IN BRIEF

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 28

IN BRIEF

NOTES FROM NEAR AND FAR

It has now been confirmed that fog has no adverse effect on television, signals. During a recent London fog good pictures were obtained not only within, the normal range of twenty-five miles, but at Coventry, ninety miles from Alexandra Palace. Not only were the pictures clear, but. there were no secondary images such as might be expected in long-distance .reception.

The 8.8.C. mobile recording unit recently took part in a broadcast demonstrating the use of . gas. masks by civilians. A .microphone was placed in the gas chamber, of an experimental laboratory in.Notting Dale, London, and connected by cable to the recording van.. A commentator,. complete with gas mask, described his sensations before the microphone. Tear gas was used, but the mask was so effective that the commentator felt no inconvenience whatever and ..could scarcely believe that he was in a gas-filled chamber. A number of policemen also took part in the experiment. As the gas was invisible some of them seemed dubious as to whether they really were in a gas-filled chamber, but when they removed their masks slightly for a few seconds they were almost blinded by tears for the next half-hour.

Some of the difficulties of television were outlined by Sir-Noel Ashbridge, Chief Engineer of the 8.8.C, in an address which he gave recently before members of the Royal Empire Society. Sir Noel Ashbridge, after giving an explanation of the principles of the transmission 'of still and moving pictures, described the apparatus actually used at the London television station. He said that among the difficulties experienced at present were the limitations of the stage which could be used, lighting, and make-up. There was no discomfort from the artistic point of view. All these difficulties would, however, ■be removed in the future, and television would be carried out under ordinary lighting conditions. Larger stages would be .possible with ordinary lighting,' and the difficulties of depth and focus would be surmounted. At the moment one could visualise such outside events-as the Cup Final or lawn tennis meetings only when a special cable was used, and this was something which was going to limit the progress of television, but it was not a permanent disability. Cables were already being laid to collect programme' material from certain important, points in London, and from that it was hoped to extend farther afield. Television was more advanced in England than in any other country, although we could not at the moment boast of a large'number of viewers.

Listeners to the Empire broadcast from Daventry on March 20 will have an opportunity of hearing a running commentary on the world's greatest steeplechase—the Grand National. They will join, in spirit at. least, the many thousands of racing enthusiasts who will flock to the Aintree course by foot, car, train, and airliner to watch the ninety-sixth "National." This year's race is likely to be one of the most interesting for many years. The minimum weight that a horse can carry has been reduced by seven pounds, and it is thought that this concession will benefit the" "dark'horses." Golden Miller, who won in 1934, and was a hot favourite last year and the year before, will run. American acceptors include Battleship and What Have You? The horses make two complete circuits of the course, which is triangular in shape. Negotiating some thirty obstacles, they cover 4 miles 856 yards. Among the obstacles are the famous Becher's and Valentine's Brooks, which are encountered twice during, the race. Both consist of a thorn fence about sft high and 3ft 3iri wide with a natural brook on the landing side sft 6in wide. The Open Ditch, which is actually the highest of all the National jumps, JS sft 2in high and 3ft 9in wide, with a ditch on the take-off side 6ft wide and 3ft 6iri deep.