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 > 0:00:12Home to furniture restorer Jay Blades.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Nowadays, things are not built to last,
0:00:14 > 0:00:16so we've become part of this throwaway culture.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20It is all about preserving and restoring.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22We bring the old back to new.
0:00:22 > 0:00:23Working alongside Jay
0:00:23 > 0:00:27will be some of the country's leading crafts people.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29I like making things with my hands.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32I love to see how things work and I want to know how things work.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Whether it is a Rembrandt or somebody's family piece.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Every painting deserves the same.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Each bringing their own unique set of skills.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43You're about to witness some magic.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45They will resurrect,
0:00:45 > 0:00:46revive...
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Oh, yes.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50..and rejuvenate
0:00:50 > 0:00:51treasured 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 is new.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Bringing both the objects... SHE GASPS
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Oh, wow.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06..and the memories that they hold back to life.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08- SOBBING:- Oh, thank you.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18In the repair shop today,
0:01:18 > 0:01:24ceramics conservator Kirsten Ramsay carries out some serious surgery
0:01:24 > 0:01:26on a cherished Victorian gnome.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28- Oh, yeah, look.- It is unbelievable.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32So that's why it has taken me so long to get that off.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Whilst firefighting historian Stuart Black keeps a cool head
0:01:36 > 0:01:40while tackling the restoration of an antique helmet.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42You have done a smashing job on that.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44I don't even want to touch it, it's so clean.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49But first into the repair shop today, Rosie Gorman.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52- Hello.- Hi, I'm fine, thanks, how are you?
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Who has travelled from Lancashire on a super-secret mission to test the
0:01:56 > 0:01:59mettle of furniture restorer Jay Blades
0:01:59 > 0:02:02and musical box expert Stephen Kember.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07- What have we got here? - This is a smoker's music box.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08A smoker's music box?
0:02:08 > 0:02:11That is a very old smoker's music box.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14It has been in our family for as long as I can remember.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15That's cute.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Behind every little door
0:02:19 > 0:02:24is something that a gentleman would have used.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26So where would the cigarette...? This looks like...
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Yeah. Definitely.
0:02:28 > 0:02:29Is that where the cigarettes go?
0:02:29 > 0:02:31I would imagine that is where the cigarettes sit.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35There's a...tobacco pouch here.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40And in the box as well, so these are all the carefully collected bits.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43This is the music bit. So this would sit on the bottom.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- Yeah.- My mum's often told me that the tune that it goes.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50However, it would be amazing to have it working.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53It would be a surprise for my mum, she doesn't know I have it.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55She doesn't know? She doesn't know that you've got this?
0:02:55 > 0:02:57- No, no.- You've taken it out of the house?
0:02:57 > 0:02:59- Smuggled?- I've taken it out of the house.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01- Smuggled out of the house. - Contraband.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05How long has this been in the family, then?
0:03:05 > 0:03:09This was given to my mum from her father.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11It was given to from his mother.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15And then we think it goes further back through her father.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18However, it's been broken all my life.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22- Yeah.- But my mum has seen it and had it working.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Music will be produced while you lit your cigarette.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27- And just relax.- OK.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29At the end of the day.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Now, I did actually notice there is a little hole
0:03:32 > 0:03:36in one of these decorative pieces here.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39And I suspect that that is probably for the on-off switch.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40Oh, wow.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42And what we've got there is something
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- that looks suspiciously like an on-off switch.- Wow.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48So we're going to get the music playing?
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Get the music playing, doors working?
0:03:50 > 0:03:51- Yeah.- We'll get back to you.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- Fantastic.- Is that all right? - Thank you ever so much.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56- You're welcome. - Wonderful to meet you both.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58- Thank you. Cheerio. - Bye.- Take care now.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05The music box is so special for my mum.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Because it's one of the kind of only things she has, really,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12of her father's, who she had a really close relationship with.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17And because it's music, being able to hear something, hopefully,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19will take her right back into her childhood.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25The ethics of restoration are that you shouldn't improve something.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28You shouldn't make it better than it originally was.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31- Yeah.- But I think it might be an idea to adapt it...
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- Right.- ..so that it is still going to be around in 50-60 years' time.
0:04:35 > 0:04:36OK.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40It is down to musical box maestro Steve...
