Life of John Logie Baird - World of Biography

[1888 – 1946]

LIFE AND WORKS

John Logie Baird – The Young Experimenter

John Baird The youngest of four children to Jessie and Reverend Baird, John was born on August 14, 1888, at the large house called ‘The Lodge’ of ‘wee’ little Helensburgh, a coastal town of Glasgow.

By the turn of the century, this house had witnessed little Logie experimenting on a variety of things which displayed his instincts and aptitudes of an inventor. This young unknown technological innovator (in the seventh grade), was uncomfortable to see his little chums playing with telephones made of tin cans and string. Instead, he made an electric exchange and connected his home to those of his four friends. Unfortunately, angry neighbors soon dismantled the service as they found the street ‘unattractive’ and the hanging wires distracted a cab driver ending in an accident.

The homemade, varnished wooden box that formed the center of this telephone exchange still exists and is in the possession of Baird historian Neil Rimington of Eastbourne, England. Not discouraged by it, Logie – a boy, who always utilized his resources to the fullest used the telephone exchange to set up the lighting system for his family. The lighting house made in his backyard was run by a petrol-powered generator. This activity made ‘The Lodge’ to be the first house in Helensburgh to have electric lighting. Simultaneously, John Baird was also conducting experiments and research in other areas.

The first year of this century saw the unknown inventor standing on the roof of ‘The Lodge’ to experiment the glider constructed with the assistance of his friend Godfrey Harris, but that was an experience that had a strong impact on the rest of Baird’s life. Baird describes this incident in his autobiography Sermons, Soap and Television : "I had no intention of flying, but before I had time to give more than one shriek of alarm, Godfrey gave the machine one terrific push, and I was launched shrieking into the air. I had a few very nauseating seconds while the machine rocked wildly and then broke in half and deposited me with a terrific bump on the lawn."

John Baird Some of the considerably serious incidents were soon to follow. Young Baird also experimented with selenium at the age of 15. Selenium was a metal which had been discovered to be sensitive to light and darkness : this was an essential component in the early television system. This was not all. Baird’s interest in photography was another area that he involved himself in. The picture taken from the negatives of his camera had produced satisfactory results. It could be then be said that this little master Logie was jack of all trade.

Educational Graph

A healthy social life and an inventive nature seemed to be at variance when his educational graph is scrutinized. The 12-year-old boy John, is described in his school report at Larchfield School as ‘very slow’, ‘timid’ and "…by no means a quick learner". Academic report did not discourage Baird and he got himself enrolled in 1906, on a diploma course in electrical engineering at a technical college in Glasgow. After graduating from this course he entered the Glasgow University to upgrade his diploma to degree. Unfortunately, he never completed his degree as World War I broke out. The intervention of war gave Baird an opportunity to enroll in the army. But he was pronounced unfit for military service and he joined Clyde Valley Electricity Company as a Superintendent. Baird’s electric career ended, after he tried to manufacture artificial diamond by passing a huge current through blocks of carbon; the unhappy result was a breakdown in the local power supply, and he was out of his job.

Baird – An Entrepreneur

John Baird Baird’s inventions were not concerned with television or electrical world alone. He also tried out some viable commercial ventures. The first of several such ‘excursions’ consisted of the ‘Baird undersock’ (warm in winter and cool in summer), and unbleached half hose sprinkle which sold well. Despite being profitable, it could not hold Baird on the idea for long. Baird closed down the sock operation and went to Trinidad with his friend to escape the Scottish winter. The island-full of sugar, citrus fruit and mango trees gave him the idea of another new venture. Baird erected three bamboo huts and started manufacturing jams and other related things. But unfortunately, the aroma of the boiling jam was an open invitation to insects to swarm in. Somehow, this tropical venture had a sticky end.

On his return to England, he tried his fortune selling mango chutney, honey and soap. Destiny had better things in store for him. A series of experiments were on the anvil, which were to change his and millions of lives around the world.