Derwent TV - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Hunts smoothing bomb · 21st Jul 2006, 1:57 pm

Hi all,

Does anyone know who the manafacturer Derwent is as I have an early 60's set either 17 or 19 inch screen (can't remember which) It is a 405 only set..... who made the chassis as mine has height problems and the name isn't in Radio and TV servicing volumes.

Cheers
Lee

peter_sol · 21st Jul 2006, 2:37 pm

Hi
As Derwent were unique, I think you will find that the chassis were made by Plessey.
Not a lot of help though

Cheers

Peter.

FERNSEH · 21st Jul 2006, 3:04 pm

Wasn't Derwent Television owned by a company called Central Equipment Limited? I'm sure they made their own sets.
Of course I could be wrong.

DFWB.

tvden · 21st Jul 2006, 5:47 pm

Hi all something at the back of my mind says Derwent were rental sets with Plessey chassis but I could well be wrong regards TVden

Heatercathodeshort · 21st Jul 2006, 8:43 pm

Hello,
This has cropped up before around 4 months ago I think. DERWENT as Fernesh has stated were known as 'Central Equipment' of Perivale. They made their own sets to the greater extent, renting them through their own outlets. They had a branch on Wimbledon Bridge. They were considered to be a bit 'up market' and being privately owned gave a very good 'homely' service.
Later models were rebadged Philips models. They were taken over by VISHIONHIRE a Philips company and faded away like so many others.. Regards, John. P.S. They had NO connections with DER.

FERNSEH · 21st Jul 2006, 10:31 pm

Derwent TV did have a branch in Newcastle. I'm certain that the compnay was still making their own sets up to 1962/3. I don't think a dual standard range of sets was ever made, perhaps convertibles?

As HKshort says, they were a more upmarket TV rental company.

DFWB.

G3UPW/PETER · 24th Sep 2010, 3:51 pm

Hi,

Just saw about Derwent. I worked for Derwent from 1945 to 1984 when we closed Perivale, if anyone's interested in the History. Managing Director was Henry Fletcher.

Began in 1937 at Perivale as Lease-A-Radio. Head office was Central Equipment Ltd., London Road, Liverpool. The name DERWENT comes from the Liverpool building which had in the doorway the name Derwent. Henry decided to keep the name. It started the trend to call nearly all our TV models names in the Lake district.

chipp1968 · 27th Sep 2010, 8:36 am

That's interesting. There was another thread about a Bakelite radio. The same set seemed to have at least 3 different name badges on different examples. Mine is a Derwent. I didn't realise it was a rental set.
I would like to see a pic of the TV

Sideband · 27th Sep 2010, 11:33 am

I seem to recall in the dim and distant past (I would have been about 9) that they had an outlet in Streatham Hill (London SW16) about a mile from where I used to live. Reason I remember this is that an engineer who worked there lived a few doors up from me and I used to play outside with his two kids. Once when it was raining hard he let us play indoors and he had the back off their TV....a Derwent rental set. I was sufficiently interested even in those early days to watch what he was doing.

Many years later I was aware that the shop had become Visionhire so that must be what happened to them. I remember the Philips 'Derwent' sets but prior to that, I think they were Plessey. 62/63 suggested by Fernseh would be about right date-wise.

SB

Dr-Watts · 28th Sep 2010, 11:07 pm

The radio is mine, still trying to find time to take it apart and get it running.
Dr. Dave

Steve_P · 28th Sep 2010, 11:21 pm

Didn't OldTickTock have one too?

Cheers,

Steve P.

oldticktock · 29th Sep 2010, 6:59 am

My time flies, certainly did that was when I joined 11 months ago. Sill not been able to find out any info about it other than what's already been mentioned.

The Tv's and radios keep popping up, did'nt you just get a derwent TV too Steve?

Steve_P · 29th Sep 2010, 9:50 am

Sort of. It's a Philips 210 chassis with Philips crossed off and Derwent written on in crayon, so to speak.

