WCBS station identification, circa 1970

[farnumbp]

In ct some stations had a test pattern with an indian chief . Cool to look at for a few seconds

[strangeteacher]

Geez guys. Get a life. All this fuss over a test pattern? I guess you guys must have watched this for hours since nothing else was on. No wonder your brains are fried.

[56Edify]

My son finds it really hard to believe that once upon a time TV was not on the air 24/7. He finds it even more unbelievable when I tell them in my NJ/NY youth we had more stations avilable than just about the rest of the country, being able to get 6 stations out of NY. CBS (2), NBC (4), ABC(7), WOR(9), WPIX (11) PBS(13)

[keiichiudagawa]

anpanman!

[dsslave2]

This doesn't look real. Looks like a 2008 version. Test patterns were never on film...so how could there be film pops and dirt streaks like on this clip?

[bkdurham]

This is from 16mm negative (one reel for video, one reel for sound) from Movielab in NY. I have the two reels of film, the lab can, and the lab paperwork for the reel dated 1/8/1971.

The rest of the contents are two commercials for Barney's and the CBS Bill Plante Xmas story. It ends with the WCBS test pattern.

[Tuberboy104]

Around this time do you remember WCBS TV using a tone that sounded like the F key with their Test Pattern?

[dsslave2]

I've uploaded 2 different CBS test patterns with different tones. Maybe one of them is the one you're looking for.

[Tuberboy104]

I would like to correct that, does a 349Hz tone ring a bell at all with the WCBS TV Test Pattern?

[Tuberboy104]

Does a 341.3Hz tone for the WCBS TV Test Pattern ring a bell at all?

[dsslave2]

I stand corrected! thanks!

[Childist2]

@dsslave2 It is real. Watch robatsea2009's WCBS sign off.

[WeakApplause]

...a small part of what little we have left of a much simpler time.

[Tuberboy104]

It was a simplier time during the 1970's indeed! But do you also ever remember hearing a buzzing tone on this WCBS TV Test Pattern that sounded like the F key?

[Tuberboy104]

Actually this WCBS TV Test Pattern itself was first produced back in 1951!

[wmbrown6]

1951? I thought it was a few years before that. But it was also that year that CBS acquired what had been KTSL in Hollywood and transformed it into KNXT (it is now KCBS-TV). I've never heard the WCBS tone any lower than 392 Hz and higher than 400 Hz. Perhaps they may've had the tone lower on other times when I wasn't watching.

[Tuberboy104]

We would have to find an employee who worked in the technical department at WCBS TV during the 1960's and 70's who might know exactly what audio tones were used with the

b&w WCBS TV Test Pattern.

[Tuberboy104]

All I do know is that all of WABC TV's

Test Pattern's were accompanied by a 385Hz tone during the 1970's up until 1981!

[dsslave2]

I posted 2 CBS test patterns with different tones. Maybe one of them is the one your'e looking for.

[Tuberboy104]

The other WCBS TV Test Pattern recorded from the 1980's that you recently added contained a audio tone of 987.5Hz. Ch 2 would sometimes start using the 987.5hz tone in the Fall of 1981. However, I do recall as a child during the 70's seeing this same b&w

WCBS TV Test Pattern accompanied by a tone that sounded like the F key (348Hz.).

[TornadoMan86]

The clips I saw that had the WCBS test pattern were accompanied by a G4 tine, or 390Hz.

[wmbrown6]

As of 1968, WCBS apparently had a 1170 Hz tone accompanying this TP.

[Tuberboy104]

When growing up during the 1970's I can sometimes remember my Mom leaving the TV on real late at night watching "The Late Show" Movie on Ch 2, and then hearing WCBS TV sign off the air. And when seeing this round b&w

WCBS TV Test Pattern on screen, I sometimes remember hearing a tone that sounded like the

F Key. Do you ever remember WCBS TV using a

audio tone of 348Hz with this Test Pattern?