Mobile Television Control Rooms
Page 38
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
TWO bodies in which many of the finer arts of the craftsman are incorporated, were recently completed by Marshall Motor Bodies, Ltd., Airport Works, Cambridge. Both vehicles are mobile television control rooms, one being based on an Austin 2-ton chassis and the other on a Commer 5-ton chassis.
Of tropic-proofed composite construction, each body has aluminium main panelling with steel sections where extra strength is considered essential. The whole of the interior is lined, the intervening space being filled with Fibreglass insulating material.
The top of the roof is slatted to provide a foothold for the camera operators, who gain access to the roof by way of an interior-fitted ladder and a trap door. Entry into and exit from the body are facilitated by folding welltype steps.
At the rear is a loading well for the reception of cable drums. When the cable is paid out it is essential that draught be excluded from the interior of the body. To this end, the rear doors finish 24 in. above floor level, the gap thus formed being closed by means of heavy rubber sheet.
For attaching the scaffolding mast, a B4 detachable outrigger is arranged on the side of the body. As a television control room has to stand level when in use, levelling jacks are provided.
Other equipment includes a sun hood, black-out blinds and curtains, mosquitoproof gauze on the drop windows, controlled air-conditioning and cooling units, and tubular-type heaters. The Austin vehicle, ss,hich is equipped with Pye television apparatus, was exported to Turin. Marconi equipment is provided in the Commer unit, which was shipped to Caracas, Venezuela. Both chassis were converted tv forward control and the Attstin had modified springing and special tyre equipment.