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Recollections of BBC engineering from 1922 to 1997
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Books that are relevant to the history of broadcasting technology

Home On Air Daventry Calling

 

On Air - A History of BBC Transmission
On sale via this we site!

In January 2008, the price was reduced from £12.50 to £5 (plus P&P).  Only a limited stock is available and there will not be a reprint when the stock is exhausted.  So, "Hurry while the stock lasts".  Click on the link above for details and ordering information.
 

 

New:  Daventry Calling The World

Now available for download from this web site.
This is a detailed account of a very important BBC transmitting station.  It tells the story of the site, the engineering systems and the people involved.  If you liked On Air, you will like this book! 

author: Norman Tomalin

publisher: Caedmon of Whitby

year: 1998

isbn: 0905355 46 6

Island Base: Ascension in the Falklands War
An important piece in the jigsaw of the history of the Falklands War.  It includes a chapter by Norman Shacklady on the BBC's involvement.  (Norman is also joint editor of On Air.)
author: Captain Bob McQueen
publisher: Whittles Publishing
year: 2007
isbn 978-1904445-18-0
The Emergence of Broadcasting in Britain
This is a very human account, from the dawn of radio to the attainment of a Royal Charter in the late 1920s. It tells of the struggles and frustrations of engineers in developing innovative equipment.
author: Brian A Hennessy
publisher: Southerleigh
year: 2005
isbn: 0-9551408-0-3

Prospero's Wireless

A biography of P.P. Eckersley by his son Myles Eckersley. It contains a lot of interesting material about the background to early BBC engineering developments.

Publisher:  Myles Books

Year: 1997, Revised 1998.

isbn: 0 9531625 0 8

 

2MT Writtle: the birth of British broadcasting.

A good book describing events leading up to the start of the BBC, with particular emphasis on transmitters and characters such as P.P.Eckersley.
author: WANDER T R
publisher: Capella
year: 1988
isbn: 0-946443-10-6
 

BBC Engineering 1922-1972

This is "The Bible"!  It has 569 pages packed with information about all aspects of BBC Engineering.  Unfortunately the book has been out of print for many years but sometimes it can be obtained from libraries and second-hand bookshops such as Kelly Books.

author: Edward Pawley OBE, MSc(Eng), C Eng, FIEE

publisher: BBC Publications.  Year: 1972

isbn: 0 563 12127 0

On Air - A History of BBC Transmission
Was on sale via this we site.

The BBC at Savoy Place 1923-1932: 2LO calling, the 1998 IEE Archives

Interesting pictures, but not much about transmitters..
author: SYMONS L (INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS)
publisher: IEE
year: 1998
isbn: 033508

 

The early history of radio: from Faraday to Marconi.

A good book covering the period before the emergence of broadcasting.  Useful for learning about wireless developments right from the start.
author: GARRATT G R M
publisher: IEE
year: 1994
isbn: 0-85296-845-0

The Marconi Company, jubilee year.

author: MARCONI'S WIRELESS TELEGRAPH COMPANY LTD
publisher: Marconi's Telegraph Wireless Company Limited
year: 1947
isbn: 007652
 

Marconi research and development.

author: MARCONI COMPANY LTD
publisher:
year: 1963
isbn: 017597
 

The Marconi book of wireless.

author: MARCONIPHONE-COMPANY
publisher: Marconiphone-Co.
year: 1936
isbn: 1129

Guglielmo Marconi.

author: REYNOLDS P (MARCONI COMPANY LIMITED)
publisher: Marconi Co.
year: 1974
isbn: 005050

 

A history of the Marconi Company

author: W J Barker
publisher: Methuen & Co
year: 1970
isbn: 007907

 

 


Most of the books above are available from the IET library.