I liked Spitting Image's take on this, with "Bubbles the Clown" complaining that he's been stuck in the same pose since the 1960's, and then asking if it's allright to pick his nose.
In those days it was common for an engineer to have to adjust the picture on a TV set in your home or in a TV rental shop. This was in the days before the engineers could easy generate their own test picture to do it. So the broadcast channels showed this testcard image. There were periods especially in the mornings when there were no programmes broadcast so it was no problem to show this with music. The test card is a guide to how the picture should be positioned, contrast, sharpness etc.
@doubledeckers Her name is Carol Hersee and she was the daughter of a BBC engineer. She holds the record for longest TV appearance, something like 70,000 hours. I remember her well.
@doubledeckers Yes, she was - namely Carole Hersee, who is seen here with Bubbles the clown. Did you know that Bubbles was made by Carole, who is now a costume and theatre designer? She was paid £10 for the photograph and isn't paid anything for appearing on television.
George Hersee the designer of the testcard used his own daughter Carole Hersee who was 8 at the time, because of the unblemished natural skin tones, and no make-up. The clown which has the name Bubbles, was there to provide a green object in the picture. So all three primary colours are represented in a natural setting.
@xihopeyouchoke the girl was chosen rather than an adult so that the clothes were less likely to go out of fashion (well, that was the plan). The clown is there because the yellow dots can be used to detect certain alignment problems, related to luminance IIRC.
It was intended to be used for setting up colour television receivers. First transmitted in 1967
Test Card F was very carefully designed, every part has a purpose. Even the naughts and crosses game on the blackboard has a use, the X is in the exact centre of the picture. It was always shown when BBC1 and BBC2 where not transmitting regular programming.
Any idea which track it is? Some of the test card music was really good - this sounds like it could be Copland or Bernstein, for example. My favourite tape was the one beginning with The Trolley Song.
Unfortunately, I cannot really help you there, as this particular track is Track 8 on my list for which I don't actually have a title, and so I can give you what I can from this list:
Track 1 - Carry Me Back To Old Virginny
Track 2 - Fur Elise Track 4 - The Summer Knows
Track 5 - Cielto Guarani Track 6 - Amazing Love Track 9 - Radio City (repeated on BBC2's Autumn In New York)
Track 10 - Jolie Vigneronne (from Dixieland Parade) Track 14 - A Love Like This
It's a real shame this legendary picture is gone off the air altogether. I really miss the girl and the clown playing x's and noughts especially when it appeared in the daytime and after closedown at night
The music wasn't specifically composed for the test card, it's what's known as 'library music', performed by session musicians and could also be used in films, radio and TV programmes, adverts, etc.
The title of this piece is 'Ritmos Caribos', part of the 'Suite Caraibe' by the french composer Roger Roger - a writer of film music.
Bonnie, after 30 years they still haven't finished that game. It's a bit of a cliffhanger -- like when Fallon was whisked away in a flying saucer in the last ever Dynasty.
I think the testcard music was specially composed?
@doubledeckers The BBC had some people working in the World Service whose job it was to compile the music for trade test transmissions and they had to compile music from worldwide orchestras and so the BBC never used its own orchestras for these purposes.
that girl has made a fundemental error .. when playing noughts and crosses, .. always start with the corners.. if that clown plays his cards right, he could win this game.
@conor5643 Oh i have memories like that too! I even have video footage of the girl poking the clown in the eyes!
FantasyMindedMan 1 year ago
Brings back so many memories this :-)
choppageworshipper 1 year ago
Thats a pity, it's yet another of the old things which seem to be vanishing all too rapidly. Thank you for the information keithc :)
keithc1977 1 year ago
Is there any time day or night when you can see this testcard being broadcast live on the BBCs current programme schedule?
keithc1977 1 year ago
The clown is quite scary!
georgeman2468 2 years ago
This track is called, "Suite Caraibe", performed by Roger Roger and his Orchestera. It's track 8 on the, 'Carry me back to Old Virginny', tape.
JFredUK 2 years ago
Odd sorta music they played for the test card.
I liked Spitting Image's take on this, with "Bubbles the Clown" complaining that he's been stuck in the same pose since the 1960's, and then asking if it's allright to pick his nose.
BuddyFantastic 2 years ago
this shit used to terrify me as a child
nightfall91 2 years ago 6
The young girl came from Godalming. Surrey. UK.
tenterden16 2 years ago
I've often wondered which side was the girl (Carol Hersee) on. The O's or the X's :-)
LemosAde 2 years ago
Man. This testcard gives me nightmares since i've watched "Life on Mars". Lol.
