History's Surprises - television in 1931

At a garage sale recently, I bought a copy of Reader's Digest for November 1931 for 10 cents.  On page 91 of that issue,  there is an article 'How about Television' condensed from Forbes magazine. 

I was shocked to learn that the USA had 15000 television sets in use that year, 1931.  The article describes video conferencing and video telephones. 

It also goes into the work that Farnsworth and others are were doing.

At that time, stations were broadcasting a 45 line screen but great hopes were held for the future.  Some were trying 500 lines. 

My historical model had television coming in after World War II.  Have to modify that.