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

Going, going, gone.

Yes!

I think I've arrived.

VO: The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

Yes!

VO: There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Tails.

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

Argh, argh!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

VO: Yeah!

VO: This week we're on the road with two formidable friends.

Having won the first leg, auctioneer Paul Laidlaw is using his native charm to keep him in front.

Do you know how we cuddle in Scotland?

That's how we cuddle in Scotland.

VO: Crikey!

Nipping at his heels is antiques dealer David Harper.

He may be behind... Ooh!

VO: ..but he's bargaining hard to take the lead.

Some investor would love those.

They would.

Especially if I paid a tenner and they paid 20.

No.

That would be a winner.

No, no.

No?

No.

No.

VO: No.

David started with £200 and made a small profit at auction, giving him £208.70 to spend today.

No.

VO: Paul also started off with £200 but has pulled ahead with his impressive profits and has £271.56 to flaunt on this leg.

VO: They're careering around the countryside in this bright red 1968 Triumph Herald, and having a marvelous time.

DAVID: You keep going for fifth gear, for goodness sake.

Fifth gear was never invented when this thing was made.

VO: On this route our worthy adversaries started in Windermere in the English Lake District, and will clock up almost 600 miles, ending the week over the border in the Scottish city of Dundee.

Today they're starting in Sunderland in the northeast and will make their way to auction in the North Yorkshire town of Northallerton.

DAVID: Quite a revelation, what a lovely beach.

PAUL: Yeah, absolutely gorgeous.

Yeah, you're right.

VO: Achieving city status in 1992, Sunderland lies on the coast.

And the area of Roker has been a popular tourist destination since the early 20th century.

It's also the site of David's first shop.

PAUL: Slightly envious!

DAVID: Slightly envious, let me out of here.

Good luck man, yeah.

You have a great day.

Catch you later.

Good luck Paul, see you.

I'm in.

VO: He's raring to go!

Whoah.

Oh!

Traditional bell.

I love that, don't you?

My gosh.

Giraffes, there's giraffes everywhere.

VO: Someone here really likes giraffes!

It's chock-a-block-a, look!

DAVID: The shops itself transports you back to another time.

I mean, talk about empire days.

This goes way back, this building, I would imagine looking at it.

The structure of the shop now, even with candles burning, you feel like you're in circa 1880, I mean it's just magnificent.

VO: All credit to the owner, who must be in here somewhere.

Gosh.

My God, the giraffes keep coming.

Hello.

DEALER: Good morning.

Good morning, I'm David.

Pleased to meet you, I'm David Whitfield.

Hi, David.

Two Davids.

Well, that makes life much easier for me, doesn't it?

I don't know about you, but I'm absolutely horrific with names.

That's good.

So I won't forget that one.

VO: Well, I do hope not!

David's run this shop for around 25 years and his kids collected most of the giraffes.

Well, you need a long neck to get a look at a lot of the stuff in this place!

DAVID: I don't know musical instruments very well at all, but I do know that they can do surprisingly well.

What's that there, is it a trumpet or trombone?

Are you any good on instruments?

DEALER: No.

DAVID: This is going to be a laugh then, isn't it?

VO: They're not blowing their own trumpets - or tubas in this case.

DAVID: "Soldier of Pitsea Corps".

Ah.

So we've got a slight military connection here, and Paul Laidlaw, and he is the military expert.

What kind of money can that be?

DEALER: 35?

VO: And there's another one - starting a band, David?

So, I might have a punt at these.

I think there's a potential profit in them.

Can I make you a bid?

Make me a bid.

I'll make you a bid, 30 quid for the pair.

I can't do it, I wouldn't be making any money.

OK. Well I'll tell you what I'll do, buy one, get one free.

45 quid the two.

DEALER: Deal or no deal?

I'll spin you 30 or 40.

Go on, I'm a gambling man.

Good man, have you got a coin?

VO: Oh no.

On the last leg he won a coin toss - can he do it again?

You ready?

DEALER: Yep.

DAVID: Happy?

DEALER: Yep.

DAVID: Go.

DEALER: Tails.

It's tails.

VO: Apparently not!

40 quid.

Thank you very much, David.

VO: But losing hasn't put him off eyeing up more stuff.

DAVID: Oh, hang on a minute.

I'm not leaving just yet David, I'm just having a quick look at something.

It's miniature furniture.

And it's absolutely charming.

So what is it?

Well it's a miniature chest of drawers, but this one, I've got to say, is a bit bonkers, because I can see that the front four sets of drawers, three are blank, and one opens.

