Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

terrybull · 9th Apr 2015, 7:58 pm

There was some interesting early recording equipment demonstrated in this program. Available on iplayer.

'LIVEWIRE?' · 10th Apr 2015, 9:32 am

I watched that programme, but missed seeing in full the bit with early recording equipment, though I did see them making a recording on a cylinder. What was the other recording item? It looked like a conventional record player playing a silvery disc! Incidentally is a collection of 75000+ CDs a record? (pun intended!!)

Tractorfan · 10th Apr 2015, 10:18 pm

Hi,
It was a disc recorder and the owner was using a discarded CD as a blank and cutting a groove into it.
Couldn't get my head around the guy collecting 75,000 plus CDs for the sake of it.

Cheers, Pete.

terrybull · 11th Apr 2015, 7:14 am

There was an Edison wax cylinder recorder demonstrated too. No electrics, purely mechanical. Worked quite well, better than I imagined.

Cobaltblue · 11th Apr 2015, 7:48 am

Very interesting but a bit surprised that the PYE Record Maker didn't put in an appearance.

Perhaps because although it uses a grooved disc its a magnetic recorder so not a direct descendent of Edison's phonograph

I think I enjoyed seeing the drum collection most of all.

Cheers

Mike T

paul.brett · 15th Apr 2015, 10:27 pm

Series 2 Episode 6 - has a guy with 1000 vintage machines (mostly computers) spread across 4 barns.

Available now on BBC iPlayer. Enjoy!

Dave Moll · 16th Apr 2015, 8:20 am

Does anyone know the guy with the computers? I would love to have an opportunity to view his collection, especially as it sounded as though he could use some help with getting some of them working.

By the way, I thought the description of the National Museum of Computing being in Milton Keynes was a little misleading, given that it's a few miles away at Bletchley Park.

RF Burn · 16th Apr 2015, 11:30 am

Dave, I think you might be getting confused with Milton Keynes 'City Centre'. Bletchley Park is located at Bletchley, which is a 'suburb' of the city of Milton Keynes.

dave walsh · 16th Apr 2015, 1:24 pm

I thought the CD and Computer episodes had a particular interest. Those of us on Forums like this can perhaps identify with the collectors taking part more readily than the general viewing audience but there are very extreme examples shown. Although the title is a little clumsy at least they haven't conflated collecting "mania" with extreme hoarding situations-as has happened in other programmes

.

Even though the same general processes can be at work, getting overwhelmed with your [perhaps relatively ordered/potentially useable] collection is [I suggest] not the same as a completely insanitary, domestic breakdown where your living space is choked with your own and [sometimes other peoples] domestic rubbish. I've only got personal experience of the former but I have witnessed the latter. I think it's close to "home" for many of us as the many threads on a "What will I do with all this stuff?" theme indicate

Dave W

julie_m · 16th Apr 2015, 2:27 pm

I have no doubt that fashions will change again in future, and it will be the compulsive throwers-out who are seen as the freaks. It's fashionable nowadays to say Look at me, I'm so rich, this is what I can afford to throw away. As the era of cheap energy and cheap labour comes to an end, things won't remain cheap enough to regard as effectively disposable forever .....

richrussell · 16th Apr 2015, 4:27 pm

Jim with the computers is a good friend of a good friend of mine. I got a text message just as the programme started to remind me to watch it.

I've never met or spoken to him though.

SiriusHardware · 16th Apr 2015, 6:50 pm

Thanks for the heads-up about the computer section.

In terms of sheer variety and quantity that collection may very well surpass any single collection in the public domain (or publicly accessable). Good to see that there are some willing helpers around who know what the stuff is, as well. It's a dilemma all collectors must ultimately consider: What will happen to my stuff if something happens to me? Will anyone know what all this stuff is? Will anyone care?

I was especially interested in spotting the various home computers (because those are the ones I know). There were the obvious Acorn models and maybe a couple of Amigas, a couple of early Macs but I didn't spot anything by Atari or Sinclair. Maybe his interest lies more to the commercial / business computer side (the BBC B was used in many an educational / scientific establishment, so that counts).

60 oldjohn · 16th Apr 2015, 6:56 pm

Jim Austin has a computer museum near York, I guess this is the guy. Sorry no contact information. This was found with the help of our friend Google.
John.

Dave Moll · 16th Apr 2015, 7:02 pm

One thing I did recognise amongst the business computing equipment was a terminal used to communicate with the IBM mainframes on which I used to work. Presumably, he didn't have the computer itself as it would hardly have fitted into his "sheds".

richrussell · 17th Apr 2015, 10:21 am

Jim also has quite a lot of vintage radios and a large number of valves. I'm sure he would be interested in any offers of help in restoration.

9th Apr 2015, 7:58 pm	#1
terrybull Octode Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1,780	Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC There was some interesting early recording equipment demonstrated in this program. Available on iplayer.

