<P> Herbert E. Ives and Frank Gray of Bell Telephone Laboratories gave a dramatic demonstration of mechanical television on April 7 , 1927 . The reflected - light television system included both small and large viewing screens . The small receiver had a two - inch - wide by 2.5 - inch - high screen . The large receiver had a screen 24 inches wide by 30 inches high . Both sets were capable of reproducing reasonably accurate , monochromatic moving images . Along with the pictures , the sets also received synchronized sound . The system transmitted images over two paths : first , a copper wire link from Washington to New York City , then a radio link from Whippany , New Jersey . Comparing the two transmission methods , viewers noted no difference in quality . Subjects of the telecast included Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover . A flying - spot scanner beam illuminated these subjects . The scanner that produced the beam had a 50 - aperture disk . The disc revolved at a rate of 18 frames per second , capturing one frame about every 56 milliseconds . ( Today 's systems typically transmit 30 or 60 frames per second , or one frame every 33.3 or 16.7 milliseconds respectively . ) Television historian Albert Abramson underscored the significance of the Bell Labs demonstration : `` It was in fact the best demonstration of a mechanical television system ever made to this time . It would be several years before any other system could even begin to compare with it in picture quality . '' </P>
who invented the first black and white television
Herbert E. Ives and Frank Gray of Bell Telephone Laboratories