Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

In the Repair Shop today, Jay and the team tackle a concertina that survived combat in World War I, a vintage jigsaw and a cocktail table with a surprising secret compartment.

Today in the Repair Shop, Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.

97-year-old Audrey is the owner of a beautiful vintage concertina dating from the late 19th century, which once belonged to her grandfather Hubert. Hubert volunteered for service at the outbreak of World War I, and was sent to France, where between combat he would entertain the troops with his trusty concertina. After the war, the concertina remained a family favourite, and Audrey has many fond memories of her grandfather entertaining her with it. But with leaky bellows and broken reeds, it hasn't played a tune in decades. Accordion restorer Roger Thomas has a serious job on his hands to get the concertina working again, and to bring the memories flooding back for Audrey.

Fine art conservator Lucia Scalisi and furniture restorer Will Kirk team up for the repair of a beautiful hand-cut jigsaw, which is an important family heirloom but is now dirty and dishevelled, with several pieces missing altogether. Will sets to work re-creating each missing piece, before Lucia carefully paints in the picture on each one, using an ancient technique involving, of all things, freshly cracked eggs.

Jenny Harvey from Essex brings in a polished wooden cocktail table with a secret compartment that any spy would be proud of - if only it actually worked as it did in its heyday. Can mechanical whizz Steve Fletcher figure out how the unique mechanism operates, and get this piece of 1950s nostalgia functioning once again?

And soft toy restoration duo Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch are called upon to rescue a much-loved toy dog, made by German manufacturer Steiff, which its owner Anita has treasured ever since it was given to her by her grandparents as a young girl.

59 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Production Company Ricochet Limited
Expert Steve Fletcher
Expert Will Kirk
Expert Suzie Fletcher
Series Editor Sandy Watson
Expert Amanda Middleditch
Expert Julie Tatchell
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Robert Pugh
Expert Lucia Scalisi
Expert Roger Thomas

Broadcasts

Take Part

If you have a treasured possession that needs restoring, please get in touch.