Dramatic Moments.

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 7

Dramatic Moments.

A BOY’S UNWILLING PART IN EARLY TELEVISION In October, 1925, Mr. J. L. Baird, the inventor of television, set up a doll in front of his instruments and transmitted its image. He was so excited that he scarcely knew how to control himself. He must transmit the features of a living person! Who was it to be? He had no time to think. Dashing out of his laboratory lie ran down the stairs, and fate put an office boy in the way. It would have been the same had a member of Parliament or a duchess appeared: whoever it had been would have had to go back with the inventor and be ‘•transmitted.” Unwilling, tlie oflice boy went up to the strange room with its wires and lamps and queer instruments. He was told to sit on a chair and keep still. Then the excited inventor ran into the next room, switched on the set, and saw nothing. He adjusted everything, but no boyish face appeared. What could have happened? He ran back, and found that the office boy—frightened by the Hashing lamps — had retreated from the instrument, and got out of the line of vision.. Then the inventor produced half-a-crown—and bought success with it. The face of the office boy was “transmitted.”