1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:03,320 Welcome to the Repair Shop. 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,880 Where cherished family heirlooms are brought back to life. 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,480 Anything can happen. This is the workshop of dreams. 4 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,640 Home to furniture restorer Jay Blades. 5 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,600 Nowadays, things are not built to last, 6 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:16,960 so we've become part of this throwaway culture. 7 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,000 It is all about preserving and restoring. 8 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,480 We bring the old back to new. 9 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:23,960 Working alongside Jay 10 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,400 will be some of the country's leading crafts people. 11 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,160 I like making things with my hands. 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,440 I love to see how things work and I want to know how things work. 13 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,600 Whether it is a Rembrandt or somebody's family piece. 14 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:37,280 Every painting deserves the same. 15 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,600 Each bringing their own unique set of skills. 16 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,360 You're about to witness some magic. 17 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:45,760 They will resurrect, 18 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:46,920 revive... 19 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:48,160 Oh, yes. 20 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:50,040 ..and rejuvenate 21 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:51,960 treasured possessions 22 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,360 and irreplaceable pieces of family history. 23 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,360 Oh, my goodness me. It looks like it is new. 24 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:00,800 Bringing both the objects... SHE GASPS 25 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:02,640 Oh, wow. 26 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,560 ..and the memories that they hold back to life. 27 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:08,360 - SOBBING: - Oh, thank you. 28 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:18,800 In the repair shop today, 29 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:24,200 ceramics conservator Kirsten Ramsay carries out some serious surgery 30 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,320 on a cherished Victorian gnome. 31 00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:28,600 - Oh, yeah, look. - It is unbelievable. 32 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,120 So that's why it has taken me so long to get that off. 33 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,480 Whilst firefighting historian Stuart Black keeps a cool head 34 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,120 while tackling the restoration of an antique helmet. 35 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,160 You have done a smashing job on that. 36 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,640 I don't even want to touch it, it's so clean. 37 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,960 But first into the repair shop today, Rosie Gorman. 38 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,560 - Hello. - Hi, I'm fine, thanks, how are you? 39 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,800 Who has travelled from Lancashire on a super-secret mission to test the 40 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,960 mettle of furniture restorer Jay Blades 41 00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:02,520 and musical box expert Stephen Kember. 42 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:07,520 - What have we got here? - This is a smoker's music box. 43 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:08,800 A smoker's music box? 44 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,080 That is a very old smoker's music box. 45 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,120 It has been in our family for as long as I can remember. 46 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:15,920 That's cute. 47 00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:19,840 Behind every little door 48 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:24,240 is something that a gentleman would have used. 49 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,960 So where would the cigarette...? This looks like... 50 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:28,560 Yeah. Definitely. 51 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:29,880 Is that where the cigarettes go? 52 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:31,960 I would imagine that is where the cigarettes sit. 53 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,080 There's a...tobacco pouch here. 54 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:40,440 And in the box as well, so these are all the carefully collected bits. 55 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,200 This is the music bit. So this would sit on the bottom. 56 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,760 - Yeah. - My mum's often told me that the tune that it goes. 57 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,200 However, it would be amazing to have it working. 58 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,120 It would be a surprise for my mum, she doesn't know I have it. 59 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,360 She doesn't know? She doesn't know that you've got this? 60 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,240 - No, no. - You've taken it out of the house? 61 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,160 - Smuggled? - I've taken it out of the house. 62 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,440 - Smuggled out of the house. - Contraband. 63 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,160 How long has this been in the family, then? 64 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:09,240 This was given to my mum from her father. 65 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,720 It was given to from his mother. 66 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,520 And then we think it goes further back through her father. 67 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,480 However, it's been broken all my life. 68 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:22,360 - Yeah. - But my mum has seen it and had it working. 69 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,240 Music will be produced while you lit your cigarette. 70 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:27,680 - And just relax. - OK. 71 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,280 At the end of the day. 72 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,600 Now, I did actually notice there is a little hole 73 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,120 in one of these decorative pieces here. 74 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,400 And I suspect that that is probably for the on-off switch. 75 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:40,520 Oh, wow. 76 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,440 And what we've got there is something 77 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:46,160 - that looks suspiciously like an on-off switch. - Wow. 78 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,000 So we're going to get the music playing? 