Society of Wireless Pioneers - California Historical Radio Society

The World Wireless Beacon A Quarterly Newsletter of the Society of Wireless Pioneers. Inc., 14 6 Coleen Street, Livermore, CA 9 4 5 5 0 - USA

'*''Vol. 4 No. 1 March 1 992

The Life and Times of Your Founder By William A. Breniman I appreciate this opportunity freedom, the only caveat being to once again address my ------that it was my ONLY source of friends of many years. I wish I spending money. I did all the could answer the many calls work, planting, weeding, irrigat­ and letters I have received, but ing, harvesting and selling my I regret to say the years of garden vegetables of all kinds. I writing and publishing have did very well in my truck garden taken their toll, as my eyesight, and even ventured into other hearing and finger dexterity in fields such as being a youthful typing make it difficult to work entrepreneur in the fur business with speed at over 90. Many with much success. have asked about my The sinking of the TITANIC experiences and association had a profound impact on my with early day wireless, so I will young life. I decided someday to try to type up this short summ- become a "Marconi-man" and ary. I still enjoy hearing from sail the seven seas. I had ear­ my old friends and enjoy their ned enough money to buy some letters - so please keep them equipment from a New York mail coming even if I am unable to order house at 233 Fulton respond in kind. Street. (Later in life I was to meet I guess I have been gifted the owner, Syd Gernsback, and with a life of action and have his brother Hugo.) been fortunate to be in the (Continued, Page 2) "right place at the right time" and endowed with good becoming casualities along the way. health, knowledge and drive to con­ We in the Society of Wireless tribute in carrying the flag, especially Pioneers have vowed to remember in the field of WIRELESS. It was Jack them. Phillips, Chief Operator aboard the TITANIC, and Harold Cottam, wire­ During my early years, my family less operator on the rescue ship SS lived on a small farm just outside the CARPATHIA who first sparked my small northern Colorado town of Fort imagination and interest in this mode Collins. I was very fortunate in having of communicatiion with the first SOS a very wonderful Mother and Dad call on that night in April, 1912. They who gave us great encouragement in began a heritage of which all wire­ preparing for the future. For exam­ less/radio perators can be very ple, they gave me the responsibility proud. There are many "heroes of of farming two acres of land at the the key" who have followed them, age of 12. I was given carte blanche The World Wireless Beacon -2- March 1992

