The Repair Shop

S05:E12 - Victorian High Chair, Smugglers Telescope, Tippling Stick

Today in the Repair Shop, Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.Morag Croll brings into the barn a 19th century heirloom she's hoping can be preserved for posterity. The tippling stick is thought to have belonged to King George V and was given to her master baker great grandfather as a retirement gift. Brenton and Will join forces with their restoration expertise to repair this unique item ensuring history will live on for 100's of years to come.Next into barn is 12-year-old William, his granny Christine, and her brother Keith. They have a nearly 200-year-old telescope that needs optics expert Richard Biggs to cast his eye over it. William would love to use the telescope as his great, great, great, great grandfather once did in the 1800s. Now blurry and broken this antique needs an expert's eye to bring it back in focus. Richard soon spots a loose lens and sets to work dismantling the telescope, cleaning and reassembling so it can be used once more. Finally, a unique piece of furniture arrives with Christine Day. She's brought in a Victorian high chair that transforms into a rocking chair, the chair has been in the family for over 100 years and has helped raise many generations including Christine's father. Sadly, it has deteriorated so it is no longer safe to use. Christine is hoping it can be fixed and brought back into use for her youngest grandchild. It's a team effort as furniture restorer Will Kirk calls in the expertise of Master Saddler Suzie Fletcher and metal worker Dom Chinea, to get the convertible high chair back into action.