Link Electronics Ltd. was a major UK industrial and broadcast television equipment manufacturer and systems integrator in the 1970s and 1980s.
The company was founded by John Tanner and David Mann, who began manufacturing television cameras in 1966.
Link also produced a wide range of ancillary studio equipment, such as distribution amplifiers, measuring sets and test-signal generators.
Styling was based on the EMI 2001 colour camera but at an economical price, including what some claim to be a very flimsy casing that was not of rugged design.
The camera consisted of a closed body and an internal lens from a range of manufacturers, like the EMI 2001, leading to similar claims that the design was "boxy".
The 110 was seen as a good, cheap, modern option which was lightweight and easier to carry compared to the much older and heavier EMI 2001 camera.
It also contained a comprehensive communications system and used a camera control unit (CCU) based around the 110 but was updated with auto black, white, iris and centering functions.
They had been in development for a few years and the idea was to use Studio A Elstree and BBC Glasgow (which received the first batch) as test beds to try to make them work, but they proved to be very unreliable.
John Wardle, Head of BBC Engineering, stated that 42 Link 130s were ordered but it is believed only 11 production units were delivered.
The BBC engineering department felt that these faults wouldn't be fixed quickly and the order for Television Centre was cancelled and TVC was fitted with Thomson1531 cameras.
UEI Group then briefly purchased the company, after investing many hundreds of thousands of pounds in the development of the camera only for the poor design not being rectified in the design or prototype stages giving Link a poor reputation after several technically and commercially successful models.
There are several units in private collections and, until the early 2000s, several casings were to be seen at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford as part of a public display.
Link 700 series intercom where custom built systems using computerized FET cross-point switching with selector panels and feeds to and from VT's and cameras.
One Type 5 (London 6) was donated to the Science Museum and has now been sold to a group of ex-broadcast engineers, who are slowly restoring it.