The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

radioredcat · 30th Jan 2012, 2:39 pm

A friend posted the link for this video of the building of the Mendlesham mast lovely shots of old aerials as well.

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/861...23FIw5.twitter

Andy

Andy Doz · 30th Jan 2012, 2:59 pm

What an insight. Health & safety would go mad today !

ppppenguin · 30th Jan 2012, 3:01 pm

Especially with all those gusset plates

Aerodyne · 30th Jan 2012, 6:23 pm

Makes me dizzy just watching. What a height... I can't even climb a ladder beyond one storey.
-Tony

M0FYA Andy · 30th Jan 2012, 7:10 pm

That film was fascinating!
I hadn't realised that the galvanising process required the item to 'soak' in the bath of zinc, but I guess it could be to allow the steel component to heat up to the temperature of the molten zinc.
Not a hard-hat in sight, although one of the guys up at the top wore a woollen bobble-hat!
Many thanks,
Andy

Heatercathodeshort · 30th Jan 2012, 7:37 pm

Lovely film. I want that steel ball! The other films on offer are equally as interesting but not TV orientated. J.

mark pirate · 30th Jan 2012, 8:22 pm

Thanks for posting this, a really fascinating film. I felt quite dizzy watching it!
So much for health and safety, those were the days

Mark

ppppenguin · 30th Jan 2012, 8:31 pm

Apart from lack of hard hats the health and safety mostly didn't look too bad. They all had what looked like decent safety harnesses. The bit where 3 blokes were winched up with one of the pieces looked a bit iffy.

John, just creep up to that mast one night, jack it up with one of your commercial vehicle jacks and whip out the ball. Nobody will even notice

radioredcat · 30th Jan 2012, 9:39 pm

What model of tv is in the film.

I can go on my roof ok 30ft but a mast of that height i'm afraid is too high but if you want a touch of vertigo watch this one i cringe every time i watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bASagOugYrU

At least they have hard hats on.

Andy

Tazman1966 · 30th Jan 2012, 10:48 pm

A great film and I agree, the heights made me dizzy too

cmjones01 · 31st Jan 2012, 12:05 am

There's a brief glimpse at 0:17 of what appear to be stacked UHF aerials on somebody's chimney. Who would have had those in 1959? Or was the film made somewhat later, after UHF TV started?

Heatercathodeshort · 31st Jan 2012, 12:35 am

The 19" receiver is the Decca version of the Thorn 850 chassis. J.

Peter.N. · 31st Jan 2012, 12:49 am

Thanks for that, very interesting, I love those sort of films. Very good quality too. I had been in the trade for five years when that was errected, I could pick up a signal from Mendlesham at ground level on an five element beam in my workshop between Sevenoaks and Maidstone.

Peter

davegsm82 · 31st Jan 2012, 12:51 am

Fantastic, thanks for sharing this.

Dave.

Hybrid tellies · 31st Jan 2012, 2:58 am

Just an amazing little film, shows us clearly how things used to be done. I love the smoking in the factory, the fitting of that all important ball bearing, and the lack of helmets etc. As for working topless at 800'+ agl, it just beggars belief. But they got the job done in 10 weeks and I bet there was no injuries or deaths The mast is still standing and in use which is a testiment to all those involved in its construction 53 years ago.

terrykc · 31st Jan 2012, 5:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmjones01

There's a brief glimpse at 0:17 of what appear to be stacked UHF aerials on somebody's chimney. Who would have had those in 1959? Or was the film made somewhat later, after UHF TV started?

Another point is that those pictures were not taken in the Mendlesham service area, as all of the VHF aerials are vertical. (Mendlesham was horizontal, of course.)

Either they took 4 or 5 years before they finished the film of they just chanced on someone watching the early UHF test transmissions from Crystal Palace (which fits with the vertical VHF aerials) ...

31st Jan 2012, 7:39 pm

I used to watch ITV from there in the 60's and 70's until Sandy Heath came on air on UHF. Proper workmen doing a proper job.

Quote:

At least they have hard hats on.

I don't think that would make much difference falling from 1000 feet.

Station X · 31st Jan 2012, 11:08 pm

No, but they do help if your mate above you drops one of his tools or say a bolt.

murphyv310 · 31st Jan 2012, 11:12 pm

It was bad enough climbing a 120 foot British Relay mast when I was 17! Perish the thought of 1000ft.

Heatercathodeshort · 31st Jan 2012, 11:15 pm

Most of those guys would have served in WW2 so a few bolts falling on their 'eds would be a doddle. Great times post WW2. Loads of work rebuilding Britain when 'NO' was not an answer. Those cranes are just old lorries with a crane bolted on. I wish I had a Tardis.
Regards, John
PS. I think when you have reached 120ft Trevor you might as well just carry on!

