By Dave Jensen, W7DGJ

As amateur radio operators, we're aware of the intrigues of radio history -- especially those early years when the technology was constantly evolving. QRZ's previous articles in Trials and Errors have elaborated on the men of radio, which left a giant hole to fill by women who have had an impact as well.

I have enjoyed researching and writing about inventors and innovators (two different things -- see my thoughts on those differences) but along the way I missed out on a remarkable story. It's the tale of the woman behind Major E. Howard Armstrong, the fellow who invented the regenerative circuit, the superheterodyne, and FM radio -- among other things. Major Armstrong was critical to our radios even today, but he wouldn't have been credited with all of these efforts if it hadn't been for the extraordinarily persistent woman he left behind at his untimely death.

Please read on to learn more about why this particular YL proved to be an influential "radio woman" herself!

A Love Affair that Began and Ended with Radio at its Core

Esther McInnis came to New York City just out of her teens, in hopes of building a professional life for herself in the city. She left behind rural Massachusets and, after a stint in secretarial school, landed a great job as secretary to David Sarnoff of RCA. She decided that New York City was the place for her and she dropped the name of Esther, taking up her middle name (Marion) for this new and exciting life.

Marion had the opportunity to see Howard Armstrong on many occasions as he and Sarnoff would meet frequently to discuss the technological advances that were coming out of Armstrong's laboratory at Philosophy Hall on Amsterdam Avenue. Howard was, at the time, not only an inventor but a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Columbia University. (See photo below of Philosophy Hall at Columbia.)

Professor Armstrong wasn't like the other visitors to the Sarnoff office. As opposed to the boisterous, loud and often frisky manners of the salesmen callers for Mr. Sarnoff, Howard was polite, a bit quiet, but clearly very interesting. She often wondered if he had any interests at all besides the passion he showed for the radio art.

Marion, described as a beautiful, tall blonde, stood a full head and shoulders above her boss David Sarnoff. She was certainly used to a lot of attention in the halls of RCA, but it wasn't the salesmen who won this beauty's attention. As she got to know Howard in his regular visits with Sarnoff, Marion developed a sincere interest in him. He was smart. He was an honorable man who had served his country well in the war, and someone who instantly commanded respect. Soon she began to notice that he was, in his own unique way, expressing an interest in her as well.

During their courtship, Howard had been fond of showing off for Marion's sake, which went against the "shy" countenance that she imagined for him. He was photographed climbing the RCA radio tower atop the building on several occasions -- even performing a handstand at the very top in honor of Marion.

They were married in 1923. At their honeymoon, Armstrong gifted Marion with the "world's first portable radio," and the newspapers were full of photos of the two as they relaxed on the beach with this monstrous, battery powered AM radio. (See photo of Marion donating that radio to the Henry Ford Foundation many years after Howard's death.)

Litigation that Nearly Destroys Both of Them

The happiness in this marriage didn't last for more than a few years, because Howard Armstrong had been tied up with litigation and patent disputes long enough that his finances (and sanity) were taking a hit. Unfortunately, Armstrong continued to be entirely focused on the wrongs that were being done to him by the legal system and by years of court actions with people like Lee de Forest and David Sarnoff . . . most of those lawsuits had gone in the wrong direction. He became quite embittered, despite the mental armor that he tried so hard to build up as protection from the damage these challenges were posing to his brilliant mind.

Howard had never paid enough attention to the effect of this stressful lifestyle on Marion. Depressed and seemingly without support, she threw herself into the East River and had to spend months in a mental hospital before returning to her husband. All the while, their financial resources continued to show huge losses, and finally, on November 1st, 1953, Howard told Marion that they had reached the bottom of the well . . . there was nothing left to support their continued legal fight.

Howard insisted they use their retirement monies, kept separate in Marion's name. She refused. At that low moment in their relationship, Professor Armstrong took a fireplace poker and swung it at Marion, striking her. She left him immediately, and that was the final straw for Armstrong. Three months later he threw himself off the balcony of their 12th floor NYC apartment.

It was, indeed, an American tragedy.

A Strong Woman Arises

At her husband's death, Marion inherited her husband's patents. It would have been easy to take the approach recommended to her by most of the attorneys she spoke with. That is, to simply negotiate a lolow, flat fee from each of the radio manufacturers who were stomping on Howard's five key patents for FM radio. But Marion wanted these offenders to pay dearly for their legal shenanigans.

After the news of Armstrong's death, the list of offending companies expanded, consisting of smaller radio companies like Avco, Arvin, Sentinel, and Packard Bell, along with jumbo offenders like Emerson Radio and Phonograph, Motorola, Admiral, and Philco. Marion went after the smaller companies first and gathered enough resources from them in patent wins that she was then able to go after the big guys.

Emerson had taken a particularly egregious stance, claiming that the patents had expired, the inventor had passed away, and that no one was entitled to pick up the pieces of patent enforcement. This was a direct attack on Marion Armstrong, and she rose to the occasion. Marion (and the judge as well) had to learn the entire workings of FM radio technology, and in doing so it was clear to them that Howard did not simply pick through pieces of existing FM radio technology by other inventors. His work was truly unique, and the judge's decision aligned with Marion and her attorneys.

All of the companies except one fell into line quickly after the Emerson suit. Winning those legal battles made Marion Armstrong a very wealthy woman, enough so that she could now go after the one remaining holdout . . . Motorola. In what might have been a move simply to avoid the punishment they knew was coming, brought in quite a number of attorneys to tie Marion up for years in the courts.

Putting the Finishing Touches on Howard's Legacy

The case went to trial in Chicago in 1961 and finished up two years later, with the judge agreeing that the Emerson findings were correct . . . his 44-page decision clearly stated that it was new technology that Howard had brought forward.

The Motorola lawyers then fought it on appeal, and lost again. After trying for yet another appeal by the circuit court, which was refused, the matter went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court came down in favor of Mrs. Armstrong in October of 1967. This put a close to the whole matter of litigation on Major Howard Armstrong's radio patents, which had taken Howard and Marion a full 53 years to resolve. But the matter was successfully concluded thanks to this intelligent and persistent woman.

As I read about Howard Armstrong's legal troubles, I believe that he may have made a huge error by not involving Marion in his battles from day one. Sometimes, being too close to a matter like this can hurt you, and this was certainly true in Howard's case. Just imagine what new miracles Howard Armstrong's inventive mind might have come up with if he had allowed Marion to manage the legal stuff instead of spending 90% of his thinking time tied up in those lawsuits!

Marion Armstrong went on to fund a number of prizes and radio fellowships in honor of her late husband. She never remarried.

73 for now,

Dave W7DGJ

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