Antique Televisions
Modern day cable television owes a debt of gratitude to men working during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Willoughby Smith discovered selenium in 1873, and Paul Nipkow used this to create the scanning disc in 1884. This disc was used as a way to show images on a television. These images were choppy and rough looking, but formed the basics for a television set. In 1909, still images were shown on a mirror-drum in Paris. Russian students took this idea in 1911, and created a series of moving images, though it still looked very rough.
A number of workers and companies focused on the television in the following years, including AT&T. Inventor John Baird discovered a way of transmitting images across the drum at 12.5 images/second, which was the best at the time. He even discovered a way of transmitting the images across special lines that let viewers in another area see what was transmitted from another area. His work resulted in the opening of the first French television station, and televisions appearing in the UK.
The first electronic television appeared in 1934, using a series of cathode tubes. Companies such as RCA began testing color television in the 1940s, but ran into problems as the current black & white televisions couldn’t cope with the new changes. In 1950, color televisions were introduced to the public, and most television networks broadcasted a handful of shows in this new format.
Resources on television history include:
· MZTV Museum of Television : museum devoted to the history of television sets and shows.
· Early Television Museum : Ohio museum dedicated to antique television sets and older radios.
· American Museum of Radio and Electricity : museum focusing on electricity and products relating to it such as televisions.
· Harry Poster : seller specializing in old vintage and antique television sets.
· Living Color : specialist who traces the evolution of the color television set.
· Phil’s Old Radios : specializing in antique television sets and radios.
· Antique Televisions : Virginia store specializing in vintage television sets for sale.
· New Era Antiques : seller of antique and vintage television sets.
· Vintage Electronics : seller of vintage televisions.
· Radiola Guy : retailer selling vintage items including televisions.
· Patented Antiques : seller of vintage electronics such as televisions.
· Auman Museum of Radio & Television : Ohio museum with a focus on vintage televisions.
· Vintage Electronics Marketplace : lists antique televisions for sale.
· Antique Radio Classifieds : classifieds with some listings for antique televisions.
· Antique Electronic Supply : offers vintage parts for older television sets.
· Antique Radio Grille Cloth : specializes in antique parts for radios and televisions.
· Antique Radio Knobs : sells reproduction and antique knobs for televisions and radios.
· Nostalgia Air : specializes in antique and vintage electronics.
· Radio Tube Supply : sells tubes for vintage products.
· Vacuum Tubes : seller of vintage tubes for radios and television sets.
Modern advances have only helped the television grow. Today there are flat screen, plasma screen, and high definition televisions. Some manufacturers are even making modern televisions that look like their vintage counterparts, complete with wood coverings. Shoppers also have the option of picking satellite television, which brings shows from around the world right into their homes. It’s clear that the world of television has come a long way.
