"In 1936, the BBC was the only channel available so there isn't a channel changer on the set."
June 24, 2010 4:11 PM Subscribe
Scientists uncover UK's oldest working television!
The set, a 1936 Marconiphone 702, was discovered as a result of a contest put on by Digital UK, currently running the four year switchover to digital television. Their press release assures television watchers that even it is "ready for the digital age" [pdf] The set was one of four introduced at the 1936 Radiolypmia exhibition (which was nearly sabotaged!) two months before the BBC (finally) began television service on November 2, 1936. Check out other early TVs at the TV History website Pre-1935, 1935-41 or at the vintage television museum.
The set, a 1936 Marconiphone 702, was discovered as a result of a contest put on by Digital UK, currently running the four year switchover to digital television. Their press release assures television watchers that even it is "ready for the digital age" [pdf] The set was one of four introduced at the 1936 Radiolypmia exhibition (which was nearly sabotaged!) two months before the BBC (finally) began television service on November 2, 1936. Check out other early TVs at the TV History website Pre-1935, 1935-41 or at the vintage television museum.
I bet the remote is powered by steam.
And my mom still can't figure it out.
posted by bondcliff at 4:22 PM on June 24, 2010
And my mom still can't figure it out.
posted by bondcliff at 4:22 PM on June 24, 2010
> Anything good on?
Just cheese or snow.
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:26 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Just cheese or snow.
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:26 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Does he have a licence for that?
posted by Jimbob at 4:27 PM on June 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Jimbob at 4:27 PM on June 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
I HAVE A NATIONAL MICROWAVE OVEN BOUGHT ON 14TH NOVEMBER 1982 WHICH IS STILL IN DAILY USE AND APPEARS TO BE IN NEW CONDITION
I love this comment for some reason.
My grandmothers both had microwaves from about 1980 that lasted into the late 2000's. One had an analog dial.
posted by Countess Elena at 4:33 PM on June 24, 2010
I love this comment for some reason.
My grandmothers both had microwaves from about 1980 that lasted into the late 2000's. One had an analog dial.
posted by Countess Elena at 4:33 PM on June 24, 2010
Is this something I'd have to have a...oh, never mind.
posted by cjorgensen at 4:34 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by cjorgensen at 4:34 PM on June 24, 2010
This is just great, I love things like this.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 4:34 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by MaryDellamorte at 4:34 PM on June 24, 2010
I HAVE A NATIONAL MICROWAVE OVEN
The comments are so totally the best part. The last one: "My Mother who, at 87 years old still works very well"
posted by jessamyn at 4:38 PM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
The comments are so totally the best part. The last one: "My Mother who, at 87 years old still works very well"
posted by jessamyn at 4:38 PM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
WHEN THE NATIONAL MICROWAVE OVEN FINALLY EXPIRES THE QUEEN WILL BE REDUCED TO JIFFY-POP AND SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP ALL THE CROWS ON THE TOWER AND THE MONARCHY WILL END AND ALSO THERE WILL BE CAKE.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:52 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:52 PM on June 24, 2010
Oldest appliance in our house? Husbandi Domesticari...unit brief indicates that unit should be capable of working alone. Is marginally self-starting, needs verbal initiative on occasions. All parts still functioning. Tends to leave additional bits around the house during work periods. Is not self-cleaning. R Wells, Lichfield, Staffordshire
I could actually describe myself as "marginally self-starting, needs verbal initiative on occasions."
posted by jeanmari at 4:53 PM on June 24, 2010
I could actually describe myself as "marginally self-starting, needs verbal initiative on occasions."
posted by jeanmari at 4:53 PM on June 24, 2010
Wow. I can definitely imagining the neighbours gathering for that.
And I love that the only broadcast available was 2 hours a day.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 5:34 PM on June 24, 2010
And I love that the only broadcast available was 2 hours a day.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 5:34 PM on June 24, 2010
I bet the remote is powered by steam.
It's just like those steampunkers to invent time travel...
posted by Rhomboid at 6:07 PM on June 24, 2010
It's just like those steampunkers to invent time travel...
posted by Rhomboid at 6:07 PM on June 24, 2010
I am enchanted by the idea of this Radiolympia Show and found this article about the 1936 event in the New Scientist.
posted by jessamyn at 6:08 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn at 6:08 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's a probably apocryphal story that when WWII began BBC-TV was taken off the air, and literally went dark in the middle of a Mickey Mouse cartoon. And the moment the war ended, they fired 'er back up and finished the cartoon.
posted by evilcolonel at 7:07 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by evilcolonel at 7:07 PM on June 24, 2010
So is it able to pick up "Nosin' Aroun'"?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:06 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:06 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
YES WE HAVE A BLOODY VIDEO!!!
posted by Senor Cardgage at 8:14 PM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Senor Cardgage at 8:14 PM on June 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
I HAVE A NATIONAL MICROWAVE OVEN BOUGHT ON 14TH NOVEMBER 1982 WHICH IS STILL IN DAILY USE AND APPEARS TO BE IN NEW CONDITION... AND I STILL CAN'T GET A PICTURE ON THE DAMN THING
posted by the noob at 11:08 PM on June 24, 2010
posted by the noob at 11:08 PM on June 24, 2010
YES WE HAVE A BLOODY VIDEO!!!
Laughing at that made me feel old.
Agreed that the comments section was a riot. I'm glad it wasn't just me. My 5c:
*Bought a middle of the range stereo about 1995.
*It started going wonky about 2006.
*Took it to a family friend, back yard electrical repair dude.
And he's all "Woah! Old skool. Metal casing." It never occurred to me that middle of the range stereos were all faux metal, and mine was probably close to the last of its kind.
But I was more taken aback that something I thought that was still current technology and [untill recently] functional was considered rare by someone who was in the biz.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 5:36 AM on June 25, 2010
Laughing at that made me feel old.
Agreed that the comments section was a riot. I'm glad it wasn't just me. My 5c:
*Bought a middle of the range stereo about 1995.
*It started going wonky about 2006.
*Took it to a family friend, back yard electrical repair dude.
And he's all "Woah! Old skool. Metal casing." It never occurred to me that middle of the range stereos were all faux metal, and mine was probably close to the last of its kind.
But I was more taken aback that something I thought that was still current technology and [untill recently] functional was considered rare by someone who was in the biz.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 5:36 AM on June 25, 2010
I realized recently that when anything in my house that I've bought since my children were born gives out, I whine, "It's practically brand new!"
My children are 26 and 28 years old.
posted by tizzie at 1:25 PM on June 25, 2010
My children are 26 and 28 years old.
posted by tizzie at 1:25 PM on June 25, 2010
Mr Watson—Come here—I want to you to switch over to Eastenders.
posted by panboi at 1:33 PM on June 25, 2010
posted by panboi at 1:33 PM on June 25, 2010
Just think, all those wood cabinets used to be busy sucking CO2 out of the air.
posted by Twang at 5:58 PM on June 25, 2010
posted by Twang at 5:58 PM on June 25, 2010
Double. I swear I've seen this on MeFi before (the BBC story dates to July 2009) and I have a good memory for this sort of thing. But I cannot locate the original post. Perhaps some clever moderator could use their search skills to locate it.
posted by charlie don't surf at 8:26 PM on June 25, 2010
posted by charlie don't surf at 8:26 PM on June 25, 2010
You know, I had no idea until just now that this story wasn't brand new. I have no idea what month or year it is. </absent-minded professor>
posted by jessamyn at 8:55 PM on June 25, 2010
posted by jessamyn at 8:55 PM on June 25, 2010
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posted by jonmc at 4:15 PM on June 24, 2010 [1 favorite]