VOICEOVER (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!

Hellooo!

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.

I've gotta try and win.

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

Sun shines on the brave, doesn't it?

Exactly.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

VO: Yeah.

VO: It's day three of our romp round the West Country, in a bright red Lancia.

But it's not just about antiques for Phil Serrell and Tom Scott.

TOM: I'd much rather go for an afternoon tea than a pasty.

PHIL: Would you?

TOM: Yeah, yeah.

PHIL: You like your clotted cream, do you?

These are nice, aren't they?

VO: Cream tea enthusiast Tom is a dealer from Rutland who adores big French furniture.

New to the Road Trip, but with a nose for a bargain.

That smells.

VO: Worcester man Phil is an auctioneer and philosopher... PHIL: (AS FORREST GUMP) Life is like a box of chocolates.

VO: ..with a refreshing approach to the world of antiques.

This old stuff, no-one wants it.

VO: So how are our two getting on?

PHIL: Is that a natural look, that, that Hugh Grant foppish look, is it?

TOM: Hugh... PHIL: I hate working with young people.

TOM: Do you feel a bit like you're doing the school run?

PHIL: Yeah, I do.

VO: Hah.

They'll be fine.

VO: Tom started out with £200 and he's managed to increase that to £230.02.

VO: Whilst Phil who also began with £200 has a bit of a lead with £309.08.

PHIL: Give them a bit of a tweak or something.

TOM: Squirt it a bit.

VO: Nice work Tom.

PHIL: Yeah.

Get in there.

VO: Our trip begins at the far southwest corner of Britain at St Buryan, before wending its way around the several counties whilst always hugging the coast, to reach Wareham in Dorset.

Today we're starting out near Dartmoor at Ashburton, before heading off round Devon, and arriving at an auction just up the road, at Chudleigh.

VO: The first town to elect a Monster Raving Loony candidate to public office, Ashburton sits on the southeast corner of Dartmoor.

PHIL: Now, one of my favoritest films was "The Hound of the Baskerville", with Peter Cushing.

PHIL: Oh, I like Peter Cushing, was that on Dartmoor?

VO: It was, and the Great Grimpen Mire in the Sherlock Holmes story was inspired by the nearby Fox Tor Mire.

PHIL: It's a nice little place, Ashburton, though, isn't it?

TOM: It is, isn't it?

Really really pretty along here.

PHIL: I love these hung tiles.

TOM: I do.

PHIL: Clinkers.

TOM: Clinkers?

PHIL: Clinkers.

VO: Now what can our 'detectives' track down?

PHIL: You go that way, I'll go this way.

You go that way.

See you later.

PHIL: Catch you later.

This looks just like my sort of shop, this.

I love things like this.

PHIL: I mean, what the hell are you ever going to do with that?

VO: This shop promises to be an Aladdin's cave.

When he finally gets into it.

Be, be, be, be, be, be, be, be.

Actually, this is the ultimate.

Hello?

Oh, that's scary.

Hellooo?

PHIL: A pair of boat funnels.

You can't argue with that.

PHIL: 175 quid.

PHIL: You can argue with that.

Good to see you.

Lovely to meet you.

Great day.

D'you know, I love your funnels.

They're good.

Just need the boat to go with them, really, don't we?

Yeah.

VO: Careful Paula.

Don't give him ideas.

PHIL: That's fun.

PAULA: Yes.

Perfect weather for it as well.

PHIL: Don't hold your breath.

Can I bring that in with me and have a look round?

Course you can.

Do come and have a look round.

PHIL: How much is this?

PAULA: That is 25, so the best would be about 20.

About, I like the about.

About.

Yeah.

The about's cool with me.

I can live with... We can start with about, can't we?

VO: Let's put that to one side, cuz I might have a go at that... about.

Right.

VO: Who could blame you Phil?

There's so much more Shambles to enjoy.

No need to plump for anything just yet.

Aw, he's sweet.

VO: He is in a good mood.

PAULA: That's quite rude, I would have thought.

PHIL: Well, you know, far be it from me to say.

PAULA: That's by a local artist and we bought several of his pieces at a local auction.

Can I put it on the table?

PAULA: Course you can, yep.

Whether it's... PHIL: She's a big girl, isn't she?

A nice bottom, though, hasn't she?

I haven't got round to her bottom yet.

PHIL: How much is the... What's the very very best you can do on that, that's nowhere near 90 quid?

Depends what else you buy.

PHIL: OK.

I'm sure you could put a lot together.

VO: While Phil gets in touch with his artistic side, let's see what Tom's up to.

TOM: Morning.

Good morning.

How are you doing?

Fine, thank you.

Tom.

Nice to meet you.

Mike.

Pleased to meet you, Tom.

VO: I think Tom should enjoy himself at Ashton House.

Some of that old wood that he's very fond of, as well as lamps and even the sort of bed he specializes in.

TOM: What a lovely shop.

Loads and loads of really really nice pieces.

VO: He has to buy for that general sale though and he knows it.

Well, my goal, clearly, has got to be to beat Serrell.

Two nil down is not a good start.

VO: That's the spirit.

Ah, a hanger.

Don't get hung up on it, Tom.

TOM: That's a good curtain pole, isn't it?

That's nice, isn't it?

MIKE: It's a bit of a beast, that one.

