Microfilm Maintenance for BBC Cymru Wales

In November 2021, Cull visited BBC Cymru Wales New Broadcasting House in Cardiff. Established in 1964, BBC Cymru Wales produces a range of programmes for television, radio and online services in both English and Welsh.

New Broadcasting House is also home to a Canon MS400 Microfilm scanner in the BBC Archives department. Servicing this scanner was the reason for the Cull’s visit. The Cull team perform microfilm maintenance as well as the service and repair of other legacy reader printers.

BBC Cymru Wales' Canon MS400 digital reader printer, with 16mm roll film images
BBC Cymru Wales’ Canon MS400 digital reader printer, with 16mm roll film images

Using the Canon MS400 Microfilm scanner, BBC Cymru Wales’ Archive Department are able to search and call up information from old BBC programmes. This helps with determining copyright for reproduction of original material.

The data is stored on 16mm rolls of microfilm. The complete archive collection dates back to the start of the Radio Times, first issued on 28th September 1923.

Damian Cull with Edith Hughes, Head of Archives, BBC Cymru Wales, in front of the complete archive of The Radio Times dating back to 1923
Damian Cull with Edith Hughes, Head of Archives, BBC Cymru Wales, in front of the complete archive of The Radio Times dating back to 1923

Having serviced the scanner, along with a roll of microfilm dating back to 1996, it was time to bid ‘hwyl fawr’ to New Broadcasting House and set off back to the Wirral.

If you could use the help of our expert team for microfilm maintenance, get in touch today.