Antiques Road Trip

antiques experts... RAJ: That's me.

PAUL: I like that.

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

TIM: Hold on!

IRITA: (SQUEALS) VO: And a goal, to scour Britain for antiques.

En garde!

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

But it's no mean feat.

I don't believe it!

VO: There'll be worthy winners... PAUL: Yes!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

I was robbed.

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

Right, come on, let's go.

VO: ..or the slow road to disaster?

DAVID: Oh, Roo!

Oh, Roo!

ROO: (SQUEALS) VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Ha-ha, what fun!

VO: And we're back in Yorkshire.

ROO (RI): It's very much farming country.

DAVID (DH): It's very... We can smell it.

Can you smell the farming country?

VO: Charming.

It's David Harper... and Roo Irvine, on the third leg of their antiques odyssey.

DH: Listen to this.

(ENGINE REVS) Oh, wow!

Oh, come on.

Thank goodness for seat belts.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Safety is always first.

Even in the super speedy replica 1960s AC Cobra.

Tell you what, it does blow out the hot air, which we need.

It's a wee bit chilly.

VO: But the competition's heating up!

We're almost at tipping point, halfway.

I know.

And I'm chasing you but you're getting away.

Big style!

VO: That she is.

VO: Last time, Durham-based David took a tiny tumble and starts today with �168.30.

Whereas Argyll and Bute girl Roo grabbed auction glory and has �238.60 in her pocket.

Oh yes.

RI: I would rather be in your position.

DH: No, you wouldn't!

RI: I would, I would.

You want to thrash me.

That would be lovely.

VO: Now now, you two.

Right, let's remind ourselves of our cheeky chums' route.

They set off in Grimsby, tripped around the east coast into Essex and Yorkshire, and will finish off the week in Newcastle.

This time their items will be auctioned in Dundee.

But for now, they're heading for Cullingworth, where they'll both be on shopping duty.

Thankfully, Antiques at the Mill is a large center with 70 dealers, so they shouldn't get in each other's way.

Roo's pockets are positively bulging with just over �238.

RI: I really envy David's position.

And I told him that, and he doesn't believe me.

By having less money, you're under so much pressure, and that you buy smarter than you ever have bought before.

And that's what David's gonna do.

He's gonna pull out his A game.

VO: He'll need it with only �168.30 to his name.

I've got a bit of a sneaky plan kind of formulating.

VO: Oh, do tell!

A stand full of stuff, everything is �1 each.

Everything.

And there's one thing that I really quite like.

And it's a little carving of a cat.

But it's quite naive, quite sweet and very charming.

And there is only one cat in the world identical to that, because it was made by hand and it is �1.

Now I have some making up to do here, right?

If I bought that for �1, I reckon that will 10 or 20 times its money.

So I'm gonna bag it at a little bargain.

VO: Sneaky!

Over to you, Roo.

One thing I have never bought in all my years on the Road Trip is treen.

Treen basically means "of the tree".

They've been making treen since the 17th century.

And they would make small functional items or bits of tableware out of wood.

But what do I like about this?

The shape, it's quite neoclassical.

It's early Edwardian, early 1900s.

Now that's priced up at �35.

That's not a bad price.

Sometimes you do find the bargains.

I'm going to check that it's uninhabited.

VO: No tarantulas?

Thankfully, it is.

VO: Phew!

But I think somebody in later years has tried to turn this into a lamp, perhaps.

It seems to have some metal in there.

And if I look on the base, that's probably where the wire would go in.

That might affect the price, though.

But �35, that's not a bad price to start with.

VO: One to think about.

Now how's that sneaky David doing?

Ooh.

Ooh, I do like a bit of novelty.

VO: Don't we all.

Look at this bottle.

Reads, "Irish International Exhibition, Dublin, 1907."

So this exhibition was set up to promote Irish products to sell throughout the Empire and to the wider world.

So this is called a peep pipe.

You think that's just a little hole in the top of the bottle.

It's called a Stanhope.

And when you get your eye in...

Hang on, I'll take my glasses off.

Bear with me.

Ah, right, OK, I've got it, OK.

It's an image of a very grand Georgian building.

That little image inside the Stanhope in the top there is millimeters wide.

VO: So that's the peep bit.

DH: And this is the novelty pipe.

VO: Quite right.

So it's a novelty gift token from the 1907 Irish International Exhibition in Dublin.

And it is absolutely drop dead gorgeous.

VO: There's no ticket price.

