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PUBLISHER'S LETTER www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Production Manager Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Ross Tester Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Enquiries Rick Winkler Phone (02) 9979 5644 Fax (02) 9979 6503 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Rodney Champness Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $59 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 8, 101 Darley St, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. E-mail: silchip<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 and maximum * Recommended price only. 2  Silicon Chip Time to save those old TV sets Over the last six months or so, there has been quite a lot of discussion on what to do with old PCs and the topic has been extended to include consumer equipment in general. But one type of consumer equipment that has not been discussed is old TV sets, and particularly, old valve TV sets. What do you do with them? Well the answer is clear: you keep and restore them. Just as vintage radio has a really big following these days, “Vintage TV” is set to take off. This has already been recognised by the Historical Radio Society of Australia and some of their members have already begun to acquire and restore TV sets. There are a number of potential advantages and disadvantag­es in collecting and restoring old TV sets. First, the advantag­es: old TV sets are not nearly so old as vintage radios and they were probably made in vastly greater numbers. Also, there should be more information available on them, buried away in the homes of ex-TV repairman and so on. On the other hand, TV sets are so much larger than radios and so there would have been more in­centive for people to throw them out. Doesn’t it make you weep, to think of those millions of potentially valuable collectible sets, now buried in council tips . . . Still, on the positive side, there are lots of old TV sets still out there, particularly in the homes, garages and sheds of the nation’s retirees. Come to think of it, my parents have an old Admiral valve TV set. I think it was the first Australian set to use a PC board ... I must make sure it doesn’t get heaved out. What sets are going to be the most desirable? I don’t really know but I can guess that those larger sets with their beautiful ornate cabinets are going to be in demand. Remember some of those wonderful sets made by Kriesler, His Master’s Voice and AWA? Or some of the more deluxe sets made by SABA Electro­sound? In an entirely different style, the 21-inch Pye Pedigree with its wraparound steel cabinet is already in demand with those people who have decorated their homes in “60’s retro” style. And some of the smaller sets, such as those made by Ekco, have an attraction all their own. There was a wonderful outpouring of sets by Australian manufacturers in the late 50s, 60s and 70s. Many of those sets were world-class designs which owed little to overseas know-how. We had a large, healthy manufacturing sector in those days and while it might have had substantial tariff protection, it em­ployed a lot of people and produced a lot of TVs and other pro­ducts which gave immense enjoyment to people. Some of those older TVs will be very collectible in the years to come. Keep your eyes open for them. We hope to cover this subject in the Vintage Radio column as material becomes available. Leo Simpson