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00:00Hello.
00:05These days I spend more and more time in my Wiltshire home.
00:11And the pub I own.
00:14Thinking about all the big problems in the world.
00:17And some smaller ones that annoy me.
00:21Luckily there's a place I can go to solve them all.
00:25Or at least try.
00:27My shed.
00:29Right.
00:31It's here that I have the tools.
00:33Let's just saw some wood up.
00:35The tea.
00:37And a couple of other highly competent blokes.
00:41Very good. Brace yourself.
00:43Who've agreed to help me rid the world of problems.
00:46Is she getting the ticket out?
00:47Great.
00:48Dirty flight at us.
00:49And small.
00:51The cereal has gone soggy.
00:53I'll also have to take on other people's problems.
00:56What is wrong with Peter?
00:57He used to make a sound.
00:59And now he doesn't.
01:00By which I mean the locals at my pub who are always bringing me stuff to mend.
01:05Is it a train set?
01:07So join us and our excitable crew.
01:13Who will capture our endeavours.
01:15That was epic.
01:17As we create.
01:19Make.
01:20That feels like a terrible thing we've just done.
01:22Repair.
01:23So it's never worked.
01:24Not in my lifetime.
01:25And repurpose.
01:26In my shed load of ideas.
01:28What do you think?
01:29This is just brilliant.
01:30Here I am.
01:31Apparently driving for pure pleasure through the glorious Wiltshire countryside.
01:35In my mini.
01:36Actually.
01:37And despite the vacant expression.
01:38I'm thinking about one of those little problems that really bother me.
01:42The weekly shop.
01:56Actually, and despite the vacant expression,
01:59I'm thinking about one of those little problems that really bother me.
02:08The weekly shop.
02:10And what a senseless waste of life that is.
02:13Because you drive to the supermarket, you park your car,
02:17you go and find a trolley, you take your trolley around the supermarket,
02:20you put all your shopping in it, then you go to the tilling,
02:22you unload the shopping again so you can pay for it,
02:24and then it gets put into bags, and then you put the bags back in the trolley,
02:27then you wheel the trolley back to the car park,
02:29and you take the bags out of the trolley and you put them in your car,
02:32and then, unless you're a blight on society,
02:33you go and put the trolley away in the trolley parking place,
02:36then you drive home, then you unload the bags,
02:38and then you put it all in your house.
02:41I mean, for a start, it's unenvironmental,
02:43because we're told we're not supposed to use our cars
02:45for short local shopping journeys, and you use all these bags.
02:50And these are plastic, and that is B-A-D.
02:54Despite bag charges and reusable bags for life,
02:58we still use over 400 million single-use plastic bags per year,
03:03and make lots of shopping trips in our cars.
03:07Something needs to be done,
03:09and we have an idea.
03:13What if we got rid of the need for bags and cars when we go shopping?
03:18The answer could be surprisingly simple.
03:21Combine one of my favourite things, the bicycle,
03:25with one of my least favourite things, the shopping trolley.
03:29And to make the world's first supermarket trolley bike,
03:32I'm going to need these two.
03:35My engineer, Simmy.
03:37So I've got this plan.
03:39Who collects vintage socks.
03:40We'll heat it up a little bit to anneal it,
03:43and then we'll hammer it out.
03:45And the incomprehensible Tony the tool.
03:48That's kind of fun, aren't we?
03:49Who's good with wood...
03:51..and always ready with a power tool.
03:56And, of course, our up-for-anything crew,
03:58who are also along for the ride.
04:01Sorry, Lottie.
04:05So, here is the supermarket trolley.
04:07We've also got a couple of bicycles
04:08that I've recovered from the recycling centre,
04:11and we've got to combine the two
04:13such that you ride your supermarket trolley
04:17to the supermarket, around it,
04:19and back out again without getting off.
04:22It's quite a challenge because, A, this is surprisingly heavy,
04:25and, as we know, supermarket trolleys do not steer.
04:31So I've heard.
04:32I've never actually driven one.
04:33Let me have a go.
04:34This is completely...
04:36It's random.
04:38He can tell he never, ever shopped in his life.
04:41Obviously, normally my butler does the shopping,
04:42so I've got no idea how a supermarket trolley happens.
04:44How it works.
04:46Could you make it a sidecar?
04:48I hadn't thought of that, I'll be honest.
04:51It's a good reason.
04:52Yeah, it's going to be a bit too wide.
04:53Why?
04:54Have you ever ridden something with a sidecar?
04:56Yeah.
04:57It's very odd.
05:01Where's the break?
05:03Nice idea, Tony, but we can eliminate it.
05:06We gather around the whiteboard
05:08for one of Simi's excellent engineering drawings.
05:12So, in my head, that is our trolley.
05:16Axle.
05:17Yeah?
05:17Some kind of pivot from this point,
05:21anywhere between here and here,
05:22going back up to our frame,
05:25which will be seat,
05:27post,
05:29however that's attached.
05:31So, you've got your pedals,
05:32and then your back wheel.
05:35The clever bit will be that pivot there,
05:39whether it's underneath the axle,
05:41or somewhere back here.