79 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,000 Get the music playing, doors working? 80 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,960 - Yeah. - We'll get back to you. 81 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,280 - Fantastic. - Is that all right? - Thank you ever so much. 82 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,040 - You're welcome. - Wonderful to meet you both. 83 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,320 - Thank you. Cheerio. - Bye. - Take care now. 84 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,720 The music box is so special for my mum. 85 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,080 Because it's one of the kind of only things she has, really, 86 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,520 of her father's, who she had a really close relationship with. 87 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:17,120 And because it's music, being able to hear something, hopefully, 88 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,680 will take her right back into her childhood. 89 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:25,560 The ethics of restoration are that you shouldn't improve something. 90 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,040 You shouldn't make it better than it originally was. 91 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,560 - Yeah. - But I think it might be an idea to adapt it... 92 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,360 - Right. - ..so that it is still going to be around in 50-60 years' time. 93 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:36,400 OK. 94 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,920 It is down to musical box maestro Steve... 95 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:41,960 Hm. 96 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:46,360 ..to bring this intriguing piece of history back to its former glory. 97 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,440 The plan for the music box is in two phases. 98 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,840 We've basically got the wooden 99 00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:55,800 cigarette dispenser part. 100 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:57,520 And we've got the musical part. 101 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,920 So I'm going to deal with the musical part first. 102 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,000 So we've just taken off the comb. 103 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,080 Here. So now I can relax a little bit. 104 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,640 I've sort of...defused the bomb, as it were. 105 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:14,800 Music is produced when the tuned metal comb is plucked by pins on the 106 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:16,880 spinning cylinder. 107 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,520 So next, Steve must use tiny droplets of oil 108 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,520 to try and free up the locked mechanism. 109 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,560 Oh, looks as though we're spinning. 110 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,600 But it's still very dirty. 111 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,960 So we can remove the cylinder now. 112 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:34,960 Here we are. 113 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,560 So the next time you see this, it should be nice and clean, 114 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:45,760 with all the congealed oil removed, ready to be reinstalled. 115 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,080 But what we will have to do, when we reinstall it, 116 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,240 is straighten some of these rather bent pins. 117 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,640 OK. Wish me luck. 118 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,880 From worn-out woodwork in need of a revamp 119 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:05,040 to dilapidated Daleks that have lost their voices... 120 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:10,440 That doesn't sound right. 121 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,320 ..the repair shop's talented team of craftsmen 122 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,240 pledge to put the shine back on Britain's treasured possessions. 123 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,160 Next in need of rescuing is Roy Farrier, 124 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:27,760 who has a challenge for firefighter and memorabilia expert Stuart Black. 125 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,560 What have you brought along, then? Let's have a look at this. 126 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:32,200 It's a fireman's helmets. 127 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,560 - My grandad's. - It looks like it has been through the wars. 128 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,240 Or through a few fires. 129 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:42,200 He was born in 1892, so it's the best part of 100 years old, 130 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:43,720 I'm guessing. 131 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,880 And whereabouts was this? What town? 132 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,840 He was a fireman in Sandwich in Kent. 133 00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:53,240 I've got a photograph of him, it's dated as 1935. 134 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:54,960 We believe this is him. 135 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:56,200 Tommy Farrier. 136 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,240 It's great to bring it in, Roy. 137 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,000 And if you are happy to leave it with us, 138 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,640 we'll get cracking and we'll see you when it is all done. 139 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,080 - Good to see you. - Good to meet you. 140 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,920 - Thanks very much. - Thanks. - Goodbye. - Goodbye. 141 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,160 Now, Stuart just needs to get this 100-year-old helmet 142 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:11,200 ready for action. 143 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:17,200 It is always lovely to work on something like this. 144 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,680 It's back in the glory days of the British Fire Service. 145 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,360 If an item like this could tell a story, I would love to hear it. 146 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,640 Slight tweak at the end, using the pliers. 147 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:34,960 The nice dinging sound 148 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:39,040 means that we are making perfect contact with the metal. 149 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,040 If it starts a dull sound, stop hammering, 150 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:43,160 we're in the wrong place. 151 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,560 That's the sound we want. 152 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,360 This historical helmet is sparking curiosity. 