Arnold O. Beckman provides an overview of the vacuum film-coating process developed for Lee de Forest. The process successfully coated film with magnesium, lead, bismuth, aluminum, and silver. The letter is apparently addressed to de Forest's funding source.

Lee de Forest (1873–1961) was an inventor, most notably of Audion vacuum tubes in the early twentieth century. His serial business ventures included work in radio, telegraphy, telephony, broadcasting, and film.