Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-26
Rapid Development
OF Color " Seen
After FEC Decision
By Froncis P. Douglas


Hope was held today that color
television might become a reality
by the end of the year.
This came from Richard
Hodgson, president of the Chro-
matte Television Laboratories,
Inc. He testified before the
House Commerce Committee
which is trying to find out just
what is stopping color television.
The Chromatic company has
developed the Lawrence tube, in
vented by DR.. Ernest o. Law
renee, California scientist, who
won the Nobel Prize for his in
vention of the cyclotron.
Mr.. Hodgson told the commit
tee he hopes there can be a
prompt decision by the Federal
Communications Commission on
color television so that the indus
try can "move ahead rapidly by
the end Of this year."
He said also that the day when
color television win be available
has been advanced by the revok-
ing OF a National Production Au-
thority order restricting produc-
ton Of color Tv sets for the
home. That order, originally
issued in the fall Of 1851, was
ended today.
Can Use All Systems.
Mr.. Hodgson made these claims
for the Lawrence tube:
/. It can receive color broad
casts from either the Columbia
Broadcasting Systems field Sc
quential" system without a spin
ming color screen such as that
system uses, or from the system
advocated by the Radio Corp. of
America which reproduces the
color broadcasts electronically. It
also can receive black and white
broadcasts.
2. It is, available for imme-
diate mass production and can
be sold to set manufacturers for
only $25 to $35 more than the
cost of present black and white
tubes. Use of the tube will re-
quire circuits in addition to
those now in present sets.
3. It produces a color picture
of a brightness not approached
by competitive sets in addition
to high quality black and white
pictures.
Mr.. Hodgson said Great Britain
is to have color television with
this tube before the United
States. He announced that there
will be special telecasts in Britain
Of the coronation ceremonies in
June to be received by color sets
using Lawrence tubes in about
q dozen hospitals and other in
situations.
To Ask FEC Action.
Chairman Wolverton of the
Commerce Committee said the
committee will ask the FEC to
take any steps it can to make
color Nv available at the earliest
possible time.
Some estimates were that II
would be one to two years be-
fore color TV could be a reality
of any magnitude.
The only color system already
approved by the FEC is that of
CHS. But CHS in effect has
given up the fight for that sys-
tem-for the present, at least.
Compatible System Seen.
The present situation leaves
as the chief prospect "com-
patible" system of color broad
casting. A compatible system
is one in which color broad
casts can be received in black
and white on present sets.
The CHS system is not COM
patible. =
Frank Stanton, CHS president,
was asked yesterday at a House
Commerce Committee hearing
how long before there could be
a final decision on the latest pro-
posals for a compatible system.
He replied it would take six
months to year and six months
for FEC hearings. Then, he
added, there must be additional
time for manufacturers to tool
up and put sets to receive color
TV in the hands of the public.
DR.. Elmer w. EngStrom, RCA
vice president, told the COMMITTEES
earlier his company was ready to
begin color TV broadcastS i'm
mediately. using a compatible
system. He said RCA would
recommend that the FEC au-
thorize it to go ahead with its
program without hearings, Mr.