The following is a summary of then available television sets from the April 1951 edition of Practical Television magazine.
Click here for a summary and pictures of some of the sets.
"As many readers are interested in the main technical details of commercial receivers which are available, we published last year an abridged specification of the majority of models. This proved very popular, and in response to many requests we are again giving the same details, but in respect of this years models. The list is not complete, but is of those manufacturers who have supplied such details up to the time of going to press.
In the table the second column indicates the maker's model number; the third indicates whether the model is a Console or Table set; the next column indicates whether the set is designed for AC or DC or AC/DC operation; the next column gives the tube size; the next number of valves; next the type of time-base oscillator - i.e. Thyratron or Hard valve; the type of focussing is indicated by the next column, EM denoting an electromagnetic focusing coil and PM a permanent magnet; next is the total EHT applied to the tube, followed by the method of obtaining this voltage. FB indicates the use of a fly-back voltage generator, M that the EHT is derived from the normal 50 cycle mains supply and RF that the voltage is generated in a special RF oscillator circuit. Finally the last two columns show the rated sound output and the price. It should be remembered that some of the receivers incorporate normal broadcast tuning in addition to the television circuits."
Manu. | Model | Case | Mains | Tube (ins) | Valves | Timebase | Focus | EHT | Sound (W) | Price (Ex. Tax) |
Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
kV | Type | |||||||||||
Alba Radio | TV372 | T | AC/DC | 12 | 15 | HV | PM | 8.5 | FB | 1.8 | £52 10s 0d | |
TV472 | C | AC/DC | 12 | 15 | HV | PM | 8.5 | FB | 1.8 | £60 18s 0d | ||
Ambassador Radio | TV1 | C | AC | 12 | 18 | T | EM | 6 | RF | 4 | £85 19s 0d | |
TV2 | C&T | AC | 12 | 15 | H | EM | 7 | FB | 4 | £16 19s 8d (C) £49 0s 3d (T) |
||
TV4 | C&T | AC | 12 | 16 | T&H | EM | 9.5 | FB | 4 | £63 16s 11d (C) £52 7s 9d (T) |
||
TV5 | C | AC | 15 | 16 | T&H | EM | 11 | FB | 4 | £94 2s 8d | ||
Beethoven | TV50 | C | AC | 12 | 19 | T | PM | 6.5 | RF | 4.5 | 62gns | |
Bush | TV22 | T | AC/DC | 9 | 15 | *H | PM | 8.0 | FB | 1 | £36 0s 2d | |
TV24 | T | AC/DC | 12 | 19 | *H | PM | 8.0 | FB | 1 | £46 6s 0d | ||
TUG24 | C | AC/DC | 12 | 15 | *H | PM | 8.5 | FB | 1 | £62 11s 0d | ||
TRG24 | C | AC/DC | 12 | 15+4 | *H | PM | 8.5 | FB | 1 | £119 11s 0d | Includes 4-valve radiogram |
|
Champion | 729 | C | AC | 12 | 14 | H | PM | 6.0 | FB | 2 | £80 0s 0d | |
764 | C | AC | 12 | 14 | H | PM | 6.0 | FB | 2 | £147 0s 0d | Plus radiogram | |
E.K.Cole | T141 | T | AC | 12 | 17 | +T&H | PM | 7.0 | FB | 1.5 | £47 0s 11d | |
TU142 | T | AC/DC | 12 | 16 | H | PM | 8.0 | FB | 1.5 | £47 0s 11d | ||
TC138 | C | AC | 12 | 17 | +T&H | PM | 7.0 | FB | 1.5 | £53 0s 8d | ||
TRC139 | C | AC | 12 | 17 | +T&H | PM | 7.0 | FB | 1.5 | £61 11s 9d | ||
TC140 | C | AC | 12 | 16 | +T&H | PM | 8.0 | FB | 1.5 | £68 8s 8d | ||
TSC113 | C | AC | 15 | 19 | H | PM | 12 | M | 1.5 | £124 0s 8d | ||
Cossor | 916 | T | AC | 10 | 17 | H | PM+EM | 7.0 | FB | 2 | £42 0s 3d | |
917 | C | AC | 10 | 17 | H | PM+EM | 7.0 | FB | 2 | £51 8s 11d | ||
918 | C | AC | 10 | 20 | H | PM+EM | 7.0 | FB | 2 | £58 6s 1d | ||
919 | C | AC | 12 | 17 | H | PM+EM | 8.0 | FB | 2 | £58 6s 1d | ||
920 | C | AC | 12 | 20 | H | PM+EM | 8.0 | FB | 2 | £66 17s 6d | ||
English Electric | 1550M | C | AC | 16 | 24 | HV | EM | 9.0 | RF | 3 | £94 10s 0d | |
Etronic | ECV1523/- | C | AC | 10 | 15 | H | PM | 7.0 | FB | 1.5 | £48 6s 0d | |
ECV1527/- | C | AC | 12 | 15 | H | PM | 7.5 | FB | 1.5 | £61 14s 8d | ||
ECS2231/- | C | AC | 2.5 ! | 21 | H | EM | 25 | FB | 2 | £120 0s 10d | Projection | |
HMV | 1807A | T | AC/DC | 10 | 14 | H | PM | 5.5 | FB | 1 | £41 1s 2d | |
1808 | C | AC/DC | 10 | 15 | H | PM | 5.5 | FB | 1 | £49 12s 3d | ||
