Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. - Page 23 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

its ur aerial · 10th Feb 2025, 5:51 pm

I also find it expedient not to comment on anachronisms.
Ken G6HZG.

CambridgeWorks · 10th Feb 2025, 7:15 pm

Well, I just read these comments to my wife. She just smiled, as at that time we were on the phone to our daughter.
I would have had my knuckles severely rapped If I had said anything whilst she was watching that.

Rob.

nigelr2000 · 12th Feb 2025, 10:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by superjust

Hi all,

Did anyone see the Bush TR82/97 radio being used on last nights episode of Call the Midwife. Last nights episode was set in the 70's but the radio used was obviously from 1997, You'd have thought they could have found a vintage Bush TR82 or an alternative radio.

Tony

Not the first offense for this program, they were listening to a new Roberts revival R250 with FM made in the late 90's instead of an original one from the 60's
I pointed this out to them and they said they would have a word with the props department, they obviously didn't listen did they !

Graham G3ZVT · 14th Feb 2025, 1:06 am

I'm prepared to forgive them for using modern copies of the original.
In one episode of Heartbeat someone was listening to Police messages on a genuine TR82. Obviously a VTR103 should have been procured, but had they used a TR82/97 I would have considered it a better choice!

Peter.N. · 15th Feb 2025, 12:26 am

None of the Police cars I have seen on Heartbeat appear to have a VHF antenna and yet the old Cambridges seem to work OK, but apparently not on the motorbikes an antenna seems to be essential on those.

Peter G0HET

emeritus · 15th Feb 2025, 11:55 am

No doubt the owners of the classic cars used in the series would be reluctant to have holes for the right types of aerial aerials bored in their bodywork.

Peter.N. · 16th Feb 2025, 1:14 am

Ah yes, I hadn't thought of that. A 2M mag mount might be able to be disguised as one.

Peter

Phil G4SPZ · 24th Feb 2025, 2:25 pm

My wife watches ‘Poirot’, and the episode she’s currently viewing features a scene filmed in M. Poirot’s Art Deco apartment, and a beautiful Ekco AD76 - with a full-length illuminated scale!

One hopes that no round Ekcos were harmed during the making of the programme…

Welsh Anorak · 29th Mar 2025, 9:55 am

Staying with Ms Christie, the BB adaptation of Towards Zero, set in the mid 1930's has a very nice radiogram with the needle correctly placed and period sounding music. Unfortunately the disc appears to be revolving at around 33 rpm!

A bit OT, but even as a lifelong non-smoker I am aware that filter tips were not in general use until the Sixties....

vidjoman · 29th Mar 2025, 10:19 am

Are you referring to the inner part of the cigarette as a fibre filter? There were cork tipped cigarettes a long way back that stopped the cigarette paper from sticking to your lips. Usually visible as a brown coloured band.

Welsh Anorak · 29th Mar 2025, 11:49 am

Sorry - I think we've gone OT here!

Graham G3ZVT · 20th Jun 2025, 1:44 pm

OUTRAGEOUS!
That's got to be a suitable title for a drama TV series that depicts an illusive pre-war DAC90A

Apart from the faux pas it's a very good drama based on watching the first episode.

https://u.co.uk/shows/outrageous/watch-online

Having a live-chassis set in your bathroom in the 30s?
That was probably perfectly acceptable!

Station X · 20th Jun 2025, 1:54 pm

There ssems to be a rule that every period drama set in the 1930's up to the 1950's has to feature a DAC90 or DAC90A

julie_m · 21st Jun 2025, 8:01 am

And as often as not, it will be playing "Run, Rabbit, Run".

Richard_FM · 22nd Jun 2025, 4:46 pm

I guess because many people assume something made from Bakelite dates from the 1930s, not realising it was popular for making the casings of radios & TVs well into the 1950s.

10th Feb 2025, 5:51 pm	#441
its ur aerial Heptode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ryde, Isle of Wight, UK. Posts: 591	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. I also find it expedient not to comment on anachronisms. Ken G6HZG. __________________ Life is not Hollywood, life is Cricklewood.

10th Feb 2025, 7:15 pm	#442
CambridgeWorks Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,639	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. Well, I just read these comments to my wife. She just smiled, as at that time we were on the phone to our daughter. I would have had my knuckles severely rapped If I had said anything whilst she was watching that. Rob. __________________ I have many different connectors, chassis, cable ww2 to now, even scarce types. Message any query?

14th Feb 2025, 1:06 am	#444
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 19,355	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. I'm prepared to forgive them for using modern copies of the original. In one episode of Heartbeat someone was listening to Police messages on a genuine TR82. Obviously a VTR103 should have been procured, but had they used a TR82/97 I would have considered it a better choice! __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

15th Feb 2025, 12:26 am	#445
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,605	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. None of the Police cars I have seen on Heartbeat appear to have a VHF antenna and yet the old Cambridges seem to work OK, but apparently not on the motorbikes an antenna seems to be essential on those. Peter G0HET

15th Feb 2025, 11:55 am	#446
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 5,670	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. No doubt the owners of the classic cars used in the series would be reluctant to have holes for the right types of aerial aerials bored in their bodywork. Last edited by emeritus; 15th Feb 2025 at 11:55 am. Reason: Typos

16th Feb 2025, 1:14 am	#447
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,605	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. Ah yes, I hadn't thought of that. A 2M mag mount might be able to be disguised as one. Peter

24th Feb 2025, 2:25 pm	#448
Phil G4SPZ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,895	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. My wife watches ‘Poirot’, and the episode she’s currently viewing features a scene filmed in M. Poirot’s Art Deco apartment, and a beautiful Ekco AD76 - with a full-length illuminated scale! One hopes that no round Ekcos were harmed during the making of the programme… __________________ Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts

29th Mar 2025, 9:55 am	#449
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 7,614	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. Staying with Ms Christie, the BB adaptation of Towards Zero, set in the mid 1930's has a very nice radiogram with the needle correctly placed and period sounding music. Unfortunately the disc appears to be revolving at around 33 rpm! A bit OT, but even as a lifelong non-smoker I am aware that filter tips were not in general use until the Sixties.... __________________ Glyn

29th Mar 2025, 10:19 am	#450
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,664	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. Are you referring to the inner part of the cigarette as a fibre filter? There were cork tipped cigarettes a long way back that stopped the cigarette paper from sticking to your lips. Usually visible as a brown coloured band.

29th Mar 2025, 11:49 am	#451
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 7,614	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. Sorry - I think we've gone OT here! __________________ Glyn

20th Jun 2025, 1:44 pm	#452
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 19,355	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. OUTRAGEOUS! That's got to be a suitable title for a drama TV series that depicts an illusive pre-war DAC90A Apart from the faux pas it's a very good drama based on watching the first episode. https://u.co.uk/shows/outrageous/watch-online Having a live-chassis set in your bathroom in the 30s? That was probably perfectly acceptable! Attached Thumbnails __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

20th Jun 2025, 1:54 pm	#453
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 22,760	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. There ssems to be a rule that every period drama set in the 1930's up to the 1950's has to feature a DAC90 or DAC90A __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

21st Jun 2025, 8:01 am	#454
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,966	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. And as often as not, it will be playing "Run, Rabbit, Run". __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

22nd Jun 2025, 4:46 pm	#455
Richard_FM Nonode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ashton Under Lyne Posts: 2,089	Re: Technology related anachronisms on TV and in films etc. I guess because many people assume something made from Bakelite dates from the 1930s, not realising it was popular for making the casings of radios & TVs well into the 1950s. __________________ Hello IT: Have you Tried Turning It Off and On Again?