"Harriet Stix, L.A. Times" 6/27/77 Side 1 cont., Part 1., 1977

Item — track: 37

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Philo III and Pem are being interviewed for a news story.
Pem talks about 1939, when the Farnsworth company began to manufacture equipment in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
When Farnsworth became a subsidiary of ITT, Farnsworth began to work on other projects instead including his nuclear research. ITT moved the production of televisions to Europe at that time.
Pem and Philo III talk for a little bit about the invention of electric television, the various claims by different people and their feelings about these claims.
Philo and Pem talk about the expiration of some of the Farnsworth patents before they were extremely profitable because of World War II.
The earliest investors made a reasonable return but cashed out quickly.
The first time that RCA ever paid a royalty was to Farnsworth after it was found that the image orthicon tube infringed on Farnsworth patents and they were forced to take a license.
Philo talks a little bit about what he is currently working on outside of the book, which is a cheaper modular house that he envisions helping to replace apartment living.
They talk about Phil's general disinterest in television programming, but remark that he was most struck by witnessing the moon landing and that he found it especially spectacular.
They've currently signed a contract for a made for TV movie, but a major network has yet to pick it up at the time of the interview. They question whether or not some of this is motivated by the somewhat controversial nature of the invention and early days of television.

Dates

1977

Language of Materials

From the Collection: Collection material in English.

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