The Reassembler (On iplayer now)

[Eddie Honda]

 

My fair wife was less than impressed.

My fair wife reckoned it should have been an hour long.

 

My wife unfairly* said I should stop being a disassembler and put something back together for a change...

[xtriple]

Didn't he used to keep all his motor bikes in his house before his missus moved in? I approve as I used to do the same when I was young and single (as opposed to being old and single....).

[Tamworthbay]

Didn't he used to keep all his motor bikes in his house before his missus moved in? I approve as I used to do the same when I was young and single (as opposed to being old and single....).

I once had four bikes in the dining room (patio doors are a wonderful invention), I still have most of an AJS model 20 under the bed but that is in bits so doesn't count.

[ChristinaGXL]

I really liked it! I wish they'd showed a bit more of the actual assembly bits but it was a nice and relaxing thing to watch. I could binge watch it easily.

[plasticvandan]

Ditto,just watched it online,looking forward to the next one

[jakebullet]

Just watched lawnmower on iplayer. He uses way too much instant gasket.

[DaveAspley]

TIM AND REX DUN IT BETTA

 

Secret life of machines on YouTube.

[Rocket88]

Modern equivalent of "The Potter's wheel".................for those of you old enough to remember.

[reb]

I watched the lawnmower one last night, I really enjoyed it. It made me want to buy an old lawnmower, or something similarly engined, and take it to bits and put it back together. My girlfriend doesn't approve of the idea for some reason.

[barefoot]

I'm not convinced that he put the phone back together using just intuition and a crumpled drawing of an old phone.

[xtriple]

Missed that one last night, I was busy.... snoring! I had a slightly sick dog and another who insisted on getting in on the cuddles so two warm fat bodies made me all snoozy!

 

I shall catch up later.

[Pete-M]

I'm not convinced that he put the phone back together using just intuition and a crumpled drawing of an old phone.

I stripped and rebuilt the one in my dad's garage at the age of 10 or 11.. I couldn't have built one from scratch.

 

It was strange watching May's program as I recognised about 70% of the bits and it's about 35 years since I last looked inside a phone.

[seth]

I'd like to challenge him to an English-finished minute repeater (possibly with other complications too) from circa 1890, especially if he likes small screws.

[barefoot]

I stripped and rebuilt the one in my dad's garage at the age of 10 or 11.

 

 

 

Well, you bloody well would, wouldn't you!

[Bobthebeard]

Saw the telephone one, but missed the lawnmower. Enjoyed it immensly! Will watch more.

[vulgalour]

Mikeknight put it most succinctly last night "BBC helps James May produce a Youtube channel".

 

I actually found it boring and was disappointed with it.  I expected better.

[KruJoe]

I'm not convinced that he put the phone back together using just intuition and a crumpled drawing...

 

I bet him and his team were the ones who pulled it apart in the first place. How else would they know it was complete and fully working?

 

 

Tonight (9pm, BBC4) is the third episode of three:

 

Electric Guitar

 

The presenter continues ... reassembling the 147 pieces of an electric guitar. James' task will entail soldering, extensive use of his precision Japanese screwdrivers, and some fiddly electronics, before he attempts to channel Brian May in a solo performance.

[colnerov]

I'm not convinced that he put the phone back together using just intuition and a crumpled drawing of an old phone.

 

 Hi, At one point in one of the arial shots of the proceedings there was an older man in an anorak who I would think was leading him through what he wanted next off the table and had shown him how it went together. A bit like the way doctors learn 'see one, do one'. That way JM has half an idea of what to do and give an impression of stumbling through it.

 

 One thing I did find funny and ironic was when needed a light to see for the tricky screw, he used his modern mobile instead of a Pifco super glow worm torch.

[Bobthebeard]

Even so.... Worthy viewing IMHO. Mr May does a good impersonation of a 'bloke in a shed'. Is also clearly intelligent and interested. Liked it. The humble 1950's telephone was venerated for the excellent bit of engineering and design that it clearly was.

[fairkens]

Anyone who goes on national television and explains the difference between Philips and JIS screw heads is ok by me

[xtriple]

Watched this and the phone one on catch up just now. Bloody excellent telly. Could so easily be a bore fest but his enthusiasm, knowledge and intelligence lift it well out of any of those categories.

 

Is there any more?

[robinmasters]

Just watched the lawnmower one. I enjoyed it. Quote a lot of technical detail for a television entertainment program, and no pretend tension ('after the break, find out if James has a suitably sized imperial socket!').

 

Obviously stripped, cleaned, and test-assembled before he got the parts, but it's telly.

 

I was cheering him on like the women in my house do with X-Factor etc.

[Tamworthbay]

Miss the phone, saw the guitar. Was ok and would watch if NOTHING else on but not sure I will bother with catch up. Maybe it depends on what he is doing as I have played with too many lawnmowers and a few guitars so nothing new for me.

[KruJoe]

All on iplayer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b076nwjz/episodes/guide

 

 

That's it for now I think, it was the third of three. They were like a "pilot" I suppose. If BBC managers see threads like this ont' internet then hopefully they'd be encouraged to make something similar.

 

"More, BBC, more!"

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I enjoyed the lawnmower one ,haven't seen the other one yet.

It reminded me a bit of that vet bloke who made Cobra kit and restored an E-type etc, just seemed like a couple of mates filming and lending a hand when needed.

[scaryoldcortina]

[Bobthebeard]

^^ Benny Hill builds Telecaster?

[scaryoldcortina]

Actually that was me. I've also rebuilt a 50s dial phone and can strip and rebuild single cylinder engines with my eyes shut!

 

I was therefore looking forward to these shows, I went on the iPlayer earlier and had a look. Sadly I didn't really get into it, not sure why but it bored me a bit.