That's a big un, isn't it?

MIKE: I've got two... two dozen rings that go with it as well.

MIKE: They're in very good condition, actually.

TOM: They are nice, aren't they?

I like that a lot.

TOM: Might win me the big and awkward stakes between me and Philip as well.

That's nice.

VO: Ah, yeah, but how many people will be looking for one of those in Chudleigh, eh?

TOM: That's a nice oval frame.

That's really nice.

I like that.

TOM: Good beveled glass.

Nice sort of late 19th, kind of more turn of the century, but that's, that's nice.

A few bits of damage again, but these are quite easy to... to sort out.

What's the price on this one?

115.

VO: I think on reflection, he's serious about this one.

Time to talk to Mike.

The very best I can do that is 85.

85?

OK.

Does that make it more attractive for you?

TOM: Makes it a little more attractive.

A little more, right.

Little more attractive.

OK.

If I can twist your arm a little more, maybe getting to something around about 55?

Do you need to sit down?

Or lie down?

I'll come down to 70, but 55's too far down.

55 is too far?

Yeah.

I can't do 55.

How about 65?

Deal?

MIKE: Deal.

Brilliant.

Thank you very much, appreciate it.

VO: Tom's off to his usual flying start.

But what of Phil and those pricey funnels?

PHIL: What I really want to buy is your ship's funnels, but they're not going to come, are they?

Depends how you can persuade me.

Hello!

Em... VO: Seems he's fallen in love.

With a nice pair of funnels.

PHIL: I'd like to buy those for 40 quid.

You're not going to sell 'em me for 40 quid, are you?

No.

What's the best you can do on those?

The very best would be 80 quid.

VO: Still quite a lot of money Phil, eh?

PHIL: I think they're lovely.

VO: Yeah, he's talking himself into this.

PHIL: If I put those into auction and they make £80, right?

PAULA: Mmhm.

They're not going to make any more than £80.

No, I'm not going to do this, because this is stupid.

PHIL: This is utterly stupid.

VO: Is it all over then?

I want to own these.

This is one of those daft things and I want to own these.

VO: Oh Lordy.

PHIL: I don't think they're going to make that much of a profit, if anything at all, for me.

Oh now, don't.

VO: Paula just has to smile.

Here we go.

I would like to give you £50 for the two funnels and £10 for that hamper, which is £60 for the two.

PAULA: Cheeky.

Is that your very last offer?

Absolutely positive, 60 quid for those there.

PAULA: Oh, go on then.

You're an angel.

I love you.

VO: You've made that quite clear.

Right the hamper might come in I suppose.

Let's just hope Tom doesn't go equally bonkers in Etcetera.

Hello.

MORA: Hello there.

Hi, I'm Tom.

Hello Tom.

Nice to meet you.

And you.

This looks great.

Well, em, fantastic.

What a great collection of... all sorts.

VO: Now there seems little chance of him acquiring any boat parts from Mora.

Not that sort of place.

Apart from that old binnacle that is!

What can he navigate towards though?

TOM: This is, eh, "The Sage of the East".

It says here, "Tom in full sail."

I don't think that's me.

VO: Nonsense!

If you'd seen your rival buying those funnels just now, you'd certainly get a second wind.

Nice big frame.

You see, that would make a brilliant mirror frame.

TOM: That is nice.

French, sort of late 19th century.

Would've been a picture.

But that's got real potential.

VO: He's quite excited about that one.

TOM: Yeah, and at £200 that's worth having a chat with Mora, but I'd need to do something pretty spectacular with the price to help me on that.

VO: Time to adopt a poker face then.

TOM: I spotted your carved, French gilded frame upstairs.

Mmhm?

TOM: I'm just kind of thinking pricewise what we might be able to do.

D'you remember what price was on it?

TOM: It's on at 200.

I'm kind of looking about half that.

Trying to get it to £100, really.

Oh, did my jaw drop open then?

It did a little bit.

VO: I'm not surprised, love.

MORA: Well, it must be your lucky day, actually, because it belongs to a dealer who has recently joined us.

TOM: Right?

MORA: And she's actually on holiday in Bali at the moment, so I can't get hold of her, so... TOM: But she needs a bit of extra spending... She has given me some discretion.

TOM: OK. MORA: And I think she would probably let it go.

TOM: Would she?

MORA: For 100, yeah.

That has to be a deal.

Thank you very very much.

MORA: You're very welcome.

TOM: I love it.

I think that's going to be great.

TOM: That's... MORA: It's a lovely piece.

That's got some potential, I think.

VO: Half price!

Tom's got quite a deal there.

That's it, shopping done.

That was an absolute bargain, I'm off now.

VO: Phil though is still on the premises.

What's he after in that back garden though?

Not a potted plant again surely?

Oh no, a pump trough.

PAULA: Trust you to find things that aren't even in the shop.

PHIL: So what is it, is it stone, isn't it?

VO: That'll go nicely with those funnels.

PHIL: I'll give you 50 quid for it.

You give me 70 quid and it's yours.

PHIL: No.

I can't do that, honestly I can't.

Fight!

If you can lift it and carry it out... PHIL: No way Jose!

PAULA: 65 and it's yours.

PAULA: Nobody else is going to have one, are they?

I'll tell you what, 55 quid.

Can you do that?

