The Glover family got their first television set from Bond's Electric on Hamilton Avenue back in 1949. The cost was a then astronomical $489.00 for a ten inch screen. I remember going with my brother and seeing many other sets. One in particular caught my eye. It was a little "portable" set with a 6 inch screen. As an accessory, you could purchas a magnifying glass on a stand that clipped on the set to give a bit more magnification. The operating word here is "primitive!"
Looking back to those very early years of commercial television, and looking forward to this year of 2010 reveals an incredible leap in communication technology. Here in the Trenton area, Most consumers of the relatively new television technology were given the option of channels, 3 (WPTZ), 6 (WFIL-TV), and 10 (WCAU-TV) If you happened to be affluent enough to purchase a "double yagi" rooftop antenna, along with an "Alliance Tenna-Rotor" you might even be able to pick up some "DX" from New York. Back in those years, the basic New York stations were channel 2 WCBS-TV, 4 WNBC, 5 WABD, 7 WJZ-TV, 9 WOR-TV, 11 WPIX, and just across the river, 13 WATV. Our first television was an Admiral with a humongous 10 inch screen! It was advertised as an Admiral "Consolette." Very early television went on the air around 2 PM, and ceased operation at around 10 PM with the playing of the National Anthem. During the off hours, a "test pattern" was transmitted which was used by technicions to adjust the various controls and give definition to the normal broadcast. Test patterns usually had horizontal and vertical lines in the pattern so the tech could delineate the image. WHAT A LEAP IN TECHNOLOGY!
Looking back to those very early years of commercial television, and looking forward to this year of 2010 reveals an incredible leap in communication technology. Here in the Trenton area, Most consumers of the relatively new television technology were given the option of channels, 3 (WPTZ), 6 (WFIL-TV), and 10 (WCAU-TV) If you happened to be affluent enough to purchase a "double yagi" rooftop antenna, along with an "Alliance Tenna-Rotor" you might even be able to pick up some "DX" from New York. Back in those years, the basic New York stations were channel 2 WCBS-TV, 4 WNBC, 5 WABD, 7 WJZ-TV, 9 WOR-TV, 11 WPIX, and just across the river, 13 WATV. Our first television was an Admiral with a humongous 10 inch screen! It was advertised as an Admiral "Consolette." Very early television went on the air around 2 PM, and ceased operation at around 10 PM with the playing of the National Anthem. During the off hours, a "test pattern" was transmitted which was used by technicions to adjust the various controls and give definition to the normal broadcast. Test patterns usually had horizontal and vertical lines in the pattern so the tech could delineate the image. WHAT A LEAP IN TECHNOLOGY!
JoeZ said...- Tom this is so nostalgic and interesting to read about.
Tom Glover said...- IT SURE IS, JOE. ...TAKES US BACK TO MORE INNOCENT TIMES. TOM GLOVER
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Mack said... The 26 inch wood frame color TV was the one most familiar to me growing up..seems everyone had one from the late 60s to the late 70s:)
Tom this is so nostalgic and interesting to read about.
ReplyDeleteIT SURE IS, JOE. ...TAKES US BACK TO MORE INNOCENT TIMES.
ReplyDeleteTOM GLOVER
The 26 inch wood frame color TV was the one most familiar to me growing up..seems everyone had one
ReplyDeletefrom the late 60s to the late 70s:)