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

RCA'NBC FIRSTS IN COLOR TELEVISION The foundation for a color television system was laid by RCA's pioneering in research and engineering development of black-and-white television. Throughout the 1930's field tests and experimenta- tion with black-and-white television continued. In April, 1939, at the opening of the New York World's Fair, RCA-NBC began the first regular television broadcasting service to the public, and RCA Victor introduced tele- vision receivers for public use. Fundamental develop- ments in all-electronic black-and-white television pro- vided the base for RCA's pioneering research in color television that led to the following advances: 1940 Color television, produced by electronic means, was demonstrated to the Federal Communications Com- mission by RCA at Camden, N. J. 1940-1941 NBC started work on a field sequential color system and transmitted the first color signals from that system over station W2XBS, Empire State Build- ing, on February 20, 1941. On December 1, 1941, NBC gave a closed circuit demonstration of color television using the NBC field sequential system with 441 lines. Purpose of the demonstration was to prove to the FCC that the field sequential system, when limited to the same bandwidth as the black-and-white system, was lacking in resolution as compared to the latter. 1941-1945 RCA-NBC devoted its research and en- gineering resources to wartime military applications of electronics including television. 1945 RCA demonstrated field sequential color tele- vision and 3-D color television to the industry, and started post-war evaluation of color TV. 1945 RCA gave full attention to the development of an all-electronic color television system after further tests and demonstrations proved that a mechanical color system had fundamental limitations. Two main objec- tives were: High standards of performance, and com- patibility with black-and-white television. 1946 An all-electronic projection type color television receiver with a 15 x 20-inch screen was demonstrated publicly for the first time at the David Sarnoff Research Center of RCA at Princeton, N. J. 1947 All-electronic color television pictures projected on an 8 x 10-foot screen were demonstrated by RCA at The Franklin Instiaite, Piiiladelphia, Pa. A color television camera for use with the RCA all-electronic color television system was demonstrated to the FCC and others at the David SarnoflF Research Center, Princeton, N. J., studio and outdoor pick-ups were featured. 1948 RCA continued its reasearch and development work to improve and simplify the all-electronic color television system. 1949 RCA informed the FCC it had developed a new high-definition all-electronic color television system operating on a 6-megacycle channel and completely com- patible with the existing black-and-white television system. Field tests of the RCA all-electronic compatible color television system operating on 6-megacycle chan- nel, began in Washington, D. C, over NBC station, WNBW, and a demonstration was held for the FCC. Tests also were conducted in Washington over an ex- perimental UHF station simultaneously over VHF. NBC conducted compatible color television tests in Washington D. C, for the first time during regular broadcast hours. The puppet show, "Kukla, Fran and Ollie", televised by color cameras in Washington, was fed to the NBC-TV network. It was the first regular TV program to be seen simultaneously in color (in Washington), while viewers in other cities on the net- work viewed the show on standard receivers in black- and-white. RCA-NBC transmitted color television over a micro- wave relay loop between Washington, D. C, and Balti- more, Md., in a demonstration to the FCC. 1950 RCA demonstrated its compatible color tele- vision system and the RCA tri-color tube to the FCC, to other government officials and to the industry. One tube utilized a single electron gun and another three electron guns. Also a new transmission development to make color television programs produced by the RCA all- electronic system available to broadcasters over coaxial cable networks, as well as over radio relays, was demon- strated between Washington and New York. The color images, after transmission over the cable, were broadcast by WNBT, New York on VHF (very-high-frequencies), and were also sent by radio relay to NBC's experimental UHF (ultra-high-frequencies) station at Bridgeport, Conn., for rebroadcast. (Continued on page 32) RADIO AGE 3?