ETF - Mechanical Stations in the U.S. & Canada

Mechanical Stations in the U.S. & Canada

Mechanical TV broadcast in the AM radio band (550-1600 kHz) in 1928 and 29. With 24 and 30 line systems, only about 10 kHz of bandwidth was needed, so standard radio channels could be used. Some stations also broadcast in the shortwave band. Beginning in 1930, the 2-3 mHz band was used for television, with 100 kHz channel width. 60 line systems required about 40 kHz of bandwidth. TV broadcasts could be identified by their distinctive sound.

This is a list of stations that broadcast mechanical television. All of these stations have been verified as actually being on the air, through magazine, book or newspaper accounts, or eyewitness accounts.

Call Sign	City	Operated by	On Air	Off Air	Lines	Frames/ Second	Power	Freq.
VE9AK	Montreal, Canada	Peck Television	1935	?	60-150	?		41 mHz
W1WX, W1XAXU, W1XAV,W1XG	Boston, MA	Shortwave and Television (Hollis Baird)	1929	1930	48	15		2.12 mHz, 2.85-2.95 mHz
W1WX, W1XAXU, W1XAV,W1XG	Boston, MA	Shortwave and Television (Hollis Baird)	1931	1934	60	20	1000 w	1.6-1.7 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.8-2.9 mHz, 42-50 mHz 60-86 mHz
W1XAY, WLEX	Lexington, MA	Boston Post, WLEX	1928	1930	48	18		3.55 mHz, 4.7-4.9 mHz
W2XB, WGY, W2XAD, W2XAF, W2XCW	Schenectady, NY	General Electric	1928	1928	24	21		790 kHz, 9.55 mHz, 13.66 mHz
			1928	1930	48	18		790 kHz, 9.55 mHz, 13.66 mHz
			1930	1939	48	18	20000 w	2.1-2.2 mHz
W2XAB	New York, NY	CBS	1931	1933	60	20	500 w	2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz
W2XAL, WRNY	New York, NY	Hugo Gernsback	1928	1930	36,48	10		919, 1110 kHz
W2XBS	New York, NY	RCA	1928	1929	?	?		2.0-2.1 mHz
W2XBS	New York, NY	RCA	1929	1932	60	20	5000 w	2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz
W2XBT	Camden, NJ	RCA	1930	1932	60	20	750 w	2.0-2.1 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz
W2XBU	Beacon, NY	H. E. Smith	1928	1931	24,48	15	100 w	2.0-2.1 mHz
W2XCD	Passaic, NJ	Lee DeForest	1931	1933	60	20	5000 w	2.0-2.1 mHz
W2XCR	Jersey City, NJ	Jenkins	1929	1931	48		1500 w	2.0-2.1 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz
W2XCR	New York, NY	Jenkins	1931	1933	60	20	5000 w	2.75-2.85 mHz
W2XF, W2XK	New York, NY, Camden, NJ	RCA	1930	1935	60	20	5000w	41 mHz video, 61 mHz audio
W2XR	Long Island City, NY	Hogan's Radio Pictures	1929		48	15	500 w	1.6-1.7 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.85-2.95 mHz
W2XR	Long Island City, NY	Hogan's Radio Pictures		1934	60	20	1000 w	1.6-1.7 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.85-2.95 mHz
W3XAD	Camden, NJ	RCA	1930	1932	60	20	2000 w	2.1-2.2 mHz, 43, 48.5, 60 mHz
W3XE	Philadelphia, PA	Philco	1932	?	?	?		?
W3XK, 3XK	Silver Spring, MD	Jenkins	1928	1931	48	15	1500 w	6.24 mHz, 13.966 mHz, 2.0-2.1 mHz, 2.85-2.95 mHz
W3XK, 3XK	Silver Spring, MD	Jenkins	1931	1934	60	20	5000 w 1000 w	2.0-2.1 mHz, VHF
3XN	Whippany, NJ	Bell Labs	1927	?	50	18		185, 1450, 1571 kHz
W5AGO	Ft. Worth, TX	Truett Kimzey	1934	?	?	?
W5XA	Shreveport, LA	Paul L. Carriger	1929	1934	45	15
W6XAH	Bakersfield, CA	Pioneer Mercantile Co.	1932	1932	96	20	1000w	2.0-2.1 mHz
W6XS	Los Angeles, CA	Don Lee Broadcasting	1931	1935	80	15	500w	2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz
W6XAO	Los Angeles, CA	Don Lee Broadcasting	1931	1936	80	15	150 w	43, 44.5 mHz
W7XAO	Portland, OR	Wilbur Jerman	1929	1930	?	?		5.55 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz
W8XAV,W8XT	East Pittsburgh, PA	Westinghouse	1928	1932	60,72	20	20,000 w	660 kHz, 2.0-2.1 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz
W9XAA,W9XAB, WCFL	Chicago, IL	Chicago Federation of Labor	1928	1932	45	15	500-1000 w	1564 kHz, 2.0-2.1 mHz, 2-75-2.85 mHz, 4.88 mHz
W9XAK	Manhattan, KS	Kansas State College	1932	1936	60	20		2.1-2.2 mHz
W9XAL	Kansas City, MO	First National Television	1933	1935	45	15		2.1-2.2 mHz
W9XAO	Chicago, IL	Western Television (Sanabria)	1929	1933	45	15	500,1000 w	2.0-2.1 mHz
W9XAP	Chicago, IL	Chicago Daily News, NBC	1930	1933	45	15	2500 w	2.1-2.2 mHz
W9XAT, W9ICI	Minneapolis, MN	George Young, WDGY	1933	1938	45	15	500-1000w	42-50 mHz 60-86 mHz
W9XAT, W9ICI	Minneapolis, MN	George Young, WDGY	1933	1938	125	?	500-1000w	42-50 mHz 60-86 mHz
W9XMJ. W9XD	Milwaukee, WI	Milwaukee Journal	1930	1938	45	15	500 w	43, 43.5, 48.5, 60 mHz
W9XG	West Lafayette, IN	Purdue University	1931	1939	60-100	20	1500 w	2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz
W9XK	Iowa City, IA	State University of Iowa	1932	1939	45	15		2.0-2.1 mHz
W9XR	Downers Grove, IL	Great Lakes Broadcasting	1929		24	15	500 w	2.85-2.95 mHz

