Historic John Logie Baird collection saved

The world's oldest surviving transmission recording made by television pioneer John Logie Baird has been saved by the University of Glasgow. The phonovision shellac disc, dating back to 20 September 1927, is the world's oldest surviving 78 rpm video recording and features images of Baird's famous ventriloquist dummy Stookie Bill, which he used when developing his revolutionary mechanical scanning broadcasts. The collection, which also includes the log books used by Benjamin Clapp while conducting Baird's transatlantic television trials and the world's first known use of the acronym TV, was put up for sale in April 2015 and looked almost certain to go to a private collector overseas. But a temporary export bar was placed on its sale until today (September 29) and the University of Glasgow can now confirm it is currently in the process of buying the collection. The purchase of the collection is being made possible with the financial support of a successful local businessman, who wishes to remain anonymous, who lived for 20 years in Logie Baird's home town of Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute. He chose to help with the acquisition in order to keep the collection in the UK. Commenting on the purchase, he said: "I am delighted the collection has been saved and is now coming home.