Rank Bush Murphy film player - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

davehills · 23rd Jan 2011, 11:06 am

Many years ago I got given a pile of service manuals, one of which was a part service manual for a strange machine made by Rank Bush Murphy in Plymouth. Think the date was late 60's/early70s.

A cartridge containing film would be loaded into machine which was then scanned and converted into a UHF signal.

It appears there was no record facility, simply playback and I think the machine was aimed at business/schools rather than the domestic market. Basically a low end telecine with cartridges.

The manual I had was part of a set of three or four, no prictures of the machine itself just descriptions and diagrams of various mechanisms.

Does anyone know what became of these machines? Did they ever hit the market?

Barry Lloyd · 23rd Jan 2011, 2:55 pm

It could well be an EVR player. I have one in the cellar somewhere. There is quite a good description in "Practical Television" September 1970, pp. 534-538. I have never seen one of the cartridges, but apparently the film was monochrome and had two pictures side-by side. These could be two mono tracks, or one of the images could be a coded pattern that when scanned produced a colour signal. The article says the players "will be manufactured in this country ... by the Bush-Murphy division of Rank".
I don't think the system was a success.

Barry

ALANS ANITAS · 23rd Jan 2011, 3:17 pm

The Science Museum has one. It is many years since I saw it on display,but it may still be.The cartridge fitted was for 4S Travel, so that places it in the first half of the 70's.

I think the chrominence and luminence were separate, the pictures were the size of an 8mm film.

ALAN

davehills · 23rd Jan 2011, 3:29 pm

Ah yes...done a Google and there's an article here: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=N...murphy&f=false

KeithsTV · 23rd Jan 2011, 4:43 pm

And here's the Television article plus an article from the previous month. I don't think it never caught on as it was only a playback medium and the playing time was limited to 30mins per side (monochrome) and 30 mins for colour.

Also I suspect the public wasn't quite ready for video playback technology and certainly not at the price of around £300 quoted in the first article. At that time there were several competing formats for home recording and playback systems, most of which were to fall by the wayside as Beta and VHS recorders were introduced several years later.

Keith

jayceebee · 23rd Jan 2011, 6:12 pm

See here https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ght=evr&page=3

davehills · 23rd Jan 2011, 7:57 pm

All rather clever stuff. Not really surprised it never caught on. I read that RBM only made 20 machines a week at the most.

strowger · 15th Mar 2011, 4:15 pm

I have one of these stored for some years from new and then found to be faulty when removed from the wrapping. I have a number of rare TV programmes on EVR films which I am ever hopeful I might be able to rerieve one day.

I have been looking for the technical service manual for the last 20 years, so if you have this is it possible to get a copy of it, any costs refunded of course?

Martin Loach

Mikey405 · 16th Mar 2011, 1:24 pm

Hi Martin.

I'm afraid I do not have the service manual either. I'd really like this too, but if I do come across a copy then I'll send you a scan. Unfortunately I don't even have a film for mine.

Kind regards.

From Mike.

jhalphen · 17th Mar 2011, 1:31 pm

Hello to All,

In late 2007-early 2008 i helped a French collector with the shipping details to bring from the US to France a rare working sample of a RCA CT-100 1954 first NTSC color receiver. The US seller also offered some additional items among which there was a complete unused Motorola EVR Tele Player + some demo & educational film cartridges. The shipment approached 400kg of which at least a quarter was technical documentation. I am fairly certain that the EVR had its paperwork. Although not a Rank-Murphy machine, it is a standard film cartridge EVR flying-spot scanner and aside from the NTSC/PAL encoder differences and RF modulator, the basic design (mechanical, scanner, servo systems) must be common to both brands.

If somebody is interested, PM me and i will forward the Mail/contact info to reach my friend.
Bear in mind though that if the manual exists, no one likes scanning a 400 page "book" if without access to an industrial scanner.

BTW, this fiend is the curator of a really first class Radio Museum in the French region of Maine & Loire, near the city of Angers. It's well worth a visit if you are vacationning in the region, travel from Paris is 2 hours by "bullet" TGV train:

http://www.musee-communication.com

The museum, building and all, was a donation to the town of Angers from a French industrialist who made his fortune in the antenna business.

Museum visit photo report on RadioFil:
http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=16340

Best Regards

jhalphen
Paris/France

jhalphen · 17th Mar 2011, 2:14 pm

Museum visit photo report on RadioFil: continued
Parts I to VI

http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=16340
http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16422
http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16434
http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16448
http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16462 - TV section
http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16489 More TV & End.

