The repair shop
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2020 9:55 am
I'm almost surprised this programme hasn't been mentioned on here before or if it has i can't find a thread. For those who haven't seen it it's a BBC programme where people bring objects that are broken or have seen better days to a group of expert restorers in a barn and leave with a nicely repair object. For those who have seen it i'd like to ask your opinions please.
I was largely put onto it by a friend who raves about the programme and could see himself doing some sort of custom repair work himself. He was telling me that on a couple of forums including a woodworking forum he uses opinion is distinctly divided. I have a history in restoration so should be naturally interested but i find the programme a little frustrating. I can't fault the work of the experts who all do a decent job. What i find frustrating is firstly a lack of depth in the programme , each episode could easily cover the restoration of just one object instead of the three that are crammed into each half hour. Problem there is that it would probably reduce audience figures by going into more detail which i can understand. The other "problem" i have is the objects that make it onto the programme. They are all pretty much heirlooms or objects of sentimental value not really everyday things. In some respects it mirrors my feelings when i worked in restoration where we would work on lord so and so country pile , redundant churches and house of "historical importance" but very rarely on the houses of joe public of the past. Nice places but not really my heritage. Repair of mundane objects might encourage people to repair stuff themselves although again a programme showing how to patch a hole in a pair of jeans probably wouldn't attract huge viewing figures. One other thing they omit from the programme is how long the restorations take or how much it would have cost. Perhaps that might be because that would put people off having things repaired , it's already common to hear " not worth repairing , cheaper to buy new" but i suppose if the programme encourages people to repair stuff then that's a small victory.
Anyhoo anyone else seen it , love it or loathe it?
I was largely put onto it by a friend who raves about the programme and could see himself doing some sort of custom repair work himself. He was telling me that on a couple of forums including a woodworking forum he uses opinion is distinctly divided. I have a history in restoration so should be naturally interested but i find the programme a little frustrating. I can't fault the work of the experts who all do a decent job. What i find frustrating is firstly a lack of depth in the programme , each episode could easily cover the restoration of just one object instead of the three that are crammed into each half hour. Problem there is that it would probably reduce audience figures by going into more detail which i can understand. The other "problem" i have is the objects that make it onto the programme. They are all pretty much heirlooms or objects of sentimental value not really everyday things. In some respects it mirrors my feelings when i worked in restoration where we would work on lord so and so country pile , redundant churches and house of "historical importance" but very rarely on the houses of joe public of the past. Nice places but not really my heritage. Repair of mundane objects might encourage people to repair stuff themselves although again a programme showing how to patch a hole in a pair of jeans probably wouldn't attract huge viewing figures. One other thing they omit from the programme is how long the restorations take or how much it would have cost. Perhaps that might be because that would put people off having things repaired , it's already common to hear " not worth repairing , cheaper to buy new" but i suppose if the programme encourages people to repair stuff then that's a small victory.
Anyhoo anyone else seen it , love it or loathe it?