The Repair Shop

S06:E40 - Cornet, Paraffin Lamp, Charles Automata

Today in the Repair Shop, Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.Master of musical instrument restoration, Pete Woods, is pleased to meet Chris Bassett from Hertfordshire. Chris has brought his very first musical instrument, which is desperate for some specialist attention. A gift from his parents to help him recuperate after a childhood accident, this cornet made a huge impact on his life and shaped his future. It sparked a love for music, performing and inspiring others. The silver-plated cornet is dented, tarnished, and seized up. It has not been played for over fifty years but Pete feels sure he can nurse it back to full voice again and grant Chris's wish to play it in memory of his wonderful parents.Next into the barn are Simon and Elaine Johnston with a memento from Simon's childhood, that sparks a multitude of lovely memories. Expert Steve Fletcher remembers a similar item from his own childhood and gets to work re conditioning the rusted paraffin lamp. Simon and his siblings grew up playing cards with their parents by the light of this lamp and feels those moments taught him of the importance of family time. He'd love his own children to share that experience and hear its familiar hiss, as it burns bright.And music box restorer Steve Kember, along with silversmith Brenton West, greet Lynnie McGirr and are charmed by her elaborate silver music box, with the tiny feather bird that should pop up and sign along. It was left to her by a dear friend and neighbour called Charles. The music box transfixed Lynnie and her then young children from the moment they saw it and, knowing that, Charles kindly left it to them in his will. However, after an unfortunate accident many years ago, the musical mechanism is no longer working, it's lost its lustre and the little bird refuses to perform. Lynnie would love her new granddaughter to be mesmerised, just as she was, so Steve and Brenton come to her aid.