GEC BT302 Television 1959

This is a GEC [General Electric Company of Great Britain not General Electric of the USA] 17" television receiver that dates from the 1959/60 period. It was produced for the British television system known as system 'A'. This was the Worlds first regular public television service that started in November 1936 and other than a break for WW2 continued transmissions until February 1985. The receiver follows conventional GEC design with the R.F./ I.F. unit constructed on one printed circuit panel and the sync circuits and timebase generators constructed on another. This style of construction by GEC started around 1949 but of course back in those days the panels were hand wired. Both panels could be removed for servicing without removing the chassis from the cabinet.
The restoration was more of a conventional repair only requiring replacement of capacitors on the timebase panel and a couple, the boost capacitor and A1 decoupling capacitor mounted on the left chassis rail. The small preset resistors for picture height and linearity were intermittent and required replacement and the valvebases and controls were cleaned. It has been soak tested for many hours and all seems to be well. The picture is very good but unfortunately the camera cannot capture this. It tends to overload on peak whites as it tends to average out the scene for exposure. The 405 signals are being supplied by a miracle of modern technology known as the 'AURORA. This is a 625 to 405 standards converter allowing replay of all material, DVD, Video and live transmissions providing an R.F. output to the aerial input of the receiver. No modifications to the receiver are required. Hope you find this of interest.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• G.E.C.
• 1959
• Television
• Receiver.
• Old
• television.
• 405
• line
• Television.
• GEC
• BT302

[cube1024]

Isn't it a bit dangerous touching the inside parts like that with the tv set on?

[vinylseat]

@cube1024 Hello cube, I was in the televisionstandard service procedures you have to touch and feel most safe components in a television receiver. This type of TV is relatively safe to service unlike the 1946 9" Pye I restored in another posting that uses a dangerous high voltage system. Thanks for your concern. J.

[vinylseat]

@cube1024 Hello cube, I was in the television service trade for over 40 years. During standard service procedures you have to touch and feel most safe components in a television receiver. It's all down to experienc e as in any job. This type of TV is relatively safe to service unlike the 1946 9" Pye I restored in another posting that uses a dangerous high voltage system. Thanks for your concern. J.

[Feisty1967]

How do you get the testcard C on it, when it;s operating in the modern era?

[vinylseat]

@Feisty1967 The AURORA standards converter has test card 'C' flashed into it's memory. In fact it can be easily replaced with any still image if desired. When the AURORA senses that there is no video input such as from a DVD player, Digibox, Camera or VCR it automatically switches to the stored image mode, in my case, test card C.

[wisteela]

Lovely old set. Nicely explained.

[AidanLunn]

I'm just starting out in learning how to repair vintage TVs and radios. My era of interest is mainly 1960s - 1990s, and I have to say that this looks like one of my favourite TVs. :)

Would you recommend one as a first-time repair job?

[vinylseat]

@G1DRP It is toughened glass similar to the type that was used in car windscreens and still used for side windows today.. J.

[rayflute]

Eee, they don't make 'em like that anymore! :)

[ongchorcool]

do u try using a digital set top box with it