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Old 15th Feb 2016, 12:14 pm   #1
Duke_Nukem
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Default The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Whilst idly surfing I came across a website with a lovely photo of a Cossor TV being delivered to a hotel in Hendon - apparently the first set to be sold, or so Cossor claimed. The website owner kindly sent me the attached image (I reduced it to fit forum) which is from the Cossor Courier for October 1936 - I wonder if this really was the first and also when it was actually delivered as it could even be in September I guess.

Presumably the TV will be a model 137 or 237, but in some kind of packing case - requiring four people to lift it, plus a fifth to carry the CRT (rather him than me!!).

It seems the hotel itself is long gone - I don't know when it was demolished but it seems to have still been there in the early/mid 70s (some photos here).

TTFN,
Jon
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 12:52 pm   #2
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Some of the service documentation for the Cossor 137T dated to sometime early in 1936.
Design and preparation for production would have commenced in 1935.

DFWB.
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 1:16 pm   #3
paulsherwin
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Looking at the location, the hotel probably went when the M1 was extended to Staples Corner in 1977.
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 1:22 pm   #4
peter_scott
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

In 9th October 1936 the Wireless World reported the impressions of an observer in Welwyn who had been watching the early program material from Radiolympia and Alexandra Palace.

The set used was a Baird T5.

http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...azine.htm#1920

Given that the article appeared in the Cossor Courier I wonder if this was the first Cossor Television sold rather than the first television sold. Would Cossor know when other manufacturers sold or received payment for their television sets. Did the BBC pay for any of the equipment they used for Radiolympia?

Peter

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Old 15th Feb 2016, 2:12 pm   #5
Welsh Anorak
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

When it says sold - as opposed to what?
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 2:35 pm   #6
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

The hotel went in 1974, according to this site: http://853blog.com/tag/hendon/

I wonder whether the Cossor was still there until the bitter end?
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 2:59 pm   #7
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Quote:
When it says sold - as opposed to what?
Certainly a number of sets were lent - the Baird T5 mentioned by Peter (the article mentions " I found it rather dull to return to ordinary listening afterwards") and a television was also temporarily set up at Waterloo railway station during Radiolympia. I dare say there were some others too.

Quote:
Given that the article appeared in the Cossor Courier I wonder if this was the first Cossor Television sold rather than the first television sold. Would Cossor know when other manufacturers sold or received payment for their television sets.
This did cross my mind, however I've found no other manufacturer making such a claim. Also, Television and Shortwave World, Oct 36, mentions the hotel claiming to be the first hotel in the world (!) to have a television installed; it was certainly the case that most of the handful of sets sold in time for the opening of the service went to hotels and clubs.

TTFN,
Jon
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 3:12 pm   #8
Welsh Anorak
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Scrolling down the blog site Nick mentions (#6) among the pretty autumnal photos is one of - yes - a surviving TV repair shop! About two thirds down - anyone know it?
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 3:44 pm   #9
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Duke_Nukem View Post
Certainly a number of sets were lent - the Baird T5 mentioned by Peter (the article mentions " I found it rather dull to return to ordinary listening afterwards")
It seems very likely the "Welwyn Observer" who wrote the WW article was a member of staff or at least a freelance journalist but Bairds (or Bush) initially installed a temporary aerial at his house that proved perfectly satisfactory but later replaced it with a permanent one. I suspect that this set was purchased and not simply lent by Bairds for the 9th October article. (Although a favourable discount may have to be factored in.)

Finding it rather dull to return to ordinary listening doesn't need to imply the loss of the T5 although I assume television entertainment (as opposed to test transmissions) was absent in the period between the Radiolympia and the 2nd of November.


Peter

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Old 15th Feb 2016, 3:49 pm   #10
Brian R Pateman
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

According to Google it was still there in May last year.
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 4:07 pm   #11
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

I'm astounded the CRT wasn't packed in any way but appears to be completely unprotected. Not even a tatty second-hand cardboard box.

I wouldn't like to try that these days.

Pete
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 4:16 pm   #12
Nickthedentist
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

I bet they ripped off the carton for the publicity shot. Everyone's seen a cardboard box (or more likely, wooden crate), but that glassware is impressive!
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 4:36 pm   #13
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

The very fragile CRT employed in the Cossor 137T. 14" diameter electrostatic focus and deflection. Morphed into the Dumont 14AP4.

DFWB.
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 4:40 pm   #14
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

FERSEH,

Do you know whether the CRT connector in your pic in post no.13 is the same sort as was used later for the VCR97 type of CRT?
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 4:50 pm   #15
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Hi Steve,
Totally different, much larger, possibly unique to Cossor.

DFWB.

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Old 15th Feb 2016, 4:53 pm   #16
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveCG View Post
Do you know whether the CRT connector in your pic in post no.13 is the same sort as was used later for the VCR97 type of CRT?
Hi Steve,
it's unlike any oscilloscope CRT base, much larger.

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Old 15th Feb 2016, 9:35 pm   #17
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Welsh Anorak View Post
Scrolling down the blog site Nick mentions (#6) among the pretty autumnal photos is one of - yes - a surviving TV repair shop! About two thirds down - anyone know it?
I don't know that shop personally but the last time I was in that area (a few years ago) it was full of small shops like that.

Just checked the online BT phonebook - the shop is still listed as T J Electrics Radio & TV, 174 Stoke Newington Church St, London, N16 0JL . The phone number is the same, only the dialling code has changed. Tel: (020) 7254 1909 / 8360. The sign on the shop has the pre-1990 London dialling code so they've obviously been there a long time.

Small shops are still thriving in parts of London. High population density means lots of customers within walking distance, and high cost of land means not so many large supermarkets. Though some of those old radio and TV shops are only surviving by selling light bulbs, kettles, toasters and general hardware.
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Old 15th Feb 2016, 9:57 pm   #18
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

I have another Cossor Document printed in 1947 that repeats the claim but adds some detail. It claims the order was placed at Radiolympia which ISTR was held in September.
Interestingly enough the September and October issues of Cossor Courier show the factory gearing up to manufacture many sets. The only Cossor Couriers I have before September 1936 are from 1935 and earlier
Jon has kindly offered to scan the relevant parts.
The September issue gives details of the new models suggesting that there were earlier pre sales sets.
Cheers

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Old 15th Feb 2016, 10:58 pm   #19
beery
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

Hi All,
The T5 I restored for another forum member years ago was dated September 1936 inside, however this does not tell us when it was sold.
The pictures on the original CRT are very good by the way, just as good as the EMI sets, but with a 15" CRT.

Cheers
Andy
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Old 16th Feb 2016, 12:16 am   #20
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Default Re: The first proper TV sold - Cossor ?

The words used in the document are:

" Ordered at the Exhibition, the first television receiver actually sold in this country was supplied to the Brent Bridge Hotel. which thus became the first establishment of its kind to offer the new attraction to its patrons"

Make of it what you will

Cheers

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