NARRATOR: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts-- [HORN BLOWING] --with 200 pounds each.

I like, I like, I like.

Ah!

NARRATOR: A classic car-- [HONKING] --and they're going to scour Britain for antiques.

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

But it's no mean feat.

They'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

It's fine.

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

Pull out the ignition!

NARRATOR: This is "The Antiques Road Trip."

[THEME MUSIC] Yeah.

Hello.

We're going anywhere and everywhere.

Journey with Ru and Phil.

We're getting on well, aren't we?

- Yeah.

- You think?

I think we're getting on real well.

I've always got on with me, though, in fairness.

NARRATOR: Let's hang on to that feeling.

I can imagine you consult yourself for advice, fashion tips.

I just don't listen.

You got to.

I don't listen.

NARRATOR: Phil Serrell's auctioneer from Worcester with a somewhat plainspoken approach to buying antiques.

PHIL: What I really want is a van Gogh for the price of a van.

NARRATOR: While deal Arusha Irvine from Argyll and Bute-- How am I looking?

Oh.

NARRATOR: --likes to say it in style.

PHIL: The viewers don't realize that there is a pantechnicon following us with Ru's wardrobe in it.

Most television companies have the crew bus.

We have the Ru bus.

NARRATOR: Ha ha.

Not true, of course.

But neither, sadly, is there any need for a lolly, lorry.

49 pounds.

[INAUDIBLE] Don't say anything.

Auction day feels like a game of snakes and ladders.

Unfortunately, your snake were a little bit bigger than your ladders.

ARUSHA: And I was right back to square number two.

NARRATOR: Yep, Ru's managed to improve on her starting stake of 200 pounds but not by much-- 9 pounds and 90 P, actually.

Whereas Phil, the silver fox, began with the same sun and is currently sitting on more than double, with 424 pounds and 30 pence.

I kind of think that you and I got this wrong because if we'd have settled after the first auction-- Hm.

--we'd both got more money than we have now.

NARRATOR: Don't stop believing.

Eh, Phil?

After kicking off back in Herefordshire at Brimfield, those two in their Triumph stag had a tour of the Midlands.

They motored north to see something in Yorkshire and then plotted a course south.

Now, they're about to explore Oxfordshire, and then clamber across the Cotswolds to the Gloucestershire town of Newent.

Today's drama will see its final act at an auction in Stratford-upon-Avon but with curtains up now in Deddington.

Once famous for its clockmakers, the Oxfordshire town now as an antique center.

Whoa!

I see you're completely done.

Look at that.

ARUSHA: Good luck.

Looking forward to this.

NARRATOR: I've never seen Phil so excited.

Brenda, how are you?

- I'm good.

- Good to see you.

Phil, lovely to see you.

You too, my love.

Got some stuff in here, haven't we?

BRENDA: We have.

PHIL: I wouldn't want to come on stocktaking day.

Can I have a wander around?

- Yes.

And then give you a call-- Yeah.

--when I've found undoubted treasures?

So what we're going to do, I am calling you.

[INAUDIBLE] NARRATOR: So with Brenda's Indian love call still ringing in his ears-- [HONKING] NARRATOR: --what's the plan?

I'm almost double the amount of money that we've got.

So this time around, it would be really, really lovely to go and buy something that I'm quite proud of.

But I want to buy something that just really-- I can put my name to.

NARRATOR: Sounds promising.

These are really interesting.

They're for cracking lobster claws.

And then these little bulges here, which are a bit like some really horrible dental instrument, they're for getting the meat out of the end of the lobster claw.

So you've got a set of four.

And if you can afford lobster, you can most certainly afford a set of lobster grabbers.

NARRATOR: The ticket price is 138 pounds.

Anything else?

These are quite interesting because you've got the Star of David there, which should give you a little bit of a clue.

Jewish religious items-- as I understand it, you're not allowed to touch the Torah at all.

NARRATOR: That's the Hebrew scripture, traditionally on a scroll and read out loud to the congregation.

So these are used.

And you can just see this sort of pointing index finger.

Here that's used to basically follow where you're reading on the Torah.

NARRATOR: They're called yads-- 198 pounds each.

This is dated to 1878, and this one is dated to 1894.

It's silver.

So I'm kind of playing Ru at her own game a little bit.

And they're interesting things.

They're certainly a talking point.

The one thing I'm concerned about this one, if you look at it, it's at an angle, which makes me wonder whether this one has been broken off at some point in time.

But I think for that reason, I'm probably more interested in this one.

I'm going to try and schmooze old Brenda.

NARRATOR: Meanwhile, elsewhere in Oxfordshire, Ru's about to arrive in the market town of Banbury, noted for that nursery rhyme featuring a fine lady and a horse, also for a sweet pastry called the Banbury cake which is quite like the Eccles variety.

PETER: Hi.

- Hi, Peter.

I'm Ru.

Lovely to meet you.

Nice to see you.

What a cool place.

How long have you been here?

About three years now coming up for our birthday.

NARRATOR: Well, many happy returns, Peter.

But with so much to take in, it's sometimes nice to have a bit of a guided tour.

And on the subject of birthdays, here's a little something from the '50s.