30th Jan 2012, 2:39 pm	#1
radioredcat Hexode Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Billinge, Wigan, UK. Posts: 492	The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 A friend posted the link for this video of the building of the Mendlesham mast lovely shots of old aerials as well. http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/861...23FIw5.twitter Andy __________________ http://www.youtube.com/user/radioredcat

30th Jan 2012, 2:59 pm	#2
Andy Doz Hexode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 376	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 What an insight. Health & safety would go mad today !

30th Jan 2012, 3:01 pm	#3
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 Especially with all those gusset plates

30th Jan 2012, 6:23 pm	#4
Aerodyne Octode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hampton Vale, Peterborough, UK. Posts: 1,698	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 Makes me dizzy just watching. What a height... I can't even climb a ladder beyond one storey. -Tony

30th Jan 2012, 7:10 pm	#5
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 That film was fascinating! I hadn't realised that the galvanising process required the item to 'soak' in the bath of zinc, but I guess it could be to allow the steel component to heat up to the temperature of the molten zinc. Not a hard-hat in sight, although one of the guys up at the top wore a woollen bobble-hat! Many thanks, Andy

30th Jan 2012, 7:37 pm	#6
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 Lovely film. I want that steel ball! The other films on offer are equally as interesting but not TV orientated. J.

30th Jan 2012, 8:22 pm	#7
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 Thanks for posting this, a really fascinating film. I felt quite dizzy watching it! So much for health and safety, those were the days Mark

30th Jan 2012, 8:31 pm	#8
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 Apart from lack of hard hats the health and safety mostly didn't look too bad. They all had what looked like decent safety harnesses. The bit where 3 blokes were winched up with one of the pieces looked a bit iffy. John, just creep up to that mast one night, jack it up with one of your commercial vehicle jacks and whip out the ball. Nobody will even notice

30th Jan 2012, 9:39 pm	#9
radioredcat Hexode Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Billinge, Wigan, UK. Posts: 492	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 What model of tv is in the film. I can go on my roof ok 30ft but a mast of that height i'm afraid is too high but if you want a touch of vertigo watch this one i cringe every time i watch it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bASagOugYrU At least they have hard hats on. Andy __________________ http://www.youtube.com/user/radioredcat

30th Jan 2012, 10:48 pm	#10
Tazman1966 Nonode Join Date: May 2006 Location: St Albans, Herts, UK. Posts: 2,193	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 A great film and I agree, the heights made me dizzy too __________________ All the very best, Tas

31st Jan 2012, 12:05 am	#11
cmjones01 Nonode Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Warsaw, Poland and Cambridge, UK Posts: 2,682	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 There's a brief glimpse at 0:17 of what appear to be stacked UHF aerials on somebody's chimney. Who would have had those in 1959? Or was the film made somewhat later, after UHF TV started?

31st Jan 2012, 12:35 am	#12
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 The 19" receiver is the Decca version of the Thorn 850 chassis. J.

31st Jan 2012, 12:49 am	#13
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 Thanks for that, very interesting, I love those sort of films. Very good quality too. I had been in the trade for five years when that was errected, I could pick up a signal from Mendlesham at ground level on an five element beam in my workshop between Sevenoaks and Maidstone. Peter

31st Jan 2012, 12:51 am	#14
davegsm82 Heptode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Blyth, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 858	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 Fantastic, thanks for sharing this. Dave.

31st Jan 2012, 2:58 am	#15
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,967	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 Just an amazing little film, shows us clearly how things used to be done. I love the smoking in the factory, the fitting of that all important ball bearing, and the lack of helmets etc. As for working topless at 800'+ agl, it just beggars belief. But they got the job done in 10 weeks and I bet there was no injuries or deaths The mast is still standing and in use which is a testiment to all those involved in its construction 53 years ago. __________________ Simon BVWS member

31st Jan 2012, 11:08 pm	#18
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 No, but they do help if your mate above you drops one of his tools or say a bolt. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

31st Jan 2012, 11:12 pm	#19
murphyv310 Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK. Posts: 5,422	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 It was bad enough climbing a 120 foot British Relay mast when I was 17! Perish the thought of 1000ft. __________________ Cheers, Trevor. MM0KJJ. RSGB, GQRP, WACRAL, K&LARC. Member

31st Jan 2012, 11:15 pm	#20
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: The Building Of The Mendlesham Mast 1959 Most of those guys would have served in WW2 so a few bolts falling on their 'eds would be a doddle. Great times post WW2. Loads of work rebuilding Britain when 'NO' was not an answer. Those cranes are just old lorries with a crane bolted on. I wish I had a Tardis. Regards, John PS. I think when you have reached 120ft Trevor you might as well just carry on!