NARRATOR: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts with 200 pounds each-- I want something shiny.

NARRATOR: --a classic car-- [HONKING] NARRATOR: --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 wait doing this to myself?

NARRATOR: There'll be worthy winners-- Give us a kiss!

NARRATOR: --and valiant losers.

NARRATOR: Come on, stick them up.

NARRATOR: So, will it be the high road to glory-- Onwards and upwards.

NARRATOR: --or the slow road to disaster?

Take me home.

NARRATOR: This is antiques road trip.

Yeah.

Welcome to the ancient county town of Yorkshire, in the company of Natasha Raskin and Paul Laidlaw.

Look at that!

Absolutely superb, and now you are in medieval York.

Zoom!

Time travel.

NARRATOR: Yes they're maneuvering their Mercedes through the heart of a city that's dominated by one of the great European cathedrals.

There you go, there it is, there's the Minster.

Oh, look at that.

Oh, look at the lights on it.

Is that English Gothic, Gothic perpendicular, one or the other?

If I don't see a flying buttress, I don't even know do you call.

NARRATOR: Architecture enthusiasts and art lover Natasha, from Glasgow-- No one really likes these anymore.

But I do.

NARRATOR: --is already more than a wee bit behind her countryman.

You've got all the money.

Well, not all the money.

I don't have all the money.

You've got a lot more money than I've got, and importantly, you've got more than what we started with.

NARRATOR: Yeah, good point.

Paul from Carlisle, an auctioneer who even lists his guilty pleasure as buying antiques-- It's good, this, isn't it?

NARRATOR: --started off with a full head of steam-- 240.

250.

It's not funny.

NARRATOR: --and shows little sign of cooling down.

Set Set off in Ayrshire.

[SCOTS], of course.

Oh, aye.

Now, glorious sunshine in York.

If it keeps going like this, it'll be tops-off weather.

NARRATOR: For you maybe.

I'm not taking my top off for anyone.

NARRATOR: No, and neither am I. Natasha began with 200 pounds, and has thus far managed to slim that down to 192.

Whilst Paul, who started out with the same sum, is well on his way to having increased it by 3-fold, with 562 pounds and 22 pence.

I seem to remember there is a random Roman pillar here.

There is.

See that?

It's a random Roman column.

How odd.

A Roman punctuation mark.

I would have walked straight past it, but thank goodness you were here to tell me what it is.

NARRATOR: After kicking off on the West Coast of Scotland, our crazy Caledonian couple will motor South, tootling towards the Eastern coast of England, before arriving in Norfolk at Diss.

Today, we'll be heading for East Anglia and an auction at Downham Market, but starting out in the aforementioned city of York.

Where, in the shadow of the mighty Minster-- Have a great time.

Bye, Paul.

NARRATOR: Paul is about to take the retail plunge at this center, the sheer scale of which would have his antiques antenna all of a tiz.

Was.

Cabinets are wonderful, but they scare me.

All these spotlights and price tags.

I like a rummage.

NARRATOR: Quite right.

That looks more like it, although you might need to breathe in if you need to go any further.

Here we go You're looking at that and thinking, that's just like my Granny's whisky water jug that sits in a cabinet with her finest cut crystal.

This is considerably older.

This is late Georgian, this is the early 19th century.

Now, in it's day, this was an expensive thing.

Cut glass was very fashionable.

It worked the light-- you think of this in a candle-lit room, flickering light glancing off all these surfaces do have a magical effect.

NARRATOR: And yet the ticket price is just 28 pounds.

I want to tell you about how I can date this jug, and here's a wee trick of the trade.

Look at the handle your glass blower worked a rod of glass.

He affixed it at the top, and then work it round it, soft and it's molten, to the bottom, press it, and there you go.

There's a key change in manufacturing techniques around 1820, 1830, and from that point on to date the handle is put on the other way around.

NARRATOR: And you can tell, because there's a blob on the bottom.

So I can assert that, stylistically, that's a Georgian piece.

But it's not a reproduction.

The truth of the matter is, you stick that in a general auction, you know what it is?

It's your Granny's old crystal water jug.

I am heartbroken.

Take it to auction, they're just going to walk past it.

D'oh!

NARRATOR: Shrewd, Paul.

Still on the ball, despite his winnings.

But while Paul departs in search of a profit, Natasha's elsewhere in York, seeking out one of the world's most famous trains at the National Railway Museum.

Good morning.

Hello, I'm Natasha.

Hi, Natasha, I'm Andrew McLean.

I'm the head curator National Railway Museum.

Lovely to meet you.

So lovely to see such a busy museum.

Well, this is the cathedral of British Railways, the country that gives railways to the world.

