VO: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts, with £200 each, a classic car and a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

That hurts.

What do you think?

VO: The aim?

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

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

What have I done?!

VO: So, will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

JAMES: Put your back into it!

THOMAS: Shut up, James.

JAMES: Come on!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

It's the start of a new leg.

And we join antiques experts Thomas Plant and James Lewis enjoying the open road, in a classic 1950s Morris Minor.

VO: See.

And the competition is fierce.

THOMAS (TP): Ah!

That's my head.

VO: Battling swordsman Thomas Plant is an experienced auctioneer who specializes in jewelry.

But so far, he's lagging behind...

It's a bit like the balance of power between James and I.

This is what I feel I've got and these are the heavy weights of James's money here.

VO: His rival, Derbyshire auctioneer James Lewis, is something of a celebrity... Go on, give me your autograph.

JAMES (JL): Oh that's 12.

(CHUCKLES) I'm joking.

VO: ..who also likes tribal art and quirky collectables.

What do you think?

VO: So far Thomas has made a respectable £284.22 from his original £200 starter pack.

Well done.

VO: So he has plenty of cash to splash on this leg.

Meanwhile James's original £200 has mushroomed to a whopping £797.10 thanks to two unlikely lads.

Last chance at 150.

I thought that was bonkers.

VO: This week, Thomas and James are traveling over 800 miles, looping their way from the Scottish west coast up to the Highlands, down to the Lowlands and back again - eventually finishing at the country's capital city, Edinburgh.

But on this, their third leg, the boys are starting off in Dunkeld and heading up to the north-east of Scotland for an auction showdown in Buckie.

The little town of Dunkeld is one of Perthshire's gems.

Nestling beneath thickly-wooded hills on the banks of the River Tay, there's a definite air of tranquility.

TP: This is lovely James.

Oh, Scotland in the sun.

Rare thing but beautiful when it happens.

TP: I'm going to go that way, you go that way and I'll see you later on.

JL: Have fun.

TP: Buy well.

VO: And without delay, James saunters off to his first shop to meet owner Margaret.

Hello there.

Hello.

How are you?

I'm James.

Nice to meet you.

VO: Originally selling sweets, then fish and now antiques, Vintage is the oldest shop on the street, dating back to 1804.

I'll have wander and have a look.

Is that alright?

DEALER: You're welcome.

Thank you very much.

Don't sell my hat.

VO: Looks good in the shop.

That's all the pound shelf.

Is it?

I don't mind the pound shelf.

I'm not proud.

VO: Meanwhile, Thomas has headed to Dunkeld Antiques, situated in a converted church, perhaps in search of a miracle.

What do you think of this?

Doesn't one look rather attractive?

I could be in my smoking jacket... in my smoking room, sort of lounging like a Lothario, just imagine.

But it's rather good, don't you think?

VO: Not really.

There we go Thomas - not so sure about that but, er, how about something a bit more... you?

Oh I think that's rather fun.

It's a tobacco jar in stoneware.

But I love the Honey Dew on there.

Real decorative, beautiful thing.

VO: This 19th century stoneware tobacco jar has molded leaf handles and "Honey Dew" written in gilt lettering.

It would have been used in a tobacconist's to hold loose to tobacco and would originally have had a cover.

It's quite stylish.

(WHISPERS) 140 is a lot of money.

That's lovely though.

VO: Well, better keep on looking then.

Er, what's that?

It might be something to do with fishing or it could be a weapon.

Um... cuz it's a priest, it's a bar.

Heavy.

You could either knock your fish on the head after you've got it or you could protect yourself.

I don't know but it's quite nice though.

Isn't it rather handsome?

Walking sticks are so collectable.

VO: The concealed club within this 19th century walking cane is called a priest and could be used to dispatch captured fish quickly and humanely.

Time to see if owner David will budge on the £90 asking price.

I like the stick.

DAVID: Alright.

I like the tobacco jar.

Well you know what it is - if you need something you've got to save up for it and if you don't have the money in your pocket you can't buy it.

No, absolutely...

But I'll see what I can do.

I'll see if I can help you because I know you're having a tough time.

VO: These two items combined are £230 - which would decimate most of Thomas's budget.

What would you say if I gave you 150 for the jar and the stick?

I would think that was very generous.

It would be from your point of view.

TP: Uber-generous.

DAVID: No, actually... No, I can actually cope with that.

You can cope with that?

