Jenkins "Radiovisor" mechanical television receiver

Jenkins "Radiovisor" mechanical television receiver

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Description (Brief)
First television for home use. 10" aluminum-mounted lens and 45 degree mirror mounted on mahogany case. Contains drum scanner. This receiver was used for the reception of "Radiomovies" and television in the home. It makes pictures that appear about six inches square and uses a four-cathode neon radio-controlled lamp, a helical-aperture scanning drum and quartz rods to carry the light from the lamp to the apertures in the drum surface. It was called "Radiovisor" by Jenkins to indicate that the signal was over the air waves; television, as he stated, was the word used to indicate that the signal was carried over wires. Reference: "Radiomovies, Radiovision, Television", by Jenkins (pages 62, 63, 64).
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
Receiver, television
television receiver
mechanical television receiver
Other Terms
Receiver, television; Television Receiver; Components; Radio and Television; Radio and Television
Date made
c1928
date made
ca 1928
ca. 1928
inventor
Jenkins, C. Francis
maker
Jenkins Television Corporation
Measurements
overall: 22 1/2 in x 11 1/2 in x 20 in; 57.15 cm x 29.21 cm x 50.8 cm
ID Number
EM.314252
catalog number
314252
accession number
105044
Credit Line
from C. Francis Jenkins
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Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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