Marconi provided two types of outside broadcast van 1) a complete television system and 2) a sound system only.
Currently major restoration activities on these is being carried out by the Broadcast Engineering Conservation Group
The following table shows the number of OB units shipped between 1950 and 1975.
System | UK | Export | Totals |
Television | 32 | 104 | 136 |
Sound | 0 | 16 | 16 |
Totals | 32 | 120 | 152 |
The 120 export units were shipped to a total of 26 countries
Television Outside Broadcast units (1963) click here
Model number |
Description |
Comments |
Date (approx.) |
Details |
BD604 |
OB Van, 3 x MkIII cameras Ash wooden frame by Marshalls of Cambridge |
4 sold to the BBC as Mobile Control Rooms |
1953 - 1959 |
|
BD846 |
OB Van, "TV reporting Van" (roving eye) MkIII camera |
Possibly built for the BBC |
1955 - 1956 |
|
BD891 |
OB Van, 3 to 4 MkIV cameras 7 ton Bedford chassis built by RTS |
Some supplied to Channel 10 Sydney |
1960 - 1964 |
|
BD892A |
OB Van, 2 x MkIII (or maybe MkIV) cameras |
|
1955 - 1961 |
|
BD892 | OB Van, 2 Camera | <1960 | here | |
B4400 | Television OB unit, 2-camera | < 1965 | here | |
B4401 | Television OB units, 3-4 camera | < 1965 | here | |
B4401 |
OB Van, mono, 4 x MkV I.O. cameras Bedford chassis, possibly built by Bonallacks |
Supplied to the 1969 European Games in Athens |
1966 |
and
|
B4402 |
OB Van, colour, 4 x MkVII cameras Bedford chassis, built by RTS |
Supplied to Yorkshire TV |
1969 |
|
B4403 |
OB Van, mono, 4 x MkV cameras |
|
1969 |
|
B4404 |
OB Van, colour, 2 x MkVII cameras |
|
1969 |
|
B4406 |
OB Van, 2 x MkIX/IX P cameras Stonefield chassis |
Sold to Granada TV and Tripole Lybia |
1976 |
|
B4409 |
OB Van, colour, 4 x MkVIII cameras Bedford chassis built by Smiths at Great Bentley. Also built with a Mercedes chassis for RTBF Brussels. |
Sold to Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia |
1976 |
|
B4410 |
OB Van, Mono, 4 x MkV cameras Bedford chassis built by Smiths at Great Bentley. |
|
1976 |
|
? |
OB Van, colour, 3 x MkIV cameras* |
Sold to Smith Kline and French |
? |
|
? |
OB Van, colour, 3 x MkIV cameras* |
Sold to Intertel |
? |
|
B3099 |
Portable Television Radio-camera | 1960 | here | |
BD421 | SHF Vision and Sound Link | 1960 | here | |
TM112 | SHF Vision and Sound Link | c. 1964 | here | |
Television Outside Broadcast Vehicles | < 1969 | here | ||
* OB Van connected via an umbilical cable to a second Van housing the Ampex Video Tape Recorder |
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Some of this material is by courtesy of the UK Museum of the Broadcast Television Camera with additions |
This article written by Keith T.D. Hughes describes the major points to be considered when designing an outside broadcast van.
The design of a novel colour OB unit by A.O. Moore 1979 click here
2/3-Camera OB unit for the ITN by I. Buffham 1984 click here
The design of a colour OB unit by D. Saric 1974 click here
Going to work in a Rolls Royce by P.R. Berkeley click here
Outside Broadcast Unit planning by K.T.D. Hughes click here
Mobile television click here
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