PETER: You can see we've got Winston Churchill sat here-- ARUSHA: Right.

PETER: --celebrating his 80th birthday.

So there he is as an elder statesman, and all the characters within the piece are him from a child all the way through his campaign years in Africa and until he became prime minister.

NARRATOR: By the great political cartoonist David Lowe as well.

PETER: It's a newspaper cutting, not an expensive item either.

ARUSHA: 73 pounds.

NARRATOR: Well, this is very encouraging.

But an ashtray?

Really?

Not something you'd expect me to go for, but I love art deco.

I absolutely love the style.

That's very art deco.

That's quintessential-- with that column as well.

And would that be chromed?

Certainly, yeah.

NARRATOR: 40 pounds, though.

And I like the fact that it's the copper and the comb.

It's a great look, isn't it?

And oh, look.

That actually lifts out.

So that means if someone wanted this, doesn't have to be an ashtray.

No.

You could-- You could actually put some soil in there, have a-- Put a sort of pot plant.

Yeah, absolutely.

NARRATOR: Or a dog bowl for a Great Dane.

Yeah.

It's got a wonderful reeded column base too.

It does.

It-- look at you.

You know your stuff.

NARRATOR: So with Ru's little pile increasing steadily, how's Phil getting on in Deddington?

Dead good?

This little-- BRENDA: Latrine.

Bijouterie table, latrine, or whatever.

And that's Victorian?

It is Victorian, yeah.

And it's walnut?

Absolutely.

And it's about 1875, 1880?

About that.

And it is-- BRENDA: You can bid me on it.

For my pocket, it's 150, 200 quid.

That's not going to buy that, is it?

Just-- NARRATOR: I think that means more, Phil.

Have a proper look first.

Is that continental?

BRENDA: I would say it's French.

Because people call these silver tables, and they're not because a silver table is a Georgian mahogany table that you put things on.

This is a bijouterie table or a latrine or a display table.

But one of the things that just lifts it up from the norm is if you look at this piece of glassware, that's beveled.

Around the sides is also beveled.

But the other thing that tells you 100 things about this is the lock because a continental lock basically turns twice, doesn't it?

BRENDA: Absolutely.

And an English lock turns once.

And because the lock on here turns twice, this is a French piece of furniture, not an English piece of furniture.

Does that make it worth more or less?

Usually more in mind because it's more elegant.

Usually less in mind because I'm trying to buy it.

I said 150 to 200, which I know is as mean as whatever, really.

What would you take for it?

Nearer to 300.

How much nearer?

Very near.

What about one of those yads he was admiring earlier priced at 198 pounds?

You've picked two good things.

I picked two.

Yeah, I know I have.

BRENDA: So if you can give me 100 pounds back on those-- So that's 400 quid, isn't it?

It's 400.

I can't do that.

NARRATOR: He's right, Brenda.

He's got 420 to spend, but he's only just started.

You need 275 on that?

285.

NARRATOR: I think we're close.

PHIL: This is like a monumental gamble for me.

280 pounds-- that's a massive punt.

But you know what?

You got to have a gamble, haven't you?

Can I have that for 280.

Shake the hand quickly.

There we go.

NARRATOR: That was fun.

But it ain't over yet.

BRENDA: Give me what you can give me on the yad.

The best I can do on that is 50 quid.

BRENDA: If you can do 60, I want you to do well at the auction.

And you say, Brenda, thank you very much.

Brenda, thank you very much.

NARRATOR: So 340 pounds on two items, and Brenda has a parting personal gift.

Because I-- Ah ha!

--I see you as Mr.

Happy.

Ah.

NARRATOR: Yeah, got a ring to it, isn't it?

But Phil departs Deddington pleased.

And what news from Banbury Cross?

We are running out of time and it's because so many things are catching my eye.

So one cool thing I found here, it's not what you think it is.

Looks like a book.

It's actually a Huntley and Palmer's biscuit tin.

Huntley and Palmer's were pretty much the Rolls Royce of the biscuit world.

Their tins are so collectable.

And this one is actually 1920s, 1930s.

Biscuit tins is not my area of expertise.

But I know if you are going to buy any, Huntley and Palmer are definitely the name that you want to look for.

NARRATOR: So biccy tin added to the Churchill cartoon and art deco ashtray.

Over to proprietor Peter.

ARUSHA: This, Peter, I really like.

It's great.

yeah.

It's really cool.

It's like, it's got a few little wee dents there.

And you've got 40 on the-- PETER: 40 pounds?

What could you do-- OK. --for a wee Scots lass?

35?

I was thinking more along the lines of 25.

Sounds like we might have to meet in the middle.

30?

30.

Let's do it.

NARRATOR: OK, what's next?

PETER: At 73 pounds for a piece as interesting as this-- ARUSHA: Be nice.

PETER: What if we say 60 pounds?

It's a fish face.

That-- PETER: It's a fish face?

--means something.

PETER: It needs thought.

NARRATOR: Think about the biscuit tin, eh?

ARUSHA: What was on that again?

That was-- PETER: 40 pounds.

ARUSHA: 40.

What could you do on this?

It would probably have to be around the 35 mark.

