"TELEVIEWING"

[By. ARIEL! ]• The rather unpleasant sounding 1 word "televiewing" has been !}••: temporarily adopted as descriptive of .the act of watchi ing a television apparatus. It will ii probably serve its purpose: until television has been accepted as a i commonplace by the mass of the people, when quite naturally it will be dropped and replaced by some short, sharp), pointed word such as squinting. In the meantime, televiewing is still round the corner. A number of technical writers have peeped

round and written about television in a more or less coherent manner, and perhaps the most intelligent of these books is "Televiewing," by Ernest H. Robinson. . Mr Robinson is a Fellow of the

Television Society. (You see; there

is already a Television Society, and it has its Fellows.) He is also

Technical Special correspondent to the "Observer"; Radio Research Station G-SYM. & would appear that he should know what he is talking about, and on reading his book this impression is confirmed. The trouble with these semi-technicial books is that the hard-boiled technician treats them with scorn, and the uninformed, but wanting-to-know reader is just left in a daze after the first chapter. "Televiewing" has to some extent overcome this difficulty by the stern avoidance of megohms and what-nots of the more obscure varI iety. Anyone who has any knowledge of the simpler bits of . radio, such as grids, plates, milliampmeters, electrons, and photo-elec-tric cells will find the book child's ■ play.It is an extraordinary thing, " when you come to think of it, that you or I can go to the zoo and see an" elephant without somebody rushing up and explaining to us all about its semicircular canals or adolescent bicuspids or the internal lateral ligaments of its knee joint. When, vte gaze, at an elephant we are quite satisfied if we see it eat j .an artificial flower off an old lady's

hat; or squirt water over a dirty child; or even if we have a ride on its back. Having seen these things we are quite confident that we know how an elephant works. But if radio experts were Fellows of the Zoological Society and not merely Fellows of the Television Society, we would have a dreadful time escaping from long accounts of the negative pressures |ri the elephant's trunk or the exli&t details of its duodenal-' functions. Radio (and television) experts are like

that. They must explain the incomprehensible.

History of Television But to return to Mr Robinson. The story of television commences with the discovery that selenium ■varies its resistance to an electric current in accordance with the amount of light falling upon it. Although selenium, (an element which more or less" resembles sulphur) was known in 1817, it was not until 1873 that its light-sensi-'tive properties were discovered. One of the engineers at Valentia, a cable station on the south-west coast of Ireland, noticed that his instruments were behaving in a curiously erratic fashion. After puzzling for sdme time he found, out that the violent, fluctuations which were upsetting his work were due to the bright May sunshine falling on the sMenium resistances whenever • the clouds left the sun clear. He reported the matter, and soon after the whole prospect of sending pictures to a distance was opened up. Selenium gave to the scientist the possibility of turning light fluctuations into electric fluctuations.

By 1881 the practical problem of sending still pictures had been solved. In that ,year Selford Bidwell gave a demonstration before the-Physical'-Society. He moved a picture drawn on a transparent paper oyer a sfelenium cell and illuminated the picture. In circuit with the cell was . a battery and a platinum-pointed pencil. The/ pencil was caused to move over a : sheet of paper at the same speed as i the picture moved over the cell. The variations of the current between pointer and paper, which was moistened,, with ' potassium ,V, iodide and backed with metal, caused the paper to be discojqured in proportion to the variations, which were, of course, controlled by the selenium cell. There was ho difficulty in reproducing simple pictures.

- Now if the above is quite clear, well and good. If not, I suggest you read it again carefully, and if you yet can't understand it there is very little point in worrying about it, anyway.

The Nipkow disc.

IYA, AUCKLAND (650 Kilocycles)

HOW pictures were sent and received in 1881. This is picture telegraphy, not television.

In 1880; the first conception of the real necessities of television seems to have come to a Frenchman, Maurice Leblanc. Leblanc said that the only way to send a moving picture was to break it up into small pieces and send the pieces one after another, joining them' together again'at the receiving end. He proposed to use two vibrating mirrors, one moving fast and the other slowly. Then Nipkow, a German, invented and patented the scanning disc, the simplest device of its kmd ever made and one which held its • place - triumphantly in all low-definition systems. -VnierNipkow disc is a" circular metal .sheet* near the outer edge of punched following aspiral lift& The spiral is so drawn taui ihe h6les so placed upon it that sfcaperture, when thfe dfce if revolving, will give a viw ot

a strip across the top of the picture. The next is such a distance from the first one that immediately the top line has been traversed it starts ,to traverse a line immediately below the top one and touching it, and so on until the whole of the, picture has been covered by a series of lines.

