Antiques Road Trip

antiques experts... Let the Road Trip begin!

VO: ..behind the wheel of a classic car.

IZZIE: Ooh!

DAVID: You hit the roof then!

VO: And a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

Pump yourself up... with antiques.

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

But it's no mean feat.

That's a top job, isn't it?

VO: There'll be worthy winners... AUCTIONEER: �400.

RAJ: Fantastic!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

I'm screaming on the inside.

VO: Will it be the high road to glory...

The gloves are off.

VO: ..or the slow road to disaster?

The gearbox has gone!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Dig that.

Welcome back to more West Country wanderings, and someone's in a hurry to make a start.

JAMES (JB): Right, come on.

Let's get moving.

Come on, let's get moving.

VO: Behind the wheel of this splendid '70s Porsche 911 is impatient expert James Braxton.

And along for the ride, Natasha Raskin Sharp, still delighting in Devon.

NATASHA (NS): Are we in the sort of magical part of the United Kingdom?

Is it all fairies and...

I think Cornwall tends to sort of grab onto all the fairies, doesn't it?

This is Devon.

This is a sort of pragmatic farming county.

Less fairy-ish.

VO: They were definitely after some antiques magic last time out...

I need something to say "hello".

VO: ..as they did battle to get their hands on the treasure.

I'm defending this area.

VO: But when it came to selling... Is no one bidding?

Struggling.

VO: ..there was no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.

At �15 only.

To a couple of losers.

To abject failure.

VO: We'll let our poet in residence give the verdict.

There goes auction one, and, while we had fun, the sooner forgotten the better.

The profits will come, our work here's not done.

But our paltry kitty's... a-fetter.

Very good.

VO: Their current funds are not so poetic.

Natasha started this trip with �200 and has seen that whittled down to �164 precisely for today's shopping.

But poor old James, who started with the same amount, came in for more of a bashing.

He's left with a smidge under �137 for his troubles.

Not their finest work, was it?

We should be better at this by now, should we not?

That was just a warmup.

That was a friendly.

Shall we call it a friendly?

A knock about, right.

It was a knock up match, and now we're scoring.

VO: Well, it is a game of two halves.

Or five fifths in this case.

Ha!

Leg one saw them start on the South West coast, and they'll be pointing their Porsche towards the east, aiming for Oxfordshire.

What is that smell?

Is that your driving?

JB: The clutch.

NS: (CHUCKLES) VO: On this outing... they'll be shopping across two counties as they head towards Somerset and the city of Wells, but there's more Devon to do first, beginning with Ottery St Mary... where Natasha has been dropped off at her first shop, The Vintage Trading Post.

At ease, soldier!

Lots of vintage and retro stuff, with a healthy dollop of weird and wonderful thrown in for good measure.

Gosh, that's cool.

That is very cool.

I think James would be very jealous.

VO: (CHUCKLES) Moving on.

Let's put those 164 pounds of yours to work.

I'm questioning if that's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

VO: She's just found one of those Devonshire fairies.

It's a darning mushroom.

I thought that... Oh!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

You take off the darning mushroom, and all of a sudden you have a little receptacle for your pins.

This is so cute.

So you're mending your socks.

It's that kind of tricky angle.

Put your sock over this, create a bit of a heel.

Darning mushroom.

This little fellow here, looking quite... are we saying continental?

It has a bit of a Dutch feel to it, doesn't it?

Anyway, the little basket on their back apparently houses a thimble.

What else?

Stop!

I think I've just seen the star of the show.

It is!

Look at that.

VO: It's got everything!

�28 on that sewing set.

NS: It's mid 20th century, isn't it?

It looks very '60s.

It's not terribly valuable, but it would inspire competition, I'm sure of it.

I love it.

I actually love it.

Very cute.

I think I'm going to have to take up sewing.

VO: Meanwhile, our other "sew-and-sew" - ha!

- has just made it to his first shop.

He's pitching up at the seaside town of Teignmouth.

VO: Visitors flock here for the beaches, the pier, an annual sea shanty festival, and, for James at least, the antique shops.

This one is his - Time Flies.

Wonder how it got that name?

(CLOCKS CHIME) Laura, I seem to have timed this immaculately.

DEALER: Perfectly.

JB: It is slap bang on the hour.

We have over 300 clocks and they're going for it.

Anyway, I'll have a good look round.

Yes, take your time, literally.

VO: Oh, she's been dying to say that.

Yes, they've got timepieces aplenty, but a lot more besides.

Enough to keep our man occupied for a while.

JB: I'm always magically drawn to elephants.

