Saturday, 12 July 2025

December 1937

W2XBS was set to move on to the new step in television in December 1937. That’s when it got mobile vans that would enable it to cover horse racing, baseball, football and other outdoor events, beaming them to its transmitter at the Empire State Building.

Mind you, there were still few television sets in New York not in the hands of RCA engineers.

Little else happened during the month. Du Mont and Philco were granted FCC licenses. A company pushing colour TV conducted more tests. W6XAO talked about more simulcasts with KHJ radio. And RCA’s David Sarnoff made more prediction.

There was also a puzzling item about WHO in Des Moines conducting TV tests in the medium wave (its regular AM frequency). As the station had no TV license and television was not permitted on those frequencies, perhaps it was testing fax transmissions. The year ended with the following experimental licensees:

Columbia Broadcasting System, New York, N. Y., W2XAX (later W2XAB)
Don Lee Broadcasting System, Los Angeles, Calif., W6XAO
Farnsworth Television, Inc., of Pa., Springfield, Pa., W3XPF (C.P. only)
First National Television, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., W9XAL
General Television Corp., Boston, Mass., W1XG
The Journal Company, Milwaukee, Wis., W9XD
Kansas State College of A. & A. S., Manhattan, Kansas, W9XAK
National Broadcasting Co., Inc., New York, N. Y W2XBS
National Broadcasting Co., Inc., New York, N. Y W2XBT
Philco Radio & Television Corp., Philadelphia, Pa., W3XE
Philco Radio & Television Corp., Philadelphia, Pa., W3XP (C.P. only)
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., W9XG
Radio Pictures, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., W2XDR
RCA Mfg. Co., Inc. (Portable), Bldg. No. 8 of Camden Plant, W3XAD
RCA Mfg. Co., Inc., Camden, N. J., W3XEP
RCA Mfg. Co., Inc., Portable— Mobile, W10XX
The Sparks-Withington Co., Jackson, Mich., W8XAN
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, W9XK
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, W9XUI
Dr. George W. Young, Minneapolis, Minn., W9XAT

CBS was not on the air yet and I doubt that John L.V. Hogan’s W2XDR had been telecasting in years. By 1941, the call letters were being used by WOR’s FM station.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1937
The fight to get television is warming up. WHO, Des Moines, Ia., ruler of the 1000 kilocycle wave length, has chased KFVD off the air between 10 and 11 o’clock at night to conduct experiments. Early in 1938 KHJ will try out its new television apparatus embracing inventions and principles evolved during seven years of research. The sight and sound broadcasts will be sent over the Mutual system. (Reg Warren, Pasadena Star-News)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1937
Coast Television Service Promised for Next Year
West Coast Bureau, RADIO DAILY
Los Angeles — Lewis Allen Weiss, Don Lee web's general manager, promises a series of regular television broadcasts from the network's short wave W6XAO beginning early in 1938. KHJ has been active in research and practical television for many years, under the direction of Harry R. Lubke [sic].


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1937
ENGINEERS SEEK MORE AID TO TELEVISION
Satisfied with 1,000,000-cycle tests on the coaxial cable or television "pipe" between New York and Philadelphia, engineers of the Bell Telephone laboratories are now changing the terminal equipment to handle 2,000,000 cycles. The cable will then be able to transmit 480 simultaneous telephone conversations and 480-line television pictures. The recent demonstration featured 240-line images. (Spokane Spokesman-Review)


TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1937
PHILCO GETS U.S. TELEVISION PERMIT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9—(U. P.)—The Federal Communications Comission today granted the Philco Radio & Television Corp. of Philadelphia a permit to construct a television broadcast station at Philadelphia. The station will operate on an experimental basis on frequencies of 20,400 to 210,000 kilocycles.


Radio Concerns Concede Dumont Television Permit
According to word received yesterday [9] from the Allen B. Dumont Laboratories, Inc., Upper Montclair, agreement was reached during the week by counsel for two radio concerns which stated they had no objection to Dumont's application for a television broadcast license.
The Columbia Broadcasting System and the Philco Radio and Television Co. informed a communications commission examiner that Dumont had agreed to conduct his broadcasts on 50,000 to 56,000 kilocycles, fifty watts power, from midnight to 9 A. M. so the broadcasting would not interfere with the companies' broadcasts. (Montclair Times, Dec. 10)


200 Tele News Clients Expected in Six Months
Peck Television Corp. yesterday [9] inaugurated the first commercial television transmission in this country when its news service began operation. Announcement was made at initial transmission that service will have 200 clients within six months. Transmission of news bulletins will be directed to public and semi-public meeting places such as hotels, bars and eating places.
At the same time it was also learned that Peck Television will place a 441 -line television receiving set on the market within six months to retail at approximately $250, marking the first time such a set has been placed before the listening public in this country. Sets will be equipped with 14 x 16-inch screen.
News service is capable of being transmitted over either coaxial cable or leased lines. At present Peck is using lines, and power of 50 to 30,000 cycles. Peck will apply for shortwave channel shortly, and when accepted, will be able to send bulletins 72 miles.
Reception witnessed yesterday was still far from perfect. Attempts to use colors other than black and white were not successful. (Radio Daily, Dec. 10)


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1937
Mobile Television Unit Ready for Outdoor Tests
Ceremonies to Be Conducted on WJZ This Afternoon as RCA Presents NBC With First Television Machine of Its kind in the U. S.
America's first mobile television station, soon to be used in experimental television pick-ups of outdoor events of interest, will be turned over to the National Broadcasting Company by RCA with special ceremonies to be broadcast over WJZ during the Magic Hey Hour at 2 p. m.
The new unit, consisting of two large motor vans, containing television control apparatus and microwave transmitter, has just been completed at the RCA laboratories in Camden. NBC engineers plan to operate the unit in connection with the present NBC television transmitter atop the Empire State tower.
To Televise Outdoor Events
Delivery of the mobile television presages the most intensive activity in the history of American television. The NBC contemplates the experimental television of outdoor sports, pantries and other subjects. After being relayed by microwave to the Empire State transmitter, the televised events will be broadcast throughout the Metropolitan area to receivers in the hands of NBC engineers and those built by radio amateurs.
The new mobile unit consists of two motor vans, each the slat of large bus, to be operated by a crew of 10 engineers. One van contains complete pick-up apparatus, including cameras, for both picture and accompanying sound. A picture or "video" transmitter is mounted on the other. A special directional antenna is used in connection with the unit. (Home News, New Brunswick, N.J.)

