ETF - NTSC Prototypes and Field Test Sets

NTSC Prototypes and Field Test Sets

Prototypes

A prototype is defined as a set with a metal-cone CRT, or with screw socket mountings, or with no engraved stamping on the chassis, or which would have been made in very small quantities, or has characteristics/circuit additions that would indicate it is an experimental/prototype set.

CBS-Columbia RX-89 (Courtesy of John Folsom)

CBS-Columbia RX-90

Emerson

Philco (Click for more pictures)

(Courtesy of John Folsom)

Sears-Silvertone 4160

(Courtesy of John Folsom)

Sparton (Click for photo of rear or engineering manual)

(Courtesy of John Folsom)

Westinghouse 15"

Zenith 21" rectangular (1954)

Philco 1955 Prototype with Apple CRT (600k file size)

Pye experimental 405 line NTSC set (Britain)

Ad for Pacific Mercury 15" color set.

(Courtesy of Steve Dichter)

Emerson 15" prototype. From November 1953 issue of Radio & TV

(Courtesy of John Folsom)

Fada - Mockup or Prototype

1953 G.E. prototype with metal cone CRT (Courtesy of Chuck Azzalina)

Field Test Sets

Most of the sets below were receivers used in "Field Testing" of the NTSC Standards from late 1951 until May 1953. The NTSC submitted its petition after this testing to the FCC in July 1953.

RCA Model 1 Converter (1950)

RCA Model 2 Converter (1951)

RCA Prototype (1950)

RCA Model 1 (1950)

RCA Model 2 (1951)

RCA Model 3 (1952)

RCA Triniscope #1 (1950)

Interior of the Triniscope #1

1951 21 inch prototype

RCA Triniscope #2 (1950) (Danny Gustafson Collection)

RCA 1949 dot sequential prototype. Three 2 1/2 inch CRTs were used.

(RCA prototype photos courtesy of Dave Abramson)