[BC] Another history question

[Cowboy]

On Monday 26 December 2005 03:47 pm, Donna Halper wrote:

>Another truism we all accept is that the late Reginald Fessenden was the 
>first to broadcast voice and music over the wireless, on Christmas eve 
>1906. 

 //snip//

>Notice-- AMONG THE FIRST.  So  
>evidently even then, others had laid claim to what today we all attribute 
>to Fessenden.  Fessenden himself said he first did it successfully in 1902, 
>but that's another story for another time.  Anyway, the many myths of radio 
>history could fill a book... hmmm, perhaps I ought to write one about it!!!     

 Perhaps you should !

 Personally, I don't know about Reggy, or have any documented evidence
 of who, or when, but I do remember reading about some fool who discovered
 way back when, that if he spoke across the active gap of an Alexandersen Generator
 ( a mechanical 16 khz or so (( depending on gear )) arc transmitter of some
 reputed 300 kilowatts or so ) that the operators at sea could clearly hear his voice.

 While I would *think* there would be some record of his electrocution for such stunts,
 I don't know of any.
 Either way, I expect that where there's smoke, there was probably some fire, and while
 we may never know with certainty who, when, or where, it is likely that some spark
 guy somewhere, did discover that it could work, and did provide some curiosity for
 what later became voice transmission by wireless.

 Personally, I was more fascinated by the idea that changing frequency was
 quite literally done with a gear shift !

-- 
Cowboy

http://cowboys.homeip.net

Never tell a lie unless it is absolutely convenient.