dmmartindale@watcgl.UUCP (Dave Martindale) (02/02/85)
I've been reading a book called "Principles of Color Television", written in 1956. Although all the theory of the synchronization and colour encoding and equalization and colour correction employed in broadcast TV was clearly already worked out and is presented in great detail, the only comment on video recording is: "Magnetic recording of color television signals on tape was demonstrated by RCA Laboratories in December 1953, and developmental work on it has continued since. At the latest report a video range exceeding 3 Mc [MHz in modern terminology] was obtained with a tape speed of 20 feet per second. With reels of 19 inches outside diameter and 8 inches hub diameter, 18000 feet of 1-mil Mylar tape was accomodated, which provided 15 minutes of program time. A signal-to-noise ratio of at least 20 db was obtained at 3 Mc. A similar development has been reported by the Bing Crosby Enterprises, using a tape speed of 15 feet per second. A reel with outside diameter of 14 inches was stated to accomodate about 8 minutes of color program." 20 feet per second is about 14 miles per hour! I wouldn't want one of those in my living room.