0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to The Repair Shop,
0:00:03 > 0:00:06where cherished family heirlooms are brought back to life...
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Anything can happen. This is the workshop of dreams.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12..home to furniture restorer Jay Blades.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Nowadays, things are not built to last,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17so we've become part of this throwaway culture.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20It's all about preserving and restoring.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22We bring the old back to new.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Working alongside Jay
0:00:24 > 0:00:26will be some of the country's leading craftspeople...
0:00:26 > 0:00:28I like making things with my hands.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32I love to see how things work and I want to know how things work.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Whether it's a Rembrandt or somebody's family piece,
0:00:35 > 0:00:38every painting deserves the same.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41..each bringing their own unique set of skills.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43You're about to witness some magic.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46They will resurrect, revive...
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Oh, yes!
0:00:48 > 0:00:51..and rejuvenate treasured possessions
0:00:51 > 0:00:55and irreplaceable pieces of family history...
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Oh, my goodness me! It looks like it's new!
0:00:58 > 0:01:00..bringing both the objects...
0:01:00 > 0:01:02- SHE GASPS - Oh, wow!
0:01:02 > 0:01:06..and the memories that they hold back to life.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Oh, thank you. Oh!
0:01:14 > 0:01:16In the Repair Shop today,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20clockmaker Steve Fletcher feels the pressure,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23as he gets to grips with a broken barometer.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26This is the bit that I haven't been looking forward to.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30When the glass breaks - if it does - it's a complete and utter disaster.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32While furniture restorer Will Kirk
0:01:32 > 0:01:37is entrusted with a pair of oars that could have a hidden past.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Is it going away or is it staying? To me, it looks like it's...
0:01:40 > 0:01:43Hold on. You want to not rub too hard.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49First in today is Rachael Dickens,
0:01:49 > 0:01:51whose item has already been received
0:01:51 > 0:01:54by Jay and electronics expert Geoff Harvey.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57- Hello, how are we doing? You all right?- I'm Geoff.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00- Very nice to meet you.- Hi, Geoff. - Hi, there.- This must be yours then.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04- Yes, it is.- It's a pinball machine. OK. It's in bits then.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09Yes, so this bit's come off, but it's all there.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12I don't know if it can be repaired, but it would be great if it could.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15- OK.- I got it in a junk shop in Margate.- OK.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20And I got it from a guy who said he'd bought loads from Dreamland.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23- So, Dreamland, remind me.- It's a big sort of arcade in Margate.- OK.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26So, I spent a lot of time in Margate on the arcades,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29- when I should have been doing my A levels!- OK.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33So, it does have a big nostalgic quality for me.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35- Did you pass the A levels? - I did. Only just!
0:02:35 > 0:02:37- So, that's all right, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:02:41 > 0:02:46Until now, Rachael from Herne Bay had managed to find an unusual use
0:02:46 > 0:02:48for her poorly pinball machine.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52So, here's my lovely pinball machine, now part of my kitchen.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55It's really good as part of the kitchen, with this glass on top.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59It's a nice cool surface, good for making pastry on, actually.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01It works really well and I love having it here,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04but the opportunity to get it fixed
0:03:04 > 0:03:07is one I'd happily take the kitchen apart.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11It's such a beautiful thing, it really should be restored.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14I feel bad that it's sitting here, not working.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21- How much did you pay for it? - I paid £150 for it, yeah.- Yeah.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- So, it wasn't very much.- No.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26But it just so happened my mum, who died last June,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29had given me some money before she died in March,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32and I was out shopping for stuff and I was meant to be buying,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- you know, sensible things.- Yeah. - So, I saw the pinball machine
0:03:35 > 0:03:37and thought, "Well, I'm allowed to have it
0:03:37 > 0:03:39"because Mum's given me this extra money,"
0:03:39 > 0:03:41so, yeah, that's how I got to get it.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44So, it's precious for me, from that point of view.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46So, what do you reckon? Can you fix this?
0:03:46 > 0:03:48I'll have to have a little look at its innards.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51- Put my glasses on, makes me look more intelligent.- Why not?
0:03:51 > 0:03:53- Do you mind if I do a little operation?- No.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56- A little surgery, just to have a quick look.- Yes.- And inside...- Ooh.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- It all lifts up, you see.- Oh, wow!
0:04:00 > 0:04:05Dusty and dirty. It looks all there to my professional eye.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- So, it's a good one?- I like all this, in the shape of a...
