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General Electric Octagon, 1928 (U.S.A.) with RCA radio 1928 (U.S.A.) This mechanical television receiver was built for a 48-line television system developed during 1927 by Ernst W. Alexanderson, who was the Chief Consulting Engineer at the GE laboratories in Schenectady, New York. An elaborate experimental transmission on this type of receiver was internationally recognized as the first television drama. Entitled "The Queen's Messenger", the play had two characters, with only the heads or the hands of the four actors visible at any one time. Two actors spoke the lines, while the other two acted as "hand models". The transmitted signal was received on a console radio and monitored through the 3" lense on the Octagon by the director, and the actors were only a few feet away. GE considered mass-production of the Octagons, but this never materialized.