1951's Tin Toy Submarine 'UNDA-WUNDA' - Restoration

[@johnbradford9235]

Ohhh Mr. The Fabrik, you really are the absolute tops at this, aren't you bud 😁. Excellent work, and a beautiful result. Brought a really nice feeling as well watching it bobble along in the water. A heartfelt reminder of the childhood wonder and joy of playing with toys of things from the real world 😊. Honestly, if I had to choose between a games console and this - it'd be this every time 👊👊👊. Thanks man 🙏. 😎

[@TheFabrik]

Hey thank you so much !!! Always touching to bring the memories back😌 I wasn’t sure I could make it when I opened it 😓 It works fine even if the rust will come back sooner or later…

[@dewirosanova7638]

​@@TheFabrik⁰0q

[@shakubovilla7005]

❤

[@behzaddadgar]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂پپپپپپپپپپپپپپت😊ت

[@debudebu4355]

​@@TheFabriki

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

Putting aside the amount of rust, the efforts you had to deploy to strip the paint including the lthographed markings, and open up the shell is an obvious testament to the amazing build (and mechanical) quality of Sutcliffe toys - with almost no part needing replacing!

[@potrzebieneuman4702]

Have you seen the box for these ?. it states that if the sub needs repair it can be posted back to the factory with 40p and the motor will be replaced and returned to the sender. If the repair is less than a replacement then it will be fixed and returned with the change !!!! Unbelievable.

[@The_chezborgur]

Replacement*

[@hush6149]

@@potrzebieneuman4702oh the days of handcrafted metal toys

[@titosanchez7112]

Who’s here from Instagram or tik tok to watch part 2? 😂

[@Tomdc08]

Me 😮‍💨

[@americanidiottv3088]

Meeee

[@Lifeandliving846]

🙌

[@anangsyamsugallery3323]

Me

[@ekarizqisulistiwan7515]

Me 😂

[@50RobinHill]

Watching this was really 'wunderful' for me; what an impressive bit of restoration. Aged six (1964) I saw the Unda Wunda in the toyshop window and lusted after it., but at 14 shillings and sixpence (75p in today's money) it was far beyond my reach. Then my mother went out specially to buy it for me when I was ill. I played with it constantly, and every time it broke I would package it up and send it back to Sutcliffe with a 4/6 postal order, and they would 'repair' it (in reality, take another one off the shelf?) and send it back. I always wondered how they could possibly open it up and fix the rusty mechanism and what went on it there - now I know. Nowadays, I collect old toys and my Unda Wunda is still the most prized of them. So thank you for posting this lovely video. It's great to know that other people also treasure these things as a link to a very different and kinder past.

[@TheFabrik]

Oh thank you ! Glad to bring the memories back 🙏 So pleasant for me to hear such life stories. I think Sutcliffe couldn’t repair it back then. They sent a new one I guess. Thanks again 🙌

[@potrzebieneuman4702]

The good old days when paint was paint and toys were soldered and there was no sign of plastic. I LOVE seeing these old toys brought back to life. Well done.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you ! Glad you enjoyed :)

[@thomashiggins4923]

Encore une fois - trop beau Fab! Le submersible qui circule sous l'eau de la piscine à la fin - le jeux de la lumière, les rayons de soleil à travers l'eau, les reflets, je pourrais regarder pendant des heures... et tout le reste aussi... 17.55 minutes de pure joie. Et en plus, je pense avoir joué avec ce même jouet pendant mon enfance (comme un autre bateau que tu avais restauré). Sometime in the 1960s between France and the UK. Thanks a million. Tom (Clessé, Bourgogne FR).

[@TheFabrik]

Hey Tom merci beaucoup pour ce beau commentaire 😌🙌 ça fait plaisir de faire remonter les souvenir

[@leslieaustin151]

I loved this, not only for the skill shown, but also because, back in the 1950s my parents bought me a similar submarine, a version of this styled on the Nautilus sub from the film “20,000 Leagues under the Sea”, a variation that Sutcliffe made. Hours of fun playing in the water-butt in the garden. I admire your skill and tenacity at fixing what I would regard as ‘hopeless’. Thank you for a blast down Memory Lane. And thank you that you always show your restorations working at the end. Toys are MEANT to be played with! Les in UK 🇬🇧

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you very much ! Glad to bring the memories back 🙌 There is the Nautilus on my channel ;)

[@leslieaustin151]

@@TheFabrik Oh, right! I’ll go and look. Thank you. Les

[@drewbojda8174]

Dav pilkey got a idea from that to make a dog man book

[@geraldwinburn9288]

It brings tears to this old mans eyes to see such lovely restoration of forgotten toys of yesteryears.Thank you.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you ! 🙌

[@QuebecGamer20]

The Sheer amount of precision needed to fix this grants you a lot of respect, I would not be able to do what you do!