153 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,520 The Fire Service, wouldn't it be proud, 154 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,440 you would be proud to be a fireman, basically? 155 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,320 That's right. There was a lot of civic pride. 156 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,560 As well as, you know, personal pride in being it. 157 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,080 - Yeah. - There was a lot of gentlemen fire brigades, as well. - Right. 158 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,440 - They were almost like social clubs, really. - Oh, yeah. 159 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,600 They were the ones that had really posh equipment. 160 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,440 You wouldn't have just leather straps, 161 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:12,960 they'd be lined with velvet. 162 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:17,360 - Oh, come on. - And the lining, instead of being leather, would be silk. 163 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,080 So you'll have silk in there? 164 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,320 - Yeah. - This one looks like he's done a bit of work, 165 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:22,720 so he's been in the wars, yeah? 166 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,320 Yeah. He was an Indian rather than a chief. 167 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,080 - He's a worker, he is a grafter, isn't he? - That's right, yeah. Yeah. 168 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,440 And while Roy gets on with his grafting, 169 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,280 Steve has taken up the challenge of restoring a musical smoker's 170 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:40,680 paraphernalia case. 171 00:08:42,560 --> 00:08:44,280 These mechanical novelties 172 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:47,640 were popular at the end of the 19th century. 173 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,560 The cylinder music makers were put into keepsakes 174 00:08:50,560 --> 00:08:52,160 such as jewellery chests, 175 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:53,520 photograph frames 176 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:55,600 and smoker's boxes like this one. 177 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,960 Having thoroughly cleaned all the individual pieces, 178 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:06,440 Steve can now focus on bringing this antique musical gizmo back to life. 179 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:07,560 Oh, I like this. 180 00:09:07,560 --> 00:09:10,840 Good, well, we've got the sort of dissected creature here. 181 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,800 - Is that the same one? - Yeah, yeah. 182 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,160 But you've cleaned that up well. 183 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,720 We're doing all right because we've cleaned all the nasty 184 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,080 congealed oil off there. 185 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:23,160 - Yeah. - We've got a little pin-straightening to do. 186 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,200 You're not really going to straighten one of them? 187 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:26,760 I'm going to straighten several. 188 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,200 There's quite a lot that are bent. 189 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,240 Have you got bionic eyes? 190 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,320 Yes. These are my Joe 90 glasses. 191 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:35,560 - I remember Joe 90. - And when I put these on, 192 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:38,880 I turn into a superhuman pin-straightener. 193 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,320 - It's quite a tedious sort of job, but it is... - Oh, man! 194 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:43,840 It's what I do. 195 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,720 The music box mechanism is well on the way to being fixed. 196 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:55,720 So Steve can turn his attention to the turning doors of the cabinet. 197 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,040 The way it functions at the moment is, 198 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:02,720 when the knob at the top is turned, the doors will open like that. 199 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,600 The only problem is, two of the gear wheels are missing, 200 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,720 so two of them don't open. 201 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,880 So we have to put this brass insert into one of the door pillars. 202 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,320 So that we can screw 203 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:19,440 the gear wheel, its replacement, onto one of the door pillars, 204 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,600 so that this one will open, as well. 205 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:28,120 Steve's got to be precise as he guides the powerful pillar drill. 206 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,880 One wobble could ruin the precious antique. 207 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:36,320 Get in. 208 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,120 What I will do now is I will put the gear wheel in place. 209 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:40,600 So that's going to go in there. 210 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:44,560 We're going to screw in... 211 00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:46,520 Oops. So that's nice. 212 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:48,760 Right, now, fingers crossed. 213 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:50,280 There you go, look at that. 214 00:10:54,560 --> 00:10:58,200 Now, we've got to assemble the cylinder and the motor 215 00:10:58,200 --> 00:10:59,600 onto the bed plate. 216 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:04,400 So that we can get the clockwork motor running, 217 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:10,760 and the cylinder turning, before attaching the comb. 218 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,080 Which is going to produce the music. 219 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:16,360 Little bit of a test there. 220 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,080 So...wish me luck, boys. 221 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,080 Because if I wind this, it should start rotating. 222 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,920 And it does, look at that, lovely, so we're off. 223 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:34,400 With movement restored, it is time to bring out the bionic glasses, 224 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,960 and begin the all-important pin-straightening. 225 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,840 The box is well on the way to getting its music back. 226 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,400 There you go. There's one for you. 227 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,640 Between them, this talented team have a wealth of experience. 228 00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:00,040 And all the skills to take precious possessions 229 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,280 from lacklustre to luscious. 