Oh my gosh.

David?

DEALER: Yes?

DAVID: Three blank drawers, one opening with a well.

Well, yeah.

My son made me laugh the other week, he says "Dad, is that an inkwell?"

I says "no."

He says "what is it?"

DAVID: It's a money box.

DEALER: It's a money box.

Yeah.

So when that goes in, that drops... DEALER: And your money goes into the bottom.

DAVID: Let me try that.

So I'll put it in, it's there, there it is.

Close it.

DEALER: Gone.

DAVID: Beautiful.

What kind of money can it be?

I'll do it for a fiver, is the best I can do.

Well I can't, you know, I can't chip you on that.

Drop dead gorgeous.

VO: David may be working out ways to save some pennies... VO: ..but Paul's been traveling the few miles to Cleadon to spend his.

VO: Sitting just outside the city, this village was first recorded in the 12th century.

And Paul's traveled to meet Judith at Cleadon Antiques and Gifts.

May I have a wee look round?

Spend some money I hope?

JUDITH: Won't be a lot.

PAUL: Excellent.

VO: Paul won the first leg, but can he whip up a storm at the next auction?

We have a pot lid.

Now these date to the Victorian era, and things that could be bought in such pots were pastes and preserves and spreads for consumption, and pastes and cosmetics for dressing and grooming.

There are two here, one is all of £12 and the other is nine, so £21 for the pair.

I think that's pretty darn fair if you want them.

VO: Victorian pots to World War I binoculars, and now he's spied a silver box.

PAUL: That's a wee charmer, a little silver pocket snuff.

Look at that.

What we see all the time, engine turning, we see foliate scrollwork.

What we don't see are lovely little gothic arches and trefoils.

There's a touch of the rococo in there with these C scrolls.

VO: Ticket price £52.

Right Paul, are you actually going to buy anything?

May I pop a few things on the counter and have a conversation with you?

And we might buy everything, might buy nothing, or something, but let's just go at it?

Do you mind?

JUDITH: I mean, I could give you a good price on this cuz I only paid 20 quid for it, although it's got a dear price on it.

That would get you a good price.

VO: Ooh!

A great tip on a silver topped claret jug with a hefty ticket price of £485!

Paul, you could be onto a winner here.

PAUL: We saw the pot lids.

VO: To start with, he's grabbing the pots and the binoculars.

I'm like a shoplifter!

VO: He's amassing a hoard.

Your whip stand there, so what are you telling me comes for £75, is it the stand and the whips?

JUDITH: No, without the whips.

The whips are just loaned off my friend.

I don't know why she has whips!

PAUL: Oh really?

Does she throw parties?

VO: Oh, naughty.

PAUL: Cut to the chase: everything there, give me the bottom line.

Be gentlemanly.

JUDITH: I could do these for 10, couldn't we?

And I could do 20 on those.

I could do 30 on that.

VO: It's looking good so far and John, who owns the whip stand, has also dropped its price to £40.

So Paul, one item to go - Judith only paid £20 for that silver topped jug, so there's a great opportunity to capitalize on claret here.

PAUL: That's the big one that could hurt, but you got that cheap, so how much profit do you need to be happy with me walking out the door with it?

JUDITH: Well, if I had a Scottish cuddle, you could have it for 50.

VO: £50!

The ticket says 10 times that price!

I am gonna give you a cuddle, and I'm not going to haggle any further.

That's excellent.

Because you've been very fair.

That's not how we cuddle in Scotland.

That's how we cuddle in Scotland!

VO: What an incredible deal, eh?

£150 in his first shop for the World War I binoculars, two Victorian pots and lids, a silver engraved snuff box, the massively discounted claret jug and the riding whip stand - and they've only thrown in a military crop for him too.

There's a lot there to get excited about.

Maybe a wee bit early in the trip for a coup de grace, but poor old David Harper is gonna weep when he sees what I've bought.

And I didn't want to say too much in the shop, I didn't want to over exude, because in a negotiation, that's not wise.

That is a belter of a silver mounted cut glass claret jug, conservatively valuable at £200-300.

Magic!

VO: A successful morning's shop I'd say - and back in the car, the bragging begins.

PAUL: How many objects?

DAVID: I'm not...

I shall tell you.

Three objects.

PAUL: Three objects?

DAVID: What about you, how did you get on?

PAUL: Um... Well, I'll see your three objects and raise you by three objects.

DAVID: You've got six objects?

PAUL: Dun, dun, dunnn!

7VO: Oh lordy!

