The Very Last RCA Cameras Ever Made
The Very Last RCA Cameras Ever Made
Both of these cameras are RCA TKP 47s. The blue version was introduced at the NAB in 1982…the grey version is the final configuration of the TKP 47 and appeared in 1983. Production stopped in 1984. In 81, the last studio cameras had been made in Camden when the TK47 and TK761 lines were halted.
In 1984, RCA Broadcast Systems Division ceased operations and moved from Camden, to the site of the RCA antenna engineering facility in Gibbsboro, New Jersey. In the years that followed, the broadcast product lines developed in Camden were terminated or sold to Thomson. Most of the buildings demolished, except for a few of the original RCA Victor buildings that had been declared national historical buildings. For several years, RCA spinoff L-3 Communications Systems East was headquartered in the building, but has since moved to an adjacent building built by the city for them. The remaining RCA buildings now houses shops and luxury loft apartments.
Rutgers in Camden were the benefactors of one old RCA building which they used for class rooms for years. This was in the late sixties and early seventies. Don’t know if the building is still there or not. It was sad to see such an iconic company that meant so much for so long simply fail and break up. Campbells Soup was also at one time headquartered in Camden not too far away from RCA.
I searched on “RCA Broadcast CCD Camera” and discovered references that 50 CCD-1s were ordered, and some were shipped to customers. I wonder what happened to them? I hope someone saved them.
Thanks for the history lesson! I didn’t know that… Was the Iki better to shoulder?
My shoulder hurts just looking at the TK-76.
Joe Roizen said CCD-1 stood for Camden Can’t Deliver One. They did finally deliver it. They had a warehouse loaded with cases for their defunct “Hawkeye” tube camera and some genius decided to save money by using those cases. That was the kiss of death. The buys went to Sony’s camera.
RCA Management killed RCA broadcast. Also, I wonder what happened to their CCD camera(s). I think it was called the CCD-1? It was shown before the NEC camera came out.
my shoulder hurts just looking at them…
Two words that killed RCA… Sony Broadcast.
and how paradoxical the fact that RCA and Phillips were competition in the broadcast business and they both were absorbed by thompson .
I think I’ll go into the final days of RCA and what the problems were tomorrow.
We used to have 2 of them at CHEM in Trois-Rivières, they were built like tanks. I was in Camden in 81 for a one week training. I agree with you Pierre, RCA took strange decisions at the time 🙁
I always wondered why could’nt they follow the parade? After so many years of glory and association with NBC, why do they sell to Thompson and close the shop of broadcast cameras… Asian competition ?
WITI in Milwaukee had TK47’s. Not sure when they got them.