But it isn't the equations that make the circuits work. The same applies to the equations which describe internal combustion engines. This programme at least gives you an idea of the basic principles of the mechanisms involved. Much harder to do with electronics of course.


The engine had a magneto, which is a small electrical generator which creates pulses of energy for the spark.

Think of the alternative name for the butterfly valve, the throttle. It's called that for a reason. Closing it restricts air flow through the engine, slowing it down. Opening it allows more air to flow through, speeding it up. At the same time the carburrettor must also supply more fuel to burn with the air which creates more pressure in the cylinder which generates the torque to accelerate the engine.


Interesting comment in the light of the reply:


This is one of the half-arsed explanations used to explain things that aren't easily understood, that Rosebuddy mentioned. A flat plate put at an angle to the airflow has no curved surface, does not take longer for the air to flow over the top than the bottom yet produces lift.


Well it does very nearly. The sharp trailing edge of the wing ensures that. The upper surface flow certainly moves faster over the more curved surface. The air doesn't move faster because it has further to go but because the streamlines are pushed closer together, rather as happens in a venturi. The upper and lower surfaces of the wing act like halves of a venturi.


He may not be your cup ot tea, but James May is ideally suited to this kind of TV. Plenty of detail here, too much for some possibly. People don't watch his shows because they like him as such, but because they like his informal yet highly informative style. He also gets directly involved with whatever is being built or taken apart and there is a warts and all aspect which makes it more entertaining.

Yes there are many how to videos on youtube and all over the various Discovery channels. Sadly the narrations often aren't up to the job.

=====================================================

I just watched the phone and guitar episodes. There was little new to me in the guitar programme though it was interesting watching it reassembled. The phone was a real nostaglia trip for me though. My grandparents had a pre-war bakelite phone. They had a distinctive feel, sound and smell which is very evocative (the phones, not my grandparents). Our own phone was the more modern dual colour plastic handset, but we still had a named exchange which you dialled using the first three letters (this was the reaon for the letters on the dial, they had no other purpose). When the programme ended with the phone ringing I got quite emotional, you just don't hear that sound any more.

As they used to say in letters to Points of View: "more please".

I didn't spot this series so have only just watched on iplayer. I chose the guitar build to view first. Typical May quips and casual approach it's another excellent series of what May does best.

I liked the informality of recording and camera work too. Just James with a couple of camera operators and a sound recorder guy in what appears to be James shack! I'm not sure but i think May ad-libs the majority of it. Hard to tell as May is always so laid back.

Lets have more of this Mr May!!

Fatal mistake in doing the soldering on the pots and PUPs on the underside of the scratchplate and NOT testing the outputs before screwing it down and putting the strings on. Been there, done that , loads of swearies.

Why use that muckle big screwdriver for the tiny mounting screws ?

Loved the gag at the end , I was quite impressed with James' mastery of the fretboard till the ruse was revealed.

I would guess that the wiring was checked before assembly. It took over 6 hrs to complete but we only saw 30 mins.

I enjoyed the mower one the most. I think because that involved an engine and he seemed to be more animated during that one.

Two reasons for the big screwdriver the guitar used Japanese fixings which are not compatible with US/UK tools so James had to make do with his Japanese motorbike tools. He also explained that a longer screwdriver is better for small screws because it is easier to see when you are deviating from true.

I have a liking for that theory, however I can screw in a tiny crosshead screw with a requisite sized screwdriver and not be in danger of over-tightening or stripping the hole [ a common risk when working on old guitars ]. I'm sure the Beeb coud stretch to a real Fender rather than an Asian copy.

After decades of bad soldering, I discovered the real reason for grim soldering was not my skill, it was keeping the iron tip at the required temp. Cheap irons just overheat, and the solder gets runny and sets brittle, accept no substitute and invest in a temp adjustable iron. For tinning and large areas set it high , for wire and tag work get the heat down.

I was thinking myself that it was odd that they did not test anything until it was completed.

I very much doubt genuine Fenders are sold in kit form! That's my attempt at May type humour.

He was right about the reason for longer length drivers though. Why make a job more difficult than need be?

There was over 5 and a half hours of assembly not shown. Of course, maybe they didnt test anything as they went along but I dont think that they’re that stupid.

Just watched the lawnmower one.
Superb viewing. Joyous.

Loved this show and I well remember that I first learned how to assemble/disassemble engines by doing just that. My BSA Bantam had regular strip downs when I was younger. I then graduated to the four stroke twins and from there to changing the engine in my Anglia 105e.

Needless to say the wife couldn't get her head around why I would want to watch something like this and went off to watch her own stuff. Most women (not all) just don't get it.

Careful now! I suppose it's just as most men wouldn't watch a show about knitting or needlework. Some things are for blokes and some for the ladies.

Can't say I was too interested in the Guitar one, no gears and that sort of thing.

I only half watched it and we're discussing the Screwdriver thing after he explained his reasoning, why?
Fender or some other brand, who cares, it's a Guitar, the re-assembly is the thing I'd have thought.

She has Eastenders!



Even if not 'into' guitars BBC4 ran a couple of brilliant documentaries a while back, one on the manufacture of Gibson guitars and the other was about the Marshall amp. The Marshall history and how it's design was pioneered by Jim Marshall is really fascinating.

watched them all now.
Anyone else old enough to remember Jack Hargreaves making angling flies in Out of Town?

I would have liked to see him put the amp together.

I want to see the person who disassembles the stuff and organines the components on the table.

Might be difficult. They probably don't get out much.

I'd like to see him reassemble a Hammond organ.

Richard Hammond's organ?

The BBC really has to commission another series - three programmes that were interesting, informative, amusing and strangely relaxing. Only next time, make them 40 - 45 mins long.

The Marshall amp documentary was excellent, shows how a British company led the world, in this field.

This may interest some fellow guitar freaks, an interview with Charlie Watkins, the inventor of the Watkin's Copycat, for those who can remember them or even had one.

https://www.namm.org/library/oral-hi...harles-watkins

There was also another on Vox amps which told the story of how the AC30 very nearly didn't happen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54s3386KZVI

I enjoyed Mays lawnmower rebuild. Everything is "lawnmowery" which had me laughing and wondering how he'd refer to an amp rebuild. It's beginning to look more "ampery" now?

Thanks, that's very interesting. I used to have one of those valved Copicats just like the one that Charlie Watkins is talking about. A friend of mine bought it in a junk shop for £10, used it for a few years, then sold it to me for £5! I had it for another couple of years then actually gave it away to a student friend for nothing. On one occasion I telephoned WEM to ask for a circuit diagram of the unit and they very kindly put one in the post to me. It could-well have been Charlie Watkins who I spoke to!

Today, those valved Copicats sell for several hundred pounds!