VO: Our worthy competitors are en route to Durham.

VO: Sitting on the River Wear, the present city's origins date back to the 10th century, founded around the shrine of St Cuthbert, one of the most important and popular medieval saints in northern England.

Monks chose Durham as the final resting place for Cuthbert's remains, and in the 11th century work started on Durham Cathedral, specifically to house his tomb.

DAVID: Look at that, isn't that gorgeous?

VO: And it's at the cathedral that our boys part ways once more.

I've arrived, my man.

You arrived a long time ago.

In my book, you arrived a very long time ago.

Do you know...

I still love you, you know.

You're getting a hug tonight.

DAVID: Right, I know where my shop is.

PAUL: I'm going that way.

DAVID: Enjoy yourself.

PAUL: See you later, buddy.

DAVID: See you.

VO: Despite a tumultuous past, Durham Cathedral has survived in all its striking splendor for 900 years.

Now a heritage site, it is renowned as a grand example of Norman architecture.

And its remarkable vaulted roof is thought to be the first of its kind in Europe.

Paul's come for a peek between the pews of this magnificent building courtesy of senior steward Gordon Summerbell.

PAUL: Tell me, I mean, I know this is a wonderful cathedral, and many moons ago I was here, but what's its origin?

This is a really old cathedral, isn't it?

Relatively speaking.

Yes, it was built in 1093, took 40 years to build only.

When you think of the facilities that they had at that time, to build a cathedral like this in 40 years is quite remarkable.

PAUL: My word.

Nowadays you wouldn't get planning permission in 40 years, would you?

VO: Haha.

The cathedral was finished in 1133, but in the 16th century, turmoil hit the Church.

Henry sparked the English Reformation by breaking away from Catholicism and Rome and made the Church of England the country's established Church.

Henry dispatched his men to break up many of the country's Catholic monasteries, including Durham.

And they came with a strict remit to seize valuables and attack all symbols of Catholicism, including the tombs of saints.

GORDON: Of course his tomb was a beautifully ornamental tomb until 1539 when Henry's commissioners came and of course they brought a goldsmith with them.

This was a very, very rich shrine, and the goldsmith took away all the gold and jewels, then his instructions were to destroy Cuthbert's bones, but when he opened the coffin, he found that the body was whole, covered with skin and tissue, and of course superstition being as it was in those days, he was terrified.

And the commissioners themselves decided that they would do it, but likewise they didn't want to touch it either, so they gave the coffin back to the monks and told them to take it away at Henry's pleasure.

And they never heard from Henry again.

That is some tale.

So I didn't realize not even saints' remains were safe from the Reformation, but those that were instructed to carry out those deeds were still overawed by what they saw.

And what they believed the repercussions could be, or the import of those remains.

GORDON: In those days, yes.

PAUL: So they survive here, to this day.

Yes.

VO: Durham Cathedral also houses the tomb of the 7th century monk and scholar the Venerable Bede.

Bede's work is still valued in the understanding of early British history, and he was the first to use the AD dating system.

But a lesser known story is how his remains came to rest in Durham.

Bede of course was... his bones were stolen by one of the monks in Durham.

In the year 1022, the monks went over to the monastery in Jarrow where Bede was buried, and they prayed all night at the tomb of Bede, and the next morning when the monks came downstairs, they found that Bede's bones had vanished, and one of our monks in Durham called Alfred Westow, he stole them and brought them into Durham.

And they're still here.

PAUL: How..?

GORDON: Because that was the tourist industry of the day.

You had the bones of a holy man and the bones of a saint and the pilgrims came.

PAUL: I didn't expect such a great yarn, it has to be said.

Well told, I am indebted to you, what a wonderful visit.

Thank you, Paul.

PAUL: Thanks very much.

VO: From one Durham institution to another: the indoor market.

Housed in a restored Victorian hall, this place has been trading since 1851.

There are over 50 stalls, selling everything from fish to footwear.

But our David is only looking for something he can turn into profits, and has come straight to Mike, who's been here for 20 years.

DAVID: Oh there we are, OK. MIKE: 1925 DAVID: Yeah, nice.

MIKE: Nice pedestal dish.

DAVID: OK. Let's have a look at that then.

I hope it's gonna be an absolute stonking bargain.

Well, we'll see.

He's got a smile on his face, I don't like the look of that at all.

So that is absolutely gorgeous.

So we've got stamp Mappin & Webb, very upmarket, very good quality.

VO: Known as a tazza, Italian for stemmed cup, which is often used to describe objects with a shallow bowl shape.

