CMCRs 1 to 3 Type 1
The first event that the BBC covered in colour was Trooping the Colour in 1967. The Type 1 CMCRs were fitted out in BBC premises and were equipped with four PC 60 cameras made by Philips and distributed in the UK by Peto Scott. The CMCRs followed the design of monochrome units with production and vision control across the width of the vehicle, allowing the only two colour monitors to be shared. Pye TVT supplied the sync pulse generator and sound mixer.
The first event that the BBC covered in colour was Trooping the Colour in 1967. The Type 1 CMCRs were fitted out in BBC premises and were equipped with four PC 60 cameras made by Philips and distributed in the UK by Peto Scott. The CMCRs followed the design of monochrome units with production and vision control across the width of the vehicle, allowing the only two colour monitors to be shared. Pye TVT supplied the sync pulse generator and sound mixer.
BBC Type 1 CMCR 1 at Trooping the Colour 1967
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A Philips PC60 Camera with its two camera cables
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CMCR1 Photo Andrew Brown
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CMCR1 Photo Andrew Brown
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LO1 Type-1 CMCR1 (left) with MCR19 at Trooping the Colour 1967
CMCRs 4-12 Type 2
The BBC contracted PYE TVT to construct these nine units. They were designed to control up to six cameras and had a 23 channel Pye sound mixer. The coachwork was done by Bonallack's. The majority of the control rooms were supplied with EMI 2001 cameras but three were equipped with Pye PC 80s (Philips LDK3s). The standard complement was four cameras but the units could accommodate up to six.
The BBC contracted PYE TVT to construct these nine units. They were designed to control up to six cameras and had a 23 channel Pye sound mixer. The coachwork was done by Bonallack's. The majority of the control rooms were supplied with EMI 2001 cameras but three were equipped with Pye PC 80s (Philips LDK3s). The standard complement was four cameras but the units could accommodate up to six.
BBC Type 2 CMCR 9 / North3, Restored by Steve Harris with Jerry Clegg at the rear door. photo Louis Barfe (2012)
Layout of BBC Type 2 CMCR
A brand new, unregistered Type-2 CMCR at Lavenham, Suffolk 1969 - photo courtesy of Richard Ellis - The Pye TVT Story.
The former LO4 - Type-2 - CMCR 4 spotted looking much the worse for wear near Boscastle, Cornwall.
CMCR 13
PYE also sold a 'standard design' CMCR equipped with four LDK 3 cameras to the BBC. After PYE had exhibited the unit at Montreux and it had been shipped to South Africa to cover the Grand Prix, it became CMCR 13, designated BBC Wales 2, in the early 1970s.
PYE also sold a 'standard design' CMCR equipped with four LDK 3 cameras to the BBC. After PYE had exhibited the unit at Montreux and it had been shipped to South Africa to cover the Grand Prix, it became CMCR 13, designated BBC Wales 2, in the early 1970s.
CMCR 13 at Headingley, Leeds
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Pye Colour Demo Unit 1972 (later CMCR 13)
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CMCR13, that became WA2 (Wales 2) equipped with four Philips LDK3 cameras
CMCR 14
Thank you to Gordon Bannister of BBC Nothern Ireland for the information and photos of CMCR 14, which was BBC NI first colour control room. The unit was built by Link as a demo unit in 1972. It was with BBC NI from 1973, equipped with 4 EMI 2001 cameras and a B & W caption camera. Later a couple of Ikegami HL79D cameras were added to the unit. It worked in Northern Ireland until 1988 when it was replaced by a Type 6 unit (CMCR 47) equipped with Thompson 1531 cameras
Thank you to Gordon Bannister of BBC Nothern Ireland for the information and photos of CMCR 14, which was BBC NI first colour control room. The unit was built by Link as a demo unit in 1972. It was with BBC NI from 1973, equipped with 4 EMI 2001 cameras and a B & W caption camera. Later a couple of Ikegami HL79D cameras were added to the unit. It worked in Northern Ireland until 1988 when it was replaced by a Type 6 unit (CMCR 47) equipped with Thompson 1531 cameras
With CMCR 14 in the background, Gordon Bannister puts out a fire started by a faulty EMI PSU.
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Interior CMCR 14 Photo Gordon Bannister
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CMCR 14 on-site at the Balmoral Show, Lisburn, in 1975. Note the original registration.
CMCR 14, in its final days in BBC service, was used as a radio-links vehicle at Gateshead Garden Festival in 1990.
Note the re-registration as JYT 433N. Photo: Robin Stonestreet.
CMCR 14 seen on its return to Belfast as an independently-owned wardrobe unit. Photo: Gordon Bannister
BBC TYPE 4 CMCRs 16 and 17
These units were designed after extensive talks between production and engineering departments at the BBC. They were to replace two of the TYPE 1 units and were destined to be delivered to BBC Wales and Scotland in 1976. They were equipped with Link 110 cameras. The CMCR could handle up to five cameras. The fifth camera position could also double as a lighting control position.
These units were designed after extensive talks between production and engineering departments at the BBC. They were to replace two of the TYPE 1 units and were destined to be delivered to BBC Wales and Scotland in 1976. They were equipped with Link 110 cameras. The CMCR could handle up to five cameras. The fifth camera position could also double as a lighting control position.
