VOICEOVER (VO): The nation's favorite antiques experts, £200 each and one big challenge.

Cuz I'm going to declare war.

Why?

VO: Who can make the most money buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK?

Can you make it...?

No.

VO: The aim is to trade up and hope each antique turns a profit.

Ouch!

VO: But it's not as easy as you might think - and things don't always go to plan.

Push!

VO: So will they race off with a huge profit, or come to a grinding halt?

We're doomed!

We're doomed!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

VO: It's the third day for our intrepid treasure hunters, Thomas Plant and Paul Laidlaw.

They're battling it out to see who can buy the best and profit the most as they zoom along in their rather dishy Alfa Romeo.

PAUL: (LAUGHS) VO: They're in high spirits, especially Thomas, as he did so well at the auction yesterday.

£200.

Everything now is all gravy for me.

It's all gravy.

VO: Two of his lots made over £100 in profit, so Thomas is now loaded, with £383.56 to spend today.

VO: Paul, our militaria enthusiast, did less well.

He bought wisely, but at the auction the buyers chose to steer away.

PAUL: I'm gonna cry.

Paul, that is terrible.

That happened.

VO: So today, he's only got £213.78.

But it would take a lot to dampen this Scot's enthusiasm as he tries to enlighten Thomas on their travels.

Oh, it's a braw day, I'll tell you that.

THOMAS: A braw day?

Braw.

THOMAS: What, fine, bonnie?

Yeah, a bonnie day.

As opposed to the gey dreich days we saw in Yorkshire!

THOMAS: Don't remind me.

VO: Their weekend road trip started in Skipton, before heading south through Derbyshire to Stamford.

Then it's Cambridgeshire, before they drive south to Tetsworth and then Pewsey for the final auction.

VO: Today we're kicking off in Huntingdon and if all goes well, we'll end up at the auction house in Towcester for a right toasting.

VO: Ah, Huntingdon, the birth place of one of our country's most famous leaders - Oliver Cromwell.

VO: Now, our first shop of the day is Hunts Antiques & Collectables, spelled with an H, and what a welcome for our lucky lads.

THOMAS: Morning, hello girls.

Nice to meet you.

What a lovely reception!

Let's hope that there's lots of beautiful antiques like our beautiful reception.

VO: Oh dear, pass the sickbag!

It's time for shopping now in this rather eclectic mix of stalls.

What's happening here?

Paul's pinched Thomas's tactics.

Hi there, I'm Paul Laidlaw and we are popping into your auction shortly to sell some items.

VO: Huh.

How low do you stoop, Paul Laidlow-law?

AUCTIONEER: (ON PHONE) Start off with silver, gold jewelry, then it'll be paintings and prints, very very small selection of clocks this time, so if you get any clocks, that'd be handy to have.

OK, could stand out, yeah, OK. Yeah, the market is pretty hungry for those.

Um, and we have a small rug section, mirror section, and then... And then furniture.

And then furniture.

What's the furniture market like for you there on that day then, that evening?

AUCTIONEER: It's fairly robust, I mean obviously everything is price sensitive.

Georgian is a good seller.

Jonathan, you've been really helpful, I really appreciate your time.

AUCTIONEER: No problem.

PAUL: Thanks for that, my man.

VO: Now Paul likes a spot of furniture hunting, and it doesn't take him long to spot a rather splendid mirror.

Jonathan mentioned that he had a sophisticated audience, and that his private buyers had an eye for very tasteful Georgian elegance.

PAUL: What we've got here, it's an overmantel mirror.

Late Victorian.

VO: Did I hear Victorian, Paul?

Didn't the auctioneer say Georgian and elegant, not Victorian and fussy?

Marquetry inlaid rosewood, string inlay here, decent enough moldings, good quality turnings, bevel edged mirror plate, the mirror's not oxidized, and the condition, apart from a repair to that little turned column there, which, frankly doesn't worry me too much, it's sharp enough.

PAUL: They've had problems selling that at 85, and they're now down to 50.

Between you and me, I want it for a fraction of that asking price.

VO: Our Scottish expert is racing off to try and clinch the first sale of the day and, as usual, isn't shy with his haggling.

It was 85, forget that.

It's now 50.

I'm hoping to God that the seller is gonna give me a present with that, and... Are you gonna have to make a phone call, or...

I'm going to have to make a phone call.

Julie, upstairs...

Your overmantel.

He's offering 10 or £15.

PAUL: No, but that was half...

I know, I know, I know, I thought it was funny as well.

I know, I know, I know.

Would you like to have a word with him?

Hi, look, and I'm not taking the mickey.

I think my estimate in an auction is £30-60 on that.

Can we do it?

Thank you very much indeed, I'll hand you back.

All the best to you.

Bye.

VO: Not quite the £15 he was hoping for, but still a good deal at £30.

And with hardly a pause he's on the hunt for more.

PAUL: There's not much of any age here, apart from that clock.

