Gray Research CBS color monitor

[Steve McVoy]

The Early Television Museum has just acquired a Gray Research field sequential studio monitor made in 1951. It is a monster, about 32 inches on a side. I've posted a bunch of high resolution photos at http://www.earlytelevision.org/Template.html (about 8 mb). A lower definition photo and some information is at http://www.earlytelevision.org/gray_monitor.html

[Rob]

Steve,

Those 5181 high brightness (4.2KW xenon) Eidophor light valve projectors I have originally came outfitted with field sequential color 441/180 as I recall and I have all rotating dichroic filters, electronics and test patter generator that came with them. That's right, I have an actual field sequential color bar and test pattern generator. The F.S. color equipment could be used with other B&W equipment, for example to make a F.S. color camera from a B&W. I had the Eidphor running making a color test pattern before I changed the scan rates to 525/60 and disabled the color circuitry. It would be simple to re-install. Contact me if interested. I don't need this stuff anymore.

Rob

[Eric H]

Facinating set Steve, any chance it can be restored to functional at some future date?

[Steve McVoy]

We are well along on bringing the Gray Research monitor and the two surviving field sequential receivers back to life. The monitor's progress can be seen here: http://www.earlytelevision.org/gray_restoration.html

To get these things working we have to design a signal source. We are building a color bar/gray scale generator for the old CBS standard: http://www.earlytelevision.org/cbs_sync_generator.html

Eventually we are planning to get a 1950's CBS field sequential camera working.