An educational weekend !

[beam me up schottky]

Had a very good weekend for acquiring some things I've wanted for some time, all on ebay.

Basically I'm always on the lookout for Clarke & Smith stuff and picked up an AM/FM 88/12 and a 959 portable. Both in really good condition and the 88/12 was even local ! The 959 is quite rare and I can't wait to see it ! Unfortunately neither was cheap but Clarke & Smith stuff is so scarce that I had to take the opportunity while it was there.

Will post some pix soon.

[tiv48]

are thease the ones normaly used in schools?
rob t

[beam me up schottky]

Thats correct Rob, they were specifically produced for schools. What I find so appealing about Clark & Smith stuff is the superb build quality and the history of the company is fascinating. Then of course, I'm of the generation when Clark & Smith equipment was seen in all state schools and I recall various experiences of it in actual use as I progressed through my school years, although at the time I had no idea of the make or it's significance.
Although in use it's slightly unorthodox as it's specialised for educational purposes, the actual performance is excellent. For example, one unit I have is FM only with 3 preset stations selected by a rotary switch. This was obviously to provide the teacher with rapid operation instead of having to tune into the required station in a lesson.
What I really would like to acquire is one of their record player units, very rare !! The rarest though are the TV units, I've never actually seen one or heard of one for sale.

[Joe]

You rotten so-and-so; you've got me wanting one now! :P

My memory may well be playing up but I remember the ones at my primary school having metal cases with rounded corners. The one the model that Google brings up in various places has a wooden case but is dated at 1965 and my school didn't open 'til '69.

I've also turned this up which may be of interest.

[attachment=2049]

I'm looking forward to seeing yours BMUS and for reminding me. I'd had vague ideas about getting one but had no idea of the make so thanks for the info.

Cheers
-Joe

[beam me up schottky]

Apologies Joe, I know how it's affected you though, thats how I was when I discovered what Clarke & Smith was all about after a childhood recollection stimulated my curiosity !
That PDF makes very interesting reading, I already had it on file.
My 88/12 is like the 88/20 on page 11, just lower power with EL84's instead of EL34's, then my 959 is similar to the 950 shown on page 16.
I already had an SBFM like the one shown on the bottom of page 14.
They started out with SOLID oak cases but this soon changed to oak veneer on ply, interestingly though the edges were still solid oak strips. Internal construction was good quality and very neat, special attention was given to serviceability.
I wonder if there is some long forgotten educational store room full of mothballed, new, unused Clarke & Smith equipment waiting to be liberated ?!

[fido]

I remember the oak veneered equipment at school. There was a record player and a big telly with doors which I suppose was made by Clarke & Smith. I only saw it used once but there was also a very strange looking video recorder which if I recall correctly took a cassette that was about the size of a house brick. Usually films were shown using a big heavy looking grey cine projector. The school was built in the early '60s so most of the equipment would be of that era.

[beam me up schottky]

Was that video recorder possibly a talking book machine ? Something Clarke & Smith were well known for.

[fido]

No, it was for films but I can't be certain it was video, it might have been some sort of cine film viewer and I've no idea who manufactured it.