0:04:08 > 0:04:10- Do they light up?- They light up
0:04:10 > 0:04:13and go out as you hit them, your strikes.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15So, the main thing is, can it be fixed?
0:04:15 > 0:04:18A bit like Frankenstein's monster, once I've plugged in the electrics,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20- we can see.- Oh, I can't wait. I hope you can do it.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22I hope so as well, actually.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- I tell you what, if you leave it with us...- OK, brilliant.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- We'll get back to you. - Cheers, thank you.- Thank you.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32- Very lovely to meet you and hope to see you soon. Bye-bye.- Bye.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Pinball machines, in general, are just a beautiful, classic,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38iconic piece of our seaside history
0:04:38 > 0:04:40and I don't want it to be made brand-new,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43like I don't want new repro bits and pieces.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45I'd rather keep it as original as possible.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49But, yeah, I'm feeling a little bit nervous, but mostly excited.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53Geoff, what's the key thing you've got to do to get this running?
0:04:53 > 0:04:57Initially, basically, plug it in, get the back box all plugged in,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59- put it in the mains and see what goes.- Yeah.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- Then we can see how ill the patient is.- OK.- All right.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06First step, sort the legs out as well, but, yeah...
0:05:06 > 0:05:09- What, the legs from wobbling like that?- Well, it's got the wrong...
0:05:09 > 0:05:11So, they've cut them down a bit to make it flat,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13cos it was being used as a table,
0:05:13 > 0:05:17- so I need to put new legs and reseat all these, where they fit.- Ah, yeah.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20That will make it look more like a pinball machine, so...
0:05:20 > 0:05:23- OK, so we've got to get this over to your bench then.- Yes, please.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- Come on then.- Are you feeling strong?- It's not that heavy, is it?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29- It's not too bad.- It's not too bad! - It's character-building.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30Let's have a... Oh, that's not too bad.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38All looks there. Reasonably clean and tidy, a bit dusty.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40But the thing I am worried about is this motor here,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42which look a little bit burnt-out.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44That's the only thing that would be difficult
0:05:44 > 0:05:47cos that's the heart of the machine. It does all the controlling.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Geoff's first task is to install new legs,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54which need to be longer at one end of the machine.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56This will create a tilt,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00which is needed for the ball to naturally roll towards the player.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Rachael had it flat, as a piece of furniture.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06This is how God intended it, if God was going to make a pinball machine.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Hopefully, this darling will live to play again. I very much hope so.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17From treasured toys in need of emergency surgery
0:06:17 > 0:06:20to ceramics that have seen better days,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23our experts in the Repair Shop are determined
0:06:23 > 0:06:25to put the pieces back together.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Next to arrive is Ash Phelps from East Sussex,
0:06:36 > 0:06:38with a much-loved family heirloom.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- Hello.- Hello.- Hello.- How are you? - Very good, how are you?
0:06:42 > 0:06:44- I'm good, thank you. - What have we got here then?
0:06:44 > 0:06:45We've got a barometer in here.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49He's hoping horologist Steve Fletcher will be able
0:06:49 > 0:06:53to turn his hand to this antique weather instrument.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55So, I inherited this from my grandparents.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59It's the one item I've got that really symbolises them
0:06:59 > 0:07:01and the relationship I had with them.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04But for as long as myself and my mum remember,
0:07:04 > 0:07:09- it's not been working. See, it always points to "Changeable".- Yeah.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Which I guess isn't far from the truth in the UK.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- Maybe it IS working, I don't know, but...- Yeah!
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- Steve, this is one for you. - Yeah.- What do you reckon?
