A televisual curiosity

[ppppenguin]

Shame there's almost nothing of Scophony bits surviving. A few fragments only. Nowhere near a complete set. At the time Scophony had the largest screen domestic TV though I don't think any were actually sold. CRTs were difficult at the time, 15" maximum size.

I think that Scophony also pointed out irregularities in the BBC's transmitted sync timings. They were OK for a direct locked electronic timebase but had fluctuations that upset a mechanical scanner.

[Panrock]

I think that Scophony also pointed out irregularities in the BBC's transmitted sync timings. They were OK for a direct locked electronic timebase but had fluctuations that upset a mechanical scanner.

I have one of those unsure memories of lost provenance that tells me that the BBC were alerted to this and put it right around 1938. Can't be certain though.

I shall forever regret selling my (AP) 'Black Book'.


Steve

[ppppenguin]

The Black Book is scanned an possibly available online. If not, I can send you a copy. It's over 300MB. Can send by one of big file mailing services.

[peter scott]

https://www.bbceng.info/additions/2018/T...System.pdf

[ppppenguin]

Was it scanned more than once? My scans were done by the late Brian Cuff.

I have a feeling that the RTS sponsored a scan too. I was right. Simon Vaughan did it in 2012: https://rts.org.uk/shiers-trust-award

[Panrock]

https://www.bbceng.info/additions/2018/T...System.pdf

Wow! It's all there, and the quality looks excellent.

Thanks to each of you!

Steve

[peter scott]

I think that Scophony also pointed out irregularities in the BBC's transmitted sync timings. They were OK for a direct locked electronic timebase but had fluctuations that upset a mechanical scanner.

I have one of those unsure memories of lost provenance that tells me that the BBC were alerted to this and put it right around 1938. Can't be certain though.

Steve

Message sent to BBC 17th August 1937.
   
Yes, 1938.
   
   
   
   
   
   

[Mike Watterson]

Wasn't the aim of Scophony to make projectors for cinema/theatre rather than large domestic TVs? I think some of those were used or sold.
And the largest / brightest projection TVs today might be lasers with drum scanning. Though technically DLP is mechanical TV. The single chip versions even have a spinning colour wheel (with one clear segment, or is it two? I forget.).

[ppppenguin]

Peter, thanks for digging out all that Scophony material. The unanswered question is whether Scophony actually did any public demonstrations of their receivers. Their SPG is wonderful. Think of Hammond tonewheel organs.

[Doodlebug]

Thanks for the BBC Marconi scan. I've always wanted to see that book.
An original copy was sold 10 years ago for £1800.
Something more to read in lock down. :-)