A Total Rarity…The GE PC 15 Color Camera

On November 2, 2013 - TV History

A Total Rarity…The GE PC 15 Color Camera

This is a companion to the just posted GE PC 25 photo from Martin Perry. I thought you may be interested in seeing the difference between the two. Notice the lifting handles on this model are above the door. On the PC 25, the handles are at the bottom of the camera. The PC 15 debuted in 1958 and the PC 25 around 1965. These cameras were both modeled after the RCA TK41 and had three Image Orthicon tubes. That I know of, none of these two GE camera models survive.

Source

10 Comments

  1. Don Hougland November 5, 2013

    Hi James…we did know any better…no one knew..you just did things..some worked & some did not….and if you messed up, it was not too expensive for the station.

  2. Don Hougland November 4, 2013

    Thanks James for the important info…I look forward to enjoying your site….they call us pioneers…I began my v
    Career in 1956 thru 2008…what a ride…I was blessed.

  3. Don Hougland November 3, 2013

    The call letters of most radio & TV stns represent city..owners name..channel #..network/company.. GE
    Stn in Schenactady cleverly used the 3 primary TV colors..
    R-red. G-green. B-blue …. Nice

  4. Neil Bobrick November 2, 2013

    @ Tim , you are correct. I understand they swapped it out last week.

  5. Tim Stepich November 2, 2013

    I think Ch. 7 in Boston had these for their film chains.

  6. Don Hougland November 2, 2013

    In the early 70’s, one of these GE color cameras (we called Big Berth) showed up at KHTV Ch39 in Houston. Not sure where it came from, maybe the Gaylord station in Milwaukee. KHTV had 4 GE PE-400’s..later Phillips LDK-25’s?….the video from Big Bertha was not clear..maybe the IO’s were old..had burn ins…the chief engineer did not like it (too much work).. would not match the other cameras … was used sometimes to shoot camera cards, and as a PROP in commercials…it was a beautiful camera…one day it just disappeared along with an old B&W camera, which had a great history (space shots & and recovery with WTVT Tampa and the JFK assassination…KTVT Fort Worth. Time marches on

  7. Bobby Reyes November 2, 2013

    …very sad one of these models was never preserved or placed in a museum somewhere !

  8. Steve Byrd November 2, 2013

    Yes, Fernando, save for the viewfinder.

  9. Fernando Menichini November 2, 2013

    near simile RCA TK 41

  10. Wally Roper November 2, 2013

    WRGB Schenactady…the proving ground for GE Television!