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!

Yeah, baby.

Welcome to the West Country.

Sunshine, gently rolling hills.

Just the sort of place you'd find two antique fans in a sports car.

(HORN HONKS) NATASHA (NS): Does that mark the start of the trip, that toot?

JAMES (JB): (CHUCKLES) VO: Absolutely.

No strangers to this road trip lark are experts James Braxton and Natasha Raskin Sharp.

But they've never gone toe to toe before...until now.

I'm so looking forward to spending so much time in your company.

Me too, Natasha.

Because we've never had the full opportunity to hang out.

Yeah.

NS: It's just you and me, baby.

VO: Sounds like a plan.

Glasgow girl and art history buff Natasha... Oh, oh, oh, oh!

VO: ..has a keen eye for the refined and esthetically pleasing, most of the time.

Stop.

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

VO: Whereas East Sussex's very own James...

It's very spooky in here.

VO: ..is much more eclectic in his approach, but he does have his own particular weakness.

Any bamboo?

Any old bamboo?

VO: See what I mean?

How do you fancy your chances then?

Are you going straight to competition?

Yeah, straight in there.

Wow!

I just thought I'd get it over and done with.

Well, I don't know.

The elephant in the room.

I don't think I fancy my chances overall because my preconceived notion is that you always come out on top.

I have an early burst of energy and success and then it all goes a bit Pete Tong, as they say.

VO: Well, someone's got to win.

They'll each start with £200 and forgetting about this snazzy 1970 Porsche 911.

Younger than James.

Older than Natasha.

It's all about the color.

Surely it's all about the color.

JB: Red.

Woarh!

NS: We're so eye catching.

Oh, I love it.

JB: This is a statement.

You know, you turn up and take somebody's daughter out, and the father would know you were a wrong 'un.

To be the young woman picked up in this car.

I mean, I'm living that fantasy right now... JB: (CHUCKLES) NS: ..cuz essentially, we're on a really long, weird date.

VO: Well, at least your beau is smartly turned out.

Ha!

Their upcoming adventure starts on the South West coast and sees them wending their way in an easterly direction towards Oxfordshire.

This first round of shopping will take place entirely within the confines of Devon.

They'll eventually wind up in Totnes.

But we cast off in Plymouth.

Britain's self-styled Ocean City has a maritime history dating back to before the Romans.

So they're used to random strangers coming into port.

Ha!

They even have drive-in antique stores for just such an occasion.

JB: This is the place?

NS: This is the place.

VO: The place being Parade Antiques, an 18th century warehouse chock-full of titbits, all presided over by John, who does all the polishing.

Right.

Time for our two to get their game faces on.

I've been here before and I remember the cracking storeroom out the back where nothing has a ticket on it and the possibilities are endless.

But I think that James Braxton might just have found that storeroom because I just heard a belly laugh.

VO: Yes, swerving the shop entirely, our man's dived straight into John's secret stash.

Everything is in boxes.

Nothing's in cabinets, nothing's behind a glazed door and nothing is priced.

This is my sort of environment.

There's so many goodies here.

These were really trendy at one time, these decoy ducks.

Americans love them because they're sort of folk art and they were actually decoys.

They were to lure ducks.

But they're beautifully made.

VO: Like a pig in the proverbial, isn't he?

I'm sure Natasha will want to come in here.

So the longer I stay here, the less she is able.

VO: Let's put that to the test, shall we?

What are you banging on about?

I'm so annoyed you're in here.

I'm defending this area.

You are.

You're... you're in the fort.

I'm hogging it.

Is that what I can expect this whole trip?

This is our first shop.

The competition has begun.

Everyone told me you were really lovely.

Oh, don't listen to people.

Oh, OK.

If that's how it's going to be...I'll leave you to it.

Excellent.

Bye.

VO: Yup.

He's not budging.

On the upside, Natasha, the rest of the place is yours.

It's actually lighter than I was expecting it to be.

And that could be because it's labeled as German silver.

So German silver is an alloy, and I think it's the zinc that gives it this silvery color.

But...it's all about the look.

It's the shape.

A hermit crab.

I just think as a decorative sculpture, that's a really attractive thing.

If you go to contemporary art fairs now, you'll see these sculptures, and that could easily be £650, if this was signed by a contemporary artist and sold by a studio, sold by a gallery.

VO: That's a more modest £65.

This looks to be 20th century.

It's not hugely old.

But it just really looks the part.

£65.

It doesn't make me want to crawl back into my shell.

I like it.

OK, so hermit crab.