And here we've got a little model, very much in the style of, you know, a Chinese sort of green stone.

One always hopes these things are jade.

That precious material that's so incredibly hard to work.

There was a very famous maker, obviously, Carl Faberge, who did these incredible jade animals, made in his workshops in Moscow and St Petersburg.

This is no way the quality of something like that.

This is quite roughly hewn, which would suggest it probably isn't jade.

VO: And at �45, it definitely isn't by Faberge.

It has got a nice weigh.

I think that's worth a punt.

VO: Let's leave the elephant in the room and head back to Ottery, where amongst all the quirky and kitsch, our girl has managed to unearth a genuine antique.

Wayside And Woodland Blossoms.

A pocket guide to British wild flowers for the country rambler.

Edward Step, author of The Romance of Wild Flowers etc.

So he's obviously a well known botanist.

"And with colored figures of 127 species by Mabel E Step."

They must be related.

VO: They were - Mabel was his daughter.

1905.

So we're slap bang in the middle of the Edwardian era.

These just really appeal to me because they're a pocket guide, so people would put these into their pockets and head off into the great British countryside.

�8 for two Edwardian books all about botany.

For some reason, having never bought books to sell before, I'm quite keen on those.

VO: I think they're growing on her!

Hoo-hoo!

Back in Teignmouth, the browsing continues.

JB: That's rather nice.

So we've got a desk thermometer here, and we've got a good indication of the age.

This is pre-metric.

This is in Fahrenheit, not Celsius.

We've got the maker's name - TB Heath and Son Ltd of Hounslow.

It's chromium plated, so I would suspect it's from the art-deco period.

1920s.

Sort of thing that people had on their desks.

Lovely thing.

It's been bashed about a bit, which is a bit of shame.

But I like the easel stand.

So easel stand stands on the desk.

Rather nice, isn't it?

VO: It is, but at �115, that's nearly all your money.

I think with the damage and the lack of plating, that might be worth having a go at.

VO: He's building up a little collection there.

As is Natasha, with those botany books and that novelty sewing set, and she's still on the hunt.

Pewter.

Still looking for the magic word "Tudric".

Bet it's not.

VO: Bet it is.

NS: It is Tudric pewter!

So designed for and retailed by Liberty and Co, London.

20th century pewter, art nouveau in its style, very sinewy, hand beaten, this pewter.

It's a metal that lends itself nicely to planishing.

Hand planished.

VO: �95 on that jardiniere.

Has a bit of an issue, mind you.

For some reason, someone bored a hole into that planter.

They didn't do a matching one, so they didn't hang it.

Were they planning on doing a matching one?

What were they thinking?

Why have they done this?

I would think at auction this should make, in perfect condition, �150.

With that hole, would it make its �95?

I don't know.

That, I mean, that's not drainage.

That's just a disaster.

VO: But it might help with haggling.

Let's go find Sharon, the shopkeeper.

NS: Sharon.

DEALER: Hello.

May I interrupt you and tell you about the journey I've been on?

DEALER: Please do.

NS: So let's go oldest first.

The botanical books by Edward and Mabel Step.

DEALER: OK. NS: And �8, NS: can't grumble at that.

So... DEALER: Yes.

Yeah.

Thank you.

..done.

Tick.

Then over there, there is a novelty tape measure and that is marked up at �28.

I think the trader would take �20 on that.

Lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely.

This is the biggie.

Tudric jardiniere.

Love it.

Then I saw a hole that for whatever reason has been drilled into the side of said beautiful early 20th century planter.

Oh dear.

And then I saw the price tag.

DEALER: Aha.

NS: �95.

Do you know what?

I'm going to be bold because all you can say is no.

DEALER: OK. NS: Would you do �50?

No!

(CHUCKLES) OK. What do you reckon you would take?

60-something.

Do you want to go in around there?

�60 on the nose?

I'm going to go for it.

NS: You're going to go for it?

DEALER: �60.

Right, OK.

There is hope, and I'm really grateful.

Thank you so much.

VO: Very kind, Sharon.

�88 for those.

76 still in hand.

Thank you so much.

VO: And with her goodies being sent on later, let's move out, back to James, who seems to be after an equally large haul from his shop.

What have you got, old bean?

I think it's a fruit knife.

Let's open it up.

Yeah, it's got a silver blade.

Sheffield.

I think that's in the 1880s.

Just shows you that all the fruit that people used to eat in the 19th century, and earlier in the Georgian period, was always peak.

It was always soft.

You go to a supermarket now and try and assault a golden delicious pear with a silver fruit knife, I think you'd have a very bent blade.

This is rather nice.

