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

Well, duck, do I buy you or don't I?

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

I must be mad.

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

But it's not as easy as it looks, and dreams of glory can end in tatters.

What am I gonna do?

VO: So will it be the fast lane to success or the slow road to bankruptcy?

Should've just kept my money in my pocket.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

This week, we're on the road with two experts, Mark Stacey and Margie Cooper, who are raring to get shopping.

MARK (MS): Let's give up on this, you know, cuz we're not good at it, are we?

VO: Don't give up yet - today's another day!

Margie Cooper's a dealer with a penchant for silver, but can she whistle up any good bargains this week?

MARGIE (MC): It's working!

VO: Mark Stacey's a Road Trip old hand and knows how to get the dealers to dance to his tune.

Do you think that I could buy that for a tenner?

A tenner?!

Yeah.

You must be joking.

VO: So, from his original £200, Mark's made a few canny purchases and now has a rumbunctious £337.16 to splash about.

Whereas Margie also started out with £200 but after a few losses, her grand total has dwindled to £192.06.

Not so hot.

Well that was a bit of a bummer, wasn't it?

That was awful.

VO: Our experts started this week's journey in Chilham, Kent, and are traveling 250 miles across southern England to the final showdown in Torquay, Devon.

Today's leg starts in the heart of the New Forest in the village of Burley, Hampshire, then meanders through Dorset, ending up at an auction in Sherborne.

VO: Welcome to the New Forest, the largest expanse of pasture land in the south of England, where we find our experts Mark and Margie gearing up their 1960 MGC for another's day's antiques grazing.

MS: Margie, I've just pulled over here, we're close to your shop, but look at that view.

MC: I know, superb.

MS: How are you feeling?

I'm feeling really up and running, fourth buying leg.

You've made a bit of money.

I think I'm back to square one, aren't I?

Well, you're slightly below square one.

I don't want to labor the point.

You've been doing your sums again.

Are you itching to get there?

I am.

Want me to take you?

Yeah, go on.

MS: Seat belt on?

MC: Yep.

MS: Money in your pocket?

MC: Definitely in my pocket.

MS: Then we're off.

VO: The New Forest village of Burley has been around since the Bronze Age, but became notorious in the late 1950s due to a resident white witch called Sybil Leek, who also happened to own an antique shop here!

Ha.

Nowadays you're more likely to encounter a wild pony than a witch, but there's still a healthy trade in antiques.

MS: Look, here it is.

Oh, lots of lovely things.

Listen, I'll drop you off here.

OK, darling.

I'll see you later.

Yeah, alright.

Mwah!

VO: Margie's first shop of the day looks promising, with all kinds of interesting looking collectables from jewelry to ceramics.

Hello, Vanessa?

Yes.

Right, I'm gonna come and have a quick look round.

VO: Owner Vanessa runs both the shop and the ice cream parlor next door - so can she find something sweet to tempt Margie?

A nice little scent bottle.

£50 on it, so I think that'd make life a bit difficult for me.

Wemyss ware.

Did you pay a lot for it?

80.

Yes, that's quite a lot, isn't it?

I think I'm way out on the price.

Yeah, I don't like them enough to even bid, really.

I'd really have a go if I liked them, but I'm not very keen on them.

VO: Margie, you're being terribly dismissive today.

But what's this tucked up high on a shelf?

Oh, that's interesting.

This is an old water filter.

How long have you had that?

See if your ticket's faded.

Oh, it's not too... Oh, gosh, that's the price.

160.

Oh, we can do it for less than that.

VO: Henry Doulton not only ran one of Britain's most successful pottery businesses in the 19th century, he also developed ceramic water filters that removed bacteria from drinking water.

They were widely adopted and almost certainly contributed to saving many people from the ravages of cholera and typhoid.

DEALER: So it's Doulton Lambeth.

MC: It's lovely.

It's like Wedgwood Jasper, isn't it?

DEALER: It is, yeah, little bit.

But how much...

It's got to be... 60.

60 quid?

VO: £60 down from £160.

That's £100 off - Margie's got to go for that!

Well, I don't know, is this calling me?

Is this calling me?

VO: Or maybe not.

So that's...

So you've had this... DEALER: 55.

(THEY LAUGH) MC: That's got to be a deal, hasn't it?

55.

Thank you.

It's a deal.

VO: Thank goodness for that!

Mark's traveled five miles up the road out of the New Forest to his first shop in Ringwood.

Lorraine Tarrant's emporium is stacked to the gunwales with gorgeous collectables and all manner of decorative items - plenty for Mark to feast his eyes on.

And he's not afraid to confess all to the owner of this fine establishment.

I need help, Lorraine.

