Finally got a chance last night to take some photos of this Pye 201T, which I got a few months ago along with a donor for parts. This is now one of the oldest sets in my collection and other considerable find for 2012.
What you are looking at is an early example of Pye televisions that were being made here in New Zealand at the time, all were 625 line.
The 201T started off in December of 1959 with an initial run of 300 according to my knowledge, but not sure how many more were manufactured and how many years this model ran for.
Both sets are not in the best of condition, cabinets/chassis have suffered due to sitting outside or in a very damp shed/garage. One set is slightly better than the other and thats what is shown here.
They came from Auckland from another vintage radio/electronics enthusiast who could not bear to throw these out, thinking that someone might want them. Thank goodness he didn't.
Like an English Pye TV's this chassis is live with series filament chain running P series valves. The CRT is a Philips AW 53-80, not the sort of tube I'm used to seeing . The chassis mounts on the side of cabinet and the whole thing slides out, making access and servicing very easy. The chassis position and layout reminds of an American design in some ways.
The circuit and chassis layout is very closely related to an Australian Pye chassis T12-D. Comparing the two they look almost identical.
In regards to the valve lineup, it uses mostly PCF80's through out the set.
PCF80 - Oscillator/Mixer
PCC84 - RF Amp
PCF80 - 1st I.F./Sync Clipper
PCF80 - 2nd I.F./Sync Separator
PCF80 - 3rd I.F./AGC Key
PCF80 - Video Amp/Video C.F.
PCF80 - Sound Limiter/Sound I.F.
PCL82 - Sound Output/Audio Amp
PCF80 - Horizontal Oscillator
PCL82 - Vertical Output/Oscillator
PL36 - Line Output
PY81 - Boost Diode
DY87 - EHT
PY82 - HT Rectifiers
So I class the 201T as being rather rare and the 'better' one is going to be a project and a half!
When I do get to this, I'll focus on getting the chassis up and running first and worry about the cabinet later.
There is a lot of wax caps and resistors under there which will all be past their 'use by date' so I've got some work ahead of me with this beast. At least I have spare parts should there be a faulty LOPT or the likes. Hopefully one/both of the picture tubes are still OK. I should test them first.
I doubt whether there are many more of this model that still exists most of them would be buried long ago so I've only got these to work with.
So when I get to this one there will no doubt be an update here of course!
Some photos and a circuit below for your amusement.
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| The donor set! |
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI tried your email address but it doesn't work.
I recently came across your blog about vintage TV. I'm glad to see that someone is taking an interest in preserving NZ-made TV's as they are now getting thin on the ground (and will probably get even thinner with the digital switchover). TV restoration seems to be the poor relation to vintage radio restoration, probably because of their bulky nature and the skills and parts necessary to keep them going, so I urge you to keep up the good work.
Recently a friend of mine who is an ex-TV serviceman gave me the remains of a Bell Coloursonic TVC-2 that he was in the process of stripping down until I persuaded him to stop. So far I have the cabinet, the tube and the picture tube surround, however he still has the rest of it and some spare boards, so it could be restored (possibly for display at the Ferrymead Vintage Radio Society which I am a member of down here in Christchurch). The cabinet is mostly in good condition apart from some nasty damage to the top, though that could probably be repaired by someone with cabinet/furniture making skills, as it is just wood veneer on chipboard.
The thing I'm debating about is whether this is worth the bother. And this hinges on the question of just how many examples of this particular model of set are now survive in good condition. If these are getting fairly scarce, it obviously makes sense to preserve every example possible, even if it requires alot of restoration work, while as if there are still heaps around in much better shape it makes more sense to break it up for parts.
My gut feeling is that these are now getting quite rare. I can't remember the last time I actually saw one of these - it would probably have to be at least the 1980s. As you're someone who is heavily into this stuff I would be interested in your opinion on this. I have something of a soft spot for Bell, as although my family never owned a Bell colour set we did own a B&W 23" 204A, which was our first TV set.
Terry Hall
Hi Terry, many thanks for the reply :) You're right that email address didn't work but I've corrected it and now it does.
DeleteYou raised some interesting points about this hobby and this why I am now focusing on collecting and persevering/restoring NZ made TV sets, I'm probably the only person in NZ who is doing this, and you are right they are all are getting very rare now days. Vintage TV restoring and collecting is quite prevalent in the USA and the UK as well, there are a few websites and people who do what I do and enjoy it as do I. So yes I will be keeping up the good work :-)
That Bell TVC2, I would strongly advise that you keep it whole. The Bell TVC1/2/3's would be amongst the hardest to find colour sets these days. Back in my younger days I used to find them at the tip on the odd occasion and used to scavenge parts from them, but even back then they were not all that common. Most of them had good tubes which I used to put straight in the Philips K9's which I was fixing up and selling at time. The TVC 1&2's were actually based on a Philips EDAC kitset TV design. They weren't all that reliable hence why they died an early death really.
Some of the early Thorns are in the same boat, the TX574 is another example, just ask your ex TV Tech friend and he'll probably cringe.
I'm also a member of the Wellington Vintage Radio Society and members always ask me about my TV collecting and how its going, they're on my side which is a good thing.
Keep in touch Terry and let me know what comes of the TVC-2. Its rather ironic that you have contacted me about the Bell as a friend of mine who works for a local recycling centre knows of a Bell TVC-1 which maybe up for grabs and if so I won't hesitate in rescuing it.
Apparently it was going until quite recently which is 'amazing' if that is the case, probably owned by an old person who hardly used it or it was used as a second set in spare room? Who knows...
Once again thanks for replying to me... always nice to have others out there who appreciate old TVs :-) Feel free to email me at that yahoo address, it will work now.
Cheers Glen.
Hi Terry,
DeleteDid you ever get the TVC2 going? I used to fix loads of them. They weren't as reliable as the TVC1 but the tubes had so much more output. Properly set up, they had a great picture. The TVC2 that we had in our living room for years was the one electronic device that made me decide to become a technician. I watched the TISCO man hang a line output transformer across the charred hole in the pcb and I decided I have to work that kind of magic too.
If you got it going, would love to see pictures (or even pics of spares and pcbs). There are none left in the wild as far as I can tell.
Hi Terry,
DeleteAre you still in Christchurch? Do you do any repair work, or know anyone who can repair a B/W Valve TV set? I spoke to Bob Ranger, who was responsible for Radio Ferrymead back in the 80's, he said the Vintage CRT enthusiasts he knew have since passed away. He wasn't so keen to look at it himself, possible due to his overcrowded workshop.
I'll do it myself if I have to, but I'll have better peace of mind if somebody else can just get it right the first time.
Vert integrator has an "interlace diode" like in some British 405 line TVs
ReplyDelete