[Chassis of Model L Lear-o-Scope]

Photograph of the chassis of a Model L Lear-o-Scope, circa 1931-1939. The verso inscription, which was written by William P. Lear, describes the development of the device.

Inscription on verso: "Here is chassis of Model L Lear-o-Scope. The layout was done by WPL -- Wilbur Webb - now deceased who left me and went to Bendix - and Fred [Coombs?] who could layout and draw up such a unit in a maximum of 2 days time / Air trimmers were used throughout with quality in mind. However they proved to be the nemesis of this design because the cadmium on the condenser plates grew fine metallic hairs which occasionally would short out and cause the set to go dead. This trouble was only found by accident by WPL after 18 months of trouble. A case where a cheaper [illegible] would actually have been more reliable than the much more expensive air di electric type wheel should have been the best."