another fidelity 208

[tiv48]

nice easy one tuneing drive jammed. simplel the air spaced cap had sized a drop of 3in1 oil on both bearings cured that. oonly other job a spray of switch cleaner on the volume controle and tighten up the+ battery connector.
i am always amazed at the quality of this early fidelity stuff.
ps all the af117 's are ok as always in thease sets
rob t

[Mark Hennessy]

Oh yes - I've got a 199, which is fairly similar. I've got a soft spot for Fidelity stuff, but don't tell anyone

[Steve_P]

Why not? A lot of it still works and maybe it wasn't seen as the best then, but it has lasted and lasted well.

A lot of this 'knocking certain makes stuff' is down to snobbery

Cheers,

Steve P.

[Mark Hennessy]

Oh indeed. I could afford to buy Fidelity sets at jumble sales when I was a kid, which I guess is why I have a soft spot for them...

To be fair, Fidelity used the same resistors and transistors as Hacker! The price difference was mostly in the case and loudspeakers.

It could be argued that their preference for a single large PCB seems to improve reliability...

The RAD21 is pretty respectable, using a large Elac loudspeaker - it makes me wonder how it would sound in a wooden cabinet.

The biggest problem for the restorer is the thin aluminium panels glued to the plastic cabinet - these dent very easily and lose their screen printing. But then. that's also the biggest problem for Grundig sets too...

[tiv48]

does any one know when fidelity ceased to exsist.?
the last fidelity product i can remember was a colour tv in the 80's
rob t

[Steve_P]

Here's some information about the Fidelity Radio Ltd company:

Fidelity Radio Ltd, 11 Blechynden Street, London, W11 (in 1947 and 1964). The “Trader” 1964 yearbook also lists: Mersey Works, Mersey Street, London, W10 and Archdale Works, Belchynden Street, London, W11. In 1967 & 68, at Olaf Street, London, W11 (factory). Fidelity Radio Limited, Victoria Road, London NW10 6ND (final location).

Radio manufacturer, founded by Jack Dickman in 1946 (still the MD in 1967). Later also tape recorders, radiograms, stereo systems and TVs. For a time, in the late 1970s/early 1980s, they also made TV, radio & HiFI sets under the HMV brand name.

Taken over by Caparo Industries in the mid 1980’s and closed down in the late 1980’s. Alan Sugar’s Amstrad plc bought the rights to the Fidelity brand name.

Cheers,

Steve P.

[tiv48]

i remember amstad takeing the fidelity brand name i dont know if he ever used it.
rob t

[Steve_P]

Sattelite Recievers...

http://www.rewindmuseum.com/vintagesatellite.htm

Video Cameras...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdxv2DBIvks

And other electronic crap that Alan Sugar could sell....!

Cheers,

Steve P.

[tiv48]

ah i forgot those vhs c cameras no electronic viewfinder no av output but they did supply a vhs c to standard vhs adaptor.
i never saw a amstrad/fidelity badged tvr2 (horrid) or tvr3 (compleatly diferent beast) live and learn.
rob t