Densaku 2 years ago 3
what did this picture actually mean?! i'm still baffled
xihopeyouchoke 2 years ago
In those days it was common for an engineer to have to adjust the picture on a TV set in your home or in a TV rental shop. This was in the days before the engineers could easy generate their own test picture to do it. So the broadcast channels showed this testcard image. There were periods especially in the mornings when there were no programmes broadcast so it was no problem to show this with music. The test card is a guide to how the picture should be positioned, contrast, sharpness etc.
doubledeckers 2 years ago
yeah i kinda gathered that but just wondering why they chose a picture of a girl and a clown (theres always a reason for these things)
xihopeyouchoke 2 years ago
Because it has primary colours and skin tones. Wasn't the girl the daughter of one of the engineers?
doubledeckers 2 years ago
i've no idea, if it was i find that a bit weird!
xihopeyouchoke 2 years ago
Yes Carol Hersee was the daughter of the inventor of the test card.
alwardemshire 2 years ago
@doubledeckers Her name is Carol Hersee and she was the daughter of a BBC engineer. She holds the record for longest TV appearance, something like 70,000 hours. I remember her well.
Lynx890 1 year ago
Comment removed
cwilliams1976 5 months ago
@doubledeckers Yes, she was - namely Carole Hersee, who is seen here with Bubbles the clown. Did you know that Bubbles was made by Carole, who is now a costume and theatre designer? She was paid £10 for the photograph and isn't paid anything for appearing on television.
cwilliams1976 5 months ago
George Hersee the designer of the testcard used his own daughter Carole Hersee who was 8 at the time, because of the unblemished natural skin tones, and no make-up. The clown which has the name Bubbles, was there to provide a green object in the picture. So all three primary colours are represented in a natural setting.
mukatuna 2 years ago
@xihopeyouchoke the girl was chosen rather than an adult so that the clothes were less likely to go out of fashion (well, that was the plan). The clown is there because the yellow dots can be used to detect certain alignment problems, related to luminance IIRC.
northernanorak 2 years ago
It was intended to be used for setting up colour television receivers. First transmitted in 1967
Test Card F was very carefully designed, every part has a purpose. Even the naughts and crosses game on the blackboard has a use, the X is in the exact centre of the picture. It was always shown when BBC1 and BBC2 where not transmitting regular programming.
mukatuna 2 years ago
The music is from the trade test tape Carry Me Back To Old Virginny which was in service between 1981 and 1984 on BBC1
cwilliams1976 3 years ago
Any idea which track it is? Some of the test card music was really good - this sounds like it could be Copland or Bernstein, for example. My favourite tape was the one beginning with The Trolley Song.
1971tdh 3 years ago
Unfortunately, I cannot really help you there, as this particular track is Track 8 on my list for which I don't actually have a title, and so I can give you what I can from this list:
Track 1 - Carry Me Back To Old Virginny
Track 2 - Fur Elise Track 4 - The Summer Knows
Track 5 - Cielto Guarani Track 6 - Amazing Love Track 9 - Radio City (repeated on BBC2's Autumn In New York)
Track 10 - Jolie Vigneronne (from Dixieland Parade) Track 14 - A Love Like This
cwilliams1976 3 years ago
this still scares me- i know the bbc were imprinting messages in my brain.
SillyOclock 3 years ago
I remember the test card but not with music? I only remember 'BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP'!!
Never knew at the time that the 'x' marked the centre of the screen for alignment purposes.
Bensjammin69 3 years ago
Scary...
yasminx16 3 years ago
theres never owt on the telly :-/
joncfc1 4 years ago
It's a real shame this legendary picture is gone off the air altogether. I really miss the girl and the clown playing x's and noughts especially when it appeared in the daytime and after closedown at night
mauneen19 4 years ago
Am gonna switch over now
pac76man 4 years ago
The music wasn't specifically composed for the test card, it's what's known as 'library music', performed by session musicians and could also be used in films, radio and TV programmes, adverts, etc.
The title of this piece is 'Ritmos Caribos', part of the 'Suite Caraibe' by the french composer Roger Roger - a writer of film music.
mackam67 4 years ago 5
Nice to see this clip of Test Card F-it's just a shame that it's no longer broadcast. Daytimes are not the same without it in my view!
bidanton 4 years ago
>>Wooow, this tune would be rather menacing to myself aged -8. Indeed its spooky now.
txemedia 5 years ago
Actually this game has been going on for 40 years, as this test card was designed for the new colour service on BBC2 in June 1967.
ricardo266 5 years ago
Bonnie, after 30 years they still haven't finished that game. It's a bit of a cliffhanger -- like when Fallon was whisked away in a flying saucer in the last ever Dynasty.
I think the testcard music was specially composed?
doubledeckers 5 years ago
@doubledeckers The BBC had some people working in the World Service whose job it was to compile the music for trade test transmissions and they had to compile music from worldwide orchestras and so the BBC never used its own orchestras for these purposes.
cwilliams1976 5 months ago
Can anyone identify the music? It sounds like it's from a film or a musical.
timonline2000 5 years ago
Its fron the trade test tape Broadway Opening
bampoka 4 years ago
that girl has made a fundemental error .. when playing noughts and crosses, .. always start with the corners.. if that clown plays his cards right, he could win this game.
bonnie43uk 5 years ago
This is what I miss...somthing to set up the frame timebase linearity with....FAB
stentorp 5 years ago