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Ultra Rare New Photo…The Very First Color Mobile Unit

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Eyes Of A Generation.com

Ultra Rare New Photo…The Very First Color Mobile Unit

This is the first, and only photo of the first color unit I have ever seen. Not much is known about this first RCA/NBC color mobile unit, but this rare new photo helps a lot in fleshing out the backstory. The top photo shows the unit, with one of the four RCA TK40 prototype cameras from The Colonial Theater, sometime between October 1952 and late 1953.

The photo with the girl in the swimsuit shows one of the three experimental color “coffin cameras”, from NBC Studio 3H on what is believed to be the first color remote test. It was taken at Palisades Park NJ, in 1952. The closed circuit broadcast was sent back to 30 Rock, and to RCA in Camden for appraisal by the engineers.

(FYI, these black “coffin” cameras are the second generation of RCA experimental color cameras, which came into use in 1950 after the RCA color tests moved to NY from Washington. The first generation was used at The Wardman Park Studios in Washington from 1947-1950 and those cameras were sent back to Camden. The third generation of experimental color cameras were the four TK40 prototypes installed at The Colonial Theater in late ’52. Mass production of the TK40 did not start until April ’54).

My historian friends and I have always wondered just how they did that Palisades Park remote. Did they take the equipment there and set it up, or was there a mobile unit? We had heard there was a mobile unit, but no one had seen it. Now we know, and it appears that this is one of the original 1937 NBC Telemobile units, that has been taken out of mothballs and converted for color remote tests.

If you remember, the original NBC Telemobile unit was a two bus affair, one was the camera control unit, the other, the transmitter unit that could transmit a TV signal from its 50 foot tower, about 60 miles, back to 30 Rock. Given the microwave dish up-top, it appears that this unit is now able to throw a color microwave signal, and handle at least one camera, and maybe two.

Thanks to my friend and mentor Chuck Pharis for the rare photo, which comes from something just as rare…The RCA Red Book, which as I understand it, was an RCA book prepared and published for presentation to the FCC, on their dot sequential color system. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee


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13 responses to “Ultra Rare New Photo…The Very First Color Mobile Unit”

  1. Andrew Baskin

    This is the same truck that NBC used back in the late 30’s for remote telecasts in New York under the call letters W2XBS.

  2. Jim Palmer

    I wonder how white balance was achieved? Did a vector scope even exist in 52/53? Would the remote truck even carry a color (shadow mask CRT) monitor?

  3. Charles Gossett Jr

    When JFK was assassinatiled WBAP-TV feed NBC Television in color while the network was broadcasting in black and white.

  4. James Coglianese

    I use to set those TK/41 up very heavy.

  5. Ilona Dudasik

    wow what a gem of a photo to own thanks for sharing

  6. Jason Douglas

    Very cool!

  7. Howard Preizler

    “The question is, gentlemen, shall we invent television now, or wait until they perfect color?”

  8. Steve Dichter

    The original 1937 NBC/RCA remote unit converted to the posted 1953 color unit. Interesting to see that RCA kept these units around into the 50’s.

  9. Chuck Pharis

    The rumor I have heard is RCA loaned NBC 2 early TK-40s to do some remotes. There were 2 cameras on this truck with special outdoor lens filters controlled by the cameraman from the back of the camera. I believe I own one of these cameras. I am currently doing research and will post more information here soon. My TK-40 is being cosmetically restored to its original condition. I even have most of the rack support equipment.

  10. Tom Buckley

    I also find it strange that there’s no color branding on the truck or the cameras, you would think they would want to ballyhoo that.

  11. Frank Chambers Jr

    Am I the only one who finds it amusing that the pictures of the color truck are in black & white?

  12. Jim Palmer

    Interesting in that no “Color” logos appear either on camera or on remote truck. For sure color (Separate RGB cables connect to bottom of camera). No obvious source of electrical power. Did remote truck contain on board generator or ?

  13. Albert J. McGilvray

    Do you have the woman’s phone number?

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