash.

And it's cash.

All right.

It's cash.

All right.

I'm going to ask her.

RAJ BISRUM: Use your charm.

You've got a nice smile there.

NARRATOR: And while Steve flashes his pearly whites-- [PHONE RINGS] Hello?

James, get off the line.

There's a train coming.

NARRATOR: But we have an answer.

Steve, how did you get on?

She'll do it.

RAJ BISRUM: All right.

We have a deal.

All right.

20 pounds for the two, yeah?

Yeah, fantastic.

NARRATOR: He's got the dictograph and the little phone extension set up for only 20 pounds.

Doggone it.

But there may be something else maybe downstairs.

This is interesting.

It's German or Austrian.

And it's a pipe.

But it's really quite old.

It's dated 1807.

1807.

NARRATOR: Yeah the pipe is finished with Hallmark silver, a touch of quality, methinks.

You know, I can just see an old Austrian or German farmer, sitting in the [NON-ENGLISH],, drinking his beer and smoking his pipe.

NARRATOR: You paint quite a picture, Raj.

Ticket price on that is 55 pounds.

Time for another word with young Steve, who can negotiate perhaps on behalf of the vendor.

Again, on the phone maybe.

I'll offer you 20 pounds for it.

I don't think he'd go down that far.

I think he'd be happier with 30 pounds, to be honest with you, Raj.

30 pounds I think it's too much.

OK, I'll tell you what I'll do.

A good deal would be split it down the middle.

So what about 25 pounds?

All right then, yeah, OK. 25 pounds.

Fantastic.

We have a deal.

Thank you very much indeed.

NARRATOR: Fantastic.

With two more items bagged, our boy in blue is wandering off.

James, meanwhile, has motored on to the environs of the Village of Twyford.

A fan of our great historical feats of engineering, he's planning to pay a visit to Twyford Waterworks, where he's meeting trustee Martin Gregory.

Hello, James.

Martin.

Hello, Martin.

Welcome to Twyford Waterworks.

NARRATOR: This beautifully preserved Edwardian pumping station and water treatment plant was designed to draw fresh water from Wells deep below the Hampshire countrysides chalky landscape.

After the acts of parliament in the 1860s that required local authorities to build waterworks to supply clean water in Hampshire, we drilled wells in the chalk and pumped the water out to the customers around the area.

The waterworks has been supplying water to the area ever since.

NARRATOR: But the clean water drawn from these wells has one big disadvantage.

Hampshire water's very hard, which did present a problem.

And what's the problem with hard water then?

Two problems, one, you get limescale in the pipes.

So the pipes flare up.

And two, the soap won't lather.

At least old 19th century soaps won't lather.

Luckily, an Aberdeen doctor, Thomas Clark, patented a system for getting around this in the 1840s.

And all the water works in Hampshire were equipped with this Clark's lime softening process.

NARRATOR: This method used chalk quarried here on site to produce a substance known as lime, which is essential in the water softening process.

Here we are up at the top of the railway incline.

Ah, that looks very much like chalk.

It is chalk, chalk that's been quarried just down below, and is being brought up here to the lime kiln.

Don't tell me these poor people had to lug it up, did they?

No, from the start in 1903, getting it up the hill, up the incline, we had a hydraulic engine.

That would make sense.

You're a waterworks.

That's right.

A water engine driven by the water that we're pumping up to the reservoir.

Really.

And is that still functional?

That still functions.

Come and look at it.

Oh, lovely.

Lovely.

Obviously James can't wait to see this water powered engine move the skiff of chalk up the hill.

There we go.

Right.

So here's the hydraulic engine.

The water comes in this pipe here.

There's the throttle valve.

So open the water valve and let some water in.

There you are.

So release the brake.

And up it comes.

Now we can see it coming up the incline now.

And that's just pressure of water.

That's just the pressure of the water in this pipe here.

Isn't that fabulous?

NARRATOR: Once the water drawn from the wells has been softened, it was pumped out to a reservoir, from which it supplied local homes.

Martin, what is this mighty machine?

This is the machine that did two jobs.

It raised water from the wells with one set of pumps and it delivered water to the reservoir with the other set of pumps.

Wow.

It's a steam engine made in Leeds in 1914.

NARRATOR: Although this engine is no longer in use, the plant is still pumping water today.

We are still supplying about 20 milliliters a day of water to the public water supply.

The only thing that's changed is it's now electric pumps in place of steam pumps.