[@welshpete12]

Goes for me too and I build radio controlled model submarines .

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you 😌🙌

[@turdferguson5300]

This is just a suggestion and I'm not an expert on electronic pickling / electrolysis. I clean vintage cast iron cookware using this method. It is a line of sight type cleaning so the more sacrificial anodes you have around the tank the more thoroughly it will clean. I have sheet metal lining the inside of my tank and it does fine. Experiment with more anodes and see if your results improve. Love the channel.

[@zucchina24]

Very lovely done! 😊👍👏👌 The ending scene where the submarine toy gets again in the water was for me a bit emotional… remember me a old rusty man gets rebirth after proper treatment… we all know living things die once but old toys can rebirth 🥹 Thank you for sharing! ☺️👍

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you !!

[@KrazyMitchAdventures]

So many "restorers" commit resto-destruction, its nice to see someone who actually does a restoration, the proper way.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@franksando635]

One more toy that will be enjoyed by many other children for another 73 years Great job👍🏆

[@alecfraser1928]

I had one of these when I was about five. I always wanted to see inside it, so you have done me a great favour! It was great to see its characteristic porpoising through the water again. I can clearly remember sailing mine in in the intertidal pools on Ayr beach.1961or 62. What struck me from the restoration was how complex the manufacturing process was. It must have been hard to make a profit.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you very much 🙌 Glad to bring the memories back 🙏

[@barefoofDr]

I had a tin submarine back in the 50's. Not that exact one but a wind up similar to this. That was great fun back then. Thanks for the video.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you !! Always touching to bring the memories back 😌🙏

[@Damien.D]

Can't belive you managed to salvage this wreck... I thought that the completely rusted engine was the death sentence for this ship, but you totally made it work again. Glad to see her sailing again, but in way less murky waters now ;)

[@BeeWhistler]

Same here! When I saw the inside of the toy and that there was an engine in all that rust… I thought she’d made her last voyage.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you Damien, I thought I couldn’t make it, after the opening. It sails fine but I feel like it’s still very fragile, and rust will come back… sooner or later. Thanks again for your support 🙏

[@johncarnie3726]

My Mum and Dad bought me one of these when we were on one of our annual holidays in the Isle of Man. Must have been 6 or 7 at the time so that makes it 1956 or 57. I took it on holiday for the next 2 or 3 years. Spent my time in the sea at Port Erin playing with it. Unfortunately a current washed it out to sea, never to be seen again! Brings back fond memories! Thanks for that!

[@TheFabrik]

Glad to bring the memories back ! 😌🙌 Even if your story doesn’t ends well 😕

[@alanharney5278]

You know it's going to be a good day when it starts with "electrolytic pickling". 😁 Thanks for the video, Mr. Fabrik.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you 🙌

[@brianartillery]

Incredible quality toy - all parts either soldered or brazed. I had a Sutcliffe 'Nautilus', which, sadly, now lies deep in the silt of an extremely deep local pond. Knowing the build quality, it'll probably be found, almost intact, by archaeologists, in a few centuries time! Great restoration! Thank you. 👍👍👍

[@nyotamwuaji6484]

depending on the pond, it may have already been found by magnet fishers. like myself. though ive never found anything that cool. all i seem to find is junk and old fishing hooks.

