Remembering the engineer [Consumer Electronics Television]

"I\´M SORRY. I have no idea who he is." That\´s the response that is all too common when we mention the name Gustav Wikkenhauser, described in a newspaper obituary as \´a pioneer of television.\´ If he was indeed a pioneer, why does his name bring no recognition? Professors of modern history, technology and science are clueless about this elusive engineer. So who was Gustav Wikkenhauser, whose ingenuity has become lost in the mists of time? E&T magazine was contacted recently by the IET assistant archivist, Jon Cable, who acquired some papers donated to the IET archives; the subject being the mysterious Wikkenhauser. The papers would have been filed away but coincidentally, the National Archives released a document about Wikkenhauser\´s naturalisation application on 30 October 2014, 31 years early from its 100 year classification. The declassified document involved Wikkenhauser\´s problematic application to become a British citizen. Had it not been for this, we would have not given him the recognition he thoroughly deserves.