The Repair Shop: Fixing Britain

Original version

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Factual: Antiques

Jay Blades delves into the stories behind the items restored in the Repair Shop.

Jay Blades delves into the stories behind the items restored in the Repair Shop, and finds out more about the show's team of craft experts.

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Jay Blades

Paula Fasht

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The Repair Shop: Fixing Britain: Series 1: Episode 8

Episode 8

BBC One - The Repair Shop: Fixing Britain, Series 1, Episode 8

Jay Blades uses three repairs from the barn to show how clockwork influences modern life.

Jay Blades uses archive and three repairs – a centuries-old clock, a toy and a clocking on machine – to explore how the invention of clockwork continues to influence modern life

Jay Blades investigates three items restored by horologist Steve Fletcher that demonstrate how the invention of clockwork continues to influence our lives to this day. 

First up is the oldest item ever booked into the Repair Shop: a clock dating from the 17th century and now owned by Frank Black from Glasgow. Jay uses archive footage to tell the story of how clockwork was invented. 

He also revisits a toy car owned by Rev Mike Kinna, and finds out how clockwork mechanisms were first used in toys and continue to be to this day. 

Finally, retired electrician Bob Arrowsmith from Peterborough brought in a clocking on machine, used by workers to record when they started and finished work. Jay shows how time recorders were part of a revolution in timekeeping. Until the mid-19th century, different towns used different times, but the advent of industry and the need for co-ordinated timekeeping heralded the adoption of Greenwich Mean Time.

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The Repair Shop: Fixing Britain

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