1955 Blonder-Tongue TVC-1A (-C) "Observer" B&W vidicon camera

This is a very early industrial vidicon camera, made around 1955 or earlier. Being made in the mid 50s, it is all vacuum tube. Like most electronics of the era, it is built very well, out of all metal. The camera comes in two pieces, the camera head, and the control generator (CG).

The small camera head, contains a 1 inch vidicon tube, type 6198. The 6198 was the first vidicon available, hence it was used in virtually all early vidicon cameras from the early - late 1950s. Other than the vidicon, there are three vacuum tubes in the camera head, which are part of the video preamplifier. On the back of the camera, there is a focus knob, which moves the vidicon yoke closer or farther away from the lens as a mechanical focusing system. On the bottom, there is a 15-pin Jones type connector, to connect the camera to it's power supply/control generator.

The camera control generator, generates and supplies all the voltages, and scanning/sync signals to the camera head. The control generator also provides controls for beam, focus, gain, and target. On the connector side of the unit, there is a cable length compensation dial. And of course, a video output, which is a UHF connector. The control generator is very hefty,  15 - 20 pounds. The control generator seen in these photos, is courtesy of the ETF museum, which is a just short distance away from me.