The Secret Life of the Refrigerator - 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. Youtube 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:

[SomeMorganSomewhere]

So sorry to hear about Rex passing with Dementia, I can't imagine a worse way for somebody like him to go :(

[Cheezwizzz]

I remember writing to you when the show originally aired. I was having trouble understanding cam timers and micro switches ( I was a teenager) and you wrote back, rather quickly I might add, and explained their concept and use. You also included some of your awesome artwork in the letter. I still have that letter somewhere in my house. You’ll never know how chuffed I was to receive that letter, and to this day you and Rex are still my heroes. All the very best, from your number one Irish fan, John

[THX..]

Last week I took a freezer from the trash it had a seal that wasn't making contact so I bent the door just like Rex did to fix it. At the time I was uncomfortable with the legitimacy of my repair, but now I see it was the industry correct method :)

[jessechilcott]

I wish documentaries were like this today. No re-enactments, no obnoxious voice overs, and just taking for granted the audience can pay attention for 30 minutes. Great content.

[webbtrekker]

So sad to learn how Rex passed away. He was an important part of the whole series. R.I.P. Rex!

[morturn]

Tim, we owe you a debit of gratitude for this wonderful and insightful TV series. Thank you.

[joeaverage]

I love the disregard for health and safety in these old videos. 😁

[mrflamewars]

2:50 - The Absolutely fearless, grinning practical demonstrations like this are a big part of what made TSLOM so brilliant.

[KevinRoyWhite]

Did some digging to find out more on the Ice Factory that William Cockrell built. East Anglian Ice cold storage in Lowestoft was started in 1898, and was shut down in 1989, and finally demolished in 2010.

[christophercharles]

2:48 "...and the cooling effect is quite dramatic" Quite dramatic indeed!

[Aengus]

One thing I noticed in the credits that used to be on nearly every program i watched. It was "Rostrum Camera - Ken Morse"!
A rostrum camera does those zooms & pans ect. that make a still image more interesting. But I think Ken Morse had cornered the market. He was on so many programs that he must've been a one man monopoly.
Maybe because I was a documentary / factual / scientific / technical / educational TV addict & they were the type of programs I watched that needed a rostrum camera to liven up stills or do those awful mock battle scenes where a still of a damp bit of old castle is suddenly zoomed into with the sound of a cannon going off & some blokes shouting in the background clattering some takes and shovels.
Makes me think of school history programs. That would've been classic Ken Morse territory!
Many thanks for bringing us these programs Tim. They're still just as fascinating now as they were then.
And you're right about Rex. Him heaving on that poor, innocent fridge after sending that little old lady out of her kitchen still makes me laugh!
I understood that cut after you told us how Rex had died. Me too Tim. He should be beside you swapping memories. Dementia is a horrible disease and it takes people away from us far too soon.
It's a good thing we can still see Rex in his prime. These remastered programmes are a fitting tribute & they hint at his many & varied skills and a technician.
Cheers Tim. Keep safe mate ☮️

[joelholdsworth]

I was only a little lad when I saw your show - we used to watch it in DT lessons at school from time to time.

You and Rex were hardly glamorous celebrities, but I think the show really resonated with a lot of us who were fascinated by engineering and technology. At the time the show was so unique compared to everything else that was being broadcast, particular with the all-action approach the show took with all the exciting demonstrations.

I think a lot of folks like me came away with a strange connection to the Tim/Rex double-act. We're thrilled to see new content from you Tim, but it's with a strong sense of melancholy not having Rex with us any more.

[Geezer]

I forgot to mention, some of the best stuff is the animation and dialog. I was cracking up! Lol And the good thing about being a retired 65 year old man living in Florida....
My memory is shot so I can watch these all again like they are brand new!

[marcopolo]

I love how they don't clean anything and make it pristine. Makes it more natural.
An they sometimes make "mistakes" in the presentation and roll with it.
For example on the vacuum cleaner episode he forgot to turn on the vacuum for the demonstration. Lol
I love that. An i love how the one guy is always a bit grimy. An i love that they roll with it.
What's important is the information not the presentation.
You can tell these guys loved what they did.

[maxout]

Good television. Thanks for uploading.
Our hearts got out to those who knew and loved Rex.

[DarkRaptor]

Its crazy The Learning Channel in the USA used to air this show back in the day.

[Fifury]

23:00 - I never got to thank Rex for this tip, which I got to use on my own fridge!

[evilkidd]

I watched this show back when I was in my early teens. Thank you Tim for putting this all out. When you stated in the extra commentary that Rex had passed I felt as if I'd been kicked in the stomach. For a moment I felt, well you know, time and all.

[andremetayer]

isn't this incredible, that as a french who don't speak and understand english very well, I've had a great pleasure to watch some of your videos Tim ?
You've teached me more about the fridges in your video than I've learn in my all life. And I' sixty-two years old !
Technical knowledge, simplicity of explanations, cartoons too ! And your real taste for education !
Bravo ! Hurray !

[bizzlemedia]

What a man and what a series! My physics teacher used to show us these episodes on VHS. It left a deep impression on my developing mind, and is probably the reason why I tinker with old appliances and hoard components to this day. Quite unusual for a 28 year old. I have never forgotten these films, and I am overjoyed to see their return on YouTube, published by the creator himself! Long may he and his ingenious inventions live 👏