And I know that I'm here to learn about dozens of interesting locomotives, but one in particular.

Oh, yes, we've got one very special locomotive that came back into steam earlier this year.

It's called Flying Scotsman, and we're going to learn a lot more about it.

So, if you'd like to follow me.

I sure would, thank you.

NARRATOR: But the name Flying Scotsman doesn't only refer to this speedy 20th century locomotive, because there's been a service between London and Edinburgh bearing that name for over 150 years.

NARRATOR: The Flying Scotsman service becomes the most famous train service in the world.

It opens up the tourism markets in Scotland.

Queen Victoria and so on are popularizing Scotland at the time.

Of course, Balmoral.

Exactly.

People want to visit these places, so it becomes a crucial train that unites the two capitals of Scotland and England.

And famous people like Charles Dickens use the train, so it has a great reputation long before Flying Scotsman the locomotive was even constructed.

NARRATOR: But just like today, there were two routes with the rival West Coast mainline between London and Glasgow providing stiff competition in the race to supply the fastest and most efficient service.

NARRATOR: To the dynamometer.

NARRATOR: To the dynamometer.

NARRATOR: Hence, this vitally important collection of gadgetry, dedicated to making the trains go faster.

NARRATOR: This is a mobile laboratory.

So in here, you have all sorts of equipment and technology.

The locomotive's out here.

So you have on the floor, here, these big armored cables.

They're attached out of the windows to the loco itself.

So the information from the loco has been transmitted through these to a series of dials that the chaps are sitting at and noting down all the various things to do with the power and the fuel efficiency.

Though, most importantly for the Flying Scotsman story, also for speed as well.

NARRATOR: This car dates from 1906, so had already been in service for almost 20 years when the LNER launched the flagship locomotive that we now associate with the Flying Scotsman name.

This groundbreaking early British sound film, with a thrilling chase, in which actors like Pauline Johnson did their own highly dangerous stunts.

The real star, though, is the engine itself, and the movie was great publicity for its pursuit of the 100 mile per hour rail land speed record.

And what was really spurring them on, what was it all for?

Why did they have to make 100 miles an hour?

Because of the competition.

By the 1930s, you also have car ownership taking over.

You have buses coming on the scene, as well.

So the railways were trying to keep ahead of the game, and any advantage that they could get would help to increase the passenger numbers.

So speed was a great seller.

So the Flying Scotsman had to live up to its name.

NARRATOR: And that world record, fully authenticated by the this dynamometer, on the 30th of November 1934, ensured the Flying Scotsman's place in history.

So there she is, Andrew, beautiful in racing green.

She's spectacular.

She is indeed.

When we first met, you used a lovely phrase-- she's been recently "brought back to steam."

So when did she stop steaming?

She came out of service in 1963, with the advent of the diesel locomotives.

She was earmarked for the scrapyard.

Genuinely?

Genuinely, yeah.

And she was rescued by a debonair businessman who'd been a fighter pilot in the Second World, and she's just recently been restored back into working service, so.

You can't travel aboard the Queen Mary, you can't travel on board Concorde, but you can still get on board Flying Scotsman, and I think we can actually, even, get into the cab, to have a look.

After a huge campaign, the old loco was bought by the National Railway Museum in 2004.

- Oh, Hello.

- Hello.

Hello.

I'm Tasha Hi, I'm Clive.

Clive, nice to-- Yours hands unsurprisingly are boiling.

It's a bit rum.

And now instantly mine are black.

Sorry, that's the color we come in.

I've got to ask, am I allowed?

You certainly are.

To toot the whistle?

Blow the whistle.

Right, you ready for this?

Go on, go for it.

Here it goes, lads.

[WHISTLE SCREAMING] NARRATOR: Not feeling quite so chuffed is that other Scotsman, the fleeing one.

Ha!

Now departed from York, and just pulled into Pocklington.

Also the proud possessor of a prominent church tower.

How are you, I am Paul.

Hello I'm Pat.

Pat, lovely to see you.

Nice to see you, too.

This is lovely, is it not?

Three stories?

Three stories, yeah.

You know what?

I cannot resist that staircase.

I'm going to head North, and work my way down.

- You go and have a look.

- See you in a minute.

- OK. - Cheers, Pat.

NARRATOR: Yes, no time to waste.

He's already had a bevy of browsing today.

NARRATOR: I adore this.

Mid 20th century kitchen utility cabinet, and it does everything.

Post-war austerity, small homes built for soldiers returning from the war, setting up families.

This is your larder, this is your work surface, all in one.

You can have all your tins of Spam and dried eggs, and then, rather usefully, this extending enamel work surface.

Absolutely wonderful.

Now, a few years ago, this was little better than firewood.

