80th Anniversary of BBC TV preview

[Raditechman]

I saw the breath from some of the presenters, but did not think they would be allowed to work in a building that cold. Certainly not good for contortionists or dancers.
I wonder why the early mechanical Baird receivers were not shown. Or did I miss them.

John

[Mike Watterson]

I wonder why the early mechanical Baird receivers were not shown. Or did I miss them.

Because they were already gone*. The "Competition" was between Baird's "state of the art" dead end mechanical / electronic hybrid system and full Electronic system with a future. The trial was ended and decision made to go with EMI 405 line. The programme wasn't a history of "Victorian" style mechanical TV (which in essence Baird's early system was, a novelty that could use AM radio transmitters) but of the start of the official public service TV in UK.

(* I've recorded the programme, I may watch it tonight or tomorrow. I didn't have an alarm / alert set and missed first 12 minutes, so decided to watch the recording later).

[AlanBeckett]

Both are highly qualified engineers, albeit in their own fields. Danielle's projects include the RF systems for the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope. She got her professorship at age 38. She also happens to be very photogenic.

But that's my whole point Jeffrey - on what basis were they chosen? I fear you're not anywhere near as photogenic but you have the advantage of knowing what you're talking about and you've been there, seen the Film and got the T-shirt. On the other hand how are you fixed for stumbling about at the bottom of the Mast in the dark? What exactly did that add to the Story?

As above I would have liked to see examples of what people were actually able to watch which I'm sure isn't too difficult with modern technology.

Alan

[ppppenguin]

Both Hugh and Danielle are respected engineers with experience of presentation on TV. Danielle gave the 2014 RI Xmas lectures. She also got an mbe this year for services to the public understanding of engineering. I'd rate that as pretty good qualifications to present this programme. Those of us like Paul and myself who know the subject intimately just aren't I in the same league as presenters. The Fred Dibnahs of this world are very rare indeed.

as for the ap mast the point was clearly made that it was a good tx site. As an rf engineer Danielle understood that without needing any specialist advice.

[AlanBeckett]

I'm sorry Jeffrey but we'll have to agree to differ. All I'll say is that 'Respected Engineers' or not neither of them seemed to have an atom of an idea how to do anything practical.
So, wasn't the mast just as good a site in the light of day?

Alan

[Murphyv310]

Yes Hugh was surprised the mechanicals went quiet with a drop of oil........... hardly an engineering feat.
When I was 13 at Irvine Royal Academy I was lucky enough to suggest and got the go ahead from the Physics and Technical Dept to build a Baird scanner and Televisor.
Along with three teachers and I think 12 or 15 pupils we did this within a month. We had the great fortune as one of the science teachers was well into electronics. The thing is it worked and well and was displayed for a few years before the school closed down. We didn't use a flying spot source but a series of lenses and the light passed through the Nipkov disc to a photocell, we plumped for 50 lines and used eddy current brakes as a servo for syncing purposes.
So surely some form of viewer could have been knocked up?
Like I've said too much reliance on new technology without going back to proper old fashioned engineering skills.

[Doodlebug]

Both are highly qualified engineers, albeit in their own fields. Danielle's projects include the RF systems for the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope. She got her professorship at age 38. She also happens to be very photogenic.

 On the other hand how are you fixed for stumbling about at the bottom of the Mast in the dark? What exactly did that add to the Story?

Yes. that was ridiculous at the bottom of the mast in the dark.
Far better to have shown a photo of the tower as it was with those 16 beautiful dipoles instead.
The music in parts was awful and most inappropriate.
That continue use of the Bush TV was over the top too.
All very disappointing. 

[Cardigan]

When I was 13 at Irvine Royal Academy I was lucky enough to suggest and got the go ahead from the Physics and Technical Dept to build a Baird scanner and Televisor.
Along with three teachers and I think 12 or 15 pupils we did this within a month. We had the great fortune as one of the science teachers was well into electronics. The thing is it worked and well and was displayed for a few years before the school closed down. We didn't use a flying spot source but a series of lenses and the light passed through the Nipkov disc to a photocell, we plumped for 50 lines and used eddy current brakes as a servo for syncing purposes.

One of my former neighbours did this as part of his final year studying electronic engineering at what was Hull Polytechnic many years ago, although there was an even bigger cheat in that scanner and receiver were mounted on the same shaft thus removing the need for synchronisation!

[Murphyv310]

Yes that is rather cheating. It would of course be so stable. I must admit it was a brilliant project and it firmly made me want to follow the trade I went into.
I suppose that because of my family and both my dad's and grandfather's background I often feel today's engineers rely too much on technology rather than hands on.

[ppppenguin]

This was linked on another forum with some notes:
7.40 shows the black box used by continuity announcers
11.45 the 1936 Olympics
12.38 - 12.52 IF clip of football match between Austria and Poland.
29.15 and 39.06 The only remaining pre-war German electronic TV camera.

Warning: There is a lot of nazi footage with swastikas etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLDcA51lKqA

Looks like Fernseh's Intermediate film technique was more advanced than Baird's. Despite the IF system at AP almost certainly being of German manufacture except for the cine camera itself which was Vinten.

The same post also linked to this very good article:
http://people.ischool.berkeley.edu/~buck...ision.html