He's on the list.

VO: As she scuttles off - ha!

- her rival is still in his happy place.

It's amazing.

Aladdin's cave.

Oh, I like this.

I love these funny, old...

This is funny... Bill, an old bill of sale, like an invoice.

And it says, "Asses' milk sold by Mr John Treble "of number 30 Marylebone Lane."

And this is a daily delivery to 60 Harley Street.

Now, Harley Street is well known for its medical, the doctoring profession.

And whether asses' milk was used, you know, people had... Lots of people had eczema and things like that, dry skin.

You know, you could make a nice sort of unction or even bathe in it.

VO: Cleopatra swore by the stuff.

If I was a doctor and I happen to live in Harley Street, I would...

I would pay top dollar for this.

(CHUCKLES) VO: Bit of a niche market but you never know.

Back in the shop proper, Natasha's going straight to the source.

John, look at you hard at work.

I went into what I know is the shed of dreams because I've been there before.

Yes, you have.

And I didn't find any treasure of dreams.

I found James Braxton, which is awfully annoying.

So I'm wondering, do you have anything that isn't lurking behind glass?

It's quite nice to get in among it, you know.

It's only just come in.

Mm-hm.

But I've got a lovely French sewing box, painted one.

Oh, whereabouts?

You can't miss it, just before you get to the large teddy bear.

VO: Yeah, that's quite a landmark.

There it is.

That is pretty, isn't it?

It's a lovely thing, actually.

So much nicer on these sort of shield shaped ends here with the feet than it is on the top.

Flakes of paint have come away.

But it is hand-painted.

This is not a transfer decoration.

Could it be Regency?

Could it be early 19th century?

It's beautifully done.

OK, so this is... this is a working sewing box.

And all this stuff in here... Yeah.

Buttons.

So it's all quite contemporary, actually.

So up until the moment this was brought in to John's shop, this was being used and loved, I'm going to say, which is a good thing, because it means that once it's purchased at the auction, and it will be purchased at the auction, this can be used and loved again.

VO: And no price, either.

Who needs a storeroom, eh?

John, I found it.

And I think I love it.

It's nice.

Obviously, it's fresh stock, as you pointed out.

It is, yes.

Before you tell me a price in mind... Yeah.

..I really like the hermit crab.

Right.

Just the decorative piece that I found in the cabinet.

The metal one?

VO: That's the chap.

Priced at £65, remember?

What about for the two...£80?

I was actually going to suggest 75, but, you know, 80 is fine.

John.

NS: Would you do it for 75?

JOHN: (CHUCKLES) NS: Oh.

JOHN: I'll do it for 75, go on.

VO: Blimey, that doesn't happen often.

£45 for the sewing box and 30 for the crab.

I'm really grateful and I'll swing by the crab.

JOHN: Alright.

NS: Oh John, NS: you've been so generous.

JOHN: Take care.

JOHN: Good luck with it.

NS: Thank you.

Thanks.

VO: With 125 still in hand, that's one happy customer.

Let's see if John can make it two.

JB: I love this.

JOHN: I think it's charming.

Asses' milk.

JOHN: Asses' milk.

JB: Excellent.

JOHN: Donkeys.

Donkeys' milk.

Yes.

1825.

Yes.

How much is something like this?

20, I think.

It's a deal.

VO: One down.

Time to get those ducks in a row.

JB: Decoy ducks.

JOHN: Decoy ducks.

JB: I like those.

JOHN: Yes.

If I wanted to buy four or six... 160.

JOHN: That's the very best.

JB: For four?

And that's only just to get rid of you.

So could I buy two at 80?

Go on, then, yes.

At least I part with less of them.

(CHUCKLES) VO: Cracking buys there, James.

Add in that asses' milk invoice, and that's a straight 100.

Half his money gone.

I'm very pleased with my items.

These little fellows need a swim, I think.

VO: Now, Natasha is taking time out from shopping and has headed across the city to Devonport and the grounds of Plymouth's Rugby Union team.

She's here to find out about one of the club's beloved heroes, who became the first Black player to represent England in the sport.

Hey, Tasha, how are you?

Hi Chris, I'm very well.

How are you?

Good, good.

Welcome to the Brickfields, home of Plymouth Albion Rugby Club.

VO: Chris Bentley, the club's commercial manager, has the remarkable story of local rugby legend Jimmy Peters.

He was born in Salford in 1879 to a Jamaican dad and a Shropshire mum.

He was raised in a traveling circus where it was a pretty difficult beginning.