We've got mother-of-pearl covers to the handle, which are rather nice.

And they're pinned.

And then we've got the name.

So this is very much a sort of present that you would give somebody.

VO: And yours for �60.

If that could be 25 or 30, I might buy it.

That's rather nice.

Anyway, I'm going to take that to Laura.

VO: Add that to his other picks, and that's �220 all in, which he doesn't have by a long chalk.

Let's indeed talk to Laura.

Laura, I found some items.

This is one of them.

We've got a silver fruit knife here.

That is pretty.

Mother-of-pearl, yeah.

A green stone elephant.

Lovely.

And that desk thermometer, Fahrenheit one.

Beautiful, yeah.

I want to spend hopefully around �75.

Ooh.

VO: Sorry, Laura!

He is desperate.

There's definitely movement.

How about we say 90 for the three?

Could you do 80?

DEALER: OK.

Seeing it's the lot.

JB: Would that be alright?

Yeah.

For the lot.

Go on then.

JB: You happy with that?

DEALER: Yes, yes.

Cuz I am absolutely delighted.

You've never, ever seen a man so keenly get out his money.

VO: I'm not surprised.

That's a whopping discount.

�30 for the thermometer and 25 each for Nelly and the knife.

And with just under �57 left, he's out of there.

VO: Now, keen for a breather from all that exhausting shopping... Natasha's come to the capital of Devon, Exeter.

For centuries, the city was protected by the solid and imposing walls originally built by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago.

But by the Middle Ages, this ancient defense stood between the city's growing population on the inside and an adequate supply of clean water on the outside.

Mark, hi, nice to meet you.

Hi Natasha.

Welcome to Exeter.

VO: To hear the ingenious medieval solution, she's meeting historian Mark Stoyle.

The cathedral authorities decided to take down a whole section of the city wall, here in the section which runs between East Gate and South Gate, to dig a large sort of trench underneath the foundations of the wall.

Then to lay the aqueduct pipe through that trench.

Then to sort of cover the trench up and roof it with stone and then to build the wall back on top.

And in that way, you had a passage running underneath the walls through which the pipe could be run.

So it's almost like a medieval service duct, if you like.

So this was happening in which century?

The first section of the extra underground passages was built in the 1340s at about the time of the Black Death.

VO: And amazingly, this labyrinth of 14th century passageways, found nowhere else in the country, still exists beneath the city streets.

Time to break out the hard hats and head underground.

MARK: Mind your head because it's pretty low here.

NS: It is low.

Gosh!

MARK: This bit's very damp, just to warn you.

Here we go.

We've sprung a leak.

Oh no, it is dripping.

Does it stain?

I'm wearing a bloomin' beige blazer!

What was I was thinking?

I'm so inappropriately dressed for this, Mark.

VO: Well, spare a thought for the poor medieval plumbers.

They had to do this by candlelight.

As with most cities at the time, the church was in charge.

Only they had the clout and the money to undertake such a massive construction project, and so the first of these passageways was built to service the cathedral.

The Christian thing to do would be to ensure that everyone in the parish was receiving fresh, clean water.

Is that what happened?

Is that how it played out?

In a way.

The cathedral aqueduct initially came to the cathedral close, where the cathedral clergy would make use of it.

And their servants could use it and so forth.

And then afterwards, the pipeline passed out of the Cathedral close and into the city, where the citizens got a third share of the water.

That's such a luxury in the 14th, 15th century to have fresh water.

Oh, it was.

Yeah.

I mean, it was only the sort of institutions that were rich enough and powerful enough to afford this that could bring in piped water.

VO: As Exeter grew in both wealth and population in the 1400s, the city's rich merchants decided to build pipelines of their own and eventually took over the cathedral's supply as well.

But having passages running beneath the defensive walls meant that there was a chink in the city's armor.

There's something about being in an underground passage, which puts me in mind of gunpowder and plot.

Does that sound about right?

Yeah, absolutely right.

I mean, there was a great deal of concern about the way that the passages might make the city vulnerable to attack.

And the structures themselves were actually attacked during sieges.

I mean, during the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549, the city was besieged by a rebel force for six weeks, and the pipes outside the wall were all dug up by the besiegers.

And they melted down the lead to use for their shot.

Melting down the lead for shot must have wreaked havoc... MARK: Yeah.

NS: ..with the water system.

And just before the English Civil War in the 1640s, they were very worried about this section.

It was actually blocked up to stop people crawling in and sort of using it as a place to lay a mine to blow up the East Gate, which stands directly above us.

VO: This unique water system served Exeter up until the mid 1800s.

