Mechanical TV vs Electronic TV
Mechanical TV 1884 Paul Nipkow –Invented Nipkow disk Spinning disk & photoelectronic tubes improved by Jenkins and Baird in England
BellLabs Bell Labs
General Electric
Mechanical TV had poor picture quality and mechanical parts that could break or wear out. Paramount Astoria girls, 21st April
Electronic TV Zworykin RCA scientist- iconoscope tube Cathode Ray Tube
Philo Farnsworth demonstrated the first all-electronic television (1927) basis of current electronic televisions No mechanical parts all electronic lost later patent battles to RCA.
Electron Gun Scans image line by line and transmits convert light into electric signal and sending over by radio waves to a receiver.
Illusion of Motion 1877 Edward Muybridge To settle a bet Still pictures projected fast seem to move Film - 24 frames per second Television -30 frames per second
Television and the Depression 1930’s Golden Age of Radio Popular and Profitable Television technology ready to be introduced but still experimental and expensive. RCA stalling Farnsworth in court
Television Introduced
To prove to skeptical New York World's Fair visitors that no trickery was involved in creating television images, a special order was made to RCA's engineering wing to build a transparent version of Vassos' TRK-12 cabinet To prove to skeptical New York World's Fair visitors that no trickery was involved in creating television images, a special order was made to RCA's engineering wing to build a transparent version of Vassos' TRK-12 cabinet.Vassos'
RCA Pavilion 1939 World’s Fair Very popular exhibit but few TV’s sold - few programs on air - few programs on air -cost of a TV is the same as a car
20 April 1939, RCA chairman David Sarnoff
President Franklin Roosevelt, as he appeared on TV screens at the opening of the Fair. It was the first of only two live appearances he made on TV during his 12 years as President.
World War II 1941 Government stops broadcasts and manufacturing of sets Cathode Ray Tubes used for Radar War improves technology trains people and brings down price 1946 Manufacturing allowed
V.H.F. or U.H.F. V.H.F. very high frequency –limited channels with a strong signal U.H.F. ultra high frequency – many channels with a weak signal. First stations V.H.F. very few stations in a market. Follows the corporate pattern of Radio.
1949 Everything is in place Signal is standardized Black & White Affordable TV sets ($200-$500) (Ford car: $1339-$2262) Locally available Regular Popular Programming (Programs sell sets)