 Short Stories of Science and InventionA Collection of Radio Talks byCharles F. KetteringINDEXWeekly, from September 1942 to July 1945, Charles F. Kettering gave five-minute intermission talks about Science and Invention during the radio broadcasts of the General Motors Symphony of the Air. Kettering invented the first automobile self-starter, and for 31 years directed a research laboratory for General Motors. These radio talks are a fascinating legacy from the mind of a prolific inventor. The obvious anachronisms now add a historical perspective of the war-time period in which they were written. These web pages now preserve some of the most popular stories for a new generation to read The text and art come from a General Motors booklet of selected talks. (Reprint, March 1959) |
A Radio Talk by Charles F. Kettering About 70 years ago a young bookkeeper living in Rochester, New York had a great desire to take pictures, but it wasn't so simple then. In the first place photography wasn't a hobby - it was a profession. So this young man, George Eastman, took lessons from a local photographer. He not only had to learn how to handle the camera, but also the more complicated business of developing the plates and printing from them. 
He couldn't afford a studio and, since he had such a great interest in
photography, there was only one thing he could do - take pictures
outdoors. But you didn't take just a camera with you in those days; you
carried an outfit of which the camera was only a part.Eastman's outfit consisted of a camera the size of a soapbox, a large tripod, a big plate holder, a dark tent, a nitrate bath and a water container. |
