Baird 'Televisor' electro-mechanical television
Object No. K1192
This is a rare example of the first commercially available TV receiver, called the 'Televisor', developed by the famous Scottish inventor, John Logie Baird (1888-1946). From February 1930 TVs like this one in England received transmissions broadcast from the BBC. Less than 1,000 were made and this one is number 573. Baird's system used crude electro-mechanical spinning, perforated scanning discs to record and produce images. Television relies on the fact that the human brain can convert a sequence of slightly different still images into a moving picture if more than fifteen frames are received every second. As soon as the number drops below fifteen, the motion looks jerky. Baird's basic mechanical TV used thirty lenses on a disc that reflected light to a receiver. From 1923 he devoted his time to its development, and in 1925 he gave the first public demonstration at which crude images were transmitted between two machines. By 1929 as Baird's developments in the laboratory began to emerge, an agreement was made with the BBC for regular experimental transmissions of television pictures from its London station. These transmissions, which took place for half hour periods five days a week, had a definition of 30 lines and a repetition frequency of 12.5 frames per second. The images received by the Televisor were viewed through a magnifying glass on the right-hand side of the unit. It was necessary to constantly monitor the image and adjust the knob in the centre of the Televisor, which controlled the speed of the internal spinning (Nipkow) disk, synchronising it with the transmission frequency. The pictures were small, flickering and poorly defined but were considered entertaining and a wonder in their time. Although the Baird electro-mechanical system of television was superseded by developments in cathode-ray tube technology by the mid 1930s, Baird's contributions to the development of television were significant. It was Baird's enthusiasm, enterprise and publicity which indirectly caused others to undertake serious research in this field.
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Summary
Object Statement
Television receiver, electro-mechanical, 'The J L Baird Televisor', serial number 573, with photocopies of instruction booklet and price list, made by The Plessey Co Ltd, Ilford, Essex, England, for Baird International Television Ltd, 133 Long Acre, London, England, 1929-1933
Physical Description
Television receiver, electro-mechanical, 'The J L Baird Televisor', serial number 573, with photocopies of instruction booklet and price list, made by The Plessey Co Ltd, Ilford, Essex, England, for Baird International Television Ltd, 133 Long Acre, London, England, 1929-1933 The electro-mechanical television, the scanning disc and neon lamp are housed within a khaki brown painted metal case, set on a wooden base board with iron legs. The main body of the case is rectangular with rounded corners, a partial 'disk' of casing protrudes both top and bottom, the front face of the unit has a rectangular panel on the left side, slightly recessed with a centrally located Bakelite knob. A copper coloured metal plaque, bearing the manufacturer's name and the model name of the unit is located in the centre, there is a Bakelite knob at the base of the plaque, and to the right side is a small rectangular glass 'screen', deeply recessed into the case. On the back is a plaque bearing the manufacturers details and serial number of the object. Photocopies of the instruction booklet for the Baird Televisor, 24 pages bound in a plastic ring binder, include the article "The origin and progress of Television". Photocopies of the "Price list of Baird branded components" for the 'Televisor', 8 pages bound in a plastic ring binder.
DIMENSIONS
Height
550 mm
Width
695 mm
Depth
320 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
James Logie Baird, (b.1888 Helensburg Scotland), was one of the best known pioneers of television in the United Kingdom. From 1923 he devoted his time to the development of the television and in 1925, gave a public demonstration at which crude images were transmitted betweeen two machines. The first emergence of the television from the laboratory is said to date from about 1929 when an agreement was made with the BBC and the Baird Television Co. for regular experimental transmissions of television pictures from its London station. These transmissions took place for half hour periods on five days of each week, and had a definition of 30 lines and a repetition frequency of 12.5 frames per second. The Baird Televisor, the first commercially available television receiver, was offered from February 1930, to receive these transmitions.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 1984
Acquisition Date
31 May 1984
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