B.B.C. Handbook

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 21, 7 December 1928, Page 7

B.B.C. Handbook

Fitting Production of a Year of Progress "7 pen, ‘second annual edition of. the B.B.C.’s Handbook, that for 1929, has come to hand and is truly representative of:¥he progress achieved by the B.B.C. Printed on good paper, well bound, and profusely illustrated. this edition forms no mean asset to the bookshelf of the wireless enthusiast. The book is divided into four main sections-special articles (Finance, Empire Broadcasting, the Regional Station, ete.), a general section which is’ subdivided, a technical and a reference section. [HE special articles, forming as they do:a wnique editorial introduction, forecast a great ‘future for wireless. The aim of the British Broadcasting Corporation has been to educate, not . merely. in the narrow sense of teaching but in the wider ‘and more genéral sense. ‘Realising that wireless is in millions of homes, the Corporation has realised its importance. and provided a unique , system. This has been developed in the Handbook, and editorial pages eXPress ‘the determination to keep this view before. them and _ steadily adyance upon it. Inthe general ‘section, almost every topic associated with wireless, apart from the technical aspect is treated, programmes, broadcasting in the Eng{lish ‘counties svort, music, drama and yariety, teaching dancing by. wiréless. religion, education, home. and garden, and a hundred other topics could be selected merely from the index. A chapter is devoted to bands, orchestras and instruments. Following, a- discussion of the bards put on the air by the ‘B.B.C. is a miore ‘detailed description of each instrument. Two plates are inéluded to add to the interest. This chapter alone would grace a book with far greater pretensions. One could prolong an article to great length, mérely by commenting on. some of -the more important sections, and even: then justice «suld not be done te the book. "This ‘section. is concluded by a brief. account of the two English magazines which are its official organs, and to which we frequently refer-‘Radio Times" and "World. Radio." THE technical section is very com: prehensive, embodying as it does most of the phases :of ° broadcasting, transmission -and. reception. Such topics as man-made static, how. to

listen to.foreign stations, technical aspects of world broadcasting and artificial:echo are considered. In keeping with the rest of the book this section is well illustrated with technica] diagrams, charts, tables and sketches. Some of the latter are very humorous and titles such as-"‘Suspected," "Frigidity on the 9.15," "Hrecting an Aerial," and "Flow to avoid Electric Shocks," are sufficiently suggestive, without attempting a description. The reference section includes, the diagrams of receivers, charts of studio hours, technical tables and ‘formulae, a glossary, and symbols used in wireless. _ Altogether the Handbook is a splendid volume, reflecting great credit on its originators, the B.B.C.