NAB Show

NAB 2019: 1974 RCA TK-45As; 1978(?) TH-50A

TK-45A with Canon box lens
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The Museum of Broadcast Technology brought vintage RCA gear

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Adam Wilt
April 24, 2019
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At the north end of the North Hall hallway, the Museum of Broadcast Technology showed off two fine 1974 RCA TK-54A color cameras.

MBT's two TK-45As
MBT’s two working TK-45As

New York’s WPIX 11 used four of these cameras at Yankee Stadium until 1987, when they were “retired with gusto”. They languished in storage until recently, when MBT rescued them and was able to get two of them working using parts from all four.

TK-45A with Canon box lens
TK-45A with Canon box lens
Triax? Fiber? Nope, honest-to-goodness multicore!
Triax? Fiber? Nope, honest-to-goodness multicore!
The CRT EVF, with channel-selection buttons and zoom meter.
The B&W CRT EVF, with channel-selection buttons… and focus meter.
The cameras needed racks of support equipment. Note the RGB parade display on the WFMs.
The cameras needed racks of support equipment. Note the RGB parade display on the WFMs.
Shader panels, not unlike modern CCUs in design and function.
Shader panels, not unlike modern CCUs in design and function.
TK-45As used three 2/3" Plumbicon tubes, about $1800 each.
TK-45As used three 2/3″ Plumbicon tubes, about $1800 each.
The photosensitive end of a Plumbicon
The photosensitive end of a Plumbicon.
The power-and-signal end.
The power-and-signal end.
Late-70s RCA TH-50A 1’ Type C VTR
Also shown, this late-70s RCA TH-50A 1″ Type C VTR and AC adaptor.
It's a rebadged Sony BVH-500A, as the "Videocorder" logo implies.
It’s a rebadged Sony BVH-500A, as the “Videocorder” logo implies.

Like the TK-45As, the TH-50A was in perfect working order, playing back a 1″ tape cleanly and clearly.

The MBT folks try to bring something “new” every year, and those who seek them out are never disappointed.

Disclosure: there is no material relationship between me and the Museum of Broadcast Technology, but I stuffed a $20 into their tip jar just the same.

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