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Old 19th Mar 2018, 8:18 pm   #61
Dickie
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

They do use a few experts. The chappie who did the restoration of the cylinder music box a few episodes ago (Stephen Kember) is a professional who would usually charge well into 4 figures for that amount of work.
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Old 19th Mar 2018, 8:31 pm   #62
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

Well, here's the man:

http://gramophoneguru.com/

Lawrence.
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Old 19th Mar 2018, 10:50 pm   #63
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

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Well, here's the man:
Ah, so the producers found someone who knows about what they thought was a gramophone.
That sort of makes sense!
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Old 19th Mar 2018, 11:15 pm   #64
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

He's part of the resident team so far as I can make out, looking at his videos he seems to come across as ok, he condemns the use of WD40 in one of his videos apparently.

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Old 20th Mar 2018, 2:25 am   #65
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

Yes he's clearly a specialist in wind-up gramophones, and I suspect that's why no work was seen to be done on the chassis of the radiogram in the programme. In fact I an not at all convinced that the amplifier worked, and the sound we heard wasn't dubbed in post-production.

Which brings me to my wider point, that all television programmes, other than factual documentaries are contrived, and exist only to entertain the viewers. Little is what it seems, it's largely a scripted fiction.

The "lights fusing" episode is the clearest example of this. Does anyone really think the cameras would be rolling and set up to so perfectly capture that moment if it was a random event?
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Old 20th Mar 2018, 8:16 am   #66
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

TV and film have certain expectations, the lights going out was needed for drama. If anyone had mentioned a horse, a whinny would have had to be dubbed in. Old cars must backfire, old radios must produce a selection of sliding heterodyne tones and maybe a bit of Morse. Everything is fabricated entertainment and even the documentaries are somewhat contrived.

They have a script and the producer has an idea of how things should look and the world is changed to fit them.

The house of a schoolfriend and his parents was used for the film length "Last of the summer wine" made back in the 70's. They replaced the shed and greenhouse, they redecorated the ground floor rooms all to match their visualisation, then afterwards they got the poshest decorating firm in to redecorate everything to the owner's taste and their choice of shed and greenhouse again. The householders were delighted with all the expensive decoration and new outbuildings, but the lengths they went to and the cost was staggering.

I wonder if the bit about listening a lot to the Penrose laughing policeman was real or just made up to suit an available record?

The program makers don't seem to understand trust. Once you catch them out on one bit of fakery, you start to distrust them on everything.

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Old 20th Mar 2018, 12:04 pm   #67
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

Well, it seems the guy is a retired antique shop owner & hobbyist gramophone restorer. However, it still bugs me that basic safety & radio/electronics test procedures were ignored.
Quite a few years ago, wearing my Scottish Hydro-Electric Inspector hat, I played a very minor roll in an episode of "Songs of Praise" located at a large church up this way. The BBC needed a temporary independent 3 Phase supply for their large Winnibago style mobile control room & the vast amount of lighting, cameras amplifiers, etc. inside the church. Muggins here got the job.(Obviously, the 23rd psalm would've been dwarfed by a huge noisy mobile generator).
I was very impressed by the skill & professional standard of the Engineers, Technicians & Electricians in the BBC's team. Round about the same time I visited the "Antiques Road Show" which was being held at the Aberdeen Conference Centre. Once again, from what I could see, their electrical distribution layout was 1st class.
Why of why didn't some BBC Electrical Engineer pick up on the matters raised in this thread, prior to transmission ? Perhaps after 25 years or so, standards have changed.

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Old 20th Mar 2018, 12:39 pm   #68
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

The only good thing is that all the lights (apparently) going out might dissuade some of the great unwashed from attempting the same sort of job.

Gordon
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Old 20th Mar 2018, 12:40 pm   #69
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

David, you've highlighted a huge cultural change in the broadcasting industry over that last 25 years- then, the word of the salaried technician/engineer held a lot of sway and a production could be halted and safety remedied on what they said. Now, a great many technical staff are freelance, hired for the day and anxious to do as they're told and not make waves- or they'll be passed over for the next job in favour of someone who "just gets on with it". There may not have been a single "BBC Electrical Engineer" present! It's not good, and there have been individual tragedies involving mis-use of cherry-pickers and the like- but gig working is the new way of the world and everyone's too focussed on the carrot of the next daily payment to stick their neck out and be Mr. Awkward,

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Old 20th Mar 2018, 12:44 pm   #70
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

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The only good thing is that all the lights (apparently) going out might dissuade some of the great unwashed from attempting the same sort of job.
That is certainly my reading of this particular "event"!
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Old 20th Mar 2018, 2:52 pm   #71
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

If the guy is an Internet based, or local workshop based trader & receives invoiceable fees or payments - then surely he MUST supply a PAT Certificate for repaired electrical equipment. He should also hold Public Insurance, and his business premises MUST comply with current HSE & IEE(IET)17th Edition Wiring Regulations, & council Trading Standards. The whole caboodle.
To qualify for issuing PAT certificates a person must be suitably qualified & have attended a recognised PAT Testing Course, and his tester itself must be accompanied by a current Calibration Certificate.
By the by, I guess this thread highlights issues that might apply to some Forum folk who hover more on the edge of the business fraternity, as opposed to the vintage radio/electronics hobbyist or retirement pastime fraternity.