What sort of help do you need?

What are you looking for?

Psychiatric I think.

Well, we all need that!

I think that's probably what I really need.

VO: Before long, Lorraine's found something Mark might fancy.

I love that sort of wooden background as well, and the eyes are so appealing, aren't they?

Yeah, it's very nice.

It's a really stunning thing.

Those are really rather charming.

So you like your birds?

I do like my birds!

(SHE CHUCKLES) But I don't think I've...

Even with my charm, and my love of pigeons, I don't think I'll be able to afford that painting, but it is lovely, actually.

So what have you put on there?

Tell me, shock me.

It's £850.

MS: (SIGHS) Well, we don't... DEALER: I'm sure we could negotiate.

Yeah, well, no... Trust me, we couldn't.

We couldn't.

Oh, we could!

It's only one nought out.

85 would have been nice, wouldn't it?

Oh, real antique dealer!

No, I know, I'm terrible.

VO: After that flight of fancy, it's time to get down to some serious browsing.

This is, I'm guessing, a 1950s child's tin plate... Well, hobby horse, but you sit your child in here and his holds on to his early plastic handles, and he rocks and is very happy, I'm sure.

But what I quite like about it is the colors are still in quite good condition, and all the wood is there.

And it's just rather appealing, in a sort of bygone way.

VO: Time to fetch the lovely Lorraine.

MS: It's in remarkably good condition.

DEALER: It is, isn't it?

Yeah.

MS: And I should be saying... No, I got that wrong.

It's in terrible condition, cuz it's worn all here, and there's a lot of wear here and there's scratches everywhere.

DEALER: Well, that's where some little darling's been racing it down the road.

Yeah, well I'm a little darling, and I want to race it to auction.

Ooh, race it to auction.

MS: Be honest with me, Lorraine.

DEALER: Yes?

Do you think that I could buy that for a tenner?

DEALER: A tenner?!

MS: Yes.

You must be joking.

Really?

Is that too much?

Do you think I get given things?

It's obviously... Don't show me the price, I don't want to see the price.

DEALER: Oh my word.

MS: I don't want to see the price.

Obviously it's too much, a tenner.

MS: We might get it for eight.

DEALER: A tenner?!

I just think in auction, what would they put on it, 20-30?

Probably, yeah.

Well, I could go to 11.

11?!

(THEY LAUGH) MS: What were you...?

DEALER: 15.

15?

15.

Oh, can I be awful?

You can try.

How awful can I be with you, Lorraine?

Because you've got such a sweet, innocent face.

(SHE CHUCKLES) Erm... could we say 13?

DEALER: 13?

MS: Yes.

My goodness me.

I've never really been this much of a bargain person.

(WHISPERS) I think we're gonna get her.

I say £14 and it's yours.

Oh, do you know, it's terrible because I get these sort of blanks when I can't hear anything.

I must put my hearing aid... Oh no, that's a microphone.

Oh.

13.50?

DEALER: £14, it's yours.

MS: 13.50.

Oh, you're a terrible person.

I'm terrible, but I've got to win, you see.

You've got to win, go on, 13.50, it's yours.

You're an angel.

Thanks again.

Bye-bye!

Bye!

VO: Waiting patiently in Burley, Margie's found a new strategy to deal with her sparring partner.

Hey, look what I've got for you!

Margie.

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

Oh, darling.

Fandabidozi.

Do you know, whatever I've said about you, I didn't mean it.

I'll hold it and you drive.

I'll hold it.

Off we go!

Oh no, it's all over me.

You are kind.

I know I am!

Well, stop eating my ice cream, Margie.

Don't eat all the nice bits off it and leave me with the vanilla!

VO: I don't think the charm offensive worked, Margie.

With them both in the car, they're now heading to Bournemouth.

VO: Back in the early 1800s, Bournemouth was known as Bourne Heath, and was a remote desert of barren heathland, frequented only by turf cutters, fishermen, and gangs of smugglers taking full advantage of the empty beaches.

And our pair of marauders have sailed in, hoping to plunder its treasures.

While Margie heads off to her next shop, Mark strolls up the seafront to discover more about one of Bournemouth's great industrialists.

He's here to visit the Russell-Cotes Museum, an extraordinary building right on the seafront.

Hello, you must be Duncan.

Nice to meet you.

Hello, I'm Mark.

Lovely to meet you.

Nice to meet you, welcome to the Russell-Cotes.

VO: Showing him around will be collections officer Duncan Walker.

Well, the Russell-Coteses, Annie and Merton, were a couple that lived in Bournemouth.

Merton owned and operated the Royal Bath Hotel, which is behind us, and he spent his money collecting fabulous artworks and treasures and souvenirs from their trips around the world.