"The Magic Key" (WJZ-2) came home yesterday [12] . . . Addicted to wandering (microphonically) to all sorts of strange places . . . from the ocean floor to the stratosphere . . . part of Sunday's special broadcast took place right at the doors of Radio City . . . NBC's new mobile television unit was set up there and its function was explained to radio listeners and the passersby . . . Capable of picking up outdoor events, such as football games, news events, et cetera . . . it will he used in the television experiments now being conducted by the network.
• • •
There were two ether features worth mentioning on “Magic Key” . . . One was the oresence of Luritz Melchior, Wagnerian tenor, familiar to Met audiences . . . His splendid voice was raised in two selections from Wagner's "Lohengrin," including the famous "Farewell" aria . . . The other was the very workmanlike piano performance of Dr. Frank Black . . . the show's gifted musical conductor in Mendelssohn's "Piano Concerto', to D Minor." (Ben Gross, Daily News, Dec. 13)


APPLICATIONS GRANTED
Philco Radio & Television Corp., Philadelphia. CP for new television station. 20400-210000 kc, 15 watts. (Radio Daily, Dec. 13)


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

FCC ACTIVITIES
CALL LETTERS
Philco Radio & Television Co., Philadelphia. W3XP. (Radio Daily, Dec. 16)

PHILADELPHIA
WCAU is building its new W3XIR transmitter, to be completed in February and designed eventually for television. (Radio Daily, Dec. 16)


Former Paterson Men Work On Television Development
Harold Hogencamp and Steward Clothier Among Engineers Perfecting Inventions at Irvington—Expect It Will Be In Use in Near Future—See Demonstrations
By S. J. CRISTIANO
(Secretary of the International Electricians' Union)
In a small brick building in Irvington a group of engineers have for the past two years worked consistently to develop television.
Cite Demonstration
Recently a demonstration of televised motion pictures was given to representatives of the press. This was the second in a series of demonstrations, the first offered some three months ago. Remarkable progress has been made it was clearly indicated by pictures shown.
The inventors of the television system, Harold Hogencamp and Steward Clothier, are former residents of Paterson. Since the formation of Kolorama Laboratories they have resided near the scone of operations, Irvington. The personnel of Kolorama comprises, Emil A. Kern, executive vice-president; Frank Goldback chief engineer; George Ruchstuhl, broadcast engineer; Harold Hogencamp and Steward Clothier, research engineers. A staff of competent workmen is also employed.
While the pictures were not perfect, noticeable improvement since their last demonstration was seen, which gave an indication of improvements to be expected during the months to come.
Pictures three by four feet were shown on a ground glass screen. The pictures are projected from the rear of the screen and their present equipment, without change, is capable of projecting pictures of larger size.
The present transmission is by wire from standard motion picture film televised while moving at the standard sound film rate of twenty-four frames per second. None of the film used in the demonstration was made for television purposes. Representative close-up, football action and group scenes were used to show in some degree the possibilities of television in general and of large screen mechanical television in particular.
More Improvements
Mr. Kern in a prepared statement announced, "We wish to point out the fact that improvements in our system are constantly being made without appreciably increasing out frequency requirements. This is made possible by our mechanical scanning methods, particularly at the transmitter. Cathode ray reception of signals transmitted by our system may be utilized with excellent results except as to size of the received picture. However, we use cathode ray tubes only for monitoring and experimental comparisons. We have a cathode ray cabinet receiver available and can produce very good "black and white" pictures on the ten inch screen of the tube.
"Up to the present time transmission of film has sufficed in the development of our receiving apparatus. Now that our pictures have reached a point where subject matter plays an important part we have turned our attention to the direct pick-up form of transmission. We are not yet ready to demonstrate our direct pick-up transmission but it is in actual operation and already compares with our film transmission.
May Be Ready Soon
Mr. Kern, asked for a prediction as to when television will be available to the public, stated and amplified the forecast to the extent that he and his associates are referring to months not years when they speak of television being taken out of the laboratories and becoming part of everyday American life.
In the demonstration close-ups of New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and Thomas E. Dewey, district attorney-elect of New York were seen. Television pictures of major football games of a few weeks ago were shown. Details of the shots were clear enough to allow following the ball as it passed from player to player.
The viewing room was not in total darkness. Dim lights were turned on and the pictures lost none of their quality.
When questioned as to the costs of receiving equipment. Mr. Kern stated that the sets will be more costly than radio sets are at present, but that sets will not be out of the reach of families in average circumstances. He also stated that the prime consideration of Kolorama has always been large screen television, and that the small pictures measuring only a few inches on a side will not be acceptable even in the home.
The next demonstration to be given by Kolorama will feature direct pick-up as well as farther developments work in their receivers. (News, Paterson, N.J.)


MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1937
Du Mont Television Sets
Montclair, N. J. — Du Mont Laboratories, which has applied for an experimental television broadcast license, also plans to put out a receiving set costing about a third as much as present tele receivers, according to Allen B. Du Mont. (Radio Daily)


TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1937
Hollywood Bid For Television Permit Bared
Request for Broadcasting License Sought by Local Society
Another step further anchoring Hollywood as an amusement center in the field of modern inventions was taken today when it was revealed that an application for a television broadcasting license has been filed with the Federal Communications Commission by the Hollywood Television Society.
The application was requested by George Mahaffy, of station W6FVY, acting as trustee for the society.
Film Trail Followed
It was in just such a quiet manner that the motion pictures and later the radio came to Hollywood, only to develop afterward into the community's most outstanding industries.
Mahaffy said that color television will be broadcast shortly after the first of the year. Members have been encouraged in their "color-vision" plans by the recent successful experiments by William Praeger, motion picture studio expert, staged for the benefit of society members.
The proposed television station will be located at 763 N. Gower St., in a modest frame structure across from the RKO-Radio Studios.
"While the station will operate on only one-fourth of a kilowatt of power," Mahaffy said, "much greater distance is expected in reception, due to recent discoveries by the society.
Broadcasts Planned
"The station will conduct regular broadcasts for the benefit of amateur experimental reception." Regular meetings are held by the television group, with speakers and experiments alternated as new developments are brought forward. (Hollywood Citizen-News)