VO: Now he's spotted an American Ansonia clock.

PAUL: So we're looking at a clock that is now 110 year old.

This looks like black marble, but it's lacquered cast iron, and it looks really smart.

But it's the budget model.

All that glitters.

VO: Knowing Paul he'll want to slash that price tag down by half.

Here we go again, poor woman!

Stall there on the corner, there's a few clocks in it.

There's an Ansonia, cast iron clock.

Right.

It is what it is, £65 on it.

Mm-hm.

Ever the optimist, I'd love to get it for £30, in all honesty.

Let's try.

Oh, hello, Chris?

Hello, it's Denise at Trading Post.

Can I just check, the Ansonia clock on your stand, marked at 65.

PAUL: Ask him if there's any way it can be 35.

£40.

Final.

Lowest.

PAUL: Sold at £40.

Thanks very much.

DENISE: Thank you.

VO: Paul's off to a fighting start and has already bagged two items.

But I'm slightly worried about Thomas, as he's looking rather empty handed!

PAUL: I genuinely thought you'd gone, you've been quiet!

Abandoned you.

No, I thought you'd gone as well, cuz you were quiet.

Normally I hear the dulcet tones of Laidlaw.

Ooh!

We're doomed.

We're doomed.

The Scottish lilt.

Have you bought anything?

No, not yet, no.

Have you?

Ask Uncle Laidlaw if he's bought anything, and maybe if he's bought any furniture!

Oh, Laidlaw!

Laidlaw, it's a living auction, we'll be there all night!

PAUL: It was there, it was big, it was brown.

I think I might be moving on quite soon.

Ditto.

VO: Now he knows Paul is done and dusted in this shop, Thomas needs to get a move on.

Oh no!

he's found another hat!

What do you think this is?

The Wild West?

Mm, could be beaver.

Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier.

I'm looking for jewels, and there's a bit more jewelry which I want to have a look out, just get out, just to see, even if it's costume, it's great, costume jewelry, people love it.

So what it is, it's a piece of vintage jewelry, marcasite necklace.

It's not that old.

Marcasite is cut steel, cut in a triangle to make it look like a stone, it's ticketed at £7.50.

I wanna pay a fiver for it.

VO: With the owner away and not answering the phone, our blonde bombshell comes to the rescue.

Paula says you can have it for £6.

Six?

Go on.

£6, go on.

Can I have some change and a receipt please?

Yes, of course.

THOMAS: I'm just gonna dazzle them with bling basically, that's what I'm gonna do.

Thank you very much.

VO: Well it's no much of a dent in your £383, but it's a start, Thomas.

VO: As for Paul, he's done with shopping for the day and is trying to find a fascinating local manor house.

PAUL: Don't recall the last time we saw a river.

VO: From Huntingdon, he drives seven miles east to the village of Hemingford Grey, a rather beautiful place right by the River Ouse.

His destination, The Manor, a house set in four acres of flourishing gardens and with a fascinating past.

Here to show him around is Diana Boston.

DIANA; Very nice to meet you.

PAUL: Likewise.

DIANA: Yes, welcome.

PAUL: You live in an idyll, do you not?

DIANA: I know, it's lovely, isn't it?

It is perfect.

So Diana, tell me, what are we looking at here?

Well, we're looking at either the oldest or continuously oldest inhabited house in Britain, but obviously we're not looking... PAUL: Not from this prospect.

No, not from this prospect.

No, the original front door is in the south wall of the house, and this is the north wall.

VO: This beautiful "hice" was built by the Normans in 1139 and over its many centuries has been added on to by the Tudors and the Georgians, creating this amazing building.

VO: The manor is Diana's private home but she does open it to the public so that they too can enjoy this wonderful piece of history.

Right, come in, Paul.

VO: The house was also made famous by Diana's mother-in-law, Lucy Boston, a famous children's author who used the house and its contents as inspiration - and it's easy to see why.

Oh, what a cozy...

I've got to say, my human reaction is, what a cozy room.

It is a cozy room, isn't it?

VO: The centerpiece must be this splendid Tudor chimney breast, it's huge and still has its bread oven and salt cupboard.

Mm.

And that chimney goes absolutely slap bang straight up to the top of the house.

DIANA: And so sometimes when you're sitting here, it's the first time you know it's snowing, because you see the flakes coming down.

DIANA: Right Paul, now we're coming back into the old part of the house, but it makes a lovely room, this, doesn't it?

PAUL: Oh, it's all opened out, hasn't it?

And the light, and again, the views, they are postcards.

PAUL: Handmade glass does something subliminal.

So you've got the two centuries, 600 years apart, you've got the Georgian, and the good old Norman, solid stone arch.

PAUL: We've got a Victorian cheval mirror, then early Georgian...20th century caned child's easy chairs, Victorian tub chair, Victorian splendid brass and iron half tester bed.

It's, again, it's all in there.

But it works.

