Eric & Ernie Docu drama - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Mike-repairman · 2nd Jan 2011, 10:17 pm

I really enjoyed the program, and looking out for possible errors in vintage equipment was just a bonus.

The home console TV had a Pye badge on it (just visible in one of the pics), but I've no idea which model it was; as some have suggested it could have contained a modern monitor or been done post production.

I think you would have had to be pretty near the transmitter for a 'V' set top aerial to work. Sets didn't have the 'noise figures' of our modern equipment. I suppose the moving around of the aerial added a bit to the comedy aspect. I'm sure we've all done that before in the past, but with more modern equipment.

McMurdo · 2nd Jan 2011, 10:48 pm

The lovely Pye shown in the screen capture was actually one in the grand house where Mrs Bartholemew worked as charlady, she was shown curiously opening the cabinet doors, admiring it and then dusting it lustfully. (!) It wasn't shown with a picture.

It was only for Eric and Ernie's inaugral BBC TV show that Eric's parents were seen taking delivery of a mystery TV of their own which was fetched out of a charming period TV van and which suffered a composited digital picture.

Mike-repairman · 2nd Jan 2011, 10:58 pm

One thing I noticed was that the console set was taken out of a large cardboard box; I can't ever remember a set being delivered in a box; I'm sure that they were always set up in the TV shop and delivered out of the box to the customer.
In those days it was pot luck whether it worked when first plugged in and most would have had to be run up on the bench for a while before being delivered.
I remember out first set (a Pye) went back to the shop after failing a few times in the first few days and was replaced by a Ferguson in the end; that was relatively reliable for a woody after it settled down. I remember being told it cost about £60; an absolute fortune in those days.

Danny · 3rd Jan 2011, 12:12 am

The Pye sets weren't the same. The Pye in the grand house was a VT4CD and the smaller 9" one was a BV30C/LV30C. Both sets have side thumb wheel controls, the VT4CD being the younger of the two. The brown console on the stage looked a bit EMI to me but I might be wrong.

Danny

Mike-repairman · 3rd Jan 2011, 1:32 pm

Thanks for the info Danny; there's a BV30C on the 'radiomuseum' site.

For anyone who hasn't seen the documentary it's on iplayer...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...nd_the_Scenes/

Just a few more screen shots from that program for the camera enthusiasts...

2nd Jan 2011, 10:17 pm	#21
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: Eric & Ernie Docu drama I really enjoyed the program, and looking out for possible errors in vintage equipment was just a bonus. The home console TV had a Pye badge on it (just visible in one of the pics), but I've no idea which model it was; as some have suggested it could have contained a modern monitor or been done post production. I think you would have had to be pretty near the transmitter for a 'V' set top aerial to work. Sets didn't have the 'noise figures' of our modern equipment. I suppose the moving around of the aerial added a bit to the comedy aspect. I'm sure we've all done that before in the past, but with more modern equipment.

2nd Jan 2011, 10:48 pm	#22
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,273	Re: Eric & Ernie Docu drama The lovely Pye shown in the screen capture was actually one in the grand house where Mrs Bartholemew worked as charlady, she was shown curiously opening the cabinet doors, admiring it and then dusting it lustfully. (!) It wasn't shown with a picture. It was only for Eric and Ernie's inaugral BBC TV show that Eric's parents were seen taking delivery of a mystery TV of their own which was fetched out of a charming period TV van and which suffered a composited digital picture. __________________ Kevin

2nd Jan 2011, 10:58 pm	#23
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: Eric & Ernie Docu drama One thing I noticed was that the console set was taken out of a large cardboard box; I can't ever remember a set being delivered in a box; I'm sure that they were always set up in the TV shop and delivered out of the box to the customer. In those days it was pot luck whether it worked when first plugged in and most would have had to be run up on the bench for a while before being delivered. I remember out first set (a Pye) went back to the shop after failing a few times in the first few days and was replaced by a Ferguson in the end; that was relatively reliable for a woody after it settled down. I remember being told it cost about £60; an absolute fortune in those days.

3rd Jan 2011, 12:12 am	#24
Danny Heptode Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Walsham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 516	Re: Eric & Ernie Docu drama The Pye sets weren't the same. The Pye in the grand house was a VT4CD and the smaller 9" one was a BV30C/LV30C. Both sets have side thumb wheel controls, the VT4CD being the younger of the two. The brown console on the stage looked a bit EMI to me but I might be wrong. Danny

3rd Jan 2011, 1:32 pm	#25
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: Eric & Ernie Docu drama Thanks for the info Danny; there's a BV30C on the 'radiomuseum' site. For anyone who hasn't seen the documentary it's on iplayer... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...nd_the_Scenes/ Just a few more screen shots from that program for the camera enthusiasts... Attached Thumbnails