Regards, David
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Old 20th Mar 2018, 7:36 pm   #72
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

My understanding is that a few years ago the BBC was forced to farm out a proportion of its programmes to independent producers to promote competition.
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Old 21st Mar 2018, 10:08 pm   #73
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Default Re: Vintage Radios, TVs etc in films and on TV (not anachronisms)

Having looked at tonight's Repair Shop. I checked out the GEC "Gramophone" from last Friday! It was a bit of a mash up but these sort of programs always seem a out of their depth in the electrical sphere I think. It's not just a tendency towards us being pedantic in the enthusiast world [although that can happen]. It's up to the producers to give it a bit of credibility and quality control but if they don't know enough, care enough or are more comfortable with "understandable" crafts, it's what you get!

There are some very interesting restorations shown but the whole thing appears very staged and a bit stilted to me. Often the recipients seem quite flat as well at the end, although the owner of the shoe stretcher today and the lady with the GEC seemed to be an exception to this. She described her Radiogram as a Record Player with a radio [when it wasn't being a Dalek] so apparently never knew what it was herself. The electrical "short" looked like a set up, especially as nothing was found to account for it. Apart from the jerky style on the RG, so much was left out-even in summary, it was like the "London to Brighton in 4mins" film of yesteryear! I had wondered if the Gramophone expert was a Forum member but it seems unlikely I suppose

The more understandable crafts are on BBC4 right now-enjoy!

Dave
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 3:19 pm   #74
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Default The Repair Shop BBC2

Hi. I don't know if this is the appropriate slot for this? On BBC2 there is a very interesting programme where people's treasured items are restored. On one occasion a radiogram arrived for restoration. The turntable motor required attention, but it eventually got sorted out (after blowing the fuse). It didn't mention about the tuner - amplifier restoration though (probably too complicated). The unit was made by G.E.C and it had a semi-circular front. Did anyone else see it?
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 3:32 pm   #75
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Default Re: The Repair Shop BBC2

No I missed that one I’ll try and find it on “catch up”.
I did see the one on the wind up gramophone, which was only mildly interesting, to me. This type of program is interesting but similarly to the other program- the chap from top gear- they skip over much of the detail.
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 11:19 pm   #76
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Default Re: The Repair Shop BBC2

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Did anyone else see it?
Yes, and I am sure it was discussed in the forum at the time.

I don't think TV production companies dare to show any electrical repair in detail, so we are bound to be disappointed somewhat.

An exception may be "DIY le Donnie" on BBC Alba,
perhaps Highland crofters are less litigious

He does serious DIY but sometimes his enthusiasm reminds me of Reg Prescott
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Old 22nd Sep 2018, 7:04 pm   #77
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Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

I have to agree with most of the crits - it's a disappointingly shallow programme. I'll track down DIY le Donnie though on Alba - very fond of that channel for the music (being a exiled highlander down here in the deep South!).
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 4:29 pm   #78
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Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

I too have watched a few of these and have been dissappointed with the technical detail but I suppose we have to accept that with a lot of people, their eyes glaze over when you try to discuss material which is way out of their technical comprehension or indeed interest.
Therfor it is of passing interest and to inform that certain old bits of kit are receiving attention rather than binning.

I remember an old producer colleague of mine walking into a recording session one day and saying "I am sorry dear boy but today we have art spelt with a capital F".

I am sorry to say that TV today is of that type!

Mike
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 7:27 pm   #79
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Default Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

They have a nice red Roberts R900 in their workshop.
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Old 24th Sep 2018, 10:12 pm   #80
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Lightbulb Re: BBC TV: The Repair Shop

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuvistor View Post
Happy with the skill and finished restoration but it missed all the work involved which seems a repeated view in this thread.
They're missing a trick. They should show the work involved and take the programme into the 'Slow Television' genre. Probably not suitable for tea-time viewing, but there might be an audience for it…

Last edited by Wellington; 24th Sep 2018 at 10:18 pm. Reason: replace 'market' <spit> with 'audience'.
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