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The Reassembler - James May rebuilds old stuff on BBC Four


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Old 13-04-2016, 13:35
Slojo
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Like what ?

The show has already covered, electronics, engines, and a musical instrument. All things that James has an interest in.

Before long the show would start repeating itself. I'd love to see, e.g. a grand piano, snooker table , jet engine assembled, but has James the skill or inclination to do it ?
No sure if James can do it or not but the question has to be would a grand piano, snooker table or jet engine fit in his shed
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Old 13-04-2016, 14:04
ClarkF1
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I wonder if he had a Baby Belling oven when he was a student.

That would be ideal
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Old 13-04-2016, 14:23
mossy2103
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For each of the three programmes show, there should have been much edited out, some of which could have made it into the final cut had the programme been longer. Which was the point that I was making.

The show has already covered, electronics, engines, and a musical instrument. All things that James has an interest in.

Before long the show would start repeating itself. I'd love to see, e.g. a grand piano, snooker table , jet engine assembled, but has James the skill or inclination to do it ?
There are plenty of other mechanical and electro-mechanical devices from the archives that could for the basis of an interesting programme. And maybe James does or does not have an interest in them, but that in itself should not be seen to be a barrier.
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Old 13-04-2016, 14:24
mossy2103
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No sure if James can do it or not but the question has to be would a grand piano, snooker table or jet engine fit in his shed
It would also be fun watching him test a jet engine in his shed!
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Old 13-04-2016, 14:29
Grafenwalder
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I realise that the thing with him 'playing' the guitar was done for comic effect but given his musical background I'm surprised he can't play or learn something simple.

Him playing, even badly, Smoke on the Water would have been good.
He plays piano and flute so possibly never had the interest to learn guitar and could not even play one badly! Both very different instruments. My sister plays piano but can't play guitar, but her youngest son is a brilliant guitarist, plays in a group, but can't play piano!

Now this would be interesting. How about James doing a piano rebuild?!
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Old 13-04-2016, 14:37
BorderBirthdays
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It would also be fun watching him test a jet engine in his shed!
Did you se Guy Martin test his Merlin engine out? It's worth a watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wkxrQOkNdc
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Old 13-04-2016, 14:39
Grafenwalder
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Like what ?

The show has already covered, electronics, engines, and a musical instrument. All things that James has an interest in.

Before long the show would start repeating itself. I'd love to see, e.g. a grand piano, snooker table , jet engine assembled, but has James the skill or inclination to do it ?
As most know he holds a PPL and owns a light aircraft so perhaps he could do a plane build? It wouldn't be a first though. Mark Evans, veterinary surgeon turned tv presenter has done a number of rebuilds including a light aircraft for Discovery channel (Quest).
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Old 13-04-2016, 14:45
Straker
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It would also be fun watching him test a jet engine in his shed!
"Over to the left Jeremy...Now a step back and a little to my right. Perfect - IGNITION!!"
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Old 13-04-2016, 14:53
Grafenwalder
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It would also be fun watching him test a jet engine in his shed!
You will like this; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ji3...&nohtml5=False

and this; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjCQ...&nohtml5=False

and here is a bigger one; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRH0...&nohtml5=False
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Old 13-04-2016, 20:32
degsyhufc
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He plays piano and flute so possibly never had the interest to learn guitar and could not even play one badly! Both very different instruments. My sister plays piano but can't play guitar, but her youngest son is a brilliant guitarist, plays in a group, but can't play piano!

Now this would be interesting. How about James doing a piano rebuild?!
I reckon he could learn Smoke on the Water or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Even played badly it would be a good comedy moment.

A bit like when Lister plays in Red Dwarf.
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Old 14-04-2016, 00:16
Prince Monalulu
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He could reassemble a Yamaha Fizzy he's of the right vintage, some straight forward spannering and electrics to explain, plus cultural asides.
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Old 14-04-2016, 01:15
RoseAnne
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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.
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.
i'm one of Faust's "not all" then! I'd rather watch James May reassemble anything over watching Eastenders any day. Can't abide soaps! I'm rubbish at needlework and knitting too. Bit of a Tom boy I suppose.
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Old 01-09-2016, 20:11
ClarkF1
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It's being repeated from tonight at 9.30 on BBC4 over the next three Thursdays
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Old 07-09-2016, 11:30
mossy2103
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There will be a new series to air at Christmas:

“Here we go then. More workshop cock-ups and cod philosophy,” said May. “To be honest, I’d probably be doing this even if no one was filming it. There’s a lot of false jeopardy in TV, but this is absolutely real; I really do stand there for hours putting things back together.”

BBC4 has commissioned a second run of the show that will include May putting together a Hornby toy train and track, a 1960’s Kenwood Chef food mixer and a 1976 Honda Z50a mini trail bike, known as a a monkey bike.

“The great thing about reassembling bits of the past is that you’re reminded of how terrible it all was,” said May. “These are warnings from history – ignore them at your peril. It took me all bloody day to get that old record player back together. I celebrated by going out and buying a new tablet, with a massive memory.”

BBC4 has upped the second series to four 30-minute programmes, from the three that aired in the first run in April.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...assembler-bbc4
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Old 07-09-2016, 11:34
Straker
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Genius television from a natural broadcaster. Long May he continue!
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Old 07-09-2016, 14:11
Sloopy
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Very welcome news to hear that James will be back for more of this series.
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Old 11-09-2016, 16:01
Grouty
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Yeah that is good to hear, i didn't see this the first time around, so watching the repeat now, so thats why we use '999' as the emergency number
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Old 11-09-2016, 16:48
lundavra
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Genius television from a natural broadcaster. Long May he continue!
Just keep him away from live TV, he was hopeless in the BBC2 series from the Mini factory.
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Old 12-09-2016, 12:51
Iggyman
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Still on that 30 minute format then? That's a shame, each program should be at least 45 minutes.
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Old 12-09-2016, 13:08
orson buggy
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Still on that 30 minute format then? That's a shame, each program should be at least 45 minutes.
I have a feeling that millions would be quite thrilled watching May do an airfix kit every week.

This week -a Junkers JU88,

next week Thunderbird 2 [ my favourite ]
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Old 26-09-2016, 11:08
ocox
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I have a feeling that millions would be quite thrilled watching May do an airfix kit every week.

This week -a Junkers JU88,

next week Thunderbird 2 [ my favourite ]
Yes please, anything Gerry Anderson
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Old 26-12-2016, 21:32
Grouty
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New series starts on Wednesday @ 9pm, starting off with a Toy Train Set, and theres 4 episodes in this one.
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Old 28-12-2016, 12:34
The Amazing
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Cool : )
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Old 28-12-2016, 23:34
swingaleg
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I enjoyed this ...........it's good old eccentric British TV at it's best

My only quibble is that he doesn't really explain how things work ..........and he assumes that we all know what a commutator is and does.........I don't have a clue !

still............. it's about the rambling getting there rather than the finished product
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Old 29-12-2016, 11:15
Slojo
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Really enjoyed this last night. Brought back memories of when I was a kid and was always taking my toys to bits to see how they worked.

James May is great at this easy going stuff
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