DT Vintage 22

Daily Telegraph Vintage No 22
Hints and Tips by Rossophile

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BD Rating – Difficulty */**  Enjoyment ***

A gentle start to the week, with this pleasing puzzle from Val Gilbert, who started in 1977. Quite a few anagrams this time, with a smattering of general knowledge needed. I’ve elaborated on 26a – a perfect example of “pour décourager les autres”. Maybe you can think of modern examples, when someone doesn’t deserve their punishment.

As my webification improves, I’ve added only a web-link to an image rich version, with the solutions blanked. They can be revealed with a mouse highlight, or double-click and look-up on a phone or tablet. https://www.macdonnell.co.uk/DT/V22.htm

Across

1a Products bound to be sold at more economical prices (10)

PAPERBACKS: items bound at a spine that are cheaper hard back editions

6a One urchin never in trouble initially (4)

UNIT: of the 2^nd to 4^th words An initialisation

9a Made a positive move to approve of what was done, apparently (4,6)

TOOK ACTION: A double definition. Instead of sitting back he did this, and the latter interpretation shows what he did

10a Big increase of trade for the harbour bar (4)

BOOM: Double definition: A figurative explosion in business, or reference to the spar or bar on sailing boat  that supports the sail. Also a traditional sailing vessel otherwise known as a dhow

13a First thing a factory worker is expected to do (5,2)

CLOCK IN: simple semantic definition of what a factory worker does when he starts work

15a By inference, a road official who can certify an affidavit? (6)

NOTARY: If someone is not a railway (RY ) worker, the might be a road official. A type of lawyer.

16a Where tourists in Italy may change planes (6)

NAPLES: Anagram of planes

17a Ideally a foreign national we have never set eyes on before (7,8)

PERFECT STRANGER: Synonym of Idea, followed by a foreign national. Same as “complete unknown” Also, the title of many books, TV series, and films. Possibly related to its oxymoronic structure

18a He gets into the Royal Society before us, the monkey (6)

RHESUS: Charade of HE, and US , wrapped in abbreviation for Royal Society

20a Give coverage to a civil engineer going round 26 (6)

CLOTHE: The initials of civil engineer, wrapping the solution to 26a

21a State held in cunning bondage (7)

SLAVERY: A four letter word *v*r, inserted into a synonym for cunning

22a Old-fashioned string-instrument quintet I behold in retrospect (4)

VIOL: The Latin for five (V), and  synonym of behold, with I, written backwards. Enough of that last Saturday!

25a Troy as it was, or East Berlin today? (6,4)

WALLED CITY: A double description. You needed a gift horse to get into the 1^st one

26a Reluctant apprentice given hot soup (4)

LOTH: The L from Learner (apprentice) and an anagram of HOT

27a Romberg’s hot music? (6,4)

DESERT SONG: A famous operetta by Sigmund Romberg , with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein and others.

https://youtu.be/u9Tga0eMMxw?si=-NqHdZ26Te_52LLA with Joan Sutherland

Down

1d Upstage favourites (4)

PETS: Reverse of solution is a construction to get up a stage (of stairs)

2d Play poker, perhaps, or drop out? (4)

PROD: What you can do with a metal poker, and an anagram (out) of drop

3d In fact is that so? (6)

REALLY: Two ways of saying the same thing.

4d Things worth having printed in quality magazines (8,2,5)

ARTICLES OF VALUE: A double definition; items of financial value, or written offerings in magazines (or newspapers like the DT)

5d Oil processed in Kansas for use in the Potteries? (6)

KAOLIN: A word made of an anagram of oil, inserted into the three letter abbreviation of Kansas. A fine clay, rich in ******ite, used in ceramics , as done in Potteries . This was a historical industrial region located in northern Staffordshire centred on Stoke-on-Trent but made-up of 6 towns in total. The source of Wedgewood and Minton. Sometimes mixed with morphine, to ease absorption

7d Those Piccadilly attractions that vary so in length (4,6)

NEON LIGHTS: An anagram of “so in length”

8d A convict ready to shed his convictions (4-6)

TIME-SERVER: What a prisoner does while inside. Once completed, he is released (shed)

11d We aren’t obliged to buy things like this (2,8)

ON APPROVAL: a straightforward description old a way of trying out a product for purchase.

12d Began disorganising trade in dark-brown liquor? (7,3)

STARTED OUT: An anagram of “trade” inserted into a form of beer, that is supposedly good for you.

13d Man of fabulous wealth derived from a variety of sources (7)

CROESUS: Anagram of “sources”. The king of Lydia for 14 years, renowned for his riches

14d Twangy way to address an upset girl (7)

NASALLY: A charade; AN spelt backwards, then a girl’s name, especially an aunt.

19d The London square that could be on sale (6)

SLOANE: Anagram (could be) of “on sale”

20d Facility available for those who are unable to settle (6)

CREDIT: a monetary option for those who are impecunious in the face of bills

23d Short weight on the continent (4)

KILO: Abbreviation of 1000 grams

24d Admiral who was shot not far from New Guinea (4)

BYNG: Not Far BY and initials of New Guniea. He was executed by firing squad nine months after losing the Battle of Minorca to the French. He was court-martialled for failing to relieve a British garrison on the island, and charged with “failing to do his utmost”. This is despite having an inadequate and hastily assembled fleet of ships, and a stellar naval and parliamentary career. There is a Wetherspoon’s pub in Potters Bar named after him.