WCAU-TV Test Pattern

This is WCAU-TV's unique "news, time and music" test pattern. It was produced by a flying spot scanner. Adaptions for time and news made by the WCAU staff.

John G. Leitch, Chief Engineer for WCAU-TV, wrote in 1949: "...During the week of February 21st to 27th (1949) we telecast 57 hours of program exclusive of News-Test pattern operation. Twenty-six hours of this was of local origin and 16 and a half hours was live studio programs...."

What the test pattern (a clear and clean version) might have looked like on air!

From the archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Allen Murphy
All Rights Reserved

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com