1806 | C | AC | 15 | 19 | H | EM | 7.0 | M | 5 | £128 6s 2d | ||
1851 | C | AC | 15 | 22 | H | EM | 7.0 | M | 5 | £156 10s 9d | Incl. Radio | |
Invicta | T105 | T | AC/DC | 9 | 18 | H | PM | 6.0 | FB | 2 | £45 3s 0d | |
T108 | T | AC/DC | 12 | 15 | H | PM | 6.0 | FB | 1 | £43 11s 0d | ||
T110 | C | AC/DC | 12 | 15 | H | PM | 6.0 | FB | 1 | £60 0s 5d | ||
McMichael | 512 | C | AC | 12 | 13 | H | PM | 6.5 | FB | 4 | £67 14s 9d | |
512R | C | AC | 12 | 14 | H | PM | 6.5 | FB | 1 | £75 9s 1d | ||
TM51 | T | AC | 12 | 14 | H | PM | 6.5 | FB | 1 | "Price not yet fixed" | ||
Marconiphone | VT53DA | T | AC/DC | 10 | 14 | H | PM | 5.5 | FB | 1 | £39 2s 0d | (London set) |
VC53DA | C | AC/DC | 10 | 14 | H | PM | 5.5 | FB | 1 | £48 17s 7d | (London set) | |
VT55A | T | AC | 12 | 14 | H | PM | 7.0 | FB | 3 | £54 19s 10d | (London set) | |
VC55A | C | AC | 12 | 14 | H | PM | 7.0 | FB | 3 | £65 3s 5d | (London set) | |
VRC54DA | C | AC/DC | 10 | 19 | H | PM | 5.5 | FB | 1/R4 | £57 16s 10d | (London set) Incl. Radio |
|
Masteradio | T612 | C | AC | 12 | 17 | H | EM | 6.0 | FB | 4 | £64 14s 6d | |
T852 | T | AC | 12 | 15 | H | PM | 6.0 | FB | 4 | £51 15s 7d | ||
PT50 | C | AC | 2.5 | 18 | H | PM | 25 | RF | 4 | £142 7s 11d | Projection | |
Murphy | V150 | T | AC | 12 | 15 | H | PM | 5.8 | FB | - | £43 15s 8d | |
VU150 | T | AC/DC | 12 | 15 | H | PM | 5.8 | FB | - | £45 0s 0d | ||
V176C | C | AC | 15 | 20 | T | PM+EM | 12.0 | M | - | £120 0s 0d | ||
V178C | C | AC | 12 | 18 | T | PM+EM | 9.5 | FB | - | £84 0s 0d | ||
V180C | C | AC | 12 | 17 | T | PM+EM | 8.0 | FB | - | £60 16s 3d | ||
Mullard | MTS501 | C | AC/DC | 12 | 19 | H | EM | 9 | FB | 2 | £65 3s 3d | |
MTS684 | T | AC/DC | 9 | 19 | H | EM | 9.0 | FB | 2 | £42 17s 5d | ||
Philips | 1502U | T | AC/DC | 12 | 19 | H | EM | 7.0 | FB | 2 | - | |
600A | T | AC | 17 (2.5) | 25 | H | EM | 25 | S | 2 | - | Projection | |
704A | C | AC | 23 (2.5) | 25 | H | EM | 25 | S | 2 | - | Projection | |
1800A | C | AC | 17 (2.5) | 25 | H | EM | 25 | S | 2 | - | Projection | |
Pilot | TM54 | T | AC | 12 | 14 | H | PM | 7.5 | FB | 4 | £50 11s 8d | 5 channel tuner |
RGD | 1700 | C | AC | 12 | 17 | T | PM | 7.0 | FB | 3.5 | £89 5s 0d | |
2351T | C | AC | 12 | 23 | T | PM | 7.0 | RF | 3.5 | £136 10s 0d | Birmingham & Holme Moss | |
L2351T | C | AC | 12 | 21 | T | PM | 7.0 | RF | 3.5 | £136 10s 0d | London | |
Regentone | T15 | C | AC | 12 | 14 | H | PM | 7.0 | FB | 3 | £59 3s 1d | |
BIG12 | T | AC | 12 | 14 | H | PM | 7.0 | FB | 3 | £54 0s3d | ||
Thorn (" Ferguson") |
908T | T | AC/DC | 12 | 14 | M | M | 9.5 | LOT | 1.5 | £43 14s 7d |
So, which set would you have bought ?
By far the cheapest little set is the Bush
TV22 for only £36, a set that today commands a significant premium
as a highly saught after piece of bakelite. Of course, with the benefit of
hindsight this would have been the one I'd choose but maybe not at the time.
The most popular sets were still the console sets.
The RGD 2351T, illustrated opposite, would have probably tempted me. Manufacturers had started
to try and simplify both the operation and appearence of their sets and RGD clearly succeeded
with this well proportioned and uncluttered design. Though, technically, the thyratron timebase
and RF generated E.H.T. were a little dated.
But at £136 ... four times the cost of the Bush TV22 ... I guess
it would have to be the set I'd have bought if (when?) I won the football pools.
HMV seem to be the duffers of the group with either weenie little 5.5kV E.H.T.'s or dangerous mains derived E.H.T.'s. According to the great book "Historic Televisions and Video Recorders" the HMV 4811 was basically the 1806 model (listed above for £128) made for the Birmingham area. Overpriced or what ?
It is difficult to understand the cost of sets in the original survey only based on the technical specifications, so I'll finish with a gallery of some of the "also rans".
Marconiphone VT53/VT73/VT83 |
McMichael Model 512 |
Philips Model 600A |
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Last updated 11th January 2003 |