Mei Man: I drew Superman during the Great Depression

Chapter 242 Industrial Espionage
"Zorykin?"

Ferro Farnsworth frowned and thought for a while, before replying in an unsure tone: "I remember that there was a Russian named Zorigin here before, and he claimed to be interested in TV. The researcher left after staying with me for a few days."

Things like this happened from time to time after Ferro Farnsworth invented television, and he also went from being excited at the beginning to being normal now.

After all, the purpose of many visitors is not to figure out the principles behind their own invention, but just to know how much benefit this invention can bring them.

This was especially evident after the Great Depression.

Even Ferro Farnsworth himself has been affected. In order to be able to industrialize the television set he invented, he has tried to industrialize it more than once.

However, the high cost behind this has become an obstacle to the industrialization of Ferro Farnsworth TV.

Originally, Ferro Farnsworth thought that funding was already his biggest problem in the TV industry, but Colin in front of him told him that a bigger problem than funding was waiting for him.

"If that's the case, then Mr. Ferro, I regret to tell you that Zorigin is apparently a hired 'industrial spy', and his previous visit was to find out the secrets you invented on the television set."

"Industrial espionage?!"

The news given by Colin obviously shocked Ferro Farnsworth.

"Are you sure, Mr. Colin Luper, I don't doubt you, but this is really too disturbing..."

He looked at Colin in front of him, and asked with some uncertainty.

Such a reaction from Philo Farnsworth is not surprising, after all, if everything Colin said was true, it would have serious consequences for his television invention.

"of course."

Nodding his head, Colin said with confidence, and at the same time told the other party another news.

"As far as I know, the Radio Corporation of America has been manufacturing related TVs since a few years ago, and has already made staged progress. I believe it will be manufactured in a short time."

Colin's words reminded Ferro Farnsworth of a terrible fact.

"Mr. Colin Luper, what do you mean?"

To this, Colin did not answer, but nodded in response.

"Impossible. I still have the patent right for televisions. If RCA wants to produce televisions, it must apply for my authorization."

Trying to calm the astonishment in his heart, Ferro Farnsworth murmured.

"All this is premised on RCA's acknowledgment that the patent belongs to you."

However, Colin's next words deprived Ferro Farnsworth of his last glimmer of hope.

In an instant, Ferro Farnsworth felt that all the strength in his body was pulled out. In the laboratory, he staggered and managed to stabilize his body. Looking at Colin in front of him, he said in disbelief: "Why, I do have a patent for a television set in my hand. This is a fact recognized by the US government. Why does American Radio Corporation still do this."

"Benefit."

The reason why American Radio Corporation did this is naturally because of the huge interests behind the TV.

In fact, the later American Radio Corporation also did this. They successfully delayed the patent time of Ferro Farnsworth's TV set through long legal proceedings, and waited until Ferro Farnsworth won the lawsuit. At that time, he no longer had the funds in his hands to legally produce.

And RCA waited until Ferro Farnsworth's patents expired before mass-producing televisions, promoting Zorigin and the company's boss as the fathers of television in a public relations campaign.

That is to say, from the beginning to the end, the American Radio Corporation did not pay Ferro Farnsworth a patent fee for the production of television sets.

Colin's answer can be said to hit the nail on the head.

In the laboratory, Ferro Farnsworth was silent for a while before looking up at the man in front of him who told him everything.

Obviously, the other party is willing to tell him the truth, and also maintains a special purpose.

"So, Mr. Colin Looper, you tell me what the purpose of all this is?"

"As I said before, Mr. Ferro." Looking at Ferro Farnsworth who had recovered from the huge blow in front of him, Colin immediately stated the purpose of his trip: "Benefits, this is also That’s what I’m after too.”

Radio Corporation of America stole Ferro Farnsworth's television invention patent for the huge interests behind the industry, and Colin told the other party this also because he valued the benefits that television could bring.It's just that the interests he values ​​are slightly different from those of Radio Corporation of America.

"You want the TV patent in my hand?"

If he knew that Radio Corporation of America had stolen his patents, Ferro Farnsworth might still have great confidence in his patents.

However, after knowing about the Radio Corporation of America, even with the patent in hand, Ferro Farnsworth was still a little uneasy.

Even so, on the surface he still tried to maintain a calm appearance, looked at Colin and said: "Give me a reason, Mr. Colin Luper, why I must cooperate with you, from my personal standpoint, I am very grateful to you Tell me about RCA, and I will try my best to find out the truth. However, if it is a patent cooperation, I can go to a large company in the industry to cooperate in the production of TVs. I believe that in terms of law and patent protection , they can give me more help."

If there is no matter of the Radio Corporation of America, Ferro Farnsworth himself is more inclined to hold the patent of the TV in his own hands.

This is one of the reasons why he founded his own TV company.

This is also the process of Edison's entrepreneurship. Compared with Edison, Ferro Farnsworth is obviously not so lucky.

"Under normal circumstances, that should be the case."

Ferro Farnsworth's reaction was also within Colin's expectations. In fact, Ferro Farnsworth did this at the beginning. It's just a pity that he failed. As for the reason for the failure, it is natural Or because of RCA.

"However, Mr. Ferro, it seems to have overlooked that the biggest business of RCA itself is radio patents. If most electronics factories want to produce radios, they must cooperate with RCA. How do you think they will choose? Do you co-produce televisions or abandon the already mature radio industry?"

