Tech History Made on January 31, 1954

On this day in 1954 Edwin Howard Armstrong took his own life. Armstrong had many patents and was involved in one of the longest patent wars to date (involving the regenerative circuit). His greatest invention was frequency modulation radio, or FM radio. Armstrong patented it in 1933 as US patent 1941066 with the title of "Radio signalling system". FM produced a clearer static free sound compared to the already popular AM radio. Of course another fight ensued as big companies dig not want to lose the ground they made in AM radio. Then another patent war erupted, RCA claimed they invented FM radio and won in court. This insured that Armstong would not receive any royalties from FM radios sold. Armstrong was defeated and broke, he jumped to his death from the 13th floor of his apartment building on January 31, 1954. Armstrong's widow, Marion, renewed the battle with RCA and finally won patent rights. Nice to see that big business can be beat.