December 1929

In 1929, there were technical developments in the advancement of televisions, new stations were being granted licenses in the United States (at least in the Midwest and East), but it wasn’t like you could walk into an appliance or department store and buy a TV set. Hobbyists banged them together from parts at home.

However, in December the Jenkins Television Corporation, which was running W2XCR, decided the time was right to manufacture them. Jenkins’ sister station in Passaic ran tests of a sound system the same month. The two would later unite in broadcasting before splitting apart as the Jenkins operation moved into New York City and hooked up with WGBS.

At the same time, Philo T. Farnsworth hooked up with investors in San Francisco, who announced they would have a set on the market. Over the next number of months, the company made headlines by making the exact same announcement several times. The company never got out of the Depression.

And the people at Bell Telephone were working on a colour system.

Below is a summary of some television news in the final month of 1928. There were plenty of other stories which either said a) television is around the corner, or b) television is not just around the corner. We’ve skipped them in the highlights below.

The blog, incidentally, has chronicled television news from May 1928 to when CBS shut down its station in Feburary 1933. We pick up news from May 1939 right through to the end of 1947. There is so much news in 1948, it’s impossible to chronicle it except on a daily basis and the research would take too long, and I have lost one of my research sources anyway. We will post on the first four months of 1939 and a few other things that have been banked.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1929
TELEVISION WILL SOON BE MERCHANDIZED
Apparatus Is Being Made by Jenkins Television Corporation
From behind the closed doors of the research laboratories, television will step out before the general public. D. W. May, Inc., of Newark, N. J., has signed a contract with the Jenkins Television Corporation of Jersey City, whereby television receivers and kits will soon be merchandised in the extensive local territory covered by the television broadcasting station W2XCR, of Jersey City.
"The television equipment which we are about to demonstrate," states D. W. May, "will be unique in that present sight and sound together—synchronized pictures and sounds, complete, by means of the usual standard radio receiver and the special television receiver. There will be two broadcasting stations, one for the sight signals and the other for the sound signals, employed. The apparatus to be demonstrated will not be of a special laboratory character, as in demonstrations heretofore made by others, but, rather, will be of the simple, inexpensive type applicable to the usual home. In short, we feel that home television is just around the corner and we are pleased to pioneer in this field just as we have pioneered in broadcasting from its very inception." Announcement of the combination sight and sound broadcasting demonstration, to be held in Newark, will be made shortly. The demonstration will be open to the public. (Bayonne Evening News)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1929
KEMPER TO BUILD NEW INVENTION
Kemper Radio Corporation, Ltd., has completed negotiations with Television Laboratories, of San Francisco for the manufacture and sale of television sets which are said to have, been perfected to the point where they can be placed upon the market for practical use in the home within a moderate price range, according to a statement issued yesterday [7] by W. W. Charles, president of the Kemper company.
The instrument is described as one extremely simple which will reflect a picture in natural colors in an exact reproduction of the subject.
Philo T. Farnsworth of Provo, Utah, a youth still in his twenties, is the inventor. The Kemper company, which is the largest direct-selling radio organization In the United States, proposes to place the instrument on the national market in conjunction with its radio receiving sets through its own chain of factory branches.
A meeting of stockholders of the company will be called soon to authorize an increase in capital, according to Mr. Charles, who said that arrangements have been made with New York brokers to establish an over-the-counter market in the company’s stock. Present capitalization, which is to be increased to $1,000,000 under present plans, consists of 100,000 voting trust certificates and 200,000 shares of common stock, each of $1 par. The stock is now listed on the New York Curb Exchange. (Los Angeles Times, Dec. 8)

Blonds Given Break In New Television
NEW YORK, Dec. 7.—(A.P.)—Blonds are coming into television in their natural colors in the latest step of the Bell Telephone laboratories toward producing pictures in color.
In earlier apparatus the blues showed well, but blond shades were darkened. This disadvantage applied particularly to persons of dark or tanned complexion.
The invention that gives truer values to yellow shades is described in a report to the Optical Society of America by H. E. Ives of the Bell laboratories. It is a new kind of photo-electric cell, which uses sodium instead of potassium as its active color registering coating.
In the new color apparatus the natural shades are picked up by a battery of 24 photo-electric eyes, two of them receiving through blue glass, eight through green and 14 through red. The numbers show the relative sensitiveness of the cells to colors. Blue still is the strongest.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1929
Station WGBS of New York has asked permission of the Radio Commission to engage in television transmission from 1 to 6 a. m. daily. (Hartford Courant)

RADIO COMMISSION MADE PERMANENT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (AP)—The Federal Radio Commission was given indefinite life as an independent government agency today by Congress.
A senate bill extending the commission's to administer the nation's facilities until other provisions are made by congress was passed by both houses and sent to the president.
There was no opposition to the proposal in the house. In the Senate, Senator McKellar (Dem., Tenn.) attempted to amend the bill by Senator Dill (Dem., Wash.) to restrict the life of the commission to May 1, 1931. The amendment was rejected by 42 to 33.
After Senator Watson the republican leader, explained to the Senate that President Hoover favored setting up of the commission permanently, the measure was passed without a record vote. Chairman White of the House Merchant Marine committee brought up his measure providing for the extension and before he had an opportunity to discuss it his colleagues gave their unanimous approval under suspension of rules.
Later, after the Dill bill was reported to the House and it was found that it provided for an engineer for the commission, to be paid $10,000 a year, with two assistant engineers at $7,500 a year each, White succeeded in obtaining unanimous action on it.
The measure then was sent to President Hoover.
Under the existing law the commission would have lost its administrative functions Dec. 31, 1929, and reverted to an advisory group under the Commerce Department. The commission was established as an administrative body in 1927. Its life has been extended twice, each time for a year, to take care the increased problems of radio transmission.
President Hoover recommended in his annual message to Congress the commission be made a permanent regulatory body. It has granted 21,000 transmitting licenses a and deals with increasing problems of power limitation and division of time among radio broadcasting stations, in addition to controlling the use of short waves of point-to-point communication, television and other points of radio transmission.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1929
New Air ‘Talkie’ Station Now On Every Evening
Down it the very bottom of your dial, or below the 200-meter limit or the usual broadcast band, there is a new station to be tuned in. It is W2XCD, which turns out to be the experimental radio telephone station of the De Forest Radio Company at Passaic, N. J.
On Tuesday evening, Dec. 17, Station W2XCD first went on the air with a test program, using only 50 watts. Reception with good loud speaker volume and excellent tone quality was reported as far as Philadelphia. The power is to be increased until the full 5,000-watt rating granted in the license is attained.
Station W2XCD broadcasts on a wave length of 187 meters, or 1,604 kilocycles, from 8 to 10 o’clock every evening. In the near future this station is to be used to transmit the sound accompaniment for the Jenkins radiomovies or radiovision picture transmitted from W2[X]CR at Jersey City. The combined reception of sound and sight siqnals at the home end, by means of a standard broadcast receiver and the special radiovision equipment, will constitute synchronized sound pictures, or radio talkies. A demonstration of this complete radio entertainment is to be made in Newark, N. J. early in January. Both stations are now on the air every day, except Sunday, from 8 to 10 p.m.
It is interesting to note that 10 different makes of standard radio receivers have been capable of tuning in the signals of W2XCD on 187 meters. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Dec. 29)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1929
Practical Use of Television Shown in a New York Test
By C. E. BUTTERFIELD
Radio Editor, Associated Press Feature Service
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—(AP)—Some possibilities of television, including the transmitted reproduction of a newspaper, were demonstrated in a laboratory today.
A newspaper was held before the television “camera,” and a reproduction, faint but recognizable, was seen in the receiver. Large headlines could be read. Printed pictures lost much of their detail, but retained enough so that men and women could be distinguished.
The demonstration, conducted in the New York laboratories of the Baird Television Corporation, included the transmission of a closeup of Mayor James J. Walker, June Collier, actress, and two entertainers, Manuel Compinksi, violinist. and Lucille Keeling, soprano. Prhotographs of President Hoover, Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, former Governor Alfred E. Smith and Ambassador Charles G. Dawes, held before the transmitting machine, were reproduced in the receiver.
Another device, a "telereader,” with words printed on a wide tape, also was run before the transmitter enough so that it could be read at the receiving end.
Capt. O. G. Hutchinson, representative in this country of the John L. Baird interests of England, said the demonstration was given to show the progress Baird, pioneer British inventor, has made toward practical television.
The pictures today were not sent by radio. Wires connected receiver and transmitter. However, Captain Hutchinson said that the same success has been obtained in radio transmission in England and Germany; that plans were under way to go on the air in Ireland, France, Australia, Africa and Japan.
He said application had been made to the federal radio commission for permission to conduct television experiments on the broadcast channels in America during the evening hours. At present television is restricted to the hours between 1 and 6 o'clock in the mornings, except on short waves.
The experiments, he added, were to be made to demonstrate that television had reached the stage where it could be considered a factor in radio entertainment.



SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1929
SHORT WAVE TELEVISION RECEIVER USING A. G. POWER ANN
A special short-wave radio receiver employing a non-regenerative detector, has been developed by the engineering staff of the Jenkins television Corporation of Jersey City, with a view to securing the best possible radiovision results, it was announced Saturday [21]. The receiver is of the A. C. or socket-power type, and includes its own power pack with a 280-type rectifier. It makes use of one stage of tuned screengrid r. f. amplification, followed by a special band pass filer. This feeds a 227 type non-regenerative power detector, which in turn feeds a two-stage resistance-coupled amplifier employing 224 screen-grid tubes. The final or power stage is a 245-type power tube.
The Jenkins short-wave receiver, has a single tuning control, volume control and coupling control. Its range is from 100 to 150 meters, or covering the present television wave length assignments. Due to a special resistance network in the audio-frequency amplifier, it amplifies uniformly over a range of from 15 to 30,000 cycles, as against the best broadcast receiver which amplifies from 100 to 5,000 cyc1es.
The receiver is intentionally less sensitive than is usually the case, so as to reduce the background level to a minimum.
Woman Enters Field.
Whatever doubts may yet persist with regards to the advent of practical radiovision, or radio television in the house, are now dispelled by the appearance of the first television program director. Miss Irma Lembke bears that proud distinction.
Miss Lembke will have charge of the Jenkins radiovision programs flashed from our two stations, W2XCR in Jersey City, and W3XK just outside of Washington.
She is a graduate of the Emerson School of Oratory of Boston, and is exceptionally well fitted for the important assignment of building up the showmanship end of the new art. Miss Lembke is studying the possibilities as the limitations of our present technique with a view to planning and directing the most interesting radiovision programs.
She is the first radio worker to have the combined facilities of sight and sound in her presentations, for sound is available to the radiovision programs, both for the announcements and also for simultaneous sound effects if necessary. As radiovision develops rapidly into a national interest paralleling sound broadcasting, there will be many television program directors, but Miss Lembke must always enjoy the honour of being the first in her craft.
New Kit Announced.
For those interested in radiovision more from the experimental and technical end than the program end, yet nevertheless anxious to start out with good pictures rather than lose precious time in dabbling, a solution is promised in the form of the Jenkins radiovision kit.
According to D. E. Replogle, treasurer of the Jenkins corporation, a simple, practical and inexpensive radiovision kit is about to be placed in production. In marked contrast with the Jenkins home radiovisor, in its self-contained cabinet, the kit comprises an exposed assembly of components mounted on an aluminum chassis, fully exposed to view. The assembly comprises a scanning disk, a special form of synchronous drive, a neon lamp, an enlarging lens, framing devices, and motor regulator. The scanning disk is mounted on a ball-bearing steel shaft, so that little power is required to drive it. The power is furnished by unique form of Faradayeddy current motor, so that automatic synchronization is obtained when working on the same power system as the transmitter. The scanning disk and motor are said to be silent in operation.
The Jenkins kit is to be offered at a popular price. Its open construction permits any kind of mounting the may be preferred. Also it permits of whatever variations and alterations the experimented may desire, while insuring a sound foundation from the start. (Atlanta Constitution, Dec. 22)