Yeah, I can cope with that.

Have I gone in too much now?

Um... VO: An £80 reduction on the combined price, eh?

Not bad Thomas.

But it's sent the poor boy into a spin!

I didn't want to do this.

I didn't want to do this.

I didn't want to spend this amount of money.

VO: Too late now, boy.

VO: Back with Margaret, James has also found something.

And it's not from the pound shelf.

He's spotted a large bronze Chinese censer.

Ticket price £45.

What could that be?

30... 38.

OK, I think that's very fair.

VO: These were apparently originally used for ritual offerings of food and drink.

As this example in archaic style dates from the 19th century it would have been made as a decorative work of art.

Hello - what's this?

I've got two potential objects here.

A Persian coffee pot, mid-19th century, possibly even earlier.

But value-wise not a huge amount.

My theory is... that that Chinese censer would be a nice lot on its own but there's so many fakes about that I want people to have a bit of confidence in its age.

It does have some age to it but I just want to give people that confidence.

VO: The Chinese censer is the genuine article and would make a striking job lot with the Persian coffee pot, priced at £10 Would you do that for 30?

DEALER: 32.

40 for the two.

40 for the two.

OK, yes on that please.

The Chinese for 32.

But I quite like this as well.

I'd give you a fiver for that.

Right.

Is that alright?

Fine.

Thank you very much.

That's lovely.

Thank you.

VO: James has bargained well and has got a handsome duo for his first buy of the day.

Thank you very much.

VO: It's back to Thomas, to see if he's found anything else to go with his cane and jar, apart from the dogs.

Well... what we've got here is a nice set of 19th century beam scales with some odd weights with them as well.

I don't know whether those appeal to you.

TP: They're quite sweet and they're good fun aren't they?

VO: The scales are £95 and they were made by J White and Son's of Auchtermuchty in Fife, Scotland.

But will Thomas want to spend that after already agreeing £150 for the storage jar and walking stick?

DAVID: You can have those for £50.

TP: 180 for the three items.

DAVID: Right OK, I'm actually...

I'm actually... You're going to do me a huge favor.

I... Well, you're getting...

I must admit it's nice to see you getting excited!

Obviously you're getting a good deal here.

OK, you've got a deal.

Right, you've got a deal.

180.

VO: Well, what a deal for Thomas on three items.

Not far away, James is taking things in his stride.

He's heading for The Little Curio shop run by Findlay - an art student in his youth.

So it's full of elaborate odds... and ends... and genuine pedigrees!

Woof.

Hello.

Who's this?

DEALER: This is Eddie.

JL: Eddie, hello.

DEALER: It's a she.

So how much is Eddie?

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Blimey.

James will try and buy anything if it's not nailed down!

It's not long before James's expert eye spots something else.

Mm, does this bust look familiar to you?

Those flowing locks... That noble expression...

He's impressive.

Lovely.

VO: No, it's not James.

Sadly the identity of this 1840s disembodied Greek philosopher is unknown.

How much is he?

95.

95, OK.

He's certainly got a look about him, which I like.

95.

How flexible is the 95?

DEALER: I'd go down to 80.

JL: 80.

How does 50 quid grab you?

Deep breath, deep breath and come back at me.

VO: But maybe Findlay's son Alexander can help here?

JL: What do you think?

ALEXANDER: Um... You think 50 quid is better don't you?

DEALER: No, bit more.

ALEXANDER: Bit more maybe.

Erm... probably 75.

DEALER: 75.

JL: 75, OK, not... VO: Um Eddie, how about you?

What do you say?

What do you say?

VO: 65.

Oh she said 65.

(THEY CHUCKLE) 65.

JL: Is that alright?

DEALER: 65.

ALEXANDER: Go with the dog.

JL: You've got a deal.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

VO: Meanwhile, Thomas is keen to make the most of the glorious weather and heads north to Blair Atholl in Highland Perthshire.

At its heart is Blair Castle, the ancient seat of the dukes and earls of Atholl.

Thomas has come to see the Atholl Highlanders, the only private army in Europe to be rewarded with the royal seal of approval for their outstanding service to Queen Victoria, almost 200 years ago.

The Highlanders were formed in 1839 by Lord Glenlyon, later the 6th Duke of Atholl, when he took a group of his estate workers to the Eglinton Tournament as his personal bodyguard.

Archivist Jane Anderson picks up the story.

TP: Were they just average men?

