Wright's Aerials

Albert's Attic Gallery

I don't know what a present-day Health and Safety Inspector would think of this - a worker sitting astride a steep roof with no roof ladder or harness! And how on Earth did he get there?
As the BBC television network spread across the country during the late 1940s and early 1950s, there was a scramble to get equipped. It was a fairly refined low key scramble though, because only the middle classes could afford to take part. TV sets ranged in price from £60 upwards, about ten weeks pay for many people. In the lead up to the Coronation the BBC embarked on a massive transmitter building programme. Television was brought to South Wales, the North and North-east of England, and the Scottish Lowlands.

The small text says:

'We are now receiving the first Test Transmission from YOUR T/V station.
'Avoid a last minute rush and the disappointment of Delay which is probable once the Holme Moss Station Opens.
'The fixing of a Television Aerial is a job for Highly Skilled Technicians . . . Let us have your instructions now and we will send the Experts to do the job.
'At the same time Order Your Set whilst Stocks are available. They are Certain to be Scarce later, and Probably More Expensive.'

It's interesting that this advertisement, the biggest and most prominent for television in the paper, was placed by a shop whose main business was selling pianos.

Incidentally, the aerial shown looks very much like a Belling-Lee wide-spaced 'H'. These had a wooden mast that fitted into a diecast cap. This held the cross arm. The elements were filled with sawdust.

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