Find It, Fix It, Flog It

During their visit to Oxford, Henry Cole and Simon O’Brien uncover a servant’s call bell and a mysterious pedal‑powered tool as part of their exploration of the city’s heritage. Simon is anxious to restore the latter, and both examine the items for their historical significance.

The episode follows presenters Henry Cole and Simon O’Brien as they travel to Oxford. In this instalment the pair set out to investigate the city’s lesser‑known curiosities, bringing their usual curiosity and enthusiasm to the journey. Their aim is to uncover the stories behind everyday objects that have slipped into obscurity. During their time in Oxford, Cole and O’Brien come across two distinctive items. The first is a servant’s call bell, an object traditionally used to summon assistance within a household. The second is a mysterious pedal‑powered tool, a device whose function is not immediately clear. Both items capture the presenters’ interest as they examine the objects and consider their possible origins. Simon O’Brien shows a particular eagerness to restore the pedal‑powered tool, expressing anxiety about its current condition and a desire to see it working again. Cole supports this enthusiasm, and the two discuss how they might approach the restoration, weighing the challenges involved. Their conversation highlights the personal investment Simon feels towards bringing the mysterious device back to life, while both continue to explore the significance of the items they have found. They note the age of the items they have uncovered, and the exploration expands their catalogue of Oxford’s historical objects.