They were the people who worked on the estate so they were keepers, gillies, gardeners, farmers.

Very much the men were just the average men that were in the area.

VO: In 1842 Queen Victoria came to Dunkeld on her first ever visit to Scotland.

And Lord Glenlyon's estate workers welcomed the queen in true Highland fashion.

They entertained her to dancing and piping.

Then she was so impressed with that that she asked if she could have the castle at her disposal for three weeks in 1844.

Lord and Lady Glenlyon moved out and the queen came with her servants, complete retinue, pastry cooks, hairdressers, whatever.

VO: Queen Victoria did not have her own security.

So Glenlyon called upon his trusty estate workers to guard her, throughout her stay.

JANE: She was so impressed she decided to grant the Queen's colors to the men that had guarded her.

This is a completely unprecedented thing because having Queen's colors means you bear arms.

VO: This made them the only private regiment the Queen gave this honor to.

And so, the Atholl Highlanders were born.

So this is the grant of the colors, this is the drawing of them signed Victoria.

Oh right.

They then had later versions made, they preserved these and they're up here with the regimental color and the Queen's color.

Ever since 1846 they paraded every year, very similar to how you see it today.

VO: Although the Highlanders were an army, they never fought as a regiment.

However, many of the men enlisted in the Crimean War and World War I. JANE: Because so many of them were killed and never came back, it sort of went into abeyance after the war.

It was only right after the second war that the tenth duke brought the regiment back up to strength again in 1966.

VO: The Atholl Highlanders now have approximately 100 men - the vast majority of whom are local people, keeping their traditions alive.

Present arms!

(GUNSHOT) VO: The Highlanders' royal connection started with Queen Victoria but it still continues to the present day, as Prince Michael of Kent presents them with a medal in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee.

(THEY CHEER) VO: Let's hope the Highlanders' hearty spirit gives Thomas the inspiration to battle on against his rival, James.

Back in Dunkeld, James is... well, taking it easy.

Look at that.

VO: He's in Dunkeld Antiques, where Thomas previously bought his cane, pot and scales.

I mean, I don't know whether these Crown Derby things appeal to you.

Let's have a look.

The first thing to ask is, do they have their boxes?

Because that is a very important part - you can knock 30% off if they don't have... No.

The answer is no.

OK, they should have a rectangular certificate signed by Hugh Gibson, who is the chairman of the Royal Crown Derby.

DAVID: Right, OK. JL: That's the first thing.

So then we look underneath.

You've got a gold stopper, not a silver stopper which is good.

If this was a second it would have a silver stopper but without its box it's a killer.

VO: The hippo is £120 and the stag £140.

JL: For me there are so many things that say "go for it".

The first thing is it is Royal Crown Derby, it's my home.

Secondly it's called the Sherwood Stag - my first ever valuation was done in Sherwood in Nottingham.

And thirdly, it's a stag, and if a stag won't sell in Scotland then it won't sell anywhere.

VO: As both paperweights don't have their valuable original box, certificate and tissue paper, can James get a decent discount on them?

DEALER: £50 each.

Oh God!

Well at that... At that they're cheap.

VO: Good old David has given James a remarkable reduction in price.

Just tell me the sort of price you were thinking of?

I've never done this before.

I want to give you £60 each for them.

DAVID: Alright.

JL: Is that alright?

That's fine...

I've never...

I'm...

I'm...

I'm speechless.

Well, you know, I like to be able to think that I'm fair... and you know...

Excellent.

I think if they don't make that, they don't make that.

120 for the two.

That's fine.

That's excellent.

Thank you very much.

VO: It's seems James has bought with his heart and David's £140 mark down has given him a fighting chance at auction.

DAVID: That's it.

JL: There you go.

DAVID: Thanks ever so much.

And thank you, all I need to do is make a profit.

DAVID: Right.

Best of luck.

JL: Cheers.

Bye.

VO: It's been a day well spent, so it's time for James and Thomas to put their feet up.

Nighty-night!

VO: It's the start of a new day for our road trippers and both gents are deciding on a budget plan.

TP: I've kinda spent all of my money this time.

JL: I'm not going to be able to do that, I don't think.

TP: Alright, don't rub it in!

JL: Sorry.

VO: So far, underdog Thomas Plant has spent £180 on three items.

A walking cane, a stoneware tobacco jar and an Auchtermuchty set of scales...

I must admit, it's nice to see you getting excited.

