Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

I'll have to find a picture of the set.

Ferguson produced this set from 1990 to 1991. Like the Teleavia and the Predicta, the upper part of the cabinet was designed to follow the shape of the CRT. The lower part had the appearance of a plinth.

It was a clever piece of design form. However, the set employed the ICC5 chassis and just about every TV engineer in the land could not wait to get rid of them. Someone out there must still have one.

DFWB.

Re: Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

Well I'll get in first and say NO!! Welsh Anorak might have, though.

This set was designed by THOMPSON CSF in France, and it was a very unpleasant wake up call for TV Engineers across the country. I saw one of these in a TV shop in Wigan, but that was years ago.

I thought I was mad...

Cheers,

Steve P

Re: Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

The chassis of the 59P7 was made by Thomson in France or Germany but the cabinet was designed and made in England and final assembly was at the Gosport factory. A typical date label on a set would be G90 XX indicating the build year 1990 at Gosport.

I think one of my customers still has a 59P7. If so I'll take a picture of it.
When you see the pictures you'll see how interesting the set was/is. At least it's appearance.

DFWB.

Re: Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

:o 59P7 yuk! and the ICC5 within it :censored:

Our boss bought loads of these for rentals, and I reckon this set marked the
beginning of the end, since the later Thomson chassis' got even worse.

The design of the thing if I recall correctly meant that once the back was
removed the set had no mechanical stability at all, and once the chassis
was out even less, the whole weight of the tube supported by a flimsy plastic surround.
If you had to deal with one in the field and it was bolted to
its stand it was even worse.
Was this the one that used to burn up around the EW modulator coil?

Nurse? Nurse!......

Re: Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

Hi Stuie,
OK, the ICC5 chassis was awful and the construction of the cabinet was somewhat flimsy but you have to admit it looked different when it was compared with the rather bland looking products offered by other manufactures.
I'll take pictures of a 59P7 tomorrow.

DFWB.

Re: Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

Personally I have repaired loads of ICC5s over the years and never really found them that bad - the odd fault I had to scratch my brain over, but most fairly straightforward. Much better than the current strain of Vestel sets, and certainly a lot better than some of the Sharp nightmares.

Dave

Re: Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

Here are the pictures of the Ferguson 59P7.

Without doubt the cabinet designer was inspired by the shapes of the Predicta and Teleavia 111.

Is the set worth considering as a collectable sometime in the future?

DFWB.

Re: Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

That's interesting David - though not as striking as the Predicta.

There was also a little 14" TX90 in a vaguely similar cabinet (Fergy 14M01???) with a tube-hugging upper section (albeit with a squarer, stepped profile) atop a rectangular box which housed the chassis and transformer. The two bits were designed to look as if they were separate units, a bit like the cheap pseudo-stacking hifi systems of the same era. Coincidentally, I found one of these TX90-based sets in some communal bins only this week, but it gave off a horrible burning smell when I powered it up so I put it back where it came from and it was taken away this morning. Wish I'd taken a picture now:(

Nick.

Re: Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

That looks very much like my main telly! Mine is a 21" set with a TX98 chassis. Bought it ex rental in about 1995 and had to replace the LOPT a couple of years ago.

Really doesn't look anything special to me. Just yet another black plastic box.

Re: Ferguson 59P7: A British Predicta?
 

Sure enough Brian, a very good picture. The set has now gone to a new home. A friend of mine has taken it for his elderly Aunt for use in her bedroom. That's left some space for something else!8-\

Tas