Nick was involved in the restoration of the unit and wanted to compile a history of MCR21 as part of the project.
MCR21 was used to televise many historic events. It was at Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in 1964 when Jim Clark won the British Grand Prix. In 1965 it was at St Paul’s Cathedral for Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral and at Caernarfon in 1969 to televise the Investiture of the Prince of Wales.
The technology of MCR21 was ‘state of the art’ for its time. It had four monochrome cameras, one of the first vision mixers to use transistors, and a built-in 20-channel sound mixer.
With the help of a 拢100,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, MCR21 has been restored and will make an appearance at Amberley Museum in Sussex this July (6-10 and 13-17 inclusive).
Visitors will be able to enter the production area and experience what it would have been like to be there when a programme is being transmitted. From pre-recorded material, the television monitors will show the pictures from the four cameras recorded at a Jazz concert. You鈥檒l be able to hear the music being played along with the television director鈥檚 instructions to the camera operators.
Visitors will also be able to find out about the history of MCR21 and the many interesting facts about 91热爆鈥檚 television coverage of great events, dating back to 1937. There will also be 鈥榟ands on鈥� experiences where you can try your hand at operating a 1960s television camera.
MCR21 has been chosen by the 91热爆 as one of the 100 objects that tell the story of the Corporation over the last 100 years.