the life of Philo T Farnsworth - Early Television Foundation

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Experimental Broadcasting Station
To KEEP PACE with the rapidly developing new industry
it became
necessary for the Farnsworth company to make application
to the Federal Radio Commission for an experimental
television broadcast license. After months of delay the construction
permit for the station was granted.
A location on a
high point, about a mile from the laboratory, was secured. To
Mr. McCargar and me it seemed that the station would never
be ready for operation. With Phil's characteristic desire to "try
out a new idea to make it work better," the station was always
just about completed, but "not quite ready." Phil's sense of
showmanship, and his desire to have a completely streamlined
studio, added to the expense and delay. In the back of his mind
Farnsworth had a lurking hope that this experimental station
would be a stepping stone to the company's entrance into the
commercial broadcasting
field. It was a heavy drain on the finances
of the company. A simpler setup would probably have
served our research purposes better.
This was only a part of the seemingly ever-increasing expense
of the laboratory. The monthly payrolls and other expenses
skyrocketed to an alarming degree. Circumstances required that
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