BBC Collections

Prior to the widespread use of computer graphics, the on screen identities ('idents') of BBC TV channels were generated mechanically. Mechanical clocks were also seen regularly, often before important broadcasts such as the national news.

Two idents are on show at the Media Café in New Broadcasting House, London, and the last mechanical clock to be used on air is also on display, and several other examples are on display at BBC sites and the National Media Museum in Bradford.

BBC One clock

The screen clocks were shown at major junctions between programmes and always before the news. The first BBC ident was introduced in 1953 in response to the impending launch of commercial television. The screen clock was used before the news of BBC One in 1981.

Abram Games' Television Symbol

Abram Games was commissioned to design an on-air image for the BBC Television Service, probably hastened by the imminent arrival of commercial competition. Games, who designed the logo for the Festival of Britain in 1951, created the logo nicknamed the 'Bat's wings' logo, an elegant and rather ethereal image which captured the spirit of the times. In reality, it was an elaborate mechanical brass contraption, with a tiny spinning globe in its centre - for BBC Scotland, the spot in the middle was replaced by a lion.

A circle with an eye in the centre with two radiating circular wings either side. BBC is at the bottom centre of the shape. — Abram Games's BBC Television Symbol, sometimes known as the "bat's wings" logo

Alternative BBC crest

This wooden BBC crest (1934), carved by George Kruger Gray, is found in the Council Chamber of Broadcasting House, London. It is very unusual in being the only BBC crest to carry the alternative motto - 'Quaecunque' (whatsoever), and not the usual BBC motto, 'Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation'.

The quotation is taken from St Paul's Epistle to the Philippians: 'Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.' The original motto is the one used on the Coat of Arms, and most commonly associated with the BBC today.

The BBC coat of arms picked out in blue and gold. Two eagle supporters with horns hold a shield with a globe and seven stars. A lion holding a thunderbolt motif. The motto is Quaecunque. — BBC crest in the Council Chamber of Broadcasting House, London.

BBC revolving globe

Mechanical idents or screen clocks were shown at major junctions between programmes and always before the news. The first BBC ident was introduced in 1953 in response to the impending launch of commercial television. The revolving black and white globe began life in 1963.

Colouring techniques were used to show it in blue and yellow after the advent of colour in 1967. The globe remained a symbol for BBC One until 2002 – its last incarnation was as a hot-air balloon.

A mechanical globe sitting inside a concave mirror. These sit within a sturdy metal box. — The BBC revolving mechanical globe used to generate the ident.

BBC Two - the logo

In February 1991 the brand specialists Lambie Nairn produced its first set of BBC Two logos, part of a new look for the channel. Initially all the logos appeared in the colour viridian. However, the idents matured over the years, becoming individual characters on a yellow background, and latterly as a cut out 'window on the world'.

All have been hugely popular with the public. Celia Chapman, Executive Producer, Lambie Nairn said: "BBC Two was probably the first ident that got its own fanmail!". After the original idents were reused for the 50th anniversary of the channel in 2015, the original set returned by popular demand. The plucky 2 was replaced by an all-new 'Curve' look in 2018.

A fly catcher in the shape of a two on a tiled wall. A fly, having just hit it, buzzes around with a small trail of smoke. — The BBC 2 'Flycatcher' ident. This ident was computer generated, but several original 2 models survive and are on display at various BBC buildings.

BBC mosaic logo

This is one of the earliest versions of a BBC logo. It is found at the centre of the original mosaic floor in the reception of Broadcasting House, London. Completed in 1932, Broadcasting House is a jewel of Art Deco design, which integrated a wide range of artists and designers in the conception and embellishment of the UK's first ever purpose-built radio centre.

No-one knows who actually designed this mosaic logo, but its interlaced tracery of letters appears at various points in and around the building, notably on the reception doors and inside the lifts.

A pair of mirrored capital letter Bs, with a C in the centre. The overall shape is octagonal. — BBC mosaic logo dating from 1932 in the reception of Broadcasting House, London.

The first BBC Charter

The BBC has all eight Royal Charters. It started life as a Company, but changed to a Corporation following a report by the Crawford Committee. The Government accepted the Committee's findings and established by Royal Charter the British Broadcasting Corporation. The Charter set out the way in which the BBC would be governed.

The first Charter ran for 10 years from 1 January 1927 and recognised the BBC as an instrument of education and entertainment. Subsequent Charters expanded this remit to include the dissemination of information. The eighth Charter of 2017 is on display in the lobby of BBC Broadcasting House.

A scroll which begins 'George the Fifth' followed by ornately written paragraphs of text. — The first BBC Royal Charter.

The first Radio Times

Here is the first edition of The Radio Times, 'the official organ of the BBC', which appeared on news stands on 28 September 1923. It came into existence initially because of the huge resistance from newspapers to the new medium of radio. Faced with the possibility of a press embargo of radio listings, Director-General John Reith decided that the BBC would publish its own listings magazine.

At first, it was a joint venture between the BBC and publisher George Newnes Ltd. But in 1925 the BBC took over editorial control, and by 1937 the entire operation was in-house. The Radio Times used leading writers and illustrators of the day and the covers from the special editions are now regarded as design classics.