NAEB Engineering Newsletter (Mar 1958)

mediately placed in service. Ampex has announced that it will deliver more than 100 units of the pro¬ duction model videotape recorder by April in time for Daylight Savings Time operation. It has also announced that a new unit to convert its mono¬ chrome recorder to color operation will be available and delivery of prototype models of this device is expected to begin in June. On October 21, RCA demonstrated a prototype model of its color video tape recorder. NBC expects delivery of six of the new color recorders in April and will install color “tape centrals” in both its New York and Burbank studios. Prototype models of the RCA color recorders will sell for $96,000 with de¬ livery expected to begin in September of 1958. RCA also has announced that it expects to have produc¬ tion models of both color and monochrome video tape recorders available for delivery in December 1958. Prices have been set at $63,000 for the color recorder and $49,500 for the monochrome version. With the TV networks expecting to furnish pro¬ grams to affiliates on a clock time basis by the use of magnetic tape recorders, the era of video tape will truly begin with the advent of Daylight Savings Time in 1958. ***** It is with deep regret that we must inform you of the death of Clement E. LaFond, Chief Engineer of WKNO-TV in Memphis. He was stricken with a heart attack and died at his home on December 21. His untimely death at 43 was a shock to his family and associates. Mr. LaFond was one of the first members of the staff of WKNO-TV and designed the stations en¬ gineering facilities. He engaged' in every type of activity as well as engineering to help activate Chan¬ nel 10 in Memphis. He was formerly employed as an engineer at KTJHT, the pioneer ETV station at the University of Houston. He received his BA in Radio and Television at the University of Houston in 1951 and his MA there in 1953. Mr. LaFond is survived by his wife and a daugh¬ ter, Michelle. Did you see - Special Report on ETV Broadcasting Nov. I I PCC Mobile TV Monitor Broadcasting Dec. 2 New York State Seeks Channel 13 Broadcasting Dec. 9 RCA has announced that it is developing new type fm broadcast transmitters and complementary multiplexing equipment. By late 1958, they expect to have a complete line of fm transmitters designed for multiplex operation. The line will include the following: a 10 w exciter-transmitter; a 250 w fm transmitter; a 5kw fm transmitter, and multiplex subcarrier generator equipment for use with RCA multiplex exciters. ***** The FCC has authorized a TV translator station at Redwood Falls, Minn, to rebroadcast the pro¬ grams of KTCA-TV St. Paul’s educational TV sta¬ tion. ***** General Electric has announced a new and smal¬ ler type of live color TV camera at the opening of its new WGY-WGRB (TV) broadcast center in Schenectady. This new camera uses three image orthicon tubes but weighs 75 pounds less than most models. It is about ten inches shorter, three inches narrower and an inch lower than current cameras. Printed circuits and transistors have been used to cut down size. A new optical system eliminates many glass surfaces and special circuitry, it is claimed, insures truer re¬ gistration of colors with no blur or run over into other colors. A pre-production model was demonstrated, how¬ ever GE expects to put the new camera into produc¬ tion soon. The expected price is around $50,000 com¬ petitive with other makes. ***** FCC on December 18 proposed rule making un¬ der Docket No. 12274 to permit daytime stations to get longer operating hours. The Daytime Broad¬ casters Association has proposed operation from 5 AM or local sunrise (whichever is earlier) to 7 PM or local sunset (whichever is later) instead of pre¬ sent sunrise-sunset only provisions. Comments on this proposal are due March 18, reply comments 30 days later. For complete text see Federal Register, Dec. 24, 1957. ***** Vorce C. McIntosh, Chief Engineer, University TV and Radio, The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, is looking for an RCA Type TC-4 Audio-Video Switcher. If you have one for sale please contact him. ***** Just before deadline, we received a communica¬ tion stating that WRTI-FM, Temple University in Philadelphia, has installed a new 500 watt fm trans¬ mitter. It is the first transmitter to be manufactured 2 ENGINEERING NEWSLETTER