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Clubs, Groups and Societies For discussions about various clubs, groups and societies relating to our hobbies, such as the BVWS (incl RetroTechUK), BATC, RSGB, APTS, CLPGS, THG, TCC, BECG, MCR21 etc. This is NOT an official forum for any of these organisations. |
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3rd Mar 2012, 9:55 pm | #1 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton)
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'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Did anyone else visit the above exhibition at Daventry Museun earlier today? There were lots of photographs of the BBC station at Borough Hill from its inception in 1925, when the first LW transmitter, call 5XX, went on the air, through the Empire service, later World Service era and the MW transmitter for the Third Programme and Radio 3 up to the closure of the whole site in 1992.
Besides the pictures there were many examples of transmitting valves, an early and very large metal rectifier (water cooled I believe) and a mercury arc rectifier which replaced the metal one. Other exhibits included SW transmitters, various test instruments and a range of radio receivers from very early types onwards. A special event amateur station (call G5XX) was on the air. Altogether a fascinating and interesting event, which will be staged again on Saturday April 7th and Saturday May 5th. |
3rd Mar 2012, 10:09 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Rugby, Warwickshire, UK.
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Only 10 minutes down the road for me and I didn't know it was on!
But thanks for the dates, I'll hopefully go in May Greg
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Greg BVWS committee chairman |
3rd Mar 2012, 11:55 pm | #3 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK.
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
What?! I live in Daventry, and didn't know a thing about it!!
I still remember them pulling down the masts on the hill when I was still at school, we could see them from the window. I shall definately go along to the other events, thanks for posting this Regards, Lloyd. |
2nd May 2012, 8:31 pm | #4 |
Heptode
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Just giving this thread a bump as a reminder re proposed 5th May exibition.
Greg
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Greg BVWS committee chairman |
2nd May 2012, 10:24 pm | #5 |
Nonode
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Thanks for that, I'd forgotten! I missed the last one, as I was stuck at work
Regards, Lloyd. |
6th May 2012, 11:57 am | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Belper Derbyshire
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Good morning,
I went along yesterday and it was a very interesting exhibition with a lot to look at and read. They had some very big bits of equipment on display as well as one of those giant aerial tuning trucks (Bet that took a few people to get that in there !!) No suprise there was a Bush DAC90 in a cabinet with other recievers. There were some nice valves and a mercury arc rectifier bubbling away (Out of reach of children !!) All a bit sad now it is all gone and passed into history like the Rugby transmitting site up the road. Wish they kept radio 3 on MW at Dodford Christopher Capener
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Interests in the collection and restoration of Tefifon players and 405 line television |
7th May 2012, 10:27 am | #7 |
Rest in Peace
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Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton)
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
I, too, was there on 5th. May. Had a quite interesting chat with an ex-BBC Man (didn't get his name) about some of the items on display, including the truck, and the vintage radios.
Didn't ask, but I assume some of the things on display, are usually housed in Daventry Museum. |
7th May 2012, 1:20 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Rugby, Warwickshire, UK.
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Likewise I went with my son, very interesting display, well put together. The aerial 'tuning truck' looked like something you might find in a kids playground!
Well worth the visit. Greg
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Greg BVWS committee chairman |
7th May 2012, 11:02 pm | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Belper Derbyshire
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Good evening,
A few pictures of the exhibition Christopher Capener
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Interests in the collection and restoration of Tefifon players and 405 line television |
19th Jun 2012, 12:01 am | #10 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northampton, Northants. UK.
Posts: 61
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
I'm glad you enjoyed your visits to Daventry. I was one of the volunteers on duty for two of the days. The large white insulator (feeder outlet from R3 ATH) is now safely back in my garden, where it's been since the mast was felled. It was, and still is, my intention to convert it into a water feature, I may get round to it one day if I ever find the time. Sadly the SWB18 final stage output truck will have to be dismantled later this month and put back into store. It's great that there are still a few of us left who remember how it goes together.
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19th Jun 2012, 12:29 pm | #11 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK.
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Have you got the BBC Matheran matrix switch up and running yet, with a big lever at the bottom to simulate the pneumatics?
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Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI. |
19th Jun 2012, 12:30 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
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Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK.
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Rod Viveash?
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Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI. |
19th Jun 2012, 2:34 pm | #13 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northampton, Northants. UK.
Posts: 61
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
At one time on 5th May there were 10 Ex Daventry engineers at the exhibition, including two who had travelled down from Sutton Coldfield. The place was knee deep in nostalgia.
I've not seen the Matrix switch yet, but it would be good to get it working especially as they were made in Daventry. I used to be a whizz with the 5-port valves. Peter Wagstaff _____________________________ Minor Adjustament Only... One Hour!!! |
19th Jun 2012, 4:24 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK.
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Excellent! I'm pleased it's taking off. You could connect pots to the BD272 tuning controls and feed them back to the meter, to give all and sundry a go at balancing and dipping.
Is there anything left of G5XX kicking around?
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Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI. |
22nd Jun 2012, 7:48 am | #15 |
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Location: Worcestershire, UK.
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Hi Peter / Russell
When I did my MF/HF training with Norman Tomalin during early 1982, he took us across to the Daventry T3 building for a tour of the 464m/647kHz transmitter. The cooling (air-handling) arrangements were most impressive, especially all the under-floor ducting; at one point, I had visions of Orson Welles appearing out of the back of the modulator enclosure ... cue zither music from 'The Third Man' I like your idea of making the sender tuning panel 'come alive' Russ. Guy Stanbury |
22nd Jun 2012, 1:31 pm | #16 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK.
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Quote:
We got Pete Bird when I was on my HF TTO course in April '84 - Norman T. had retired from training by then, and Dodford ATH and T3 had closed. Some of the lads were shown it being dismantled. Don't know if you've seen my pics, but here we go anyway: http://www.***********/photos/russell...7603795841149/ Some other transmitter site stuff on my 'Flickr' site as well. Incidentally, the fronts of the BDs in the museum are from the scrappers at Skelton, but they are exactly the same as those of the BDs at Daventry. I won't tell anyone if you don't!
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Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI. |
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26th Jun 2012, 12:05 am | #17 |
Nonode
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worcestershire, UK.
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Re: 'Daventry Calling the World' Exhibition
Yes indeed - footage of the Dodford mast being 'dismantled' can be viewed via the following:
http://www.bbceng.info/videos.htm#De...ast at Dodford Regards Guy |