VO: Ooh!

Leaving him with £104.22 for today's shopping.

I really like them.

Good, excellent.

VO: Meanwhile James Lewis has spent £222 on five items.

A Chinese censer, a Persian coffee pot.

A country house bust and two Royal Crown Derby paperweights.

Cheers.

And thank you very much.

VO: Leaving James still flush with £575.10.

VO: Our boys are now heading nearly 100 miles north to Nairn - gosh!

- and there's discord in the camp.

JL: Keep going all the way to the dead end.

TP: No it's no, no it's not, there's a junction.

JL: No, dead end.

There's a junction, there's a junction.

Nah I don't believe you.

VO: Ooh, boys, do stop bickering.

Nairn has been a popular holiday destination since Victorian times, and it enjoys a prime location on the Moray Firth coast, just 16 miles east of Inverness.

Thomas has parted from his rival and is intent on shopping.

Nice shorts.

Morning.

VO: There's an assorted mix of goodies in the shop from the traditional to the ornamental but Thomas is going to need something special if he is to catch up James.

I'm looking at jewelry, I shouldn't be looking at jewelry, it's not the thing I should be doing.

It's me back... you see I can't keep away.

I get drawn to it like a magpie.

VO: Maybe owner Steve can help?

Ah yes the Venini glass, I think it's about '60s, something like that.

Somebody has obviously been over to Venice and bought it for a trip.

It's very good quality and it's signed on the bottom.

It's on at 33, say £20, how about that?

£20, it's lovely isn't it?

You should be able to do a reasonable return on it.

That's lovely.

DEALER: Lovely green color.

The other thing I quite like is this here.

It's what we call biomorphic - sort of taken from the nature.

It's almost like an amoeba, it looks like - a single cell organism.

VO: Thomas has also found a vintage art glass bowl to go with his growing collection.

Those three there, what would you do for those three?

Well, I said 20 on that one.

TP: Said 20 on that one.

This one we've got 26 on.

Er... say 15.

And what have we got on that one?

TP: 15 on that one.

DEALER: Say a fiver on that one.

So you're looking at five, 20... DEALER: £40 total.

TP: £40 total.

DEALER: Mm-hm.

That will make an interesting lot, wouldn't it?

Steve, I was going to make you an offer.

DEALER: Aha.

I know you've come down quite a lot - £30.

Um... it's a bit tight but to give you a good chance, we'll do it.

VO: Wow!

Surely Thomas can gain a profit on those vibrant bowls?

Thank you very much.

Super.

I hope you do well with that.

VO: James is keen to soak up the history of the area, so Thomas gives him a lift to Inverness.

Although only half an hour away, it's plenty of time for James to interrogate Thomas.

JL: So what did you buy?

TP: Not gonna tell you!

JL: What did you buy?

TP: Not gonna tell you.

JL: I'll pull your... TP: James don't do that!

Stop it, no.

Ow, that hurts!

Come on, what did you buy?

This has taken years to cultivate, beautiful hairs on my legs.

What do you want to do, rip them off?

VO: There they go again.

Inverness is the most northern city in Britain and one of its claims to fame is its castle.

But it's the Town House that James is heading for today.

On the 7th September 1921, this building made history when it hosted the first ever British Cabinet meeting outside London.

That is rather special.

It's sort of baronial, isn't it?

Thank you very much.

Enjoy your shopping.

Yep, yep!

Don't get any bargains.

VO: Such a team player!

Here to meet James is local historian Jamie Gaukroger.

Nice name.

Jamie, hi.

Hello there, how you doing?

Welcome to Inverness Town House.

Thank you very much.

Fantastic building.

It is, it is.

VO: The interior of the building itself is grand, with an imposing staircase rising from the entrance.

And it was in this council chamber that the historic meeting was held.

So of all places why did they choose here to have the meeting?

Well Lloyd George, the prime minister, was in holiday in the highlands up at Gairloch and several other ministers were also holidaying up here.

Winston Churchill was on holiday up here and the king was holidaying at Moy, which is just a few miles from Inverness.

So rather than everyone travel back to London, the ministers who were in London came up to Inverness.

VO: The emergency meeting was called after several years of violence in Ireland came to a head.

Despite a truce in the July of 1921, by the September Sinn Fein leader Eamon de Valera was calling for an independent Ireland.

JL: Churchill himself was here?

JAMIE: Churchill was here yes.

JL: What was Churchill's role in 1921?