Cheers,

Steve P.

tellyman · 29th Sep 2010, 4:07 pm

I only ever saw one of these Derwent sets. Got called out to a flat above a chinese restaurant in Southsea back in the mid seventies. I remember I couldn't repair it as it had E series valves in the uhf tuner instead of the normal P series that I carried.

G3UPW/PETER · 24th Oct 2010, 9:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipp1968

Thats interesting.There was another thread about a Bakelite radio

Derwent made 2 Bakelite Radios. We called them the Major. We did some with Cream cabinets. Raymond Electric also made them they shared a part of the factory. Early models had the cabinets with speaker grills along left hand side, and all corners were rounded. Gamages at one time sold the early model. DC and AC models were made. Valves were U50/EL33/(6F6)/ 6Q7 EBC33 EF39 ECH35. DC models used 6.3volt .2amp heaters During the war radios were made with wooden Chassis and a rough box as cabinet.

HENRYARNOLD · 1st Dec 2010, 1:34 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by G3UPW/PETER

Ref Derwent at Perivale, can I help?

Hi Peter,
Did you work at Perivale or up at Liverpool? I am Henry Fletcher's grandson [the founder] and at some point in the near future I'm putting together something for the family about Derwent. It would be good to correspond.

Henry Arnold

G3UPW/PETER · 29th Jan 2011, 10:46 am

Hi Henry,
Would be pleased to correspond. Spent nearly all my life at Perivale. Need to email or other means. Have a copy of The happy listener 1937.
Sorry for the delay, forgot to check these forums are all new to me.
Peter Smith

Peter.N. · 29th Jan 2011, 11:47 am

Have not heard that name for years, takes me back to my childhood, in fact its one of the first shops I remember. There was a 'Derwent' branch in Bromley high street in the 1940/50s, on the corner of Ravensbourne road, opposite the Gaumont cinema which has long since dissapeared.

Peter

G3UPW/PETER · 29th Jan 2011, 3:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldticktock

My time flies, certainly did that was when I joined 11 months ago.

Hi that Pic of Derwent radio was a pre war poss 1937-39
Just remember seeing a few about 1945 .I thought it was called the Olympic ?
Regards
Peter

G3UPW/PETER · 29th Jan 2011, 3:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter.N.

There was a 'Derwent' branch in Bromley high street in the 1940/50s, on the corner of Ravensbourne road, opposite the Gaumont cinema which has long since disappeared.

Hi Peter
I used to pop into the Bromley Branch quite a lot .I did the rounds of all the branches in the south of England.Got to know nearly all the engineers .Regent street branch had closed When I started there
Peter

21st Jul 2006, 1:57 pm	#1
Hunts smoothing bomb Octode Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wimborne, Dorset, UK. Posts: 1,407	Derwent TV Hi all, Does anyone know who the manafacturer Derwent is as I have an early 60's set either 17 or 19 inch screen (can't remember which) It is a 405 only set..... who made the chassis as mine has height problems and the name isn't in Radio and TV servicing volumes. Cheers Lee __________________ Lee

21st Jul 2006, 2:37 pm	#2
peter_sol Octode Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,906	Re: Derwent TV Hi As Derwent were unique, I think you will find that the chassis were made by Plessey. Not a lot of help though Cheers Peter.

21st Jul 2006, 3:04 pm	#3
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Derwent TV Wasn't Derwent Television owned by a company called Central Equipment Limited? I'm sure they made their own sets. Of course I could be wrong. DFWB.

21st Jul 2006, 5:47 pm	#4
tvden Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Halesworth, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 413	Re: Derwent TV Hi all something at the back of my mind says Derwent were rental sets with Plessey chassis but I could well be wrong regards TVden

21st Jul 2006, 8:43 pm	#5
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Derwent TV Hello, This has cropped up before around 4 months ago I think. DERWENT as Fernesh has stated were known as 'Central Equipment' of Perivale. They made their own sets to the greater extent, renting them through their own outlets. They had a branch on Wimbledon Bridge. They were considered to be a bit 'up market' and being privately owned gave a very good 'homely' service. Later models were rebadged Philips models. They were taken over by VISHIONHIRE a Philips company and faded away like so many others.. Regards, John. P.S. They had NO connections with DER.

