January 1929

As 1929 began, the Federal Radio Commission had no idea what to do about television.

In less than two weeks after the start of the year, the Commission revised a decision made in 1928. It agreed to allow television broadcasts on A.M. frequencies between 1 and 6 a.m.—most radio stations then signed off around midnight—while it held hearings in February.

A unbylined story in the Santa Ana Register of January 24th said only WGY Schenectady and WIBO Chicago were licensed for television within the A.M. radio band, but several other stations were operating in the overnight hours “without express commission authorization.”

There was a great to-do about whether the presidential inauguration in March would be televised. There was only one station in Washington, Frank Jenkins' W3XK, on the air three days a week. But it was only airing films of people in silhouette. First, coverage was on. Then it was called a rumour.

There were plenty of inventors in the U.S. working on television; Philo Farnsworth comes to mind. In January 1929, a 22 year old man from Wichita Falls, Texas named Bryan Yancey Cummings, Jr., went on a mission to patent his tele-developments. In 1931, he was granted a patent, filed in 1928, for a radio receiver that had "special arrangements for the reduction of the damping of resonant circuits of receivers." Another patent was awarded in 1934, filed in 1932, with this explanation: "Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by optical-mechanical means only having a moving aperture also apertures covered by lenses." Scanning discs were pretty much obsolete by then.

In 1930, Cummings was working in Dade County, Florida as a sounder recorder for a movie company. His Draft Card in 1940 has him self-employed in Fort Worth. He certainly changed careers as in 1950, he was employed in Dallas as an assistant physicist for the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company. He died in Dallas on Dec. 2, 1977.

Below are selected highlights of TV stories for the first months of 1929.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1929
TELEVISION IS ATTRACTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST
NEW YORK, Jan. 2. (AP)—Experiments seeking the development of a successful system of television transmission have keen public interest.
Such is the consensus of a committee headed by H. B. Richmond of Cambridge, and appointed by the Radio Manufacturers' association to study the progress and prospects of sending instantaneous light by radio.
Summing up its survey the committee stated: "One point was evident, that much confusion would be avoided among television interests if a standardization committee on television were appointed. Such a committee was named and has begun its work.
“Television is an actuality today, but only experimentally. Current television pictures are possible, although the pictures are small and reduced in detail.
"They provide excellent entertainment to a skillful experimenter. From the amusement standpoint they are in no way comparable with audio broadcasting. The necessity for close attention to the operation of the receiver should be stressed. A television reproducer cannot be started and left to itself.
"The complicated problem of synchronization is much simpler over wire lines than by radio. The difference should also be emphasized between sending photographs by radio, the sending of images from moving picture films and the more difficult feat of actual television.
"Television apparatus is an additional attachment which may be used with an existing set or connected to a specially designed receiver.
"Going beyond the present small picture means wider channels and under most known methods it would take the entire broadcast spectrum to put out a picture comparable with the moving pictures of the theater. One much discussed television experiment required three transmitters and receivers with a crew of trained engineers to keep the system in operation.
"There still is considerable disagreement as to how far television will go beyond the experimenter interest stage. This is because of the continuous attention required by present visual reproduction. The most careful analysis favor the experimental and strictly professional viewpoint."