[@brianartillery]

@@nyotamwuaji6484 - I lost mine in about 1975. The pond is an old brick clay pit, and it was known to have been at least forty feet deep at one end. One end was shallow, but it shelved off really deep after about ten feet or so. It was fed by a spring, and the water was always icy cold. In the late 1990's, the Town Council made the area the pond is in, into a park, and ruined a lot of it by making it 'safer': a very long mudslide, enjoyed by thousands of kids over the years, had steps cut into it. A hazardous path over the edge of a sandpit (about 25-30 feet up), which again had been used as a test of nerve by generations of kids, was methodically cut away. The remains of this were dumped into the pond, making it a good deal shallower, and burying my 'Nautilus', (which had gone down in the deepest part), forever. 💀💀💀

[@TheFabrik]

This is a sad story 😕 I would have been devastated

[@brianartillery]

@@TheFabrik - It was an awfully long time ago - I was about 13 when I lost it, in the viciously hot summer of 1976, where sitting in icy cold fresh water, from a spring, was a good idea, and I was playing with the sub. It went down... And did not return. The pond (which was part of an old clay quarry) was about 40 feet deep in the middle: I had swum in it, and couldn't see the bottom. A few weeks ago, I was 60. I think I can leave my Nautilus to rest now. A really fun toy, though. (sigh). 🤬🤬🤬😆😆😆

[@henerygreen578]

thank you for a wonderful vid...... i personally dont like to be around people who dont get their hands dirty working..... blue collar myself..... and you have great hands Sir...........

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you very much !! Sounds like you have great hands too ! 😀👍

[@johnkelley9877]

The outside did not look too bad but when you opened it up it was completely rusted! It looks like it just came from the store and the painting is fantastic. You have so much talent and it is great to see you use it to save many things from the past. I always look forward to your tutorials. Thanks for sharing this.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you so much !!! I didn’t expect so much rust inside… 🤨

[@lescrooge]

ok, that periscope idea was great. good job

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you !!

[@vanpenguin22]

Unda Wunda - 1932 to 1984 1932 saw the launch of one of Sutcliffe's most iconic clockwork steel toys, the Unda-Wunda. Sutcliffe's British competitors produced equivalent speedboats, some of them arguably better (although more expensive) but none of them produced a tinplate clockwork submarine... A DIVING submarine no less! And for 50 YEARS!

[@TheFabrik]

Thanks a lot for the infos 🙌

[@AlessioRizzi-g3c]

The VW beetle will still beat the record of the most mass produced metal thing

[@lizelealfcinprilui4213]

Hermoso el Submarino

[@andrewhenneberry9765]

I cannot believe how that works so well.

[@Tatal.b]

Você não é fraco não, você fez voltar as aguas o que ja estava perdido no tempo, parabéns por nos causar tamanha emoção

[@id104335409]

No survivors found?

[@antlerrot3741]

I was hoping for a Titanic joke

[@MartasZLA]

@@antlerrot3741 Same xD

[@antlerrot3741]

@@MartasZLA It was too perfect XDD

[@TheFabrik]

RIP to all these people. I started the restoration before the tragedy… just sayin’🙏

[@antlerrot3741]

@@TheFabrik hahah. You predicted it. Btw love Ur content. Keep it up 💪🏼

[@sphaera3809]

Wow!! Amazing! I had a 70’s version of this toy when I was a kid. It was blue. Didn’t last very long in my hands, but I loved it!

[@TheFabrik]

It was very easy to lost them under water 😅

[@azbloc]

très belle restauration, pourquoi utiliser un décapant peinture plutôt que d'attaquer directement avec le sablage?

[@TheFabrik]

Merci beaucoup ! Je pense que la peinture était au plomb et j’essaye d’enlever le maximum de peinture pour ne pas qu’elle reste dans la sableuse.

[@wokohedgehogs]

Fantastic, every adult child should have one as perfect as this one is now. Well done

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you 🙏

[@ВикторГалянин]

Субмарина ожила, благодаря мастеру. Реставрация и видео интересные. Спасибо, лайкаю.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you !! Glad you appreciated it 👍

[@Brooklynbred3]

If this isn't a form of art, I don't know what is.

[@roland202]

I am here from Instagram 😂

[@raul6562]

Si bien reconozco y admiro el inmenso valor de su labor como artista restaurador y todo lo que ello implica en cuanto los amplios conocimientos de múltiples ciencias, (química, física, metalurgia, electrónica, mecánica, etc) también hago póstume honores a la memoria de aquellos hombres de ciencias que diseñaron y crearon todas estas maravillas de ingeniería

[@petersmith4455]

hi there, amazing ! i had one of these in 1963 as a child, it was green and called Nautilis, came in a lovely box, thanks for the memory of these subs, my mum got it for me, gave hours of fun in the bath and pool,kids today dont know what its like to play with toys

[@TheFabrik]

Wow so touching to bring the memories back 😌🙌

[@ronalddevine9587]

Absolutely amazing, you are VERY skilled. I don't think you could find anything comparable today that would be MADE IN ENGLAND. It would probably be from China.

