'54 CONRAC monitor

[J Ballard]

Hi all-

The existence of obsolete equipment in service at network plants was explained earlier as not spending any additional money. At NBC, the VP of engineering always asked,"Can we get spare parts? Is it doing the job?' Case closed. For example, NBC continued to operate TP-6 film projectors for those reasons, but also, they could see ENG coming along, requiring less telecine.

NBC had TK-41s in service in 1975 at some O&Os, and ABC had a TK-41 mobile unit available as a backup for "Monday Night Football" into the late 1970s. Generally speaking, the O&Os of the three networks had the oldest equipment of nay TV station in town.

The question about the quality of pictures being different in NY and Burbank can partially be expalined by the 3000 mile gap between Camden/NY and the West Coast.
Burbank was a "can do" shop without the large bureacracy in NY and Camden, especially in later years. They often didn't have the necessary capital, so they built it themselves, as they had a large maintenance staff in Burbank. Audio consoles, terminal equipment, solid state preamps for the TK-26s, solid state TK-41 VFs, were all done in house. Craig Curtis designed a pre-SMPTE time code edit system that was used for many years to edit major programs.

Outside producers loved working at NBC Burbank and it was profitable for the company.
It was a full facility operation with wardrobe and drapery departments, in addition to the standard support services.

Then there was the lighting-Burbank poured on the footcandles, and actually had a manager of lighting. I remember conversing with the "Tonight Show" VO about the new TK-44As that were installed and if there were any reductions in light levels from the TK-41 days. "No, not really." "Where are you running the irises?, I asked." "Oh, about F-11."

F-11!!! Plus the gain in the camera head video amplifiers was reduced to produce a quieter picture too boot! God, the focus knob on the lens was unnecessary at those light levels.

In fairness, the NY Radio City plant was built for radio and may have lacked the power capability and HVAC needed to light to those levels. I have heard many stories over the years.

There were capable people on both coasts, and it was enjoyable working with them. It may have been the best job ever.

Regards,

J. Ballard

[miniman82]

Holy nearly 10 year old post batman! Never ceases to amaze me the things that pop back up out here on the interwebs.

[Electronic M]

It was a joke....

[drussell]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

It was a joke....

Awww... Drats!

Wouldn't surprise me at all if there were still things like that hanging around, though. I've seen plenty of nifty old stuff in lost piles in forgotten storage rooms over the years!

With this forum and all the people who work(ed) at TV stations and such, you never know who actually might stumble across something like that in person.

[miniman82]

Plenty of 21-CT-55's around, I got one at ETF auction a few years ago.

[julianburke]

I have one each of the TM-10 and TM-21 both complete in working condition in my collection.