0:04:40 > 0:04:41Hm.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46..to bring this intriguing piece of history back to its former glory.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49The plan for the music box is in two phases.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52We've basically got the wooden
0:04:52 > 0:04:55cigarette dispenser part.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57And we've got the musical part.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00So I'm going to deal with the musical part first.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04So we've just taken off the comb.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Here. So now I can relax a little bit.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10I've sort of...defused the bomb, as it were.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14Music is produced when the tuned metal comb is plucked by pins on the
0:05:14 > 0:05:16spinning cylinder.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19So next, Steve must use tiny droplets of oil
0:05:19 > 0:05:22to try and free up the locked mechanism.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Oh, looks as though we're spinning.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28But it's still very dirty.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32So we can remove the cylinder now.
0:05:33 > 0:05:34Here we are.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40So the next time you see this, it should be nice and clean,
0:05:40 > 0:05:45with all the congealed oil removed, ready to be reinstalled.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49But what we will have to do, when we reinstall it,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52is straighten some of these rather bent pins.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54OK. Wish me luck.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00From worn-out woodwork in need of a revamp
0:06:00 > 0:06:05to dilapidated Daleks that have lost their voices...
0:06:09 > 0:06:10That doesn't sound right.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13..the repair shop's talented team of craftsmen
0:06:13 > 0:06:17pledge to put the shine back on Britain's treasured possessions.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Next in need of rescuing is Roy Farrier,
0:06:22 > 0:06:27who has a challenge for firefighter and memorabilia expert Stuart Black.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30What have you brought along, then? Let's have a look at this.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32It's a fireman's helmets.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35- My grandad's.- It looks like it has been through the wars.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Or through a few fires.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42He was born in 1892, so it's the best part of 100 years old,
0:06:42 > 0:06:43I'm guessing.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45And whereabouts was this? What town?
0:06:45 > 0:06:48He was a fireman in Sandwich in Kent.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53I've got a photograph of him, it's dated as 1935.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54We believe this is him.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Tommy Farrier.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58It's great to bring it in, Roy.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00And if you are happy to leave it with us,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02we'll get cracking and we'll see you when it is all done.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04- Good to see you.- Good to meet you.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06- Thanks very much.- Thanks. - Goodbye.- Goodbye.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Now, Stuart just needs to get this 100-year-old helmet
0:07:10 > 0:07:11ready for action.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17It is always lovely to work on something like this.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20It's back in the glory days of the British Fire Service.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24If an item like this could tell a story, I would love to hear it.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Slight tweak at the end, using the pliers.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34The nice dinging sound
0:07:34 > 0:07:39means that we are making perfect contact with the metal.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42If it starts a dull sound, stop hammering,
0:07:42 > 0:07:43we're in the wrong place.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46That's the sound we want.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50This historical helmet is sparking curiosity.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52The Fire Service, wouldn't it be proud,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54you would be proud to be a fireman, basically?
0:07:54 > 0:07:57That's right. There was a lot of civic pride.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59As well as, you know, personal pride in being it.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- Yeah.- There was a lot of gentlemen fire brigades, as well.- Right.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- They were almost like social clubs, really.- Oh, yeah.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09They were the ones that had really posh equipment.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11You wouldn't have just leather straps,
0:08:11 > 0:08:12they'd be lined with velvet.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17- Oh, come on.- And the lining, instead of being leather, would be silk.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19So you'll have silk in there?
0:08:19 > 0:08:21- Yeah.- This one looks like he's done a bit of work,
0:08:21 > 0:08:22so he's been in the wars, yeah?
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Yeah. He was an Indian rather than a chief.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29- He's a worker, he is a grafter, isn't he?- That's right, yeah. Yeah.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35And while Roy gets on with his grafting,
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Steve has taken up the challenge of restoring a musical smoker's
0:08:39 > 0:08:40paraphernalia case.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44These mechanical novelties
0:08:44 > 0:08:47were popular at the end of the 19th century.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50The cylinder music makers were put into keepsakes
0:08:50 > 0:08:52such as jewellery chests,
0:08:52 > 0:08:53photograph frames
0:08:53 > 0:08:55and smoker's boxes like this one.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Having thoroughly cleaned all the individual pieces,
0:08:59 > 0:09:06Steve can now focus on bringing this antique musical gizmo back to life.
0:09:06 > 0:09:07Oh, I like this.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Good, well, we've got the sort of dissected creature here.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12- Is that the same one?- Yeah, yeah.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14But you've cleaned that up well.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17We're doing all right because we've cleaned all the nasty
0:09:17 > 0:09:19congealed oil off there.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23- Yeah.- We've got a little pin-straightening to do.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25You're not really going to straighten one of them?
