British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

NATIONAL Media museum (TELEVISION COMMERCIALS COLLECTION)

Description
The collection originally belonged to the British Bureau of Television Advertising (BBTA). The BBTA’s function was to demonstrate the advantages of television advertising to businesses that had not previously used this medium. When the BBTA closed down in 1975, the library was taken over by the ITCA (now the ITV Association) which continued to add to the collection. In 1993 the collection was taken over by the National Media Museum. Other collections include: the James Garrett Collection (approx 4000 adverts, from 1963-1980), the Leo Burnett Collection (approx 2000 adverts, from 1966-1989), and the Collett, Dickenson & Pearce Collection (4300 items, from 1960-2000).
Website
http://www.nmpft.org.uk
Keywords
Animated films; Advertising films; Television
Access
Access by arrangement only. Access available to television companies, freelance television researchers, academic researchers, educational establishments.
Facilities
No viewing facilities currently available.
Charges
Charges for in house facilities and handling. Charges for outsourced telecine and broadcast-standard copies. A price list is available upon request.
Copyright
Copyright not held. Copyright held by individual product manufacturers. Copyright advice available.

Moving Image, Audio and Related Documentation Holdings

Video/Film
Video: 5,000 items. Films are being transferred to Beta-SP as funding allows. This will enable easier access to the material. Advertising video components: Lo-Band U-Matic, Beta/Beta-SP, 1-inch Video, 2-inch Video.

Film: 15,000 cans. The collection contains a wide range of material (more than 20,000 items), from Gibbs SR toothpaste ‘Ice Mountain’ (the first ad) to some of the most recent. Over 4,600 different UK brands are represented. The strongest period in the collection is 1960-90. The collection is particularly strong on adverts produced by the agencies Young & Rubicam and JWT. Proctor and Gamble’s products (e.g. Daz, Fairy Liquid) are very well represented. There is very little duplication within the collection, probably fewer than 250 items. There are also examples of commercials from other countries. News and current affairs material consists of trims only. 80% colour film, 20% black and white film. Advertising, news and current affairs. Film components: 16mm, 35mm, positive film, negative film, final mix.

Catalogues

Computerised database
Available.
Printed catalogue
Available.

Additional Information

Notes
The printed catalogue is over 1,000 pages long. The collection is catalogued on a computerised database, which allows searches by product, date, agency or personality. Tailor made printouts can be made. No shot-listing has been undertaken.
Other information
Photocopies of relevant section of listing available on request.
Conservation policy
Material is never discarded.

Main Contact

Name
Ms. Claire Thomas
Job title
Assistant Curator of Television
Telephone
01274 203412
Fax
01274 772325
Email
claire.thomas@nationalmediamuseum.org.uk
Address
Pictureville
Bradford
BD1 1NQ

Alternate Contact

Name
Michael Harvey
Job title
Curator of Cinematography
Telephone
01274 203379
Fax
01274 772325

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