Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Panrock · 24th Jun 2018, 3:18 pm

Is there any information about whether a television set was installed at Buckingham Palace pre war, and if so what type it was?

Steve

Nuvistor · 24th Jun 2018, 4:10 pm

I am sure they must have had one, probably installed by EMI, cannot find any information though.

OscarFoxtrot · 24th Jun 2018, 11:16 pm

"Scannings and Reflections", Television and Short-Wave World, December 1936: "Television receivers are being installed at Buckingham Palace and Fort Belvedere ... The King has decided to present at Christmas an additional television receiver to the servants at Buckingham Palace."

A History of Early Television, Volume 2, edited by Stephen Herbert, pp 3, 4, 84
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BlZF20ggFhsC

An 1937 a (newly patented) coaxial cable was laid from the BBC transmitter direct to Buckingham Palace for viewing of procession street scenes associated with the Coronation.

A Technological History of Motion Pictures and Television: An Anthology from the Pages of the Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Raymond Fielding, p 228
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=86JXA-G2ovsC

Graham G3ZVT · 25th Jun 2018, 12:37 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by OscarFoxtrot

"Scannings and Reflections", Television and Short-Wave World, December 1936: "Television receivers are being installed at Buckingham Palace and Fort Belvedere ... The King has decided to present at Christmas an additional television receiver to the servants at Buckingham Palace."

I wonder what the lead time was before publication, given that by 10th Dec 1936 we all had a new king.

Perhaps a second TV for the servants discouraged them listening to the wireless, particularly tittle-tattle from America.

lesmw0sec · 25th Jun 2018, 9:10 am

Pretty certain they did, as an old friend of mine was called in to service a set. It seems the Queen came in to the room and in his haste to stand up he tripped over his meter leads much to the amusement of the princesses. Sadly the chap is dead now, but I have reason to believe his tale, as I have a picture of him working on some equipment at the BBC around the time of dual EMI/Baird trials.

Panrock · 25th Jun 2018, 9:26 am

That's a wonderful tale!

Perhaps someone should write to the present Queen to see what she remembers?

Steve

Station X · 25th Jun 2018, 1:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesmw0sec

It seems the Queen came in to the room

Presumably Queen Mary aka Mary of Teck? She always looked a very formidable figure to me.

Nuvistor · 25th Jun 2018, 1:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesmw0sec

It seems the Queen came in to the room

Presumably Queen Mary aka Mary of Teck? She always looked a very formidable figure to me.

That’s the impression I also got about her.

lesmw0sec · 25th Jun 2018, 1:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesmw0sec

It seems the Queen came in to the room

Presumably Queen Mary aka Mary of Teck? She always looked a very formidable figure to me.

No, The present Queen's mum I believe.

lesmw0sec · 25th Jun 2018, 1:11 pm

Actually, QM was a kindly soul. I knew a soldier who was walking back to barracks in the rain. She saw the chap and bade her driver stop and give the chap a lift. He was astonished to see the occupant!

Station X · 25th Jun 2018, 1:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesmw0sec

No, The present Queen's mum I believe.

Of course. Queen Mary ceased to be Queen Consort on 20 January 1936.

Panrock · 25th Jun 2018, 1:19 pm

And presumably Elizabeth (later to be the Queen Mother) became Queen on 11th December 1936, when George VI ascended the throne.

This is all very relevant, since it helps pin down the date the television was serviced. It is likely to have been some time after the opening of the Television Service on 2nd November.

Steve

Station X · 25th Jun 2018, 2:01 pm

Mary of Teck became Queen Mother on the death of King Gerorge V, but never used the title, being known as Queen Mary until her death in I think 1952.

"The Queen" at the time TV broadcasting started would have been Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Bowes Lyon).

Dave Moll · 25th Jun 2018, 2:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

Mary of Teck ... known as Queen Mary until her death in I think 1952.

