The Secret Life of the Washing Machine - Remastered

Remastered and upscaled by Norman Margolus from a 1987 PAL tape made directly from the 16mm print, using machine learning software from Topaz labs. Commentary added in Feb 2021. I apologize for the intrusive adverts on the new versions. I am unable to remove them and don't receive any of the income. KZbin automatically detects the copyrighted theme music and posts the adverts to pay the copyright holder, in this case the multinational company, The Universal music Group.
View all 6 episodes of the series and read about their background on my website:
www.timhunkin....
The videos are also here @ / timhunkin1

[@beefchicken]

Watching these 30 years later reminds me how much of my “general knowledge of stuff” was actually learned from this series.

[@daveroche6522]

Anyone else remember reading "Tell Me Why" and "World of Wonder"? EPIC!

[@kaleygoode1681]

Yeah, I sent off for series papers that are (I hope) still in my attic. Succinct and inspiring👍

[@katmanluke7187]

Agreed! Hoping Tim is alright nothing new on the channel in 6 mths now? 🤔

[@jamesslick4790]

American here. This program (programme) shows what makes British TV (telly) better than US TV. These hold up even DECADES later! The combination of the history AND the (well explained AND demonstration) of the mechanics of complex machines in a HALF-HOUR is amazing!

[@BulletMagnet83]

I was in single-digits of age when I first watched these. Which kick-started a bad habit of trying to dismantle everything in the house... my parents bought me Tandy project kits to deter me from doing so, and now I lecture in the field! Even though I probably only know about 1% of what can be known about electronics and will always be learning, I have this series to thank for starting it all.

[@daveroche6522]

Nice one Fern - trying to MacGyver a bunch of stuff (when I was @ 12-years old) usually led to some, em, repercussions. Still learnt so much though....

[@GlutenEruption]

Same here, and I feel like it’s probably not an uncommon story. My parents took to calling my SOLM-induced disassembly fixation “1,2,3 break-it” 😂. Except instead of the Tandy kits, they just sent me down the road to grandma and grandpa who encouraged all of it - every day after school, they would have a pile of tools and something new that grandpa had pulled from the garage/attic/dump/dumpsters behind the mall/side of the road/etc sitting in the basement waiting for me to take apart. Memories…

[@YCbCr]

All the same here. The title music, sweet memories! It stuck with me for a long time, for this was - is! - a memorable series that brought joy, knowledge and fascination that is blended so well! Spice it with some MacGyver and I was done. :) My father was-is an avid tinkerer and me all the curious; this and watching TV at the right times was the recipe for "disaster" :) So many things torn apart and of all of them a Piko FZ1 which has survived hell, stuck with me, literally powering a childhood and more. SOLM might have very well started me on the path to become an engineer who would rather disassemble the locomotives than drive them - living the dream driving though - and I'm thankful for that to this day!

[@tommcewan7936]

I know what you mean, these programmes were a very inspirational part my childhood. A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to speak to Mr Hunkin in person at his "Novelty Automation" arcade/museum in London - it felt almost like making a religious pilgrimage. A thoroughly decent and amiable chap, I do hope I didn't embarrass him by clearly exuding childhood hero-worship!

[@unrepentantgeek]

Tim, you are one of the reasons why I'm an engineer today. I learned so much about how things work by watching your program. I watched every time they showed on TV here in the states.

[@rocketsurgery1085]

1st time seeing them. what years did they run? thanks

[@unrepentantgeek]

@@rocketsurgery1085 would have been in the early nineties. Probably saw them on the local PBS station.

[@rocketsurgery1085]

@@unrepentantgeek ok thanks. seems earlier tho.. very cool.

[@daveroche6522]

I'm in Ireland and never discovered this until now. AWESOME!

[@yisraels4555]

I never saw this particular series in the US but similar books and a sense of curiosity made me an engineer. 30 years in semiconductors and I still feel like I learn something new and interesting every day.

[@KOTYAR1]

I work in a laundry plant as an engineer for the last 6 years. And I learned quite a lot from this, it's amazing

[@KOTYAR1]

Thank you, KZbin algorithm this recommendation was perfect

[@-NoneOfYourBusiness]

That young engineers in 2021 know absolutely nothing on how to make good washing machines like the one made back in the day makes perfect sense to me.

