Atomic clocks are cool.. if one wanted to transmit a sporting event in the era before time base correctors, one had to bring a video sync generator timed by an atomic clock from the TV station to the event. This gets you the same frame rate as the TV station (phase still needs to be adjusted to account for speed of light delay). With all the signals in sync you can switch to a commercial without messing up everyone's TV.

Time base correctors are also cool: the first generation ones were rack sized and used core-memory. I think they were an enabling technology for on-location news.

You can buy your own: rubidium standards sell for less than $300 on ebay.