10th Apr 2015, 9:32 am	#2
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC I watched that programme, but missed seeing in full the bit with early recording equipment, though I did see them making a recording on a cylinder. What was the other recording item? It looked like a conventional record player playing a silvery disc! Incidentally is a collection of 75000+ CDs a record? (pun intended!!)

10th Apr 2015, 10:18 pm	#3
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,183	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC Hi, It was a disc recorder and the owner was using a discarded CD as a blank and cutting a groove into it. Couldn't get my head around the guy collecting 75,000 plus CDs for the sake of it. Cheers, Pete. __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

11th Apr 2015, 7:14 am	#4
terrybull Octode Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1,780	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC There was an Edison wax cylinder recorder demonstrated too. No electrics, purely mechanical. Worked quite well, better than I imagined.

11th Apr 2015, 7:48 am	#5
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC Very interesting but a bit surprised that the PYE Record Maker didn't put in an appearance. Perhaps because although it uses a grooved disc its a magnetic recorder so not a direct descendent of Edison's phonograph I think I enjoyed seeing the drum collection most of all. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

15th Apr 2015, 10:27 pm	#6
paul.brett Tetrode Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 97	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC Series 2 Episode 6 - has a guy with 1000 vintage machines (mostly computers) spread across 4 barns. Available now on BBC iPlayer. Enjoy! __________________ My vintage Computer Museum. Please visit soon!

16th Apr 2015, 8:20 am	#7
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC Does anyone know the guy with the computers? I would love to have an opportunity to view his collection, especially as it sounded as though he could use some help with getting some of them working. By the way, I thought the description of the National Museum of Computing being in Milton Keynes was a little misleading, given that it's a few miles away at Bletchley Park. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

16th Apr 2015, 11:30 am	#8
RF Burn Hexode Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ramsgate, Kent, UK. Posts: 252	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC Dave, I think you might be getting confused with Milton Keynes 'City Centre'. Bletchley Park is located at Bletchley, which is a 'suburb' of the city of Milton Keynes.

16th Apr 2015, 1:24 pm	#9
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC I thought the CD and Computer episodes had a particular interest. Those of us on Forums like this can perhaps identify with the collectors taking part more readily than the general viewing audience but there are very extreme examples shown. Although the title is a little clumsy at least they haven't conflated collecting "mania" with extreme hoarding situations-as has happened in other programmes. Even though the same general processes can be at work, getting overwhelmed with your [perhaps relatively ordered/potentially useable] collection is [I suggest] not the same as a completely insanitary, domestic breakdown where your living space is choked with your own and [sometimes other peoples] domestic rubbish. I've only got personal experience of the former but I have witnessed the latter. I think it's close to "home" for many of us as the many threads on a "What will I do with all this stuff?" theme indicate Dave W

16th Apr 2015, 2:27 pm	#10
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC I have no doubt that fashions will change again in future, and it will be the compulsive throwers-out who are seen as the freaks. It's fashionable nowadays to say Look at me, I'm so rich, this is what I can afford to throw away. As the era of cheap energy and cheap labour comes to an end, things won't remain cheap enough to regard as effectively disposable forever ..... __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

16th Apr 2015, 4:27 pm	#11
richrussell Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC Jim with the computers is a good friend of a good friend of mine. I got a text message just as the programme started to remind me to watch it. I've never met or spoken to him though.

16th Apr 2015, 6:50 pm	#12
SiriusHardware Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 11,560	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC Thanks for the heads-up about the computer section. In terms of sheer variety and quantity that collection may very well surpass any single collection in the public domain (or publicly accessable). Good to see that there are some willing helpers around who know what the stuff is, as well. It's a dilemma all collectors must ultimately consider: What will happen to my stuff if something happens to me? Will anyone know what all this stuff is? Will anyone care? I was especially interested in spotting the various home computers (because those are the ones I know). There were the obvious Acorn models and maybe a couple of Amigas, a couple of early Macs but I didn't spot anything by Atari or Sinclair. Maybe his interest lies more to the commercial / business computer side (the BBC B was used in many an educational / scientific establishment, so that counts).

16th Apr 2015, 6:56 pm	#13
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,987	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC Jim Austin has a computer museum near York, I guess this is the guy. Sorry no contact information. This was found with the help of our friend Google. John.

16th Apr 2015, 7:02 pm	#14
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC One thing I did recognise amongst the business computing equipment was a terminal used to communicate with the IBM mainframes on which I used to work. Presumably, he didn't have the computer itself as it would hardly have fitted into his "sheds". __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

17th Apr 2015, 10:21 am	#15
richrussell Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: Collectaholics series 2 episode 3 BBC Jim also has quite a lot of vintage radios and a large number of valves. I'm sure he would be interested in any offers of help in restoration.