Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Episode 20

Jay Blades and the team restore a set of binoculars salvaged from a WWII U-boat, a vintage mechanical money box, and two boxing belts with a proud and emotional history.

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

Susie Fletcher and Brenton West team up for the repair of two leather boxing belts awarded to celebrated Tongan heavyweight boxer Kitione Lave, who enjoyed a long and successful career as β€˜The Tongan Terror’, winning countless fights around the world. For Kitione’s daughter Trish and his wife Patricia, these belts are a cherished reminder of the champion they loved. Sadly the leather is now badly worn and in danger of falling apart, while the large silver medallions that adorn the belts are tarnished, the engravings are illegible, and one unfortunate boxer is missing a leg. It will take all of Susie and Brenton’s skills and experience to restore these prestigious prizes to tip-top condition.

Binocular repair guru Richard Biggs takes on the fix of a pair of German-built Zeiss night-vision binoculars, salvaged from a captured U-boat in the last months of the Second World War. They were brought into the workshop by Michael Rasmussen, whose father served in the Royal Navy. He has treasured them ever since he was given them as a child, but the years haven’t been kind, and the binoculars now produce an image that is foggy and out of focus, while the paintwork is chipped and faded. However, it soon transpires that Richard’s biggest challenge will be taking the binoculars apart in order to commence the repair!

And Steve Fletcher is very nearly stumped by a vintage mechanical money box that has just one flaw – it is missing all of its mechanics. When fellow expert Dom announces that he’s equally out of ideas, Steve realises that what at first appeared a simple repair is going to take all his ingenuity and expertise to achieve.

28 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Robert Pugh

Broadcast

Take Part

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