Yeah, go on.

You're an angel.

Thank you very much indeed.

PAULA: Pleasure.

How the hell am I ever going to get that away from here?

VO: First, bend ze knees, ze back straight.

Ooh.

VO: Steady!

Gordon Bennett, this is heavy.

VO: Now, remember how close they are to Dartmoor?

VO: It's time for Phil to head deep into the National Park.

Making his way from Ashburton to Princetown, and the Dartmoor Prison Museum.

This is my first time on Dartmoor.

I just think it's absolutely stunning.

Look at that.

It's glorious.

Absolutely glorious.

A Dartmoor pony, there's my first one, look.

PHIL: It's a real, proper, genuine Dartmoor pony.

PHIL: I think I might buy one for the next auction.

PHIL: D'you wanna get in my car?

See you matey, bye bye.

VO: The free roaming ponies belong in this wilderness, but the barren terrain can be tough for humans.

So like Alcatraz, Dartmoor's environment makes it difficult to escape from.

VO: Nowadays, it's a working category "C" jail, but Phil's here to learn about the time when it held some of Britain's most serious offenders.

PHIL: Hi, you must be Jeff?

That's right.

Philip.

How are you?

Very well, thank you.

Good to see you.

And good to see you.

Welcome to Dartmoor.

I'm nervous about being here.

JEFF: Very good.

PHIL: Might get locked up.

Well, we've got a couple of spare cells.

VO: The prison was first built over 200 years ago when Britain was at war with France.

Thousands of French prisoners who had been confined in derelict prison hulks near Plymouth were then moved to this isolated spot.

VO: But the modern history of Dartmoor began in 1850, when it was commissioned for convicts.

Now tell me, every museum has got a black museum.

Have you got one?

JEFF: Yes, we have.

PHIL: Can we have a look?

Just round the corner.

PHIL: This way?

JEFF: Yep.

After you.

VO: The Museum pulls few punches about how tough life inside can be.

Take this selection of confiscated weapons.

PHIL: So, which is the oldest sort of, eh, device in here?

Em, it's the small weapon right in the middle.

JEFF: This one just here.

PHIL: And that's a weapon?

JEFF: That's a weapon.

PHIL: What would that have been used for?

JEFF: Before 1932, the little hole that the prison officer would have looked through... Yeah, yeah, yeah.

..wouldn't have had a glass on it.

The person on the other side... PHIL: I think I know what's coming here.

..would be waiting for him to come along, and then... PHIL: Dodge him in the eye.

Dodge him in the eye.

VO: Prisoners at Dartmoor worked hard.

Usually outside the confines of the jail too, breaking rocks, clearing fields and building walls and paths.

That of course meant opportunities for escape, although the forbidding countryside would deter all but the most desperate.

And who's the most notorious escapee?

Eh, the most notorious escapee was probably Frank Mitchell.

JEFF: He was one of the Kray gang.

VO: Frank Mitchell AKA 'The Mad Axman' escaped from Dartmoor in December 1966, almost certainly with help from the Krays' gang.

JEFF: We really think he was probably broke out of here for a publicity stunt.

PHIL: Really?

So the Krays could prove that they could break somebody out.

PHIL: And what happened to him then?

11 days later they shot him.

PHIL: Why?

JEFF: We don't know, but at the trial the Krays were found not guilty.

Looking at that page there, from August through to December you had one, two, three, four, five, six, seven people trying to escape.

Mmhm.

Is that a regular occurrence?

Yes, it was, but unless they got somebody like Mitchell picking them up they weren't going to be out for very long at all.

That's amazing.

VO: Those who failed in their escape attempt faced punishment.

And in the basement of the museum is another grisly reminder of what Dartmoor prison life was once like.

Well this is the A frame.

PHIL: Oh, yeah.

That looks like a right instrument of torture.

JEFF: It's a very fine example.

PHIL: That depends on your perspective.

Yes.

You stood here like this, did you?

Yep, and then your hands would've been strapped to the... PHIL: There?

JEFF: Yep.

There and there.

JEFF: And your feet would've been strapped to the straps here and then, em, they would administer the beating.

Oh, Lord.

JEFF: The flogging was done with this little item.

PHIL: That is a cat of nine tails.

JEFF: This is a cat of nine tails.

PHIL: Has anybody ever had two lots of floggings?

I mean, one would put you off, wouldn't it?

Eh, Frank Mitchell, em, is recorded to have received a flogging twice.

PHIL: I tell you what, it's been deterrent enough for me.

I'm going to show you my hand and thank you very much indeed.

You're welcome.

I have thoroughly enjoyed it but you have frightened me to death.

PHIL: Take care.

JEFF: I will do.

PHIL: I'm off.

VO: Well, it looks like Phil's got his freedom back, but not for good behavior surely?

TOM: We're not on the run, are we?

PHIL: No, no, no.

No.

But if you hear any sirens... VO: Ha-ha!

Night night.

VO: Next morning and the Lancia's making quite an impression.

PHIL: Look at this, goes like a bird.

PHIL: Albatross.

VO: Too early to say if our boys' luck was in yesterday, although Tom was certainly very pleased with his frame.

That's got real potential.

VO: He spent a total of £165 on two auction lots, leaving him with £65.02 to spend today.

Hellooo!

