International photographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

A COMPLETE MEANS OF INSTANTANEOUS PARTICIPATION IN SIGHT AND SOUND TC L C V In the beginning there were magic lantern slides. Then came the dawn. Silent motion pictures, silent and yet strong in their appeal to the imagination — an imagination that went one better and brought forth sound pictures which in turn quickly raised an acoustically sensitive proboscis and readily remedied an era referred to as "the smellies." This was accomplished by ihe geniuof craftsmen within the industry, many of whom about this same time were silently working behind locked doors on the perfection of a system for the immediate transmission of image and sound, which we accept today as of sufficient merit to take a position alongside the electronic arts of the age. That is Television! The year 1941 will leave a definite impression upon the pages of Television history. The early granting of many licenses by the Federal Communications Commission for the furtherance ol experimental activity is only to be topped by the granting of commercial licenses to some fifty odd embryonic stations throughout the nation. Money and manpower sufficient to make this all a reality awaits only the granting of said licenses. Manpower that eventually will be represented by si\ hundred thousand strong, that being the estimate made by David Sarnoff, President ot Radio Corporation of America. The furtherance of Television in Europe has been frustrated by the tenebrousness of war. Yet, an inkling to the effect that Television has been successfully employed in reconnaissance activity can readily be taken for granted when we consider the fact that here in America television as applied to military purposes is being instructed to some eighty young men, members of the first Television I nit to be formed for that purpose, in the United States. Under the command of Captain William L. Prager, whose articles on Color and Television have previously appeared in The International Photographer, Television Unit No. 1, of ihe Signal Corps. Military Order of Guards. U. S. A.. By DUSTER EVANS is a reality. A civilian training organization operating by Act of Congress and authorized by ihe War Department, is training young men, and men young of mind, under competent instructors, the military adaptation of Television. With a working laboratory of its own, and equipment, Television Unit No. 1, with headquarters in I lolly wood, is making Television history. The company is made up of men from all walks of life, hut naturally there is a predominance ot men from the picture and radio ranks, for like its predecessors, television finds its followers firmly planted in the entertainment capitol of the world. With Paramount Pictures holding fifty per cent interest in DuMont Television and various other picture and radio interest financially set into the television picture, it is only to be expected that Hollywood will likewise become the Television capitol of the world. It now possesses the loftiest transmiter in the world, at an elevation of eighteen hundred feet. Over twice that of the Empire State Building in New York. For, with the inauguration of the new three-story Thomas S. Lee Station, W6XAO, atop of Mount Lee, with a transmitting radius of over sixty miles, Hollywood, and all of Southern California, is soon to be treated to a form of television entertainment not to be surpassed by any one other part of the country. Many other licenses have been granted for the experimental telecasting in the California area, both south and north. In the Los Angeles district alone there have been a sufficiency to tax the reception of the better receivers with five channels capacity. Those licensed have been Television Products (Paramount). Hughes Tool (Howard Hughes), The May Company, LeRoy Jewelry Co. On the receiving end there are over ten different makes of television receivers selling from less than one hundred twenty-five dollars for the smaller picture area types, to the largest DuMont combined Television and Radio receiver with a First Television Unit, United States Army 1 picture area of 169 square inches, and priced at about double of that of the smaller sets. All in all. when Television has reached development corresponding to the current radio development. Doctor Ortestes H. Caldwell, Editor of Radio Today, foresees a billion dollar sales volume, annually! Thus, predictions too become realities. Television has arrived. It only awaits the granting of commercial telecasting to set off the spark, and at a time when wars and rumors of wars seem destined to further retard the rational and sane efforts of our pioneers of vision. Those pioneers whose efforts have not been in vain, to the end that radio and pictures (be they instantaneous or filmed) together, neither supplanting the other, shall bring into the American home and theatre the last word in entertainment or education— TELEVISION ! Television stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission: W9XAL, Kansas City, Mo. (First National Television, Inc.); W1XG, Boston (General Television Corp.); W9XG, West Lafayette, Ind.; W2XDR, Long Island City (Radio Pictures); W3XAD, Camden, N. J. (Portable) ; W3XEP, Camden, N. J. (R.C.A. Manufacturing Co.); W9XK, Iowa City, Iowa; W9XUI, Iowa City, Iowa (University of Iowa); Renewed as of March, 1940: W2XAB, NewYork City; W2XVT, Passaic, N. J. (Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc) ; W2XH, Schenectady, N. Y.; W6XAO, Hollywood, Calif. (Don Lee); W2XBS, New York City (N. B. C.) ; W2XBT, New York; W2XAE, Philadelphia; W3XP, Philadelphia (Philco) ; W9XZV, Chicago, 111. (Zenith). With the government spending billions of dollars on the navy, the army and airplanes for our preparedness program, there also will be needed several thousand radio and signal men for the army and navy. Gaglielmo Marconi, Dr. Lee De Forest, G. W. Pickard. Edwin H. Armstrong and Philo T. Farnsworth perhaps never realize the many men who would receive work through their inventions. Those wishing to enter this field may secure information by addressing the author, care of International Photographer. George H. Seward, Television Pioneer Following is copy of letter received from subscriber Winslow Stewart, Associate Member Television Engineers Institute of America, R-74643, "X" Flight, R.C.A.F., Canada: "It is with deep regret that the writer notes the death recently in Hollywood of George H. Seward, President of the Television Engineers Institute of America, Inc., which organization he founded and the admirable objectives of which lie formulated. "Like most pioneers Mr. Seward will be unable to observe the culminations of past and pres( nt research and development of the television ait in the near and distant future, a future in which he held such abounding faith. ""Mis untiring efforts during the past many years to foster public interest in television have cot been wasted and should not go unrecognized h\ the Radio-Television trade press. His name and reference to his television activities have appeared in many prominent publications. 'During the past summer the writer had ihe privilege of working with Mr. Seward as his 26