TELEVISION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 4642, 20 May 1938, Page 2

TELEVISION

BRITAIN'S LEAD. AMERICA LAGS. Britain's long television lead over America is illustrated by the fact that sixteen British manufacturers are now making sets for sale to the public, while United States firms have not even started production. Britain, in fact, is the only country in the world in which televisors are at present marketed, states the Daily Telegraph." Televisor sales began on a small scale 18 months ago, when the 8.8. C. Opened the Alexandra Palace station. The American manufacturer has only just reached the stage of offering for sale a vital component—the cathode ray tube—for the benefit of amateur constructors.

There is still no regular public service in America comparalle with that

given by the 8.8. C. from Alexandra Palace. New York's station, ideally situated on the summit of the Empire State building, 1248 feet above the pavements, is purely experimental. Its programmes are picked up by 100 receivers operated by Radio Corporation of America experts, who are measuring field strength. '§\ m Forty Different Models. As a contrast 40 different models are now offered to British purchasers, ranging in price from £3l to £l7B 10s. Ten models cost less than £SO, and a complete all-wave radio set, televisor and gramophone combined can be purchased for £4O 19s. In the early *days of broadcasting the position was the reverse, and all the advantage lay with America. The formation of the British Broadcasting Company in 1922 was inspired by the widespread success of broadcasting in the United States. At present America, uncertain of the immediate commercial prospects of television, is waiting to learn and

profit from the British efforts which have the backing of the Government. Britain's advantage is likely to be maintained. For example, television engineers here are already considering the problem of transmitting pictures from an aeroplane to make it possible to broadcast pictures of such events as the Boat Race from start to finish.

Germany is proceeding with ambitious plans for the construction of three mountain stations, but, like America, watches Britain for the lessons in set-production.