Title
Photographs related to Wikkenhauser's career from the 1940's to the 1960's
Reference
UK0108 SC MSS 257/05/02
Date
1940s to 1960s
Creator
Scope and Content
Photographs of Wikkenhauser at various technical events and occassions including;
1. 18 photographs (some duplicates) probably taken at MIFED (Milan Fair for International Motion Pictures) in 1960. The publicity photographs have no details on the reverse but the MIFED badges can be seen and a sign for the Societa Italiana Televisione (SIT). Name plates, next to speakers, show that Wikkenhauser, and the television pioneers Arturo Castellani and V K Zworykin were present (Zworykin was given the honorary title of Champion as MIFED in 1960).
2. Two corporate photographs, circa 1960's, belonging to the Kelvin Hughes instrumentation company where Wikkenhauser worked. One photograph shows Wikkenhauser and others demonstrating instruments to Royal Air Force personnel. The second shows Wickenhauser with the aviator and sailor, Francis Chichester standing in a factory/laboratory in front of an instrumentation box.
3. Three photographs from unidentified events. One photograph shows individuals standing near a machine and display board which has the title, 'rapid processing photographic projector'.
Exent
1 envelope
Admin. history/Biography
Gustav Wikkenhauser, somtimes referred to as one of the pioneers of television, died aged 73 in 1974. He was internationally known for his research into scientific instruments. In recognition of his contribution to science he had been awarded an MBE in 1946 and had been made a Freeman of the City of London in 1958.
Gustav was born in Budapest in 1901 and educated at Budapest University. He worked in Berlin on the early stages of mechanical television and was invited to come to Britain to work on television in the UK where he started to work for the company Scophony Ltd.
He became a naturalized British citizen in 1941 and was awarded the MBE for his scientific work at that time. After the war, in 1946 he married his second wife, Pamela. In 1947 Gustav became Chief Development Engineer for Kelvin Hughes (division of Smith Industries Ltd), of Barkingside, where he researched navigational instruments.
He was a Fellow of The Television Society, a Member of the British Institution of Radio Engineers, a member of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers, and a Fellow of the Institute of Navigation. He retired in 1967 but continued to work as a consultant for Shell International Marine Ltd, for whom he researched the measurement of ship's motion.
Persons keyword
Level of description
file
