For all you tape-heads.. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

John_BS · 8th Apr 2021, 9:43 am

Delia Derbyshire, BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Can you identify

a) the bank of audio oscillators?

b) the oscilloscope?

John
https://youtu.be/n2dvGQ32q8g

ms660 · 8th Apr 2021, 9:51 am

Heathkit 10-12 oscilloscope.

At 1:35 in.

Lawrence.

ms660 · 8th Apr 2021, 9:58 am

Jason Kit AG-10 audio oscillators.

At 0:44 in.

Lawrence.

Radio Wrangler · 8th Apr 2021, 10:14 am

At the beginning there's a TV-screen sized demonstration oscilloscope... we had one at Leeds, can't remember the make, it wasn't one of the usual scope firms. Later there's a Cossor 339.

David

John_BS · 8th Apr 2021, 10:41 am

Lawrence: you're a walking encyclopedia!

John

ms660 · 8th Apr 2021, 11:00 am

The large screen Oscilloscope might be an Airmec.

We had a large screen Airmec oscilloscope at college when I did my City & Guilds day release course but I can't remember if it was the same as the one in the video.

EDIT: Yup, I was right, an Airmec 279 is shown in this link:

https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/ID...h=%22airmec%22

Lawrence.

Radio Wrangler · 8th Apr 2021, 12:39 pm

Yep, Airmec.

Blue trace. Low bandwidth.

David

barrymagrec · 8th Apr 2021, 12:41 pm

Also views of the Leevers Rich 8 track tape machine supplied to the Radiophonic Workshop in the early sixties - probably the first 8 track tape machine in Europe.

Fascinating film, a tragic genius.

Techman · 8th Apr 2021, 2:46 pm

I watched that video on YouTube yesterday and I've only just seen this thread this very minute, and because it was also mentioned in another thread regarding a computer problem, which I've only read a short while ago. That video kept popping up at me while I was looking and viewing other music related things and had been doing so for a couple of days until I finally clicked on it to view it. YouTube must know something about me and what I'm likely to want to view...probably even knew it was mentioned here and that I'd likely be interested.

Radio Wrangler · 8th Apr 2021, 5:06 pm

It's nice to know that Ron Grainer credited her with her most famous work even if the BBC did not.

David

MeanDumpsterCat · 13th Apr 2021, 2:17 pm

I also spy some lovely Philips machines (cant place the model). What I wouldnt give to spend just one day in that fantastic place.

A while ago I made some very "radiophonic workshop" like recordings using some glass jars and a Ferrograph Series 5 + Pioneer RT1011L as a "multitrack".

Happy to link it here if anyone's interested.

Philco-Pete · 13th Apr 2021, 8:02 pm

Search online for “ BBC Engineering Monograph No51 - Radiophonics in the BBC”
for some more good info and pictures. I have a jealously-guarded original copy.
In the late seventies I actually joined the BBC with the sole intention of working in the Radiophonic Workshop; it didn’t happen. I was promptly pushed into television engineering and the excitement of PAL video. I did visit Maida Vale on a number of occasions and eventually managed to wangle a short informal attachment to engineering there. By that stage ( early-mid 80s I would guess) there was little of the classic gear left.
The other Engineering Monographs are also definitely worth a read, covering a very wide range of topics from when BBC engineering was a force with which to be reckoned

Cheers
Pete

Ted Kendall · 13th Apr 2021, 10:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeanDumpsterCat

I also spy some lovely Philips machines (cant place the model).

These are EL3566s, otherwise known as the Pro20 - EL3503 deck and EL3740 amplifier. Excellent machines, and a delight to edit on - only the Studer A80RC was faster, in my expereince. I built a stereo Pro 20 out of two surplus BBC machines in the early 80s, using Branch and Appleby heads. Worked a treat - and then I was idiot enough to sell it!

tritone · 15th Apr 2021, 7:12 pm

I would love to hear, again,

I love tape and noise, I can hear noise which is true on tape, nevermind,

I got this thing messed upin my brain called 'perfect pitch' which can be annoying and it is all of the time !

A so called tuned piano sounds horrible to me.