0:09:25 > 0:09:26I'm going to straighten several.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28There's quite a lot that are bent.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Have you got bionic eyes?
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Yes. These are my Joe 90 glasses.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- I remember Joe 90. - And when I put these on,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38I turn into a superhuman pin-straightener.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- It's quite a tedious sort of job, but it is...- Oh, man!
0:09:42 > 0:09:43It's what I do.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50The music box mechanism is well on the way to being fixed.
0:09:50 > 0:09:55So Steve can turn his attention to the turning doors of the cabinet.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58The way it functions at the moment is,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02when the knob at the top is turned, the doors will open like that.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05The only problem is, two of the gear wheels are missing,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07so two of them don't open.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11So we have to put this brass insert into one of the door pillars.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15So that we can screw
0:10:15 > 0:10:19the gear wheel, its replacement, onto one of the door pillars,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21so that this one will open, as well.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28Steve's got to be precise as he guides the powerful pillar drill.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30One wobble could ruin the precious antique.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Get in.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39What I will do now is I will put the gear wheel in place.
0:10:39 > 0:10:40So that's going to go in there.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44We're going to screw in...
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Oops. So that's nice.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Right, now, fingers crossed.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50There you go, look at that.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Now, we've got to assemble the cylinder and the motor
0:10:58 > 0:10:59onto the bed plate.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04So that we can get the clockwork motor running,
0:11:04 > 0:11:10and the cylinder turning, before attaching the comb.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Which is going to produce the music.
0:11:15 > 0:11:16Little bit of a test there.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19So...wish me luck, boys.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Because if I wind this, it should start rotating.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29And it does, look at that, lovely, so we're off.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34With movement restored, it is time to bring out the bionic glasses,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37and begin the all-important pin-straightening.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41The box is well on the way to getting its music back.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53There you go. There's one for you.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Between them, this talented team have a wealth of experience.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00And all the skills to take precious possessions
0:12:00 > 0:12:03from lacklustre to luscious.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Great, smashing, super.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Hi, guys. How are you doing?
0:12:10 > 0:12:12The next customer has arrived.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16And he is eager to see ceramics expert Kirsten.
0:12:17 > 0:12:18I brought this old chap in.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21I thought you might be interested in repairing him for me.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Philip Bennett is a keen gardener living in north-west Wales.
0:12:29 > 0:12:35And behind closed doors, his home reveals an extraordinary obsession.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44The collection is around 205 at the moment.
0:12:44 > 0:12:45I'm not allowed to have them all out.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47My wife isn't very keen on them.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50I actually detest them.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54I think they are horrible, scary little creatures.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Not my favourite thing.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01Scary or not, Philip is desperate to get this particular gnome repaired.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04This gnome is very special to me because he was my mum's favourite.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07My mum always thought he was a very cheeky chap that reminded her of me.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12So this is homage to Mum?
0:13:12 > 0:13:14This is an homage to Mum. Yeah.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16- Lovely.- Her favourite gnome.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18He has had many repairs and bashes over the years,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21he's lost a lot of definition in his arms.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22His head's come off.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25And he's lost all his detail colouring.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27So not much, then? No?
0:13:27 > 0:13:29He is in bad shape.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Kirsten could actually, I think, fix this.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Initially, you can see that there's glass fibre,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39and that is quite unsightly, really, isn't it?
0:13:39 > 0:13:41It is, yeah.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44It's been broken across the hat there.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47That could certainly be improved.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Though, on his hands, if you look at the fingers,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53you can see there is quite a lot of detail there, whereas on that hand,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57someone's actually gone over that with restoration.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59So Mum's gnome is definitely in safe hands.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02And we will be in contact and let you know when we have worked on it.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06- Great stuff. Thank you very much indeed.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10So what are you thinking of doing?
0:14:10 > 0:14:14I think we need to be quite careful how we paint it.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16I don't want it to look brash.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19We need to be quite sympathetic with the painting.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22It would be wonderful to see him repaired again.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25Looking like he used to. He used to look...
0:14:25 > 0:14:26It will do justice to the people who made him,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29and also great for my mum's memory.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Him being her favourite gnome.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Kirsten will have her work cut out
0:14:43 > 0:14:46to get this Victorian cheeky chappie
0:14:46 > 0:14:47back to looking his best.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51I've applied some paint stripper.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55And I am hoping that it's going to...
