Posted on

Making Old Television Technology Make Sense

A new approach to technological television history and conservation

By Dr Paul Marshall

Abstract

How does traditional analogue television work? That’s a question beyond the comfort zone of most media historians who may not be familiar with analogue electronics. Even young engineers know little of thermionics, cathode rays and a myriad of other forgotten technologies. This important facet of television’s history is now only recorded by older engineers and by amateur groups who collect these technologies. In this paper, I will show by using examples how material artefacts can help us understand television’s history more fully.

Keywords: broadcasting, engineering, television, conservation, restoration, preservation

How to Cite: Marshall, P., 2019. Making Old Television Technology Make Sense. VIEW Journal of European Television History and Culture, 8(15), pp.32–45. DOI: http://doi.org/10.18146/2213-0969.2019.jethc163

Article

Read the article here: http://doi.org/10.18146/2213-0969.2019.jethc163

Posted on

Central News follow-up

ITV Central News have posted another video to YouTube, this one is a follow-up item about the event at BCU.

It includes interviews with Chris Perry of Kaleidoscope, Michael Steele and Dr Paul Marshall of BECG.

 

Posted on

Colour TV Comes to Town

Join us on Saturday 16th November 2019 at Birmingham City University for an event that celebrates ’50 years of Colour TV’ on the main terrestrial channels (BBC1 and ITV).

The event will be a mix of showing rare early archive colour footage from the BBC and ITV alongside honoured guests who will be interviewed live on stage in front of the gathered audience, concerning their recollections and any amusing anecdotes of working in TV during the transition period from black and white to colour TV during the late 60’s / early 70’s.

BECG will be supporting the event by showing one of the early OB units built for colour TV outside broadcast namely ‘Southern‘ (Southern TV’s OB Unit 1) along with a chance to view examples of Marconi MK VII’s and EMI 2001 early colour TV cameras!

Click on the following link for more information and to book your free tickets – https://becg.org.uk/event/colour-tv-comes-to-town/

Posted on

BBC EHX86V CMCR20

A recent addition to the website, but a vehicle we have been involved with for a few years is EHX86V, one of The BBC Type 5 units, designated LO6 or CMCR20.

See the project page for more details.