[red16v]

Originally Posted by PaulM

It does still seem to matter to a lot of people - especially the BBC, ever keen to burnish their history!

A lot of the problems for the 'late' official launch revolved around the studio side - the BBC had no studio colour cameras. The BBC's camera of choice - The EMI 2001 - had been dragged back to EMI's R&D labs to have its vidicons replaced with plumbicons (it didn't work very well) and wasn't ready until late in 1968. The BBC was desperate for an early start and so had to talk nicely to a company that they (at that time) despised for reasons lost in time - Marconi's of Chelmsford.

Marconi had had the MkVII colour camera (which was the first 4 tube plumbicon - no argument on that definition!) ready for over a year but the BBC wouldn't buy it. In desperation they relented as they were being beaten by other countries to the title of 'first' in Europe. Marconi had to deliver 17 of these advanced cameras in 3 months and the works was on overtime to do it. Was the BBC grateful? Of course not, continually slating the company about all manner of deficiencies, yet having the cameras they so desperately needed.

I have a Quad tape - an RF to RF copy of a master - dated Dec 6th 1967 which is the first (again, no arguments here!) 'Black and White Minstrel Show' in colour. Forgetting the politics, the MKVIIs come out looking wonderful with colour and definition that are superb. That doesn't stop the BBC banging on about the long EPO zoom (which was their choice) for years after. I transferred the tape to 1" and so it's safe, but the first part was very worn as it had been given to the Marconi Co. as a demo and had been played many times.

The above is just a snippet of history about the early days to record the contributions made by the Marconi Co. on colour TV cameras, and do not forget their complex colour-capable transmitters too! The BBC likes to blow its own trumpet loudly, but in so doing other voices are so often lost . . .

Best regards,

Paul M

Where would Peto Scott fit into this camera availability timescale Paul?