Ferranti Nova Continued

Ferranti were notable for producing pretty much all their own components for their receivers. Many manufacturers would buy  in components such as valves and transformers for radio production, but Ferranti thought they would have better control of their costs and quality by ensuring all production was in-house. Ironically this strategy appears not to have had the desired effect, as conversation with repairers of the era reveals that Ferranti sets were notoriously unreliable even when delivered new straight from the works. Many dealers who installed sets for their customers had to endure the embarrassment at first  switch-on of seeing plumes of smoke from the set as the electrolytic capacitors destroyed themselves. A repairer of the time tells me this is because Ferranti made their own electrolytic capacitors, but often months went by before they were fitted in a receiver. In the meantime they were known to be stored in a somewhat damp warehouse. The nature of the waxed cardboard packaged electrolytics is that if they are not used (charged/discharged etc) reasonably shortly after manufacture, they can need "re-forming" again, and the application of mains voltage did not give time for that process to occur. 

Shown above right are typical original service sheets supplied by Ferranti from the mid 1930's. It can be seen that Ferranti often made the same chassis available in both a wooden and bakelite cabinet, with differences such as Magnoscopic Tuning being available in only one version of the set. Valve line-up is VPT4, VHT4, PT4D, R4.

Every so often today the issue of price fixing amongst major retailers of (modern) radio and television rears its head, and is subject to much speculation by media and the press. But it was always so, in fact before WW II manufacturers were perfectly open about retail price maintenance.  The photo above left is from the rear cover of the Nova back, and Ferranti make it quite clear the receiver must under no circumstances be sold for less than twelve guineas.  (And indeed the radio cost me rather more than £12.60!!). 

Continue for the Ferranti 139

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