Walkie-Lookie Backpack TV Camera Transmitter Transistorized

RCA (RCA Victor Co. Inc.); New York (NY)

  • Year
  • 1957–1964 ?
  • Category
  • Television-Camera (Broadcast, professional) and studio engineering
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 197373
    • alternative name: RCA Manufacturing || Victor Talking Machine

 Technical Specifications

  • Number of Tubes
  • 0
  • Number of Transistors
  • 72
  • Main principle
  • Transceiver
  • Wave bands
  • Wave Bands given in the notes.
  • Power type and voltage
  • Storage Battery for all (e.g. for car radios and amateur radios) / 6 & 21 Volt
  • Loudspeaker
  • - For headphones or amp.
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: Walkie-Lookie Backpack TV Camera Transmitter [Transistorized] - RCA RCA Victor Co. Inc.; New
  • Shape
  • Miscellaneous shapes - described under notes.
  • Notes
  • RCA Walkie-Lookie, (Walkie-Talkie-Lookie) "Peepy-Creepy" Backback Camera Transmitter (Transistorized Version);


    Type describes RCA´s second system for US FCC 525/60 standard wireless field b/w TV transmission at live coverages.
    Based on the new experimental 1/2 inch x 3 inch Vidicon based miniature transistorized TV camera as described in US Electronics Jan. 1st 1957.

    Three separate units: 

    1. 4 lb/ 1,8 kg (to 8 formerly) hand-held Vidicon camera by scanning raster of 0.24 by 0.18 in., with electronic viewfinder (working also as RF control monitor), 11 transistors video amp., the viewfinder with a non typed experimental power transistor indicates this new technology of solid state only circuit, and microphone for cameramen commentary when working alone, wired with 
    2. 15 lb/ 6,8 kg (20 lb formerly) by 12 x 13 x 3" size, backpack 1.900 to 2.100 MHz 0.5 W (2 W UHF formerly) transmitter, synch generator by doubled line frequency (2 x 15.750 kHz).
    3. Rack remote control station (in OB van or stationary) 

    Power supply by Xardney Silvercell batteries ( 4 x LR-10 cells, for 6 V bus and tube heaters, plus 9 x LR-5 cells in series for the 21 V bus, solid state too 1 kHz 70/90 Vpp SQ wave power converter by 90% efficiency ( -100 V, +170 V, +400 V, +2.000 VDC), 30 W (150 W formerly) total power consumption, for up to 5 h (formerly 1.5 h) operation time on a single charge.

    1.5" special made view-finder CRT, 

    Engineered ~1957 by RCA, David Sarnoff Research Center, Princetown, New Jersey. In usage until the successor ~1964 was coming. 

    Credits to: Mr. Gary Davis at the Early Television Convention 2011 in Ohio USA and his presentation as well as additional material.

    Just a few essential tube & transistor types have been listed!

  • Mentioned in
  • US Article: Television Station for Remote Pickups (RCA Labs NJ)
  • Author
  • Model page created by a member from A. See "Data change" for further contributors.

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