But it needs to be... very low tens, 10, 20, 30 quid, for me to stand a chance.

VO: Hang on, what's going on here?

RI: Hi, David.

Do you know what?

I've always said it.

You're looking particularly good these days.

VO: Clowns!

You look drop dead gorgeous...

Thank you.

..with the clown in front of you.

Oh really?

Good makeup, do you think?

(CHUCKLES SARCASTICALLY) VO: Hey, calm down, you two.

Oh well, he's gone, hasn't he?

Fine, I'll just get back to the shopping then.

VO: Moving on.

Ha-ha.

Oh my!

Oh...

These are quite nice.

This design reminds me so much of WMF, a German maker at the turn of the century.

They specialized in cutlery, tableware, nothing too exciting.

But it's when the style of art nouveau hit that they really came into their own.

Now if I was to find WMF on here, then I am absolutely quids in.

But I don't think I can see any mark.

VO: Hi ho.

Er... "two art nouveau Grecian, �80."

That's... (INHALES SHARPLY) That's quite steep.

But it might be one to speak to the dealer about.

VO: Or how about the shop proprietor, Janet?

I have found something I've fallen in love with.

But my only worry is the �80 price tag, which I worry could be quite rich for me.

Are they yours?

They're not, no, but I can ring the dealer and see what the best price would be.

RI: Work your magic.

(CHUCKLES) DEALER: I will.

VO: Meanwhile, David's looking happy...ish.

Vintage watches.

I've a number of passions in my life.

One of them is vintage watches.

And they go so well with vintage coats and vintage cars.

Oh my gosh, and there is a maker that brings back so many happy memories.

Takes me back to the age of 18, where my mum and dad bought me my first good watch for my 18th birthday.

And it was by a maker called Roamer.

They were formed in 1888.

This thing here, this steel one, was new, I would say in the 1950s, 1960s, which makes it really quite desirable.

And this thing is so cool, it's painful.

VO: Ouch.

It's got some star markers around the outside edge.

And then infilled with Arabic numerals.

Steel back, waterproof as well.

Priced at 59.

Let's see if we can do a deal on that one.

VO: You'll have to wait.

Hello, Debbie.

It's Janet at Antiques at the Mill.

VO: Janet's on the phone for Roo, talking to the owner of a pair of art nouveau pewter plates marked up at �80, just in case you've been off making a cup of tea.

50 would be the absolute...

Yes.

DEALER: That's lovely.

RI: Thank you.

Please tell her thank you.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

50.

Thank you both very, very much.

That's really kind.

I will definitely take these.

While we're on a roll, I spotted a treen urn upstairs.

That was up at 35.

Lovely thing, but I think someone's tried to turn it into a lamp.

It's got the holes drilled into it.

Right, OK.

But because of that, could it be a tastier price?

Erm... very best on that would be 27.

Perfect.

I will take them both, then.

So that's �77.

VO: That's Roo done and dusted with �161 still to spend.

She's on her way.

Stand by, Janet.

It's David's turn.

He has an eye on three items.

A carved wooden cat, an Irish peep pipe and a vintage Roamer watch.

DH: Shall we start with the cat?

DEALER: Yes, please.

OK.

The cat is priced up at �1.

DEALER: Right.

DH: I know.

So I'm gonna have the cat.

Lovely.

The peep pipe from 1907...

It's fabulous, isn't it?

So can it be �10?

A little bit more, I think.

I'd be happy at 20.

I think we can do it at 20.

Thank you.

OK.

Right, the Roamer watch.

DEALER: Yes.

DH: Vintage watch, 1960s.

Priced at 59.

Can it be 30?

I think we can do 30.

Can you do 30?

Yes, yes, I'm sure.

Magnificent.

I'll have that.

So that's 30, 20... Er, 51 I owe you.

DEALER: Thank you.

VO: That's �1 for the pussy, 20 for the peep pipe, and 30 for the watch.

Thank you, Janet.

David has just over �117 still to spend.

I'm off.

VO: Flushed with the success of her shopping, Roo is heading for Huddersfield, to find out about the inventor of an item so integral to our daily lives and basic needs that without it, we'd be down the pan.

Ha!

And by the way, if you're of a delicate disposition now would be a good time to go and make that cup of tea.

See what I mean?

Hi, Adam.

Hi, Roo.

Welcome, Roo, to Ramsden Mills... RI: Thank you.

ADAM: ..in Huddersfield.

So this is the home of the very famous toilet company.

