405 portable - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

9th Aug 2010, 7:45 pm

When I was a kid in about 1974 I had a 405 only 12" portable (mains only I think) it had a single PCB and was all valve except perhaps the tuner. Recalling this I am amazed at how few a number of vales that where required to make a TV. Any ideas as to what make/model it may have been, just for nostalgia.

Steve_P · 9th Aug 2010, 7:58 pm

Thorn gave these away with every colour set they rented in the 60s. It was the 980 chassis. The last 405 only chassis.

Cheers,

Steve P.

murphyv310 · 9th Aug 2010, 8:06 pm

Hi.
The Thorn 980 (12 inch) & 981 (16 inch) are very important sets, these were the last 405 line "only" sets to be manufactured, they had valve tuners with frame grid valves. These sets were super sensitive albeit with slightly reduced bandwidth but often would resolve a picture where others would fail.
A set to keep and restore if you can find one!

petertheorgan · 9th Aug 2010, 8:18 pm

here is mine

murphyv310 · 9th Aug 2010, 8:57 pm

Hi Peter.
Cracking little sets aren't they, I've the 16 inch version, a little tatty but what a performer, way better than the raved about 1400 series on 405 with a chassis that is in the bottom of the cabinet that is less troubled with carbonisation than the swing out 1400.

Andrew2 · 10th Aug 2010, 9:53 am

Ugh, don't mention the 1400! I was a 16 year-old apprentice when they were current and I'm sure they traumatised me for ever. Amazing that from that hideous thing, Thorn should move onto the splendid 1500!
Sorry, diverting the thread...

Welsh Anorak · 10th Aug 2010, 12:27 pm

Hi
There were a lot of these about. We used to get a steady stream from the auctions, car boots and so on after the 405 switch off around 1986 because they couldn't get a picture! They looked modern even though they were around fifteen years old.
Glyn

Tazman1966 · 10th Aug 2010, 12:38 pm

Nice story Glyn. I bet you never kept any though

Here's one of mine in this thread here.

SPCh · 10th Aug 2010, 6:20 pm

This was well after MY days in the business.
It looks so .... economical.
What was the valve line-up, and do you hace a circuit diagram ?

SPCh

alynG1TBL · 10th Aug 2010, 7:06 pm

I used to "convert" them into a 'scope style display;- two audio amps to the the scan coils plus a colour wheel in front ideal for discos etc Alyn

10th Aug 2010, 7:31 pm

Thanks all, the memory (singular) came flooding back. Mine was mounted on a bit of plywood, even than I prefered the inside to the programming!

9th Aug 2010, 7:45 pm	#1
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	405 portable When I was a kid in about 1974 I had a 405 only 12" portable (mains only I think) it had a single PCB and was all valve except perhaps the tuner. Recalling this I am amazed at how few a number of vales that where required to make a TV. Any ideas as to what make/model it may have been, just for nostalgia.

9th Aug 2010, 7:58 pm	#2
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,645	Re: 405 portable Thorn gave these away with every colour set they rented in the 60s. It was the 980 chassis. The last 405 only chassis. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

9th Aug 2010, 8:06 pm	#3
murphyv310 Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK. Posts: 5,422	Re: 405 portable Hi. The Thorn 980 (12 inch) & 981 (16 inch) are very important sets, these were the last 405 line "only" sets to be manufactured, they had valve tuners with frame grid valves. These sets were super sensitive albeit with slightly reduced bandwidth but often would resolve a picture where others would fail. A set to keep and restore if you can find one! __________________ Cheers, Trevor. MM0KJJ. RSGB, GQRP, WACRAL, K&LARC. Member

9th Aug 2010, 8:18 pm	#4
petertheorgan Hexode Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bromley, Kent, UK. Posts: 332	Re: 405 portable here is mine Attached Thumbnails

9th Aug 2010, 8:57 pm	#5
murphyv310 Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK. Posts: 5,422	Re: 405 portable Hi Peter. Cracking little sets aren't they, I've the 16 inch version, a little tatty but what a performer, way better than the raved about 1400 series on 405 with a chassis that is in the bottom of the cabinet that is less troubled with carbonisation than the swing out 1400. __________________ Cheers, Trevor. MM0KJJ. RSGB, GQRP, WACRAL, K&LARC. Member

10th Aug 2010, 9:53 am	#6
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,038	Re: 405 portable Ugh, don't mention the 1400! I was a 16 year-old apprentice when they were current and I'm sure they traumatised me for ever. Amazing that from that hideous thing, Thorn should move onto the splendid 1500! Sorry, diverting the thread... __________________ Andy G1HBE.

10th Aug 2010, 12:27 pm	#7
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,928	Re: 405 portable Hi There were a lot of these about. We used to get a steady stream from the auctions, car boots and so on after the 405 switch off around 1986 because they couldn't get a picture! They looked modern even though they were around fifteen years old. Glyn

10th Aug 2010, 12:38 pm	#8
Tazman1966 Nonode Join Date: May 2006 Location: St Albans, Herts, UK. Posts: 2,194	Re: 405 portable Nice story Glyn. I bet you never kept any though Here's one of mine in this thread here. __________________ All the very best, Tas

10th Aug 2010, 6:20 pm	#9
SPCh Rest in Peace Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 345	Re: 405 portable This was well after MY days in the business. It looks so .... economical. What was the valve line-up, and do you hace a circuit diagram ? SPCh

10th Aug 2010, 7:06 pm	#10
alynG1TBL Tetrode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Severn Valley,Worcestershire, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 56	Re: 405 portable I used to "convert" them into a 'scope style display;- two audio amps to the the scan coils plus a colour wheel in front ideal for discos etc Alyn

10th Aug 2010, 7:31 pm	#11
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: 405 portable Thanks all, the memory (singular) came flooding back. Mine was mounted on a bit of plywood, even than I prefered the inside to the programming!