DOCSLIB.ORG

National Register of Historic Places Registration Form

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form _______________________ _____________________________________ En’, IWJI ‘III ‘" 11fl4-XIIH Il,. S-ki United States Department of the Interior NatiQnai Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form 1. Name of Property Instorir name Massje Wireless Station other n;uneAsite number ‘ ‘ Pt]-’ 2. bntion street & nuinber 1300 Frenchtown Road not for publication: citxtown: East Greenwich viciuit N/A state: RI toil ntv Ken Msle: 0 0 3 ZIp isle: 02 8 1 8 3. Classificafion Ownership of Pms’rty: Private Tategorv of Piopertv: Building Nu mnber of flesoiLrtes with] ii Property: - Ton t riInit ii ig No ii 0 nt rihuli ng htHldilgs sites structures objects 1 p Total Number of toiitnhimting res4imrees previously listed in time National Ihgister Name ol related immumltiple property listiuig N/A ___________________________________________________________________ ______________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________ USDIiNPS Yil[fl Registration Form Page 2 Property name Nassie Wireless Station, Kent Cty. , East Greenwich, RI 4. StatelFederal Agency Certification As the tlt’signated authority under time National ii istonc Preservation Act of 1986, as amnendeil, I hereby certify that this_x_ nonminatiomi request for tleternii nat ion of eligibility meets the documnemitation standards for registermg pmoiwiies in the Nationi I Register of ii istoric Places and meets the procedural amid professional requ irenien ts set forth in 36 CFI1 Pa.rt. 60. In mmiv opi mm ion, tIme property J nieets does not meet the National Register Cr term. - See continuation sheet. 1. ‘ Gc Signature of certifying official Date State or Feil era I agency a mid himmriLil En umy op i iii u m, the i11 pe rtv meets ltfl’s mot uieet tIme Nat immII legister t-ri te ii a. See continuation sheet. Si gua timit’ of to in immi tim ig or oti ici official t te State or F’ede ‘al agemi cv a mit! himrca’’ 5. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this pmopeity is: entered in the National Register See contimmuatiomi sheet. dett’nmn mietl eligible for t lie Nationa.l I legister See con timi ua tit ii sheet. ii etcrmim ted m tot ci ig ib le for time National Register m-enmoved from the National Register oti icr expl aim,: S igna tn iv of Iteept’ r D t te of Action 6. Function or Use Ilistom’ic: INDUSTRY/PROCESSING/ Sub: communications facility EXTRACTION Uunemmt: RECREATION/CULTURE/MUSEUM Sub: USDL’NPS NTIIIIP Registration Form Page 3 Prnpertvimaimme Nassie Wireless Station, Kent Cty. , East Greenwich, RI 7. Description Arcimi tectural Ciassificatiomm: NO STYLE Other Descri ptiomi Matom-iiils foummdatio,m CONCRETE roof ASPHALT wails WOOD/shingle other Describe peesemit aimtl historic physical appeam’ammce. 2L St’e ctmm t imm miatiomm slmeet. & Statement of Significance Certifvimmg official imas tommsidered the significammct’ of this property in relation to other properties nat long 1J Applinmble Natiomial Register Criteria Critt’mia Uommsideratiomms Exceptiomms fl Areas of Sigimificammce: COMMUNICATIONS Periods of Significance: 1 907- 1912 Signifit-ammt Dates 1907 Sigm t ifica itt Persomms: CimItimitI Affiii;ttio,i A mc Ii itctt/Jjii iiile r State sigmmificammce of pioperty, amid justify criteria, t-ntcm-ia coitsiderations. anti areas amid periods of significammre noted above. X See cotmti miimatioii .slmcit. USDIiNPS MIHT Ilegistnitiomm Fonmi Page 4 Prnpertvmmaimie Massie Wireless Station, Kent Cty., East Greenwich, RI 9. Major Bibliographical References _ Set commtimmmmatiOim sheet. Previomis docunientatiomm omm file NPS: pn?hmlnary deternmimiation of individual listing 36 CFII 67 has been reqmmested. previomisly iisted imm time National Register previtmslv detemimmimmetl eligible 1w tIme National Register - desigimated a Natiotta I Historic I a ndmmiark - iecoitlt’d by historic Ainericami Builth immgs 5mm rvev recirded by Historic :mmmem’icimn Emmgimmeerimtg litsortl Priimma iv Ijwat ion of Add it iomma i Data: State lustonc pmvsematioim office Otimer state agemmcy F’ederal ;mgemmcy Ixa I go-enmmmment Ummiversity JLOtImer-- Specify Repositomt New England Wireless & Steam Museum. 