05:44I'll just turn this upside down,
05:45because we can,
05:46and it will stand up.
05:49So, in effect,
05:50that's chopped off there,
05:53so the trolley is, in effect,
05:55sitting on here.
05:56Yes.
05:57So the trolley can do...
05:58So this is just an elaborate steering mechanism.
06:03Do we have to ride it upside down?
06:05Only in Australia.
06:08It's fantastic.
06:09You get on this outside your house,
06:12or in your garage,
06:13or your shed,
06:13or whatever,
06:14you set off,
06:15and you don't get off again
06:17until you're back at your house
06:18with your shopping.
06:19If your house is the right shape,
06:20you could ride it into your kitchen.
06:21Right, cup of tea.
06:28And when I say a cup of tea,
06:30I, of course, mean a pint of beer
06:32in a very nice pub, I know.
06:35Morning.
06:36And I know it's very nice,
06:37because it's my pub,
06:39and my regular customers know
06:40that I'm always up for taking a look
06:42at their broken odds and sods,
06:44as I have a bit of a reputation
06:46for mending stuff.
06:50And sure enough,
06:51no sooner have I sat down with Sim
06:53than local Amy turns up
06:55with a precious family heirloom.
06:59Hello.
06:59Hello.
07:00Are you Amy?
07:01I am.
07:02Ta-da!
07:03Is it a train set?
07:05It is.
07:06Oh, do sit down
07:07and be prepared to sit down
07:08for a long time.
07:10This is far too old to be yours,
07:11he says diplomatically,
07:12because this is from the 50s.
07:15Yes, it is my dad's.
07:18What is wrong with it?
07:19The transformer
07:22seems to be the problem.
07:25It smokes after it's done
07:27a couple of rounds.
07:28Does it?
07:29Oh.
07:29So you've set it up?
07:31Not for about ten years or more.
07:34And why now suddenly
07:36have you decided?
07:37Dad turned 75 this year,
07:39so I thought it might be
07:41quite a nice thing
07:42to reinstate his childhood train set.
07:46Does he know you're doing this?
07:47No, he doesn't.
07:48So if we fail,
07:49we can just...
07:50I have to admit
07:53this is slightly my specialism,
07:55mending toys
07:55and especially toy trains.
07:58So this is post-1959,
08:00I know that by the coupling,
08:01but the track,
08:02I know,
08:03is from the late 50s
08:05because this is the first series
08:06of track that Tryang made.
08:08Oh, wow.
08:08Quite possibly in the Richmond factory
08:10before they moved to Margate.
08:14I get all the girls.
08:17That is the 060 Ginty.
08:20Okay.
08:20These are Tryang trains,
08:22which later became
08:23Tryang, Hornby
08:24and then Hornby.
08:25Today's Hornby railways
08:26are actually directly descended
08:28from these,
08:28not the Hornby of Liverpool.
08:30Oh, yes,
08:30that's the automatic hopper,
08:31so that goes over
08:32a little line-side thing
08:33and then drops the coal out.
08:36This will probably be largely
08:37a strip-and-clean job.
08:39What we ought to do first, Simi,
08:40is find out what's wrong with that
08:42because nothing will happen
08:43without that.
08:44The Transformers smokes
08:45or did last time
08:46you plugged it in?
08:47Did last time
08:48I plugged it in.
08:48Did you unplug it immediately
08:49or did you run around going,
08:50oh, my God, it's smoking?
08:52I unplugged it immediately.
08:53Excellent.
08:53So you may have saved the windings.
08:55By the way,
08:55the other thing
08:56that's very encouraging
08:57about this
08:58is your motion work
08:59is intact.
09:00That little bracket is intact.
09:02They often break.
09:03Okay.
09:03And so I think your father
09:04took very good care of this.
09:07Right.
09:08We are going to
09:09plug in
09:10the Transformer.
09:13For those of you
09:13who don't know,
09:14the Transformer
09:14takes the mains voltage AC,
09:16transforms it
09:17into a safe
09:1812-volt
09:19DC
09:20so that it doesn't kill you
09:21when you put your fingers
09:22on the rails
09:22and then that goes
09:23through this control box
09:25which is basically
09:25a rear stat
09:26and that controls
09:27the speed of the train.
09:29Right, so if you plug that in
09:30and it doesn't go bang
09:31or burst into flames,
09:33we can then check
09:33the output of those
09:34which should be
09:3512-volt DC,
09:36shouldn't it?
09:37It should be.
09:37Should we go for it?
09:38Go for it.
09:39Bang!
09:39Bang!
09:39Is it humming?
09:43Yes, it is.
09:45Right, 12-volts DC.
09:46DC.
09:4714.5, 14.6.
09:50It's about 14 volts.
09:51That's about right
09:52because there'll be
09:52a little bit of loss in here.
09:54If there's any kind
09:54of short in that,
09:56which would short that,
09:57which would make that
09:58probably smoke.
09:59Now we're going to see
10:00if this,
10:01which is the
10:02train speed controller works.
10:04Happy?
