May 22, 1947: Paul R. Hafer Orders Television Receiver Installed Over Reservations

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

May 22, 1947: Paul R. Hafer, President of the Boyertown Auto Body Works, was intrigued by the possibilities of television after World War II. His company was contracted to build mobile television units to be used at major events by Radio Corporation of America technicians, fully equipped to televise and relay back to the studio live events. He immediately ordered a television set for his home use.

He was told that Boyertown was eight miles outside the area for good reception from Philadelphia, and they normally refused to install receivers where they believed the reception would not be good. Because of that reservation, Hafer was asked if he still wanted to have a receiver installed. He was perfectly willing to take that chance, and to the amazement o the company, the reception fear excelled expectations. (Possibly the first TV set in Boyertown?)

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