Ultra 6807 BRC 1500

[McMurdo]

welcome to the forum! The 1500 was my first valve (hybrid) tv repair, I didnt find it too taxing once those lockfit transistors had finished going pop. 200 tv's sounds more like an obsession!

[gec2110]

This is a classic your set looks in very good condition judging by the pcb has not had much use, and are fairly easy to get going again
My mum brought a new Ferguson 1500 with the piano key tuner back in 1970
i think it cost around 60.00 back then

[Colourstar]

Here's my 1974 Alba T1520, which was in a rather derelict state when acquired. Nearly all the electrolytics were bulging or split, so I ended up replacing the lot, along with all of the lockfit transistors. There was also the well known trouble with the tuner buttons not latching due to the plastic collars splitting. The cosmetic side of things still needs attention. The crt has the common problem of plenty of brightness, but very poor focus at the edges. Overall though it still manages a very pleasant and watchable picture. I think this is one of the nicer looking 1500s with a genuine wood (veneer) cabinet too!

This set was the exact model we had in our family in the 70s, until it was superceded by a Ferguson 9000 series colour model.

I'd love to find an example of the Radio Rentals Baird 1500 my grandmother had up until about 1986. It was a 20" model with a grey front and a plastic cabinet with woodgrain printed finish (which had worn through to grey on the top where an ornament sat). It had a neat black tubular metal stand with integrated magazine rack. The set looked tiny, sat in the large living room of a Victorian flat.

Steve

[Nuvistor]

The poor focus at the edges occurred on other B/W large screen TV's in the 70's, presume the CRT's were sourced wherever they could be obtained.

Frank

[McMurdo]

HMV badged versions were usually advertised as being 'With Mazda Tube'. I assume they considered that the upmarket choice.

[Nuvistor]

The pictures on 1960's Mazda B/W CRT's were somewhat brighter than Mullard ones, until that is the cathode went O/C, the Mullard ones just kept on working.

Cathodeon CRT's were also excellent, though I think they may have been rebadged Mullards by the middle 60's.

Frank

[FERNSEH]

Originally Posted by Tazman1966

Towards the end of the production run of the 1500, Thorn started to use "Unitra" branded CRTs imported from Poland (I think). A late model Ferguson 3821 used one. I no longer have this set though.

Not so sure about 1977 but I remember taking delivery of Ferguson branded 1500 series sets in 1976. The sets were equipped with East European valves and CRT except for the 30FL2 which was sourced from Mullard.
In 1973 the 1500 series was modified to conform to BEAB safety requirements. PCB boards were changed from a dark material to something much lighter coloured. More resistant to catching fire.
From the picture quality point of view there were much better sets available from other manufactures.
My favorite was the version marketed by Alba, the T1520.

DFWB.

[pastyboy]

we have a late 1k5 down here 1977 from the caps a blinding ferg 3821 from Neil29 in Wales. Just got a mains hum on sound audible with volume right down to attend to.

[Heatercathodeshort]

Originally Posted by McMurdo

HMV badged versions were usually advertised as being 'With Mazda Tube'. I assume they considered that the upmarket choice.

What a hoot! 25 years earlier no doubt HMV advertising the 1807 would have stated 'with Emiscope tube.' Everything comes around again if you wait long enough. J.

[line sync]

I have a ferguson 3821 fitted with the 1500 chassis and this has a 1977 date inside.
Steve is that "Blakes seven" being shown on your tv ?

Robin

[Colourstar]

Yes it is Blakes Seven, Robin. Well spotted. I am currently watching the series, all on the Alba. It just seems right somehow...

Steve

[Heatercathodeshort]

Great nostalgia these 1500's!

This is the Ultra 6823, a later model with slider controls. It is sitting on Grandma, an Ultra Y84 from eighteen years earlier.

I have the slim brushed aluminium legs for it. I sold it new and was presented with it when the customer purchased a new Toshiba colour TV from me.

It still gives a very good account of itself, fitted with a Mazda Gold Star tube and British made valves, probably one of the last.
The East European tubes had screens that resembled thick blotting paper. When viewed close up the picture almost appeared to be behind the phosphor. They also sported a green varnished P/C board.

This chassis is now believe it or not, 48 years old. Yes, another tribute to good old Ferguson.' Fine sets these Ferguson' and they certainly were. Regards, John.

[FERNSEH]

Although the 1615 series all transistor mono TV was available in 1976 it probably made good business sense to continue production of the 1500 series because those Eastern Bloc components were dirt cheap. Thorn Electrical Industries could not make or buy UK or West European CR tubes at the price they were paying for those Unitra tubes. There is a Russian made A50-120W (50LKxx) CRT upstairs and there no doubt that the screen phosphor is rough.

DFWB

[Steve_P]

I have got a 1600 somewhere. That is a rare beast.....

Cheers,

Steve P.

[Bobdger]

3850 Solid state nasty set. The 6823 1500 was a very good set used a lot for arcade / pub games. phosher burns of the tennis court. I rebuilt a lot of these sets back to television sets in 1978 - 79.
Bob.

[Heatercathodeshort]

Originally Posted by Steve_P

I have got a 1600 somewhere. That is a rare beast.....Cheers,Steve P.

Now that is the only Thorn I did not want to see in my service dept. 16" portable with a similar finned frame output chip [SN76033N] that Fidelity used in those simply terrible record players and music centers.They also burned holes in the back or should I say, melted.

The 1615 was a big improvement but never raised much enthusiasm with me like the 1500 did but saying that, I did sell quite a few. J.

[AidanLunn]

There must be a very exclusive club out there for Ultra 6823s, as it seems only me and John are members! (Short version: I have an Ultra 6823 as well!)

[Philips210]

Hi.

ISTR the vast majority of 1600 chassis models were out on rent. Once the burn-ups started to occur, I believe the rental companies scrapped and destroyed these sets so that they didn't go back into circulation purely on the grounds of safety.
So the 1600 must be a very rare set.

I vaguely remember seeing one in the early 1980's. I'd like to see a few pics of these sets especially the chassis if anyone can remind me of what they looked like.

Regards
Symon

[Heatercathodeshort]

One baffling fault I forgot to mention. The tube base cap usually light blue in colour contains the 'ring trap' spark protection device. This is basically a small ring mounted within the cap and positioned so that it is a very small distance from each pin.

The idea is to discharge CRT flash overs to earth. The problem is the plastic cap falls apart allowing the ring to short out odd pins resulting in no picture, no raster or a brilliant uncontrollable raster depending on which pin or pins are shorted. The cap and ring can be removed due to the fact that flash overs occurred when the receivers were brand new and once settled down very rarely flashed over.
Don't let this catch you out when bringing 1400/1500s back to life in fact any chassis employing the Mazda ring trap tubes. John.

[Philips210]

Hi John.

Yes, I had this on a Philips 300 set where the same thing occured. The light blue plastic cap around the CRT pins, which contains a small ring for flashover protection disintegrated. It was on a 20" Mullard tube (A50 120W/R). I think the 'R' in the type number relates to the integral spark ring surrounding the CRT pins.

Talking about the Mazda Gold Star tubes, am I right in thinking the aquadag coating used to flake off of these more so than the Mullard tubes?

Regards
Symon