VO: Finished in 1901, the house is one of Britain's last truly Victorian buildings.

It was built as a token of love by Sir Merton Russell-Cotes for his beloved Glaswegian wife Annie, and combines the Italian Renaissance style with Scottish baronial.

At a time when women artists were still scorned upon, Merton and Annie were keen collectors.

MS: Gosh, now that's quite a dramatic painting, Duncan.

Yeah, that's Evelyn De Morgan's Aurora Triumphans.

Now, you say De Morgan - is that any connection to William De Morgan?

Yes, that's his wife, who painted this somewhat in secret, as her family didn't approve of her being an artist.

Really?

Well it was sold to the Russell-Coteses as a Burne-Jones.

Oh.

The pre-Raphaelite follower Burne-Jones, to the point where an unscrupulous dealer altered the signature to be Burne-Jones's, as you can see there in the corner on the rock.

Unfortunately in terms of value of course, probably a lot less than a Burne-Jones, but visually I think it's striking.

Oh, yeah, and it's one of our best-selling postcards as well.

I'm sure it is.

I might even get one myself.

Please do!

VO: Merton and Annie also collected furniture, and Duncan's keen to show Mark one piece in particular that once belonged to an emperor.

And this is Napoleon's bureau.

Oh, now, tell me about this then.

We've had this completely restored, but this is exactly where Merton had it, and presumably Merton used to use it.

Sit down and imagine himself controlling half of Europe!

It's very, very subtle for the former emperor of France, isn't it?

I'm sure that in the Champs-Elysees he would have used something much grander.

It is one of our treasures.

It is certainly one of your treasures, and I can say that I've touched it, if that's alright.

That's fine, that's fine.

VO: Merton and Annie died within a year of each other in the early 1920s, leaving the house and many of its treasures to the people of Bournemouth as a museum and art gallery for all to enjoy.

Along the Bournemouth seafront, Margie's arrived at her second shop du jour.

MC: What a lovely shop.

DEALER: Pleased to meet you.

MC: And you too.

Margie Cooper.

DEALER: My name's Bonnie.

VO: Perhaps this emporium will tempt our hard-to-please expert.

Oh, little nodding figures.

So he's doing what all men do, look, he's nodding his head that way.

She's going "oh yes I will".

"Oh no you won't."

VO: Hmm, can't make up their minds - that reminds me of someone.

Could a bit of glass cut it, Margie?

MC: I think being a set of three is always nice.

Yeah, God, they're nice.

I think they call it ice glass.

Hm, quite attractive.

Well, very attractive.

Oh, isn't that nice, with the sort of cranberry snake.

VO: Careful Bonnie, Margie's coiled and ready to pounce.

Well, I was sort of hoping for about 50 for the set, but there's possibly a little room for maneuver.

40 for the set is very... DEALER: quite a good price.

MC: It does seem OK, £40.

Yes, that's the lowest I can go to, I'm afraid.

Sorry.

Sure, I'm sure.

Would 38 seal it, to take the commission off, if the worst comes to the worst?

I'm feeling sorry for you now, so yes!

MC: Done.

DEALER: OK. VO: Signed and sealed - that's Margie's last purchase of the day.

And as the sun sets over Bournemouth, it's night-night time for our dear experts.

It's day two, and Mark and Margie are up with the lark and digging for worms.

Margie, how did you find buying yesterday?

I'm quite pleased.

Look, nobody's listening, are you gonna tell me?

No, of course I'm not gonna tell you.

You'll have to wait.

Oh, are you teasing me?

No, I am tease... You're playing with my emotions.

I am playing with your emotions.

VO: Yesterday, Margie spent £93 on two lots - the Doulton water filter with classical figures, and a set of three Victorian ice glass dishes, leaving her with £99.06 to spend today.

Done.

VO: Whilst Mark spent a mere £13.50 on the 1950s tin plate rocking horse, leaving him with a grand total of £323.66 to splash about today.

Thanks again.

Bye-bye!

Bye.

VO: Bournemouth is just a hazy memory now as our dueling duo head west to Owermoigne where Mark will be dropping Margie off before heading to the shops in Dorchester.

I'll see you later, darling.

Bye.

Bye darling, see you.

Have one on me.

Bye!

VO: Margie has a date with a cider museum, while Mark has another pressing concern.

With only one item in the bag, he's traveling six miles up the road to spend all day shopping in Dorchester.

But Dorchester worries me, because it's a very expensive town, so I'll have to use all my charm.

VO: Oh, prepare yourselves, people of Dorchester.

This market town was immortalized as Casterbridge in Thomas Hardy's famous novel.

