BBC MCR21 Outside Broadcast Van Project Launch

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G8GQS
Posts: 210
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:01 pm

BBC MCR21 Outside Broadcast Van Project Launch

Post by G8GQS » Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:41 pm

AMBERLEY MUSEUM

We are to "launch" the Broadcast Television Technology Trust project for the restoration of MCR21 and explain It's history.

HISTORIC BBC VEHICLE THAT REFUSED TO DIE SECURES A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY HERITAGE FUND

The MCR21 Project, to restore a historic 1960’s BBC television outside broadcast unit, has received a big boost with money raised by the National Lottery players

MCR21 was one of the first custom-built outside broadcast vehicles, originally designed for black and white television use. From 1963 it worked on many prestigious events, from the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill to the 1966 World Cup Final. It was later converted to colour before being scrapped by the BBC in 1979. Rescued from the scrapyard by a TV enthusiast but now in a poor state of repair, the Broadcast Television Technology Trust has been given a grant to start restoring MCR21 to its original glory and tell its remarkable story.

Whilst we have the Lottery Grant and can/have started work, more funding, sponsorship, help, volunteers, original equipment, is sought.

The launch of MCR21 Project will take place at Amberley Museum in West Sussex from Friday 16th - Sunday 18th August 2019. MCR21 will be at the vehicle restorers, but we will have some of its equipment on show. There will be two vintages outside broadcast cameras which the public will be able to operate. Also on show to help tell MCR21’s story will be the vision mixer from the outside broadcast unit and an exhibition with videos and display boards


There has been incredible support from many sources, including the Science Museum Group and the BBC. Its Director General Tony Hall has written to say:  

"Broadcasting can seem such an ephemeral art, so these iconic technological artefacts such as the MCR21 are key for all of us who work in the field of broadcasting, in particular our close colleagues in conservation and interpretation.
The MCR21 captured major moments still in our living history, the 1963 British Grand Prix, the 1965 funeral of Sir Winston Churchill and seminally the 1966 World Cup.
 
I am very happy to support the Broadcast Television Technology Trust's important work to restore the MCR21."

Further information:

https://vimeo.com/275057027 - Brian Summers video explaining the work to be done to restore MCR21
https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/research/mcr21 - BBC article on the history of MCR21

Venue Address

Amberley Museum, New Barn Road, Amberley, Near Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9LT
Telephone: 01798 831370

More information on MCR21 can be obtained from project manager Nick Gilbey: Email:  nick@mcr21.org.uk
Telephone: 07831 219957



About The Broadcast Television Technology Trust
The Trust was formed to preserve broadcast television equipment for future generations and engage the interest, particularly of young people, in the technology that was used to televise great events in the twentieth century.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use
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Equipment from MCR21 will be on display, the vision mixer with a Pye Mk IV and MkVII cameras, which are similar type to the Mk VI used in MCR21. Visitors will be able to have a go at operating one of the vintage cameras. Some of the MCR21 volunteers will be there to answer questions but also find out what visitors think about the mini-exhibition. There will also be information telling the story of MCR21 and the history of BBC TV Outside Broadcasts.

Final note, we would love to see you there, but the Amberley Museum is a big site, to do justice to it allow several hours!!

Brian Summers for www.BTTT.org.uk and www.MCR21.org.uk

G8GQS
Posts: 210
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:01 pm

Re: BBC MCR21 Outside Broadcast Van Project Launch

Post by G8GQS » Wed Aug 14, 2019 7:34 pm

Blatant Boost!!
Regards Brian

Visit the Virtual Broadcast TV camera Museum

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