NARRATOR: Marvelous.

But it's time for James to hit the road.

Mr. Martin, I must thank you.

It's been absolutely fascinating.

NARRATOR: In the meanwhile, Raj has traveled onto the seaside city of Portsmouth, where he's strolling to Parmenter's Antiques, with just over 337 pounds in his pocket.

It's his last chance to shop.

Hello there.

Hello, Raj.

Hi, you must be Ian.

NARRATOR: That he is.

This place is a real treasure trove, absolutely stuffed with weird and wonderful items.

But could Raj have bitten off more than he can chew?

The Big Apple.

This is right up my street.

There are some really unusual, wonderful things in this shop.

This is fantastic.

Let's just hope that I can afford one or two of them.

Over here, we've got those three owls.

And something that I was told when I first started out in the business, that the owl was the lucky emblem of the antique dealer.

NARRATOR: Oh, yeah?

Well, let's hope those bring you luck in your search, Raj.

What's it going to make at auction?

Can we keep looking?

I mean I know that's out of my league book.

900.

I had to know.

NARRATOR: That's out of the question then.

But wait.

The mirror?

We Might be in business.

Oh, wordy.

Came in a house clearance.

Yeah?

Age.

It's got age.

Yes, it's got age.

It's got age.

It's nice beveled glass.

It's a nice decorative one.

NARRATOR: This 19th century brass mirror is certainly striking.

But at what price?

RAJ BISRUM: Hit me with it.

45.

That's a bargain.

35, we got a deal.

You got a deal.

35 pounds.

Ian, we have a deal.

We have a deal.

NARRATOR: Without much reflection at all, Raj pounces on that excellent buy.

Once again, thank you very much indeed.

Great to meet you.

You too.

NARRATOR: Thanks, Ian.

You're a gent.

Meanwhile James has motored on to the ancient city of Winchester, where he has one more shot in his sight.

With 276 pounds and 90 pence left, here dealer Mary resides.

Hi, Mary.

Not contrary.

- Hello.

- Hello.

- James.

- Hi, Mary.

Nice to meet you.

Hello, Mary.

Good to meet you.

NARRATOR: This place specializes in vintage and industrial homewares.

It's not quite the usual antiques emporium.

The stuff you will want to see is probably downstairs.

Basement.

Would you lead me down?

Would you lead me down?

Yes.

NARRATOR: Deep down in the basement, there's mood lighting for all sorts of retro and reclaimed items.

But one important question is playing on James's mind this afternoon.

Why do people like buckets?

The buckets, we find mainly people by the buckets for planting outside.

Or as a bin, as a funky bin.

Cool bin, isn't it?

Cool bin.

And they have integrity, they're nicely made.

They've got some weight.

MARY: Very well aged.

Somebody, some builders kindly mixed some cement.

MARY: Cement.

Didn't quite clean it out, did he?

Naughty monkey.

Anyway, an old fire bucket-- NARRATOR: But James is still quite taken with it.

Could you do me a special deal, taking into account the pug?

That's, that's additional.

Extra.

I'm sorry.

Silly me.

I'm not quite in the vintage, retro feel.

I see that as a condition problem.

But you see that as an asset.

I do indeed.

You could do a little bit on it.

What's your price on that?

So we could do it for 20 pounds?

JAMES BRAXTON: 20 pounds.

20 pounds.

I'll tell you what.

Would you do it for 19?

19 is fine.

Thank you very much indeed, Mary.

Very lovely.

I'm a vintage convert.

NARRATOR: Ever the optimist, James.

He's got that for less than a purple note.

Thank you very much.

Five.

NARRATOR: So James has bagged that as well.

Ooh, lordy, he's keen to get to the auction.

As well as the fire bucket, James also has the Oriental screen, the Kashmir table, the Art Deco lamp, and the large copper pan with lid.

He spent 214 pounds exactly.

But Raj has the fishing lures, the cribbage board, the dictograph, the pipe, and the brass mirror.

He spent 130 pounds.

But what do they think of each other's fines?

We'll soon see, see?

Surreal.

Pipe, I don't think much of.

Lures, I don't think much of.

Cribbage board.

What is a cribbage board?

James's fire bucket, all I can imagine is, he's worried.

Because things are hotting up.

And he'll need the fire bucket to put the flames out.

Modesty precludes me from saying who will win the auction.

But I'll be very cross if it ain't me.

NARRATOR: That's fighting talk.

I love it as they head to auction.

