Books that are relevant to the history of broadcasting technology
This table includes download links, but please note that the downloads are for personal use only and may not be used for re-publication in any form. Where possible the copyright holder has given permission for this web site to make scanned copies available. Due to the age of some publications it is not feasible to identify the present copyright holder, but it is believed that the nature of the publication is such that the availability of downloads is acceptable. If the availability of any download gives cause for concern, please make contact.
Antennas:
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Ariel:
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BBC History:
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Digital Audio Broadcasting:Introducing DAB - booklet 1995
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Microphones:
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Microphones:
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Propagation:
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Propagation:
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Propagation:
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Recording:
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Radio Engineering:
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Sound:
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Sound:
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Sound:
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Training:
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Training:
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Transmission: On Air - A History of BBC Transmission
Was on sale via this we site.
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Transmitters: Daventry Calling The World 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
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Transmitters: Skelton, Penrith and the World 1943 - 1993 A personal account by the author Ken Davies. Following my request I have been notified that Cumbria County Council, the publishers of this book, would have no objection to it being on bbceng. Unfortunately I have not been able to contact Ken Davies but, given the nature of the publication, I think it is likely that he would approve. He clearly wanted to celebrate the achievements of everyone involved with Skelton transmitting station and his efforts in compiling this record are gratefully acknowledged.
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The books listed below are not on bbceng, but they are relevant to BBC Engineering and some links to external download/purchase websites are included.
BBC Engineering 1922-1972
This is the most comprehensive record of BBC Engineering during this period. It has 569 pages packed with information. It was scanned by Nick Cutmore and the (searchable) result was put on the official BBC website in January 2020. Click on the link above.
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. Copies also sometimes appear on eBay.
author: Edward Pawley OBE, MSc(Eng), C Eng, FIEE publisher: BBC Publications. Year: 1972 isbn: 0 563 12127 0 |
BBC HandbooksThe BBC "Hand Book" was first issued in 1928. By 1930, it became the BBC Year Book and later it reverted to Handbook, as well as other titles. It was published nearly every year through to 1997, with a review of the year's programming, cultural and technical achievements. The above link goes to a web site that contains PDF files of nearly every issue. Martin Ellen has all of the files as well - just in case they disappear from the American Radio History site. |
The Story of Broadcasting House: Home of the BBC.Recommended by an ex-BBC engineer: "great book with loads of interesting photos. Some references to early transmitters." The book can be purchased via the above link.
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Seventy Years Before The MastsThis is a detailed account of work carried out to plan the BBC's transmitter services. Here is a note about the book in Prospero (the newspaper for retired BBC staff.) author: Ron Sandell (Kindle book) |
The BBC at Savoy Place 1923-1932: 2LO calling, the 1998 IEE Archives
Interesting pictures, but not much about transmitters.
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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 ISBN-13: 978-0955140808 |
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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.
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Island Base:
Ascension in the Falklands War |
Prospero's WirelessA 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
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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. |
Guglielmo Marconi.
author:
REYNOLDS P (MARCONI COMPANY LIMITED)
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A history of the Marconi Company
author: W
J Barker
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The Marconi Company, jubilee year.
author:
MARCONI'S WIRELESS TELEGRAPH COMPANY LTD |
Marconi research and development.
author:
MARCONI COMPANY LTD |
The Marconi book of wireless.
author:
MARCONIPHONE-COMPANY |
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Television:
S.W Amos, D.C. Birkinshaw, J.L. Bliss publisher: Iliffe & Sons Ltd. year: 1953 See Vault. |
The Power Behind The Microphone author: P.P.Eckersley (BBC's first Chief Engineer). publisher: Jonathan Cape year: 1941
Available from archive.org
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One Last Beer Item added May 2021This gives us an insight into the World Leading projects the BBC conducted and International Work to establish new Broadcast Technologies and Standards.
Published in 2020 and now available as a Kindle book from Amazon. Click link above.
For more information click here. |
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Most
of the books above are available from the
IET library.