230 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,560 Great, smashing, super. 231 00:12:08,560 --> 00:12:10,800 Hi, guys. How are you doing? 232 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:12,920 The next customer has arrived. 233 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,080 And he is eager to see ceramics expert Kirsten. 234 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:18,560 I brought this old chap in. 235 00:12:18,560 --> 00:12:21,800 I thought you might be interested in repairing him for me. 236 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,840 Philip Bennett is a keen gardener living in north-west Wales. 237 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:35,000 And behind closed doors, his home reveals an extraordinary obsession. 238 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:44,160 The collection is around 205 at the moment. 239 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:45,840 I'm not allowed to have them all out. 240 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:47,640 My wife isn't very keen on them. 241 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:50,800 I actually detest them. 242 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,040 I think they are horrible, scary little creatures. 243 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,280 Not my favourite thing. 244 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:01,520 Scary or not, Philip is desperate to get this particular gnome repaired. 245 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,920 This gnome is very special to me because he was my mum's favourite. 246 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,880 My mum always thought he was a very cheeky chap that reminded her of me. 247 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:12,440 So this is homage to Mum? 248 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,520 This is an homage to Mum. Yeah. 249 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,440 - Lovely. - Her favourite gnome. 250 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,960 He has had many repairs and bashes over the years, 251 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,080 he's lost a lot of definition in his arms. 252 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:22,440 His head's come off. 253 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,160 And he's lost all his detail colouring. 254 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,720 So not much, then? No? 255 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:29,760 He is in bad shape. 256 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,240 Kirsten could actually, I think, fix this. 257 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,120 Initially, you can see that there's glass fibre, 258 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,600 and that is quite unsightly, really, isn't it? 259 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,560 It is, yeah. 260 00:13:41,560 --> 00:13:44,840 It's been broken across the hat there. 261 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,320 That could certainly be improved. 262 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,160 Though, on his hands, if you look at the fingers, 263 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,720 you can see there is quite a lot of detail there, whereas on that hand, 264 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:57,160 someone's actually gone over that with restoration. 265 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,800 So Mum's gnome is definitely in safe hands. 266 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,600 And we will be in contact and let you know when we have worked on it. 267 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:06,160 - Great stuff. Thank you very much indeed. - Thank you. - Thank you. 268 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,640 So what are you thinking of doing? 269 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,360 I think we need to be quite careful how we paint it. 270 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,160 I don't want it to look brash. 271 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,160 We need to be quite sympathetic with the painting. 272 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,920 It would be wonderful to see him repaired again. 273 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,000 Looking like he used to. He used to look... 274 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,800 It will do justice to the people who made him, 275 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,360 and also great for my mum's memory. 276 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,480 Him being her favourite gnome. 277 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,520 Kirsten will have her work cut out 278 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,360 to get this Victorian cheeky chappie 279 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:47,800 back to looking his best. 280 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,720 I've applied some paint stripper. 281 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,080 And I am hoping that it's going to... 282 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,720 The solvent's actually going to start to dissolve 283 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:00,000 the previous repair. 284 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,640 - What is the silver foil for? - It... - Just to keep him warm? 285 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,200 - No. - What's it for? 286 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:08,120 It contains the solvent, really, so it actually works more effectively, 287 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,240 and also it just kind of minimises the fumes, really, a bit. 288 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:12,280 - So, yeah. - OK. 289 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,160 So this is the test to say whether it has gone right gone wrong? 290 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:17,520 - Absolutely. - So just, no pressure. - No. I'm really hoping... 291 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,680 Should we get everybody to come and have a look at this? 292 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,200 - No, don't, no. - No? All right. 293 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,800 I'm hoping that it will have worked on the adhesive 294 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,000 that's holding the fibreglass together. 295 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,160 Fibreglass. OK. 296 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,800 So let's have a look, then, and see what's under here. 297 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,600 Oh, look. OK, that's great. 298 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:37,320 So...that basically means that I can now apply more to the piece 299 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,720 and actually start trying to strip away some of these layers. 300 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:41,160 - So it's going good? - Yeah, I think so. 301 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,800 Right, so I've nothing to worry about, then? I'll leave you alone. 302 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:46,600 - Thank you, cheers. - All right? - See you. - Take care. 303 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,240 Musical box restorer Steve has been meticulously repairing 304 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:04,280 a much-loved piece which has been in the owner's family for generations. 305 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:05,360 How are you doing, Steve? 