24-03-1953 according to Wikipedia.

stevehertz · 30th Jun 2018, 1:20 pm

Gerry Wells once told me with a smile on his face that the Queen's favourite television set was a Philips 9". If anyone knew the truth, it must have been Gerry

ntscuser · 30th Jun 2018, 3:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by OscarFoxtrot

"Scannings and Reflections", Television and Short-Wave World, December 1936: "Television receivers are being installed at Buckingham Palace and Fort Belvedere ... The King has decided to present at Christmas an additional television receiver to the servants at Buckingham Palace."

Presumably installed in the kitchen as that is where most of the social activities of the servants took place? It was often where the only telephone in the building was installed too.

Station X · 30th Jun 2018, 4:00 pm

Servants' hall surely?

radiograham · 5th Jul 2018, 10:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panrock

That's a wonderful tale!

Perhaps someone should write to the present Queen to see what she remembers?

Steve

Wishful thinking this ,I wonder whether there[s any chance of one being tucked away in a corner of Buck House? What a find that would be!.

24th Jun 2018, 3:18 pm	#1
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,533	Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace Is there any information about whether a television set was installed at Buckingham Palace pre war, and if so what type it was? Steve __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

24th Jun 2018, 4:10 pm	#2
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace I am sure they must have had one, probably installed by EMI, cannot find any information though. __________________ Frank

24th Jun 2018, 11:16 pm	#3
OscarFoxtrot Heptode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 805	Re: Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace "Scannings and Reflections", Television and Short-Wave World, December 1936: "Television receivers are being installed at Buckingham Palace and Fort Belvedere ... The King has decided to present at Christmas an additional television receiver to the servants at Buckingham Palace." A History of Early Television, Volume 2, edited by Stephen Herbert, pp 3, 4, 84 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BlZF20ggFhsC An 1937 a (newly patented) coaxial cable was laid from the BBC transmitter direct to Buckingham Palace for viewing of procession street scenes associated with the Coronation. A Technological History of Motion Pictures and Television: An Anthology from the Pages of the Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Raymond Fielding, p 228 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=86JXA-G2ovsC

25th Jun 2018, 9:10 am	#5
lesmw0sec Octode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Carmel, Llannerchymedd, Anglesey, UK. Posts: 1,507	Re: Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace Pretty certain they did, as an old friend of mine was called in to service a set. It seems the Queen came in to the room and in his haste to stand up he tripped over his meter leads much to the amusement of the princesses. Sadly the chap is dead now, but I have reason to believe his tale, as I have a picture of him working on some equipment at the BBC around the time of dual EMI/Baird trials.

25th Jun 2018, 9:26 am	#6
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,533	Re: Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace That's a wonderful tale! Perhaps someone should write to the present Queen to see what she remembers? Steve __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

25th Jun 2018, 1:11 pm	#10
lesmw0sec Octode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Carmel, Llannerchymedd, Anglesey, UK. Posts: 1,507	Re: Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace Actually, QM was a kindly soul. I knew a soldier who was walking back to barracks in the rain. She saw the chap and bade her driver stop and give the chap a lift. He was astonished to see the occupant!

25th Jun 2018, 1:19 pm	#12
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,533	Re: Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace And presumably Elizabeth (later to be the Queen Mother) became Queen on 11th December 1936, when George VI ascended the throne. This is all very relevant, since it helps pin down the date the television was serviced. It is likely to have been some time after the opening of the Television Service on 2nd November. Steve __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

25th Jun 2018, 2:01 pm	#13
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace Mary of Teck became Queen Mother on the death of King Gerorge V, but never used the title, being known as Queen Mary until her death in I think 1952. "The Queen" at the time TV broadcasting started would have been Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Bowes Lyon). __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

30th Jun 2018, 1:20 pm	#15
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,831	Re: Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace Gerry Wells once told me with a smile on his face that the Queen's favourite television set was a Philips 9". If anyone knew the truth, it must have been Gerry __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

30th Jun 2018, 4:00 pm	#17
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Pre-war television at Buckingham Palace Servants' hall surely? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.