NBC Chimes History, Part 2

Here is a page from Broadcasting Magazine’s February, 1950 edition announcing the NBC Chime sound to be the first ever “service mark” to be protected by a US patent.

The article goes on to cover a bit of the history of the chimes, including the 1938 electronic version built for NBC by Richard H. Ranger. As you can see, the “Rangertone” electronic chimes operate much like an old fashioned music box.

For harmonic purposes, each note has seven tuned reeds or metal tines that are picked by the seven teeth on the roller. There are twenty one total teeth on the roller and twenty one tines which generate the famous G – E – C tones with a push of a button. There is much more on the mechanical version and history of the chimes at the link below.
http://www.nbcchimes.info/nbcmech.php

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