We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
From a
U on a
came the pioneer broadcasting station
Did you know that the regular scheduling of radio programs grew out of an engineer's noonday jest?
It looked like anything but a historic moment — back there in 1916. One of our engineers, in a spirit of raillery, had made a bet that his nickel-plated timepiece would keep better time than another's fine, new 21jewel gold-cased model.
But the challenger himself was something of a watch expert. So, it is whispered, he proceeded to mount a fine, jeweled movement in his nickeled "turnip." Then both engineers began seriously to plot accuracy curves against the master clock in our main offices. And, as the rivalry7 grew keener, even the accuracy of the master clock was questioned.
"I'll put in a wireless set and get Naval Observatory time direct from Arlington," proposed the owner of the "dollar" watch. So he set up apparatus in his backyard garage and joined
the army of amateurs then chattering in dots and dashes through the ether.
His backyard broadcasting station initiated new equipment, new ideas. Dots and dashes gave way to voice transmission — music and dialogue. 8XK, the station's call, acquired a reputation. Meanwhile there was more and more talk throughout our offices that radio was destined for a larger commercial future.
A positive hint appeared in September, 1920, when a Pittsburgh department store, in order to sell a stock of radio receivers, advertised: "Hear those interesting 8XK programs in your own home."
On November 2, 1920, a Westinghouse-operated radio station, KDKA, announced the first regularly scheduled broadcast, to report the Harding-Cox election returns. From that point on,
the history of broadcasting has practically all been written. From that point on, KDKA became a household word.
The fifteen million radio receivers now owned by American homes, the three billion dollar radio industry which annually produces some half a billion dollars' worth of radio equipment— all have been greatly stimulated by developments which Westinghouse sponsored.
So, every time you listen to a radio today, remember that broadcasting took form in the minds of Westinghouse men — was prompted by a friendly wager between two of them, was nurtured in the backyard garage of one of them, and reached full flower amidst our factories and our laboratories.
WESTINGHOUSE • RADIO • STATIONS
KDKA Pittsburgh, Pa.
KYW Chicago,
WBZ Boston, Mass.
WBZA Springfield, Mass.
September 15, 1932 • BROADCASTING
Page 27