Um, he was unfortunate to lose his dad.

One of the lions mauled him to death.

NS: No!

CHRIS: Yes.

Um, his mum couldn't handle him and shipped him on to another traveling circus, where he broke his arm having been working as a bareback horse rider.

They jettisoned him and he was picked up by an orphanage.

VO: He was taken in by the Little Wanderers home in London, who gave him a trade as a carpenter and introduced him to the game of rugby.

A natural athlete, he excelled at sports, ending up as the captain of the rugby team there.

When he left as a young man to find work, he took the love of the game with him.

His carpentry brought him across to Bristol at first, where he played for Dings Crusaders and Bristol, 35 times for the Bristol team, and actually got picked for the Somerset County team.

So he started to show his pedigree in Rugby Union.

Let's not forget this is over 100 years ago.

This is a Black man playing rugby to a largely white audience, so he must have encountered pushback.

Yeah, indeed.

There was a horrible anecdote that one of the Bristol Rugby Union committee men took...took a protest because he was keeping a white man out of the side.

And he didn't get some of the best press a bit further north of here.

But when he came down to Plymouth, he became a bit of a local hero.

Working at the dockyard, which is just over behind us here.

By 1907, he was actually named by the Plymouth Herald as the sportsman of the year.

Oh, that's amazing.

VO: Jimmy's incredible skills made him a star player here in Plymouth, and on the Devon County team.

And in 1906 he was finally called up to play for the national side.

This must be our man.

It most certainly is, Mr Jimmy Peters.

NS: And there he is... CHRIS: Yes.

..in his England cap, so now he's playing for his national team.

There's quite a fair bit written in the press of the time that was derogatory towards his selection and that perhaps he wasn't warranting his place.

But on the flip, there are other people that were commenting that it was long overdue and that his talent was far beyond any of the half backs of his generation, that he deserved to be in the set-up earlier than he was.

The England team hadn't won for a few years until Jimmy came into the squad.

And as the fly half, he steered them into a winning habit.

They actually won a few games with him at the helm at 10.

It was mainly the home nations he played against.

Wales and France and obviously Scotland.

Scotland, OK. How did he fare against Scotland?

I'll be honest, we can take on as even.

Jimmy scored the only try that Scotland conceded that year.

But Scotland won the game.

VO: Whilst he was loved by local fans, Jimmy still faced racial prejudice.

In a match between Devon and the South African international team, The Springboks refused to take to the pitch against a Black opponent.

The South African high commissioner came down and pleaded with his team to take the field and they did actually play.

South Africa won the game, but Jimmy did front up against some men that saw him as a second class citizen.

VO: Sadly, after only five games, Jimmy's England career was cut short after losing three fingers in an accident at work.

Plymouth supported him financially while he recovered, but Rugby Union's strict rules against paid players meant that Jimmy was barred from the game.

Undeterred, he headed north to play Rugby League instead.

When he retired from sport, from playing rugby, did he come back to Plymouth?

He most certainly did, yes.

And he's venerated now as one of 19 players to have represented England as a Plymouth Albion man.

VO: Now, inspired by Jimmy's story, our Natasha is going to have a little try out for the team.

Let's see if she's got what it takes to be a great fly half like Jimmy.

Her coach will be current Albion player, Ramaz Rukhadze.

OK, Ramaz.

Yep.

What's the first thing I need to learn?

We have to kick the ball.

Would Jimmy Peters have been... Yeah.

..the guy who kicked the ball?

Yes.

Right OK, so show me how he would have done it.

OK. VO: Crikey, that's a long way.

RAMAZ: Your turn.

NS: OK, here we go.

Oh!

Not a lot of height.

Quite good length.

It's good for first time.

NS: Good for first time?

RAMAZ: Yeah.

VO: What about the other vital rugby skill, the tackle?

Here we go.

(LAUGHS) VO: Well, it might come in handy when shopping with James, that!

Blissfully unaware, he's on the move and still banging on about that storeroom.

Life's too short for cabinets, especially the ones that are locked.

I like to go into an antique shop and not see a price tag.

Next stop for our rummage maestro is the village of Modbury.

VO: He's taking his remaining £100 out for a browse around Wild Goose antiques.

It's easy to spot.

Just look for the signs.

They're all over the inside too.

Looks like the stock in trade for shopkeeper Kay.

But nestled among them are some antique treasures that need winkling out.

Off you winkle, James.

So much isn't there, cramped in here?

But you've got to look both up and down, and then I'm looking behind here.

So we've got a big dresser here.

