CHRS Journal
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The California Historical Radio Society (CHRS), is a non-profit educational corporation chartered in the State of California. Formed in 1974, CHRS promotes the restoration and preservation of early radio and broadcasting. Our goal is to enable the exchange of information on the history of radio, particularly in the West, with emphasis on collecting, preserving, and displaying early equipment, literature, and programs. Yearly membership is $30 ($40 non-USA). CHRS Museum in Alameda CHRS has been fortunate to through the generosity of its donors to purchase a home for the CHRS museum and education center. It is located at 2152 Central Avenue. The building was built in 1900 as a telephone exchange. CHRS volunteers are actively restoring the building to make it optimal for use. Our goal is to create an environment to share our knowledge and love of radio and enable us to create an appreciation and understanding for a new generation of antique radio collectors and historians. ◊ Contact us: CHRS Central Valley Chapter CHRS, PO Box 31659, San Francisco, CA 94131 or [email protected] Eddie Enrique – Chairman Visit us at: www.CaliforniaHistoricalRadio.com Staff Walt Hayden – Radio Central Planning Consultant Officers & Directors Manager, Building Operations Mike Adams – Chairman, Webmaster Larry Drees – Manager, Landscaping Operations Steve Kushman – President, Radio Central Project Butch McDonald – Asst. Manager, Landscaping Ops. Manager Bart Lee – Counsel Emeritus, Hist., Archivist Scott Robinson – Vice President, Technical Ops. Len Shapiro – BARM Executive Director Jamie Arbona – Secretary, Mailing John Stuart – Systems Consultant, Networks, Richard Watts – Treasurer, Membership, and CAD Drawings Publications, Collections Dave Billeci – Video Production Tom Bonomo – Name Badges Paul Shinn – Amateur Radio Operations Philip Monego – Director at Large David Vasquez – Electrical Transcription Project Dennis Monticelli – Education Larry Clark – Technical Advisor & Librarian W6CF Trustee, John Staples, W6BM © California Historical Radio Society, 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from CHRS, except that you may make “fair use” of quotations of text fully attributed by you to the source (this Journal) and the author. 2 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL RADIO SOCIETY Contents of the Journal COLUMNS 4 From The President Steve Kushman 5 CHRS Central Valley Chapter News Scott Scheidt FEATURE ARTICLES 6 Radio Central Renovation Update Walter Hayden 7 The Iconoscope TV Camera at W6BM, Berkeley John Staples 18 Tales of Pioneers — Some personal history from the Society of Wireless Pioneers Dick Singer 22 Lev Termin—Radio Engineering, The Theremin, and Espionage Richard Watts 32 Building a Theremin Richard Watts Front Cover: Cover of the December 1927 issue of the Science and Invention magazine. Rear Cover: Images of various recent CHRS activities. From the Editor This issue offers a look at the Iconoscope and John Staples efforts to make it operational, a rare feat as only three other operational Iconoscope cameras are known to exist. Then Dick Singer tells us of his time in the Global Explorer as it attempts to raise a sunken Soviet submarine in the 1960’s. And finally I provide the highlights of the accomplishments of Leon Theremin and the Theremin, one of the first musical instruments developed from radio engineering. Once again I’ve had the pleasure of working with very generous and capable contributors. I want to thank Dick Singer of the Society of Wireless Pioneers and now CHRS, John Staples, Walter Hayden, Scott Scheidt, and Steve Kushman. I am always in need of quality content related to broadcast radio, ham radio, and television. If you have something to contribute, I urge you to let me know. I am especially interested in technical content. It can be of two types, a narrow topic in depth or a more broad topic with less depth. Enjoy . Richard Watts, [email protected] ◊ Spring/Summer 2017 3 From The President by Steve Kushman SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO… CHRS as many organizations, is comprised of people drawn together by similar interests and ideas. Our unique group is attracted to this specialized organization by our love of radio… in its many forms. We appreciate the technology from the earliest crystal sets and spark transmitters to vacuum tubes and solid-state devices. And the hardware that these technologies have produced… Well, we marvel at the style and beauty of these devices; these tools of modern communication; with an almost limitless range of types, shapes, designs, colors, materials, functions and sound quality that have been an integral part of our lives and fixtures in our homes for over 100 years. We embrace the eventful history of communication development and are aware