[@KOTYAR1]

@@-NoneOfYourBusiness well, not quite. I always was curious about history of the stuff, I actually looked into it while getting my degree. And I never seen those mechanical river paddies.

[@f00f00mods]

Appliance repair man here. I can confirm that modern washers are indeed practically identical to the ones in the show. I still come across plenty of machines using cam timers that are still working well. As Tim says she the end, some of the motors have changed a bit. Basic washers still use brushed motors but higher end models are going brush less, including the direct drive LG one shown (in my opinion the best motor you can currently get on a washer). Looking forward to watching the rest of these remasters.

[@Kubulek17]

I don’t think we’ve had mechanical timer washing machines in Europe since the early 2000s

[@f00f00mods]

@@Kubulek17 Yeah that sounds about right. I still see them still working from time to time. Definitely becoming less frequent though. Modern washings machine moduels are pretty reliable, but 20+ years would be optimistic

[@matneu27]

Nowadays most machines had variable speed (frequency) drivers with tree phase motors. Before, motors had different winding packages to realize different speeds for washing and fast spinning.

[@KoRMaK1]

the upscaling really popped for me on the drawings - i could see their paper outlines and shadows, crazy

[@toydoctor88]

Absolutely brilliant. I would watch “Secret life of Machines” on the Discover Channel with my father in the US. He has since passed on now. Fortunately I have the wonderful memories thanks to you and Rex!

[@RCAvhstape]

Same here. Wish my dad was here to see these again.

[@Warutteri]

Rex has also unfortunately passed a few years ago, Tim has a rather heartwarming article celebrating Rex's life on his website: www.timhunkin.com/a229_rex.htm

[@jimmyguy428]

@@Warutteri Thanks for sharing this link. It is a good read. RIP, Rex!

[@theirisheditor]

One thing that put us off buying a modern washing machine is the very long cycle lengths to meet their EU energy labelling requirements. We have a Whirlpool semi-pro that's probably about 15 years old and the main regular wash cycle is just 45 minutes, compared to the 3-4 hours of new machines. As it's larger than a typical under-counter model, it has no problem washing duvets, multiple pillows, etc. When the spider of the drum broke a few years ago (sounded like a jack hammer on the spin cycle), my Dad disassembled the machine, replaced the drum and bearings and the machine continues to work. Despite having digital button controls, it has a cam driver inside, making audible clicking sounds when it switches between wash, fill, drain, etc. and resumes after a power cut.

[@Wasmachineman]

Semi-pro, as in the grey Baukpool/WhirlKnecht whichwasher2007 owns?

[@theirisheditor]

@@Wasmachineman I tried checking, but the control panel looks different apart from the grey colour. If you do a Google Image search on Whirlpool Semi Pro 9kg, look for the grey machine with a red LED time read-out. Surprisingly, there's no model # on ours, just says Semi Pro 9kg and Made in Germany. For size comparison, on Whichwasher2007's video titled "wash Race No.246", that big machine on the left is the same size as ours, but appears to be a more modern version with a different control panel layout. If I select the same heavy duty cycle, 60C and everything else to Normal, the time remaining shows 1:00. Setting "Heavy soil" increases the time to 1:10 and "Heavy soil" + "Stain treat" increases the time to 2:10.

[@Wasmachineman]

@@theirisheditor Your (and WW's) machine is a rebranded Whirlpool Duet from the USA market. Not surprising your spider failed, they're known for that.

[@MrWolfSnack]

Eco saving washers are garbage and always will be. You need water - a lot of it - and agitation to wash clothes properly. Using a teaspoon of soap and 3 pints of water will not clean a damn thing. It wastes more water and electricity. I donated my 2013 Maytag Epic Z that I had already completely rebuilt because every single part kept breaking one after the other by 2017. I got a matching Kenmore washer and dryer set from either 1968 or 1972, I don't know the exact date of manufacture, and they are in a avocado green color which I'm not totally a fan of (would have loved turquoise), but I needed them, so I got them anyway. I re-washed my entire closet of clothes and I am just over the moon at how soft and clean they are. All my clothes were just greasy feeling and stunk like mildew for years because why? eco saving piece of junk. ill not need another washer or dryer for my lifetime I am certain of that.