Broadcasting Studio Plans For Television
Television broadcasting facilities will form part of the new broadcasting studios which will be erected atop the new Littmann seven-story building at Broadway near 39th st., in New York City, it was announced yesterday [21]. Several modern studios outfitted with acoustic walls and ceilings and provided with proper wiring and lighting for both television and radio broadcasting, will be utilized for future Littman presentations over the air.
Preliminary experimentation to determine the proper setting for televising the Mountainville True Life Sketches, now broadcast from WABC each Monday at 7:30 o’clock have begun in the main studios of that station. There a miniature theater has been erected with all real stage settings including a pit for the orchestra. The players are outfitted in full costume. Thus the stage is completely set for television. At the present time invited visible audiences are permitted to view the production as it goes on the air. The “Tiny Tots Theater of the Air,” as the miniature theater has appropriately been termed, accommodates well over 300 people.
The new Littmann studios will be modern in every respect. They will be equipped with power control panels and latest designed microphones. Central lines will terminate in the control room, enabling the sponsor to route his programs via any New York local station he desires.
Under present arrangements 14 programs each week will emanate from the new studios. One of these being the Mountainville True Life Sketch while the other 12 will comprise programs of the latest dance hits as portrayed by “Milt” Shaw and his “Detroiters” Orchestra assisted by Byron Holiday, tenor, and Helen Richards, contralto, as well as other outstanding novelties.
Another innovation at the new studios at the Littmann store will be the provision made for large visible audiences to witness the broadcasting. Seats similar to those in a modern playhouse, will be installed upon graded flooring, giving all a complete view of the broadcasting stage.
The building in which the new Littmann studios will be located is now under construction in the block between 30th and 40th sts., on Broadway, on the easterly side. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Dec. 22)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1929
The first public demonstration of radio talkies or talking motion pictures flashed through space, and made available for the average home, will be given today and tomorrow at the Lauter Piano company’s store in Newark. The set to be used is a Jenkins radiovisor. Demonstration programs are being broadcast daily from the Jenkins television station, W2XCR, in Jersey City, and the DeForest experimental radio telephone station in Passaic. The programs originate in the Jenkins studio using synchronized films and sound recordings. (Nick Kenny, New York Daily News)

November 1929

As 1929 neared a close, it was a tale of television technology in the U.S.

In Chicago, U.A. Sanabria was showing off his transmission/reception system, which required less of a frequency range than some stations were using. In Rochester, New York, the Institute of Radio Engineers heard about—but didn’t see—a system devised by Westinghouse’s Vladimir Zworykin. Like the one invented by Philo Farnsworth, it didn’t using scanning discs. It was electronic, taking advantage of the cathode ray tube.

Sanabria’s system was mechanical. Within a few years, it became as obsolete as a 9,600 baud modem in a home today. Zworykin was hired by RCA and, with its seemingly endless bankroll (not to mention chairman David Sarnoff’s loud, unceasing publicity drumbeat) eventually some people came to believe Dr. Z. was the inventor of television.

There’s little other television news around the end of 1929. W9XR went on the air in Chicago. W2XCP in Allwood, N.J. planned a gala opening but there’s no evidence it ever happened. W2XCR, the Jenkins station in Jersey City, changed frequencies because of interference.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1929
TELEVISION TEST PROVES SUCCESS
Chicagoans Claim Development Is Almost Ready to Be Placed in Homes.
BY MARTIN CODEL.
CHICAGO, November 9 (N.A.N.A.).—Radio artists, who might easily be recognized in the flesh, and symbols almost as legible as the ticker tape quotations of stock markets were viewed through “television eyes" at a private demonstration given yesterday [8] in North Shore Hotel. The demonstration represented the fruits of the experiments of an earnest group of young engineers, who confidently believe that their television development is about ready to emerge from the laboratory to go into the home.
The full face of a blue songs singer as he played a guitar, the head of a girl singing popular selections to a piano accompaniment, a hand sketching cartoons and cards bearing letters, numbers and symbols were thrown on a celluloid screen as the radio impulses were received from a short-wave station 2 miles away. The voices and accompaniments were synchronized perfectly to the movements of the images, although they came from the broadcasting transmitter of station WIBO [W9XAO], several miles farther away.
Screen Determines Picture Size.
The images, falling in a pinkish glow on the small screen, were seen at best advantage when the witnesses sat about 12 feet away from the receiving set, which to all appearances was an ordinary highboy radio cabinet. The screen swung by a gate before an aperture from which the light emanated.
The size of the picture, which consisted of 45 lines, was determined by the position of the screen. The images of clearest definition were about 6 by 6 inches, although the inventors say that they have produced, experimentally, figures 18 inches square. When full-length pictures were shown the figures were not as clear and distinct, but all their motions could be discerned. There were no disturbing blurs or flickers in any of the pictures, but these were more or less discernible, especially if a person sat at an angle to the screen.
The receiving cabinet was attached to an ordinary electric sound-receiving set of late design. The technicians explained that certain parts of the receiver were changed to receive the sound signals, so that the photo-electric cells in the cabinet could translate them into the pins of light forming the full picture.
Most receivers now being marketed can be adapted for the television attachment without losing their available qualities, the inventors said.
At the studio the multiple spiral scanning disk, with tiny pinholes and revolving rapidly before a projector lamp, was shown. The television subject is placed before the path of the beam, the reflection is picked up by the photo-electric cells and the light points go on the air as sound signals to be picked up by the synchronized apparatus at the receiving end.
Corporation Is Formed.
The television system is known as the “Sanabria system,” for its inventor, Ulysses A. Sanabria, a young Chicagoan of Spanish descent, who entered the radio engineering field by way of the amateur ranks. He is chief engineer of the Western Television Corporation, formed to exploit the development. Lloyd P. Gamer, a former instructor in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois, is in charge of research and development.
The system is the one that Capt. Guy Hill, acting chief engineer of the Federal Radio Commission, came to Chicago to view last September. The claim was then made, and it is made now, that the broadcasting of images is done in a wave band of less than 10 kilocycles, which is considerably less than the number of channels required for most, if not all other, television experiments. Only four of the receiving sets have thus far been built.
The inventors say the short waves will carry their signals a radius of at lease [least] 20 miles without Interference from fading, static or other causes. (Washington Evening Star, Nov. 9)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1929
WENR'S TELEVISION STATION STARTS
Another television transmitting station has been put in daily operation.
It is station W9XR which has just been granted a license by the federal radio commission and which is owned by the Great Lakes Broadcasting which operates radio station WENR, Chicago. At present it is using only 500 watts in power, but this will be increased to 5000 watts in the near future. There are only one or two other television stations in the United States that operate with the latter amount. The television schedule is from 3 to 4 p. m. and 7 to 10 p. m. daily and the wave length is the 100 kilocycles band between 2850 and 2950 kilocycles. In scanning, there are 24 lines per picture; 15 pictures per second, and from, left to right and top to bottom. According to E. H. Gager, chief engineer, the scanning will be increased to 48 lines soon.
The new plant, which has just been completed, is on the transmitting property of WENR, Downers Grove, Ill., 30 miles from Chicago. At present, a specially prepared moving picture film is being used. This film gives a number of circus views and, in addition, geometric figures which give the observer a chance to check distortion. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1929
Station Being Erected in New Jersey for Regular Broadcasting.
Within 30 days, the television broadcasting stations, known as the W2XCP, being erected by the Freed-Eisemann Radio Corporation, will begin to broadcast regular programs from the Allwood, N. J., plant of the Freed-Eisemann Radio Corporation. At the present time, the antenna has been erected, and the equipment is already radiating energy during the preliminary tests which are being made prior to the broadcasting of regular programs. Both wave lengths granted to the corporation, 2,000 to 2,100 kilocycles and 2,850 to 2,980 kilocycles, will be utilized.
It is expected that the Dodge Twins, noted Broadway stars, and many other theatrical luminaries, together with the Governor of New Jersey will be present at the inauguration of programs from this station.
While the station has been built and will be run for the purpose of developing television apparatus, It will also enrich the programs available to the group of television enthusiasts who are building and operating their own receivers at the present time.
There is no question but that this little group of experimenters will be the forerunners of a tremendous group of men and women who will be receiving television entertainment in their own homes in the future, according to Joseph D. R. Freed, president of the Freed-Eisemann Radio Corporation, who is personally supervising the erection of W2XCP.
While it is contended that from five years to a decade la almost sure to pass before televised programs will present themselves on a home receiver basis, nevertheless the work being done by the experimenters at this particular time is vital in the development of apparatus which might be retarded were it not for these enthusiasts. (Washington Post)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1929
BIG CATHODE RAY TUBE MAY BRING PRACTICAL TELEVISION
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 18 (AP)—Television which can be viewed by a roomful of spectators rather than by one or two was announced today by Dr. Vladimir Zworykin, research engineer of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, to members of the Institute of Radio Engineers. The use of a cathode ray tube as a receiver gives this new type of television many advantages over the well known scanning disc method of visual broadcasting.
The inventor is already in position to discuss the practical possibility of flashing the images on a motion picture screen so that large audiences can receive television broadcasts of important events immediately after a film of these is printed. These visual broadcasts would be synchronized with sound.
No Moving Parts in Set.
The cathode ray television receiver has no moving parts, making it more easily usable by the rank and file of the radio audience. It is quiet in operation and synchronization of transmitter and receiver is accomplished easily, even when using a single radio channel.
Another advantage is that, using a fluorescent screen, the persistence of the eye’s vision is added and it is possible to reduce the number of pictures shown each second without noticeable flickering. This in turn allows a greater number of scanning lines and results in the picture being produced in greater detail without increasing the width of the radio channel.
The apparatus described by Dr. Zworykin is now being used in experimental form in the Westinghouse research laboratories. A number of similar receivers are being constructed in order to give the set a thorough field test through station KDKA, Pittsburgh which already is operating a daily television broadcast schedule with the scanning disc type of transmission.
The pictures formed by the cathode ray receiver are 4x5 inches in size. They can be made larger or brighter by increasing the voltage used in the receiver.
The transmitter of this new television apparatus consists of a motion picture projector rebuilt so that the film to be broadcast passes downward at a constant speed. This film is scanned horizontally by a tiny beam of light which, after passing through the film, is focused as a stationary spot on a photo-electric cell. The scanning motion of the beam is produced by a vibrating mirror which reflects the light from one side of the film to the other.
A New Type Cathode.
Dr. Zworykin was forced to develop an entirely new type of cathode ray tube for his receiving apparatus which he calls a "kinescope." In this tube a pencil of electrons is bombarding a screen of fluorescent material. The pencil follows the movement of the scanning light beam in the transmitter, while its intensity is regulated by the strength of the impulses received from the transmitter. The movement of the scanning beam consequently of the cathode ray pencil are so rapid that the eye receives a perfect impression of a continuous miniature motion picture.
A reflecting mirror mounted on the receiver permits the picture to be observed by a number of spectators.
System Has Great Possibilities.
This condensed description of the methods used by Dr. Zworykin to effect television transmission can give only an idea of the possibilities of the new system. To the radio public it means, when perfected, a means of television which will be simple to operate because it has no scanning disc or other moving mechanical part. The receiver will operate in silence, offering no interference to sound broadcasts.
To the radio engineer the invention is important for the same reasons and because it will not be wasteful of radio wave bands. This because the transmitter and receiver can be synchronized using but one channel.
The name of Dr. Zworykin is not new to the radio public. Earlier this year he was brought into the limelight in connection with his facsimile transmitting device for telegraphing photographs letters drawings and documents.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1929
Television Station Changes Wave-Length
Jersey City, N. J.—The television station of the Jenkins Television Corporation, W2XCR, has changed its wave length by authority of the Federal Radio Commission, to 107 meters, or a frequency of 2,800 K. C. in the 2,750 to 2,850 band. The change has been made from the former frequency of 21,500 K. C. or 139.5 meters, because of interference with other television stations in the vicinity.
According to D. E. Replogle, assistant to the president of the Jenkins Television Corporation, Station W2XCR, will continue to be on the air with its program broadcasting from 3 o'clock to 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and from 8 o'clock to 10 at night, until further notice. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

New York's Fourth Station

New York City had four television stations as World War Two came to an end, but one of them was rarely talked about, and was never seen in newspaper television listings.

NBC had WNBT. CBS had WCBW. DuMont had WABD. But there was another station, one which beat other contenders for a license from the FCC. It was W2XJT.

You can tell by the call-letters it was an experimental station. It was operated by William B. Still, who owned a radio shop and was more interested in building equipment than putting programmes on the air. It seems any broadcasts took place to test his equipment.

He caught the attention of Television magazine, which published a feature story in July 1945 about Still’s efforts to build an inexpensive TV transmitter. It’s a dry recitation of figures, but there’s a bit of history about the station near the end.