1300 Frenchtown Road. East Greenwich, RI 02818 10. Geographical Data Acm’eageofPropertc less than one 1 7PM Referemices Zone Easting Nom’tit imig 7Mtme Eastimig Nortlmiimg A 19 290690 4611070 B C I See cotmtimiuatioim simeet. Ve rba.I I 3omi mmdarv 1escr I pt iomm: Set’ comm t imm mmat 0mm slmeet. The nominated acreage is the land on which Massie Station sits, part of Assessor’s Plat l9C, lot 71, Town of East Greenwich. l3oimimdamv .Justificatiotm: See cotiti iimatiott simect. A moved building, Massie Station no longer retains integrity of setting. Now surrounded by a mown field and other museum buildings in a suburban location, Massie Station’s setting is no longer related to its significance. Thus, only the land on which the building sits is nominated. 1L Form Prepared By Nmmmnetl’itIe: Robert Merriam. Director Omammization: New England Wireless & Steam Museum Date: March. 2001 Street & NiLmmmbemt 1300 Frenchtown Road Teiepimomme: 401-885-0545 City or Towmm: East Greenwich State: RI Z1I 02818 tam Im Nm’S Fnn,, iO’tii* .m.mn..aI sa 105 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Pmpertymmamne Massie Wireless Station. Kent Cty. East Greenwich. RI Settiomm mmmmmimber 7 Page 5 Description Massie Station 1907 is a simple, small 2-story wood frame building, covered in weathered shingles, with a gable roof and a gable-roof observation tower at the roofs peak on the north end. Originally constructed on the beach at Point Judith facing Rhode Island Sound, it is now located on the grounds of the New England Wireless and Steam Museum, some twenty miles north in suburban East Greenwich. The principal elevations are the flank-gable sides, facing east and west; each elevation is three bays wide, with a slightly off-center door. The building is only one bay deep. The east and west side entries have single-leaf, paneled doors, surrounded by flat board trim. The window sash is double-hung, 2/2 except in the tower where the panes are fixed, and the window and door frames are trimmed with flat boards. The windows are paired in the south elevation; a triple window is located on the second story of the west elevation. The building originally sat on wood pilings on beach sand; it now rests on a concrete foundation. The interior is divided into four rooms, two up and two down. The building is divided by a stairhall that can be reached through either door. The narrow single-mn stair, with plain balusters and rail, runs from east to west and ends in a small landing. The interior is finished simply; varnished pine matched-board siding covers walls and ceilings; flat boards surround doors and windows. The tower is reached through a ceiling hatch with a drop-down ladder in the second-floor south room. The south end of the building was heated by a stove on the ground floor; a cast iron register in the ceiling allowed the warm air to move to the second floor. The two northern rooms were unheated. The second-floor south room contains the complete complement of the operating equipment of an early 20th_century wireless radio station in its documented original location and configuration. The room is well lit, with windows on all three exterior sides and would have afforded a sweeping view for the radio operator. The radio equipment is set on and near a plain wooden early 20tu1century table in the northwest corner of the room. It includes the operator call box, Resonaphone receiver, change over switch, and pump handle key, all on the table. Mounted on the wall above the table is the key relay. To the left of the table is the condenser cabinet with 70 of its eventual 100 glass plate NI’S hnu Io-mmi. tiM tm Ipnvai Ni mmn4-IAi m. S-IS United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Pmpertymmimimme Massie Wireless Station, Kent Cty.. East Greenwich RI St’cti omm i mu mnber 7 Page 6 condensers installed. Set on top of the condenser cabinet are the helix and the straight spark gap. Mounted on the wall above the helix are a hot wire ammeter and anchor gap. The transmitter operates at about 350K1-Iz. The station is operational, but it is not now connected to an antenna. The other three rooms are finished similarly. They were originally living quarters for the operator and now house museum collections. The Massie Station is presently listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a non-contributing component of the Tillinghast Road Historic District, a linear district which includes a number of early houses and small industrial sites, set along a