Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

black-and-white television pictures, so this color tube reveals the supe- riority of electronics in color tele- vision," said General Sarnoff. "The mechanical scanning disk in tele- vision now belonjfs to the A^es. As an expedient, it merely jrave labora- tory technicians something to play with while the proponents of elec- tronics applied the modern and practical methods to develop an all- electronic, hiph-definition, complete- ly compatible system of color tele- vision for the American public." Emphasizing the feature of com- patibility as an engineering tri- umph, engineers explained that those who already own television sets, or contemplate purchase, need have no fear of obsolescence. Nei- ther has the broadcaster any cause to fear obsolescence of his trans- mitter or loss of his black-and- white audience should he also broad- cast color programs. Because of its compatibility, the engineers ex- plained that the RCA color system operates at both the transmitter and receiver in complete harmony with the existing black-and-white system. In fact, so close is its relation- ship with the present system that both color and monochrome are ca- pable of existing, or o|)erating, on the same channels, same transmit- ters and same receivers, except, of course, that present sets reproduce the color programs in monochrome. To see the programs in color, the present television receiver in the home can be adapted to use the new color tube, or a new receiver de- signed to operate with the color tube can be used. Compatibility Illustrated During the demonstration, the significant feature of compatibility of the RCA color system was im- pressively illustrated. A standard black-and-white receiver was placed between two sets equipped with the color tube. While they reproduced the color program in color, the black-and-white set reproduced the same program at the same time in black and white. Thus, those present at the demon- stration not only saw the show in color, but any one of the thousands of television set owners in the Washington area also could see it HAROLU U. LAW, K. W. IIKROLD A.ND RUSSELL LAW. RESKARCll SCIEN- TISTS OF RCA LABORATORIES, DISCUSS THE TECHNICAL FEATURES OF THE N£W RCA COLOR TELEVISION TUBE. in black-and-white without modifi- cation of their sets and without having to change any adjustments or turn any knobs. The engineers pointed out that such a result was impossible with a mechanical disk system, which lacks compatibility with existing receivers. Prior to the demonstration, it was disclosed that members of the Federal Communications Commis- sion and its engineering staff pre- viously had been given the first — and unofficial — demonstration of the new color receivers in oi)eration in a Washington studio of the Na- tional Broadcasting Company which had been converted into a temporary "laboratory". It was there, also, that the public demonstration was held. The programs were telecast from NBC's station WNBW. at the Wardman Park Hotel, where the television transmitter, studio and antenna are located. The color receivers in the demon- stration, in size and outward ap- pearance, arc the same as the standard RCA table-model televi- sion sets. The face of the tube ap- I)ears to the observer exactly the same as in a black-and-white re- ceiver, except that the picture is in natural colors. When color tele- vision is available for the home, the engineers declare that every tint will be clearly and faithfullv reproduced. Even the texture of the skin and delicate petals of a flower will be vividlv seen true to life. Describes Color Tubes Dr. C. B. .Jolliffe. Executive Vice President in Charge of RCA Lab- oratories, explained that while the general ajipearance of the receivers was the same as present black-and- wliite sets, there were modifications of circuits and additional radio tubes inside the cabinets to help the color tube perform its function. Revealing that the RCA .scien- tists are expanding their research to explore every possibility for fur- ther advances. Dr. .lolliflfe pointed out that the two color receivers in the demonstration used different types of color picture tubes. One employed a single electron gun to "paint" the pictures. The other used three electron guns, each of which had an electron beam geared magnetically to actuate each of the three jirimary colors on the face of the tube and blend them true to the original .scene being telecast. "Already these two types of tubes have provided us with a vast store of new knowledge." said Dr. Jol- liffe. "As is the case with the ma- jority of inventions in the begin- ning, these tubes are hand-made. The next step will be to produce them commercially by mass produc- tion methods. As the human eye is [4 RADIO AGE]