BBC finds working TV from 1936

eHDMI · 07-24-2009, 05:42 AM

Quote:

In fact, the BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones recently tracked down a 73-year-old TV set that still works and is believed to be the oldest working television in Britain. It's tuned to just one built-in channel -- BBC One, as it was the only channel available when the set was built. The extent of its controls are for vertical hold and volume.

Story/Video

JMS · 07-24-2009, 06:12 AM

Quote:

1936 Nov 2 Start of 405-line high definition service (for a few months alongside Baird’s 240-line system)

http://www.tvhistory.btinternet.co.u.../landmark.html

And of course the set had to reverse the image for proper viewing on the mirror.

tvinstallnj · 07-24-2009, 08:37 AM

how much do you think that thing costs..

joed32 · 07-24-2009, 08:45 AM

He said as much as an automobile at that time. I don't go back that far, but we bought a new Olds in 1950 for about $700, so I would guess less than half of that. People probably only made a few dollars a day back then.

IGExpandingPan · 07-24-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joed32

He said as much as an automobile at that time. I don't go back that far, but we bought a new Olds in 1950 for about $700, so I would guess less than half of that. People probably only made a few dollars a day back then.

1938? A TV? Likely on par with a price of a car. Seriously.

http://www.tvhistory.tv/tv-prices.htm

I don't know of any production models for 1938. But a 12 inch kit would run you 70 to 120 Gns. The figure quoted in the video was 60 Gns, and he made sure to say you could buy a small car for that. These were kits, though once you have assembly you're likely up to 75. But the unit looks like a HMV. $315 the price he quoted. I'd wager $630

joed32 · 07-26-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IGExpandingPan

1938? A TV? Likely on par with a price of a car. Seriously.

http://www.tvhistory.tv/tv-prices.htm

I don't know of any production models for 1938. But a 12 inch kit would run you 70 to 120 Gns. The figure quoted in the video was 60 Gns, and he made sure to say you could buy a small car for that. These were kits, though once you have assembly you're likely up to 75. But the unit looks like a HMV. $315 the price he quoted. I'd wager $630

Nice find! Thanks.

ah802 · 07-27-2009, 07:50 AM

I think the mechanical TV was more illustrative of technology and far more dangerous.. I heard there was a decapitation when the spinning wheel malfunctioned and blew through the case.

Shades of what was to become...Now we all die by millions of commercial cuts/

IGExpandingPan · 07-27-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joed32

Nice find! Thanks.

No worries. As it turns out it wasn't a HMV. Error due to not getting a good shot of the front of the set. It was a Marconiphone, maybe a 705 as that was the 12 inch model, or a 702.

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1935-39%20Br...0Set%20Ads.htm

MSRP would have been 120 Gns. or USD $650 in 1937.

This would have gotten you an average car.

Iain1974 · 07-28-2009, 10:21 AM

120 Gns(!)

A guinea contained ~ 1/4oz gold so we're looking at 30 ounces of gold for a TV. $28,000 or thereabouts.

BrianO · 07-28-2009, 04:54 PM

Please delete

BrianO · 07-28-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain1974

120 Gns(!)

A guinea contained ~ 1/4oz gold so we're looking at 30 ounces of gold for a TV. $28,000 or thereabouts.

Not really because very few people even carried guineas. A guinea had a face value of 21 shillings (20 shiilings to the Pound), so 120 Guineas was equal to 120 Pounds plus 120 shillings = 126 Pounds which was about $630 US at the tiime. Also, the price of Gold was pegged for many years at $35 an ounce before 1970.

Iain1974 · 07-29-2009, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianO

Not really because very few people even carried guineas. A guinea had a face value of 21 shillings (20 shiilings to the Pound), so 120 Guineas was equal to 120 Pounds plus 120 shillings = 126 Pounds which was about $630 US at the tiime. Also, the price of Gold was pegged for many years at $35 an ounce before 1970.

But thats the point of a gold standard. All prices are effectively fixed to gold. 120 guineas contain about 30 ounces of gold. In 1936 people used the sovereign which was slightly less in value than the guinea but it still all comes down to gold.

BrianO · 07-29-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain1974

But thats the point of a gold standard. All prices are effectively fixed to gold. 120 guineas contain about 30 ounces of gold. In 1936 people used the sovereign which was slightly less in value than the guinea but it still all comes down to gold.

The point was that the TV cost 126 pounds (about $630 US) in 1936, not $28,000. Even if the buyer used gold guinea coins at the time, it was still only126 pounds because a Guinea was only worth 21 shillings, regardless of its gold content. BTW, prices for many items in the UK were still often quoted in guineas in the 1960's until the UK went to decimal coinage and even then a guinea meant 21 shillings; no more, no less.

.

Kent McVety · 07-29-2009, 10:36 PM

I saw several British sets from the 1930s at the Early Television Museum in Hilliard, Ohio at their annual convention in May. Some were in working condition.

Kent McVety

JMS · 07-30-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kent McVety

I saw several British sets from the 1930s at the Early Television Museum in Hilliard, Ohio at their annual convention in May. Some were in working condition.

Kent McVety

Right in my own back yard. They've got two very similar British TVs on display. Don't think they work, however.

http://www.earlytelevision.org/marconi_702.html

http://www.earlytelevision.org/hmv_901.html

07-24-2009, 08:37 AM	#3
tvinstallnj What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	woww how much do you think that thing costs..

07-28-2009, 04:54 PM	#10
BrianO Sony KD34XS955 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Pointe-Claire QC Posts: 2,865	Please delete Last edited by BrianO; 07-29-2009 at 03:26 PM..

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07-24-2009, 08:45 AM	#4
joed32 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,445	He said as much as an automobile at that time. I don't go back that far, but we bought a new Olds in 1950 for about $700, so I would guess less than half of that. People probably only made a few dollars a day back then.

07-27-2009, 07:50 AM	#7
ah802 Visual Arts Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,243	I think the mechanical TV was more illustrative of technology and far more dangerous.. I heard there was a decapitation when the spinning wheel malfunctioned and blew through the case. Shades of what was to become...Now we all die by millions of commercial cuts/

07-28-2009, 10:21 AM	#9
Iain1974 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2006 Location: Longview, TX Posts: 366	120 Gns(!) A guinea contained ~ 1/4oz gold so we're looking at 30 ounces of gold for a TV. $28,000 or thereabouts.

07-29-2009, 10:36 PM	#14
Kent McVety High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 89	I saw several British sets from the 1930s at the Early Television Museum in Hilliard, Ohio at their annual convention in May. Some were in working condition. Kent McVety