0:07:17 > 0:07:20I think it's sort of 1920s, '30s.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24More often than not, the mechanism is just seized up,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26so that's completely seized up,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29so if that's anything like the mechanism,
0:07:29 > 0:07:31maybe that is the reason why it's stopped.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36Leave it with me and I will do my best to get it working.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38- Thank you very much.- Thank you. - Take care.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41'Even though it hasn't been working all these years,'
0:07:41 > 0:07:43it's still a really important piece for me.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44I was very close to my grandparents
0:07:44 > 0:07:47and it's nice to have that to remember them by.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49- Have you worked on one before? - Yeah, loads of times.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- There you go. I trust you. It's all you then.- OK.- See you in a bit.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Early barometers from the 18th century
0:07:58 > 0:08:00were symbols of affluence
0:08:00 > 0:08:03and must-have items for the aristocracy.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Aneroid barometers, like Ash's, were invented in 1840.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11They used a series of springs, chains and dials
0:08:11 > 0:08:14attached to a vacuum and were a cheaper and safer alternative
0:08:14 > 0:08:20to their predecessors that had used expensive and highly toxic mercury.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Everything looks as if it's working. It's not seized up.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27I've got to check and see whether the movement is working
0:08:27 > 0:08:28under pressure or not.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30And Steve has a low-tech trick
0:08:30 > 0:08:34to test whether it's the barometer's actual mechanism that's faulty.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38I've put it into this bag so that I can force some pressure
0:08:38 > 0:08:41onto the mechanism and see whether there's any movement in the hand.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44What I'm actually doing is replicating
0:08:44 > 0:08:46an increase in atmospheric pressure.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50You can see there is some movement there if I put some pressure on.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51It still doesn't explain
0:08:51 > 0:08:55exactly why the hand has stayed still for decades.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Even though the mechanism seems to be working,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01fastidious Steve is going to strip it down
0:09:01 > 0:09:04and clean it thoroughly, just to make sure.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08More difficult is going to be getting the setting nut moving.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12This is really, really seized up and that worries me to death,
0:09:12 > 0:09:14moving that, because they just break,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16and that happens all the time.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23At the Repair Shop,
0:09:23 > 0:09:25the team has the tools and the talent
0:09:25 > 0:09:27to deal with any restoration challenge,
0:09:27 > 0:09:32no matter how big, how small, how old or how new.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37Geoff's task today is to revive a retro gaming machine,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41but sometimes, even a pinball wizard needs a helping hand.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- Will, just the man I want to see. - How can I help?
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- It's your woodworking skills I'd appreciate, actually.- Ah, my skills.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- Your skills, which I know you have and I definitely haven't.- Right.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Basically, the back box sits on top of here,
0:09:52 > 0:09:54but when they turned it into a piece of furniture,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57they removed a little wooden plinth which it sits on.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02So, basically, I'm after a simple wooden construction around here.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06- I'll make a deal with you.- Yeah. - Deal is, if I make that for you...
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- Yeah.- ..I am the first person to play on this when it's fixed.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12I'll have to have some test games on it to see if it works,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- but you can have the first proper game.- I mean in the workshop,
0:10:15 > 0:10:17cos I know Jay loves getting in there.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19I'm going to avoid him. He's not allowed to go near it.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- I have first go.- You'll have the first proper game.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Really helpful he's doing that.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Nice sense of comradeship here, which is good.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40That's nice. There we go, like that. Oh, that's gorgeous!
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- Oh, that's absolutely mwah! - Yeah?- Beautiful!
0:10:43 > 0:10:44That's the most beautiful thing I've seen
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- since I looked in the mirror this morning.- Ah!
0:10:49 > 0:10:53- Done.- You are a genius, officially, thank you. Brilliant.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- Right, I'll see you for that first round.- Yeah, absolutely. Before Jay.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- Beautiful.- Jay's not allowed on.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07I suppose my fascination with all things pinball since I was 13,
0:11:07 > 0:11:09and it's become something's that part of my life
0:11:09 > 0:11:12and something that is both something practical and real
0:11:12 > 0:11:15and there's nothing like a first game
0:11:15 > 0:11:17on a machine that hasn't worked for years.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19It's actually incredibly exciting.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Even after 50 years, I still love it.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25So, I'm going to plug this in. It might go bang, it might not.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Who knows what will happen?
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Right, power and a plug.
0:11:32 > 0:11:38Ooh, that's good. Motor works. Ah, beautiful. That is very good news.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40I'm a happy little bunny.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41MOTOR WHIRRS
0:11:41 > 0:11:44That sounds cool. So, it's good, it's working then?
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- It's on its way to working. It's... - On its way? Look, it's got lights!
0:11:47 > 0:11:49What does it need to happen now?
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Lots of making things work properly,
0:11:51 > 0:11:55- cos all we've got is that there's power, the motor works.- Yeah.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Then start stripping it all down to make it look beautiful
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- and play well.- I'll leave you alone. - Thank you very much.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- All right, no problem. - Let's see what happens.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05MACHINE WHIRRS AND CLICKS
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Oh, there are some problems which will take a bit of sorting out.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Somewhere something's wrong.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18Unfortunately, the discovery of a power failure has no quick fix,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21and with the machine teeming with wires and connections,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23it could leave Geoff
0:12:23 > 0:12:26- with up to a mile's worth of cabling to check.- Hmm...
