Milestones - 1940s

1944
H.L. Kirke visits the USA and Canada to gather information on the position of FM and television broadcasting and other technical matters.

1945
VHF/FM: First transmission tests from Alexandra Palace to determine the range and general possibilities of an ultra short-wave frequency modulated broadcasting serve.

Type D disk recorder developed and introduced into service.

1946
Third Programme: Tests from Nightingale Square on 1474 kHz.

Television: Proposals made for the setting up of a complete experimental picture channel for the study of fundamental problems.

Rebirth of 405-line television service from Alexandra Palace.

1947
Work on scale model cylindrical slot antennas for Wrotham and Sutton Coldfield.

Television: Experiments into common wave working for transmitters and polarity of modulation.

Early measurements on the magnetic properties of recording tape.

1948
Copenhagen Plan to discuss LF/MF frequency allocation in Europe. Wavelength changes in the medium wave band to be adopted necessitating many changes of transmitting antennas. Television: Proposals for five channels in the band 40-68 MHz accepted by the Scientific Advisory Committee and the Radio Industries Council.

1949
Work commences on producing a smaller, light, higher sensitivity commentator's microphone, the L2, to replace the L1 which has been in use since 1937. This design developed commercially by STC and Coles.

Television: Simple colour channel set up.