I think Jason is a new setter for me – hullo, Jason! – and, aside from its opening with an anagram at 1ac. (a bugbear of mine), I can’t find much to fault in this very enjoyable puzzle.
ACROSS
1. SISTER-IN-LAW Anagram of realist wins
7. MAP Double definition – I suppose old is there to flag up the datedness of the term
9. AMBLE (G)amble [back]
10. COPING SAW Coping [dealing] + saw [gnome, aphorism]
11. DETERMINE Deter [caution] + mine [coal source]
12. GRAVE R [Rex, king] within gave [provided]
13. SLUMBER S [small] + lumber [plod on]
15. DIAL Reversal of laid [put]
18. LAMP L [50] + amp [A]
20. PASTURE As [liker] + t [time] within pure [perfect]
23. ELAND Elan [spirit] + d [died]
24. SPEARHEAD Double definition
26. AUTHORISE I [one] within anagram of arthouse
27. PIANO P(arsifal) is the musical notation for piano [soft]
28. RUN (A)r(g)u(i)n(g) – run and issue are here meant in the context of printing and publishing
29. MINUTE STEAK Minute [small] + anagram of takes
DOWN
1. SLAPDASH A + PD [Police Department, in America] within slash [hack]
2. SABOTEUR Anagram of base tour
3. EMEER Hidden in reversal of diRE EMergency
4. ITCHIER I [current] + T [temperature] + CH [Central Heating] + i.e. [id est, that is] + r [right]
5. LIP-READ Lip [cheek, insolence] + read [show]
6. WINEGLASS Cryptic definition
7. MISHAP Is + H [hospital] within map [plot]
8. POWDER D [Duke] within might [power]
14. BOARDROOM Oar [row] + Dr [doctor] within boom [swell]
16. NUMERATE Anagram of true name
17. HEADLOCK Head [foam, as on beer] + lock [canal feature]
19. PASSION Pass [leave behind] + I [one] + on
20. PRESENT Double – no, triple (thanks, Eileen!) – definition
21. REPAIR Rep [one selling] + air [broadcast]
22. WANTON W [wife] + t [tons] within anon [before long]
25. ROPES Anagram of prose
Thanks, Ringo, for the blog.
Re 5dn ‘read’: both Collins and Chambers have ‘read = indicate’, eg ‘the meter reads …’.
I think 20dn is a triple definition.
I thought it was a pity that we had MAP twice in 7ac/dn but, otherwise, it was an enjoyable solve. Thanks, Jason.
Thanks Eileen.
Re. 5dn – ah, of course. For some reason it just didn’t quite click.
And you’re quite right about 20dn. too. Edited now.