[@Dmander816]

From now on when someone tells me they have a Rolls I'll think they are talking about their washing machine.

[@jeffescortlx]

These remastered episodes are fantastic! Even better than I remember watching as a kid!

[@w6wdh]

Obviously a labor of love for Tim Hunkin! Bravo for restoring this video in HD and adding the commentary at the end. I look forward to the Secret Life of the Photocopier. I showed that video at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories when we were developing laser printers. Everyone loved it, especially the footage Tim dug up of Chester Carlson, and Tim and Rex making sulfur plates to replicate Carlson’s experiments.

[@andylindsaytunes]

"Carol, you sweet dumb thing, pull up your flaps; you're draggin'!" 5:26 Sweet 50s dis.

[@drahcirelas7567]

Sounds a bit suspect in 2021

[@elevi2834]

I think the way she swigs from the bottle is suspect

[@jimmyguy428]

@@elevi2834 LMAO!!

[@mr.headcrab31]

I am always reminded of my father recovering a lost diamond from my sister's wedding ring thanks to this episode. The stone broke free and ended up in the washer, She wanted to take the washer to bits to get it back, bud Dad immediately thought of the buttons at 20:20 going through the impeller and put a stocking over the discharge hose, turned it to rinse and successfully recovered it. Thank you for all the work in remastering and adding bonus content, on top of the thanks for making them originally.

[@MrWolfTickets]

That's epic. Everyone must have been in awe with your dad's ingenuity!!

[@axeman3d]

Back when Ken Morse was doing the rostrum camera on everything. Love it.

[@gs425]

EVERYTHING . I recall even Smith and Jones put that in a sketch!

[@Pghpete5]

As an American this is the first time I've seen these and I absolutely love them! Thank you for posting them.

[@PibrochPonder]

It’s in HD!!! AWSOME, honestly I never thought I would see that.

[@jek9911]

31:03 is totally true. I've told my children that I have little idea how my dad and grandma knew how (or at least had the courage to open a malfunctioning thing) and repair it without having KZbin, Google and readily available parts. I suppose all mechanical machines are variations on a small set of themes... which is/was probably the entire goal of the Secret Life TV show. I enjoy watching and listening to these episodes.

[@tookitogo]

I can’t really speak to appliances, but in electronics, back then you could get service manuals (and in the case of things like electronics test gear, it was often included), and those service manuals included the theory of operation, schematics, etc. Quite unlike most “service manuals” of today, which often are little more than troubleshooting guides that tell you which module to swap.

[@davids8449]

The secret Life of was indeed an excellent program, I still have my old Miele washing machine that is 45 years old yes it is working with the original door rubber etc. Unfortunately the modern Miele washers are not made very well

[@fred27murphy]

I remember watching this as a kid, but I'd forgotten Rex's go as a stuntman. Maybe he should have done up the strap on his helmet though!

[@brainisfullofnonsense8183]

In the interview afterwards he said that he thinks the motor is some kind of sophisticated brushless motor or something, and he is spot on, at least for the ones he could see. They are in Europe, but not in the United States of America. The induction motor has been used and continues to be used since before 1970. I think this is because of it being cheaper to produce as well as mains voltages being around 120 volts instead of double that for much of Europe. That's just a guess at the reasoning.... Great history lesson. Here's a thing that most people dont know about those pressure switches: Many times there is a screw that adjusts the amount of spring force applied to the diaphragm, which means that you can ADJUST THE SWITCH IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH WATER IN THE TUB TO EFFECTIVELY WASH THE LOADS. My mother and father bought a new machine precisely because of the old one not filling completely. I volunteered to dispose of it for them, right into my laundry nook.

[@dangaAgadanga]

I was 10 years old when I discovered your programmes on Channel 4 and you were the spokesperson for all things l relished, the tv, especially the washing machine, but most of all, the video cassette recorder. How you inspired me at that age (I imagined myself as Rex Garrod). Thanking you is not enough. Maybe you’re part of the reason why I pursued maintaining electronic equipment, leading with my passion for electronics into studying a degree in Computer Science. And now I’m a teacher! So I am a lifelong learner. I’m going to head over to watch the secret life of the VCR. I’m sure I still remember the words having played it over a hundred times after it was first broadcast. So pleased to have seen you exactly 30 years later 😊 I dare say you haven’t changed a bit. P.S. I just informed my wife that you inspired me 30 years ago and her only reply was NOT to “make the house look like that” (as I was playing your Extra’s update). How DARE she say that! 😊 I will sleep on the sofa tonight just so she understands how insulting that was and I hope she realises how important this means to me 😊

[@chrisbeck8182]

SO awesome seeing Tim talk about these episodes! Loved watching these 30 years ago and still timeless today in that quirky British way.

