BBC TV: The Repair Shop

[dave walsh]

I doubt that the Company expected this level of success and maybe just took a chance on riding the up-cycling, virtue signalling wave. That is the paint everything in splodgy white/add a table lamp, mode but it's hardly the point. Other programs may or may not be produced to a higher standard but then those items often then go at prices beyond ordinary people's reach. To the individuals who bring things in, what happens is entirely like magic to them-they can't believe or understand the level of skill and ability, only see the outcome. Everything thing else is redundant! Someone commented on the tv process recently [somewhere] saying it was all a bit disingenuous but really, that's in the nature of a performance It's only really bad if nobody claps

Dave W

[Superscope]

An interesting range of opinions on here with regards to the Repair Shop.

How about setting up a Poll?

Not sure if one can be added here, or if a new Thread needs to be started.
Haven't worked out how to do it yet.

How about:

1. Interesting, Enjoyable and have learned at least something.
2. Interesting, Enjoyable but haven't really learned anything.
3. Interesting enough if I have nothing else to do or watch.
4. Don't particulary like it, but might watch again sometime later.
5. After watching, I find it annoying and irritating.



Incidently, there is a new Repair Shop Series coming.

It's called "The Repair Shop: Fixing Britain".

This will supposedly go into more depth on some of the items featured.
Whether that is only the historic aspect, the restoration aspect or both, I
don't know.



Ian

[Dave Moll]

Originally Posted by Superscope

Incidently, there is a new Repair Shop Series coming.

It's called "The Repair Shop: Fixing Britain".

This will supposedly go into more depth on some of the items featured.
Whether that is only the historic aspect, the restoration aspect or both, I
don't know.

Ian

There was a first series of this earlier in the year. The extra was about the historical context of the object - with, if anything, less of the restoration shown.

The main plus for me was that they dealt with each item sequentially, rather than the usual chopping and changing between projects. I hope that is retained for the second series.

[Phil G4SPZ]

I vote for option 1!

[PaulR]

Me too

[Superscope]

I would Vote for 1 as well.
I have picked up tips on the show regarding the Leather Work.


I think a proper Poll would be good, but it looks like only the
original Poster can set one up when the Thread is created.

Not sure if the Moderators could do it, or even allow it now.
Don't know what the rules are on this.

I think option 5 would be better as "Didn't find very interesting"


Ian

[G4XWDJim]

Option 1 also.

I’ve learnt about things I might have had only a little interest in previously, like musical instrument repair and leather work.

Jim

[slidertogrid]

I re-watched the radiogram episode last night and I think with hindsight maybe we judged the restoration or repair a bit harshly …
Now we know what a wreck it was there was little option other than to replace everything.
That or scrap it / strip it out and re use the cabinet.
I now ask myself what I would have done if I had been presented with it with a heartfelt plea to get it going? an appeal for the correct parts first I suppose followed by looking for a donor with maybe a rough cabinet, But as it has been mentioned if you cannot find an exact donor and the production company are on your back then what?
I think the criticism should be at how the story / repair was edited and presented. If the radio replacement reason hadn't just been skipped over and maybe if the parts had been "found" and not a complete donor gram in good condition trundled in and destroyed maybe we would have been less critical?

I mentioned before how TV programmes are very staged. I went to a couple of recordings of the Graham Norton show and what goes out on air is vey edited and different to what the audience in the studio sees.

I think a different version of the truth amended to suit the producers wishes is routine we can clearly see through it in some programmes which are obviously staged so this version of the repair shop could have easily been altered to suit. no-one would have been any the wiser .
Generally like others have said the viewers don't care. It started off a wreck and ended up working . Lovely. They wouldn't notice the differences or the fact that it was now "Trigger's broom"...
Generally I enjoy the programme and the repairs are excellent and sympathetic they generally don't over restore and leave signs of age intact.

What still puzzles me is why it apparently sounded poor and why they didn't demonstrate the radio? The repair did seem a little rushed and skimped over
compared to other more fairly in depth repairs featured.
Maybe when they realised what a wreck it was they would have been better to advise the owner that it was beyond saving and left it at that?

[Paul Stenning]

Remember that we are viewing the electrical equipment restorations with our experience, understanding and interest in the items and techniques. The other restorations we are viewing in much the same way as other viewers. There may be people on toy, leather, ceramic, furniture and clock restoration forums who are equally critical of those restorations for the same reasons as we are of our area.