306 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:09,120 Well, not too bad, but I've just got to attach this, the mechanism. 307 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:10,840 So I've come at the wrong time, haven't I? 308 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:12,280 You've come at the perfect time. 309 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,440 - Oh, right? - You are about to witness magic. - Is it? 310 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,400 So would you like to... 311 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,160 - You going to trust me? - ..be the first person... - Oh, right, cool. 312 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,720 - Are you ready for this? - I won't break it. Yeah, I won't break... 313 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,920 - You might. Give it a push. - Oh, stop it. 314 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:24,960 TUNE PLAYS 315 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:31,560 Oh, well done. 316 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:35,160 I think the restoration went quite well. 317 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,400 I think Rose will be happy. I know it's a family piece, 318 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,320 and there's a lot of sentiment attached to it. 319 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:43,000 So I'm sure that she will be pleased. 320 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,320 I think I've done a good job. 321 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:48,880 There we are. All ready for dispatch. 322 00:16:54,720 --> 00:17:00,760 270 miles away, the musical box is safely back home in Lancashire. 323 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:05,360 Rosie and her daughter are about to reveal the surprise to mum Siobhan. 324 00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:07,600 Hi, Mum. 325 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:08,840 Hi, are you all right? 326 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:10,800 I am fine. What's...? 327 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,040 - Come and sit down. - Why? 328 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:17,600 I just want to show you something that we've got for you. 329 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,280 And I'm sorry for sneaking it out of the house. 330 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,240 - No. - We know how special it is. 331 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,760 How did you get it out of the house? 332 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:30,840 We managed it. 333 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:35,040 We've been on a bit of a secret mission for a little while. 334 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:40,200 Just want to show you that all the doors open again. 335 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,920 Oh, my word. Rosie. 336 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,040 You haven't got it working? 337 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:47,400 - Just have a... - SHE GASPS 338 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:48,640 A little. 339 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:53,560 Erm... 340 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,560 TUNE PLAYS 341 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:02,320 Oh, my... Rose. 342 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,520 How have you done that? 343 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,320 We wanted to do this for you 344 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,920 cos you're the greatest mum ever. 345 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,320 Oh, thank you so much. 346 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:12,360 Oh! 347 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:20,280 When Rosie switched it on and the music came, 348 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,440 it just evoked so many memories. 349 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:28,080 Because it was such a lovely tune and so melodious. 350 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,000 That... Well, I was speechless. 351 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,480 For me, this has been so worthwhile. 352 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:38,280 To be able to see my mum's reaction, to be able to make her so happy. 353 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,680 She has been supportive of me throughout my whole life. 354 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,960 She is a fantastic grandma, a fantastic mum. 355 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,600 And just to be able to give something back to her 356 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,960 that means so much - no amount of money would have been able to 357 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,480 give her that reaction and make her that happy, 358 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,160 so I am absolutely delighted. 359 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:05,040 Back in the repair shop, ceramics restorer Kirsten 360 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,200 has been spending hours patiently peeling away many years' worth 361 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:12,280 of old repairs on Philip's gnome 362 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,280 in order to tackle the damage that lies beneath. 363 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:21,200 Most of this area was covered with the fibreglass, 364 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,120 and I've managed to remove it, 365 00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:28,280 revealing quite a lot of lovely terracotta detail. 366 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:36,640 It's just quite a long, slow process of mechanically picking away at it. 367 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,960 As Kirsten carefully removes the layers of fibreglass repairs, 368 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,120 the original damage is revealed. 369 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:50,640 This is just sort of coming loose now, really, here. 370 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,520 I think that's going to come off. 371 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:55,120 Which it is. 372 00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:56,240 That's great. 373 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:59,800 And what is really good is that, actually, underneath 374 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:05,920 this restoration, I can see there is quite a lot of original left. 375 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:07,240 That's good. 376 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,720 I'm going to have to try and get this off 377 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:11,600 and see what we're left with. 378 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,880 But she's only just getting started. 379 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,560 The left arm needs similar treatment. 380 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,440 - How we getting on, then? - I've had a bit of a breakthrough, actually. 381 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,160 This arm is just about to come off, actually. 382 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,080 Oh, what, are you going to take the other one off? 383 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:27,600 Yeah, it was really badly stuck. 