VO: I'm not sure if Phil still considers himself fortunate to have acquired those ship's funnels.

Or his picnic hamper and pump trough.

But they set him back £115, leaving £194.08 at his disposal.

Gordon Bennet, this is heavy.

VO: Later they'll be making for the auction in Chudleigh.

But our first stop is on the northern edge of Dartmoor, at Okehampton.

VO: This is the Ockment river which runs through the town and once drove its wool mills.

Makes quite a contribution to its name too.

PHIL: Wish me luck.

TOM: You'll be fine, mate, I'll see you later.

Yeah.

Drive safely, bye.

Morning.

JO: Good morning.

PHIL: How are you, alright?

JO: Very well.

Is it alright if I have a look round?

Absolutely.

Help yourself.

PHIL: Lovely.

Thank you.

VO: Now this looks like a proper antiques shop to me, so Phil's more outrageous tendencies could be reined in.

VO: Well most of them anyway...

I'm not going to buy em, but I just like making a noise.

VO: That's a shame.

Bongo playing auctioneer would be quite something.

Hasn't taken him long to beat a path to Jo's bargain section either.

JO: Well this is our 50% off room.

Everything in here is half... PHIL: I like the sound of that.

JO: Half its marked price.

PHIL: Can't resist half price.

PHIL: I do like half price.

It's good stuff, half price is.

JO: So, eh... PHIL: There's something in here I quite like.

JO: The old fire extinguisher.

PHIL: Yeah.

VO: Ah that looks familiar.

My travelling companion, Tom, bought one of these.

JO: Oh, right.

And he thought it was fantastic.

VO: But it only made a tiny profit.

Nicer one than that too.

PHIL: So you've got that at 34?

Yes.

So 17, but again, anything in here is open to offers.

I tell you what, I got this wrong.

I'm doing myself here.

24 quid it says on here.

JO: Even less.

PHIL: So, it's 12 quid.

JO: Yep.

PHIL: So, it is half price.

VO: He likes it here.

More brass though?

Those are nice.

This is eh, ah... D'you know, I always get pestle and mortar mixed up.

Which one's which?

One's pestle and one's... JO: That's the mortar.

JO: I mean, it's quite a nice bit of spun brass.

PHIL: Can I put that with that and then I might be able to have a little bit of a brass lot mightn't I?

JO: Absolutely.

PHIL: That's 24, so that's 12 and that's 12, but no reasonable offer refused?

JO: Absolutely, not in this room.

Thing is, is it reasonable, that's what you've got to think about, isn't it?

OK, let's got and have a look, then.

VO: He seems set on his little brass section.

I think at auction they're going to make perhaps 15-30 quid the two.

Which means I've got to try and buy them for somewhere between 5 and 10 quid.

PHIL: That's all I can do.

JO: Goodness me.

I know, it's mean as hell, isn't it?

But they were in the no reasonable offer refused section.

Well, they were in the no reasonable offer.

I mean, are we gonna get to 10?

Whatever you can do the best for me.

I'm not gonna... A fiver each.

Yeah?

If you're happy with that.

Can we do that?

I'm happy with that.

PHIL: You sure.

JO: Yes, OK. PHIL: There we are, my love.

VO: I wonder what Tom will make of Phil's fire extinguisher.

JO: Cheers.

Bye.

VO: Meanwhile the man himself is pressing on.

VO: Making his way east from Okehampton towards Crediton.

VO: The birthplace of Saint Boniface, the apostle of Germany.

Morning.

JIM: Ah, good morning.

I'm Tom.

JIM: Hello Tom.

TOM: How're you doing?

Nice to meet you.

I'm Jim.

Hi Jim.

VO: Ah he's Jim and the shop's called James Antiques, ha!

Tom's not got an awful lot of cash left, but perhaps one of the smaller items might tempt him.

It's just a little barrel, isn't it?

You would've had your tap on here.

Very little one though, isn't it?

TOM: That's another little bit of wood.

TOM: Good mallet.

It's £22.

I do like that.

VO: In good working order then.

French possibly too.

TOM: I don't need any more mirrors.

VO: Yeah, I think we can all agree on that.

That's a nice little stool, isn't it?

VO: Good to see him back in the window.

That's all quite nice, isn't it?

Quite a nice little stool.

That's got quite a bit of age to it, that's going to be early, mid 19th century, isn't it?

Very little.

VO: Might also be French.

Perfect for a milk maid.

Doesn't wobble too much, that's alright.

TOM: I'm drawn to these little bits of wood, aren't I?

There's not many people are, that's the trouble.

VO: It's a crying shame Tom.

TOM: It's £28.

That's a possibility.

VO: Time for a little entente cordiale.

That's nice.

That's got some stories, hasn't it?

JIM: Lovely, yes.

Now, you've got £22 on there.

JIM: Mmhm.

What sort of friendly deal could you do for me?

Bearing in mind I'm holding a mallet.

Yes.

How does 15 sound?

15 sounds... sounds better, but... it's not great.

I was hoping for a tenner.

Ooh-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

I'm being... 12 then?

How about 11?

OK. Got a deal.

Deal on that one.

Jolly good.

That's nice.

I like that.

VO: One nailed.

TOM: So, what can we do on here?

You've got... 28.

Try 20 on that?

How about 25... For the two?