BBC TYPE 4 - CMCR 16 - Wales 1 of 1975 - Photo courtesy of Richard Ellis -The Pye TVT Story
BBC Type 4 - CMCR 17 - Scotland 1 of 1975 Photo courtesy of Richard Ellis -The Pye TVT Story
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Production Control Scotland 1
Type 4 Sound Compartment - Photo courtesy of Richard Ellis -The Pye TVT Story
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BBC TYPE 5 CMCRs 19 to 23 and 35 to 38
The first of ten Type 5 CMCRs was delivered to the BBC from the Link Electronics factory in Andover in 1979. These units were designed to replace the Type 2 units and could handle up to eight cameras. They were equipped with Philips LDK 5s . The usual complement was four cameras. The control unit was designed to handle large scale OBs, without the need for additional monitors. The production area was equipped with 22 picture monitors and the vision mixer could simultaneously feed an output to network while other pictures were being recorded.
North 1 - Type-5 - CMCR 36 at Leeds International Pool 1984
TYPE 5 at Chiswick Bridge Photo Andrew Browne
BBC TYPE 6 CMCRs 46 to 50
Five of these units were ordered in 1985 for BBC Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. These CMCRs were slightly longer than the Type 5s. They retained the three different areas, production, vision and sound with the monitor stack in the production area being capable of extending 30 cm beyond the side of the vehicle. The main contractor for the units was Ampex . The unit was built on a Hestair Dennis Delta chassis with twin steering axles. Originally the units were going to be equipped with Link cameras, but during the construction of the Type 6s, Link went out of business. Finally they were each equipped with four Thompson 1640 cameras, although the units were capable of handling six.
Five of these units were ordered in 1985 for BBC Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. These CMCRs were slightly longer than the Type 5s. They retained the three different areas, production, vision and sound with the monitor stack in the production area being capable of extending 30 cm beyond the side of the vehicle. The main contractor for the units was Ampex . The unit was built on a Hestair Dennis Delta chassis with twin steering axles. Originally the units were going to be equipped with Link cameras, but during the construction of the Type 6s, Link went out of business. Finally they were each equipped with four Thompson 1640 cameras, although the units were capable of handling six.
BBC Type-6 CMCR 48 Wales 1 photo Andrew Browne
BBC TYPE 7 CMCRs 54 to 56 and 61-62
These smaller CMCRs were originally designed to handle up to six Sony BVP 7 or 370 cameras, but were supplied with four. These cameras allowed them to be used handheld or, with the use of a cradle, attached to a box lens. Five units were built in 1990 with the coachwork by Smiths of Great Bentley on an ERF E series chassis. Unit SW1 was based in Bristol, North 4 in Manchester with LO21, LO22 and LO23 in London
These smaller CMCRs were originally designed to handle up to six Sony BVP 7 or 370 cameras, but were supplied with four. These cameras allowed them to be used handheld or, with the use of a cradle, attached to a box lens. Five units were built in 1990 with the coachwork by Smiths of Great Bentley on an ERF E series chassis. Unit SW1 was based in Bristol, North 4 in Manchester with LO21, LO22 and LO23 in London
North 4 Type-7 CMCR 56 Photo Andrew Browne
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LO23 Type-7 CMCR 54 Photo Andrew Browne
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LO22 Type-7 CMCR 62 Photo Andrew Browne
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BBC TYPE 8 CMCRs 63 to 68
Intoduced in the early 1990s, The Type 8 was originally equipped with SD cameras. Some of the Units survived until BBC Television OBs finished in 2007. One became Unit 2 for SIS another became NI 2 - BBC Northern Ireland' flagship OB. The CMCR was re-equiped to take up to 16 HD cameras with a Thompson Grass Valley mixer and a Yamaha PM5D 48 channel sound mixer. The VT area had 8 Digi beta VTRs and an EVS replay system. SIS Unit 2 was a Type 8 re-equipped with 12 Sony HD cameras and a Sony MVS- 8000 HD mixer with 34 inputs. The production area boasted 38 colour monitors including 2 HD monitors. A 48 fader Calrec Sigma Digital sound desk with 108 stereo + 104 mono channels can be configured as up to 52 x 5.1 surround channels.
Intoduced in the early 1990s, The Type 8 was originally equipped with SD cameras. Some of the Units survived until BBC Television OBs finished in 2007. One became Unit 2 for SIS another became NI 2 - BBC Northern Ireland' flagship OB. The CMCR was re-equiped to take up to 16 HD cameras with a Thompson Grass Valley mixer and a Yamaha PM5D 48 channel sound mixer. The VT area had 8 Digi beta VTRs and an EVS replay system. SIS Unit 2 was a Type 8 re-equipped with 12 Sony HD cameras and a Sony MVS- 8000 HD mixer with 34 inputs. The production area boasted 38 colour monitors including 2 HD monitors. A 48 fader Calrec Sigma Digital sound desk with 108 stereo + 104 mono channels can be configured as up to 52 x 5.1 surround channels.
LO2 - Type-8 - CMCR 64 Photo Andrew Browne
