[78-L] Subject: Kinescopes (WAS Average Age)

[Alan Bunting]

The BBC transmitted their first tele-recordings (the British name for kinescopes) in November 1947.   One was of the Cenotaph Remembrance service and the other Princess Elizabeth's wedding. 
 
These were made using an ordinary 35mm camera to photograph the television pictures. It had the limitation that only one frame of each interlaced picture could be recorded, the other frame being lost while the film was pulled down for the next scan. This gave rise to interference patterns when the film was transmitted using a telecine machine.
 
In 1948 a system using a modified Mechau 35mm continuous motion projector, as used in the telecine machines of the day, in conjunction with a film camera was developed and by 1949 two of these "telefilm" channels  were in use at Alexandra Palace.
 
Extracted from "BBC Engineering 1922-1972" by Edward Pawley.
 
Alan Bunting


From: "Sammy Jones" 
 
I'm not sure if you're implying that kinescope was not developed until 1956,
or that videotape wasn't developed until '56, but for the record kinnies
could be made as early as about 1948 or 49.  There are many programs that
exist on kinescope prior to 1956, including lots of Jack Benny and
Honeymooners.

The first practical videotape format was 2" Quad which was unveiled in 1956.
Betacam and its successors didn't come along until the early '80s.

Beta wasn't even the first professional videocassette format.  3/4" U-Matic
was around in the '70s.  It was in use at my station until the mid-90s!

The BBC routinely uses off-air home video (and audio) recordings on their
DVD and CD releases.  A lot of Doctor Who material is a notable example.

Sammy Jones

Steven C. Barr wrote:

Prior to c. 1956, there was NO practical way of recording and thus
preserving television. Insofar as archives still exist they do so as
"kinescopes"...movie films used for delayed broadcast...! Thereafter,
Beta and its successors made it possible to record (and preserve,
although that was seldom done) television content. Not too long
thereafter, "home" video recorders became available (for VERY
high prices at first...!) so individuals could record/preserve TV
content...!

Steven C. Barr
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