And a handful of properties were still supplied by the pipes in the early 20th century, nearly 600 years after they were built.

How's that for plumbing?

That's one way to get right to the middle of the city center.

(CHUCKLES) Right.

Oh!

VO: Elsewhere in Devon, James is reflecting on his poetic traveling companion.

I'm really enjoying my road trip with Natasha.

She's a bright button.

She's got a great head on her.

And she's coming up with some great verse.

It has a feel of sort of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

VO: Well, old Geoffrey did write The Merchant's Tale, so let's head off and find one.

VO: James's antiques pilgrimage takes him to delightful Dawlish.

VO: Oh, lovely spot, isn't it?

Famed for its black swans, don't you know?

And this is his next port of call - Queens Antiques.

Oh, lovely biscuits.

VO: Focus, James.

Focus.

I think some of their finer items might be a bit beyond your �56 and change.

Now this is something dear to my heart - bamboo.

60 quid.

That's pretty well all my budget.

VO: Shame, but I'm sure there'll be one or two things you can still afford.

See, a man on small a budget has to...

I can't ignore small things, and this took my eye because it's decorative.

It's a table lighter.

VO: In the form of a die.

The plural, of course, is dice.

It's made of a sort of resinous material.

What have they said here?

Art deco Bakelite lighter.

It's got a chromium mechanism there, but it was quite interesting that each opposing side adds up to seven.

I never knew that.

VO: You learn something new every day.

�25 for that.

I think it's quite a charming item.

It's a novelty item.

And again, it's a funny survivor.

If it is 1920s, that's 100 years old.

Something made of an early plastic is still around today.

I think this is the item I'm going to go for.

I'll see what we can do on the price.

VO: For that you'll need Jeremy.

Look out, Jeremy.

Jeremy, Jeremy.

What a lovely light touch you have.

Yeah, thank you very much.

I found this thing here.

A lighter.

You've got �25 on it.

Cor, that's cheap, isn't it?

JB: So... (THEY CHUCKLE) Could it be cheaper?

It could.

JB: What are you thinking?

DEALER: 20?

Could I give you 18 for it?

18 would be fine, James.

Would 18 be good?

Absolutely fine.

It'll make a world of difference to me.

VO: Certainly would.

It would give him �39 left, for starters.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I had a lovely time.

Thank you very much, James.

JB: Bye.

DEALER: Cheerio.

Bye.

VO: And after that quick in and out, it's time to go and pick up your pal and get back on the road, where thoughts are turning to supper.

If only someone would let us into their kitchen and we could go rustle ourselves something delicious.

Something vegetable-y.

Do you have a signature dish?

When I'm feeling down, I do steamed vegetables.

Steamed vegetables to cheer you up?

Yeah.

Restore the minerals.

VO: Oh, he knows how to live, that James.

Ha-ha!

Nighty-night!

VO: Morning, Somerset.

Looking good.

No traffic.

Sun shining.

Flat roads.

And then getting pie-eyed on scrumpy.

VO: Oi!

Not on my watch, you don't.

VO: It was a bumper buying day yesterday, with Natasha bagging three items - some books on botany, a novelty sewing set and a Tudric bowl with an annoying hole.

What were they thinking?

Why have they done this?

VO: Leaving her with �76 to play with.

James finds himself with just under �39 after his four purchases.

He went for a desk thermometer, a desk lighter, a silver fruit knife, and something else currently in his pocket, which should have been in the trunk.

Trunk - get it?

It's almost like a little car mascot, actually.

It is, isn't it?

Yeah.

Pop it on the dash.

And it's a real sort of trumpeting elephant.

I love elephants.

There is, isn't there, significance if the elephant's trunk is up?

It is.

Yeah.

It's good luck or something like that.

I...I'd say it's a sort of bull elephant.

Or he's just about to spray somebody with loads of water.

VO: Oh, charming.

Later, that pachyderm and all their other goodies will head way up north to an auction in Morley, West Yorkshire.

But today's fun and games kick off in Somerton, after which this county is named.

And having dropped off James and parked up, Natasha is striding purposefully and florally towards her next shop.

Market Cross Antiques has something for any discerning shopper.

Whether it'll be within a budget of �76 is another matter.

But our girl will leave no corner unscoured, no cabinet unrummaged, and no nook overlooked.

This is just so incredible.

Poker work can be quite bland, a little bit twee, but not this.

Done, as the name suggests, with hot pokers onto wood to create the design.

And the result is really stunning.

You have the typical poker work design, floral, but it's not really about the floral design.

It's about these two mythical creatures on the front.