So, I've got 11 here.

JIM: 28.

VO: Mallet versus stool eh?

26?

VO: Like scissors, paper, stone.

Well, OK, we've got a deal.

TOM: That's brilliant.

Thanks, Jim.

We won't argue over a pound.

That is brilliant, so 26.

VO: More quick work on those two.

I think Tom's shopping is complete.

That's me done.

Four lots.

Let's hope I don't get hammered in the auction.

VO: Right, now our two are back on the road again.

With some very long noses.

I bought a rocking horse.

PHIL: A rocking horse?

TOM: An aquarium.

PHIL: An aquarium, yeah, what else?

That sounds fishy.

TOM: Two wheelbarrows.

PHIL: Two wheelbarrows?

TOM: Yeah.

TOM: Always buy things in pairs, don't you?

PHIL: Yeah.

Do you want what I bought?

TOM: Yeah.

PHIL: I bought a helterskelter.

PHIL: I bought a slide, a tractor and a flock of sheep.

VO: Now why does that sound so worryingly plausible Phil?

VO: They're motoring from Crediton towards the Devon county town of Exeter.

There's been a settlement here since 250 years BC, and Exeter has several historic buildings.

But there were once many more, until World War Two that is, when the Luftwaffe destroyed or severely damaged much of the city center.

VO: Fortunately photographs survived though, and Tom's here to see a unique archive of old Exeter.

Afternoon.

Hello, Tom, pleased to meet you.

How are you doing, Peter?

PETER: Fine, thank you.

TOM: Good, good, good.

I hear you've got a bit of a collection to show me?

Well, I think you'll find this pretty interesting.

Sounds good, let's have a look.

PETER: Good.

Thank you.

VO: Peter Thomas got the photography bug from his godmother and was given his very first camera at the age of 11.

He grew up to become a camera dealer and collector, who, in 1974, discovered a huge treasure trove at Exeter's oldest photographic studios.

PETER: Going through the negatives, I was really surprised at what I was looking at, because in reality I was looking at the history of Exeter.

TOM: Yeah.

And, as an Exeter boy, didn't recognize what I was looking at.

TOM: Sure.

OK. PETER: So, again, it started an intense fascination for me.

TOM: Yeah.

PETER: Em, relating to archive photography and in particular Exeter, my own city, which I realized actually I didn't know that well.

VO: The man responsible for those photographs was Australian Henry Wykes, who first set up a studio in the city in 1914, documenting Exeter life in portraits, street scenes, and much else besides.

VO: Wykes' archive, which Peter purchased in the 70s, now forms the basis of his collection and contains over 42,000 negatives.

The cameras that he would've been using back in 1914, this is the sort of camera it would have been?

PETER: These kind of cameras he would've used for external work, because they were easy to take around.

TOM: Right.

PETER: And here you can actually see the original Henry Wykes studio camera.

That is enormous.

PETER: And this was so big, it was on casters... Yeah.

PETER: And it was pushed up and down the studio floor... Yeah, yeah.

..until he got the correct distance from the subject.

PETER: Very artistic.

VO: Henry Wykes became the city's most popular photographer, with premises at the prestigious Bedford Circus.

And here on the side Henry Wykes' signature on a panel, telling you it's the Henry Wykes studio.

VO: Fortunately for the archive however, Wykes moved elsewhere during World War 2, before the bombs, which would destroy so much of the city, fell on the Georgian masterpiece.

PETER: If he hadn't, total devastation.

TOM: Gone.

And in the wartime period as well, Henry was to take photographs like this.

Oh, I see.

Which actually shows the west front of the cathedral and they had put bomb blast screens in to save the windows.

TOM: Isn't that amazing?

PETER: And this is where we get some of the most fascinating images for people today.

This, I love this.

This is typical of the street scene.

TOM: Lovely street scene.

PETER: Exeter street scenes.

TOM: Yeah, yeah.

PETER: There was a huge variety of historic buildings right throughout the city and, of course, with the devastation of the war, a vast amount of that was lost... TOM: Yeah, of course.

PETER: ..in the central area.

PETER: But Henry, thankfully, recorded a lot of this.

VO: By the time Henry Wykes finally retired in the 60s aged 88, he was Britain's oldest working photographer.

TOM: OK. Focus on the left side and you press the button on the front.

This could take a bit of time.

VO: A Rolleiflex just like this one, never far from his side.

TOM: Ready?

PETER: Yeah.

(SHUTTER CLICKS) TOM: Lovely.

VO: But while Tom's been snapping on his Rollei.

Phil's climbed behind the wheel of the Lancia.

Charming!

VO: Just like a child.

Heading southwest from Exeter to Bovey Tracey.

This town is also named after its river, the Bovey, in this instance.

VO: The other bit comes from the De Tracy family, who became lords of the manor after the Norman conquest.

One of them, a William de Tracy was even implicated in the murder of Archbishop Thomas a Becket in 1170.

VO: Could be tasty.

Hi, I'm Philip, how are you?

TINA: I'm Tina.

Good to see you.

Blimey, couldn't get much more in here, could you?

VO: I think you could be right Phil.

But I'm sure you can do your bit, to create a bit more space.

After tea of course.

Here you are, my dear.

PHIL: That looks excellent.

Thank you very, very much indeed.