LIFE AND TIMES - From Page 1 ship on the Pacific. their sets; hence I was a good, reliable source for this very vital The receiving set I bought was a My first commercial job was aboard element. My retail trade grew so complete unit, advertised to have a an old Pacific Mail boat, 88 large I decided to enter the whole­ range of 2,000 miles or more. I also GEORGE W. ELDER/WAT. Equip­ sale field, which I did at 922 S. bought an early day model of the ment was "Halcon", for Haller-Cun­ Flower Street. I sold my retail store Omnigraph, a code-sending machine ningham. I was elated to have a job to one of my employees who had which would send at a rate of 5 to 25 on short notice. George Haller, Chief connections in the movie field. The words per minute, depending on how Operator and part owner, gave me name of my wholesale business was fast the crank was turned. Both items $50 per month, a very good salary the Radio Wholesale Electric Co. I cost less than $40, which in those for those days. Regretfully, I knew soon outgrew my Flower Street store, days was a 'bundle' of money. little about the ship. I found out after so I built a building at 1111 Wall sailing that the ship's generator did Along came World War I. A very Street. An old friend of mine, R.8. not provide enough current to run my persuasive U.S. Navy recruiter gave Yale, later took over this business set without dimming the lights on the us a talk at our high school which when I established a chain of three whole ship. The Chief Engineer pul­ ignited my latent patriotism to the retail stores, one each in Glendale, led the switch on the wireless room flash point. The Navy had me Long Beach and Hollywood. The and the only time I could get 'juice' "hooked"! latter was named after my first store, to run the set was to request it Radio Concert Equipment Co. of A couple of months later, after a through the Captain. Secondly, the Hollywood. I had quite a good lengthy talk with my parents who shaft on the motor-generator did not following with movie folks and sold thought I was too young, I joined the work. I had quite a job fixing it as I their first sets to people like William Navy. I was promptly assigned to had little experience with motors. To S. Hart, Harold Lloyd, Douglas Fair­ send code to my classmates at the top the experience off, when I retur­ banks and several others. Bremerton, Washington/NPC signal ned to San Francisco and went for school. In addition to the American my pay, I found that Mr. Haller had During my sojourn in L.A., I also Morse and International Codes which died. I did eventually get my pay, established the Los Angeles Radio I knew, I also was to teach sema­ but I also learned a good lesson the Institute on South Hope Street in the phore and 'wig-wag' to recruits hard way. I was a 'one-tripper' on Schools/College building. I leased assigned to the "Dickens" school. WAT, but I was still resolved to see some RMCA and Federal equipment the world. A shipboard R/0 at that and place settings for 80 operator­ I enjoyed my Navy days during time could almost pick the country or training positions. George Knudson, WW-1: Active duty at two land route he wanted, even if the pay an old friend who had sailed on the stations, NPC and NAT, plus seago­ wasn't all that great. S.S. ROSE CITY, came to work for ing duty on the USS GWIN/NACX, me as Supervisor. I recall one of the supply ship USS W. HOSOKIE/WFEI During the years from 1920 to 1929, men who came to us on a weekly and sub-chaser, NOCV. The GWIN with some interludes, I sailed on basis was Jennings 8. Dow who was was a 4-stacker in the war zone and many ships: freighters, tankers, conducting experiments for the U.S. on transport duty most of the time. barges and passenger liners. These Navy on the ultra-high frequencies. Old-timers will know these 'tin-cans' berths included ships of Standard were no place to be in rough Oil, the U.S. Shipping Board, Mat­ As a supplement to my school, I weather. Anyway, shortly after we son, Grace Line, Pacific Mail, was also appointed by Fred returned to NAT, New Orleans, LA, Admiral Line and numerous steam Mangelsdorf (who had supervision of the Navy offered furlough subject to schooners of different house flags. the West Coast) as Director of Ship recall (which we knew would pro­ Owners Radio Supply Co. (SORS) for During my shoreside interludes, I bably never happen.) I chose fur­ Southern California. I was able to became very active as a youthful lough as I did not feel the Navy staff ships with Radio Officers from entrepreneur in the Los Angeles and offered much opportunity to "see the our school when needed. It worked San Francisco areas. In 1922 I world". Hence I went to San Fran­ out very well. opened the fourth retail radio store in cisco and entered the Marconi Wire­ downtown L.A. at 624 West 6th Another involvement I had during less School. I received a commercial Street under the name of Radio these years was a partnership with­ license from Major Dillon and began Concert Equipment Co. I had a Jay Petel'Q 1 who ran a radio otorG on a new life on commercial ships - good contract and source for South Main Street. We started a everything from oil barges (Standard vacuum tubes with the Atlantic company named the 'On Location Oil # 91) to passenger ships (the 88 Pacific Tube Co. Many dealers in Wireless Communications Co•. We City of Los Angeles/KOZC, at that all of California were bui!ding sets to built two transceivers at the time time the largest and heaviest traffic sell and needed tubes to complete (Continued, Page 3) The WorldWiroleu Beacon -3 - March 1992