Operating Hours (1932)

From a 1932 survey by Radio and Television News

Call Sign

City

Operated by

Broadcasting Hours

W1WX, W1XAV,W1XG Boston, MA Shortwave and Television (Hollis Baird)
2-4 PM, 8-10 PM daily except Sunday

W2XB, WGY, W2XAD, W2XAF, W2XCW Schenectady, NY General Electric No fixed schedule

W2XAB New York, NY CBS 2-6 PM, 7-11 PM daily

W2XCR New York, NY Jenkins 3-5 PM, 6-9 PM daily, 5-9 PM Sunday

W2XR Long Island City, NY Hogan's Radio Pictures 4-10 PM daily except Sunday and holidays

W2XK Camden, NJ RCA Usually mornings, 2-3 PM, 5-6 PM, 7:30-10 PM

W3XAD Camden, NJ RCA Usually mornings, 2-3 PM, 5-6 PM, 7:30-10 PM

W3XK, 3XK Silver Spring, MD Jenkins 3-5 PM, 6-9 PM daily, 5-9 PM Sunday

W6XAO Los Angeles, CA Don Lee Broadcasting 6-7 PM except Sundays and holidays
W8XAV,W8XT East Pittsburg, PA Westinghouse 3:30-4:30 PM Friday

W9XAP Chicago, IL Chicago Daily News 12:35 PM Monday-Friday, 12-6:45 PM Saturday

W9XD Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Journal 4-6 PM Monday-Friday

W9XG West Lafayette, IN Purdue University No Fixed Schedule

1932 schedule

These stations were reported in publications, but no verification has been found that they actually went on the air. They may have been only construction permits. The Date column contains the year a reference appeared in a publication.

Call Sign

City

Operated by

Date

Lines

Frames/ Second

Freq.

VE9AG Walkerville, Ontario 1935 42-46 mHz, 60-88 mHz

VE9AR Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 1935 2.75-2.85 mHz

VE9AU London, Ontario 1935 2.0-2.1 mHz, 42-46 mHz, 60-88 mHz

VE9BZ Vancouver, BC 1935 42-46 mHz, 60-88 mHz

VE9DS Montreal, Quebec 1935 2.0-2.1 mHz, 42-46 mHz, 60-88 mHz

VE9EC Montreal, Quebec 1935

VE9ED Mt. Jolie, Quebec 1935 2.75-2.85 mHz

VE9RC Quebec City, Quebec 1935 42-46 mHz, 60-88 mHz

W1XB, W1XBA Somerville, MA General Industries 1930 2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz

W1XAE Springfield, MA Westinghouse 1930 2.0-2.1 mHz

W1XY Springfield, MA Pilot Electrical 1930 2.0-2.1 mHz

WOR New York, NY 1928 740 kHz

W2XAK New York, NY Atlantic Broadcasting Corp. 1934

W2XAX New York, NY 1935 42-46 mHz, 60-88 mHz

W2XBA Newark, NJ WAAM, Inc. 1934 2.75-2.85 mHz

W2XBC, W2XBO Long Island City, NY United Research Corp. 1930,31 2.75-2.85 mHz

W2XBV New York, NY RCA 1928

W2XBW Bound Brook, NJ RCA 1928

W2XCL Brooklyn, NY Pilot Electric 1930 2.0-2.1 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz

W2XCP Allwood, NJ Freed Eisemann 1930,31,32 2.0-2.1 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz

W2XD New York, NY 1935 42-46 mHz, 60-88 mHz

W2XDA New York, NY Atlantic Broadcasting 1932 1544 kHz

W2XDR Long Island City, NY 1935 2.0-2.1 mHz, 42-46 mHz, 60-88 mHz

W2XDS New York, NY Jenkins 1932 43, 48.5, 60 mHz

W2XX Ossoning, NY R. F. Gowen 1930 2.0-2.1 mHz

W3XAK Bound Brook, NY RCA 1931 2.1-2.2 mHz

4XAA, W4XA Memphis, TN 1928 2.4-2.5 mHz

W4XE Winter Park, FL W. J. Lee 1930 2.0-2.1 mHz

W6XAM Los Angeles, CA R. S. McGlashan 1928,30 2.0-2.1 mHz

KGFJ Los Angeles, CA 1928 48 1411 kHz

W6KQ Los Angeles, CA Amiee Semple McPherson 1931

W6XC Los Angeles, CA R. H. Parrish 1928,30 4550 kHz

W8XAN Jackson, MI Sparks Withington 1931,34,35 42-46 mHz, 60-88 mHz

W9XAG Chicago, IL Aero Products 1928,30,31 2.0-2.1 mHz