10:04Yes, I'll hold the probes.
10:06I will get...
10:07I'll be the
10:07quick-reacting switch.
10:10Hang on, hang on, hang on.
10:12OK, so your IC switch
10:14and viewing display...
10:15If it starts to smoke,
10:16I will turn it off.
10:19Yes, we've got an output.
10:21So you've got 14 volts.
10:22Turn the knob.
10:24Just seeing if that's
10:24getting warm.
10:25There you go.
10:26It works.
10:27Yeah, so if I now
10:28take those two wires
10:29and apply them
10:30to the two sides
10:32of the locomotive's
10:33electric motor,
10:34we might see some life.
10:37Ready?
10:40Excellent.
10:41That's remarkable.
10:43God, you're good.
10:43Given the amount
10:44of dirt in there.
10:47What was that?
10:49That!
10:50A pigeon.
10:51That is more
10:52than a pigeon!
10:53A crow's s***
10:54on the train set.
10:57I love my arm.
11:00Oh, God.
11:02Absolute b*********.
11:03The update is that
11:06the transformer
11:07and the rear stat works,
11:08but the train set
11:09is now covered in guano
11:10and so is Amy's arm.
11:13But it's a small price
11:14to pay
11:15and it is considered
11:15good luck
11:16in some circles
11:17for a bird to
11:18crap on your head,
11:19isn't it?
11:19so they say.
11:20So they say.
11:30You find us deep
11:31in Wiltshire,
11:33in the middle of a
11:34groundbreaking engineering project
11:35to solve both
11:37the environmental issues
11:38and inconvenience
11:40of the weekly shop
11:41by joining together
11:43a bike
11:43and a trolley
11:44which we are
11:46in the middle
11:47of dismantling.
11:48Look what I've found.
11:50Conveniently discarded
11:51at the back of my shed,
11:52I happened upon
11:53some wheels
11:54which are just
11:55the right size.
11:56Chuck it under
11:56and see.
11:57Don't we, I reckon?
11:57Oh, that's almost bespoke.
12:02That is absolutely brilliant.
12:04Just cut these, these.
12:06I'd weld it on first.
12:08Should we do that?
12:09Let's do that.
12:10Before we weld
12:11anything together
12:11we're going to have
12:12to strip both our trolley
12:14and our bike
12:15of anything
12:15not strictly necessary.
12:18I think we'll have
12:18a montage here
12:19with some slightly
12:20twee doing music
12:22from a free music
12:23library somewhere.
12:25Tony and I
12:26use brute force.
12:27Whoa.
12:29Dispose.
12:31This bit can go as well.
12:33And a hammer
12:34to get rid of
12:35that child seat.
12:40Job done.
12:41While Simi
12:42preps the bike's
12:43headstock
12:43ready to see
12:44if it will fit
12:44nicely onto the trolley.
12:46So that's about
12:47the right height.
12:49And with our
12:49three-wheeled prototype
12:50beginning to resemble
12:51Simi's drawing
12:52I think we've just
12:54about had enough
12:54of this twee music.
12:56So if we
12:57cut this off
12:59mount that vertical
13:01does it need
13:02to be vertical?
13:03This needs to be
13:04vertical because
13:04when you ride
13:05a two-wheel bicycle
13:06when you go around
13:09a bend you lean
13:10and you have a thing
13:11called rake and trail
13:13which is basically
13:14the distance between
13:15the centre of that
13:15and the centre of the
13:16pivot and that
13:17is at an angle
13:18but it doesn't want
13:19to be at an angle
13:19on something
13:20with two wheels
13:20at the front
13:21otherwise when you
13:21turn one wheel
13:22we'll be trying
13:23to lift off the ground
13:24so that needs
13:24to be vertical.
13:26If we put a plate
13:27on here
13:28because all this
13:29is very strong
13:29and we attach
13:31the fork
13:31straight to that
13:32plate
13:33because these trolleys
13:34they're designed
13:35to hold a lot
13:35of weight
13:36they are
13:37a full weekly shop
13:38and up to two
13:39children
13:39yes
13:40are you confident
13:41of where the plate
13:42should go
13:42well the box section
13:43I'm going to go
13:45and cut some box section
13:45now
13:46we'll measure that
13:47and get those in
13:48and we'll cut
13:50the headstock off
13:53happy?