And it pays sometimes to rootle around.

Ow.

Oh.

VO: He's found the storeroom again, hasn't he?

(GROANS) There we are.

And what you want to do... (CLEAR TAPPING) That's sound as a pound.

There we are.

VO: A very sizable meat plate, look.

And no price tag, naturally.

This would have had a big sort of...

This is your Christmas fellow.

Big turkey, big rib of beef, something like that would have been brought out splendidly.

And you've got... Rather nice, isn't it?

It's rather sweet, this.

You've got your sort of swallows, your lovebirds there.

You've got your ornamental pines.

And this is European version of the sort of exotic Oriental.

So it's a...it's a transfer that's laid on the pottery body.

And we should have a maker's name somewhere, shouldn't we?

I see no maker's name, but I can tell you with some certainty that this was probably made in Staffordshire.

VO: This willow pattern china was so popular that there were over 400 producers of this stuff in Britain alone.

They're not fashionable now.

But there's something glorious in the size of it, isn't there?

That's a big beastie.

So let's see, you never know.

The good lady Kay might have got fed up with this.

VO: Never hurts to ask.

These used to be very trendy at one point, but their... their fortunes have changed.

Yes.

Kay, would a tenner buy this?

They haven't changed that much, fortunately.

The price we have on that is 45.

I could run to 25.

30.

Would you go to 30?

Let me give you 30.

OK.

I know you really like that plate so I'm happy.

Thank you, Kay.

There's 20.

That's what I should have been paying.

And that's your tip.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Kay.

Thank you.

Bye.

Bye.

VO: That's whittled his money down to £70.

And if he can get that back to the car without dropping it, let's call it a day.

I think it would be criminal if after today we didn't...keep driving.

Go out, turn heads in this car.

Yeah.

I think we should just go wild in Plymouth in this car.

I just don't think Plymouth has seen the likes for some time.

VO: Sounds like a date.

(GIGGLES) Nighty-night!

Day two in Devon and the muse is upon one of our trippers.

In a Porsche 911, beautifully driven, one Sassenach and one Scot.

The car, yes, I love it.

But what of the budget?

Says James, "I'll be spending the lot".

Oh well done, very good.

VO: Rabbie Burns would be proud.

VO: Yesterday, our resident bard made a good start, bagging a 19th century sewing box and a 20th century metal hermit crab.

Maybe for the recluse who has everything.

VO: And she still has £125 in hand.

James spent more.

£130 on a pair of decoy ducks, and a huge meat platter.

There's something glorious in the size of it, isn't there?

VO: And one thing that he's itching to share.

It's a bill of sale.

It's for a daily delivery of none other than asses' milk.

No, it's not.

And asses' milk is supposed to be very good for your skin.

The merest hint of a rash and it was straight in with the asses' milk.

VO: And why not, eh?

Later, all their prized possessions will be heading to auction in Alton, Staffordshire.

But for now, we're keeping it in Devon.

Next stop, Kingsbridge... ..where, having jettisoned James along the way, Natasha finally gets a shop to herself.

Kingsbridge Antiques has five rooms full of exquisite things, so with £125 and no you-know-who marking his territory, this should be jolly pleasant.

I need something to say, "Hello, Natasha, over here."

VO: I think those spoons might be waving at her.

Here you have one caddy spoon and one teaspoon, so both related to taking tea.

And they're both Georgian, but in fact, there is another connection.

Both of these makers include a woman's name.

For the caddy, you have Alice and George Burrows.

On the teaspoon, you have Peter and Ann Bateman.

So it might be quite surprising to you that you have women silversmiths in the 18th and very early 19th century.

But both quite plain, they're both not going to set the spoon collectors world on fire.

Let's be fair.

VO: £45 is the combined price for those.

I love these.

I like to think of my sisters working in the 18th century, doing it for themselves.

I'm quite keen, actually.

VO: They're on the wish list.

Proper antique too.

What else?

I did see these earlier and I completely dismissed them.

Though now that I've been around the shop about five times, I'm weirdly attracted to... Stay there... ..these cowbells.

VO: That's what this show needs.

More cowbell.

Cowbells are not exciting, except when they have something weirdly chic about them.

Look at those buckles.

The body of the bell, it looks like brass.

And it has had a nice gold finish applied to it.

The actual... (BELL RINGS) Oh... (CHUCKLES) The actual beater inside of the bell, beater is probably not the right word, but I'm going for beater, is wooden, so that's why you get that nice... (BELL CHIMES) NS: That nice sound.