Today, the price tag on your little kitchenette: 220 pounds!

What's that going to get?

You it's going to get you a square foot of marble work surface.

Thanks to that.

I love it, but it's not helping me today.

NARRATOR: Looks like spending those squillions is proving almost as tough as acquiring them in the first place.

What about Natasha?

Behind the wheel of the Mercedes, eh?

No such worries, it seems, as she takes our road trip out west, towards Boroughbridge, and her first opportunity to start catching up.

OK. Let's do some shopping.

Hello, good afternoon.

I'm Natasha.

- How do you do?

James.

Lovely to meet you, James.

Thank you for having me along.

NARRATOR: Nice place.

What's the plan?

I need to find something-- something fun, that's going to help me close the gap, because I'm way behind Paul at this point.

This could be quite fun.

I did quite well with my nonoperational growling German Teddy bear, and he was kind of in not the best working order.

And this wee penguin is quite similar.

Here, he can see his little feet have burst through.

It's probably late Victorian, could be 20th century Edwardian.

Look at how his wee head moves.

He's saying, no, no.

You cannot catch up with Paul Laidlaw.

Is this anything but good, clean, fun?

NARRATOR: No price on him though.

Ah, backstage?

Oh.

I have it on good authority from James that I'm allowed to go anywhere in the shop.

NARRATOR: How about an old gun case?

The exterior doesn't really reflect another glorious interior.

This case has been made by Edward Whistler of London, 11, the Strand.

Maybe this is one of those instances, don't judge a book by its cover, don't judge a case by its exterior.

Look inside.

It smells so good.

It smells of the grease that's been used to clean the barrels, and I like it.

I just need to find out how much it is, because crucially, there's no price tag.

NARRATOR: But while the Boroughbridge rummage continues, Paul, still empty-handed, has arrived at a third shop, just outside Pocklington, at Ba-a-ar Farm.

[GOAT BLEATING] Greg.

Hello.

How you doing?

Nice to meet you, Paul.

It is-- I would say it's nice to be here, but that would be an understatement.

In terms of first impression, today, in this sunshine, I love what I've walked in here.

Oh good, it's always like this.

[LAUGHING] NARRATOR: I think Paul may be pinching himself.

I am happy as Larry.

Suddenly, barns of the stuff.

Some containing-- Militaria!

That's an ammunition box, and a loose machine gun.

Great War period, and ingenious American design.

Manufactured under license by the Birmingham Small Arms Company, Limited.

Birmingham Small Arms, BSA.

The same people that made the bikes.

Lewis machine gun is the one that you've seen in the movies, that has the disk shaped magazine on top of the gun.

This magazine box is specifically designed to carry these disk, or drum, magazines.

This one is an immaculately good condition.

The leather handle is missing, and that's commonly the case.

It's priced up at 40 pounds.

Its value to a specialist buyer?

100 to 150 pounds.

Do you think to yourself, Done it again, Laidlaw, fantastic!

But here's my problem.

Too clever for his own good, he takes this to an auction, where it is seen as another old deed box, and it makes all the five pounds.

See the frustration?

NARRATOR: He's definitely on the case.

And back in Boroughbridge, so's Natasha.

She's found a bit of a barn I like, too.

Now, these are quite cool.

Are these proper stained glass?

Let's have a look.

Are they windows?

No, they've got handles.

OK, let's see.

Oh, steady.

Proper stained glass, not painted, nicely leaded.

Quite an attractive pattern, isn't it?

Very art nouveau, but not as old as that.

NARRATOR: You can say that again.

Modern handles.

So when was this cabinet, or whatever it was, made?

Probably 1960s, '70s?

The first one's not cracked.

I don't see any cracks in the second.

No, they're in pretty good nick.

NARRATOR: No price, again, though.

I don't really want to offer more than about 40 pounds for the whole lot.

That's about a tenner a pane.

NARRATOR: It is a pain.

There you are.

No, don't get up, please, you look so relaxed.

Oh, I feel like this is sort of Godfather negotiations, and you're sitting in The Godfather's chair.

Come now, my dear, what can I do?

NARRATOR: Softening him up, get ready for an offer he could well refuse.

So there are a few things that have caught my eye.

The lovely leaded and stained glass panels in the shade.

Well, they're about 30 pounds.

30 pounds a panel.

And the gun case.

And a gun case.

The canvas gun case, with that lovely green interior.

Well, I was looking for about, sort of, 75 pounds, really.

If I could tempt you to do the two items-- --for what, for-- For 90 pounds?

What do you think?

Well, look, can we make it just a little-- 110?

110.

In the spirit of good fun, and meeting one another halfway, shall we say 100?

105.

We could keep going all day.