I love the shape of it.

That is almost Grecian, isn't it?

MIKE: It's really nice, yes.

Or Roman, maybe, in its influence.

VO: Sounds like David's falling for it, but how much is he willing to pay?

DAVID: I could make you a bid, and I don't think I'm going to buy it.

Do you want me to make a bid?

You can, yes, if you like.

DAVID: OK.

I'd have a go at 40 quid, this is not gonna be a flyer, no one can criticize it for being anything other than fantastic quality and drop dead gorgeous.

It's not gonna make 200 quid, is it?

50 might buy it, seeing as it's you.

It's got to be 40.

I know I'm being hard, I know I am.

45.

There might be a...

There might be a trickle of profit, a trickle.

Do you think I will?

You will, definitely.

There's a trickle there.

VO: He doesn't seem bowled over with this purchase, but he's now got three items under his belt.

And back in the Triumph with Paul they've come to the end of an exhausting day of antique antics.

Night night.

VO: It's the start of a new day on the road.

DAVID: This trip is amazing, because when you get in a little car with someone, and you spend an awful lot of time in such a close proximity, you get to know them pretty quickly, don't you?

PAUL: Yeah, you're really starting to grate!

Well, it's like the honeymoon period.

It's been a year now, Paul, and to be honest with you, I'm thinking about moving on.

Look, I want you to know this.

It's not me, it is you.

VO: Now, now fellas!

Yesterday David parted with £90 and bought three items: the early 20th century tubas, the 19th century novelty money box and the silver Mappin & Webb tazza, giving him £118.70 to flash today.

Paul went on a spending spree, picking up the silver topped claret jug, a Victorian snuff box, two Victorian pot lids and pots, a set of First World War binoculars and a Victorian riding whip stand, complete with a military crop.

He clocked up a bill of £150, leaving £121.56 in cash.

VO: This morning they're driving across Durham towards a taste of the Orient.

DAVID: Oh gosh, that was a quick arrival.

I was braking, I was braking there.

Well, see you later, darling... Er, see you in Darlington later.

What are we turning into?

This is really worrying.

PAUL: Enjoy, brother.

See ya, have a good day.

VO: It's onward for Paul, but as an Oriental enthusiast, David's in for the treat of the trip at Durham University's Oriental Museum.

And one of the greatest collections of Chinese antiques in the country is watched over by curator Craig Barclay.

David Harper, nice to meet you, Craig.

Welcome to the Oriental Museum.

Oh, honestly, I can't begin to tell you what it's like for me to be here, this is just...

This is a snapshot of heaven.

VO: This slice of heaven owes its existence to British politician and diplomat Malcolm MacDonald.

The son of former prime minister Ramsay MacDonald, Malcolm was himself a member of the cabinet before taking up imperial posts, and later was appointed chancellor of Durham University.

Passionate about education and antiques, Malcolm started donating his extensive collection to the university in the 1950s.

And David's been given permission to handle the first item he acquired - a ceramic Ming Dynasty lion dog.

DAVID: This is going to be... a special moment.

So circa 1350 to circa 1650, this is the Ming Dynasty.

CRAIG: Later end, but yes.

DAVID: OK, so late Ming.

CRAIG: Absolutely Ming.

It is a fantastically evocative piece, and I suppose the reason that I like it is because it represents the very beginning of a collector's journey.

It's not an expensive object at all, they made these in what, the thousands or the millions over many, many years.

But it's still gorgeous.

CRAIG: It's still gorgeous, yes.

DAVID: Hm, almost want to kiss it, is that really wrong?

I'm afraid that would be a step too far.

DAVID: It probably would be.

I won't do that.

Let me just have one last stroke.

VO: Malcolm's legacy lies not only in this impressive collection but also in his central role in the decolonization of the British Empire and the shaping of the Commonwealth.

But he was no ordinary diplomat.

CRAIG: When he was in southeast Asia, what he liked to do was strip out of his suit, pull on a kilt, jump into a canoe, and paddle himself upriver.

One of the reasons that he did this is that he made a very, very good friend.

And the friend that he made was a man in Sarawak by the name of Temenggong Koh.

And Temenggong Koh was a collector.

He collected two things: he collected Chinese porcelain, but also, as the chief of the Iban tribe, he collected heads.

VO: His close relationship with Koh lead to an unconventional gift that now forms part of the museum's collection.

CRAIG: This is Temenggong Koh's actual sword.

This is the head taker?

This is the head taker.

My gosh.

CRAIG: And it dates from the mid 20th century.

