Rediffusion TV cabinet?

Author
Discussion

paolow

Original Poster:

3,254 posts

273 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2009
quotequote all
Bit of a wierd one this - my MIL has a house and in the garden is a cabinet. Its about a metre square and a foot deep and has 'Rediffusion' on the cover. From what I gather this cabinet holds the hardware to a long obsolete cable television distribution system which was shut down in 1984. Obviously theres no use for the thing so Im wondering whether or not I can just crowbar the thing up and out? Im conscious of the fact that it might well have power though surely this would have been turned off long ago? Rediffusion doesnt exist anymore so I cant really ask them what to do - do I be a man and tear it out?

Allanv

3,540 posts

201 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2009
quotequote all
I maybe wrong but I am sure Telewest used some of the redifusion systems in the early days so it might be best just to check with them (now virgin) as they may have just updated the cables and used an existing cabinet.

I think TW stemmed from the redifusion era. As in built on the defunct technology they were using.

Either that or I am old and mad.

Dogwatch

6,327 posts

237 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2009
quotequote all
Presumably when the structure was installed there must have been some sort of 'rental' agreement with the then houseowner (forerunner of the fees paid for mobile phone masts). If no-one is paying then the houseowner should have the right to remove it.

paolow

Original Poster:

3,254 posts

273 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2009
quotequote all
Sorry - to clarify:

The box has been in situ since 1967. The MIL lives in a rented house and the deal was (when she moved in) that Rediffusion paid her landlords a shilling a month for the rental of two sq ft of the garden. She has had no involvement in these transactions.

The box used to have an engineer out to it on occasion. The last time an engineer has been near it is 1983/1984. I have looked inside and there is a lot of corroded and very obsolete kit in there. Importanltly there is a big old power switch which is rusted into the 'off' position. I do not think therefore that its currently in use smile

Merlot

4,121 posts

223 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2009
quotequote all
Like this?

http://offog.org/articles/rediffusion/mandeville.h...





Edited by Merlot on Wednesday 3rd June 21:49

paolow

Original Poster:

3,254 posts

273 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2009
quotequote all
A bit like that - less of the square things and a couple more of the long silver things but pretty much the same sort of thing...

_Deano

7,413 posts

268 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
Merlot said:
Like this?

http://offog.org/articles/rediffusion/mandeville.h...





Edited by Merlot on Wednesday 3rd June 21:49
All that for watching TV?