Remarkable Growth

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 7, 30 August 1929, Page 4

Remarkable Growth

Amalgamated Wireless, Limited A GLIMPSBH of the early history of ~ wireless in Australia was given this week at a gathering in Brisbane by the inter-State. sales manager of Amalgamated Wireless. In 1910 the first ships equipped with wireless arrived in Australian waters. They were H.M.S. Powerful and H.M.S. Otranto. These two vessels established a -world’s record by the interchange of signals at a distance of 1800 miles. The operator on the Otranto was Mr. WB. T. Fisk, who ADs delegated by the Marconi Company*to obtain first-hand information as to technical: possibilities of wireless in Australia, and in the following year the Commonwealth Government embarked on @ comprehensive policy of coastal stations to provide for communication with vessels at sea and between. the stations. In 1928 a new ce company, Amalgamated Wireless (Aus-. tralasia), Ltd., \;as formed with Mr. Fisk as general manager, and_ later, managing director. A majority of the shares of Amalgamated Wireless were held by the Government, which retains the right to appoint a majority of the directors. The war gave a tremendous impetus to wireless all over the world; a faetory was established by Amalgamated Wireless which has now grown to "Y stage where not only high-class receivers and parts are manufactured, but also transmitters which are exported to the other side of the world in competition with products made abroad. | There are now on the Australian shipping register 140 ships all equipped by Amalgamated Wireless. Wire- . less stations built by Amalgamated Wireless and manned by A.W.A. operators dot the Pacific Ocean, the latest being a station in Tonga and a . new one at Port Moresby.