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1937
Sarnoff Sees Television As a New Art of Its Own
When television is developed to a practical commercial stage, it will be a new art of its own, calling for a whole new generation of artists, and supplementing the older arts of stage, movies and sound broadcasting, says David Sarnoff, president of RCA, in an article written especially for the forthcoming Radio Annual.
The exploration of the ultra-high frequencies, wherein radio sight will be added to radio sound, is just beginning, according to Sarnoff. Though television progress has been slow and difficult, he states that a number of definite and promising achievements have been recorded. New techniques for writers and directors are being explored by NBC engineers and program specialists, with the question of talent looming as the biggest problem.
Sarnoff points out that consumption of talent and material by television will be greater than in any other art, thereby placing a greater strain on writers, musicians, actors, scenic designers and producers. High cost of the new art also requires that a big audience be created for it, so that sponsors can be induced to underwrite the programs. Present range of useful television signals is less than 50 miles, Sarnoff states, and creation of even limited networks will be an expensive undertaking. He is confident, however, that television will eventually reach the commercial stage and create a vast new industry. (Radio Daily)


FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1937
TELEVISION STARTS TO LEAVE SHELTER OF LABORATORIES
Developments Take Place As Radio Swings To Hollywood
BY C. E. BUTTERFIELD
Associated Press Radio Editor
Another year's approach to television finds broadcast radio in a definite swing to the west—"going Hollywood" it's sometimes called.
Thus movieland has become almost as important in big broadcasts as New York.
While all this has been going on, television has talked more about itself than ever before.
Another visual element of radio, facsimile or the means of transmitting inscribed intelligence in almost any form with a definite record at the receiver, assumed importance as a possible program adjunct. Several additional broadcast stations planned tests outside their regular hours. Further tryouts of the New York to Philadelphia ultra-short wave facsimile circuit were conducted.
Telemobiles Make Bow
In a flash, the RCA-NBC television system, on field test in New York since June, 1936, increased detail of its images to 441 lines, a 20 per cent jump; elaborated its technical and program research, and, near the close of the year, prepared to start tests with "telemobiles," apparatus designed for the relay of outdoor scenes.
A tube to throw a television image onto a separate screen, up to three by four feet in size, made its first peep outside a laboratory.
Indications that NBC soon would have a television rival in New York came with the CBS announcement it had ordered television equipment for 1938. Further television demonstrations were conducted by the Philco laboratory. The New York-Philadelphia coaxial cable, designed principally for line transmission of television, got its first tests.
Television Out Of Doors
In televising outdoor events, England advanced over America. England started with television versions of the coronation parade.
In England, television is made available to the public. Here, demonstrations are semi-private. The public may not see American television until the New York World's Fair of 1939, for which a radio-television building is being planned.


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1937
Television Ready To Enter Homes, Director Declares
Television is ready to go and it is now up to the Federal Communications Commission and financiers to bring it into homes, according to Harry R. Lubcke, director of television for the Don Lee Broadcasting System.
Lubcke has been transmitting a new type of high definition television to an estimated 100 receivers in the Los Angeles area for 18 months.
Satisfied with special broadcasts made of motion picture films, Lubcke announced yesterday [26] that Lewis A. Weiss, general manager of the system, had arranged to permit sight-sound transmission of a number of the more important regular broadcasts of station KHJ. The new television broadcasts will begin shortly after the first of the year.
TELLS OF ADVANCE
Lubcke says that television is technically about where radio was in 1927. He feels that reception of his broadcasts has about the same relative limitations as the first single dial radios and is well past, comparatively, the old crystal sets, single tube and three-dial receivers. Within a 20-mile radius from the station reception has been consistently distinct with receiving set images only a shade less visible than those provided by a movie camera using 16mm. film.
Chief stumbling block to television in America, the engineer declares, is the refusal of the Federal Communications Commission to grant it a status other than "experimental."
Under this rating broadcasters cannot receive money for their broadcasts from commercial sponsors. Since in this country all work in television is being done by private concerns it puts the whole business on a charity basis.
"If we could have a commercial rating," says Lubcke, "television would quickly enter into the life of the nation. Television needs money and as things are now operated in this country the only way to get it is to put it into the hands of businessmen."
METHODS DIFFER
However, Lubcke was careful to say there are minor problems to be overcome. One of these is the lack of uniformity in method. There are three television stations in the United States, one in New York, one in Philadelphia and one here. Each of the three uses different methods and therefore three different types of receiving sets would be required. These differences in principle are important in the broadcasting end but minor changes easily could make possible a universal set, Lubcke stated.
With a government appropriation of almost a million dollars, England is far in advance in the use of television. There are 3500 receiving sets in London and the number is steadily growing. The English are superior only in distribution, according to the engineer. The quality of their broadcasts is not superior to those in Los Angeles.
Television receiving sets cost $300 in London. They will be the same here. The public will not go through preliminary stages with television as it did with radio. When sets are offered they will be at a comparatively high stage of development. No one can predict when receiving sets will be offered for sale or when broadcasting will expand but Lubcke thinks it will be three years at most and maybe sooner.
BROADCASTS LIMITED
At present television receivers must be within 45 miles of a broadcasting station with good reception limited to 25 miles. Television uses an ultra short wave which has many of the properties of light waves and cannot reflect around corners or follow the curvature of the earth. Static increases with distance and any object between broadcaster and receiver interferes with clarity of reception.
A new Ike subject camera developed by technicians can be transported to any event at which, lighting conditions are suitable for photography. The camera does not take a picture. (Daily News, Los Angeles, Dec. 27)


TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1937
60 TELEVISION TESTS BY NBC IN PAST YEAR
More than 60 television demonstrations have been given by NBC in the past year, while about 300 persons have appeared before the company's television cameras, says Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, in a year-end statement on the activities of the network.
"We have begun to accumulate operating experience against the day when this art becomes a commercial actuality," says Lohr in commenting on the television developments. Experiments with program material, cooperation with RCA on program problems and the delivery by RCA to NBC of the first mobile unit were among other television events of the year.
Reviewing NBC's radio highlights of 1937, Lohr points to improvement in music, signing of Toscanini for a series of 10 concerts, the enlistment of Dr. James Rowland Angell as educational counsellor, advancements in drama, maintaining of an impartial policy on public questions, increased international programs which are promoting better relations with other countries, service in the flood region, etc.
Addition of stations, new building projects and various improvements in facilities also are cited. (Radio Daily)


