Taped more than 25 years ago, here is the 50 Years of Television Exhibit at the Smithsonian as I recorded it on September 23, 1989. Included are lots of early Televisions, items from the 1939 New York Worlds Fair Futurama and the World of Tomorrow, and some items from the history of early recording exhibit. No commentary, just enjoy the ride. Shot in my early "blitzvideo" documenting style, where I moved and zoomed a lot so that I could capture the most detail in a short period of time, and during playback I could freeze frames to examine items and read text later on. Freeze Frame! Try it.... Lots of weird talk from strangers and you name it all included. Rendered from the original SVHS analog tape.
Some highlights:
- RCA Lucite TRK-12 Television, 1939
- General Motors Futurama models, 1939
- Lots of Televisions from the 30's, 40's and 50's
- Automaton Monk, 1560
- Edison's First Phonograph, 1871
- Berliner Gramophone, 1888
- Volta Labs Tape Recorder, 1886
- Poulson's Wire Recorder, 1899
Fran on Twitter - https://twitter.com/contourcorsets
Fran's Science Blog - http://www.frantone.com/designwritings/design_writings.html
Fran's Daily Updates - http://www.contourcorsets.com/daily/daily.html
Some highlights:
- RCA Lucite TRK-12 Television, 1939
- General Motors Futurama models, 1939
- Lots of Televisions from the 30's, 40's and 50's
- Automaton Monk, 1560
- Edison's First Phonograph, 1871
- Berliner Gramophone, 1888
- Volta Labs Tape Recorder, 1886
- Poulson's Wire Recorder, 1899
Fran on Twitter - https://twitter.com/contourcorsets
Fran's Science Blog - http://www.frantone.com/designwritings/design_writings.html
Fran's Daily Updates - http://www.contourcorsets.com/daily/daily.html
I hope your channel exists in perpetuity, Fran. This content is priceless.
I've collected early TV's for years. The unique early post-war sets can still be had for fair prices. In good complete condition and electronically restored they can get $300-$500 depending on rarity and appealing design. The pre-war all-electronic sets are a whole different story. If you can even find one for sale, you're looking around $10,000-$15,000 in good complete condition, and especially working. Some models there's only one existing, and even the most common one's exist in very limited numbers. Early mechanical "scanning disk" sets are very rare too, but bring slightly less. Some look more like scientific contraptions, but they are historic pieces. Some collectors are actually able to make them work through special signal converters!
I don't think I will ever be able to go to the Smithsonian. With your help I have sean part of it. Thank you.
Kinda disappointed that none of these TVs were switched on and working, they could have been in 1989 as the NTSC standard was developed for these sets was stil in use.
We, in the UK, ditched our original TV standard for colour TV and went with the German 625 line standard, the 405 line standard finally going out of use in 1985, so ancient British sets would needed downconverters to work with contemporary broadcasts.
I like the circular screens of the just-after-the-war sets too, America produce too many radar screens for the war effort?
Gaah, the quality. But it's svhs so you have an excuse.
ok I must ask where was this exhibit? is it still around?
Looks like it was an exciting event. If you are interested in a current exhibit on the history of radio and television, along with other electronics history, you might visit the Sarnoff Museum which has relocated at The College of NJ in Ewing. It is open Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. I work as a volunteer restorer and guide.
And your still as beautiful as ever. 🙂