Masteradio TV with pink bezel

[agardiner]

I was in one of those large antique emporiums yesterday, and spotted 2 vintage TV sets made by Masteradio. Sorry but didn't think to take a photo of them.

Anyway, what struck me was that the plastic implosion screen on both sets (which were the same model) was pink. It looked original and I would date the sets as 1960s, as they were fairly compact table models, probably with a 10 - 12" screen. Does anyone recognise what model they might have been?

My question is if the pink screen was in fact correct and if so why? I presume it served as a colour corrector for an unusual phosphor in the CRT, in order to make the picture black and white. Interesting anyway.

Thanks all,
Adrian.

[slidertogrid]

Pink Implosion guards were fitted to a few models during the 1950's. Pye and Vidor spring to mind but there well have been others. I have a magnifier for a 9" screen that is also pink. It looks like it was a bit of a fad. Why I don't know, maybe an attempt to reduce reflections? It probably just made the viewer run the set at higher brightness reducing tube life.
Was this the model you saw? https://www.radios-tv.co.uk/community/black-white-tvs/masteradio-t850/

Rich.

[agardiner]

Hi Rich,

Yes indeed, that was the model.

So the pink guard didn't correct the picture whites then? Did it add a pink tinge to the picture? I can see why it might have been a fad, but not at the expense of a poorer picture.

[Paul_RK]

So T852 without radio, or T851 with LW/MW radio fitted in the bulge at the top: quite an unusual set to start with, much more so for two to turn up together. I trust the antique emporium isn't the one in Fakenham: if it were I might have to go and look at them, and looking at things can be risky.

Paul

[Edward Huggins]

I have a soft spot for Masteradio, we had a number of their TVs which were ex. Rental. The pink tint was promoted as giving a less reflective and gentler viewing experience. We had a 17" Console model with folding doors, but the otherwise impressive cabinet was poorly braced internally. Whilst there was an 8" Elac speaker, sound was not as good as expected - there being no AF stage, just the signal diode driving a single hi-slope output valve.

[Vintage Engr]

I've worked on these, a long while ago!
I used to have a 9" Pye with a pink implosion guard.

David.

[stacman]

I'm sure that John, ( Heatercathodeshort), isn't a fan of Masteradio TV's ...

[high_vacuum_house]

I think these pink implosion screens were a way to improve contrast. Most of these round and early rectangular CRT's had quite light grey screens which is quite poor for direct viewing especially in daylight. The idea is that outside light would be attenuated twice before reaching the viewer, once on the way in and then when being reflected out. The light from the CRT would only be attenuated once.

Christopher Capener

[agardiner]

Originally Posted by Paul_RK

So T852 without radio, or T851 with LW/MW radio fitted in the bulge at the top: quite an unusual set to start with, much more so for two to turn up together. I trust the antique emporium isn't the one in Fakenham: if it were I might have to go and look at them, and looking at things can be risky.

Paul

You are safe this time Paul, as they are at Looses Emporium in Norwich!

[Paul_RK]

Thanks Adrian, that's probably a good thing. As it turns out I'll be in Norwich on Wednesday - first time in six years - but my days of coming home on buses with 12" 1950s TVs are long since over.

Paul

[agardiner]

Hmmm, if you fancy taking a look then I would be happy to oblige and bring it back for you.

[Paul_RK]

Ah... thank you again, that's a kind and appealing offer. I think I must pass for the sake of preserving domestic harmony, but I will see if I can fit in taking a look at them while I'm there.

[agardiner]

Quite a few TVs worth taking a look at while you are there, to be honest you probably wouldn't want them anyway, as they all seem very overpriced to me. Will be interesting to hear your thoughts though.

[thermionic]

FERNSEH ( David) is our Masteradio TV enthusiast here, normally!

It’s a good job I’m so far away as otherwise I could well be tempted! I have a Pye and a Ferguson with pink implosion screens in my collection.

Masteradio TVs are not so plentiful, so well worth picking up if possible.

Maybe a nice project for you, Adrian? ??

All the best.

Simon.

[Paul_RK]

Originally Posted by agardiner

Quite a few TVs worth taking a look at while you are there, to be honest you probably wouldn't want them anyway, as they all seem very overpriced to me. Will be interesting to hear your thoughts though.

Well, yes, we found our way there, it was good to see the place, and I can't help thinking the Masteradio sets may be this very pair

https://www.radios-tv.co.uk/community/postid/44374/

as it's unusual just to hear of one of them, never mind to find the TV-only and the added-radio versions keeping company.

I didn't notice any prices in that section and didn't ask: elsewhere some seemed high indeed (£150 for a fairly standard late '30s Pye table radio), while a GEC BT1091 at £165 would have sorely tempted me once upon a time and doesn't seem unreasonable now for an early bakelite TV that doesn't turn up too often.

Paul

[agardiner]

If that is indeed them, then the tubes look pretty decent.