FERRANTI

Radio Sales Office, Moston, Manchester 10 [Dec52]

Ferranti was formed in 1882. By 1930 they were showing a minor interest in television but at the end of 1932 they invested in a small company, Schopony Limited, who held many patents relating to opto-mechanical television. But after 18 months, Ferranti pulled out of Scophony to persue their own development, starting with CRT development and managed to produced a television by the time of the 1936 Radio Show [date?].

Established in 1882 and still a household name today, it is suprising that Ferranti had little impact in the television field. Perhaps their pre-was sets were poor - at the 1936 radio show, seven manufacturers demonstrated televisions. With the cabinets hidden so that only the screens were visible, the sets were reviewed by the BBC's engineering controller and guess what, Ferranti came bottom (top honours being Cossor, followed by EMI).

Ferranti were very cautious about entering the television field, no doubt explaining why they produced only 3 (three!) televisions in the first year and a half of broadcasts, rising to a total of 39 by the outbreak of World War II. But by 1939 the sales of televisions in general had significantly improved and indeed there had been talk of extending the television service to teh provinces. Perhaps Ferranti saw this as the right time to really push television, bringing out no fewer than three new models in time for the 1939 Radiolympia - just in time for the outbreak of World War two during which teh television service was closed !

1936 - 1939

1936 Mirror Set (Possible model 'A' ?)	Model 'B', including chassis view

T3	T4	T10

There are also a table and console model in 1937.

Models T8, T9 and T10 were announced in July 1939 as being released " ... during August and the beginning of September".

All of the sets quoted above with model numbers beginning with 'T' used magnetic deflection.

1946 - 1949

T129	T138

Note 1 : £67-7-1 in September 1948

1950 - Late 1952

1205	1825	1415	1425	1505

A note on model numbers : it is probable that the last two digits are the model year reversed e.g. T1125 = (19)52. However the dates given in the "Year" column are the earliest mentions I can find for the models.

Late 1952- 1956

14T2	14T3	17T3	17K3

20T6	17T4	20T4
17K4	22K3	24K4

A note on model numbers : The last didgit is the model year, whilst the letter is 'T' for table models and 'K' for console models. The first two letters are the screen size (diagonal).

1957 - 1959

From this point on, Ferranti and Ekco utilise the same chassis.

1960 - Onwards

Models T3 and T4 Pre-war advert. Link to larger view [124K]	Models T3 and T4 Advert from August 1938 Link to larger view [313K]

T1146 Advert from April 1948 Link to larger view [182K]	T1205 / T1405 / T1505 Advert from September 1950 Link to larger view [116K]	Advert from November 1951 Link to larger view [121K]	Advert from May 1952. Link to larger view [92K]
T1325 / T1425 Advert from November 1952 Link to larger view [94K]	Model 14T2 Advert from December 1952 Link to larger view [80K]	1953 Range Advert from June 1953 Link to larger view [127K]	14T3 / 17K3 Advert from August 1953 Link to larger view [130K]
	Model 17K3 Advert from January 1954 Link to larger view [84K]	Model 20T4 Advert from April 1954 Link to larger view [83K]

14T3 / 17T3 / 17K3 Advert from May 1953 Link to larger view [124K]

Extract from brochure, probably 1954 :-
Model 20T4 [45K]		Models 14T4 and 17SK4 [70K]		Models 17K3 and 17T3 [78K]
Models 17T4 and 17K4 [85K]		Models 22K3 and 24K4 [96K]		Price List [82K]

Two of five new petrol-driven lorries bought by Ferranti in early 1955

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