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Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 7, 28 August 1936, Page 48

QNE of the queerest uses to which a shortwave set has been put is that of fire-watcher in Vienna. The Viennese evolved the art of. firewatching centuries ago, when the city -kept-an observer posted at the top of a steeple, day and night, to report the outbreak of. any fire he: saw froin’ his lofty perch. The original method of giving warning was to drop a note. but in time charts :of the city, lamp und smoke signals, and latterly a telephone, aided the watcher to give warning. Now they have a shortwave transmitter in the age-old steeple of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and a warning shouted into the mike instantly reaches fire brigade headquarters’ and every fire station .in the.city, .