It's not metal on metal, it's wood on metal.

I think these are, as far as cowbells go, pretty darn nice.

VO: Priced up at £35 for the pair.

But will they ring anyone's bell?

Who loves auctions?

Farmers.

Farmers blooming love auctions.

A couple of farmers battling it out for the bells?

I can see it now.

£100.

Sold.

It's a first for me, but I think I have to buy these cowbells.

VO: Never one to go with the herd, our Natasha.

Sounds so good.

VO: Let's find Phil, the proprietor.

Phil, hi.

Hello Natasha.

I certainly heard you coming.

I'm quite in love with these cowbells, bull bells.

Aren't they beautiful?

Definitely 20th century.

Here I have a bit of the 18th and the early 19th century.

King George III spoons.

A funny little pair of items, but I really like both of them.

VO: £80 in total for that little lot.

What would you say to £45?

Er, I think £65 for the two would be... NS: £65.. DEALER: ..a fair price.

Couldn't twist your arm and say 60?

Er, 63, how about 63?

I think £63 is a deal.

DEALER: OK. NS: Thank you so much.

That's good.

VO: That'll be £32 for the spoons and 31 for those blooming bells.

Thanks again, Phil.

VO: And £62 still in hand.

(BELL RINGS) NS: Hear ye, hear ye!

VO: Oh, lordy.

VO: Now, before he gets shopping... That's lovely.

VO: ..James is off for some sightseeing.

He's come down to the River Dart and the historic town of Dartmouth.

VO: In the 19th century, with the coming of the railway, this bustling port transformed into a thriving holiday destination.

And James is here to visit a unique tourist attraction.

This is the Kingswear Castle, the last working coal-powered paddle steamer in Britain.

His guide will be John Megoran, the chair of the trust that looks after it.

This is lovely.

JB: Very elegant, isn't it?

JOHN: A ship from another age.

Lovely.

VO: This splendid vessel, affectionately nicknamed KC, was built in 1924 to serve as a pleasure cruiser.

One of three operating on the river, her job was to ferry visitors between Dartmouth and the town of Totnes, 12 miles upstream.

She's 113 feet long, and she's powered by a compound reciprocating steam engine, with steam provided by a coal-fired boiler.

Presumably it was built to meet a need in 1924?

Paddle steamers, um, satisfied the need to go out on the water.

I see.

And take in all the social classes.

Yeah.

And offering a range of cheap trips for people of more modest means... JB: Yeah.

JOHN: ..to longer trips.

And they were shifting huge amounts of people.

I mean, this had a passenger certificate for 400 people.

Really?

VO: Paddle steamer trips remained a popular draw throughout the '20s and '30s, but the rise of foreign travel by the mid-20th century saw a decline in holiday-makers here.

No longer commercially viable, KC was taken out of service and left to rot.

John, what's your association with this particular vessel?

So I've been associated with light paddle steamers for most of my life.

I joined the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society when I was 11, I hate to admit.

Really?

So I followed the fortunes of this when it was withdrawn in 1965, and then she was towed to the Isle of Wight in 1967.

And I remember rowing out to her in a dinghy in 1967 and thinking that she wasn't looking in very good nick.

Really?

Terrible condition, really.

VO: The society purchased KC for £600 in 1967.

But it would take decades, an army of volunteers and a lot more money to restore her back to service.

Much of her hull, the decking and the boiler had to be replaced, but her beating heart, the engine, is still the original.

Oh, this is like Dante's Inferno down here.

This is where the action is.

This is where the fire is and this is where the mechanics is and everything is glistening.

This is my sort of heaven.

It's all copper and brass down here.

So, apprentice engineer reporting, John.

What do you want me to do?

JOHN: Take a nice shovel of coal.

JB: Will it be hot?

JOHN: And open up the...furnace and chuck it in.

JB: Got to give it a good old swing, haven't I?

JOHN: There we are, that's perfect.

VO: In 1985, Kingswear Castle was once again licensed to carry passengers.

With John as the captain, she ran trips on the Thames and Medway before finally returning home to the Dart in 2012, a very busy waterway, which makes me wonder why they've let James loose in the wheelhouse.

I'm keeping a steady course.

I noticed, very wisely, you've slowed the vessel to almost crawling speed.

I can see why, as a boy, you wanted to be a paddle steamer captain.

It's rather fun, isn't it?

It is.

VO: Full steam ahead, Mr Braxton.

Meanwhile, Natasha is steering her much smaller, petrol-powered craft around the Devonshire country lanes.

