Category Archives: Radio history

1956 J.W. Miller Model 565 and 595 Crystal Set

Sixty years ago this month, the December 1956 issue of Popular Electronics carried this ad for what was probably one of the most expensive commercial crystal set ever marketed, the J.W. Miller Company Model 585 High Fidelity Crystal Diode AM Tuner Kit, which was also available assembled as Model 595.

The set was said to have received “overwhelming acceptance by the most critical audiophiles,” since it contained nothing to cause distortion. With a strong AM signal, it probably did provide the best possible fidelity. Its high Q coils gave it very high selectivity. Indeed, it was equipped with a vernier tuning dial.

A complete set of the assembly instructions are available at this link. A nicely preserved specimen can be found near the bottom of this page.

Leo Sadowsky, W2OFU, Perseverance, Ingenuity and Indefatigable Resolution

Sadowsky (seated, with headphones) and Gunderson. QST, December 1941.

Seventy-five years ago, the December 1941 issue of QST carried a profile, authored by Clinton DeSoto, of a remarkable amateur radio operator, 21-year-old Leo Sadowsky, W2OFU. then of 482 Ashford Street, Brooklyn, New York. The remarkable fact was that Sadowsky was both deaf and blind, but despite his handicaps, he successfully obtained his license and was active on the air.

He was born deaf, and at the age of two, he lost the sight in one eye in an accident. At the age of sixteen, the “overburdened right eye also failed,” and he became totally blind.

Sadowsky’s instructor, Robert T. Gunderson, W2JIO, was an instructor at the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind. Gunderson was himself also blind. When Sadowsky first approached him to teach radio, Gunderson was at first skeptical whether it would be possible. Gunderson asked how he would hear the signals, and Sadowsky replied that he would take his word for it that the receiver was working correctly.

Sadowsky (left). Boys’ Life magazine, Nov. 1941.

Sadowsky was able to learn code with a low-frequency buzzer, keyed by a relay connected to the receiver’s output. This was later refined to a 60 cycle tone that drove a pair of headphones whose vibrations he could feel. By the time he got his license, Sadowsky was able to build and operate his own equipment, and could copy code at 15-20 words per minute.

The FCC initially took the position that Sadowsky wasn’t eligible to sit for the code test, since the regulations specified that it be taken “aurally.” Gunderson argued that whether he could hear was beside the point, since he was taking the code test with a pair of headphones on his ears.

The exam, which Sadowsky took on July 1, 1941, was described as a “complicated procedure” owing to the fact that he “spoke” in a variety of ways. Before he had become blind, he and his brother had devised a wigwag system. To other blind persons, he talked by touching fingers and simulating the shapes of Braille characters. And the article noted that he was now capable of conversing by Morse code, either by tapping the wrist with a finger, or by “sound” through his headphones. For the code test, he dictated the text word-for-word to his brother, who wrote it down longhand.

Gunderson then transcribed the written test in Braille, Sadowsky wrote them in Braille, and Gunderson rewrote them on a typewriter. The required diagrams were given in word form. The following Saturday, a telegram arrived from Washington informing Sadowsky that he had passed, and was now W2OFU. His station consisted of a 6L6 crystal oscillator running 25 watts and an ACR-136 receiver.

The QST article concluded:

Certainly Leo’s world is now vastly expanded beyond the small circle of family and Braille books and typewriter and a few blind friends; now he is in intimate contact with what must seem like the whole world.

An inspiring concept, that–the prospect of a normal and well-rounded life thus opened by the magic of amateur radio. Even more inspiring, however, is the demonstration of perseverance, ingenuity and indefatigable resolution exhibited by this young amateur and his mentor in the face of their combined handicaps. That’s the kind of spirit America needs.

Surprisingly, I’ve been able to find little subsequent information about Sadowsky. He is listed, at the same address, in the 1947 Call Book. He is not listed, at least in the second call area, in the 1949 Call Book or the 1956 Call Book. The Social Security Death Index does list a Leo Sadowsky of Queens, New York, born on February 24, 1920, who died in July 1992 at the age of 72.