DAVID: I know this is an awful question, but it's a question that I need answering: I wonder how many heads that's taken.

CRAIG: I don't know.

I can give you a clue, though.

Amongst the Iban, it was practice when you took a head to place a black band tattooed on the back of your hand.

DAVID: Like just a line?

A black line.

Temenggong Koh's hands were tattooed black.

DAVID: No!

CRAIG: He was a war leader in a time of war.

VO: Now a historic museum piece, these two enthusiasts are taking a closer look.

DAVID: We've got the human hair, then we've got the bone handle profusely carved.

I have a feeling that that is a piece of furniture, this is recycling here.

And then just before the blade, the little protector here, that, to me, is...

It's a coin.

VO: And they've discovered something new about the sword's intricate construction.

DAVID: This is absolutely the pinnacle of my journey so far, because you and I together, just by chatting and looking at this object, we've discovered something that we didn't know could possibly be there - part of a chair leg, and even you didn't know that that was a coin.

I will confess that I had always looked at it as simply being a copper alloy ring.

But as you say, if you look at it really closely, you can see there are letters on that copper alloy ring, and yeah, you're absolutely right, it's a coin.

DAVID: So it's brilliant, it couldn't get any better, could it?

It's made my day.

It's made my day, my gosh.

Thank you for that.

DAVID: Thank you, marvelous!

VO: Another giant leap in knowledge, and all thanks to our David!

Meanwhile, back in the Triumph, Paul is en route to his next shop.

PAUL: Half of me wishes that I find nothing.

The other half, eternally the treasure hunter and optimist, is hoping that I find something... that's gonna make the headlines.

VO: Always got your head in the game, eh Paul?

VO: He's making his way to Coxhoe in Country Durham.

VO: With a history that goes back as far as the bronze age, the present village grew up with mining in the 18th and 19th centuries.

So can Paul dig deep and find yet another gem in Nursery Antiques?

PAUL: Hello there.

LEN: Ah, morning.

Paul.

Hi.

Paul.

Pleased to meet you.

PAUL: Good to see you.

You are?

LEN: Len.

PAUL: Len, what a pleasure.

LEN: Thank you.

May I have a wee wander round?

LEN: You certainly can, yeah.

If you want any help, just give me a shout.

VO: With six items to his name already, the pressure's off, unless something else can tempt him.

PAUL: If it's not expensive, and I suspect it's not gonna be, sitting down there, that wee tea set doesn't have a price on it.

Right.

I mean, I could do that for, what, £12?

I'm glad you're in the right ballpark.

VO: He's interested in this 19th century doll's tea set.

PAUL: A wee bit more than I... To be honest with you, it's no money - can I just bid you, as a parting shot, a fiver?

LEN: Um, eight and it's yours.

That's a deal, then.

LEN: Thank you very much indeed.

Sweet!

VO: It may be for dolls, but he's not playing around, and has added the tea set to his bulging bundle of antiques.

And back on road, Paul's only too well aware of his shopping excess.

PAUL: Maniac!

DAVID: You're a maniac, alright.

David, will you do me a favor and just come with me and just... punch me when I pick things up?

Oh, "would you mind"?

I've been dreaming about that for the last couple of days!

VO: Oh, you silly boys!

At least they're still laughing.

VO: They're now heading to Darlington.

VO: With the historic market town at its center, Darlington is famed for being the terminus of the world's first passenger railway.

DAVID: There you go.

Welcome to sunny Darlington.

PAUL: Sunny indeed!

DAVID: It's absolutely fabulous.

Paul, good luck.

All the best.

PAUL: All the best.

I'll see you soon, yeah.

Last shop of the day.

DAVID: And I'll see you later.

OK. Cheerio.

VO: Paul's final chance to buy is Blackwell Antiques and Curios.

PAUL: Hello.

GORDON: Paul.

PAUL: How are you doing?

GORDON: How are we doing?

Gordon, pleased to meet you.

PAUL: Pleased to meet you.

Great stuff.

GORDON: A fellow Scotsman.

May I have a wee look around and see if we can...

Please do, please do, I will leave you to your devices and we'll be over here.

VO: Meanwhile, David's last shop is in what was a house for rail workers.

DAVID: Tony.

Hello.

Young David.

Well... VO: It's now owned by Tony, who started his career in the railways before becoming an artist and moving into antiques.

I'm looking for general sale stuff.

Um, but something a bit sort of quirky, here we go, here's a bit quirky.

That's, I mean, that's absolutely superb.

