Search tune FM, WAS: '66 headlights and radio

["Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>]

I think the way around the patents must have to do with the European
manufacture and sale of these units.  I should have limited my remarks to US
production.

Thanks for the reminder that there were no Stereo FM broadcasts until 1961,
other than the tests performed at KDKA in 1960.

 I remember that I built a stereo music system in college in 1952, (in fact
I still have most of that system, I'm staring at one of the Klipschorn
folded horn speakers as I type) but I suppose I didn't have a Stereo tuner
for it until after1961 - I thought it was because I was too poor, but you
have the right dates, I'm sure

Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Brauer" <beeser324@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2003 2:20 PM
Subject: IML: Search tune FM, WAS: '66 headlights and radio


> Dick Benjamin wrote:
>
> SNIP an exellant history on search tune automobile radios, BUT:
>
> >
> > The first search tune with FM was released in GM cars, of course, and
only
> > let out to the competition after they had made the advertising splash
with
> > it.
> >
> I have a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL with a Becker Mexico radio.  I don't
know
> how they got around Delco's search tune radio patents (maybe they just
paid
> them royalties?), but, it's got AM/FM AND search tune!  And, I'm quite
> certain this was not the first year for the Becker Mexico.
>
> (Their website:   http://www.becker.de/html/de/produkt_promd4937.html   :
> claims "1953 - The classic Becker Mexico is launched. The first car {SIC}
> with automatic channel search.")
>
> > The first FM Stereo was similarly tied up in patents, although I'm not
as
> > conversant with the facts in that matter.  I am aware of Stereo in
Cadillac
> > and probably other GM cars in the early 60's - I think 64 for Cadillac
(It
> > worked, but barely, with the damn relay clicking all the time!).   The
delay
> > for other luxury brands was the same deal - GM gets first crack  at it
> > because they put up the money to develop it.   That's the American way,
> > folks!
>
> Just to add that there were no multiplex stereo radios, anywhere, before
> 1961, as the FCC didn't OK multiplex broadcasts till then.  That didn't
mean
> you couldn't listen to non-multiplex stereo broadcasts in your home before
> 1961, however; you just needed two radios, one set to an AM station for
one
> channel, another set to the corresponding FM station for the other
channel.
> Or, you could use one of the Hi-Fi tuners that allowed you to listen to
both
> AM and FM at the same time with seperate outputs (like the Heathkit PT-1),
> but I'm getting severly tangental and off-topic now....
>
> Mark in Westminster, CO
> 1952 Chrysler Imperial 2-Door Hardtop (Philco AM radio with tune-able
> pre-sets)
>
>
>