Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

I do remember something about the restrictions but cannot remember if if was UK regs, PAL license problems or something else. The Hitachi with full PAL decoder was a 19 inch set, one of the larger Japanese models.
Long time ago, surprising, or not how much I have forgotten.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

I remember our first colour TV was a brand new 22" Decca Bradford (1974), it was certainly a good British set of it's time, and was reliable for at least the first five years.

After this it did have a few breakdowns though, while our neighbours Sony outlived the Decca by quite a few years, and never needed attention from new!

I believe that was the case, I think that was the reason for several Japanese company's opening factories in the UK, Panasonic, Sony, Sharp & Tatung are some that come to mind.

:beer:
Mark

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

19" was maximum allowed in the country at that time.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

What the Japanese were also good at was listening to criticism. The first batches of CNP-190 weren't great picture quality wise, the decoder was based on the smaller 15" CFP-470 and 17" CSP-680 and struggled with the 19" CRT unless the lighting in the room was subdued.

The Hitachi rep when he next called was shown a set sat next to a 20" Murphy CV2011 it's competition at the time and duly noted it's shortcomings. We didn't expect anything to happen but just a few months later a set with a redesigned decoder arrived and the rest was history. Might have just been coincidence but I would like to think the small dealer I worked for at the time had some effect.

John.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

I believe Slidertogrid is correct, it was due to import controls, at the time it was perceived there was no market for small screen colour sets and this was a good way of protecting UK manufacturers.....Got that one wrong !
Is this the Hitachi Model that had a stand by mode were a low voltage was permanently supplied to the CRT Heaters to provide a almost instant pic on switch on ?
The last time I looked at one in anger, must be nearly 30 years ago, poor convergence and flat CRT if I remember correctly.
Ken G6HZG

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

Yes that's right Ken, mains switch on the side. Luckily I've got a good tube, one thing that i was worried about with that set up.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

Did the 192 use that type of circuit? I owned a 192 but can’t remember.
I advised customers to always turn it off completely on the 190.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

Weird switch off coloured 'rose' effect if I remember correctly. J.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

That's right John, I must record it when I do a video of the convergence on it.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

Yes I remember that also, I think it was because degassing was actioned at switch off rather than switch on so as not to spoil the instant on picture?

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

The lovely Wendy ...

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

Pictures of the user manual of the CNP192 that cost £217.95p

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

And specification.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

Thanks for posting Geoff.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

The CNP192 TV, it has reduced vertical scan, the only fault in over 45 years. Similar to the CNP195 of the subject line.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

It's not surprising that these gained a good reputation when you consider a 17" Thorn 8000 was a few pence under £200 at the same time. Worth the extra £20 for the Hitachi I'd say!

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

£200 in 1973 equates to £2437.Today if the Bank of England inflation calculator is correct.. That extra £20 would be an extra £243. in today's money! No wonder rental was so popular!

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

I thought the 17” Thorn 8000 sets were around £180 when first sold...? I was working in a TV dealership at the time.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

It's interesting to see that a few forum members have these sets, a testament to their quality. Couldn't imagine there are as many 8000's still, least of all never having had the back off.

Re: Hitachi CNP195.
 

I agree, a lot of 8000 sets were looking a bit cooked with tubes past their best by the early 1980s. My mate Mick has one in his collection but I don't know what it's like though.
The 8500 was much better. I have two in my collection one of which has been family owned from new. I can't say it's never had the back off though...
At least when the 8000s were fairly new they gave reasonable pictures. Other 18" sets were not as good. Pye CT200 ? The one with the picture size control on the front labelled "Brightness" ;D