BRENIMAN - From Page 2 required a radio installation aboard Division, Bureau of Lighthouses. This all ships prior to their departure. later became the Civil Aeronautics and offered the movie industry the Some of us thought later that most of Administration (CAA). I had qualified service of providing "on location" the metal on these ships was conver­ as an aircraft pilot in 1924 and did contact with their main office. Our ted for use in Japan's war machine considerable flying during a 35-year first experience was with Fox Studios and perhaps shot back at us. career with CAA, which is now the which I recall was near the cross­ FAA. My many assignments included roads of Hollywood Blvd. and Vine During this period, I stayed with Chief of field stations at Big Springs, St. in Los Angeles. The "on location" many other operators at "The Dog Texas, (which I built and commis­ in this instance was a desert scene House" at 480 Pine Street. Itsofficial sioned) San Diego (relief), Burbank being filmed in the sand hille and name was the Alpine Hotel and (relief), Pasco WA., Reno NV and mesa east of El Centro. Jay was at nearly all ops who were 'on the Denver which I commissioned. Then I the field site and had some trouble beach' waiting for their next assign­ served as Deputy Chief in the newly on the Planked Road which could ment stayed there. At that time I had established Fifth Region at Kansas only be negotiated single file, with an arrangement with Dick Johnstone City, Regional Chief of Communica­ turnouts about every quarter mile. that if I got a call on with little tions Division, Chicago and Deputy' Conditions were not the best, but we advance notice to make a short trip, I Chief, Communications Division, did handle several messages from would be available. The law required Washington, DC. Camp Lejone to Fox Film HQ. Later, operators aboard all passenger these transceivers were used for the ships. If the assigned op failed to My final CAA assignments inclu­ first links when KOA - Denver and show at sailing time, Dick would call ded that of Chief of the Operations KOS - Albuquerque were being me at the ship where I was working Branch in the Seattle Region and established. or at the hotel so I could make a after consolidation of all the western "pierhead jump" to join the ship During my time in the Los Angeles states by President Eisenhower, I needing an operator and about to area, I ran a weekly column in was chosen as Chief of Technical depart, sometimes with several hun­ ''Radio Doings" which carried broad­ Services and Planning, with head­ dred passengers aboard. Often it cast program listings. I also quarters in the Los Angeles Regional was an Admiral Line boat• to Los appeared on radio station KHJ, Los office. I felt I left a legacy of achieve­ Angeles or Portland, Oregon. Angeles Times, then supervised by ment in closing my service with the John Dagget. On one of our weekly My last sea assignment was a CAA that benefited the flying public programs we ran a contest on the 1928 "around South America" cruise and the CAA itself. Two of my pet number of programs that could be on the SS CITY OF LOS ANGELES/ projects were well on the road to picked up if listeners alternated bet­ KOZC on her maiden voyage. The achievement which included the ween KHJ and WOR, the Bamberger trip was sponsored by the Chambers adoption of direction-finding service Department Stores station in Newark, of Commerce of Honolulu and San on VHF and UHF throughout the NJ. We gave prizes for the longest Francisco. Reportedly we had nearly system and the indoctrination of distance received and the largest a hundred millionaires on board. The "Flight Assistance Service" to the number of our KHJ broadcasts heard passengers brought us letters to flying public at all field stations. and verified. send by wireless to the folks back Several other services I promoted are home telling about beautiful sunsets, stlll in use and are a source of great In 1926, in Los Angeles, I received the antics of dolphins and such. We satisfaction to me in retirement. amateur opoerator and station were glad to get the traffic, but it licenses with call sign 6BE, later I retired in 1958 and we moved to gave us operators headaches. The W6BE. I had a vacuum tube rig with Santa Barbara so that daughter Mary 1 �o watt:, Input to a :single-wire problem was that many South and Jane could attend the Unive�ity of Central American coast stations kept vertical antenna. California there. Having been very poor watches. We did have a extremely active during my govern­ Longing for the marine life in the 5kW Federal Arc transmitter and ment career, I promptly involved late 1920s, I went back to San when conditions were right we could myself with several activities. As a Francisco and started working for clear traffic. But we always had some 'throwback' to my seagoing days, I Richard "Dick" Johnstone who was messages "on the hook". On this became Vice President of the Chief Operator for Radiomarine Cor­ voyage we monitored station KUP in Freighter Travel Club of America. poration of America (AMCA), a divi­ San Francisco on HF. Ron Martin, During the late g50•� 1 and gso•�,1 sion of RCA. As Marine Radio In­ one of SOWP's early members, was many people enjoyed ocean travel spector (MRI), I helped install many Chief of the facility. on cargo ships that carried accomo­ radio stations aboard ships sold to My U.S. Government employment dations for 12 or more passengers. the Japanese. By then the law began in 1928 with the Aeronautical (Continued, Page 4) The World WirelessBeacon -4- March 1992

