Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> History >> HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1262127707 Message started by MARCONI on Dec 29^th, 2009, 11:02pm

Title: HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ
Post by MARCONI on Dec 29^th, 2009, 11:02pm

HI i am in NEW ZEALAND and was hopeing to find information about an Ex BBC camera .The camera is a (MARCONI MRK 4 ) SN 177 Series A.
It came to NZ in the late 60,s with others , when the studio in London was converted to Colour. I got most of the information from the late BRIAN ROBERTS ex BBC engineer who packed it up for its trip .What i am after is the Studio it was used in please ( BRIAN ROBERTS was at} please ?He was one of the Colour experiment engineers for the BBC.

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ
Post by MARCONI on Apr 28^th, 2010, 12:29am

I have just found the sister Camera (POWER SUPPLY /CCU/BBC CAMERA CONTROL PANEL)from TVC .All our need is one more and ill have the full studio set !

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ
Post by Michael on Apr 29^th, 2010, 9:07pm

I don't know where the camera is / was, but Brian Roberts was based at Avalon, near Wellington

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ
Post by MARCONI on May 4^th, 2010, 2:56am

Thanks for the reply. I own the TWO Ex BBC Cameras Chains.I met Brian Robert in Auckland many times,I know now that these Cameras came from TC2/3 .The BBC used their own CCU,s not Marconi type.

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ
Post by Micro on Jul 18^th, 2010, 4:43pm

If I remember correctly Brian Roberts was the Shift 2 Studio Engineer in TC3, which was equipped with 6 Marconi Mk 4 cameras (altho the sixth was only a spare - these cameras died pretty frequently and the hot spare often needed to be put into service during a show)

The next door studio, TC2, had four of these cameras. No others at Tel Centre used them.

The old days of black and white 405 tv were exciting times. Most programmes were live but the kit was somewhat less than reliable. I preferred the studios with EMI cameras as they were easier to mend in a hurry. Marconi's were rather complex - so more stable in operation but a pig to work on!

Hope this helps

Micro

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ
Post by MARCONI on Jul 21^st, 2010, 12:12am

Thanks for the info This camera chain is a 404/525/625 .Did they have a Studio for 405 line (TVC3)and Multi (TVC2) please ?

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ
Post by Micro on Aug 14^th, 2010, 8:43pm

If I remember correctly the Marconi cameras were originally installed in about 1959/60 as 405 only. Later on they were modified to operate on 405/525/625 with a large number of little relays that were rather unreliable in order to cater for the new 625 only BBC2 channel. These relays gave the engineers quite a few headaches!
Micro

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ
Post by Michael on Aug 14^th, 2010, 9:08pm

Have you tried asking at MOTAT in Auckland, or Ferrymead in Christchurch? They may have some information. Likewise you could try the Dunedin TVNZ studios.

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE RE OLD BBC CAMERA HISTORY in NZ
Post by MARCONI on Aug 24^th, 2010, 8:52am

Thanks for the info Micro ,Are these the only 405/525/625 Mrk 4s the BBC had as all the Cameras Ive seen are 1 format only .This camera according to the caps is 1959/60 vintage .Also the CCU has BBC mods (Valve Inserts).
Thanks Michael, I know its NZ history Interesting you heard of those places.I