Could anyone tell me the year the Baird 8734 became available?
I remember my family having one through the seventies till about 80 or 81 when the tube finally gave up and we had a Radio Rental upgrade to a Baird again in similar cabinet – but a darker oak colour with the speaker at the base – but it was remote control – in fact the remote was exactly like the one for a Ferguson TX10 T719 – if anyone know of this set’s (model number) that would be amazing as I cannot research it anywhere.
Hi, if you look at the brochure rental prices above, you will see the 8734 listed. A 3-month initial advance payment of £22.50 required, followed by weekly rental payments of £1.73. You will also note the 8734 was part of the current production range for 1973. So It’s pretty safe to say the model became available that year.
You may not be aware, but Radio Rental was just a badge name, the TV was actually designed and manufactured by Thorn. By this time Thorn had all the brand names like Ferguson, HMV, Ultra, Marconiphone, Baird/ Radio Rentals, among others and went on over the following years to hoover up all the others Granada, D|E|R etc.
The Baird 8734 model number, transposed for Ferguson to 3734, HMV to 2734, Marconiphone to 4734 and Ultra to 6734. The TV was the 9600 series chassis, quite an innovation for the time.
As for the other TV with the TX10 T719 remote,it sounds familiar, I seem to think a D|E|R version used such a remote. I’ll get John, one of our members, to pop along. He’s an ex engineer who worked for Thorn and D|E|R, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of models and remotes of the time, I’m sure he will know and post.
Hi Adam, sounds like you are talking about the 8132 or 8133 if it’s 22″ or 8142/3 if 26″. Lovely floor standing console and the 22″ was quite compact. They used the 9650 chassis for non text and Teletext versions were 9653. The latter used a heavily revised IF/Decoder, the IF was the plugin module later to be seen in the TX9/10. You can find the D.E.R. version in the brochure here, the differences were the speaker grille was slotted wood on RR and black foam on D.E.R. They were available in both Teak and Walnut. Hope this helps.
I think I have just found it delving further into your pages.
Baird Model 8132 – looks spot on 22″ – Mum always said was 21″ (maybe visible screen) – I cannot remember if it was Teletext enabled or not – guessing not, but i’m pretty certain. Strange how when looking at the design in the brochure – the main on/off button, wooden slant under the screen it literally flashes in your mind to make that correct match. Brilliant. Now this would be a rarity if it came up to buy online I guess, and the 8734.
There has been the odd 8132/3 turn up on eBay but I’ve never seen a 8734 or it’s D.E.R. version 5734. The most likely reason is in the 70s and early 80 the Thorn rental companies physically destroyed the sets at the end of their rental life. Rumour is they may have been dropped down old mine shafts. When the 8132 was at the end of it’s rental life they were sold off to the trade and public via Thorn’s Teleprice outlets around the country. BTW the 8734 was available in1972 for the Olympics, both it and 8744 were rented out in huge numbers during the colour boom years.
My memories of Radio Rentals was in Sunderland in Walworth Way { now the bridges ) and the worksop was over the top of the showroom next to the high rise block of flats and one thing I can remember was a test rig made out of Dexion shelving with a CRT on top and all of the various panels attached to the sides readily accessible for repair or adjustment that will have been in 1978 kind regards Bob
Could anyone tell me the year the Baird 8734 became available?
I remember my family having one through the seventies till about 80 or 81 when the tube finally gave up and we had a Radio Rental upgrade to a Baird again in similar cabinet – but a darker oak colour with the speaker at the base – but it was remote control – in fact the remote was exactly like the one for a Ferguson TX10 T719 – if anyone know of this set’s (model number) that would be amazing as I cannot research it anywhere.
Hi, if you look at the brochure rental prices above, you will see the 8734 listed. A 3-month initial advance payment of £22.50 required, followed by weekly rental payments of £1.73. You will also note the 8734 was part of the current production range for 1973. So It’s pretty safe to say the model became available that year.
You may not be aware, but Radio Rental was just a badge name, the TV was actually designed and manufactured by Thorn. By this time Thorn had all the brand names like Ferguson, HMV, Ultra, Marconiphone, Baird/ Radio Rentals, among others and went on over the following years to hoover up all the others Granada, D|E|R etc.
The Baird 8734 model number, transposed for Ferguson to 3734, HMV to 2734, Marconiphone to 4734 and Ultra to 6734. The TV was the 9600 series chassis, quite an innovation for the time.
As for the other TV with the TX10 T719 remote,it sounds familiar, I seem to think a D|E|R version used such a remote. I’ll get John, one of our members, to pop along. He’s an ex engineer who worked for Thorn and D|E|R, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of models and remotes of the time, I’m sure he will know and post.
Really interesting to know. Many thanks, and looking forward to John’s wisdom on that 80’s model. Thanks again.
Hi Adam, sounds like you are talking about the 8132 or 8133 if it’s 22″ or 8142/3 if 26″. Lovely floor standing console and the 22″ was quite compact. They used the 9650 chassis for non text and Teletext versions were 9653. The latter used a heavily revised IF/Decoder, the IF was the plugin module later to be seen in the TX9/10. You can find the D.E.R. version in the brochure here, the differences were the speaker grille was slotted wood on RR and black foam on D.E.R. They were available in both Teak and Walnut. Hope this helps.
John.
Many thanks John
I think I have just found it delving further into your pages.
Baird Model 8132 – looks spot on 22″ – Mum always said was 21″ (maybe visible screen) – I cannot remember if it was Teletext enabled or not – guessing not, but i’m pretty certain. Strange how when looking at the design in the brochure – the main on/off button, wooden slant under the screen it literally flashes in your mind to make that correct match. Brilliant. Now this would be a rarity if it came up to buy online I guess, and the 8734.
There has been the odd 8132/3 turn up on eBay but I’ve never seen a 8734 or it’s D.E.R. version 5734. The most likely reason is in the 70s and early 80 the Thorn rental companies physically destroyed the sets at the end of their rental life. Rumour is they may have been dropped down old mine shafts. When the 8132 was at the end of it’s rental life they were sold off to the trade and public via Thorn’s Teleprice outlets around the country. BTW the 8734 was available in1972 for the Olympics, both it and 8744 were rented out in huge numbers during the colour boom years.
Actually an 8744 did turn up on the forum a little while back so there could still be the odd 8734 out there. See posts here.
Thanks again. Learning a lot here
My memories of Radio Rentals was in Sunderland in Walworth Way { now the bridges ) and the worksop was over the top of the showroom next to the high rise block of flats and one thing I can remember was a test rig made out of Dexion shelving with a CRT on top and all of the various panels attached to the sides readily accessible for repair or adjustment that will have been in 1978 kind regards Bob