Twelve inch

Twelve inch, 33 1/3 rpm BBC Engineering Society disc recording of the lecture "The Early Days of Broadcasting" by Captain P P Eckersley on 16 February 1960, including discussion and an epilogue by Lord Reith. (Two discs, four sides.)

Two LP 12-inch discs of a recording of a lecture, 'The Early Days of Broadcasting' given by Captain P.P. Eckersley, the BBC's first Chief engineer, to the BBC Engineering Society on 16 February 1960.

The lecture was given in Eckersley's usual breezy, humorous style and captures very well the radio personality that he was in the 1920s, promoting broadcasting in both broadcast talks and lectures countrywide.

Eckersley had strong right-wing political views, as did his wife who was an ardent admirer of the German Nazi party and, on the outbreak of the Second World War, she parted from him to go and live in Germany. This put Eckersley's reputation somewhat under a cloud, but all had been forgiven and forgotten by 1960 when the newly formed BBC Engineering Society invited him to speak.

Subjects covered included: the beginning of wireless to Writtle; formation and development of BBC Technical Resources; relay stations 5XX; microphones and studios; wavelength conferences; and the regional scheme. This was followed by a discussion by various prominent figures in early British broadcasting radio including an epilogue by Lord Reith, the first director-general of the BBC.