Advances in 1937 Revealed Television Not So Far Away
Executive Sees Improvement as an Evolution and Not an Invention; NBC and CBS Stations Will Go on the Air Sometime in 1938
By Harold DeLong
Time registers another year and from all appearances television still seems a thing of the future. However, those who should know will tell you that the "future" is not far away.
David Sarnoff, president of RCA, announced in June that the public would get its first look at television "whatever its status may be at that time" at the New York World's Fair in 1939.
Television seems so far in the distance to many because they expect to awaken some morning and read in their papers that television was introduced as an everyday service the night before. Allen B. Dumont, another RCA executive [sic], said recently: "Television is an evolution and not a single invention. It is a development that must come out of practical experience.
"Some time next year the National Broadcasting company's television station atop the Empire State building and the Columbia Broadcasting System's transmitter in the Chrysler building will be on the air. As they demonstrate their ability daily, there will grow a demand for image receivers here and there. That is just the way broadcasting began and television, as I see it, will follow much the same pattern."
Some persons say that the increasing number of radio programs being presented from Hollywood is an indication of television's nearness. With radio close to the trained movie actors and actresses it would be a very easy matter, it seems, to shift from the present broadcasting system to one enveloping vision.
Important Step
Another indication that television may soon become an everyday service in the homes of the United States came a month ago when it was announced that two cathode ray tubes were being placed on the market for the use of amateurs, educational institutions, laboratories and others interned in experimental television.
Jams J. Lamb, technical editor of "QST," cited this as an important move. "The new television," he said, "although acceptable in the laboratory, is far from ready for general use in the field. It is in this process of transformation from the precise and limited delineations of laboratory technique into widespread popular utilization that the amateur becomes a worker of unique value.
"Radio history repeats itself. The experimental activities of licensed amateurs in radiotelephony supplied in the initial impetus and accelleration [sic] for sound broadcasting in the early 1920's. Now, over 15 years later, radio amateurs have immediately before them the same opportunity to aid the progress of modern television developments and perform an important public service in traditional amateur fashion."
However, when several amateurs inquired as to the possibility of setting up a picture transmitter, they were told: "We will be pleased to take your order. The price will run something like $250,000." And that only includes the transmitter. Receivers can be bought for about $500 in London.
Presenting a wide variation of programs to small selected groups, research men learned much in the last year as to the type of programs that will go over best once television is perfected. Enthusiasts saw everything from monkeys at a zoo to pretty mannequins at a fashion show preview in the visionary broadcasts.
See Football Games
By far the best results of the year were obtained in the televised newsreels, which showed with remarkable clarity football games, tennis matches, swimming exhibitions and a number of other sports events. The fine definition of the scenes from recent football engagements, photographed on rain-soaked gridirons, could not help but give rise to the thought that the day may not be far distant when football fans will be able to enjoy watching their alma mater play in a downpour while they enjoy the comfort of their homes.
Probably the most extensive show televiewers have witnessed thus far was the coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth last spring. The procession was seen by 5,000 persons sitting beside television receivers within a 50-mile radius of Alexandra palace in London.
The British Broadcasting corporation established what was hailed as "another landmark in television history" when it followed the coronation telecast with one of the 1937 Wimbledon tennis matches.
In October the BBC gave another exhibition of program technique when it presented a telecast of a ballet rehearsal. The success of the telecast was attributed to the simplicity of rehearsal costumes and setting. The dresses, black because that is the less flattering color and the least likely allow a fault to escape the producer's eyes, proved ideal for television, standing out exceptionally well against the plain white background.
Another Advance Made
In America the National Broadcasting company and RCA gave a demonstration that may prove popular as a television broadcast of the future with a 45-minute telecast, previewing unusual and typical exhibits from the 34th Annual Business show, and for the first time television peered into the future and revealed tomorrow's events to today's onlookers.
That was in October. A month later, technique that may some day become the regular thing in radio sound and sight dramas got its first semi-public tryout. It was a Sherlock Holmes story in which live talent in the studio and film sequences were intermingled to produce the effect of scenes both indoors and out.
In 1937 at least two important technical developments were seen. Philco Radio and Television corporation showed images in February made of 141 [441] lines in place of the 343 lines shown in previous demonstrations. This increase results in a setter picture since detail heretofore lost is brought out.
Philco T. Farnsworth [sic] announced in October that he had found an “incandescent screen" that would do away with the fluorescent screen then in use in television receivers, which made visible the pictures received when a fast moving beam of electrons bombarding caused chemicals on the screen to fluoresce. This new screen gives a more intense image—so bright that it can be projected and magnified optically on a large moving picture screen.
The development of a new "projection kinescope" by V. K. Zworykin and R. H. Law made possible clear television on a wall screen 8 by 24 inches, about the size of newspaper page. (Flint Journal, Jan. 1, 1938)

Saturday, 5 July 2025

November 1937

There was one television test in November 1937 that was, perhaps, more significant than the rest.

Scientists at the Bell Telephone Company managed to send a television picture and sound on a coaxial cable linking New York and Philadelphia.

The experiment proved that it was possible to create a television network. This was still a few years away, but once NBC put W2XBS on the air regularly in 1939, it worked out a deal to use the cable to hook up with Philadelphia to create the first, albeit temporary, TV network.

Newspapers on the East and West Coasts didn’t publish television schedules, so we have to rely on articles to learn what exactly was being broadcast. Unfortunately, they didn’t do it very often, especially in the case of W2XBS as it did air some live programming in addition to newsreels and other short films. Then again, none of the NBC programming was for public consumption.

Still, the company wanted to broaden viewership beyond the 100-or-so RCA engineers with a “receiving apparatus.” It began to make it possible for amateur radio buffs—like the ones who sparked the radio craze after World War One—to view programmes and offer opinions about reception and so on.

In the Los Angeles area, there were TV sets in a few homes. One newspaper story that month reported on one W6XAO broadcast. The Don Lee station was still confined to film.

