Not sure how accurate datewise etc... and $5000 US obo. oh well
1954 Westinghouse Color TV Hamilton Ont.
- Thread starter petek
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ptcruiser51
Well-known member
Just a little confusing
I had to go to my library of television to look this up. Westinghouse was the first to develop color TV for the US market. It used the CBS system of electro-mechanical workings. Successful, but not compatible with B&W broadcasts. Most sets were produced and distributed by Air-King dealerships. RCA managed to get the FCC to block manufacture of electro-mechanical sets until they developed their all-electronic system that was compatible with the 1000's of B&W sets on the marketn at the time. RCA won, and color TV sat on a back-burner until it was perfected circa 1956.
Living in East Orange, NJ, we were not far from the Harrison, NJ plant where TV sets were produced. Our neighbor worked there, and managed to filch enough parts to build a color TV in a packing crate in his basement. He and the Mrs. invited us neighborhood kids in to watch color cartoons (about all that was broadcast in color in the mid-50s.) We didn't mind green-tinted hair or orange-y skin tones, it was COLOR!
I had to go to my library of television to look this up. Westinghouse was the first to develop color TV for the US market. It used the CBS system of electro-mechanical workings. Successful, but not compatible with B&W broadcasts. Most sets were produced and distributed by Air-King dealerships. RCA managed to get the FCC to block manufacture of electro-mechanical sets until they developed their all-electronic system that was compatible with the 1000's of B&W sets on the marketn at the time. RCA won, and color TV sat on a back-burner until it was perfected circa 1956.
Living in East Orange, NJ, we were not far from the Harrison, NJ plant where TV sets were produced. Our neighbor worked there, and managed to filch enough parts to build a color TV in a packing crate in his basement. He and the Mrs. invited us neighborhood kids in to watch color cartoons (about all that was broadcast in color in the mid-50s.) We didn't mind green-tinted hair or orange-y skin tones, it was COLOR!
I used to go thru appliance stores and marvel of the color tv as a kid. In the early 60's we got a round tube Zenith color console and I thought I had died and gone to heaven to have color Saturday mornings and after 7:30 evenings, which was prime time then for network shows all on antenna. I still watch those old shows but not in these stupid marathons of repeats of the same shows on yesterday on satellite over and over. These networks double dip getting big advertising money and charge these cable and satellite providers for the "PRIVILEGE" of posting their constant ads with no variety in programming. Where I am, its either pay for tv or get nothing, thanks to going digital where an antenna used to work.
I believe there is collector here in Omaha that has an electro-mechanical color set. Perhaps Chromacolor will chime in here.
Tim, I'm surprised you can't pick up OTA digital signals even with a rooftop antenna. We live in what used to be described as a "fringe" area, where rabbit ears were useless for even marginal reception in the old analog days. Everybody needed big rooftop antennas.
Now, with a cheap Zenith digital converter box atop two of our older sets, we get clear pictures by connecting each of them to a small VHF "bow tie" type indoor antenna. Plain rabbit ears will work now too, unlike before with an analog signal, but a little bow tie gets the job done without the potential intrusion and/or hazards associated with fully extended rabbit ears.
When we had some roof repairs done about a year ago, I had the guys remove the rooftop antenna and all of its rigging. We can pick up almost all available digital stations without it. The link can help you determine whether you're within range. I've found most sites for OTA signal information recommend antennas that are overkill. They recommend an outdoor antenna for our location when indoor old school types work fine. The only time we have reception issues is when very foggy or cloudy conditions exist where transmitters are located.
Now, with a cheap Zenith digital converter box atop two of our older sets, we get clear pictures by connecting each of them to a small VHF "bow tie" type indoor antenna. Plain rabbit ears will work now too, unlike before with an analog signal, but a little bow tie gets the job done without the potential intrusion and/or hazards associated with fully extended rabbit ears.
When we had some roof repairs done about a year ago, I had the guys remove the rooftop antenna and all of its rigging. We can pick up almost all available digital stations without it. The link can help you determine whether you're within range. I've found most sites for OTA signal information recommend antennas that are overkill. They recommend an outdoor antenna for our location when indoor old school types work fine. The only time we have reception issues is when very foggy or cloudy conditions exist where transmitters are located.
philr
Well-known member
Here are slightly bigger pics from it.
MOST of the time Ralph, I can get good tv signals from my roof top antenna as I dont pay extra for local stations. I have a converter box to amplify the signal. But let the wind blow, snowy or rainy, I get no signal and the worse it gets outside, shut in the house, and then the satellite repeat shows go out. Extra digital channels are nice, but I want to get all of them 24/7 when I want to watch them.
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