TINA: Cheese and pickle, ham and tomato.

PHIL: Oh, smashing.

That looks excellent.

VO: Well, maybe just a small slice.

And then get back to work.

How sweet!

PHIL: This is a nice mahogany mirror, and it's so far out of taste it isn't true.

At an auction that's gonna make between 50 and £80 I would think.

VO: Another mirror eh?

PHIL: How much is that?

Em... 95.

Can it come for less than that?

Yes.

Good.

And how much is that?

Cuz I just...

This makes me... My typewriter?

Yeah.

It makes me laugh, that does.

40.

PHIL: That's 40.

TINA: I can come down on that.

VO: So to the age old question: mirror or typewriter?

PHIL: What's the best on that and what's the best on that?

Say, if that...

The very very best is 48.

PHIL: And what about that?

TINA: 25.

Well, I think we need to have a look at them, don't we?

PHIL: Take a letter, Miss Tina.

PHIL: That works.

TINA: I was 15 when I learnt on one of those.

Get out of it.

That bell ain't working either.

This has all gone horribly... Yeah, it has got a ribbon in there.

What's occurring here?

That doesn't work, Tina, does it?

Faulty goods.

Oh.

VO: Hmm those two might struggle to make the front page, however long they hold it for.

What about the mirror, then?

That should work at least.

PHIL: Right, so what we've got here is a 19th century mirror.

This is made out of mahogany.

PHIL: This is crossbanded in satinwood.

PHIL: D'you remember Arthur Negus?

"Beautiful dovetails.

Wonderful dovetails."

PHIL: Could you do that for 40, and I'll decide on one or the other?

I'm definitely going to have one or the other.

And could that come for about 15?

TINA: No.

I've got to get nearly 25 on that one.

OK. What about that?

Can that come for 40?

Ah, I wanted 48.

I'll come down to 45.

PHIL: OK.

So, I think I'm going to buy that off you.

VO: So one mirror for £45 and Phil's done, with a kiss.

TINA: Right.

PHIL: You take care now.

VO: Time to compare those purchases.

PHIL: Hey Tom, how're you doing?

TOM: I'm good.

I wish I'd got here earlier.

Why's that?

Somebody's left an old frame in the woods behind us.

VO: He's right.

Or there's antiques growing on trees.

Go on.

Mirror, mirror.

I can sense a theme... Oh, I like that.

TOM: Yeah?

PHIL: Yeah, I do like that.

TOM: My little stool?

PHIL: Yeah, I like that.

It's nice, isn't it?

Yeah.

That's got Serrell written all over it.

PHIL: How much was that?

TOM: That was £15.

That's for nothing, isn't it?

Dunno how old it is, but it doesn't matter, does it?

No.

Again it's a lovely item.

15 quid.

TOM: Isn't it?

PHIL: Yeah.

TOM: Lovely.

PHIL: That's cool.

I like that a lot.

And how much is your mirror?

Mirror was £65.

PHIL: Nice thing.

TOM: I like that, it's a good size.

Quality thing, isn't it?

TOM: Yeah.

PHIL: That?

TOM: £11 PHIL: Yeah.

VO: Not exactly his favorite, I assume.

Are you going to show me this, then?

Come here.

He's taking me to the woods.

Help!

PHIL: There's a lot of timber in that, isn't there?

PHIL: Ooh.

Bloody hellfire!

Lean it back there?

TOM: Yeah, I think so.

TOM: That will be a cracking mirror or a cracking painting.

But isn't it a lovely frame?

PHIL: Yeah, that's a really, really good frame.

TOM: I've fallen in love with that.

That's the danger... TOM: I know it is.

It's always my problem with that.

That's the danger, that you see something in it that someone else doesn't.

VO: Yeah, like your pump trough perhaps, Phil?

It's got a few scars round the edges, but that's... Just don't get the removal man who took your last stuff to the auction to touch this.

Mate, this is more likely to break his foot.

Now, when it comes to breaking feet.

Come on, let's go and see what you've got.

PHIL: Have a look this way.

VO: Now prepare to see something very familiar Tom.

PHIL: We've got... You've got a nice hamper.

..thought we'd have a picnic.

What has he got here?

PHIL: You bought a fire extinguisher, so I don't see why I shouldn't buy a fire extinguisher, yes.

TOM: Were you so impressed with my buy last time?

TOM: That's why you bought it?

I was absolutely... Yeah.

Absolutely.

Well.

Where's your bracket?

Yeah well... ah, at a fiver they don't have brackets.

You're after that £2 profit I made on mine, aren't you?

That's what it is.

Well, those two were a tenner.

That's nice.

PHIL: This was a tenner.

Well, this is good, it's nice.

It's a good heavy one, isn't it?

Nice, the lid.

PHIL: Yeah, I just thought that was OK.

This is a real yesterday's antiques.

Yeah, yeah, definitely.

It's got replacement handles, but it's nice enough.

But it's nice.

It's faded nicely.

PHIL: And I bought it for £45.

That should be alright, shouldn't it?

I would hope so.

D'you like those?

They're brilliant, aren't they?

I love these.

Yeah.

I actually love them too.

PHIL: I don't know what the hell you'd ever do with them.

What would you do with them?

TOM: I've no idea.

PHIL: Put them to your ear, you can hear the sea.