What are they up to?

Are they sea creatures?

Are they dragons?

There be dragons, aye!

VO: Must be talk like a pirate day!

It's crafty, it's arty.

It's arts and crafts.

I think I might have to get crafty with my negotiations, but no price.

Loads of dust.

Look, cobwebs and everything.

VO: They're an optional extra.

One to think about, eh?

What else?

These look a bit out of place, don't they?

These little miniature... stuffed animals.

They are so cute.

VO: Aw, bless.

One rabbit.

Oh, the fish is cute.

Are you kidding?

Look at this wee flounder.

That is so sweet.

Ducky and elephant.

I'm not sure if these are Steiff.

That would be lovely, to think that they were.

VO: Wouldn't it?

The famous German toy company, founded in 1880.

Elephants were their first design, as it happens.

If they were Steiff, you would expect a little pin somewhere.

A little pin in perhaps the elephant's ear, or somewhere, to indicate the maker.

VO: They don't have a price tag, either.

I've never taken to auction a veritable zoo of stuffed toys.

I've never done it.

It's a first for me.

Well, it could be a first for me.

It all depends on the price.

VO: Sounds like we've shelved that cabinet from earlier, then.

It's all about these cuties now.

Let's go and have a word.

Pete.

Pete, I'm quite taken by the little selection of stuffed toys.

Ever so cute.

Tell me they're Steiff.

They are Steiff.

Yes.

NS: You reckon?

PETE: Yeah, 100%.

Is that a Pete guarantee?

Yes, it is.

Yes.

There's little marks in the ears where they've had pins or buttons.

My offer will be cheeky.

Would you take 35?

Well, that's very cheeky.

NS: Too cheeky?

PETE: Too cheeky.

Too cheeky, right, cool, cool, cool.

OK. What would you take?

How about 40?

NS: You would take 40?

PETE: I would take 40.

Well that's not much of a hike.

I think I'll go for that, Pete.

Thank you so much.

Brilliant.

VO: Jolly good show.

Just pop the money somewhere high up for safekeeping.

I'll leave that for you there, and I'll go and grab the teddies.

PETE: Thank you.

NS: Thank you so much.

Bye.

VO: And with �36 left, let's mosey on out.

Come on, my pretties.

VO: Time for a trip out to the countryside for James.

He's heading up towards Shipham in the glorious Mendip Hills.

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it's the ideal habitat for a variety of flora, fauna and, um... (ENGINES REV) ..car crashes.

VO: Welcome to the Mendips Raceway, the place for fans of vehicular carnage.

Since 1969, this 380 meter long oval has been the Somerset home of stock-car and banger racing.

And for a crash course - ha!

- in this action-packed automotive spectacle, James is meeting owner and veteran racer Graham Bunter.

Graham, where did this sort of style of racing begin?

Where did it come from?

Stock-car racing, the term itself, comes from America because the word for standard in America is stock.

Stock, OK.

So people were racing their standard cars... JB: Yeah.

GRAHAM: ..their road cars, and they're calling them stock cars.

VO: It's believed to have its origins in the 1920s prohibition era, when alcohol smugglers, known as bootleggers, would tune up their cars to outrun the police - not always successfully.

But it was the 1950s when it really began to take off as a sport.

How does it go from America to come here in the Mendip Hills?

It came from America to Paris of all places.

OK. And it was really a circus act.

It was just eight or 10 big old cars crashing into one another.

JB: (CHUCKLES) And the motoring press's top journalist at the time, a man called John Bolster, he heard about it, and he saw it when he went to Paris and watched it.

And he came back and he said, "This is brilliant.

"We've got to do this in the UK."

Yeah.

On Good Friday 1954, the first stock-car race happened at New Cross Stadium in East London.

In the '50s, it was absolutely huge.

Everywhere where you could put a track down, there were cars racing.

It swept the country.

I mean, it was like Beatlemania.

It was huge and we were talking crowds, 30,000, 40,000 people.

JB: Really?

GRAHAM: People being locked out.

VO: Over the years, the sport has become more regulated.

And with big money at stake, the stock cars changed too.

Bespoke vehicles were built from the ground up, using standard parts and more powerful engines.

But there was still a place for the humble production line car - banger racing.

JB: What is the defining thing between stock-car racing and banger racing?

Well, they're both contact sports in which you can push and shove your way to the front.

But banger racing is much more crash-happy.

It's much more about driving people into the barrier, doing whatever you need to do to get to the front.

To limp over the line.

VO: Less sophisticated but more spectacular, banger racing was a big hit with the crowds, leading to more weird and wacky vehicles being driven to distraction.