Compared with the TV industry, which has not yet matured and does not know what the market prospects are, after a long period of development, radio has already had a large enough market size.

To choose between the two, even Ferro Farnsworth knows the trade-offs.

"It seems that Mr. Colin Luper is well prepared."

Responding to Colin's reminder, Ferro Farnsworth looked at the calm man in front of him. Right now, he seemed to have only one choice.

"No, I'm just a kind reminder to you, Mr. Filo."

After revealing so much, if he returns empty-handed in the end, then Colin's trip to San Francisco will be in vain.

Now that he has come, he is naturally well prepared.

Withdrawing his eyes from Colin, Ferro Farnsworth turned his head to look at the prototype TV in the laboratory. His face showed a struggling expression visible to the naked eye, but the struggle soon turned. For the color of firmness.

"If Mr. Colin Luper can help me promote television, I don't mind cooperating with you."

Become!

In the laboratory, after hearing Ferro Farnsworth's words, Colin knew that the purpose of his trip had been achieved.

"However, one thing must be confirmed, that is, I must be the actual master of the TV patent."

It can be seen that the news that Colin gave before had a great impact on Ferro Farnsworth, which is why he cares so much about the patent issue.

"There is no need for Mr. Ferro to worry too much about this. In the future, you will be the father of television."

Hearing Colin's assurance, a smile appeared on Ferro Farnsworth's face.

……

"Out……"

Outside the residence of Ferro Farnsworth, John Daly watched Colin coming out of the laboratory, and quickly retracted his arm on the suitcase.

"Let's go."

After making an appointment with Ferro to meet tomorrow, Colin got into the car and nodded to John Daly in front of the driver's seat.

After starting the car and heading to the hotel, John Daly glanced at Colin in the rear seat through the interior mirror of the car, and then asked, "Mr. Colin Luper, is everything going well? "

"Basically it's settled."

Nodding his head, Colin replied casually.

The cooperation with Ferro Farnsworth TV has been confirmed, but the other party still needs time to tell investors about it.

When television was invented, some investors who valued the prospect of television cooperated with Ferro Farnsworth, and the funds they invested were also the main motivation for Ferro Farnsworth to continue experimenting.

"Next, is there anything Mr. Colin Luper wants to do?"

Looking away from the man basking in the sun on the side of the road outside the car, Colin looked curiously at John Daly in the driver's seat.

"What's interesting about San Francisco?"

Hearing Colin's question, John Daly in the driver's seat was obviously interested.

"Speaking of fun, it's the flagpole challenge. Recently, a guy named Richard started to challenge to live on the flagpole nearby. It is said that he has been on it for more than ten days. He stays on it whether he eats or sleeps. Many people in San Francisco Every day the citizens pass by will see his figure staying there, and they don’t know what he thinks.”

Sitting on the flagpole is an "entertainment method" that has continued since before the Great Depression. The initiator of this trend is a Hollywood stuntman named Alvin Kelly. As many as 1930 people came to Atlantic City in the summer of 2 to watch Kelly eat, sleep and shave from the 225-foot flagpole for 49 days.

Later, with the economic downturn, this challenge gradually became less and less.

Colin did not expect to hear the appearance of this related challenger in San Francisco.

Glancing over the scene in the endoscope, he noticed that Colin was not very interested in it, so John Daly immediately changed the subject and went to other places: "Of course, besides the flagpole challenge, dancing marathons are also popular in nearby dance halls. "

"Dance Marathon?"

Marathon Colin knows that just associating it with dancing is a bit surprising.

Noticing the curiosity in Colin's eyes, John Daly immediately explained.

The dance marathon is obviously a special form of anticipation belonging to the Great Depression, and its principle is somewhat similar to the later reality show.

These marathons, which often last days or weeks, feature a huge chest-high table in the center of the dance floor where the dancers eat.And every hour, contestants have a 15-minute break, during which time they may lie in cots while nurses tend to them or rub their feet for soreness.

Because it is necessary to keep dancing for 45 minutes every hour, how to maintain physical strength during the competition has become the key. Even some marathon participants have learned to save physical strength during the dance.But there are also risks, as if one of the sleeping people's knees touches the floor, the participant will be disqualified, so skilled dance marathon participants will often tie their wrists before going to bed. Behind the opponent's neck for extra protection against knockouts due to mistakes.

Such challenges obviously take their toll on the body, but people in the Great Depression apparently didn't care.

According to John Daly, there are many dance marathons in San Francisco, and most of the participants are couples or lovers who have financial problems.

They can get food through the dance marathon challenge, and the final winner can also get a bonus.

This was obviously a rare opportunity for down-and-out families living in the midst of the Great Depression, which is why the dance-a-thon challenge is all the rage in San Francisco.

It is said that after each event, more than a hundred spectators paid to watch this challenge up close.

Although, John Daly's description of the dance marathon is quite interesting.

But Colin was not very interested in this. He glanced at the scattered shops outside the car. Obviously, no matter whether it was a flagpole challenge or a dance marathon, it could not conceal the fact that San Francisco was in economic decline. After arriving in San Francisco, he looked at the The most people are the unemployed army basking in the sun.

Looking across the newsstand at the intersection, Colin suddenly asked John Daly in front of the driver's seat.

"How about the papers in San Francisco?"

(End of this chapter)