[stevehertz]

I saw the restoration of a portable radio that a soldier had carried above his head as he waded through the waves to get on a boat on D-day to escape from the advancing Germans. As I recall it was a fine restoration and a lovely story. The leather lady even restored and 'painted' the handle and made a cracking job of it.

[Dave Moll]

Originally Posted by Paul Stenning

Remember that we are viewing the electrical equipment restorations with our experience, understanding and interest in the items and techniques. The other restorations we are viewing in much the same way as other viewers. There may be people on toy, leather, ceramic, furniture and clock restoration forums who are equally critical of those restorations for the same reasons as we are of our area.

Yes, I did wonder about that - though we do have horologists among our members.

[Junk Box Nick]

Originally Posted by Superscope

"The Repair Shop: Fixing Britain"

That's liable to run far longer than Peyton Place or The Archers.

Any experts here?

Actually, on second thoughts...

[Restoration73]

The show is an excellent advert for the Weald & Downlands Museum, currently
celebrating 50 years. Myself and 2 colleagues braved todays showers to visit and
although there is no public access to the barn it was nice that Dom and Suzie said
hello to us outside.
At Dulwich I remember Gerry fishing out a radiogram chassis to help someone out so I
assume sometimes a repair of this type was the only option.

[Radio Wrangler]

Remember all the long running adverts in PW, PE etc flogging radiogram chassis? I think the British isles contained more radiogram chassis than complete radiograms. They must have gone somewhere.... landfill I suppose? Did people really make their own cabinets to any extent, or upgrade less elaborate ones?

David

[turretslug]

That struck me too- maybe the radiogram cabinets ended up in all those pickets' braziers of the era....

[Phil G4SPZ]

I’ve been catching up with Series 5, which I now realise are all new to me, on iPlayer. I haven’t found the “home made amplifier” episode yet, but I did enjoy the restoration of the rather nice Art Deco Westminster chiming clock which I watched last night. However the editing/continuity let it down a bit. Steve Fletcher dismantled the clock’s three-train movement, but what he placed into the clock cleaning fluid was the movement from the Ansonia Regulator featured in a completely separate episode! I suppose that, to most video editors, the inside of one clock looks much the same as any other...

[Electronpusher0]

Originally Posted by Paul Stenning

Remember that we are viewing the electrical equipment restorations with our experience, understanding and interest in the items and techniques. The other restorations we are viewing in much the same way as other viewers. There may be people on toy, leather, ceramic, furniture and clock restoration forums who are equally critical of those restorations for the same reasons as we are of our area.

I think the following rather illustrates Paul's point

Originally Posted by Phil G4SPZ

Steve Fletcher dismantled the clock’s three-train movement, but what he placed into the clock cleaning fluid was the movement from the Ansonia Regulator featured in a completely separate episode! I suppose that, to most video editors, the inside of one clock looks much the same as any other...

Peter

[David Simpson]

From what I've learn't since this thread started, plus observations whilst watching some of the programs - the building(workshop/barn/whatever), normally as part of the Weald & Downlands Museum - was just errected as an empty representative of a centuries old rural building.
Draughts, dusty matter dropping from the roof, probably normally unheasted & damp at times - plus the shavings & sawdust from the woodworking experts, dust & material debris from the fabric & toy experts, and God knows what it emitted from the forge - - all would be an anathema to a horologist or painting restorer or ceramics restorer. Wake up folks - its all just a make-believe reality show. Its just not the clean dust-free working enviroment which those experts would normally work in. Its all an illusion to enhance the pathos behind the broken clock or damaged picture or whatever, then the handing over of the miraculusly restored item to the tearful recipient.
Next thing we'll hear - Mike Brewer is taking over as presenter.

Regards, David

[Superscope]

Well, I can't speak for the horologist, painting or ceramics restorations.

But, when I was at the Weald & Downlands Museum last year, I was having
a Chat with Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, better known as the
Teddy Bear Ladies, and they were most definately there in the Barn repairing
stuff.

Dominic Chinea was definately outside banging away on pieces of Metal.
His Workshop is just outside the main Barn on the left.
There were no Camera's about at the time, so they were clearly really working.

I would imagine they probably have Air conditioning in the Barn somewhere,
to keep the Dust down.


The Buildings at the Weald & Downlands Museum are Real Buildings, not representations.
They have been moved Brick by Brick or Wooden Panel by Wooden Panel from their
original locations, because they faced demolition.


Ian

[Radio Wrangler]

Good info, Ian.

Does it mean that certain fields of restoration have their providers and tools wheeled in just for the time of the programme making, while those others are residents?

David