'The reasons WHY people buy RCA Victor TV sets'. - 1959

[Captain Video]

Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ00Xk5Fgac

Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKotplbV7m0

[leadlike]

You can download a HQ version of this for free from Archive.org. This has to be one of my favorite films about tv manufacture from this period. Probably because it has a segment on CRT manufacture here in Lancaster, PA. Since the facility is still here (just 3/4 of a mile from me, actually) I was there a couple days ago to figure out what entrance they were at to get the shot they had for the film.

[zenith2134]

Thank You!!! This stuff is incredible...I can't believe RCA used to test the TV's sound in the echo-proof chamber like that! Simply wonderful. Good luck finding quality like that today....even some megabuck hifi speakers probably skip this step today....USA produced electronic goods in the 50s and 60s that truly were magnificent (as we all know)..Maybe in the future someone will take these manufacturing ideas and put the care back into the process.

[zenithfan1]

Those are great videos! I favorited them a while back. You got it right Tom, the 50's were a magnificent time in manufacturing. How about that part where they test all materials used in extreme temperatures and test every part wayy beyond specifications. Good stuff.

[Pete Deksnis]

A lot of fun and memories watching that film. Recall those guys in white shirts on drawing boards near the beginning of part 1. That was me at the RCA Riverton NJ facility in 1963 during summer break. Man was that a boring job. For me anyway.

Although RCA closed the Harrison tube manufacturing complex in about 1975 or six, I understand it is still there; you can see Harrison, a small town across the river from Newark, from any Amtrak or NJ Transit train as it leaves Newark for NYC. I keep promising myself I'll go poking around there someday.

[stromberg67]

RCA made a very good product, and they had excellent support for info, parts, etc. That was a factor in the popularity if their products. I have hundreds of RCA service folders given to me by a brother-in-law. He got them from an antiques dealer who cleaned out a repair shop in MASS. amazing coverage of everything they produced. Sarnoff wanted all service shops to be able to service his products. a wise decision on his part, I think.
BTW Pete, have you ever heard the Kilgen theatre organ in the Asbury Park convention hall? Kilgen TO's are very rare, indeed.
Kevin

[Pete Deksnis]

Originally Posted by stromberg 67

BTW Pete, have you ever heard the Kilgen theatre organ in the Asbury Park convention hall? Kilgen TO's are very rare, indeed.
Kevin

Hi Kevin, Their last concert was three years before I moved to Asbury Park, but in 1987 my 10-year-old son and I were walking the boards; as we were passing through the enclosed area between the Paramount and convention hall I heard a GSTOS concert in progress. Sucked us right in. Before that I had no idea there was a pipe organ in convention hall, although I had been there many times for boat shows. It was a thrill. ...and then there's the Jersey LOWE'S...

Pete

[peverett]

I hate to burst some bubbles, but the type of testing mentioned in the RCA film is still done today by integrated circuit manufacturing firms. Chips are tested at the wafer level and after final assembly. They are also exposed to exteme temperatures, voltage, and humidity just as the RCA parts were. ICs are also tested for sensitivity to high voltage spikes.

People also still use the echo proof rooms. We had one at the IC design and manufacturing facility that I recently worked at. In addition, much better analysis instruments are available today than the ones RCA had in 1959.

The point is that quality manufacturing is still done today, just as RCA was doing in 1959.

[stromberg67]

Thanks Pete. I can't wait to hear the Robert-Morton Wonder Organ in Jersey City. It's been a long time coming, and the theatre is a sort of mini San Francisco Fox, one I missed out on.THAT was a theatre!!!!
All the best.
Kevin

[Ray Sieracki]

This was a great film to watch. Thank you . i wonder what I am doing wrong in trying to find the HQ version to download, on that web site mentioned " Archive.org" Can someone help

[tubesrule]

Originally Posted by Ray Sieracki

This was a great film to watch. Thank you . i wonder what I am doing wrong in trying to find the HQ version to download, on that web site mentioned " Archive.org" Can someone help

It's in the Prelinger archive section: http://www.archive.org/details/prelinger

Just search for The Reasons Why, or better yet, spend a few hours browsing all the cool videos there

Darryl