THE SOCIETY OF WIRELESS PIONEERS ARCHIVES
RECENT ADDITIONS
SowP founder Bill Breniman with the CAA in Washington D.C. ~1950
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In 2001 the founder and driving force behind the Society of Wireless Pioneers, Bill Breniman (photo above), passed away at the age of 100. His obituary gives a capsule summary of his life and times.
What exactly is a Radioman? Find out from this anonymous document.
Newly posted member applications: Bill Vetter who built equipment for United Wireless, Marconi, and RCA; Stuart Davis, codebreaker and personal friend of FDR; Brenneman Quereau – How many times was he confused with Bill Breniman?; and Leroy Watson, with the US Navy at Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941.
A titanic vessel strikes an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sinks, with the loss of more than 1000 lives. The only wireless operator on the rescue ship works tirelessly through nights and days to keep the survivor list and vital information flowing but is rewarded only with criticism and demotion. Read “The Loner,” fiction by Ray Green. Or is it?
You know Armstrong and Conrad, DeForest and Pupin, Sarnoff and Tesla and Kolster and Fessenden. But do you recall the other 1920s radiomen who enthrall? Alexanderson, Batsel, Bucher, Bullard, Chaffee, Clark, Cohen, Cummings, De Sousa, Dubilier, Eaton, Espenschied, Goldsmith, Hammond, Hanson, Hazeltine, Heising, Hogan, Hooper, Hull, Jones, Krumm, Langmuir, Miller, Nally, Payne, Pickard, Russell, Rypinski, Sadenwater, Squire, Stein, Stone, Taylor, Taylor, Taylor, Van Dyke, Weagant, and White. Who’s Who in Radio from The Complete Radio Book by Francis Yates & Louis Pacent, 1922
Lewis M. Clement’s first electronics project was a “straight spark gap” station before WW I. He would go on to develop radios and military equipment like the proximity fuse and blind landing localizer. Alexander Seidl gives us a short biography of this pioneer’s eventful life.
In 1903, long before Ray Stannard Baker became President Woodrow Wilson’s press secretary he wrote stories of “the wonders of modern science” in The Boy’s Book of Inventions. In his chapter “Telegraphing Without Wires” he describes the exciting experiments of young Guglielmo Marconi in crossing the English Channel via ether waves (his signal, at least…)
Who was Paul Seiler and why did he look for “Wireless Fiends” in San Francisco circa 1909? Archivist Bart Lee gives us this fascinating glimpse of Seiler’s business, which included everything from quake (seismographs) to quack (bogus medical devices).
A 1904 report from the Royal Navy Signal School compares DeForest and other systems with theirs (Marconi). Did they pass inspection? Read “Various Systems of Wireless Telegraphy” and find out. Our thanks to Shane Joyce for unearthing this.
A QSL card from Siberia? In Esperanto? No, we’re not making this up. Archivist Bart Lee highlights some interesting old Russian radio ephemera with illustrations.
Reginald Fessenden summarized the history and state-of-the-art of wireless telephony for the Smithsonian Institution in 1908. Well written and illustrated, it’s probably the best single article explaining the incredible ingenuity that went into radio transmission, reception, and amplification before the advent of the triode.
The Marconi high power station at Bolinas, California was a wonder of its age. Archivist Bart Lee takes us on a tour of the station then and now.
Through the generosity of Craig Pitcher, the CHRS Museum in Alameda, California has acquired a variety of early spark equipment including some classic Halcun (George Haller and Elmer Cunningham) and Marconi items. Archivist Bart Lee has made it possible to see and read about it here.
Do you wish to send a Marconigram and perhaps make reservations for dinner and a room at the Savoy in London? Simply complete this form and return it to your ship’s Radio Officer at your convenience.
What was it like to go to U.S. Naval Radio School at Harvard in 1919? Gob news, gob sports, gob humor, gob photos and more. Read The Oscillator, donated by SoWP member Luther B Grove 155-P, who went there.
NEW MCCARTY WIRELESS DISCOVERIES – Recently we unearthed some files from SoWP member Tim Christen (TA-14) from 1972. He’d located and bought original McCarty Wireless equipment at “a hippie store” in San Francisco. He included 5 photos and a letter from Francis McCarty to his brother Ignatius that have probably not been seen for over half a century.
Are earthquakes caused by disturbances in the Earth’s electrical field? This old, anonymous document notes that 17-year-old wireless genius Francis J. McCarty was working on this theory before his untimely death in 1906.