PHIL: And finally, if you want to pick that up.

PHIL: You'll have no shoulders left.

That's a lump isn't it?

PHIL: Yeah, that is a lump.

That's lovely.

That was 55 quid.

TOM: That's a bargain.

But it's nice with the bow... with the front to it, isn't it?

That's a nice shape.

Yeah.

Anyway, let's go back to the woods, shall we?

Come on then.

Let's go back in here.

Let's put my picture frame away.

VO: But what did they really think, then?

TOM: The funnels, I think they're great, but... who's gonna buy them?

PHIL: His real good gamble is that frame, because I think, you know, the most he could possibly lose on that is 30 or £40 and he might make 200 quid, so it's really going to be game on.

He could catch me up just in one item.

Thanks, Tom.

TOM: I'm confident that that frame is going to do really, really well.

It'd be great to beat him at this auction.

Em, he's 2-0 up at the moment, so I need to get one.

VO: After beginning in Ashburton and almost circumnavigating Dartmoor.

Today's trip will conclude at an auction in nearby Chudleigh.

TOM: This is it.

This is the auction... PHIL: Ancient wool town.

PHIL: Perhaps we should have bought some wool?

Should have done.

VO: Poetry too!

The great 17th century poet John Dryden wrote some of his most famous works hereabouts, thanks to having a local lord for a patron.

TOM: My frame's gonna beat your funnels.

PHIL: Get out of here!

It is.

Clearly.

That is just the innocence of youth.

PHIL: My funnels or your mirror?

TOM: It's gonna be my frame isn't it?

PHIL: Get out!

TOM: It is.

VO: Auctioneer Michael J Bowman's been holding regular auctions at Chudleigh Town Hall for over 25 years now.

So I wonder how he rates Tom and Phil's little acquisitions.

MICHAEL: My favorite item is the picture frame.

MICHAEL: Good condition for its age.

MICHAEL: It's a good size, it's decorative, it makes a statement.

It's probably worth 100-150.

MICHAEL: My least favorite item is the oval mirror, the gilt mirror.

I think it'll struggle.

Mirrors are so cheap to buy brand new that second hand ones, unless they're a bit special can be difficult.

So I think it's a sort of a 15 to £20 mirror.

VO: So his best and his worst, courtesy of Tom.

Tom started out with £230.02 and he's spent £191 on four auction lots.

What sort of friendly deal could you do for me?

Bearing in mind I'm holding a mallet.

VO: Whilst Phil began with £309.08 and he's spent £170 on five auction lots.

Shhhhh.

VO: OK Chudleigh.

MICHAEL: £30.

VO: Keep your hair on.

What's up first?

Your toilet mirror.

Hope it's not my down the toilet mirror.

Ah, well, I think it might be, but... Oh, cheers.

VO: Remember he narrowly plumped for this instead of an old typewriter.

PHIL: What do you think the mirror'll make?

TOM: I think it's gonna go for £45.

Oh, now, don't say that.

TOM: I think it will.

PHIL: D'you mean think or hope?

Well, both, to be fair.

Start me at £10 for the mirror.

Ouch.

MICHAEL: 10 bid, thank you.

At £10.

At 10.

12, 15, 17, 20, 22, 25, 27, 30.

It's getting there.

At 30.

Lot 64 at £30.

At 30.

32, 35.

At £35.

37, 40.

It's going.

It's going.

MICHAEL: 40, the front of the room.

All done?

At £40.

VO: Oh dear, a losing start.

Even more after commission.

I was bang on.

40 quid.

Or did I say 45?

VO: Mallet under the hammer anyone?

How d'you know it's French?

Well, I just think it is.

Why?

J'ai un mallet.

MICHAEL: The old mallet there.

Well patinated.

Start me at £10 please.

Patinated.

Come on, £10.

Come on £10.

..item.

10 bid, thank you.

At £10.

At 10.

At £10.

We have one bid at 10.

At £10.

And I'm selling.

If there's no further bids.

Nobody else wants it.

I wonder why.

TOM: Can't believe that.

PHIL: I can.

VO: Not an auspicious start.

Now, if that was an English mallet.

VO: Time to worry about Phil's mortar without pestle and altogether useless fire extinguisher now.

Both useful in their ways.

Start me at £10 for the two.

10 is there?

10 to start.

No bid anywhere, is there?

There for sale.

10, thank you sir.

At £10.

Gentleman's bid now, at £10.

May I say 12 anywhere?

I'm in trouble here.

Think you're going to struggle?

PHIL: Yeah.

Gentleman's bid seated at 10.

I'm selling if there's no further bids at £10.

At £10.

Mr Reid.

VO: That felt like a good result in the circumstances.

I don't like Devon; I'm not coming here again.

That's an end of it.

VO: Devon's famous for its milk, so how about Tom's little stool?

Start me at £10 for the stool.

10 bid, thank you.

At 10.

12, 15.

At £15.

Front of the room, at 15.

£15?

At 15.

At 15.

17, the gentleman's bid.

Good boy, go on, go on.

MICHAEL: At £17.

In the center, seated at 17.

Gentleman's bid.

Are you all done?

At £17.

VO: A tiny triumph.

I think I've just made 20p.

VO: What can Phil's picnic basket do?

Just a profit would be nice.

MICHAEL: Edwardian hamper.