of the importance of imparting this fascinating radio history on new generations. We study and teach the origins and the restoration and repair skills necessary to keep these sometimes antique artifacts of our past doing what they have been doing for over a century… Bringing music, entertainment, sports, news, information and communications during times of peace and war into our homes and businesses, our cars, at the beach or anywhere else one could have a radio. We tell the story of radio but it’s just half the story if we address only the ‘radios’ themselves. We touch the radio to turn it on and tune it in. The sounds and ideas that emerge from the radio touch us, sometimes turn us on and always keep us tuned in. Radio broadcasting has been a routine part of millions of lives for over 100 years and we appreciate its importance and the effect it has had on our modern civilization. We’re fortunate to have the Bay Area Radio Museum on-line as part of CHRS, www.BayAreaRadio.org. On this site we celebrate the lives and histories of the radio people and the radio stations. And, we present the sounds of thousands of local historical audio clips that have made Bay Area radio second to none. Our goal is all about preserving the history of all aspects of radio. Why do we do this? Why do we care about this arcane technology understood by few and radio broadcasting, understood by many? I have always been taught and firmly believe that man is a curious creature. This curiosity as it pertains to history if pursued, leads to increased knowledge and the personal satisfaction of learning… how and why. In today’s fast paced, highly advanced technical society, most people take wireless communication for granted. Few know or care about the simple wireless technology of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s that grew and developed through the century. It was the cornerstone of the sophisticated wireless of today. To quote Director Denny Monticelli, “Radio in the 20th Century was as important as the Internet is in the 21st Century.” CHRS cares, and we are pleased to provide opportunities that allow us to present the stories of radio; to make sure people appreciate and understand how today’s radio, TV, internet and personal communication came to be; to honor the many radio pioneers, inventors to broadcasters, who enriched our lives by introducing radio into society; to pass on the knowledge and skills to perpetuate the preservation of radio and, to introduce and foster enthusiasm in new generations for the appreciation and importance of radio and broadcasting. We are hopeful that this new generation, as we do, will realize the importance of our work and will ensure CHRS’ mission is carried well into the future. The attainment of our goal requires dedication and passion. CHRS is blessed to have dedicated and passionate people who constantly strive to make sure we succeed. We place high value on our efforts for historical preservation, presentation and education. We are collectors, historians, craftsmen, technicians, teachers, restorers, preservationists, researchers, organizers and philanthropists who contribute high skills, knowledge and resources to CHRS. All work hard to ensure that radio is not forgotten in the annals of time. We come from all walks of life and bring unique perspectives and personalities into our CHRS Family. And it really does feel like a family when we all work together, take a break and share a nice lunch together on volunteer days. Some of our Family members consider Radio Central their second home and enjoy coming week after week to help improve our 117-year-old building, to volunteer for other projects and to enjoy the camaraderie of a great bunch of people. It’s a Family that makes up the crews for our events, donation pick-ups and retail sales events. I have said for many years that our volunteers are the engine that drives CHRS. That is true even more now that we own Radio Central. Our CHRS Family takes immense pride in the fact that we are one of perhaps only a handful of vintage radio societies that has been able to raise enough capital to buy our own building. It’s hard for me to express how lucky and grateful we are to be able to share our common interests and be part of this special CHRS Family. So, I hope I have cast a good bright light on who we are and what we do… It’s all Good! And I will repeat again how honored and proud I am to be associated with such a fine group of people. 4 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL RADIO SOCIETY HEADLINES… Radio Central Flood Causes Renovation Plans To Change. No Artifacts Lost. Minimal Permanent Damage. Concerned Citizens Donate Almost $100,000 Toward Water Intrusion Control Project… $50K Still Needed. Big Year For, “The San Francisco Radio Station That Changed The World – KSAN Jive 95: The Movie.” Production Continues.