He was colonial secretary.

Colonial!

Ha!

We couldn't get away with that today.

JAMIE: No.

So did they actually view Ireland as a colony?

Some would say they did.

It was certainly part of the empire... Gosh, strange isn't it, to have that view?

The British were determined that Ireland was going to stay as part of the empire.

Who else out of the entire cabinet was here?

Well, Lloyd George the prime minister was here and Stanley Baldwin... JL: OK. JAMIE: ..the future prime minister was here.

Actually out of the 21 members, 16 of the cabinet were here.

VO: At the meeting, council officer William Bain passed round a blank sheet of paper which each member signed to document the occasion.

Gosh.

JAMIE: Lloyd George was the first to sign it, then Austin Chamberlain who was the lord privy seal, all the way down to Winston Churchill at the bottom, who was secretary for the colonies.

This is a time when politicians really led from the front wasn't it?

It's a time when they were really respected people.

They were, they were revered.

And certainly people like Lloyd George and Churchill themselves were hugely respected.

VO: The politicians then were, in fact, the celebrities of their day and the British Cabinet meeting was so momentous it drew cheering crowds who gathered outside the Town House.

JAMIE: People were coming from all around Inverness, from all part of the Highlands.

They were lining the rooftops, they were in shop windows, they were sitting on chimney stacks.

Really?

Every possible vantage point was used.

JL: After this crisis cabinet meeting was held here, what was the result?

Well the government said that Ireland could have self rule, self government, as long as it stayed within the empire.

VO: The Inverness Formula was agreed at that meeting, and used to form the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the Irish Free State.

The Town House was witness to this pivotal event as the first venue outside London to have hosted a Cabinet meeting.

I've really enjoyed it.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

JAMIE: Most welcome.

JL: Cheers.

VO: Now, it's time for James and Thomas to have their own rendezvous - as they head east to their last shop of the day in Auldearn.

And Thomas wants pampering.

I have got sand in my toes - they need brushing off.

If you expect me to brush your feet for you... No, no, not you James.

No, no, I'm afraid you don't do it for me.

VO: Thank goodness for that.

This is supposed to be about buying antiques - although sometimes I do wonder.

Please don't try this at home.

Ah!

That's my head.

VO: OK boys - stop it before it all ends in tears!

Yes!

Yes!

What do you mean "yes"?

You're dead!

VO: James and Thomas split up in search of their items.

But Thomas, who loves to parry, is still reeling from the impromptu duel...

I did give James the longer fencing foil I found.

I found two.

One short blade, one long blade.

One junior blade, one adult blade.

I've got £575 left.

I don't have to buy anything if I don't find something but it would be nice...

If I do it would be nice to buy.

He went... ..like a charging herd of bulls.

It would be nice to buy something meaty but I don't really want to buy furniture.

But anyway I got him back, quick parry riposte - done.

VO: Great.

Now they can concentrate on shopping.

This is not a bad little thing.

It's a Japanese Satsuma vase.

VO: It's from the Meiji period - around 1895 - and decorated with Geisha figures from the Imperial Court.

This is typical of Japanese export China of that period but £22 is really cheap.

I quite like that really.

£22 - it's cheap.

Definitely a profit.

VO: Meanwhile Thomas is going for... kitchenware.

Sort of clamp it on to something and you slice God knows what.

What a mad thing.

Follows and Bate Limited patent marmalade cutter, Manchester.

VO: Yes it's an orange slicer.

Well I think I've found my fifth and final item, really.

Everybody likes a bit of marmalade and I think the Scottish like marmalade more than most nations don't they?

VO: If you say so Thomas.

I don't want to leave it there because I don't want James to find it.

Although I don't know if he'd be interested in something like this - it's not really... Not really his bag.

VO: Too late Thomas.

It's already been spotted.

Hello.

What is it?

It's nothing.

Maybe something I might be purchasing.

JL: Let's have a look.

TP: No.

You can't look at it.

You're like some evil pest.

I'm being... JL: Thomas.

TP: ..trapped in a corner.

VO: Come on James.

You've got your own lots to find.

Right.

What do I do here?

I've got the Japanese Satsuma vase, then I've got these, which are... if you turn it over, the cross swords mark for Meissen.

Meissen was, without question, the finest porcelain maker of the 18th and 19th centuries.

They were the first factory to invent porcelain in Europe.

But these plates are by Helena Wolfsohn.

