# VACUUM TUBE ELECTRONICS AT WORK 1940s WESTINGHOUSE PROMOTIONAL FILM 71552

Produced by Westinghouse during WWII, this film explains how electronic vacuum tubes work from the simple diode (single pole switch) to the complex Cathode Ray tube. As the film shows, tubes with grids can be used as electronic amplifiers, rectifiers, electronically controlled switches, oscillators, and for other purposes. Some of the innovations shown in the film include tubes used as rectifiers (for AC/DC conversion and production of metal such as aluminum), an early kind of tube based electrostatic air purifier called a Precipitron, tubes used in radio transmitters and radio telephones (as seen around the 00:08:10:00 mark), for remote control, analysis and testing, for television, X-rays and more. Manufacture of tin plate (00:11:32:00) is also shown, with tubes generating high frequency current to make the process possible. Dialetric heating is shown being used to laminate plywood and test plastic, and increasing the load carrying capacity of transmission lines. At 00:10:20:00, a recreation is shown of the first radio broadcast made at the Westinghouse Studios of the electon of Warren G. Harding. Electronic control of various systems in manufacturing is detailed starting around the 13 minute mark. These systems provided an enormous edge for American manufacturing during the war by increasing efficiency. Photo cells and tubes -- "electronic eyes" -- are shown operating relays, transforming light into current and transforming current into light. (An early TV tube appears…

- Kind: Film
- Genres: Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/71552ElectronicsAtWork)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/71552ElectronicsAtWork?play=1)