The television set underwent a radical transformation during the course of the 20th century, and has continued evolving drastically in the beginnings of the 21st century. Though flat-screen and high-definition TV sets are the norm today, modern viewers are somewhat spoiled by the selection of TV models available and the ease with which higher-end models can be acquired! Here is a retrospective look back at television’s evolution progress throughout the past century or so:

Evolution Through the Ages

General Electric was responsible for the creation of the television set’s earliest ancestor, the Octagon. First created in 1928, the Octagon used rotating disc technology to show images on a screen that measured only three inches. Nonetheless, the device broke barriers at the time, and played “The Queen’s Messenger,” considered by many to be the first television drama in history!

The crude technology behind the Octagon gave rise to the commercial availability of home television sets. Like many new gadgets in their day, the TV set was initially only affordable to the upper crust of society, but business and technology executives already realized its massive potential. The 1936 Cossor Television was accompanied by some grandiose advertising: “Radio—its thrills, its interests, increased one hundred fold by Television. … Radio is blind no longer. The most exciting running commentary is made immeasurably more thrilling when you can SEE too!”

Soon, accessories for TVs also gained in market presence, as walnut cabinets with doors to hide the TV came into vogue. Such a cabinet even came free with the purchase of the Cossor Television, and the TV-hiding concept was thus born. Nowadays, frames, mirrors, and artwork are all the rage to cover TV sets when not in use, but the 1940s were a different time! Soon cabinets went by the wayside, but such new features as the round screen, employed in the 1949 Raytheon TV, and built-in TV set legs hit the scene in their absence.

Adapting to the Surroundings

Though in TV’s early days, the novelty and revolutionary nature of the television set made it a welcome addition to any room, times have changed! Now, unadorned television sets are a bit of an eyesore and the savvy home designer finds ways to make their TV fit in with its surroundings. Frame My TV offers the best of all worlds—frames, mirrors, and artwork that will hide your TV with a beautiful covering while keeping it as fun and functional as ever! Find out more today, and check back for more content on the evolution of the TV.