BRENIMAN - from Page 3 had been preceded by our Trea­ Society. Many of their experiences surer, Lorin De Merritt and our and anecdotes have been recorded We had meetings and picnics that Society's second Secretary-Trea­ over the years by myself, 'Ye Ed', were well attended. One meeting I surer, Jerry Whittaker, who has since who assumed the nomdeplume 'The held at the Jack Tar hotel in San become a Silent Key. In addition to Ancient Mariner". He has no genea­ Francisco was attended by nearly these fine friends, I began to locate logical relationship with 'Sinbad the 200 members. It took four buses to former shipmates living in the area. Sailor', but there is a close bond of tour members along the waterfront. This gave me the idea that we kinsmanship in his love of the world's We went aboard several large ships should start an organization of these oceans and seas and the lore of in the harbor. old 'Jack-Tars', most of them still centuries associated with things nau­ It was about this time (1958) that I 'Knights of the Key' via their amateur tical. started the Society of Airway stations. Early members of SOWP were Pioneers. My proposal was enthu­ Thus, with about 40 names and fortunate to receive our original pub­ siastically supported by many of my addresses of former seagoing ops in lications. We issued nearly 100 old colleagues and associates and the area, I sent an invitation to attend releases, bulletins and papers on membership began to skyrocket. On a luncheon at the Green Mill •n many subjects. More recently, our top of this, my wife and I started a Cotati, about eight miles south of newspaper Sparks Jouma/ had a travel agency called Key Travel Ser­ Santa Rosa, more convenient for press run of 30 issues, each with 32 vice. We suddenly found that nearly those from the San Francisco area. to 48 pages of historic material every moment of our time was sche­ We had a very fine turnout and I printed on book-stock. It was tabloid duled and it was difficult to preempt proposed we start a local organiza­ in form and was mailed worldwide at time even for family living. We sold tion to help preserve the fine tradi­ low expense using second class the agency. All this activity should tions of the many wireless men who postal rates. I have hopes that its probably have been a lesson, but in had lost their lives on ships in publication will be resumed, for we 1968 I started the Society Of Wire­ distress and maintain for posterity a have an abundance of material less Pioneers. I received the active record of their deeds and bravery. ready for printing and release. support of many members who hel­ ped carry the work load. It seemed that after that first During 1985 I think I stretched my get-together and my first bulletin, the endurance to the breaking point. One of my close friends, Nelson Society started to mushroom and it During that year I published four Barritt and his wife took over the was difficult to keep up with its editions of Sparks Joumal, a mem­ Society of Airway Pioneers about growing membership. We elected bership Directory and a separate 1972. 'Nels' has taken his last flight Richard "Dick' Johnstone our first Callbook listing our radio amateur some time ago. The mantle of President. He was perhaps one of members and nets. In producing the running SOAP was accepted by the best known Individuals in the latter, I received Important help from Leon Daugherty when he retired as wireless operating field on the West Charles Coleman, who worked on its Director of FAA's Western Region. Coast. Almost every operator from pasteup and overall contents. Howe­ Subsequently he moved to Friday the region had at one time or another ver, the workload associated with Harbor, WA in Puget Sound. But called on him for an assignment. He meeting deadlines literally burned due to health problems last year, he was extremely active in the early me out and I had to phase out most had to be relieved. The Airways SOWP, especially on the air from his of my work and responsibilities. Society is in good hands, however, amateur station. He was known as and membership remains at a sub­ Fortunately for the Society, Paul N. 'RJ" which was his 'sine' back in stantial level. Dane agreed to take over the work­ 1907. His call later was K6FZ. He load as Executive Secretary. Mem­ When our daughter finished col­ became a Silent Key October 9, ber Waldo T. Boyd agreed to issue lege, we moved to Santa Rosa, CA., 1972. He had become a Comman­ an interim publication, QTC - SOWP where I found many old friends of my der in the U.S. Naval Reserve and NEWSLETTER which filled the gap seagoing days had thrown out their left a legacy of achievement and and was very interesting. Since Mr. anchors. Ruth and I had made a good will. We named our SOWP Boyd had some heavy comittments, four-month sweep of the West Coast, West Coast · Pacific CW net the he phased out publishing the news­ from Vancouver Island to Tucson Richard Johnstone net, which he had letter. In 1989, our current newsletter AZ., spending a bit of time in each started in October, 1968, in his The World Wireless Beecon, bega� place surveying areas we thought honor. publication. Theodore K. 'Ted' would provide the 'best living". We We have had many other 'achie­ Phelps is its editor and publisher. chose Santa Rosa as it was a very vers' who have left their mark on the firendly little city of 25,000. I found I (Continued, Page 5) The WorldWireleee Beacon

BRENIMAN - from Page 4 Mr. Boyd has agreed to continue work on our growing membership list to keep it current. Also, he was re-sponsible for generating the com­ puter programs tor the 1992 Wire­ less Register. Without his major efforts, there would have been no Directory. He has also indicated that he might be able to resume the publication of SPARKS JOURNAL on an annual basis. This is being coor­ dinated with Paul Dane, our Exec. Director and President. On a personal note, this is a rather sad time. I observed my 91 stbirth­ day on February 6 and I am continu­ ing on a day-by-day basis. Father Time or Mother Nature has indeed treated me very well over the years. But this cannot be expected to pre­ vail forever. My eyes have been giving me considerable trouble. I can no longer sit here at my "mill" and bang out copy as I did several years ago. It was most enjoyable. Nevertheless, in closing, I must express my sincere thanks to those who have extended such wonderful help and assistance over the years. While I can modestly claim a small bit of the appreciation and thanks members have sent, I think it is the magnificent team effort of our pre­ sent staff that has kept the Society going. They are dedicated to the legacy and heritage of our organiza­ tion. I am referring to Paul N. Dane, Lorin G. DeMerritt, Ted Phelps, Walt Boyd, our net managers and the members of our Board of Governors. I would like to invite all my old friends to drop me a line now and then ... that makes me feel wonderful! I will not guarantee to reply, as my days are now pretty well over and this typewriter talks back to me quite often - and the language isn't sweet and gentle any more. So, - 73 from /·<· �J-� William A. Breniman