W1WX
Encyclopedia
W1WX is Boston's second television station (the first being W1XAY
). This station started up in April of 1929, and was owned by Shortwave and Television Laboratory, Inc., (which was founded on December 5, 1928) by A.M. "Vic" Morgan, Hollis Baird, and Butler Perry).
The station started off broadcasting on 2120 kHz , alternating between 48 and 60 vertical lines and 15 frames per second. In 1930, it moved over to 2.1-2.2 kHz and broadcast at 48 lines only, still at 15 frames per second.
In 1934, the station switched back to 60 vertical lines only, running at 20 frames per second until it shut down.
The company was officially dissolved on January 1, 1935, but by that time it existed only on paper, since , which they acquired on March 8, 1934.
W1XAY
W1XAY was one of the first television stations in the world, being founded on June 14, 1928. It was also branded as "WLEX" from its sister radio station, in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA ....
). This station started up in April of 1929, and was owned by Shortwave and Television Laboratory, Inc., (which was founded on December 5, 1928) by A.M. "Vic" Morgan, Hollis Baird, and Butler Perry).
The station started off broadcasting on 2120 kHz , alternating between 48 and 60 vertical lines and 15 frames per second. In 1930, it moved over to 2.1-2.2 kHz and broadcast at 48 lines only, still at 15 frames per second.
In 1934, the station switched back to 60 vertical lines only, running at 20 frames per second until it shut down.
Timeline
- April, 1929: Station is founded as W1WX by Shortwave and Television, broadcasting two times a day at 100 watts power, until December.
- September 30, 1929: W1XAV Boston is listed in the Radio Service Bulletin at 2.1-2.2 MHz, with 500 Watts of ERPEffective radiated powerIn radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
. - December, 1930: station call-sign is changed to W1XAV.
- January, 1930: W1XAV Boston officially goes on air.
- late March, 1930: W1XAY (Lexington, MassachusettsLexington, MassachusettsLexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,399 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolution, in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.- History :...
), leaving W1XAV temporarily as the only mechanical TV station in Boston. - December 7, 1930: W1XAV Boston broadcasts a video portion of a CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
program, The Fox Trappers orchestra program, sponsored by I. J. Fox Furriers. Included was what is sometimes called the first television commercial, which was prohibited by FRCFederal Radio CommissionThe Federal Radio Commission was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission in 1934...
regulations, however, other experimental television stations such as W1XAY may have done so before W1XAV signed on the air. Regardless, the FRC advised against this, since there was no agreement on whether experimental stations could air commercials, or sponsored network programming. - March 8, 1934: Baird, Perry, and Morgan had all moved to General Television Corp, which they acquire the same day.
- June 27, 1934: W1XAV goes off the air. The FCCFederal Communications CommissionThe Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
told Shortwave and Television Laboratory that the world didn't need two mechanical TV stations. One license was accepted, the other was denied, effective July 13, 1934. By now, Shortwave and Television changed its name to General Television Corporation. and switched from a mechanical to an electronic system. - January 1, 1935: General Television Corp is officially dissolved.
The company was officially dissolved on January 1, 1935, but by that time it existed only on paper, since , which they acquired on March 8, 1934.