Now it will be seen that the problem of television is contained in selenium and the Nipkow disc. It is as though, having the necessary meat and the sausage machine, the art of making sausages were discovered. The difficulty, of course, would be to continue with the analogy—in changing the completed sausages back to meat again. The Englishman, John Logie Baird, was the man who improved the Nipkow disc and utilised it both for transmission of images and reception. His two great contributions to early television were a reasonably good method of synchronising the moving parts of transmitter and receiver and the use of the neon tube in the receiver.

But more about the neon tube next week.

The semi-technical descriptions above are for the most part in the words of Mr Robinson. It will be seen that the whole intricate question can at least be made reasonably, clear to the non-technical reader. And for this the author of "Televiewing" must be thanked by a great number of interested readers all over the world.

Televiewing. By E. H. Robinson. Selwyn and Blount, Ltd., London. 288 pp. (6/- net). Through Wliitcombe and Tombs, Ltd. BROADCASTING TO-DAY'S PROGRAMMES 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH (720 Kilocycles)

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service. 10.15: Selected recordings. 11.0: Time signals. 11.2: Selected recordings. 12 -noon: Lunch music. 2.0 p;m.: Selected recordings. 3.0: Classical music. 4.0: Time signals. 4.2: Light musical programme. 4.30: Sports results. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Stalky and company. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signal. 8.0: Chimes. Recordings: Royal Opera Orchestra, Covent Garden. "Tancredi" overture (Rossini). 8.10: Elsie Suddaby (soprano). "Cradle Song" (Schubert): "Faith in Spring" (Schubert). 8.16: Troise and his Mandoliers, (a) Serenade No. 1 (Toselli); (b) Hungarian dance No. 5 (Brahms). 8.22: Alfred Piccaver, tenor), (a) "Out of the Twilight" (Barker): (b) "Dreams" (Eyton). 8.28: Reginald Dixon, organ, (a) "Parade of the Tin Soldiers" (Jessel); (b) "Blaze Away" (Holzmann). 8.34: Recording: Ashmor Bursch, baritone., (a) "Tally Ho" (Leoni); (b) "The Laughing Cavalier" (Sanderson). 8.40: 3YA Orchestra, conducted by Harold Beck, "America" selection (arr. Winterbottom). 8.49: Recording: The Revellers Male Quartet, "Kentucky Babe" (Geibel). 8.52: 3YA Orchestra, "Four American Indian Songs" "Cadman); (a) "From the Land of the Sky Blue Water": (b) "The White Dawn is Stealing": (c) "Far Off I Hear a Lover's Flute"; (a) "The Moon Drops Low." 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Talk, Mi- R. A. Malcolm, "Scotland! Gaither Roond." Forty minutes of music commemorating St. Andrew's Day. 9.20: Recording: Pipe-Major S. MacKinnon, bagpipes (a) "The Campbells are Coming"; (b) "The Abercairney Highlanders" medley. 9.26: Mrs T. Arthur Edwards, contralto, "Hail Caledonia." 9.30: 3YA Orchestra, "The Thistle" (Myddleton). 9.42: Recording: Andrew Shanks, baritone, "The Hundred Pipers" (Lady Nairne). 9.45: Recording: John McKay and Company (descriptive), "A Nicht Wi' Burns." 9.51: Mrs T. Arthur Edwards, contralto, (a) "My Am Wee House" (Munro); (b) "O Sing to Me the Auld Scotch Sangs" (Leeson). 9.57: 3YA Orchestra, "Celtic Farewell: Deidre" (Barrett). 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music. Alternative station, 3YL, 1200 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0:, Russian musical masterpieces.

