RCA early television
Datecirca 1939
Inventory NumberRS0324
ClassificationTelevision
Subject
Maker
Radio Corporation of America
1919-present
Manufacturer
Western Electric Company
1869 - 1995
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions111 x 84 x 54 cm (43 11/16 x 33 1/16 x 21 1/4 in.)
Material
DescriptionLarge rectangular grey wooden case with hinged lid and 2 silver metal strips around sides. On top under lid, T.V. screen pointing upwards with bakelite knobs and switch, horizontal slit vents. Lid has a mirror on inside, through which the user watches the image on the screen.
Control panel with metal door and speaker on front. On the side is a standard telephone.
The electronics, including a large cathode ray tube, are visible from the back.
Control panel with metal door and speaker on front. On the side is a standard telephone.
The electronics, including a large cathode ray tube, are visible from the back.
In Collection(s)
Signedplate on front, center: (RCA logo)
plate on side, underneath phone: Western Electric / 6A HEADSET HANGER
raised lettering on underside of telephone: TRADE MARK / Western Electric / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / E1 / MADE IN U.S.A.
FunctionProject an image on the screen using a cathode ray system. Has telephone on its side and a speaker on its base to project sound to coordinate with the images.
See Historical Attributions for an explanation of the use of the telephone.
See Historical Attributions for an explanation of the use of the telephone.
Historical AttributesFrom label: This television was demonstrated at the 1939 New York World's Fair. The telephone on the side of the set enabled the demonstrator to contact the camera operator. Early cameras had no monitors, so the camera man had to rely on the operator to tell him what was being shown on the screen.
Shortwave and Television Corporation
Date: circa 1932
Object number: RS0113
CASIO Computer Company, Ltd.
Date: 1970-1980
Accessories: vinyl pouch with folded over snap cover and hanging loop; batteries
Object number: 1995-1-0012
Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory
Date: 1947-2002
Object number: 2003-1-0291
Hickok Electrical Instrument Company
Date: 1955-1965
Object number: 1998-1-0879
Polaroid Corporation
Date: 2003
Accessories: printer ribbon, power cable, adapter cable, original packing materials, instruction manuals (in object file), and gray card (in object file)
Object number: 2009-1-0039
F. A. D. Andrea, Inc.
Date: 1927
Object number: RS0044
Wang Laboratories, Inc.
Date: 1970
Accessories: cloth instrument cover lined with tissue paper; black power cord; accompanied by central electronic unit (2001-1-003b); two page hand-written note from Peter L. Smith, Research associate, Harvard College Observatory, regarding the donation of the calculator, dated 10 December, 2001 (original and copy in instrument file); photocopy of operation instructions from the bottom panel of calculator unit (in instrument file); printed document on the history of the Wang 360SE by Rick Bensene (in instrument file); printed document on the history of the Want 360SE from Geocity (in instrument file); printed document on the Orbiting Solar Observatories (in instrument file)
Object number: 2001-1-0033a
Hammond Typewriter Company
Date: circa 1923
Accessories: four Hammond type shuttles for different type faces, each with a wooden storage box; four laminated paper rectangles with symbol placement guide; instruction book, instruction sheets, advertisements, and correspondence (in object file)
Object number: 1996-1-0373