GASSIOT, JOHN P. - EARLY TELEVISION.

The Bakerian Lecture. - On the Stratifications and Dark Band in Electrical Discharges as observed in Torricellian Vacua. Received January 6, - Read March 4, 1858. (+) On the Stratifications in Electrical Discharges, as observed in Torricellian and other Vacua.- Second Communication. Received December 9, 1858, - Read January 13, 1859. (2 papers).

(London, Richard Taylor and William Francis, 1858 a. 1859.). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions", Vol. 148 - Part I and Vol. 149 - Part I. Pp. 1-16, textillustr. and 1 lithographed plate with 12 figures of induction coils, apparatus, tubes and striae. A few minor brownspots to plate. First leaf a bit shaved in inner margin, no loss. + Pp. 137-160, textfigs and 1 lithographed plate showing apparatus and tubes.

First appearance of this importent paper in the development of early televison.

"Faradays discovery in 1838 of the negative dark space had revived intyerest in the glow discharge caused by conduction of electricity through gases at low pressure, but Gassiot's interest in this discharge was directly stimulated by W.R. Grove's almost incidental report in 1852 that the discharge was "striated by transverse non-luminous bands..." In his initial investigations showed that if enough care were exercised to achieve a sufficiently low pressure, situations could be produced in the Torricellian vacuum. Next he demonstrated that both a static electric machine and a Ruhmkorff coil with a Grove cell produced a striated discharge. This once again confirmed the identity of these two electricities. He also noticed that a powerfull elexctromagnet divided the striations into what appeared to be two distinct columns. The paper in which Gassiot announced these discoveries (the first paper offered) was honoured as the Royal Society's Bakerian lecture for 1858."(DSB V, p. 292).

(Shiers & Shiers "Early Televison. A Bibliography to 1940", No. 25 & 29)

Order-nr.: 43467