[PRCo] Re: Charlie Houser

[Fred Schneider]

For those of you who are unfamiliar with John's initials "PAL," it is the
European standard for video tapes.  NTSC tapes sold in the United States cannot
be played on PAL VCR/TVs and vice versa.  Has to do with the number of scan
lines across the television screen, which in turn is in some way related to the
frequency of the electrical current used.  The US standard is 110-115 volts at
50 Hz (cycles).  The European standard is 220-230 volts at 50 Hz.

There are firms which will take a PAL tape and convert it to NTSC.  I've been
told by Carl Schultz that Disney is one of the best.  Yes, that Disney.  If you
only have one VCR tape in PAL, it would be fine to spend $20-30 to make a NTSC
print.  If you have an abiding interest in European trams, trains, and
travelogues prepared for European customers, then it would be cheaper to run
right out and by a television set and VCR designed to work with the PAL standard
but on American current.  There is such a thing.  There are also television sets
and VCR players that can interchangeably work in PAL and NTSC ... I've seen one
in Carl Schultz's living room  Carl explained that they are commonly available
in certain stores in Washington DC which cater to the embassy staffers from
other countries.   I've no idea at all what happens with the newer digital
schemes ... maybe one of you can tell me.  .

John F Bromley wrote:

> Thanks Ken but I have original PAL versions from long before Carl offered
> them.  As far as I know the originals are STILL offered for sale by Rail
> Art, the Dutch-Belgian firm that originated them so were I you I'd do a
> speedy about-face on the dubbing.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kenneth Josephson" <kjosephson at sprintmail.com>
> To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2002 5:40 PM
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