Hm, OK.

So that's agreed at 30.

PETER: It is?

You mentioned 60 for that-- I did.

--and 35 for that.

Mm-hm.

125?

Yeah.

I like nice, round numbers.

Oh, do you?

That round?

I would be over the moon if I could have all three for 100 pounds on the nose.

PETER: 105, you've got a deal.

Oh, Peter, you really are a star.

Thank you so much.

NARRATOR: Whew, so that's 25 pounds for the tin, 30 for the ashtray, and 55 for the picture.

You going to be rooting for me?

I'll be rooting-- well, I like Philip too, you know.

NARRATOR: Only fair, especially as her rival is currently taking a seventh inning stretch in a star spangled corner of the county after making his way to the town of Chipping Norton to find out about Fred Lewis, the father of British baseball-- PHIL: Alan, how are you?

Hello, Phillip.

Pleasure to see you.

NARRATOR: --from local historian Alan Watkins.

PHIL: Alan, was Fred Lewis a local man?

Yes, born in the town.

His father ran a building business and an undertaking business, and Fred took over that.

PHIL: And did you know him?

Yes.

NARRATOR: Fred founded a scout troop called the Pioneers in 1907 and decided they would play baseball instead of the more usual British sports.

ALAN: I think he wanted a game that could be played by boys of all ages and all sizes on equal terms, and he considered baseball to be the game.

I thought baseball was an American sport.

Was it played over here as well?

Up to the turn of the century, yes.

Yes, there was a lot of baseball played.

PHIL: Really?

- Yeah.

The baseball was played on the grounds in the summer, and footballers played on the grounds in the winter.

Derby County played on baseball ground.

That's right, isn't it?

The baseball ground.

Yes, that's right.

PHIL: I have no idea that baseball was that big in this country.

NARRATOR: Yeah, although by the early 20th century, it was already America's pastime, the game having been introduced by British settlers.

So Fred's troops weren't entirely left of field.

These first games, Alan-- were they very competitive?

Yes.

Oh yes.

I think there was five teams in the competition, and they played for a cup.

If you have a look behind you, it's there-- Oh, that's the very cup, is it?

That's the very cup, yes.

NARRATOR: Fred's Pioneers took the Spalding Cup in 1917, and soon, Chippy had an adult baseball diamond as the craze for the sport took off in the '20s and '30s.

In 1926, they went up to London, and they beat the London Americans to be the All-England champions.

PHIL: Where was that played?

Stamford Bridge.

PHIL: What, the Chelsea Football grounds?

Chelsea Football grounds, yes.

PHIL: So there's that connection between football and baseball all the time still.

ALAN: Yes.

NARRATOR: Fred's team won that 13-12, as the Bush League side began to knock it out of the park.

PHIL: Was it just a local thing, or were the Americans aware just how great baseball was in Chipping Norton?

ALAN: Oh yes.

They were, yes.

In the '50s and the '60s, there were American bases around here.

So there was always some American teams.

And there was certainly a team from Japan came here.

PHIL: And have you got any artifacts from the great days of baseball?

ALAN: There's a full uniform there-- PHIL: That's really cool.

ALAN: --and there's a catcher's mitt and the fielder's mitt there.

So-- PHIL: That looks like a frying pan, that does.

ALAN: Yes.

- Can I put it on?

ALAN: Yes.

So you held that like that, did you?

ALAN: The catcher would, yes.

And how fast was the ball traveling when it hit you there?

I don't know.

Very fast, yes.

NARRATOR: Well, the world record is 100 miles an hour, which is probably an awful lot more than the Chippy Scouts guest pitcher can sum them up.

Stand by.

Look how he's looking at me.

Look at that look!

And there's no venom there.

I'm not sure I'm ready for this.

Are you trying really hard.

Trip him up!

Trip him up!

Cheat!

Kids though, they've got no idea at all, have they?

Absolutely no idea at all.

NARRATOR: Next time, stick to whatever the equivalent of third man is, Phil.

Meanwhile, Ru is still on the lookout for that certain something, having taken our route towards the town of Biscester.

Well, we've already been to tourist tongue twisters like Worcester and Ulster on this trip.

So bring it on, By-ces-ter.

- Hi, Ian.

- Hi, Ru.

How are you doing?

- I'm good.

How are you?

- Good, thank you.

NARRATOR: They got some proper antiques in here, I see.

I wonder what Arusha will make of it?

I think there's a sign from me here.

Have faith in your luck.

It will not fail.

NARRATOR: Well, the harder you practice, the luckier you get.

Got quite a nice pair of plaster busts over here that-- Oh?

NARRATOR: [INAUDIBLE] could be just the thing.

Very nice.

I love the faces on them.

Yeah.

This lady here, she's got quite a wistful look on her face, doesn't she?

IAN: Definitely.

Almost like she's dreaming of a long lost love.

And this could be her sister who's already got moves on her true love.

Now what's interesting here, you've also got the signature of the sculptor.

Thing with art nouveau sculpture-- if you find a piece by the right artist-- Yeah.

--you're laughing all the way to the bank.

NARRATOR: Well, that's what we'd like to see, although she may be looking for a slightly safer bet.