VO: Adam Mosley is the boss.

Where does Thomas Crapper come into it?

Who was this man?

Thomas Crapper was born in Yorkshire, not very far from here in a place called Thorne in 1836.

We're not quite sure when, but definitely in 1836.

When he was a young man, he traveled to London to be an apprentice plumber with his brother George.

He arrived at a good time for toilets in general.

VO: Indeed.

Ha!

In 1858, London was hit with the Great Stink, an all-pervasive stench from the River Thames, into which the city's sewers emptied.

The overwhelming whiff closed parliament, but not before a bill was passed allowing for a new sewer system to be built.

ADAM: It was a time of great invention.

The great Victorian engineers got their brains behind this, built loads of new sewers.

And Thomas Crapper himself was very interested in getting rid of waste.

VO: Not easy, with a bulging population with a penchant for chamberpots.

I have this image of a bucket of waste being thrown out the top window.

But they had to warn people below, didn't they?

If they were being polite, I guess they would, yes.

They'd sort of shout "look out below".

VO: The first flush water closet had been invented back in 1596 by Queen Elizabeth I's godson, Sir John Harrington, but it never caught on.

Until Thomas Crapper, who started his plumbing business in 1861, and pioneered the popularity of toilets, changing the mindset of the populace that had rejected them for literally hundreds of years.

That's the sort of thing that inspired him to try and regenerate and revitalize and reinvent various aspects of plumbing.

So he would see the problem, and create a solution?

That's right.

VO: His designs and patents improved loos immeasurably, such as the ballcock that cuts water waste, and prevents backflow.

Hurrah!

With an eye for innovation and a great head for business, his reputation soared, and he was summoned to refurbish for royalty.

He replaced all the sewers and toilets in Edward, Prince of Wales's Sandringham Estate.

Thomas Crapper himself dealt with royalty and the sort of high end public, but he was a businessman.

He understood that if he mass produced he could get the price point down.

And then the middle classes, and the upper middle classes coming along, who wanted to be a part of this new fandangled toilets, and be able to sort of show off to their neighbors.

Hm.

It just starts to become a bit more of an accepted thing in society.

VO: The next step was selling the loos to the public.

ADAM: Before Thomas Crapper came along, there was no way really to buy a toilet.

He invented the world's very first toilet showroom.

And how blessed we are today to have it.

Absolutely, yeah.

Aren't we all grateful to him?

VO: Hear hear.

So Roo, toilets have changed over the years, but the principles are still the same.

Perhaps you'd like to have a little go at assembling one yourself?

Absolutely, Adam.

I love a good DIY project.

Don't let these nails fool you.

VO: She's not.

ADAM: Yep, very good.

VO: She is.

So if I hook this in here, this is actually the heart of it.

This is the engine.

That's a good shout.

So is that everything where it should be?

That is everything in place apart from the lid.

I'm going to crown my cistern.

VO: Well, this is a first on the Road Trip.

There you go.

ADAM: Thomas himself would be proud.

RI: (CHUCKLES) I didn't make a Crapper job of that at all.

VO: Hey.

Nice work, Roo.

So if you ever get tired of selling antiques, give us a ring.

VO: And talking of antiques...

This is where you'll find David's profits.

Oh dear.

VO: Now, that was just below the belt.

Meanwhile, David's tootling along to Cleckheaton, birthplace of Roger Hargreaves, of Mr Men and Little Miss books.

I of all people need to make some profit now.

I've got an awful lot of ground to make up with that Roo.

VO: I think David's Mr Worried.

No need, however, as he still has �117 and Terrier Antiques to spend it in.

DH: Peter?

DEALER: Hi, how are you?

Very well.

Good to see you as ever.

He's always got cracking stock, and I mean cracking stock.

VO: A delightful mix indeed.

Traditional quality antiques.

Just listen to that.

(TICKING) And if ever you've owned a long case clock, a Georgian vintage one, so something that's 250 years old, you will recognize that tick.

So just take a few more seconds and just listen to that.

It's beautiful.

VO: Ah, bliss.

But at �950, it's a tad too pricey.

Ah, that's interesting though.

OK.

It is a magic lantern.

So these things would entertain you and your family all night long.

Until the invention of the movies, the silent movies in the late 19th century.

Most of them were thrown out, which makes the things that are left like this one desirable.

Don't beat up your ancestors for throwing away antiques generations ago.

If they didn't do it, we wouldn't be making the Antiques Road Trip, because antiques wouldn't be rare.

