The Secret Life of Machines

Contents

Each of the ''Secret Life'''s individual series covers a particular set of machines. The first addresses household appliances, while the second includes devices used outside the home, such as the car. The third series examines the contraptions and gadgets used in a modern office.

Another aspect of the programmes was their use of humorous animations based on Hunkin's own drawings. These cartoons were often based around the historical figures involved in the development of a particular technology. Furthermore, the illustrations were an artistic commentary on modern society, including segments on lift fantasies (as shown in the episode "The Lift") and corporate disregard for individuals' rights (featured in many episodes, including "The Radio" and "The Car").

Each programme concluded with an epilogue consisting of an elaborate installation, which resembled an aspect of the machine or technology under discussion. One example was a giant statue resembling a robot, which had been built from scrap computer monitors, printers and other parts, which was blown up using pyrotechnics. Hunkin described the destruction as an allegorical point that computers are just a collection of transistors and lack "superhuman intelligence".

Production

All the series used a combination of mechanical models and animation to help explain various aspect of how the subject devices function. The animation for the series was done by Hunkin himself in a uniquely recognisable format.

Episode list

Series 1 (1988)

The first series covers household appliances.

Epilogue: Various vacuums fitted with pyrotechnics fly from a pile, guided by wires, with sparks streaming from the rear like a rocket. Historical Figures Mentioned: Hubert Cecil Booth, James M. Spangler, William H. Hoover Epilogue: A modern sewing machine is shown embroidering "THIS IS THE END ** GOODBYE" on a piece of fabric. Historical Figures Mentioned: Thomas Saint, Barthélemy Thimonnier, Walter Hunt, Elias Howe, Isaac Merritt Singer, Edward Cabot Clark Epilogue: A life-size model of a central heating system, used during the show, begins to spray water everywhere. Historical Figures Mentioned: Ancient Romans, Normans, Lord Burlington, Robert Bunsen Epilogue: A pyramid of washing machines is switched onto spin cycle whilst Hunkin talks about recent developments Epilogue: Multiple refrigerators are made to dance around using stop motion animation Epilogue: A mountain of television sets are burned in a massive bonfire whilst still switched on

Series 2 (1991)

In the second group of programmes, devices used outside the home are investigated. The first two episodes are closely related, both dealing with the car and similar vehicles.

Epilogue: The bodyshell of a Ford Cortina is cubed in a car crusher Epilogue: A running Ford Kent engine is carried to the centre of a "carhenge"—a replica of Stonehenge made entirely of car bodies—by several men in white coveralls Epilogue: Tim Hunkin's closing narration is interrupted when an oven in the background bursts open, followed by a sped up and reversed recording of a watch in said oven baked to destruction Epilogue: Stop motion animation of various novelty phones dancing across a stage Epilogue: Multiple radios (which have been converted into remote-control cars) are driven around, sometimes colliding into one another Epilogue: Scrap video recorders are arranged to spell out "THE END." The camera then zooms out, revealing Tim watching a recorded version of the epilogue.

Series 3 - The Secret Life of the Office (1993)

The third and final series concentrated on office-related technology. It also introduced an animated set of fictional characters who worked in the offices of the fictional Utopia Services company.

Epilogue: Hunkin is "blasted" into the sky in a lift car powered by rocket motors. Epilogue: A giant robot-shaped frame covered in computers bursts into flames sending the computers tumbling to the ground Epilogue: As the camera is lifted into the sky on a crane, what seems at first to be randomly placed house lighting is gradually revealed to actually spell out "THE END". Epilogue: Tim Hunkin is revealed to be sitting on top of a mountain of shredded paper at a recycling centre, followed by video of him using a bulldozer to drive through the pile. Epilogue: While testing out his home built model of a Pantelegraph, it begins to smoke and finally explodes. Epilogue: An office goes haywire just after a holiday party, blowing paper everywhere, shaking binders and everything generally moving with a will of its own. After the chaos winds down, Tim Hunkin cautiously emerges from under a desk.

''The Secret Life of Components''

Coinciding with the release of the remastered original episodes of The Secret Life Of Machines (see below), Tim Hunkin began a self-produced spiritual successor called The Secret Life of Components. It explored some of the individual parts that so often make up the appliances and machines that were the focus of the original series. The 8 weekly episodes included what Hunkin has learned through his experience with the component, along with many models for demonstration and examples from his amusement machines and other works. It premiered March 3, 2021 on Hunkin's YouTube channel with an episode on chain and belts. In the last episode of series 1, Hunkin commented that he may make another series the following winter. A 5 episode second series then debuted in spring 2022. On March 27, 2023, a third series of four episodes was announced on Hunkin's YouTube channel.

Series 1 (2021)

Series 2 (2022)

Series 3 (2023)

Creative uses

Hunkin and Garrod used the series to show some of their devices they built from parts of machines featured on their programme. The creations, some of which were decorative, others functional, show the potential uses of broken machinery. An extreme example is the giant clock powered by steam. In the epilogue for the remastered version of the episode, Hunkin mentions that the clock has been non functional for a long time.

Availability

In March 2021, Hunkin began posting remastered versions of the episodes to YouTube. These were upscaled from an analogue video source to improve the image quality and include a short, recently filmed reminiscence by Hunkin at the end of each episode. The first 6 remastered episodes, comprising the complete first series, were posted to YouTube on Saturday, March 13, 2021. Starting on Thursday, May 6, 2021, Tim started posting episodes from Series 2 at a rate of one a week (give or take a day). As of June 12, 2021, all 6 remastered episodes from this series have been posted on his channel. Series 3 followed a similar weekly schedule, with the Fax Machine episode being posted on June 18, 2021. All of the six episodes have been posted, with the final episode released on July 22, 2021.

References

References

1. "Tim hunkin - Secret Life YouTube Playlist".
2. "Tim hunkin - YouTube".
3. "The Secret Life of components. A series of eight guides for designers and makers by Tim Hunkin".
4. "The Secret Life of Components series three".
5. "PNEUMATICS -The Secret Life of Components, a series of guides for makers and designers - episode 14".
6. [https://youtube.com/watch?v=CJlrbMHLBd4 Remastered SECRET LIFE OF THE VACUUM CLEANER on Tim Hunkin's YouTube channel]
7. Hunkin, Tim. (2012). "tim hunkin/giant steam clock". .
8. Harvey, Robin. (27 May 1995). "Practical TV crafts entertain". John Cruickshank.
9. (26 January 1993). "Critic's Choice". Michael J. Klingensmith.
10. Woods, Sarah. (20 May 2004). "Tim's weird and wonderful experiments". [[Richmond and Twickenham Times]].
11. Werts, Diane. (15 May 2004). "OFF THE WALL". Fred Groser.
12. Barnhart, Aaron. (21 May 2004). "Sweeps wind down with a few fresh shows". Mi-Ai Parrish.