Where can I get my own vintage tv ?

There are regular swap-meets held all over the UK, Europe and the U.S. If you're in the UK, start by attending the twice-yearly National Vintage Communications Fair in Birmingham, England. Here, no membership of a society or club is required. If you click on the link above you'll be taken to a special Radiocraft picture feature on the first show of the year 2000.

The magazine 405 Alive, the premier magazine for all interests related to vintage television is no longer published but is now incorporated in the bulletin of the British Vintage Wireless Society. For information on joining the BVWS please contact Graham Terry, 26 Castleton Road, Swindon, SN5 5GD, tel: 01793 886062 or click here to email them.

The BVWS has produced a CD-ROM containing the complete run of 405 Alive and Vintage Television in .pdf (Adobe Acrobat) form.

How much do they cost ?

There's now a comprehensive listing of television prices on our Valuations Page. Values on televisions have recently been increasing. The hobby is gaining steam, partly due no doubt to today's ready availability of low-priced converter boxes - see further down for more.

Sets are only rarely are sold in working condition. Indeed (in the UK) to sell a set and state it is 'in working condition' is to imply the vendor has legal responsibility for safety and reliability, so this is an unwise course of action !

If you want to use your set, unless you are knowledgable yourself, do not try to repair it. The voltages inside television sets can KILL !!!  Employ a reputable specialist repairer such as Radiocraft.

What signal do I need to fire up my vintage television ?

British vintage televisions will only produce results from a long-obsolete type of television signal. This means that not only is the picture made up of fewer 'lines' (405 instead of 625), but also the radio carrier wave used is of far lower frequency than the one used today. So what's involved ?

First, it's necessary to provide an appropriate 405-line video signal for the old set. This is generally achieved by stepping down the modern 625-line signal down to 405-lines, through the use of something called a standards converter.

Secondly, the 405-line picture has to be carried into the set atop a radio carrier of the appropriate frequency. This task is performed by a modulator.

Details of the new US-made 'Aurora' converter/modulators are available HERE. One of these (the SCRF405A) is suitable for using with British vintage televisions and with import duty, costs around £175. These units are very versatile and have had excellent reviews.

Also, in the future a new 'British Heritage Television Service' may commence broadcasting to the London area using the original Channel 1 on 405 lines.

For enthusiasts in countries which have not changed the fundamental transmission standards since the early days (like the U.S.A.) the situation is far easier. You simply need to get the tv repaired and then normally the old set will fire up on one or more of your local tv stations. A comprehensive and very impressive American site is here. If you're interested in early color sets take a look here and here too !

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