OK, this is not the most exciting thing in the world.

It's a display case.

But antique dealers and traders go nuts for display cases.

Now often, the display cases that sell best at auction are branded advertising display cases for the big drinks manufacturers at the time.

But this is just a nice, clean example-- velvet lined, nice condition, no cracks to the glass.

And the price on it is 45.

It's not something that's going to sock you in the face with excitement, but it could be a good, solid buy.

NARRATOR: A bit like Phil's purchase on a much more modest scale.

Now what you got there?

This figure looks really familiar, doesn't it?

Considering I've bought a lovely print with about 40 of his faces in there.

NARRATOR: Ticket price-- 20 pounds.

Ian?

This is quite interesting, but there's no artist signature on here.

Yeah, I've had it out of frame, and I can't find one, unfortunately.

Ah yes, I see.

Yep.

You've done your best here.

Yep.

It does appear to be an original.

You can see sort of the pen marks.

IAN: Hm.

And the paper is slightly ruffled where the paper's been a little bit too thin for that heavy black ink.

I quite like this.

NARRATOR: So Winnie mark two and the display case have made her little list.

Still got over 100 left, mind.

I'm a wee bit squeezed for money.

I've got to be really careful.

Yeah.

ARUSHA: The display case, I like.

What could you do on that?

I could do 35.

35.

Hm.

In my mind, I was thinking around 20.

How about 25?

ARUSHA: 25, OK. Mr. Churchill?

What could you do on him?

Churchill, I've had him a little while now.

So I could do that for 10 pounds.

ARUSHA: Could you do 30 for the two?

Um, yeah, OK.

Brilliant.

Thank you, Ian.

You're a star.

No problem.

NARRATOR: That was quick work.

20, 40.

Lovely.

10 pounds change.

- Perfect.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Fingers crossed you beat Philip Serrell Thank you.

You take care.

- Take care.

- Bye.

Bye bye.

NARRATOR: So with Biscester's best wishes ringing in our ears, let's get a little idle speculation done.

PHIL: If you could go anywhere in any car with anybody-- [GASP] Now you're talking.

Hit me with it.

Jag E-type-- Yeah.

--in Mongolia, and it would either be you-- Aw, you know-- --or Bruce Springsteen.

NARRATOR: "Thunder Road" trip, eh?

Nighty night.

Next day, we're still driving a stag, and it looks more like Berkshire than Mongolia.

Definitely no Boss either, How did you go on yesterday?

Really good.

I was spending my money.

My wallet was in and out of my pocket all day.

I bought two items-- Right.

--and spent more on one item than I've ever spent on anything on a road trip before.

Aw.

NARRATOR: Well, we'll get our statisticians on to that one, but it does sound highly plausible after splashing out on that on that bijouterie cabinet and yad-- Ah ha ha!

I see you as Mr.

Happy.

Ha ha.

--leaving just under 85 pounds for today's purchases whilst Arusha picked up two Winston Churchill cartoons, a display cabinet, and an art deco ashtray and a biscuit tin.

It's a fish face.

That means I'm thinking.

NARRATOR: So she still has almost 75 for whatever she takes a fancy to next.

PHIL: I think we're in Berkshire today, aren't we?

I actually used to live there for a few years.

I don't know if you know the little town called West Windsor otherwise known as Slough?

Slough.

NARRATOR: Certainly not included in the itinerary.

Ha.

Later, they'll be heading to Warwickshire for that auction at the home of the Bard.

But the first stop today is in Berkshire at Hungerford where our two players will be treading the boards together.

Cue Phil.

After you.

Why, thank you.

Such a gentleman!

I was going to go in first anyway.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: So much for stage directions.

ARUSHA: Hi, Cole.

How're you?

- Hi, Ru!

- Lovely to meet you.

- Nice to meet you too.

- How are you?

I'm fine, Phil.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: This could be interesting.

There are some very nice things in here.

But after all that big spending they enjoyed yesterday, they'll need a bargain.

What price could I put on you?

Priceless or worthless, one or the other.

NARRATOR: We haven't got to the bottom of that one, but at least he's never bitten anyone, though.

Ru?

ARUSHA: There's a lovely set of enamel topped perfume bottles here.

They're all silver rimmed, home white tier as well.

Enamel is made from crushed colored glass that's fired to such a high temperature that the glass powder melts, becomes liquid, and fuses and hardens again.

And usually, you'll find it in these beautiful, sky blue turquoise colors.

Now the thing that makes me nervous about the set is look at the damage there on the enamel.

Other antiques you can buy, and they've got a little bit of damage.

It's OK.

They can be restored.

You know, they can be painted over.

The cracks can be stapled together.

Enamel has to be one of the hardest materials to restore because of how it's made.

I'm going to have to close the door on these little darlings and keep looking.

NARRATOR: Not enamored.

Heh.

Now, that won't be cheap.

This is just lovely.

This is just a really, really fashionable piece of copper that's probably by a man called John Pearson.

NARRATOR: Of the Cornish Newlands school.

He did mythical animals.

He did fish.

And it's just a really, really good example of what everybody wants at the moment, including me.

So what we're looking for is somewhere on the back here.