As a boy, Haraden Pratt listened for wireless signals from Major Squiers’ tree wireless experiments. As a man, he advised Presidents Truman and Eisenhower. His “Sixty Years of Wireless and Radio Reminiscences” presented here is a unique, first person account of West Coast wireless history from the age of spark to the age of computers.
Old-time engineer Alexander Seidl talks about the early Marconi stations at Bolinas/Marshall in California and Kahuku/Koko Head in Hawaii along with photos and commentary by CHRS Archivist Bart Lee
Decades before parents warned their children that sitting too close to the TV screen would ruin their eyes, people wondered if Mr. Marconi’s invisible rays might do the same if left to “roam about London at their own sweet will.” Read about The Dangers of the New Telegraphy from 1897, a clipping by the late SoWP historian Ed Marriner.
Read how W.G. Houskeeper’s quest to make cheaper little light bulbs at Bell Labs led to the evolution of 100-kW, water-cooled monster vacuum tubes. From Pacific Telephone Magazine for November, 1922 and donated by Archivist Bart Lee.
The first strike by wireless operators (radiomen) was against the Marconi Company on the Pacific Coast back in 1913. But not all of them were eager to join in. Read about the experiences of one such person here. And for more context about the difference between former landline telegraphers and young former hams, read Henry Dickow’s Revolt of the Wireless Operators.
Coast Seaman’s Journal Feb 4, 1914, p. 2
Archivist Bart Lee reports on the state of the CHRS library and archives, highlighting some resources unlikely to be found anywhere else.
Pacific Radio News Feb. 1917, courtesy of worldradiohistory.com
The Pacific Radio News for February 1917, edited by Grand Old SoWP member Henry Dickow brings news of the Marconi lawsuit against Kilbourne & Clark (victory for the latter!) and reminiscences of still earlier days for pioneering commercial station PH. Warning: Contains references to much cursing and drug abuse! Our thanks to David Gleason and worldradiohistory.com for making this available.
Mignon radios are considered by many to have been the best of the best in the early days of radio. Archivist Bart Lee shows exactly what went into them in X-Ray Radios
Alexanderson alternators, once anticipated to be the preferred method of long distance radio communications, are now rare as hens’ teeth. A small one, however, exists in the collection of the Antique Wireless Association, and it was meant to be used for a surprising purpose. Archivist Bart Lee tells the story, with photos and original documentation.
Meet the most beautiful radio artist in America! Hear the voice of Radium! See Babe Ruth on the Tel-Audio-Visor! Experience ship-to-shore wireless telegraphy! Ask John F. Rider your most difficult radio questions! Come to the Sixth Radio World’s Fair at Madison Square Garden and bring some cash. It’s September of 1929, so what could possibly go wrong?
In the early 1920s the Leo J. Meyberg company sold radio parts and put out a whopping 10-watt broadcast signal from the Fairmont Hotel in SF. Archivist Bart Lee documents this pioneering shop complete with a catalog and photos.
The 1980 SoWP Wireless Register published a list of all known members who had completed “crossing the bar” and become Silent Keys, along with memorial poems of the same names. View the Necrology here.
In 1920 radio engineer Robert Gowen, who worked for Lee DeForest, set new distance records for radio telephony from station 2XX in Ossining, New York. Read how DeForest compared this with Marconi accomplishments in his letter to New York newspapers on “An American Invention Which Marconi is Using” from the files of the Ossining Historical Society Museum.
Bernard Linden was among the earliest radio amateurs and professionals on the West Coast, with a station in Oakland in 1909 and a radio store on Market Street in SF. He received his Certificate of Skill in 1912, was appointed head of the Sixth Radio district, and nearly became the president of the Federal Radio Commission. Read his historical document ON THE PACIFIC COAST, view his photo with other District 6 “radio police,” and discover the story of his life as given in his member application.
A mutiny, a knife fight, firing at whales, radio operators lined up and shot, a junkie ship officer in need of a fix… Gordon Pascoe, 33-P, tells all in this fascinating account of his early adventures.
SoWP member Marlo Abernathy, 1610-P, put together a list of Marconi wireless operators in 1914-5, their ships or shore stations, and where more information can be found.
Need to buy a telegraph key, spark gap, motor, X-ray tube, or model railroad? Want to explore the effect of Fuld currents on the body with a variety of interesting electrodes? This 1915 catalog from VoltAmp of Baltimore is just what the doctor ordered. (You can read more about VoltAmp founder Manes Fuld on this external model railroad website.)
