Old Test Patterns-IDs From Print - '50s-'60s

[HiVisionary1125]

A number of these images appear to be illustrations of failure modes of TV sets or reception, similar to some I have in old books on TV servicing. The vignetting is a bit extreme, if you ask me, especially in the case of the more distorted images, which have their central portions partly outside the frame.

[dougiezerts]

When I was a kid, I used to get up early in the morning just to watch stations go on the air! Weird, eh?

Now stations are 24 hours, or else they show infomercials all nigh.

[OldcarsNmusic]

@dougiezerts If you're weird then I've gotta be weird with you. WKEF-22 in Dayton was my sign-on hangup; WKRC-12 in Cincinnati for sign-offs.

[spacemouse1]

Do you know what the name of this song is ??

[kyle1081]

I think a couple of these, like the KG2XCL at 0:49 date back to the mechanical televisions in the 30s.

[wmbrown6]

@kyle1081 - Actually, the layout of the KG2XCL test pattern seems to date to c.1949-50. At least three NBC stations - WNBT (later WRCA, now WNBC) Channel 4 in New York, WNBQ (now WMAQ) Channel 5 in Chicago, and WNBK Channel 4 (later moved to Channel 3, changed calls to KYW and then WKYC) in Cleveland - had TP's for a few years after 1949 with the typesetting info as laid out that way. The difference being that on those stations, the lower right quadrant said "RCA Television System."

[MSTS1]

@TomBarristerX - Glad you like them. The collection of these came from the 50s + 60s, but it is possible that some actually originated earlier in the 40s..

[pantyflash]

Like, lovely test patterns. Are they available on VHS or DVD and if so, could you tell us how to obtain them? Then, we can cherish them for all time to come. Way to go, babe!

[MSTS1]

@pantyflash - Thanks for that-! Not available other than here. But if I ever decide to re-cut this as a full-frame for DVDs, I'll make it known..

[duncombepat]

Great job again MSTS! :) This is a blast from the past when there was such a thing as test patterns!

[MSTS1]

@duncombepat - Thanks- glad you like it :)

[wmbrown6]

I don't know why, but my YouTube player (in the 854 x 480 mode) now registers the dimensions of this clip as 580 x 354 (which, as expanded, would come across as 786 x 480). Which has the effect of stretching the width. Otherwise, it still looks crystal clear.

[MSTS1]

@wmbrown6 I don't know why either, but YT always had display issues, and apparently they are still showing up here and there. You could chaulk it up to that..

That's why I do over some of my older vids. But this one still looks ok, so it will stay.

[wmbrown6]

@MSTS1 = Oh, I agree it looks okay, display and aspect ratio issues notwithstanding.

[kingyomusi]

guten.job!

[lpbgtr]

Good job. Great musical accompaniment!! Thanks MSTS1!

[MSTS1]

Glad you liked it!

[dangerouslytalented]

So all these testpatterns were taken from the air?

[MSTS1]

Yup, just like the title doesn't say..

[MSTS1]

Just joking.. Actually, these came from old TV-Electronics magazines. Some are direct re-prints of TP artwork, but the rest were photographed off TV screens. Unless they had videotape to test with, I'd say they were shot right off the air.

[dangerouslytalented]

Do the original slides/models/art still exist?

[MSTS1]

The magazine images I used to make this video do; packed away, somewhere..

[Nokorola]

Awesome video.

[soonerterp]

Very very nicely done.

[SteveCarras]

Nice music! :-)

[caseyg5]

Years ago I did research on the old KLEE-TV Houston modern ghost story, the one where the KLEE call sign was supposed to have been picked up in England in 1953, 3 years after going off the air. I found a magazine that had a picture of the call sign along with tons of others. I'm sure I can provide the name of the zine with all the call sign pictures.

[caseyg5]

Very nicely done indeed! Thanks. I remember the Indian Head pattern used on the old WNAC CH 7 Boston Yankee Division card in the 60s.

[MSTS1]

Thanks-

Although not with the Indian, here is my vid. of the Yankee Network TP, (if you haven't seen it):

[Boston Test Patterns part 2], (others in Part 1)

watch?v=XuS1pcDi8Vg

[caseyg5]

Oh yes, I do remember that plainer one too. I seem to remember that sometimes the Indian Head would be bigger, maybe on a different channel.

[battou66488]

nice songs, and it was cute how you presented the test cards

[mtc2300]

Great clip. Those testcards are very different from the European PM5544/FuBk versions

[MSTS1]

Very glad you liked it, thanks.

[waheedswoman]

Thanks for sharing these slides. I'm a bit young so I don't actually "remember" any of them. The nostalgia is still wonderful though. I have one question. What is the name of the piece that plays at the beginning of the video? I've heard it before but I can't think of the name of the piece or the composer.

[MSTS1]

Thanks. Cut #1 is titled: 'Scherzo From String Quartet No. 2', Borodin.

In case anyone wants the title to Cut #2, it is: 'Scherzo From a Midsummer Night's Dream', Mendelssohn.

[waheedswoman]

Thanks!

[inkey2]

I definately remember the one with the indian in full headress at the top

[wmbrown6]

It also appears that since the printings of the WCBS test pattern, the text was blown up real good (apologies to Big Jim McBob and Billy Sol Hurok). I've seen at least three variations of the type layout, all the same type.

[MSTS1]

Yes. See my reply comments to wmbrown6 concerning print sources.

[MSTS1]

I took another look at that one, it seems to read "Television Nacional". Likely 1960's.

[MSTS1]

Also with that one, it reads at the bottom 'Canal 4 Canal 3'. The rest, below that, is not there on the original.

[wmbrown6]

I also noticed that TV El Mundo, Canal 2 (I know not where, as the print wasn't too clear), used the test pattern design that was first unveiled by WPIX (Ch. 11) in 1949.

[MSTS1]

TV El Mundo was from Havana, Cuba.

[wmbrown6]

Thought so. Just wasn't too sure.

From which magazines would these have originated, especially the ones with arrows pointing to which signified what? I'm looking to see if New York's Science, Industry & Business Library may have these publications.

[MSTS1]

Don't know which came from which since they were clipped out many years ago. But a few were: Electronics Illustrated (60's); Radio and TV Experimenter (60's); Radio and Television News (50's).

[MSTS1]

Any luck finding them?

[wmbrown6]

In answer to your question: Haven't even started yet. I do have the list, though, when I get to it - and I'll certainly advise when I get my answers.

[wmbrown6]

On the 'KG2XCL' pattern around 0:51, what would the colors have been? I know the inner top right and outer lower right quads would've been yellow, but what would've been the red, green and blue?

[MSTS1]

On the outer ring: Top left: blue. Top right: red. Lower left: green.

Inside sections: Top left: red. Lower left: blue. Lower right: green.

[wmbrown6]

Ah, thanks for the info. I suppose early 1950's?

And it's interesting that all color test patterns emanating from NBC were bereft of the dots that signified the various resolution points.

Finally, the WABC pattern with the Empire State Building first debuted in 1951, when the calls were still WJZ (only the calls changed). Wonder how long the "WABC/Empire" pattern was in effect past 1953.

[tapthat2012]

great way to present these.