0:12:29 > 0:12:33The Repair Shop experts are accustomed to receiving objects
0:12:33 > 0:12:36in all sorts of wonderful shapes and sizes.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38The next is no exception,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42and it's accompanied by Caroline Frances and her daughter Jo.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Wow, now, that is nice! So, what's the history behind all of this?
0:12:48 > 0:12:53- My dad, Mum's husband, was a rower. - Yes.- That's him - J Nicholl.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56He rowed for Queens' College, Cambridge,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00and he was in the college first boat. It was the first time ever
0:13:00 > 0:13:03- that Queens' College had won the Marlow Regatta.- OK.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Afterwards, they're presented with these oars
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- and we've had them ever since, haven't we?- Yes.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11So, where's your husband now? Where's Dad now?
0:13:11 > 0:13:16- Well, unfortunately, he was ill and he died when he was 48.- 48?
0:13:16 > 0:13:19So, how old was he when he was in these races then?
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Well, university age.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25But the really interesting thing about the fact he was a rower
0:13:25 > 0:13:28- is that he was disabled. - He was disabled?- Yeah.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31They found that he'd got a kind of muscular atrophy,
0:13:31 > 0:13:36- so his hands were slightly clenched, like that.- Closed.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39- Yeah.- Couldn't straighten his fingers out himself.- OK.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43- But he could do the rowing.- So, he was in an able-bodied boat?- Yes.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47- Yeah, he was a normal rower.- That's an achievement, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- It was wonderful for him that he could do the rowing.- Yeah.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53What can we do for you with regards to restoring them?
0:13:53 > 0:13:56- Cos, obviously, that's the part of history that you do not want...- No.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- No, not that. - You don't want that touched at all.
0:13:58 > 0:14:04- We're about to take some sandpaper. - You can see from the shafts...
0:14:04 > 0:14:07I don't know if you call them that on oars. I don't know what this is
0:14:07 > 0:14:09that's on here, but that's obviously aged quite a lot.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11- WILL:- It's almost as if something's dripped on there
0:14:11 > 0:14:13and something's reacted at some point.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17- Then, as you turn the oars over, on the back of the blades.- OK, yeah.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19We can definitely get rid of the peeling
0:14:19 > 0:14:22and looks like contaminated polish,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24- but definitely not touch anything on here.- No.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28But what I will do is do something with the other side of the blade.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30- The back of it.- Definitely, yeah.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32- CAROLINE:- It will be lovely to be able to pass them on
0:14:32 > 0:14:34in good condition to the grandchildren.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37And they'll be like they were when they were presented to my dad
0:14:37 > 0:14:41- in the first place.- Right. So, if you leave these with us, OK?- Yep.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- Yes.- OK.- Brilliant. Thank you very much. Thank you.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47We've always been really proud of my dad,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50knowing that he did this great thing when he was younger.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51They are him, really, for us.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54That's our main thing we've got of him that's carried on with us
0:14:54 > 0:14:58through the years and it'll carry on for grandchildren as well.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00So, out of all the things that have come in,
0:15:00 > 0:15:05this one's got strict instructions not to touch that end.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- Not to touch that end.- Simply because that's part of history.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10- Yeah, exactly. - Apart from the backside of it.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- You can touch the back, but not the front.- Not even look at the front.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16- Let's not even look at the front. - No, you can't look at the front.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19It's just this bit and then you've got to turn it over and that's it.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21- I'll take this one. - You leave me to take everything.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24That's correct, but this is a bit of history,
0:15:24 > 0:15:25so I'm going to help you out here.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- All right, you take that, I'll take this one.- OK.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Look at that! It's longer than the bench.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Before Will embarks on the oars' refurbishment,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37he makes a closer inspection.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42I'm just having an overall look at the oars.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45I can see how the varnish and the polish on the surface
0:15:45 > 0:15:48has reacted with something at some point.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51If you don't clean the surface off before you polish it,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54you can have all sorts of problems with reactions and everything else,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57so I think that is what's happened here.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58There are areas like here, where...
