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| Oldest UK television discovered | Oldest UK television discovered |
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| Britain's oldest working television has been uncovered in a house in London. | Britain's oldest working television has been uncovered in a house in London. |
| The 1936 Marconiphone, thought to have been made in the months that Britain's first television service began, was tracked down after a competition. | The 1936 Marconiphone, thought to have been made in the months that Britain's first television service began, was tracked down after a competition. |
| The set belongs to Jeffrey Borinsky, an electrical engineer and collector of antique television and radio sets. | The set belongs to Jeffrey Borinsky, an electrical engineer and collector of antique television and radio sets. |
| He bought the set, which has a 12-inch (30cm) screen from another collector 10 years ago and is still working on restoring it to its original state. | He bought the set, which has a 12-inch (30cm) screen from another collector 10 years ago and is still working on restoring it to its original state. |
| The screen is mounted inside a wooden cabinet. The image from the cathode ray tube, mounted vertically inside the cabinet, is reflected onto a mirror. | The screen is mounted inside a wooden cabinet. The image from the cathode ray tube, mounted vertically inside the cabinet, is reflected onto a mirror. |
| The few controls include volume and vertical hold, but there is no channel changer, as there was only one channel when it was made: the BBC. | The few controls include volume and vertical hold, but there is no channel changer, as there was only one channel when it was made: the BBC. |
| Modern in part | Modern in part |
| The set appears to be in good condition, but Mr Borinsky aims to replace a number of modern components with originals. | The set appears to be in good condition, but Mr Borinsky aims to replace a number of modern components with originals. |
| "The cabinet was beautifully restored by the previous owner," he explained,' but my aim is to gradually restore its electronics to its true 1936 magnificence," he said. | "The cabinet was beautifully restored by the previous owner," he explained,' but my aim is to gradually restore its electronics to its true 1936 magnificence," he said. |
| Marconi also made the "Instantaneous Television Camera" shown in 1936 | Marconi also made the "Instantaneous Television Camera" shown in 1936 |
| But the Marconiphone 702 still works as a modern television. | But the Marconiphone 702 still works as a modern television. |
| It has been hooked up to a Freeview box so that it can show digital channels, although Mr Borinsky has had to install a standards converter so that a modern television signal can be seen. | It has been hooked up to a Freeview box so that it can show digital channels, although Mr Borinsky has had to install a standards converter so that a modern television signal can be seen. |
| Mr Borinsky only keeps the set turned on up to two hours at a time, and he uses it to view films from the 1930s and 1940s. | Mr Borinsky only keeps the set turned on up to two hours at a time, and he uses it to view films from the 1930s and 1940s. |
| He says he enjoys watching the kind of pictures that might have been seen by the original owners. | He says he enjoys watching the kind of pictures that might have been seen by the original owners. |
| The National Media Museum in Bradford has a similar set, but does not use it to show television pictures for fear of damaging it. | The National Media Museum in Bradford has a similar set, but does not use it to show television pictures for fear of damaging it. |
| Iain Logie Baird, the curator of television at the museum, said it is a thrill to see the Marconiphone working. | Iain Logie Baird, the curator of television at the museum, said it is a thrill to see the Marconiphone working. |
| "It's very exciting to see the image the way people would have seen it in 1936, before television became ubiquitous as it is today," he said. | "It's very exciting to see the image the way people would have seen it in 1936, before television became ubiquitous as it is today," he said. |
| Mr Logie Baird, grandson of the television pioneer John Logie Baird, says this set would have been of huge local interest when it was first acquired at a cost of 60 guineas - the equivalent of £11,000 today. | Mr Logie Baird, grandson of the television pioneer John Logie Baird, says this set would have been of huge local interest when it was first acquired at a cost of 60 guineas - the equivalent of £11,000 today. |
| "Television was a very exciting thing, it was something that the whole neighbourhood would come over to watch. People would crowd into the home of the owner." | "Television was a very exciting thing, it was something that the whole neighbourhood would come over to watch. People would crowd into the home of the owner." |
