1936-1937 441-line iconoscope camera

[BrianSummers]

Notice that there appear to be two similar but different cameras, and two styles of iconoscopes.

Can anyone shed any light on this? Did Philco copy the RCA camera?

I understand that RCA were keen to licence the camera tube technology in order to promote the development and hence, the sales of TVs and studio equipment. I saw a note about the licences in a 1936 copy of the RCA Television review.

Looking closely at the cameras they are definitely different in detail but similar in style. They both use viewfinders with mirrors to see the mosiac, whereas EMI (UK) used a twin lens system. Most cameras of the period had a similar layout as dictated by the tube.