Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

Spring Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > February 1996 > 1996.02.17 > 03Prev  Next


Re: NBC Chimes
By Matthew Caulfield

Catching up on my Email from home, so this may include static.

Robbie Rhodes mentions the NBC chimes as an example of a sound pattern given patent and trademark protection, going on to discuss how the sound was produced. I read recently in one of the old-time radio publications an article on that very topic. If there is interest in it, I'll try to find the article. As I recall, some NBC engineer made a little chime set that was struck automatically. Later they switched to electronic tone generation.

How many people have ever heard the NBC "fourth tone," which was used to signal an upcoming announcement of great importance? NBC preceded its announcement of VE-day or the end of WWII with the four-tone chime. For those of us who heard the three-tone pattern day in and day out, it was a real awake call to hear the four tones come over the radio.

(Message sent Sat 17 Feb 1996, 17:59:12 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Chimes, NBC

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page