0:15:58 > 0:16:01You can't really see it too well right now,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04but I presume that's maybe a maker's mark,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06so I wouldn't want to lose any of that detail.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16Across the Repair Shop, Pinball Geoff has almost finished.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18So, what you going to do now?
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- You going to change all of this or is it...?- No, just give it a clean.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Everything comes off, a nice big polish,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and just the deluxe edition will be I've put flashing lights
0:16:26 > 0:16:29in the title strip as well, like they used to do in the '70s.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32The owner, Rachael, had purchased the rundown machine
0:16:32 > 0:16:36with money gifted from her mother, who died last year.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Having been relegated to a surface for rolling pastry,
0:16:39 > 0:16:42it's now close to springing back to life.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- So, once you've got it all up and running...- Mm.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- I know I've got to get a go on this, haven't I?- At some point.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- At some point?- Well... - Who's on first then? You?
0:16:51 > 0:16:53- Oh, that is a secret. - It's you, isn't it?
0:16:53 > 0:16:54I'll be doing some test games,
0:16:54 > 0:16:58- but the first public performance has already been promised.- To who?
0:16:58 > 0:17:02- Ooh, I'll have to kill you if I told you.- Oh, is it? All right.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18- Have you finally finished? - Yeah.- Right.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24There we go. There was a bit of a ding, wasn't it?
0:17:24 > 0:17:25- Oh!- Oh, I forgot to use the other one.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29I thought it was one button for both... OK, wait, OK. Hold on.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33- All right?- Oh, always having to compare to me!
0:17:33 > 0:17:38What? Oh, shocking! Shocking!
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Shocking! Ooh, ooh. Way!
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- Right through the machine. - ALL: Oh!
0:17:44 > 0:17:47At least I got 200. Is it working then? That's the main thing.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Yeah, absolutely. A few little tweaks but, yeah, absolutely.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53And given how it arrived, luck has been on my side.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56And also, the machine sort of responded well to treatment.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Not all patients do, but I can't wait to see her set up
0:17:59 > 0:18:02in the family home and not being used as a kitchen table.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05- THEY LAUGH - Well done, Geoff.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Having successfully powered up the pinball machine,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13it's time for Geoff to return it to Rachael's kitchen,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16where it will no longer be limited to pastry duties.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21- Hello, Rachael, how are you?- Hiya. How nice to see you again.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24- Lovely to see you too.- Hi. - Take a look.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27You pull that blanket and I'll pull this one. One, two, three.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Wow! The colour's come out so much better.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- It's never had lights on before. - It looks lovely.- It looks gorgeous.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39And I've put proper flashing lights in it,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42as it would have had in the '70s, which I had some left, luckily.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45- It looks wonderful! - And if you press the magic button...
0:18:45 > 0:18:47THE MACHINE'S SOUND EFFECTS BEGIN
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Oh, wow! Oh, wow!
0:18:50 > 0:18:52- SHE LAUGHS - Hey.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56The sounds when I first played it, really nostalgic,
0:18:56 > 0:18:59really reminded me of arcades when I was a kid and it was beautiful.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02It's a beautiful, beautiful thing, and he's done such a good job.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04It looks amazing. I love it!
0:19:04 > 0:19:07I don't know what to say, Geoff. I'm so pleased. Thank you so much!
0:19:07 > 0:19:10I really didn't know that it was going to come back
0:19:10 > 0:19:13so beautiful, as it has. It's really, really nice.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15It's really quite moving, actually.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17I'm really pleased with the way it came out.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19- It's lovely, yeah. It's a lovely machine.- Are you a bit emotional?
0:19:19 > 0:19:23I know. I love pinball machines, I really do!
0:19:23 > 0:19:26I'm surprised at how moved I am, really,
0:19:26 > 0:19:30but it's the last thing that my mum gave me, this pinball machine.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34It's lovely, and I'll always remember. And it's such a fun thing.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36She would have loved it. It's beautiful.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Back in the Repair Shop, Will is starting to cautiously clean
0:19:49 > 0:19:52a test area on the 70-year-old Cambridge oars.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Awfully quiet. That must mean you're concentrating quite a lot.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Yeah, I was just trying to clean out my ears, Jay.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03- Well done.- Filthy ears, mate. - THEY LAUGH
0:20:03 > 0:20:08- How are you getting on?- Not too bad. I have cleaned this patch here.
0:20:08 > 0:20:09Come on!