VO: This really is a splendid home, but typically, Paul's eyes are drawn to the antiques.

I can see you've spotted something else, and you're not a bit interested in my house!

This is wonderful, but is that an EMG?

That is an EMG.

Oh, my word.

VO: Steady, Paul, take a tablet.

EMG, otherwise known as Ellis Michael Ginn, were responsible for producing some of the best gramophones at the time in the world and these are now serious collectors' items.

No wonder Paul's getting excited!

For me in the first instance, they are so sculptural.

Acoustically, in its day, this was it.

DIANA: Somebody made it with love, and extraordinary to think this huge great horn is made out of 1920s London telephone directories.

PAUL: It's papier mâché, isn't it?

The papier mâché goes right the way down to here, and this then is brass to here.

PAUL: That is a magical instrument, I've got to say.

Any chance of... You'd like to hear it?

How about that?

Yes, let's.

VO: The whole ceremony of winding it up, sharpening the needle, and putting on a record is part of the gramophone's fascination.

But for Paul I think we've lost him to the music.

Oh lordy!

(EDWARDIAN MUSIC WITH SOPRANO SOLO AND PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT) VO: While Paul is away with the wee fairies, Thomas is keen to keep spending.

Ramsey is just a small town, but has a very famous Benedictine abbey, which in its heyday was home to at least 80 monks and all those habits.

Now all that remains is the abbey college and the gate house.

And Thomas, still on a mission to find all that glitters and shines.

Hopefully Abbey Antiques and shop owner Rita have a good horde.

How long have you been here?

Over 30 years.

THOMAS: Really?

I'm sure you're only 21!

VO: Oh, Thomas, stop the charm offensive and start hunting, will you?

Basically, because there is some silver and jewelry in here, I'm just gonna have a look at it.

It's a Georgian silver spoon, which has had this bright cut design to it.

It's quite sweet, really.

There's another spoon, this is fiddle pattern.

You can see the fiddle here, and again this is a Victorian spoon.

1886, London.

VO: Thomas has brought his scales with him to see how much these silver pieces could be worth should someone want to melt them down.

I mean, they're objects in their own right, they're Georgian and Victorian objects, and one shouldn't be looking at their weight, but I'm afraid in this modern day, with the price of metal, it is a consideration.

VO: These two spoons are priced at £54 for the pair, but I'm sure Thomas can work his magic.

I've had a word with my husband, and he said yes, they can both be... THOMAS: £18?

Each.

Really?

OK.

Wonderful.

Thank you.

I can do that for you.

That's very kind.

RITA: That's a nice decorative one.

THOMAS: I love the bright cut pattern, it is one of my favorite things.

I will take those.

RITA: Right.

THOMAS: If that's alright.

Yes.

Because that will be 36, isn't it?

Yes, that's right, yes.

36, well I will buy those, but can I look at other things?

Yes.

This is a nurse's belt, the silver's malleable, it bends, this is plated.

It's quite a nice nurse's belt, though, isn't it?

It wouldn't go round my waist.

Look at that.

VO: Eh no, Thomas, it's for a lady if you hadn't noticed!

THOMAS: Not for a beast like me.

I know it doesn't fit me.

THOMAS: But I quite like it.

I mean, I know it's silver plate, but that doesn't really matter, I think it's rather delightful.

What's the very, very best on that, please?

As I like you, I'll do a special price of 15.

Yeah, I think I'll go for that as well, if that's alright.

So 15 for this.

And then we've got 36 for those.

VO: Now, where's Paul when you need a mathematician?

That's £48, isn't it?

VO: I think you'll find that adds up to 51, Thomas.

Nice try.

Let's get our minds to it.

No, 51, so it's 51.

£51.

Shall we call it a cool 50?

After knocking all that off?

I know, I know, I know!

Would you mind?

Well, you do smile nicely.

VO: Please Rita, don't encourage him.

That's very sweet.

VO: Thomas pockets his three pieces, a nice addition to his necklace.

After a slow start, Thomas has raised his game and is feeling so confident he's taking some time out!

Ducky.

Very therapeutic, this.

I'm ahead of the game, I've got three items, and got plenty of money.

I can just relax and feed the ducks.

VO: Well, what a lovely end of the day for both of them.

They make a lovely couple, don't they?

VO: The next day as the sun shines across Cambridgeshire, our intrepid experts are on the road again and talking dirty.

PAUL: Well, I've gone down the furnishing route.

PAUL: In all honesty.

THOMAS: Have you?

Furniture, who would have thought, big dirty great big brown things.

But look, when in Rome.

We're going to a furniture sale.

VO: Well not exactly, Paul, the sale is split.

THOMAS: I believe it starts with jewelry and silver and probably watches etc, so I'll have all my stuff out the way, and then we've got to wait another three hours for Laidlaw's bits of brown to come up!

VO: So far, Paul has two buys under his belt, both brown but not just furniture - a mirror and a clock, for £70.