They began in Brockenhurst and are now aiming for the sale room in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

We're off to Shrewsbury, which is a-- Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Is it a Shrewsbury or is it a "Shrowsbury?"

NARRATOR: That's a matter of heated debate locally.

It is pretty.

Look at the cottages.

I know.

It's lovely.

NARRATOR: They're headed for Hall's sale room, which is just on the outskirts of town.

Wow.

Perhaps the auction house, raring to go.

Well, let's hope they do us proud today.

Good rooms for good items.

NARRATOR: Today our auctioneer is Alexander Clement.

Before they're off though, what does he make of James and Roger's lot?

I think the thing that will move the quickest is the Kashmir table.

Nice size and well carved.

The mirror, I really like, it's really nicely made.

It's well cast, nice quality.

So I like it.

But will the market agree with me?

I don't know.

NARRATOR: The sale is about to begin.

Take your seats please, gents.

What's your sense?

I think the stars are aligning for me.

Good luck.

Good items, good sale room, hopefully, good prices.

NARRATOR: First up, it's Raj's set of fishing lures.

Will they bring in a profit?

Interest here with me on commission at 10 pounds commission bid.

15 online.

20 here.

25 commissions out.

25 pounds online bid.

Any bargain at 25 pounds.

25 gone.

Online bid, 25.

And I'm selling it for all done at 25 pounds.

I only lost 15 pounds.

NARRATOR: Don't despair, Raj.

You have bigger fish yet to fry.

Don't dwell on it.

Just move on.

You've got another four auctions.

Oh, you're so kind, James.

You make me feel so much better.

NARRATOR: Now, one for James.

His oriental lacquered screen greets the room.

We will start this one at 30 pounds.

30 pounds.

It'll make it.

It'll make it.

I'll take 20 if it helps.

20 pounds.

Sure it must be 20.

Hey, your dreams are coming true.

I'll take 10.

10 pounds.

10 pounds.

Turning into a nightmare.

10 pounds I have online.

15 now.

Still online.

I will sell in if we're all done.

No, 20, 20 pounds.

Any advance?

25.

Dear.

It's 25 pounds.

Settling there, and I'm selling.

Fair warning now if we're all done.

Then at 25 pounds.

30, fresh place in the room.

Thank you.

30 pounds.

At 30.

And I'm selling now if we're all done.

Fair warning now.

At 30 pounds.

All done then at 30.

A near 20 pound loss.

Dear oh, dear.

That wasn't expected, was it?

No.

NARRATOR: Not the best start for Mr. Braxton either.

But there's everything still to play for.

That was the lot I thought we were going to make loads of money on.

I mean that's a really nice thing.

I think.

NARRATOR: Raj is next to try his hand as his cribbage board is up.

Start this one.

Quick start.

10 pounds.

Yeah, come on, straight in.

10 I have.

In the room here at 10 pounds.

Then at 10 pounds.

Not a loss.

15 on line.

15 pounds or more.

I'm selling them if we're all done.

Fair warning now.

It's a profit.

It's a profit.

I didn't think I'd be saying this, but that was the first profit of the day.

First profit of the day.

NARRATOR: Indeed it is.

Well done, Raj.

I mean you must be a little bit depressed, but you're sweet.

I know.

I know I can tell.

I already know your smiles.

OK, you've got one smile which is a really happy, made lots of money.

Then you've got that other smile, very strong.

Haven't made a penny yet.

NARRATOR: But James has a chance to turn that around with his Kashmir table.

We'll start here with a commission bid at 20 pounds.

Commission bid.

20 pounds.

That's good.

How prophetic.

It's good.

25.

Thank you.

30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65.

Commissions out.

65 pounds in advance and at 65 pounds.

I think that's more like it.

Keep going.

All done then.

And selling.

Fair warning now at 65 pounds.

NARRATOR: That's a nice little earner for him.

You've got to be pleased with that.

That a really nice profit.

Nice to have your taste ratified by a larger public, isn't it?

NARRATOR: The dictograph is next.

Will it ring in a profit for Raj?

I have interest here with me on commission.

I can go straight to him with a commission bid of 10 pounds.

10 pounds.

That's only a start.

10 pounds.

15 online.

20 here with me.

25, 30.

Well done.

35, 40, 40.

On commission then, and selling if we're all done.

45, your mate's woken up.

You've got a friend there.

Wipe that smile off your face.

I can't tell you, but you bury my jokes in here.

