Chapter 116

Chapter 116

The Chairman's Daily Routine

I looked at Fleming's face once more, and fixed my gaze on the item held in his hand.

No matter how looking it was a vacuum tube.

Vacuum tube.

A device that flows current in a vacuum state and changes alternating current to direct current.

In fact whether fast or late it seemed would appear around now.

Because this was an invention, and nothing, a simple principle device born by slightly twisting the light bulb Mr. Edison made.

Last year around somewhere a newspaper article that America's light bulb patent expired faintly came to mind.

America's patent expiration period is 20 years. Even though very long compared to Britain's 14 years already the period ended.

If over 20 years since inventing the light bulb even if the vacuum tube comes out not strange.

And this vacuum tube becomes the signal flare of the early 20th century electronic revolution.

From radio, wireless communication, radar to basic calculation devices and even the vacuum tube amp of our past house.

But now no one knew that possibility. Except me.

"...Our company earnestly hopes for the Board of Trade's investment. If supporting this Atlantic crossing wireless signal experiment... I, chairman?"

"Hmm."

If about the evaluation of wireless communication I also heard and knew a bit.

An unknown technology that one can't know why it succeeds at all.

This was exactly the basic reaction of current scientists and media. Half skeptical, from there again half half-believing, opinions discussing commercialization possibility less than 10 percent.

The person who discovered the wireless signal transmission and reception method called Marconi, originally Italian, a few years ago succeeded a few times in short-distance signal transmission experiments within several kilometers that said. But in Italy no one recognized the value of this technology.

Ultimately crossed to Britain and set up a company, and seemed to have heard the talk of probing commercialization to the British navy.

On land one exchanges signals with wires but on ships impossible so from the navy's position if succeeds jackpot, or else whatever that feeling and invested some funds... but still no clear results.

Recently succeeded in exchanging signals between the Dover Strait, but even that had many controversies.

All due to the crude technology of the current era.

Don't know why communication succeeds.

Knew the existence of electromagnetic waves but don't know the utilization method either.

So everyone didn't know the fact that signals can be unstable depending on weather or environment, and long-distance transmission might be impossible depending on the length of the frequency.

Voice signals that can be loaded on electromagnetic waves are really an extremely small part.

Have to filter this and output to the speaker, but don't know the principle so even if all kinds of noise in the air mixed a lot no solution.

Several experiments and repeated failures, tremendous noise pouring from the speaker.

So the navy making a fuss saying useless but wasting money every time.

I well whether lived in a world where wireless communication itself became daily so no particular suspicion.

Anyway I pointed out that point.

"Ugh, but with this signal separation device I invented even now continuously looking for methods to optimize! The experiment will succeed!"

"What's that device?"

"Something called two-electrode vacuum tube... I personally call it diode. Changed the filament of the light bulb to tungsten instead of carbon, and flowing alternating electricity to one pole direct current comes out flowing to the opposite side, right! Receiving wireless signals with this voice separation became much better! Please invest in this technology, chairman!"

"Do you know the principle?"

"Uh, hmm..."

I suddenly seemed to know why this man lacks confidence.

Somehow created. But completely doesn't know why it becomes so.

An era with no frequency concept, even no concept of wave length of radio waves now.

The basic method of radio of allocating specific frequencies and separating channels would need dozens more years to be established. If I only don't intervene.

Of course even if wanting to intervene impossible. Refrigerator well I was a cooking YouTuber so studied for content and roughly drew drawings, radio was a completely different world story.

I quickly flipped through the resume Mr. Fleming submitted or the design drawings of that device etc.

He was a person with quite a unique history.

Majored chemistry and physics at London University, studied chemistry again at the Royal College in South Kensington, then went to Cambridge and majored mathematics and physics again.

After that became an electrical engineering professor and worked as an advisory consultant at the British branch of Mr. Edison's old company.

In the 20s prime age only attending university, after that earned some money with the professor position but spent all on research. So natural to have a lot of debt. The shabby appearance also made sense.

After that designed wireless transmitters and receivers instead at Marconi's company.

In a way Marconi was a person similar to me. I also made various items by making other people.

The difference, Marconi is still treated as an Italian origin fraudster selling uncertain technology in Britain.

A while ago also seemed to have received carpet bombing from the media on the navy's budget execution problem, but well found me.

Expected if exhibiting this at the exposition other investors would appear?

But why didn't the president come directly and why did this person come?

Usually the president or people of important positions directly visited me and bowed their heads. Have to persuade me, because I defended ironclad. Rumors spread as much as they spread.

Something a bit suspicious smell. Of course not skunk perfume talk.

"But isn't that wireless communication company Mr. Marconi's company? Why did you bother to find me directly? Seems no position either."

"Ah, for now I'm an employee... not the main developer, received a bit of a request..."

Very a person with very lacking confidence.

I also have been quite passive until now, but this person went one spoon more than me.

But the technology holding was clearly real.

"January 1900, failed 1,000 mile experiment, February succeeded 1,300 mile challenge, March failed again at 1,200 miles. Failures 10 cases successes 4 cases. Looking at this record the signal transmitted from the Dover Strait also cut in 3 minutes. Seems have to check stability first. Like this can't use, right? The Atlantic crossing telegraph cable looks much better."