VO: Thomas has stuck to his strengths - all things shiny and small - but only spent £56.

That's not much considering he has £383 in his pocket.

VO: But let's hope he digs deeper today as they drive west, leaving Cambridgeshire behind, and entering Northamptonshire, and the town Finedon.

VO: Formerly know as Thingdon - maybe they couldn't agree on a proper name?

It has a magnificent church, which has an organ which was apparently once played by Handel, who knew a thing or two.

Speaking of which, they've got two antique shops bang next door to each other.

I wonder what our dynamic duo will come up with next.

So you're going in there, and I'll see you in there.

Swap.

See you in a mo.

See you in a min.

Hello.

SEAN: Hello.

I'm Thomas.

Hi Thomas, it's Sean.

Sean, very nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

THOMAS: I'm gonna enjoy having a good luck round, and hopefully doing some deals with you.

SEAN: Excellent, look forward to it.

THOMAS: Yeah, I hope so.

SEAN: I'll leave you to it.

Thank you very much.

There's loads of stuff.

VO: After saying he was going to stick with his jewelry plan, it seems Thomas is going off piste.

There's some really nice works of art in here, I just sort of...

Looking around, it's fascinating, isn't it?

Look, you know, it's late 19th century, it's that sort of...Olympian look to it, that sort of aesthetic taste, with these ladies in "dinaphrous" robes, "dinaphrous", see-through robes.

I love late Victorian art.

I love it.

VO: The word, Thomas, is "diaphanous".

I might do, I might have a chat.

Sean, what's the best price on this?

To you, in fact you've made it sound so fantastic, I've left the one off the front of the 275.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

£200.

Is that your cheapest is it?

SEAN: Absolutely, there's that amount of... SEAN: Oil's worth that on it.

THOMAS: You wouldn't do it for 150?

SEAN: You're right, you're absolutely right.

I wouldn't.

THOMAS: What would you do it for then?

I think 200 is as cheap as I'd go.

THOMAS: I'll bring it down and have a look.

THOMAS: I mean, this is huge, I mean, I could really bomb on this.

No, I still like it, I still like it, I think Sean and I need to chat more, but I'm still gonna have a good look around, this is the first thing I've seen.

VO: Back to the original plan then, small and shiny - remember?

Are you sure you haven't got any jewels floating about?

I've possibly got some things, and also some silver.

SEAN: I only live down the road, I was gonna bring it in the shop, but we don't tend to keep valuable silver in.

VO: So Thomas is off to see a secret bit of silver down at Sean's.

Are we gonna walk or drive?

Walk.

Walk, it's only down the road, isn't it?

There's a few items over there, that nice scent bottle.

Russian, small Russian icon.

Yeah, that's nice, scent bottle's sweet.

You've got a silver top there, little love heart, it's sort of Edwardiana.

Birmingham, 1904.

That's quite nice.

VO: This heart shaped scent bottle would certainly please the ladies at the auction.

Or how about the clock?

The auctioneer did say they do well.

What's this clock here, this watch?

Lever escapement, Swiss, bit of ormolu.

SEAN: Yeah.

Bit of paste, bit of fun.

THOMAS: It's quite good fun, really, isn't it?

A bit of 19th century?

Fun.

SEAN: Yeah, working condition, and a good movement.

THOMAS: Yeah.

Lever escapement, it's a lovely movement.

VO: While Thomas considers his options with a coffee - nice garden, nice dog.

Whoops, dogs... - Paul's keen sense of a bargain has got him excited.

He's spotted a very quirky Edwardian stand made from mahogany.

Let's just cut to the chase.

It's got 48 on it.

Yeah, best price, £40.

Ah, we're not... No, we're not trying hard enough.

PAUL: Don't mind me being shockingly cheeky, but you'd have to want to get rid of it at 20-odd quid.

EDWARD: The best I can really do for you on it, it would be 30.

Should we get it out and have a look at it?

Is it...

I know it's surrounded, is that OK?

Sorry, I'm making you work, and you've already done me a favor.

Let's have a wee look and see.

Now, it might go back in the window, alright.

I'm used to it, I'm used to it, excuse me.

Thanks very much, Edward.

EDWARD: OK, OK. PAUL: It looks well, isn't it?

Beavers?

PAUL: Ah, it's had a fabric back, hasn't it?

Yes, it had some silk material, but very decorative, very attractive.

PAUL: We've nailed it, it's just the quirkiest little screen you've seen in a long time.

PAUL: No way on God's Earth that's gonna be a £20 job?

EDWARD: 28.

Now, we must be getting there now.

PAUL: We are getting close, aren't we?

Well, I hate these rubbish numbers, because 28 for me, I always round up.

At 25, I'll shake your hand and we'll do a deal.

You've squeezed me, but we'll do it.

VO: Forever squeezing, Paul clinches the deal and heads off to see what's in Thomas's shop.