BUILDING A TELEVISION STATION ON A SHOE STRING
or the Saga of William B. Still
$20,000* is all it cost Bill Still to erect New York's fourth television station, W2XJT, which began operation on an experimental basis July 1st, out in Jamaica, L. I.
$150,000* is the figure quoted by transmitter manufacturers for a 5kw station which is similar in equipment to Still's except for the additional power.
$130,000 is the difference and that's a lot of money in any mans language.
It is this disproportionate difference that is focusing industry attention on W2XJT which operates on Channel 13 (230-236 mc.) with a 600 watt (peak) video and 150 watt audio transmitter.
Equipment
Although all the equipment is not completely installed in the studio as yet, plans call for two cameras, one film projector, one film pick-up camera, a master control board with three video monitors, studio lighting equipment, audio equipment, an intercommunication system, an antenna mounted on a 200-foot tower, spares and testing equipment. Excluding the tower, Still places the entire cost at $17,000.
The original estimate for the tower was $1,500. However, due to the tower's proximity to elevated lines and its location in a busy shopping area, a special construction job was necessary in order to conform with New York City regulations. This will boost the final tower cost to around $4,200.
Prewar Basis for Postwar Estimate
Getting back to the $130,000 difference between Still's figures and those of the transmitter manufacturers, a look at the DuMont pre-war costs for a 5kw station which is very much in line with GE's estimates (Television, June) should be of interest. Naturally, these figures will vary according to the locality and problems in transmission which each would present. Here are the figures:
Two cameras with push dollies and studio control desk $23,000
One film projector 4,000
One film pickup camera 3,000
Studio lights 5,000
Audio equipment 5,000
Master control board 35,000
Video and audio transmitter with control console 36,000
Antenna 3,000
Spares and testing equipment 13,000
Soundproofing, electrical wiring and structural alterations for studio, transmitter and control rooms 25,000
Installation cost 7,000
TOTAL $159,000
But this figure cannot be taken as final. Material costs and the labor market, as well as demand for the equipment, will all play a determining role in the final cost price.
Comparison
W2XJT is the result of one man's highly technical skill and unremitting labor over a two year period.
Whether the $20,000 figure will stand up after a year's operation remains to be seen.
Still will have to show that his equipment can stand up and perform as well as transmitters manufactured for $150,000. The $20,000 figure does not include labor costs. Considering that Bill Still has worked more than two years on the project, it would be fair to estimate an additional $20,000 for labor. Then too, the difference in cost between a 600 w and 5kw station would probably add another 20% to the final price. Other important points which must be brought out if a fair comparison is to be made is the type of camera lens used, the design of the synchronizing signal generator, type of lighting equipment, studio equipment, whether the film projector is 16 or 35mm and what kind. And finally it remains to be seen whether W2XJT can meet the signal wave form specifications of the RMA.
There are many intangibles which are not counted in the $20,000 cost but without which W2XJT could hardly have emerged out of the dream state.
First is Bill Still himself. Possessing unusual technical skill and ability, he has personally constructed and designed more than 90% of the equipment in his station. Cameras, transmitter, intercommunication system, control board and sound equipment were completely remodeled.
Station Application
In February 1943 Bill Still applied for a television station with the FCC. He has worked day and night since personally supervising and working on every phase of construction. His only help has been the periodic assistance of a few engineering friends and the aid of several high school boys.
This is quite an accomplishment, but then you have to take into consideration the fact that Still started puttering around with radio and building crystal sets at the age of ten. By the time he was 15 he had constructed his own transmitting equipment and earned his ham license. His formal education stopped with high school and immediately afterwards he started working in the electronic field for a few of the transmitter manufacturers. Four years later he opened his own radio shop.
With the advent of the war he secured some small contracts for his little shop on Navy walkie-talkies and a special projectile speed measuring device.
Trading Area
W2XJT is located in Jamaica, a residential district in Queens, (one of New York's five boroughs), which has a population of 150,000. The section is rated as the third retail trading area in New York City, with an estimated shopping population of 2 1/2 million drawn from Queens residents and outlying truck farmers. Gertz and Montgomery Ward are the two largest department stores, flanked by a large number of chains. Recently R. H. Macy & Co. announced the purchase of land for the postwar construction of a department store.
According to Still the station will probably cover the same area reached by the other New York City stations—although the signal strength will he strongest in Queens. Still hopes for a coverage within a radius of 35 miles.
The Challenge
Certainly there are few Bill Stills in the country who possess the ability to do the complete job he was capable of doing. There is also a certainty that pre-war costs will undergo an overhauling to meet post-war conditions. Bill Still will have to show that he can build a transmitter which will give the same results as existing transmitters with less equipment and a lower labor cost. If he does this the industry will arise and acclaim him.
But $20,000? Triple it! Quadruple it! And you still have a mighty challenge to the television industry.
* round figure estimates.

The TV channel spectrum got more and more valuable after the war, and Still’s experiments were taken off the air as WATV took over his frequency in 1948. At the time, Still was trying to come up with a colour TV system. By 1950, the FCC decided the experimental technical research was over, and Still’s licence wasn’t renewed.

It’s a shame, in a way. Still could have tapped into the borough’s black community and provided ground-breaking entertainment and public affairs programming, an electronic version of what black newspapers had been doing (they covered him on rare occasion). But Still was content with fussing around with television parts, which is how he spent the remainder of his working life.

News, Football and Dietrich

“Television came a step nearer to reality,” wrote Kenneth Frogley in the August 25, 1933 edition of the Los Angeles Daily News as he reported that W6XAO and W6XS had begun broadcasting motion pictures the night before under a deal between Don Lee and Paramount.

The simulcasting stations (on different frequencies) still had no live programming.

The International Photographer magazine of November 1933 expounded on what the stations were doing.

NEW TELEVISION Service Inaugurated
Television has taken a new and significant step forward, it is revealed in the announcement of "full-length feature" broadcasts of movie film by the Don Lee television transmitters W6XS and W6XAO, Los Angeles.
By virtue of the new schedule, full length Paramount features, and preview trailers, now become part of the regular transmission schedules of the television stations, in addition to current Pathe newsreels and close-ups heretofore comprising the television fare of W6XS and W6XAO. This is more program material than has ever before been transmitted by any television station in the country.
Cecil B. De Mille's "This Day and Age" and "The Texan" starring Gary Cooper, were the first features to be televised under the new set-up.
"Although all television is as yet experimental, motion picture producers with an eye to the future are cooperating with us in the expansion of our television service," said Harry R. Lubcke, director of television for the Don Lee Broadcasting System. "Since the Federal Radio Commission has ruled it experimental, the transmission of featured material is prefixed with the prescribed phrase, "These visual broadcasts are experimental."
The new service marks a distinct advance in television perfection. In addition to closeups, outdoor scenes and full length shots are received with surprising clarity. A certain newsreel contained shots of a women's swimming meet in which it was possible to see the various contestants dive into the water and swim in their respective lanes, and to notice a white-shirted official follow them in a rowboat.
These images were received three and one-half miles from the transmitter under regular home receiving conditions, and represent a much closer approach to commercial television than the demonstrations which are being held from room to room in a laboratory, or upon the stage.
Accurate identification of film subject-matter, has been reported by lookers as far away as Santa Paula, fifty-five miles airline from the Don Lee Building, Los Angeles, the receiver operators recognizing such objects as pictures on the wall of a room. Other reception reports include accurate and useful data on signal strength, of great help in television research continually being carried on by the Don Lee engineers.
During the last two and one-half years that the stations have been operating, over 4,000,000 feet of motion picture film has been shown. This is believed to be the largest television footage exhibited by any station.
Both W6XS (1000 watts, 2150 kilocycles or 140 meters), and W6XAO (150 watts, 44,500 kilocycles or 3 3/4 meters) are now operated from 7 to 9 P. M. nightly; and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9 to 11, transmitting images of 80 lines at 15 frames a second.
W6XAO occupies all of its three licensed bands on the morning schedules, using, in addition to its 44,500 kilocycle frequency on Mondays, 66,700 kilocycles or 4 1/2 meters and 49,400 kilocycles or 6 meters on Wednesdays and Fridays, respectively.
Data on the construction of a television receiver for reception of these broadcasts will be sent to those sending in a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the Television Department, Don Lee Broadcasting System, Los Angeles.

Up until that time, with rare exception, there had been no entertainment programming on the stations; just tests. And there were likely few TV sets in the Los Angeles area (the second frequency was started in 1932 because viewers couldn’t pick up the other one).

This meant extremely little coverage of local television in the Los Angeles-area press. But there were occasional programming notes in some of the papers for a while after the debut. The Los Angeles Times began regular coverage on October 10. The W6XS and W6XAO did not broadcast on Sundays. Other days below may simply be missing.

The stories don’t say if the station broadcast sight and sound simultaneously. Before we get to the listings, there was a special programme not mentioned in them that The International Photographer reported on in its December 1933 issue.

Television Football Record Set
The Editor
At 8:45 p. m., just three hours and forty-five minutes after the close of the Stanford-U. S. C. Trojan football game on Armistice Day, the Don Lee television transmitters, W6XS and W6XAO, were broadcasting scenes showing Stanford University's sensational 13 to 7 win.
This is believed to be the shortest time in which football scenes have ever reached the television screen, according to Harry R. Lubcke, Director of Television of the Don Lee Broadcasting System. So far as is known, a football game has not yet been televised directly. Thus, motion picture film is the only vehicle for television presentation of a scene of this nature. Paramount Newsreel made the rapid showing possible by dispatching the film to the station as soon as it came irom the printing tanks.
That the Don Lee equipment handled this difficult subject in a satisfactory manner is evidenced by a letter from Mr. E. D. Erickson, who was invited to view the scenes by some friends at 1117 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, on equipment built by themselves. Mr. Erickson had never before seen a television image, but wrote as follows of the scenes that flashed before him:
"Bleachers and crowd plainly seen — Panorama view of bleachers very clear — lines and goal post very clear — Follow players and see arms and legs clearly — Lining up and plays clear but could not distinguish players except by uniforms which made it possible to designate teams — Ball carrier and plays, also direction of plays clearly seen — Runner going towards goal post with others after him and make touchdown — could distinctly see the end lines — could see legs of runners plainly — then the line-up play and it was a kick — See the yell leaders in front of the grandstand very plainly — Another play, could see legs and arms but not very plainly — Could see referee, crouch, tackle and play distinctly — Long distance shot not good — Could see them spread out in the field, but could not see the ball — Side lines and stripes very distinct — Line men with tape very distinct. Announcing 8 :49 p. m.
"The above was seen by me, and in my opinion the average person who knows nothing of football would be able to distinguish it as a football game; and to the man familiar, it was of interest and distinct, as above outlined."
(Signed) E. D. Erickson.
All the scenes, except that of the yell leader, were taken from the highest point in the stadium, in the usual newsreel manner. They were well taken and much credit is due Messrs. Joe Johnson, Koverman, and Kelly of Paramount News for their good work.
The Don Lee stations regularly broadcast Paramount features, Paramount trailers, and Pathe Newsreels nightly except Sunday from 7 to 9 p. m. and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9 to 11 a. m. W6XS operates on 2800 kilocycles (107 meters), simultaneously with W6XAO on 44,500 kilocycles (6 3/4 meters).

To back up a bit, first, there was media coverage of the stations airing “film scenes showing the survivors, wrecked buildings and the general havoc” of the Long Beach-Compton earthquake of March 10, 1933 hours after it happened. The footage was taken by Pathe newsreel cameramen.

The March 25 edition of the Los Angeles Record mentioned “for the time, a complete motion picture feature production will be broadcast over radio-television.” It was The Crooked Circle featuring Ben Lyon, Zasu Pitts and James Gleason. It was scheduled for airing on March 30 and 31, with TV sets available for viewing—free!—at Barker Bros. radio department.

Wednesday, September 27
7 p.m.—“The Mighty,” starring George Bancroft. 8:30—Current Pathe News. 8:45—Excerpts from “The Big Broadcast,” starring Bing Crosby.

Tuesday, October 3
7 p.m.—Excerpt from “A Bed-Time Story”; feature, “The Light of Western Stars.”

Tuesday, October 10
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“The Girl in 419” with James Dunn and Gloria Stewart. 7:35—“True to the Navy.”