0:14:55 > 0:14:58The solvent's actually going to start to dissolve
0:14:58 > 0:15:00the previous repair.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02- What is the silver foil for? - It...- Just to keep him warm?
0:15:02 > 0:15:04- No.- What's it for?
0:15:04 > 0:15:08It contains the solvent, really, so it actually works more effectively,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11and also it just kind of minimises the fumes, really, a bit.
0:15:11 > 0:15:12- So, yeah.- OK.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15So this is the test to say whether it has gone right gone wrong?
0:15:15 > 0:15:17- Absolutely.- So just, no pressure. - No. I'm really hoping...
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Should we get everybody to come and have a look at this?
0:15:19 > 0:15:21- No, don't, no.- No? All right.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23I'm hoping that it will have worked on the adhesive
0:15:23 > 0:15:26that's holding the fibreglass together.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27Fibreglass. OK.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29So let's have a look, then, and see what's under here.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Oh, look. OK, that's great.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37So...that basically means that I can now apply more to the piece
0:15:37 > 0:15:39and actually start trying to strip away some of these layers.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- So it's going good? - Yeah, I think so.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Right, so I've nothing to worry about, then? I'll leave you alone.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- Thank you, cheers.- All right? - See you.- Take care.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58Musical box restorer Steve has been meticulously repairing
0:15:58 > 0:16:04a much-loved piece which has been in the owner's family for generations.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05How are you doing, Steve?
0:16:05 > 0:16:09Well, not too bad, but I've just got to attach this, the mechanism.
0:16:09 > 0:16:10So I've come at the wrong time, haven't I?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12You've come at the perfect time.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14- Oh, right?- You are about to witness magic.- Is it?
0:16:14 > 0:16:16So would you like to...
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- You going to trust me?- ..be the first person...- Oh, right, cool.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21- Are you ready for this?- I won't break it. Yeah, I won't break...
0:16:21 > 0:16:23- You might. Give it a push. - Oh, stop it.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24TUNE PLAYS
0:16:30 > 0:16:31Oh, well done.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I think the restoration went quite well.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37I think Rose will be happy. I know it's a family piece,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and there's a lot of sentiment attached to it.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43So I'm sure that she will be pleased.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46I think I've done a good job.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48There we are. All ready for dispatch.
0:16:54 > 0:17:00270 miles away, the musical box is safely back home in Lancashire.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05Rosie and her daughter are about to reveal the surprise to mum Siobhan.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Hi, Mum.
0:17:07 > 0:17:08Hi, are you all right?
0:17:08 > 0:17:10I am fine. What's...?
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- Come and sit down.- Why?
0:17:13 > 0:17:17I just want to show you something that we've got for you.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23And I'm sorry for sneaking it out of the house.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- No.- We know how special it is.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29How did you get it out of the house?
0:17:29 > 0:17:30We managed it.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35We've been on a bit of a secret mission for a little while.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40Just want to show you that all the doors open again.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Oh, my word. Rosie.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45You haven't got it working?
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- Just have a... - SHE GASPS
0:17:47 > 0:17:48A little.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Erm...
0:17:53 > 0:17:57TUNE PLAYS
0:17:57 > 0:18:02Oh, my... Rose.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04How have you done that?
0:18:04 > 0:18:06We wanted to do this for you
0:18:06 > 0:18:08cos you're the greatest mum ever.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Oh, thank you so much.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12Oh!
0:18:16 > 0:18:20When Rosie switched it on and the music came,
0:18:20 > 0:18:22it just evoked so many memories.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28Because it was such a lovely tune and so melodious.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31That... Well, I was speechless.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34For me, this has been so worthwhile.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38To be able to see my mum's reaction, to be able to make her so happy.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40She has been supportive of me throughout my whole life.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44She is a fantastic grandma, a fantastic mum.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47And just to be able to give something back to her
0:18:47 > 0:18:50that means so much - no amount of money would have been able to
0:18:50 > 0:18:53give her that reaction and make her that happy,
0:18:53 > 0:18:55so I am absolutely delighted.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Back in the repair shop, ceramics restorer Kirsten
0:19:05 > 0:19:08has been spending hours patiently peeling away many years' worth
0:19:08 > 0:19:12of old repairs on Philip's gnome
0:19:12 > 0:19:15in order to tackle the damage that lies beneath.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21Most of this area was covered with the fibreglass,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23and I've managed to remove it,
0:19:23 > 0:19:28revealing quite a lot of lovely terracotta detail.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36It's just quite a long, slow process of mechanically picking away at it.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40As Kirsten carefully removes the layers of fibreglass repairs,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43the original damage is revealed.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50This is just sort of coming loose now, really, here.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52I think that's going to come off.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Which it is.