While Sadowsky was apparently the first deaf-blind person to become a licensed radio amateur, he was not the last. Amateur radio has a long tradition of serving as a window to the world for those with disabilities. One of the best sources of support for persons with any kind of disability who are interested in radio is the Courage Kenny Handiham Program, which provides practical support to disabled persons wishing to earn their licenses and get on the air.

References

1956 British 3 Transistor Broadcast Portable

Sixty years ago, the December 1956 issue of the British publication Radio Constructor carried the plans for this three transistor broadcast set. Those who built it were undoubtedly amongst the first in the British Isles to own a transistor radio.

The set was basically a crystal set, using a type 0A71 crystal diode detector, with three PNP transistors serving as audio amplifier. The transistors are identified as “Red Spot” from Henrys Radio, and are undoubtedly CK722‘s.

In place of a speaker, a crystal microphone element is used, with a capacitor in parallel which was said to soften the audio a bit. In London, the set pulled in the two local BBC broadcasts without an external antenna. For more remote areas, an external antenna, perhaps concealed in a carrying strap, could be employed. The set as shown here was pretuned to two stations, with the switch used to go from one to the other. The article noted that a more traditional variable capacitor could also be used, as shown in the schematic below.

1936 Popular Mechanics Two Tube Shortwave Set

Eighty years ago, the December 1936 issue of Popular Mechanics showed how to put together this two-tube shortwave set for beginners. It promised that any beginner could assemble it with ordinary tools. The set contained a band switch, which did away with the need to switch plug-in coils.

A type 38 tube served as the regenerative detector, with a type 39/44 providing audio amplification. In preliminary tests, the set pulled in signals with good volume from Spain, Germany, England, and South America. Power was provided by A and B batteries, or the constructor could also put together the battery eliminator described in the same issue.

John Glenn, 1921-2016

John Glenn. Wikipedia photo.

Mercury Astronaut John Glenn died on December 8, 2016, at the age of 95. He was the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth aboard the Mercury 6 spacecraft, Friendship 7, on February 20, 1962.

The American orbital mission proved an opportunity for shortwave listeners to eavesdrop of the communications with the space mission. This news flash from the May, 1962, issue of Popular Electronics confirms that many American SWL’s were able to tune into the communications to the space capsule, although at press time, it did not appear that there were any confirmed reception reports of the space-to-Earth downlink.

Voice communication from Earth was sent on HF frequencies, with 15.016 MHz being the most important in the Western Hemisphere. On that frequency, SWL’s were able to hear ground stations in Guaymas, Mexico, Corpus Christi, Texas, and others. It was believed that Glenn was transmitting on or near that frequency, although this had not been confirmed at press time. In the Eastern Hemisphere, ground network stations were heard on 7.575 and 10.61 MHz, with ships in the recovery operation above the 15.016 frequency.

The magazine noted that SWL’s probably enjoyed the mission more than TV viewers.

Godspeed, John Glenn.

Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941

USS Shaw at Pearl Harbor. Defense Department Photo.

Today marks the 75th Anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Most Americans learned of the attack by radio, and the story of that coverage featured prominently in the December 15 issue of Broadcasting magazine, the first to go to press after the attack. The photo at the left shows the news staff of stations WLW and WSAI, Cincinnati, huddled shortly after the first news of the attack broke.

According to the magazine, the first broadcast of the attack came at 2:26 Eastern Time, when WOR New York broke into a Dodger-Giant football game to read the United Press flash. Two minutes later, the news was broadcast nationwide over the NBC Red and Blue Networks.

CBS carried the announcement during its 2:30 station break. The afternoon news program was quickly reorganized. CBS newsman John Daly had spoken by telephone with KGMB Honolulu, and news of the attack on Manila, Philipine Islands, was carried live by a telephone hookup with KGMB, that signal being cut mid-broadcast.

Newsrooms came to life as staff were summoned in on an otherwise slow Sunday afternoon. At 2:45, the NBC network rang four chimes, instead of the customary three, to alert staff to report to work.

One NBC executive phoned KGU Honolulu for an immediate report. The voice from Honolulu reported that he was a station executive and did not have a microphone available. The NBC executive told him to keep talking to keep the line open as he raced to the network control room, and the call was eventually patched through live over the air. He was on the air by 4:06 PM with the live report, until a long distance operator broke in to report that the line was needed by the military. A recording of that broadcast is available at this link. Another six minute call was aired later that hour.