| The set was discovered as the result of a competition run by Digital UK, the body overseeing the switch to digital television. The aim was to publicise the message that just about any television, however old, can be converted to show digital channels. | The set was discovered as the result of a competition run by Digital UK, the body overseeing the switch to digital television. The aim was to publicise the message that just about any television, however old, can be converted to show digital channels. |
| What is the oldest appliance you have at home? Does it still work? Tell us about it by filling in the form below. You can also email pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or SMS to 61124 (if you are in the UK) or +44 7725 100100 (if you are outside the UK) | What is the oldest appliance you have at home? Does it still work? Tell us about it by filling in the form below. You can also email pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or SMS to 61124 (if you are in the UK) or +44 7725 100100 (if you are outside the UK) |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |
| I have a Kenwood Chef mixer that I bought in the early 60's and it is still in regular use. I have the blender and potato peeler attachments with it but I don't use the peeler. It has the whisk, dough hook and K beater.Joan Archer, Jameston, Pembrokeshire, Wales | |
| Celestion Ditton 44 Loudspeakers Version 1. built in 1972. Perfect working order.Dan, Worcester | |
| There is an ECKO TV in our attic that was bought for the coronation in 1953 it was working until the transmitter was turned off it has a radio in it as well. | |
| I also have a Murphy radio from 1938/9 that was working up to being stored in the mid 90's. My earliest memory was dad listening to the battle of the River Plate commentary, I understand the same model was used at Bletchley Park. Dad was a crack Morse reader and spent hours listening to transmissions during the war.Robin Kenworthy, Staplehurst | |
| Venusian theodolite with tripod, 2309, currently stored in my gazebo.Roceci, Cardiff, UK | |
| A still working, and in regular use, Hoover Constellation vacuum cleaner which is at least 40 years old.Jack Dawsey, Colwall, England | |
| I have a Philips reel-to-reel tape recorder that I bought in 1966. It's not in 100% perfect condition (you can't get spares for it any more) but it does still record and play. Unfortunately, magnetic tapes weren't intended to last 43 years and some of the really old ones have deteriorated and have a tendency to break if played!David, Reading, UK | I have a Philips reel-to-reel tape recorder that I bought in 1966. It's not in 100% perfect condition (you can't get spares for it any more) but it does still record and play. Unfortunately, magnetic tapes weren't intended to last 43 years and some of the really old ones have deteriorated and have a tendency to break if played!David, Reading, UK |
| My parents still use the toaster that they were given as a wedding present in 1958. Dad has replaced the cable a couple of times, and it still works perfectly.Adrienne, London | My parents still use the toaster that they were given as a wedding present in 1958. Dad has replaced the cable a couple of times, and it still works perfectly.Adrienne, London |
| It's not in the same league as this TV but I bought a digital radio/cassette alarm clock in 1988 with my first wage packet. I am still using it. 21 years in the digital age isn't bad.Michelle Cooper, Dover, Kent | It's not in the same league as this TV but I bought a digital radio/cassette alarm clock in 1988 with my first wage packet. I am still using it. 21 years in the digital age isn't bad.Michelle Cooper, Dover, Kent |
| I have a 1950 Bush TV22. It's in my garage in Marlow. I haven't turned it on since 405 line transmissions stopped. As a teenager in the 60's I attempted to use it as an oscilloscope but a switch put back to a TV. I use to watch That Was The Week That Was on it, with my headphones without my parents knowing.David Keeble, Sheffield | I have a 1950 Bush TV22. It's in my garage in Marlow. I haven't turned it on since 405 line transmissions stopped. As a teenager in the 60's I attempted to use it as an oscilloscope but a switch put back to a TV. I use to watch That Was The Week That Was on it, with my headphones without my parents knowing.David Keeble, Sheffield |
| Oldest appliance in our house? Husbandi Domesticari...unit brief indicates that unit should be capable of working alone. Is marginally self-starting, needs verbal initiative on occasions. All parts still functioning. Tends to leave additional bits around the house during work periods. Is not self-cleaning.R Wells, Lichfield, Staffordshire | Oldest appliance in our house? Husbandi Domesticari...unit brief indicates that unit should be capable of working alone. Is marginally self-starting, needs verbal initiative on occasions. All parts still functioning. Tends to leave additional bits around the house during work periods. Is not self-cleaning.R Wells, Lichfield, Staffordshire |