It should be stamped JP.

Lo and behold, there you are.

Look, JP-- that is, in fact, John Pearson.

And that's why that is 695 pounds, which is slightly out of my pocket.

NARRATOR: What did I say?

Come on, let's knuckle down.

ARUSHA: There's something that's caught my eye here, and I have to admit, I'm really intrigued by it.

OK.

It's the bi-ritual disk, the Chinese one.

Can I have a look at it?

It's quite a curious object.

I have never come across one before.

NARRATOR: Ticket price, 45 pounds.

My understanding of it is that it's actually, the ritual disk was buried with a dead person.

This has got a dragon symbol on it.

Mm-hm.

So it would give that body, the soul and spirit, the powers of the dragon in the afterlife.

This is why I love oriental history.

Hm.

If only it could talk.

I do like it.

It's obviously not jade, but it is a green stone.

Hm.

NARRATOR: Sounds like she might be buying the bi disk.

I have to admit, I've been completely seduced by this.

It's such a sweet thing.

OK.

It's a bit of a risk for me, though.

Right.

But I do like it.

You've got 45 on the ticket.

COLE: We do.

I was looking more at around the 35 mark.

Best thing I can do then is I'll try and get hold of Deider.

I'll give them a call.

- Brilliant.

- See what we can do.

- Thank you.

If you could, that'd be great.

NARRATOR: Not so much cold calling as Cole calling.

COLE: Gerald, I've got somebody looking at one of your pieces, the Chinese carved ritual disk.

They're asking if you'd take 35.

MAN (PHONE): Is it cash?

It will be, yes.

MAN (PHONE): Um, yeah, OK. Yep?

NARRATOR: Glory be.

You're in luck.

Thank you.

Fantastic.

NARRATOR: So that little item-- COLE: There you go.

Thank you so much, Cole.

NARRATOR: --just about wraps up her purchases.

Brilliant.

Thank you.

Wish me luck on auction day.

- Good luck.

Take care.

Bye bye.

Bye bye.

NARRATOR: Which just leaves our Phil.

I think this is just a great bit of social history.

This is a pestle and mortar.

For the life of me, I can never remember which is the pestle-- NARRATOR: Yep!

--and which is the mortar.

NARRATOR: Correct.

The ticket price is 35 pounds.

And these are great things.

You would have found these in the local chemist shop.

You'd have found them in the kitchen.

There's a bit of a problem with this in that this has got nothing to do with this.

But that's lovely.

That isn't so lovely.

The one thing I do know is that holding this is like a workout at the gym.

It's like weight training.

NARRATOR: Feel the burn, Phil.

See if you can lose a few pounds off that price, at least.

I love this.

I really love it.

It's cool, isn't it?

Yeah.

Uncool in that that doesn't-- they're totally unrelated items.

OK.

I was hoping I could buy the two for like 25 quid.

Hm.

Or even 20 would be better still.

I don't think I'm going to get that close.

30 quid.

Do you think 25 might buy them?

NARRATOR: You can almost read Cole's thoughts.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Just-- - I'll shake your hand.

- All right.

Going to tell you something now.

Do it.

That is old.

OK.

It is nearly as old as me.

No.

NARRATOR: Cheek.

I think that this is, at worst, 18th century.

And it might even be 17th century.

So all of this is a preamble to me paying you, isn't it?

It is.

Go on.

Let me find some money.

NARRATOR: Time to grab your grinder and get on the road while we guess just where Ru's got to.

Yep, she's off back to Oxfordshire and the county town where, amongst all those venerable colleges, is one named after the Great Scottish science rider Mary Somerville.

Hi, Bridget.

I'm really lucky to meet you.

Hi, welcome to Somerville.

Thank you.

Such a beautiful location.

Do you want to see around?

Yes, please.

NARRATOR: Bridget Stenhouse is a Somerville mass graduate.

So how many people are on this campus?

About 800 people live in.

NARRATOR: The author of a prize winning thesis on the woman who surmounted several obstacles to become the queen of 19th century science.

BRIDGET: She was a very tenacious little girl.

And when she was growing up, she really wanted to know more about maths.

She was studying Euclid at night.

So obviously, she needed candles.

And when her father realized where all the candles had gone, he forbade her from studying any further and had her candles taken away from her.

So she continued to study in the darkness.

But her dad was very unhappy with her studies, and he told his wife, if we don't put a stop to this, she'll end up in a straight jacket.

NARRATOR: Undeterred, Mary grew up studying mathematics and astronomy in particular, with Sir Isaac Newton's "Principia" amongst her favorites, while at the same time, the great French scholar Laplace was busy applying the Briton's theories.

BRIDGET: In France, they were way ahead.

Laplace had modeled the solar system using the calculus, and people really enjoyed predicting where a comet would be and then looking up into the skies, and there it was.

In 1817, Somerville was able to meet Laplace when she was in Paris, and he was midway through publishing his "Mecanique Celeste," which is where he documented all these incredible results about the solar system.

She was one of only a handful of people that could actually understand Laplace's work in the first place.

Somerville came home and later translated Laplace's work into English but not only in language but also in the notation that she used.

