J.L. Baird: success and failure

From about 1923 until his death in 1946, J.L. Baird devoted his energies to the advancement of various aspects of television engineering. He produced 178 patents in this field, and was the first person anywhere to demonstrate television, albeit in a rudimentary form. He endeavoured to anticipate many likely developments of television, and was the first inventor to succeed in establishing the feasibility of an all-electronic high-definition colour television receiver using a single cathode-ray tube. Notwithstanding his efforts, Baird suffered much criticism during his life, and his work is still subject to considerable controversy. Furthermore, none of the companies which bore Baird's name now exist. On the other hand, Marconi was very successful. There are several points of similarity between the early work and aspirations of Baird and Marconi, and these are brought out in the paper. In addition, the paper examines the various factors which had a bearing on Baird's fortunes and compares his attitudes to business advancement, patent holding and patent acquisition, the employment of professional engineers and consultants, and new developments, inter alia with those of Marconi. It is concluded that, for the progress of the various Baird companies, too much reliance was placed on the ideas and patents of one person, whereas the well being of the Marconi companies depended on the ideas and patents of many persons: as a consequence, these companies prospered.