Television — How It Was Discovered

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

Television — How It Was Discovered

The story of television is quite a romantic one and has for its background the struggles of a young Scotsman, a reject in the Great War, against poverty, ill-health and all this implies, whore peace of mind is necessary in order to permit a young scientist to grapple successfully with the great unknown which confronts

Yet John Logic JSaird, son of a Presbyterian minister, struggle*! and persisted in n practical manner with the problem of solving the secrets ot what we know as television. He not only persisted and grappled with this problem, but he won, and amongst the notable scientific men at. the fir-»t demonstrations was Dr. Russell, K.K.S., the principal of Karaday House, who, in conjunction with •">0 other scientists, witnessed the tests and endorsed the potential value of Baird s great disci.very. Within a period of six months he was able to transmit "coarse" shadows. Of this he gave a demonstration in 1023 at Hastings. Sussex, Of course, our young Scotsman realised that the difference between television and shadow transmission was immense, but. how difficult he did not realise until he attempted to solve it.

Wo learn of him now Mending outlines of simple objects in "black and white." The important step from mere shadows to reflected light had been taken. This was really television, because it was transmission of actual objects, although only in outline of black and white, and what he wanted was to be able to produce all the graduations of light and shade, go as to complete a true picture. Without half-tones a true imaee is impossible. The original

machine with which Baird achieved the transmission of these black and white outlines is now a valued possession in the South Kensington Science Museum.

The machine is not one of delicate brass mechanism, as might be expected. but a ermlc one, the working of which is assisted by string, glue, sealing wax.

llis next model showed many imperfections to have been eliminated

•anti'-'p 75a ird found it necessary to study optics, physics, chemistry, mechanics nnd cniatoc*raphy, for each of these plays its part in (lie new science. Lack of funds sent liim to the jrreat public libraries for his information. but he worked on patiently.

At ln«t. six months after his demonstration of rellected black and white, Haird achieved the success lie so richly deserved. At the end of October, he received what he termed a real thrill. The previous evening lie had carried out exhaustive experiments and tests witty the latest of the numerous liiiht-scnsi-tive systems he ha<l devised and was satisfied with the theory, feeling that it could ho hroii'dit to practical results.

Television was achieved at last! The new lij;ht-sensitive device lie lukl invented was the secret (if his system. and it proved to he the key for which the whole scientific world had been searchinjf. Its nature was kept .1 secret, but what it could do was <|iiickly demonst rated. He issued an invitation to the lioval Institute of '•rent Britain to witness a demonstration of his apparatus and had the satisfaction of displaying his success to ;>0 of the members of the noted institute. This was the first demonstration of true television in the world

A company was now formed under the title of Television, Limited, and offices taken in the heart of London. Numerous demonstrations w ere <»iven. The images of living faces were transmitted and received with all the proper graduation of lie lit and shade and half-tones. All the movements of the head, mouth, eyes wore reproduced with lifelike fidelity on a screen of ground glass in * a room several floors beiow the apparatus.

By . . . CLEM EGG.LETON.

Transmission was also made between London and a suburb. The results are still, of course, far from being perfect and are not as clear as those we see 011 the screen of our local theatre. The likeness is, however, unmistakable. Tests at the present time, show that television is actually being carried on. We have all seen reproduced actual photographs of reflections. It ; s impossible, however, to state just how long it may be before we arrive at the stage where an apparatus will be nflixcd to every telephone or radio receiving set. Many minor defects may have to be studied constructively and improvements made. Possibly a totally new discovery may be made as time goes 011, and by approaching the problem or problems from a new angle more rapid strides may be made towards supplying the whole world with miniature sets at a cost within reach of tis all!

It may l>e one more scientific discovery to which we or those who come after us will have to adjust themselves . . . but the story of its discovery Ims been one of interest.