[@willwallacetree]

Yes, Yes and thrice Yes. 2021 as a year is looking up! Thank you Tim :-)

[@johnster02]

shoutout to the badass who flipped a car with him in it to do a demonstration about how pressure works lol

[@michaelfisher9671]

Why do I get the feeling that Rex was just dying to roll a car, and found a flimsy excuse to relate it to the topic of washing machines?

[@herbcraven7146]

It's so good to see these shows again, having seen them first on The Discovery Channel here in the colonies. TSLOM was easily one of the most memorable bits of television I've ever seen. Thank you, Tim, for bringing them back and sharing your memories. Miss you, Rex, RIP.

[@donaldasayers]

My Mum's Bosch Washing machine had a plastic tape display like that, but it was the programmer, below the icons it had rows of perforations that controlled the machine.

[@Keeping_IT_Simple]

Yet another great remaster from one of the most fondly remembered series of my teenage years ....very informative & entertaining without all the shouting & "wow aren't I wonderful " you get from alot of today's presenters . The post show comments are my favourite bits - a sort or the secret Life of a secret Life !

[@williamwebb2042]

Thanks for this video. Around the time this video originally aired, I bought my first washer and dryer. Stories of unreliable machines abounded. I told the salesman that I was working 60 hours a week for an defense contractor and I really did not want to have to tinker with these machines. He sold me a commercial washer and commercial dryer. They are very basic machines usually sold to nursing homes and similar institutions. They are mechanical, no transistors or ICs. You may notice that I used present tense in the last sentence. I still have them. To date, I have changed the belt and the idler bearing in the dryer. The washer has all original parts. All hail mechanics over electronics for this sort of application.

[@welshpete12]

I remember when this series first went out on British TV all those years ago .Why can't we have good documentaries like this on TV today ?

[@flutechannel]

This is so incredible Tim! Your a valuable resource and your curiosity is timeless. Thanks for sharing this amazing program. I would love to hear your thoughts about musical instruments if you have the time!

[@guybunce]

Ditto! Particularly automated music machines

[@MaxHarden]

And tear apart an AI robot vacuum cleaner when you get a day off!

[@Cavalier_Steve]

It’s funny you say that the modern washing machine is easier to repair now it’s one of the reasons why I’m holding on to my 12 year old machine. It’s on up to 3 times a day, I have replaced the bearings twice and sorted out a couple of leaks and replaced the PCB about 5 years ago it’s getting noisy now though but I will carry on repairing it until something major goes wrong! I think a lot of this is thanks to you and you secret life of machines program when I watched at as a child. All the best. Steve.

[@jms019]

I had to pack round the bolts holding the concrete and also change the bearings of the machine in my first (shared) house. Mum had a wonderful machine in the 70s that took square plastic programming slabs with a program on each edge. I think the slabs were double sided so 8 on each of the two slabs. Still running a late 90s mechanical timer machine though it does have soft-starting modern motor drive

[@WeHadOneOfThose]

Sounds like you mum had the famous and expensive in the day Hoover Keymatic , 4 programmes printed on one keyplate side then flip over another 4 making 8 , later machines had 2 keyplates so 16 progs in total , great machines ...👍👍

[@WeHadOneOfThose]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5OTo5Swa66LgtU

[@dudleybarker2273]

just only recently discovered Tim - what a treasure - so much catching up to do!

[@Hilde_von_Derp]

Thank you Tim!!! I have recommended this series to everyone I know. It looks so sharp and fantastic now. Thank you so much to Rex, bless his memory, and yourself for all your work on this show.

[@robm8809]

I love these shows Tim, you should be proud, they're excellent. I hope that this "remastered" episode is the first of many... I would absolutely love to purchase the whole series in any format, including digital download.

