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A miner’s lamp that saved its owners life, a mysterious rug-covered armchair, and an antique music machine that hasn’t played in years.

Gramophone guru Tim Weeks takes on the repair of an antique wooden phonograph, brought into the Repair Shop by Nicola Dean, whose father was an avid collector of phonographs and gramophones. This particular model – an Edison Opera Phonograph – was his prized possession and the centrepiece of his collection. However, it suffered badly in a collision with a group of over-enthusiastic small children, and now not only does it not work, but the distinctive wooden horn has become separated from the main body of the item. Tim must call upon all his experience, as well as the wood restoration skills of fellow expert Will Kirk, to get this marvellous music machine singing once again.

Upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary is faced with an unusual challenge when an armchair is brought in to the Repair Shop complete with a colourful rug stitched into the fabric. Much loved by three generations, the chair survived its trip from pre-war Nazi Germany but has become battered and faded over time. It takes the help of fine art conservator Lucia Scalisi to unravel the mystery of the colourful rug’s provenance.

And Steve Fletcher takes on the repair of a battered old miner’s lamp that once saved the life of its owner, Hubert John, when he was caught up in an underground roof fall at the Hook colliery in Pembrokeshire. Hubert’s granddaughter, Rita, is hopeful that Steve can get the lamp burning brightly once more, while preserving the bumps and scratches that saved Hubert’s life.

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44 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Robert Pugh
Series Editor Sandy Watson
Executive Producer Rob Butterfield
Executive Producer Emma Walsh

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