Starting on Monday, December 8, West Coast stations were on a wartime basis. In compliance with an army order, stations in California, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho went off the air. In Washington, KIRO‘s 50 kilowatt signal remained on the air for Army and Navy use only.

During the blackout, which lasted until the next morning, only five minute news flashes were permitted every half hour. More organization was apparent by Thursday and Friday, when staggered schedules were followed.

The nation’s shortwave stations went on a 24 hour schedule, with broadcasts in multiple languages. CBS carried reports in ten languages to Europe, and three to Latin America. It noted that both networks were following a policy of objectivity in news, following FDR’s pronouncement that more than ever, there was a need for truth in the news.

The East Coast shortwave stations were assigned staff from the Office of Coordinator of Information to review material for any that might give aid or comfort to the enemy. In San Francisco, the Navy served a similar function for GE shortwave station KGEI.

CBS Short Wave Listening Station, Long Island. Wikipedia photo.

The CBS and NBC shortwave listening stations were operating on a 24-hour schedule, making material available for the networks, press, and Government.

More information on radio broadcasting in the aftermath of the attack can be found at this post and this post.

Television had newly come on the air commercially in New York, and the magazine reported that the new medium developed a new presentation as the events swiftly unfolded. WCBW came on the air at 8:45 PM until 10:00, the first time the station had been on the air on Sunday. Throughout the week, it presented several news programs daily. It covered President Roosevelt’s Monday speech, with a waving flag transmitted over the visual channel.

NBC commentator Sam Cuff uses map to show WNBT viewers strategic location of Hawaii.

WNBT moved an AP teletype into the studios, with the camera focused on the incoming wire. In the weeks preceeding the attack, WNBT had devoted much of its programming to civilian defense training, a role which continued during the war.

Sales of battery operated radios were said to have skyrocketed on December 8.

Peace Light and NPOTA: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

I was recently in Iowa to present some Continuing Legal Education programs in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. Whenever possible, I like to combine trips, and I used this opportunity to take part in two other events.

Cedar Rapids is close to the birthplace of Herbert Hoover in West Branch, Iowa. It is the location of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, as well as the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. I’ve been looking forward to putting this National Park Service (NPS) unit on the air during the NPS Centenial year as part of the ARRL National Parks On The Air (NPOTA) event. During this event, Amateur Radio operators are setting up their equipment in NPS units to make contact with other Amateurs around the world. Since the beginning of the year, the event has been extremely popular. There have been over 900,000 individual two-way contacts made from the parks, and it appears almost certain that this number will top a million before the end of the year. As I’ve reported in other posts, I’ve made contact with over 300 different parks and operated multiple times from parks in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

I was especially eager to operate from President Hoover’s birthplace, since he played such an important role in the history of radio. Indeed, his son was an avid amateur radio operator, and served in the 1960’s as president of the American Radio Relay League, the national organization sponsoring the event.

I didn’t have time for a long operation, but I was able to spend about an hour operating from the parking lot of the historic site’s visitor center, as shown in the photo above. President Hoover’s birthplace home is barely visible in the photo (just to the left of the larger building in front of the car. Despite the short time available, I managed to make contact with about 30 stations, all CW (Morse Code), ranging from Alaska to Florida. After operating, at dusk, I paid my respects at the gravesite of President and Mrs. Hoover, shown here.

The next day, I used my drive home to the Twin Cities to transport the Peace Light of Bethlehem from Des Moines to the Twin Cities.

For at least the past several hundred years, and possibly more than a thousand, a lamp has continuously burned at the grotto of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the traditionally accepted location of Christ’s birth. Since 1989, the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides of Austria have annually sent a child to Bethlehem, who lights a lamp from the light and returns it to Austria. From there, it is passed on around Europe during the Advent season. Since 2000, the Peace Light has been delivered to North America where volunteers, most of whom are connected with Scouting, deliver it around the country.

