Episode
The Repair Shop: Cigar Box Ukulele
Overview
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Metal maestro Dominic Chinea is blown away by a prewar ride-on toy aeroplane that has been grounded for decades. Owner Charlotte is hoping to restore her grandpa's vintage toy for her own daughter Phoebe to enjoy. Rusty and in pieces, getting the plane fit for piloting again is going to be a mammoth job for Dom. Luthier Julyan Wallis is tasked with reviving a make-do-and-mend ukulele fashioned from an old cigar box. This hand-crafted instrument was made by owner Kate's father in the 1920s and was played at family gatherings throughout her childhood. And ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsey works wonders on a collection of badly broken zoo animals made from wood pulp.
Details
- Series
- The Repair Shop
- Season
- Season 7
- Episode
- Episode 17
- Air date
- 2021-04-06
- Runtime
- 44 min
Episode context
Cigar Box Ukulele is Episode 17 in Series 7 of The Repair Shop. It aired on 2021-04-06. The runtime is 44 min.
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Episode 16: Hundred-Year-Plus Nursing Chair
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. First to arrive is a dilapidated nursing chair dating back over 100 years. The button-back antique reminds owner James of the wonderful times he spent with his grandmother and mother as a child. Wood expert Will Kirk and upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary join forces to resurrect not only James's precious chair but also his cherished childhood memories. Leather expert Suzie Fletcher's expertise is called upon to repair a 1950s helmet that belonged to a brave firefighter who witnessed one of Wales's most devastating disasters. Restoring this hero's helmet to its former glory proves an immensely touching tribute for his devoted daughter Janet. And metal expert Dominic Chinea undertakes the repair of a vintage coffee grinder that takes owner Sergio back to summers spent with his grandparents in Italy.
Episode 18: Silver Salt and Pepper Music Box
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Silversmith Brenton West takes on the repair of a salt and pepper music box of great sentimental value to owner Janice. The ornate pair was purchased in Hong Kong by Janice's mother, who accompanied her father during his army posting in the 1950s. Janice played with the set throughout her childhood, and now she wants her daughter to treasure it for future generations. Mechanical expert Steve Fletcher finds himself flummoxed by a talking doll who's lost her voice. Mending the miniature record player inside her proves an unusually tricky challenge for Steve. Meanwhile, teddy bear ladies Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch take on the comparatively fun part of the fix, creating her original 1960s clothes. And master hatter Jayesh Vaghela is brought to the barn to tackle a treasured hat worn by a prisoner of war as he worked on the Death Railway in the Second World War.
More episodes from this season
Episode 15: Stoneware Elephant from New Zealand
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. First through the barn doors is a stoneware elephant purchased by a young British couple, Michel and Paul, when they lived in New Zealand. Ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay has her work cut out to revive both Michel's precious elephant and her memories. Wood expert Will Kirk and master saddler Suzie Fletcher join forces to resurrect a dilapidated child's rocking horse, built by a grandfather who never had the chance to repair it for his baby granddaughter. And silversmith Brenton West undertakes the repair of an unusual trophy shaped like a boxing ring.
Episode 19: Vintage Pocket Camera
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Camera restorer Brenton West tackles a vintage pocket camera, believed to have taken the final photo of a loving family before they dispersed following their mother's death. Owner Geoff cherishes this prized possession that has been in the family since the early 1900s. Toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell get to grips with a stuffed pig that is crying out for some TLC. The 65-year-old fabric toy has served as a lifetime companion for owner Sally who, as a child, even manged to get him christened by her local vicar. And ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay painstakingly pieces back together a delicate stone plate from India. Owner Amelia's father originally bought it on a work trip. Once home, it had taken pride of place in the family hallway. But when Amelia's mother suffered a sudden stroke, an unfortunate accident left the plate in pieces.
Episode 14: Hand-Made Toy Racing Car
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Mechanical maestro Steve Fletcher and metal man Dominic Chinea tackle the motor and body of a hand-made toy racing car. Leather expert Suzie Fletcher get to grips with a leather bowls bag that is due to be passed on to the fifth generation of a sports-mad family. And wood expert Will Kirk works his magic on an intricately carved box from the Far East.
