ULTRA coronation twin

[tiv48]

a friend gave me one of these sets today it's complete apart from the mains lead.
with no damage to the case .
can anyone tell me what batteries it took?
HT is 85 volt same plug as b126
the LT is 7.5 volt the plug is the same size as an old 2/- coin
thanks Rob T

[Yorkie]

All too often the mains lead is missing Rob, which is a shame because without it, the set can't be used on the mains. When the mains lead is plugged in, the custom-made plug actuates the switch which changes the set over from batteries to mains. As originally designed, the mains lead - which had a round pin 5A mains plug at the other end, coiled neatly into the rear compartment. However, when 13A plugs came along their wasn't enough space for the mains lead to be stowed away so I guess they often became separated from the set and lost.

As to the batteries, the ones listed in the data sheet are HT (85V): Drydex 529 or Ever Ready B129. LT (7.5V): Drydex 41186 or Ever Ready AD39.

The set continued to be made for some years after the Coronation year (1953), but as with the Olympics, the Coronation very soon becomes yesterday's news and the cachet was worthless as a marketing tool. I think the set may possibly have been given a different model number after 1953, but basically, was no longer the 'Coronation Twin' - just the 'Ultra Twin'. I was 14 in Coronation Year and recall all the pre-Coronation hype - the Coronation was milked for all it was worth and kick-started the TV market. Very few people had TVs so had a houseful of people on Coronation day, June 3.

I recall being dragged off to watch it on the only TV in a neighbour's house, sat with other kids cross-legged on the floor surrounded by twittering women, and being bored rigid by that pompous old farty Richard Dimbleby droning on. Every school-kid got a Coronation mug, a ballpoint pen, and a nice little Coronation die-cast coach. I doubt that many lasted long - mine didn't! At 14, much to our annoyance we were still in short trousers as the clothing coupons went further - a year later I was out at work so was permitted to wear 'longies'!

Good luck with the set Rob - nice little thing and a good performer on its internal frame aerial.

[tiv48]

Thank you David
Rob T

[tiv48]

now recapped including a bumble bee I am finding these are as bad as hunts
loads of volume and lots of stations
Rob T