VO: True enough.

And that's why this lantern is �110.

Let's see what else Peter has on offer.

Oh, that is a good looking cabinet there, Peter.

Can I have a look in?

You certainly can.

It's open.

Oh my gosh.

Right, where do I begin?

A bit of Indian or Nepalese silver.

They're really actually quite interesting.

No doubt they're made for the western eye, somebody living in India during the period of the Raj.

You have a little pot there looking like a cauldron on a George II shaped leg.

That would be for salt.

This one is for pepper, a little pepper pot.

And the thing that looks a little bit like a tankard is missing a spoon.

And that would be for mustard.

So a lovely thing.

I think that's wonderful.

You've got that Anglo-Indian mix.

VO: Ticket price, �35.

So could they be 20 quid for the three?

DEALER: No.

25 is the best.

DH: 25?

25.

ADAM: Yeah.

DH: OK, I'll have 'em.

VO: That's very kind.

Thank you, Peter.

I'll bung it in the food bowl, how's that?

That sounds good to me.

Alright, 25 quid, lovely.

Cheers, Peter.

Bye.

VO: And with four items bagged, David has �92 for tomorrow.

VO: Back together, our dapper duo are feeling dandy.

We're actually two road trips.

The Antiques Road Trip and the fashion road trip.

Are we going outlandish?

Next shopping day I want to see you in leather chaps.

(CHUCKLES) VO: She's only joking, I hope.

(CHUCKLES) You never know.

Nighty-night.

Good morning, all you Cobra lovers.

RI: Whoo!

DH: Whoa!

No worries, Roo's got this.

I nearly drove into that bridge there.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Maybe not.

If you weren't in antiques, what would you be doing?

Dream job.

I would dedicate my time purely and earthly to classic cars.

I actually read menus for fun.

So I would be a food critic.

VO: Yup.

But for now, antiques are the only game in town.

Yesterday, David shopped his socks off, buying a novelty Stanhope peep pipe, a Roamer vintage watch, an Indian silver cruet set and a hand carved wooden cat.

And he has �92 for today.

VO: Roo came away with a pair of art nouveau pewter plates and a large treen urn, leaving her with �161 to play with.

I've gotta buy something that's gonna, you know, set the auction house on fire.

Yeah, well we don't want that, do we, because you're well in the lead.

VO: Their items will be going to auction in Dundee.

But there's plenty more shopping afoot, starting in Harrogate.

Having dropped David off, Roo is on her lonesome.

Oh, it's potatoes!

VO: As you do.

She's heading for Harrogate, and is set up nicely with �161 and a center bulging with the eclectic wares of 70 dealers.

Aha.

Now you know who I'm a big fan of?

VO: Me?

Queen Victoria.

VO: Oh, OK. He-he!

I think she was an amazing woman, and I've just found a silver brooch that commemorates all that she was.

It's celebrating 50 years, her jubilee.

And will no doubt be hallmarked.

So it's made in Birmingham.

A wee hallmark for the date, 1887.

And I think that's just a lovely commemorative piece.

�35.

If I can maybe get that for a tasty price, this might end up being my next buy.

VO: Tim's the man in charge.

Hi there.

Hi there, Tim.

The Jubilee Queen Victoria silver brooch.

You've got �35 on that.

Is it yours?

Er, no, it's one of our dealers'.

I'll give the dealer a ring.

What did you have in mind?

�24 and I'll take it off your hands?

I'll have word with her.

VO: And while Tim makes the call, Roo's back on the hunt.

Now, what are you doing down there, girl?

Do you know, the fact that David bought a cat for �1, I thought well, if he can go look in the bargain shelf, so can I. VO: Off you go, then.

There's some lovely things here for �3.

But nothing that's really antique and got some gravitas to it.

If you seek, you shall find.

VO: So they say.

So even... OK, we're on a slightly more expensive shelf now.

�10.

Still not breaking the bank.

But this looks like a piece of Whitby Jet.

VO: Mourning jewelry became popularized following Queen Victoria's heartbreak when she lost her beloved Albert in 1861.

RI: Jewelry and fashion became dark.

It was like a cloud just came over Britain, and the whole nation mourned with her.

Well, this is probably 1870, 1880.

It's had a few little knocks, which is such a shame.

�10, it's a bargain.

VO: That's a possibility, then.

And the second brooch that's tickled her fancy today.

Anything non-brooch related?

Believe it or not, I have this little bottle on my dressing table.