105 and we've got a deal.

Oh, for goodness sake.

Go on, go on.

And, she's still got a little bit left.

- Best of luck.

- Yeah, I think I'll need it.

You better win.

[LAUGHING] Thank you.

NARRATOR: So while Natasha goes to grab her purchases, her wealthy chum is still down on the farm.

One ammo box pending, he's thinking of leaving his usual comfort zone with a few rustic items.

Daft garden pieces like, your hose-- Yeah, I really like.

It's really nice.

I'm no farmer, or anything, but it's supposed to be, I believe, for a potato.

That's for hoeing.

Yeah.

For breaking up the soil on it.

And what would buy something like that?

Well, I don't know what price we have on it.

It's probably very reasonably priced, anyway.

65.

Could do a little better on it, if that's something.

I think we're going down the right lines.

OK. NARRATOR: Or furrow.

If I could come away with a piece or three like that-- NARRATOR: In for a penny, eh, Paul?

What about the likes of these Mexican hat troughs?

Yeah, pig-- pig feeders.

We got them initially because we had pigs.

NARRATOR: As you do.

What are these like to sell?

They do better at auction, really, to tell you the truth.

OK. What's the price on them?

I think 120, something like that.

120.

Yeah.

Yeah, 120.

But usually at auction, they go anywhere from like 80, 80 on up.

It's all [INAUDIBLE] in there, isn't it?

Oh, yeah, that's that's just it, they're very cumbersome and heavy.

But they make a real nice garden feature.

I can see that.

NARRATOR: Are you watching, Phillip Searle?

That's a charming thing, by any measure.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: Not how most people would describe a humble seed drill.

So you've got your blade, your hopper, and these fantastic raw wheels.

Late 19th, early 20th century?

Maybe '30s.

OK, as late as that?

Yeah.

So what buys something like that?

Got 65 on this.

OK. Yeah, if you look at the inside, and it's not working right now, you'd need to mess with it.

It's rusted up, but this would be spinning-- as you push it, the wheel will drive this brush, and then shoot the seed down this little hole into the ground.

I'll tell you, [INAUDIBLE] I see why people are into these.

Yeah, yeah.

NARRATOR: What can possibly top that?

That's just a lovely object.

Yeah, it's nice.

By any measure.

NARRATOR: It's a cart jack, you know.

For changing a wagon wheel.

So you adjust the height on that pin, there.

How do you lock it up?

I don't think you lock it up.

I think someone needs to just hold it while you're doing it.

Yeah.

Somebody you trust when you're underneath the axle?

Exactly.

Price on that is 46 pounds.

40 would buy it.

That doesn't sound dear.

NARRATOR: OK, Greg's got his pencil and paper.

Time to do that deal.

We've got the jack, and the jack can be-- 40.

40.

Yeah.

We've got the Mexican hat troughs.

All right, so you're thinking about those.

Yeah.

I'm thinking about one.

The bottom line on one of those?

65.

The seed drill.

Yeah.

50.

Putting it on the list.

Potato break.

I think that was 65 on that, too.

But it could be-- Again, it could be 50.

OK. NARRATOR: So what does all that lot to come to?

Comes to 205.

205.

So, you want all four?

Yeah, well I might do.

If the price is right.

If you can do the numbers.

All right.

See, 160 quid means 40 quid apiece.

Oh, I don't know if I can do that.

190 would be it.

So 190 for all four.

- Wait there.

- Yes.

- Don't go anywhere.

- OK. NARRATOR: Aye, aye.

It looks like I'm going to have to throw in a freebie.

NARRATOR: Just something a bit more familiar.

I came here with nothing.

At this rate, I could walk out with five items, and I'm going to move them, I've got no idea.

Right.

Yeah.

Old ammo box.

That is a big price tag.

Yeah.

You think?

I don't, actually, but I'm going to say it is.

NARRATOR: 40 pounds, viewers.

With 190 what buys five things?

230.

What?

220.

You like it?

Good luck.

NARRATOR: Crikey, Paul.

Let's hope that none of that old iron work ended up in the boot.

Nighty-night, guys.

Now, usually at this point we feature shots of a classic car, whizzing through some lovely landscape.

Sorry.

What did you do to the the car yesterday?

Well who was that-- oh I was driving it.

The car was fine.

Do you know what?

It was making the odd squeak.

I'm not going to lie, it was sort of-- [SQUEAKING] NARRATOR: Part of its Germanic charm.

Anyway, yesterday, Paul was our bulk buyer, acquiring a smallholdings worth of agricultural ordnance, including a potato rake, a seed drill, a pig trough, and a cart jack.

That's just a lovely object.

Yeah, it's nice.

By any measure.

