Opinion

Health and safety concerns? Soldering irons a switch-off? Jim Lesurf wonders why the BBC’s massively successful Repair Shop series appears uninterested in restoring electronics

Back in the 1950s when I first became interested in engineering and audio, I came across various books that delved into the details of how to build, test, and repair domestic electronics and electrical items. These books covered a wide range – from household irons to ye olde valve-based television sets. In those days, of course, the main ‘Elf and Safety’ idea was, ‘take care, and don’t electrocute yourself or burn down the house!’

I was, therefore, really pleased when the BBC started its Repair Shop series of programmes in 2017. These show how professionals can repair or renovate old items, ranging from shoes or paintings to – yes! – old record players, radios, etc. This saves waste and landfill, and lets people appreciate good designs.

Amplifier no-show

I eagerly looked forward to a programme featuring the examination and restoration of something like, say, a Radford valve power amplifier, or one of the early Class A transistor amps from Sugden. Hopefully accompanied by an explanation of how these were innovative designs that advanced the quality of home audio, and are still highly rated by hi-fi enthusiasts.

Alas, as episode followed episode and series followed series (the show has recently finished its 15th series, and has three more lined up through 2028) it became clear that the repairs or explanations dealing with how home audio equipment worked, or could be serviced, were becoming sparse. Even glimpses of mass-market items like a Dansette record player ceased appearing.

This is, for me, a disappointment, and makes me wonder why. Is it because the programme makers have decided that the world of ‘electronics’ is simply too complex for the general public, and viewers are put off by seeing someone waving a soldering iron about – despite being fascinated by seeing someone using a laser to weld items together?

Perhaps such a view is informed by the way modern (often ‘mobile’) devices appear to be made as hard as possible to open up and repair, leaving us expected to buy a newer model every few years and throw the old one into landfill.

Or maybe there’s the feeling that a TV programme shouldn’t risk encouraging viewers to start learning how things work, or even demanding items that can be serviced. Or is it more basic – taken for granted that no one cares and we all simply prefer to discard old kit and buy the latest thing every few years?

End of the road

Each of these possible reasons has a defensible basis, to some extent. And for many users of technology, replacing an item when it suits you – rather than seeking a repair – can make sense.

However, might this also tend to deter people from discovering an interest in becoming an engineer? In my case, the old ‘repair books’ stimulated me to try my own hand – a path that led to a fulfilling career.

I worry that this road has now been closed. Nowadays, we’re faced by many items that are complex, mysterious, and with an air of being difficult, dangerous or even impossible to try to repair or improve. High-tech so ‘high’ as to make its operation beyond the understanding of normal mortals.

Maybe one day the Repair Shop will ‘restore’ an old Acorn Archimedes computer and explain where the ARM chips were invented, and how it was processor chips that provided the basis of a design approach that, in time, helped mobile phones become commonplace.

As yet, though, I can’t even recall the programme showing a BBC B home computer being overhauled – despite the BBC being itself involved in that!