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100 Years of Television. And 100 Years of Forbes

As highlighted on BBC News today, it is exactly 100 years since John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of what he described as “true television.”

On 26 January 1926, invited guests gathered in his workshop at what is now Bar Italia in Frith Street, Soho. There, grey-scale moving images were transmitted down a wire and viewed through a mechanical scanning system. A hand. A pipe. Pages turning in a notebook.

A Times reporter was present and later published a short column headed:

“The ‘Televisor' – successful test of new apparatus.”

It was modest in scale, but extraordinary in implication. That moment is now recognised as the birth of British television.

It also happens to be the year Forbes was founded.

There is something rather special in that shared history. In 1926, our founder, Frederick Donald Forbes, was building a reputation for repairing and servicing electrical appliances, driven by a genuine fascination with emerging technology. Television was still experimental, yet he was close enough to innovation to recognise its potential.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, he sold a small number of the early Baird scanning disk televisions – remarkable pieces of engineering for their time, even if the definition was extremely limited.

As our Chairman, Stuart Forbes, reflects:

“My father, our company founder, did sell a few of the early Baird scanning disk televisions. They were extraordinary for their time, but the definition was extremely limited. As history shows, everything paused with the outbreak of war and television didn’t truly take off until the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. That was the moment it moved from being an experiment to something people felt they had to have in their homes.”

That observation captures the arc of television perfectly. The early years were defined by promise rather than polish, and it was not until the post-war era - particularly the 1953 Coronation – that television became embedded in British life. From there, its evolution was relentless: colour broadcasting, satellite transmission, flat screens, high definition and now fully connected smart platforms.

Throughout those decades of change, Forbes evolved alongside the technology. When televisions became increasingly sophisticated and often expensive household investments, rental provided families with a practical and reassuring alternative. Access to the latest innovations could be enjoyed without financial strain or concern about repairs and maintenance. That principle – access supported by service – remains central to our business today.

While screens have become thinner and sharper, and technology infinitely more sophisticated, one thing has remained constant: service.

For 100 years, we have focused on delivery, installation, maintenance and long-term support. We have repaired, refurbished and responsibly recycled. We have supported generations of households through every upgrade cycle, adapting as technology evolved while holding firmly to the values on which the business was built.

Television turning 100 is a milestone for the country. For us, it feels personal.

From Baird's early scanning disks to today’s wall-mounted smart displays, Forbes has been part of the story. As we celebrate our own centenary this year, it is fitting to reflect on how closely our journey has mirrored that of television itself — defined by innovation, resilience, adaptation and an enduring commitment to service.

Here’s to 100 years of television – and to the next chapter in our shared story.