The Auckland BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 10, 18 September 1931, Page 8

The Auckland BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA

under the baton of Colin: Mauston will be heard from 1YA, , Thursday, September 24, in a programme relayed from the Town Hall. Strong Supporting Artists

The next speaker, Professor IF lorance, of the Physics Department, Victoria University, gave further demonstrations of the work of the early ex-perimenters-of some preceding Faraday and of others who applied the principle of electro-magnetic induction in various ways. He mentioned a few of Faraday’s researches, such as the principle of the electric motor and the dynamo, electro-static induction investigation, the laws of electrolysis, electro-optical work, the liquefication of gases and the magnetic properties of material. Faraday had had a profound insight into the obscure mysteries of the universe and had been convinced of the relationship between electricity and matter, electricity and magnetism, electro-magnetism and light, and electro-magnetism and gravitation. He held a conspicuous place among the benefactors of mankind. Faraday did not believe the "action at a distance’ explanation of magnetism, so popular among his contemporaries, and was convinced that some force existed in. the medium separating the two bodies. This led to the development of the idea of lines of force and on this was based his explanation of electro-magnetic induction. Mr. A. Gibbs, Chief Electrical Engineer, then traced the development of Faraday’s principle to its outstanding present-day application in heavy power machinery, lighting, electro-chemistry and electro-metallurgy, telegraphy, telephony, radio-telephony and the beginning of television. "So well and truly did Faraday lay the foundations of electrical engineering," continued Mr. Gibbs, "that to-day hundreds of millions of capital are

invested, and hundreds and thousands of persons are working in various sections of the industry. Moreover, it would be difficult to estimate how vitally the human race depends for its coniforts and its amenities upon the many branches of electrical engineering. It is surely very fitting that electrical engineers and the public generally should show their appreciation of Faraday’s pioneer work, and in honouring Faraday we have the added satisfaction of knowing that we are honouring one who possessed more than genius, for he was a man of simple and upright mind and of high ideals which call forth our admiration to-day as they did that of his contemporaries." At the conclusion of the addresses a vote of thanks to the speakers was moved by Mr. D. K. Blair, president of the New Zealand Society of Civil Bngineers, and was enthusiastically carried. : A Comprehensive Display. SUBSEQUENTLY the audience visited the physics laboratories on lower floors, where a first-rate show of electrical apparatus and experiments had been arranged. In the lower laboratory a very spectacular display had been arranged. In one corner was a Wimshurst machine, producing a constant stream of weaying, crackling, blue sparks between the discharge knobs. In another was a huge induction coil, labelled 200,000 volts, which sent a similar blinding discharge across a 16-inch spark gap. Occasionally a heavy gauge wire was loaded to breakdown point and disappeared in a roaring, banging flash.

On a nearby bench a demonstration of the Faraday dark space-in evidente~ during the discharge of electricity through gas at low pressure-attracted large crowds. Upstairs the detail work was displayed. More reproductions of early apparatus were displayed, and, arranged along the benches in general order of development, their present-day types and developments. A very early (and unsatisfactory) telephone was contrasied with the latest automatic style, while a section of an automatic telephone exchange in working order aroused much interest. Another popular feature of the display was a Post Office telegraphic sender. Messages are typed as on an ordinary typewriter keyboard, automatically converted into a code and dispatched, the message emerging already typed from the receiver at the other end-perhaps hundreds of miles away. Radio and its applications dere shown in various ways. In one dispkay were exhibited some thirty or forty ditferent types of valves, ranging from the oldest two-element valve to the latest in pentodes and screen-grids. On another bench was exhibited specimens of quartz crystals of the type used in broadcasting for preserving frequency stability. One of these was vibrating at one million times per second. A selenium cell, used for the automatic control of street lights; a singing flame, in which Faraday was interested; a neon display sign; a portable Xray outfit, and many other interesting exhibits were to be seen by interested visitors.