nearby road in western East Greenwich. Phoiographs Photo #1 Photographer: Pamela A. Kennedy Date: May 2001 Negative: RIHPHC, 150 Benefit Street, Providence, RI View: North and east elevation. Photo #2. Photographer: Robert Merriam Date: November 2000 Negative: RIHPHC, 150 Benefit Street, Providence, RI View: Second floor, south room, northwest corner. The table and adjacent cabinet on the left contain the complement of Massie’s equipment. On the table from right to left are the pump handle key, change-over switch, receiver, and operator call box. At left is the condensor, its glass plates mounted vertically. On top of the cabinet is the helix and the straight spark gap. NI’S It,nz, IO-KIa OMIt . Iin ,,I N Ifl4-I$Im S S-IS United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Property imaimie Maqsie Wireless St-at-inn. Kent Ct-v at Greenwich. PT Seetiomi mum immber 7 Page 7 NI’S F,n,, il.MXl-,. Ml.’ ppn.va I Ni mI44-IIIIS United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Property miammmt’ Massie Wireless St-at-inn.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Antique Radio Classified
    ANTIQUE RADIO CLASSIFIED VOLUME 3 AUGUST 19E6 NUMBER 8 • QUAKER OATS CRYSTAL SET From the collection of Randall Renne - Dixon, IL THE NATIONAL PUBLICATION FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS OF OLD RADIOS AND RELATED ITEMS - PUBLISHED MONTHLY ANTIQUE RADIO CLASSIFIED Publishing Details Classified Ads Each subscriber is entitled to one 20 word classified ad Antique Radio Classified lUSPS 735-0901 is free of charge per issue. Additional words over the limit published monthly. 12 times yearly. at a suoscrip- are 10C per word. Multiple insertions of same ad are tion rate of $18.00 per year Second Class and discouraged. This is to allow for a varied ad content in each issue. Multiple insertion ads for more than $24.00 First Class mailing rates, by G.B.S. Enter- 2 issues must be run as a display ad. All ads must be prises, 9511 Sunrise Blvd.. 8.1-23. Cleveland, Ohio printed neatly and be received by the 8th of the month 44133. (216) 582-3094. before next issue. See classified ad details elsewhere Second-class postage paid at Cleveland, OH. in this issue. Publisher and Editor Gary B. Schneider. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to address Payment above. Copyright 1986... Antique Radio Classified All ads must be paid for in advance. Make checks payable to Antique Radio Classified. Purpose Antique Radio Classified is published for people in- Subscription Rate volved in the radio collecting hobby. Its purpose is to Subscriptions are available on a yearly basis. $18.00 stimulate growth of the hobby thru the buying, selling. per year Second Class and $24.00 First Class mailing and trading of radios and related items.
    [Show full text]
  • Short Wave Radio
    Short Wave Radio A Working Electronic Sculpture Honoring the History of Radio Please note: This radio picks up short wave stations, but for your best satisfaction it will require a little time and attention, both to learn how to operate it and to appreciate the principles and history that it embodies. You’ll find bare-bones instructions on this page and more details inside the notebook. To turn the radio on, rotate the volume control clockwise until you hear a click, then set its dial to 3 or 4. If the radio was not already turned on, you’ll have to wait about 30 seconds for its vacuum tubes to warm up. •Put on the headphones. •Set the radio’s other controls as follows: •RF Gain: Fully clockwise. •Preselector: 1 •Tuning: 20 •Fine Tuning: 5.0 (This works like a clock, only with ten “hours” instead of 12) •Regeneration: 7 (Or advance slowly clockwise from zero until just after the point you hear a louder hiss in the headphones.) •Volume: Set to a comfortable level, usually about 4. Now, slowly adjust the TUNING control back and forth looking for squeals that indicate signals. (The shortwave broadcast band with 31 meter wavelength is located between about 10 and 30 on the dial.) You’ll should find a few unless ionospheric conditions are particularly poor on this day. Leave the TUNING control set on a loud squeal. Then slowly adjust the FINE TUNING to “zero beat.” (You’ll notice as you move the dial across a signal, it starts with a high-pitched note, moving down to a low-pitched or zero note, then back up to high pitch again.