And she introduced lots of diagrams to help English readers really grasp this French mathematics.

ARUSHA: You could say she actually moved science forward and made it more accessible?

Yeah, and her work was actually used as a textbook at Cambridge University.

So the top scientists of the time were using her work to study this mathematics and take it forward.

NARRATOR: Soon, Somerville became one of the first women admitted to the Royal Astronomical Society and published "On the Connection of the Physical Sciences," one of the best selling books of its kind.

BRIDGET: Because she was interested in the calculus, the thread connecting all of these different branches of science, she was able to really get to the forefront of all these different branches and connect them through this piece of work.

NARRATOR: In the college library, there are a number of artifacts from the life of Mary Somerville, including precious editions of her writings.

But amongst Bridget's favorite items are these letters from inventors and philosophers.

This one is from Charles Babbage.

Oh wow.

Yeah, so he is actually inviting Somerville to come and see his calculating engine at his house.

He's basically saying, you have to come because I've already invited Herschel, and I've told him you'll be there.

ARUSHA: So really, he invited her to see the first computer.

Yes, and it was a steam powered computer-- so very different to the computers that we have nowadays.

ARUSHA: Oh!

And this letter is from John Stuart Mill, and he's writing in 1868 about his petition to parliament to ask for the right to vote for women.

And he says here it has already nearly 14,000 signatures.

Now it would also be of great value to the cause if you would allow the first signature on this petition to bear your name.

And I think she was very proud to be asked to be the first signature.

And she obviously said yes.

I can see by your face how much you love this.

BRIDGET: I know.

It was very exciting.

ARUSHA: You would read these.

And I think she'd be very, very proud that she'll be on the Scottish 10 pounds note at the end of the year.

So-- - Really?

Yeah.

So hopefully, even more people will know her story and be inspired to take up science.

NARRATOR: From trailblazing scientists to worried Serrells.

PHIL: So I'm on my way to Wallingford, last shot of the day.

I don't know what Ru's bought, but I was kind of thinking that, you know, she will have bought things that are 20th century or later.

I bought things that I didn't know I would have used some of it.

NARRATOR: He must have mislaid his happy scarf somewhere.

Anyway, as he's just revealed, he's en voyage to Wallingford down beside the Thames and getting pretty low on cash.

Hey, Pat.

How are you?

- Hello, Phil.

Lovely to see you.

- Good to see you.

How's things?

All right?

Are you busy?

Very, very busy at the moment.

Got lots of things for me?

I hope so.

NARRATOR: Springs eternal.

Heh.

Has to, really, with less than 60 pounds left in its wallet.

Can I have a look at that string box?

Thank you.

PAT: Yes.

This is quite interesting, isn't it?

What is interesting about it?

It's a bobbin holder rather than string, I think.

Oh right.

This is meant to be looking like a beehive.

Yeah.

I would think this is probably lignum vitae.

You know what lignum vitae stands for?

Do you know what the Latin is?

Life-- Tree of life.

Tree of life, yes.

Yeah, it's a very, very hard wood.

So I think I'm right in saying it's the only wood that doesn't float.

NARRATOR: The ticket price is 45 pounds unless Phil can somehow shrink it a bit.

Well, I don't want to be too rude to you, really, but if I could buy it for 25 pounds, I'd have it now off you.

Oh, he said yes.

You better tell Pat.

Thank you very much indeed.

NARRATOR: Bobbin bought, but he'd like to add a bit more.

PHIL: I'm going to spend every one of my last pennies with you.

[INAUDIBLE] we've got lots and lots of them.

NARRATOR: Don't get your hopes up, Jean.

When he says pennies-- It's a little snuff box, isn't it?

The very Reverend Theobald Mathew administering the pledge of total abstinence, looks like.

Isn't that lovely?

Well, you don't have to stick to it.

That's no good for me all, is it?

That's a lovely thing.

This is 19th century papier mache, isn't it?

It is indeed, yeah.

The problem with papier mache is once it's damaged-- Yes.

--you can't do anything at all about it, can you?

It's so old.

It'd be a miracle if it wasn't a little bit damaged.

That's right.

Have you ever been to Blarney?

I have, yes.

Did you kiss the stone there?

Might have done.

Might have done.

NARRATOR: Now might be the moment for a bit of straight talking, Phil.

Jean, I've got 34 pounds and 30 pence, so I can't spend any more.

I can, of course, spend less.

JEAN: That is too much, I'm afraid.

OK, let's see what else we got, then.

Jean, what about this little rosewood sealed box, 19th century?

And you'd have your signet ring or whatever.

Yeah.

You put it into your sealing wax.

So that's quite sweet.

So this is a tenner, isn't it?

Would there be anything else that I could perhaps put up with that?

Little sort of tween boxes, which are rather sweet.

That's a little bit of lignum vitae.

NARRATOR: Yes, we know all about that.

Oh, that's-- well, I don't know what that is.

Very strange.

What on earth is that?

NARRATOR: Maybe some sort of puzzle?

What's in that case in the back, Jean?

That glass measuring-- is that a measure thing?

Yes.

Yes, this is-- I love this.

Medicine glass measure.

Mm-hm.

Does that come to 34 pounds and 30 pence?

