From Paul Kay

Is this the oldest TODS still in existence? This one from Paul dated 27th Feb 1955.
(For visitors - TODS stands for Technical Operation Duty Schedule ie camera crew rota. Unfortunately they didn't include programme names then, and one is tempted to extrapolate an attitude of mind on the part of the schedulers very different from the modern one!)



It isn't quite (at all!) as easy to decipher as later ones - I get the impression that the writers hadn't long left the army - and come to think of it, the war really wasn't that long ago either!

Click for larger version as usual.
TODS Page 2
TODS Page 3



Paul has a decoder -

27.2 D7 (4) FC/HV/11 11.30 R.TX 2030 2215

Means -

Date - 27th Feb 1955
Studio D
Crew 7
4 cameras
FC (TOM) (Frank Cresswell)
HV Lighting (Hedley Versey)
11 Electricians crew number
R.TX Rehearsal followed by Transmission
0/S Overnight set and light
Where the letter appears M. indicates that the MPRC (Mole) was in use. I indicates that Inlay was in use
AP Alexandra Palace (Tpt shows time of transport home, back to Lime Grove)
T TV Theatre
TOM Technical Operations Manager