The Repair Shop is getting to me…

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

"Yes, I'm happy with that."

It's a phrase that seems to crop up half-a-dozen times in any given episode of the Repair Shop TV programme.

Has anybody else noticed a sudden increase in the self-satisfied employment of the self-same phrase, which you mutter to yourself as you examine your latest achievement in the workshop – when, amazingly, it looks vaguely like the drawing?

Guilty as charged… but in my case, sadly, not much decrease in my workshop in the use of less friendly language when Things Go Wrong…

H'mmm… We never get to see those parts of the TV show, do we? When will we get to see one of the Experts, uttering fearful imprecations, hurling a mangled piece of work into the bin or jumping up and down on it in a temper? (Or has Spitting Image already done it?)

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

[Ian Johnson 1Participant @ianjohnson1]

The Repair Shop is a bit too 'twee' for me. And it's constant heart wrenching tear jerking sad stories of how long the rusty forgotten piece of junk has been in the family really annoys me! Maybe I need to find a bit more empathy?

A far far better programme is Salvage Hunters the Restorers, it's on Quest TV and they go into a lot more detail of how they actually repair the pieces, without the sob stories, straight to point, how much is it worth now!

IanJ the tin man

[IanTParticipant @iant]

I've watched quite a few but got a little frustrated, that when they came to an "interesting" bit (like some lathe or bench work) the producers seem to quickly jump away to the next project, only returning later when all the good stuff is finished. Unfortunately, the truth is that most viewers are watching for the human-story side of the series and not the workshop bit.

However, I've long list of interesting folk on YouTube now and that's where I spend my viewing (TV) time, apart from a few things the wife saves for me (mostly heritage railways and country walks). Otherwise, she loves her Nordic Murders and as I've a good set of head phones (and a lap-top) we can spend a cold Winters evening watching TV together – albeit different programmes usually.

Regards,

IanT

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

Posted by Ian Johnson 1 on 09/01/2021 14:50:11:

The Repair Shop is a bit too 'twee' for me. And it's constant heart wrenching tear jerking sad stories of how long the rusty forgotten piece of junk has been in the family really annoys me! Maybe I need to find a bit more empathy.

My sentiment too! Although some of the skills are admirable, but too little time spent with them.

Could someone start a thread on Repair Shop restorations which have been afterwards spotted on Ebay?

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

All the 'clockies' in my horology club are quite irritated by 'Repair Shop' now as they have to fend off friends and neighbours who have watched the sob stories and suddenly remember their own sob stories in relation to that clock in the loft that has not ticked in several decades but which they can't get rid of…… My own approach to neighbour women with the Smiths "last link with my Grandparents, but I don't have money for repairs" request is to explain that taking it apart will be the work of several hours!….When they finally ask; "what should I do with it" I usually say "Oh just drop it in the dust bin"……

I do really enjoy YouTube now!…does anyone look at 'jerryrigeverything'?

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Ian Johnson 1 on 09/01/2021 14:50:11:

The Repair Shop is a bit too 'twee' for me. And it's constant heart wrenching tear jerking sad stories of how long the rusty forgotten piece of junk has been in the family really annoys me! Maybe I need to find a bit more empathy?

…

Yes, way too much blubbing and not enough machining…

[Dave WoottonParticipant @davewootton]

I broke a tap off in a nearly completed bronze axlebox this afternoon, there was some blubbing,and now even more machining!

I wasn't happy with that!

Edited By Dave Wootton on 09/01/2021 16:47:28

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by IanT on 09/01/2021 15:30:04:

I've watched quite a few but got a little frustrated, that when they came to an "interesting" bit (like some lathe or bench work) the producers seem to quickly jump away to the next project, only returning later when all the good stuff is finished. Unfortunately, the truth is that most viewers are watching for the human-story side of the series and not the workshop bit.

I watch it occasionally, but have no interest in watching someone machine/file/weld/paint an entire part. I know what that looks like, and watching somebody else do it is almost as much work as doing it myself. I'm unlikely to restore a teddy bear, but that's what makes a quick glimpse of what's involved interesting.

Some of the history of the items are worthwhile, but just because granny bought the wotsit 97 years ago with her first pay isn't

[A SmithParticipant @asmith78105]

Humbug!

[BC ProfParticipant @bcprof]

Should we not remember that The Repair Shop is for entertainment . ? If you don't like it ,don't watch it.

If it were possible I would like a switch to turn off the set at the mere mention of Mrs. Browns' Boys.

Brian

[John Dean 3Participant @johndean3]

Please no more the grocer aka Greg Wallace.

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

I'm with Brian (that's such a good name) on the subject of Mrs Brown. Utter rubbish!

Brian

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Mrs Browne should have been shot, a long time ago, with most of the rest of them ..

I have more than enough crap without taking any more of it

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

Aw come on guys, don't you think your being a little insincere – surely we can be a little more appreciative than that

As BCProf says it's an 'entertainment' and, for many, a light hearted, feel good one at that given what surrounds the program either side on most occasions. Yes, perhaps at times there maybe a little too much of the 'appreciation' on view but it's not exactly made to satisfy the audience of critical model engineers.