Little does he know Mr Plant has done a runner, but what a wonderful opportunity to sweep in and find something that Thomas has missed.

Laidlaw, in a desperate moment, dares to ask the price of a Vicky swivel toilet mirror that couldn't be further from fashionable.

I'd do that for a £20 note, to give you a fighting chance.

PAUL: Fighting chances work for me in this life, Mike.

Never mind the quality, feel the weight!

Right.

Relieved to be there.

Between you and me, Mike, these should be easy sellers all day long, they're good things in houses, aren't they?

The problem with these is, you and I appreciate them, and no one wants to know, they're just unloved, and I'm not gonna take the mickey at £20.

Thanks very much.

VO: Oh no.

Paul's buying flurry isn't over yet - he's off to find yet another shop, while Thomas is still deliberating over the scent bottle and clock over at Sean's.

THOMAS: What could you do that for?

I tell you what, as we've had such a good day, this is a crucifying price at £90.

THOMAS: You said 220 for the clock.

Yeah.

What would be your uber best on that one, if I went with these two?

If you went with those two, again, it was sorta the best price, 190 would be the cheapest on that clock.

I think we should go back to the shop and have a look at that picture.

I think that's a good idea.

VO: Back to the shop then, and after a lot of thought, Thomas decides the picture isn't for him.

But just when I thought he'd finally made up his mind, another item is thrown into the mix.

If you'd like that style of French clock, I personally think that's a better quality one.

That one can be 210.

Oh, it's signed as well, isn't it?

Yeah.

V. Dogesy, or something.

Put the two together, and you go actually, you're right, that is a little boudoir clock, it's titchy.

SEAN: It's a little boudoir clock.

This is the boy.

THOMAS: Can I just ask... SEAN: Yeah?

THOMAS: Can I have a one in front of this?

Somewhere along the line.

You're really, really pushing...

I know, I know I'm pushing, but I'm asking.

190 is the absolute death, and that's, in my view, giving it away, but it's... 180?

THOMAS: I can see the estimate, 150-250, and the...

I'm thinking as an auctioneer.

180, as I'm feeling worn down.

VO: Now Thomas, you've got your reduction - at least make up your mind now.

You know you just hate parting with any cash.

Can we make it... SEAN: No.

THOMAS: No?

No, don't even ask.

If you ask, the price is going up.

Right, OK, I get where we are.

SEAN: What I'll do, as an act of good faith then, is let me see if I can throw something in that will ease the pain.

THOMAS: So 270, plus a bonus.

SEAN: Plus a bonus, a bonus buy.

THOMAS: Alright.

Go on.

SEAN: Deal.

THOMAS: You've got a deal, done.

I'd better give you some cash.

I think that would help!

Right, OK, spondoolies, here we come.

So er....two, four, six, eight.

VO: Finally, Thomas has made a decision and gone with the very pretty scent bottle and the rather expensive French clock.

I think that might give you a chance.

I think it's an American high school fraternity ring, silver.

A bit of fun.

Central High, it's...

It's great, thank you very much.

THOMAS: I can't look a gift horse in the mouth.

VO: Well after that I'm exhausted!

Thomas is off though for a change of scenery... THOMAS: Thank you!

VO: ..while Paul has decided with £100 still left to spend he can afford to whizz round one more shop.

Hello.

I'm Paul.

I'm Nick.

Nick good to see you, I'm Paul, yeah, and I'll be back in a mo.

This is a palace of retro.

OK, there you go.

A little wristwatch in there, in a little lenticular, what may be a silver case.

And looking at it from here, it will date to the 1910s or 1920s.

These are commonly called today trench watches, they are red hot at the moment.

I will tell you this much about the watch market - military watches of all periods, on fire.

As long as it's assayed before 1918, you can call it a trench watch, I think it's worth asking, but I can't see the price, who knows.

VO: And Nick has come to the rescue.

PAUL: Thanks for that.

Excellent.

PAUL: It's sterling silver, and it bears import marks.

VO: It's priced at £25 but before going any further Paul needs to check two things; was it made before 1918, therefore officially a trench watch; and does it go "tick tock"?

Bear with me while I look at my little bible here.

1918!

What I do is give these a little shake, and the balance wheel there, if it's been dropped, that arbor that the balance wheel rotates on can snap, and of course in a trench situation, it could take a knock and that could happen.

It's running, is the main spring any good?

No, dah!

That's where it falls down.

I think these are wearable little watches.

I'm gonna try and buy that, but not for £25, and my route in is the mechanical defect.

NICK: Hi.

Oh, Nick, how are you doing?

The wee watch that you got for me, it's got £25 on it, if you try winding it, the winding pinion's shot.

I need it for a tenner, is what I need.

I think if we said 15, I'd shake hands.

You would shake hands, but I can't.

Any chance of that being a tenner?

£12?

I've got you on the run now!

It's a tenner, isn't it?

£11.

Och, it's 11 quid.

Nick, you're a good man.

