Associated-Rediffusion In-Vision Clock

Made:
1956 in London

Associated-Rediffusion in-vision clock, 1956, designed by Leslie Mitchell, features a lion and a gryphon. The original on-air clock was shown before programmes on the ITV television channel Associated-Rediffusion from October 1956 to 1964.

Associated-Rediffusion, a consortium of wireless broadcaster Rediffusion and Associated Newspapers, held the franchise for the London region weekday broadcasts. In 1964 Associated Newspapers withdrew from the consortium as part of the round of ITV franchise reviews. The name was rebranded to Rediffusion London and the clock was discontinued.

Leslie Mitchell had been one of the original pre-war BBC television announcers, and in 1955 joined Associated-Rediffusion. He became the first voice on both BBC and ITV. Realising that the new company didn't have an in-vision clock, he designed this heraldic clock, featuring a lion and a gryphon, and the spinning 'adastral' above the clock face. It was nicknamed 'Mitch' after him.

Details

Category:
Television
Object Number:
2016-5001
Materials:
wood (unidentified), aluminium alloy and glass
Measurements:
overall: 790 mm x 960 mm x 140 mm,
type:
clock
credit:
Associated-Rediffusion