Also very impressive was the making of this video itself. Transitions between scenes, overlayed graphics (arrows) pointing and moving in the diagrams.
How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
71–80 of 117 posts
Re: How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
My guess is that back then producing films was expensive cutting edge technology, and the few films that got made hired the brightest and best, and gave them time to get it right. Today any unemployed bozo can make explainer YouTube videos. That great as a "democratization", but the average quality is obviously lower.
Some quick googling shows cinematic film cameras in 1930/40 used to cost $100k-$300k adjusted for inflation. Today, the cheapest Netflix-approved camera is $2k [0] Lower barrier to entry is a blessing and a curse. Signal v noise, etc. [0] https://noamkroll.com/the-3-most-affordable-netflix-approved...
It's even lower. The FS7 on that list is more like $1,000 these days.
(Not that I would consider all those cameras on the Netflix list cinematic. Some are geared more towards documentary.)
Re: How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
#73That scene (around 3:45) with the two, coupled spools of rope that transmit the picture from one spool to the other is simply amazing.
That also shows up several decades later in Hunkin's The Secret Life of the Fax Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuUyt9RG7pk
Re: How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
My guess is that back then producing films was expensive cutting edge technology, and the few films that got made hired the brightest and best, and gave them time to get it right. Today any unemployed bozo can make explainer YouTube videos. That great as a "democratization", but the average quality is obviously lower.
Some quick googling shows cinematic film cameras in 1930/40 used to cost $100k-$300k adjusted for inflation. Today, the cheapest Netflix-approved camera is $2k [0] Lower barrier to entry is a blessing and a curse. Signal v noise, etc. [0] https://noamkroll.com/the-3-most-affordable-netflix-approved...
Film reels were also a significant cost that's pretty much gone to zero these days.
Re: How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
>I really like these old "explaining" films. The pedagogical level is far higher than what seems common today. And the they take their time to convey the message. I wonder what happened? I have been blown away by some of the older explainer videos from the 40s and 50s, esp. some of the military training videos for vehicle repair, electrical engineering, etc. Very concise and very clear explanations, always with visua…
I pretty much use YouTube as a MTV replacement to watch music videos only, so won't speak to the quality of instructional material you find there, but I was still in the military as recently as 12 years ago and the training material in the military was still terrific. This includes unclassified material, though I don't know how you'd find it as a civilian if, for whatever reason, you were interested in learning how t…
can a civilian obtain a common access card?
Re: How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
#76That scene (around 3:45) with the two, coupled spools of rope that transmit the picture from one spool to the other is simply amazing.
Low-res video! Basically the width of the rope!
Re: How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
#77In it's simplicity it is genius. I had no clue this was a thing. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirephoto I really like these old "explaining" films. The pedagogical level is far higher than what seems common today. And the they take their time to convey the message.
A style guide/analysis for these pedagogical films should be written, so it can be applied to new things
Re: How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
#78Earlier quoted context omitted.
>I really like these old "explaining" films. The pedagogical level is far higher than what seems common today. And the they take their time to convey the message. I wonder what happened? I have been blown away by some of the older explainer videos from the 40s and 50s, esp. some of the military training videos for vehicle repair, electrical engineering, etc. Very concise and very clear explanations, always with visua…
Youtube is full of videos like that. A few sample excellent channels: https://www.youtube.com/@animagraffs https://www.youtube.com/@engineerguyvideo https://www.youtube.com/@Lesics/videos The problem is more that they are drowned under the volume of content available.
I'll recommend a couple of other channels:
- Old Royal Navy instruction manuals and documentaries: https://www.youtube.com/@davidbober7035
My favorite is Hands To Flying Stations (1975): https://youtu.be/cALccuPShQc
- Historic films and clips, mostly focused on workplace safety: https://www.youtube.com/@markdcatlin
My favorite is NASA's Toxic Propellant Hazards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND2TeNfcmKA
Re: How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
#79For a slightly later version of this: My most popular YouTube upload is the telecopier scene from Bullitt, where you can see the police use the latest and greatest "fax" technology of 1968. I uploaded the video without almost no information, but in an surprising twist, a lot of the youtube comments are actually pretty informative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQGAaCSFlJI
I like how it's nearly two minutes of men standing absolutely motionless, with a completely stationary camera, with no score, no building tension, no close-ups showing emotion or what we are supposed to be feeling, as they listen to a whirring sound. Riveting television
Re: How photos were transmitted by wire in the 1930s
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
I pretty much use YouTube as a MTV replacement to watch music videos only, so won't speak to the quality of instructional material you find there, but I was still in the military as recently as 12 years ago and the training material in the military was still terrific. This includes unclassified material, though I don't know how you'd find it as a civilian if, for whatever reason, you were interested in learning how t…
can a civilian obtain a common access card?
Keyword: ECA