Baird 8721 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Rik1967 · 14th Nov 2018, 3:14 pm

I don't know if anyone will remember my post from a few years back. Well the impossible happened today.

I have been desperately trying to find a Baird 8721 for over ten years now and today, I found one, almost identical to the one I need, the only difference is there is black on the control panel instead of chrome.
The set was only a few miles away in a workshop full of old ex-rental sets, in fact every set you can imagine.
I couldn't believe my luck, especially as the only other set I have been hunting was a ITT CD 540, and he had one of those as well !!

So it just goes to show, if you wait and search long enough...

A big thanks to everyone who replied to my original post.....now the restoration begins. Both dead but thats a good sign..

neil29 · 14th Nov 2018, 3:19 pm

Its always nice when you find something you've been looking for. what other sets does he have there and are they for sale..

Cheers
Neil.

Rik1967 · 14th Nov 2018, 3:28 pm

He has a huge collection, but sadly none are currently for sale.

Focus Diode · 14th Nov 2018, 4:14 pm

Fond memories of the Baird set. My grandparents' rented an 8000 series version between 1973-1983. Same style tuner knobs too with the screw type tuning.

We had an identically styled 3000 chassis version between 1977-81 but with standard tuner knobs.

Brian

Rik1967 · 14th Nov 2018, 5:04 pm

Thats interesting Brian, this set apparently has the 8500 Chasis,.but I am sure the one my grandmother had ( hence the hunting ) was valve. Hers.was identical to yours,.did they put different chasis in them? .

Ferguson 2000 · 14th Nov 2018, 7:14 pm

Dear Rik,

An easy way of identifying the early Thorn chassis is the position of the red cut out button on the 3000 series it was at the top left of the back and on the 8000 series in the centre bottom of the back (under the tube). The 3000 cut out is metal (one still in stock) and the 8000 plastic.

It is a long time ago but from memory all the Radio Rentals Baird hybrid sets had 3 figure model numbers (700 etc). We did have a few other makes of colour sets eg the GEC range.

I may still have a 3703 or 4703 somewhere...................

Best wishes, Geoffrey.

Rik1967 · 14th Nov 2018, 7:25 pm

Thanks Geofrey

I have sent you a message

Heatercathodeshort · 14th Nov 2018, 8:02 pm

1 Philco
2 HMV
3 Ferguson
4 Marconi
5 DER
6 Ultra
7 ?
8 Radio Rentals
9?
10 ?
John.

jayceebee · 14th Nov 2018, 8:28 pm

7 was Multisignals which later became Multibroadcast and then Focus in the North of England.

0 was Radio Rentals Contacts which was Schools equipment, Viewdata/Prestel terminals.

I don't remember 9 but Thorn/BRC did release some low end radiograms with Columbia branding, not sure what prefix was used but may have possibly been 1 shared with Philco.

John.

Focus Diode · 15th Nov 2018, 7:00 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rik1967

Thats interesting Brian, this set apparently has the 8500 Chasis,.but I am sure the one my grandmother had ( hence the hunting ) was valve. Hers.was identical to yours,.did they put different chasis in them? .

My grandparent's model was a 17" 8000 chassis version. From Radio Rentals we had a near identically styled 3000 19" model.

Brian

Welsh Anorak · 17th Nov 2018, 5:28 pm

The 22" 3000 set looked like that with the dated looking 14X CRT. The CRT's rounded shape gave it away, but it didn't need the pincushion transductor. Mind you, Thorn said that about the 25" 2000 which very clearly did!
Ref post #5, Thorn never made a colour chassis with valves so I think you might be mistaken with that.

14th Nov 2018, 3:14 pm	#1
Rik1967 Triode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Isle of Wight, UK. Posts: 39	Baird 8721 I don't know if anyone will remember my post from a few years back. Well the impossible happened today. I have been desperately trying to find a Baird 8721 for over ten years now and today, I found one, almost identical to the one I need, the only difference is there is black on the control panel instead of chrome. The set was only a few miles away in a workshop full of old ex-rental sets, in fact every set you can imagine. I couldn't believe my luck, especially as the only other set I have been hunting was a ITT CD 540, and he had one of those as well !! So it just goes to show, if you wait and search long enough... A big thanks to everyone who replied to my original post.....now the restoration begins. Both dead but thats a good sign.. Attached Thumbnails

14th Nov 2018, 3:19 pm	#2
neil29 Heptode Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Newport, Gwent, UK. Posts: 962	Re: Baird 8721 Its always nice when you find something you've been looking for. what other sets does he have there and are they for sale.. Cheers Neil.

14th Nov 2018, 3:28 pm	#3
Rik1967 Triode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Isle of Wight, UK. Posts: 39	Re: Baird 8721 He has a huge collection, but sadly none are currently for sale.

14th Nov 2018, 4:14 pm	#4
Focus Diode Octode Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Borough of Gateshead, UK. Posts: 1,420	Re: Baird 8721 Fond memories of the Baird set. My grandparents' rented an 8000 series version between 1973-1983. Same style tuner knobs too with the screw type tuning. We had an identically styled 3000 chassis version between 1977-81 but with standard tuner knobs. Brian Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Focus Diode; 14th Nov 2018 at 4:19 pm.

14th Nov 2018, 7:14 pm	#6
Ferguson 2000 Tetrode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 80	Re: Baird 8721 Dear Rik, An easy way of identifying the early Thorn chassis is the position of the red cut out button on the 3000 series it was at the top left of the back and on the 8000 series in the centre bottom of the back (under the tube). The 3000 cut out is metal (one still in stock) and the 8000 plastic. It is a long time ago but from memory all the Radio Rentals Baird hybrid sets had 3 figure model numbers (700 etc). We did have a few other makes of colour sets eg the GEC range. I may still have a 3703 or 4703 somewhere................... Best wishes, Geoffrey.

14th Nov 2018, 5:04 pm	#5
Rik1967 Triode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Isle of Wight, UK. Posts: 39	Re: Baird 8721 Thats interesting Brian, this set apparently has the 8500 Chasis,.but I am sure the one my grandmother had ( hence the hunting ) was valve. Hers.was identical to yours,.did they put different chasis in them? . Attached Thumbnails

14th Nov 2018, 7:25 pm	#7
Rik1967 Triode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Isle of Wight, UK. Posts: 39	Re: Baird 8721 Thanks Geofrey I have sent you a message

14th Nov 2018, 8:02 pm	#8
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Baird 8721 1 Philco 2 HMV 3 Ferguson 4 Marconi 5 DER 6 Ultra 7 ? 8 Radio Rentals 9? 10 ? John.

14th Nov 2018, 8:28 pm	#9
jayceebee Heptode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Durham, County Durham, UK. Posts: 640	Re: Baird 8721 7 was Multisignals which later became Multibroadcast and then Focus in the North of England. 0 was Radio Rentals Contacts which was Schools equipment, Viewdata/Prestel terminals. I don't remember 9 but Thorn/BRC did release some low end radiograms with Columbia branding, not sure what prefix was used but may have possibly been 1 shared with Philco. John.

17th Nov 2018, 5:28 pm	#11
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,916	Re: Baird 8721 The 22" 3000 set looked like that with the dated looking 14X CRT. The CRT's rounded shape gave it away, but it didn't need the pincushion transductor. Mind you, Thorn said that about the 25" 2000 which very clearly did! Ref post #5, Thorn never made a colour chassis with valves so I think you might be mistaken with that. __________________ Glyn www.gdelectronics.wales