See and hear legendary wireless pioneer Elmo Pickerill discuss his career on land, at sea, and in the air in conversation with AWA co-founder Bruce Kelley in this historic YouTube video. If you’re SoWP afficianado, you’ll find it a treat! And you can find more about Pickerill right here on our site.
Even in 1925 old-timers were bemoaning the modern young “Romeo” ship radio operators who couldn’t be bothered to send and receive messages and who had never been taught how to handle traffic in radio school. Normally we don’t reprint Radio News articles, but this one, The Old Chief Speaks, by Howard Pyle, 50-P, is particularly relevant to SoWP. WARNING – Contains offensive language
What was the first US Navy West Coast radio installation in 1908 like? See and read about it here thanks to our Archivist, Bart Lee.
From winding coils on an oatmeal box in Iowa to intercepting enemy communications in WW II to listening in as part of the CIA, Conan Barger, 2941-P had a long and eventful radio career. Thanks to Archivist Bart Lee, you can read about it here.
More historic photos of the High Power Kuhuku, Hawaii station from 1927 including parts of the Alexanderson alternator, shortwave tube set KIE, KET and JAA. Are they really magnetic amplifier tanks, or moonshine stills?
He promised to blow up a ship anchored off the coast of New Jersey from his safe location in New York, and almost assassinated inventor Thomas Edison. Who was he? An anarchist? A terrorist? No, he was William J Clarke, who experimented with wireless before Marconi and founded USESCO, the first U.S. radio manufacturer. H.L. Chadbourne, 5309-TA tells the story of this long-forgotten figure in American wireless history, with notes by Archivist Bart Lee.
The Marconi wireless set above was state-of-the-art according to the 1915 Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony. A copy from SK Paul Nesbit’s collection was recently donated to the Society by his granddaughter. We’ve begun scanning and posting some fascinating articles from this, which you can find here.
He first worked the airwaves in 1906 and managed Marconi station MCY/WCY Cape May, NJ. Read about wireless history by a man who helped pioneer it, William H. Shaw, 371-SGP.
Capt. Hedley Morris, 195-P, preserved some World War I humor in his General Orders for the Mess Line.
Thanks to Doug Crompton WA3DSP for providing scans of negatives that came from the collection of federal radio inspector Edwin W. Lovejoy. Just now we’ve started posting more of his photos of early radio stations, equipment, and people, as well as historic West Coast photos. Check ’em out!
In “Once Upon a Time There was a Seaport” Old-timer Herbert J. Scott, later an EE Professor at UC Berkeley, reminisces on the ships that used to sail into the port of San Francisco. If anyone can identify “Mr. Uno Who” (the person responsible for the demise of SF as a port – we don’t know who) please let us know.
Want to buy a locally produced three dialer? See “Something New In Radio” to view the Coburn Baby Grand, made in San Leandro, California.
West Coast “Sparks” and later electronics magazine writer Howard S. Pyle, SoWP member 50-P, lists his ships, clubs, and service here.
Flying long distances without radio direction finding (RDF) capabilities was a risky undertaking in early aviation. After being injured in just this kind of crash, ex-RCA engineer Hugo Leuteritz came up with the first reliable RDF system that enabled Pan Am to become the first international American carrier and set standards for aerial navigation and safety ever since. Read Bart Lee’s fascinating story about this and the new PBS documentary Across the Pacific here.
Born into poverty in rural 19th century Australia, Ellis Smellie learned railroad- and later wireless telegraphy, eventually manning 35 stations Downunder. He reminisces about landline versus wireless Morse code, decrypting a German code and identifying German ship operators by their “fists” in World War I, and his role in no fewer than 6 SOS incidents that ranged from comic to tragic. “An Early Australian Radio Telegrapher Rembembers”
In 1914, the schooner Hanalei wrecked on a reef within sight of the Bolinas Marconi station. Attempts to reach the boat failed as did attempts to shoot a line to the boat as it was smashed to pieces by the relentless waves. Two SoWP members were there, Loren Lovejoy, the ship’s RO, and Haraden Pratt at the Marconi station. Read their exciting accounts here.
Ridiculous hours, outrageous responsibilities, miserable pay, bleak employment outlook. Yet radio schools were churning out graduates with promises of lucrative careers! Editor M.R. Rathburne Jr. (later a target of the House Un-American Activities Committee) urged radiomen to organize in the commercial radioman’s magazine CQ for April 1931.
