The Repair Shop viewers were bemused by what they joked was a 'time machine' on the latest episode of the heartwarming show.
The BBC series followed the journey behind an historic Victorian era family heirloom being restored to its former glory on Wednesday night.
Jay Blades and the team were on hand to restore an iconic 1960s armchair, a WWII sailor’s hat, the most extraordinary bicycle and a Victorian electrostatic generator that got everyone talking online.
James Wimshurst’s great-great-great-grandson Nick Wimhurst called into the workshop to seek the help of mechanical expert Steve Fletcher and furniture restorer Will Kirk.
The machine generates electrostatic energy, using spinning glass discs and brushes to capture the static charge and bars that transfer what look like lightning bolts.
Nick explained how the interesting piece had been in his family for over 135 year but he had never witnessed the machine work.
The unique piece of Victorian scientific history fascinated the craftsmen and viewers at watching at home - with some joking it reminded them of a fictional time machine.
"Amazing! This Wimhurst machine rocks! I feel like a kid at school with a science project," one commented on Twitter as the show aired on Wednesday night.
"It looks like the time machine #TheRepairShop," another quipped - adding a gif of a time machine.
A third joked: "No #therepairshop next week as they've all been transported somewhere back in time by the Lightning Machine."
Others were interested in the significance of the machine, with one writing: "Great to see a wimhurst machine on #TheRepairShop.
"I've always wanted one ever since i saw the results you can get from putting a frame of photo film between the spark gap, that being some very beautiful photograms of lightning."
Inventor James Wimshurst was an English engineer and shipwright and although he never patented his machines, his refinements to the electrostatic generator led to its becoming widely known as the Wimshurst machine.
The late inventor's great-great-great-grandson was overjoyed to see Steve managed to bring his family heirloom back to life on the show - as were viewers at home.
"The man was trembling with anticipation when he got the electric spark machine working. What a brilliant restoration by Steve. #TheRepairShop," one Twitter user observed towards the end of the episode.
"They’ve done an absolutely amazing job on that lightning machine #therepairshop," another mused.
"Great to see a Wimhurst machine on #TheRepairShop, I've always wanted one ever since I saw the results you can get from putting a frame of photo film between the spark gap, that being some very beautiful photograms of lightning," a third added.
One even pointed out the emotional rollercoaster the BBC show takes viewers on each week.
"Is anything on TV better than #TheRepairShop," they asked on Twitter.
"Fascinated by the processes, and getting ready to shed tears over a flipping sailor’s cap, a lightning machine and a tatty old chair."
*The Repair Shop airs Wednesdays at 8pm on BBC One.