But while it looks incredibly dangerous, safety is paramount.

Presumably, Graham, this is the... GRAHAM: This is the banger.

JB: That's the banger, is it?

This is the stock car.

So that's bespoke and this is a standard car with a lot of metal in it.

Well, that is called an H-frame for the shape of it.

And it's designed to protect the driver from the roof coming down, and all around the car is padded to protect the driver.

So it's all about safety.

Abbie looks as though she's on her knees, doesn't she?

This car was the 2020 world champion's car.

He knew he was a target last Sunday, so he built a car for crashing and, er... JB: (CHUCKLES) ..he lost the title, unfortunately.

But there's...

But he survived it?

GRAHAM: He survived it.

Yeah.

(CHUCKLES) Graham, could I have a go?

Well, not in that one, you can't.

But we have got some cars we can let you loose with.

Oh, lovely.

Go on, lead on.

VO: Oh lord, he's brave.

And correctly suited and booted... JB: This is exciting.

On with the gloves.

VO: ..James is ready for the off.

Just needs an opponent now.

What are you doing here!

(CHUCKLES) Weren't expecting that, were you?

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: And there they go!

Ooh!

VO: Throughout the '80s and '90s, stock car racing declined as other forms of entertainment vied for spectators' leisure time.

NS: No!

Don't you dare!

VO: Many of the big city circuits closed down.

But out here in the country, where it was cheaper to run, these rough and tumble races kept going.

How rude!

How very dare you!

VO: And here at Mendips, big crowds turn out for a full calendar of race meets throughout the year.

Oh, yeah!

VO: Absolutely smashing.

VO: Now, just remember, the Porsche is not a banger so treat it gently.

VO: Our two wacky racers are heading off to the cathedral city of Wells for a final bit of shopping together.

Here we are.

This is more our speed.

Blimey O'Riley.

There's lots of cast iron everywhere, isn't there?

This is just like your garden at home, isn't it?

JB: (CHUCKLES) VO: Wells Reclamation is the place.

Architectural salvage is their bag, along with some nice antiquey bits and more statuary than the garden at Versailles.

So how to tackle this one?

Do you calmly contemplate your options... (BELL RINGS) ..or just go like the clappers?

I wonder if this could be bought for �38.

VO: Ha-ha!

There's so much stuff, boggles the mind a bit.

NS: Are there any antiques?

VO: They'll be here somewhere.

Come on, let's just buy something.

Let's buy a column.

VO: Just the thing for your posh portico.

As is that.

This whole thing, it would be heavy.

It's heavy.

It's cast iron.

It's a boot scraper in the form of a lyre.

VO: Very fancy.

Imagine a sandstone townhouse in the city center in Bath or London or Glasgow, even.

You would have two of these.

One at each side of your doorway, really.

They're just so smart because so often these are just a bar.

They're really functional.

They really do scrape the muck off your boots.

But this just has lovely appeal.

Someone had a very fine house.

They had two of these.

And one has ended up right here in this salvage yard.

VO: Priced at �48, mind.

You currently have 36.

I like it.

I like it a lot.

It's music to my feet.

VO: Er, Natasha?

Oh, where am I going?

This way.

VO: You'd be lost without me, I tell you.

You'll need to talk to Emma.

She's the boss round here.

Emma, I'm going to plonk this on the bench because it's heavy.

How are you doing?

Alright, thank you.

I think this has a look and some age to it too.

I love it.

My bargaining chip is the chip.

There is a bit of a chunk.

Yeah, I did notice.

Would you sell this lyre-shaped boot scraper for �30?

Would you stretch to 35?

I would.

Thank you so much.

You know what, that leaves me with a pound.

EMMA: There we go.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Always good to keep something in the kitty.

Much obliged, Emma.

Right.

Thank you.

Take care.

Bye.

VO: Now, what's the other fella up to?

I never know whether these sort of tea trolleys are trendy or not, but it's that sort of look.

It's very well made.

It's probably made of a hard wood.

I can't see a maker's label, but it's been used.

It's been around.

What is it?

It's probably 1960s.

It has a sort of G Plan look, doesn't it?

Ercol or G Plan.

Would I have that in my home?

I think if I was 30 years younger, I might have that in my new flat or something.

It'd look quite cool.

VO: Yeah.

All the young folks have tea trolleys these days.

Ha-ha!

No price on that.

If I just go in and say, "Look, I'm at your mercy, "I will give you my all," you never know, they might take it.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

VO: Absolutely.

Better take it to Emma then.

Emma?

Emma, I've managed to find this.