DAVID: That is a cigarette box, made out of Bakelite.

It's bang on art deco... TONY: Yeah.

DAVID: Circa 1930.

Um, it could just be...

It could be made into a jewelry box, but it's got the look.

VO: It's also got a ticket price of £30.

I'd love to pay £10 for it.

What happened then?

Did somebody frighten you?

How many Gs in jugular?

VO: Yeah, that one sure packed a punch.

I tell you what we'll do - do it for £15, go on.

You don't fancy having a bit of a gamble, do you?

David, I've lost 10 in a row.

You haven't.

You've lost 10 spins?

TONY: I've lost 10 in a row.

Let's have another go.

VO: Any excuse to flip a coin, eh David?

DAVID: You can call.

Call.

TONY: Heads.

Tony... Has your bad luck broken?

Tony, it hasn't.

Eh?

It's tails.

Turn it round.

Aw, Tony.

Aw.

Don't cry for me, Argentina.

VO: I didn't know you had it in you, Harper!

OK, let me give you some money for that, and then I'll continue looking, cuz you never know.

TONY: OK, David.

Yes, OK. DAVID: That's mine.

VO: David's got one item and counting, but Paul's struggling.

With the profitable claret jug on his side, not even militaria can tempt him to part with more cash.

I'm afraid it's gonna be a flying visit, my friend.

GORDON: That's alright.

Although, you should know, I've bought more things than sense would have dictated already!

VO: Laidlaw's out of the game, but David's warming up with these brass sovereign scales.

DAVID: Right.

This little object was absolutely vital to anybody that dealt in gold, but also that used gold to purchase, because there's your half sovereign and your full sovereign, they have to weigh a certain weight - a real necessity.

VO: Ticket price is £38.

Now Harper, go easy!

Some investor would love those.

They would.

Especially if I paid a tenner and they paid 20.

No.

That'd be a winner.

No, no.

DAVID: No?

TONY: No.

No.

No.

No, they're just not easy to find.

VO: After carefully weighing it up, the scales go back in the cabinet.

TONY: I can half them for you, and we can say £19.

I can't do it.

Honestly, I can't.

This is the real world, unfortunately.

DAVID: Oh, I don't like the real world.

VO: Like it or not David, your tenner's going nowhere.

How about if we go 12 on the scales?

What do you reckon?

That was the... That's the... You shouldn't be eating butter.

What do we reckon?

13.

DAVID: Done.

TONY: Right, go on.

DAVID: Thank you very much.

VO: At last - the scales have tipped for David and he's walking away with two items.

But how does it stack up against Paul's treasure trove?

Time for a grand unveiling.

DAVID: Oh, OK. Well, of course we've got to have something with a military connection, I mean that is just a given.

I like that, the little claret, silver plate.

No.

Pewter, polished pewter.

No.

It's not silver.

It's not.

It's not.

Seriously?

Oh my gosh.

Sexy, good crystal body.

That's a really good bit of kit.

VO: Oh - he's impressed!

DAVID: That's gonna make you some profit.

PAUL: I hope so.

Can I grab that silver... is it, I'm presuming it's... PAUL: Yeah, go for it.

DAVID: That is rather nice.

A little snuff box, engine turned.

1882.

Decoration is contemporary to the box.

What's that, 30-50?

40-60?

PAUL: I would think that's 40-60.

40-60.

What did you pay for that?

30 paid.

So it should be alright.

Paul, I think you've got a nice, nice collection there.

But the best item, the one that's going to make you I think quite a lot of money, is the claret.

Well found for the claret, by the way.

Cheers, my man.

OK. VO: It's a tough act to follow, but go on David, show him what you've got.

I always said you were full of wind.

Are you a wind instrument man?

No.

Neither am I!

Do you know what's intriguing me?

An engraving here.

"How's about Salvation Ar..." It's Sally Ann.

I think maybe you're right.

PAUL: No, it is, it tells you there.

DAVID: Does it?

What's it say?

PAUL: It's Sally Ann.

DAVID: Oh, it says, the Salvation Army, excellent.

I should have noticed that.

PAUL: That's magic.

DAVID: It's good, isn't it?

It's magic.

That works for me.

Now, is that silver?

Bon bon dish.

DAVID: Yes, it is.

PAUL: OK, I like that, it's very elegant.

Mappin & Webb?

Yes.

George V. It's delicious.

Thank you.

Its form is super.

It's alright, isn't it?

Impre... After the antique.

VO: So far so good, but can Paul find his way around the money box?