Wednesday, October 11
9:15 a.m.—Excerpts from “Girl in 419” and “A Farewell to Arms.” 9:25—Pathe News. 9:40 and 7 p.m.—“True to the Navy.” 8:25—Pathe News. 8:40—“A Farewell to Arms.”

Thursday, October 12
7 p.m.—Excerpts from Paramount’s “Her Bodyguard.” 7:10 to 9 p.m.—“Young Eagles.”

Friday, October 13
9 a.m.—“Her Bodyguard.” 9:10—“Young Eagles.”
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Young Eagles.”

Saturday, October 14
7 p.m.—“Her Bodyguards.”
7:10—Pathe News. 7:25—“Young Eagles.”

Monday, October 16
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“Young Eagles.” 10:45--Pathe News. 7 p.m.—“Midnight Club.” 7:15—Pathe News. 7:30—“Young Eagles.”

Tuesday, October 17
3 and 7 p.m.—Special radio show film.
What television will mean to the world in the near future is being demonstrated at the Radio Progress Show in the Shrine Auditorium this week.
Stations W6XAO and W6XS television outlets operated by the Don Lee Broadcasting System, with Harry R. Lubcke, director of television, in charge, are devoting five hours daily to the Radio Show, where receiving apparatus will be in operation from 3 to 5 and 7 to 10 p.m., under the supervision of Remington Radio and Television Corporation, in collaboration with the E.D. Dunn Company. These receivers will be under the technical supervision of W. Scott Hall, Jr. (Los Angeles Times)

Wednesday, October 18
3 and 7 p.m.—Special film.

Thursday, October 19
3 and 7 p.m.—Special motion-picture film.

Friday, October 20
3 and 7 p.m.—Special film.

Monday, October 23
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“Young Eagles.” 10:45—Pathe News. 7 p.m.—“Midnight Club.” 7:15—Pathe News. 7:30—“Young Eagles.”

Tuesday, October 24
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 715—“Midnight Club.” 7:30—“Young Eagles.”

Wednesday, October 25
9 a.m.—Excerpts from “Midnight Club.” 9:15—Current Pathe News. 7:00—“Young Eagles.” 8:35—Current Pathe News. 8:50—“Her Body Guard.”

Thursday, October 26
7 p.m.—“If I Had a Million.” 7:10—“Shadow of the Law.”

Friday, October 27
9 a.m.—“If I Had a Million.” 9:10—“Shadow of the Law.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Shadow of the Law.”

Saturday, October 28
7 p.m.—“If I Had a Million.” 7:10—“Shadow of the Law.”

Monday, October 30
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“Shadow of the Law.” 10:45—Pathe News. 7:15—“Shadow of the Law.”

Tuesday, October 31
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Man of the Forest.” 7:30—“Shadow of the Law.”

Wednesday, November 1
9 a.m.—“If I Had a Million.” 9:15—“Man of the Forest.” 9:25—Pathe News. 9:40 and 7 p.m.—“Shadow of the Law.” 8:35—Pathe News. 8:50—“Man of the Forest.”

Thursday, November 2
7 p.m.—“King of the Jungle.” 7:10—“Studio Murder Mystery.”

Friday, November 3
9 a.m.—“King of the Jungle.” 9:10—“Studio Murder Mystery.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Studio Murder Mystery.”

Saturday, November 4
7 p.m.—“King of the Jungle.” 7:10—Pathe News. 7:25—“Studio Murder Mystery.”

Monday, November 6
9 to 9:15 a.m.—Current Pathe News (Edition A) 9:15 to 10—Full-length Paramount feature, “Studio Murder Mystery” with Warner Olund. 10:45 to 11 a.m.—Current Pathe News (Edition B) 7:00 to 7:15—Excerpts from Paramount’s “College Humor,” with Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Richard Allen. 7:15 to 7:30—Current Pathe News. 7:30 to 9 p.m.—Full-length Paramount feature, “Studio Murder Mystery,” with Warner Oland.

Tuesday, November 7
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“College Humor.” 7:30—“Studio Murder Mystery.”

Wednesday, November 8
9 a.m.—“King of the Jungle.” 9:15—“College Humor.” 9:25—Pathe News. 9:40 and 7 p.m.—“Studio Murder Mystery.” 8:35—Pathe News. 8:50—“College Humor.”

Thursday, November 9
7 p.m.—“Too Much Harmony.” 7:10—“Only the Brave.”

Friday, November 10
9 a.m.—“Too Much Harmony.” 9:10—“Only the Brave.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Only the Brave.”

Saturday, November 11
7 p.m—“Too Much Harmony.” 7:10—Pathe News. 7:25—“Only the Brave.”

Monday, November 13
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“Only the Brave.” 10:45—Pathe News. 7 p.m.—“She Done Him Wrong.” 7:15—Pathe News. 7:30—“Only the Brave.”

Tuesday, November 14
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“She Done Him Wrong.” 7:30—“Only the Brave.”

Wednesday, November 15
9 a.m.—“Too Much Harmony.” 9:15—“She Done Him Wrong.” 9:25—Pathe News. 9:40 and 7 p.m.—“Only the Brave.” 8:35—Pathe News. 8:50—“She Done Him Wrong.”

Thursday, November 16
7 p.m.—“Sign of the Cross.” 7:10—“Thunderbolt.”

Friday, November 17
9 a.m.—“Sign of the Cross.” 9:10—“Thunderbolt.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Thunderbolt.”

Monday, November 20
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“Thunderbolt.” 10:45—Pathe News. 7 p.m.—“Song of the Eagle.” 7:15—Pathe News. 7:30—“Thunderbolt.”

Tuesday, November 21
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Song of the Eagle.” 7:30—“Thunderbolt.”

Wednesday, November 22
9 a.m.—“Sign of the Cross.” 9:15—“Song of the Eagle.” 9:25—Pathe News. 9:40—“Thunderbolt.” 7 p.m.—“Thunderbolt.” 8:35—Pathe News. 8:50—“Song of the Eagle.”

Thursday, November 23
7 p.m.—“I’m No Angel.” 7:10—“Benson Murder Case.”

Friday, November 24
9 a.m.—“I’m No Angel.” 9:10—“Benson Murder Case.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Benson Murder Case.”

Monday, November 27
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“Benson Murder Case.” 10:45—Pathe News. 7 p.m.—“Blonde Venus.” 7:15—Pathe News. 7:30—“Benson Murder Case.”

Tuesday, November 28
7 p.m.—“I’m No Angel.” 7:10—Pathe News. 7:30—“Benson Murder Case.”

Wednesday, November 29, 1933
9 a.m.—“I’m No Angel.” 9:15—“Blonde Venus.” 9:25—Pathe News. 9:40—“The Benson Murder Case.” 7 p.m.—“The Benson Murder Case.” 8:35—Pathe News. 8:50—“Blonde Venus.”

Friday, December 1
9 a.m.—“One Sunday Afternoon.” 9:10—“Darkened Rooms.”
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Darkened Rooms.”

Saturday, December 2
7 p.m.—“One Sunday Afternoon.” 7:10—“Darkened Rooms.”

Monday, December 4
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“Darkened Rooms.” 10:45—Pathe News. 7 p.m.—“One Sunday Afternoon.” 7:15—Pathe News 7:30—“Darkened Rooms.”

Tuesday, December 5
7 p.m.—“One Sunday Afternoon.” 7:10—Pathe News. 7:30—“Darkened Rooms.”

Wednesday, December 6
9 a.m.—“One Sunday Afternoon.” 9:10--Pathe News. 9:25 and 7 p.m.—“Darkened Rooms.” 8:35—Pathe News. 8:50—“One Sunday Afternoon.”

Friday, December 8
9 a.m.—“I’m No Angel.” 9:10—“The Benson Murder Case.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“The Benson Murder Case.”

Monday, December 11
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“Love Me Tonight.” 10:45 and 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Love Me Tonight.”

Tuesday, December 12
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Love Me Tonight.” 7:30—“Darkened Rooms.”

Wednesday, December 13
9 a.m.—“Love Me Tonight.” 10:40—Pathe News. 7 p.m.—“Love Me Tonight.” 8:35—Pathe News.

Friday, December 15
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—Paramount short. 9:30 and 7 p.m.—“Love Me Tonight.” 7:15—“The Benson Murder Case.” 8:35—Pathe News.

Monday, December 18
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“A Farewell to Arms.” 10:45 and 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“A Farewell to Arms.”

Tuesday, December 19
7 p.m.—“A Farewell to Arms.” 8:30—Pathe News. 8:45—short.

Wednesday, December 20
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“A Farewell to Arms.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“A Farewell to Arms.”

Friday, December 22
9 a.m.—Short. 9:10—Pathe News 9:30—“A Farewell to Arms.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“A Farewell to Arms.” 8:45—Short.

Saturday, December 23
5 p.m.—Review of broadcasts. 6—Pathe News. 6:15—“Hollywood on Parade.” 6:40—Newsreel. 7—“Madame Butterfly.”

Tuesday, December 26
7 p.m.—“Pick-Up.” 8:30—Pathe News. 8:45—Short.

Wednesday, December 27
9 a.m.—Pathe News. 9:15—“Pick Up.” 10:50—“Canine Thrills.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Pick Up.”

Thursday, December 28
7 p.m.—“Canine Thrills.” 7:10—Pathe News. 7:30—“Pick-up.”

Friday, December 29
9 a.m.—Short. 9:10—Pathe News. 9:25—“Pick-Up.” 7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:15—“Pick-Up.” 8:45—Short.

Saturday, December 30
7 p.m.—Pathe News. 7:30—“Pick-Up.”

September-October 1929

Television was continuing to expand in September 1929 and there was even live programming from New York, although it wasn’t over a TV channel.

D.E. Replogle, New York Chairman, Television Committee, Radio Manufacturers Association, Inc., gave a summary that appeared in the press that month:

For several months, a television transmitter has been broadcasting on a regular schedule in New York city. A new station is soon to go on the air with increased power in Jersey City. From Pittsburgh, experimental television signals can be received regularly.
Another station has been on the air on an abbreviated regular schedule from Washington, D. C., for some time. In New England, we have one station which has been on the air intermittently for the past year. In Chicago, one station is now on the air regularly and another is building a very modern television studio and transmission apparatus with prospects of being on a regular schedule later in the fall. On the Pacific coast, several experimental stations have been operating on irregular schedules.
The Federal Radio commission has been flooded with requests for licenses to broadcast experimental television schedules, and several such licenses have recently been granted, so that at least three more television broadcasting stations are being planned for this coming fall and winter. This looks like a very formidable array of transmitting stations.
However, it must be understood that none of these stations has yet put on the air signals intended to have an entertainment value. All transmitting is, frankly, experimental, and, in cases where regular schedules are being maintained, they are for the purpose of solving the difficulties and problems that must necessarily arise from regular sustained transmission.

This certainly describes W2XCP, which applied for a license in October 1929. We hear little about it after this.

Television got a boost in September from the annual Radio Fair in New York, but the broadcasts were of the closed-circuit type and not over a transmitter. Still, actually people (and animals) went on the air live, though the cameras of those days could pick up not much more than a head shot. This blog has avoided mentions of non-station special transmissions, but we make an exception this time to give you an idea of the people who appeared on television.

