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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

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