The mayor in the book auctioned off his wife and daughter.

I really do hope Mark will stick to antiques and collectables in his first shop today.

MS: David, now this is your shop.

DEALER: Yeah.

How long have you had it?

Er, just a week before Easter this year.

Oh, so it's quite new.

Yeah, it's going very well.

What on Earth are you doing opening a shop in a recession?

Because everybody told me not to.

Oh, you're one of those, are you?

Afraid so.

If you're told not to do it, you do it.

Red rag, absolutely.

VO: Ha-ha, so there could be some interesting negotiations ahead.

This is a nice early piece, this is I think Regency.

It's a little jar and cover, or urn and cover.

Very nicely cut in various decoration with a nice sort of faceted knob.

It might be a possibility, actually, it's a nice, elegant piece.

And I think somebody could...

I could see that on somebody's... sideboard filled with little sugared almonds or something like that.

VO: Do you like a vase for sugared almonds?

Well, what are those sitting pretty on the windowsill?

I seem to be in quite a glass mood today, because I've spotted these two slightly pink vases.

They are called a pair of lizard vases, and you can see the lizards here.

They look like very exaggerated newts to me.

I mean, they look very 1930s, don't they?

Look very art deco.

But when I look underneath, there's no wear on the base.

I think they're almost certainly French.

But they are rather fun, if you like newts.

VO: Well, who doesn't!

The cut glass urn is priced at £110 and the pair of newt vases at £50.

David, I do quite like these two pieces.

And again, I just think those newts are so funny.

What sort of price could you do those for me?

35.

35, that's quite reasonable, isn't it?

And what about this?

Oh, I'm not looking.

I'm not looking.

75.

Oh.

75, and 35, that's 110.

That's quite a lot, isn't it?

50.

50?

Yeah, for the jar and top.

And 25.

75.

Is it possible...

I mean, I know I'm being mean, it is just because of the damage.

Can we do the three for £60 cash?

65.

Go on then, 65.

Thank you very much, David.

VO: Two more lots in the bag, well done Mark.

Thank you very much.

Thanks a lot, I'll pop in and see you again when I'm in Dorchester.

Yeah, do.

VO: Now, we last saw Margie disappearing off to the Mill House Cider Museum.

Ah, Penny.

Hello, nice to meet you.

MC: Margie Cooper.

PENNY: Hiya.

So you're gonna show me around?

Yes, come through this way.

It's an interesting place.

VO: It's a family run establishment, and Penny, who's the daughter of one of the founders, is showing Margie around.

We've run the museum for about the last 20 years.

Right.

My father started it, he bought a press when he moved from London to Dorset, decided to make a little bit of cider, found it was nice, and the interest grew from there, really.

VO: Penny's father and uncle have collected 53 pieces of machinery, some hundreds of years old, from all over the West Country to form the museum.

This is a horse-drawn crusher.

And how old is it?

Early 19th century.

Yeah.

So the apples would have been in the stone trough around the edge here, and the horse would have pulled round, pulling this big stone wheel round, crushing the apples all in the trough there.

So what kind of horse would go in there?

A lot of the time it was the more elderly ones, because they didn't mind walking round in circles for hours on end.

So some old nag?

Yes.

You're welcome to... Shall I have a go?

Well, I can't budge it.

But it makes you appreciate how strong all the horses used to have to be.

Yeah, well they have got four legs, I've only got two.

VO: Once the apples were crushed, then they would need to be pressed.

PENNY: OK, so this is one of our oldest presses we've got up here, about 1750.

And you can see this one's actually got a wooden screw on the top.

Like a big corkscrew.

Yes.

Then the apple pulp that we've already crushed there...

Goes on here.

Yeah, and it'd be wrapped in layers of straw to keep it all together and filter the juice out.

That gets squashed, juice comes out the bottom.

So it's a very simple process, really.

VO: Some of the machines are just too impractical to use now, but the museum has a few examples that are in good enough working order to demonstrate how cider was made the old fashioned way.

This is our early 19th century scratter mill, there's actually iron cogs in the top of there that grip the apples, crush them up and push them down the bottom.

And you can have a go at turning the handle if you'd like to.

Oh, terrific.

MC: Right, forward?

PENNY: Forwards, yep.

Oh, it's easy.

(THEY CHUCKLE) (TUMBLING) MC: Listen.

PENNY: When the apples are soft, it's really good.

If you've got hard apples in there, it's really hard.

It's not as bad as I thought.

Oh!

VO: I expect those apples are well and truly crushed by now, so time for a bit of pressing.

So now this is basically a slightly smaller version of the big wood screw press we were looking at in there.

And you can see this is us building up our layers of straw.