VO: Wow, three shops, and three buys - not bad at all, Paul!

Not content with three changes of venue today, Thomas is back on the road again.

Traveling west for about 32 miles, he's heading for Rugby.

VO: To the Rugby Football Museum to meet second row forward, curator Victoria.

The museum is in the original building where William Gilbert, boot and shoemaker, made the first rugby balls in 1842.

Thank you very much, for letting us come to this wonderful museum.

So what's the story behind it?

Well, this is a privately owned collection of rugby football memorabilia, and one of the most interesting things about this is the fact that the building it's in is the building that's got the longest continuous association with the game of football anywhere in the world.

VO: It was William Webb Ellis, a pupil at Rugby school, who invented the game of rugby and asked the boot maker, William Gilbert to design the new type of ball.

I believe that we can see someone who used to make balls here.

VO: Indeed, John Batchelor started ball stitching in 1948 - in over his 60 working years it's estimated that he's stitched over 60,000 balls.

That's a lot of balls.

What's this thing here?

That's a stitching horse.

THOMAS: A stitching horse?

JOHN: Yeah.

THOMAS: If I just go on here like this, so you'd sit down like that.

That would go in the jaws of the horse, but you've got a ratchet there you can put your foot on, and that brings it all down, so you're holding the work tight, and your hands are free all the time.

So it's a bit like a vice in a workshop?

JOHN: A bit like a vice, yeah.

But more gentle, you don't want to hurt the leather.

JOHN: That's right, yeah.

THOMAS: I suppose nowadays they're made by machine, but there is so much skill into making something correct, and when you make it correct, you can really appreciate the craftsmanship and the absolute love which has gone into it, really.

Did you love it?

I suppose if you make anything with your hands, there's always a bit of a satisfaction if it's a nice thing when you've finished it.

When I watch the game again, I will watch it with a new interest.

JOHN: A new dimension.

THOMAS: Thank you.

Thank you.

VO: Thomas you better trot off, it's wet and Mr Laidlaw is waiting for you with all his wares.

Laidlaw.

Look at all of that!

Never mind the quality, see the size.

Right, I'll kick off, cuz we're going to jewelry sale, I bought a little...Deco.

Diamante affair, yeah?

THOMAS: Yeah, diamante affair.

Paste, I'd call it paste, cuz it makes sense, paste necklace, I paid six quid.

PAUL: (LAUGHS) That's a low risk affair, that one!

PAUL: No worries at all.

THOMAS: Come on.

I want to see what's behind these then.

OK.

I'm staying here, I'm not getting involved.

Maybe better from a distance.

Is it better from a distance?

PAUL: Behold.

You've cleaned it up.

PAUL: What do you mean I've cleaned it up?

PAUL: That's authentic dust, and I'm throwing that in with the deal.

THOMAS: What did you pay?

PAUL: £30.

No!

Sweet, isn't it?

THOMAS: No way you paid 30 for that!

You can't argue with that, nice little bright cut tablespoon, that's sweet.

THOMAS: Bright cut tablespoon, 1804.

PAUL: That's fine, a little fiddle... That's a Victorian one, for a marriage, but it's by George Morley, it's really nice.

What'd you pay for those?

I paid 35 for the two.

PAUL: You cannot lose money on those.

THOMAS: You can't.

VO: Actually Thomas, I think you'll find it was 36.

So I'll see your few ounces, and raise you a few kilo.

Really?

Oh, here we go.

Oh, the back, the back's gone!

Right, slate mantel clock, fair enough.

PAUL: Yeah, that's what I thought.

OK, German movement, isn't it, on the back.

Ansonia.

Ansonia, oh, it's an American one.

40?

PAUL: 40 quid.

THOMAS: That is interesting.

OK. Little waist belt.

It's a waist belt.

Made of... Electroplated, EPNS, not silver, it'd be nice if it was.

I'm not so sure I do see the quality in that, the medium... THOMAS: It didn't cost much, it was electroplated.

An Edwardian electroplated... And you're gonna get 20-40 for that?

14 paid.

PAUL: I'm really happy with that.

No worries.

PAUL: It's a daft thing, it's a hearth shelf.

PAUL: I think that wants a nice William Morris fabric on the back of it, and then you're away, but Edwardian, Sheraton influenced, strong mahogany, quirky, dotable little piece, £25.

THOMAS: God!

25 quid?

PAUL: It's alright, isn't it?

THOMAS: This is where I've really played the game now.

PAUL: OK, that's sweet.

THOMAS: Sweet, isn't it?

Sweet as a nut.

Hand enameled porcelain perfume, silver mounted.

THOMAS: It's not hand enamel, have a look.

Print in tint, is it?

THOMAS: Yeah, it's print in tint, but you know, you can't have everything in life.

But that didn't cost you a fortune.

Oh, it did.

90 quid.

It's a lot of money.

I think you went too far.

Yeah, well, it's a nice thing.

I think you're cruising thus far.