These are 1880 copies of Meissen.

VO: The Helena Wolfsohn business was taken to court by Meissen for using their AR trademark.

And it's considered to be the first copyright case of its kind.

They were ordered to change the mark on the back of the plates, to indicate they were copies.

They're 24.

That's 22.

What do I do?

VO: Well it's tricky James.

But with all your money you could buy them all.

Time to call in owner Roger, I think.

The first thing was that - the vase.

Yeah.

JL: Got 22 on it.

ROGER: Mm-hm.

Well certainly we could do it for £20.

I think it's well priced.

I was thinking more along the lines of 15.

Erm... 18 would be the absolute best.

Is it?

OK.

If that's your best, that's your best.

OK.

The other thing I was going to ask you about were these.

Got two of those at 12 each.

Mm-hm.

Yep.

Um... what could they be?

Again, £10 each could do the job.

JL: I'll give you 30 for all three.

ROGER: Could do a deal at 35.

30 no good to you?

I could go another pound but with negotiations...

I'm not going to argue with you.

You said 35.

You said 35 was your best, I won't knock you a pound down.

£35 it is.

VO: Thank goodness for that.

Well... a really good Satsuma vase, a pair of Helena Wolfsohn plates.

I've still got all that cash left... VO: Lucky you.

Now Thomas is mulling over the cutter.

Ticket price £15.

What can your really wonderful price be on that?

I would think £12.

10.

Struggling for 10 but... 12 I think would be... still some money available in that.

TP: Do you think so?

DEALER: Definitely.

TP: I'd be happier at 10.

I think we'll go between the two and call it 11.

Thank you.

£11.

Thank you very much.

VO: Right, the boys are all shopped-out - so it's time to show and tell.

Ha!

In the middle of a field?

TP: Do you want a hand?

JL: Yes please.

Oh!

(IMITATES FANFARE) There we go.

Who's that?

Is that Aristotle?

JL: I wasn't quite sure.

TP: Is it plaster?

Yes.

TP: And is the base plaster?

JL: Yes.

TP: He's rather good isn't he?

JL: Yeah, I liked him.

How much was Aristotle?

65.

He's marvelous isn't he?

I liked him.

He's particularly good with a Panama.

Oh I love this!

This is my favorite thing.

Sort of a rosewater.

Yeah... Persian.

Rosewater or tea.

Coffee.

Yeah coffee.

That's rather fun isn't it?

I think, obviously, if it was in London in, obviously, Islamic week it could make £100.

JL: Mm.

I thought that.

TP: It's a good thing.

But we're going to be selling it in Buckie.

Paid a fiver.

Well fine, then - don't worry about it.

VO: Next are James's sentimental buys.

If I was locked in a shed all my life... JL: Yeah?

TP: Right, yeah?

..not seeing the world, and somebody presented these to me as "this is what man has created" I would find it difficult to be impressed.

But they're probably very collectable.

I find them formulaic.

VO: Wow, Thomas isn't pulling any punches!

TP: Ready James?

JL: What have we got?

TP: Ready for this?

What does the jar say on the front?

TP: He says... JL: Looks like a tobacco jar.

..Honey Dew.

It is a tobacco jar.

TP: Isn't that nice?

JL: That's lovely.

Very unusual to have that gilded label still on there.

VO: What about the country walking stick, James?

What on Earth is that?

Well exactly what I thought, "what on Earth is that?"

Either it's a self-defense or it's for hunting, fishing.

TP: I have no idea what it is.

JL: That's interesting isn't it?

TP: It is interesting.

VO: The countryside theme continues with the brass scales.

And these are quite fun, cuz they're from Auchtermuchty or something.

Have you heard of that before?

J White & Son's, that's J White & Son's.

I like those.

I think that's your best buy.

You like the scales?

Yeah.

I think we've done rather well.

I'm pleased with my lots and I think you've done alright too.

Thank you very much.

At the auction.

Good luck.

VO: So niceties apart, what do they really think?

I think Thomas has bought really well.

I think the items are interesting.

I like the scales.

I love that tobacco jar.

I think there are going to be profits in some places and I think there might be a couple of loses there too.

The thing I really don't like is those Royal Crown Derby paperweights.

Never in a month of Sundays would you find me buying them.

So if they make mega money, I'll feel sick.

Cuz I saw them in the shop.

VO: After traveling from Dunkeld up to Blair Atholl, Nairn, Inverness and Auldearn, James and Thomas head for the auction showdown in Buckie.

