EARLY DAYS OF WIRELESS: #7

When the XYL bemoans the fact that you spend a lot of time
in the radio shack, show her this:-

From "The Wireless Age" - August, 1916

        The wonders of wireless telegraphy were explained by
amateur radio operators on June 23, to the members of the
Engineers' and Architects' Club, of Louisville, Ky.
        Members of the Louisville Radio Club, embracing all
the amateur wireless operators in the city, were guests of
the engineers and architects at a meeting held in their
offices in the Starks Building.
        C. C. Gall, a professional operator, made the point
that wireless telegraphy was a great moral force.
"The amateurs send their messages and perfect their work
at night," he said, "and you can always find them at home
when they ought to be there. Lots of men I know would be
happier, and their wives would be happier, if they became
amateur wireless operators."
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If you're building an old-tyme crystal radio (young boys
still are fascinated by doing so), you may want to refresh
your memory regarding detectors. Again, from "The Wireless
Age", July 1916 magazine, comes this:-

        The Galena Detector -- This mineral is a natural
sulphite of lead, generally found in the formation of cubical
crystals. It has a blue gray color with a noticeable metallic
lustre. One of the peculiar characteristics of this crystal
when used as a wireless telegraph detector is that no local
battery is required and that the opposing contact must be
extremely light.
        Adjustment -- .... the fine point (of a very light
piece of elastic wire, wound in the form of a spring), should
be placed in light contact with the crystal at various points
until, by means of a buzzer tester, the most sensitive spot
is located.
        If a more positive contact than that afforded by a
"whisker" is desired, a piece of graphite from a lead pencil
may be employed. Increased pressure can then be applied.
(The author of this article was Elmer E. Bucher).
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Too much QRM?
        Our final item, from the same magazine, is this:-

        To hear the human voice transmitted by the wireless
telephone was the privilege of Iowa University wireless
operators recently. A message was sent from Arlington, Va.,
to Key West, Fla., as a test, and the Hawkeye operators
caught it although they could not distinguish the words.

Hope you are enjoying these..... de Gil, VE4AG