Episode 20: Singing Trophy
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Silversmith Brenton West is tasked with reviving a worn-down singing trophy that celebrates the musical talent of a sadly departed mother. Won in 1955, it commemorates a young girl who turned her back on singing when she started a family. Wood expert Will Kirk works wonders on an ornate, wired bird cage gifted to a daughter by the biological father she only managed to track down as an adult. A fiddly fix from Will, along with finishing touches from metal expert Dom, brings the beloved bird cage back to life for Sarah. And leather expert Suzie Fletcher wrestles a beaten-up boxing bag back into shape. It originally belonged to a successful cruiser-weight fighter, and grandson Danny is knocked out by Suzie's stunning transformation.
Episode 13: Italian Musical Table
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Music box expert Stephen Kember and furniture restorer Will Kirk collaborate on the repair of a small musical table of great sentimental value to owner Jenny. Toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell keep calm and carry on as they revive a Land Army doll made by owner Vanessa's mother, who served in the Women's Land Army during the Second World War. The doll was so precious to Vanessa's mother that no-one had permission to play with it. And leather expert Suzie Fletcher joins forces with embroidery specialist Sara Dennis to revive a pair of worn-out driving gloves used by a transport driver from Barnsley as he drove up and down the country and slept in his unheated cab.
Episode 12: Sammy the Snail
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. First through the barn doors is a vintage ride-on toy that has seen better days. Metal maestro Dominic Chinea cannot wait to get to work on 'Sammy the Snail', who is beaten up and rusted after years of enthusiastic use by owner Hannah and her four brothers. Silversmith Brenton West pairs up with wood restorer Will Kirk to turn around a once shiny ballroom trophy, now faded and worn. And bicycle restorer Tim Gunn undertakes the repair of a vintage bicycle gifted to a young girl by her loving father who passed away when she was just 14 years old.
Episode 11: Victorian Rocking Chair
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Upholster Sonnaz Nooranvary and metal expert Dominic Chinea join forces to revive a Victorian iron rocking chair that has given great comfort to a family for generations. Mechanically minded David Burville takes on the fix of a quirky mechanical bear ornament that is meant to move its head in time to music. And leather expert Suzie Fletcher takes receipt of a broken and burned leather collar attached to an alpine cowbell, gifted to owner Maureen by a very special lifelong friend.
Episode 10: Mining Scene Oil Painting
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Art conservator Lucia Scalisi revives an oil painting of a mining scene, created by an amateur artist in the 1960s. Embroidery expert Sara Dennis and silversmith Brenton West join forces on a delicate wedding tiara, originally worn by a 1950s model whose granddaughter, Lydia, wants it restored for her own impending nuptials. And mechanical maestro Steve Fletcher takes receipt of an early 20th-century chiming mantelpiece clock that was gifted to a loving couple on their wedding day.
Episode 9: Pub Pinball Penny Slot Machine
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. First up is a pinball penny slot machine, originally at the bar of a village pub run by owner Jeannine's family. Art conservator Lucia Scalisi's expertise is called upon to repair a 1960s hand-painted drag cone - a fibreglass cone with a perspex viewing screen that sits on a motorbike's handlebars to deflect wind from a rider racing at high speeds. Owner Dan's father, Chris Bartram, was a drag racer in the 1960s and 70s, but died young when his sons were just 13 and 11 years old. And silversmith Brenton West undertakes the repair of two art deco-style silver ladies holding mirrors aloft. Owner Laraine sees the 'silver ladies' as a link to her beloved great-grandmother, with whom she lived as a child.
Episode 8: Sparkling Chandelier
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. Electrics expert Mark Stuckey and silversmith Brenton West join forces to repair a much-loved, sparkling chandelier that once took pride of place in a council house. Owner Suzanne's mum Pat worked as a cleaner for a wealthy couple who gifted her the cherished chandelier. Furniture restorer Will Kirk is presented with a damaged mother-of-pearl table, badly burned after a hot pan was mistakenly placed on its surface. Stuart's treasured heirloom originally belonged to his grandmother and was damaged by his father as he grew ill. And mechanical maestro Steve Fletcher turns his attention to a broken toy airplane that doubles up as a memento of a lost childhood in Iraq. The runway plane belongs to Mae, who received it as a child. Now her daughter Serena is hoping it can be fixed so that her mum can relive the childhood and country she left behind.