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Abstract
Meissner Regenerated, by Michael J. Murphy
Could Alexander Meissner, an Austrian engineer working for the Telefunken Company of Berlin at the turn of the 20th century, be the real Vater der Regeneration (Father of Regeneration)? On the American side of the pond, the long-settled regeneration litigation historically awarded Lee de Forest the legal nod while Edwin Armstrong received the heartfelt scientific and technical endorsements. However, because of the outbreak of World War I, Meissner's pioneering contributions never received the recognition they deserved in legal proceedings or subsequent print.
This paper takes a fresh look at Meissner’s work between 1911 and 1914, exploring the dawn of vacuum tube technology and the application of early German Lieben soft valves in practical circuits. By examining the historical stage and analyzing specific patent schematics from the period—including early high-frequency amplifiers, the inductive feedback "Meissner Oscillator," and regenerative receivers—the author bypasses dense legal jargon to let the circuits themselves speak. Additionally, the paper integrates insights gained from hands-on experimentation and rebuilding these classic old-time circuits, highlighting Meissner’s brilliant, overlooked legacy in the evolution of continuous-wave oscillation and early radiotelephony.
