Mechanical Stations in the U.S. & Canada

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Mechanical Television

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.
CKAC	Montreal, Canada	La Presse Newspaper	?	?	45	15	500 w	2.0-2.1 mHz
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	1 kw - 3.5 kw	1.6-1.7 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.8-2.9 mHz, 11,790 kHz, 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, WGY	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	20 kw	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,W2XF,W2XK, W2XBV	New York, NY	RCA	1928	1929	?	?	?	2.0-2.1 mHz
W2XBS,W2XF,W2XK, W2XBV	New York, NY	RCA	1929	1932	60	20	5 kw	2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz
WOR	Kearny, NJ		1927	1927	?	?	500w	720 kHz
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	5 kw	2.0-2.1 mHz
W2XCP	Clifton, NJ	Freed-Eiseman	?	?	?	?	?	2.0-2.1, 2.85-2.95 mHz
W2XCR, W2XD	Jersey City, NJ	Jenkins	1929	1931	48	?	1.5 kw	2.0-2.1 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz
W2XCR, W2XD	New York, NY	Jenkins	1931	1933	60	20	5k w	2.75-2.85 mHz
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	1 kw	1.6-1.7 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.85-2.95 mHz
W3XAD	Camden, NJ	RCA	1930	1932	60	20	2 kw	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	1.5 kw	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	1 kw, 5 kw	2.0-2.1 mHz, VHF
3XN	Whippany, NJ	Bell Labs	1927	1930	50, 72	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	1 kw	2.0-2.1 mHz
6XF	Los Angeles, CA	Kenneth Ormiston	?	?	?	?	?
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
KRSC	Seattle, WA	Francis J. Brott	1929	?	?	?	?	?
W7XAO	Portland, OR	Wilbur Jerman	1929	1930	?	?	?	5.55 mHz, 2.75-2.85 mHz
W8XAV, W8XT, KDKA	East Pittsburgh, PA	Westinghouse	1928	1932	60,72	20	20 kw	660 kHz, 2.0-2.1 mHz, 2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.75-2.85 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	125	2.1-2.2 mHz, 2.0-2.1 mHz
W9XAO	Chicago, IL	Western Television (Sanabria)	1929	1933	45*	15	500,1 kw	2.0-2.1 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
KYW	Chicago, IL	Westinghouse	1930
W9XAP, WMAQ	Chicago, IL	Chicago Daily News, NBC	1930	1933	48	15	2.5 kw	2.1-2.2 mHz
W9XAT, W9ICI	Minneapolis, MN	George Young, WDGY	1933	1938	45*	15	500, 1 kw	42-50 mHz 60-86 mHz
W9XAT, W9ICI	Minneapolis, MN	George Young, WDGY	1933	1938	125	?	500, 1 kw	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	1,5 kw	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

*Triple interlace

Early Television

Canadian Stations (1931)

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

Early Television

1932 schedule

Early Television

The following 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
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
WILL	Champaign, IL	Illilnois University	1933