Episode
The Repair Shop: Smuggler's Telescope
Overview
The team takes on a tippling stick thought to have belonged to George V, a nearly 200-year-old telescope that needs the eye of optics expert Richard Biggs, and a Victorian high chair that transforms into a rocking chair. Brenton makes a start on the tippling stick with some help from Will to apply a bit of polish. Brenton then makes a silver quaffing pot to hold a dram of the whisky that the tippling stick holds. Will then focuses on the high chair that transforms into a rocking chair. After making a new top piece for the missing back he enlists the help of Dom to tidy up the transforming mechanism and Suzie who makes a new padding for the back and seat. Meanwhile Richard starts work on the old smuggler's telescope with some help either some soldering by Steve.
Details
- Series
- The Repair Shop
- Season
- Season 5
- Episode
- Episode 14
- Air date
- 2019-12-05
- Runtime
- 43 min
Episode context
Smuggler's Telescope is Episode 14 in Series 5 of The Repair Shop. It aired on 2019-12-05. The runtime is 43 min.
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Episode 13: Vintage Bottle Stopper
The team takes on a rusty pedal scooter, a keepsake with a theatrical past: an original engraved powder compact, and a whimsical vintage bottle stopper whose smiling face and red nose has fascinated owner Martin Day, ever since he was a young boy. Brian Adams is hoping bike restorer Tim Gunn can work his magic on a rusty pedal scooter that he inherited from his father. Silversmith Brenton West is challenged to restore a precious keepsake with a theatrical past: an original engraved powder compact. This unusual item was gifted to owner Dee Rance's aunt Lucy, a performer, by the legendary comedy impresario Fred Karno. Unfortunately the delicate box is dull, knocked and dented, and the mirror inside is cracked beyond repair. Brenton sets to work to transform this tarnished treasure and restore some star quality.
Episode 15: Antique Toy Cannon
Today the team takes on an antique firing toy cannon handed down to Andrew by his grandfather, a novelty Victorian inkwell in the shape of a hat, and a saintly statue that's suffered an unholy breakage. Firstly Steve investigates the toy cannon, Suzie starts to look at the inkwell while Kirsten starts to work on the damaged statue. Suzie tackles the Victorian inkwell with some help from her brother Steve. And Kirsten starts working on the saintly statue.
More episodes from this season
Episode 12: Antique Bridle
Janette Drew and her mother, Margaret Murphy, are hoping that metalwork Expert Dominic Chinea can save a bench that's on its last legs. Meanwhile, a unique piece of family heritage arrives with Ella Woolls and her father Jon: an antique bridle, while Steve Fletcher is tasked with restoring and renovating a very old mechanical calculator. Suzie Fletcher tackles the old bridle, with some help on the decorative metalwork from Brenton West.
Episode 16: Homemade Telescope
The team takes on a well-traveled leather case, a fantastic homemade telescope built from scrap metal and a century old decorative bowl that survived the Nazis. Suzie and Lucia make a start on the leather briefcase. Richard and Dom make a start on the scrapyard telescope. Meanwhile Kirsten takes on the jigsaw of the bowl smashed by the Nazis (and the cat). Suzie repairs and restores the leather work on the old case while Lucia refreshes the lettering on it. Dom tackles the metalwork and mechanics of the telescope.
Episode 11: Ted the Teddy Bear
Lesley Keller's from London hopes toy restorers Julie Tatchall and Amanda Middleditch can get a very old friend back on his feet. Ted means an awful lot to Lesley as he was one of the first toys she received from her wonderful adoptive parents. Pete is asked to repair a 1920s banjolele that was played in the old music halls. Will is tasked with repairing and restoring an old tea caddy that was filled with family treasures.
Episode 17: Iraqi Samovar
The team takes on a family butcher's trusty (and rusty) sausage making machine, a crumbling Edwardian album full of treasured postcards, a satchel bought in North Africa and an Iraqi hot water urn, known as a samovar. Suzie tackles the satchel, Dom starts de-rusting the old sausage machine. Chris starts organising and planning how he can repair the postcard album. Meanwhile Brenton makes a start on the battered and aged samovar. Both Dom and Brenton make use of Will's woodworking skills to recreate them a missing handle each.
Episode 10: Ship's Wheel
It's all hands on deck as the crew tackles a dilapidated wheel from a scrapped Scottish fishing boat, a worn out football mascot, and a well-worn commemorative cricket ball. Suzie is presented with a worn out cricket ball which is coming apart at the seams, then fine art conservator Lucia retouches the red colour and the gold inscription. Will is presented with an old ship's wheel in pieces but with Dom and Jay's help he gets the jigsaw of pieces back together again. Kirsten takes on the job of repairing the old Portsmouth mascot doll with some help from the bear ladies, Amanda and Julie. Brenton adds the finishing touch to the ship's wheel by making a cover to fit over the hub.
Episode 18: 200-Year-Old Fire Bucket
The team tackles a small but very precious family heirloom: a 170 year old gold ring, with intricate detailing, that is currently in pieces, a jewellery box bought in Italy, and a 200 year old fire bucket, which is on the brink of collapse. Firstly Richard has a look at the gold ring to repair and resize it so that it'll fit the owner's adult fingers. Then Will starts to repair the jewellery box which include The revealing of a secret compartment which the owner wasn't aware of. Suzie meanwhile tackles the repairs necessary to repair and restore the old fire bucket.
Episode 9: WWII Lucky Mascot
Jay Blades and the team revive and restore a previous brooch, a teddy bear called Chiefy with a suspected moth infestation and a well-traveled trunk, which after a journey of 6,000 miles, now has pride of place in Sam Sharpe's family home. Amanda and Julie start by putting Chiefy into the deep freeze to kill off any moth larvae lurking inside. Will deals with the warped camphor wood trunk with help from Brenton who makes a replacement piece for the brass latch. Kirsten re-makes Chiefy's buttons, Suzie checks out his new boots and Steve buffs up his boatswain's call. Richard repairs the damaged brooch.
Episode 19: Homemade Gramophone
The team takes on a smashed piggy bank, a homemade gramophone that has lost its voice and a tarnished 19th-century ceremonial helmet.
Episode 8: Flexiwhirl Seesaw
Metal worker Dominic Chinea is challenged to revive a rare and curious 1930s children's toy seesaw, while hand embroidery expert Sara Dennis is given the challenge of reviving a century old embroidered bedspread. Meanwhile, brother and sister Steve and Suzie Fletcher sort out an ancient gentleman's shooting stick.
Episode 20: Tape-Recording Machine
The team takes on a broken tape-recording machine, a costume that once belonged to a 1950s strong woman and a broken wind-up car.