Kay-Townes Antenna Company
December 1954 Radio & Television News

December 1954 Radio & TV News

[Table of Contents] Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio & Television News, published 1919-1959. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.

Call me a skeptic, but somehow I doubt the accuracy of the "Radiation Curve Representing All VHF Channels" presented in this Rear-Guard antenna ad. It appeared in the December 1954 issue of Radio & Television News magazine. Truth in advertising laws were probably not as strictly enforced as they are today. The main lobe utterly dominates the response, with barely any power in the side and back lobes. Even a well-designed, narrow-band parabolic dish is fortunate to have such a near-perfect directional pattern. Aside from that, I wonder how many people today "get" the picture of the kid with a pillow strapped to his behind and understand the relationship to "Rear-Guard?" Back in the day, kids sometimes experienced marshal punishment in the form of a hand or a wooden paddle to the body area normally sat upon. It was known as a spanking. I know from personal experience that the threat of receiving such punishment often served as sufficient deterrence from committing certain naughty acts. If memory serves me correctly, examples of deeds worthy of a spanking includes hitting your sister (even if she hit you first), talking back to your mother or your friend's mother (although a slap across the mouth was sometimes executed instead - by either or both of the offended entities), sneaking a cookie when explicitly told not to, lying to your mother or father. You get the idea. Today's idyllic world of well-behaved, polite, considerate, moral people is at least partially due to kids being put in "Time Out" or simply ignored after committing an offense - rather than being subject to painful reminders of acting properly toward others.

Kay-Townes Antenna Company Ad

Now ... complete Protection from the Rear ...

with a broad-band antenna that rejects unwanted signals from rear and sides ... and

It's another Kay-Townes First!

Now ... for the First Time!

A full automatic snap-out antenna that is mechanically safe!

Elements are double locked in position and nested in channel to prevent dropping or falling apart.

Manufactured and Distributed in Canada by Delhi Metal products, Ltd. Delhi, Ontario

the antenna for which all America has been waiting ...

this is the Problem

New TV stations by the score plus stepped-up power on existing stations is increasing the difficulty of reception in many areas. Co-channel interferences and the resulting loss of reception quality cannot be overcome by ordinary antennas now available.

Copyright 1954

Kay Townes

Rear Guard

Here is the amazing Kay-Townes answer!

Again ... Kay-Townes is First with the answer! The new K-T Rear Guard completely rejects unwanted signals from the rear and sides to give televiewers the best possible picture and sound reception in areas where co-channel interferences present difficulties. Yes Sir! The new K-T Rear Guard is ready for you now in arrays to suit your needs ... It's a Quality Antenna for Quality Reception. It's a Kay-Townes Antenna!

• No interference from the rear

• High front to back ratio

• Top quality reception

• Sharp definition

• Primary UHF

Radiation Curve Representing all VHF Channels

Use the K-T line of television accessories

Write today for further information and prices

Kay-Townes Antenna Company

Box 593A, Rome, Georgia

Posted September 22, 2022