In Good Hands

The Powers of Metal (1989) (1x2)

Data di messa in onda: Giu 07, 2013

David revisits Powers Foundry in Wexford - traditional sand casters who have adapted their ancient craft to the demands of architectural metal restoration. David Shaw Smith revisits Powers Foundry in Wexford, where he filmed an episode of Hands in 1989. At the time, the tight-knit Wexford family business was run by the late John Power. Twenty three years on, John's sons Seamus, David and Kevin have graduated from the manufacture of manhole covers and fire grates, working on restoration of historical architecture, reinventing themselves in the face of cheap mass imports from China. They now specialise in architectural metal restoration, forging decorative features from moulds of the originals, using the skilled and ancient technique of sand casting. We follow the brothers as they restore an ornate bench originally designed by the renowned 20th century iron-founder and engineer Richard Turner who designed the famous glass houses at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin. We observe the Powers as they prepare for their weekly firing day, when tonnes of scrap metal is sorted, broken up and melted down in the old furnace their father once used to be transformed into new objects. David discovers that, while the business has adapted to survive, some things haven't changed since he filmed here 23 years ago. Back then David Power played tuba for the local brass band. He still does, and he's since been joined by younger brother Kevin. Both of them working metal by day and playing it by night.