One, Two, Three

Some people collect baseball cards, some collect phone cards.

Keith Hamer collects TV test cards:

As an 11-year-old... When the test card appeared accompanied by its incidental music, Mr Hamer was seduced. He set up a tape recorder he had been given for his birthday and began recording the music — and didn't stop until the card was taken off air 20 years later.

As a result, he has 3,500 pieces of accompanying music and stills of every test card produced. His knowledge is so vast that the BBC consults him when making dramas set in the 1950s, 60s, or 70s, not just to get the right test card, but also the correct accompanying music.

Cute.

Australians will possibly recognise 'Test Card Girl' Carol Hersee.

-- Nick