Pre 1961 television days in Britain

[Telecolor 3007]

Television broadcasting in Great Britain (and probably Northen Irland) started before W.W. 2 Since television wheren't cheap, not to many of them where sold.
After the begining of W.W. 2, television broadcasting was stoped and tv sets (that where radio sets) where sold cheaper, because they could only be used as radios. Those one buying them cheaper where lucky people, because in 1946 they could use them again and new made sets wheren't probably cheap.
Begining to 1946 and up around 1960 who could afford a tv. How many tv owners where in Great Britain and Northen Irland in 1955-1960?
What kind of programs where broadcasted?
Anyway, why Great Britain didn't aligned itself to the 625 standard? To many sets arelady sold when 625 becamed the standard?
Here you can see some old tv sets: https://www.oldtechnology.net/images/iconoldtv.gif

[dtvmcdonald]

Before WWII there was only one TV transmitter in the British Isles, in London.

"Anyway, why Great Britain didn't aligned itself to the 625 standard? To many sets arelady [sic] sold when 625 becamed the standard?"

Yes

Also, there was the logistics of the placement of the fewest possible number of very high power, very high antenna, transmitters to cover the whole country with just one channel, then two. When 625 was added it used UHF. Duo-standard receivers are a nightmare.

The 405 line standard actually generates good pictures. The low number of lines means a lower bandwidth will generate good horizontal resolution. They used a higher Kell factor on the vertical that increased vertical resolution at the expense of increased jaggies.

It took quite a while to make camera tubes really truly good enough for 625 lines. The French never came close to getting full resolution for their 819 line system.

There was also a lot of "SECAM" philosophy: "System Essentially Contrary to the American Method" even for B&W.

[ppppenguin]

After WW2 Britain had the choice of restarting on 405 or re-engineering to 625. The decision wasn't easy. Both the TV service and TV receivers were expensive and Britain was desperately short of money. There was also a great wish to get the service back on air as soon as possible.

It was ultimately as much a political decision as an engineering one. The existing studios and TX at Ally Pally were repaired as needed. Receiver manufacturers, notably EMI, offered to overhaul the 20,000 or so sets then in existence. New TVs were expensive and not readily available.