Arcana:

(C.T.L. ELECTRONICS). Jaffe, Paula, Bill Narum, Mark Brownstone, John Brumage & Sasha Newborn. New York: C.T.L. Electronics, Inc., 1973. Edition Not Stated - Presumed First. Large 4to. Stapled Illustrated Wrappers. Trade Catalogue. Very Good.. 41pp, profusely illustrated in b&w + silkscreened color covers. In a protective clear acetate dustwrapper. Issued in 1973 as part of a series of publications by pioneering New York City Video equipment sales and rental firm C.T.L. Electronics, Inc., "Video Tools 2" was the "Whole Earth Catalog" for early adopters of the then-nascent recording technology. Part copiously illustrated catalogue of available inventory, part tips and tricks from the knowledgeable C.T.L. staff, this forty-two page groovily-designed manual is an invaluable document of the earliest days of commercial - and artistic - Video. Founder Chi-Tien Lui came to the US as a nineteen year-old electrician from Chungking, China, and in 1968 started C.T.L. Electronics. Since then, they have worked with everyone who was anyone in the New York Video art world, most notably Nam June Paik. A handsome, well preserved example of this exceedingly uncommon (only five copies - with none in New York institutions - are currently cited in OCLC WorldCat) item showing some light discoloration and a tiny bit of insect damage to its silkscreened covers. Laid in is an accompanying letter from "Miriam, Pam, and Richard" on the firm's letterhead along with a trippy January 1971 UPS rate and zone chart. Inventory Number: 027123