NARRATOR: Thanks indeed to the bidder in the room.

That's a real winner.

How much does that make again, James?

Did you catch that?

45.

45, lovely.

And that man of taste sitting there.

as well don't you don't you ever go at this man next to me OK NARRATOR: I should jolly well think not.

James's Art Deco lamp now tries to light the way to riches.

Let's going straight in at 10 pounds.

Oh 10 pounds.

10 pounds I have on line.

15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40.

Thank you anyway.

40 pounds online bid.

Anyone else at 40 pounds?

Give your mat a nudge.

We'll sell then to the online bidder if we're all done then at 40.

40 pounds.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I do wish I could walk into a shop and buy an Art Deco lamp for 40 pounds.

NARRATOR: You walked into a shop and bought it for 30 pounds to be fair, James.

Based on what we sold so far, the copper pan will make a loss.

And my fire bucket will make a loss.

If you carry on like this, I actually am going to buy it, there's a violin coming up.

And I'm thinking of buying it.

Serenade me.

NARRATOR: Chin up, chaps.

As the pipe which took Raj's fancy tries to smoke out some buyers.

Let's start this one at 20 pounds.

20 pounds.

20 pounds anywhere.

25.

25?

30, 35, Yeah, well done.

Steady on.

In the room at 35 pounds.

40.

40.

Fresh place, 45.

45.

Thank you anyway.

And I'm selling it all done then.

Fair warning now.

At 45 pounds.

Well done.

Well done.

James has piped down as that lot strikes gold.

Wow.

That lot didn't go up in smoke, did it?

NARRATOR: Listen, I'll do the jokes.

Thanks, Raj.

The sizeable copper pan now for James.

20, I have.

20 pounds here in the room.

25 online.

30, 35, 40.

Here in the room then and selling it for all done, 45 pounds.

45.

NARRATOR: That cops a loss, sadly.

Could have melted it down for more.

I mean these are lovely pans, but to be honest.

They're quite decorative more than usable.

I mean people these days, they want nonstick, don't they?

Nonstick.

Don't give me nonstick.

Nonstick.

Here's how you get nonstick, is you stand over the pot and occasionally use a wooden spoon.

That's how things don't stick.

NARRATOR: Thanks, Delia.

Raj has one last chance to shine now with his brass mirror.

Go straight in here with a commission bid of 30 pounds.

Commission bid.

Any advance on 30 pounds.

35 online.

40 here with me.

Online's quite busy, isn't it?

45, 55, 50, 60.

I will sell to my commission bid at 50 pounds if we're all done at 50.

Well done.

See, steady work, Raj.

You've come out smelling of roses, really, haven't you?

How many profits?

Four.

Four.

Wow.

NARRATOR: You don't sound at all jealous, James.

Another one to Raj.

Well, you came in very confident.

I did.

I did.

I like your items.

And that matters.

NARRATOR: And as if to cement is less than stellar day, now it's James's dingy fire bucket.

So I have interest here on commission at 10 pounds, commission bid.

10 pounds extra.

Commission at 10 pounds.

15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40.

Now 45.

Commissions out 45 pounds.

45 pounds.

At 45 pounds 45.

Well done.

Blaze of glory.

45 pounds.

That put my flame out, didn't it?

NARRATOR: An unexpected run on the bucket.

Cheers, James, right up, on the very last lot.

After you.

NARRATOR: So, let's do the math.

James began this lake with 471 pounds and 90p.

After auction costs, he made an unfortunate loss, 29 pounds and 50 pence leaving him with 442 pounds and 40 pence to carry forward.

Don't look so gloomy.

While Raj has clinched victory.

He started with 432 pounds and 66p.

After auction costs, he made a profit of 17 pounds and 60 pence and leaves today with 450 pounds and 26 pence.

So he is today's victor and has narrowly stolen James's lead.

Well done.

It couldn't be closer now.

I mean you were in front.

You've taken it.

I know, but only just.

So we want a last leg we're into.

The last leg.

You sound like Mo Faroh, or even Mo Farah.

What's going on?

As long as I come back with a gold.

I'll be happy.

Scrapping over at the beginning and now you're racing ahead.

For the moment, I'm going to run around the back of the car so you can drive me away from here.

Be my sort of rather grudging pleasure, I think Raj.

Shouldn't have happened with my lots.

Really shouldn't have happened.

NARRATOR: That's the luck of the salesroom, James.

Onto the final trip, hey?

Cheerio.

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