I'm definitely presenting an eclectic mix at the auction.

Sewing box, hermit crab, cowbells.

Regency spoons.

Something for everyone.

VO: Well, there's one last chance to add to your collection in the ancient market town of Totnes.

Once home to the Totnes pound, an alternative currency introduced to get people to shop locally.

But fear not, they will accept your £62 of regular sterling, Natasha.

That'll do nicely.

VO: Not Made In China is the name of her last shop.

NS: Last stop.

VO: So if you were after a Ming vase, forget it.

DEALER: Hi.

NS: Hello.

VO: What James the proprietor does have - that's him there - is a cornucopia of interesting items, all crammed into a modest space.

Although some of them require a bit of assembly first.

There we go.

VO: Ah, a butler's tray.

Jeeves comes out with his tray of drinks.

Gin and tonic, natch.

And he pops them on the tray and he brings them out and pops said tray on the stand and hey presto, drinks are served and everyone feels fine.

To my mind, it's Edwardian.

Nice bit of age.

The tray itself is not inlaid with any interesting marquetry.

It's a nice stained oak tray.

VO: £95 is the price on that.

Time to have a chat with James.

James?

You have a lovely little shop, but it's small enough, I reckon you could hear me talking very favorably about that butler's tray.

I did indeed, yeah.

I thoroughly agree.

£95 is the ticket price.

I have £62 burning a hole in my pocket.

Is that a liberty?

If I ask you to send the shop a Christmas card, I'll go for it.

If I put you on my Christmas card list, you're happy with that discount?

Yeah.

But a dear Christmas card, not one of those cheap ones.

Well, I think it's a deal.

Listen, I'll make a note in my diary.

VO: Top man, James.

You'll get all of her remaining money now and the Raskin Sharp round robin at the end of the year.

I must try that with my tailor.

Thanks, James.

OK, bye-bye.

Cheerio.

VO: And off she goes, penniless but happy.

Done.

VO: Now, just down the road, out in the Totnes environs, there's a barn where, with £70 itching to be spent, Mr Braxton has an appointment to view.

Wow, this is lovely.

VO: Selling mostly online, Cunningham White's specialize in decorative antiques and furniture.

But if you ask nicely, they'll let you have a look in person.

We've got this rather nice wooden mirror, but it's made slightly... Oh, I see.

So it hangs on the diagonal, because we got a little baton at the back there.

Instead of just hanging it square, hang it like a diamond.

And there it is on the wall.

VO: Ooh, very fancy.

And ticketless again.

And then we've got these rather nice spandrels of shells.

It's just such a simple way.

I think that's rather nice.

Age wise, I haven't a clue, but it's probably something like 1920s or something like that.

Or maybe even earlier.

VO: Could be something to shell out on, but he's not done yet.

I quite like these three vases here.

We've got mother ship in the middle and two companion sort of attendants either side.

I always think good design should have humor.

These do look like legs, don't they?

They're made of pewter.

They look sort of continental.

They've got a stylized shell there.

They've got that jugendstil, that new style Archibald Knox-y, Christopher Dresser sort of look.

Have they got a maker's name on them?

Um, well, it'd probably help if I had my glasses on.

Um, and then I can find out.

VO: It's his age, you know.

Oh, they have got a name on them.

There's something something.

VO: That was worth the effort.

No price on those, either.

So let's have a chat with the man in charge.

Sam, I found some goodies in your shop.

Right.

Let's have a look.

What have you got?

Well, I've got these three pewter vases.

OK, yeah.

They're nice, aren't they?

JB: So that one.

SAM: Mm-hm.

And this is a sort of memory of being by the coast, isn't it?

It's a bit of fun, isn't it, that one.

JB: It is a bit of fun.

SAM: Yeah.

What could I buy them for?

The vases, I put them online at about £95... JB: OK. SAM: ..for the... for the set.

The mirror is a bit... bit cheaper that one.

That can be kind of 40, 45.

Yeah.

The question is... Go on.

..could I buy both the vases and the mirror for 70 quid in cash?

£70?

70 quid in cash.

Do you know what?

The sun's shining, I'm in a good mood.

SAM: Yeah, £70.

That's fine.

JB: Thank you.

JB: That's very good.

SAM: Let's do that.

Because 70 is all I have.

Oh well, there we go.

That's why you offered me 70.

VO: Yes, he forgot to mention that.

£35 each for the vases and the mirror.

And just like his chum, he's flat broke.

Ta-ta, Totnes.

Time to call it a day.

NS: Are you hungry?