    [Show full text]
  • Antique Radio Charlotte an Annual Conference for Antique and Vintage Radio Collectors and Historians
    Antique Radio Charlotte An annual conference for antique and vintage radio collectors and historians. 3rd Bi-annual Charlotte International Cryptologic Symposium Thursday, Friday & Saturday March 24-25-26, 2016 Sponsored by the Carolinas Chapter of the Antique Wireless Association Meet Results CAROLINAS CHAPTER OF THE AWA http://www.cc-awa.org/ PRESIDENT SECRETARY-TREASURER Ron Lawrence Clare Owens P O Box 3015 101 Grassy Ridge Ct. Matthews, NC 28106 Apex NC 27502 704-289-1166 919-363-7608 [email protected] [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT Richard Owens EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE R L Barnett Stephen Brown Kirk Cline Barker Edwards Robert Lozier Chip McFalls EDITORS Barker & Judy Edwards 116 East Front Street Clayton NC 27520 919 553-2330 [email protected] Membership in the Carolinas Chapter of the Antique Wireless Association (CC-AWA) is open to anyone with an interest in old (antique) radios. Anyone who pays registration for the 2016 conference will automatically receive one year’s membership in the Carolinas Chapter of the AWA. This is only chapter membership and does not include membership in the Antique Wireless Association. If you are already a paid member in the chapter, your membership will be extended one year. Any correspondence, including any newsletters that are published, will be distributed electronically. Please make sure that the CC-AWA has a current email address on file. Old Equipment Contest Pictured are the 1st place winners. To view all the winners, please visit our web page at: www.cc-awa.org. HM-Honorable mention No Entries CATEGORY 1 PRE-1912 ELECTRICAL DEVICES NON RADIO No Entries CATEGORY 2 PRE-1920 RECEIVERS & TRANSMITTERS AND WIRE LINE TELEGRAPH ITEMS CATEGORY 3 1920s ERA BROADCAST RECEIVERS A.
    [Show full text]
  • Construction and Operation of a Simple Homemade Radio Receiving Outfit
    Construction and Operation of a Simple Homemade Radio Receiving Outfit The 1922 Bureau of Standards publication, Construc- tion and Operation of a Simple Homemade Radio Receiving Outfit [1], is perhaps the best-known of a series of publications on radio intended for the general public at a time when the embryonic radio industry in the U.S. was undergoing exponential growth. While there were a number of earlier experiments with radio broadcasts to the general public, most histori- ans consider the late fall of 1920 to be the beginning of radio broadcasting for entertainment purposes. Pittsburgh, PA, station KDKA, owned by Westinghouse, received its license from the Department of Commerce just in time to broadcast the Harding-Cox presidential election returns. In today’s world where instant global communications are commonplace, it is difficult to appreciate the excitement that this event generated. Fig 1. The crystal radio described in Circular 120. News of the new development spread rapidly, and interest in radio soared. By the end of 1921, new broad- casting stations were springing up all over the country. Radios were selling faster than companies could manu- facture them. The demand for information on this new technology was almost insatiable. The Radio Section of the Bureau of Standards provided measurement know- how to the burgeoning radio industry as well as general information on the new technology to the public. Letters to the Bureau seeking information on radio technology began as a trickle, and then soon became a flood. Answering them became a burden. Circular 120, published in April 1922, began: “Frequent inquiries are received at the Bureau of Standards for information regarding the construction of a simple receiving set which any person can construct in the home from materials which can be easily secured.
