These unique objects date back to the origins of radio and television broadcasting. Mainly related to the British professional television and radio industries, explore the technologies and engineering of broadcasting represented by these objects.
Television
1964-1988
'Poppy', doll with plastic head, arms and legs from BBC children's programme 'Play School'. Poppy has long, dark hair and is wearing a blue dungarees and shirt with white stripes.
'Humpty', soft toy from BBC children's programme 'Play School', c 1977.
'Little Ted', soft toy from BBC children's programme 'Play School', c 1977.
'Jemima', soft toy from BBC children's programme 'Play School'.
2008
'Digit Al' doll, designed by Abbot Mead Vickers BDDO, unknown maker, 2008. Produced to promote the digital television switchover.
1970
Keracolor Sphere TV set, made in 1970 by Group Systems (Keracolor) Ltd, Northwich, with associated archive material.
1951
Marconi Mark II television camera head, made by Marconi's Wireless Telegraphy Company Limited, British, 1951.
2000-2006
Video Networks Limited (HomeChoice) set top box, manufactured by Video Networks Limited, 2000-2006
'Big Ted', soft toy from BBC children's programme 'Play School', c 1977.
c. 1980
C7 Betamax made by Sony from 1980.The Sony C7 was introduced in early 1980 and offered features that had never been seen before on home video recorders such as picture search, slow motion, and an end-of-tape alarm. Serial No. 33355578; Model No. SL-C7UB
1923
Savoy Hill "Meat Safe" microphone stand for the Marconi-Sykes Magnetophone type microphone, made by Marconi's Wireless Telegraphy Company Limited, probably Chelmsford, Essex, England, 1923
2001
Pace model DSL4000 IPTV set-top box, with remote control, manufactured by Pace plc, British, 2001.
1962
The Donald Fleming Collection of North American television receivers: Sony 5" 5-303W portable television receiver and in carrying case, 1962 (Original text reads Sony 6" portable 'suitcase' television receiver, 1959).
1959
The Donald Fleming Collection of North American television receivers: Philco 'Predicta' Princess 17" tabletop television receiver, 1959.
c. 1946
Marconi AXBT microphone Type A, manufactured by Marconi, c. 1944. BBC ribbon microphone with stand.
Marconi-Sykes Magnetophone, Serial Number 271376, made by Marconi's Wireless Telegraphy Company Limited, probably Chelmsford, Essex, England, 1923. Very early moving coil microphone, DC energised. Uses the large flat coil as the diaphragm. Used at the BBC's early studio at Savoy Hill. This example is missing the coil.
Pace Sky+ HD satellite receiver, manufactured for Pace plc, Europe, 2008. It includes Sky+ functionality and a built in HD video recorder.
1972-1973
'Rigonda' portable television receiver, VL100M, 1972-1973. Made at the Mezon Works, Leningrad.
2000
'Coronation Street' Monopoly game, produced in 2000 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the show.
1937-1960
L1 lip microphone, manufactured by Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company Limited for the BBC, Chelmsford, Essex, England, 1937-1960
1998
Replica of 'Muffin the Mule' puppet marionette, made in 1998 for the BBC's 'Small People' children's television promotion.
1946-1948
PYE B16T table-top television receiver, manufactured by Pye Limited, East Anglia, England, 1946-1948.
1936
EMI Emitron camera head, serial no.76037, one of the original Emitrons used by Marconi-EMI from the beginning of the BBC's British Television Service at Alexandra Palace, 1936.
1966
Philips PC 60 (LDK 3) colour television camera head, with Pye branding, manufactured in 1966.
c.1968
Black-and-white television made by Murphy Radio Ltd, Welwyn Garden City, c.1968.
c.1980
Tube Cube television, made by Pye Ltd, Cambridge, c.1980.
1934-1945
Ekco AD65 radio receiver, 1934-1945.
1937
Lip microphone Type L1, specially designed by the BBC and manufactured by Marconi, 1937. In box with equaliser.
2013
Camera from Hexacopter drone kit and digital video camera. Attached to a gimbal (2018-598/7). The kit was built by the Global Video Unit and used to collect video footage for the BBC's news platforms worldwide.
c 1953
'LIttle Ben' in-vision clock, c 1953, used by the BBC in the standby studio, Lime Grove (Studio P).
Satellite dish, known as the 'Squariel', to receive British Satellite Broadcasting television.
Vision mixing desk, made by Grass Valley Group and used in the gallery of the 'North West Tonight' studio at BBC Manchester.
6 of 6 rotor blades from Hexacopter drone kit and digital video camera. The kit was built by the Global Video Unit and used to collect video footage for the BBC's news platforms worldwide.
5 of 6 rotor blades from Hexacopter drone kit and digital video camera. The kit was built by the Global Video Unit and used to collect video footage for the BBC's news platforms worldwide.
c.1935
British Wireless for the Blind Fund Radio Receiver, c.1935. A label on the side reads Property of the British Wireless for the Blind Fund. Provided on free loan to blind people by the charity. Acquired by the BBC from the Broadcast Museum c.2000.
A Sausage the Dog replica marionette commissioned for the BBC's 'Small People' children's TV promotion (1998-1999).
1950-1955
Picture and waveform monitor B.D. 627C, plus camera control chassis B.D. 626E for the Marconi Mk II television camera, made by Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company, Chelmsford, Essex, England, 1950-1955
Dressing gown worn by Jeremy Brett in the role of Sherlock Holmes
1904
Braun cathode ray tube, made by W. Edwards & Co., 1904.
c. 2004
Khaki, Parka style jacket worn by the character Frank Gallagher in the Channel 4 series 'Shameless'. Frank Gallagher was played by David Threlfall.
1960
Sound Sales (BBC AM8/4) Loudspeaker Amplifier, 1960. Used by the BBC as a studio monitoring amplifier, and part of the LS5/1 studio monitoring loudspeaker. 15-watt valve amplifier, commercial design - successor to AM8/1 amplifier. Valve complement: 1 x EF86, 1 x ECC83, 2 x EL34, 1 x GZ34.
Marconi-Sykes Magnetophone microphone, complete with coil and spare coil, 1923. Serial No 286736. Label missing, but likely to be J2516. Very early moving coil microphone. DC energised. Uses the large flat coil as the diaphragm. Used at Savoy Hill, mounted in the 'Meat Safe' microphone stand.
1 of 6 rotor blades from Hexacopter drone kit and digital video camera. The kit was built by the Global Video Unit and used to collect video footage for the BBC's news platforms worldwide.
Antenna from Hexacopter drone kit and digital video camera. The kit was built by the Global Video Unit and used to collect video footage for the BBC's news platforms worldwide.
1927
Chakophone 'Junior Three’ radio receiver, a three valve radio receiver, 1927. In strong signal areas where additional amplification was not required, one valve could be switched out of circuit.
Gimbal from Hexacopter drone kit and digital video camera. Attached to a camera (2018-598/6). The kit was built by the Global Video Unit and used to collect video footage for the BBC's news platforms worldwide.
2 of 2 sets of legs from Hexacopter drone kit and digital video camera. The kit was built by the Global Video Unit and used to collect video footage for the BBC's news platforms worldwide.
Reproduction of Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men marionettes commissioned to appear in the BBC's ‘Little People’ children’s television promotion (1998-1999).
c. 1965
Information book about how to receive BBC 2 and colour television produced by the BBC in around 1965.
4 of 6 rotor blades from Hexacopter drone kit and digital video camera. The kit was built by the Global Video Unit and used to collect video footage for the BBC's news platforms worldwide.