JL: Ah, breathe in that sea air!

TP: I don't know though, I don't know.

Oh, come on!

You'll be fine.

Get your bottom in here.

I get all funny.

You always get all funny!

VO: Family-run Cluny's in Buckie is the stage for our auction.

Auctioneer John Ferguson gives us a review of James and Thomas's lots.

Crown Derby, good lots.

Should do well.

The marmalade slicer.

Nice, original lot.

Reasonably confident, but it's all down to the day, isn't it?

VO: Certainly is.

Thomas began the leg with £284.22 and hasn't much change left, after spending £221 on five auction lots.

I didn't want to do this.

I didn't want to spend this amount of money.

VO: Whereas James started this journey with an imposing £797.10 and spent a total of £257, also on five auction lots.

I've still got all that cash left!

VO: Roll up, it's time to begin.

I feel that I could do badly today.

I don't know why, I feel it in my bones.

VO: First up is James's Satsuma vase.

£40 for the vase, pottery vase.

What will we say, 40 or 30?

20?

JL: No!

TP: 20.

Go on, you paid... 20 bid.

22 I'm bid.

Five, 25.

25 in the room.

Do I see 28?

28.

Internet bidding, internet bidding.

32.

In the room at 32, 35.

I'll get you all.

38.

Fresh bidding, 40.

45.

Do I see eight?

48.

48.

Told you, good auction room.

At 50, 52.

I'll take another wee one.

55.

"I'll take another wee one."

58.

At 58 if you're all finished then?

(GAVEL) TP: Well done.

JL: Well done John.

VO: The auctioneer got James a good profit there.

I thought when it kept going down and down and down but... brrr... VO: Next it's Thomas with his luxurious walking stick with pull-out priest.

£50, 50.

40.

£20 surely.

£20.

20 I'm bid.

At 20 bid now, at 20 and two?

22 I'm bid, five now.

TP: More, more.

JOHN: 25, eight.

28 and 30 and two.

32, 35, 38.

40.

£40, I'll take two.

42, 45.

JOHN: At 45.

TP: Go on!

50?

50, shakes his head at 50.

Are we all done at this time at £50 then?

(GAVEL) TP: Oh, 50.

Alright, £50.

VO: Oh dear.

And with auction costs he'll lose more than that.

Well he started at 20.

VO: Now will James's porcelain make a profit?

22, 22, five.

25, 28.

And 30, 35.

40 and two.

Five, 48.

Oof oof oof.

At 48, where do you get them?

JL: Where are you?

TP: Calm down.

At £48 then, at 48.

(GAVEL) 48, well done - you've made a good profit on that.

JL: Thank you.

Yeah that's good.

TP: £20.

VO: Another good profit after commission.

I'm in trouble.

VO: Will Thomas's colorful glass bowl the crowds over?

£10 surely?

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

Well it's started.

At 12 bid.

12.

15.

At 15 now.

At 15.

Is that a bid?

£18, where are you?

ASSISTANT: 22 here.

22 online.

Don't stop there.

Don't stop.

Go on!

ASSISTANT: 30 online.

JOHN: 30's online.

30 online now, at 30.

TP: Go on, don't stop.

JL: At 32.

At 32.

Are we finished online?

32.

Bid's in the room then.

£32.

(GAVEL) That was one that you thought was going to do really well.

Well it's a signed bit of glass.

VO: Oh dear, Thomas.

That glass just didn't cut it.

I'm quite disappointed today actually.

I'm getting a bit deflated now.

I'm completely gutted.

VO: Will James prove he really has the Midas touch with his Chinese censer and Eastern coffee pot?

100 surely.

50 then.

50 I'm bid.

At 50, at £50, do I see five?

At £50, at 50.

At £50, at 50.

Anybody at £50?

JOHN: Oh dear.

JL: No way!

At £50, at 50.

Are we...?

55, thank you.

55 and 60?

(SIGHS) It's profit!

JL: Jeez!

JOHN: All done at £60?

Oh well it's got to be at £60.

(GAVEL) Well... You made profit though.

Do you know, I have to say...

I'm gutted about that.

VO: Well at least it's a profit James.

It's a very disappointing...

Isn't it?

That could have made 300 quid.

VO: Surely this decorative pot will change Thomas's fortunes.

£30 then, 30.

Ooh!

Oh well, you see...

There's no point.