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1929
TELEVISION PUTS MOVIES IN HOME
Chicago Radio Station Makes Successful Broadcast of Pictures.
CHICAGO, Jan. 3.—(AP)—Television has placed movies in the home within the realm of possibility.
The first successful broadcasting of ordinary motion picture films, not silhouettes, was done by WCFL, the Chicago Federation of Labor's station. Several listeners, with television reception apparatus, saw the movies on miniature screens.
So limitless are the possibilities of televising motion picture film, in belief of Virgil A. Schoenberg, chief engineer of WCFL, that he hopes to radiocast movie films, as well as other public spectacles such as football games and prize fights.
Within a few months, Schoenberg says, the radio fan may be able to see pictures of public events a few hours after they occur as he now sees them in his neighbor theater.
Silhouettes and small objects have been televised before, Schoenberg explained, but never has an ordinary movie film been put onto the air. Now WCFL engineers are experimenting to determine what particular tint of film may be broadcast most successfully.
Talking movies by television may be a reality soon, coming as the next development from experiments which have brought movies into the home, Schoenberg believes.
WCFL's television of motion picture films is achieved by a device which passes the film before a beam light that scans the film from left to right. The light images then are converted into electrical impulses, which are amplified and in turn converted into radio frequency pulses.
Use Standard Reproducer.
For the reception of movies via television, a standard television reproducer is used. It consists of a 48-hole disc revolving at 900 revolutions per minute, scanning from left to right and top to bottom. The output of a receiver including a detector tube may be fed into several stages of any good resistance coupled amplifier and that output in turn feeds into a neon tube set behind the disc.
WCFL broadcasts by television daily between 1 and 2. p. m., except Sundays, on kilocycles. From 9 to 12 p. m., the station's experimental substation 9XAA broadcasts irregularly on a 5,600 kilocycles.
A movie approximately one and one-half inches high appears on the receiver's disc. Lenses ordinarily are used to magnify the pictures. Details are transmitted by the WCFL apparatus SO that a piano player's fingers, for instance, may be singled out. Keys on the piano may be distinguishable, and the pianist's motions followed closely.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1929
DR. POWER LEAVES COLLEGE TO WORK FOR WESTINGHOUSE
The resignation of Dr. A. D. Power as professor of physics and director of radio research at Lawrence college was announced Saturday by Dr. Henry M. Wriston, president of the college. Dr. Power has been engaged by the Westinghouse Lamp company to conduct scientific research for the improvement of radio vacuum tubes at the Westinghouse branch at Bloomfield, N. J. [. . .]
While at Lawrence he has won recognition for his research in radio activity. Under his direction the Lawrence broadcasting station 9EHB has served in the national relay system, and apparatus for television has been set up with successful results. (Appleton, Wis., Post-Crescent)

MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1929
TELEVISION LIMITED TO AFTER MIDNIGHT
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.—Pending a public hearing which will be held later this month, the Radio Commission today issued an order prohibiting all television broadcasting except between the hours of midnight and 6 A.M.
At the public hearing, the date for which has not been fixed, the commission will hear technical testimony on the status of television. The desirability of placing it in the broadcast band must be shown by its advocates before the new order will be modified.
Louis G. Caldwell, general counsel for the commission, said in a letter sent today to L. A. E. Gale, secretary of the National Association Opposed to Blue Laws, Inc., who had protested against the resolution of the Lords’ Day Alliance for exclusive religious programs on Sunday:
“The commission is without authority to censor programs which are broadcast over the air or to make any regulation interfering with the right of free speech by means of radio communication.”
Senator Dill of Washington, on the floor of the Senate today, read extracts from a letter in which WCFL, the Federation of Labor station in Chicago, asked whether anything could be done by the Senate to allow it to rebroadcast on short waves. The station was allowed 1500 watts by the Radio Board for daylight broadcasting, but was not allowed to broadcast after sunset.
“In other words,” said Senator Dill, “the labor station, designed to serve and reach laboring people of the central part of the United States, was not allowed to broadcast during the night time, the only time when the great masses of laboring people can listen to its program.”
Mr. Dill said that WCFL applied for a full cleared channel and 50,000 watts power. The commission has granted a construction permit for 50,000 watts but denied the station the right to rebroadcast from small stations in various parts of the country.
Senator McKellar of Tennessee, said that Congress should enact legislation to compel the commission to take action in favor of the labor station.
Representative Crowther of New York has introduced a bill in the House to make it mandatory upon the commission to provide fifty cleared channels for radio communication instead of forty.
Following their meeting here today recommendations will be submitted by the directors of the National Association of Broadcasters to the House Merchant Marine Committee tomorrow, on the bill to continue the life of the Radio Commission for another year.
The recommendations will concern the administration of the radio law, length of broadcasting licenses, distribution of radio facilities, power and rebroadcasting. (New York Times, Jan. 8)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 1929
TELEVISION PLANT NOW ESTABLISHED, JENKINS ASSERTS
Jersey City Factory Will have Television broadcasts if License is Granted
That television has reached the commercial stage is confirmed by the news that the Jenkins Television Corporation has acquired a factory at 346-370 Claremont ave., Jersey City, N.J.
“We shall have our general offices and factory, as well as our engineering laboratories, at this address, states James W. Garside, “we shall have a television broadcasting station for the New York metropolitan area [later W2XCR] installed in the annex on the roof of the building, with ideal conditions for satisfactory signal propagation, as of as license is granted by the Federal Radio Commission.
“Meanwhile, our experimental and research laboratories remain in Washington, D. C., in charge of C. Francis Jenkins, our vice president in charge of research.
“We are working toward production on standardized television receiving equipment for the home, as well as transmitting equipment for broadcasting stations desirous of engaging in this new art. The first sets of television receivers are now coming through our production department. Following exhaustive tests and satisfactory demonstration, our mass production schedule will follow. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1929
GENERAL ORDERS OF THE FEDERAL RADIO COMMISSION.
Picture and television transmissions restricted in use of frequencies in the broadcast band (General Order No. 56, January 14, 1929).—From and after the date hereof and until further order of the commission, neither picture broadcasting nor television broadcasting will be permitted in the broadcast band between 550 and 1,500 kilocycles, except upon written application to and formal authority from the commission, and then only between the hours of 1 and 6 a. m., local time at the location of the transmitter. The written applications shall be on forms provided for that purpose by the commission.
For the purpose of determining whether picture broadcasting and/or television broadcasting may be permitted in the broadcast band in the future either at all or to & greater extent than above authorized, the commission has determined to hold a hearing for the presentation of evidence as to whether such broadcasting can be accommodated on a 10-kilocycle band of frequencies; whether such transmission will result in undue interference with the broadcasting of other stations; whether there is any general publie interest in having such transmission take place in the broadcast band rather than in the high-frequency band, and such other questions as will bear upon the issue of whether permission of sfich transmission in the broadcast band will serve public interest, convenience, or necessity. This hearing will be held at the office of the commission at Washington, D. C., on February 14, 1929.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1929
