In The Repair Shop 2024 episode 17, the expert restorers tackle two emotionally charged projects, each steeped in rich family history and personal significance. First up is Will Kirk, an expert in wood restoration. He’s met with a daunting task: restoring a knife-sharpening barrow from the 1890s, brought in by its current custodian, Emilio. The barrow, passed down through generations, originally belonged to Emilio’s great-grandfather—also named Emilio—who started his trade in a small village nestled in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy.
The elder Emilio’s journey wasn’t just about knife sharpening; it was one of survival, perseverance, and hope. With only his barrow for support, he pushed it across Austria and into France, finally settling in Deptford, London, where he made a living sharpening knives. This humble machine became the lifeblood of his family. Now, however, the barrow is in a state of serious disrepair—its side panel has collapsed, the belt is overstretched, and the spindle leg is broken.
For Emilio, the machine holds immeasurable sentimental value, yet he’s never seen it working in his lifetime. As Will assesses the damage, the weight of the project isn’t just about restoring a machine; it’s about breathing life back into a piece of history, a connection to a past filled with ambition, struggle, and legacy. The repair, intricate and demanding, is a race against time and decay. Will’s task is monumental, requiring meticulous craftsmanship to restore this heirloom to its former glory and ensure it once again spins and sharpens as it did over a century ago.
While Will dives into his restoration, the focus shifts to a more tender story as soft toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell are approached by Jamie from Hampshire. Jamie arrives with a well-worn but deeply cherished stuffed husky named Po. At first glance, Po might seem like an ordinary toy, but to Jamie, he’s been a loyal companion through some of the most challenging times of his life.
Given to him at just six years old, Po was a comforting presence through countless hospital visits as Jamie faced treatment for complex regional pain syndrome, a debilitating condition that caused him severe, chronic pain. Over time, Jamie’s medical journey led to a life-altering decision: the amputation of his leg in 2016.
From that moment, Jamie embarked on a new chapter of his life, one defined not by limitations but by incredible achievements. He learned to walk again, took on physical challenges like climbing Mount Snowden, and even competed in international obstacle races. Through it all, Po was by his side, a silent witness to his resilience and triumph.
However, after years of accompanying Jamie on his adventures, Po has begun to show signs of wear and tear. His stitching is loose around the neck, his body is riddled with small tears, and his fabric has worn thin from years of love and use. Jamie’s connection to Po runs so deep that even as he continues to push his physical limits, he fears bringing Po along, worried that his trusted companion might fall apart. Yet, he can’t imagine his future adventures without the stuffed husky at his side.
Amanda and Julie understand the gravity of the situation. Their goal isn’t just to repair Po but to preserve his character—the essence of a well-loved, well-travelled companion. They devise a clever solution: a special onesie for Po, designed to protect him from future wear and tear while retaining his sentimental value. This isn’t just about mending fabric; it’s about safeguarding memories, ensuring that Po can continue accompanying Jamie on the road ahead, just as he’s done for years.
Both stories highlight the emotional depth that often accompanies seemingly simple objects. Whether it’s a knife-sharpening barrow or a stuffed toy, the items brought into The Repair Shop carry with them the weight of history, personal growth, and human connection. Will’s challenge is to restore a tangible link to Emilio’s ancestors, giving him the opportunity to witness the machine in action, just as his great-grandfather once did. For Jamie, the restoration of Po is more than just practical—it’s deeply emotional, as it allows him to keep his loyal friend by his side as he faces future challenges.
The Repair Shop 2024 episode 17
Danielle from London arrives at The Repair Shop carrying a deeply personal item—a unique guitar that once belonged to her father, Colin. It’s not just any guitar, though. This instrument is a rare fusion of Colin’s two great loves: music and art. A keen amateur artist and musician, Colin had painted the front of the guitar with one of his signature abstract patterns, making it a one-of-a-kind piece. However, time hasn’t been kind to the guitar.
The vibrant colors have dulled, the paint is badly worn, and the neck is misaligned, leaving it unplayable. Despite its current state, the guitar is a treasured reminder of the father Danielle adored. Sadly, Colin passed away when Danielle was just 11 years old, following a decline in his mental health after the death of her grandmother. This guitar remains one of the last tangible connections she has to the man who brought her so much joy.
To bring this sentimental piece back to life, luthier Julyan Wallis and painting conservator Lucia Scalisi take on the challenging restoration. Julyan handles the structural repairs first, focusing on realigning the neck to ensure the guitar is playable once again. He carefully polishes the picks, giving them a new lease on life while maintaining their vintage charm. Meanwhile, Lucia embarks on the meticulous task of restoring the paintwork.
Using delicate techniques, she removes the remaining patches of old varnish, revealing the original colors beneath. To preserve Colin’s artistic vision, she retouches the faded areas with acrylic paints, precisely matching the hues Colin chose all those years ago. The end result is a guitar that not only functions as an instrument but also shines as a piece of personal artwork, preserving Danielle’s cherished memories of her father.
The next restoration falls into the hands of husband-and-wife team Walid and Joujou, who specialize in typewriter restoration. They’re presented with a mid-century braille typewriter, an invaluable piece of technology brought in by Lynda and her daughter Jemma. For Lynda, the typewriter has been part of her life since she was just seven years old, attending a school for the blind.
These braille typewriters were revolutionary, helping blind students achieve literacy on par with their sighted classmates. Over the years, the machine has served not only Lynda but also her daughter Jemma, who was born partially sighted. As Jemma grew, the typewriter became a handy tool for labeling children’s books and images, helping to make the world more accessible for her.
