Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

chudthebud · 21st Sep 2019, 4:08 pm

Hello,

I'm researching a film which includes shots of aerials and I'd like to find out exactly when (ideally which year) this type of high gain aerial with large reflector (seen to the left in the attached pic) was first installed in the UK.

I don't remember seeing them before the early 2000s Freeview era, but would like the specific date.

It'd be greatly appreciated if anyone here could assist me.

-S

peter_scott · 21st Sep 2019, 4:38 pm

Not exactly the same but see the advert of page 377 May 1964.
https://americanradiohistory.com/Arc...on-1964-05.pdf

Page 322 in April 1979 has something similar https://americanradiohistory.com/Arc...ng-1979-04.pdf

You could just work back from April 1979 to find when it first appears.https://americanradiohistory.com/Pra...n_Magazine.htm
Or forward if it's not close enough in appearance.

Peter

duncanlowe · 21st Sep 2019, 7:06 pm

Can't give you a date, but we had one in the early to mid nineties (large reflector and a two piece spar holding the directors). Used it on a pole with our caravan, stored under the bed.

Graham G3ZVT · 21st Sep 2019, 10:45 pm

I've posted a link to the thread where Bill Wright will see it, if anyone can give you chapter & verse, it's Bill.

paulsherwin · 22nd Sep 2019, 11:48 am

They have certainly become much more common during the last decade as riggers installed wideband 'digital aerials'.

toshiba tony · 22nd Sep 2019, 12:56 pm

Wasn't that the Wolsley Colour King

vidjoman · 22nd Sep 2019, 1:00 pm

Very dark pic, but it could be a Fuba XC series. I had a big one in the mid 70’s. The reflector is large and the directors are sort of a flattened X shape.

G6Tanuki · 22nd Sep 2019, 1:46 pm

The version with the two "winged" reflectors - I first came across them a couple of decades back when "digital TV" [OnDigital/ITV-Digital) started to appear.. Often made by the Spanish company "Televes" and with garish yellow plastic supports for the 'wings'.

Nuvistor · 22nd Sep 2019, 2:24 pm

Brighter photo. The directors are loops.

chudthebud · 22nd Sep 2019, 2:46 pm

Thank you to everyone for the helpful responses so far.

I suppose it’s similar to this and probably a Wolsey/Triax.

Would such an aerial design (especially with the short length) have existed and been used in the early 1990s?
If not, does anyone know exactly when they first started being installed in the UK?

21st Sep 2019, 4:08 pm	#1
chudthebud Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK. Posts: 2	Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? Hello, I'm researching a film which includes shots of aerials and I'd like to find out exactly when (ideally which year) this type of high gain aerial with large reflector (seen to the left in the attached pic) was first installed in the UK. I don't remember seeing them before the early 2000s Freeview era, but would like the specific date. It'd be greatly appreciated if anyone here could assist me. -S Attached Thumbnails

21st Sep 2019, 4:38 pm	#2
peter_scott Dekatron Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 3,274	Re: Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? Not exactly the same but see the advert of page 377 May 1964. https://americanradiohistory.com/Arc...on-1964-05.pdf Page 322 in April 1979 has something similar https://americanradiohistory.com/Arc...ng-1979-04.pdf You could just work back from April 1979 to find when it first appears.https://americanradiohistory.com/Pra...n_Magazine.htm Or forward if it's not close enough in appearance. Peter __________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk https://www.youtube.com/c/PeterScott/videos Last edited by peter_scott; 21st Sep 2019 at 5:02 pm.

21st Sep 2019, 7:06 pm	#3
duncanlowe Nonode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK. Posts: 2,532	Re: Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? Can't give you a date, but we had one in the early to mid nineties (large reflector and a two piece spar holding the directors). Used it on a pole with our caravan, stored under the bed.

21st Sep 2019, 10:45 pm	#4
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,724	Re: Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? I've posted a link to the thread where Bill Wright will see it, if anyone can give you chapter & verse, it's Bill. __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

22nd Sep 2019, 11:48 am	#5
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,970	Re: Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? They have certainly become much more common during the last decade as riggers installed wideband 'digital aerials'.

22nd Sep 2019, 12:56 pm	#6
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? Wasn't that the Wolsley Colour King

22nd Sep 2019, 1:00 pm	#7
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? Very dark pic, but it could be a Fuba XC series. I had a big one in the mid 70’s. The reflector is large and the directors are sort of a flattened X shape.

22nd Sep 2019, 1:46 pm	#8
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,007	Re: Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? The version with the two "winged" reflectors - I first came across them a couple of decades back when "digital TV" [OnDigital/ITV-Digital) started to appear.. Often made by the Spanish company "Televes" and with garish yellow plastic supports for the 'wings'.

22nd Sep 2019, 2:24 pm	#9
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? Brighter photo. The directors are loops. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Frank

22nd Sep 2019, 2:46 pm	#10
chudthebud Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK. Posts: 2	Re: Can anyone help identify this TV aerial's era? Thank you to everyone for the helpful responses so far. I suppose it’s similar to this and probably a Wolsey/Triax. Would such an aerial design (especially with the short length) have existed and been used in the early 1990s? If not, does anyone know exactly when they first started being installed in the UK?