Right time of year for this.

MICHAEL: Start me at £10.

Oh, why doesn't he start it a bit higher?

10 bid, thank you.

£10.

At 10.

At 10.

12.

Hell, I'm into profit.

£12.

At £12.

The hamper at 12.

In the doorway.

All done?

And I'm selling.

I tell you what, this is tough, innit?

That's three down the toilet.

VO: This is no picnic.

Is it raining out?

I wonder why all of these people are in here, because they're not bidding, are they?

Must be raining outside.

I don't know what they're doing.

VO: It may get worse.

Tom's mirror was the auctioneer's least favorite lot remember.

I wanna savor this moment.

What did you pay for the mirror, Tom?

(COUGHS) £65.

Sorry, how much?

Oval gilt framed mirror hanging up there.

Come on, come on, come on.

I am going to smile and try not to laugh.

You see the whole lot, they're all turning around.

Come on.

Is there 10 for the mirror?

Is there five for the mirror?

Are you serious?

£5 if you like.

It's there for sale.

That's unbelievable.

No bid?

No bid?

Five bid now, at £5.

I would've rather he'd left it...

He's just done you a disservice.

Yeah, I could have taken that on.

At five.

At five.

Back of the room, all done?

I'm feeling a bit sick.

£5.

VO: That's dreadful!

A huge loss that leaves Phil nicely in the lead.

Not much to boast about though.

PHIL: What you've got to remember is that people watching this recognize us as being experts in our own field, right.

They recognize that we can go out there, we can sniff out those little nuggets that other people miss and we can pay £65 for them and sell them... for £5.

TOM: ..for £5.

And that is not... That is a skill that a lot of people don't have.

VO: Phil's funnels might do just as badly and even things up a bit.

I'm not sure this lot are ready for funnels.

Not only useful, but attractive, the pair.

Start me at, um... £20 for the pair?

Big intro 20, thank you sir.

£20, at 20.

Five may I say?

25, 30.

Hello.

MICHAEL: 40.

45, 50.

MICHAEL: Are we all done?

At £50.

Mr Jamieson, thank you.

VO: A relief, but still a loss after commission.

Before the auction I was concerned I'd only bought four lots.

I'm actually now quite pleased.

PHIL: D'you want one of mine?

TOM: No.

VO: But the Silver Fox has one last chance.

His pump trough.

This is my Usain Bolt, this is.

This is my banker.

If this doesn't run to glory, I'm absolutely up it, mate.

Eh, start me at... £20 for this.

£20?

Stone trough, 20 bid, thank you.

A lady's bid, at 20.

Well, at least you got £20.

Five, may I say?

At £20, 25, 30.

That's good.

At £30.

35, 40.

It's getting there, it's getting there.

At £40.

In front me, at 40.

45, a new bidder.

At 45.

MICHAEL: 50, five, 60, five, 70, five.

That's better.

MICHAEL: 75.

Gentleman's bid now, at 75.

Standing at 75.

At £75.

Just means I've wiped my face for the day.

That's better than... At £75.

Mr Bainbridge, thank you.

VO: That profit means Phil's now made a small loss overall.

I'm going to go and let this auctioneer's tires down.

I am.

I'm going to go and find out which his car is, it'll be the Rolls Royce outside, I'm going to go and let the tires down.

VO: Thanks to his mirror, Tom's gone backwards.

But could the French frame somehow save the day?

Are you anxious?

Well, I'm very, very, very, very, very anxious.

Let me tell you, I'm actually quite anxious for you.

The picture frame, lot 128.

This is it.

Oh, you can hear that buzz.

The whole room's lifted.

MICHAEL: Gesso picture frame, lot 128.

A handsome piece.

Start me at um, £30 for this.

30 bid, thank you.

At 30.

50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, MICHAEL: £100, 110, a new bidder.

120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170.

Tell you what, my heart, mate.

Well done.

MICHAEL: At 180, at 180.

190, 200, 210, 220, MICHAEL: 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, at 270.

MICHAEL: At 280, 290.

At 290.

I tell you, this has got to be one of the best auction houses I've ever been to.

Standing, at 290.

Lady's bid at 290.

You all done?

MICHAEL: At £290.

£290.

Pleased for you.

Well done, mate.

Thank you very much, Phil.

VO: That fantastic result has changed everything, putting the new boy on top.

And I've won an auction.

Does that mean I've won an auction?

No, what it does mean is the drinks are on you.

Loser drives, though, buddy.

Oh, here we go.

VO: Not only has Tom won today, but he's grabbed the overall lead as well.

VO: Phil started out with £309.08 and after paying auction costs, he made a loss of £16.66.

So he has £292.42 to spend next time.

VO: While Tom began with £230.02, and after paying auction costs, he made a profit of £73.04.

Leaving him with £303.06 and a narrow lead.

That is a spanking in any sort of language, mate.

We've had some good ones in there.

Absolute spanking.

And some real shockers.

Yeah.

I'm delighted for you.

Yeuh!

TOM: That was brilliant.

PHIL: Oh yeah, who for?

TOM: Really really good.

Really good auction house.

PHIL: Yeah, yeah, yeah, don't rub it in.

Here's Philip Serrell.

Can I squeeze you a bit more?

My mum made it last week.

PHIL: Did she?

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