21st Jul 2006, 10:31 pm	#6
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Derwent TV Derwent TV did have a branch in Newcastle. I'm certain that the compnay was still making their own sets up to 1962/3. I don't think a dual standard range of sets was ever made, perhaps convertibles? As HKshort says, they were a more upmarket TV rental company. DFWB.

24th Sep 2010, 3:51 pm	#7
G3UPW/PETER Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Shepperton, Middlesex, UK. Posts: 7	Re: Derwent TV Hi, Just saw about Derwent. I worked for Derwent from 1945 to 1984 when we closed Perivale, if anyone's interested in the History. Managing Director was Henry Fletcher. Began in 1937 at Perivale as Lease-A-Radio. Head office was Central Equipment Ltd., London Road, Liverpool. The name DERWENT comes from the Liverpool building which had in the doorway the name Derwent. Henry decided to keep the name. It started the trend to call nearly all our TV models names in the Lake district.

27th Sep 2010, 8:36 am	#8
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: Derwent TV That's interesting. There was another thread about a Bakelite radio. The same set seemed to have at least 3 different name badges on different examples. Mine is a Derwent. I didn't realise it was a rental set. I would like to see a pic of the TV

27th Sep 2010, 11:33 am	#9
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,572	Re: Derwent TV I seem to recall in the dim and distant past (I would have been about 9) that they had an outlet in Streatham Hill (London SW16) about a mile from where I used to live. Reason I remember this is that an engineer who worked there lived a few doors up from me and I used to play outside with his two kids. Once when it was raining hard he let us play indoors and he had the back off their TV....a Derwent rental set. I was sufficiently interested even in those early days to watch what he was doing. Many years later I was aware that the shop had become Visionhire so that must be what happened to them. I remember the Philips 'Derwent' sets but prior to that, I think they were Plessey. 62/63 suggested by Fernseh would be about right date-wise. SB __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

28th Sep 2010, 11:07 pm	#10
Dr-Watts Heptode Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 696	Re: Derwent TV The radio is mine, still trying to find time to take it apart and get it running. Dr. Dave __________________ Do you have the scope to be a TV repair man

28th Sep 2010, 11:21 pm	#11
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Derwent TV Didn't OldTickTock have one too? Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

29th Sep 2010, 6:59 am	#12
oldticktock Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Weardale, UK. Posts: 1,981	Re: Derwent TV My time flies, certainly did that was when I joined 11 months ago. Sill not been able to find out any info about it other than what's already been mentioned. The Tv's and radios keep popping up, did'nt you just get a derwent TV too Steve? Attached Thumbnails Last edited by oldticktock; 29th Sep 2010 at 7:14 am.

29th Sep 2010, 9:50 am	#13
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Derwent TV Sort of. It's a Philips 210 chassis with Philips crossed off and Derwent written on in crayon, so to speak. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

29th Sep 2010, 4:07 pm	#14
tellyman Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 78	Re: Derwent TV I only ever saw one of these Derwent sets. Got called out to a flat above a chinese restaurant in Southsea back in the mid seventies. I remember I couldn't repair it as it had E series valves in the uhf tuner instead of the normal P series that I carried.

29th Jan 2011, 10:46 am	#17
G3UPW/PETER Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Shepperton, Middlesex, UK. Posts: 7	Re: Derwent TV Hi Henry, Would be pleased to correspond. Spent nearly all my life at Perivale. Need to email or other means. Have a copy of The happy listener 1937. Sorry for the delay, forgot to check these forums are all new to me. Peter Smith

29th Jan 2011, 11:47 am	#18
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: Derwent TV Have not heard that name for years, takes me back to my childhood, in fact its one of the first shops I remember. There was a 'Derwent' branch in Bromley high street in the 1940/50s, on the corner of Ravensbourne road, opposite the Gaumont cinema which has long since dissapeared. Peter