Best Regards

jhalphen
Paris/France

23rd Jan 2011, 11:06 am	#1
davehills Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 33	Rank Bush Murphy film player Many years ago I got given a pile of service manuals, one of which was a part service manual for a strange machine made by Rank Bush Murphy in Plymouth. Think the date was late 60's/early70s. A cartridge containing film would be loaded into machine which was then scanned and converted into a UHF signal. It appears there was no record facility, simply playback and I think the machine was aimed at business/schools rather than the domestic market. Basically a low end telecine with cartridges. The manual I had was part of a set of three or four, no prictures of the machine itself just descriptions and diagrams of various mechanisms. Does anyone know what became of these machines? Did they ever hit the market? Last edited by davehills; 23rd Jan 2011 at 11:22 am.

23rd Jan 2011, 2:55 pm	#2
Barry Lloyd Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: London, UK. Posts: 129	Re: Rank Bush Murphy film player It could well be an EVR player. I have one in the cellar somewhere. There is quite a good description in "Practical Television" September 1970, pp. 534-538. I have never seen one of the cartridges, but apparently the film was monochrome and had two pictures side-by side. These could be two mono tracks, or one of the images could be a coded pattern that when scanned produced a colour signal. The article says the players "will be manufactured in this country ... by the Bush-Murphy division of Rank". I don't think the system was a success. Barry

23rd Jan 2011, 3:17 pm	#3
ALANS ANITAS Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North West Northamptonshire, UK. Posts: 346	Re: Rank Bush Murphy film player The Science Museum has one. It is many years since I saw it on display,but it may still be.The cartridge fitted was for 4S Travel, so that places it in the first half of the 70's. I think the chrominence and luminence were separate, the pictures were the size of an 8mm film. ALAN Last edited by ALANS ANITAS; 23rd Jan 2011 at 3:23 pm. Reason: Added information.

23rd Jan 2011, 3:29 pm	#4
davehills Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 33	Re: Rank Bush Murphy film player Ah yes...done a Google and there's an article here: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=N...murphy&f=false

23rd Jan 2011, 6:12 pm	#6
jayceebee Heptode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Durham, County Durham, UK. Posts: 640	Re: Rank Bush Murphy film player See here https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ght=evr&page=3

23rd Jan 2011, 7:57 pm	#7
davehills Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 33	Re: Rank Bush Murphy film player All rather clever stuff. Not really surprised it never caught on. I read that RBM only made 20 machines a week at the most.

15th Mar 2011, 4:15 pm	#8
strowger Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Abingdon Posts: 1	Re: Rank Bush Murphy film player I have one of these stored for some years from new and then found to be faulty when removed from the wrapping. I have a number of rare TV programmes on EVR films which I am ever hopeful I might be able to rerieve one day. I have been looking for the technical service manual for the last 20 years, so if you have this is it possible to get a copy of it, any costs refunded of course? Martin Loach

16th Mar 2011, 1:24 pm	#9
Mikey405 Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Solihull, West Midlands and Beaford, Devon Posts: 1,626	Re: Rank Bush Murphy film player Hi Martin. I'm afraid I do not have the service manual either. I'd really like this too, but if I do come across a copy then I'll send you a scan. Unfortunately I don't even have a film for mine. Kind regards. From Mike. __________________ G7TRF

17th Mar 2011, 1:31 pm	#10
jhalphen Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Paris, France Posts: 350	Re: Rank Bush Murphy film player Hello to All, In late 2007-early 2008 i helped a French collector with the shipping details to bring from the US to France a rare working sample of a RCA CT-100 1954 first NTSC color receiver. The US seller also offered some additional items among which there was a complete unused Motorola EVR Tele Player + some demo & educational film cartridges. The shipment approached 400kg of which at least a quarter was technical documentation. I am fairly certain that the EVR had its paperwork. Although not a Rank-Murphy machine, it is a standard film cartridge EVR flying-spot scanner and aside from the NTSC/PAL encoder differences and RF modulator, the basic design (mechanical, scanner, servo systems) must be common to both brands. If somebody is interested, PM me and i will forward the Mail/contact info to reach my friend. Bear in mind though that if the manual exists, no one likes scanning a 400 page "book" if without access to an industrial scanner. BTW, this fiend is the curator of a really first class Radio Museum in the French region of Maine & Loire, near the city of Angers. It's well worth a visit if you are vacationning in the region, travel from Paris is 2 hours by "bullet" TGV train: http://www.musee-communication.com The museum, building and all, was a donation to the town of Angers from a French industrialist who made his fortune in the antenna business. Museum visit photo report on RadioFil: http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=16340 Best Regards jhalphen Paris/France Attached Thumbnails Last edited by jhalphen; 17th Mar 2011 at 1:54 pm.

17th Mar 2011, 2:14 pm	#11
jhalphen Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Paris, France Posts: 350	Re: Rank Bush Murphy film player Museum visit photo report on RadioFil: continued Parts I to VI http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=16340 http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16422 http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16434 http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16448 http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16462 - TV section http://retro-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=16489 More TV & End. Best Regards jhalphen Paris/France