#edwin armstrong

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Major Edwin H. Armstrong explains various amplifiers and receivers to specialists and other interested parties at Columbia University, his alma mater, ca. 1925. Major Armstrong went on to invent FM radio, working secretly in the basement of Columbia's Philosophy Hall.

Photo: Verstärker/Foto/akg-images

[tompalmerillustration]

The Big Book of Losers, “Edwin Armstrong: Father of FM Radio” page 3. DC Comics/Paradox Press, 1997. Pencils and inks by Tom Palmer.

[tompalmerillustration]

The Big Book of Losers, “Edwin Armstrong: Father of FM Radio” page 1. DC Comics/Paradox Press, 1997. Pencils and inks by Tom Palmer.

[39adamstrand]

In 1933, 43-year-old Edwin Howard Armstrong was granted 5 patents for his work in frequency modulation (FM) radio transmission (Armstrong would receive 40 more patents in his lifetime), and less than a year later he presented his equipment to RCA, who chose not to invest in its development.

Armstrong continued his work on his own and in 1940, David Sarnoff of RCA offered him $1 million (about $18 million in today’s value) for a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use his FM patents. Armstrong refused and RCA developed what it claimed was a non-infringing FM system. Armstrong sued RCA and exhausted his finances fighting the corporation in court. His legal efforts faced a setback in 1950 when his initial patents expired.

Bitter, broke, and depressed, Armstrong fought with his wife, Marion, in late January 1954, striking her with a fire poker and injuring her arm. Marion left to stay with her sister in Granby, CT.

On the night of 31 January 1954, Armstrong jumped out of the 13th floor window of his Manhattan apartment. His suicide note mentioned the injury he had inflicted upon his wife of 31 years. Upon hearing of his death, David Sarnoff reportedly said, “I did not kill Edwin Armstrong.”

Marion Armstrong continued her husband’s lawsuits and was able to attain a settlement from RCA for around $1 million. She also formally establish Armstrong as the inventor of FM, and continued to fight for royalties from his patents until 1967.

[tompalmerillustration]

The Big Book of Losers, “Edwin Armstrong: Father of FM Radio” page 2. DC Comics/Paradox Press, 1997. Pencils and inks by Tom Palmer.

[davidrussellschilling]

Who Invented Communication Satellites

Who Invented Communication Satellites

C O N T E N T S:

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[frimleyblogger]

There Ain’t ‘Alf Some Clever Bastards – Part Sixty

There Ain’t ‘Alf Some Clever Bastards – Part Sixty

Edwin Howard Armstrong (1890 – 1954) Before the arrival of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) what revolutionised the quality of radio signals was the switch to Frequency Modulation (FM) from Amplitude Modulation (AM). Gone for the most part were those irritating hisses from extraneous noises which affected and spoiled an AM radio programme. The battle to get FM adopted was long and hard and…

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[infamoussayings]

It ain't ignorance that causes all the trouble in this world. It's the things people know that ain't so.

Edwin Armstrong