This year, there was a gap in the distribution, and it wasn’t making it to the northern tier of states. I coordinated with members of the Peace Light North America Facebook group, and made arrangements to meet with an Iowa Scouter in the parking lot of a Des Moines coffee shop. From his kerosene lantern, we lit my lanterns, shown here, and I took the burning lanterns home.

From there, others have come to light their candles and lanterns, and the same ancient flame is burning in lamps in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Another volunteer from North Dakota is on the way here, and within a few days, the Peace Light will be burning in North Dakota, Manitoba, Montana, Washington, and probably other places along the way.

Many are curious as to how the Peace Light crosses the Atlantic. It is transported by Austrian Airlines in the passenger cabin of an aircraft. The ailine transports the flame from Israel to Austria, and then to New York and Toronto. The flame is held within a blastproof miner’s lamp, which allows the open flame to be transported safely by air. At Kennedy Airport, it’s walked through customs by an airline employee to the airport chapel, where a ceremony is held attended by those who fan out around the country to transport it. Among those were one or more volunteers who transported it to Chicago. From there, it went to Davenport, Iowa, where it was picked up by the person who gave it to me.

WRUL Boston, 1941

Shown here as it appeared at the time of America’s entry into the War is the control room of Boston shortwave station WRUL. The image appeared in the December 15, 1941, issue of Life Magazine.

The magazine was obviously put together immediately after the attack of December 7, since most of the articles refer to an America that was preparing for war, but still at peace. Only a middle section of the magazine includes images of the attack.

This image is from an article profiling the shortwave station which, according to the magazine, the Nazis hated and feared.

It was billed as the nation’s most powerful shortwave transmitter, and was “waging a mighty war of propaganda against Adolf Hitler and his allies.” The station’s transmitters were 50,000 and 20,000 watts, with plans to increase. Programs went out day and night in 24 languages.

The station had come on the air in 1927 under experimental license W1XAL. With the outbreak of war in Europe, unbeknownst to the staff, the station came largely under the control of British Intelligence. With America’s involvement in the war, the station was leased to the U.S. Government. In 1962, under new ownership, the call letters were changed to WNYW for “Radio New York Worldwide,” with studios in New York and the transmitter reamining in Scituate, Mass. In 1973, the station was acquired by religious broadcaster Family Stations, Inc., and operated as WYFR until that station moved its transmitters to Okeechobee, Florida, in 1979.

WWV Moves to Colorado: 1966

Today marks the 50th anniversary of WWV’s move to its current location in Fort Collins, Colorado. At 0000 hours GMT on December 1, 1966 (5:00 Mountain Standard Time on November 30), the station began its transmissions from the new location on the familiar internationally allocated standard carrier frequencies of 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 megacycles.

The move was announced in the November 1966 issue of Electronics Illustrated, which contained the photograph shown above. At the center of the photo is the station’s 10 MHz dipole antenna. The 3-1/8 inch diameter transmission line can be seen snaking off to the right. In the background to the left is the WWVB transmitter building (WWVB and WWVL had previously been located at Ft. Collins). The antennas in the background are, at the left, a backup 88 foot monopole, and at the right, the 400 foot WWVL tower.

NIST photo.

To celebrate the move, the station issued a special first-day QSL card for reception reports on the first day. To ensure that SWL’s had really picked up the station, the voice identifcation used a special message on the first day, which had to be copied exactly to receive the special QSL, which is shown here.

According to the accompanying note on the card, WWV had apparently planned to award a photograph of the new station to the first three reception reports. However, it proved impossible to determine which were the first three, and three were selected from the batch. One of those went to long time ARRL staffer Lewis “Mac” McCoy, W1ICP.

The station had previously been located at Greenbelt, Maryland. The move was designed to give better coverage and to move the station closer to the National Bureau of Standards’ frequency standard lab in Boulder, Colorado.

1936 Popular Science Portable Transmitter

Eighty years ago, the November 1936 issue of Popular Science carried the plans for this portable 20 watt AM transmitter for 160-20 meters.

The compact transmitter was designed for operation on a 6-volt storage battery, with a motor-generator supplying the B+ voltage. Also included were plans for an AC power supply.

A type 42 tube was used for the crystal oscillator, with a 6A1 final amplifier. Modulation was handled by two 6A6 tubes.

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