VO: The pulp is layered into straw which is then folded over to make a kind of parcel, traditionally called a cheese.

And then in a minute we'll bring this down, squash the whole lot down and you'll see the juice come out.

I can't believe how much work it is!

Yeah, very physical, very physical.

So now there's gonna be one person on each of the iron screws up there, and they literally just turn them round...

I've noticed there's no fat men here!

No, no, it does keep you very fit!

Even if they do drink a lot of cider.

It's really coming down now.

Yeah, it really starts to come out.

VO: To make this juice into cider, it would need to be barreled for the whole winter, allowing it to ferment.

But no such luck for Margie today!

Would you like to have a little taste of some juice?

Oh, I'd love to.

I'll just hold it under here.

Wahey!

It's like syrup, nectar.

Cheers!

VO: Glad to see you sensibly stuck to the apple juice there, Margie.

There's shopping to be done and you'll need all your wits about you!

In Dorchester, Mark's already on to his second shop of the day - the De Danann Antiques Centre - a large emporium housing the wares of about 20 dealers.

MS: Hello.

DEALER: Hello.

Can I have a look round?

By all means.

Thank you, I'll see you later.

VO: Our Mark's got nearly £260 burning a hole in his pocket - so surely he'll find something to please him.

Do you think I've lost the plot?

Cuz I do.

I'm rapidly losing the will to live, here.

There's going to be something here for me, I know it, I can feel it.

But where?

VO: Oh, he's spotted something, somehow.

Do be careful, don't hurt yourself on my part.

It's Chinese lacquerware.

Can you see these sort of winged creatures, I suppose on the front here.

There's quite a bit of wear on here, it's quite nice, reasonably quality to the carving, you've got a Greek key design going round here, all carved round the back as well.

And...

It must be fairly strong, cuz it's taking my weight.

But have a guess what the price is.

VO: £80?

No.

VO: £100?

No, much higher than that.

You'll have to think a lot higher at home than that, because I think I'm sitting on £145.

I can't see it at that, really.

VO: Mark's up for some tough negotiation, but the dealer isn't in today, so center owner John gets on the blower.

Hello, it's John, from the center.

Could you give us a call back soon as you can, please?

MS: Answerphone.

JOHN: Thank you.

VO: I hope that dealer phones you back soon, Mark... ..because Margie's hot on your heels.

Although with only two lots for the auction so far, she's feeling the pressure.

Just getting a bit panicky.

Cuz I'm... Time is running out.

VO: Time has run out for the owner of the Chinese stool too, so center owner John has decided to step in.

I do want to buy something here, cuz you've all been so lovely.

You couldn't take a gamble at 50, could you?

55.

You see, they always say that!

You know they do.

VO: Come on, Mark - that's £85 off the asking price!

Alright, 50 quid, there you go, I'll take the gamble.

I'm doing it.

Listen, thanks so much.

I don't care what happens, I like it.

VO: The deal done just in time.

Here comes Margie.

Oh no.

Oh no!

(CHUCKLES) Look, will you go?

Cuz I'm running out of time.

What do you mean, will I go?

I've got no time, I'm panicking.

I've hardly seen you all day.

Panic, panic, panic.

I've hardly seen you all day.

I thought you might be missing me.

No, not at all.

Really?

Not one moment.

Well, that was annoying.

Bumping into His Nibs.

Time's up!

Very funny.

Very funny.

VO: Don't worry Margie, your nemesis is leaving the premises.

Better get on with some hard browsing.

I like that.

That's a little bamboo magazine rack, which is rather small, which makes it rather nice.

It's a nice size, isn't it?

I like the size of it.

And you've got this Japanese decoration, and the price is £48, and the trade is £3 off it, which is £45, so it would have to be a lot cheaper than that if I was to buy it.

VO: The magazine rack, or Canterbury as they're known, is one to bear in mind.

Now, is anything else calling her?

So it's a flute.

These things are very expensive to buy... ..and unlike a violin and stuff, you can't really damage a flute, so it could be used again, couldn't it?

(NOTE PLAYS) It's working!

I like it even more now.

(NOTE PLAYS) Oh, it's getting really good.

VO: Don't give up the day job, Margie.

So the bamboo magazine stand is £45 and the flute is £40 - can the dealer do a good price?

If I have the two, how... How do you feel about that?

I'm nowhere near that.

I was thinking of... ..£20 for the rack, and 25 for the flute, that's what I was thinking of.

Now, is that pushing you too hard?

Yeah, OK, so we're down to 55, which is very kind of you.

And I've said 45.

Can we meet in the middle, and do the deal?

I'd much rather be facing you to do this, but if we can say 50 for the two, I'd be very pleased to go ahead.

