Yes, at the time that this discussion is based on almost any shop that handled TV and radios, had a rental scheme. Forward Trust the finance arm of Midland Bank had a section that 'bought these rentals at a profitable rate which allowed the dealer to increase their rental market and some of the dealers also rented out 'white goods'. For a lot of the shops this allowed them to expand, merge or takeover rivals. And yes Raio Rentals did what it said on the shop sign.Did Rumbelows rent tellies ? Viv.
Our first TVs were made by my dad. The first set had a 9" tube which was pretty much that diameter throughout its length and the connections at the rear were made by a 'cup' rather than a socket as on later tubes. The next set was based on a 'Visionmaster' design but Dad added a radio for the daytime when there was no TV service. It did mean that there was very little 'warming-up' when we switched to TV as only the tube had to be powered up. We then had a gap until after ITV started, when we bought a Pye set from Civic in Sheldon. One thing all these sets had in common was a glass sheet at the front but it didn't have anything to do with dust, it was for safety. Supposedly it was possible that if a CRT broke it would implode and the cathode assembly at the rear could be projected forward with enough force to break the front face, which was quite thin so as to give a good picture. Obviously no-one wanted to fire glass and metal shards at a family sitting close to the screen, (it was knee-to-knee for the 9" set!), so a sheet of armoured glass was fitted to the front of the cabinet.Another thing I can remember about rented 'tellies' is that the screen was actually behind a sheet of glass. With coal fires, etc, a film of dust would build up on the front of the screen (cathode ray tube) and periodically, an 'engineer' would attend to clear away the film. IIRC, the 'tube' was fitted on some sort of rail that could be retracted to enable cleaning.
This 'cleaning' was included within the price of the 'rental' whereas, with a unit purchased outright, would have an additional cost.
Morturn going of subject for a sec, I was 24 in 1963 and earned as a motor mechanic the princely sum ot £13 a week.Our flat in Edgebaston cost us £4-17-6 a week.My wife earned £6 a week at Enots in Aston in the stores
In 1962 at Cannings as a sales office clerk, I earned £16.00 per week flat rate, overtime extra, moved to Plymouth and in November 1962 I started work as a wages clerk at £9.00 per week, after two months out of work. In 1966 I started for Forward Trust as a rep at £1000.00 per year and a car.It would be interesting to find out what the average wage was for a man in 1963, my dad was a carpenter for the council. £98 seems to me an extrordiary amout of money for a TV set. I am sure he also bought a small van, and Austin A35 for just over £200. Unfortunately, my dad bought stuff like this and kept the family in poverty.
Started as trainee mechanic in1960 for the princely wage of 1/6d per hour, 48 hr week which included Saturday mornings. Mind you when my family were looking to move to Paignton the same year the wage there was 1/0d per hour. Sorry about wandering off thread.Morturn going of subject for a sec, I was 24 in 1963 and earned as a motor mechanic the princely sum ot £13 a week.Our flat in Edgebaston cost us £4-17-6 a week.My wife earned £6 a week at Enots in Aston in the stores
my dad worked for Sir Ernest Canning as Publicity Manager, it was his 2nd job after leaving university and we lived in Studland Road, Hall Green, it was 1962 so I guess you were there same time as m my dad.In 1962 at Cannings as a sales office clerk, I earned £16.00 per week flat rate, overtime extra, moved to Plymouth and in November 1962 I started work as a wages clerk at £9.00 per week, after two months out of work. In 1966 I started for Forward Trust as a rep at £1000.00 per year and a car.
Bob