    [Show full text]
  • Extended Call for Papers
    A Century of Broadcasting histelcon 2010 The Second Region 8 IEEE Conference on the History of Telecommunications Madrid, Spain 3-5 November 2010 http://www.aeit.es/histelcon2010/ EXTENDED CALL FOR PAPERS Theme and Topics Year 2010 marks a series of historical milestones in relation to the Birth of Broadcasting a hundred years ago. To commemorate this remarkable anniversary, we invite submissions related to this theme in order to be presented as a paper. Other papers describing significant research contributions to the field of History of Information and Communication Technologies are also welcome. The official language of the conference will be English. Topics of interests include, but are not limited to, the following: • Pioneers of Broadcasting, • The Birth of the Broadcasting Business, • Stellar Moments in the History of Broadcasting, • A Century of Radio Regulations, • Radio & TV Standards, • Broadcasting as a Political Instrument, • Development of Radio & TV Technology. Poster and Special Sessions Submissions to organize a poster session on antique radio and radio museums or other related subject are very welcome. In addition, we are also seeking proposals for special sessions. Some suggestions come next: IEEE Life-Members and History Activities, Ham (Amateur) Radio, Pirate Radio, Satellite & Cable Broadcasting, Internet TV & Radio, Broadcasting as Entertainment. With the Sponsored by: collaboration of: A Century of Broadcasting histelcon 2010 The Second Region 8 IEEE Conference on the History of Telecommunications Madrid, Spain 3-5 November 2010 http://www.aeit.es/histelcon2010/ Abstract Submission Interested participants are invited to submit their abstracts for oral or poster presentations to the Conference Secretariat by electronically sending a 500 words abstract, written in English, with a title, the name of the author(s) and affiliation(s) in MS Word format.
    [Show full text]
  • TO the ARCA GAZETTE This Index Covers the Antique Radio Club of America Antique Radio Gazette Through Its Final Edition, Vol
    INDEX TO THE ARCA GAZETTE This index covers the Antique Radio Club of America Antique Radio Gazette through its final edition, Vol. 22 No. 2. References to articles are listed in the form of volume-number-page. As an example, to locate information on the Victoreen superhet, a check under "Receivers - Broadcast - Tube" shows "14-3-21." Gazette Vol. 14, No. 3, Page 21 has this article. In the listings, an item of a full page or more is shown with an asterisk. Two asterisks indicate an article of three or more pages. An item cited in this index may vary in size from a passing mention to a major feature. Because even scraps of information may be useful, the citations go to fairly fine detail. Copyright (c) 1992, 1993, 1994, 2015, 2016 Ludwell A. Sibley CONTENTS 1980 Pix ......................................... **31-3-19 Activities Results ......................................*9-4-14 "Ghosts of Radio Past" show **21-4-19 ARCA - Annual Convention............ 1 1981 (Louisville) 1994 (Little Rock) ARCA - General ................................. 1 Results ..........................*9-2-2, *9-2-14 Announcement*21-4-16; insert w/ 22-1 ARCA - Local...................................... 2 Equipment Awards....................*9-2-12 Equipment Awards ............... **22-2-23 General Club News and Meets.......... 2 1982 (Lake Placid) ACTIVITIES - ARCA - GENERAL Collecting............................................ 2 Announcement.................. 9-3-2, 9-4-2 AWA, acquisition by................. **22-2-39 Collections - Personal ........................ 3 Results ..... *10-1-16, *10-2-1, *10-2-14 Awards: Public Museums................................. 3 Equipment Awards..................*10-2-17 Equipment Contests - Criteria 14-2-18, Author Index .......................................... 7 1983 (Charleston) *18-3-6, *20-4-31 Basic Electronics..................................