JB: I'm very hungry.

Shall I give her a bit of toe and take her somewhere tasty?

Take me to supper.

NS: Are you ready for this?

JB: Yeah.

(ENGINE REVS) VO: And then shuteye.

(HORN HONKS) VO: The auction beckons, and have we got a good viewing spot for you!

Ha!

South facing, free draining and that excellent Devonshire terroir.

NS: This is so you.

JB: Oh!

I'm taking you straight to... JB: Oh, look at that.

NS: Straight to fizz.

Isn't that kind of them to lay that out for us?

I know.

It's almost like they knew we didn't have to do any more driving.

I know.

VO: But was it wise to give them the whole bottle?

Rounding off their whistle-stop tour of Devon, they pitched up in Bridford at the Swanaford Vineyard.

Meanwhile, their prized purchases have whizzed off northwards to Alton in Staffordshire.

Leighton Hall Auctions is the place, with bids online, on the phones, in the room and on commission.

They've got the lot.

VO: James burned through his whole £200 on five lots.

But does auctioneer Toby Hall think any of them have legs?

The Knox-style pewter vases could do very well.

They've got the great look.

They scream art nouveau.

We've put 40 to 80 for the three.

VO: Empty pockets for Natasha too with her five auction lots.

Any of them grab you, Toby?

The hermit crab, a really interesting piece.

We've never seen one like this before.

Made from German silver, we've put an auction estimate of 25 to 50.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if it did a little bit more.

VO: So will they be toasting success or drowning their sorrows?

JB: This is lovely, isn't it?

Hold on, do that thing you did again.

You look like a vole.

Hold on.

I've never seen a vole.

What does a vole look like?

Look in the mirror.

VO: We've got one here... look.

James's shell-covered number is up first.

We have got seven, eight, nine, 10 on commission.

£12 bid.

What did you pay?

1,000.

12, the internet.

Oh.

£12?!

At £12 bid for the mirror, I'm trying my hardest.

He is trying his hardest.

TOBY: At £12 bid.

JB: Try a little harder.

£12.

VO: Not to everyone's taste apparently.

That's really hard.

That was hard.

That was worth... Quite a big... big thing.

It's nice.

VO: Natasha's up next, her butler's tray.

Handy even if you don't have staff.

At £30 bid on commission for the butler's tray.

I thought it would make 90 or 100.

Great piece, at 30, 32, 35 with me.

38, I've got 40.

It's so low.

On commission, you'll have to go five on the internet.

Thank you.

At £45 bid, £50 bid.

Cheap B&B.

This is middle aisle sort of kettle.

Cheap B&B.

At £50 only.

VO: Some butler's picked up a bargain there.

I genuinely thought that was an easy profit.

Are you really disappointed?

I'm screaming on the inside.

I'm trying to look cool... JB: Are you?

NS: ..lying here on the Porsche.

I'm like, "No, I'm fine."

VO: James's asses' milk invoice now.

An ideal gift for the Egyptian queen in your life.

I don't think you actually drink asses' milk.

I think you bathe in it.

I'm middle child.

Can you imagine?

NS: I would have been... JB: Oh!

NS: ..one, two... JB: Smelly.

I would've been fourth in.

JB: Fourth in.

NS: That's horrific.

I've got nine, 10, 12 at me.

Go on, keep going.

Come on.

I've got...

I paid £20 for this.

15 on the phone.

18 on the net... JB: Phone!

NS: Oh, hold on.

It's going to easily make a profit, I think.

20, 22, 25.

Oh, yes.

Go on.

Asses' milk.

It's the way forward.

It is, maybe the new thing.

Forget almond milk or oat milk.

At £30 bid on the internet then.

It's been a good battle.

At £30 bid.

It has been a good battle.

All done, selling away.

Last chance.

On the internet at £30 only.

VO: Our first profit.

Those Harley Street doctors were online then.

A tidy profit.

Tiny profit.

I don't think it's going to be enough to buy you a daily delivery.

VO: Natasha's sewing box.

Let's hope it doesn't go for buttons.

We've got interest on commission and online.

JB: Tenner.

TOBY: And we've got 35, 38.

JB: Oh!

TOBY: 40, 45.

Oh, I paid 45.

At 50.

At £50.

55.

Would you like 60 on my right?

£60 bid.

Oh 60, that's good profit.

That is good.

That...

I'm so chuffed.

On my right, at £60 only.

VO: Another profit.

Darn good, you might say.

Ha!

Well done, well done.

Small, medium, not large, not large.

