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)
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