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Old 25th Jul 2018, 7:46 pm   #1
samjmann
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Default Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

Today this programme showed a late fifties or early sixties Decca radiogram being 'upcycled' or to put it another way, ruined. As far as I could see nothing was done to the electronics, but the cabinet was 'er-hum' reworked. I dare say it will be repeated on the iPlayer. Someone had obviously treasured the Decca for years then this happened... What a shame.

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Old 26th Jul 2018, 12:08 am   #2
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

I wonder if anyone in the production team appreciates the irony in the title "Money for nothing"?

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Old 26th Jul 2018, 8:27 am   #3
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

I don’t know the circumstances of this case but how often do we have posts about house clearance after someone has died. The executor very often doesn’t have much time to make decisions on items they cannot use and have little value to the estate. The item has to have more value than it costs to sell.

So the question for collectors on this forum, have you made arrangements for your collection to be safeguarded or will it also end up at the tip, or perhaps “Money for Nothing”
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 9:23 am   #4
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

I can see it now. In a nightmare the next programme shows them finding a mirror-lid TV, chucking the innards and fitting an illuminated mini-fridge on gas struts to pop up through the hole where the CRT once resided. A cabinet for drinky-poos for the terminally trendy. Painting it purple would have been OK on 'Changing Rooms' but is so last century, it'll have to be distressed, bleached and waxed to a driftwood finish. In three month's time it'll be off the bleeding edge of fashion and turfed out on the kerbside.

I'm still waiting for them to cut up a real type 35 Bugatti to turn it into a trendy bed.

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Old 26th Jul 2018, 11:13 am   #5
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

I am afraid this is the case nowadays. I cannot think what it was but I saw something (non electronic) in the last couple of days with a bit of history ruined for the sake of the latest trends. It depresses me sometimes to see on these programs that lovely Victorian and other antiques are no longer valued whereas things we thought of as tat in the sixties and seventies are pushing the figures. Best hold on to old Hongkong trannies. The Chinese will lap them up!
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 11:25 am   #6
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

If you want to promote the activity, just watch the program....guilty?

Lawrence.
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 11:33 am   #7
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

To be fair, late 50s radiograms aren't in great demand - they don't appeal to the 'retro Dansette' market and are big and bulky. Many of the cheaper ones will be live chassis so difficult to use with modern audio sources. It's all very well to spend months restoring a radiogram, but what are you going to do with it after you've finished?

I get as irritated by trendy 'upcycling' as anybody else, but realistically it's that or the skip.
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 11:43 am   #8
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

When I was in the trade I must have busted up loads of stuff either for the bluey or for the cabinets to burn in the stove for heating, at one place I worked at there was an old full sized cast iron bath, I filled that with transformer windings and scan coils etc from old TVs for my "the boss will only give me a measly pay rise" fund....

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Old 26th Jul 2018, 1:22 pm   #9
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

One old episode crawled out of the minority channel mire today, where, to be fair, nothing was actually destroyed or butchered.

A basic painted steel and mazak model train station (allegedly) failed to interest model train buffs on the basis that is was too tatty, resulting in it being converted to a low voltage battery desk lamp array with frosted perspex occupying the previously empty windows. Apart from applied araldite no damage was done. I don't like to stereotype too much, but perhaps said train collector's obsession with original/perfect items directly led to the upcycling.

The unpredictability of mazak makes me -almost- approve of this reversible conversion.

Dave
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 2:09 pm   #10
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

Ionburn it was possibly the same beautiful Victorian/Edwardian display cabinet that I saw was going to be defaced on "money for nothing" I turned it off. All I can say is it costs an awful lot to get money for nothing
Steve
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 2:31 pm   #11
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

In the 1970’s, with a young family, not much money I was given a wardrobe and chest of drawers for the children’s bedroom. With a pot of paint and some transfers they were transformed into bright children’s furniture. Now am I an upcycler or just thrifty?

Perhaps banned from the forum with this post.
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 4:04 pm   #12
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

Try to stay on topic please.
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 4:22 pm   #13
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

Fair enough Paul, my point being we can’t save it all, just hope that the more rare items get conserved correctly. If that means some are saved for a short time from the tip and then discarded when out of fashion I think it’s something we have to accept.
It is after all their property to do with as the wish.
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 4:32 pm   #14
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

I guess my last post was too car related, but I did ask a pertinent question-

Does anyone know which model Decca radiogram was involved?

Hopefully one of the "can't give it away" variety.
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 4:59 pm   #15
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

It's an SRG300 apparently. I've just watched this, and while it turned out not-quite-as-bad as I expected, it was a bit (a lot) too gaudy for my taste. I would have preferred a proper restoration to the original wood finish, but then I'm like that. I suppose if it saves it from the boneyard then it's OK.
At least it didn't get the 'distressed' look.
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 5:31 pm   #16
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

I’ve been looking for one of those for sometime. Had one when new and would love to get another. Only seen badly damaged or full of woodworm.
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 8:16 pm   #17
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Herald1360 View Post
I guess my last post was too car related
Quite possibly, but as there's no trace of it, we'll never know!
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 8:30 pm   #18
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

Nice advert from The Gramophone Jan 1959.
https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/32937/page/3
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 9:53 pm   #19
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

Quote:
Originally Posted by AC/HL View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Herald1360 View Post
I guess my last post was too car related
Quite possibly, but as there's no trace of it, we'll never know!
I presumed it was pulled because of Bugatti references picking up on David's post. It's possible it never got sent though.

Anyway, I now know the answer to the question that was in it, thanks to Andrew2. Quite a good gram by the looks- push-pull ECL82s make about 7WPC.
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Old 26th Jul 2018, 10:44 pm   #20
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Default Re: Decca radiogram on BBC's 'Money For Nothing'.

I suppose this 'upcycling' trend will go on as long as there are things out there whose financial value is very low considering their historic value. Maybe the people who appreciate Decca 'grams for what they are don't quite appreciate the enough to price them out of the scope of trendies wanting a temporary conversation piece. I was alluding that this trend covers all fields. No vintage item is safe until you get into very expensive territory.

David
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