    [Show full text]
  • Journal Vol 23-1-1999
    • Miracles in Trust b y t h e P e r h a 1n F o u n d a t i o n RESTORATIO;-\ A:-.!D PRESERVATION OF EARLY RADIO C a f o r n a H s o r c a R a d 0 s 0 c e y CHRS Officers and Staff About CHRS Steve Kushman Dale Sanford AJan Voorhees 4233 25th St. I 07 St. Thomas Way 10809 Mcintyre St. The CaHfornia Historical Radio Society San Francisco. CA 94114 Tiburon, CA 94920 Oakland. CA 94605 (CHRS) is a nonprofit corporation chartered in (41 5) 821-7671 (415) 435-6131 (510) 562-3235 the State of California. CHRS was formed in [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 1974 to promote the restoration and preserva­ PRESIDENT CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD WEBSITE CHAIRMAN tion of early radio and broadcasting. Our goal MAIL PICK-UP/ HOTLI E MAILING CHAIRMAN is to provide the opportunity to exchange ideas Stephan Ponek and information on the history of radio, partic­ Lee Allder Mike Adams 945 Linda Mar Blvd. ularly in the West, with emphasis in collecting, Box 6785 112 Crescent Ct. Pacifica, CA 94044 literature, programs. and the restoration and San Rafael. CA 94903 Scotts Valley. CA 95066 (650) 355-1550 display of early equipment. (4 15) 499-9228 (408) 439-9544 BOARD MEMBER The Jou ma/ of the Society is published and VICE PRESIDENT/ [email protected] furnished free of charge to members. Yearly PUBLICITY EMAIL CHAIRMAN Stephen Sutley membership dues are $20 (U.S. funds). Box 1094 Submissions for the Joumal are always wel­ Russ Turner Larry Oark Pacifica, CA 94044 come.
    [Show full text]
  • Alignment of AM Superheterodyne Radios
    Volume 27, Issue 5 Sept/October 2016 Alignment of AM superheterodyne radios By CRC Member—Gregory Malanowski When you acquire a vintage superheterodyne radio, its type, there is a possibility that the chassis could be dan- resonant circuits are almost always out of alignment and gerously at or close to the power line potential. There- they badly need your intervention. This could be caused fore, install small capacitors, 1000pF/630V in series by several factors, usually a combination of a few of with the signal and the ground wires from the generator. them. The most common is a result of past attempts to restore the sensitivity of the radio, which had usually The first necessary step is tuning the intermediate fre- been a crime committed by quency (If) filters to the the former owner or by factory-recommended fre- some unprofessional repair quency of your receiver. man, who had mindlessly Use a non-ferrite tuning turned back and forth all tool, whether it is a screw- accessible trimming con- driver or a hex socket densers and ferrite cores wrench. inside the coils. This is the most challenging situation, Some manufacturers sug- for the delicate ferrite gest connecting the signal cores had been often se- generator wire to the anode cured using a hard lacquer, of the mixer tube. That is and could have cracked as usually neither safe nor a result of careless em- easy. You can achieve the ploying a metal screwdriv- same results by applying er. Also, the antique trim- the If signal to the antenna ming condensers, with a input while the radio is mica dielectric or a layer of silver evaporated over deli- tuned to the lowest end of the broadcast frequency cate ceramic plates, sometimes break easily.
    [Show full text]
  • The Carolina Antenna
    The Carolina Antenna SPRING 2009 VOLUME #15 ISSUE #1 Carolinas Chapter of the Antique Wireless Association CAROLINAS CHAPTER OF THE AWA http://www.cc-awa.org/ PRESIDENT SECRETARY-TREASURER Ron Lawrence Clare Owens P O Box 3015 101 Grassy Ridge Ct. Matthews, NC 28106 Apex NC 27502 704-289-1166 [email protected] 919-363-7608 [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT Richard Owens EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE R L Barnett Barker Edwards Kirk Cline Ernie Hite Robert Lozier Stephen Brown EDITORS Barker & Judy Edwards 116 East Front Street Clayton NC 27520 919 553-2330 [email protected] Membership in the Carolinas Chapter of the Antique Wireless Association (CC-AWA) is open to anyone with an interest in old (antique) radios. The only requirement is that you must be a member of the "national" Antique Wireless Association. By being a member of the CC-AWA you will receive our quarterly newsletter. Membership dues for the CC-AWA are $10 per year. If you are not already a member of the national AWA, your first year's dues will $25, this includes the $10 for CC-AWA dues and $15 for your first year's dues in the national AWA. Mail your dues to membership chairman Clare Owens - address is listed above. ISSUE # 15 SPRING 2009 VOLUME 1 THE PREZ SAYS ... club Board of Directors meeting. Kirk Cline was appointed to fill one of the open BoD seats. We still have one open seat on the Board, if you're interested in taking part in running the club, please let one of the current Board member know.