Stations at the University of Iowa and Purdue University carried on with broadcasts as well. And Kansas City’s W9XAL resumed daily programming tests as well.

Du Mont was not on the air yet, but waiting for FCC approval. A hearing was scheduled for this month.

We have avoided posts about TV in Britain, but we will mention the broadcast in Blighty that got world-wide attention. On Remembrance Day, the Armistice Day ceremony witness by the King and Queen was interrupted by someone who got out of a mental institution and yelled “Hypocrisy!” during the moment of silence honouring the war dead, and screamed the British government was preparing for another war. Considering the actions of the leader of Germany at the time, preparation would have been a wise thing.

Below, we have highlights for the month from news sources, including one of the world’s worst predictions by a broadcaster.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1937
TELEVISION STUDIED
General Electric Asks Permit to Build Four New Stations.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (AP).—The General Electric company of Schenectady, N. Y., asked the Communications commission today for authority to build four new television broadcast stations for experimental radio television development.
The company told the commission it also intended to carry on a television receiver development program in conjunction with the transmission of aerial moving pictures to determine the type of apparatus that must be supplied for public needs.
The commission said today's application was the first filed for the 44,000 to 50,000 kilocycle band designated as a television channel under the recent allocation of frequencies which open up what has hitherto been regarded as the "no man's land” of the ether.
[Two stations would be in Schenectady, one in Albany, one in Easton].


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1937
EXPERIMENTS HINT DAY OF TELEVISION SPANNING OCEAN
London Picture Signals Already Picked Up in N. Y.—Clear Reception Is Still in the Future
By C.E. BUTTERFIELD
NEW YORK, Nov. 6—(AP)—Trans-Atlantic television—that's a new hope for radio's future. Already picture signals originating in London have been picked up here.
Almost daily, too. This despite the fact that the ultrashort waves used for such transmission usually have a comparatively limited range; the engineers call it a "line of sight" range.
It's at the Riverhead (Long Island) reception laboratories of RCA that engineers have been tuning in on London's radio movies. So far they haven't reproduced a picture, but they have heard both the sound part of the transmission and the musical buzz-saw note of the television signal. To do so they have been using special aerials and an elaborate receiver.
Some day soon, too, they expect to be able to reproduce the London pictures, which are a part of the regularly scheduled broadcasts coming from Alexandra palace as put on by the British broadcasting company.
Sunspots Seem to Help
It's only the daytime transmission that can be heard. That comes over here between 10 a. m. and noon E. S. T. The evening broadcast in London—that would be afternoon over here—has never been logged, apparently because it is sunset between London and New York at the time.
A freak of the air waves is the explanation given by the engineers for their listening success. Their belief is that it is due to the present intensity of sunspots, which are at 'the peak of an 11-year cycle. Five years from now at the other end of the cycle conditions may be just the reverse.
While the engineers have expressed the hope that radio pictures across the Atlantic may some day be as nearly practicable as sound is today, they say they haven't gone far enough with their experiments to attempt any kind of a prophecy.
There's a further explanation for the reception, which despite fading at times, has resulted in fairly steady signals of good strength for both sound and sight. The engineers advance the theory that the sunspot activity has lowered the ionized layer of the atmosphere miles above the earth to the point where it reflects the signals just right to reach this territory.
At other times this invisible layer is at such a height that the angle effect is different. Tests have shown that the ionized layer acts on radio waves something like a mirror does on light rays.
The London signals are divided into two sections, the sound just above seven meters and the sight around 6 ½ meters. Over here television experiments are being made on approximately five meters.
Not only has London been heard, but Berlin also has been brought in. The distances covered are 3400 miles to London and 3900 miles to Berlin.


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1937
Television Given A Test on Liner
Captain of British Vessel Calls Venture Success
NEW YORK, Nov. 8 (AP)—Successful reception of television broadcasts by a liner at sea was reported today by Capt. A. T. Brown of the Cunard White Star liner Britannic.
Capt. Brown said the experiments, believed the first of their kind ever attempted, were performed Oct. 29, 30 and 31 after the ship sailed from London.
The experiments were conducted by engineers of the British Broadcasting corporation, who set up their receiving equipment in a vacant cabin. Capt. Brown said the Britannic, until it left the English channel, was never more than 30 miles off shore.
"The pictures were extraordinarily clear, and the sound was perfect," he said. "They broadcast special programs from Alexandria palace, in London, and the reception on the ship seemed excellent.
"The pictures were reproduced on a screen about 10x12 inches. It was as distinct as if they'd been sending it from the next cabin."


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

MOTION PICTURE IN SOUND TELEPHONED
New Medium for Televisiong Transmission Used from New York to Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 9. (AP)—A motion picture in sound was telephoned from New York City to Philadelphia today over a Coaxial cable—a new medium for television transmission.
The scenes and spoken words passed from the Bell Telephone Company laboratories to a special loud speaker and a glass screen in the company's offices here.
They were the first sent over the new cable, which contains conductor units capable of transmitting simultaneously the currents of 240 different telephone transmitters.
The long-distance movie program included a picture explaining the cable possibilities—television with a minimum of distortion—and also several films of the news reel type.
The demonstration was not designed to show an improved television, because the present cable, with a top frequency of about 1,000,000 cycles, cannot carry images as faithfully in detail as those produced by the most modern television equipment.
Dr. Frank B. Dewitt, president of the Bell laboratories, said 2,000,000 cycle repeaters would be tried next in an attempt to transmit scenes with more than twice the accuracy of those carried today.