0:19:55 > 0:19:56That's great.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59And what is really good is that, actually, underneath
0:19:59 > 0:20:05this restoration, I can see there is quite a lot of original left.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07That's good.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09I'm going to have to try and get this off
0:20:09 > 0:20:11and see what we're left with.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13But she's only just getting started.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17The left arm needs similar treatment.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- How we getting on, then?- I've had a bit of a breakthrough, actually.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23This arm is just about to come off, actually.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Oh, what, are you going to take the other one off?
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Yeah, it was really badly stuck.
0:20:27 > 0:20:32And there was sort of a really bad sort of crack there.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34So I couldn't actually just leave it.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Because it would have looked really awful.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- You're going to pull his arm off?- Yeah.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40Oh, yeah, look.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Oh, my... That's unbelievable.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46So that's why it has taken me so long to get that off because...
0:20:46 > 0:20:48So that is the wooden dowel, then?
0:20:48 > 0:20:49- Don't touch it.- I won't touch it.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- it's only cos it might... - I like touching stuff.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Now you've just got to get that out and then it's a case of putting him
0:20:55 > 0:20:57- back together again, isn't it? - Yeah, that's right.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Kirsten won't be able to achieve a clean repair
0:21:01 > 0:21:04unless that dodgy dowel is removed.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06And for that, she needs a carpenter.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09- Will, have you got a minute, please? - Yeah, sure.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12- Gnomey.- Stumpy.- Stumpy.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15I was just wondering if you had a small saw
0:21:15 > 0:21:18that might be able to cut that off for me?
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- Yes.- Yeah?
0:21:21 > 0:21:24- OK?- Right, just give me two seconds. - All right, lovely.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31I have never amputated a gnome's arm.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Or anything else on a gnome.
0:21:35 > 0:21:36No, too close.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Could you just come up a wee bit more?
0:21:38 > 0:21:40- Further?- Yeah, that would be great. There?- Yeah.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53- Fantastic.- Oh, God.
0:21:53 > 0:21:54Thank you.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58That is great. Lovely.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59- Yeah?- Thank you so much.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Oh, my gosh.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03- Right, over to you.- Lovely.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Having cleaned and repaired the amputated arms,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Kirsten can now reattach them properly.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25The arms are on,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27so I thought I'd try and deal with this crack
0:22:27 > 0:22:31that runs through the face and the hat here.
0:22:31 > 0:22:36So I'd like to just stabilise it with an adhesive.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41I'm going to fill the cracks and then stand back,
0:22:41 > 0:22:45and then get painting, which is the bit I know Philip is keen to see.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Kirsten is nearly on the home straight with Phillip's gnome,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58and Stewart is working up a sweat
0:22:58 > 0:23:01getting his fireman's helmet to shine.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Keep polishing the main body,
0:23:03 > 0:23:07and started moving it in so that it is dropping into all the recesses.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Doing it this way,
0:23:09 > 0:23:13it brings up all the detail and it makes the best of brass work.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Now, all that is left to do is carefully reassemble
0:23:20 > 0:23:23this beautiful piece of firefighting history.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Unfortunately, by the time its owner, Roy, arrives to collect it,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Stewart's been called out, leaving Jay to do the honours.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- Hello, Roy.- Hello, Jay, how are you?
0:23:37 > 0:23:38- I'm very good.- Good to see you.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Likewise. You've come to get your grandad's fireman's helmet,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43- is that right?- That's the one.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Hold on a minute, I'll just get it for you.
0:23:45 > 0:23:46I'll put my gloves on.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Oh, you've got special gloves?
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Stewart was adamant.
0:23:52 > 0:23:53It is a shame that Stewart isn't here.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56But he is an active fireman, so he's on call at the moment.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57He can't be here.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00But he did want you to know that he took great pride,
0:24:00 > 0:24:02and he enjoyed working on this one.
0:24:02 > 0:24:03I'll show you what he has done for you.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05- Oh, look at that. - I think you are going to have to
0:24:05 > 0:24:11do the honours to get it out, actually, cos I can't touch it.
0:24:11 > 0:24:12Oh, that's brilliant, isn't it?
