NATIONAL MEDIA MUSEUM

Description

The National Media Museum is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry which also includes the Science Museum and the National Railway Museum. Founded in 1983 as the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, it was re-launched and renamed in December 2006. Its collections include more than three million items of historical, social and cultural value.

Artefact description

The Photographs Collection holds over three million photographs tracing the history of photography from its beginnings to the present day. The Photographic Technology Collection comprises equipment associated with the production of still photographic images from the earliest period to today. The Cinematography Collection holds objects relating to film-making and its dissemination and the development of the medium’s technology and working methods from the 18th century to the present. The Television Collection represents the evolution of the technology of generating, storing and displaying moving images by electro-mechanical means from the late 19th century until the present. The New Media Collection preserves objects and software relating to the internet and video games, and traverses the boundaries between photography, film, television and radio blurred by digital technology.


Named collections include:
Arthur Kingston Collection (part of the Kodak Museum);
BBC Heritage Collection; W E Berry Poster Collection;
Donald Fleming Collection of Historic American Television Receivers;
Daily Herald Photographic Archive;
EMI Archives Collection;
Hammer Horror Special Effects Make-up Collection;
John Burgoyne Johnson Collection;
Kodak Museum;
Kraszna-Krausz Collection;
PYE Archive;
Tony Ray-Jones Collection;
Radio Rentals Collection;
Howard and Jane Ricketts Collection;
Royal Photographic Society Collection;
Sarosh Collection;
Science Museum Collection;
Television Commercials Collection;
Thames Television Camera Collection;
Charles Urban Collection;
W H F Talbot Collection;

Website

http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

Keywords

Cinema; Television equipment; Arts; Film Equipment; Early cinema; Glass negatives, photography; Lantern slides; Photography

Access

The Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00-18:00. Closed on Mondays, except Bank Holidays and school holidays. The Pictureville, Cubby Broccoli and IMAX cinemas are open daily 10:00-late (depending on programme). Insight: the Collections & Research Centre is open to researchers between 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-16:00, Tuesday to Friday. Free guided tours of Insight, Tuesday-Friday at 13:00; weekends, Bank Holidays and school holiday Mondays at 14:00. Pre-booking is essential - tickets available from the Box Office, 0870 7010 200.

Access for outsiders

Yes. See final two paragraphs of description of Collection.

Charges

None

Moving Image, Audio and Related Documentation Holdings

Equipment

32,000 items of film, television and sound and associated equipment.

Journals

Picture Post, Lilliput, (Weekly) Illustrated, etc. An almost complete set of the British Journal of Photography Almanac.

Posters

Small collection of Ealing and Bollywood film posters, plus an expanding collection of posters printed by W E Berry.

Artefact and Related Documentation Holdings

Animation

Animatronic models; Animation artwork and cels; Puppets, models and armatures; Miniature sets; Special effects

Cinema

Rewinders; Cinema plans and architects’ drawings; Projectors; Projection lenses; Sound reproduction equipment

Documents

Company records.; Contracts; Catalogues; Correspondence; Diaries, unpublished memoirs etc; Lobby cards; Equipment manuals; Sheet music; Scripts and treatments; Storyboards; Personal papers; Posters and promotional artwork; Photographs; Promotional literature; Other production documentation; Ephemera

Film-making

Professional and amateur cine equipment in a range of gauges - 8mm, Super 8, 9.5mm, 16mm, 17.5mm, 28mm, 35mm and 60mm.; Cine cameras; Editing equipment and viewers; Film laboratory equipment; Studio and location lighting; Lighting accessories; Camera mounts and accessories

Installations

Artworks include a John Bratby painting of the Coronation Street cast and set, and a portrait of Seth Armstrong.; Art works; Holograms

Projection & Viewing

Accessories; Data projectors; Illuminants; Magic lanterns; Flick books and associated technologies; Peepshows; Slides; Slide projectors; Slide viewers; Other viewers; Stereoviews; Computer control and slide/tape synchronisation devices

Sets & Costumes

Costume; Make-up; Models/maquettes; Set designs; Sets; Hair/wigs

Sound

Microphones; Sound mixers and desks; Music; Sound recorders; Microphone stands and mounts (including booms); Sound synchronisation equipment; Sound transfer and striping equipment

Toys & Games

Optical toys; Toys; Video games, computer games

TV, Video & Digital

Satellite technology & equipment; Television/video cameras; Experimental (apparatus, laboratory); Repair/maintenance; Mobile vans (outside broadcast); Television monitors; Television receivers; Video recording equipment; Software; Transmitting/network equipment; Video editing equipment; Vision mixing equipment

Catalogues

Computerised database

Under construction.

Online catalogue

None at present but currently under development.

Printed catalogue

No.

Digitised catalogue

None at present but currently under development.

Additional Information

Artefact notes

Spectrum standard. Information retained on MultiMimsy XG collections management system.

Main Contact

Name

The Collections Administrator

Telephone

01274 203377

Fax

01274 207685

Email

insight@nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

Address

Pictureville
Bradford
BD1 1NQ