13:56yes
13:56do you want me to stand
13:58on the other end
13:58to keep it stable
13:59just mind your eye
14:00this box section
14:05cut from Simi's
14:06old barbecue
14:07will form a frame
14:11that the bike's fork
14:12will be welded onto
14:14right now
14:14more of that
14:15Simi
14:16angle grinding
14:18with his shorts on
14:19is slightly
14:20not HSE
14:22no it isn't
14:23so please remember
14:24to wear the appropriate
14:25protective equipment
14:26if you're making
14:26a trolley bike at home
14:28right the next thing
14:29I think
14:30is we'll cut this
14:31yeah
14:33but you haven't got
14:34any goggles on
14:35so don't get anyone
14:36what do you want me
14:36to put some goggles
14:37yeah put some goggles on
14:38thank you
14:39right don't mind
14:42my eyes then
14:43we're cutting the bike
14:46frame so that we can
14:47establish the essential
14:48geometry between the
14:49headstock and the
14:50trolley
14:51and also so that
14:53there will be room
14:53for me to pedal
14:55turn it over
14:56right nice and solid
14:58that feels like a
15:07terrible thing
15:08we've just done
15:08what chop a bicycle
15:09up
15:09yeah
15:10it's only now
15:11we're going to make
15:12it better though
15:13will our cut down
15:16bicycle pivot
15:17correctly with our
15:18stripped back trolley
15:19that is again
15:21almost too good
15:21to be true
15:22you lose a little
15:25bit of trolley space
15:26but let's be honest
15:27we're men
15:29we're going to go
15:29and buy three bottles
15:30of beer
15:31a tin of beans
15:31and sausages
15:32and some bread
15:33that is very true
15:34what that you could
15:35fit in a shopping
15:36basket
15:37yeah
15:37or just in your
15:39backpack
15:39I mean
15:40or your pockets
15:40even
15:41why are we doing
15:41this
15:42because it's fun
15:43okay
15:44yes innovation
15:49is fun
15:51but it's also
15:52very hard work
15:53the summer sun
15:55beats down
15:56all this grafting
15:57makes for a very
15:58hot and sweaty team
16:00so I'm wondering
16:02if there's a way
16:03to cool down
16:03that doesn't involve
16:04expensive air conditioning
16:06or electric fans
16:07but perhaps something
16:08a little more
16:09homemade
16:10it's very hot today
16:12it's about 28 degrees
16:14outside
16:14it's about
16:15well up to 10 degrees
16:16hotter in the workshop
16:17and we've been getting
16:18very sweaty
16:19so what if you could make
16:20cooling clothing
16:22we have these packs
16:24these are existing
16:25commercially available
16:26chilli bin packs
16:28and we also have
16:29some sodium polyacrylate
16:32which is
16:32basically what goes in here
16:34mixed with water
16:35and it improves
16:36its ability to
16:37hold cold
16:39so what we're going to do
16:40and by we
16:41I mean Simi
16:42because he can operate
16:43the sewing machine
16:43expertly
16:44is make a
16:45t-shirt for me
16:47we're also going to make
16:48Tony a pair
16:49of cooling pants
16:51we're going to use
16:52two pairs of these
16:53waterproof
16:54pants
16:55one inside the other
16:57skillfully sewn together
16:59by Simi
17:00so that the whole thing
17:01can be filled
17:02with the
17:03chilli medium
17:04which is what you're
17:05going to make
17:06Tony
17:07is this making any sense?
17:09unfortunately yes
17:11this is not just about humiliating
17:15Tony
17:15we're trying to do our bit
17:17to fight global warming
17:19by finding lo-fi
17:20low energy ways
17:21to stay cool
17:22as there are
17:24quite fortuitously
17:26six of these little ones
17:27could I have a six pack?
17:30other way round
17:31is it?
17:32there's that
17:33I know you've never seen one
17:34before
17:34yeah well I've not
17:35not in the mirror
17:38I haven't
17:38no
17:38so
17:39three there
17:41no
17:41no
17:42no
17:42no
17:42no
17:43two two two
17:45yes
17:45what?
17:46two two two
17:47that's it
17:48oh yes
17:49that looks like
17:50action man's torso
17:51yeah
17:52so Simi gets to work
17:54sewing individual pockets
17:56for the ready-made ice packs
17:57to sit in
17:58come on
17:59shove it in
18:00yeah that's good
18:02there you go
18:03shall I hold that up
18:05and we can see
18:05what the effect
18:06of the six pack is
18:08excellent
18:09that's pretty good
18:11excellent
18:12I look like one of those
18:14you know
18:14cartoon superheroes
18:15right so next Simi
18:17is going to incorporate
18:18these larger
18:19packs into the shoulders
18:20and then we'll put it
18:22in the fridge
18:22but first we need to
18:24fill Tony's pants
18:25with our homemade
18:26cooling gel
18:27right so Tony and I
18:29will make up the gel
18:30it's 10 grams per liter
18:32which doesn't sound
18:33like enough
18:34but apparently that's
18:34right according to
18:35the instructions
18:36sodium polyacrylate
18:38also known as
18:39water lock
18:40should we do one liter
18:41first and give it a
18:42bit of chalk
18:42is often used in
18:43nappies and fire
18:44retardants
18:45because it can absorb
18:46up to 300 times
18:48its weight
18:48in water
18:49wow
18:50is it turning into
18:52really fat
18:53it's used in cool packs
18:55because the water
18:56gets trapped inside
18:57the gel
18:58reducing the rate
18:59at which it heats up
19:00it looks a bit like
