More info on medical TK-41 used in Australia

[Aussie Bloke]

I've finally identified the exact model of this TK-41 type Marconi colour camera. It is a Marconi BD848 IO colour camera just like the ones used in the BBC colour experiments in the late 50s. A picture of the BD848 can be seen on the TV Camera Museum site on this page http://www.tvcameramuseum.org/marconi/bd848/bd848p1.htm . The resemblance is pretty much exact except there is vent holes in the viewfinder on the medical camera.

[ceebee23]

Great picture and sleuthing Troy!

I wonder what colour standard this system was using?

525/30/NTSC
625/25/NTSC
405/25/NTSC

The delay in colour broadcasting in Australia was largely budgetary ..the federal government did not wish to spend money to update the ABC's (our equivalent of the BBC) broadcasting equipment.

But given the Menzies government's disdain for television in general I am not surprised. (Television only arrived in Australia in 1956 after the IOC insisted television be available for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.)

Colour came to Australia as a result of the Labor government's electoral promises in the 1972 election.

[NewVista]

Originally Posted by ceebee23

.. the IOC insisted television be available for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.)

Colour came to Australia as a result of the Labor government's electoral promises in the 1972 election.

These salient facts enhance my suspicion that the Liberal Party was cozy - and accomodating - with old guard "captains of industry" ...AM radio (resisting FM), movie theatre chains, later B&W television (a triopoly in capital cities) resisting color, cable (Labor Party also kept them safe from Cable competition)