NZBC Marconi Broadcast Camera

Spotted on Trademe, this was described as a Marconi Broadcast Camera. one of the 4 original NZBC cameras brought into NZ for broadcast from the 4 main centres

One time NZBC technician Clyde Cunningham had a look at the auction

Very interesting and familiar to me! The camera looks in excellent condition from the outside. The model was called a Marconi Mk IV and was used extensively by the BBC and many other broadcast organisations.
The camera connects through a special multi-way cable to a unit called a CCU (Camera Control Unit) which contains the power supply and all the controls needed to adjust various parameters. Without the cable and the CCU it can't be fired up.
The camera used a 4.5 inch diameter camera tube called an image orthicon which stretched from the front to the back of the cabinet. The technology was very advanced for its time but was soon surpassed by a much smaller camera tube called a vidicon (and then susequently by another variety called a plumbicon). These days, of course, the camera pick-up device is a CCD chip which gives a far superior image.
I was presented with a 3.5 inch version of the image orthicon tube by a guy on a technical training course I did for Swedish Television (SVT) several years ago. My colleagues at Sony used to borrow it for exhibitions to demonstrate the advance in camera technology. I thought some broadcast engineering museum might be interested in the tube but it seems that there are a lot of them around in the UK.

Another of the first four cameras is on display at the Tirau Museum

photo used with the kind permission of Sandy Em

The Dunedin Settlers Museum supposedly has a working model as well.

1969: First colour TV transmission in NZ

Courtesy of ex NZBC staffer Clyde Cunningham

Location: HOES Majoribanks St., Wellington
Clyde Cunningham on left, Brian Cosnett on right.
The panel with the knobs is the CCU for an EMI2001 colour camera.
A temporary microwave link was set up to send the signal to Mt. KauKau transmitter site. Colour bars were transmitted for a few minutes but we didn't have a colour receiver to see the transmission.
The photo was taken by John Dagg.

A visitor to the site sent some information relating to Brian Cosnett:

There is a memorial stone for Brian Cosnett under a large tree at the Avalon backlot (Still there as of Jan 2018). I came here to put a face to the name on the mold covered plaque.
Harry

Name the show - circa 1964?

Ex NZBC staffer Clyde Cunningham uploaded some marvellous footage taken in WNTV-1 studios, Waring Taylor Street, Wellington, circa 1964-65. Anyone care to name the talent show?

WNTV-1 people Clyde can identify are - Bas Tubert, Ron Pledger, John Hinton, Chas Bailey and Ian Cumming.

Mystery Drama mini series aired in NZ in 1987-1988??

Can anyone suggest that show this might have been? Sounds like McLeod's Daughters I can't think of any New Zealand candidates...

Hi there
 
I was hoping you may be able to help me solve a mystery from many years ago
 
Back in December 1987 I was travelling around New Zealand and I remember watching a miniseries and was upset at the time as I never saw the whole thing due to only being in NZ for 2 weeks.
 
Is there anywhere I can go to look for the details of this miniseries?  Unfortunately I do not know what it was called but do remember some of the plot.
 
It was about an elderly tycoon who died with a large fortune. He had two daughters who thought they were going to inherit the fortune.  However along came another daughter from another partnership and the two daughters were not impressed.  They tried hard to scare her away and tried to kill her.  The father had an island with a house and other houses.  It was a drama and probably a little bit scary.  I think one of the daughters had a mental health issue…  I remember a skeleton in a house on the island which scared me (as a 17 year old)
 
I would love to know what it was called.  It was a NZ miniseries and screened December 1987 / January 1988.
 
Any help appreciated.
 
Peter Spark
Victoria Australia