Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1960)

Tv by moonlight • Picture at left is a simulated demon using the same subject, camera settings and equipment, stration of how television would look when taken by the was made using General Electric's new "see-in-the-dark" light of a crescent moon, using a standard broadcast tube, image orthicon (Z-5358), showing the powerful effect of This pretty much represents a telecast of a moonlight the new tube in a live demonstration at the IRE show in scene without additional illumination. Photo at right, New York last week. Various papers were delivered on space communications. Among the tape refinements announced at IRE: • A new magnetic recording tape developed by Reeves Soundcraft at a cost of $9 million and designed for multitrack stereophonic sound. This includes a new oxide formulation to meet higher performance standards. Reeves also exhibited a new commercial video-tape. • Pre-production models of a new hi-fi stereophonic tape cartridge system for the home recorded music market. A technical paper and demonstration were provided under auspices of Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co., CBS Labs and Zenith Radio Corp. 3M and CBS Labs conducted the research program and Zenith is developing the first commercial machine for the new system (expected to hit the consumer market next year). The paper was presented by Dr. Peter C. Goldmark, CBS Labs president, and his associates, Dr. CD. Mee, J.D. Goodell and Dr. W.P. Guckenberg. Officials of the three companies demonstrated a one-reel tape cartridge no larger than a folded handkerchief which has continual play for 64 minutes; an automatic changer for tape cartridges and a new recording technique providing hi-fi at a speed of only 1% inches per second. Up to six hours of music could be played on Zenith machines now being prepared for production. The cartridge changer could be designed to handle more cartridges if desired. Two sessions on broadcasting were held during the week. The first included a report on the Geneva radio conference by W.H. Watkins of the FCC, a discussion of future possibilities (and how currently limited) for mechanizing tv station film and slide operations by James H. Greenwood, WCAE-AM-FM, WTAE (TV) Pittsburgh, and an up-dating by RCA's George H. Brown of information on tv directional antennas. The second took in engineering aspects of tv tape recording production (Edward E. Benham, KTTV (TV) Los Angeles), discussion of modernization in tv transmitter plant input system (Joseph L. Stern, CBS-TV), a paper on special effects amplification for either noncomposite or composite black and white or color signals (Ralph C. Kennedy, NBC-TV) and discussion of remote control handling of tv microwave equipment (John B. Bullock RCA). Still other sessions reported advances in audio, microwave tubes, broadcast and receiver tubes, stereophonic sound production, magnetic recording, space electronics and antenna-propagation problems. One paper offered by two Japanese scientists — M. Morita and S. Ito of Nippon Electric Co. — explored methods of improving high sensitive receiving systems for fm receivers. The usual welter of electronics equipment— heavy on space and industrial application — was highlighted at the more than 850 exhibit booths set up. RCA Display • RCA emphasized uses of its thimble-size Nuvistor electron tube developments and miniature tunnel diodes. Employment in tv sets of the Nuvistor in vhf tuners, to provide improved fringe-area reception, and in a two stage, double-tuned intermediate-amplifier was displayed. The company operated a modified "sportable" (an experimental tv receiver with 10 developmental Nuvistor tetrodes and eight developmental Nuvistor triodes) in order to demonstrate potential compact tv set design. A nuvistorized fm tuner for use in fm radio, hi-fi and stereo systems was on display. RCA's semiconductor and materials division demonstrated tunnel diodes and other electronic devices. The miniature tunnel diode has direct application in ultra-fast computers. RCA's exhibit contained a super-power tube that has potential use in intercontinental tv. This tube, of nail-keg size and weighing 150 pounds, can produce 5 million peak watts of long-pluse power at an average 300 kw power level at 450 mc. This provides enough power, according to RCA, to transmit a tv picture halfway around the world via bouncing a signal off a metallic balloon or other object in outer space. Latest RCA-made audio tubes for hi-fi, vidicons, storage tubes, a new color picture tube faceplate, and magnetic recording tape were shown. General Electric's power tube department showed its "see-in-the-dark" camera tube for closed circuit tv; a hi-fi audio tube line; a new type of fabricated tubular cathode and a newly developed receiving tube that has an extra "shadow grid." Corning Glass Works displayed a laminated tv picture tube that eliminates plate reflections (diffuses 75% of reflected light) while Sylvania Electric Products (General Telephone & Electronics Corp. subsidiary) exhibited new low-power electroluminescent applications. Still Tv • Telectro Industries Corp., manufacturer of magnetic-tape equipment, demonstrated a system ("telectrovision") that transmits still tv pictures over ordinary telephone line. The device has application in military and banking fields, in advertising (to approve BROADCASTING, March 28, 1960 137