Milestones - 1930s

1930
Research Department formed in April. H.L. Kirke, previously Senior Development Engineer, appointed Senior Research Engineer.

1936
EMI electronic and Baird electro-mechanical television systems compared in over-air tests. 405-line television service using the EMI electronic system launched.

1937
Research Department develops the world's first close-talking noise-cancelling ribbon microphone giving broadcast speech, the L1.

1939
World War II: many staff leave to join armed forces. Those few who remain are concerned mainly with investigation into HF problems and development of antennas and antenna arrays. Some work on disc recording apparatus, including the type used by front-line correspondents.