Jon Baddeley
Specialist Consultant Collectors, Science & Marine
Lot 3W
A Marconiphone type 703 cabinet console mirror-lid television receiver, Held at EMI Hayes by design development officer Mr. Agate, ordered through Harrods in late 1936, released to purchaser in May 1937,
3 May 2012, 13:00 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £6,875 inc. premium
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A Marconiphone type 703 cabinet console mirror-lid television receiver,
Held at EMI Hayes by design development officer Mr. Agate, ordered through Harrods in late 1936, released to purchaser in May 1937,
-
The pre-cursor to the eight type 703s made and sold - most likely the prototype:
-
Ser. No. unknown,
Timebase Chassis No. 2224,
Chalked inside cabinet with 2224,
240-line NH4 valve holder later blanked,
with 12-inch screen and blank mask, 240/405-line legend selector switch escutcheon plate present with removable blanking plate, all original knobs, 12-inch turntable record desk with 'Nipper' cast tonearm, auto-stack record levers for continuous play, three-band radio with course/fine tuning control, mirror with now faded anodisation, EHT transformer and
6/6 Emiscope tube showing heater continuity and vacuum respectively under test, brown luggage label tied to timebase chassis type in red ribbon with PROPERTY OF WORKS DESIGNS DEPARTMENT TELEVISION 'C' MODEL - Not to be disposed of without reference to Mr. Agate, television circuit last run-up in around 1981 and radio 1990, in imposing slight breakfront walnut veneered cabinet, all book-matched to lid, front and sides, on wheels - 47in. (120cm) wide, the height 39in. (99cm), the depth 21.1/2in. (55cm)
-
The pre-cursor to the eight type 703s made and sold - most likely the prototype:
-
Ser. No. unknown,
Timebase Chassis No. 2224,
Chalked inside cabinet with 2224,
240-line NH4 valve holder later blanked,
with 12-inch screen and blank mask, 240/405-line legend selector switch escutcheon plate present with removable blanking plate, all original knobs, 12-inch turntable record desk with 'Nipper' cast tonearm, auto-stack record levers for continuous play, three-band radio with course/fine tuning control, mirror with now faded anodisation, EHT transformer and
6/6 Emiscope tube showing heater continuity and vacuum respectively under test, brown luggage label tied to timebase chassis type in red ribbon with PROPERTY OF WORKS DESIGNS DEPARTMENT TELEVISION 'C' MODEL - Not to be disposed of without reference to Mr. Agate, television circuit last run-up in around 1981 and radio 1990, in imposing slight breakfront walnut veneered cabinet, all book-matched to lid, front and sides, on wheels - 47in. (120cm) wide, the height 39in. (99cm), the depth 21.1/2in. (55cm)
Footnotes
It has long been understood that just eight 703's were produced by Marconiphone, from their Hayes factory in Middlesex.
Following much research, Mr. Agate started work at the EMI Hayes works as a junior member of staff when first built. Working his way up the ladder, he became the senior design officer, looking after the departments where pre and just-released models were being constructed.
This 703 has no number, but the chassis stamp of 2224, is the earliest 703 number found to date and puts it ahead of the previously earliest set by at least two months - enough time for the prototype to be built, tested and agreed upon.
Specially released in time for the Coronation of George VII in 1937, they were the largest such cabinet grand console made to include radio, television and record player - the 'master' of the pre-war television models in both size and features.
Output condenser from EHT replaced circa 1950, cabinet veneers requiring full attention in places, some losses.