0:24:15 > 0:24:18He's obviously dressed the back, because this was badly creased.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Yeah.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24- And he's repaired, he's fixed all the straps as well.- Yeah.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26That's brilliant.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Let us have a look on the inside.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31He's managed to get the tape as well.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35- It's great.- Yeah?- Yeah, that's absolutely...- You happy?
0:24:35 > 0:24:38I'm very happy. It's super.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41- He has done you proud.- First-rate. - He's done you proud, there.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Now to go back home safely now.
0:24:43 > 0:24:44That's great.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45- Good to see you.- Likewise, sir.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- Thank you very much indeed. - All right? You grab that,
0:24:48 > 0:24:50- I will get the door for you. - Thank you.- All right.
0:24:50 > 0:24:51I'm overjoyed, really.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53It is super.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56I mean, it couldn't really have been better.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58This is a piece that was closest to my grandad.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00He would have said, "Oh, give me the helmet, I'll repair it."
0:25:00 > 0:25:02But I think that even he would say,
0:25:02 > 0:25:03"Thank goodness it's gone
0:25:03 > 0:25:05"to someone that knows what they are doing."
0:25:05 > 0:25:08My grandad would be very, very pleased with the result.
0:25:25 > 0:25:26Over in Ceramicsville,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Kirsten is still hard at it
0:25:28 > 0:25:32on the restoration of that ravaged antique gnome.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35She has fixed the structure.
0:25:35 > 0:25:36The arms are on.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38Now comes the fun part.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42It's always really nice to do the painting, actually.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47It is when the piece starts to come back to life, really.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49Part of the pleasure of the job is
0:25:49 > 0:25:52actually returning the objects to the owners.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56And I just hope that he'll be happy with it, yeah.
0:25:56 > 0:25:57And the owner's back.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01And eager to be reunited with his favourite ceramic sidekick.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- How are we getting on?- Ta-da.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Ta-da? Is he...? Well, the shirt is bright, isn't it?
0:26:07 > 0:26:08Today, I am feeling rather nervous.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11To see my old friend again, having left him here.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Which was a very difficult thing to do,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15and I'm very excited to see how he's turned out.
0:26:15 > 0:26:16Do you think Philip will be happy?
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- I think he's going to be over the moon.- Yeah. Good.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21He's going to be really chuffed with this one.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26- How are you doing, Philip? - Hi, Philip.- You all right?
0:26:26 > 0:26:28- Yeah, fine, you?- Come over. - Has he been behaving himself?
0:26:28 > 0:26:31No.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33- Not at all. - Good, hasn't let me down, then.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Right, are you ready to see your friend?
0:26:35 > 0:26:36- I certainly am.- There we are.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38Wow.
0:26:40 > 0:26:41He looks almost real.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47I found all sorts of different fillers, different adhesives,
0:26:47 > 0:26:51he even had a wooden dowel in the arm.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53I tried to get it out and I couldn't,
0:26:53 > 0:26:57so in the end I had to ask Will, our furniture restorer,
0:26:57 > 0:27:01- if he could saw it off.- That's me.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03- Thank you.- That's OK.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05It was a big job.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06He's got his red hat that you asked for.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Yes, indeed, exactly what I wanted.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09Yeah?
0:27:09 > 0:27:14And I didn't go sort of overboard with the face.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16- He looks great.- Yeah?- Fantastic.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19- Oh.- Yeah, he will definitely be taking pride of place now.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21He's going in our living room.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- Is he?- My wife says he can stay there now.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27- Oh, is it? You've got the approval? - I've got the royal approval, yeah.
0:27:27 > 0:27:28Well done. Well done.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31After many hours of painstaking restoration,
0:27:31 > 0:27:36Philip's little friend is more than ready to return to gnome sweet gnome
0:27:36 > 0:27:38in Wales.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Well, having the gnome back and restored
0:27:40 > 0:27:42to as close as he was all them years ago,
0:27:42 > 0:27:44is like having a piece of Mum back.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46He's restored to his former glory.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50It's great. When I see him now, it will remind me of Mum.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55To go to all that effort to restore him was doing justice to the guy
0:27:55 > 0:27:56who made him in the first place,
0:27:56 > 0:28:00put all that effort into creating such a wonderful piece.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04And he will now spend his retirement in that condition.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07He'll never be going outside again.
0:28:07 > 0:28:08Join us next time
0:28:08 > 0:28:13as more cherished possessions go from neglected to perfected.