[@TheFabrik]

So true 🤨 Thanks !

[@EvilEndz]

I can remember playing with my one of these back in the 70's, I think early to mid 70's. I had a big plastic "modern" type sub as well that was battery powered, but this clockwork marvel was the right size for bath time.

[@TheFabrik]

Always glad to bring the memories back 😌🙏

[@garymucher4082]

Amazing results that even works. However knowing water is going to find its way back into the insides will start the rust process all over again. But until it belly ups again, it is a nice workable display piece... Thumbs Up!

[@TheFabrik]

Thank yoi so much !! Yes, rust will be back sooner or later...

[@RestorationVideo]

Super-impressive, fascinating, satisfying, and just beautiful to watch. Great job!

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you so much mate 👍

[@maruja8751]

Enfin, une nouvelle video ! Cette restauration est magnifique, c'est un régal ... Bravo ! Le final, dans la piscine est très émouvant !

[@andymcintosh2796]

I could watch this all day every day excellent craftsmanship thank you

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you 🙏

[@venusanet]

Сразу вспоминается Купер «20 тысяч лье под водой». Восторг ❤

[@georgeshelton6281]

I've read from a Time magazine about a Vietnam War veteran who pointed a combat rifle towards 2 Park Rangers. The shell-shocked Vietnam War veteran John Gabron had a hard time putting his combat experiences behind him. He should've received government compensation. Did you notice that the U.S. Congress never sent one man or woman who was a former porn star as an American G.I. off to combat? Not especially back in 1964. They didn't even do such a thing back in 1953. When Marilyn Monroe was the first Playboy centerfold.

[@AlessioRizzi-g3c]

​​​@@georgeshelton6281 what do war and p0rnst4rs have to do with a toy submarine

[@paulvozman842]

Hi, another excellent restoration, its always a pleasure to watch you work your magic on these old toys. Cheers, Paul.👍👍👍

[@TheFabrik]

Hi Paul ! Thank you very much ! I wasn’t sure I could make it when I opened it 😅

[@samanthadean1083]

Love your new periscope, much better than the bent pipe from before!!! ❤️❤️❤️👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheFabrik]

😌🙌 Thank you !! I usually don’t use rivets 😅

[@miguelrios4602]

Excellent work and video! Thanks so much!

[@pem7195]

Disfruto como un enano viendo el arte que tienes Felicidades

[@rogerbourne7159]

One of my favourite toys around 1956/57! Bet there are not many left in this condition! Well done, thanks for the video and bringing the memories back! Roger 76

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you Roger !! So satisfying to bring the memories back 😌🙌

[@MR-rp3xr]

I would of metal sprayed a layer inside to fill the pinholes and out side then linished the suface instead of filler putty

[@TheFabrik]

I wanted to get the lightest weight… I already restores one with too much paint and filler and it was too heavy 🤷‍♂️

[@fabianamartins3443]

hehehehehe such fun seeing the toy back in the water, fully functioning

[@stevieray3924]

Total respect for your knowledge, skill, patience and craftsmanship. These videos are truly memorizing.

[@rickkearn7100]

Extraordinary problem solving TF! And amazing techniques. Very, very cool post. Thanks! Cheers.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you !!

[@williamharris8367]

I have so much love for the scene with the vintage delivery truck bringing the spare parts! That is just so utterly clever.

[@marciagarcezmanzella7132]

Wow \o/ \o/ \o/ amazing congratulations on the restoration.💜💜💜

[@williamgarciafiuza186]

Muito bom restaurou um brinquedo clássico.

[@nofamini]

Love this old toy. You have done a perfect restoration👍👍

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you so much 🙌

[@glentucker4250]

Excellent job! Fixing the clock works and the refinishing, absolutely stunning. Thank you so much!

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you 🙏

[@wandabagussebastian5054]

Unda Wunda

[@АндрейПолтев-к1ъ]

В очередной раз восхищаюсь вашим профессионализмом! Браво👏!!! А где вы приобретаете такие раритетные игрушки?