JOHN: £20.

JL: Oh!

Thank you, at 20, at 20, at £20 and we have 22.

25, a new bidder 25, 28 now.

28.

30.

Are you bidding?

32.

Standing at 32.

At 32, is there another one?

Are we all finished and done then?

(GAVEL) JL: (SIGHS) Such is life.

VO: Another loss and another blow for Thomas.

I would have swapped three of my Satsuma vases for one of those.

Yep.

There you are.

Well, you know, you can't help it.

VO: Now will this mysterious Greek win over the bidders?

£50 for a bust.

40 then.

Oh what?

(LAUGHTER) What, don't you like him?

ASSISTANT: 40 here.

TP: 40.

45.

Where are you?

45, 48.

50, five.

60.

Yeah.

You know it makes sense.

(LAUGHTER) Go on.

Stick it in the loo for that.

(LAUGHTER) 65?

Yeah?

£70 is online.

75, eh?

Yeah?

That will do.

£75, all done?

(GAVEL) TP: There you are.

Break even.

VO: Well James, at least he looks like he's gone to a good home.

Well, a minor loss.

But it could have been a considerable one.

VO: Can these scales tip the balance in Thomas's favor?

Au-cchh-termuchty.

It's almost German isn't it?

Auch... TP: It's not German.

JL: No, it's not... JOHN: A set of brass cast iron, and cast iron Auchtermuchty balance scales.

Oh there we are.

Auchtermuchty.

Out of the horse's mouth.

£20 bid, at 22, 22, five, at 25.

28 now, 28 and 30.

32, 35, 38.

At 38.

JL: Go on!

JOHN: He's online.

(CLEARS THROAT) 42's online.

42.

42.

At 42... Go on.

Go on!

Five online, 45.

They have it online.

48 and 50 online.

Let them have it.

Anyone want to get involved at 50?

Come on Scotland.

£50 then.

It's online then, at 50.

(GAVEL) Aww!

TP: Well, you know.

JL: A small profit, yes?

Yes.

VO: At last!

A profit - but Thomas still isn't happy.

I'm going to go on strike.

Thomas, you can't go on strike.

I'm going to go on strike and buy poor items, poor quality.

VO: James bought this Derby duo with his heart and not his head.

So will his gamble pay off?

JOHN: 200?

100 then.

One I'm bid.

At one bid, at one I'm bid now.

At one bid, at one bid, at 100.

120, 140, 160, 180, 200.

220's there.

I need 240.

Sorry.

240 I have, 240 is in the room, 260... 260.

280, 280 I have.

VO: This pair of animals are really taking off, look!

320.

I have, 340's with me.

360.

Are we all done?

And finished at 360.

(GAVEL) I'm pleased at that.

I bet you are.

That's good.

VO: So it's a stash of cash for James.

Well done.

For what they were, it was still cheap but I don't mind cuz it's a great profit.

VO: Thomas is now hoping his marmalade cutter will sweeten the crowd... JOHN: 12.50, now at 15.

Profit, profit.

Profit, profit.

18 I'm bid, 20's online.

JL: Online.

TP: Online, online.

Anybody who makes marmalade with this I'll buy a jar off you.

(LAUGHTER) JOHN: I was at £20 online.

ASSISTANT: 22 online.

22 is online.

22, anybody else?

22?

There must be somebody else?

People must want to make marmalade.

22 is online, my bidder.

22.

Go on, 28.

There you are.

Keep it going.

At 28.

Are we all done?

And sure then, £28.

(GAVEL) JL: Well it was a profit.

TP: It was a good profit.

JL: It was a good profit.

You finished on a high.

VO: A profit but not enough to promote him from the bottom division.

Thomas started this leg with £284.22, and after paying auction costs he's made a loss of £63.56 leaving him with £220.66.

James, however, is rising to the premiership.

He started with £797.10 and, after costs, made a profit of £235.82, giving him a massive £1,032.92 going forward.

What an extraordinary amount.

Unbelievable!

Soon you're going to be able to get a mop out and wipe the floor with me, cuz you already have.

Oh come on!

You just need that one lucky find.

TP: Right, I need some bargains!

JL: Come on.

This is the fightback.

TP: The fightback begins now.

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, James has worked out a winning formula for the auction.

It's cracked, it's chipped - guaranteed profit.

VO: And Thomas resorts to promising treats.

I'll buy you ice cream, I promise.

Done.

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