I've managed to find about the only thing that hasn't got a label on it.

Tea trolleys.

Are they popular?

Cocktail bar.

Cocktail bar!

That's the winner.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll give you all the money I possess, which is the princely sum of �38.94.

Would that be acceptable?

I think it's a deal.

Says the lady who knows it's priced at �28.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: I think that was very kind, Emma.

And that purchase leaves him skint.

Thank you.

And I'm going to take this away.

EMMA: Thank you very much.

JB: Goodbye.

Good luck.

Thank you.

VO: And as Wells disappears in their rear view mirror, we can look forward to some erudite conversation from our learned chums.

I think our names together sound really good, actually.

Braxton Raskin Sharp.

We should start some sort of law firm.

"Call us - Braxton Raskin Sharp."

"Reassuringly expensive."

That's what I'd like to post as my strap line.

"No win?

There's still a fee."

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: And on that note, time for some shuteye.

VO: The auction is once more upon us, and how about a bit of baroque splendor to watch it in?

This is incredible.

What a big house, isn't it?

Serious place.

Just needs a lyre-shaped boot scraper.

JB: They do!

VO: And maybe a tea trolley as well.

Ha!

While they get settled in at Kings Weston House just outside Bristol, their items have been transported all the way up to Morley in West Yorkshire... ..under the hammer at Morley Auctioneers and Valuers, with bids on the books and buyers poised in the room, on the phone and online too.

Sold.

VO: Natasha spent �163 on five auction lots.

Do they pass the eagle-eyed scrutiny of auctioneer Bernie Neal?

The Liberty's of London Tudric planter in pewter, nice planished form.

But it's quite an early one.

A shame about the little hole in the rim, but I think it will either sink or swim.

I think it's going to swim.

I like it.

VO: James went through his entire stash of �136.94 on his five lots.

What do you reckon, Bernie?

The Danish drinks trolley, it's really on fashion at the moment.

It's in the style of Moller, which is quite a nice Danish designer.

I've got fingers crossed for that one as well.

VO: Sounds like his cup of tea.

Ha!

Right, time to get comfy.

James, welcome to my home.

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

Very fine.

So are these all your ancestors?

It's amazing, actually.

It's just like a family tree.

Yeah, I like the way they all share big hair.

You know, I can see where you get your hair from.

What, is my hair big?

VO: He's only jealous.

Ha!

First up is Natasha's novelty sewing set.

I've got a bid with me of just �22 on commission.

Asking 25.

Come on, come on, he likes it.

Go on.

Go on.

�30, back of the room at �30.

NS: Oh, ooh, it's in the room.

JB: Oh, that's good.

�30.

Oh, come on internet.

Back of the room at �30.

VO: He seems happy with that.

VO: Look at his little face.

Ha!

Oh, that's OK. That's alright, isn't it?

Oh, that is good.

Yeah.

Oh well done, well done, well done.

VO: Now it must be time for the tea trolley to come around.

�100 for this one.

JB: Go on.

BERNIE: Should be all day long.

�60 a go, then.

Come on.

JB: Come on.

NS: That's still a great profit.

�60 for it?

He hasn't got a bid yet.

I've got a �40 bid with me.

Oh, he has 40.

Oh, he's got 40.

Any advance on �40?

Come on.

Five.

�40.

My bid has it at �40.

42.

45.

Online at �45 now.

I'll take 48 quid.

Saved!

This time the hammer is up.

At 45.

VO: One of those trendy young people bought that, I'll wager.

Small profits are always welcome, aren't they?

VO: Big ones are better.

Edward and Mabel's little books of blossoms now.

Time to get your Steps in.

Where should we be?

�40 for these two, then.

That would do, wouldn't it?

BERNIE: �30 the lot.

NS: Oh no, go on.

I am �20 bid on commission.

I'm bid �20.

Take two now.

Oh, yo!

Asking 22 now.

On commission it goes away.

At �20.

VO: Blooming marvelous for her first foray into books.

If I get a cat, I'll call her Mabel.

NS: After Mabel... JB: Mabel Step.

People will say, "Why have you called your cat Mabel?"

And I'll say, "Oh, Mabel Step, the illustrator!

You fool."

VO: James's silver bladed fruit knife, now.

Mind your fingers, ma'am.

You could tackle an apple.

No problem.

Even... possibly even a pineapple.

Oh, my goodness.

Now you're talking.

�20 to go, come on.

�20, that's too low.

Come on, come on.

�15.

�15 for it.

I've got �12 bid on commission, so... Come on!

�15, thank you.

I've got �18 with me.

I'll take 20 from you now.

