Baird's home phone

John Logie Baird created a home telephone exchange in his bedroom at The Lodge in West Argyle Street, Helensburgh, to link up five houses by means of wires slung across the street — one of them the home of his great childhood pal and later backer, entertainer Jack Buchanan. Two old friends, Bruce and Harris, are pictured using the system in the bedroom. JLB's bedroom slippers are on the ledge beneath the stool. Image supplied by the inventor's son Malcolm.