However, the family’s trusted typewriter is now in desperate need of repair. Its internal mechanism is constantly jamming, the paper refuses to stay in place, and the case is in shambles. This typewriter, once a lifeline, is no longer functional, and with Jemma’s sight deteriorating further, it’s needed now more than ever. Jemma is learning the more advanced Grade 2 braille, and the machine is essential for her to continue progressing.
Walid and Joujou face a complex challenge to restore the machine to its former working condition, but they are determined. Piece by piece, they carefully dismantle and rebuild the intricate mechanisms, ensuring the typewriter can once again serve its vital purpose. Their goal is to provide Lynda and Jemma with a fully functioning machine that will continue to assist them in their lives, just as it has for so many years.
Both restorations in this episode highlight the emotional significance of objects that may seem ordinary at first glance. For Danielle, Lynda, and Jemma, these items represent far more than their practical use. They are symbols of love, resilience, and the bonds between family members. In restoring these treasured pieces, the experts at The Repair Shop are not just mending physical objects—they are preserving memories, ensuring that these stories can continue to be passed down to future generations.
In this episode, the restorations go beyond mere repairs. They become acts of preservation—of family legacy, personal courage, and the profound bond between humans and the objects that tell their stories.
Conclusion The Repair Shop 2024 episode 17
As this episode of The Repair Shop draws to a close, it’s clear that the restorations are about far more than fixing broken items—they’re about restoring the fabric of lives intertwined with history, memory, and emotion. Each project tackled by the experts becomes a journey back in time, breathing life into cherished objects that carry the weight of untold stories.
For Emilio, Will’s painstaking work on the knife-sharpening barrow is a bridge to the past, allowing him to reconnect with his great-grandfather’s legacy. The barrow, once a symbol of survival and perseverance, is now restored to its former glory, ready to pass on to future generations as a testament to the family’s endurance.
Meanwhile, Jamie’s beloved Po, the stuffed husky that has accompanied him through life’s toughest battles, is no longer fragile and fraying at the seams. Thanks to Amanda and Julie’s thoughtful restoration, Po can continue to stand beside Jamie, a symbol of his resilience and determination. Their work ensures that this companion, so integral to Jamie’s story, remains strong for the road ahead.
In Danielle’s case, the vibrant colors of her father Colin’s painted guitar are no longer fading memories. Julyan and Lucia’s combined efforts have brought back not only its function as a musical instrument but also its unique artistic expression, allowing Danielle to once again feel her father’s presence through the brushstrokes he left behind.
Finally, Lynda and Jemma’s braille typewriter is more than just a tool for communication—it’s a lifeline that connects generations and supports their shared journey of literacy and empowerment. Thanks to Walid and Joujou’s dedication, this device is ready to continue aiding Jemma in her studies, ensuring the family’s legacy of resilience endures.
Each restored object in this episode becomes a renewed symbol of love, strength, and connection. In The Repair Shop, the past is never forgotten—it’s preserved, cherished, and made ready for future chapters. These objects may have once been worn, broken, or forgotten, but through the hands of these skilled artisans, they find new life, just as their owners’ stories continue to unfold.
FAQ The Repair Shop 2024 episode 17
Question 1
Q: What types of items were brought to The Repair Shop in episode 17?
A: This episode featured a fascinating mix of objects! First, there was a knife-sharpening barrow from the 1890s, a vital tool that helped Emilio’s great-grandfather build a life for his family after emigrating from Italy. Then, we saw Po, a well-loved stuffed husky that provided comfort to Jamie through years of medical challenges and triumphs. Finally, the skilled craftspeople at The Repair Shop worked their magic on a guitar painted by Danielle’s late father and a braille typewriter that had been used by Lynda and her daughter Jemma for generations.
Question 2
Q: Why was the knife-sharpening barrow so important to Emilio?
A: The barrow wasn’t just a tool; it symbolized his family’s history of resilience and determination. Imagine his great-grandfather pushing this very barrow across countries, seeking a better life. It represents his family’s legacy, and seeing it restored to working order would allow Emilio to connect with his heritage in a tangible way.
Question 3
Q: How did the restorers approach the repair of Jamie’s stuffed husky, Po?
A: Amanda and Julie knew that Po held immense sentimental value for Jamie. He wasn’t just a toy, but a symbol of comfort and perseverance through difficult times. Therefore, they went beyond a simple repair and created a special onesie for Po. This ingenious solution protects Po from further damage while still allowing Jamie to bring him on future adventures.
Question 4
Q: What made Danielle’s guitar such a unique restoration project?
A: This wasn’t just about fixing a broken instrument; it was about preserving a work of art and a father’s love. The guitar, painted by Danielle’s father, Colin, was a tangible connection to a man she deeply loved and lost too soon. The restorers meticulously repaired both the instrument and the artwork, ensuring that the guitar could be played again and cherished as a beautiful reminder of Colin’s creativity and love for his daughter.
Question 5
Q: Why was the braille typewriter brought in by Lynda and Jemma so significant?
A: This typewriter was a lifeline for Lynda and Jemma, who are both visually impaired. It represented independence, literacy, and the ability to navigate the world. Moreover, it symbolized the enduring bond between mother and daughter, a tool passed down through generations to empower them both. By restoring the typewriter, The Repair Shop team ensured that it could continue to support Lynda and Jemma in their daily lives and learning journeys.