Radio News of the World

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 46, 30 May 1930, Unnumbered Page

Radio News of the World

AN interesting experience recently fell to the lot of a Mr. Baron, an English ex-naval officer, who has fitted up in his Surrey home a replica of a ship’s wireless cabin, where he often listens to the wireless messages sent out by shipping in the Channel. Recently Mr. Baron was listening-in: to the ships in the Channel, when he heard an 8.0.8., followed by a statement that the Russian steamship Jakov Sverdlov, of 1812 tons,. was in difficulties, Hearing no reassuring answer, Mr. Baron assumed-quite rightly, it was proved -that the vessel’s signal was badly "jammed," .and he put a trunk call through to the North Foreland radio station. with the result-that communication was eventually established between the steamer and other ships in the vicinity. * % ° # . Sik WALFORD DAVIES, the eminent English musician, recently stated that he fully believed that only when an efficient wireless and gramophone room, efficiently controlled and used, has become a matter of routine equipment in every school, will- there arise enough keenly capable musicians, enough posts for them with enough school orchestras and choral teams to release our musical powers and bring musie into its own throughout national life. Coming from such an authority as Sir Walférd Davies, this advocacy of wireless and the gramophone will do much to offset those stupid critics who still sneer at what they call "canned music."

QNz of the most unobtrusive international organisations in the world is described in the New York "Herald Tribune." Known as the KilocycleWavelength Club, this organisation was formed at Washington on November 8, 1927, for a single purpose. The members pledge themselves "to continue the. argument regarding the relative merits of ‘kilocycle’ and ‘wavelength’ throughout the:remainder of.our lives." There are, no subscriptions for membership, no responsibilities for officers, and no formalities. New members are elected by-other members, who need merely notify the secretary:of the name and address, the only. requirements being that members must qualify "as gentlemen who are not too serious, who. have a good sense of humour, and who. are more or less distinguished in the radio. profession." Upon election new members must: decide and-notify the secretary whether they want to be classed as "kilocycle" or "wavelength." . . » * a IGH praise is due to the Canadian National Railways, as being the first railroad in the world to adopt radio reception as a regular service on its trains. There are now 72 ears permanently wired for reception, providing, during 1929, over 300,000 passengers who listened with 63,000 hours of entertainment. A.C. sets of the latest type are installed, a motor generator running off the*car lighting circuit providing power both for the set and loudspeaker. Radio gramophones are used over sections where wireless reception is not always reliable.

ARISIAN taxicabs have enabled passengers to play as they: ride by installing radio loudspeakers in the roofs. When a’fare enters a taxi, the first polite query of the driver concerns the type of music preferred, after which the set is tuned to one of the broadcasting. stations selected by the passenger. , * . * ee ne AN insulating «substance -which obligingly changes into:a conductor when circumstances demand. it was described recently at a meeting: the American -Institute of’: Elect Engineers. Known as "Thyrite,’" ‘he new compound functions as an insulator for ordinary. low . power :purposes, being highly suitable for wireless aerials, but a sudden surge of high voltage electricity, such ~as:-a- stroke of — lightning, instantly -converts it into a conductor, thus’ providing. a path of . escape. In: appearance: ‘"Thyrite" is — stated "to be a cross between black slate and. porcelain. * * * AN English provincial- station director, who prefers to remain anonymous, recently reported ‘that a hawk perches on the station --aerial every evening just as the children’s hour. is beginning and: flies away: immediately the feature is concluded. .On a recent, night it dropped a dead: bird on they station building, and the staff are wo: dering whether: this ¥ was & tribute ora criticism, — ,