RCA Electra-Zoom Lens, Part 1

The Electra-Zoom was in use at NBC for the debut of the Today Show in January of 1952. When this actually became available, I don’t know, but we do know from the RCA catalog description that there were two ways to operate the lens. Manually, it was done with a push through rod like the Zoomar rod. Electronically the lens zoomed in and out with a toggle switch that mounted on the pan handle. The electronic control is shown in this photo.

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