VO: Aha?

RI: So this is an Arabic Kohl jar.

And what the ladies would do for makeup is crushed Kohl, and then put a little stick in there, and then close your eye and... And then that's a line.

I'd be tempted, but maybe not at �59.

VO: Fair dos.

Any shelf that says "all items X amount" always makes me happy.

But ah, I think I've spotted some mizpah.

Unusual words.

But... ..this is a piece of mizpah jewelry.

Mizpah is actually a Hebrew word from the Bible.

And it means "watchtower".

It's very much a Victorian, Edwardian fashion.

It's a piece of jewelry they would give their loved one for when they're far away.

So it was a very sweet sentimental gift and hence why this one says "Mother".

VO: Sweet.

Going by the date letter, the curly C, it looks about 1903, 1904.

So literally we're just into the golden era of the Edwardian age.

VO: Ticket price, �12.

Now earlier, Tim was calling the dealer about the Queen Victoria Jubilee brooch, priced at �35.

Any news?

DEALER: Yeah, yeah, she can do that.

She's happy to.

Now what are you gonna do?

So I will happily take that at �24, thank you so much.

VO: Good-o.

Now these two, I'm happy with the prices 10 and 12.

But I have to make a decision between them.

Do you know I'm going to do?

Tell me.

I'm going to be decisive.

Executive decision.

I'm going to take both.

I think you're right.

TIM: I think you're right.

RI: I can't decide!

TIM: I think you're right.

RI: OK. VO: That's �22 for the Whitby Jet and the mizpah, and a triple brooch bonanza, all wrapped up.

Tim, I owe you �46.

That's 10, 20, 30, 40, 50.

Thank you too much.

VO: And that leaves her with �115 for the final shop of the leg.

VO: David is taking a break from shopping in the city of Ripon... ..where he'll be traveling back in time to witness the grim conditions of a Victorian workhouse, the last port of call for those who fell on hard times.

David's journey through Ripon's living history museum begins in the gatehouse building with Richard Taylor, who plays the guardian.

What would the guardian do?

Well, the guardians were the people who ran this establishment.

Many people considered poverty a crime.

Yeah.

So it was a social problem that needed dealing with.

Essentially, you were looked after by the parish in which you lived in.

That worked quite nicely, until along comes the Industrial Revolution.

People start moving about the country looking for work.

Yeah, and losing work, and moving on.

Yes.

And the economy is going up and down and all the rest of it, and the system just began to break down.

VO: So in 1834, the Poor Law Amendment Act was passed, taking away outdoor relief for the able-bodied.

They had to come into the workhouse.

RICHARD: If you're fit, we'll give you free board and lodging, but you're going to do hard manual work eight or nine hours a day.

They were trying to do things mostly to keep their cost down.

OK. And the idea, the hope was that you'd be able to do the work to run the place.

So it's a real closed community within a community.

That's right.

VO: It became an almost self-sufficient world with its own doctor, chaplain, teacher, and the head of the team, the master and matron, the married couple who were responsible for the day-to-day running of the workhouse.

Carrie Philip, playing the matron, is in the receiving room.

DH: Now you must be Carrie.

CARRIE: I am.

Or should I call you Matron?

Please call me Matron.

Ooh gosh, quite stern there.

I'm a bit afraid of Matron, I've got to tell you.

VO: That was the general idea - to keep control over the residents as soon as they walked in the door.

We wanted to make sure if you came in as a family that you were properly segregated.

There was a gender split.

Men went into the men's wing, women went into the women's wing.

There was a separate class for children from the ages of seven to 15.

And you were not allowed to talk or interact with people from another class.

VO: Separated from their loved ones, cleansing was Matron's next step.

CARRIE: When you came in, you would be scrubbed because you would probably have lice, fleas, bedbugs.

So you would be handed a scrubbing brush.

Right.

And the miracle carbolic soap that would kill everything.

DH: Quite demeaning.

Yes, it was, it was quite depersonalizing process.

DH: A scary place to come to.

CARRIE: It was hated, feared.

It would be the last resort.

You would have sold your shoes before you came in here.

You would be absolutely destitute.

This was the end of hope for you.

VO: Now David's heading for the main block of the workhouse to meet Richard Pratt, the master, whose role was to keep costs down and ensure the rules of the institution were strictly adhered to 24 hours a day.

Richard.

Hello!

You're currently stood on a rather nice garden.