We also have stuck, almost without exception, to stories about television in the United States. However, this month marked the debut of TV on BBC, even though almost no one except reporters saw it. Due to the historic nature of the broadcast, we are passing along two stories from England.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1929
Motion Picture Broadcast Makes Progress at KDKA
By ROBERT D. HEINL
PlTTSBURG, Pa., Aug. 31—An impression was gained in a visit to the Westinghouse plant that distinct progress is being made in the broadcasting of motion pictures. Motion and still pictures are being sent daily from the television studio in Homestead works, thence by wire four miles to the KDKA transmitting station and broadcast from there to the Farm, as the short wave receiving station is known about six miles northeast.
Ordinary moving picture films are used and such subjects being shown a Krazy Kat and Pathe current news events. It was explained that motion pictures were chosen because they are more difficult to than actual objects. However, at the Homestead television studios, scanning devices are also available for the broadcasting of living subjects. A television studio is indeed a curious looking place and with its bright lights not unlike a moving picture studio.
Formerly because of the makeshift apparatus, an observer was constantly reminded of the experimental nature of television, but there is little of this in evidence at Pittsburg. The transmitting apparatus is of a substantial character and finished in appearance. The reels whirl in the same businesslike way as for a regular motion picture and with countless operators the scene presented in the television studio is similar to one so frequently seen in the projection booth of an ordinary movie theater.
Looks Like Going Concern
Likewise there is the air of a going concern at the receiving end. Not a lot of loose junk wired together but the apparatus compactly assembled on a table and resembling a camera outfit about the size a professional photographer uses. Also a thing one rarely sees in an experimental laboratory—the floor was neatly swept. Viewing a television picture recalls vividly the way we used to look at old time motion pictures in a kinetoscope, excepting that here in a darkened room sees the picture by peering into a long cylinder sometimes standing as far as five feet back to get the right focus.
The moving pictures being broadcast at Pittsburg are as yet small, about three by four inches in size but larger than the Bell telephone pictures being sent over wires in color which are only as big as a postage stamp. In both the Westinghouse and the Bell demonstrations, however, the details of the pictures are surprisingly sharp and distinct.
“If we make as much improvement in the next six months in broadcasting motion pictures as we have in the past six,” a Westinghouse official remarked, “we will really be able to report progress. As soon as we get one thing lacked we go after the next.”
Let not the reader gather from this that any definite time has been set when the last thing will be “licked” or when we may expect to receive regular television broadcasts into our homes. It may be just around the corner and again it may be years. At the moment research is being carried on along two lines. The first is perfecting quality of the transmitted picture and the second is the effort being made by radio manufacturers to design a receiver or an attachment to go on radio sets, capable of receiving broadcast pictures and selling at a price within reach of the general public. (Springfield Daily Republican)

New Television Permit
A television broadcasting license has been granted to WENR. The Chicago station has been allocated the visual broadcasting channel ranging from 2,850 to 2,950 kilocycles by the radio commission for television transmission on regular schedule with 5,000 watts power. There are now approximately a dozen stations licensed to broadcast television but all are on an experimental basis. (Indianapolis Star)

Daily Television
With the opening of its new television station on the outskirts of Washington, D. C., the Jenkins Television company has announced that it will provide daily television transmission for fans. (Ponca City News)

Television Men Placed in Cage
For good and sufficient reasons, television workers are placed in wire cages, these days. We hasten to explain that the reasons are purely electrical, and not psychological. In brief, the men who handle the delicate film pick-up mechanism which converts film images into radiomovie signals, for transmission over station W2CXR, the Jenkins television transmitter in Jersey City, are obliged to work in grounded copper mesh cages which keep out all stray radio signals disturbances or inductive disturbances.
The pick-up apparatus and amplifier for radiomovies are exceptionally delicate and suscepible to extraneous interference, we are told by the engineers of the Jenkins Television Corporation. Unusual precautions must be taken by way of thorough shielding against stray radio signals ae well as inductive disturbances within the laboratory building and even from outside sources. Aside from the large copper mesh cage, which serves as a generaI shielding of all the apparatus, there are individual copper covers and partitions for the various pieces of sensitive equipment, while the critical conductors are copper sheathed. Only in this manner, we are assured, can satisfactory television signals be broadcast free from troublesome streaks and specks due to interference. (Nashville Banner)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1929
Voice and Image Go Together Over Wire
Entertainment for both the eye and the ear, through a simultaneous transmission of clear television images and the voice of the televised person over wires, which its designers say can be broadcast over any radio station in New York with the same success, using existing broadcast apparatus, was demonstrated here yesterday [2] in the studio and laboratory of the Baird Television Corporation.
The images were clear enough for the observer to read newspaper headlines a quarter of an inch in height or to identify an unfamiliar face seen on the television screen from a picture of the person displayed after the demonstration. A section of a newspaper was held before the te1evision. The observer in another room at the other end of the wire system recognized a well-known make of automobile. The voice of the person at the televisor, by means of a microphone and a loud speaker linked with the system, came through to the observer continually, in perfect synchronism with the movement of his lips as seen in the visual instrument.
Captain Jarrard Directs Tests.
The demonstration was made over wires between the studio of the Baird Television Corporation in the Paramount Building and a special laboratory on Forty-fifth Street, under the direction of Captain W. J. Jarrard, representative of the Baird interests in America. The apparatus used, developed in this country on the system employed in England by John L. Baird, Scottish inventor, employ only the frequency facilities which could he applied to any program broadcaster and hence could be easily transferred from wires to an existing station in New York, said Captain Jarrard. Ultimately, it is planned to broadcast both voices and images over the same radio wave, not by using films of the talking motion-picture type which has been demonstrated in this country and abroad, but by using living persons and their voices, he added.
“What you have seen here today of our progress with images over wires, equiva1ent to ‘10-kilocycle’ radio transmission,” said Captain Jarrard, “is now to become a reality on the radio in England. I have been informed today by cablegram from London that the British Broadcasting, The British Postoffice and Baird have at last come to an agreement and experiments are to start immediately.”
Captain Jarrard referred to a definite program of image and sound broadcasts to go on the air in London over 2LO and other B. B. C. stations for reception by special experimenters. Broadcasts from films, which have hitherto been limited in their application in England because of the attitude of the postoffice authorities, have been called “tele-talkies” by Baird and his associates. Speaking of Baird’s laboratory demonstrations. Captain Jarrard said:
“In the production of ‘tele-talkies’ Baird utilizes a film (like sound films in this country) and simply transmits the sound on one wave and the image on another. The importance of sending speech with vision is immensely accentuated where ‘tele-talkies’ is concerned. Owing to the fact that only the narrow waveband (10 kilocycles) can be used, both television and ‘tele-talkies’ are limited to somewhat restricted scenes, such as one or two persons speaking or singing. Such subjects, when seen only, without the accompanying sounds, have very little interest compared with a combination of vision and sound. The sound helps the vision and the vision helps the sound. The combination is infinitely superior to one or the other separately.”
Rapid Development Expected
The accord reached by the British Postoffice, the British broadcasting concern and Baird interests is expected to pave the way for rapid development of television and sound sent simultaneously over the radio from the living entertainer. The British authorities formerly had been steadfast in their assertions that television on the radio in its “present state” would not serve public interest.
Captain Jarrard said also that his company’s vision and sound system has been accepted for an hour daily over Radio Belgique, one of the most powerful stations of Belgium; that tele-talkies will be demonstrated soon in cooperation with the German Postoffice offic1als at the German radio exposition, and that other television broadcasts are being planned in Australia, South Africa, Spain and France. In Germany the Baird interests are said to be allied with the Bosch Magneto Corporation, the Carl Zeiss 1ens concern and the Loewe Radio Company for tele-talkie development, broadcast of which are now on the air over the Witzleben and Koenigswusterhausen stations in Berlin. (New York Times, Sept. 3)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1929
BOSTON TO HAVE TELEVISION STATION
Boston is soon to have television. This was made known yesterday [4] by the Federal Radio Commission which has issued a construction permit to the Shortwave & Television Laboratories, a local concern located on Brookline av. The announcement issued by the commission gives the Shortwave & Television Laboratories permission to try experimental television on the 2000 to 100-kilocycle band with a power of 500 watts [later known as W1XAV].
Coincident with the announcement made by the Federal Commission came a statement from A. M. Morgan, who is in charge of the Shortwave & Television Laboratories. Mr Morgan started that his company expects to have its station in operation within 30 days. He also stated that plans for effecting a tieup of the television broadcast with sound broadcast so that programs given local radio fans might be visible as well as audible. (Boston Globe, Sept. 5)

JENKINS CO. ASKS LICENSE RENEWAL
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5.—Jenkins Television Company, of Jersey City, N. J., yesterday [4] applied to the Federal Radio Commission for renewal of its license on the same frequencies and power as now used. The Television Company broadcasts throughout the New York district. (Home News, New Brunswick, N.J.)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1929
DRAMA IS SENT BY JENKINS IN TELEVISION TEST
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept 7.—Television has turned the corner, declared E. R. Haas, director of the National Radio Institute, Washington, D. C., after the encouraging results from the Jenkins television broadcast over Station W2AX were made known here recently.
For the first time in history, a complete picture story was televised. This “television drama” was on the air one hour. Reports of its satisfactory reception were received from points as far west as Chicago, and as far north as Lexington, Mass. Station attendants expect several days to elapse before all reports are received.
The program was the first of a series to be sent out regularly from 8 to 9 p. m., eastern standard time, over the new 1,500-watt power transmitter recently installed about five miles north of Washington. D. C. The series was inaugurated in the presence of radio commission officials.
Dr. Jenkins shared the enthusiasm of friends, radio engineers, and television fans who witnessed or took part in this epoch-making event.
“I confidently predict,” concluded Director Haas, “that the public will take a keen interest in these broadcasts, and a big impetus will be given to the further development of television which will usher in a new era of opportunity for radio men and the general public.” (Atlanta Journal, Sept. 8)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1929
Drama is Sent by Radio Television
Schenectady, N. Y., Sept. 11.— Broadcast television today made its initial, appearance as a vehicle of drama. In a one act play, having a cast of two characters, engineers of the General Electric company, demonstrated to a party of newspaper men that at television, synchronized with the regular form of radio broadcast, can be used to present the radio audience with both the sight and sound of drama.
The drama shown at the company’s radio studio today appeared on a screen a few inches square and displayed only the head of the characters with the moving images of small stage proportions introduced as effects. The spoken portion of the drama was broadcast thru regular radio channels by the company’s station.
The broadcast of television scenes with figures in full length and background in some detail is in the not far distant future, the engineers indicated. This apparatus, of larger proportions than the broadcast apparatus, so far has not been adopted to broadcast wave lengths and therefore must remain for the time being as a laboratory demonstration, said the experimenters.
The television apparatus used in the broadcast of the drama was simplified and portable set developed by Dr. Alexanderson. The broadcast by the drama was made possible thru the use of three television outfits constituting, so far as the receiving apparatus was concerned, a single camera. The three units were connected with a single broadcasting outfit and thru the use of a director’s control switch the individual action of each character was sent in consecutive order to the receiving apparatus.
The broadcast was from a distance of three miles and on a wave length of 397.5 meters. The image on the television screen possessed the clarity of the average newspaper photo. (Plattsmouth Journal, Sept. 13)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1929
NIGHTLY RADIO MOVIE PROGRAMS BEING SENT.
WASHINGTON (AP).—Transmission of nightly moving picture programs has been inaugurated by W3XK, the new Jenkins television station, near here. The old station operated on 46 meters. The new one is sending on 100 meters, or 2900 kilocycles. The pictures are of 48 lines and are being transmitted on a band 100 kilocycles wide.
The programs are being given from 8 to 9 o’clock each night except Sunday. Moving pictures and cartoon stories are being transmitted now. Later images of living persons will be sent, C. Francis Jenkins, head of the television company, says.
Completely new equipment has been installed in the station. The power of the old transmitter, which was located in the heart of Washington and consequently subject to considerable Interference, was only 50 watts. The new transmitter has potential power of 5000 watts, although 1500 are being used at present. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Sept. 14)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1929
HILL INVESTIGATES TELEVISION CLAIMS
By MARTIN CODEL.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18. (NANA)—A double mission took Capt. Guy Hill, army signal corps officer, who has been acting as chief engineer for the federal radio commission, to Chicago today.
First, he intends to investigate the claims of station WIBO that it can transmit television images within a 10-kilocycle band of wave lengths, a narrower spacing than has hitherto been regarded possible for good results.
Secondly, he will inspect the plant and operations of the Universal Wireless Communications Company at Plainfield, Ill.
Captain Hill left here today, to be gone the remainder of the week. In Chicago, he will be guided about by Harold Hayes, department of commerce radio supervisor. An incidental visit will be paid Chicago’s police radio station for purposes of inspection.
Considerable curiosity surrounds the WIBO television experiments because of the claims made. Commissioner H. A. Lafount, after a recent visit in Chicago, stated he witnessed excellent reception of moving images.
In this case, two prize fighters In action, on a screen eight inches square. Not being a technician, Mr. Lafount could not say whether the transmission was being accomplished within the exceedingly narrow spacing claimed. Actual persons were used as the television subjects.
The Nelson brothers, who are the experimenters, have advised the commission that they now can show televised subjects that are recognizable and clear on a 14-inch square screen, maintaining the transmission within the same 10-kilocycle limits.
If this can be done the Chicagoans have made rapid strides forward in this newest phase of radio progress. It is understood an effort will be made to commercialize the development.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1929
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21—The Radio Commission yesterday [20] granted to R. C. A. Communications, Inc., at Bound Brook, N.J., the use through its experimental station W2XL, of 2850-2950 kilocycles for television but denied its application regarding relay broadcasting.
The same corporation obtained a construction permit for a new station at Chicago, using 500 watts power and a frequency of 1712 kilocycles.
The commission yesterday granted four other radio changes. (Plainfield Courier-News)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1929
Television Exhibit at the Radio Fair
By MARTIN CODEL
NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (NANA)—Only enough to pique the imagination is being revealed at the television exhibit here at the radio world's fair. Yet it is sufficient to arouse more interest and curiosity than any other feature of an exposition otherwise marked by a paucity of startlingly new developments in radio equipment.
Crude but distinctly recognizable features were discernible today on a fourteen inch square screen of ground glass which is set against a black cloth background in a darkened room at one corner of Madison Square Garden, The image or images move and speak; their motions are plain and their voices coming thru a loud speaker just over the screen, are clear.
The visitor at the television exhibit walks past a platform on which stars of Broadway musical shows sing or other celebrities speak while seated before the television apparatus developed by Dr. E. F. W. Alexanderson, General Electric company research scientist, in collaboration with Dr. Frank Conrad of Westinghouse and Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith of the Radio Corporation of America.
The television subjects sit before a revolving scanning disc with forty eight apertures placed in spiral formation at its outer edges. Each of the holes has a small lens which concentrates the light reflecting the objected being televised into photoelectric cells. The light images are virtually made up of pencil points of light before being transformed into electrical energy and transmitted.
In this case, carrier waves on wires bring the signals to the receiving set in the dark room nearby. The receiver has a disc revolving in synchronism with the transmitter's disc. Neon lamps behind the discs throw the reflections on the screen in a pinkish glow.
Twenty such completed images are transmitted per second, each representing a fractional change in motion by the subject, just as the several pictures on a motion picture reel represent changes in motion. Radio energy could carry the television images as well as wires, if not better, but it is more convenient In the exposition hall to use wires for the short distance of the transmission. The keen young men who are operating the apparatus are enigmatic about its commercial portents, but one of them admitted freely that the current demonstrations do not represent all the latest developments in television at their command.

