Other British Standards - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

24th Feb 2004, 6:21 pm

This is really a follow on to the "405 outside of the UK" thread but is a little different.

The UK has had other standards over the years which were used for broadcast, namely the 30 line mechanical, the 240 line transmissions and also the colour NTSC 405 line standard.

Were any of these standards used in other countries, if so which ones and when roughly?

I can imagine the most likely one to have been used overseas is perhaps the 30 line mechanical system?

Hybrid tellies · 27th Feb 2004, 1:55 am

Both Bairds 30 and 240 line mechanical systems were short lived and were killed off by the BBC'S decision to adopt the then superior Marconi/EMI electronic 405 line system in 1936.
Apart from Russia who lay claims to having invented the television I do not know of any other country in the world that persued the mechanical system.
After the 2nd world war we and a few countries carried on with 405, the America's had already gone to 525 lines then introduced the NTSC system in the 1950's. The rest of Europe adopted the superior 625 line system.
After trials with the NTSC colour system on 405 we sensibly went to 625 lines and even better went for the PAL system. I do not think any other country that used 405 lines upgraded it to colour. Like us they switched to 625 lines and used PAL.

ppppenguin · 27th Feb 2004, 8:49 am

Quote:

Both Bairds 20 and 240 line mechanical systems were short lived and were killed off by the BBC'S decision to adopt the then superior Marconi/EMI electronic 405 line system in 1936

The Baird 30 line system ceased transmissions in 1935, about a year before the 240 and 405 line service from Ally Pally. The 30 line programs were a regular service and, as Don McLean has shown, more than just a technological novelty. People have different views on the death of the 240 line system. My view is that altough it was obvious that the 405 system was the right technical choice it was politically essential to allow Baird a chance to compete.

jim_beacon · 27th Feb 2004, 8:57 pm

A number of mechanical standards were used in the USA, including 24,30,48,60 and 120 line systems, see:

http://www.mztv.com/mech1.html

and

http://www.earlytelevision.org/scandisk.html

Jim.

Steve_McVoy · 6th Apr 2004, 10:39 pm

Mechanical transmission was also done around 1930 in Germany and France with a 30 line standard with horizontal scanning rather than the vertical scanning used by the Baird system.

http://www.earlytelevision.org/fracarro_30_line.html

Mechanical transmision was done in Canada in 1932:

http://www.earlytelevision.org/quimet.html

Also, Western Television, who used a 45 line triple interlace standard, sold equipment to Mexico about the same time.

http://www.earlytelevision.org/quimet.html

Finally, Japan experimented with mechanical TV:

http://www.nhk.or.jp/strl/aboutstrl/evolution-of-tv-en/p05/

24th Feb 2004, 6:21 pm	#1
fableglade Guest Posts: n/a	Other British Standards This is really a follow on to the "405 outside of the UK" thread but is a little different. The UK has had other standards over the years which were used for broadcast, namely the 30 line mechanical, the 240 line transmissions and also the colour NTSC 405 line standard. Were any of these standards used in other countries, if so which ones and when roughly? I can imagine the most likely one to have been used overseas is perhaps the 30 line mechanical system? Last edited by Paul Stenning; 29th Dec 2004 at 3:00 pm.

27th Feb 2004, 1:55 am	#2
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,977	Re: Other British Standards Both Bairds 30 and 240 line mechanical systems were short lived and were killed off by the BBC'S decision to adopt the then superior Marconi/EMI electronic 405 line system in 1936. Apart from Russia who lay claims to having invented the television I do not know of any other country in the world that persued the mechanical system. After the 2nd world war we and a few countries carried on with 405, the America's had already gone to 525 lines then introduced the NTSC system in the 1950's. The rest of Europe adopted the superior 625 line system. After trials with the NTSC colour system on 405 we sensibly went to 625 lines and even better went for the PAL system. I do not think any other country that used 405 lines upgraded it to colour. Like us they switched to 625 lines and used PAL. __________________ Simon BVWS member

27th Feb 2004, 8:57 pm	#4
jim_beacon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bishop's Waltham, Hants, UK. Posts: 939	Re: Other British Standards A number of mechanical standards were used in the USA, including 24,30,48,60 and 120 line systems, see: http://www.mztv.com/mech1.html and http://www.earlytelevision.org/scandisk.html Jim.

6th Apr 2004, 10:39 pm	#5
Steve_McVoy Pentode Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA Posts: 150	Re: Other British Standards Mechanical transmission was also done around 1930 in Germany and France with a 30 line standard with horizontal scanning rather than the vertical scanning used by the Baird system. http://www.earlytelevision.org/fracarro_30_line.html Mechanical transmision was done in Canada in 1932: http://www.earlytelevision.org/quimet.html Also, Western Television, who used a 45 line triple interlace standard, sold equipment to Mexico about the same time. http://www.earlytelevision.org/quimet.html Finally, Japan experimented with mechanical TV: http://www.nhk.or.jp/strl/aboutstrl/evolution-of-tv-en/p05/