The front's the place where the master and matron live, which is the bit that projects from the front of the workhouse.

And the wings either side?

Well, on the left here is the wing where the women would be.

And on the right, where the men would be.

And can we have a look inside the house?

By all means, let's go inside.

VO: The school room was situated in this part of the building, as workhouses were required to provide at least three hours of schooling a day for the children, something they'd be unlikely to receive outside.

This is where they'd be taught reading, writing and arithmetic.

And of course, the principles of the Christian religion.

Was that particularly important?

It was felt to be very important.

VO: As was discipline, with strict Victorian methods of punishment regularly deployed.

RICHARD: Of course the one that everybody knows about RICHARD: is the cane.

DH: I remember it well.

RICHARD: It was only laid onto the boys, not the girls.

Six are the maximum.

The back stretcher, which would run across the back here for the children that were slouching.

Oh I see, so your arm's behind...

Behind me, absolutely.

Just like this.

You can imagine being strapped into that for a whole day.

VO: It was local parishioners who footed the bill for the workhouses with the poor rate.

And usually, begrudgingly.

There were certain views out there that you had a free life in here.

Indeed, it was not like that at all.

It was really, really tough.

VO: And yet the workhouse system was not officially abolished until 1930.

But this building stands as testament and has been carefully preserved to retain the echoes of a time when those in greatest need had nowhere else to turn.

VO: But on the road, Roo is motoring to Stillington... ..a village with its own vintage emporium.

Had my fair share, now to do some shopping.

VO: Good plan, and she's got �115 to do just that.

Hi, Dianne.

Hello, how are you?

I'm good.

This is quite the emporium you have here.

Oh, thank you.

Nice to see you.

You too.

VO: Nice to see you too.

Hm!

Sold.

Sold.

Ready to go homemade apple pie.

(CHUCKLES) When I think of making apple pie, my accent gets all American.

VO: Oh, that's what it was.

There is an amazing collection of things here.

But my slight worry is it is all kitchenalia.

Which is brilliant, very collectable.

But I wanted big, high impact.

I want to spend a good amount of money when it's something that makes a statement.

So I'm really gonna have to dig hard and find things.

VO: And while she does that... let's catch up with David, who's made his way to Thirsk with �92 to spend in Three Tuns Antiques.

This is how an antique shop really, in my mind, truly should look.

See if I had my own natural environment, I think this would probably be it.

VO: The lesser spotted dealer can be seen looking very much at home.

More wonderful furniture.

A revolving Edwardian, circa 1910 bookcase.

Printing plates.

Train, train, ooh.. Train-related printing plates.

Anything to do with trains is always very good news.

That's the printing block plate.

So obviously used in newspaper printing or magazine printing.

This is how they laid out the images on the pages, with great difficulty and great skill.

There is the block.

You can't exactly see what's going on.

But very cleverly, somebody has printed the image on the back of the plate.

And looking at the dress of the ladies with the hats and the coats, this is 1920s.

It's LNER, so London North East Railway.

That's lovely.

Absolutely charming.

And we have...oh, look at that, the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth arrive at the grandstand.

How fascinating is that?

VO: Well, that's David occupied for a bit.

So let's catch up with Roo in Stillington.

This is the first thing I've spotted that isn't screaming "kitchenalia".

Beautifully carved, it is French.

And I love a good French barometer.

And this is on a lovely sort of enamel plaque here with two very regal, angry-looking lions protecting their weather system.

And I would say this is probably, looking at the writing on the paper, probably about 1920s.

So it certainly is a statement.

If you had that on the wall in the hallway as you come in, it stands very proud.

VO: No ticket price.

So I think I might put it to the side and ask.

VO: Time to nip over to Thirsk, methinks, where we last saw David deep in a pile of printing plates.

Seems he's moved on.

I do like a nice chair.

And especially when it's a corner chair, so it sits neatly, obviously in a corner.

Taking up no space whatsoever.

They're just a very good design and a proper antique.

It's Victorian - 1860, 1870, 1880.

It's ebonized wood, so it'd be made from beech and then stained black.

It's a bobbin turn.

The cane looks very delicate, but a bottom can be spread right across it of any size and it's perfectly usable.

VO: That was the advertising slogan, I believe.

It's a really good chair.

So, no price on it.

Er, Victoria?

VO: Ooh, hello, Victoria.

Can I have a price, please?

Erm, I could let you have it for 30.

30?

Couldn't be a bit better?

Could be 20?

Yeah, go on, I'll do it for 20 for you.

