BBC2 Symbol and Clock1974
Out went the cube in the early seventies to coincide with BBC1's new globe. Apparently the model now sits in the corridors of Television Centre, as a coin-operated visitor attraction. The clock was similar to its predecessor but noteably minus the "COLOUR". The music at the start of the clip is from a preceding interval; Andy Cartledge introduces "Play School".WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE
BBC2's 1974 ident has often been thought of as two cylinders spinning in opposite directions, each with alternate lines painted on. But it was more complicated than that. As our photograph shows, the model comprised 23 stacked discs, each with one line of the 2. Every other line spun in the opposite direction to achieve the visual effect.
There was more to the machine than just what you saw on screen. Click here to see the entire model, and its workings laid bare.
Many thanks to Kirk Northrop for the photographs.
BBC2 Christmas1976 During the mechanical age it was very unusual for Christmas idents not to have a revolving element of some kind. But for 1976 BBC2 threw caution to the wind and gave us a psychadelic version of the usual "2", with a kaleidoscope of colours. Recovered from Super 8 footage; hence no audio.
BBC2 - Open Space1977
A clever variation of the usual sequence used to introduce "Open Space", the community magazine. The 2 spins out but instead of reforming, it becomes a map of the UK. Recovered from Super 8 footage.
BBC2 Christmas1977 While BBC1's Christmas pudding was fondly remembered, less so was its counterpart on BBC2. This year a stylised 2 encased a shimmering emerald as it spun round. Recovered from Super 8 footage.
BBC21978 An unusual variant of the cylindrical 2. The symbol sports the usual colours but the background is black - was this deliberate or did someone make a mistake in NC2?
BBC2 Christmas1978 Four medieval trumpeters herald the season and, what from next year will be BBC2's new logo.