19:02crushed ice
19:03doesn't it
19:04yeah it looks like
19:04a slushie
19:05so it stays cooler
19:07for longer
19:07than plain ice
19:09it's fantastic
19:10now we've mixed up
19:12the cooling gel
19:13it's time for Simi
19:14to sew individual
19:15pocketed channels
19:16into Tony's
19:17massive pants
19:18to accommodate
19:19all the sodium
19:20polyacrylate
19:21mixture
19:22this is wild
19:24stuff
19:24there's something
19:26slightly unsavoury
19:27about it
19:28your pants are also
19:29becoming very heavy
19:30Tony
19:31but
19:34what are you doing
19:44to me
19:44so we're ready
19:47to put our cool clothing
19:49in the fridge
19:51we'll leave them in there
19:52for an hour
19:52put them on
19:53and see how good we look
19:55and how good we feel
19:57and just a few hours later
19:59enough time for a walk
20:00a pint
20:01and two shakes
20:02of a lamb's tail
20:03right men
20:04it's time to see
20:05if our hand-sewn
20:07cooling clothing
20:08actually works
20:09I'm going to go first
20:10Tony
20:11if that's okay
20:12ooh yes
20:14it feels cold
20:15just put your hand
20:20on there
20:21ooh
20:22it's going to be
20:24nice to wear
20:24ooh
20:25right I'm going to
20:27disappear into the lav
20:28and then emerge
20:29to gasps of amazement
20:32very cold
20:33I've got to say
20:40it's so realistic
20:44that's great
20:48I've got to say
20:50okay apart from that
20:51we've got the six pack
20:52a bit low
20:53alright
20:54but
20:55the sensation
20:56is fantastic
20:57you look very broad
20:59but it's really good
21:00these bits especially
21:02because they cool down
21:03the sort of base
21:04of your neck
21:04it's really nice
21:05it does square your shoulders
21:07off as well
21:07doesn't it just
21:08how cold is it
21:12how cold is it
21:12is it comfortable
21:13it's yeah
21:14it is actually
21:15there's no
21:16there are no sharp edges
21:17or anything
21:18I'm definitely cooler
21:19I'm cooling down
21:21even as I stand here
21:22talking to you
21:23and when you touch it
21:24do you actually think
21:25you've got abs
21:26so you're convincing yourself
21:27it's like
21:27yeah
21:28just oozing
21:32sex appeal
21:32and then we decided
21:40it was time for Tony
21:41to put his pants on
21:43oh my god
21:45I'm never going to keep these on
21:48come on Tony
21:53do I have to?
21:57come on look
21:59they're going to fall down
22:00they're falling down
22:07I feel like I've got
22:10some sort of disease
22:11are you cooler?
22:16yeah cooler
22:16but mainly my thighs
22:18it's all dropped down
22:19it looks like you've had
22:20a prolapse of every single
22:21organ
22:22they're coming down
22:24feel it
22:26it's not right
22:26no
22:28it's horrible
22:30okay
22:32I think you should sit down
22:35Tony
22:35so we don't have to look at that
22:36I wish to be able to see less well
22:43what can we conclude from that
22:46as an idea
22:47I'm not so sure about the pants
22:50but the shirt
22:50I think as an idea
22:51it works
22:52if these were a bit thinner
22:53and they were more evenly distributed
22:56chuck your t-shirt in the fridge
22:58the night before
22:59get up
23:00slip it on
23:01walk out
23:03ice cool
23:04oh it's leaking
23:07oh
23:09fuck
23:10sorry
23:14it's squeezing at me back
23:17right
23:24I think that's the end of that scene
23:26I do hope so
23:27I do hope so
23:28welcome back to Wiltshire
23:39where we've been tackling climate change
23:41by inventing cool clothing
23:43and welding together a supermarket trolley
23:45and a bike
23:46obviously
23:47and now we're about to attempt to repair
23:50a broken train set
23:52as a surprise for Amy's dad's 75th birthday
23:55no pressure then
23:57is everybody ready
23:59shall I speak
24:01right
24:03the toy trains have been cleansed of bird poo
24:07by a very low paid junior researcher
24:10we're now ready to start mending them
24:11which in this instance isn't very difficult
24:14because
24:14I can reveal
24:16that I had
24:17almost exactly
24:19this train set
24:20in fact
24:20I still have it
24:22it had these two locomotives
24:23the 060 Ginty
24:25and the 462
24:26Princess Elizabeth
24:28I also have
24:30the guards van
24:32this green coal truck
24:35I have that flat one
24:36I have one of these green ones
24:38and I did have
24:39one of these
24:40blood and custard coaches
24:42but my big sister
24:43trod on it
24:44in about 1969
24:46and I haven't seen her since
24:48nevertheless there is a joy
24:50in mending things
24:51and there's a particular joy
24:52in mending these trains
24:54because actually over the years
24:55I've mended hundreds of them
24:56they're very very simple mechanisms
24:59all of these trying locomotives
25:01were designed to come apart
25:02by the removal of one screw
25:04down the chimney on these early ones
25:07and now that
25:08will pop out
25:10there it is
25:11so problems with the motor
25:13tend to be
25:15that the magnet
25:16becomes weak
25:17a good test
25:19is if you put the motor down
25:20and put your screwdriver on it
25:21I can sort of pick the motor up
25:23with the screwdriver
25:24which is a rough and ready test
25:25but
25:26it would be remiss of us
25:28not to use
25:30the remagnetiser
25:32sting
