MARVELS OF RADIO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 August 1941, Page 6

MARVELS OF RADIO

DEVELOPMENT IN FIFTY YEARS DISCOVERIES BEFORE MARCONI. ROTARY CLUB ADDRESS. An interesting address on the evolution of wireless was given by Mr H. W. Robinson at the weekly meeting of the Masterton Rotary Club today. The president, Mr P. F. Fagan, presided. At the outset. Mr Robinson explained that when wireless was discovered it was found to be . connected with electricity, indeed it relied on electricity for its existence. Contrary to popular belief, Mr Robinson continued, wireless, was discovered by Hertz in 1888 and not by Marconi. The latter was. however, the first to apply the principles commercially. The scientists who made the discoveries were Hertz, Preece, Branley, Righi. PopofF, and Sir Oliver Lodge. The experimenters and others failed to realise the tremendous importance of their discoveries. In 1895 Marconi, an Italian by birth, began his work. After a brief stay in Italy, he went to England and carried out his research work with British capital. At that time research was confined to wireless telegraphy (or sending Morse signals.) rather than telephony (human voice). Mr Robinson explained how Branly, an Englishman, had discovered the coherer receiver, and how later Professor Dunworthy discovered the crystal detector and Galena crystals were commonly used. The stable detector, in a vacuum tube was found in 1904 by Dr Fleming. It was similar to a valve, as we know it. In 1903 an American, Lee de Forrest, improved on the stable detector with the "grid.” The discovery was most important, as it meant that power could be added to the receiving end. By that time the practical value of wireless was realised by commercial circles. In 1901 Marconi bridged the Atlantic from Poldhu, Cornwall to Glace Bay. New York, a distance of 1800 miles. Marconi faced immense difficulties in carrying out that feat, but he did not stop at that point. He set up a service used by the London "Times” to receive news. In 1904 the Cunard Line established its first ocean paper by the use of wireless. The first commercial station set up by Marconi was used by the London “Times” and “New York Times.” In 1910 the G.P.O. took over the coastal stations around Britain set up by Marconi.

Mr Robinson traced, in a most interesting manner, the many improvements made in wireless until 1920, when Dame Melba sang over the air and established wireless as a means of providing entertainment. Throughout those stages New Zealand was well up with the rest of the world. Professor Jack, of Otago University, and amateurs in the Dominion were conducting experiments. Mr Robinson also dealt with the development of the short-wave, beam transmission, the motion picture "talkies,” wireless transmission of ‘ pictures and newspapers, television, direction finding, robot-controlled planes and the important part they played in the life of the community.

On the motion of Mr E. M. Hodder, the speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.