0:20:09 > 0:20:13That's the original surface, but not right back down to the wood.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- OK, right.- I don't know if you can see the writing here.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19- I think that writing is on top of the wood.- But isn't this quite...?
0:20:19 > 0:20:22It's quite dangerous, in a way,
0:20:22 > 0:20:24if you go to clean it and it all comes off.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28So, I've cleaned that with a cotton wool bud and some meths.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30I'm going to do the same thing really lightly
0:20:30 > 0:20:35- on maybe the letter "G"...- Yeah. - ..and see if that cleans up well.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37- Go on then, let's stop talking about it and see you do it.- What?
0:20:37 > 0:20:40- With you watching me? - Yeah, course, man!
0:20:40 > 0:20:44- I'm going to put the pressure on you.- So...letter "G".
0:20:44 > 0:20:46- Yes, please.- OK.- Go on, go on!
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Is it going away or is staying? To me, it looks like it's...
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Hold on. You want to not rub too hard.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03That's staying, that's staying. Phew! That's staying!
0:21:03 > 0:21:06- Now we can breathe, eh?- Yeah. - We're all done.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10So, this stuff here what's crackling up, it's not on top of that.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14- This cracking stuff is right at the top.- Yeah.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16So, I think I can take this off, like I just did there.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19You're not going to do that with a cotton bud though, are you?
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- No, no, no.- Come on, man. - I'd be there for months!
0:21:21 > 0:21:24I'd probably use some soft wire wool, really soft steel wool.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25- Take all that off.- Yeah.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27They've got a lot of history, haven't they?
0:21:27 > 0:21:29A lot of history and a lot of cleaning.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33MUSIC: Intro to Rule Britannia
0:21:33 > 0:21:37Caroline's husband was presented with these prized oars
0:21:37 > 0:21:40for his exceptional record in the Eights Challenge Cup
0:21:40 > 0:21:44at Marlow Regatta in 1948 and 1950.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47The fact that he was diagnosed with a muscle-wasting illness,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49affecting both his legs and arms,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52makes his achievements even more remarkable.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59Woo-hoo! That looks good, doesn't it? What's all this then?
0:21:59 > 0:22:02So much more information. What have we got here?
0:22:02 > 0:22:06- "1938". - Yeah, the 1938 Henley Regatta.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- Oh!- So, there's actually more history to these...- Yeah, there is.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11..than just the races that...
0:22:11 > 0:22:14- Well, you've unearthed more history just by cleaning it.- There you go.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17What else have you got to do now? What's next?
0:22:17 > 0:22:21I think the best thing to do would be remove any loose pieces of paint
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- on the back of this blade. - Because that is still flaking off.
0:22:24 > 0:22:25Cos you keep touching it.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Stop touching it and it won't carry on flaking off!
0:22:28 > 0:22:30They're going to touch it! It's their oar, their blade!
0:22:30 > 0:22:33- They're going to touch it. - OK. Stop touching it.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35You're going to make sure it doesn't peel off. Cos look at it.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38It's just been turned over, look at all these bits coming off.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- We've only been here two minutes. - Because you keep touching it.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44How about you stop touching it and I'll start painting it?
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- All right. I'll leave you to it.- Thanks, Jay.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51I'm just trying to mix up the paint by eye.
0:22:51 > 0:22:57So, I think the colour I'm going for is sort of a British racing green,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59sort of like a frog green.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03I think it's just a case of making it a tiny bit lighter.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Then I should have that frog, racing car green I need.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12So far, so good.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21In the fight against disposable culture,
0:23:21 > 0:23:23the Repair Shop experts are using their skills
0:23:23 > 0:23:27to breathe new life into the nation's neglected possessions...
0:23:28 > 0:23:31..and for Steve, it's make and hopefully not break
0:23:31 > 0:23:34for the barometer that was left to owner Ash
0:23:34 > 0:23:36by his loving grandparents.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40This hand has not worked for years.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43This is the bit that I haven't been looking forward to,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47just in case it goes terribly wrong and the glass breaks.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50And if it does, it's a complete and utter disaster.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54- How we doing, Steve? - I hope I can release this OK.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Ooh, I thought there would be a screw on the back.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00No, no, it's just riveted over there.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04So, basically, trying to get that out, you might break the glass.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08You don't like to say it, but I know you might break the glass, isn't it?