N.B.C. Gets Permit to Conduct Camden, N. Y. Television Tests
RCA to Deliver 2 Portable Pick-Up and Transmission Sets to Broadcasting Firm; Companies Keep Details Secret
Field experiments in with portable apparatus in or near Camden are contemplated by the National Broadcasting Company early in 1938, it was revealed yesterday [9].
The Federal Communications Commission granted permission to the N. B. C. to operate transmission stations between Camden and New York City on a portable basis, it was revealed in news reports from Washington.
Simultaneously it was learned here that the RCA Manufacturing Company is building in Camden two complete mobile field pick-up and transmission television sets to be delivered to N. B. C. soon after January 1. The sets are mounted on automobile truck chases.
T. F. Joyce, publicity director for RCA Manufacturing Company, said he presumes the sets will be put in operation in and around Camden to test their transmission range.
“They might be operated in or near Camden or in or near Trenton or other points to determine just how far action and sound can be transmitted clearly with the equipment," Joyce said.
He added that neither N. B. C. nor RCA Manufacturing Company is ready yet to release full details of their plans.
Pictures and the full story, Joyce said, will not be ready for another month.
Asked what scope of pick-up power the portable sets would have, Joyce replied:
“They might pick up and transmit football games or baseball games or any other events where their [sic] is sufficient light intensity."
Joyce, however, said he was unable to answer technical questions, such as what light intensity would be sufficient.
The transmission sets will be equipped with cameras capable of picking up both the visual and sound action and transferring both to the transmitting apparatus.
The permit granted by the Federal Communications Commission provides for operation of the transmission sets on frequencies of 175,000 to 180,000 kilocycles, and for 400 watts power for visual transmission and 100 watts for sound transmission. (Camden Courier-Post, Nov. 9)


WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1937
Lucille-Lanny Televising
Lucille and Lanny, young NBC song team, will sing two comic numbers in an experimental vaudeville television show to be broadcast at 4 p.m. today from the NBC television studio in Radio City. Tests made by the artists Monday showed they were very adaptable to iconoscope lens. (Radio Daily)


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

Velvet Screen Is Devised For Television
New Invention Said to Offer Images of Signal Clarity and Brightness Material First Oxidized
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11.—The fine velvets that make glamorous gowns also will produce clearer and brighter television pictures, according to the claim in a patent just granted here to Philo T. Farnsworth of San Francisco, noted for his inventions in television.
The patent covers the invention of a television screen made from velvet. Co-inventor with Mr. Farnsworth of the new velvet television screen, on which the telecast pictures are "painted" by rapidly moving beams of electrons, is Bernard C. Gardner of Philadelphia.
So brilliant can the pictures received be made that the screen cannot be viewed directly because the glare would temporarily blind the eyes. The light is pure white, unlike the greenish and bluish tinged images received on screens of the fluorescent type. The pictures are two to four times as bright as ordinary home moving pictures, asserts the inventor. By use of suitable lens the television pictures can be projected from the velvet on to an ordinary motion-picture screen as large as five feet square. The brightness of the pictures makes it unnecessary to darken the room.
Velvet First Oxidized
In making the new screen finely woven rayon velvet is the starting material. The velvet is dipped in a solution of thorium and uranium salts until it is thoroughly impregnated. Then it is dried and "burnt off." The original velvet fabric disappears and in its place is an oxidized velvet made from thorium and uranium oxide.
The process is akin to that in making incandescent gas mantles. It is this oxide velvet that forms the new screen in the cathode ray tube, that ingenious device that is able to take the electrical impulses representing the images sent through the ether and convert them into pictures which are viewed on the screen.
This it [is] does by means of an electron gun which sends crashing into the screen a pencil beam of electrons which zips over every bit of the velvet screen.
So great is the impact of the electron beam that, where it strikes, a very fine incandescent spot or trace shows up on the screen. But the extent of incandescence varies with the electrical impulses received by the television receiver. And it is this variation in the brightness of spots that results in the formation of an incandescent picture on the screen as the electron beam zips across the screen striking every elemental bit thereof.
Blurred Images Avoided
Sharper and distinct images are produced, because velvet keeps the incandescent spots that make up the television pictures from spreading and thus blurring. It prevents conduction of the heat to other areas of the screen.
"Using the finest weave velvets as a base, these screens have been satisfactorily operated to display pictures having a detail corresponding to 400 lines: that is, pictures wherein the area of the focal spot was but one 160,000th of the area of the screen. With these pictures transmitted at the rate of 20 a second, the time which any individual area is bombarded is one 3,200,000th of a second." (Burlington Free Press)


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1937
Crude Television Sets Of Youths Prove Success
CLAIRTON, Pa., Nov. 13.—(AP). A battle of experiments and electrons is on in this industrial section as three Clairton youths race fame in further development of the electrical wizardry of the age —television.
Everything from old radios to bed springs are being utilized by the three participants—Thaddeus A. Dragoski, 22, and two brothers, Pete, 23, and Mike Sedor, 21.
A measure of success has already been won by the three. They have built two sets which successfully received news reel pictures from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., some 400 miles away [W9XG].
It all began three years ago when the boys were students in Clairton high school. An electrical instructor assigned them to ferret out information on television.
At first, they tore apart old radios, their own and then a neighbor's set which were unrepairable.
Restricted by lack of cash, but with the eyes of experts, they scoured junk yards and obtained old motors and tubes from radio dealers.
While the work of the two Sedor brothers was being acclaimed by townspeople, Dragoski's experiments were unknown. He was busy pulling apart a bed spring to make a stand for his set which he kept hidden in a third floor workshop in his home.
The task of the three cut out for themselves was not easy but finally after "fooling" with tubes and discs, the Sedor brothers announced a demonstration.
Neighbors were invited to the Sedor home to watch the boys prove they could receive Purdue University's pictures.
Young Dragoski watched the experiments but did not disclose his own work. He continued to work in silence until he got the Purdue pictures clearer, he says, than the Sedor boys.
Recently, the three youthful inventors were invited to exhibit their sets at Clairton high.
When Dragoski arrived with his set, the Sedor brothers were astounded for they did not hear of its existence. But, they declare, they will carry on and aid their fellow inventor.
The two television sets are the same in principle the boys explain. However, Dragoski employs a cathode ray—one of the newest developments in televisors. Dragoski's set cost $80; the Sedor boys built their set for $7.
Collectively, they said:
"We are going to continue working on our sets. A lot of development in radio and other things were maded by amateurs and we might hit on some idea. If we don't, then when the real engineers find the answer we'll be sitting pretty and step right into some job.
"But, we're going to continue alone. May the best man or men win."


