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September 10, 1945 Life
 [Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early
technology. See articles from Life magazine,
published 1883-1972. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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In 1945, when this "Philco Has
Opened 'U.S. Television Highway 1'" infomercial appeared in
Life magazine,
the Dwight D.
Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways had not yet begun
to be constructed. Dwight was busy wrapping up his 5-star general (awarded in 1944)
duties at the end of World War II. It was not until 1956, during his term as
the 34th American president, that work commenced on build the nationwide network
of transportation routes that is credited with helping to establish the country
as the world's most powerful nation both economically and militarily. Producing
copious amounts of goods and services doesn't do much good if they cannot be moved
efficiently and effectively to where they are needed.
U.S. Highway 1
was notable for providing a multilane, high speed thoroughfare up and down the entire
east coast - from Key West, Florida, to Fort Kent, Maine. I write all that to give
perspective to how Philco saw their developing of a microwave relay system as being
akin to Highway 1 (aka Route 1) for its technological equivalent for efficiently
and effectively transporting electronic information across great distances.
Philco Has Opened "U.S. Television Highway 1"
Historic Route U. S. 1 which links 12 of the 13 original states
is now paralleled by a television "highway"...
Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa.
America's newest "highway" which brings television a step closer to every home
in the land is now open between Washington and Philadelphia.
Television programs now flash over a route steeped in tradition, for the Philco
multiple-link relay towers parallel a path inseparably linked with the growth of
speedier communication in the United States.
Long before Washington, the city, was founded and even before Washington, the
man, was born, colonists blazed the Potomac Path. As the colonies grew, stage coaches
began to bump over the ruts and wallow through the mud from Philadelphia to Virginia.
America's first railroad followed the same course out of Baltimore ... and the first
telegraph message between two cities passed over wires strung along the tracks of
that railroad.
F.C.C. Chairman Paul A. Porter speaking on the first telecast
ever made from Washington congratulated Philco for "a distinguished 'first' in pioneering
in this vital aspect of television."
Four-man crew of television engineers operates monitoring equipment
for the initial broadcast in the control room of the Philco television studio, Hotel
Statler, Washington, D. C.
Engineers operate these signal generators at each relay. Television
development is closely associated with Philco's wartime engineering and development
of Radar and electronic equipment.
With the coming of the automobile, America's great network of hard-surfaced highways
began with U. S. 1 ... then as now the main line of communication along the
Atlantic seaboard. Now that historic route is paralleled by television's first inter-city
microwave network ... designed by Philco engineers and built by Philco to make television
commercially as well as technically an accomplished fact.
...formed by the antenna towers of Philco's multiple-link network
between Washington and Philadelphia.
Just as U.S. Highway 1 led to the construction of a road system that linked
all America ... this Philco television "highway" along the same route points the
way to a nationwide network which will bring thrilling television programs to homes
from coast to coast. Naturally, Philco, the pioneer in multiple-link television
feels these programs-to-come will be viewed with especial brilliance and clarity
in those homes equipped with post-war Philco Television Receivers.
Dr. Karl T. Compton, President of M.I.T. and Chairman Porter
study the map on which Philco's President John Ballantyne traces the route of relay
stations over which programs travel.
Philco Television Receivers built before the war already bring
televised programs to many homes in areas where transmitters operate on a regular
schedule. Thousands more will enjoy even finer reception of programs through expanding
television networks and Philco Television Receivers incorporating technical advances
resulting from Philco's wartime work in Radar.
Posted September 11, 2023
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