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service, conducted by Rev. E. S. Harkness. 10.15: Selected recordings. 11.30: Running commentary on the Takapuna Jockey Club's spring meeting, held at Ellerslie (first day). 3.15 and 4.30 p.m.: Sports results. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Cinderella. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Talk, the gardening expert, "Sprays and Spraying." 8.0: Concert programme. Recordings: The Glasgow Orpheus ■ Choir, conducted by Hugh Robertson. 8.16; Vincent Aspey, violin. 8.31: Doris Jenkins, soprano. 8.46: Recordings: Wilhelm Backhaus, piano. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Recordings: New Mayfair Orchestra, with vocalist. "Selection of Bing Crosby Numbers." 9.15: Frank Perrin, entertainer, with orchestral accompaniment. 9.27: Recordings: The Elite Orchestra, "Siamese Guard Mounting" (Paul Lincke). 9.30: Recording: "Fifteen Minutes of Humour." 9.45: Noel Coward and the New Mayfair Orchestra. 9.51: A broadcasting burlesque, '"The National Programme." 10.0: Sports

summary. 10.10: Old time dance music by the Orchestra, conducted by Harold Baxter. Waltz, lancers. 10.35: Recording: Frank Wood (comedian), "Old Time Comedians" (vocal memories). 10.38: Two step, "Maxina." 10.46: Recording: Gracie Fields, commedienne. 10.50: Valeta. 10.58:. i Recording: Frank Wood (comedian),. I "More Old Time Comedians." 11J2: SchotI tische. Alternative station, IYX, 880 kiloi cycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme, i 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Light popular programme. 9.0: A musical tour of ! ' 2YA, WELLINGTON (570 Kilocycles) i 7.0 to .9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session,. 10.0: Chimes. Selected recordings; 10.30: Devotional service. 11.0: Time signals from [ the Dominion Observatory. 11.15: 1 Talk, prepared by the, A.C.E., Home Science Tutorial Section of Otago University, "Ways with Asparagus." 12 noon: Lunch music. 2.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 3.0: Sports results. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. Sports results, 5.0:* Children's hour, conducted by Uncle Jasper. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports, 7.30: Time signal*

.from , the - Dominion. Observatory... 8.0: Chimes. Special St. Andrew's Day Concert, arranged by the Wellington' Association of - Scots Societies,. Presenting the Wellington Pipe Band, Circassian Choir, Mr Ray Trewern (tenor), Gaelic Club Reel and Strathspey Orchestra, Mr J, B. Thomson (recitalist), Mrs Wilfred Andrews (contralto), Mr Angus MacKay (Gaelic songs). (Relayed from the Town Hall). 9.0 (approx.): Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Modern dance programme. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Another interlude with the Cocoanut Grove Ambassadors! 10.25: Continuation of* modern •dance programme. Alternative station. ;2YC, 340 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 5.0: Variety and vaudeville entertainment;

4YA, DUNEDIN (790 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Selected recordings. 10.15: Devotional service. 12 noon: Lunch music. 12.15 p.m.: And at jntervals during the day: Running- commentaries will. be broadcast on the second, day's racing at the Forbury Park Trots. 2.0: Selected recordings. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Aunt Anita. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 8.0: Chimes. The Concert Orchestra, conducted by Mr J. Dixon, "Keltic" overture. 8.10: The Harmony Four (male quartet). 8.16: The Orchestra, "The Thistle" Four. 8.35: The Orchestra, > "Scottish Patrol" (Williams). 8.40: Talk, Mr W. B. Steele, "St. Andrew. Scotland's Patron Saint." 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Old time dance programme. Mqsic by Reveller's Dance Band, "Grand" march; waltz. 9.10: Recording: Eight Famous Choristers, "Songs of Bonnie Scotland." 9.16: Quadrilles. 9.28: .Recording: Tom Kinniburgh and Company, "A Scot's Wooing" (Kinniburgh). 9.34: Schottische. 9.41: Recording: Nell' Grieg (humour), "Mrs Johnston's Piano" (McLennan): "The Jumble Sale" (Stoddart). 9.47: The . alberts. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Polka. 10,15: Recording: mellow and rich (duets), "Unforgotten Melodies." 10.21: Waltz Cotillion. 10.34: Recordings: Will Fyffe (humour), "Daft Sandy." 10.42: Highland Schottische. , 10.47: Recording: Anne. Ballantine (contralto), ''Charlie is My Darling": "Jessie's Dream." 10.53: Lancers. 11.5: Recording: Harry Gordon and Jack Holden (humour), "The ComPleat Anglers" (Gordon). 11.11: Waltz. 11.17: Recording: Sir Harry Lauder (comedian), "Roaming in the Gloaming": "We All Go Hame the Same Way." 11.23: Dance medley. Alternative station, 4YO, 1140 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 7:0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Variety and vaudeville. 9.0:- Band music hour, with humorous sketch interludes. DAVENTRY, ENGLAND G. 5.8., 31.55 metres; G.5.F.,. 19.82 metres. New Zealand summer time. 8 p.m.: Big Ben. The 8.8. G. Dance Orchestra, directed by Henry Hall. 8.30: "The Wedding." A farce by Anton Tchekov. Translated from the Russian by Constance Garnett and produced by William MacLurg. 9: "Scots at Home." A St. Andrew's Day programme for "Scots Abroad." 9.45: The news. 10: Close down. SUNDAY 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH 9:0 a.m : Chimes. Report of play in the Rugby match. New Zealand v. Ulster; also at 9.30, 10.0 and 10.30, interspersed with selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from Trinity Congregational Church. Preacher. Rev. D. Gardner Miller, organist, Mr Len Boot, choirmaster, Mr F. H. Christfan. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.0: Recording: Sergia Rachmaninoff (piano and orchestra), "Rhapsody ort a Theme of Paganini" (Rachmaninoff). 3.25: Selected recordings. 4.0:. Time signals. 5.30: Children's song service, conducted by the children from the Methodist Sunday schools. 6.15: Selected recordings. 7.0: Relay of evening service from the East Belt Methodist Church. Preacher, Rev. Edward Drake, organist, Mr A. M. Owen, choirmaster, Mr J. Chaplin. 8.15: Selected recordings. 8,30: Presentation of complete recorded opera, "La Boheme." Opera in four acts by GiacOmo Puccini. Libretto by Giacosa and Illica. Alternative station, 3YL. 6.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: Rebroadcast from the 8.8.C. Empire station, a recorded commentary on the Rugby match, Ulster v. New Zealand.

