Simplified Radar to Use "Wamoscope"
November 1956 Popular Electronics

November 1957 Popular Electronics [Table of Contents] People old and young enjoy waxing nostalgic about and learning some of the history of early electronics. Popular Electronics was published from October 1954 through April 1985. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged. See all articles from Popular Electronics.

Yeah, I thought the same thing... a "Wamoscope?" Was it produced by the Wham-O toy company that makes the Hula Hoop, the Frisbee, the Super Ball, and Silly String? Wham-O was founded in 1948, so why not? Actually, Wamoscope is derived from "WAve-MOdulated oscilloSCOPE." It combined a traveling-wave tube with a cathode ray tube in single enclosure.

See also The "Wamoscope" - a Picture Tube That Includes Many Functions, in the November 1956 issue of Radio & Television News.

Simplified Radar to Use "Wamoscope"

Radio engineers attending the Western Electronic Show in Los Angeles recently were amazed to hear of a single-tube radar set. Developed by Sylvania Electric Products, Inc., for the U.S. Navy, the radar has been dubbed the "Wamoscope." Literally interpreted, "Wamoscope" means "WAve-MOdulated oscilloSCOPE." Microwave radar signals can be fed directly into the tube wherein a single glass envelope-they are amplified, detected, and finally displayed on a fluorescent screen.

Secret of the "Wamoscope's" unusual ability is the traveling-wave focusing principle. (The focusing solenoid is shown in the photo as the metal cylinder.) The "Warnoscope" can be designed for any u.h.f. band and with any size cathode-ray screen. Although the first one is reserved for the military, radio engineers are planning on possible applications in miniaturized commercial and industrial closed-circuit TV systems.

First "Wamoscope" measures just under two feet but contains complete radar reception system for direct signal display on cathode-ray screen on end of tube.

 

 

Posted August 2, 2016