Watching TV
 
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Highlights of the exhibit include
 
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A General Electric Octagon Mechanical Television, U.S., 1928. Believed to be one of only four sets ever made, the Octagon was never sold to the public and was only used for experiments in GE's laboratories. The television set featured in the exhibition was likely one of those used to receive the first televised drama, The Queen's Messenger, in 1928.


The Baird Televisor, Britain, 1930. Britain's first television programming was provided by Baird Studios, and was watched on this type of mechanical receiver, originally engineered by John Logie Baird.


The RCA TRK-12, Phantom Teleceiver, U.S., 1939. This is the set which introduced television to North America. It was displayed in the RCA pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair, and was made of clear lucite in order to show the public that no trickery was used to produce television. It is the only one of its kind in the world.


A Sentinel 400TV, U.S., 1948. This is an early version of a "suitcase" portable television. It was very popular in the first few years of postwar television when portability was a strong selling point.


A Viking Console, Canada, 1952. This stylish console was one of the earliest sets sold by Eaton's, and was developed by Electrohome in Kitchener, Ontario. The set's production and acceptance by these two well-established Canadian businesses signalled the arrival of television in the average Canadian home.


A Philco Predicta "Pedestal", U.S., 1958. This may be the most distinctive set ever designed, with the picture tube mounted in a separate moulded shell. This version has a 21-inch picture tube that swivels 180 degrees.


A Sony 8-301W, Japan, 1961. This small portable set has an eight-inch screen and was the first Sony television to be marketed in North America. It could be powered from a variety of sources, including dry-cell batteries, a car battery, and household electrical outlets.


An Electrohome Kirby Console, Canada, 1963. This television was the norm in most middle-class Canadian households during the early to mid-1960s and will be instantly recognizable to baby-boomers.


A Panasonic TR-005, Japan, 1972. This highly unusual television resembles a flying saucer and illustrates Panasonic's flair for innovative design.


A Speaker's Corner kiosk, allowing visitors to record their own television memories and messages in answer to the questions: "What is your earliest television memory?" and "What do you think is the future of television?"


Displays on new technologies related to television and the Information Highway, including links to the MZTV and CMCC World Wide Web sites.

"Create your own catalogue" through the on-line Web site.

 
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