"O-of course I recognize that point! Just lacking time and budget, will succeed! Such... such a feeling..."

"With only feeling can't persuade."

"Ah, aah..."

Clearly excuses were a sin.

Mr. Fleming shoulders drooped and slowly gathered the vacuum tube device bit by bit.

"Mr. Fleming."

"Yes? Ah, yes. Chairman."

"That vacuum tube. Diode."

"Ah, yes."

"You said you made that directly? Did you apply for patent rights?"

"Yes? Uh, no. Because test technology still..."

"Why? If working well as you said isn't it excellent technology?"

"T-that... Mr. Marconi the president said until all experiments end there's risk of leakage so let's hold the patent rights..."

This really a strange smell?

Clearly I know the name Marconi. Because rose as the inventor of wireless communication even in biographies.

But the name Fleming I heard for the first time here. Of course might be a scientist who becomes famous later, or my knowledge short so didn't recognize, anyway related to the wireless communication field I only know Marconi.

But a genius enough to invent the vacuum tube why so unfamiliar?

Knowing that vacuum tubes were used in early radios, a intuition that that vacuum tube ultimately will play a decisive role in the success of wireless communication arose.

Roughly looking at the situation the invention seems all done alone.

Why does it look so like a pushover?

"Strange. No position in the company either, and even came directly to persuade me, but hmm, the president wanting investment not even a nose visible."

"T-that...!"

"Might be rude, but how much is the annual salary?"

"My annual salary?! That's a bit hard to reveal..."

"If telling I'll review the proposal positively."

"Oh... T-then I'll tell. With the professor position receive 500 pounds every year!"

"I didn't ask the professor position annual salary? How much did you receive making that? There would be consulting fees, right."

Receiving 500 pounds a year with the professor position?! Super rich?! But why the appearance like that?

"T-none—"

"None?"

"Yes... If succeeding later receive a bit of share..."

Mr. Fleming was very ashamed. Even in his thought seemed to have felt it was strange treatment.

Really a pushover, this person.

Looking seemed even poured the professor position annual salary and created the vacuum tube.

"Did you write a contract?"

"What contract..."

"The one of giving share if experiment succeeds. Have to receive stocks, right. If later washing the mouth clean what will you do?"

"Ah, clearly did an oral contract."

"Oral contracts can't be legally proven, Mr. Fleming."

"Can't?!"

I felt a strangely stomach-aching feeling.

No, around me even washing eyes and looking no such pushover, that fraudster Marconi on earth where picked up such a talent?!

In an instant a picture was drawn in the head.

The real inventor of wireless communication, not Marconi but this person.

Don't know how cooked, well, since Marconi discovering wireless communication is fact so fell for that part. But after that no ability to develop one's discovery, so looked for an appropriate pushover and tried to tear and eat, right?

Absolutely couldn't endure. Now was exactly the time to rescue the genius inventor from the grasp of that evil Italian fraudster.

"Naturally can't. Come, I'll give one advice."

I took out one contract from the desk drawer.

The legal standard contract for patent right confirmation.

Because so many various matters occurring at this seat lately naturally prepared.

I took out a pen and wrote a lot of content there.

"Push this to the company president and request. If signing I'll definitely invest in the name of the British Empire government. Okay to hang my name too."

"Hanging the name of the renowned chairman, how can I dare such a matter..."

Mr. Fleming carefully received the document I handed and started reading.

"T-this..."

"Yes, patent share confirmation request. Well already promised compensation, right? No matter what Mr. Marconi is an Italian who hasn't even naturalized so investing in an Italian's business hanging my name is a bit reluctant. Please put the name on the company as the British representative Mr. Fleming. Then I'll invest believing Mr. Fleming."

Mr. Fleming slightly hesitated.

"Uh, if not signing?"

"Then return to me again. I'll give the next advice. No relation, right? Technology development all Mr. Fleming did."

"Then for now I'll talk."

"Even late tonight no relation. If work doesn't go well return right away."

"T-thank you, chairman!"

Mr. Fleming left, and I was certain he would return again today.

That premonition wasn't wrong.

Two hours later, around evening he who found again had an expression unable to suppress anger.

"Fought for one hour but only heard words of absolutely not! Moreover already submitted in one's name saying will review patent rights one month ago state! I uh, what should I do, chairman?!"

"Oh dear, got nicely hit."

For me a very exciting and good situation.

Now the time to punish the fraudster openly committing fraud. And I also had a record of pondering various methods preparing for the patent war with J.P. Morgan in the meantime.

I handed him one more paper I prepared in the meantime.

"...What is this?!"

"Sign. Then that wireless communication technology patent right, all becomes Mr. Fleming's."

"There, the date written here, is February 1, 1900!"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"Today is November 28, 1901!"

"So, is there a problem?"

"This, isn't fraud? The patent right application date advanced by 1 year, right!"

"Is there a problem?"

"Problem... is there none?"

"Yes, in the place I live it says no problem. Ah, for reference in case you forgot I'll say again I'm the technology development review chairman of the Board of Trade. Have the authority to intervene in patent rights. And if only signing there the legal effect will be applied right away."

Only then Mr. Fleming who properly understood my words opened the mouth and lost words.