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2nd Nov 2017, 11:29 am | #1 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK.
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Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
Hello,
I've never seen this particular Murphy Astra (first series - V600 model numbers) set, either "in the flesh" or in any "Murphy News" publications. Does anyone know if this was a standard model in their Astra V6xx series or is it a special, made for a specific organisation? |
2nd Nov 2017, 1:00 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK.
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
It might well be a special model made for a rental company. Another thought. Is it a receiver made for the British Relay wired TV system? I believe unlike the Rediffusion wired TV system where the station selector was on the wall, on BRW TV receivers the station selector was actually on the TV control panel.
Murphy Radio Limited was a major supplier of TV sets to BRW. DFWB. |
2nd Nov 2017, 6:13 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING.
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
I thought the same David or a general basic rental models for Murphy dealers. Looks nice. John.
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2nd Nov 2017, 6:44 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 3,621
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
This is the only "rental market" set I have seen, using the Astra Mark 2 chassis, but with a much simplified rotary (rather than pushbutton) VHF turret tuner and a cheaper cabinet.
Model V739. |
2nd Nov 2017, 8:16 pm | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Durham, County Durham, UK.
Posts: 640
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
I served my apprenticeship with a Murphy dealer in the early 70s, I thought I'd seen just about every Astra model variant but admit that one was new to me when it popped up one Ebay.
Did you buy it? |
2nd Nov 2017, 8:26 pm | #6 | |
Dekatron
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Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK.
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
Quote:
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17th Nov 2017, 1:05 am | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Devizes, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 650
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
I also searched through all of my Murphy literature for this TV and could not come up with anything as an exact match.
Being so curios about it, I contacted the seller and after giving instructions on how the TV should be packed for shipping and what to be specifically careful with it was purchased. The seller had quite a bit of trouble with getting a courier to pick it up from the remote location, but eventually it was shipped to me. I have to say that the packing was VERY substantial and she had followed my guidelines perfectly with all of the correct markings on the box. However, Your average courier driver has no time to read labels and cares even less for what is actually being transported and so the TV arrived as a kit of parts! The box had suffered some very rough treatment and had clearly been dropped heavily. Amazingly the tube, although completely loose inside the cabinet had not been broken, and it has reasonable emission! Actually I think I was lucky that it was just the cabinet that came apart which is repairable due to the way these sets were originally made and there will be hardly a trace that anything has ever happened to it. The only real item that is beyond saving is the thin plastic mask around the tube which was already damaged before my purchase, but I may be able to source a replacement from a fellow Murphy collector. So the burning question: What is it? Well it is a model TM4 XM known as a 'terminal'. These were for rental companies like British Relay Wireless (BRW). It has a normal coax aerial socket on the back rather than an octal or other style plug. The power cable and fuse shield is different to the standard models of this time. It is TV only and does not have the optional VHF radio as some models did. So it seems to be a V659X with modifications. The X suffix meaning that it has a 405/625 switch and associated circuitry. Does anyone who worked for BRW know of this set ? I have added some pictures to show what it arrived like and some work being done to put the cabinet back together. You don't have all of this hassle and problems when you buy from radio meetings... Mike...
__________________
Mike Barker. |
17th Nov 2017, 11:10 am | #8 |
Banned
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Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines.
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
Love the tartan work table Mike.
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17th Nov 2017, 6:37 pm | #9 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Newport, Gwent, UK.
Posts: 962
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
I was tempted more than once to bid for the set but never bothered in the end. but its good to know its in safe hands now.
Cheers Neil. |
17th Nov 2017, 9:00 pm | #10 |
Pentode
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 196
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
If it was a British Relay model it would have an "Elcon" plug with cable attached to it like the one in these pictures. BRW sets never had tuners, they had "front ends" which were basically glorified switching units which would select a specific pair of wires from this plug.
I think Rediffusion sets may have had co-ax sockets. Any Rediffusion experts out there? |
17th Nov 2017, 10:10 pm | #11 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK.
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
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17th Nov 2017, 10:39 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK.
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
From page 258 of the 1970/71 Radio and Television servicing book. The BRC 680 series terminal unit. It would appear that the Top Rank cable TV system like Rediffusion employed an octal input plug.
DFWB. |
18th Nov 2017, 11:31 am | #13 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Fenwick, Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 127
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
Hello.
The BRW relay version would be an M19/11 with a 12 pin Jones plug. There were other versions but I'd need to speak to a friend of mine who worked for BRW to get the information. |
19th Nov 2017, 5:11 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK.
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
Courtesy of Mike Barker, I've just had a look at the chassis used in this TV.
It's a standard V659X chassis, with a modification to allow use with a slot meter. The small there pole socket is in the mains live feed from the on-off switch. It is currently bridged out with a short white PVC insulated wire link. Other than that, it's a standard off-air receiver, fitted with a direct line sync plug-in unit (a small PCB). The cabinet back is also modified to accept a suitable slot meter. |
19th Nov 2017, 10:27 pm | #15 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Fenwick, Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 127
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
Hello.
I've just been told its a standard British Relay "slot mod". The other clue will be two holes aligned vertically on the back cover for the slot meter. Sorry I have just read the previous comment which confirms the information I have been told. |
26th Nov 2017, 4:08 pm | #16 |
Diode
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 7
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Re: Unusual 19" Murphy Astra V6xx series model
Yep, know them very well - I used to repair them when I worked at British Relay in the '60s
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