Television Not Yet Perfected
New York, Sept. 23 (AP)—Television has stepped temporarily from the laboratory for another public demonstration, not much changed in appearance or fundamentals over a year ago.
Except for a slightly larger picture that can be thrown on a 14 by 14 Inch screen and an improved neon lamp in the receiver to increase the light intensity for better detail, television progress has not been such as to warrant any change in the statement of a year ago that the time of reception of practical movies in the home still is some distance away.
The first public demonstration since 1928 will be held during the week of the radio fair in New York beginning today to be followed by another at the Chicago radio show October 21 to 27 inclusive.
The setup consists of a transmitter before which the person to be televised sits, and a miniature theater, draped to exclude outside light, where the pictures are received and thrown on a small screen. Wires connect transmitter and receiver, no attempt being made to link the two by radio channels. When pictures are put into air, transmission and reception problems increase many fold. Brief television acts are to be given, and watchers will hear the voice of the sitter being fed into the theater from a microphone beside the televisor, over a separate wire leading to a loud speaker placed just above the screen.
The demonstration, under the auspices of the Radio Corporation of America is in charge of R. D. Kell, assistant to Dr. Alexanderson of the General Electric laboratories at Schenectady.
Improvements of a year center in the development of the Moore neon lamp used in the reproducer to project the received copy of the electrical energy in the form of light through a scanning disk. This lamp, the resuit of the continued efforts of Dr. R. McFarland Moore, gives a much stronger ray, resulting in a sharper picture. A current of 150 milliampers can be put into it, compared with 50 or less heretofore.
Twenty pictures are transmitted per second, with 48 lines per picture, comparable to a newspaper cut having 80 dots per square inch. Before being amplified to fit the 14 by 14-inch screen, the picture is about an inch and a half square. The enlargement is by a lens similar to that in a moving picture projector.
The wire channel used provides a frequency path 20 kilocycles, twice as wide as the 10 kilocycle band for the broadcasting of sound.
Last year the picture shown was 12 inches square and was not so plain. Even with the improvements, it flickers considerably, somewhat like the early movies, although it contains virtually the same amount of detail. This flicker is one of the problems to be overcome, the engineers said.
Good detail is obtainable only where a head is projected. If a scene such as a play is attempted, much of the action is lost.
Largely because of the extremely high cost of the present apparatus and the many problems to be overcome before television is sufficiently developed to be practical, Mr. Kell would make no prediction as to the future status of the science. He said considerable time must elapse before television would be a factor in broadcasting.

RADIO SHOW OPENS GATES AT MADISON SQ. GARDEN TODAY
The progress of radio since its inception, and particularly during the past year, and the radio hopes of the f[u]ture will be revealed to visitors to the Radio World’s Fair, which is opening this afternoon.
Actual television demonstrations, broadcasts of famous N. B. C. and C. B. S. features, models of the latest sets, reproductions in miniature of transoceanic transmitting and receiving stations and presentation of radio notables are outstanding among the features to enlighten and entertain guests today.
The formal opening takes place at 7:30 o’clock this evening, when Sir Thomas Lipton, English yachting sportsman; Congressman Wallace White of Maine, father of the present radio law; Count Felix von Luckner, the German sea-raider, and Olive Shea, chosen as the most beautiful radio artist in America, will be presented to the crowds.
Visitors will see moving television pictures, transmitted by perhaps the most perfect apparatus yet constructed, of many notables, including Mayor James J. Walker, Sir Thomas Lipton and many stage, screen and radio favorites. The schedule for today follows:
2:00—Freddy Coots, song writer.
2:30—Blossom Seely, actress.
3:00—Beautiful girls from John Murray Anderson’s “Almanac.”
3:30—Miss Helen Flint, co-star, “N[deleted] Rich,” comedy-drama.
4:00—Jack Valle, uklulele [sic] character star.
4:30—Edith Franklin, the Mystery Girl.
5:00—Priscilla Holbrook, Wizard of the Blacks and Whites.
7:30—Paramount-Publix stars, Mayor Walker, Sir Thomas Lipton; also Claudette Colbert, Walter Huston, Charles Ruggles, Paul Ash, Nino Martini, Bradford Brown, C. B. S. announcer; Louis Whitten, guest announcer, and Miss Olive Shea, “Miss Radio of 1929.”
8:30—Henry Burbig, humorist of CeCo Couriers; Norman Brokenshire, C. B. S. announcer; Harriet Lee, Merle Johnson.
9:00—Irene Bordoni, musical comedy and picture star.
9:30—Barnum & Bailey, two White Elephants.
10:00—Phillips Carlin, N. B. C. announcer.
10:10—Curt Petersen, N. B. C. announcer.
10:30—George Frame Brown, Matt Thompson of “Real Folks,” and “Real Folks” cast in costume.
10:40—“Around the Samovar,” C. B. S. feature.
10:50—Snedden Weir, N. B. C. announcer.
10:55—Eli Stivack; Bradford Brown, C. B. S. announcer. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1929
Babe Ruth Scheduled for Television Show.
Following is the [Radio] show’s Television schedule [at Madison Square Garden], which includes “Babe” Ruth and other personalities.
1:00—Don Ball, C. B. S. announcer, with the Columbia Radio Show Troupe.
2:00—Minna Gombell, featured in new play, “Nancy’s Private Affair.”
3:00—Evelyn Herbert, star of “New Moon”; Irene Delroy of “Follow Thru.”
3:30—Ray Sinnott, “Gloom’s Enemy.”
4:00—Ralph Rainger and Adam Carroll, featured Twin Piano Act from “The Little Show” and beautiful girls.
4:30—“Red” Solomon, 13-year-old boy signed by the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
5:00—Patrick Kelly, N. B. C. announcer.
6:30—Alice Foote MacDougal Orchestra; Frank Knight, N. B. C. announcer.
7:30—Babe Ruth.
7:40—Edward Thorgersen, N. B. C. announcer.
8:00—Yascha Bunchunk, conduc[t]or of the Capitol Grand Orchestra, with his $30,000 ‘cello and Ballet Girls from the Capitol Theater.
8:10—John S. Young, N. B. C. announcer.
8:30—Arthur Allen of Socony Land Sketches; David Ross, C. B. S. announcer; Freddie Rich, orchestra leader of the Sonatron Hour.
9:00—Paul Whiteman and Old Gold stars; Ted Husing, C. B. S. announcer; Rhythm Boys [with Bing Crosby]; Mildred Bailey; Ponce Sisters.
9:30—Ralph Wentworth, C. B. S. announcer; David Mendoza; Willy Ropyn [sic]. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1929
Following is the television broadcast schedule [from the Radio Show at Madison Square Garden] for today.
1:00—Edith Franklin, the Mystery Girl.
1:30—Lambert Fairchild, aldermanic candidate.
2:00—Clayton, Jackson and Durante.
2:30—Cast of Earl Carroll’s “Sketch Book.”
2:45—Hugh Watson, C.B.S. Announcer.
3:00—Bailey & Barnum, Two White Elephants.
3:30—Clarence Willard, the man who grows, will grow eight inches before the Television camera.
4:00—Celvin Keetch [sic], N.B.C. announcer.
4:30—Priscilla Holbrook, pianist.
5:00—Radio Fair Ensemble, Bradford Brown, C.B.S. announcer.
5:30—Jack Valle, uke and character impersonation.
6:00—Edith Franklin.
7:00—Ludwig Laurier.
7:30—Herbert Diamond Entertainers; David Ross, C.B.S. announcer; Will Osborne.
8:00—John Murray Anderson, of “Almanac” fame, in person.
8:30—Roxy Theater Gang; Alois Havrilla, guest announcer; Gladys Rice, Erno Rappe, Judson House, Beatrice Belkin, Ethel Louise Wright, Willy Robyn.
9:00—Rudy Weidorf, sax virtuoso.
9:10—Milton J. Cross, N.B.C. announcer.
9:30—Estelle Taylor, motion picture star and wife of Jack Dempsey.
9:40—Snedden Weir, N.B.C. announcer.
10:00—Johnny Green, Millionaire Song Writer.
10:30—Bailey & Barnum.
10:35—Dixie Echoes.
10:40—Phillips Carlin. N.B.C. announcer; Olive Palmer, Paul Oliver Elizabeth Lenox, the Revelers and Gustav Henschen. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

Roxy Ballet Dances For Television Test
Dancers in the Roxy Ballet Corps have been recruited to participate in experiments to determine the ideal feminine type for television broadcasting. The tests were given at Madison Square Garden Wednesday [25] as a special feature of the Radio World’s Fair.
Those selected represent perfect type of the red head, the blond and the brunette. Irene McBride and Julia Diamant, outstanding types of the brunette beauty, will be pitted against Ann Fleming and Lo Reitzig, blonds, with Patrician Bowman, premiere danseuse of the Roxy, as the intermediate red head. (Atlanta Journal, Sept. 29)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1929
Programs to be broadcast from the Radio Show [at Madison Square Garden] today are:
The television schedule follows:
2:00—Characters from “Remote Control,” Patricia Barclay, Concuolo Flowerton, Walter Greaze and Hobart Cavanaugh.
2:30—Bradford Brown, C. B. S., announcer.
3:00—Lambert Fairchild.
3:15—Crystal Studio Serenaders, Don Ball, C. B. S., announcer.
3:30—Edith Franklin, the Mystery Girl.
4:00—Ray Sinnott, “Gloom’s Enemy.”
4:30—Priscilla Holbrook.
5:00—Ruth Morgan of “Whoopee.”
5:10—Howard Butler, N. B. C., announcer.
5:30—Jack Valle, ukulele.
6:00—Edith Franklin, the Mystery Girl.
7:10—Snedden Wir, N. B. C., announcer, Ludwig Laurier, N. B. C., announcer.
7:30—Edward Thorgersen, N. B. C., announcer.
8:00—Vincent Lopez.
8:10—Bebe Daniels.
8:20—John Held, Jr., Phillips Carlin, N. B. C. announcer.
8:30—Bailey & Barnum.
9:00—May Singhi Green and Peter DeRoss.
9:10—Welcome Lewis, Graham McNamee, National Cavaliers, Ben Pollack.
9:30—Theo. Alban, tenor.
9:40—Seiberling Singers with Paul DuMont, N. B. C. announcer.
10:00—Joe Murray and Mary Quillin McCrory in “Hits and Bits of Scotch.”
10:15—Gold Seal program with Benny Kruger and Charlotte Woodruff. Ted Husing, C. B. S., announcer.
10:30—Curt Peterson, N. B. C., announcer.
10:40—Edward Thorgersen, N. B. C., announcer. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1929
DE FOREST MAKES BIG TO JENKINS TELEVISION
The board of directors of the De Forest Radio Co. has authorized an offer to purchase the stock of the Jenkins Television Corporation.
In accordance with the plan submitted to stockholders, it is proposed to exchange stocks on the basis of one share of De Forest no par common for one and three-quarters shares of Jenkins no par stock.
The offer expires October 18. (Brooklyn Times Union, Sept. 27)

