DE
What is it?
It's a VT Clock for use in Studios. These used to be commonplace before computer generated VT Clocks. They would be stood on a caption stand in the studio and a camera pointed at them. On it would be scrawled what item was being prerecorded. It would literally be recorded by the camera through the desk until -3", when the vision mixer would cut to black instead, then the item would start. When instant start VTRs became used, News often dispensed with the 3" of black, staying with the clock right up to 0. A prerec would be parked on the last frame of the clock so that the gallery could see what was in the gate. I imagine Spotlight's vision mixer cut to the VT before it had started running. It's an extremely antiquated way of working and I'm staggered that Plymouth still use it! There cannot be many of these clocks left in existance in the BBC. Some are attached to one side of line up trollies (with greyscale, colour girl and possibly a testcard on the other sides), but I've only seen one in recent years.
How old is it?
Couldn't say for definite - at least 20 years old I imagine. Older examples were blackboard/chalk style.
mizzb posted:
A few questions about that pic.
What is that piece of equipment ?
How old is it roughly ?
Does that clock section of it look like the face of a slightly surprised baby ?
What is that piece of equipment ?
How old is it roughly ?
Does that clock section of it look like the face of a slightly surprised baby ?
What is it?
It's a VT Clock for use in Studios. These used to be commonplace before computer generated VT Clocks. They would be stood on a caption stand in the studio and a camera pointed at them. On it would be scrawled what item was being prerecorded. It would literally be recorded by the camera through the desk until -3", when the vision mixer would cut to black instead, then the item would start. When instant start VTRs became used, News often dispensed with the 3" of black, staying with the clock right up to 0. A prerec would be parked on the last frame of the clock so that the gallery could see what was in the gate. I imagine Spotlight's vision mixer cut to the VT before it had started running. It's an extremely antiquated way of working and I'm staggered that Plymouth still use it! There cannot be many of these clocks left in existance in the BBC. Some are attached to one side of line up trollies (with greyscale, colour girl and possibly a testcard on the other sides), but I've only seen one in recent years.
How old is it?
Couldn't say for definite - at least 20 years old I imagine. Older examples were blackboard/chalk style.
