Service Electric Cable Hazleton PA

Birth of Cable Television (Schuylkill)

John Walson sits at his desk, in front of a General Electric sign that reads, Black-Daylite Television, as he points to a television directly in front of the desk. Small boxes are on shelving in the background.A bird's-eye view of Mahanoy City, PA, as it appeared in 1889.

In 1947, Mahanoy City was not exactly a booming market for television sets- and for good reason. Most televisions of this era required a clear "line-of-sight" from transmitter to receiver to ensure reception. At 1, 256 feet, Mahanoy City was hemmed in by an almost impenetrable ring of 1, 400 to 1, 700- foot mountains, which blocked the signals coming from the major transmitting stations in Philadelphia. Who would want to buy an expensive new television set when there was nothing to watch?

But all across the country Americans were putting Depression-era frugality and wartime shortages behind them, and eagerly purchasing consumer goods. As incomes rose in the postwar years, producers urged vigorous consumption to prevent backsliding into depression. Redbook magazine promoted the attitudes of "happy-go-spending" young families as all across the nation consumers were feeding their desires for automobiles, cosmetics, leisure goods, apparel, and electrical appliances.

John Walson in his television appliance store, Mahanoy, PA, circa 1948.

John Walsonavich (later Walson) saw this desire first hand. As a lineman, installer, and repairman for Pennsylvania Power and Light Company (PPL), Walson helped rewire homes so they could safely run new appliances. After World War II, he opened Service Electric, a small appliance store and repair business; took on a General Electric franchise; and began selling appliances through a franchise with the Lara Electric Company of Williamsport. A natural salesman, Walson quickly proved his worth. "I became their A-Number 1 dealer and won many contests and trips throughout the time of being in the appliance business, " he later said.

When Walson began selling televisions in 1947, customers typically paid between $450 and $575- almost two months salary for an average family- for a massive console-style set with a 14.5 screen. For such an investment customers expected the sets to work when they took them home. Because of poor reception, however, Walson would drive the set and the customer to a mountaintop, where the signal was strongest, for demonstrations. So sales were sluggish, for as Walson noted, "the only place that you could sell them was on the mountaintop."

In June 1948, Walson decided to bring the mountaintop down to his Service Electric store at Main and Pine Streets. To do so, he ran a length of heavy duty, twin-lead Army cable, purchased at a surplus store in Philadelphia, from the top of the mountain into his store, and then fixed it to what he called an "ordinary antenna." For a month Walson strung the cable in trees; later he secured permission to use PPL's transmission poles in Mahanoy City. Because the signal had a tendency to lose power as it descended the mountain, Walson attached modified "boosters" at 500-foot intervals to amplify the signal. In 1949 local engineer Luther Holt improved the amplifier design.

Bird's-eye view. Perspective map not drawn to scale.The clarity and quality of images on the televisions in Walson's store astounded residents of Mahanoy City. "When I first put those three channels on, " Walson said later, "the street was completely blocked with viewers, people watching the pictures in the window." Enraptured by the images, crowds loitered at his store until midnight. As his sales of televisions increased so did the number of requests for incorporation into his system. By 1949 Walson was charging customers 0 for installation and a month to receive Channels 3, 6, and 10. If you allowed Service Electric to place their amplifiers in your basement you received free service.

A canny businessman, Walson understood that constant innovation was the key to control of the emerging "community antenna television" (CATV) industry. As early as 1948 Walson's system could provide twelve channels. The next year he and Luther Holt added another two channels. By using new coaxial cables Walson was able to further improve picture quality. And by "stacking" thirty-seven antennas he rigged his system to receive New York stations. In 1958 Walson acquired a 900-household cable system on Bethlehem's south side and erected a 200-foot tower on a ridge to supply cable TV to adjacent Allentown. He then expanded Service Electric into Easton, Phillipsburg, NJ, and Hazleton.

Though designed as a solution to poor reception and confined to isolated communities, cable television rapidly spread as a profitable industry. As operators like Walson began to tap into distant signals the structure of cable television began to change and the industry focused on expanding program options. In the 1960s, Walson shifted his focus to programming, and the creation of local cable productions. In 1972, Service Electric helped the Manhattan-based Home Box Office move into the countryside, beginning the rise of "pay TV." The first original program broadcast on HBO was the Pennsylvania Polka Festival, shot at the Allentown fairgrounds in 1973. In 1977, Walson arranged to have HBO satellites broadcast Brian Lamb's coverage of Congress and other Washington matters, creating C-SPAN.