[@PibrochPonder]

I 100% agree. All three series on iTunes

[@8807smoore]

The washing machine pyramid appeared in the film Drowning by Numbers, Tim also got a credit.

[@piad2102]

Absolutely love these old gadget serie.

[@tedfarwell9812]

This is a dream come true! I have loved TSLOM since the original airings!

[@Sohave]

I run a small real estate company and find this film really entertaining and enlightening, Right now I have a fleet of 4 Miele washingmashines build in the last 20 years all with computers, they last long and are really reliable, but for when they do fail I got an old 1990's Zanussi machine with a manual timer, possibly one of the last series ever build that way, I call it the Stuka. it goes up on my trailer and gets taken to what ever location there is a breakdown to work as a replacement machine.

[@chrissedgwick9655]

Tim and Rex were the pioneers of the modern “how it’s made” type of program. To be honest ,these are still the best by far!

[@trefwoordpunk2225]

Wow, this is amazing to see this again, I remember my dad taping most of these when they were on telly back in the day, the great style of presenting and amusing cartoons made all of this very fascinating to my younger self and definitely inspired us to look at appliances in a different way and is probably responsible for my lifelong obsession of being a bit of a tinkerer/hacker. I remember us opening up our old betamax thinking we could fix it after watching secret life of the videorecorder. And for some reason the secret life of the fax (with using the flags) just popped into my mind...can't wait to see all these again! BRILLIANT!!

[@owenmerrick2377]

Yay! I've still got a VCR with the series on VHS, taped from TV including the commercials of which scenes were trimmed to make way for. Good show all around!

[@WeHadOneOfThose]

Likewise Owen and the Ferguson videostar to play on, I remember I was working late nights and had about 3 people simultaneously recording the programmes in case the timer didn't work lol.....

[@rotordave81]

After watching this as a child, my turn to repair a washing machine came recently. I only needed to replace a tiny SMD component costing a few dollars. I hadn't worked with SMD components before but I was determined. I'm sure I owe it to this series that I would even consider repairing it rather than throw it away and buy a new one.

[@WeHadOneOfThose]

Fantastic to see these remastered and love your addition commentary Tim, I still have the original recorded VHS tapes and for us collectors and restorers your programmes are still much watched and discussed today when we all meet up. The entry into the club is to name all of the washers in the pyramid by brand and model number , and it's a pretty big club now ha ha !!

[@tncorgi92]

Just discovered the channel, it's great that all these episodes are available to watch. I used to watch them on TV.

[@marcse7en]

Mr. Tim Hunkin, you're an amazing man! God bless you sir! You make engineering entertaining! I understand Rex Garrod is no longer with us? RIP Rex! You too were amazing! I love this series! I thought I'd seen all these "Secret Life" programmes, but this one is new to me! I thought that the link between washing machines and rolling car stunts was possibly a little tenuous? 😂😂😂 My washing machine (bought 2005) is almost 16 years old, and uses an electromechanical programme timer! My machine uses a brushed motor, and the original brushes lasted almost 15 years, and were replaced by myself a year ago. The Secret Life Of The Video Recorder: REX: "This is recorded on sticky tape and rust! This is recorded on sticky tape and rust!" The Socially-Distanced Life Of Digital Recording (2021): SPEAKING THROUGH A FACE COVERING: "This is recorded on silicon and plastic! This is recorded on silicon and plastic!" 😂😂😂

[@skivvy3565]

Here I am back again, rewatching the entire series

[@TsiolkovskySportingLocks]

It was seeing your cartoon that actually prompted me to take my mum's brand new washing machine apart when i was 7 years old. Boy was I in trouble but your work has been a life long inspiration to me., Thank you for putting these on line for us all to watch!

[@franktuckwell196]

Brilliant the first time around and just as good now 30 years later. With the proliferation of modern gadgets this series could do with a renewal, please. Love the little insights at the ends.

[@jean-paul7251]

Tim....your still my hero...from the age of 12.....to now....age 45! We used to love discussing each episode at school.....now I still discuss with my dad and uncle...all engineers now

[@TurboTel68]

Amazing seeing this, I’ve been repairing washing machines for nearly 30 years and worked on most of these models of machine. Sadly, I don’t think the repair trade will last much longer though.

[@leenevin8451]

Because you cant get parts?

