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Episode 15

Jay Blades examines the evolution of modern transport through archive footage and three Repair Shop restorations: a penny-farthing bicycle, a tram seat and a speedometer.

Jay Blades shows how three items repaired in the barn have influenced modern transport.

The first item is a penny-farthing bicycle belonging to Peter Swash. Jay uncovers eye-opening footage that reveals how the penny-farthing helped transform cycling in the UK in the 19th century, paving the way for inventions like the pneumatic tyre and laying the foundations for the country鈥檚 cycling revolution that continues to this day.

Second is an old-fashioned tram seat owned by Dora Paul from Salford. Dora used to love riding the trams as a child, and when they were taken out of service in the 1940s, her family rescued a seat to use in their garden. Jay uses footage dating back to the early 1900s to chart how the tram changed the face of public transport, its disappearance in the 1940s, and how it is now making a comeback as cities across the UK try to reduce car traffic.

Finally, a speedometer from a classic 1920s Lagonda car. Incredible archive footage of early car crashes demonstrates how and why speed limits and speedometers were introduced as the car grew in popularity from the 1920s onwards.

44 minutes

Last on

Fri 21 Aug 2020 00:30

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Music Played

  • The Kinks

    Supersonic Rocket Ship

  • Queen

    Bicycle Race

  • Lily Allen

    LDN

  • The Jam

    London Traffic

  • Supergrass

    Going Out

  • Madness

    Driving In My Car

  • Gary Numan

    Cars

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Series Producer Paula Fasht
Executive Producer David Sayer
Executive Producer Rob Butterfield
Executive Producer Emma Walsh
Production Company Ricochet Limited

Broadcasts