0:24:08 > 0:24:11There is an outside possibility. Keep my fingers crossed.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14- I'm sure you will. - I will do, I will do.- Thank you.
0:24:16 > 0:24:17Let's have a go.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Put a bit more force in.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25It is really, really stuck, very, very fast.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31I'm actually just going to put a little bit of oil on there.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Oh, it is moving.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Oh, thank goodness for that! That's easing up beautifully.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47So, problem solved.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Good. Very, very happy.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53With the hand loosened and the mechanism checked,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Steve can now reassemble the barometer,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57just in time for Ash's return.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- Nice to see you again, Steve. - You too.- How are you?- How are you?
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- I'm good, thank you.- Looking forward to seeing the barometer?
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- Very, very excited. It's all I've been thinking about.- Really?
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Yeah, really excited to see what you've done to it.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- There we go.- Oh, wow, fantastic!
0:25:11 > 0:25:14The mechanism, I took out, I cleaned it through,
0:25:14 > 0:25:19gave it a good service, and that wasn't causing it to not work.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21- Right.- What actually was causing the problem
0:25:21 > 0:25:27- was that the dial was tight against the hand.- OK.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31- So, I've released that and it's working fine.- Fantastic.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Knowing it's working again,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37I'm overjoyed to have seen it working. Amazing!
0:25:37 > 0:25:40My grandparents would be very proud of this, so I'm sure,
0:25:40 > 0:25:44- if they were here today, they'd say thanks as well.- Ah, bless.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Thank you. You've done a fantastic job.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50It is like having a piece of them there at all times.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Every time I see it, it reminds me of them and the good times I had,
0:25:54 > 0:25:58so to have it now, on the wall and working, it's going to be great.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06Having meticulously hand-painted the back of the oar blades
0:26:06 > 0:26:09with his very own bespoke frog green,
0:26:09 > 0:26:13Will has just enough time to add the finishing touches.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18- I think you've surpassed yourself, actually, son.- Really?- Well done.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21No, you have surpassed yourself on this one.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Shipshape and Repair Shop fashion,
0:26:23 > 0:26:27the oars are ready to be returned to Jo and Caroline.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34- Hello, how are we doing? - Fine, thank you. Very excited!- Hi.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- WILL:- You had a serious look on your face when you walked in, thinking,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40- "My oars better be underneath there."- Hi.- Nice to see you again.
0:26:45 > 0:26:46- Ah!- Oh!
0:26:48 > 0:26:49- Oh, that's lovely.- Beautiful!
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- That's how I remember them from when I was younger.- WILL:- Really?
0:26:55 > 0:26:57- Yeah.- Beautiful.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00- Yeah, spot the difference. - Really lovely.- Yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03- WILL:- As I was cleaning... - CAROLINE:- Oh, wording.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07- WILL:- You can see everything that's been written here.- Oh, wow!
0:27:07 > 0:27:11So, we've got the Henley Regatta, 1938, on there.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14That's lovely and it's wonderful that it's come up clearly
0:27:14 > 0:27:16- and you can actually read it now. - WILL:- Exactly.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19- CAROLINE:- It's really good.- WILL: - I'm pleased that you're pleased.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22So, what are you going to do with these now?
0:27:22 > 0:27:24They'll be up on the wall for everybody to look at
0:27:24 > 0:27:28- and actually really cherish. - So, we best get these wrapped up,
0:27:28 > 0:27:30- cos you can't put them on your pushbike, can you?- Not really, no.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33- No.- We'll get them shipped over to you.- Lovely, thank you.- Thank you.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Really nice to meet you.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36Thank you for everything you've done.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40When they were uncovered, it really brought back to me
0:27:40 > 0:27:43how important they had been to my husband
0:27:43 > 0:27:46and how important my husband had been to me.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51And it's just wonderful to see these brought back to their former glory.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56It just makes me feel really excited that we can take them back home,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59put them up on display and they're like they were
0:27:59 > 0:28:01when I was younger and when my dad was alive.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04You was worried about this one really, weren't you?
0:28:04 > 0:28:08I think, out of nearly all of the jobs that I've worked on here,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10I was really worried about this.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12Risk losing the writing underneath,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14all of the races and everything else.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16- Well done.- Cheers, mate.- All right.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21There will be more incredible transformations
0:28:21 > 0:28:24at the hands of our experts next time in The Repair Shop,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28where treasured items are brought back to life.