PRESENTING MEDAL TO BYRD OPERATOR AT SHOW TONIGHT
Malcolm Hanson, chief wireless operator of the Byrd Expedition in the Antarctic, will be awarded the gold medal of the Veteran Wireless Operators’ Association for the most distinguished performance in wireless communication in 1928, at the Crystal Studio of the Radio World’s Fair at 8:30 o’clock tonight.
Following is the television schedule:
2:00—Bailey & Barnum.
2:30—Tony Sarg and his Marionettes.
2:40—Columbia Radio Show Troupe; Don Ball, C. B. S., announcer.
3:00—Tatters-in-Prints, C. B. S. feature; Bill Bradley, C. B. S. announcer.
3:30—Jack Powell and Charles Barnes, featured in Murray Anderson’s “Almanac.”
4:00—Jack Valle, ukulele.
4:30—Edith Franklin, the mystery girl.
5:00—Howard Butler, N. B. C., announcer.
5:30—Priscilla Holbrook, pianist.
6:40—Snedden Weir, N. B. C., announcer.
7:30—Norman Sweetser, N. B. C., announcer, and Lee Stevens.
7:40—Beau Brummel.
8:00—Ralph Rainger and Adam Carroll, featured twin piano act of “The Little Show.”
8:20—Norman Brokenshire, C. B. S., announcer.
8:30—The Howard Fashion Plates.
9:00—Paul Tremain, Sax Virtuoso and his Aristocrats of Music.
9:10—Rosario Bourdon, Cities Service program; Edward Thourgersen [sic], N. B. C., announcer.
9:30—Ray Sinnott, ukulele.
9:40—Billy Jones and Ernest Hare; Curt Peterson, N. B. C. announcer.
10:00—Arthur Pryor; Arthur Allen and Louis Mason, “Gus and Louie”; John S. Young, N. B. C., announcer.
10:40—Norman Brokenshire, C. B. S., announcer.
10:50—David Ross, C. B. S., announcer. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

Prospect is Distant For Commercial Television
By B. A. SCHWARZ.
Chief Engineer, De Forest Crosley, Limited.
Over-optimism and enthusiasm is apparent concerning television development. Although a great army of scientists, engineers, experimenters and inventors are working on it, numerous baffling problems still exist.
The most difficult of these problems is to secure detail with any sizeable image. The image to be transmitted is converted into a series of dots by means of a rotating disc on which appears a succession of apertures arranged in spiral so that these apertures sweep the picture or the subject to be transmitted. The principle is primarily the same as the motion picture camera, working on a succession of changes taking place at an interval of about one-sixteenth of a second. At this rate the eye cannot arrest each change in motion, and hence the image appears continuous. These dots transmitted vary in intensity as the light and shadow of the subject is graded.
This accumulation of dots of graded shadow intensity is exactly the same as the newspaper half-tone picture, except that is the latter we have 3,600 dots per square inch, and thus but little white space is left between them and the detail is quite complete. A picture one inch square would not be satisfactory, of course, and to magnify it would simply add to the white spaces between the dots.
Thus to make a picture which might be properly viewed, it would be necessary to have one four or five inches square and would need, roughly, a total of 17,000 to 21,000 dots. Since all of these must be transmitted in less than one-sixteenth of a second, transmission at a rate of 272,000 to 336,000 dot elements per second would be required. This would necessitate a transmission band width about 27 to 33 times as wide as that used at present for music and speech broadcast. Thus only three or four broadcasting stations could transmit in the present broadcast band at one time within the range of reception of the receiver. The difficulties of attempting to broadcast such a broad band with equal intensity and then to receive it without distortion are at present stubborn problems.
Another problem is present, inasmuch as the receiver scanning disc must synchronize with that of the transmitting station. There is no problem in large cities where the frequency of current would be identically the same at the transmitting and receiving stations, but in rural communities or localities where a different frequency is used, we must resort to mechanical governors or other methods of speed control. This is not a very serious but nevertheless one requiring greater perfection.
The use of photo cells at the transmitter and neon glow lamps at the receiver, and the proper illumination of the images, have been favored with very satisfactory and rapid development. Experimentation with scanning discs or drums is in very capable hands also, and very great improvement has been shown. But a useful, worthwhile addition to present broadcast and remove it from its present state experimental interest a great deal of work must be done. It would seem at present as if several years of research and experience will be required before the state of perfection required for every-day commercial use is attained. (Ottawa Citizen)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1929
RADIO SHOW ENDS TONIGHT; RECORD CROWD ATTENDED
With an anticipated attendance for the week of 306,000 visitors, the sixth annual Radio World’s Fair closes tonight at the Madison Square Garden at 11 o’clock. The figure is said to constitute a record for attendance at previous radio shows.
Following is the Fair’s last day television schedule.
2:00 p.m—Edith Franklyn, the Mystery girl.
2:30—Columbia Radio Show Troupe—William Bradley, C. B. S. announcer.
3:00—Bailey and Barnum.
3:30—Neel Enslen, N. B. C. announcer.
4:00—Jack Valle, ukulele.
4:30—Milton J. Cross, N. B. C. announcer.
5:00—Radio World’s Fair Ensemble—Hugh Walton, C. B. S. announcer.
5:30—Priscilla Holbrook, pianist.
7:30—Welcome Lewis, Snedded Weir, N. B. C. announcers.
8:00—Bela Lublow, conductor Lublow’s Hungarian Ensemble.
8:10—Littman Entertainers; Norman Brokenshire, C. B. S. announcer; Fred Buchner, Byron Halliday, Helen Richards.
8:30—Erminie Canoway, the Texas Tomboy.
8:40—Nit Wits, Bradford Brown, N. B. C. announcer; Margaret Young, Lucille Black, Harry Swan.
9:00—Bailey & Barnum, the Globe Trotters.
9:10—Curt Pedersen, N. B. C. announcer.
9:30 p.m.—Romany Patterson, Don Ball, C. B. S. announcer; Emory Deutch.
10:00—Paramount-Publix Stars, Louis Witten, guest announcer; Frank Knight, C. B. S. announcer; Vino Martini, David Mendoza, Dorothy Baughman, Veronica Wiggins, Paramount Male Quartet. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1929
TELEVISION FROM 2L0.
Sitting in a dark room in Long Acre, London, to-day a number of men gazed into a round glass eight inches in diameter.
Suddenly an eerie picture appeared—a black face with white lips and white hair, and a voice came from the loud speaker, “Good morning everybody, Sir Ambrose Fleming speaking.”
It was the first television transmission broadcast from 2L0. Officials of the Baird Television Company, whose process was being used in the experiment, watched the test in a receiver in their Long Acre offices, but when the picture of the black-faced man appeared the operator of the wireless set burst out laughing.
BACKWARDS!
“The BBC are sending the picture out backwards,” he said. “We are seeing the negative instead of the positive.”
A messenger hurried downstairs, and a little later the oblong of light disappeared, to reappear presently with the face its natural colouring. Listeners in and “seers-in” were able to see the faces as well as hear the voices of those who took part in the broadcast but they were not able to hear and see at the same time.
A message was read from Mr. William Graham, the President of the Board of Trade, and Mr. “Sid” Howard, the comedian, gave a short talk.
MR. BAIRD SATISFIED
Mr. Baird said he was quite satisfied with the broadcast. Mr. Baird added that the only sets at present in the country were the one at his home and one or two others belonging to his friends. As the face of a girl was coming through indistinctly Mr. Baird pointed out that men’s faces broadcast better than women’s.
At present a complete wireless set for speech and vision costs about £90, but an attachment for adding to an ordinary wireless set can be made for about £12. (Birmingham Evening Despatch)

TELEVISION TESTS.
Famous Scientist on the Next Step.
From a Special Correspondent.
”What will television do next? Will it be possible for a man to watch a football match without stirring from his own fireside?”
After the first television broadcast by the B. B. C. to-day I put these questions to Professor Sir John Ambrose Fleming, whose invention of the thermionic valve made wireless broadcasting possible for the public.
We stood in a room at the headquarters of the Baird Television Company where, a few minutes before, an intent audience had watched the arrival through the ether of the televised faces of men and women. They were broadcast through 2L0 from a studio in another part of the building. The face of Sir Ambrose Fleming himself, with its white moustache and bushy eyebrows and its crown of silvery hair, was among them.
“You have just seen one face transmitted at a time,” Sir Ambrose said. “The next step will be to achieve the transmission of more comprehensive images such as those of football and cricket matches in progress.
“I think it could be done by placing a large mirror on the field of play. This would reflect a wide section of the scene for transmission by television.
“The mirror could be moved about if necessary. Despite its large size it would be easily portable.
Transmitting Colours
“Already in this building colours have been transmitted by television. One day a man whose image was being transmitted placed a policeman’s helmet on his head, then tied a red scarf round it. The blue of the helmet and the colour of the scarf came through perfectly.
“The contours of the face are so plainly revealed in transmission that the effect suggests a stereoscopic film.”
No members of the public received the television transmission through 2L0 to-day because televisor sets are not yet available to them.
A high-pitched burring noise from the set, which stood on a table at one end of the room, warned us that the television broadcast was about to begin. We heard a voice reading a message from Mr. William Graham, President of the Board of Trade. He said he looked to television to provide a new industry for Britain and the British Empire; then Sir Ambrose Fleming, as president of the Television Society, was heard congratulating the Baird Company and the B.B.C. on the new departure in broadcasting.
Sent Out Backward
Through a round glass, about eight inches in diameter, we saw a flickering oblong of reddish light—a picture of wireless waves. Then what seemed to be a black face appeared.
“Why,” said the operator of the set, “Sir Ambrose’s picture is being sent out backwards. We are seeing the negative instead of the positive.”
A messenger ran downstairs, and not long afterwards Sir Ambrose’s face again flickered into view, this time in the positive.
Afterwards we saw the face of Mr. Sidney Howard, the comedian—saw it smile and saw its eloquent eyebrows move as he gave a humorous talk about television.
Two girls broadcast musical items. When it was pointed out to Mr. Baird that their faces came through less distinctly than the faces of the men, he said that men’s faces were usually best for broadcasting.
“I am delighted with the result of this broadcast,” he added. “The sounds and images have also been received at Savoy Hill, at the General Post Office, and at my private house on Box Hill.
“There are very few sets in existence yet, and we do not propose that there shall be any television on a large scale until a suitable programme can be provided on two wave-lengths. (Evening Standard, London

