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Author Topic: The Oldest Electronic Gear You Have Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-05-2009 12:22 PM                        For the TV people: what is this test pattern? (sorry for the poor quality; it is a still from a Youtube video that probably began life as a VHS copy) Lots of stations used this in the '80s, but it is almost never seen now.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-05-2009 12:37 PM                     I don't know if History Detectives would balk at the story because he's selling the patterns commercially but, assuming he can get by that hurdle, it would be a big boost to his business if that artwork was authenticated by History Detectives. Even if he wasn't selling copies, it would still be a great value to know that this is THE Indian Head Test Pattern. Every kid growing up in the 1960's and 1970's sat up every Saturday morning, waiting for Saturday Morning Cartoons to start, watching that test pattern. I say it is historically significant. Even more so that we've officially "made the switch" to digital broadcast television. The producers of History Detectives seem to love those "found it in a dumpster" type stories. I really think he should submit it.  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 12-05-2009 01:32 PM                        For Scott, it's an interesting take on a resolution chart, turned into a station ID slide. The wedges of fine lines give you an indication of both horizontal and vertical resolution. Back when I taught video classes for IATSE Local 720's Training Trust, I would display a chart like that E-E from a live camcorder, then VHS, U-matic, S-VHS, LD, and Beta SP playback sources - you could see the differences in the pointy end of the wedges. Geeky fun.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-05-2009 06:08 PM                        Paul--thanks. So, is that test pattern supposed to help me adjust something on my home set (overscan and centering, or brightness/contrast maybe?)? Or does it help the station adjust something? Do the colors mean anything or do something special in blue-only mode?  |  IP: Logged Hillary Charles Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 748 From: York, PA, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 12-05-2009 06:25 PM                     TV stations used to broadcast their test patterns during the same time every day so television receivers could be properly adjusted. Because of that, deliveries and service calls would coincide with test pattern scheduling. As you suggest, everything on the pattern is useable, including the main circle itself. We even had to put the Indian Head pattern to work so we could adjust the tube of a Philco Predicta which was initially giving the circle an egg shape. It's much better now.  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 12-05-2009 07:17 PM                        Not really for use during actual adjusting, but for evaluation. If your convergence and focus are good, you'll be able to discern lines further towards the pointed end of those wedges. Even small convergence and focus errors really kill resolution performance. There are other charts that would be more useful for making actual adjustments. As far as I know, those colors are just for looks since that pic is just a station ID slide. It just happened to start out as a resolution chart, art wise. Never saw colors on an actual res chart.  |  IP: Logged Hillary Charles Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 748 From: York, PA, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 12-05-2009 08:01 PM                     Colors were integral in test patterns when color transmission was just beginning. Here is an example from July 1951, used to test the ill-fated CBS sequential (spinning disc) color system:  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-05-2009 08:11 PM                     There are a number of CBS Colorwheel TVs in Ohio at the Museum and I'm pretty sure they have an operating unit with the custom convertor to playback NTSC color on CBS systems. Here ia a link to an off screen photo of what it is actually capable of. The CBS system had no color purity errors so the colors were excellent. Early CBS Color System with off screen photo  |  IP: Logged Hillary Charles Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 748 From: York, PA, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 12-05-2009 08:17 PM                     I think they have a couple of operating CBS-color sets, at least one being a studio monitor. I recall seeing a photo from the ETF with a few spinning disc sets (or maybe a few B&W sets with color adapters) all displaying the same image (also from "The Wizard of Oz"). The frames I saw did look good. I wonder if there was any fringing on quick moving subjects. There's a book called TUBE, about the invention of telelvsion that has a chapter on the color wars between CBS and RCA/NBC. It's a fascinating story. Strange to think the FCC had initially approved the CBS version.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-07-2009 02:05 AM                  Super-cool 3D pic, Hillary!  |  IP: Logged Hillary Charles Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 748 From: York, PA, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 12-07-2009 05:41 AM                     Thanks Phil! I wasn't sure it would work for you, y'know with that eye patch...  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-07-2009 11:35 AM                        So, Stephen Furley, Phil Hill, and I are the only ones here who collect telephones?  |  IP: Logged Hillary Charles Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 748 From: York, PA, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 12-07-2009 02:33 PM                     Scott, does a black bakelite table model in the living room and a pay phone in the kitchen count as a collection? Small compared to what you guys have.  |  IP: Logged Sean Weitzel Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 619 From: Vacaville, CA (1790 miles west of Rockwall) Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-12-2009 12:06 AM                     I could see myself collecting old televisions, but when i find myself dreaming out loud, my wife opens the front bedroom door and points to the projector and films. Then she goes to the living room and points to the Edison C250 and the Zenith 8s463 radio. Then she points to my camera collection all over the mantel. Then she opens the garage and points to the DeLorean. The she points to me and says which one goes away to make room for the TV's? I love her. She has very good points. She tells me she loves all of those things as much as I do and I can tell she does, thankfully. I think TV collecting is a single person's hobby. I would sure like to get my hands on a CT-100. With the possibility of successfully rebuilding the 15gp22 tubes on the horizon this may be closer to a reality.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 12-12-2009 12:24 AM                        Since a lot of people are posting non-electronic equipment, I will post my oldest non-electronic thingy: This is my grandfather's Keystone Electric Eye K-7 8mm motion picture film camera! It doesn't use ANY electrical power and therefore is even MORE GREEN than a hybrid automobile! It seems impossible, but it is true. It uses 8mm film which is nearly Super VHS quality. And best of all, it is a goddamn Keystone, motherfuckers!  |  IP: Logged

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