THOMAS: Yeah.

PAUL: That's a punt.

OK, next item.

Alright, yeah, now, what there did I go?

I then went to the shop you were in.

Yeah, OK. PAUL: Had a bit of fun.

Came away with...

I know, it's not gonna set the world alight, but find fault with it, really?

I can't find fault with Victorian toilet mirror, or dressing table mirror.

PAUL: You can, no one loves them at the moment.

THOMAS: They're not loved.

20 quid.

Perfect.

It's a 150-250 estimate.

I could live with that, Thomas.

What did you pay for that?

What'd you pay for that?

180.

PAUL: 180?

THOMAS: 180.

It's a really nice...

I don't mind telling you...

I could take that home.

PAUL: Now I'm down to your end of the magnitude in terms of physical scale.

Now, you're gonna mock this.

PAUL: When I drop it and it doesn't bounce.

Ah.

PAUL: Birmingham imports, 1918, so it can be legitimately called... THOMAS: A trench watch.

PAUL: A trench watch.

That's a sweet thing.

PAUL: It's alright, that, isn't it?

£30?

75.

Laidlaw!

No, 11.

Oh, thank God for that.

£11, trench watch, silver cased.

It's not bad, 11 quid.

PAUL: Alright, isn't it?

Profit, I can see profit on all your items.

Because I wanted these for a certain price, he wouldn't do it, so the college ring was sort of passed over.

You could squeeze £20-30 out of that.

THOMAS: I doubt that you could squeeze 20 or 30, it's silver!

It's silver, it's a tenner.

So good luck to you.

PAUL: Good luck, my old man.

Gonna be another interesting auction.

If I'm not crying at the end of this one... THOMAS: You won't be crying at all, I'll be the one with tears.

VO: But forget all these niceties - what are you really thinking, boys?

I can't say anything derogatory about any of his stuff, cuz it's all good clean stuff, it's a little bit... "oh, I might be a bit bored", but... You know, he's played a safe one.

I think maybe I was a bit reserved and/or polite to Tom.

The diamante is junk, and has no place in a catalogued auction, but he'll make money on it.

The belt, I'm sorry to say, ditto.

It may have some age, but it's junk.

The perfume, you may be surprised to hear, I also consider junk, it has age and it has a silver mount, but it wasn't a rich thing in its day.

No, it's not junk, I was over harsh there, but it's not a rich thing, and I think maybe he paid too much money for that.

VO: Well I think they've both done jolly well so far in the journey, starting in Huntingdon, then on to Finedon and now arriving in Towcester where their fabulous finds will go under the hammer.

VO: This Northamptonshire town is the oldest in the county with a very illustrious and bloody history dating back to the Vikings, the Romans, the civil war - it's hard to imagine it all now with its busy, bustling center.

VO: And there is another battle on today as our experts arrive at the auction house.

Here we are.

PAUL: This is it, Thomas.

THOMAS: Excited?

PAUL: Yeah, I'm feeling good, how are you feeling?

Whoa, I've got to get out the car.

Well, I've given you a trump card.

I've spent so much money.

Do you want to go up?

I think I should go, I could be loser on this one.

VO: Holding the fort today is auctioneer Jonathan Humbert.

I've spent a huge amount of money, I could be really in trouble.

I bought the really nice ormolu clock.

We liked that.

We like that, sexy, small, appeals to a lot of people, I think that's gonna do alright.

How about Paul's really interesting clock, the cast iron one?

Yeah, I think that's got a niche market, but there are people... THOMAS: Scrappers?

Maybe!

We've bought completely different things, I mean he's gone furniture, and I've bought sort of smalls, etc.

Do they fit well into the business?

I think everything you've bought just about should find a home, but how much that home is willing to pay...hm.

VO: Hm.

Now, this auction is split into jewelry and silver at the beginning and all the furniture at the end.

It's looking rather quiet out there but let's hope it picks up.

VO: First up, Thomas' silver spoons.

£30 bid, five online, at 40 if you like.

Five online, please.

What'd you buy them for?

36.

In the money.

£50 here, then left handed, and I'm selling at £50, are we all out?

The hammer's up at £50.

£50.

Bang on the money.

VO: That's a good start, Thomas!

Now, the next item is much riskier - the expensive perfume bottle.

Heart-shaped, good thing too, where do we see it?

Who's gonna start me, £30?

JONATHAN: £30 online, £30 bid now, five online also.

JONATHAN: 40 anywhere else, it's up to you.

£35 bid becomes 40.

£40 bid here, five anywhere else then?

At £40 bid, take five, it's up to you.

JONATHAN: At £40.

£45, 50, 50 here now.

60 anywhere, surely?

£50, and what a pretty thing it is, at £50 here, and I'm selling at £50.

Ouch.

VO: I couldn't agree more.

Now it's Thomas's necklace.

JONATHAN: Come on, who's gonna go, let's go easy start, £20 surely?