Um... Just... Can you just open that drawer.

Oh, it's a false pair of drawers.

PAUL: Ink?

DAVID: No?

DAVID: No.

It's a trick.

Are you ready?

Just stay there.

You're going to put an old penny in there.

It's a money box!

Close the drawer.

Open the drawer.

Oh!

I love that!

DAVID: Stunning beyond belief.

PAUL: That's a belting good thing.

VO: The little box is getting a big reaction.

Could it do 120?

Yeah.

Hoh hoh, hoh hoh.

£5 note.

Dancer!

What a belting good purchase.

Nice thing, isn't it?

It's a cracking thing.

I love that.

DAVID: Shall we go and enjoy the sun and have a drink outside?

I'm up for that.

Well done my man, by the way.

Thank you.

Well done you, too.

VO: Right boys - give us the lowdown.

Who got the upper hand then?

First auction, I thought I'd got it, I really did, I thought my pieces were better, but you know, you've got to believe in your own stock, and I've got to tell you, I think take out the claret jug of Paul's, destroy that, I'd get in.

Introduce the claret jug, I think if it's gonna go Paul's way, he's going to kill me with claret.

VO: So Paul, when push comes to shove, have you got the edge?

At the risk of jinxing the whole affair, I should win that auction.

Because the claret jug should do 250-350.

There you go, I said it!

VO: Yes you did!

So onwards to auction, fellas, where all will be revealed.

DAVID: Paul, I've got a prediction for today.

I predict that I'm going to be beaten up by a claret jug.

The new Cluedo.

Professor Laidlaw, with a claret jug, in the auction room!

VO: They're heading to the North Yorkshire town of Northallerton.

VO: Granted a market town status by royal charter over 800 years ago, trading is still an important part of life in Northallerton.

And our experts will be trying their luck in today's general sale at Northallerton Auctions, held in the cattle market.

DAVID: Looks rather nice.

I hope we don't leave with a couple of cows, Paul - look at those pens!

VO: While the boys get in amongst the pens, auctioneer Timothy - great name - Pennington talks shop.

I think my favorite of the items that's come in today is the silver topped claret jug.

Very rare that you get a good claret jug in, particularly one that's silver topped, and I do think that will do well here today.

I think the money box is very interesting, I would anticipate that it's going to do somewhere in the region of £20-40.

It's got a little bit of damage on it, but it is a nice quirky piece.

VO: Paul spent £158 and is offering up five lots.

David is also presenting five lots at a total cost of £113.

Let the games begin!

We're starting with David's musical piece of plumbing.

10 bid, at £10 bid... DAVID: Paid 40.

15.

20.

Taking big bid increments.

AUCTIONEER: 30, 30 bid, five.

PAUL: Come on, you're getting there.

You're getting there.

Come on!

AUCTIONEER: Madam?

DAVID: Go on.

No!

No.

AUCTIONEER: 38, is it?

Going to sell at 35.

DAVID: No, no!

VO: It's hit a bum note with a £5 loss.

Why didn't you bid on those?

PAUL: Yeah, what's your problem?

VO: That's no way to behave!

Maybe Paul can whip him into shape.

At £10 bid, 10 only bid for it, 10 for the good crop stand.

15.

20.

20 against you.

No, it's not gonna make 20 quid, it can't make 20 quid.

AUCTIONEER: 25.

30.

30 bid out up top now, all done at... PAUL: Bid!

DAVID: OK. PAUL: I'll give you a couple of quid.

Oh, sorry, Paul, just missed that, mate.

Sorry about that!

VO: The friendship's going to pot - as is their cash, with another loss.

Good job you didn't bid on that one, anyway.

Well done.

That was a good decision.

VO: Paul's militaria did him proud at the last auction - can he do it again?

10 bid, little money at 10 only bid, 12.

15, 18.

DAVID: Here we go.

AUCTIONEER: 20.

To sell then at 22.

22, try another one.

22.

22 bid, and selling at 22.

VO: It's bombed, as all but 4p of that profit will be eaten up by auction house costs.

At least you made a bit of profit on paper.

You're the first one today to make any profit on paper.

VO: Can David's next piece help balance the books?

Five bid, five... Oh, here we go.

AUCTIONEER: Eight, 10.

PAUL: Commission bid there.

Come on.

Any more?

AUCTIONEER: At 10 I'm bid, 10 bid, 12?

DAVID: No, go on!

Are you all done and finished then at £12?

DAVID: No, no.

VO: No more gold sovereigns for you I'm afraid, David.

