In May 1926 Wilbur J. Jerman, Owner & Manager of KWJJ Portland,
Oregon was issued a "Special Land" experimental license for
television from the Radio Division, Bureau of Navigation, U.S.
Department of Commerce bearing the calls 7XAO. This was the first
experimental TV license in the Northwest.
On June 16, 1928 Mr. Jerman announced that within two months his
station would begin installation of television equipment for
broadcasting of small 2 inch square pictures on 54 meters Short
Wave. By then calls had changed to W7XAO.
Two months later on August 26, 1928 Mr. Jerman, anxious to begin
operation of W7XAO, announced that he only awaits permission from
the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) to assemble the equipment
and begin test broadcasts. He stated, it wouldn't take him more
than 48 hours to do so. Word was, the FRC had already granted
permission for several East Coast stations to begin.
On December 27, 1928 Edwin W. Lovejoy, Supervisor of the 7th Radio
District said he had received word earlier today that Wilbur J.
Jerman had been granted a license for television transmissions.
W7XAO was authorized to transmit pictures by radio on frequencies
between 2750 and 2850 kilocycles Short Wave using 100 watts of
power. Mr. Jerman could begin experimental television broadcasts
in a month said Lovejoy. The license could not be used for
commercial purposes.
Jerman said he ultimately expects to broadcast moving pictures on
television using the projection machines in the Broadway Theatre
for pictures, and KWJJ broadcasting the sound accompaniments.
Pictures probably will be 3 inches square. At the time KWJJ
studios were in the Broadway Theatre which was located at 328
Salmon St. (now: 622 S.W. Salmon St.). It is believed between
1929-30 early television broadcasts did take place but there is no
documentation of this, as of this writing. In November 1930 the
license W7XAO was canceled by the FRC.
All newspaper information came from The Portland Oregon Journal.
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