Philo Farnsworth Inventor

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Bryant for bringing the a the writings of Mrs. Farnsworth to our attention. VIDEO 80 31 Mr. Everson had loaned Phil his Chandler roadster for the I occasion . After driving me to Salt Lake and getting me settled in -1 was shortly after Phil's returnfrom the Navy that he and I the hotel room he had reserved he went to return the car. We were met. My family had moved to Provo at the same time and for the to leave at six the next morning. same reasons as did the Farnsworths, education. Phil's sister, Left alone I was finally able to catch my breath and pinch Agnes, and 1 had become good friends at the Provo High School. myself to make sure it wasn't all a dream . One thing was certain, I When she introduced us I was impressed, but romance was far was married to the most wonderful man in the world. Could it be from my mind. After all, l wasonly a lowly sophomore and he was a real, that after all our sorrows and hard times, we were at last college man. getting our big chance? When Phil learned that my brother, Cliff, played the This elation began to wear thin as time went by and Phil still trombone and 1 played the piano (after a fashion) he frequently had not returned . My feelings of neglect had begun to give way to came over with his violin. Although he occupied the first chair in concern for his safety before I heard his key in the lock. He was the violin section ofthe BYU ChamberMusic Orchestra, he never very remorseful at having to leave me for so long. He explained forgot the fun he had in Rigby when he was part of a four piece that Mr. Everson had many details he though needed going over dance orchestra organized and led by his music teacher, Miss before Phil left, since they would be staying in Utah to finish up. I Critchlow. told him nothing mattered, now that we were together. Our families were so compatible that when the other side of "Pemmie," Phil said seriously, "I have to tell you thatthere is the duplex where the Farnsworths lived became vacant, the another woman in my life." Seeing the hurt look in my eyes, he Gardners moved in. My mother hadbeen in failing health and Mrs. quickly added, "and her name is `Television' . As I see it, the only Farnsworth's friendship did much to bolster her courage. way we will have enough time together, is for you to have a part in There were no jobs to be had the next year, making it my work. Together, no telling how far we will go . how about necessaryfor Philto go to Salt Lakein search ofwork. Hetook any it?" kind of job he could find, sweeping streets, cleaning Pullman "But Phil, I could never understand it." I protested. sleeping cars and ending up with a low paying job in an electric "You can ifyouwant to," Phil assured me, "because I'm going company making minor repairs on small appliances . to helpyou (This was the beginning ofour forty-five years ofclose ." Phil and 1 dated occasionally, mostly attending dances at the companionship .) "Y." It wasn't until Christmas eve of 1925 that we acknowledged The next morning, amid tearful goodbyes and warnings ofthe that our futures were inescapably entwined. It was clear to both of sins ofthe big city from ourparents who had come to see us off, we us, however, that we needed more education to prepare us for the embarked on the exciting Pullman ride to Los Angeles. future we wanted. Ofcourse, I had heard nothing of the invention In the first floor flat we rented in Hollywood to begin our that was locked away in his mind. He told me later that he was work, we found it necessary to draw the blinds in order to test 774r_ill afraid I would think he was talking through his hat. This had Phil's light relay set-up. This led to an LAPD raid and accusations happened to him before in his attempts to get backing for his of operating a liquor still. This was during prohibition days and work, and he couldn't stand getting that reaction from me. such practices were very much frowned upon. Viewed from the My mother passed away the next January, leaving me the neighbor's standpoint, it did look suspicious, especially with eldest ofthe five children at home. Phil was a tower of strength to George Everson winding deflecting coils in the backyard. me. His daily letters and week-end visits kept me going. He talked Cliff into going to Salt Lake where they assembled crystal radio sets in the basement of a boarding house where they lived. It was not a very lucrative business, however, because they had to practically starve themselves to buy parts. It was well that motherly OOPI it became apparent that more money was Mrs. Thomas, who ran their boarding house, saw to it that they needed. While Phil was writing up a disclosure, Les, a graduate had a nourishing supper every evening. mechanical engineer, made finished drawings from his sketches . I About the time Phil was getting so discouraged that he was picked up many pointers which were a big help because Phil contemplating selling his invention to a magazine in the form of decided from the first that I should take over the drawings in his an article, Dame Fortune smiled on them. They were hired by two notebooks. California campaign organizers, George Everson and Leslie At Phil's insistence, a disclosure was to be made to a patent Gorrell, who had been engaged to launch the Salt Lake attorney before discussing his ideas with anyone else. They made Community Chest. They became interested in Phil's television an appointment with the firm of Lyon & Lyon in Los Angeles. Dr. invention and offered to invest $6,000 .00 to get him started. Mott Smith from Cal Tech was called in to evaluate the merits of A partnership was formed, which they called Everson, the invention for the benefit ofGeorge and Les as well as possible Farnsworth & Gorrell . Phil was to have 50% of the venture, and future investors. the two investors were each to have 25% . They had one During the session, which lasted most of the afternoon, stipulation, Phil was to go to Californiato begin his work. Phil said Richard Lyon, the technical partner of the firm, got up and paced this was fine with him, if he could get married first. This was the floor in his excitement, exclaiming, "This is a monstrous something they had not expected, but since they didn't want his idea! . the audacity of this young man's intellect!" mind to be back in Provo with his sweetheart, they agreed. Dr. Smith said he saw no reason why it wouldn't work, but it When Phil called and asked if I could be married in three days would not be easy.
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