Description
SIR OLIVER JOSEPH LODGE (1851-1940) SIGNED NOTE, “Oliver Lodge”, on a card 4 x 2.5, by the British physicist and writer involved in the development of, and holder of key patents for, radio. He identified electromagnetic radiation independent of Hertz’s proof and at his 1894 Royal Institution lectures (“The work of Hertz and some of his successors”), Lodge demonstrated and early radio-wave detector he named the “coherer”. In 1898 he was awarded the “syntonic” or (tuning patent) by the United States Patent Office. He was also Principal of the University of Birmingham (1900-20). After some patent disputes with Marconi, which they ultimately settled when Marconi bought Lodge’s syntonic patent in 1912, Lodge was given an honorific position as “special advisor” to Marconi. Lodge also made a major contribution to motoring when he patented a form of electric spark ignition for the internal combustion engine (the Lodge igniter). In addition to his contributions to science, Lodge is remembered for his studies into psychical research and spiritualism and the more than 40 books, including several of which were condemned by the scientific community, that he wrote on the topic. His short handwritten note, in full: “Too busy. Unreasonable to ask this.” The card is in fine condition, with minor age toning, and dated “1909” in another hand at lower left.
$125 #12600
