Early Television Museum

2007 Convention Presentation

Television at Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas 1931-1952

Presented by George Lemaster

George will trace the history of television at Kansas State University:

1931

- Royce G. Kloeffler, head of EE department, starts experimental television project.   

1932 

- License for W9XAK granted, Nov. 9, 1932 on 2050 Khz.

- 100 ft. vertical antenna completed December 1932. Bi-weekly broadcasts using KSC-built mechanical scanner

- Two television receivers built to receive W9XAK

- Research work on Kerr cell

- Demonstrated large pictures at open house

1936-1938 

- Mechanical scanning broadcasts continued until 1936

- KSC students and faculty constructed electronic television system with iconoscope camera and flying spot scanner

- Demonstrated closed circuit iconoscope camera in 1938

- Demonstrations for Open House and conventions at KSC

1940-1941

- Construction Permit received for Channel 1, W9XAK November 1940. Construction to start Jan. 15, 1941. 100 Watts Visual, 100 Watts Aural

- Television construction halted due to war training programs at KSC

1945

- After V-J day, 1945, experimental transmitter construction re-started. Transmitter designed by Prof. Karl H. Martin

1946

- Construction Permit issued May 13, 1946 for W9XBV. Transmitter: Composite, 400 W Peak Visual, 200 W Aural. Antenna: Experimental types not to exceed 100 ft. above ground. Location: Illustrations Building, KSC

1949-50

- KSC department of speech courses in television techniques and programming
Used television equipment built by EE department

- FCC re-allocation of channels assigned Ch. 15 to Manhattan and Ch. 8
to Junction City. KSC later petitioned to FCC to re-assign Ch. 8 to KSC educational use

- License allowed experiments on 500/510 and 880/890 MHz. Masters thesis project built 880/890 Mhz transmitter in 1949

- March  31,1950  - Channel 1 operation ceased due to “freeze”

- Prototype RCA TT-500 donated to KSC by RCA Camden, NJ., Dec., 1950. 500W peak Visual on Channel 5. Donated transmitter later modified to Channel 8 for WØXBV construction permit. The prototype RCA TT-500 transmitter was used at KSD-TV St. Louis prior to delivery of their TT-5

- KSD-TV was the first new station on the air after WW2

1951-52

- Construction started on CBS color system December 1950

- Demonstrated closed circuit with basket of fruit at Lamar Hotel, Salina, KS. First full color television demonstration in Kansas.

- CBS color closed circuit system developed for televising veterinary school surgical operations on animals to large classes completed June 1, 1951. Classroom service expected by Dec. 30, 1951

- Experimental low power UHF transmitter constructed (500-510 Mhz). Radiation tests measured for 15 miles from campus

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