20.

Lovely, thank you.

VO: Generous discount there.

Also, if you want the railway plaques, the printing blocks, I can let you have all them for �5.

VO: He did seem rather struck with them.

DH: For a fiver?

DEALER: For a fiver.

How many are there?

There's 20.

You're kidding.

No.

You don't...don't you like them?

I don't know anything about railway.

I think I'm gonna have to at a fiver, aren't I?

Lovely.

I'll have them.

Thank you very much.

DEALER: Thank you.

VO: Sometimes a deal is too good to turn down.

Particularly when it's a gift.

�25 in total for the Victorian corner chair and the collection of 1920s railway printing blocks.

I'll get the chair and collect our railway printers.

VO: And David's done for the day.

Wish me luck.

VO: Good luck.

Meanwhile, in Stillington...

I think she's... (ORGAN PLAYS) RI: Ooh!

VO: It seems Roo's stumbled across a very fine Dutch street organ in the emporium.

How lovely.

RI: Top notch.

Dianne?

DEALER: Yes?

Were you in the back playing all RI: those instruments yourself?

DEALER: Oh yes, course I was.

VO: (CHUCKLES) Now that's magic, but it's not for sale.

RI: I love this.

This is beautiful.

Do you know, I'm almost...

I could almost forget for a second that I'm here to buy something.

VO: Never.

You have a French barometer, quite ornately carved with the regal lions on it.

VO: Oh, yes.

But there was no ticket price.

It's �85.

RI: �85?

DEALER: Yeah.

Could it be sort of 48?

50.

�50.

Perfect.

I will take it.

Thank you, Dianne.

10, 20, 30, 40, 50.

VO: That's very kind, Dianne.

And here endeth the shopping.

Well, this is coming back with me then.

All done.

VO: Another day is drawing to a close.

Driving round these beautiful roads, gorgeous car, looking at antiques.

It's all wonderful.

But...

But I want to win and you want to win.

Thank goodness for that.

And there's only gonna be one winner.

VO: The gloves are definitely off.

Better get some shuteye.

Hip hip hooray, it's auction day!

Our rip-roaring road trippers have been tootling around Yorkshire, but they've trekked to Culross in Scotland to park up, tune in and view their items going under the hammer.

Now that's what you call a castle.

Fancy footwear notwithstanding, this could be quite a battleground.

DH: Wow!

RI: What a location.

DH: What a spot, eh?

RI: Do you know what Culross is known for?

DH: No.

Witches.

DH: No?!

I'm fascinated.

RI: Mm-hm.

It was one of the heartbeats of Scottish witches.

If I had lived in the 16th century I would have been the first to go down.

You would.

Aargh!

Too many cats, and I talk to flowers and plants.

Oh my God, you and your cats!

RI: Exactly.

DH: You're definitely a witch.

VO: Spooky McRooky.

The auctioneers are Dundee-based Curr & Dewar.

With bidders in the room, online and on the phone.

VO: Steven Dewar's the man on the podium.

What's his take on Roo's five items, costing �175 in all?

Barometer's nice.

Nice carved lion decoration to it.

Quite a substantial looking object.

Will it do well?

I hope so.

VO: Me too.

David spent �101 on his five lots.

The Stanhope peep pipe is quite quirky.

I like that a lot.

Been quite a bit of interest shown during the viewing.

I'm confident that's going to do quite well.

VO: Ooh, exciting.

OK, shall we do it?

Let's do it.

VO: And we're straight in with Roo's art-nouveau pewter plates.

Internet starts me off, just �20 bid.

Stick at 20.

Come on!

20, five, 30.

Ooh, he's got bids on there.

STEVEN: 40.

DH: Ooh.

I'm surprised the internet's not joining in.

DH: Is there internet there?

STEVEN: 45, lady's bid.

STEVEN: 50.

RI: Doing OK. 55.

STEVEN: 55, lady's bid.

RI: Come on!

STEVEN: At �55 now.

Any advance?

DH: Ooh!

DH: Well... RI: Ooh!

VO: Not to worry.

Just a slow start.

Well, I thought they would make 75 to 80.

85, even.

VO: David's Indian silver cruet set is next.

15, commission bidder.

�15.

DH: Come on.

STEVEN: At 15.

STEVEN: 20, five.

30.

DH: No!

30.

�30.

DH: Come on!

RI: You're doing well.

DH: Bit more!

Ooh!

VO: Did witchy Roo make that happen?

