The existential endtime pleasures of watching silent restoration videos

Gareth Branwyn 9:35 am Mon Sep 16, 2019

It is perhaps in the spirit of our anxious, rickety age that antique tool, machinery, and toy restoration videos are becoming increasingly popular. There is something oddly comforting and therapeutic about seeing the old, the forgotten, the previously reliable (now seized with rust and neglect) being lovingly restored to life.

These videos are simple, quiet (usually with no spoken narrative), and most of the restoration process is carefully shown, from disassembly to cleaning, sanding, repainting to re-assembly and testing. This is a world in which time, Evapo-Rust, a wire wheel, and some rattle-cans of enamel paint can repair the past to near show room luster.

I can't get enough. And for makers, there are lots of great repair and restoration tips embedded in these videos. Here are a few of my favorite channels.

How hundred year old books are restored

It's hard to let something you loved go. Watching cherished items wither as a result of time is an unsettling reminder of our impermanence as human beings. Often, these items serve as a portal into the glistening years of our youth, and watching them fall into disrepair signifies a pathway to nostalgia becoming forever inaccessible.… READ THE REST
This priceless piece of Caligula's mosaic floor was unknowingly used for 50 years as a coffee table in a NYC apartment

In the 1960s, New York City art dealer Helen Fioratti bought a lovely mosaic in Italy from a noble family. She turned the mosaic into a coffee table and used it for decades. Fifty years later, Fioratti was informed that the mosaic was actually a piece of floor from one of Roman emperor Caligula's party… READ THE REST
Amateur diver hauls up 900-year-old crusader sword off Israel coast

Shlomi Katzin, diving off the coast of Israel, spotted a yard-long embarnacled lump and hauled it to the surface. The item is believed to be a 900-year-old sword that belonged to a crusader; Katzin handed it in to the Israel Antiques Authority. "The sword was preserved in perfect condition, it is a beautiful and rare… READ THE REST
Get games like Portal 2 for free with this 20% discount on Xbox Live Gold

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Summer is coming to an end, and you know what that means! The leaves are changing, the air is cooling off, and there's a lot more time to spend indoors playing… READ THE REST
Upgrade your home or office security with this smart camera for $40

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. If you're looking to step up your home or office security, then a reliable door camera might be looking into. While you're away, the X1 Indoor Security Camera by Bosma can stand vigilant… READ THE REST
Get a refurbished Microsoft Surface Pro 5 for super cheap

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. When it comes to technology, Microsoft has been on top of the game for decades. With every new innovation that comes out, the tech company certainly does an excellent job of keeping its… READ THE REST