RADIO PICTURES
WGY, Schenectady, has discontinued television transmission on the broadcast band. Hereafter the signals go out only over the companion short wave transmitters, W2XAF, 31.48 meters, and W2XAD, 19.56 meters, on this schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays from 1:30 to 2 P. M., eastern time, and Sundays from 11:15 to 11:45 P. M. by W2XAD; Tuesday from 11:30 to midnight by W2XAF. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1929
Television Is Radio Too Late for Inauguration
BY MARTIN CODEL.
North American Newspaper Alliance
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.—All talk about television at the inauguration of President-elect Hoover March 4 is pure fabrication.
The inaugural ceremonies will be broadcast to the nation and the world through the great radio networks and their short wave stations, but the process will be the familiar audible one. Visual broadcasting has not reached the point of perfection where the national audience can see as well as hear the great event.
Senator George Moses of New Hampshire, heading the committee in charge of the inauguration, reports that no one has even proposed to broadcast the event visually.
The leading experimenters in the field of television all assert that they are not responsible for the reports.
A reply telegram from the Bell Laboratories in New York says there are no plans to use the Ives televisor at the inauguration This is the apparatus which transmitted living images of Mr. Hoover’s features by wire and wireless between Washington and New York something more than a year ago.
As far as can be learned, Dr. E. F. W. Alexanderson, who has been working on television at the General Electric laboratories in Schenectady, has no idea of introducing his television apparatus by March 4.
Jenkins Not Ready.
C. Francis Jenkins, the Washington inventor, reports that he will have his new television transmitter in operation here before March 4, but asserts that he does not expect to try to broadcast the image of Mr. Hoover making his inaugural address.
He adds, however, that his new station, utilizing a 100 kilocycle band of wave lengths will soon be broadcasting recognizable images in half tone that can be same sets that are now receiving his “shadowgraphs.”
It is practically a certainty both the National and Columbia Broadcasting System will offer the program through their coast-to-coast hook-ups.
One of the innovations of the 1929 inauguration will probably be the placing of a microphone in the United States Senate chamber for the first time. The plan is to broadcast the vice presidential inauguration that precedes the presidential ceremony.
By a curious turn of fate, the man who has consistently opposed placing a radio "mike" in the Senate, Senator Charles Curtis, Republican floor leader, will be the central figure in the ceremony in that chamber.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1929
Powerful Station For Radio Vision
Soon Be In Operation Few Miles From Washington By The Jenkins Laboratories
Washington, Jan. 25—Radiovision will soon be on the air every night for a large share of the country reports, Science Service. A broadcasting station for radiomovies and television with power of five kilowatts will soon be in operation a few miles outside of Washington by the Jenkins Laboratories, of this city. As the station will operate on a short wave, it is expected that it will have a much greater range than an ordinary broadcasting station of equivalent power. Just what wave length will be used has not yet been determined, as the federal radio commission has not yet announced the wave bands that will be assigned though they have to allocate certain bands each of a hundred kilocycles width for this purpose. With a hundred kilocycle band authorities are agreed that satisfactory details can be transmitted.
Pending the completion of the new station and the granting of a license by the commission, the Jenkins Laboratories are broadcasting three nights a week from their present station W3XX [W3XK]. This is done on two bands, one of 187 meters primarily for nearby reception, and the other of 47 meters, which is heard throughout the eastern part of the country. Though using only 250 watts of power, the radiomovies broadcast Is received regularly in Ohio and Indiana. As the bands licensed for this use are only ten kilocycles width, broadcasts have so far been confined to movies in silhouette, which, however, have been specially prepared for the purpose, and tell stories.
Present-day radiovision broadcasts only faintly portray the future possibilities, thinks C. Francis Jenkins.
“Perfect?” he says. "No, and the receiver looks no more like the ultimate structure will than the old “one lung” horseless carriage of twenty five years ago looked like the eight-cylinder limousine of today.
“But the ten thousand pioneering with our picture broadcasts are the radio pictures engineers of tomorrow, for they are building up a technical experience which will be of inestimable value in the art later on.
“After the day's work is done these youngsters rush home: bolt a hurried dinner: and then race away to the radio shack to tune in on our pantomime broadcasts.
"Exactly the same thrill which came to them with their first crystal set and headphone, now comes again when they pick their first motion pictures out of the air; pictures radiated into invisible space from miles and miles away and put together by their home-made receiver.
“Many of these amateurs have attained such quality of picture that they have moved their apparatus into the living room where the whole family may join in the fun.
