The Repair Shop recently welcomed a unique and challenging restoration project brought in by members of the Barnhowlers Ukulele Club from Oldham, nearly 250 miles away. The club, which meets weekly at the Cross Keys Inn, relies on an unconventional washboard instrument crafted by the late George Wyatt, a co-founder of the group affectionately known as "Magic" George. This washboard is essential in maintaining rhythm during their sessions, enhanced by an array of attached items including cymbals, a cowbell, a horn, a Swanee whistle, a saucepan, and several tin cans.
The instrument, now worn and unstable from years of use, posed a difficult task for the specialists at The Repair Shop. Pete Woods, who primarily restores musical instruments with a focus on percussion, took on the main repair work. However, the complexity of the washboard required collaboration with sewing specialist Sonnaz Nooravary. June, one of the Barnhowlers who currently plays the washboard, also needed her gloves repaired; the metal thimbles sewn onto the fingers are vital for producing the distinctive sounds when playing the metal washboard.
The condition of the washboard presented several issues: its structure had become very wobbly, the horn had lost its functionality, and the overall shape was battered. Pete and Sonnaz faced the challenge of restoring both the physical integrity of the washboard and the sound quality, a task neither specialist had attempted before. Their combined expertise in percussion restoration and detailed sewing work was crucial to tackling the delicate repairs required.
The Barnhowlers are noted for their inclusive approach to music-making, welcoming members irrespective of their skill level. This ethos helped foster a community spirit, with the washboard playing a central role in their performances.
After the Barnhowlers departed, repairers at The Repair Shop reflected on the unusual project with both a sense of intrigue and uncertainty. Pete Woods expressed the novelty of the task, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the items brought in for restoration. Sonnaz Nooravary admitted the challenges ahead, highlighting how some repairs require innovative methods beyond standard practice.
This project underscores the breadth of expertise required at The Repair Shop, where specialists not only rely on their core skills but also collaborate across disciplines to restore a wide variety of cherished objects.