Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

I’ve picked up an Ekco model T526 dual standard tv but There’s very little info about it online I know it has the Pye 368 chassis and was made some time in the 70’s but that’s all I’ve found!, it’s the biggest black & white tv I’ve seen so was curious if it was a domestic set or one aimed more at schools etc has anyone come across this set before?

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

What size is the screen 24inch?
Be careful with the tuning knob, later ones had a die cast quadrant and gear, earlier ones had a die cast gear but the quadrant was thin steel, it eventually strips the gear and jams, forcing the knob breaks the knob as well.
It’s a decent dual standard chassis.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

Yes it’s a 24” Mullard panorama I believe, I wasn’t expending it to be quite as big so it was a bit of a surprise when I collected it, I’ll have to check the tuning knob when I strip it down it seems to move fine with a nice firm clunk so hopefully it will be ok if not it’s another repair on the list

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

That’s a 23” CRT, such as an A59-26W/R, as the edges /corners of the faceplate aren’t “square” enough to be a 24” Supersquare CRT.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

I don't know of an education version, it would have to have an isolation transformer.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

Pye 368 chassis or Group67? The rotary multi-band tuner was a clever idea. The six position tuner was fully adjustable to any Band1, band 3 or UHF channel. Note the Philips sourced knobs.

DFWB.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

The 368 is a nice receiver. The LOPT is the same one as used in the 210/300 series Philips but I never replaced one in the 368. A much nicer chassis with it's solenoid system switch compared with the previous 67 chassis. Very high gain. They picked up BBC2 grain free in Wimbledon with an indoor aerial. [Customers still didn't watch BBC2!] J.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

Dazzle your right 23” my measuring is rubbish it’s the A59-23w

I’ve only had a quick look at it So far but It’s had some repairs before as the solenoid for the standard switch has been disconnected and there is the usual polo mint on the dropper I’ve had a check with my meter the caps are all leaky so I’m going to replace those before I try and power it up.

only thing I have noticed is there seems to have been a Nic in the insulation of the lopt lead just before the anode cap which was then arcing on the negative of the smoothing Cap it’s been bad enough to melt the rubber cap and most likely the reason the tv was relegated to the barn all those years ago but I’ve trimmed the lead back a bit and re-soldered so hopefully it’s not caused to much damage.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

Was this also available as an Invicta?

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

Yes, here is a 19" Invicta (368 chassis) in my collection. A plainer cabinet design to the Ekco.
Rich

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

From memory the Ferranti and Invicta labels lasted till late 60’s possibly early 70’s and then phased out and left just the Pye/Ekco labels. Probably trying to keep costs down with fewer cabinet designs.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

That's the Invicta I remember. Particularly the solenoid-operated system switch.
We had it tuned so as not to go past BBC2 when 'turning over'.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

The Ferranti name was dropped after the dual standard colour TV range.

Invicta continued into the 1970s, but later, it was dropped in favour of Ekco, as the Pye Group's wholesale brand.

Later, the Ekco brand was also dropped.

After Pye Ltd (the radio, audio and TV business) was transferred to Philips control (with the arrival of the G11 CTV chassis), the Pye sales office moved from Cambridge to Philips City House Croydon HQ,

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

Yes - the last Invicta was a downmarket version of the Pye 205 (697 chassis)if you can imagine such a thing.
The receiver in the OP would be from the late Sixties.
As a matter of interset, the Mastermind game which was popular in the Eighties which involved coloured pegs was made by Invicta. The Invicata logo looked very similar to that on the TVs. Was it the same company?

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

I doubt it, Invicta Plastics Ltd was based in Oadby, Leicester and was incorporated in 1951. The company was liquidated in 2016.

A Waitrose supermarket was built on the site and I have shopped there several times in recent years. However, Waitrose decided to close this branch last year!

Invicta Radio Ltd, Radio Works, 37 Parkhurst Road, London, N7 (in 1937, 44 & 52) – a radio manufacturer.

Established in the 1930’s (by C O Stanley, of Pye).

In 1937, the directors were: L A M Hodson, C A Hiscock, F W Tyler, C A W Harmer & C O Stanley.

In 1938, their head office was at St Andrews Road, Cambridge, with a London office at Great Marlborough Street, London, W1.

In 1953, their sales department relocated to: 100 Great Portland Street, London, W1 (still there in 1958 & 62).

Certainly a Pye subsidiary by the 1950’s. Invicta was Pye’s wholesale brand.


The Invicta "rearing horse" logo is also in the coat of arms of Kent County Council.

Meaning “invincible” in Latin.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

When did Pye stop using Pam as one of their brands?

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

I reckon 1965-6, as there were Pam TV sets fitted with the Pye 40F hybrid dual standard mono TV chassis.

Looking at the subtle differences between TV chassis made at Lowestoft (Pye) compared to Southend (Ekco), I'm sure that Pam branded sets (including export versions) after the Pye-Ekco merger in 1960, were subsequently made at Ekco's Southend factory.

The Southend factory closed in 1966, following Pye's financial difficulties and the subsequent takeover of the Pye Group by Philips.

I suspect the dropping of the Pam brand and the closure of the Southend factory in 1966 are connected.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

Two ads from the ERT For the 14th July 1967. I think the PYE was called the Olympic due to the games being held in Mexico in 1968 J.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

What an odd advert, showing the TVs on an outside wall. A few years later and it would look like they'd been dumped there.

Re: Ekco model T526 dual standard tv
 

Ha! Ha! Love it! I bags the middle one. John.