Pawley's BBC Engineering 1922-1972

[Dai Corner]

This might be old news, but the BBC have put Edward Pawley's book 'BBC Engineering 1922-1972' online in pdf form.

I borrowed it from the library not long after it was published and have wanted my own copy ever since but the prices I've seen have been prohibitive.

If the BBC still had a Director of Engineering Id like to think he/she would be working on a book to mark the second 50 years ready for the centenary in 2022.

https://bbcbrandingrequests.co.uk/hi...ing/Pawley.pdf

Aw, brilliant, I will read it later. I guess there is no real broadcast history anymore, you get all the parts from Alibaba and employ a teenage DJ. I want quality not quantity.

[russell_w_b]

Thanks for that, Dai. I've wanted that book for ages but baulked at the cost too.

[russell_w_b]

Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell

Aw, brilliant, I will read it later. I guess there is no real broadcast history anymore...

There's a bit on bbceng.info if you delve into it, including BBC technical instructions and publications; Equipment on Code Order publications, as well as external references.

[beamcurrent]

That's very good as it is a very useful reference work. I referred to my copy only today to look up some details about Lime Grove.

Paper copies can be found at a modest price with some luck and a fair wind.

[m0cemdave]

Originally Posted by beamcurrent

Paper copies can be found at a modest price with some luck and a fair wind.

It took me years to find one at a modest price, and that was on a certain member's rally stall. Thank you Brian!

Also worth seeking out are the (mainly non-technical) Briggs histories, but there are 5 volumes to acquire and they don't often turn up for less than a tenner each. But, like Pawley, they are regarded as the definitive work on the subject.

[Electronpusher0]

There are printers who will take the pdf and turn it into a hard back book.
Out of curiosity I checked the price for a run of 10 and it was £28 per copy.
Still a little pricey but not horrifying.

peter

[peter_scott]

Thanks for that. It's an excellent reference work. I have a paper copy but it's nice to have an electronically searchable version too.

Peter

[Herald1360]

Originally Posted by Electronpusher0

There are printers who will take the pdf and turn it into a hard back book.
Out of curiosity I checked the price for a run of 10 and it was £28 per copy.
Still a little pricey but not horrifying.

peter

Wouldn't that run foul of copyright?

The BBC pdf is watermarked too.

[knobtwiddler]

An absolutely stunning book. Thank you for sharing!

[John_BS]

If the BBC still had a Director of Engineering Id like to think he/she would be working on a book to mark the second 50 years ready for the centenary in 2022.

Watch this space!



John


PS Pawley is not the most exciting read. I undertand Part 2 might try to rectify that to some extent.

[Ted Kendall]

Originally Posted by John_BS

Pawley is not the most exciting read.

What do you want? Pizzaz? Dumbing down? Diligence and authority outweigh poetry in this standard work, as they should. Compared to some other "technical" histories, the standard is miraculously high.