"The pictures they see are black and white comparable to the cartoon movies in the theatre and just as interesting.
"Incdentally, it is rather a surprise to those who see these silhouette movies for the first time to find them so entertaining; but the explanation is that in movies the story is told in the action and halftone quality is not necessary to any enjoyment of them. The public is not usually critical of first efforts in any new thing the novelty alone entertains for awhile.
"From many letters we get, apparently the greatest anxiety of our audience, or should I say, optience, is that we will eventually get tired and stop broadcasting.
“On the contrary we are putting up a powerful station a few miles outside of Washington to make their picture reception easier, and the pictures better; and each broadcast from now on will contain at least one picture story.
Direct Vision Of Activities
"We are broadcasting in black and white only at present in order that the frequencies involved in motion picture transmission may stay within the legally permissible width of carrier channel.
“The halftones in regular movie film and in broadcasting from living subjects and scenes, require a broader band. This was recognzied by the federal radio commission, and bands one hundred kilocycles wide will be assigned for such work. The new, more powerful, station we are building outside of Washington is for this width of band, and we shall broadcast for fireside entertainment pictures selected from those now shown in theatres.
"Our present transmission on 6420 K. C. was undertaken principally to learn the possibilities and the limitations of this new entertainment; to build up a radio-movies technique; and to insure later the availability of radiovisors giving larger and brighter pictures, which can conveniently be watched by the whole family and friends of the family circle.
"Already radiomovies are giving pleasure to thousands of radio amateurs and shortwave radio fans. Ultimately this pantomime story-teller will come to our fireside with appropriate sounds and speech, as a fascinating teacher and entertainer, without language literacy or age limitation; an itinerant visitor to the old homestead with photoplays, the opera, and a direct vision of world activities." (Lynchburg News, Feb. 1)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1929
Yancey Cummings Perfects Radio Television Set
B. Y. Cummings, Jr., young Wichita Falls inventor, who has perfected an improved machine which he predicts will revolutionize television, has gone to the East where he will spend some time in Washington and New York City, making arragements for the manufacture of his machines.
Attorneys say that Mr. Cummings is entitled to six basic patents. Mr. Cummings and Orville Bullington will probably organize a company here for the manufacture of the machine after the patents are granted.
In the past all telephoto pictures have appeared as silhouettes. Mr. Cummings' machine makes them as half tones and they naturally appear much more likelike. (Wichita Falls Times)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1929
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.—(AP)—With the erection of a special radio picture broadcasting station five miles north of Washington, C. Francis Jenkins, pioneer radio inventor, plans to transmit pictures every night of the week except Sunday.
The new station will start operating within two or three weeks, Mr. Jenkins says, and it is hoped with an increase in power to serve "lookers" throughout the United States. The band in the short wave field recently set aside by the federal radio commission for television and picture broadcasting is better adapted for clear transmission than the channels on which he is now operating and should eliminate much of the fading which is the bane of good picture reception, he says.
The new transmitter under construction at the Jenkins laboratories will be adjusted for the sending of half-tones and images of living persons. Jenkins has been giving a silhouette movie program. Picture stories also will be broadcast from the new station.
Mr. Jenkins says the radio picture art has passed the stage of early experimentation and is already bringing entertainment to hundreds of enthusiastic "lookers." Picture transmission, he declares, is at a point comparable to the position of KDKA, of Pittsburgh, when it inaugurated aural programs.
Most of the lookers are amateurs in the United States and Canada. Bonafied reports of reception of his pictures have been received, he says, from amateurs in California, Porto Rico, Montreal, Bismarck, N. Texas, northern Michigan, Florida, Colorado and Iowa as well as nearby states. Particularly good reception has been reported by Boston amateurs.
Until the commission designates the particular channels to be used under the new allocation, the Jenkins laboratories will continue to broadcast on 46 and 186 meters. The pictures are broadcast Monday and Wednesday nights from 8 until 9 o'clock, eastern time.

WRNY, New York, telling about 1928, reports that it was on the air a total of 2,192 hours. Included were 53 hours and 15 minutes of television transmission. (Associated Press)

Radio Service Bulletin
The Federal Radio Commission approved the following frequency revisions in January 1929:
East Pittsburgh, Pa., (W8XAV, owned by Westinghouse).—2,000 kilocycles (150 metres) to 2,100 (142.9); power, 40,000 watts.
Ossining, N. Y., (W2XX, Robert F. Gowan).—2,000 kcs. (150 metres) to 2,100 (142.9); power, 100 watts.
The Commission approved the following special station
Iowa City, Iowa (W9XAZ , State University of Iowa).— 200 kcs. (150 metres) to 2100 (142.9); power, 500 watts.