The WTBS Studio Recreation
I am assembling a collection of broadcast equipment that would typically be found in a late 1970/early 1980s era bunker-based WTBS studio. The images and descriptions below tell more of each item and its purpose in the studio.
Glensound GSL9 Mixer
The GSL9 audio mixer, made by Kent based company Glensound Electronics, forms the heart of the WTBS studio recreation. GSL8 and 9 models were certainly used in WTBS bunker studios of the period, one is still in existence at the Drakelow Tunnels RSG/SRHQ. It was a very flexible, but simple, mixer and was ideal for the task in hand.
Uher 4000 Reel-to-Reel Recorder
From its introduction, Uher 4000 series portable reel-to-reel tape recorder was the mainstay of a BBC radio journalist' tools for the job. The 4000 series went through many changes in model, ending in the 4000 Report Monitor. This 4000 Report IC, (so called as it has an IC forming part of its electronics!) dates from the early 1970s. It has been modified by the BBC to "drive" a PO line.
Technics Cassette Deck
The BBC in the 1980s used a mixture of Aiwa and Technics Hi-Fi equipment for "office listening" purposes. These consumer grade items were not used in the main broadcast studios. However, they were consider suitable in WTBS studios due to the low duty cycle the equipment would face and their simplicity. A Technics model cassette deck is in evidence at the Ballymeana and Cultybraggen bunker studios.
AKG D202 Microphone
The AKG D202 is a high-quality dynamic microphone. Prior to this model being replaced by its smaller successor, the D202 was used in the UK Parliament as the microphone to cover MPs speaking at the Dispatch Box. It was used in BBC radio studios across the country. There is pictorial evidence the D202 was used in WTBS studios.
BBC LS1/8 Powered Speaker
The BBC designed LS1/8 speaker was manufactured by Keith Monks Audio. They were a powered design, ie they had an amplifier built-in and were used for non-critical "office listening" applications in newsrooms and production spaces. With the ethos of simplicty, they were ideal for use in a WTBS studio.
Sennheiser HD 414 Headphones
The headphones used by the BBC at the time of this studio recreation were a mixture of "old style" Coles headphones and the newer designs from Germany, of which these Sennheiser HD414 are typical. Images of WTBS studio show these models in evidence.
Microphone Live Light
With a mains powered 15W lamp behind a glass lens, these were used to warn that the microphone was live. They were typically found above, or to the side of, the studio entrance door and in the studio itself. The last reiterations of WTBS studios used Canford Audio plastic "red box" lights.
BBC Design Stopwatch
BBC producers of the time were issued with Swiss made mechanical stopwatches with which to time audio pieces and programmes. Although not a standard piece of studio equipment in a WTBS studio it would be very likely one would have found its way into a studio.
Alice Stancoil PROBE CoOBE
Made by Windsor based comapny Alice Stancoil, their PROBE product is a CoOBE or Commentator Operatered Broadcast Equipment. This is a BBC concept to enable, as the name says, sports commentators etc to broadcast without the need of a engineer or additional equipment. It had the ability to "drive" a PO office line which could connect to a transmitter.
ASC Minx Mini Mixer
An very versatile monaural mixer made by the Reading based company Audio Systems Components (ASC). although not likely to be used in a bunker based studio, like the CoOBE they could well have been brought to the studio or transmitter site for use as a "last ditch" piece of broadcast equipment.
Coles 4104 Lip Microphone
The famous BBC designed commentators lip-microphone made by Coles Electroacoustics. Like the CoOBE and the Minx mixer it would have been used in conjunction with these to enable "last ditch" broadcasts.
"I went on a training course at the Civil Defence College in Easingwold. I was told I would need to take quite a lot of kit with me, including tape machines."
B Stockdale - a BBC staff member assigned to the WTBS
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