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Seen here with gleaming paintwork is Spacevan. No. 3 out of a series of 20 built, now the sole survivor. This has been fully restored by Martin Maltas. |
Television Detector Vans
Once upon a time TV detector vans, in the form of Commer vehicles, were used to track down unlicensed televisions. This was for many years part of the remit of the Post Office.
The BBC took over responsibility for collecting the licence fee from the Home Office in 1991 and today, all records are held on a computer database, so that addresses which do have a registered license can be more easily targetted, for sets which are being operated unlawfully.
| TVDV 7850002 | Restoring a Spacevan |
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These were the early stages of Martin's project to reclaim a Spacevan back into a fully restored television detector vehicle. |
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More photos of Martin's Commer vans can be found at www.commervanfan.co.uk/martin_maltas.htm |
| YUB 224J | Martin's Father working with a 1970's Television Detector |
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Martin's father used to operate this Commer YUB 224J detector van during the 1970s. |
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C O M M E R YUB 224 J This registration is August 1970 |
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Martin's father seated in the back of the van at the controls of the detecting and ranging equipment. |
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Martin's father at the wheel of the Post Office television detector van. |
All photos © Martin Maltas
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