NARRATOR: That's an ammo box, leaving him with almost 350 pounds for future purchases.

While Natasha plumped for some stained glass windows and a gun case.

I'd normally buy the opposite of this sort of item, but I'm quite drawn to it.

NARRATOR: Enough to reduce her float to just 87 pounds.

Now, sit back and enjoy this 2008 Skoda Octavia.

I'm still new to driving, so I do enjoy it, but I quite enjoy being driven around, don't you?

Maybe this is a new show the Taxi Road Trip?

NARRATOR: Nice, but not enough jeopardy.

Ha!

Later, They'll be heading South, to an auction in Norfolk, at Downham Market.

But our first stop is the Yorkshire village of Cullingworth.

Once part of the old West Riding-- Thank you, take care.

See you later!

Bye, bye.

NARRATOR: And famous for worsted production.

Hello, good morning, I'm Tasha.

Hello, Natasha.

Welcome to Antiques at the Mill, I'm Cherry.

Cherry, lovely to meet you.

Thank you very much for having me along.

So I can think of is, trouble at mill.

Quite, possibly.

NARRATOR: I don't see why, Natasha.

More like grist to the mill, darling.

This is big.

NARRATOR: Exactly.

The only thing that is your wee fund.

I've not even got 100 pounds left, and I've got a lot to buy.

So I'm going to have to think cheap but not common.

Whatever that means.

NARRATOR: Not sure.

How about that?

In Glasgow, there's nothing we like more than a hot wash. And here is what I'd call a pulley.

You'd do your washing, and if the weather is not good, Which, by-the-by, in Scotland it usually isn't, then you have the pulley in your kitchen.

In the heart of the home.

You've got the range going, you'd hang it on the pulley, pull it up, and then the heat in the kitchen would dry the clothes.

Yes, it might smell a little bit of the stew on the stove, but never mind that.

But these are great things.

Now, what's it got on it?

Oh, well they've described it as a criel.

I've never heard of that.

In Scotland a criel is for catching lobsters.

But maybe that's another word for a pulley.

NARRATOR: Proper Yorkshire dialect, actually.

75 pounds.

And these are quite nice, actually.

Ah, very old spool.

Ha!

Genuine Yorkshire mill mementos.

NARRATOR: Right place, then.

So you've got a set of six skittles, and handily you've got the two wooden balls as well.

Now, the label here is lovely.

"Have hours of fun with durable wood toys originally created for the children of mill workers almost a century ago."

NARRATOR: You get them for bobbins, too.

Ah, more wood.

This appeals to me purely because, A, it's pretty good quality, and B, because it's functional.

It's not just a pretty thing, people would buy this to sit in it.

It's actually really attractive.

It's got a nice smooth seat, with a little bit of a drop for your bottom.

You've got this balustrade at the top, here, and you've got this shell carving at the top as well.

It's 50 pounds.

Perhaps I could get it for 20.

NARRATOR: Then you'd be sitting pretty.

Definitely worth talking about.

NARRATOR: I think the only "trouble" at this mill will be you deciding what to buy.

NARRATOR: This would have been very much a gentleman's item, a little pipe cabinet.

Look how sweet it is.

It's got little hinged brackets there, and they fall down, space for three pipes and one side, space for three pipes on the other, and inside: space, more for display, maybe your finer pipes go in the back, there?

And then a handy wee drawer, that you see in all smoker's cabinets, don't you?

I mean, it's not that old.

Winds up from, probably, the 1950s, judging by the handles, and the condition.

40 pounds, that has on it.

That is, probably, if bought by somebody who collects pipes and uses pipes, going to be used.

It's more for function as opposed to form.

I quite like that.

NARRATOR: So, over to Cherry.

There is a pipe cabinet on the wall, marked up at 40.

I was hoping that maybe we could do that for 20 pounds?

25?

25.

Could we do it for 22?

Go on then, 22.

OK, cool.

OK. NARRATOR: Not so "cool" is the fact that the other stuff she's after belongs to a dealer who's currently elsewhere.

So, gird your loins.

Would you like to speak to her, shall I?

I'll give it a bash.

Hi, Sharon.

How are you?

I like your stand.

It's super cool.

Quite keen on the rocking chair.

You've got 50 pounds on it, OK?

And then I love the pulley, and I love, also, the skittles.

The vintage skittles, which have been recycled.

The pulley's on at 75, and the Skittles are on at 10.

My maths is quite poor, and to me that adds up to about 60 pounds?

Titter E 0.

75, OK?

And what if we take the pulley out of the equation, and if we did the chair for 20, and a Skittles for five, could we do 25?

You can do 30?

OK, well I think that's really generous, and I'll go for 30 for the chair and the skittles.

