Here’s a really cool piece of vintage TV technology I came across. It’s the control box from the NBC game show Name That Tune, which aired on the network from 1952-1954, 1974-75, and 1977. The auction for this box claims it’s from the ’50s version of the show, which I suppose is possible, except for one thing that contradicts that. See if you can guess what it is.

This certainly looks simple enough to be from the 1950s, but a few things make me think it’s from the ’70s. The first is the faux wood grain DYMO label tape, which I don’t think was around in the ’50s.

But mostly, that NBC logo on the “Made by NBC Electric Shop” label looks newer. Unless this was used internally for a few decades before the public saw it, it’s most definitely from the ’70s. In fact, that trapezoid N rolled out officially on January 1, 1976.

Either way, this is way cool.

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The RCA TK-40/41 is considered to be the first color television camera. It began production in late 1953 and was produced in greater quantity in 1954. This particular camera (MI-40534) was made in 1954 and bought by WBAP (later KXAS) of Fort Worth, the first television station in Texas (debuted in 1948). Outfitted with three lenses, it is a live pick-up camera used to separate a color image into its primary red, blue, and green component images and convert them into signals required for the RCA color television system.

Beginning with The Colgate Comedy Hour on November 22, 1953 these cameras were in wide use at TV networks and affiliate studios, as well as independent TV production facilities through the 1960s. Notice the sweet CBS period logo, which actually hasn’t changed that much, and a smaller red RCA logo.

Here’s another image of the same camera, with all sorts of camera guts on display. I think I see big transistors or capacitors, or whatever they are. What do I know, I can barely operate my remote control.

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One of the many cool devices used in the ’60s Batman TV show and feature film was the Batcycle. Since having Robin straddling Batman from behind would’ve been too much even for the Dynamic Duo he had his own sidecar, which could detach and drive on its own like a go-cart.

A few years ago the Batcycle sidecar/go-cart (built in 1966 by Richard “Korky” Korkes and Dan Dempski) went up for auction and sold for a whopping $30,000. Here are a few pictures of the go-cart at the time of the auction, and some vintage photos of Robin (Burt Ward) riding it on what looks like a film studio lot or location. You can also see the Batcopter in the background in one of the pictures.

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