[@TurboTel68]

@@leenevin8451 partially lack of spares for non brand products, partially down to cost of spares making a repair uneconomical, but also because manufacturers are ensuring they are the only ones who can repair their own products. For a good while now a large amount of new whitegoods are using electronics that can only be coded and setup by manufacturers using their own software

[@mervace]

Loved this whole series back in the nineties here in Australia,thanks for renewing. I have seen a few recently on utube from very poor video tape uploads. VCR one was my favourite

[@jackdoigcollinw8634]

I watched them with old boy here on sbs Australia when I was kid brings back lots of old memories

[@narrowboatmlc]

I absolutely adored these series as a young teenager when they were first broadcast. Thank you Mr Hunkin for making these available (at in great quality). I am trying not to 'binge-watch' so as to eek out the pleasure!

[@thelastNokiauser]

Absolutely wonderful to see this remastered and reuploaded! Going to enjoy them all over again.

[@bootsowen]

Wonderful Tim, great video, not the first time that I have watched it but the commentary at the end was interesting and entertaining too. I agree with your point about the newer machines being more repairable. It tends to be that any of the shared components like pumps and motor brushes are really cheap and easy to repair. But the unique things like printed circuit boards are more expensive, unless you attempt to diagnose the issue yourself. Some machines though have a sealed tub, so if the bearings go there is no way to extract them without cutting the plastic tub in half. I have been posting videos for about 5 years now of the self destruction of un-repairable automatics. I managed to get one to jump on a trampoline of it's own accord. I have also flooded the internet with selected how-to-repair washing machine videos, but for some reason they aren't as popular. The motor you showed at the end, the direct drive one, has an array of magnets surrounding the coils you showed. A relatively complicated controller, I think similar to a 3 (or more) phase inverter. I suspect that the machines in your film had induction motors, whereas the more recent ones tend to have brushed commutator motors, but many now have a "slient" 3-phase induction motor, which can be run from a single phase inverter and is useful for making workshop tools. I have posted some videos on these motors and how to control them. Kind regards!

[@Aengus42]

I've seen that direct drive motor turned into a wind or water generator with supposedly simple rewiring. Looked like a splendid post apocalyptic project!

[@elmonova]

One of my favorite shows about how things work! Great to see it again all these years later. Thank you!

[@normalblaster]

Such a joy to see these again. It's great to see Rex in action as well. We can't wait to get back to either Princeton Street or Southwold pier.

[@josyfkristopher4320]

When I first started in appliance retail, this series was invaluable in giving me understanding of the basics of the machines. There are still appliances, such as the Asko and Miele washing machines, that still hold to the idea of putting build quality first (separate chassis and cast-iron counterweights, for example) - most devices feel kind of flimsy by comparison. Some brands have a gimmick warranty where they will give you a replacement motor for free if it breaks in the first 10 years but don't mention the fact that the labour costs still have to be paid for by the customer and these can be pretty horrendous with the direct drive machines. You have to almost dismantle the whole machine to change the part.

[@clarissevanrossum4]

Those chaps are precious. And the importance of these documentaries can not be understated. They are like a 1980's time capsule, and I am tremendously grateful that they have been uploaded and preserved here on youtube. So much knowledge of how everyday things work around us has been lost, and most people don't really care to learn about them. Even I, someone who is technologically savvy has learned a great deal from these videos. As far as the historical aspect goes, the documentaries are such a product of their time that they are incredibly precious to me. Thank you for sharing.

[@DevilbyMoonlight]

Top stuff.. I remember as a young kid in the 70's that my granny had an Acme washing machine which had a gas burner under it which had to be lit by hand and had a hand crank in the top mounted lid, as well as a fold up mangle on the side that was secured by large wingnuts - washing clothes was never so much fun!

[@Bernybellows]

I had one for christmas back in the early 70s and absolutely loved it! You could even get a little drive shaft with four pulleys on to drive little tools like grinders and polishers and stuff! I still have it but its in need of restoration.

[@WalkerKlondyke]

5:40 I’ve had conversations with my mother, who is now 74, active, independent, worldly and owns her own business, but says that when she was a young newlywed in the early 70s, that quaint life of a housewife was precisely what she wanted.

[@lorblauh]

@Nani Nano You just assume a woman couldn't possibly just have wanted a life like that? Couldn't possibly have wanted different things from the world than you?