NARRATOR: Well, all that went smoothly.

So, 52 pounds paid for those three items.

Do come again.

I'll only come back if I make a profit.

How's that?

No I'm just kidding.

You will, you will.

NARRATOR: I believe you, Cherry.

Bye, Cherry.

NARRATOR: Taxi!

Not the same one, of course.

Paul has that.

En route to the nearby city of Bradford, and the National Media Museum.

Thank you, Ahmed.

Aye, see you.

NARRATOR: To discover more about a form of photography he finds fascinating, witness this find from the last series.

Stereoscopy.

Incredible subject.

Photographs, through a viewer, giving a 3D effect.

NARRATOR: But, does he know it all started with the Victorians?

Hello, Colin.

Paul.

- Welcome.

Welcome to the National Media Museum.

Lovely to see, what an amazing looking building!

NARRATOR: Amongst the huge collection of objects and images in here, is a section dedicated to the very earliest days of photography.

This is an example of a daguerreotype.

Aha.

The earliest photographic process.

At the same time, there was a chap called William Henry Fox Talbot.

Indeed.

Who invented a different process, using paper negatives.

And we've got some examples here of photographs taken by Talbot in the 1840s.

I dare say, in 1840, this was shocking.

If I had walked up to Joe Public and said, look at that-- shockingly real.

Talbot actually described this, a little bit of magic realized.

And they are magical.

The fact that you could just use light alone to capture a scene and to retain it permanently.

NARRATOR: Chemistry had suddenly put those pioneers on a par with the great artists.

But photography remained equally two dimensional, until it was combined with the work of another Victorian inventor, Sir Charles Wheatstone.

Stereoscopy actually predates photography.

Right?

In 1838, he wrote about the theory of binocular vision.

So can I take it that this pair of photographs lead us into stereoscopy?

Initially, you might think they're identical.

But if you look closely, they're not identical.

There's a subtle difference.

And the difference is, this photograph is taken from the viewpoint of your right eye, and this from the viewpoint of your left eye.

If you put these together, in a special instrument called the stereoscope, your brain converts this into a three-dimensional image.

That's astonishing.

Stereoscopy and photography have an intimate relationship that goes back right to the origins of both.

NARRATOR: In 1840, Wheatstone was awarded the Queen's Medal, by the Royal Society, for his work on binocular vision.

And the stereoscope soon ushered in a fascinating era of depth as his idea of capturing two images from slightly different positions revolutionized the new art form.

So do you want to have a try?

Yeah, yes.

Have a go.

Oh, it works immediately.

[PAUL LAUGHING] The effect is still quite magical.

It's genuinely a 3D image.

You feel you could reach into it.

COLIN: And you could buy views which could be travel views, they could be works of art, sculpture, celebrities from the stage, from literature, politicians.

Or they could be something a bit more racy, like this.

Showing a glimpse of ankle.

NARRATOR: Not quite right, but here's an idea of what was keeping them so entranced.

3D?

So you could buy these, take them home, and view them in the comfort of your home.

So you could travel the world without leaving your armchair.

So you may not be able to afford the Thomas Cook ticket to Egypt, but you probably can afford the viewer and the album of views, and travel the world that way.

Yes.

NARRATOR: Sometime around the turn of the century, the fad began to wane, though, perhaps obscured by the rise of the moving pictures.

But it was always ripe for reinvention.

We're into the 1950s and beyond, Here, Where stereoscopy has become 3D.

Fantastic stuff.

But it's not all about entertainment.

It also has a vitally important application, and, believe it or not, in this little wallet, I've got an instrument here which helped us to win the Second World War.

Go on, you've got my attention, now.

This is a War Department type D stereoscope, and this is the sort of instrument that was used in the Second World War by the RAF analysts to analyze the aerial photographs in 3D, to actually work out where the launch sites were for the doodlebugs, so that the RF could go over and bomb them before they could blitz Britain.

So we've come from the past times of the Victorians and their parlors, to secret military intelligence during the Second World War.

Right away through to today, virtual reality, and apps for your smartphone, where we still see 3D stereoscopic images.

Colin, that's an astonishing history, and thank you for explaining it, and showing me all these wonderful artifacts.

Colin.

It's been a real pleasure, Paul.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: Now, where's Natasha got to?

The Pennines, that's where, at Hebden Bridge, in the happy Calderdale valley.

No smiley face for the cash she has left to spend, though.

Scary.

Yep, just 35 pounds.

So, choose wisely.

It's a pipe in the form of a clog.

Look how cute that is, just a tiny wee one.

Just-- [SUCKING SOUNDS] Wooden tobacco section, Bakelite mouthpiece.

Probably from around the 1930s or so.