Sorry fellas and Ladys for moaning, I dunno what frequency my mind is,
but I do love live concerts, music, speach, stuff, un-tampered noise and a good ou'l rack from nature

8th Apr 2021, 9:43 am	#1
John_BS Octode Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wincanton, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,294	For all you tape-heads.. Delia Derbyshire, BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Can you identify a) the bank of audio oscillators? b) the oscilloscope? John https://youtu.be/n2dvGQ32q8g

8th Apr 2021, 9:51 am	#2
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 10,682	Re: For all you tape-heads.. Heathkit 10-12 oscilloscope. At 1:35 in. Lawrence. Last edited by ms660; 8th Apr 2021 at 10:11 am. Reason: extra info

8th Apr 2021, 9:58 am	#3
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 10,682	Re: For all you tape-heads.. Jason Kit AG-10 audio oscillators. At 0:44 in. Lawrence. Last edited by ms660; 8th Apr 2021 at 10:13 am. Reason: extra info

8th Apr 2021, 10:14 am	#4
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 17,372	Re: For all you tape-heads.. At the beginning there's a TV-screen sized demonstration oscilloscope... we had one at Leeds, can't remember the make, it wasn't one of the usual scope firms. Later there's a Cossor 339. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

8th Apr 2021, 10:41 am	#5
John_BS Octode Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wincanton, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,294	Re: For all you tape-heads.. Lawrence: you're a walking encyclopedia! John

8th Apr 2021, 11:00 am	#6
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 10,682	Re: For all you tape-heads.. The large screen Oscilloscope might be an Airmec. We had a large screen Airmec oscilloscope at college when I did my City & Guilds day release course but I can't remember if it was the same as the one in the video. EDIT: Yup, I was right, an Airmec 279 is shown in this link: https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/ID...h=%22airmec%22 Lawrence. Last edited by ms660; 8th Apr 2021 at 11:27 am. Reason: extra info

8th Apr 2021, 12:39 pm	#7
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 17,372	Re: For all you tape-heads.. Yep, Airmec. Blue trace. Low bandwidth. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

8th Apr 2021, 12:41 pm	#8
barrymagrec Octode Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Morden, Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,080	Re: For all you tape-heads.. Also views of the Leevers Rich 8 track tape machine supplied to the Radiophonic Workshop in the early sixties - probably the first 8 track tape machine in Europe. Fascinating film, a tragic genius.

8th Apr 2021, 2:46 pm	#9
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 3,708	Re: For all you tape-heads.. I watched that video on YouTube yesterday and I've only just seen this thread this very minute, and because it was also mentioned in another thread regarding a computer problem, which I've only read a short while ago. That video kept popping up at me while I was looking and viewing other music related things and had been doing so for a couple of days until I finally clicked on it to view it. YouTube must know something about me and what I'm likely to want to view...probably even knew it was mentioned here and that I'd likely be interested.

8th Apr 2021, 5:06 pm	#10
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 17,372	Re: For all you tape-heads.. It's nice to know that Ron Grainer credited her with her most famous work even if the BBC did not. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

13th Apr 2021, 2:17 pm	#11
MeanDumpsterCat Pentode Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Selsey, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 186	Re: For all you tape-heads.. I also spy some lovely Philips machines (cant place the model). What I wouldnt give to spend just one day in that fantastic place. A while ago I made some very "radiophonic workshop" like recordings using some glass jars and a Ferrograph Series 5 + Pioneer RT1011L as a "multitrack". Happy to link it here if anyone's interested.

13th Apr 2021, 8:02 pm	#12
Philco-Pete Triode Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chesham, Bucks. UK. Posts: 49	Re: For all you tape-heads.. Search online for “ BBC Engineering Monograph No51 - Radiophonics in the BBC” for some more good info and pictures. I have a jealously-guarded original copy. In the late seventies I actually joined the BBC with the sole intention of working in the Radiophonic Workshop; it didn’t happen. I was promptly pushed into television engineering and the excitement of PAL video. I did visit Maida Vale on a number of occasions and eventually managed to wangle a short informal attachment to engineering there. By that stage ( early-mid 80s I would guess) there was little of the classic gear left. The other Engineering Monographs are also definitely worth a read, covering a very wide range of topics from when BBC engineering was a force with which to be reckoned Cheers Pete

15th Apr 2021, 7:12 pm	#14
tritone Tetrode Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Derry, Northern Ireland, UK. Posts: 88	Re: For all you tape-heads.. I would love to hear, again, I love tape and noise, I can hear noise which is true on tape, nevermind, I got this thing messed upin my brain called 'perfect pitch' which can be annoying and it is all of the time ! A so called tuned piano sounds horrible to me. Sorry fellas and Ladys for moaning, I dunno what frequency my mind is, but I do love live concerts, music, speach, stuff, un-tampered noise and a good ou'l rack from nature