And it is cash.

You're gonna go for it?

Ah, that's very sweet.

Great stuff, so I can go ahead with the lady here?

Oh, gosh.

£50 for the two, that's got to be alright, hasn't it?

VO: Two more items successfully bought, and Margie's shopping is done and dusted.

Right, well thank you very much indeed.

Fantastic, and you.

VO: A lot of kissing going on.

Across Dorchester, Mark's come to his very last shop of the day, a large warehouse filled with all things vintage and unusual.

That's rather nice, there, isn't it?

It's the sort of thing Margie would go for.

VO: Oh, you meanie.

Talking of which, you've still got over £200 waiting to be spent.

Get a move on!

Perhaps proprietors Dean and Martin can dig something out to tempt you, Mark.

Now, what have we got in here?

Anything of interest?

The old pinball machine there... No.

..that's a treasure.

That looks very interesting.

You know me, I like a challenge.

And my goodness, this is a challenge.

Because first of all, I've never, ever bought or thought of buying a pinball machine.

VO: Actually Mark, this is a vintage pachinko machine, most likely from the 1970s - similar to pinball but you play it without flippers and many more balls.

It's still a phenomenally popular game in Japan, making an annual turnover double that of the entire Japanese car industry.

There is something intriguing about it, and I just want a bit of fun, you know.

Like Cyndi Lauper, I just want to have a bit of fun.

And for all I know, this could be the rarest model of Japanese pinball machine, and it could be worth £1,000.

On the other hand, it could be the most common, and it worth about £30-40.

VO: Brace yourself - the machine's ticket price is a hefty £300.

How much am I gonna have to pay for this?

As little as possible of course, cuz I don't know what it's worth, but let's see.

Come on my journey with me, and give me a round of applause if I get it, alright?

VO: I'm not sure if applause is appropriate, so will Dean and Martin strike a wizard deal?

145, Mark, come on.

You couldn't go to 130?

Cut the deal at 140, and we're done.

Oh, he's a hard man!

What am I gonna do?

I'm mad!

I mean, I don't know anything about it, but I just think it's so retro, isn't it?

I think I'm crazy, but you only live life once, don't you?

And I'm going to make a massive profit on this at £140.

Thank you very much indeed.

Cheers.

Where's the money?

(THEY LAUGH) VO: He's either utterly foolhardy or devastatingly clever, I don't know which.

Listen, thanks a lot.

Thanks very much.

Really good to meet you.

Nice to do business with you.

Wish me luck, won't you?

VO: So with the last purchase in the bag, it's time for our dear experts to reveal to each other what they've bought.

Oh!

Oh, very nice.

VO: First up - Mark's Chinese stool, or is it?

Is it a stool or a table?

It's a...

It's a... A little table.

I think it is a table, yeah.

I sat on it and it takes my weight, so it's quite strong.

I love it.

The boy's done well.

How much?

£50.

Oh, fine.

Is that a hit?

It's a hit.

Right, I'll open my treasure chest.

Yes, quite.

Here it comes.

Ooh!

MS: Oh.

MC: A little... Oh, I think that's rather sweet, a little sort of Canterbury.

It's a small magazine rack.

Age?

About the same as you, 1900, maybe a little earlier.

1890.

Yeah, I like it, Margie.

Did you pay a lot?

25.

Oh, I think that's very reasonable.

VO: Will Margie be charmed by Mark's glass urn?

MS: But I just thought, anybody with a nice rectory or a nice Georgian house would love that for their sideboard.

I really like it.

And I thought it was very you, actually.

Very elegant.

Yeah, that's what I meant!

Oh, darling!

How much?

£35.

Yeah, it's OK, isn't it?

Well I thought maybe 50-55, on a good day.

(GLASS RINGS) VO: That rang a bell - more glass now, Margie's this time.

Oh, I love the snake.

Where did you get that from?

And it's ice glass, I thought it was crizzle, but it's not.

No, it's lovely to have three, because that would grace anyone's dining table.

And that snake is very nicely decorated.

It's cranberry, that, isn't it?

Probably.

What did you pay?

MC: Are you ready?

MS: Yeah.

MC: £38.

MS: For the three?

MC: Yeah.

MS: Oh, well that's ridiculous.

And I can see those making £100.

MC: (GASPS) Unless they get broken before we get to the sale.

VO: Do I sense the old green-eyed monster there, Mark?

Those are really nice.

And I thought they were quite... No damage.

..nicely modeled, and there's quite a quirky charm to the faces of the newts.

MC: We're doing quite well today.

MS: I hope so.

MC: Yeah.

So how much?

£30 for the pair.

Oh, golly gee.