And does it not fall into the novelty category?

NARRATOR: Would go with her rack.

Wasn't exactly what I was looking for, But at 10 pounds it's not exactly going to break the bank.

Put in my pocket, keep it with me.

I was hoping to find something a wee bit more sophisticated.

NARRATOR: The pipes are definitely calling.

Seek and you shall find.

Here is a nice pipe.

Now, compare that in quality to the clog.

You can see instantly that, A, it's more sophisticated, and B, it's probably an earlier model.

The quality is there.

This here-- now, what is that?

Do you know, that's so light and thin, could that be the spine of a feather?

38 pounds.

I think I'll have a bash at the two of them.

NARRATOR: Remember, she only has 35.

Nice to meet you, I'm Peter.

Peter.

I have come across these two pipes.

48 pounds, full price here.

What if I offered for the 2, 20 pounds?

That would be a real bargain, wouldn't it?

Should we try 40 for two?

I simply can't afford 40 pounds.

I think my very top offer-- is it too cheeky?

It's going to be 25.

Can we just push it to 30, and I might be able to meet you there?

Can you make it 27?

Yes, go on then.

We're good?

For you, yes, we'll do 27.

Oh, Peter, I thought you were going to tell me to pipe down.

NARRATOR: Just squeezed it.

Well, that's brilliant.

Wish me luck.

Good luck.

Thank you, Peter, bye bye bye.

NARRATOR: So, while those two take a look at each other's lots, why don't we do likewise?

Natasha spent 184 pounds on some stained glass windows, a gun case, the skittles, rocking chair, smokers' cabinet and pipes.

While Paul parted with 220 pounds on an ammunition box, a Mexican hat trough, a potato rake, a cart jack, and a seed drill.

So, who's about to harvest a profit, eh?

What's to be said about a pilot scrap iron?

What on Earth was I thinking?

Paul's clearly become a farmer in his spare time, so I'll go with it.

That gun case.

I like.

The label makes it 40 pounds paid, and that could make double that.

I've gone a bit traditional, a bit brown, a little bit smoky.

I think we'll just pass over the windows, shall we?

Second-hand, nasty, '80s, '90s.

They may not get a bid.

NARRATOR: Crikey!

After starting off from York, our experts are now on their way to auction in Norfolk, at Downham Market, and back in their shiny Mercedes.

What about all your, sort of, farming stuff?

It's consistent.

You can actually find this auction with a magnetic compass.

NARRATOR: The Hawkins family have been doing this for over 150 years.

This is our spot.

NARRATOR: Let's hear the thoughts of great grandson of the founder, Barry.

One gun case.

The size for the stock in there is a little bit on the short side, so we may have a problem in making much more than the tenner of it, if that.

The potato harrow.

It is an interesting item, I don't think I've ever actually ever seen one before.

It could make something in about 30 to 50 pounds.

Stained glass windows.

They are, in actual fact, uh, fairly modern.

A pound or so.

NARRATOR: Thanks, Barry.

I think.

Oh, good front row seats.

NARRATOR: And here they are, in their glory, Natasha.

20 pounds.

A tenner.

A fiver.

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] [INAUDIBLE] 28, in the corner.

30, 35, 35, 35, 40, 45?

45?

45!

[INAUDIBLE] 45.

Seriously, I [INAUDIBLE] as a result NARRATOR: I think you might be right.

Done with such style, too.

Barry is the fastest auctioneer in the west.

Or, no, we're in the East?

NARRATOR: Now, I think this may be our very first cart jack.

Start that one at 50 pounds.

Tuppence ha'penny, then?

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] They can't take a ten?

A ten, a twelve, twelve, 15, or 15, by 15.

At 15, look it, goes well in the garden, if nothing else.

At 15, 18, outbid at 18, 20.

25 to 20, the bidder's right there.

20 pounds.

A minute quicker, they're 20 pounds.

I'm picking some bean here.

Ouch.

And I think there could be more of that to come.

NARRATOR: Could Paul have got this one wrong?

Is Dunham not the market for this sort of stuff?

Do you see the lot indicator?

It's so cool.

It does cricket scoring at the weekend.

You can get a job as the lot number clicker.

Oh.

NARRATOR: Many pipe smokers in?

At least two, ideally.

I don't know if we're going do it, I paid.

49.

Don't say "we."

You said "we."

[LAUGHING] Don't drag-- don't drag me into this.

1,000 pounds, in this time.

200?

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] Come on!

Come on.

[INAUDIBLE] That's great.

You bid.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

You all right?

55 right hand, at quick, out of 55.

That man commands bids.

Wait a minute, we started at 5, from 55, because if showed to-- Via two, via two cons.

NARRATOR: That one was definitely down to Barry.