[@guybunce]

I loved watching this series when it was first on when I was a child. Tim and Rex, you are both legends!

[@AutumnalSunflower]

some aspects of the modern world are good, like the fact that a texan born in '99 can watch this british show from '84 :) been loving this series and loving your commentaries at the end!!

[@BeingRomans829ed]

My son and I loved watching SLOM when he was little. I recorded them all on VHS. A co-worker borrowed the tape and never returned it. I felt as if I'd lost a real treasure. Thank you very much for putting these on KZbin.

[@jonobaywindow]

The theme tune "The Russians are Coming" is quite apt at this time! Love this series. A real voyage of discovery of how things work. I hope some schools use the material to help inspire some students to enter further education to study engineering.

[@proluxelectronics7419]

Watched the original series, it was just one of the influences that put me on the career path I followed through life, Nice to see Tim back, producing great content.. Big Thumbs Up.

[@martinoamello3017]

My grandma had an old fashioned washing machine from somewhere around WWII with the big rollers on top.. That machine is what taught me to not put my fingers in the rollers..It don't tickle one little bit.

[@gilesviney7631]

Love these. Thank you so much for posting them. For all we tinkerers.. appreciate the amount of work preparing these at the time. We're probably about due a resurgence of mechanical engineering explained...

[@1dubsalot]

Therapist: The automated people can't hurt you, they're not real Automated Person: Twiddles thumbs and tickles foot.

[@DavidHembrow]

Excellent picture quality, and it's full length unlike many of the uploads here. Are you going to do all the old programmes? I hope so as they remain excellent explanations of how things work

[@DavidHembrow]

@@cmmartti thanks for pointing that out

[@elektroboots1670]

brilliant! loved these as a kid i even had the paper booklet that you could get from c4, i eneded up going in to electronics after watching these, often thought there should have been another series though

[@Kevinfordsynthesizers]

Circa 1987 I used to sell Rex solenoid valves, he was a fascinating chap who taught me a lot - especially about this particular programme as I had a problem with my old machine, just a wire off the pressure switch!

[@floeki-jekker]

geweldig hem eens te zien hoe het nu met hem gaat,.... ik was er altijd al nieuwschierig naar.

[@DIY-valvular]

In mid 1990's the early Discovery Channel appeared and The Secret Life of Machines was part of its first contents. I used to program the vcr to record the show and watch it after come back from university, in overnight. I loved the detailed explanation of the working principles of the things combined with the bizarre esthetics and the british sense of humor. Great material to re visit and enjoy. Thanks Tim Best wishes from Buenos Aires Argentina.

[@HooverLux]

Thank you so much for these remastered episodes, they make such a difference. Watching these as a kid is what inspired me to learn how things work and now on my KZbin channel, how to fix and restore.

[@bombasticbuster9340]

I am so glad you did this series on film. I watched in America while going to college. ts looks great in the 21st C! Thanks Tim.

[@techtinkerin]

There's literally no other programs as good as this and there probably never will be.. absolutely brilliant 😁

[@MacMcCardle]

Fascinating to see how little has changed from the machine of 1980 through to the machine of 2020 - this was a design that was almost perfected 40 years ago. Even if they're not built to last, in all honesty the typical machine will run without fault for the better part of ten years which is quite impressive given how little maintenance they get.

[@alexanderduerrwilliams143]

You guys were like the original Mythbusters. Watching for the first time. These rock. 🤘

[@bbrockert]

Like a lot of other comments, I watched this as a kid and am now in the middle to end of a career in engineering. A couple of aerospace connections, a few decades later: the straight vaned pump is called a Barske impeller, and can actually be reasonably efficient for a small pump. Another is that there were, back in the day, rockets that used mechanical cam timers to do things like stage separation and ejecting fairings. Now it's all computers and controllers, but the cam timers were simple, repeatable, reliable, and resistant to every sort of EMI short of having their power cut.

[@tigger1662003]

I remember watching this series and being fascinated by it as a little boy. I loved the animations and format of it. I did have the 'factsheet' that accompanied the show. I distinctly remember my mum getting rid of her old washing machine and me wanting to take it apart like on the show - however she gave it away. Excellent series. Of course later on we were cheering on Rex Garrod and Cassius on the BBC 2 series Robot Wars! - I thought I remember him he's off 'The Secret Life'. I don't live too far away from Tim over the border in Norfolk.