It's got to be a profit, hasn't it?

I hope so.

VO: Can Margie whistle up some enthusiasm for her next item?

Even to have on a table as decoration... Do you know, so many of my friends in Brighton have got one of these on their table as decoration(!)

MC: Are you joking?

I'm just saying, if you don't want to play it...

I've put it all together and we've had a bit of a blow on it.

Have you, you've had a blow on it?

I've had a blow on it to make sure it's all working.

£25.

Bargain.

Right, job done.

VO: Now, don't get too smug there, Mark.

MC: (LAUGHS) Oh!

MS: It's a seesaw, isn't it?

MC: Oh, that's so sweet.

I thought it was such a lovely piece of vintage.

£10.

A little bit more.

MC: 12.

MS: £13.50.

You obviously drove a hard bargain!

MC: How about that?

MS: Let me look.

It's a water filter, as you know.

MS: I know what it is.

MC: There you go.

1880-ish.

Yes, I love the chil... Are they satyrs, or....?

It's classical, isn't it?

It's like kids and cherubs.

Oh, it's rather sweet, actually.

I thought this was really quite a nice thing, and it had a price tag of 160 on it.

Gosh, that's a lot, isn't it?

MC: Yeah.

MS: Lovely quality.

Yeah.

55.

Oh gosh, that sounds terribly reasonable.

Do you know, it ought to make £100-120.

MS: It's worth that.

MC: Yeah.

Are you ready for this, Margie?

I am ready.

VO: I don't think you are, Margie.

Oh my gosh.

VO: Told you.

It's a wall-mounted pinball machine from the '50s.

MC: Oh my goodness.

MS: Japanese.

And does it work?

I haven't the faintest idea - we can't plug it in.

Don't you think it's fabulous?

Well, yeah, it is.

It's very interesting.

Well, tell me how much, first and then I'll give you my...

I don't want to tell you.

Oh, you've paid a lot?

If I say it quick, it might not sound bad - £140.

MS: It's a gamble, isn't it?

MC: But do you know the market?

MS: No.

MC: No, neither do I. I can't wait for the auction.

No, I can't.

I really can't wait.

I tell you what, we've really got some... Yeah, strange.

..ridiculous items, haven't we?

VO: So come on then, what do they really think?

The Doulton water filter - I didn't bring it up, but I did notice a few chips around the rim.

I don't know if there's much of a profit in that.

His Chinese little table, that's OK, but not fantastic quality, actually.

Maybe he's in for £20-30 on that.

I'm really pleased with mine.

Yeah, I'd rather have my lots than his, but I would say that, wouldn't I?

VO: The fourth leg of this road trip began in the village of Burley, Hampshire and will conclude at the auction in Sherborne, Dorset.

Margie's been the loser so far this week, but Mark's keeping her spirits up.

MS: What can go wrong?

Quite a lot, actually.

VO: Margie Cooper spent exactly £143 on four auction lots, including a set of three ice glass comport dishes, a small bamboo Canterbury, and a silver-plated flute.

VO: Whereas Mark Stacey pushed the boat out by spending £268.50 on five auction lots including a vintage Japanese pachinko machine, a pair of art deco style pink vases and an Oriental stool.

Am I taking a long boat to China?

I don't know.

VO: Charterhouse Auction House is the theater of dreams today - so what does our auctioneer Richard Bromell make of our experts' choices?

The Japanese pinball machine, yeah, there's an awful lot of plastic in it.

It's not gonna be dear, but someone will enjoy it.

The chinoiserie decorated Canterbury, great fun, I mean, where do you put your Country Life, Fox and Hounds or whatever?

This is in pretty good shape, and I think there'll be a reasonable profit on that, I think it's a very good usable item.

VO: Settle down everyone - it's time for the auction to begin!

I don't want to even look, Margie, I really don't.

Be brave.

VO: Margie's first under the hammer with her Doulton water filter.

Straight in at £20, I have you at £20.

Five.

30... five.

40... five.

50.

60.

£60 the third row.

Oh, here we are, Margie.

£60 seated, the third row.

Selling this time, at 60, at 60.

I think that was very good.

VO: Yes, it's a profit but after the auction house takes off their commission, only a small one.

I thought it was gonna go for about 80-90.

Yeah, well think again.

VO: Both experts have gambled on glass, so let's see how Mark's urn gets on.

And I'm straight in here at £20.

20... five.

30... five.

40... five.

50.

60.

70.

£70 away now, against the internet at £70 I have.

Against the internet, selling, going away, at £70 this time, at 70.

MS: Doubled its money.

MC: Fantastic.

Well, it's a reasonable start.

VO: Looks like it paid off - a solid profit for Mark!

