the life of Philo T Farnsworth - Early Television Foundation

PROMISE OF FINANCIAL HELP 59
field, though fascinating and most tempting, is completely out
of my range of experience. We have made a success of yeast.
Bacteria I know, but electronics I would be lost in trying to
follow what is
going on. Fm sorely tempted, but my judgment
says that I'd better stick to bacteria."
Before I left he made several suggestions as to who might be
interested, but nothing came of them.
When I discussed the matter with George Clyde, he suggested
a prominent financier in southern California, a member
of a group of capitalists who had set aside a special fund for the
furthering of scientific research development. This seemed to
be made to order for the Farnsworth scheme, and both Clyde
and I had high hopes of getting some support from that quarter.
Mr. Clyde made arrangements for me to meet the gentleman
in Los Angeles, and I submitted the memorandum which
Farnsworth had prepared. The capitalist stated that he would
have it checked by properly qualified engineers and scientists
and would give his report in a week's time. Phil was elated at
the prospect of getting backing from such a group. It was just
the type of foundation which he himself hoped one day
to establish.
When I
called to get the results of the investigation it was
stated that it would be futile to pursue the Farnsworth scheme
further because Western Electric, a wholly owned subsidiary
of the American Telegraph & Telephone Company, had extensive
patents on television and probably had complete control
of the new art. This erroneous report is interesting
in view
of the fact that years later, in July 1937, after a searching
analysis of the Farnsworth inventions, the American Telegraph
& Telephone Company entered into a cross-licensing arrangement
with the Farnsworth company.
It is possible that the