DU Marketplace

bondwooley

(1,198 posts) Thu Jan 30, 2014, 10:07 PM Jan 2014

Who Remembers Test Patterns?

Test patterns generally came on our TV screens when there was no content to show or an emergency was brewing.

We've put together the first book we know of dedicated to these sometimes annoying, sometimes fascinating and oddly beautiful images You might even learn something about the history of TV. We did.

It's available on Amazon and we'd love DU's support - whether you want to buy it or help spread the word. Here's a link to Amazon if you're interested.

Here's the Amazon link.

http://www.amazon.com/Please-Stand-Charlies-Favorite-Patterns/dp/1481840940/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390763647&sr=1-1&keywords=please+stand+by+lester

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Who Remembers Test Patterns? (Original Post) bondwooley Jan 2014 OP

I remember the black and white image pictured in the center. Arkansas Granny Jan 2014 #1

Please Stand By bondwooley Jan 2014 #2

Remember them well. often woke up to test patterns. Better than many programs. Hoyt Jan 2014 #3

After a year of putting this book together bondwooley Jan 2014 #4

i remember those. unionthug777 Jan 2014 #5

Haha! bondwooley Jan 2014 #6

The Sixties mimi85 Feb 2014 #7

Arkansas Granny

(31,824 posts)

1. I remember the black and white image pictured in the center.

Reply to bondwooley (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2014, 10:15 PM

Jan 2014

Another one that we saw a lot of was "Technical Difficulties. Please stand by."

bondwooley

(1,198 posts)

2. Please Stand By

Reply to Arkansas Granny (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 30, 2014, 10:21 PM

Jan 2014

is the name of the book

Brings back a lot of memories.

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)

3. Remember them well. often woke up to test patterns. Better than many programs.

Reply to bondwooley (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2014, 10:21 PM

Jan 2014

In days when black and white TVs still ruled, they would do some weird stuff with test patterns to simulate faint color. Them were the days.

bondwooley

(1,198 posts)

4. After a year of putting this book together

Reply to Hoyt (Reply #3)

Thu Jan 30, 2014, 10:25 PM

Jan 2014

and staring at hundreds of test patterns from around the globe, I had the same conclusion .... many are better than the programming was and many still are.

unionthug777

(740 posts)

5. i remember those.

Reply to bondwooley (Original post)

Fri Jan 31, 2014, 05:18 PM

Jan 2014

i also remember having to get out of my seat.........and grab the pliers to change the channel, because our knob broke !!! and only 5 channels to choose from.

i feel old now. thanks !!!

bondwooley

(1,198 posts)

6. Haha!

Reply to unionthug777 (Reply #5)

Fri Jan 31, 2014, 07:11 PM

Jan 2014

Sorry about that.

mimi85

(1,805 posts)

7. The Sixties

Reply to bondwooley (Original post)

Wed Feb 26, 2014, 07:52 PM

Feb 2014

Slightly embarrassing, but I remember watching these high.

Reply to this discussion