    [Show full text]
  • Vintage Radio
    Vintage Radio Special Pilot Issue September 1993 Electrical Safety For Restorers Those of us who cut our assign to it quietly and teeth as electronic without incident. experimenters during the Yet most of us are also heyday of the vacuum tube aware that, improperly learned how to work safely insulated and fused, the around high voltages and household power line can currents as we acquired our lash out with powerful and technical know-how. The dangerous sparks or (perhaps dangers were made known to even worse) quietly overheat us by our advisors and the wiring within our walls teachers, the more until it reaches the point of responsible hobby writers of ignition. So here are the the time, and sometimes by first and most obvious sad personal experience. precepts of a.c. line safety: Today, though, a new (1) make sure that all of the radio hobbyist is unlikely to electric wiring in your home have that background. In Don't turn this one on until you get some knobs! Any is correctly fused or breakered for its current- this day of low-voltage, low metal surface on an a.c.-dc. radio should be considered current, semiconductor carrying capacity and (2) aserious shock hazard. circuits, even people with make sure never to plug in electronics expertise may be devices with known short- unaware of the hazards lurking within a tube radio the circuit hazards (such as radios having cracked or frayed moment its plug is inserted into a wall socket. line cords). Precautions us older types take automatically, without Besides being a fire hazard, the a.c.
    [Show full text]
  • Two Rich Minds - One Poor Invention
    Two Rich Minds - One Poor Invention by William E. Denk, W3IGU 1 Reprinted From The Antique Radio Gazette Volume 15, No 1 (Spring, 1987) An early patent by legendary inventors Edwin Armstrong and Michael Pupin confirms the former's long-time interest in reducing radio static. Though the application of regeneration to antenna circuits as a noise limiting technique was a dead end, it did foreshadow Armstrong's eventual development of Frequency Modulation. Writer Bill Denk was a long-time author of The OTB's book review column. Even before the founding of the first organizations devoted to the preservation of the wireless history and equipment, this writer had started his collection of patents having special significance in the early development of the communications technologies. The collection includes Edison's patent on the phonograph, Bell's patent on the telephone, the Morse patents on the telegraph, Marconi's earliest patents on his wireless transmitting and receiving system, Fleming's patent on the vacuum tube diode detector, the early crystal detector patents of Bose, Dunwoody, and Pickard, the Hazeltine Neutrodyne patent--hundreds in all. Collecting patents is an area of our hobby that requires very little space, and it can be most interesting and revealing. One of the early patents in my collection, added because of the eminence of the named co-inventors, might have been later discarded had the inventors been a pair of unknowns. One of the inventors was Michael I. Pupin, Professor of Mathematics at Columbia University. He was the inventor of the telephone repeater, or Pupin coil, which greatly improved long-distance land-line telephony.
    [Show full text]
  • The First RADIOMARELLI Transistor Radio and RCA ~
    ~ The first RADIOMARELLI transistor radio and RCA ~ by Lello Salvatore * FIVRE, from tubes to transistors The invention of the point contact transistor occurred in December 1947 in the Bell Laboratories (Murray Hill, New Jersey, USA), and more particularly the junction one in April 19501, marked an important turning point in the miniaturization of electronic circuits and in their assembly. The first transistors were used in Bell telephone systems (in the card translator2) and in military equipment (in the Air Force's radar system and computers TRA.DI.C) and immediately after in commercial products such as hearing aids (late 1952/early 1953) and pocket radios (December 1954). The impact that the transistor had on industry, commerce and military institutions was enormous; just think that between 1954 and 1956 about 28 million transistors were sold in the United States, of which 17 million germanium and 11 million silicon for a total value of about 55 million Dollars3. If in Europe, big companies such as Philips, Siemens and Halske, Telefunken, British Thomson- Houston Company and so on already in 1952 they had purchased the license to build transistors from Western Elctric4 for 25,000 dollars, in Italy the dawn of semiconductor research was not yet seen. Taking the first steps in Italy was the brilliant engineer from Treviso Virgilio Floriani (1906, Cison di Valmarino - 2000, Cernusco Lombardone) who was anxious to get his hands on those new electronic things that amplified electrical signals, created the Semiconductor Laboratory in 1955 in the company he founded in October 1946, TELETTRA, which stands for TELefonia, ELETTronica and RAdio.
    [Show full text]