Big fan of Mexican food?

NARRATOR: Yes, let's think positive for Paul's second bid of farminalia.

NARRATOR: It's a beautiful day.

People could be inspired by gardening items.

AUCTIONEER: And everything.

Sure, could it?

You're, like, a tonic.

David, I asked you to hold this up, didn't I?

No.

Oh, dear.

You starting at 150, 60 pounds?

Surely.

Come on.

A fiver?

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] 30 pounds!

Come on, come on, come on.

And at 30 pounds.

13 52.

Oh, you look like you're about to implode.

NARRATOR: Ha.

He's not used to this.

You look like you have, like, a jalapeno.

NARRATOR: Natasha's turn.

Her skittles.

Tenner?

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] Come on.

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] Do you know, what are you hesitating?

12, 15, 18, 18, 19, 18 18 come on.

I'm getting frightened.

I'm glad I'm selling, not buying.

Imagine you were on the receiving end of "Come on!"

That poor man traumatized me.

And I bought some stained glass windows I didn't want.

NARRATOR: Yes, but strangely it's only working for Natasha's lots, so maybe it's just you.

Perhaps a bit of trademark militaria can turn things around.

Nice little ammunition box.

He said, nice little ammunition box.

You start that 20 to 30 pounds?

A tenner?

Five, I got a 5.

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] The book has it at 25.

[INAUDIBLE] got it.

25 pounds.

That's all right.

That's a loss, and I am not disappointed.

NARRATOR: Yes, things are almost looking up.

Natasha's case, the gun one.

Is that more of a Paul thing?

Just trying to be cool in front of you, and it's not really working.

So I bought something about which I know nothing.

I have a lovely little gun case in for you.

Work it, Barry.

Work it.

A tenner?

A fiver?

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] Come on!

You!

Are you a man or a mouse?

How it's going?

I know nothing.

Neither do I. NARRATOR: Well, that's three of us.

I think I should actually just give up and become the clicker of the lot number.

That's all I'm qualified to do.

NARRATOR: Perhaps buds are more the thing?

Paul's latest rusty offering.

Right, there'll be a lot been held up for you.

Right you, all know what it is, right?

You're starting at 100 pounds.

50.

A tenner?

I like the optimism they've reverted to.

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] 10 pound!

[GASP] [AUCTIONEER CHANT] Don't wear David out, you can put it down.

At 28.

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] Wait a minute, wait a minute, Almost, almost money.

Oh, [INAUDIBLE] at 40 pounds.

Didn't quite rake in the profit I'd hoped for, did it?

Boom.

Did you know that?

Did you see that?

NARRATOR: A few more pounds off his pile.

Anything else, Paul?

It's more, kind of, staying home and gardens, going to happen.

It's a seed drill.

NARRATOR: She's right invented by Jethro Tull, before the whole rock thing took off.

Ha!

40 or 50 pounds?

A tenner?

I like his optimism at the beginning of these things, and then it just quickly-- All begin wake up.

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] We've been here before.

[AUCTIONEER CHAT] On my book for 25.

25, you're [INAUDIBLE] at a 25.

Is that my worst result at auction ever?

NARRATOR: The Antiques Road Trip annals are being consulted as I speak.

I've got two chapters of my memoir today.

One, just Barry L. Hawkins, the man.

And then another chapter is just Laidlaw- worst day ever?

NARRATOR: Someone might read it while sat in this very chair, Natasha.

Can you hold it up, David?

Yes, David.

That chair, then, you start at 150 pounds, a tenner, 10?

12?

A 12?

15?

And 15, 15, 18, 19, 20 or 21, 22, 28, 28, 28.

Come on, 30?

The lady [INAUDIBLE] there.

Shout, shout.

Shout.

Scream at them.

I'm trying.

Where did I get to?

Now I'm lost.

Was about, 28?

[AUCTIONEER CHANT] Come on!

Yeah!

The bidding's here at 40, it's got history to it now.

And 45, 50?

55?

And 50 pound, in the door at 50 pounds.

You done quick, get a 50 pounds.

NARRATOR: Natasha's had a comfortable victory today.

Ha!

Let's get out of here, and do a reality check.

Yeah, yeah, OK. NARRATOR: Paul began with 562 pounds and 22 pence, and he made a loss, after auction costs, of 105 pounds and 20p.

So he's ended up with 457 pounds and tuppence.

Whilst Natasha started out with 192 pounds, and after a much smaller loss of 23 pounds and 28 pence after costs, she has just 168 pounds and 72p for next time.

Still a long way behind, but she's the winner today.

Pinch yourself, Paul.

That was real.

Oh, dearie me.

NARRATOR: Cheerio.