INVENTOR RETURNS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 788, 8 October 1929, Page 1

INVENTOR RETURNS

MR. A. E. ROD’S SYSTEM OF SOUND REPRODUCTION NEW ZEALAND LABORATORIES A little more than a year ago a young New Zealand inventor, Mr. A. E. Rod, left for England to undertake marketing arrangements for a new sound reproducing device, the “Rodstrad.” Yesterday he returned to Auckland on the Remuera after 12 months of difficult organising work. HE intends to spend a short recuperative holiday at his home in Day’s Bay, Wellington, before setting out for Washington, U.S.A., where arrangements associated with his patents and his organisation are to be furthered. Mr. Rod claims that all Is well with his inventions; that they roused intense and envious appreciation, and that the time is ripening for the opening of international operations on the part of the company at his back. “My sound reproduction system was divided into three parts—‘A,’ ‘B’ and •C,”’ Mr. Rod told The Sun. “I planned to exploit them one by one, and if the big financial interests beat me for my patents on ‘A/ to bring forward ’B,’ a much-improved system. Big financiers have a grasp of the markets and, when it comes to dealing with them, patents are worthless. “However, I got away with system ‘A,’ so the others are up my sleeve.” DETAILS ARE SECRET Mr. Rod preferred not to discuss details of his system beyond observing that It was entirely different from anything at present In use. “Could the best talking picture mechanic of today make a Stradivarius violin?” he asked. That was the only clue he would give. “I want to say that my heart is in New Zealand,” he added. “I am hopeful of bringing my enterprises to complete success —I have already achieved success in definite directions and, when I do, I want to come back to New Zealand and open laboratories here. This is where I want to spend any money I may make. It is an ideal country for experiment and research. It Is away from the whirl of the world, and the climate is the best. “I dream of a New Zealander holding the patents for sound recording and reproducing in all parts of . the world, and devoting the royalties to the furtherance of his science in New Zealand,” BIG COMPANY FORMED That some, at least, of Mr. Rod’s dreams have come true Is proved by the fact that 12 months ago it was announced that a company headed by Mr. John Maxwell, chairman of British International Pictures, had subscribed £250,000 for the purchase of his European rights. At that time Mr. Rod’s story was told by The Sun. Mr. Rod is 29 years of age and a son of Mrs. Entwistle, of Thames. He is a great-grandson of Professor Hnnbeig of Denmark, who, during his residence in New Zealand, invented the first gramophone, the patent rights of which were purchased eventually by Thomas Edison. . Educated in Wellington, Mr. Rod found employment In a gramophone factory, where his invention gradually took shape. He was musically inclined, learned to play well at the pianoforte, and composed a number of melodies and songs. Continuing his study of gramophones. wireless and sound reproduction generally, he perfected his “Rodstrad ” which he demonstrated successfully in Wellington, succeeding in interesting Mr. Arthur Davis, of Wellington. , . The two journeyed to America, where thev declined £600.000 for the world's rights to sell “Rodstrad.” They then continued on to England, where began the negotiations and arrangement* now nearing completion.