Pye V17TCDL

[thermionic]

Hello all.

Passing a second hand furniture shop today, I noticed this set in the window. It is one of Pye's 'luxury 17' range of console sets.

Seems to be pretty good externally, but it was difficult to get close enough to the back of the set to see if it's nice & dusty inside. Enquries to the owner brought forth the asking price of £100!

He mentioned that somebody was interested in it 'to fit a colour TV inside', so I would like to save this set from the ravages of any attempt at downright vandalism!

So, I would like you opinions as to what sort of price would be reasonable for it, and if this chassis ( which seems to be a devopment of the earlier V14) and lopty/ tube situation is like.

Thanks in advance. SimonT.

[murphyv310]

Hello.
Off the top of my head I think its an up market VT17. These sets perform well once restored/repaired, the model you have seen is quite rare and well worth saving.
go in with nice shiny tenners and start at £60, often the look of cash works wonders.
Good luck.
Trevor

[Peter.N.]

..or offer to take the chassis and tube off his hands.

[Brian R Pateman]

Trevor's right, it is the "up-market" VT17.

Nice sets and pretty rare these days.

[Heatercathodeshort]

Easy set to restore but the flywheel sync circuit can be a bit sensitive. It's similar to the infamous V14 line circuit. Saying that, with todays good quality capacitors and diodes it should not present a problem. J.

[thermionic]

Thanks for all your help. I won't be able to get back there until saturday, so I hope it's still there. I will go in with some shiny cash,as Trevor has suggested, and see what happens. Update on saturday night!! Cheers. SimonT.

[thermionic]

Hi all.

Well - the set is mine!

Cost me £80 in the end, and that was a bit of a struggle. I took a screwdriver in with me today and had the back off to have a quick peek at the chassis. All nice and dusty with a full complement of valves. Original Cathodeon tube in residence, and a couple of dropper sections replaced years ago.

Looks as if may have been fired up recently though, as the mains cable from the chassis to the fixed 2 pin plug has been cut and stripped.

I will pick it up on Tuesday, as I had too much work related gear in the back of the van today. I will post a couple of photos when I have it back in my workshop.

Cheers. SimonT.

[Heatercathodeshort]

The Cathodeon tube made by PYE themselves has a reputation for long life. The screen chemical make up is a bit thick like blotting paper but they give a bright picture. John.

[murphyv310]

Hi.
I have a VT17 which has a very nice local history. I have had it about a year and since doing all the usual repairs it has been 100%, no problems with the line etc, mine has a Mullard MW43-69 and it gives an excellent picture.
Good luck and don't forget some photos.
Trevor

[thermionic]

Hi.

I just managed to pick up my set before Christmas, so here are a few photos. As you can see, the cabinet is in pretty good condition, there are a few superficial scratches on the top, which seem to be recent, but apart from them and a few worm holes on the rear ( which have now been treated) all seems good!

[thermionic]

.......And a few more.

Here is some evidence of work carried out on the chassis.

A little bit of 'droppery',

a substitute rectifier (the once ubiquitous BY100 ) replacing the original metal rectifier,


a few capacitor replacements around the frame stage (1960's vintage I guess)

and curiously two legs snipped off a twin diode package that has not been replaced by anything.

Comments please!

SimonT.

[thermionic]

And finally, a rear shot with chassis in situ.



SimonT.

[stubbyeddy]

Hi these are lovely looking sets!

The case looks just the my Ekco TCG316, beautiful walnut inlay on theses they seam to fit into a period room quite effortlessly. I was only "allowed" one set to live in the living room so i chose the Ekco. My partner now loves it as an attractive piece of furniture!

[murphyv310]

Hi Simon.
Quite a tidy set! These repairs are what I would expect from a reasonably well used set.
My VT17 had been modded with an "extra" tuner, the PCC84 was used as another RF amp as the set was used in a poor signal area with a loft aerial. The dropper was covered in sections and when i got it I recapped all those Hunts & Wax types.
I did away with the metal rectifier and fitted a PY33 valve HT rect, in this way I was able to dispence with 30v off the dropper for the heaters and improve reliability due to slow build up of HT.
The set works very well and I am sure yours will as well.
Good luck.
Trevor

[chipp1968]

That seams well worth the effort saving .Lovely proper telly . I had to let my set similar to that go recently which was a shame due to lack of space