[@markrichardson7475]

So many awesome memories of watching these as a kid, I loved those shows

[@TurboTimsWorld]

Hi to all the Cathode Ray Dudes who have just searched this video.Tim, I watched your TV series as a lad and have gone through all your videos on KZbin. Thanks Tim (ps you got a mention at the end of a CRD 60k subscriber video)

[@Mermete8]

DIY repairing is one small step for mankind, one giant leap for self esteem. The part my washing machine would need is a flimsy touch cable, yet it's only sold with the whole interface for quarter of a new machine's price and only for other models. I can't solder but luckily I could dispatch the misfiring faulty cable and we can use the mobile app to operate the machine via the NFC point. Yippee

[@jamesslick4790]

A lot of current commercial (restaurant/hotel) dishwashers still use cam timers. The restaurant I work at has a brand-new machine, identical to the 1977 machine it replaced. Not an IC in it let alone a microcontroller. Just cams and microswitches! I think it's because they are just so damned reliable. Microcontrollers are cheaper, but since these are leased machines, the less service calls, the better for both lessor and lease.

[@windogmassey1]

Tim, I can't tell you how much I love this series. If I could buy you a (nay, several) beers I would. Please do keep these uploaded as long as possible!

[@pigpenpete]

This was (is) a brilliant series, I learned so much watching it growing up

[@hpt08]

Tim, MANY Thanks for getting these videos back online. I loved them when they first came out - tried not to miss an episode. Nowadays, my 4 year old is fascinated by washing machines, so I'll have to save these for when he's old enough to absorb the information like a true apprentice engineer should : - )

[@16mmDJ]

Thank you so much for the remaster Tim. I can't wait to re-watch all of them repeatedly in high quality!!!

[@SkunkMantraTechnoSkunk]

My mum had a Hotpoint one from the mid 90s lasted way over 15 years didnt breakdown or die, had to change it for a new one due to the rubber gone moldy and black. Plus upgrade kitchen.

[@Kubulek17]

Get ready to start replacing it every 2-3 years.

[@philipmoogk]

I really enjoyed watching this. I love to learn how things work. I bought a second hand Huebsch washer and disassembled it and gave it a good cleaning then put it back together. I highly recommend these machines over the cheaply made Asian front loaders (LG, Samsung). They cost a bit more but are really solidly made and will last so much longer.

[@markatherton7848]

Thank you doing all this Tim. Its been huge fun watching them one more time.

[@CTCTraining1]

Wonderful stuff Tim, huge thanks for making your films available for generations to come. I remember my parents moving from using a tub & electric mangle and going over to a twin tub. The twin tub was the zenith of washing efficiency in terms of being able to wash one lot of clothes while another lot was being spun dry, and the water was pushed back into the main washing tub to be reheated.

[@klfjoat]

I ADORE these remasters (FINALLY!!!!) and upscaling, and especially the commentary!!! Please do the rest of the series!!!

[@klfjoat]

@Lassi Kinnunen 81 The third word of the video description is "upscaled". The description of the video also says the source was a PAL tape. It describes the upscaling method. The things it's describing (16mm -> PAL -> AI upscaling) are an upscaling workflow. Read the video description before making ignorant comment replies, please.

[@richardstorier6172]

This brings back memories, I particularly remember the secret life of the fax machine, taught me a lot, Channel 4 I think, but I don't remember this one, which is a pity as I have been a washing machine and appliance service engineer since 1975, I remember all these machines including the Rolls TT and the Hotpoint single tubs worked on them all, by comparison modern machines are rubbish, and not so serviceable, can't replace drum bearings and PCBs all the big jobs have gone, most are scrapped because of this, where in the past you could keep them going for years, such a wasteful society we live in today! What a wonderful series of programmes, thankyou Tim and Co Richard

[@MacSaxe]

Brings back memories of architecture winter school in Edinburgh. Good times!

[@CNCAddict]

Tim, would love to see more of these produced!! The combination of art, history, and tech is something that is extremely rare and makes your productions especially endearing!

[@crusherbmx]

I love the crude, home made style of these videos mixed with the professional delivery.