RCA Theater TV - 1945

[Tom Albrecht]

I picked up a TV from a local collector (happens to be a Hallicrafters T64 in a custom cabinet). He also gave me some literature, including a 100 page booklet from RCA in 1945 entitled "Theater Television Handbook for Projectionists."

RCA demonstrated projection television on a 15 x 20 foot screen using a 7" projection tube with 60 kV anode voltage. They anticipated that theater TV would be a big business after the war. They were only off by 70 years (theaters are now finally switching away from film to TV projection).

Anyway, I had not been previously aware of this at all, although after searching tonight, I see that the ETF has some of this documented here: http://www.earlytelevision.org/rca_theater_tv.html .

If it becomes clear that this particular book is not in anyone else's hands, I'll scan some of the more interesting sections and post. Only the first 18 pages really show the details of the system. The rest is basic electronics for projectionists. And there are a final few pages on first aid and artificial breathing, etc. Doesn't say explicitly, but I imagine this is prompted by "what to do when someone touches the 60,000 volt anode voltage" (produced by a 60 Hz transformer, no less..).

If this particular book is already well known, I won't bother -- it just looks interesting to me.

[Smoky Pond]

It certainly is an interesting book Tom. I've had a copy for nearly 15 years now. I especially like the picture of the "Television Projectionist Seated at the Operating Console" shown on page 89. Looks like quite a rig!