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 Microsoft Office Pro and 78 hours of training for an unbelievable price

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Here's a catch-22: Most jobs and most schoolwork require you to use Microsoft Office programs in one way or another. Whether you need to type a document, create a PowerPoint presentation, or… READ THE REST
Make custom engravings for anything you own with 33% off this engraving pen

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. There's something extraordinary about personalized items. A monogram, a note, really anything personal, can give a ton of meaning to a seemingly mundane object. And one surefire way to make something unique… READ THE REST
This powerful electric toothbrush can last up to 28 days on one charge

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Are you searching for a premium toothbrush? Then you might want to upgrade to an electric toothbrush. For one, they're a whole lot better at fighting nasty grime like food particles and… READ THE REST