25:34the remagnetiser
25:36it's in here
25:36it's a remarkable thing
25:39I do like the use of the Meccano
25:41yes it's Meccano themed
25:43this was made by a man called
25:45Ronald Dodds
25:46who's a toy train mender
25:48it's not something
25:49you're likely to have
25:50lying around in the home
25:51to be honest
25:51in fact I've never met
25:52anybody else in the world
25:54apart from Ronald Dodds
25:55who has
25:55a toy train magnet
25:57remagnetiser
25:58using this compass
25:59you establish
26:00the north pole
26:02of the magnet
26:02this isn't absolutely crucial
26:04but it means that
26:05the locomotive
26:06will run in the correct direction
26:08I meant to say actually
26:09you shouldn't put anything
26:10like your watch
26:11or your mobile phone
26:12anywhere near this
26:14or really expensive cameras
26:16or your expensive cameras
26:17are you ready
26:18for remagnetising
26:20makes quite a loud noise
26:22to brace yourself
26:23that's it
26:27these are basically coils
26:29with soft iron bars in them
26:32and they become a magnet
26:33when you apply the current
26:34and that remagnetises
26:36because it's touching it
26:37the magnet in the motor
26:38the magnet in the motor
26:39is essential to its operation
26:41you can see that
26:41they're stuck to it now
26:42and do my screwdriver
26:44test
26:45I don't know how that's happened
26:51well I've somehow
26:53demagnetised it
26:54which means it
26:55hang on
26:57did I put it in the wrong way around
26:59I think you did
27:00yeah but that should just
27:01magnetise it in the other direction
27:03well
27:03how can I have killed a magnet
27:08let's try that again
27:11that's the one
27:13that's the one
27:14yes
27:16so the screwdriver test works
27:19it's back
27:20it's back
27:21now let's test the remagnetised motor
27:24for real
27:25could you give me some juice
27:26on the controller
27:27yes
27:29look at that
27:31finally
27:37an electromotive force
27:39that's nice
27:40I like the little sparks
27:42and with the sparks flying
27:43it's time
27:45for a track test
27:46okay
27:47Simi
27:47if you could
27:48plug in
27:49initiate the transformer
27:52please
27:52the transformer is on
27:53I can hear it
27:54the transformer is buzzing
27:56so here we go
27:57are we ready
27:58I'm going
27:59I don't want to do this
28:00go on
28:01it wants to go
28:07and yet it doesn't
28:09I've got a bad feeling
28:11about this repair
28:12for some reason
28:13I don't know why
28:14it's just
28:14I should be
28:17I've done this
28:17dozens of times
28:19it doesn't work
28:19time to run
28:22some diagnostics
28:23first
28:24we check the power
28:25we've got 14 volts there
28:26so we eliminate that
28:28then we check the wiring
28:30that connection
28:31that connection is good
28:32so there's no short
28:34then clean the track
28:36and clean the wheels
28:40sometimes you get
28:42sort of invisible dirt
28:43and finally
28:45we've had a bit of a fiddle around
28:47and we isolated the problem
28:48to the controller
28:49the rear stat
28:50we wiggled it and wiggled it
28:52and hopefully cleaned it up
28:53so it's just dirt
28:55and it needs cleaning
28:56like most things in life
28:57and it's not really surprising
28:59after all those years
29:00in the loft
29:00what is it that
29:02Benjamin Franklin said
29:04he who lives by hope alone
29:06will die farting
29:07did he say that?
29:12apparently so
29:13right
29:14that is running
29:15it's buzzing
29:15here we go
29:17yes
29:19that's great
29:21that is fantastic
29:23that's very pleasing
29:24I hope Amy's father
29:26how old is he
29:2775 and a half
29:28present it to them
29:30and they'll go
29:31wow that's amazing
29:32take it home
29:33and put it back in the loft again
29:34for another half century
29:35excellent
29:38very good
29:39well I enjoyed that
29:42but as much as I'd like to play
29:47with Dave's train set all day
29:48I have more pressing matters
29:50over in my pub
29:51we're trying to invent new pub games
29:55to entertain the customers
29:57so they'll buy more beer
29:58and eat more food
30:00and today we have invented a garden game
30:03based on an old English idiom
30:06this is called
30:08two birds one stone
30:10Simmy if you'd like to activate the mechanism
30:12we fashioned two birds out of thin plywood
30:16cut out a small round hole in each
30:18and mounted them onto a pivot system
30:21as you can see the two birds swing
30:23they've got holes in them
30:24the idea is that you have to throw a stone
30:26at the point where the holes line up
30:28and it goes through both birds
30:30and then you win a prize
30:32that's it
30:34that's the tweet
30:35right who's going first
30:37Tony
30:37yep
30:38there's a jug there
30:40full of carefully selected pebbles
30:42we need to establish the throwing distance
30:45oh
30:46that's good
30:48that's canny fun
30:50aren't
30:50no that's
30:51well it can't be too easy
30:52I don't think it's going to be easy
30:54get three shots each
30:56okay Simmy activate the two birds mechanism
30:58do you think it's overarm or underarm
31:01I'm going to go underarm
31:01okay
31:02rubbish
31:04see it's harder than you think
31:07nope
31:09pants
31:12are you aiming for the hole?