NARRATOR: Crikey.

It's not "Supermarket Sweep," you know.

That's 10.

20, 30, 46.

And you have-- NARRATOR: All together now.

34 pounds and 30 pence.

All right, you're breaking me heart, but there you go.

I should have kissed the Blarney Stone as well.

NARRATOR: He's doing all right, picking up a little pile of [INAUDIBLE] with his last remaining pennies.

That is it.

There is no more.

You poor thing.

- Thanks, Pat.

- Bye bye.

- Bye, bye.

- Take care.

NARRATOR: So while Pat adds up-- 58, 59, 30.

NARRATOR: --yep, it all seems to be in order.

We're almost at that next to last auction.

The one sad thing about the road trip-- Yes.

--is they come to an end.

And the thing is, I'm already missing you, and you're still by my side.

NARRATOR: Chin up, you two.

Let's get some shut eye.

Now remember, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some get lucky at the auction.

You know what?

If I'm going to be Philip Shakespeare, you ought to be Ru Hathaway.

I'd rather be Lady Macbeth.

Well, that means hubble, bubble, toil, and trouble, doesn't it?

NARRATOR: "Scottish Play," please.

After debuting in Deddington, Ru and Phil have now arrived in the County of Warwickshire upon the Avon, [INAUDIBLE] fine art auctioneers with internet bidding too.

Phil spent all of his 424 pounds and 30 pence on five lots, one of them quite risky.

PHIL: What did I go and do that for?

You'll make it work.

You always do.

Really?

[WHIMPERS] NARRATOR: While Arusha parted with a mere 170 pounds on her five auction lots.

I just got to hope that Churchill's famous quote doesn't come true here.

Never did one print make so much money for one Ru.

ARUSHA: This could actually be Phil's big profit item.

I think he's bought really, really well.

I actually haven't come across any of these, and the few instances I've heard of them, they go for crazy money.

NARRATOR: Now what about the finely wrought opinions of our auctioneer, Christopher Ironmonger?

Generally, biscuit tins are quite collectable.

This one has had a bit of a rough time.

10 to 20, might do 30.

The Louis XV style display case, the useful item, I could imagine it doing somewhere between 120 and 150.

That's our hope and expectation, anyway.

NARRATOR: I don't think Phil heard that.

Just as well.

Do you know, I've been an auctioneer for 40 odd years now?

And I still get the yips.

Is that why you've got so many gray hairs?

This is Arctic blonde.

It's not gray.

NARRATOR: Well, let's just hope his yad doesn't chop those locks.

What about 100 for this?

50 to start with, then.

Come on, let's get going.

50.

A lot of history behind it.

50 on bid.

50, 50, 60, 60, 70, sir.

At 70 on the net.

80 on the back wall.

It's 70 on the back now.

At 70 pound.

80 now.

80, 80.

90?

90 I've got on the back wall.

At 90, at 90.

Are we all done?

I'll settle for that.

It's going to be sold.

If you're all done, 90 pounds.

NARRATOR: Great start.

I wanted to buy things that I could put my name to.

And I'm happy with what I've bought.

You can hold your head high.

It's just selling it that's the problem.

NARRATOR: Time for Ru's little Chinese disk.

I saw it in the shop as well, and I thought, that's a nice thing.

And I was toying with the idea of coming back to it.

Oh!

Somebody got there before me.

You snooze, you lose.

50 for it.

50 to get me going.

Come on.

30 to start me.

Come on.

30, surely.

Where's all the internet bids?

AUCTIONEER: 30, Yes?

Yes, 30 on bid, 30.

5, do I heard-- 35.

40, 40, 5.

45.

50-- 45 I've got over there, at 45 pounds.

It's no money at all.

45-- are we done?

[INAUDIBLE] That's really disappointing.

Depends on your perspective there.

NARRATOR: There speaks experience.

Sound profit.

I thought that might have made 100 quid.

Oh, thank you for that.

So I'm actually chuffed a little mint balls.

So you're kicking a girl while she's done.

NARRATOR: You'll get your revenge, Ru, although his medicinal paraphernalia should be fine.

Let's hope it's not a bitter pill to swallow.

Uh-huh.

We've got 10 pound on commission.

At 10 pounds.

At 15 now.

At 10 pounds-- It's kind of a notional 70 pence profit there, isn't it?

AUCTIONEER: [INAUDIBLE] have at 15.

20, do I here?

At 15, right on the back wall at 15.

Any further advance on 15?

It's a nice, little, solid profit.

NARRATOR: She's getting the hang of this.

Any profit is a good profit.

We're not setting the world on fire yet, are we?

No, [INAUDIBLE].

NARRATOR: We're working up to it.

Her biscuit tin.

If you were a biscuit, what biscuit would you be?

Um-- I think you're a pink wafer.

AUCTIONEER: 70 to start.

[INAUDIBLE] 20 pounds for it, practically light [INAUDIBLE] 20.

I'm bid 20 and 5.

Do I here?

At 20, the maiden bid of 25, surely.

You're going to miss a chance.

At 25-- 25.

30, madam.

30, 30.

And five, sir?

It's 30 with the lady, at 30.

