Good questions, unfortunately I never saw one to be able to help. Have not seen a manual either.
Time for a search on the internet but I thought I would have come across one before now.
A quick look in the forums data collection I found the manual from the R&TV books. It shows no difference in the chassis between any of the TV125 range.
We had a few of these - I can only assume as a stop gap measure because of a shortage of TV125s - although we didn't do rental!
Apart from the cabinet, absolutely no difference, as far as I can remember.
As for the TV83/85 mentioned earlier, we sold lots of the TV83s with their cheap card cabinet but the standard model was the TV85 with a wrap-round wood cabinet, not card as previously described.
There were four models - TV83, 84, 85 and 86. I'll have to try and find the catalogue for them, but two were wood, two were that card/PVC composite and of those, one was a standard model, the other 'fringe'.
@brc_3000 - I've also found my TV125/128 catalogue: your cabinet appears to be a standard TV125 cabinet. I'll try to put up a picture from the catalogue tomorrow.
your cabinet appears to be a standard TV125 cabinet.
No, definitely not. The front and cabinet edge is one piece moulded plastic whereas on the TV125, the cabinet edge was bevelled and polished wood moulding with gold trim surrounding the front. The left hand side was cloth covered and there was a gilt bar either side of the implosion screen.
This isn't the best picture in the world but it does illustrate the differences https://www.flickr.com/photos/12064036@N04/5179897642
So it is... goodness knows what I was thinking.
There is a cheaper plastic model that is all plastic, but looks nothing like this - the TV123.
I've actually got a catalogue for the TV135 rental sets, which clearly says "rent BUSH!"
As for the TV83/85 mentioned earlier, we sold lots of the TV83s with their cheap card cabinet but the standard model was the TV85 with a wrap-round wood cabinet, not card as previously described.
I stand corrected: I found my Bush 17" televisions catalogue after some searching. The TV83 and TV84 were in the "rich grained fabric" cabinets (their words, not mine), the TV85 and TV86 in the sapele veneer cabinets. The TV83/85 are described as "standard" models, whilst the TV84/86 are "fringe" models.
I have one of those "fabric" sets; it looks truly horrible. Looks like the skin off a rhino's arse, frankly.
Yes, the '5' indicated the standard model, initially with a 17" tube and later 19" starting with the TV75 and continuing right through to the TV135. (I left the trade at this point but I think the numbering changed quite a bit after that).
'3' was the cheaper cabinet model. There wasn't a TV73 although there was the TV80, which was a 'transportable' model but this was followed by the TV83, as you say. I never heard of a TV93 but the cheaper cabinet changed to a plastic moulding for the TV103, 113 and 123 models. They had identical chassis except for the UHF tuner, which was a rotary one. (At ~£30 for the TV105 conversion kit plus labour, it is no surprise that I never saw one of these converted to dual standard but the retrofit for the TV113 was the same rotary tuner.)
Being in the primary service area of Crystal Palace and Croydon we had no reason to sell fringe models but I remember seeing a TV96 on display in a dealer's window in Ireland in 1961, where all the aerials pointed north to Ulster!
There was also a TV97 which included FM radio. There was also a TV77 which I assume was similar.
'8' indicated a 21"/23" tube and there was a TV109 with a plastic cabinet which was a 21" set and looked, quite frankly, grotesque.
There was also a TV77 which I assume was similar.
It was indeed fitted with FM radio (I have one) and there was an 'A' version with some modifications carried out.
At some point I'll be scanning the manuals for Chris to include in his 1960s B/W brochure collection and yes - the big plastic 21" set was not a thing of beauty.
The 21" plastic cabinet set was a hideous thing, the blue steel clips used to secure the back often broke off and if that wasn't bad enough the cabinet colour was just down right awful. I don't think this was an economy model, simply made for folks who were looking for something different.
The TV101 was a 21" remote control model, the push-button tuner was actuated by solenoids. Never seen one.
Till Eulenspiegel.
Looks like I'll have to throw out my TV109 as it apparently doesn't deserve to live ? .
Cheers
Neil.
It's a Bush - of course it deserves to live! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all 🙂
Just so others know what the set in question looks like, here's a quick photo of the TV109 sales leaflet. I rather like the script "twenty-one" on the cabinet.
This thread has been a walk down memory lane, I had forgotten about the cream plastic cabinet sets, I didn’t see many.
I'll have to get the set out and take some pictures of it ?.
Cheers
Neil.
I wonder who the young lady is pictured on the screen. Looks a bit like Anne Shelton.