Final Inspector: 1936

Submitted by Dave on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 12:09am.

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1936. Camden, New Jersey. "RCA Victor Final Inspector -- testing radio frequency alignment and making final test of chassis. This takes place in a room entirely surrounded by copper screening in order to protect testing from any interference. This is the job requiring the highest skill. Even technical training, such as an electrical engineering course, must be supplemented by a course of training at the plant for this particular work." Photo by Lewis Hine. View full size.

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Not even warm

Submitted by David in Leicest... on Sun, 04/21/2013 - 6:20am.

As has already been noted, the chassis is equipped with a power transformer - so the chassis would never be live, no matter what the orientation of the mains, ( line ), AC connected to it. Amongst other things, safety concerns were a major reason for having a mains transformer.

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Rubber Stamp

Submitted by Jrrd73 on Sat, 04/20/2013 - 4:38pm.

After testing the chassis was usually stamped with a "passed" stamp. I remember seeing that on a few radios that I have worked on.

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Engineering 101

Submitted by Clay on Sat, 04/20/2013 - 11:34am.

The copper mesh room is called a Faraday Cage in which an electric field can not exist, so no interference. The tingle is from the half-wave rectifier. The wall plugs were not polarized so one way around gave you a hot chassis.

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High end radio

Submitted by nixiebunny on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 9:30pm.

This is one of their better radios. It has the shape of a cathedral radio, and has five bands. It's not surprising that a test person would take a few minutes to make sure it sounds good.

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Yikes!

Submitted by Otis R. Needleman on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 9:26pm.

Can you imagine having to wear those headphones all day? Heavy, and no cushioning? No, thanks!

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Live Chassis?

Submitted by PersonFromPorlock on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 4:34pm.

I see a power transformer, so probably not a live chassis.

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Ahh, the good old days!

Submitted by The Inventor on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 8:53am.

That live chassis and its lovely parts brings back fond memories. Now all that cool stuff is in something called a "chip."

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OSHA would not approve

Submitted by harold on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 7:35am.

Nice watch...but he should take it off with all the high voltage hazards in the area.

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I remember using those things.

Submitted by Blokefromdownunder on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 5:37am.

To far left of picture…the once ubiquitous rubber stamp and pad.

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Volt Tingle

Submitted by rhhardin on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 4:53am.

He's checking for voltage tingle, holding the lamp base and grounding himself to the chassis, possibly because he likes it or perhaps it's a posed photograph.

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