Ekco television receiver, portable, model TMB 272, Serial No 01825.

Ekco television receiver, type TMB 272, portable model, made in England in 1955.

This 9 inch television was the first practicable UK produced portable set, featuring a built-in VHF radio. It could be powered either from mains electricity, or from a 12-volt car battery. Being a small set and the first to be able to run from a 12V supply led to this set being fitted as an option to some upmarket cars such as Daimler and Rolls Royce. This did not go un-noticed by the powers that be who, the following year, changed the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations to now prohibit the use of television receivers in vehicles if the screen were visible, directly or by reflection, by the driver of a vehicle. Other users, who operated the set from the car battery whilst on a picnic or camping were dismayed when, after only a couple of hours viewing, the car wouldn't start.