Radio Digest (July 1924-Apr 1925)

RADIO DTGES f— illustrated August 23, 1924 SCIENCE BEGINS TO RADIOCAST TALKS SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION GOING ON AIR WEEKLY Carrying Out It's Motto: "For the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge Among Men" WASHINGTON. — In carrying' out its motto: "For the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge Among Men," the staid and conservative Smithsonian institution in this city has turned to Radiocasting as the most efficient means of disseminating knowledge. In the latter part of September the institution will undertake a definite program of weekly scientific talks over the Radio from Station WRC, covering practically every branch of science, but so spoken as to appeal to lay listeners as well as those better informed. The program is under the direction of Dr. Austin H. Clark of the National museum, who has also secured the co-operation of the Carnegie institution, and several scientific bureaus of the government. The first Radiocast by a member of the Smithsonian staff was that of Dr. Charles G. Abbot, Director of the Astrophysical observatory, who spoke last November on the heat of the sun's rays and his experiments with a solar cooker. The initial talk was so successful that in the spring other savants who could discuss natural history in a popular style, went on the air. Among the Radio talkers were Dr. Clark, who spoke on "Giants in the Animal World," Superintendent Hollister of the Zoological park, who told of keeping and feeding wild animals, and Dr. Merrill, who spoke on shooting stars. One unique stunt was the Radiocasting of real Indian music rendered by natives, to which the Smithsonian officials themselves listened on a radio set installed in the main building. Radiophans bothered by static heard a talk of great interest recently, when Dr. Mauchly of the Carnegie institution spoke on "Atmospheric Electricity." Although Smithson, the founder of the institution, probably never thought of transmitting speech either with or without wires, it was recently learned that during one of his lectures, Joseph Henry, first secretary of the Smithsonian, said he regarded even the best copper wire as an impediment in the transmission of electric currents. He admittedly did not Cook Requests Music But Radio Ruins Her So Fond of Concerts She Forgets Her Cooking PARIS. — An amusing human touch comes in a complaint from a retired Colonel of the French Army who likes to eat well, but lives in the country where good cooks are hard to keep. He had found at last an especially fine cook, but was dismayed to hear her begin complaining because she had no amusements in that lonely district, no movies, no music, nothing at all. The Colonel, being in a serious situation, thought fast. He got a Radio receiving set, took it to his house, studied it over and installed it himself in the kitchen. All was serene once more after he had taught his domestic jewel how to operate the dials. But now the cook is becoming a DX hound, and is so fond of the concerts that the poor colonel is forced to put up with burnt soup, overdone meat, and desserts forgotten in the making. He is still trying to decide which must go — the Radio or the cook. TALKS TO ENGLAND (Continued from page 1) 1,000 watts is the limit established by the department of commerce. International Exchange Programs? David Sarnoff, president of the Radio Corporation of America, has recently gone to Paris and London, with a view, it is reported, of arranging international exchange programs on high power, short waves for relay Radiocasting. In case the plan is carried through, American and Canadian Radiophans may expect this winter to hear local or nearby stations repeat Paris and London programs, while French and English listeners will hear local Radiocasts of American programs. London and Manchester, it will be remembered, did some relay and Radiocasting last year of KDKA by picking up the short wave and relaying on their own power. know how to dispense with the electrical communication, but thought that the men in his audience would live to see wireless telegraphy. This was seventy-five years ago, and today the institution he headed is Radiocasting its information to the country by Radio telephony. w i I ■■■■ -* i I \ . I 1 i x i i t i * StandardR^£)IQProducts THE Federal iron-clad performance guarantee does more than protect you from loss or disappointment when building your pet hook-up. It is a pledge of perfection which a manufacturer would not dare to give unless he had Federal's background of over a quarter-century experience in radio and kindred fields. There are over 130 standardradio parts bearing the Federal iron-clad performance guarantee. FEDERAL TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH CO. Buffalo, N. Y. 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