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1937
Swor and Lubin [blackface comedians] are set for a shot on the NBC experimental show Monday. (Radio Daily, Nov. 11)

Start Television Tests
Kansas City — W9XAL, television station of the First National Television School, went into operation yesterday [15] for daily equipment tests authorized by the FCC. (Radio Daily, Nov. 16)


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1937
Television Test Set for Tuesday by Engineer Here
Long Beach tomorrow night [16] will be the scene of television demonstration.
Roger Howell, Long Beach radio engineer and television research expert, said today that he had arranged for a special broadcast from the Don Lee television studios in Los Angeles at 10 o’clock.
Howell has perfected a receiving set at his home, 857 Cerritos Avenue, where the first Long Beach television party will he conducted for a selected list of guests. The television broadcast will be previewed at 6:30 P. M. tomorrow [16] at the Howell home and will be repeated at the formation presentation three and one-half hours later when reception will probably be better.
Don Lee station W6A0 [W6XAO] for seven years has been experimenting with television. Howell said that a motion picture news reel accompanied by full sound effects will be the first to be broadcast tomorrow evening.
The distance of more than twenty miles between the sending and receiving sets is said to be the farthest that television can be broadcast under the present power facilities of the Don engineers.
An attempt will be made to broadcast singing and speaking by men and women at the Don Lee studio. (Long Beach Press-Telegram, Nov. 15)


Widen Scope Of Television
Many Tests Scheduled Within Week.
By C.E. BUTTERFIELD
Associated Press Radio Editor
New York, Nov. 16 (AP)—Television, as displayed on occasion while field testing is under way in New York, is widening the scope of its demonstrations.
Within the next week a half-dozen or more test showings have been docketed—one for fashion experts and all the others for amateur radio station owners. All will originate from the RCA-NBC picture studio in Radio City via the Empire State building transmitter.
The fashion guests, here for the annual style spectacle, Fashion Futures, naturally will see by air a program of fashions. This showing will be Thursday afternoon [18].
The amateurs are to take a look at television next Monday [22] and Tuesday night [23], the demonstration to be divided into six sections, three each night, to accommodate all of them.


WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1937
Television Test Is Enjoyed at Residence Here
Human images were hurled through the ether last night [16] between Long Beach and Los Angeles in one of the most successful television experiments in Southern California.
While radio technicians at the Don Lee station in Los Angeles broadcast motion pictures and still pictures, a thrilled party of spectators at the home of Roger Howell, 857 Cerritos Avenue, saw the latest achievement in science. City Manager Randall M. Dorton and Mrs. Dorton headed a party of guests who saw news reels of the recent New York American Legion convention reproduced on the Howell television set.
Harry R. Lubcke, director of television for W6-XAO, the Don Lee experimental station, today hailed last night's television reception by Howell as “a pioneering achievement."
The Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Eugene Biscailuz and other prominent personages are scheduled to attend the next television demonstration which will be conducted next month by Howell. (Long Beach Press-Telegram, Nov. 17)


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

1st Fashion Show Is Sent By R. C. A. Television
Broadcast From Empire State to Rockefeller Center
The first all-fashion demonstration of R. C. A. television was presented by the National Broadcasting Company yesterday afternoon [18] at the R. C. A. Building. It was produced under the supervision of Betty Goodwin, N. B. C. fashion editor, and announced by Ben Grauer. The clothes shown were from Saks-Fifth Avenue.
For the purposes of the demonstration the show, sent out by the antennae on the Empire State Building, was picked up on the experimental television receivers on the sixty-second floor of the R. C. A. Building. If television receivers were now in general use, it could just as easily and effectively have been picked up in thousands of homes throughout the city.
A few of the highlights of the show, from the fashion angle, were a bois de rose slipper satin gown with a brown velvet jacket, a hostess gown of tangerine silk jersey with a bolero jacket of maroon velvet embroidered in silver, and a pastel blue satin negligee with matching ostrich feathers.
Another interesting feature was the appearance, via television, of Lester Gaba with his famous dummy Cynthia Cynthia wearing a white lace evening gown and a Chanel four-strand pearl necklace with an emerald and rhinestone clasp. The demonstration was scheduled in recognition of Fashion Futures, the annual style spectacle to be presented by The Fashion Group on November 22 in New York, and during the broadcast Helen Cornelius, Margaret Case and Ruth Mills discussed plans for the style showing. (New York Herald Tribune, Nov. 19)


Fashion Experts See Television Styles
Study Materials in First "Broadcast" of Models
By ETTA WILSON
NEW YORK, Nov. 19—A glimpse into the comfortable future of television when we can do our Christmas shopping from an armchair, see the Easter parade from our living room and watch celebrities arrive in a city without moving out of our own home, was previewed here today [18].
It was the first fashion television broadcast ever presented.
With 300 other persons, here to attend the Fashion Futures Show at the Waldorf-Astoria Monday night, I sat in a room on the 62d floor of the RCA Building in front of a machine that resembled an overgrown phonograph with the lid propped up. In the lid is a mirror that reflects what appears in a rectangular portion of a globe.
The revue was presented by National Broadcasting Co. not so much as an entertaining feature, but as a laboratory experiment to see how much detail of fabric and trimming could be shown by television.
As an experiment, the show was interesting, but as a medium for presenting fashion shows, all the experts agree television still has a long way to go. The screen is small, 8 ½ by 10 inches, and the pictures in black and white. However, as we watched the reflections, regardless of their wavering, we all felt that when perfected television will open a wide merchandising field.
All of the revue was presented from the third floor of the same building and transmitted 59 floors by television.
Among the new styles broadcast by television was an apricot makeup . . . an Antoine coiffure sprinkled with "star dust" to match your evening gown . . . plaind wool housecoat, and a resort costume of brown and white printed seersucker. (Cleveland Press, Nov. 19)