31:16oh that wasn't
31:17that was very low
31:18Simmy do you want to go
31:19I'll activate the birds
31:20is he selecting his stones very carefully
31:22he's hidden the good stones at the bottom
31:24Rubbing
31:29don't break it
31:32oh
31:34mom bird
31:36this is one of those games that
31:37I mean it doesn't really mean anything
31:39but once it starts
31:41it sort of becomes very important
31:43doesn't it
31:44like so many things in life
31:46timing is everything
31:47I think it starts from when you lift your arms
31:50there it is
31:52it's about the rhythm of the throw
31:55versus the birds movement
31:56about understanding space and time
32:01oh
32:02or it's about throwing a stone at some birds
32:06did that go through?
32:08I think that went through
32:10it was a bit of an in off
32:11but it did go through
32:12so you are the first person ever to score
32:15at two birds one stone
32:16congratulations
32:17thank you very much
32:19it's one nil nil to Sim
32:20with only one stone through the hole
32:23we invite members of the crew
32:25and a few locals to play along
32:27oh that was very close
32:31what's this game called?
32:32two birds one stone
32:33of course it is
32:34I can't do it
32:37I obviously can't
32:38we even let cameraman Will have a go
32:41I'll film it
32:41yeah
32:42what does this button do?
32:46rubbish
32:46where are you from sir?
32:48Norway
32:48Norway
32:49Norway
32:49Norway
32:52nil poa
32:53turns out to kill two birds in this game
32:56takes 12 members of the crew
32:57three locals
32:58some bloke from Norway
32:59and about 500 stones
33:01before
33:02we eventually hit the target
33:05yes
33:07but it's very satisfying when it's achieved
33:11that was
33:13that was an almost perfect shot
33:15so it's a fantastic game
33:18so it's a fantastic game actually
33:18I'm amazed no one's ever thought of it
33:20every pub in England will have one of these soon
33:24and that's a promise
33:26in Wiltshire
33:34we're back in my pub
33:36and after a lot of delays
33:37cancellations and derailments
33:39Sim and I are now ready to hand back this repaired and perfectly running train set
33:44that Amy brought us
33:46when she heard that the Royal Oak is a pub of mending
33:49so Amy who brought us this broken train set a few weeks ago is now waiting in the bar of the pub with her dad Dave who was 75 a couple of months ago
34:01this is actually his train set
34:04he apparently hasn't seen it for many many years
34:07he certainly hasn't seen it running for probably decades
34:11and this is meant to be a big slightly belated birthday surprise for him
34:17so it will either be very emotional because he loved his train set
34:21or he's completely forgotten about it and wonders what the hell we're doing
34:25we're going to find out in about 15 seconds
34:29they're coming
34:31there's Amy and there's Dave
34:34her dad
34:36I'd better go
34:36hello
34:37hello
34:38how are you?
34:40good thank you
34:41how are you?
34:41very well thank you
34:42you must be Dave
34:43Mr May
34:44happy birthday belatedly
34:46thank you very much
34:47I gather it was a big one
34:48we have something over here for you
34:50do you recognise it?
34:53I do
34:53and does it work?
34:55well let's find out sir
34:57if you'd like to take the driver's seat
34:59is this the sort of thing that you thought Amy would do for your birthday?
35:05I think Amy's always had an attachment to junk
35:10and really wouldn't throw anything away
35:16and she's just a hoarder
35:19and um
35:20whereas um
35:22yeah
35:23I
35:24I
35:25I put it away in the loft
35:26and
35:27forgot about it really
35:28um
35:29do you think when you get home you'll simply put it back in the loft?
35:33probably
35:33I've got
35:35I've now got a policy where
35:37um
35:37nothing goes in the loft
35:39um
35:40so
35:41because if it's in the loft
35:42you don't need it
35:43do you mean you'll
35:44put it in the bin?
35:46no
35:47no
35:48but it will be passed on to someone else
35:50yes
35:51yeah
35:51yeah
35:52passed on to the boys
35:53well
35:54that wasn't quite the emotional reaction we were hoping for
35:57but wait till he sees it go
35:59if you'd like to give it maximum berries forward sir
36:02which is
36:03clockwise
36:04it should
36:05there you go
36:08when was the last time you saw that going round?
36:2140 years
36:21really?
36:23yeah
36:23it is bringing back memories of my childhood
36:26and I did spend a lot of time setting it up
36:29and
36:29going around buying model kits
36:31where you used to glue station buildings together
36:36and I mean I honestly felt that
36:38I wouldn't see it again
36:40so
36:40that's more like it Dave
36:43oh it's just brilliant
36:44it's just really lovely to see it running
36:47after all these years
36:48and with the age behind it
36:49it was actually a pleasure to make it work again
36:52because as we've been saying
36:53there's something about bringing
36:54a train set back to life
36:56because you know that you're
36:58effectively resurrecting somebody's childhood
37:00and the joy of childhood
37:02and the excitement
37:03because
37:03back when we were young
37:05oh god here I go
37:06the train set and a new bicycle
37:08those were the top presents
37:10the iPhones of the day
37:11yes
37:11exactly
37:12you couldn't have a more exciting thing
37:14and there it is
37:15and it still works
37:16it was future proofed
37:17yeah
37:17gosh
37:18am I going to get a bill now?
