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

WHAT THE TKLEVISKIN lAMKRA SEES, ANTENNAS ON THE SKYLINE PICK UP FOB RECEPTION IN THE HOME. despite the fact that eminent sci- entists and virtually all of the radio- television industry warned against such a move. The Commission set November 20 as the date when com- mercial operations were to begin. Acting in the public interest, RCA carried the case to Court and on November 16 the United States District Court in Chicago i.ssued a temporary restraining order which deferred the establishment of com- mercial color television until fui'- ther order of the Court. RCA main- tained that the outlawing of its compatible electronic system was indefensible and contrary to the public interest. It pointed out that the FCC Order was "arbitrary and capricious" and unsupported by substantial evidence; that it would bring irreparable injury to the television industry and to the public. When the RCA compatible sys- tem is used, the present owner of a black-and-white receiver does not need an adapter, nor any change whatever, in his present set to re- ceive color programs in black-and- white. If it is desired to see the ))rograms in color, a converter can be used. With an incompatible color sys- tem, present set owners would not see any picture unless they installed adapters. Even if an adapter for color reception is installed, the black-and-white picture is degraded from 200,000 to 80,000 picture elements. It would cost the public approx- imately $500,000,000 to adapt the 10 million existing sets to an in- compatible system. With the RCA compatible system this unnecessary tax upon the public is avoided. RCA is a staunch advocate of color television, realizing its great advantages and potentialities, as well as its psychological effect. That is why RCA has so aggressively pur- sued every possible phase in all- electronic television development. It has spent millions of dollars in research and engineering in back- ing its faith in an all-electronic system. Historically significant was RCA's introduction of the first all-elec- tronic tri-color tube. Upon the face of this tube appear clear television pictures in full color and unlimited in size. It eliminates the mechani- cal whirling disk. Demonstrated publicly for the first time in March, 1950, this tri-color tube was her- alded as an electronic miracle of the age. RCA hnprovcmcnl$ Acclaimed Eight major improvements in the development of the RCA compatible, all-electronic color television system were featured in a series of prog- ress demonstrations beginning on December 5, 1950. before leaders of the radio-television industry and representatives of the press in Washington, D. C. The improve- ments were widely acclaimed. Further revealing the effective- ness of planning and confidence in a new invention is the "45" Victrola- phonograph. It was introduced by RCA in the Spring of 1949 and, as is sometimes the case, it was im- mediately confronted with opposi- tion from those who would cling to the old rather than accept the new. But the "45", one of the finest musical instruments ever developed and a revolutionary change in the phonograph, steadily pi-oved its worth. Today it leads the field. It has greatly extended the musical pleasures of millions of people and has met all tests of competition. Its magnificent quality has in every respect successfully overcome the early opposition. Now, the 45-rpm records are widely available. Equip- ment which will play the 45-rpm is produced by 75 different com- panies. Music lovers are api)lauding the clear tones of the small plastic disks as played on the fastest, sim- plest automatic player ever de- veloped. Since March, 1950, RCA Victor has produced and sold a steadily increasing volume of 33'-i-rpm long play records of improved quality and tonal fidelity. These records sujiplement the complete line of re- coi'dings on 45 and TS-rjim disks in keeping with the Company's policy; [4 RADIO AGE]