Cheered you up.

It's doubled my money, yeah, I'm pleased.

VO: Now, will anyone succumb to the temptations of that cranberry snake?

40... five.

50.

60.

£60 I have now.

70.

80.

90.

Done going, selling away this time at 90.

MC: Oh great.

RICHARD: At 90.

MC: Great stuff.

MS: I was close.

I was close.

I said 100.

You're spot on.

VO: An excellent profit for Margie - her best this week so far!

That's my best one yet.

50, 60, 70, yeah.

Oh, I needed it.

VO: Yes, you guessed it - more glass.

Mark's this time.

20... five.

30.

£30 I have it away now, £30.

At £30 away now, five.

40.

At £40 now.

You're out at the back at £40.

Out at the back, here selling, going away, this time at £40, at 40.

(GAVEL) MC: Can't be bad.

Disappointing, disappointing.

VO: It's a profit, but Mark clearly hoped for more.

I'm disappointed with those.

Are you?

I would have liked those to have done a bit more.

VO: Anyone want to learn the flute out there?

And I'm straight in at £15, here at £15.

20... five.

30... five.

At £35 against the internet there, at £35 I have.

Oh no.

40 at the back now, thank you.

£40 standing.

£40 standing, right at the back at £40.

Done, going, selling this time away at 40, at 40.

I thought that might have done a bit more actually, don't you?

VO: It certainly played to someone's tune!

It is, it's a profit, you're not used to those sort of things!

So be grateful, dear, don't get carried away.

VO: Cheeky!

Now, will Mark's pachinko machine hit the jackpot?

£50 the pinball machine, £50 and away for it, £50 the pinball machine.

50, £50 it's away, 30 to start it.

Oh no.

£30 away the pinball machine, and away.

Internet bid at 30.

£30 I have now.

35 I have, at 35.

New bidder at 35.

40... five.

At £45 I have.

At £45 I have now, £45.

50.

60.

At £60.

It's going up on the internet.

£60 away now.

Come on, a bit more.

It's the internet, you see.

Selling at 60, at 60.

MS: Oh, dear.

MC: Oh!

£80 down!

VO: It was a gamble Mark, and you lost.

Big time.

Well, I did it as a favor, I thought I want to come down to your level again.

You know, I want to give you a chance.

VO: Now, can Margie keep the momentum going with her bamboo Canterbury?

15, 20... five.

30... five.

At 35, 40... five.

50, £50 and I'm out.

You've doubled your money.

At £50, the internet is out, it's seated right there at 50, at 50.

Oh, well done, Margie.

50 quid, you've doubled your money.

I have, bless it.

VO: Margie is making steady, good profits.

Watch out, Mark.

You've had a very good day, haven't you?

Are you pleased?

I'm getting there.

You are getting there!

VO: Mark's tin horse is up next.

Straight in at £10, 10 at £10 the main bid, 10.

15.

20.

£20 and away now.

Well, it's a profit, I suppose.

Come on.

25.

Still on the net now at 25.

Ignore John's ding-donging.

At £25, at 25.

Internet bid at 25.

30.

Selling, going away at 30, at 30.

MS: Oh, well that's alright.

Cuz that's what I thought it would... That's what I hoped for.

MC: In the room as well.

MS: I hoped for £30.

VO: Straight past the finishing post, well done Mark.

Well, it's a small profit, I'm clawing my way back, but I've only got one lot to claw with.

VO: And it's you up next Mark, with the last lot of the day - the Chinese table, or stool, or whatever it is.

£50 and away for it, 50.

50.

30 for it.

30 bid, thank you.

At 30... five.

40... five.

50.

60, £60, the bid is standing there at the back, at £60.

I'm out now, standing in the room at £60.

Come on, where's the net?

Selling away at 60, at 60.

Nope.

Well, it didn't save me, did it?

VO: No, your dragons failed to set the auction alight.

Right.

Well, I'm glad to get out of here.

That's me done.

VO: You might feel a bit glum, Mark, and no surprise.

You've been well and truly beaten by Margie today!

Mark Stacey started this leg with £337.16 but his gamble on that pachinko machine meant he made a crushing loss of £55.30.

That leaves him with £281.86 to take forward tomorrow.

Whereas Margie Cooper began with £192.06 and made a profit of £53.80 after auction costs.

That makes her today's winner and gives her £245.86 to spend tomorrow.

Well done, Margie!

MC: Gosh, so it's all down to tomorrow.

MS: Tomorrow is another day.

VO: Join us tomorrow as Margie goes on the offensive.

Alright, 15 quid.

And stop whining.

VO: And Mark finds a friend for life.

Go to sleep, little froggie.

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