DH: I'm disappointed.

RI: Wiped the smile off you!

VO: Never mind.

Next up, Roo's Queen Victoria jubilee commemorative brooch.

25 bid.

DH: Oh.

STEVEN: At �25.

RI: �1 profit.

Come on.

DH: Ooh.

25, it is now.

Any advance at 25?

Opening bidder.

Opening price.

All done.

RI: Come on, please!

DH: Maiden bid.

It's a maiden bid!

It started off well.

VO: Yeah, shame about the end.

Moving swiftly on.

I'm trickling.

I'm a dripping tap.

(CHUCKLES) VO: Yikes!

Back to the auction.

It's David's bargain-basement modernist hand carving.

Bonnie wee piece.

What'll we say, �10, start me off?

Go on!

STEVEN: 10 is bid.

RI: Ooh, you're good.

STEVEN: Anybody else?

10 is the first hand on my right.

Oh, come on.

Not maiden bids.

STEVEN: All done, folks, 10?

RI: Do you know why?

10 times my money.

I just want you to know that.

VO: The cat's not impressed.

Good buy.

That's a no-brainer.

VO: Will Roo's luck turn on the urn?

Unusual piece.

What will we say, �20?

No bids?

10 is the wave.

15, lady's bid.

20.

Sorry, 25.

25, lady's bid.

Don't stop there.

Any advance now?

It's not good.

Ha-ha-ha!

VO: Mm, she's barely keeping her head above water.

Over to David's novelty Stanhope peep pipe.

I'll start her off at �30.

DH: Ooh.

RI: Very good.

Come on.

At 30.

Five, 40.

Come on, baby.

STEVEN: 45.

DH: Yes!

RI: Very good.

Back of the hall at �45.

Come on.

No internet!

David, you're clawing it back.

Yes, Roo, yes!

VO: The peep pipe pops David back into pole position.

Social history, novelty item.

DH: Yes, exactly.

RI: Good fun.

Good on you.

VO: The mourning and the mizpah brooch combo - a sink or swim for Roo.

20, the hand, thank you.

DH: Get in.

At �20, back of the hall at 20.

I'll take five anywhere.

Five.

Oh?

STEVEN: 25?

Shakes his head.

RI: 30.

At only 25 right beside me here.

And selling... (SIGHS) Where is the internet?

It's alright.

VO: It is for you.

Well, it's a profit on paper.

Biggles.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Ha!

Will his Roamer vintage watch fly?

Internet starts me off.

�40 commission.

RI: Very good.

DH: Come on.

50.

Five, 60.

Five, 70.

DH: Yes.

STEVEN: Five, 80.

DH: Yes, baby!

RI: Oh my goodness.

STEVEN: At �80.

Anybody else?

DH: Good.

Good.

Come on, baby!

At �80, are you all done?

Roo, that's more like it.

VO: Indeed.

That's, er, tick tock and tickety boo.

Someone for under 100 quid having a proper vintage Swiss-made watch.

I mean, that is very good value for money.

VO: Can Roo's final item, the 1920s French barometer, break her losing spell?

Internet starts me off at �30.

DH: (INHALES SHARPLY) At 35, 40.

45.

�45.

DH: Ooh, Roo.

RI: It's short!

DH: You're trickling, Roo.

RI: Come on!

DH: You're trickling, baby.

RI: Please!

Trickle.

VO: Think she needs a new wand.

Oh, well that's a disappointment for you, isn't it?

VO: Smug, anyone?

Now, who knows what bidders will make of David's Victorian corner chair and a completely unrelated collection of train printing plates.

Interest shown on commission, �40 bid.

STEVEN: �40, any advance at 40?

DH: Come on, baby!

DH: Come on.

RI: Put your hammer down!

50?

�50, shakes her head.

DH: Come on, train fans!

RI: David.

DH: That'll do, that'll do.

RI: David... VO: Maybe it's a new trend.

Hm!

Who knows?

Well done.

You have bought brilliantly.

DH: Oh well, thank you.

RI: You've done so well and I'm really happy for you.

VO: Really?

VO: Roo began the leg in front with �238.60.

But after a less than bewitching run of luck, has just over �209.

VO: But David, who started with �168.30, has rocketed into the lead and takes �243.60 into the next leg.

DH: Can I drive?

RI: Yes you can.

As my treat.

Yeah, I don't want to drive after that, to be honest.

Well, you can just kind of sit there looking morose, can't you, while I drive.

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