30-line mechanical television

[Rinehart]

Yes, I have seen pictures of early mechanical televisions which had a hand-held control connected by a cable for synchronization, although I think that later they found a method for automatic control. David, could you explain what phonic coils are? I am not a technologist of any kind, and much of the terminology is unfamiliar to me.
Probably everyone already knows this, but in 1967 an engineer from Grenada Television in Britain restaged the Pirandello play using a combination of the original and contemporary equipment. He caught a number of lucky breaks: the original script was still in the BBC Archives, as were the title cards and artwork, and the same 78-rpm record for the music. Most importantly, the original director, Lance Sieveking, was still alive and agreed to direct it, coaching the actors in the style of the period. For these reasons, it is thought to be a very accurate reproduction. The identity of the actors is unfortunately unknown, and that has always struck me as a nice irony: given how poorly documented early television is, it's rich that the 1967 cast should be unknown because nobody bothered to take down their names.