384 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:32,440 And there was sort of a really bad sort of crack there. 385 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,640 So I couldn't actually just leave it. 386 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:36,360 Because it would have looked really awful. 387 00:20:36,360 --> 00:20:39,160 - You're going to pull his arm off? - Yeah. 388 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:40,920 Oh, yeah, look. 389 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,000 Oh, my... That's unbelievable. 390 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,520 So that's why it has taken me so long to get that off because... 391 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:48,000 So that is the wooden dowel, then? 392 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:49,640 - Don't touch it. - I won't touch it. 393 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,640 - it's only cos it might... - I like touching stuff. 394 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,400 Now you've just got to get that out and then it's a case of putting him 395 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,840 - back together again, isn't it? - Yeah, that's right. 396 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,280 Kirsten won't be able to achieve a clean repair 397 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:04,120 unless that dodgy dowel is removed. 398 00:21:04,120 --> 00:21:06,920 And for that, she needs a carpenter. 399 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,400 - Will, have you got a minute, please? - Yeah, sure. 400 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,520 - Gnomey. - Stumpy. - Stumpy. 401 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,480 I was just wondering if you had a small saw 402 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,680 that might be able to cut that off for me? 403 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:21,440 - Yes. - Yeah? 404 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:24,160 - OK? - Right, just give me two seconds. - All right, lovely. 405 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:31,920 I have never amputated a gnome's arm. 406 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:33,720 Or anything else on a gnome. 407 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:36,160 No, too close. 408 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,040 Could you just come up a wee bit more? 409 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:40,840 - Further? - Yeah, that would be great. There? - Yeah. 410 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,760 - Fantastic. - Oh, God. 411 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:54,800 Thank you. 412 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:58,040 That is great. Lovely. 413 00:21:58,040 --> 00:21:59,640 - Yeah? - Thank you so much. 414 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:01,480 Oh, my gosh. 415 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,800 - Right, over to you. - Lovely. 416 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,560 Having cleaned and repaired the amputated arms, 417 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,080 Kirsten can now reattach them properly. 418 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:25,200 The arms are on, 419 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,880 so I thought I'd try and deal with this crack 420 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:31,000 that runs through the face and the hat here. 421 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:36,720 So I'd like to just stabilise it with an adhesive. 422 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:41,360 I'm going to fill the cracks and then stand back, 423 00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:45,440 and then get painting, which is the bit I know Philip is keen to see. 424 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,400 Kirsten is nearly on the home straight with Phillip's gnome, 425 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,640 and Stewart is working up a sweat 426 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,440 getting his fireman's helmet to shine. 427 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,280 Keep polishing the main body, 428 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:07,840 and started moving it in so that it is dropping into all the recesses. 429 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:09,240 Doing it this way, 430 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:13,440 it brings up all the detail and it makes the best of brass work. 431 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,920 Now, all that is left to do is carefully reassemble 432 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,720 this beautiful piece of firefighting history. 433 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:30,760 Unfortunately, by the time its owner, Roy, arrives to collect it, 434 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,880 Stewart's been called out, leaving Jay to do the honours. 435 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:37,120 - Hello, Roy. - Hello, Jay, how are you? 436 00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:38,720 - I'm very good. - Good to see you. 437 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:41,960 Likewise. You've come to get your grandad's fireman's helmet, 438 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:43,240 - is that right? - That's the one. 439 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:45,160 Hold on a minute, I'll just get it for you. 440 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:46,520 I'll put my gloves on. 441 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:49,840 Oh, you've got special gloves? 442 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:52,240 Stewart was adamant. 443 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:53,800 It is a shame that Stewart isn't here. 444 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,360 But he is an active fireman, so he's on call at the moment. 445 00:23:56,360 --> 00:23:57,400 He can't be here. 446 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,680 But he did want you to know that he took great pride, 447 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:02,200 and he enjoyed working on this one. 448 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:03,840 I'll show you what he has done for you. 449 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,800 - Oh, look at that. - I think you are going to have to 450 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:11,080 do the honours to get it out, actually, cos I can't touch it. 451 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:12,960 Oh, that's brilliant, isn't it? 452 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,320 He's obviously dressed the back, because this was badly creased. 453 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:20,280 Yeah. 454 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:24,560 - And he's repaired, he's fixed all the straps as well. - Yeah. 455 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:26,720 That's brilliant. 456 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,400 Let us have a look on the inside. 457 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,640 He's managed to get the tape as well. 458 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,880 - It's great. - Yeah? - Yeah, that's absolutely... - You happy? 459 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,240 I'm very happy. It's super. 460 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:41,040 - He has done you proud. - First-rate. - He's done you proud, there. 