I do find myself wincing at some things at times but there are some very good skills there overall and all of them actually doing something to make someone else happy and unpaid at that I believe.

In this day of constant morbid news a little lightheartedness is surely not too much to bear but if the 'nice factor' of this program is beyond watching one can always tune in to any soap – plenty of angst there to keep one satisfied and no I don't, I only have to see the trailers.

Keep smiling it's good for you

Tug

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 09/01/2021 18:29:29

[Dave WoottonParticipant @davewootton]

I quite like it, as Tug says it is light entertainment, and if it makes people aware of some of the skills possesed by repairers and makers it's no bad thing. I'm in awe of the porcelain repairer, the art restorer and the saddlemaker, about time craftsmanship was celebrated.

If they take it off we would just get more "celebrity" programmes to replace it, I'm sure no one wants that!

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Why watch it if you don't like it? Perhaps the ones who moan enjoy a good moan. Plenty of other stuff to watch on the net if you prefer.

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

I enjoy it. There are some fantastic skills on show. I wish that they would state how many hours work went into each project though. Also if it encourages more repair rather than scrap and replace, that must be good.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

I've always felt it's crying out for a "red button" option.
There must be lots more video available that never made it onto the show, that would be available to better depict some of the restorers' skills.

Bill

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

I would have thought the Repair Shop program would appeal to all members on this forum, after all we do practice a craft of some kind whether it be using hand tools, programming and pressing buttons or setting up and turning handles.

As said it is amazing the skills of those doing the repair/restoration work.

Emgee

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

Posted by Stuart Bridger on 09/01/2021 19:35:44:

I enjoy it. There are some fantastic skills on show. I wish that they would state how many hours work went into each project though. Also if it encourages more repair rather than scrap and replace, that must be good.

Totally agree Stuart. Yes there are youtube videos out there on almost every subject on the planet, but would 'Joe Public' go looking for one on, say, repairing fine china / cleaning a fine skeleton clock etc. To my way of thinking it does a superb job of letting people know that you CAN repair almost everything as good as new and not add more rubbish to landfill. Just grin & bear the 'soppy' bits

With all the program's need to appeal to a wide audience as entertainment yes it does concentrate a little too much on the sobbing relatives at times, but even a true cynic must agree that sometimes in these grim times it does warm your heart a little to see the genuine joy on someones face when the 'reveal' happens. Regards to all

Edited By Mike Hurley on 10/01/2021 10:39:58

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

Money for nothing ,this programe lets people believe this is possible.Have you tried to get scrap from your tip.I got a block of steel 6'*6'*6" from the tip but had to pay the operator 10 pounds to sneak it into my boot without the foreman noticing.The presenters time at the tip is not considered in the costing or the travel involved,so don't kid us it's money for nothing.

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Posted by Bob Stevenson on 09/01/2021 15:44:12:

All the 'clockies' in my horology club are quite irritated by 'Repair Shop' now as they have to fend off friends and neighbours who have watched the sob stories and suddenly remember their own sob stories in relation to that clock in the loft that has not ticked in several decades but which they can't get rid of…… My own approach to neighbour women with the Smiths "last link with my Grandparents, but I don't have money for repairs" request is to explain that taking it apart will be the work of several hours!….When they finally ask; "what should I do with it" I usually say "Oh just drop it in the dust bin"……

I do really enjoy YouTube now!…does anyone look at 'jerryrigeverything'?

Yes I watch jerryrigeverything now and then. Now that is a story of love & determination. regards

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

One problelm I have with the repair shop is the keepingof "trade secrets" particuarly regarding materials. Maybe they are worried about advertiing but it would be nice to know at least what type of product they are using for specific jobs.

As has been said it's entertainment. I've had direct knowledge of a some TV productions and unfortunatly the director and producers think the average viewer is not interested in, or unable to understand, the "technical bits" so concentrate on shots of things being hit with hammers etc. I was actually in one show that had been pitched as promoting engineering.During filming they took a lot of footage of detail work, technical explanations etc. In the end 99% of this was left on the cutting room floor and the final product had the celebrity host (who hardly appeared during the week of filming) getting most of it wrong. TV production is also a time machine, things can be shown out of sequence, compressed or expanded. The show I refer to was a "3 day challenge" that actually took a whole week. The final competion had one team heavily handicapped and another significantly aided so the producers got the close result they wanted. Thankfully that show only lasted one series.

Robert G8RPI.

[JAParticipant @ja]

I am unlike to watch The Repair Shop. I prefer to watch the farming programmes about which I know nothing!

I did watch James May's The Reassembler a few years ago and there were some good useful bits. He used an old GPO tool to hold screws when assembling a 1950s telephone. I went away and bought one from RS. If you are going to make small models a slotted screw starter is a very useful tool. I only knew of its existance from watching the programmes. Thanks James.

JA

Edited By JA on 10/01/2021 12:08:41

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