BBC celebrating 90 years of radio broadcasting

Today, 14th November 2012, the "Auntie Beeb" (the BBC's affectionate nickname) are celebrating 90 years of radio broadcasting. Damon Albarn has produced a musical piece "snapshot of the airwaves" based around the iconic BBC time pips. It will be broadcast today simultaneously across the British airwaves at 17:33 GMT, the first scheduled simultaneous broadcast since the BBC was established in 1922.

More information on BBC Radio's 90th on their website.

So with a big "happy birthday" here's some pages featuring ribbon microphones from a BBC technical manual.

Reslo RB Ribbon Microphone - BBC Training Manual 1962

These pages come from the microphone section of a long out of print but excellent book entitled:

BBC Programme Operations Training Manual.
High-Quality Sound Production and Reproduction by H Burrell Hadden.
A "Wireles World" Book published 1962.

The pages feature the Reslo RB Ribbon Microphone along with a BBC Type AXBT ribbon microphone, BBC PGS pressure-gradient single ribbon microphone, STC 4038 ribbon microphone, STC 4101 lip ribbon microphone, STC 4033A joint ribbon and dynamic microphone as well as a Neumann condenser microphone.

The BBC had a custom Reslo RB made to their specification, this was later made available to the public and was known as the Reslo VRT Broadcasting Ribbon Microphone.

Reslo on set for Grandstand, BBC tv

The BBC also used the Reslo RB/VRT Ribbon Microphone as an unobtrusive on screen microphone for live broadcasts. For many decades the BBC's flagship sports programme was the influential Grandstand.

First broadcast on the 11th October 1958 from the BBC Lime Grove Studios, London. After just three programmes David Coleman took over the presentation and became the most popular and recognised face and voice of Grandstand, he remained for a further 20 years.

Also starting today is the second series of the BBC drama "The Hour" which is set in the 1950s/60s and follows the trials and tribulations of a cutting edge news programme which was (fictionally) broadcast from the same BBC Lime Grove Studios as the Grandstand programme, ah serendipity!  

The programme also features actress Oona Chaplin, grand daughter of a certain Charlie Chaplin!

Marnie played by Oona Chaplin

BBC Lime Grove Studios

Pictures courtesy of the BBC.

BBC Olympic Broadcaster

It's here, the London 2012 Olympics open in with an inspirational opening ceremony directed by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later, Trainspotting) featuring scenes from the British countryside, the industrial revolution, Kenneth Branagh, Mr. Bean, Her Majesty The Queen & James Bond, Artic Monkeys, Paul McCartney and a whole host of other artists, dancers and perfomers complete with an amazing and iconic lighting of the Olympic flame.

The entire Olympics will be covered by some way or another this year via a plethora of platforms by our cherished "Auntie Beeb" (the BBC's affectionate nickname). The BBC's flagship sports programme for many decades was the influential Grandstand. With over 3000 editions and covering 23 summer and winter Olympic Games as well as 13 Commonwealth Games it was certainly a forerunner of todays 24 hour sports channels.

BBC's David Coleman presenting Grandstand with a Reslo VRT/M Broadcasting Ribbon Microphone c.1962

BBC's David Coleman presenting Grandstand with a Reslo VRT/M Broadcasting Ribbon Microphone c.1962

First broadcast on the 11th October 1958 from the BBC Lime Grove Studios, London. After just three programmes David Coleman took over the presentation and became the most popular and recognised face and voice of Grandstand, he remained for a further 20 years.

The BBC used a Reslo VRT/M Broadcasting Ribbon Microphone which was a BBC specified modification of the standard Reslo RB Ribbon Microphone. You can see the VRT clearly in these two photographs complete with what looks like a pair of GPO 400 series telephones and an empty "in tray"!
Wonder what sport's being shown behind David on his own black and white telly!
 
Photographs courtesy of the BBC.

More information here:
Grandstand on the BBC
BBC's London Olympics coverage