tv hifi spotting

[Barry]

My first TV was an old dual standard (VHF 405 line / UHF 625 line) black and white set that used to belong to my parents before they bought a massive Decca colour set (think it was a 21" screen). It was the kind of set which had folding doors to close when you weren't watching it.

Anyway, those old dual standard TVs involved a lot of switching of circuits and hence a lot of contacts involved. With age problems arose, and being all valve they occurred as the set warmed up. I got fed up with having to switch the set on about 5 - 10 minutes before I wanted to watch a programme.

It was replaced with a colour TV, which like yours had a headphone socket (mono only) which I did use. Happy days.

[Alex_UK]

they were all rented of course.

I remember my dad went to Rentavision in 1978 to upgrade to our first colour TV - my granddad & grandmother were coming to stay, and dad didn't want them to think we were poor! My mate worked for Granada rentals late 80's, we had some fun piling about 20 of us in the back of his Transit.

I don't suppose anyone rents these days - I did up until around 2000, but I guess prices dropped as the specs got better and it wasn't worth it. I do remember being very excited when I rented my first NICAM TV/VHS player - proper stereo sound from a telly! It was a Grundig, pretty good if I recall. Before that, there used to be some programs that where "simulcast" if you remember that? Tune in to the sound on the tuner through the hi-fi and watch the pictures on the screen! My how things have moved on!

[Pigmy Pony]

1985's Live Aid came just before programmes started to be aired in Nicam stereo, but it was simultaneously broadcast on BBC TV and Radio 1... so I recorded some of it on my VHS recorder and also on my JVC DD5 cassette recorder. Oh what fun I had trying to sync them afterwards I'd get them something like, but within a few minutes they were so out of sync it was unwatchable... the things we had to do to get what we now take for granted.

[Macca]

I rented until 1999 or 2000. This telly I've got now is only the third one I've ever owned.

I knew this bloke he had a little colour portable. He'd pawn it then buy it back the next week, have it for a week then pawn it again.

Don't know how much he was losing each time he did that but sure it would have been cheaper to rent one or even get one of those coin operated ones.

[Macca]

Forgot I have an early 1990s Trinitron monitor too although not technically a telly as no receiver. I used it for a while when I was between tellies. Still works fine at 34 years old.

[Roy S]

Compact and bijou from Morse (not his). Seems all you need is under the stairs.

[Pigmy Pony]

In the first ever episode Of Morse ("The Dead of Jericho"), the company that made his turntable (called a "Richards" in the story) featured. Apparently the deck was actually a Roksan Xerxes.

[Lawrence001]

1985's Live Aid came just before programmes started to be aired in Nicam stereo, but it was simultaneously broadcast on BBC TV and Radio 1... so I recorded some of it on my VHS recorder and also on my JVC DD5 cassette recorder. Oh what fun I had trying to sync them afterwards I'd get them something like, but within a few minutes they were so out of sync it was unwatchable... the things we had to do to get what we now take for granted.

I have to say I'm disappointed that you didn't foresee the invention of DVD and 5.1 channel sound and just wait until you could get a decent copy of the concert. It would have saved a lot of hassle.

[Macca]

In the first ever episode Of Morse ("The Dead of Jericho"), the company that made his turntable (called a "Richards" in the story) featured. Apparently the deck was actually a Roksan Xerxes.

I wonder if he was able to detect the sagging top plate?

I've never seen the show.

[Pigmy Pony]

I've never seen the show.

You would have been disappointed - Morse never came with lines like "Shut it!" or "We're the Sweeney son, and we haven't had any dinner!" And he never used the word tits.