28th Mar 2017, 9:48 pm | #21 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
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28th Mar 2017, 10:15 pm | #22 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
it was a genuine enough dial (no.21?), but from a more modern phone. Even the 70's repro phones managed a metal dial. You'd think a clockmaker would at least get the dial to return properly.
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Kevin Last edited by McMurdo; 28th Mar 2017 at 10:21 pm. |
28th Mar 2017, 11:46 pm | #23 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
Yes, I concur with most opinions. Although the programme was a modestly enjoyable watch, tonight's was more annoying than Monday's. These aren't repairs, they're full-blown restorations, surely? Of course, we don't get to know the real time spent on these jobs. And retro-fitting a century-old magic lantern projector with a modern electric light source, instead of repairing its original paraffin burner?
However, the programme is at least an attempt to expose the myth that repair is impossible, or 'if it's broke, buy a new one' which seems to be what 95% of the population believe nowadays. I hope we get to see at least one vintage radio. As a hint, there's a 'Dansette' in the background on some shots...
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29th Mar 2017, 7:39 am | #24 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
I have to say that I was disappointed with the telephone on so many levels. As has already been commented on it being a(n incomplete) bitsa, it had a much later dial - which I would have had no hesitation in replacing with a correct one (unlike the non-telephone-orientated horologist, I keep telephone spares). It also had a wrong earcap on the bell-receiver - looking as though it was from a handset 164. Then, I was totally unconvinced by his diagnosis of the problem with the dial return. Surely, it was the more usual situation of simply being clagged up with years of muck.
Finally, I found it quite amusing to hear him expressing fears of springs flying everywhere as he extracted the dial from the case - that aint going to happen until you start dismantling the dial (which he didn't appear to do). I feel it a shame they didn't involve someone with some knowledge of old telephones - who might also have given some advice on how to get it working as a telephone. They may then, however, have ended up in a bit of grey area regarding what is permissible to connect to the telephone network. <end of rant>
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29th Mar 2017, 7:50 pm | #25 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
I agree with Dave about the telephone dial - it was clearly from a much later phone, probably 70's or 80's.
Here's something that's been bothering me. Is it my eyes, or is the picture quality a bit strange? There's a kind of 'milkiness' or flatness to the highlights, and although the programme is in HD there is a slight lack of detail, particularly in the faces.
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31st Mar 2017, 10:20 pm | #26 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
Look what I spotted in the background ! (see screen grab pic)
Not sure if that's one of the 'Dancette' (sic) reproductions or a genuine Dansette Bermuda but did the true Bermuda have sloping sides ?!
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2nd Apr 2017, 9:51 pm | #27 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
Looks like set dressing, as does the collection of draw-knives under which it sits. Unless those draw-knives are actually taxidermy tools and the Dansette is due to be skinned.
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2nd Apr 2017, 10:18 pm | #28 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
The second item next Wednesday is a Wurlitzer Juke Box, a bit closer to Vintage Radio but 15 mins? [Radio Times].
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2nd Apr 2017, 11:13 pm | #29 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
Having watched and mainly enjoyed all the programmes so far, I must say that the title "The Repair Shop" is a bit of a misnomer. Most items featured to date have been substantial restorations, rather than repairs. We aren't told how many hours were spent on each item either, which I think is a major omission.
The fact that these cherished objects have lain unrepaired until now probably indicates that the owners were reluctant to pay the going rate for professional repair expertise, so the prospect of being on the telly and getting a free repair into the bargain must have been appealing!
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2nd Apr 2017, 11:27 pm | #30 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
I've now watched a couple of episodes and found them very disappointing, a real opportunity missed. There was no attempt to explain what the restorers were actually doing, and lots of extraneous 'human interest' stuff inserted. I wonder what the restorers themselves thought of the finished programmes.
I suspect the director had no real interest in what was going on and was afraid that the audience would be bored. It may have started off as a worthwhile project which was subsequently gutted during development. |
2nd Apr 2017, 11:54 pm | #31 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
I watched the first one on iPlayer, not had chance to see others. The first one was from my point of view a disappointment. Happy with the skill and finished restoration but it missed all the work involved which seems a repeated view in this thread.
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3rd Apr 2017, 9:06 am | #32 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
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3rd Apr 2017, 10:58 am | #33 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
If it's a Wurlitzer 412 I'll be interested!
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5th Apr 2017, 9:42 pm | #34 |
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Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop
Interestingly, it was a valved Wurlitzer. The expert repairer who did the work runs a specialist business in Essex, and has wasted no time in putting a screenshot from the Repair Shop programme on his home page!
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13th Mar 2018, 9:25 pm | #35 |
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Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)
Hi
Watched the Repair Shop on BBC2 Today and there was a nice Red Roberts R900 on a bench in the background |
16th Mar 2018, 8:25 pm | #36 |
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Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)
GEC radiogram on The Repair Shop on BBC 2 this evening. The only work covered was repairs to the motor and the tuning drive, and tripping the electrics the first time it was tried. He had a copy of the Trader sheet which he says he found online.
I would imagine a lot more work was done than we were shown. Many of the jobs featured are clearly many hours of painstaking work. The programme briefly covers three restorations in half an hour so obviously not much time for detail. Some of it is about the stories behind the items and what they mean to the owners, along with some brief history of the items. This radiogram was returned to a delighted owner with a 78 RPM copy of The Laughing Policeman, which she used to listen to with her sister (who is no longer with us) as a child. |
16th Mar 2018, 8:28 pm | #37 |
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Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)
Very nice. My grandfather had the radio version of this and I spent many happy hours listening to 40 metre AM amateur stations on it.
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16th Mar 2018, 8:44 pm | #38 |
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Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)
The outcome with the GEC radiogram was heartening- but, as so often, I found the lead-up a little odd. I almost wondered if the breaker-tripping bit was staged, a sort of "well, folks, this old electrical stuff can be a bit iffy" kind of thing. On the other hand, there was none of the "only the experienced and knowledgeable should attempt these sort of repairs" warning, which would have been both reasonable and expected in the current climate as vintage radios are still quite commonplace to encounter in many attics etc. as keepsakes.
It was a shame we didn't get just a few seconds of chassis-fettling, with accompanying overview as to how old components need to be checked/replaced for reliabilty/performance/safety. No great detail needed, just convey to the audience that it's not the glib work of a moment to get half-century-plus electronics back in order, and "if you find something like this, please don't just plug it in". At least, I hope that "that cap" was changed! |
16th Mar 2018, 8:54 pm | #39 |
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Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)
I watched the prog and wanted to scream that it was a radiogram NOT a gramophone every time the voice over called it that,when it was first mentioned I expected a wind up jobby. I also noticed that the p u was replaced with what looked like a BSR mono cartridge so I don't think they fettled the original p u.
I have to say that I hate that damn record I have never liked it even as a kid |
16th Mar 2018, 10:12 pm | #40 |
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Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)
I saw that programme tonight too. When he was about to power it up, I remarked to my wife that I was surprised he wasn't using a series lamp limiter before powering up for what seemed to be the first time: it might have saved him tripping the building's circuit breakers!
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