THE Coronation in 1953 is generally thought of as the tipping point of television’s popularity.

Many people bought or rented a set so they could have their own seat at Westminster Abbey, even if it offered only a grainy black and white view.

Others crowded into the homes of friends and neighbours who had sets and were so impressed by the devices that they vowed to get their own.

By Christmas of 1953, TVs were being marketed in Britain as essential components of festive family enjoyment.

A week before the big day, we ran an advert for Teesdale and Jones Ltd, an electrical store who held a concession for early TV manufacturer Decca.

Teesdale and Jones was based at 27 and 28 Fleet Street, a site now occupied by the Focal Point office building.

The company called its premises Electra House, a name which lives on today in an unrelated Farnsby Street apartment block.

“Whatever the programme,” the advert proudly proclaimed, “Decca dominates the TV day…and the bigger the day, the better the enjoyment from a Decca big screen.”

At the top of the range was the Model 1000. Few people realise that projection screen TV sets were available so long ago, but the Model 1000 could produce a 4ft by 3ft image. Costing £165 at a time when the average weekly wage was about £9, the machine was described as ideal for schools, clubs, hotels and canteens.

The range for home use started with a model called the D14, which came in at a little over £65 and had a 14-inch screen and a walnut cabinet.

Two mid-range models cost around £87 and £98, while customers seeking the best in home entertainment could choose the Model 333, which had a radio and record player as well as an enormous 17-inch screen.

Such cutting edge technology didn’t come cheap, though. The 333 cost a few pounds more than the projection model.

Less affluent people were obliged to rent sets, and renting was to remain a popular option until the 1980s.

Having secured their shiny new televisions, customers could look forward to their festive viewing.

This didn’t take much planning, as the Queen’s speech would remain a radio exclusive until 1957, the first Bond film wouldn’t be made for another nine years and Morecambe and Wise were still in music hall.

Evening viewing on Christmas Eve – there was only one channel - started at 5pm with programmes for children, continued with the news, weather and a quiz called Animal, Vegetable, Mineral and finished at 10.25pm with more news, but this time in sound only.

Things were much the same on Christmas Day, but included a long show called Christmas Party with appearances by Terry-Thomas, Norman Wisdom, Arthur Askey, The Beverley Sisters, Julie Andrews and Max Bygraves.