The lady's bid at 30 pounds.

Are we all done at 30?

Not groundbreaking stuff, is it?

Not even biscuit breaking, really, was it?

NARRATOR: Softly, softly, you two.

That profit is the feeling you get when you don't tip a biscuit in the tea, and it snaps off.

Don't you just hate that?

NARRATOR: Not compared to losing money.

How will Phil's bunch of [INAUDIBLE] fare?

Nice little collection this is.

So, I don't know, 50 pound for them all?

50 pounds.

40 for them, then.

30 then.

30 pounds-- it's nothing, is it?

25, then.

Come on!

20, I'm bid at 20.

This seems awfully cheap to me.

It's a nice puzzle and everything.

At 20 pounds-- - [INAUDIBLE] AUCTIONEER: --it's going to be sold.

The bid's with the lady here at 20 pounds.

If you're done, it will be sold.

You're done.

Surprised.

I'm really surprised.

Wood, no good.

They were lovingly hand-made by someone, and you deserved to get more than that.

And that's the truth.

Seriously!

She talks to you.

Who doesn't trust [INAUDIBLE]?

And you try and believe her.

[INAUDIBLE] You try and believe her.

Good intentions.

NARRATOR: Now who can think of a use for Ru's old ashtray?

I can just see that in someone's garden.

At nighttime at a garden party.

Put some floating candles in there.

You know what I love about you?

You always have such a vivid imagination, don't you?

Very nice little designer item here.

30 pounds for it.

30 pounds.

20 pounds.

Come on, this would look nice in [INAUDIBLE]---- I thought this would be a nice, easy profit.

Oh, come on.

20 pounds-- I don't believe you.

10, then.

There must be somebody.

10 pounds!

[INAUDIBLE] that.

Well, I suppose I've got to say it, haven't what?

What about five?

Five, thank you.

I'll take eight off anybody.

A bit of competition.

That's what we need.

Never mind, it's got to go.

Five pounds, double [INAUDIBLE].

NARRATOR: Shot down in flames.

Looks like other people don't have the same vision as I do.

Well, you all know what you do with these two.

Ey, Phil?

PHIL: Which is the pestle, which is the mortar?

Um, nope, I don't know them.

NARRATOR: Really?

50 for this, surely.

Nice, heavy one.

30 for it.

Ouch.

25.

Come on.

20?

Oh no.

20.

20 on bid.

There, 25 at the back.

30.

[INAUDIBLE] 25 on the back wall.

25 pounds.

You disappoint me, but never mind.

It's going to go.

Disappoint you?

It breaks my heart.

AUCTIONEER: [INAUDIBLE] NARRATOR: Could have been worse, Phil.

I have spent two Days to end up exactly where I started out.

So basically, you're offering your services for free.

NARRATOR: Now, Ru.

Now, what's the collective noun for those?

A winnie lot?

30 pounds.

20 pound to get me a bid 20 and 5, surely.

At 20 pounds-- all nicely framed, 25.

30, sir.

30.

Five, is it?

35.

40.

40-- [INAUDIBLE] AUCTIONEER: --40, 5.

At 40 pounds, I've got it.

40, I'm going to sell.

40.

That could have been worse.

PHIL: It sure could have been.

You spend as much as you can, and whoever gets closest to 200 pounds.

Isn't that what we're doing?

We're doing a very good job of doing it.

NARRATOR: Time for Phil's pride and.

Joy let's hope it exceeds the estimate.

This could actually narrow the gap or just send you-- [WHOOSHES] The next come in at 160.

At 160-- - Hey!

AUCTIONEER: --at 160.

Is it 180 now?

At 160.

I'll take 170 if it helps you along.

170 I've got in the room.

170.

170, 180, 190?

190-- it's 200 on the net.

Is it 200?

210?

210 I've got.

210 in the room.

Do I hear 220?

At 210 in the room.

You did not bad.

NARRATOR: Yeah, he's done much worse than that, Ru.

So I'm just still recovering from that bashing.

And you've got a display cabinet now.

Does it-- Mine is slightly cheaper than yours but not as pretty.

NARRATOR: Voted most likely to make a profit, though.

30 pounds.

20-- AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE].

30 on the net.

30 on the net on bid.

Five will you go?

At 30 pounds on the net.

This is giving it away at 30.

Have five more.

At 30 pounds.

Are we done?

I think I need some fresh air.

Do you?

Do you remember when they were a bit sniffy about those tiddly profits earlier?

Let's think positive.

One more leg.

One more leg!

Do you know what?

If I don't laugh, I'll cry.

One more leg.

We better go and spend some money, haven't we?

I'm going to keep laughing.

NARRATOR: Let's crunch some numbers.

Phil started out with 424 pounds and 30 pence.

And after auction costs, he made a loss of 179 pounds and 10 P. So he has a current total of 295 pounds and 20 pence while Ru, who began with 209 pounds and 92 P made, after costs, a much smaller loss of 47 pounds.

So she now has 162 pounds and 92 pence for the last leg, although Phil's still out in front, like his scarf.

That was full of ups and downs, wasn't it?

[INAUDIBLE] to play for.

NARRATOR: Ah.

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