37:21yes
37:21but it's okay
37:24we're going to do it in 1959 money
37:26so it's
37:27it's two and six
37:29thank you
37:32enjoy
37:32and now from one mode of transport to another
37:43I set off on a bike ride across the countryside
37:46as I return to the problem of unenvironmental supermarket trips
37:51except this isn't just a normal bike
37:56this is a trolley bike
37:58the perfect merging of two engineering miracles
38:03this is the weirdest thing in the world
38:05expertly combined by me, Simi and Tony
38:08to create something that outshines both
38:11it offers the ease and joy of riding a bike straight to your destination
38:16with the convenience of a trolley ready and primed to receive a shed load of shopping
38:23ah
38:24and in the knowledge that you can do it in one go without ever leaving the saddle
38:30sorry, can't stop
38:31and here it is
38:34in all its glory
38:35on its inaugural ride to a well-known supermarket
38:38oh, sorry
38:40morning
38:41you're missed in here
38:42yep
38:42and I'm into the supermarket
38:45I'm still not off my bike
38:47will it get through the doors?
38:50yes
38:50and we're in
38:53right
38:56rice and pasta
39:00seasonal condiments
39:02I hate that word
39:03so, it works as a bike
39:05morning
39:06but now let's see how it fares as a trolley
39:09crisps and snacks
39:12here we go
39:14peanuts
39:18epic
39:21oh, look
39:23beans and sausages
39:25it's quite fast, actually
39:34it accelerates very well
39:36bit of skid
39:40bit of skid
39:41coming left
39:43thank you
39:45pies
39:46chocolate fingers
39:52oh, they're high
39:54this is just brilliant
40:02I mean, all I'm doing is going for a bike ride, really
40:06it'll just make shopping pleasurable
40:08straight line steering is quite good
40:12it's got a good turning circle
40:13it does misbehave slightly in corners
40:15you have to remember about the back pedal brake
40:17so, the geometry may need a little bit of work
40:20so, the geometry may need a little bit of work
40:21but the basic idea is good
40:22what is this thing
40:23good morning
40:24morning
40:25and it's proving very popular
40:27with happy shoppers
40:28morning
40:32thank you so much
40:36thank you so much
40:37happy troubles
40:38enjoy the shopping
40:40love it
40:41that's such an old fashioned idea
40:43look at those people pushing a trolley
40:48some people are absolutely stuck in the 1970s
40:52do do do do do do do do do do
40:59need bog roll
41:01unfortunately, I never passed my bike trolley proficiency test
41:13now, all that's left to do is ride this incredible machine to the checkout
41:18under the watchful eye of the crew and Mel.
41:24Morning. Morning.
41:28Oh, no.
41:32I've realised that there's a slight issue with this.
41:36Would you like me to help? Yes, please.
41:38I'm supposed to do this without getting off the bicycle.
41:48That's all right.
41:49Can I actually... Hang on.
41:51No, I can reach things. Look.
41:53Yeah.
41:55Hi.
41:57I'm still on the bike.
42:00I haven't put my feet on the floor.
42:02No, you're fine.
42:06So this does slightly depend on very helpful supermarket staff.
42:10Most people are quite helpful, aren't they?
42:11They are.
42:12There we are, thank you.
42:13And then I pay, and then we just put it back in there.
42:15Yes, OK.
42:16Beth, would you like any bags?
42:18No, I would not like any bags, thank you.
42:20No, thank you.
42:21I don't need them.
42:22That's good.
42:24That comes to $41.42.
42:26Is that cash or card?
42:28Of course I don't have cash or a card.
42:30My butler does this.
42:31Do you need me to pay, Jane?
42:34Yes, please.
42:35There we are.
42:36Thanks.
42:36I'll pay you back later.
42:38Thank you very much.
42:39It's been absolutely fantastic.
42:41Bye.
42:42Bye.
42:42I'm still on the bike.
42:57It turns out that this year is the 75th anniversary of the very first shopping trolley being introduced
43:05to the UK, 75 years, and then all that time, no one has thought it could be combined with
43:12a bicycle, and this is brilliant.
43:14You just go for a bike ride and pick up everything you need for a happy existence on the way.
43:18It's excellent.
43:21Every home should have one.
43:24And will.
43:30Having fun?
43:31Oh, yes.
43:31Lovely.
43:31Lovely.
43:54Lovely.
43:55Lovely.
43:56Lovely.
43:57Lovely.
43:58Lovely.
43:59Lovely.
44:00Lovely.
44:01Lovely.
44:02Lovely.
44:03Lovely.
44:04Lovely.
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