[QuadList] RCA Coffin Cam and Friction head-- (was QuadList Digest, Vol 71, Issue 3)

[Ted Langdell]

Bob, what is the source of your photo, if I may ask.  Thanks much for posting it.

On May 3, 2014, at 10:59 AM, mike at bolandcom.com wrote:
> Does look like a proto. 
> 
Indeed, as Dennis noted. Note that the chrome lettering on the side says "Television" not (yet) "Color Television"
> This camera is much wider and longer than a TK-41, but with vent intake holes, tally lamps alongside the turret, and the profile of the tube VF of the '41 (but lacking vent louvers?).  Like the early '41s, the cam shown is using three monochrome cam cables (were they 28 or 30 pins?), not the 81 pin connector, that cameras (at least at NBC, as an in-house conversion?) later used.
> 
> But fitted with a 3:1 zoom, of all things!  (Varitrol? -anyone remember?)
> 

That would be the lens with what appears to be a motor on the front and a cable dangling from it?

Looking at Bob's picture, it's much easier to see things.

I think they've done as I suspected:  Bolted a bigger plate to the standard head, and then run bolts up through the four corners of the plate to lock the camera down.  Counterbalancing would seem to be an interesting challenge unless they figured out where the camera's center of gravity was with the lenses and such.
> 
> I hope, like Ted observed, that there were springs in the head. 
> 
There are: Close up, you see the springs right in the center, and the standard friction tilt lock handle on the camera's right side (as viewed from the operator's perspective.  Also the RCA serial plate up and to the right of the handle. 



One has to wonder how easy (or not) locking the tilt from the back of the camera. Did one ask for assistance?

> Elsewise, tilt very fwd or back and the cam and cameraman would be doing a summersault off the top of that scaffold !! 
> 
> (I think I read that the TK-40 itself was really a proto, with perhaps only as few as three serial numbers produced)
> 
> (RCA MI-12345?  We used to think that stood for Missing Item)
> 

I believe it stood for "Master Inventory." Can't remember whether I read that in an RCA publication or catalog, heard it from an RCA employee or read it in a post somewhere.

> Thanks!
> 
> 
> mike
> 
> mike at bolandcom.com
> www.bolandcom.com
> Pacific-Los Angeles Time Zone
> +1 (949) 465-9911 Tel
> +1 (949) 465-9944 Fax
> ______________________________________________________________
> 


Ted Langdell
Secretary
Skype: 	TedLangdell
e-mail:	ted at quadvideotapegroup.com

Eighth Annual Quad Videotape Group Lunch at NAB:  12:30pm on Tuesday, April 14, 2015




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