ORICO Cable Management Box Cord Organizer Storage Box (12.73.83.6 inches) for Covering and Hiding Power Strips, Surge Protectors, Cables, Cords, USB Hubs - Black
Personal Computer (ORICO Technologies Co.,Ltd)
  • Ideal Solution to make Tangled Wires neatly organized & managed
  • Easily conceal and protect wires & power strip from Children , Pets , Water , Dust and other Accident
  • Suit for Power Strip , Outlet , Surge Protector , AC Adapter , Charger , USB HUB , Network HUB , Router , etc
  • Made of High Strength Fire & H.E.A.T Resistant ABS
  • The size: Length- 328mm/12.7inch; Height- 93mm/3.6inch; Width- 97mm/3.8inch
Deli USB Guitar Cable - 3M Electric Box Guitar PC Recording Cable Guitar Bass 1/4'' USB to 6.3mm Jack to USB Link Connection Instrument Cable Adapter
Musical Instruments ()
  • (Please NOTE: it is NOT suitable for Rocksmith); Embedded A/D convert with audio signal boost
  • compatible with Mac OS X,windows *98SE/2/XP/VISTA/WIN7
  • Don t need sound card and driver, simple USB plug and play connection without additional driver
  • Turn into the computer USB guitar, with high quality 16 bit / 44.1 KHZ analog-to-digital conversion chip
  • High quality professional shielded cable and 6.3mm jack or XLR plug red indicator light flash indicating when signal is being transmitted
Leviton Leviton 88013 1-Gang .406 Inch Hole Device Telephone/Cable Wallplate, Standard Size, Thermoset, Box Mount, White
Home Improvement (Leviton)
  • Accent any wall covering with a wide selection of colors and finishes
  • Smooth face and rounded edges resist dust accumulation
  • Resistant to fading, discoloration, grease, oil, organic solvents and moisture scratches
  • Designed for high dielectric strength and arc resistance
  • Underwriter Laboratories listed, Canadian Standards Association certified
Guitar Cable - The Best Premium Instrument Cord - 10 ft Music Amp Cable for Electric Guitar & Bass - Today Get 100% Money Guarantee - #1 Innovative Amplifier Plug Accessories - Extra Ebook Included
Musical Instruments (HD Vibe)
  • ✭GET the BEST rated quality instruments cables - Maintain highest standard performance & prevent external interference - Receive exceptional signal clarity and...
  • ✭Ensure quick and smooth jack signal transmission - Achieve superior sound audio quality and great frequency balance - Excellent equipment choice for electric guitar...
  • ✭WATCH OUT for low quality music wires accessories here on Amazon - Our 10 feet black cords hold up to unusual wear and are resistant to tear - Take advantage of...
  • ✭STOP experiencing annoying buzzing and humming sounds (common for most solutions on the market) - Invest in most flexible, solid, heavy duty materials with professional...
  • ✭Order Today RISK FREE - When you order today our long 10ft wire Instrument Cable Pro, you re protected by a 100% no-questions asked 90-day money back guarantee...
QICENT Direct QICENT 50W 10A 6-Port USB Charger Desktop Charging Station for Tablet Ipad - Black
PC Accessory (QICENT Direct)
  • 6 USB Ports Travel Charger - 100-240V Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Total 10A with 3 x 2.4A output ports for fast charging; total 6 ports allow 6 devices to...
  • Multi Charging Stations - All 6 USB ports are equipped with iSmart technology, which automatically detects and delivers the optimal charging current for connected...
  • Charging Hub - Built in LED indicates whether the charger is properly connected, high quality construction with durable housing 1.5M Rechange power cord
  • Multi Port Usb Charger - Over-charging, over-heating and short circuit protection. CE, FCC, RoHS Certified.
  • What s In the Box: 6-port usb charging station, User Manual, Service Card 【Not the Quick Charger (QC2.0)】
Related Posts