I wouldn't say there's a feverish atmosphere in the saleroom.

VO: For the next lot, Paul's combined his Victorian pots and lids with his doll's tea set.

£10 straight in.

10 bid.

At £10 bid, at 10 only bid.

12.

14.

16.

All out in the ring now.

18.

20.

20 only bid.

At 20 only bid, up top now.

At 20 only bid, at 20 bid and selling at £20.

VO: It's a £2 profit, but after costs he'll have made a loss.

Did you buy that?

Yes.

But it wasn't mine!

It was his.

You can send them back, you know.

VO: Behave Harper - your Bakelite box is up next.

Five bid.

At £5 bid, at five only bid.

Come on.

AUCTIONEER: At five bid, all out, take seven where?

Seven.

Nine.

11.

13.

15.

18.

18 with me, at 18 bid, at £18.

DAVID: Go on, go on!

At 20.

20 against you.

DAVID: Go on, go on.

Go on.

AUCTIONEER: 21 is it, madam?

DAVID: Go on.

AUCTIONEER: 20 only bid, at £20 bid, at 20 bid and selling at 20.

VO: Cor, things are looking up - he's just doubled his money!

That's 100%.

There's nothing wrong with a 100% margin.

VO: Can his money box help pile up the pennies?

Five bid, at £5 bid at five, 10.

DAVID: Well done, good taste.

AUCTIONEER: 15.

20.

Five.

30.

All out in the ring now, at 30 I'm bid.

At 30 I'm bid, take two where?

Is that you?

AUCTIONEER: Are you all done and finished then at £30?

VO: Harper's pulling ahead in this auction thanks to his new friend.

It's a bargain.

Good.

Beautiful thing.

Well done.

You've got good taste.

VO: Fibber.

Perhaps Paul can pull it back by flashing his silverware?

40 bid.

At 40 bid, five.

DAVID: Ooh.

AUCTIONEER: And 50.

Five.

And 60.

Five.

PAUL: Oh, they like their silver.

They like their silver.

AUCTIONEER: ..two, and five, 75 with me.

PAUL: They like their silver.

At £75 only bid.

At 75 bid and selling at 75.

VO: A sterling £45 profit puts Paul back in front.

Seriously, well done.

OK. Well done.

Well.

You've got silver up next, haven't you?

VO: Can David's silver offering follow suit?

At £20 bid.

PAUL: It's a nice little thing, that is a nice little thing, that.

Five.

30.

He's got a bid.

AUCTIONEER: 35.

35 I'm bid.

DAVID: Oh come on!

At 35.

At 35, 40.

No!

Go on.

40 bid, I'll take two.

AUCTIONEER: At 40 only bid, at £40 bid at 40 bid against you.

42.

45.

45.

It should be 90 quid!

48 I'm bid.

At 48 bid, I'm going to sell then at 48.

VO: Unfortunately David is yet again beaten by costs.

Oh hoh!

Why didn't you bid on that one?

That was a lovely thing, that.

VO: Have they saved the best for last?

It's the highly anticipated silver claret jug that Paul picked up for a pittance.

AUCTIONEER: £100 ready.

PAUL: He's got nothing on the books.

AUCTIONEER: 100 bid.

£100 bid.

110.

VO: It's already double what he paid!

AUCTIONEER: 140.

PAUL: Yeah.

AUCTIONEER: 150.

160.

All out in the ring now, at 160 I'm bid.

At 160 only bid, I'll take five where?

165.

At 165 all out in the ring now.

PAUL: It's cheap.

AUCTIONEER: Are you all done and finished then at 165?

Paul, congratulations.

And I sincerely mean it.

Ah, ah!

Ah, ah!

VO: Hand crushing Harper knew it would wipe him out, and it has, giving victory to Laidlaw once again.

VO: David Harper started this leg with £208.70.

During this trip to auction he made a profit of £5.90, giving him £214.60 to carry forward.

VO: Paul Laidlaw started with £271.56, and has racked up impressive profits of £97.84 after auction costs, giving him a very healthy £369.40 to flaunt on the next leg.

Well done.

So is it legal for me to swear at this point?

Or not?

You can swear, but you can't touch the face, you can't hit me in any way.

Can I hit you there?

PAUL: Go on.

DAVID: Well done.

Are you ready?

PAUL: As ever!

DAVID: Come on then.

Look at that.

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip... Paul finds his wonderland.

PAUL: How bizarre.

Never seen the likes.

VO: And David leaves it to lady luck.

OK. What do you want, heads?

subtitling@stv.tv