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1929
If You Can Get It WENR Has an Air Circus Going
[A]n increasing number of television signals are being put into the air to be heard and seen by those who possess special apparatus.
Latest to join the ranks is WENR, Chicago, which has just been granted a license by the Federal Radio Commission to operate [W9XR] in the 100-kilocycle band. At present only 50 watts are being used, with a scheduled increase soon to 5,000.
The time of operation daily is from 3 to 4 and 7 to 10 p. m. The new television plant is, like the broadcast transmitter, at Downers Grove, 30 miles from Chicago.
A specially prepared moving picture film is being put into the air. It gives a number of circus views and geometric figures y which “seers” can check distortion.
To those possessing pickup apparatus Chief Engineer E. H. Gager announces that in “scanning” there are 24 lines a picture and fifteen pictures a second, from left to right and top to bottom. Soon the number of lines will be increased to 48.
Another Chicago television plant is in immediate prospect for WMAQ is seeking permission to transmit motion pictures and other subjects from a special studio. (Dean S. Kintner column, Cleverland Plain Dealer)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1929
TELEVISION STATION SOON
Within 30 days, the television broadcasting stations, known as the W-2-XCP, being erected by the Freed Eisemann Radio will begin to broadcast regular programs from the Allwood, N. J. plant of the Freed Eisemann Radio Corp. At the present time, the antenna has been erected; and the equipment is alrady [sic] radiating energy during the preliminary tests which are being made prior to the broadcasting of regular programs. Both wave lengths granted to the corporation, 2,000 to 2,100 kilocycles and 2,850 to 2,980 kilocycles, will be utilized.
It is expected that the Dodge Twins, noted Broadway stars, and many other theatrical luminaries, together with the governor of New Jersey will be present at the inauguration of programs from this station. While the station has been built and will be run for the purpose of developing television apparatus, it will also enrich the programs available to the group of television enthusiasts who are building and operating their own receivers at the present time. There is no question, or doubt but that this little group of experimenters will be the forerunners of a tremendous group of men and women who will be receiving television entertainment in their own homes in the future, according to Joseph D. R. Freed, president of the Freed Eisemann Rardio [sic] Corp., who is personally supervising the erection of W-2-XCP.
While it is contended that from five years to a decade is almost sure to pass before televised programs in will present themselves on a home receiver basis, nevertheless the work by the experimenters at this particular time, is vital in the development of apparatus which might be retarded were it not for these enthusiasts. (Pittsburgh Press)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1929
Earl Television Station To Begin Broadcasting Within Thirty Days
The construction of the television station at the Earl Radio Corporation and the Freed-Eisemann Company’s plant in Allwood has progressed so rapidly that engineers announced today that experimental tests will be inaugurated this week. Actual operation of the station which will be known as W2XCP, will be started within a month.
Assigned Two Channels
Work was started last week on the antenna equipment. As soon as the preliminary tests have been completed, a regular schedule of broadcasting will be adopted on the two wave lengths the Radio Commission assigned to the station. 2,000 to 2,100 and 2,850 to 2,980 kilocycles.
Governor Morgan F. Larson will be asked to be the first subject to be televised at the inaugural program, plans for which have already been made, although a definite date has not been set.
The station is being built, it was explained, for the purpose of developing television apparatus. Although television is now practically in the laboratory, engineers believe it will take considerable time before it is perfected to the point where it will be on a basis comparable to audible broadcasting.
The companies announced that experimenters interested in constructing apparatus capable of receiving the station will be furnished with the necessary constructional data to build apparatus with which they can receive the program. (Passaic Daily News)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1929
Chicago, Oct. 15. (U.P.)—Television struck the worst snag of all today when prospective television actresses learned that makeup they'd have to use would make them look "perfectly hideous."
So now it's up to the television magnates, whose hopes of sending movies through the air to be received on radio sets finally are bearing fruit, to make the actresses of the country "television conscious."
"And that's going to be none too easy." said Austin Rahe, New York television expert, who came to Chicago to direct the first professional television performance at the annual Chicago radio show.
Actresses Balk.
"When you tell a beautiful woman that she has to smear her face with layers of black grease paint to make lines which will register on television,” Rahe continued, "she's apt to balk."
It seems that for the past two years there have been television broadcasts going on quietly for a little group of fans all over the country who sit enthralled nightly while hazy pictures from the air flicker on little white screens set up among the maze of television apparatus in their homes.
In all these broadcasts, mere men have been the actors and their faces have been painted heavily enough to register upon even the crudest of television receivers. That, of course, was all right for the dyed-in-the-wool television fan who doesn't much care who or what he is looking at just so long as whoever or whatever it is comes over the air to be turned into pictures with the aid of his scanning disks, synchronized motors and other such technical things.
Radio Movies Planned.
But now the television manufacturers have come so far along in improving their apparatus that they hope to install their machines in period cabinets and make radio movies just as satisfactory as radio music. To do so they’ve got to get professional entertainers to act in their television shows.
And to do that some of the professionals will have to be women, because even the best of present day television performances are a bit draggy simply because the girls are not included in their casts. Love interest apparently is just as necessary for a good television drama as it is for a good movie.
That at least is the opinion of Rahe, who is doing his best to find actresses, without objections to "perfectly hideous" makeup, to play in his television show.
"If they don't put on makeup and plenty of the very blackest kind," he said, "they're going to look like animated pumpkins on the screen. And if they do put on plenty of makeup they are going to look like aged walruses in the studio."

TWO WAVELENGTHS CARRY PICTURES AND VOICE IN TELEVISION TESTS
CHICAGO, Oct. 16. (AP)–Development of television to the point where it is hoped home reproducers may be available here in December is indicated in experiments now under way.
U. S. Sanabria, young experimenter who has spent several years in an effort to improve transmission of light, and Prof. L. P. Garner believe they have made progress which warrants a brighter outlook as to the time when television will begin to approach practicability.
Working in the laboratories of the Western Television corporation, which operates in conjunction with WIBO, broadcast station, and W9XAO, short wave plant, they have used two wavelengths, the broadcast channel of 526 meters for voice and 146 meters for pictures, as the easiest way to synchronize sound and sight.
Their progress has led Clem Wade, president of the corporation, to express the belief that the reproducing apparatus they have designed for the home will be ready before the end of the year. He said it could be attached to any broadcast receiver, which is used to pick up the voice on a loud-speaker. It also brings in pictures on the short wave of 146 meters and reproduces them on a screen in the front of the cabinet.
The size of the picture received, the engineers said, ranged from an inch and a half square up to about eight by 12 inches. They have copied pictures up to 21 inches square, but so far these have not been practicable.
The screen is mounted on an adjustable extension arm, so that it can be moved back and forth in front of the lens to change the size of the received image. The reproducer has the usual scanning disk, with a spiral of holes; a motor to drive the disk, a neon glow lamp and a lens.
Observers have reported that the pictures transmitted approach the clarity of good newspaper pictures, with little if any distortion. The experimenters have transmitted from the studio ranging from closeups to full-length, including ballet dancers, quartets, an eight-piece orchestra and amateur boxers.
The engineers said the width of their television band, generally considered 100 kilocycles for good detail, occupies less than half that space because of a specially designed scanner.
The television "microphone" for the pickup in the studio consists of a battery of photoelectric cells, a light source and a motor driven scanning disk. The corporation has been conducting experiments for more than a year.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1929
TELEVISION DEMANDS PRESSED PANTS
BY DEANE S. KINTNER
(Radio Editor)
THAT television is still in the experimental stage is admitted by most persons familiar with it.
Included is William S. Hedges, president of the National Association of Broadcasters and manager of WMAQ by virtue of being radio editor of the Chicago Daily News.
Admittedly to further experiments he is asking the Federal Radio Commission for a wave length on which to make visual broadcasts.
But there's this notable difference between his proposal and others of like nature:
Hedges says he has a new television system termed the “microvisor,” which is capable of producing full length rather than bust pictures of persons posing before it.
Still of the bust type were images seen by visitors to the television exhibit at the Radio World's Fair in New York City, although there had been some enlargement of the visual screen. Identical will be the demonstration next week at the Chicago Radio Show.
So WMAQ'S microvisor, to be operated in a special studio forming a part of new headquarters in the newspaper building, promises to be of unusual interest.
Authorization to use 5,000 watt power for visual broadcasting, the same as that used for audible programs, is asked. Chicago already has three television stations, the commission's records show. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1929
The story of radio’s rise from the time the first wireless signals flashed across the Atlantic until today when it is regarded as one of the master instruments of the ages will be dramatized before the eyes of visitors in the special $100,000 radio pageant of progress section of the Chicago radio show which opens in the Colesium tomorrow [21]. ...
The RCA-Alexanderson system of television, though still in the laboratory stage, will be exhibited for the first time outside of New York City. A continuous demonstration of this new picture-radio will be under the direction of Austin Rahe of New York. Stars of the stage, screen, radio and distinguished persons in business and professional life will appear before the televisor, and arrangements have been made so that spectators can see them in person and on the television screen at the same time. (Chicago Tribune, Oct. 20)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1929
TELEVISION NEAR PERFECT, BELIEF
By PAUL H. KING
CHICAGO, Oct. 22. (U.P.)—Television gradually is nearing perfection, demonstrations at the annual Chicago radio show revealed today.
Radio experts believe that within three or five years it will be practicable for commercial use.
One of the latest television sets attracted as much attention as the hundreds of other radio sets.
As a demonstration, the picture and voice of persons picked at random from the audience transmitted from the machine to the receiving set, several yards away.
At times the voice was distinct and picture plainly visible, furnishing a good conception of what is to come. Then static obscured the picture and caused the voice to fade away.
Elimination of the static and perfecting of other mechanical parts of the television set, now are being worked on at all the larger manufacturing plants.
Practically all the leading radio manufacturing companies in the United States were represented with elaborate displays.

DE FORREST RADIO
The no part capital stock of the De Forrest [sic] Radio Company has been increased 345,680 shares through the exchange of common shares for those of Jenkins Television, on the basis of one De Forrest share for one and three-quarters of Jenkins. The total authorized De Forrest stock is now 1,330,680 shares. (Lancaster New Era)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1929
RENEW LICENSES FOR TELEVISION
The general experimental and experimental television licenses of Radio Pictures, Inc., of New York, was recently renewed by the Federal Radio Commission [station WRNY]. (Quad City Times)

Television Still In Infancy, WLD Finds
By WLD
(State Journal Radio Editor)
CHICAGO—Television is still in its infancy—the infancy in which the movies were 20 years ago, the infancy in which radio itself was eight years ago. It’s in the laboratory stage, and it will be three, four, or even five years before it will reach the present capabilities of the radio and the audiofilm.
A demonstration of a television receiver at the Chicago Radio Show in the Colesium and talks with radio engineers at the show and at various meetings held during the exposition has convinced your correspondent of this fact.
But the very fact that television is here in any form is worthy of note, whether it be in the experimental era or a perfected invention.
Images Fairly Clear
Two or three hundred people were jammed into a booth at the show for the demonstration. Before us were two screens about 14 inches square. Flickering yellow light played on them several minutes, and suddenly the face of a man appeared. As his lips opened, his voice issued from an amplifier over the screen. He spoke briefly, then brought before the audience the face and voice of a singer.
The images were fairly clear, but lacking in the sharp detail of the photograph or motion picture; but the flicker of the whirling disc was disconcerting at the times. (Wisconsin State Journal)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1929
WGBS is planning to broadcast talking and musical programs in synchronization with pictures sent out by a local television station. It is also completing arrangements for a new radio broadcasting chain, of which it will be the key station. (Ben Gross, New York Daily News

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1929
Working Demonstration of Television to Be Feature of District Radio Show
ONE of the most interesting exhibitions to be found at the Washington Radio Show which opens Monday [28] at the Mayflower will be a working demonstration of television.
C. Francis Jenkins, Capital inventor, who already holds 60 basic patents on this latest wonder, will be at the television booth from 2 until 3, and from 8 until 9 o’clock Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
During these hours a television program will be broadcast from Jenkins’ high powered radio station five miles north of Washington by way of Georgia-av extended. Station W3XK, as it is known, will send waves out into the ether, that, when translated by the small cabinet receiver in Jenkins’ booth, will show themselves as moving' pictures.
Not Quite Like Movies
The moving pictures which the watchers will see in the big glass eye of the television receiver set, will be quite different than the movies we see at local theaters.
Just as newspaper pictures which were first made in one tone or silhouet [sic], had to go thru process of development which enables pictures now to shore lack and white, light lights and shadows, so must television develop.
The demonstration at the radio exhibit will show “movies” of silhouets. Jenkins has had perfect transmission and reception of the regular movie film in laboratory experiments, but such demonstration is not yet quite ready for public exhibition.
Just One Part of Science
However, transmitting pictures by means of movie film is but a minor part of television. The real television patent is based on a machine which Jenkins has invented which looks a scene, person, or thing, just as does the naked eye, then thru an intricate and detailed process changes what is seen into vibrations which may be picked out of the ether and changed back into visible pictures by the proper receiving apparatus.
When television was first demonstrated before a group of distinguished statesmen and scientists at Jenkins’ laboratory in June, 1924, Curtis Wilbur, former Secretary of the Navy, said: “I suppose we will be sitting at our desks during the next war and watching the battle in progress.”
He was told by the inventor that it would be possible. Since then some marvelous strides have been made in the development of this wonder. (Washington Daily News, Oct. 24)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1929
WANT VISION LIFTED
Washington, D.C., Oct. 29 (AP).—The Jenkins Television company of Jersey City, N. J., applied to the federal radio commission today for permission to change the broadcasting frequencies of its experimental station [W2XCR]. Tests have indicated that better television results would be obtained on a higher band of frequencies, the application stated.