Copyright Jerry Clegg, no reproduction without permission.
This article from the BBC retirees’ magazine, Prospero, by Jerry Clegg gives an update on the OB scanner CMCR9 – Pebble Mill’s original CM1, and later Manchester’s North 3.
The scanner will be on display several more times this year, in case you would like to visit it, see the article for the details.
CM1/North 3 in the snow. Photo Steve Harris no reproduction without permission
Outside Broadcast Scanner CM1/ North 3
Behind the scenes, much work is going on. Steve Jones recently restored the dc power supplies to operation and he and Steve Harris re-installed them beneath the comms bay in the sound control room. On switching on, the whole place came to life. EMX phones started ringing, indicator lights were flashing and amazingly the sound desk sprung into life without any smoke! There was some output from the sound desk and about half the channels actually worked although the PPMs didn’t. One was indicating hard left and the other hard right! However, early tests are showing quite promising results.
We are very pleased that the engineering team has been joined by Richard Ellis, formerly the Chief Engineer of Pye TVT and Granada Television and now a Visiting Professor in Media Technology at Salford University., but tempted back to work his magic on the original Pye SPGs from the type-2 CMCRs which he designed back in the 1960’s. We have several of these from North 1 and North 3. The SPG installed in North 3 for the time being is a more modern example.
We’ll let you know when we have details of the first public outing for 2013.
Jerry Clegg
CMCR9 Vision area
CMCR9 Vision area 2
CMCR9 Philips CCUs
Photos by John Abbott, no reproduction without permission.
These photos are from the 1969 outside broadcast scanner, CMCR9, which was Pebble Mill’s original CM1. This scanner became Manchester’s North 3, in around 1979.
The photos show the Vision area of the truck, as well as the Camera Control Units for the original Philips/Pye cameras.
This scanner has recently been restored by a team up in Manchester, and is now owned by Steve Harris.
Rob Cherry added the following comment on the Pebble Mill Facebook Group:
‘Having completed an ‘A’ course at Evesham in December 1974 I went to Pebble Mill Audio Unit and was put out on OBs for that long, hot summer of 1975. All sorts of stuff including the final of “Sportstown” from Wales, somewhere, with Alan Edwards as EM1 or whatever it was called; culminating in what I believe was the first World One-Day Cricket competition in England, including the final at Lord’s. I had to pinch myself. I’m getting paid, for this?’
Specially shot video of Steve Harris, giving a tour of the restored 1969 outside broadcast scanner, CMCR9. The truck was BBC Pebble Mill’s original CM1, and became BBC Manchester’s North 3. Steve is the owner of the scanner and has restored it with fellow enthusiasts over the last few years. The video was filmed at a history of communication exhibition held at Salford University in October 2012.
photo by Ray Lee
The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Group:
Keith Brook:’Good to put a face to Steve’s name. Although he’s right about the diminishing knowledge base, there are still loads of engineers about and I think this might be an opportunity to match-make. Jenny Brewer has the names of many who meet monthly at Selly Park.’