the people responsible
The history of
radio could not be written without the efforts of those relatively few
people who had the ability to recognise the potential of what would
otherwise have remained either academic and without practical purpose or
simply scientific curiosities. Elsewhere on this site, the technical
aspects of radio development such as the work of Marconi and other early
pioneers have been discussed. (See 'History')
But there is another side - in fact,
many sides - to the subject.
Here, on these pages, is a small
selection of people who, in their very different ways, made an enormous
contribution to the advancement of radio and television in Great
Britain. This should not be accepted as being in any way a thorough
examination of their achievements nor should it be assumed that there
are no others worthy of such discussion. Far from it! These simply
happen to be particular favourites of mine, and I make no apology for
their inclusion or, for that matter, the exclusion of others (in any
case, more may be added to these pages).
On the subject of inclusion, despite television not
being the main concern of this website, I could not
leave out the amazing John Logie Baird.
F.J. Camm made his personal
contribution not by inventing but by his unique written output as an
editor, an authority and a technical author. He encouraged and inspired
with his designs for home building, especially in the earlier years. So important was his work
that I feel justified in extending my coverage to look more closely at
his approach to radio construction in the early 1930s Practical Wireless
magazine.
Wells Coates was an
architect and designer of great brilliance and natural artistry who contributed much to the
quality of visual design employed in the Bakelite cabinets of the Ekco
Radio Company.