Episode
The Repair Shop: Shoe Stretching Machine
Overview
Resident horologist Steve Fletcher works on a clock that was fashioned from the propeller of a plane that crash-landed in France during World War I. Passed down through the injured pilot's family, Steve must get this piece of history working for future generations. Metal expert Dominic Chinea brings his skills to bear on a rusted and seized-up shoe-stretching machine, one of the few reminders of owner Maggie's parents and their shoe shop. And stained glass expert Matthew Nickels takes on a tricky challenge - restoring two badly damaged windows which were rescued from a Victorian variety theatre shortly before its demolition.
Details
- Series
- The Repair Shop
- Season
- Season 2
- Episode
- Episode 8
- Air date
- 2018-03-21
- Runtime
- 29 min
Episode context
Shoe Stretching Machine is Episode 8 in Series 2 of The Repair Shop. It aired on 2018-03-21. The runtime is 29 min.
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Episode 7: Dennis Fire Engine
Clockmaker and former retained firefighter Steve Fletcher gets the chance to work on a toy replica of an early Dennis fire engine. But this is not an ordinary child's toy; this one-off piece was built by one of the mechanics at the real Dennis fire engine factory. Ceramics restoration expert Kirsten Ramsay pieces together a beautiful Japanese Imari bowl that has been smashed to bits, and reveals the gruesome purpose behind its design. And the whole Repair Shop team comes together to save a weathered piece of Dorset history - a unique village sign, made up of metal, wood and ceramic parts all originally created by craftspeople who lived in the village.
Episode 9: Boulle Work Clock
Today in the Repair Shop, Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Resident clockmaker Steve tackles an intricate Boulle-work clock that hasn't ticked for over 15 years. Soft toy restorers Julie and Amanda take on a jumbo-sized project in the shape of a threadbare, but much loved, wheeled elephant. And woodwork specialist Will get to grips with one of the Repair Shop's oldest ever assignments - a 300-year-old Georgian desk that is showing its age.
More episodes from this season
Episode 6: Rosewood Table
Furniture restorer Will Kirk takes on a rickety, water-damaged rosewood table, but the extent of the damage leaves him with a tough decision to make. Resident clockmaker Steve Fletcher turns his hand to getting an antique French steamboat ship-shape again after it was found buried on a beach over fifty years ago. And after many hours of stitching and sewing, soft toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell reunite a much-loved but threadbare panda bear with its owner Jill, for whom the bear holds many cherished memories of her late father.
Episode 10: Ceremonial Helmet
Blacksmith Matthew Boultwood takes on a piece of British military history - a ceremonial helmet from one of the oldest regiments in the army, the Life Guards. Furniture restorer Will Kirk tackles a small chest with big problems, which tests the full range of his wood-working skills and techniques, from turning and carving to reconstructing and repainting. And clock specialist Steven Fletcher joins forces with toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell to bring an extremely rare Victorian clockwork rabbit back to life.
Episode 5: Antique Pipe
Clockmaker Steve Fletcher turns his talents to restoring an ornate antique pipe, carved from a mineral called meerschaum. Steve also calls on the help of his sister, and master saddle maker, Suzie to replace the lacklustre leather parts of the pipe. Gramophone guru Tim Weeks takes on the restoration of an early twentieth-century record player and radio that was bought at an auction by owner Corrie when she was just five but hasn't produced any music for years. And ceramics restorer Kirsten Ramsay tackles one of the largest pieces she's ever worked on, a huge blue pitcher from Germany decorated with images from an infamous event in Roman history.
Episode 11: Gramophone
Gramophone expert Tim Weeks tackles a portable Peter Pan gramophone that has seen better days. No longer able to spin records, will Tim be able to fix it so that it can play music once more? Upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary and carpenter William Kirk team up to mend a child's rocking chair. With a little care and attention the chair is mended, polished and re-covered and fit to sit in once more. Meanwhile, resident clock restorer Steven Fletcher turns his hand to mending a broken vintage cash register that has been in the owner's family business for generations.
Episode 4: Music Box
Musical box expert Stephen Kember and furniture restorer Will Kirk join forces to tackle a very special music box damaged by a bomb during the Blitz. Unfortunately the box's owners, who were in the house at the time, were killed by the blast. Now their descendant, and custodian of the box, Roger wants to restore the box so he can hear the same music the family members he never knew used to listen to. Stuffed toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell take on one of their toughest assignments yet - A stuffed toy lamb, torn apart by a real dog and now consisting of just a head and four legs. And metal worker Brenton West restores a treasured pair of fire tongs, designed and built by the owner's own great-grandfather, back to working order.
Episode 12: Victorian Lamp
Soft toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell take two well-worn teddy bears under their wing. Big Ted and Little Ted have spent nearly a lifetime together - their childhood owners, Jill and Edwin, met as teenagers, fell in love, married at 23 and spent the next 40 years together until Edwin's death four years ago. Now Amanda and Julie must restore the well-loved bears, to reverse the years of wear and preserve the happy memories of a lifetime of love. Meanwhile, metal expert Dominic Chinea works his magic restoring a rusting old Victorian lamp that has stood witness to many happy family events over the 50 years it has stood in owner Jeremy's garden.
Episode 3: Portrait
Silversmith Brenton West tackles a broken hand mirror containing the portrait of a mysterious French lady. Painting conservator Lucia Scalisi repairs, cleans and brings some much-needed light to a murky painting of fog on the River Thames. And resident horologist Steve Fletcher joins forces with ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay and wood specialist Will Kirk to work on a prestigious eighteenth-century timepiece that has suffered a supernatural accident.
Episode 13: Caputo Painting
Resident clock expert Steven Fletcher and woodwork specialist William Kirk work together to repair a broken barometer clock. With a clock, barometer and thermometer on one object, Steven has a lot of work ahead of him to get it looking like new again. Painting conservator Lucia Scalisi draws on her years of experience to restore a beautiful Caputo painting which has suffered a large tear. She expertly mends, cleans and retouches the painting in time to reunite it with its delighted owner. Meanwhile, bicycle expert Erik Van Bommel turns his hand to mending a battered childhood tricycle. The beautifully restored bike is excitedly unwrapped and ridden on once more by the owner's grandchildren.
Episode 2: Toy Steam Roller
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Resident clock restorer Steve Fletcher restores a German-made toy steam roller from the 1930's. After not being used for around 40 years, it needs a full check-up to get it up and running again. Stained glass expert Matthew Nickels pieces together a damaged glass picture window depicting a colourful boat at sea. Made by the owner's late father, it has a great deal of sentimental value and so she is ecstatic when Matthew manages to make it all ship-shape and just like new again. Meanwhile, leather expert Suzie turns her attention to three iconic leather sling back Les Arcs chairs desperately in need of some love and attention to make them usable again.
Episode 14: Majolica Vase
Resident ceramic expert Kirsten Ramsay takes on a beautiful Majolica Vase, which has met with several accidents over the years - a lid broken into several pieces, damage from a falling painting and a decorative cherub that has been decapitated. Meanwhile, metal worker Dominic Chinea works on a secret project - the restoration of a pub sign for the last landlord of much-loved local that has been knocked down to make way for a bus station.