The Secret Life of the Watch - Remastered

I've been in my workshop making things ever since, and the covid lockdown was the perfect time to make some new videos, trying to pass on some of what I've learnt. So if you're interested do try my new 'Secret Life of Components'
These old films were 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.
View all 18 episodes of the series and read about their background on my website:

[Muonium]

Hi Tim, from America. Your TSLOM series was a total revelation to me as a kid when I found it late one night in the mid-90s watching TLC on a neighbor's TV who had cable (way back when the word "learning" in that channel's acronym actually meant something). The demonstration with phosphor powders glowing under UV to make white light in fluorescent lamps, the homemade magnetic audio tape, the recreation of Hertz's detection of radio waves by spark gap, the 19th century fax machine, the "you breaka my plates I breaka you face!", all of it was fantastic. Your incredible ingenuity and ability to convey difficult scientific concepts in a way anyone could understand was and IS superb. Today I am engineer on the world's most powerful laser-driven experimental inertial confinement nuclear fusion reactor. There is no doubt that your classic series will live on for decades to come on the internet inspiring countless other curious young minds all over the world. Thanks for all that you do, and so glad to see you're still at it!!

[bsbrum]

The spirit of curiosity embodied in an all-too-shortly-lived series.

[hydorah]

1:36 Rex Garrod, there. Rocking the Sledgehammer and slip-ons look. What a dude!

[Raptorman]

This series is proof that great content doesn't need high dollar special effects.

[RCAvhstape]

Interesting fact about the Bulova Accutron: the clocks used in the cockpit avionics of the Apollo Lunar Modules were run using Accutron tuning fork movements, because in the mid 60s NASA did not yet have enough test data on how well quartz solid state movements would work in the space environment. The astronauts were issued Omega Speedmaster mechanical wrist watches (still made today, and expensive!), which they wore in hard vacuum velcro'd to the outside of their space suits, but on the Eagle one of the Accutron cockpit clocks failed, so Armstrong tied his Omega watch to the instrument panel as a backup and didn't wear it outside. Aldrin wore his, and it's visible in photos.

[peterhoare]

I've owned about 80 Accutrons. Had about 50 stolen. Fascinating things. FANTASTIC styling....

And the gives them a REAL heart.

The one on the Moon will need a battery change by now....🙂

[timthompson]

That LCD demonstration was excellent. Thanks.

[neilfurby]

As well as being hugely edutaining, Tim was quite a fashion leader back in the day!

[BigStew]

Thanks for remastering these Tim.
They were great the first time around, and now they are even better.

[cmmartti]

There's a great shot of Tim's workshop at 7:07, the same one where his most recent Secret Life of Components series was filmed. It's amazing how little it's changed in 30 years.

[prendy]

Now we coming out of lockdown I am going to visit Tim Hunkin, s Under The Pier Show at Southwold Pier been waiting for ages

[imranahmad]

Glad these got remastered, I enjoyed them back in the days.

[hugeshows]

Hi Tim! With regard to Lord Huntington's comment about "I don't know how they ran the railroads in America", the answer is your Waltham pocketwatch. Your watch is a grade 645, manufactured in 1913, 21 jewels and adjusted to 5 positions. These features in combination with it being lever set rather than stem set make it a railroad grade watch. If you inspect the inside of the case back for scrawled markings, you may even uncover the railroad inspector's markings - all railroad watches were tested and inspected periodically. If your watch was used on the railroads, you're likely to find several of these markings scratched into the case back. One word of caution - finger oils cause lots of damage to watch movements so avoid touching the movement when you have the case back off. Great video! Glad to see these lovely episodes again. EDIT - if you ever need parts for it, drop me a line! Also, that Hamilton Ventura Electric you manhandled in the episode is now worth about $2000!

[rdhunkins]

Best explanation of LCD I've seen. Completely explains why I can't see an LCD display with my polaroid sunglasses on!

[TailedFeature]

One of my favourite episodes as a kid. My brother and I wore out the VHS our dad had recorded off the telly!

[leokimvideo]

I remember this episode, going through these remastered episodes I now notice how 'commercial' this show is, so many huge brand names are seen and spoken about. Yet where I live the TV show was shown on a non commercial channel. As a older person it really doesn't make any sense. This show should have been prime for a commercial TV network.

[MattTester]

A superb episode and Rex's story was a nice added extra. Great to see an old RS battery too.

[nigefoxx]

Tim, it's funny you mention the decline of the wristwatch with the advent of the mobile phone- despite having a smart phone in my pocket, I still wear my 1986 Casio LCD because it only has one job. It doesn't tell me I have an email, it doesn't tell me the weather, it just tells the time and it's supremely good at doing so. I still catch myself looking at my wrist when I'm not wearing it, too.
But, times have changed. My kids refuse to wear a watch (something about uncool) but I still enjoy having clocks around the place. I've even found that they can be quite relaxing to repair.
Thanks for posting the SLoM series up again, brings back a lot of memories.

[quantumleap]

The playfulness of Tim and the avoidance of editing out goofs really endear this series to me. Thank you so much for remastering these treasures. May you continue to make more videos Tim.

[alexandermay]

I just wanted to say that it was partly because of my dad showing me this series as a kid that I ended up working in science/engineering. My little boy (4 yrs.) now watches this to keep the cycle going! :-)