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1937
Radio League To Cooperate In Television
Amateurs Mobilized to Receive Experimental Programs; RCA Offers Equipment
Thousands of licensed amateur radio operators are being mobilized by the American Radio Relay League for participation in a program of cooperation in the field of television. The objective of the league is yet forth in the December issue of QST, league publication, by James J. Lamb, technical editor, who spent months of preparation for the event.
Coincidently the Radio Corporation of America has invited amateur cooperation towards perfecting television equipment already devised in laboratories, and announces in QST the availability of parts for assembly of television receiving sets by licensed operators. In the same issue, also, appears the first of a series of articles on modern cathode ray television reception.
Significant Step.
These announcements mark the first significant step from laboratory experiments towards ultimate realization of television on a commercial basis with widespread public use. The amateur field now is recognized as the testing sphere. Technicians predict that advancement in television will now show an abrupt upward swing.
In connection with the history-making announcements, the RCA states: "RCA knows and is deeply appreciative of the radio amateur's contribution to the art of ultra-high frequency communication. The early development of television gave rise to problems best solved in the laboratory; but as the art slowly emerges from this status, to the stage where experiments can best answer the current problems, the RCA believes the amateur can, and is eager to, contribute to the perfection of this new art."
Transmitting Stations.
It is expected that television interest will establish transmitting stations in various centers of the nation, in addition to the few existing ones centered principally in New York and New Jersey. Meanwhile, amateurs will prepare for reception of experimental programs, which can be received now within a radius of 100 to 150 miles, anticipating considerable activity by spring.
Equipment has been perfected for transmission of television programs. The league is arranging for fairly accurate information on transmission of television programs. As schedules are prepared, the league will be notified and pass the word along to amateurs through QST.
The league membership includes approximately 10,000 licensed amateurs. The cost of constructing the receiving set, including the cathode-ray tube, is now within reach of amateurs.
Assistant Secretary Clinton B. DeSoto of the league announced Saturday [20] that 1500 licensed amateur operators from the Metropolitan New York area, or a radius of 300 miles, have been invited by RCA to attend the largest demonstration of television yet given in this country. Six performances will be given Tuesday [23] and Wednesday [24], the 1500 being divided into groups of 250 each because of limited facilities. The demonstration will be at Radio City. (Hartford Courant)


FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1937
A. T. & T. Coaxial Cable Is Again Demonstrated
Another demonstration of the coaxial cable installed last year by A. T. & T. between New York and Philadelphia was given this week at the Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York, supplementing the recent demonstration witnessed at the Philadelphia end.
Though officials were reticent about making predictions on practical application of the cable, results obtained thus far were regarded as encouraging, especially with respect to the adaptability of coaxial cables to long distance transmission.
Pictures of 240 lines were shown, on a small screen, although tele broadcast via ether has developed to the 441 -line stage.
Two other series of television demonstrations were given this week by NBC for amateurs, with a view to encouraging the "hams" to try their hand at the visual broadcasting art. (Radio Daily)


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1937
FCC DECISIONS
CALL LETTERS ASSIGNED
National Broadcasting Co., Portable, W2XBT. Television station.


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1937
FCC DECISIONS
HEARINGS SCHEDULED
Nov. 23: Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc., Upper Montclair, N. J. CP for television experimental station.


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1937
Sherlock Holmes Enters Television
Conan Doyle's Super Sleuth Carries on Via the Ether
By WILL BALTIN
Radio Theatre Editor
A new medium has been found for the adventures of the immortal Sherlock Holmes. Sir Conan Doyle's super sleuth first captured the imagination of the world with his amazing detections when he appeared on the pages of Doyle's late 19th century novels.
So famous did he become that he soon was portrayed on the stage. Development of the motion picture opened a new channel through which Holmes could carry on his celebrated sleuthing.
Last week several hundred radio amateurs watched Sherlock Holmes solve the mystery of "The Three Garridebs.” They saw him patch together remote bits of evidence, and applauded his efforts when he wove a web of circumstances about an imposter, counterfeiter and murderer. But they neither saw him on the motion picture screen, nor on the stage.
They saw him by means of TELEVISION!
Sherlock Holmes thus has the distinction of being the first fictional character of world renown to have his image reflected through the ether by means of Iconoscope and transmitted to the television kinescope for the edification of the multitude.
Thrilling Experience
It was a thrilling, as well an entertaining experience, one that brought boldly to the fore the possibilities of the future entertainment values of pictures through the air.
The demonstration of program technique as developed by the National Broadcasting Company was given before hundreds of members of the American Radio Relay League at several performances held on the 62nd floor of the RCA building last Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The A. R. R. L. men witnessed the presentation on 16 television sets operating on separate antennas.
It was the first real studio effort by NBC and was exceptionally well staged. There were a number of scene changes including an "outdoor shot” which had been previously filmed and blended into the story with admirable deftness. The characters wore costumes suggestive of the late 19th century, and the proper English atmosphere was created—even to the broad accents.
The televised detective story ran for nearly 30 minutes and is said to be the first studio-staged presentation of any consequence ever televised in New York.
The demonstration also included "short subjects" consisting of filmed newsreel, novelty piano duo and a one-reel song and dance picture.
RCA announced that it now invites amateurs to interest themselves in television development. (Home News, News Brunswick, N.J.)


Television Tubes Placed On Sale to Experimenters
2 Kinescopes Priced at $60 and $40 Yellow Picture
Two cathode ray tubes for television reception are being made available to radio amateurs, educational institutions, laboratories and to others interested in experimental television by the R. C. A. Manufacturing Company. This is the first television apparatus offered for general sale by R. C. A. in the United States. Placing the tubes on the market, R. C. A. said, should not be construed as an announcement of commercial television apparatus for use by the general public.
The tubes, known as kinescopes, are of the electromagnetic-deflection type and employ viewing screens on which the picture appears with a yellowish hue. They are numbered RCA-1800 and RCA-1801, the former being a nine-inch tube and the latter a five-inch tube. They carry suggested list prices of $60 and $40, respectively.
The kinescopes each employ an electron gun and a fluorescent screen assembled within a vacuum tube. The negative electrode delivers a stream of electrons varying in intensity with the strength of the signals received by means of magnetic deflection coils, this beam is made to scan the fluorescent screen, which then emits light in proportion to the beam intensity. The beam can be made to trace a patern [sic] of 441 lines, thirty times a second, giving pictre definition substantially equivalent to a good photographic enlargement.
The tube will permit experimenters to build receivers to pick up experimental transmissions. (New York Herald Tribune)


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1937
W9XK, University of Iowa
7:15 to 7:30—Television program with radio station WSUI, 910 kcs.

SAM TOWNSEND
Manager WJW [Cleveland]
"The public isn't ready for pictures with its favorite parlor entertainment, and the engineers know it. How many people are going to darken their living rooms for hours at a stretch to look at a television screen? The modern tempo won't allow it. The radio listener now takes his air entertainment along with his evening newspaper and other activities going on in the home at the same time. He can wander away to any part of the house and still hear it. With television, it would be a matter of doing nothing else. I don't believe the public wants to darken its homes for a continual movie performance." (Radio Daily)
[Note: WJW went into television. Its station signed on in December, 1949]