IYA, AUCKLAND 9.0 a.m.: Chimes.' Report of play, in the Rugby match —See 3YA. 11.0: Morning service relayed from St. David's Presbyterian Church. Preacher, Rev. Bower Black, organist, Mr E. S. Craston, choirmaster, Mt L. Barnes. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music (recorded). 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.30: Joseph Szigeti, violinist, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham, presents. Mozart's Concerto No. 4 in D Major. 3.55: Selected recordings. 6.0: Children's song service. 7.0: Evening service, relayed from St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral. Preacher, Canon William Fancourt, organist, Mr Edgar Randall. 8.30: Concert programme by the Municipal Band, conducted by Mr George Buckley, relayed from Albert Park. Alternative station, IYX. 6.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 8,30: Rebrpadcast from the 8.8.C. Empire station, a recorded commentary on the Rugby football match, Ulster v. New Zealand.

2YA, WELLINGTON 9.0 a.m.: Chimes. Report of play in the Rugby match—see 3YA. 11.0: Relay of the morning service from the Taranaki Street Methodist Church. Preacher, Rev. J. H. Haslam, president of the Methodist Conference, organist and choirmaster, Mr H. Temple White. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music (recordings). 2.0: The Halle Orchestra, with the St. Michael's Singers (solo pianist, Sir Hamilton Harty), "The Rio Grande" (conducted by the composer) (Lambert). 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 6.0: Children's song service, conducted by Uncle William, and assisted by the children's choir from the St. Jude's Anglican Sunday school, Lyall Bay. 7.0: Relay of evening service from the Cambridge Terrace Congregational Church. Preacher, Rev. T. A. Brady, organist, Mr J. Thawley. 8.15 (approx.); Selected recordings. 8.30: Rebroadcast from the 8.8.C. Empire station, a recorded commentary on the Rugby football match, Ulster v. New Zealand. Alternative station, 2YC. 6.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: Recording: Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra, "Poems d'Extase" ("Poem of Ecstasy") (Scriabin). 8.39: A recital by George Ellwood, the New Zealand "cellist, with piano accompaniment. 9.1: Weather report and station notices. 9.6: A recital by the famous Australian coloratura soprano, Stella Power. 9.16: Recordings: Joseph Szigeti (violin), and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham. Concerto No. 4 in D Major. 9.41: Recording: Fernando Gusso, baritone, "Angus Dei" (Bizet). 9.45: Recordings: Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the London Philharmonic • Orchestra.

