Commercial Televisions
Quite understandably, the public was very interested by television. However, some were afraid of it, thinking that it could broadcast personal conversations.
The first commercially-produced television sets are the 1928 Baird model mechanical television sets, presented to the public at the "Olympia" Radio Exhibition at London in 1928.
Only dozens of these were manufactured, though, and the images displayed on the screen were orange-red, blurry, and about half an inch in size. They sold for $55, which is about $729 today.
Only dozens of these were manufactured, though, and the images displayed on the screen were orange-red, blurry, and about half an inch in size. They sold for $55, which is about $729 today.
The first commercially-produced television set in America is the 1938 DuMont Model 180, introduced at the 1939 World Fair. This set was an electronic set and costed $125, or about $2011 today. Also at the 1939 World Fair, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first president to be televised.
By this time, about 19,000 television sets were in operation in England, as opposed to only a few hundred in America.
By this time, about 19,000 television sets were in operation in England, as opposed to only a few hundred in America.