James May Attempts To Build A 1957 Dial Telephone | Reassembler

Could you piece back together a 1957 Dial Telephone?

In this new three part series, James May explores the intricacies and engineering marvels of various objects by putting them back together again from a pile of hundreds of their component parts. While going through the rebuilding process, James May explains the purpose of every single nut and bolt.

In the second episode of this season, James continues his quest to put history back together again one piece at a time by tackling a 1957 Bakelite dial telephone. 211 pieces, most of them very small indeed, must be reassembled by James in the correct order if this telephone is ever to ring again. James May's toolbox will be tested to the limit!

[dannycortes]

World record most patient and calm crew I have ever seen. 😂. Please continue to upload new content. Your show is fantastic.

[TheRodlund]

The monologue given when assembling the dial was golden. James can just deliver sentence after sentence of comedic soft spoken lyrics.

[kevincaldwell]

Only a series like this would work having James May hosting it!

[RPmartell]

Please keep uploading this series! Absolutely love it!

[BuenosTARDIS]

I love James' lectures, regardless of what Jeremy and Richard think!

[julesverne]

I can't get enough of James' shows. MAKE MORE!

[StrangelyIronic]

Opening up items like this, clocks, watches, cameras, music boxes, etc are what led me eventually to where I am today as a machinist, tool maker, and clockwork engineer (fancy term that means I repair/create clockwork items). There's something about the precision of each small piece perfectly sliding into place that captured my attention.

[Zac-cwzz]

James May wields a screwdriver with all the delicacy and care as tho it were an artist's paintbrush. A true craftsman.

[the_minimalistic_adventure]

The patience of his camera crew is mind blowing!

[CHNOSemonious]

When I was a kid, I was impatient with that poor dial. I would dial the number, then force it to return faster then it was supposed to. Fifty years later I feel bad for how I treated an appliance that is long gone. lol Love watching and learning.

[JoeLaFon]

From 27:40 onwards 1 minute is just straight ASMR to me. Love watching James talk

[IndiBrony]

Glad I've found this series. Nothing more relaxing than chilling out to James on a Sunday afternoon!

[anonymous]

please upload the whole series if possible! i miss watching them!

[richiedagger]

Oh good I was hoping there would be more here from this series, I really enjoyed the lawn mower one.

[alexandermason-sxog]

As someone who works on both vintage electronics, and modern computers/smartphones, I keep these running in my store almost all the time; they’re my entertainment and relaxation throughout the day when someone comes in with a device they’ve treated like a red-headed stepchild

[ianphillips]

I can't believe that I just watched Mr. May assemble a vintage phone! 🤣 OK, yes I can! 😂
Great stuff, I remember taking our old house phone to bits as a kid, it was not popular, the GPO man had to come out and repair it!

Oh, "like meeting a kid with mumps" I almost spat my pint! 🤣😂🤣😂
Thanks for all the great stuff.

[ZillionZillions]

There is beauty in simplicity, in James May's case he is very beautiful.

[michaelpeterson]

James talking about the people in the past who made declarations of love on that phone have since turned to dust. What a romantic!

[TheChipmunk]

The finger slipping issue was so great that the GPO (and other phone companies) issued pencils/pens to their operators with a 'correctly sized lump' on the end to fit the finger holes. Woe betide any GPO operator dialling with his or her finger! (mostly her)

[legopunk]

When I watch reassembler all I can do is Imagine Clarkson bouncing around behind May and yelling "Hurry up James."