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Post by obiwan27 on Aug 21, 2012 21:59:27 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 21, 2012 22:49:39 GMT 12
Did you know that the 1974 Commonwealth Games is the sole reason New Zealand got coloured TV. This country was told they couldn't have the Games unless it was broadcast to the world in colour. The Government hadn't intended to switch from monochrome so early, looking more toward 1976, but their hand was forced. So they looked into all the different technologies out there then and decided that German-made Pal 625 line was the best. A massive investment was put in to set up a whole new broadcast network using the new technology. I think they managed to broadcast a few things in colour before the Games started to test out the system and then through the Games they broadcast in glorious colour. Most Kiwis never saw it though as they coudn't afford new TV's. After the games even those who had coloured TV had to put up with the majority of TV in b&w because it was supplied from overseas on b&w film for the old system I believe.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Aug 22, 2012 10:13:26 GMT 12
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Post by ngatimozart on Aug 22, 2012 14:39:24 GMT 12
Thanks Dave. I remember it quite well because I was 17 and we saw a colour TV in shop window whilst on holiday in Timaru just before the Games. Us kids pestered the old man for one and he said we already had a colour tv - black white and grey and no way was he going to buy one. Anyway a couple of years later the old TV at home blew up during an All Black Tour right in the middle of the game, so following monday arvo a colour TV appeared in the lounge at home.
The Games were great but as I lived in Eastern Southland at the time only saw them on the TV. Went to QEII in 75 for a Joe Cocker concert and a Beach Boys concert whilst I was at Wigram. It was a great place and later worked a few concerts there a security, through a Sgt on base and would have had about 20 odd baggies jncos etc working the security. Very sad to see the complex go but understand the reasons why. From what I understand it's built on old swamp land that probably overlies sands from where the coast has prograded over hundreds and thousands of years.
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Post by beagle on Aug 22, 2012 14:55:57 GMT 12
I see this building quite a bit in this yard full of moved houses for sale. someone was telling that either this one or a sister of it was used as a BNZ outside the QE11 complex during the games.  My uncle was working for the NZBC in Dunedin at the time and was moved up to chch for the games. Not sure what he actually did, but we all got t shirts and coins upon his return. Not sure if we had colour tv at home for the games or not. Pretty sure when the man from DTR or something like that came up with the 26" K9 that the first program we saw was MASH. before that dad had layers of coloured cellofane taped across the screen on the B&W |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 22, 2012 15:11:09 GMT 12
There used to be one of those crazy spacecraft houses up the Coromandel peninsular and from memory they may have made them up there, or used that one as a show home as my parents were considering getting one for Dad's model workshop. Thank goodness they didn't, they were too dear and he built a regular extension on the grarage instead for what became his model shop.
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Post by beagle on Aug 22, 2012 15:16:29 GMT 12
There is another one near Warrington just nort of Dunedin
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Post by beagle on Aug 22, 2012 15:17:25 GMT 12
I was under the opinion from other people that they were made in CHCH
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 22, 2012 15:52:26 GMT 12
There used to be one of those crazy spacecraft houses up the Coromandel peninsular It used to be at the industrial area just south of Thames township. I though that they were either made there, or that place had the agency. The concept was that they could be sold as beach baches that would require minimal foundation work at the site and could be delivered there already completed. I always quite liked the concept and the look, but obviously they were not a hot seller. |
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Post by mumbles on Aug 22, 2012 16:40:10 GMT 12
There used to be one of those crazy spacecraft houses up the Coromandel peninsular and from memory they may have made them up there, or used that one as a show home as my parents were considering getting one for Dad's model workshop. Thank goodness they didn't, they were too dear and he built a regular extension on the grarage instead for what became his model shop. Used to be one identical to the on in the pic in a semi industrial area of Petone too. It was there through the 80's, but disappeared some time in the 90's. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 22, 2012 17:12:40 GMT 12
Ah yes, thanks Peter, Thames it was. I knew it was up that way somewhere.
There's one at Raglan on the shoreline too at the bech near the town, where you drive past the airport.
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Post by beagle on Aug 22, 2012 18:29:48 GMT 12
There used to be one of those crazy spacecraft houses up the Coromandel peninsular and from memory they may have made them up there, or used that one as a show home as my parents were considering getting one for Dad's model workshop. Thank goodness they didn't, they were too dear and he built a regular extension on the grarage instead for what became his model shop. Used to be one identical to the on in the pic in a semi industrial area of Petone too. It was there through the 80's, but disappeared some time in the 90's. Maybe some little people found it and flew it away, then chased some Argosy around the Kaikoura area for a while before settling in Raglan. Those little green men were closet surfies. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 22, 2012 18:52:58 GMT 12
I have always wondered what they looked like on the inside, they seem so impractical as dwelling spaces.
Were they made from metal or fibreglass?
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Post by beagle on Aug 22, 2012 19:56:05 GMT 12
Pretty sure it is fibreglass there Dave.
Do you want me to enquire about price. Could we use it as a mobile forum meeting house.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 22, 2012 20:01:50 GMT 12
Yes I thought too that they were fibreglass, which probably explains why you don't often see them nowadays as I expect the resin would craze and crack over the years in the hot sun.
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Post by baz62 on Aug 22, 2012 20:37:16 GMT 12
Yes I remember the Games in 74 as Mum and Dad splashed out and bought a colour TV!
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Post by lumpy on Aug 22, 2012 20:48:19 GMT 12
Most Kiwis never saw it though as they coudn't afford new TV's. I recall when Dad got our first colour TV , it wasnt the price that had stopped us getting one earlier , it was the fact that there was about a 3 month waiting list because supply was so short . I think getting stuff from overseas ( for the importers ) was a different proposition back then from what it is today , due to having to secure " overseas funds " etc . No on-line buying and charge it to the credit card like nowdays . |
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Post by expatkiwi on Sept 1, 2012 9:54:34 GMT 12
NAC made sure that everyone knew they supported the Games. Their fleet of Viscounts had the Games emblem emblazoned on the forward fuselage with the words NATION'S AIR CARRIER (the first letters of each word were highlighted).
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Post by phil82 on Sept 1, 2012 10:22:47 GMT 12
Most Kiwis never saw it though as they coudn't afford new TV's. I recall when Dad got our first colour TV , it wasnt the price that had stopped us getting one earlier , it was the fact that there was about a 3 month waiting list because supply was so short . I think getting stuff from overseas ( for the importers ) was a different proposition back then from what it is today , due to having to secure " overseas funds " etc . No on-line buying and charge it to the credit card like nowdays . I was posted to ANZUK in Singapore 1974-76, and one of the first things we all did was order a [duty-free] Phillips Colour TV from the factory in Singapore.. When we go back to NZ there were very few such TVs around, and they were expensive...you get lots of visitors though! |
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