£20 would be a miracle.

How do you get away with it?

35 here, at £35 bid, who's gonna go 40?

JONATHAN: £40 it is, far away at £40, are we all out and selling at £40, 40 only then, sold then at 40.

That's alright, isn't it?

You jammy... What?

VO: Considering he only paid £6, that's a massive profit for Thomas.

And since the next item was his free ring, surely his luck must continue.

If the ring makes 50 quid, I'll buy you a drink.

Fiver away, surely?

THOMAS: No!

JONATHAN: Fiver away, hurrah!

JONATHAN: Five and a five and a five now, take £6 if you will.

THOMAS: Go on!

JONATHAN: £5 bid then six, six we have.

JONATHAN: Seven upstairs, it's up to you at £7, make no mistake.

£6 it is downstairs, and selling at £6.

At £6.

Money for nothing that, it's all money for nothing.

I know it's all money for nothing, it's hardly worth it, though, is it?

I'm relieved to say not.

£7!

My goodness me, here we are at £7 bid now.

We've been here half and hour an we'll get to 50 quid.

Quiet!

No need to be nasty.

Sold upstairs at £7.

VO: Wow.

Time for the nurse's belt - fingers crossed!

I don't know, at £30 surely?

£30 surely?

Bid me 20 now to clear.

JONATHAN: £20 bid, £20 bid then, JONATHAN: five here, then at £25 bid then 30 surely, 25 here then 30 anywhere, it's up to you.

The hammer's up now, last chance at 25 before me.

Go on, one more.

JONATHAN: Sold then at £25.

A pretty tight audience, isn't it?

VO: I don't know, that's a belter.

Anyway, moving quickly along, at last is one of Paul's pieces, the trench watch.

And a little bit on the rare side.

Start me now easy money, £40.

Oh, 40.

JONATHAN: £40, £40 in sir, thank you.

£40 bid then.

Five online.

£50 sir?

£50 in.

£50, at £50, at £50, then 60 surely, at £50 bid, £50, at £50, at £50 before me here, I'm selling at £50, are we all out?

Well done.

Well done.

That's a really good profit.

VO: Well done Paul.

Next up is Thomas's very expensive clock.

£100, 110.

110 bid, 120.

120 bid.

120 bid then, 130, the hammer's up now, last chance.

JONATHAN: At £130.

VO: Unfortunately, the right buyers are just not here tonight.

That was a £50 loss.

Ouch.

VO: And it's Paul's turn.

It's the battle of the clocks.

At £40 I've got, 45 online will buy.

Oh, get in!

You've got 40.

£40 bid then, at £40, are we all out?

JONATHAN: At £40 only, here selling.

VO: Oh dear!

Hopefully Paul's Victorian mirror will make a profit.

£30 bid, then five upstairs and 40 downstairs I go.

£40 bid then, five, if you like, at £40 bid.

£40, at £40, at £40, bid five.

45 then, at 45.

At £45, 45 and sold at four five.

VO: That's a nice £25 profit for Paul.

Would have made 75.

Stop it!

Stop it.

Show me the money.

VO: Paul's large rosewood mirror is next, bought for just £30.

£40 if you will, it's a good example.

JONATHAN: £40 if you will, please.

£40, please.

£40 in.

£40 bid then, five upstairs, and 50 downstairs, £50 here.

Sold in the room then at £50.

THOMAS: What did you pay for it?

VO: 50, not bad, that's £20 profit before auction costs.

Little nibbles, little nibbles.

Could've been 120.

VO: Next, another of Paul's lots, and his last, his slightly ambiguous stand.

I've not seen another one of the like before, who's gonna go £30 on it?

£30 please.

£20 if you will.

There's no way this is making a loss.

£20 in.

At £20 only, five if you like anywhere else?

It's not great!

No way.

JONATHAN: At £20 only, are we all out?

At £20 only.

VO: Don't worry Paul, this item may have flopped but it's still your day.

I've got to say, I didn't think I'd claw it back so soon, if at all, Thom.

No, no of course.

Let's got and celebrate.

THOMAS: Let's have a drink.

VO: That is an extremely good idea!

Mine's a Scotch.

Thomas started today on top with £383.56.

But after auction costs, he's made a horrific loss of £78.36, leaving him with £305.20 in the piggy bank.

VO: Hah, Paul on the other hand was trailing behind with £213.78 after auction costs, so today he's made a profit of £42.10, so with £255.88 to spend, Mr Laidlaw is catching up!

Oink.

THOMAS: You're driving.

Don't make me feel sick.

THOMAS: Are we off?

THOMAS: Red sky at night, shepherd's delight.

VO: Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning.

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, our dashing duo are heading east, where Tom, also known as Cruise, is flying high.

Ready for take off.

Bit nervous.

VO: Huh, and Paul has a mountain to climb.

Yeuch.

You know what I need?

One of those big long poles, that's what I need.

Tightrope.

subtitling@stv.tv