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

RCA Demonstrates Three Major Advances in Color TV J_ HREE new major developments in color television were demonstrated by the Radio Corporation of Amer- ica on September 15 at Princeton, N. J., opening the way to early mass production of color television sets at costs within the reach of the consuming public. Described as milestones in the march toward com- mercial color television, the three new developments were: 1. A new 21-inch RCA color picture tube with 250 square inches of viewing area — 22^0 more than any other color tube yet produced; 2. A magnetic field equalizer called the "Color Equalizer." This is a significant new RCA invention, not previously announced, which guarantees improved color set performance and makes possible a reduction in manufacturing costs; 3. A new, simplified color television receiver, which reduces circuitry by one-third and permits a substantial reduction in production costs. Each of these developments represents "years of scientific and engineering endeavor telescoped into a memorable few months," according to E. C. Anderson, Executive Vice-President, RCA Commercial Depart- ment, in remarks at the demonstration, held at the David SarnoflF Research Center of RCA. RCA Timetable for Production of Tubes and Sets "The RCA timetable," Mr. Anderson continued, "calls for industry sampling of the 21-inch color tube starting November 1, and for the appearance in the market of our first 21-inch color sets before the end of this year, with production in quantity by early 1955. "While we have not yet established a suggested retail price for our 21-inch color set, I can tell you, today, that it will be between $800 and $900." At a special press showing, which preceded demon- strations for representatives of virtually the entire tele- vision manufacturing industry. Dr. Elmer W. Enpstrom, Executive Vice-President, RCA Research and Engineer- ing, said: "Again, RCA is following the policy of sharing with its competitors its advances in color television so as to encourage early production of improved equip- ment on the widest scale." Reporting on plans for color broadcasting, Robert W. Sarnoff, Executive Vice-President of the National Broadcasting Company, said that "provision of color programming in volume, on a national basis . . . will create audience excitement beyond anything else avail- able on the air. NBC's contributions to color develop- ment during this past year have established for it a position of leadership in the field. Our color operation during the coming year will advance that position fur- ther, and the entire industry will benefit from it." Mr. Anderson, in reviewing RCA progress in color television, said: "When RCA first tackled color television, we were aware of the importance of creating an entire system, not just isolated elements of one. A color service, as we saw it, required every part to mesh smoothly with the others. As a result, we moved ahead simultaneously in the broadcasting, the picture tube, the receiving set, and the circuitry fields. Now, we are ready to demon- strate, as well as to discuss, these advances. The 21-Inch Color Tube "The 21-inch tube, which holds the spotlight today, was — only 8 short months ago — in our development laboratories. But the progress we had made with it was so good, that we determined not to go ahead with our 19-inch tube. We concentrated our efforts on a 21-inch color tube — the preferred size —• without introducing any intermediate smaller sizes. "This advance, from the first commercial color tube of the 15-inch size to the preferred tube of the 21-inch size, required only a few months; but they have been months crowded with sustained effort and achievement. In black-and-white television, a similar evolution took several years. "It is our opinion that the 21-inch color tube you are seeing today is a practical large-screen color tele- vision tube that enables immediate commercial produc- tion. This is the tube upon which RCA is planning its own commercial program, and we are going forward with full confidence. We expect to produce and sell this tube at a price that should advance the sale of color receivers to the public. Receiver Circuitry Is Simplified "We have also given much attention to reducing the cost and increasing the stability of color receiver cir- RADIO AGE 3