ABSTRACT

Exploring the beginnings of the most influential communications medium of all time, this work covers the history of early mechanical and later electronic means of television. It takes a chronological approach to the subject, from its theoretical conception in the late 1800s, through important market experiments just prior to World War II. Coverage is global and multilingual, with material from French, German, Russian, and English sources. Each chapter begins with a historical essay that places the period in context. After 1927, each chapter focuses on a single year. The coverage weaves together the discoveries and developments in all countries, reporting on the work of solitary inventors, as well as research teams. The text ties together annotated citations that make up the bulk of each chapter, and excerpts from important documents or eyewitness accounts. Each chapter also contains a chronology of the advances and breakthroughs during the period covered. The entire work is carefully cross-referenced and an indexed to provide easy access. Chronology. Index.

chapter |11 pages

Inventions and Discoveries: 1817–1877

chapter |12 pages

Seeing by Electricity: 1878–1884

chapter |13 pages

Era of Telectroscopes: 1885–1900

chapter |24 pages

Distant Electric Vision: 1901–1918

chapter |19 pages

Broadcasting and Pictures: 1919–1924

chapter |24 pages

Images and Promises: 1925–1926

chapter |27 pages

By Radio and by Wire: 1927

chapter |42 pages

A Very Good Year: 1928

chapter |36 pages

Designs for Tomorrow: 1929

chapter |41 pages

On Stage: 1930

chapter |44 pages

Big Pictures and Tiny Beams: 1931

chapter |32 pages

The Derby and All That: 1932

chapter |31 pages

A Matter for Big Business: 1933

chapter |31 pages

High Noon of Low Definition: 1934

chapter |48 pages

Race for Success: 1935

chapter |44 pages

End of an Era: 1936

chapter |32 pages

Battle of the Systems: 1937

chapter |26 pages

International Scene: 1938

chapter |23 pages

The Video Art: 1939

chapter |14 pages

Distant View: 1940–1995