When Radio Broadcasting Was Young
From Clive Drummond, Wellington Today Radio Newsreel from the 8.8. C. provides first-hand reports from many parts of the earth, but I often wonder if anybody gets the same thrills as a group of five us us got i’ 1924 by picking up the Morse code. Stations such as Nauen, Eiffel Tower, Poldhu and some in the U.S.A. operated one wavelengths of as much as 25,000 to 30,000 metres, necessitating the use of coils almost as large as a ship’s funnel. Being a telegraphist and wireless operator, my part was to read the Morse signals whenever they were picked up. When the H.M.S. Hood squadron was en route to New Zealand, it carried out gunnery practice in the Mediterranean. The necessary instructions were given by radio. On the warships’ arrival here the New Zealand radio amateurs gave a dinner to the telegraphists from the squadron. I asked the chief, “How did the gunnery practice go off? Were there any bull’s eyes?” He thought for a moment', and said, “Yes, it was a most successful practice, but how on earth did you know we had a practice shoot?” By mere change in roaiqing round the wave bands we had picked up their signals. At this time the cablegrams were mentioning some success with short waves. My confreres built a shortwave receiving set, and we spent some time each night hunting for signals, but for a time did not hear a sound. Then one night I was figuratively jolted out of my chair when from the head-phones, came sounds of music. I was paralysed with wonder and excitement. Music, when previously it had always been Morse! I passed the ’phones round so that all could hear. To say they were amazed is an under-estimate. After making inquiries, it was discovered that the music came from a transmitter built and operated by Professor Jack, of Otago University. Of course, he was delighted to learn that his signals had been heard in Wellington, and he subsequently sent diagrams of the circuits he was using. From these we built a set of 15-watts power, using chemically rectified city supply, and it was from this that the first broadcast programmes were given by means of gramophone records. This we did three nights a week until a broadcasting company was formed in Wellington. Of course, the equipment we used was extremely crude by presentday broadcast standards. After we had played a recording by Paul Whiteman and his orchestra, a listener telephoned to inquire whether we would be giving any other items by “Those four whitemen up in Auckland.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BPB19501215.2.4
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 33, 15 December 1950, Page 2
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436When Radio Broadcasting Was Young Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 33, 15 December 1950, Page 2
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