STEREO STARS

Yes, Alan Blumlein was one the pioneers of stereo sound (January issue). But, as with many innovations, there were others too who contributed to the development of stereo. It was not just Blumlein, as implied by the exclusive credit in your article.

Harvey Fletcher, of Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., achieved stereo recording on film in 1931. He and Arthur Keller invented a 45-degree stereo recording method, and in 1936 a stereo phonograph record. In 1933, Fletcher managed to transmit a Philadelphia Orchestra performance from Philadelphia to Washington DC in stereo over telephone lines. Conductor Leopold Stokowski collaborated with Bell Labs scientists on some of these early projects.

So while Alan Blumlein was inventive, so too were the scientists of Bell Labs. They – and others

– all deserve sharing in the credit for bringing us the realism of stereophonic recorded sound.

Every month the editor will award a Solardab 2 Roberts radio (retail value £80 – see www.robertsradio.co.uk) to the writer of the best letter received. The editor reserves the right to shorten letters for publication.