461 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,240 Now to go back home safely now. 462 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:44,680 That's great. 463 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:45,960 - Good to see you. - Likewise, sir. 464 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:48,240 - Thank you very much indeed. - All right? You grab that, 465 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:50,320 - I will get the door for you. - Thank you. - All right. 466 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:51,600 I'm overjoyed, really. 467 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,440 It is super. 468 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,040 I mean, it couldn't really have been better. 469 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:58,440 This is a piece that was closest to my grandad. 470 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:00,960 He would have said, "Oh, give me the helmet, I'll repair it." 471 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:02,680 But I think that even he would say, 472 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:03,800 "Thank goodness it's gone 473 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,680 "to someone that knows what they are doing." 474 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,800 My grandad would be very, very pleased with the result. 475 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:26,640 Over in Ceramicsville, 476 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,440 Kirsten is still hard at it 477 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:32,440 on the restoration of that ravaged antique gnome. 478 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:35,320 She has fixed the structure. 479 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:36,840 The arms are on. 480 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:38,960 Now comes the fun part. 481 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,080 It's always really nice to do the painting, actually. 482 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:47,880 It is when the piece starts to come back to life, really. 483 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:49,880 Part of the pleasure of the job is 484 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,760 actually returning the objects to the owners. 485 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:56,160 And I just hope that he'll be happy with it, yeah. 486 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:57,760 And the owner's back. 487 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,600 And eager to be reunited with his favourite ceramic sidekick. 488 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:03,120 - How are we getting on? - Ta-da. 489 00:26:03,120 --> 00:26:07,320 Ta-da? Is he...? Well, the shirt is bright, isn't it? 490 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:08,880 Today, I am feeling rather nervous. 491 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:11,080 To see my old friend again, having left him here. 492 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:13,080 Which was a very difficult thing to do, 493 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,000 and I'm very excited to see how he's turned out. 494 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:16,520 Do you think Philip will be happy? 495 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:18,760 - I think he's going to be over the moon. - Yeah. Good. 496 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,640 He's going to be really chuffed with this one. 497 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,320 - How are you doing, Philip? - Hi, Philip. - You all right? 498 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:28,600 - Yeah, fine, you? - Come over. - Has he been behaving himself? 499 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:31,080 No. 500 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:33,040 - Not at all. - Good, hasn't let me down, then. 501 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:35,280 Right, are you ready to see your friend? 502 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:36,520 - I certainly am. - There we are. 503 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:38,920 Wow. 504 00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:41,600 He looks almost real. 505 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:47,720 I found all sorts of different fillers, different adhesives, 506 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:51,160 he even had a wooden dowel in the arm. 507 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:53,440 I tried to get it out and I couldn't, 508 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:57,480 so in the end I had to ask Will, our furniture restorer, 509 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:01,200 - if he could saw it off. - That's me. 510 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,120 - Thank you. - That's OK. 511 00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:05,240 It was a big job. 512 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:06,960 He's got his red hat that you asked for. 513 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:08,480 Yes, indeed, exactly what I wanted. 514 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:09,640 Yeah? 515 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:14,480 And I didn't go sort of overboard with the face. 516 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:16,400 - He looks great. - Yeah? - Fantastic. 517 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,680 - Oh. - Yeah, he will definitely be taking pride of place now. 518 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:21,000 He's going in our living room. 519 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,160 - Is he? - My wife says he can stay there now. 520 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,120 - Oh, is it? You've got the approval? - I've got the royal approval, yeah. 521 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:28,400 Well done. Well done. 522 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,560 After many hours of painstaking restoration, 523 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:36,600 Philip's little friend is more than ready to return to gnome sweet gnome 524 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,480 in Wales. 525 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:40,560 Well, having the gnome back and restored 526 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:42,560 to as close as he was all them years ago, 527 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:44,480 is like having a piece of Mum back. 528 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:46,680 He's restored to his former glory. 529 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:50,760 It's great. When I see him now, it will remind me of Mum. 530 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:55,520 To go to all that effort to restore him was doing justice to the guy 531 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:56,920 who made him in the first place, 532 00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:00,800 put all that effort into creating such a wonderful piece. 533 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,040 And he will now spend his retirement in that condition. 534 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,000 He'll never be going outside again. 535 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:08,440 Join us next time 536 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:13,720 as more cherished possessions go from neglected to perfected.