Station tannoy equipment

Pickering station on the NYMR is due to get a new roof over this next winter with work starting on the 1st November with completion by Easter 2011.
As part of the project the intention is to provide a tannoy system. Even though Pickering has never had a proper system in the past.
The idea is to provide 1950s authentic looking tannoys or even the real thing.

What I would like to ask is if anyone out there has :-
1) Any information on the history of the tannoys.
2) When were they first introduced on the railway or even on the LNER / NER.
3) Which firms produced the equipment eg Marconi.
4) Are there any drawings of the equipment.
5) Does anybody have any tannoys they would like to give / lend.

Any information gathered is to assist in the development of the system and then to be available in the Learning centre archive on the station.
We are hoping to find one of the ladies who did the announcements in the 50s to do some pre records for the new system.

 

'Tannoy' was originally the trade name of a specific company but, like 'Hoover' with respect to cleaners, came to be applied to many more non-Tannoy public address systems. I have a vague recollection that they may have once been part of the British GEC company.

If I can dig out anything more I'll let you know.
Regards,
John Webb

 

From the "Oxford Companion to British Railway History":
The LNER set up speakers in York Station in 1927.
The Tannoy company started in 1928, but railways were slow to use their products until after WW2.
It seems many stations had to wait until BR days before getting public address!

John Webb

 

Looks like they're still going strong and based in Coatbridge:
http://www.tannoy.com/AboutUs.aspx

If it's the same company, they may have some historical info.

Richard

 

Tannoy's own website shows how their name was created: http://www.tannoy.com/AboutUs.aspx
Company's early history also shown on: http://www.historyofpa.co.uk/pages/history.htm#tannoy
Have been unable to find any descriptions/pictures of 50's style PA equipment yet although I seem to recall they used a 100v line system. Certainly most of their equipment was built to last!
Guess it would be worth contacting Tannoy themselves to see if they've kept relevant details for the period you require.

 

Try watching the BTF film "This is York" - I seem to remember some closeups of the equipment...

 

Thanks for the replies.

 

Not meaning to go OT, but do you mean the overall roof is being restored to Pickering station?

 

That is what is happening.
Dates as given to me.

 

Most Public Address systems use '80' or '100' volt line systems for the same reason we have high-voltage grids - it's to minimise voltage drop and power loss over long runs of cable, for example at large places like railway stations. Most home HI-FI systems use low impedence speakers in the order of 8-16 ohms. To have these a long distance from the amplifier and get adequate power from them means keeping the voltage drop low and implies the use of large cross-sectional cables - expensive! Thirty Watts of power, for example, through an 8 ohm speaker takes a current of nearly 2 amps and around 15V. But put the voltage up to 100V and the current will be reduced to under half an amp allowing lighter cable to be used. Tapped transfomers are used to drop the high voltage down to speaker level - different tappings pass on different wattages to allow adjustment of individual speaker outputs.

 

can't you get one off Network Rail is removing?

If not, try a sports stadium that's being demolished because it's being replaced?

 

IIRC the Tannoy system was used at Butlins, and various large factory sites also used the system (esp during WWII).
(and I have a vague memory of seeing some kit recently, I shall have to think a bit!)

 

Some items on Ebay that may be useful:

Tannoy speaker housing

Another Tannoy speaker housing

Vintage Tannoy speakers

I realise that these may not be of the correct vintage or even of the type used at railway stations, but it may give some indication of prices/availability


Keith