Ex BBC Television, Unit MCR23, 390 EXH, “Project Vivat”

Project Vivat 390EXH MCR23

See our “Latest News” page for an overview of how we are getting on! Each entry contains a description of the work and more photographs.

Not one example of a 1950s BBC television outside broadcast unit survives, despite the 50s being such an important decade for the new medium of TV.

This project sets out to redress that lack by recreating a representative operational unit. It is based on a very similar early 1960s vehicle (MCR23 – 390EXH) but fitted out with original early 1950s equipment.

Before

MCR23-as-found
MCR23 in “as found” state.

Click on the image to see more photographs of the vehicle as recovered.

After

Project-Vivat-MCR23-390EXH
Project Vivat MCR23 390EXH in London

Click on the image to see the latest news.

Sponsors

Bryant-Unlimited-Logo

Now that we have reached the wiring stage, we have been looking for suitable black double-screened coax cable and connectors. We consulted Bryant Unlimited who suggested a suitable cable, BDSD50F, from their current range and suitable crimp connectors.

We were delighted when Graham Tottle from Bryant Unlimited agreed to sponsor our project by donating the cable and connectors we needed, which were delivered very quickly.

Thanks to the team at Bryant for their help, although the company has now closed down due to retirement – see the news item here: Bryant Unlimited.

Get your name and logo here! Can you help us by sponsoring part of our project? Please contact us by emailing this email address.

Background

The early 1950s was a very significant decade in the development of broadcast television, especially with regard to outside broadcasts. Whilst such broadcasts had been a reality since before the war, it was the prospect of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 which really made the whole idea a big success and really launched television for the masses in the UK. The Coronation was viewed by at least 20 million people in Britain and another 200 million people across the planet, (via live relays and tele-recordings).

These days, that 220 million figure doesn’t seem too large in light of ‘Live Aid’ and the Beijing Olympics (to name but two), but back in 1953 there were no satellites and only the beginnings of the Eurovision network. For North American audiences, the Coronation broadcast was seen via tele-recordings delivered by the RAF using three flights of Canberra jet bombers. This ‘coming of age’ of television in 1953 heralded a great decade of innovation and technical development throughout the 1950s. The advent of ITV in 1955 was another huge stimulus and outside broadcasts became a popular and regular part of the daily television fare.

With no complete 1950s outside broadcast unit surviving in the UK, a hazy idea of building a ‘replacement’ began to take shape amongst a group of like-minded engineers. It would be a recreation of an early 50s BBC ‘Scanner’, similar to a type used at the Coronation, but based on a near-derelict early 60s BBC vehicle (MCR 23, registration number 390 EXH), using accumulated Marconi MkII and MkIII series equipment.

For various reasons the project has only progressed in fits and starts, but finally, the whole assembly of vehicle and operational broadcast television equipment is at last coming together. Upon acquisition of the vehicle, it was immediately obvious that a lot of vehicle work, both inside and out, would be necessary. That has taken a lot of time and money but finally fitting-out and testing of the television equipment has now begun in earnest. There’s still a lot to do, but at long last it’s beginning to look like a complete outside broadcast unit. What should our first programme be?

Jerry Clegg has sent us a couple of photographs of MCR13 (Registration PGN813), this is an example of the vehicle we are re-creating.