VO: It all counts.

Nice bit of willow pattern next.

James's huge platter.

It passed the Braxton weight test.

It was heavy.

We've got 10, 12, 15 on the internet.

NS: Oh.

TOBY: £15 bid on the internet.

Go on, keep going.

£15 bid for the meat platter.

It's a nice big size.

£15 bid, £15 bid.

Is no one bidding?

JB: Struggling.

NS: It's struggling.

On the internet, last chance.

Are we done?

Selling away at £15 only.

VO: That's a lot of plate for your money there.

So not everything that passes the James Braxton weight test should be purchased.

Yeah, I don't know if it's a particularly good guide to making huge amounts of profit.

VO: Now let's hear it for Georgian women silversmiths.

Natasha's spoons.

I've got 15, 18 and £20, 22...

It's a start.

Start.

TOBY: At £25 bid on commission.

NS: Come on.

£25 bid for the spoons.

No further interest, you're on my book.

I don't like those words, "No further interest."

Selling away at £25 only.

VO: That's a bit of a disappointment.

No further interest.

That's a woman's lot in life.

JB: Oh, rubbish!

NS: (CHUCKLES) VO: Now, who doesn't love a duck?

James has two of them.

These came from the shed.

They came from the store.

To which I could not gain entry.

And we have got absolutely QUACKING interest at 35, 38.

NS: Quacking interest!

TOBY: 50 on the saleroom... NS: Oh, it's all go.

JB: Quacking interest.

NS: It's all go, it's all go.

TOBY: For the pair of ducks...

He's a good auctioneer.

£50 bid for the pair of ducks.

Who's got five for me this time?

At £50 bid on the internet, on my right.

He's really trying.

He's really trying.

Selling away at £50 only.

VO: Not as buoyant as James had hoped.

It's a bit crispy.

It happens, doesn't it?

NS: It does happen.

JB: It does happen.

VO: Dairy farmers and '70s rock drummers take note - it's cowbell time.

They were really striking.

And they were... Ah, very good, very good.

I can come straight in at 15, 18, 20.

I've got two.

£25 bid, I've got 28, would you like 30 on the phone?

No!

At £30 bid on the phone.

Internet, you'll have to go two if you'd like it now.

Oh no, come on!

There's a phone bid.

Who doesn't pay more than 30 on the phone?

£30 bid on the phone then, are we done?

Selling away at £30 only.

VO: Didn't chime with the bidders - more of a dull thud.

Oh, they caused such a stir, there was bidding online, on the phone and then they made a loss.

NS: That's so... JB: Well, only a pound.

VO: Last for James, those pewter vases from that famous maker, something something.

Good for holding your ice cream.

At 35, 38, 40, five and 50 now.

Oh, you beast!

£50 bid, at £50 bid, 55, 60 with me.

Oh, oh, oh, I think you're going to double up.

Are we all done?

Selling away at £60 only.

VO: A little victory right at the end.

That's more like it.

I'm...

I'm happy about that.

I am.

Time to celebrate.

To profits.

VO: Any excuse, eh?

He-he!

And finally, the turn of Natasha's crabby little friend.

We've got interest on the book and online.

We've got 25, I've got 28.

30 bid.

Oh!

Yeah!

That's £30 bid, at £30 bid, £30 bid on the book.

Oh no, don't break even.

You'll have to go 32 if you like it.

Come on.

32, 35 on the internet.

Thank you.

My book has been beaten.

His book is beaten.

I wish his book was still going.

£35 bid.

Five more I need.

Last chance.

No further interest?

All done.

Selling away at £35 only.

VO: And another wee profit.

Not your classic opening salvo, was it?

That's another profit, isn't it?

That's alright.

Neither of us has really... No, no.

NS: ..covered ourselves NS: in glory.

JB: No.

We didn't have a flyer, JB: did we?

NS: No, no, no.

VO: James started out with £200, but that budget's taken a bit of a battering.

After auction fees, he now has a mere £136.94 for next time.

VO: Natasha started out with the same amount and, by virtue of losing less - ha!

- she takes the win today.

After saleroom costs, her funds now sit at £164 on the nose.

Not that either of them seems bothered.

NS: James, follow me... JB: Follow you.

NS: ..into the vines.

NS: Into the vines we go.

JB: Into the vines.

NS: Come on.

JB: Alright.

Come on.

I'm...

I'm following the lady with the glass.

Did you not bring your glass?

JB: I didn't.

I even forgot the bottle.

VO: I think we should probably call them a cab.

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