There's �20.

Any advance on �20?

I'll sell it at �20.

All done?

VO: Oh dear.

A bit under-ripe, that one.

Ha!

I've managed to lose 20% of the capital value of that item in three days.

In a week, I could have lost all of it.

(CHUCKLES) VO: Next, Natasha's instrument-shaped boot scraper or are you calling me a "lyre"?

Start me at �60 on the Victorian boot scraper.

BERNIE: At �60.

NS: That would be nice.

Come on.

I am bid �30 with me on commission.

I was quite excited to buy this for 35.

I'll take 40 from anybody else.

45 bid.

45.

Oh, is it?

At 45?

There's the bid at �45.

Are we done?

Are we done?

BERNIE: All done.

NS: No!

�45, hammer's up.

Make no mistake, we are selling.

VO: And another modest profit.

No losses for her yet today.

I thought the music lovers would be coming out in their droves for that one.

Yeah, but music lovers, do they wear muddy boots?

VO: They do at Glastonbury.

Ha!

Now, can things start to heat up for James with his thermometer?

�40 for it.

It is worth that, I think.

�30 for it surely, somebody.

�25?

I see hesitation now.

Online at �25.

Good thing, at �25.

Asking 28.

NS: I'm surprised.

BERNIE: Have another go.

Have another go!

All done online?

Are we done at just 25?

Are you sure?!

I'm so surprised.

At �25 then, all finished?

At �25.

VO: Bit of a cool reception for that one.

Ha!

VO: 11 degrees Celsius to be exact.

Do you know what would be nice?

�25, double it and add 30.

JB: It would be, wouldn't it?

NS: (CHUCKLES) VO: Natasha's bowl.

Oi!

Don't show them the whacking great hole in it!

Oh, lordy.

It's damaged, but it is obviously such great arts and crafts history... JB: Yeah it's nice.

NS: ..in your hand.

�80 for it then, surely?

�80 for it.

�80, hold on.

I have �60 bid on commission.

NS: Oh.

JB: 60!

Five, 70 with me on commission.

Asking five.

70.

Asking 80 now.

At 75.

Oh, he has 75.

BERNIE: �75 bid.

JB: Well done.

BERNIE: �80 surely or not?

At �75, I'm selling.

VO: You see, turn it round the other way and no one will notice.

NS: Yeah.

JB: You've done well with that.

Oh, thank goodness.

Thank goodness, thank goodness.

I love it.

VO: Now, hoping for big things with James's little green elephant.

I have to say I like your taste.

I don't think it's universally shared by the, er... by the huge profits I make.

Where do you want to be?

�30 for it.

I start the bidding with me... Come on.

I want a feeding frenzy.

NS: 18.

BERNIE: �18 is bid now, with me on commission.

�18.

Looking for 20 now.

Beats my commission.

Come on.

Come on.

Fair warning then.

At �20, hammer's up.

We are selling at �20.

VO: Maybe trunk up isn't lucky, after all.

JB: (SIGHS) NS: That's disappointing.

It was a wee bit of a flop.

VO: Well, these will put a smile on anyone's face.

Natasha's last lot.

So cute.

The trunk, you'll notice, is down.

Down.

Oh, dear.

I've got with me �60 bid.

I'm asking 65 now on the Steiff animals.

NS: You do not!

Have you?

JB: Well done.

With me at �60 on commission.

It's so cheap.

So cheap!

At �60 only.

All done?

VO: Those little cuties just bagged her a clean sweep of wins!

I am delighted.

�20 profit.

VO: James's final roll of the dice.

Ha!

Let's hope it doesn't come up snake eyes.

I'm only bid with me �18 on commission.

�18.

�20.

22 with me.

BERNIE: With me at 22.

JB: 22.

25 online.

�30 beats my commission bidder.

I'll take two from anybody else.

Oh, keep going.

35 on this platform.

The world loves it.

Any advance on �38 this time?

Come on!

�38.

Are you sure?

VO: That's the ticket!

VO: Lady Luck with you on that one.

Can you imagine if this evening we rolled up to a casino in a Porsche 911?

We would look so... We'd look like high rollers!

Little do they know we're terrible at making money.

VO: She might just have a point there.

James gambled his entire �136 and change, but after auction costs, his losing streak continues.

He ends up down on the day, with �121.36.

But Natasha managed to beat the house this time.

After saleroom costs, she turned her �164 stake into �189.60.

But they're not cashing in their chips just yet.

It can only get better.

It CAN only get better.

No, it WILL only get bigger.

It will only get better.

Come on, let's go show them how it's done.

Let's go and check.

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