Mechanical Television
American Television Institute
The American Television Institute (ATI) was run by U. A. Sanabria, who was a pioneer in mechanical television. In the mid 30s he founded the school, which trained students through the 50s. There were a number of schools with television programs before World War Two.
ATI students made monscopes and CRTs as part of their training.
1937 Advertisements |
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ATI Telephone Television System This system was manufactured by ATI in 1936. It was demonstrated all over the country in department stores, fairs and auto dealerships. Here are some newspaper articles describing these demonstrations (courtesy of Wayne Bretl). . |
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Shown here is the class of 1936 manufacturing Television Telephones |
They provided a system to Duke University in 1938 |
ATI made these 2 way television units in relatively large quantities. Many were sold to colleges and universities. The first lesson in ATI's 1937 television correspondence course says that systems were sold to DePaul, Armour Intstitute of Technology (Chicago), Michigan College of Mining and Technology (Houghton), The Drexel Institute of Technology (Philadelphia), University of Louisville, South Dakota State College (Brookings), Fenn College (Cleveland), and Louisiana State University, at a cost of $500 each. It is interesting that they were able to sell mechanical systems in 1937, well after all mechanical broadcasting had ended. 
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ATI also provided equipment to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, for reception of the transmissions from New York City. Below is the receiver, which also serves as an oscilloscope. Similar units were used in ATI's training program. A similar system was made available to students at the Institute, called the "Double Electronic". |
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Mid 40s brochure, showing Farnsworth camera and GE receiver |
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1946 Advertisement |
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1946 Advertisment |
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RadioCraft, June 1947 |
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1949 Advertisement Courtesy of Duke University Libraries Ad*Access |
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