Black drum (7.5" diameter x 3.25") on shaft of 1/8 horse-power Ohio type 3956 motor, serial number 106,141. The drum scanner includes a coronal discharge lamp in the hub; quartz rods extend from the lamp cathode glow targets to miniature holes in the drum's surface. The picture is developed by the rotation of the drum and the radio controlled light of the lamp. Reference: "Radiomovies, Radiovision, Television" by Jenkins, page 66. Recorded (1932) as "Television Receiver employing a quartz-rod drum scanner, with a neon lamp located at the inside ends of the quartz rods."
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.