4YA, DUNEDIN 9.0 a.m.: Chimes. Report of play in the Rugby match—see. 3YA. 31.0: Relay of Matins from St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, preacher, The Dean, organist, Mr E. H. Heywood, F.R.C.O. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 2.15: Recorded talk, by Professor B. Ifor Evans, "Twentieth Century Poetry." 2.30: Artur Schnabel (piano), Sonata in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 (Beethoven). 2.46: Selected recordings. 5.30: Children's song service, conducted by Big Brother Bill. 6.15: Selected recordings. 6.30: Relay of evening church service from the First Presbyterian Church. Preacher, Rev. W. Allen Steveley. M.A., organist, Dr. V. E. Galway. 7.45: Selected recordings. 8.30: Rebroadcast from the 8.8.C. Empire station, a recorded commentary on the Rugby match. Ulster v. New Zealand. Alternative station, 4YO. 6.0 p.m.: Selected musical programme. 8.30: The Orchestra, "The Young Henry" overture (Mehul). 8.38: Leon Goossens (oboe), Gavotte (Rameau). Piece (Faure). 8.44: The Orchestra; "Rhapsodic Espagnole." 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: The Orchestra, Symphony for Orchestra and Piano on a French Mountaineering Song, in G Major, Op. 25 (d'Xndy). 9.29: A presentation of Hebrew music by Barend Harris. 9.42: The Orchestra, Tarantelle (Cui); "Castor et Pollux" ballet music, Gavotte, tambourin, menuet, passe.pied (Rameau); "Espana" (Chabrier). DAVENTKY, ENGLAND G.S.B. 31.55 metres: G.S.F. 19.82 metres. New Zealand summer time. 8,0 p.m.: Big Ben. A sonata recital. Cyril Hellier (violin) and Clifford Hellier (pianoforte). Sonata, Op. 8. (1) Allegro con brio; (2) allegretto quasi andantino; (3) allegro con vivace (Grieg). Humoreske and Finale from Suite for Violin and Pianoforte (York Bowen). 8.30: Ulster v. New Zealand, A running commentary on the Rugby Union football match by Captain H. B. T. Wakelam, relayed from Ravenhill Park, Belfast. (By permission of the Irish Rugby Union. Greenwich time signal at 9 p.m.. 10.0: Weekly newsletter and sports summary. 10.20: Close down. OVERSEA RECEPTION TO-MORROW^ VK2VJ, somewhere on the broadcast band, Wellington, New South Wales, 1.30 to 2.45 a.m. CFJC, 880 k.c., 100, w., Kamloops, West Virginia, United States, 7 to 9 t>.m. CFJC, 880 k.c., 100 w., Kamloojls, British Columbia, Canada, from 10 p.m.

MONDAY VK2VJ, somewhere on the broadr cast band, -Wellington, New South Wales, 12.30 to 1.45 a.rri. XEFI, 1440 k.c„ 250 w., Chihuahua, Mexico, 8 to 9 p.m. (and most Mondays for the next three months). (All times New Zealand summer.) OVERSEA RECEPTION NOTES' (Supplied by the New Zealand DX Radio Association Inc.) The best time for oversea broadcast reception now is from about 11.30 p.m., when the North American stations may be heard opening with their early morning programmes. The Australian stations are becoming much weaker in the early evening, due to the lengthening daylight, and . are i being heard at only fair volume. , A i new Mexican station on 840 kilocycles with the call XERA, may be heard from about 9 p.m. daily. Some of the stations heard during the week were: KJR, Seattle, Washington, 970 kilocycles, SQOO watts, best at 12 p.m.; KROW, Oakland, California, 930 kilocycles, 500 watts, opening 2.30 a.m.; WHO, Des Moines, lowa, 1000 kilocycles, 50,000 watts, best 1 ajm:; KOIN, Portland, Oregon, 940 kilocycles, 1000 watts, opening 2.30 a.m.; WTCN, Minneapolis, Minnesota,- 1250 kilocycles, 1000 watts, opening 12.15 a.m.; KHJ, Los Angeles, California, 900 kilocycles, 1000 watts, best 3 ajn.; KGEB, Long Beach, California, 1360 kilocycles, 1000 watts, opening 1,30 , KFOX, Long Beach, California, 1250 kilocycles, 1000 watts, opening 1,30 -9«2Z)» * i "

subjects mentioned against "their-re-spective names.—