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you !!! I catch them at some flea markets or online auctions 😉

[@micky34-16p]

Comme d'habitude très belle restauration bravo!!!!!!

[@TheFabrik]

Merci !! 🙌

[@jamesmcdonald5026]

I remember seeing one of these in a fancy toy store in New York. 😊

[@duaneho555]

Truly nice job. Anyone would be proud to have this in their collection.

[@mathieufoley2339]

the shape reminds me a lot of the planet express ship from Futurama. nicely done

[@nb6723]

just what I needed today, super!

[@razorboyXVII]

Phenomenal restore!

[@alexanderalbach468]

Mann, alleine die Farbe runter zu bekommen... Klasse❤

[@jadechan8673]

Quel doigté, et quelle patience! J'apprécie le soin accordé à la production, le son et les images sont nickel et très agréables. Merci!

[@TheFabrik]

Un grand merci !

[@ethanbruns5002]

At 5:47, Hey! There's that yellow dump truck I saw Him restore only 5 minutes ago!!!😮

[@TheFabrik]

Hehe 😉

[@ar_restoration]

Awesome Job!👍👍👍💯

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you so much mate 😌🙌

[@turdferguson4124]

I had one of these Sutcliffe clockwork submarines when I was a kid. It worked pretty well. I don’t think they were finished that well from the factory. Ha ha

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you ! Glad to bring the memories back 😌🙏

[@frick566]

Beautiful restoration!

[@maxboonkittypoison]

First i thought oh no another fake find video. But the restoration is sublim. Absolute amazing.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you so much !!!

[@maxboonkittypoison]

@@TheFabrik I love your work. And i am a subscriber

[@jean-lucsponga6572]

Comme toujours, un superbe travail de restauration. Merci.

[@TheFabrik]

Un grand merci !

[@grahampickering1560]

Another fantastic restoration. Will you be doing any model railway restorations in the near future?

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you ! Yes I have a few trains lined up for restoration 👍

[@Thebrokenheart2023]

wish you did more videos, i love them

[@darrellmurdock6880]

Nice winding toy restoration 👍😊 the before & after pics are especially satisfying

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you 🙌

[@darreno9874]

How you got that rusty lump of a clockwork motor going is amazing. God bless

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you 🙏

[@PROV-g2g]

SUPER!

[@rennaehanson9996]

That turned out great! Well done!

[@тожепетербуржец]

10:15 In places of contact with water, you can add a special lubricant for washing machine seals.

[@swaran5454]

Love from India ❤

[@simonprince5968]

Much as I love seeing these and wish I could do it, I still think about all the equipment and tools needed to do so.

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you ! I use very affordable equipment you know 😉

[@frankdrebin259]

Lost footage of the Titan! Always interesting to see anything new. Wow, this thing really was small.

[@rcoffroad.restore.build1]

Great to see these old toys restored 👍

[@edgoat-zu9jc]

Nice restoration especially the little motor

[@matiasreba]

Ok great, another good restoration channel to follow! 👍

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you so much 🙏 Welcome aboard !

[@g2macs]

I think it looks more seaworthy than the one that just went boom! diving the Titanic.

[@jaypaster8244]

Awesome.

[@Sa-ig4hk]

Semma....👏👍🇮🇳

[@mikego18753]

Thumbs up mate.

[@steampunker7]

"Good job, guys. She may not be the youngest girl at the dance. But she'll still turn a head or two."

[@JoséFernandoVargasdiaz]

Muy lindo submarino🤙🏻

[@septiccalling8341]

Excellent......brilliant......beautiful. 👍🏻👏🏻👌🏻 When toys were toys!

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you !!!

[@nm0490]

This came out better than the original.

[@gouldthorp]

A wonderful demonstration of your skills. Well done.

[@dirkrittersen581]

Wunderbares Boot - Danke für`s Zeigen!

[@TheFabrik]

Thank you 🙏

[@frankwaters2133]

Spectacular !

[@georgeshelton6281]

I already know that I've caught certain educational videos too late.

[@MASI_forging]

Beautiful restoration 👏👏

[@victorunbea8451]

it sounds like the axle tube had a gasket that hardened in time. I didn't see a new one when you put in the shaft.

[@rooseweltdvincybaymadolago3071]

Simplesmente magnífico. ❤❤❤❤