[BC] WECo Children

[PeterH5322]

 >and Altec made some very durable consoles, but not transmitters

Altec-Lansing got the speech input, sound reinforcement, and some cinema
lines (loudspeakers, only) from WECo.

Continental got some transmitters from WECo.

Ampex got some cinema lines ("penthouse" reproducers, only) from WECo,
but these were completely redesigned for lower cost and enhanced quality,
and all the electronics were Ampex from the git go. Essentially, Ampex
got a mechanical prototype for the CinemaScope reproducer, which worked,
but was not economical to manufacture, and it had a very low (magnetic)
head lifetime.

Litton got the cinema lines (production and post-production, only) from
WECo.

Of all of these, only the WECo RA-1231 survives [ * ] , as it is the
basis of the "Dolby Stereo" analog track, and is found on every digital
stereo print except for DTS prints.


[ * ] Litton first placed this ca. 1947 unit back into new production in
about 1976, then contracted with Nuoptix to design new electronics for
it, and, finally, turned over all production to Nuoptix, where it now
stands.

I don't think there is a producer anywhere in the World that doesn't
employ these converted WECo RA-1231 units.

<http://www.nuoptix.com/sors/client.html>