| This brings back memories. My father bought one before WW2, and I remember watching it when the TV service started up again after the war. I also remember the excitement when it was replaced by a set with a front-facing screen, so that we no longer needed to crouch in order to pick up the mirror image. I never realised that it was such an expensive luxury!David Wingate, London, UK | This brings back memories. My father bought one before WW2, and I remember watching it when the TV service started up again after the war. I also remember the excitement when it was replaced by a set with a front-facing screen, so that we no longer needed to crouch in order to pick up the mirror image. I never realised that it was such an expensive luxury!David Wingate, London, UK |
| I have a 1926 (approx) Siemens Excel copper electric kettle. It's beautiful and worked the last time I tried it. Interestingly, it has a concealed element - just shows how the wheel of technology turns!John Peedle, Yeovil, England | I have a 1926 (approx) Siemens Excel copper electric kettle. It's beautiful and worked the last time I tried it. Interestingly, it has a concealed element - just shows how the wheel of technology turns!John Peedle, Yeovil, England |
| I have a Sinclair ZX Spectrum in perfect working order complete with the original manuals and styrofoam packaging, as well as a few tapes of games. Also still have the original cabels to connect it to any tape recorder/player.Stephen Jeffrey, Glasgow, UK | I have a Sinclair ZX Spectrum in perfect working order complete with the original manuals and styrofoam packaging, as well as a few tapes of games. Also still have the original cabels to connect it to any tape recorder/player.Stephen Jeffrey, Glasgow, UK |
| I've got a Sony Titron portable colour TV in a wooden case it was bought about 37 yrs ago and still has a great picture but is currently out of use as one of the switches needs to be fixed.Diane Dark, Swansea | I've got a Sony Titron portable colour TV in a wooden case it was bought about 37 yrs ago and still has a great picture but is currently out of use as one of the switches needs to be fixed.Diane Dark, Swansea |
| My computer is so old it came with Windows Millennium Edition. I bought it as long ago as 2001. Do I win five pounds?David Young, Wroclaw, Poland | My computer is so old it came with Windows Millennium Edition. I bought it as long ago as 2001. Do I win five pounds?David Young, Wroclaw, Poland |
| Philco domed radio - black Bakelite - bought 1936 - was my grandparents' - original and working perfectly.John Puddifoot, Leamington Spa | Philco domed radio - black Bakelite - bought 1936 - was my grandparents' - original and working perfectly.John Puddifoot, Leamington Spa |
| I own a bush DAC90A LW/MW Radio (valve) and a bush SRG91 Valve stereo radio gram. Both are in working order. I had to learn Valve electronics in order to keep them in working order. I do not know the age of the LW/MW radio but I do know my father bought the radio gram in 1963. We still have the original user's manual!Mark Streete, Worthing, West Sussex | I own a bush DAC90A LW/MW Radio (valve) and a bush SRG91 Valve stereo radio gram. Both are in working order. I had to learn Valve electronics in order to keep them in working order. I do not know the age of the LW/MW radio but I do know my father bought the radio gram in 1963. We still have the original user's manual!Mark Streete, Worthing, West Sussex |
| Hoover vacuum cleaner c. 1953. Stored in the loft and non-working. Identical to the model displayed in the National History Museum at St. Fagan's, Cardiff.Jeff Brooks, Newport, Gwent, Wales | Hoover vacuum cleaner c. 1953. Stored in the loft and non-working. Identical to the model displayed in the National History Museum at St. Fagan's, Cardiff.Jeff Brooks, Newport, Gwent, Wales |
| I have a Danset record player purchased in 1955/56. has been in storage for the last 40 years. Any idea of its likely value?David Percival, Reading, Berks | I have a Danset record player purchased in 1955/56. has been in storage for the last 40 years. Any idea of its likely value?David Percival, Reading, Berks |
| I have a stereo, nearly 30 years old, only the radio still works but I keep it for the brilliant sound quality. Same for my dad only his is nearer 50 years old. Couldn't possibly afford anything so good now; please don't switch off the analogue signal!Kay Taylor, Warwick | I have a stereo, nearly 30 years old, only the radio still works but I keep it for the brilliant sound quality. Same for my dad only his is nearer 50 years old. Couldn't possibly afford anything so good now; please don't switch off the analogue signal!Kay Taylor, Warwick |
| 1920's / 1930's toaster. Opens on both sides to reveal bare elements akin to a open electric fire. The finger holds of the side flaps that fold down to enable bread to be clamped to each side are made of Bakelite. Worked last time we dug it out. In loft out of harms way.Sue, near Marlow, England | 1920's / 1930's toaster. Opens on both sides to reveal bare elements akin to a open electric fire. The finger holds of the side flaps that fold down to enable bread to be clamped to each side are made of Bakelite. Worked last time we dug it out. In loft out of harms way.Sue, near Marlow, England |
| My Mother who, at 87 years old still works very wellPete, Wallasey, Wirral | My Mother who, at 87 years old still works very wellPete, Wallasey, Wirral |