Radio Digest (July 1924-Apr 1925)

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" 24 RADIO DICES T— Illustrated February 7, 1925 Radio Digest Published by the Radio Digest Publishing' Company, Inc. 510 North Dearborn Street Telephone: State 4372, 4373, 4374, 4375 Chicago, Illinois E. C. RAYNER, Publisher Eastern Office, Park Lexington Building-, 247 Park Ave., New York. Telephone Bryant 4909, 10462. Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations PUBLISHED WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES Yearly In U. S. and Possessions and Canada, $5.00 Foreign postage, $1.00 additional Single copies. 10 cents. Vol. XII Chicago, Saturday, February 7, 1925 No. 5 What Is it All About? Do Radio Waves Have Weight and Substance? TWO YEARS ago we all laughed at Einstein ; now he is generally accepted as a leader of scientific thought. Just as he proves the theory that light has weight by measuring the deflection of star light, so we may prove that Radio waves have substance or weight by measuring the variation of energy when they travel east or west. Apparently, the increased momentum or tangential force of the earth revolving toward the east strengthens and improves those signals going west. The greatest of scientists seem lost in the conflict of ideas ; Herz, Fleming, Lodge and Edison have made suggestions, but their theories have all now been thrown down and everyone is at sea. We might just as well use the hypothesis that Radio messages or impulses are transmitted between points as an express train delivers packages to their destination. How is it done? The wave hypothesis has fallen down. The carrier is proven to have mass. If it is affected by gravity and has weight then it must also have shape and form. That form is something of which so far our senses cannot conceive. It is like the vague fourth dimension of mathematics. Only those of concentrated development of mathematical knowledge can get the drift of the idea. Just as we are trying to bring mental telepathy to an understanding so we must do likewise with Radio. There has never been in the world's history a more opportune time for a scientist to become crowned as now, with the solution of the phenomena of Radio. The heaviside theory has proven faulty. The day absorption of short waves is greater than the night and now, contrary to all theory and practice of twentyfive years' development, we discover that signals from Bordeaux are stronger on eighteen thousand meters than on twenty-three thousand. After these years of long waves we are turning to the short waves and reflection and refraction principles. The problems of static is still unsolved and the peculiarities of socalled fading of signals cannot be satisfactorily explained. The aurora borealis and other magnetic and electrical demonstrations improve Radio reception but disrupt the cables. From this you might say Radio laws should not be at all like laws of electricity and magnetism. Just as an electric motor may drive a water wheel of other dissimilar device, so our present day Radio transmitters and receivers built on electrical principles, are controlling the Radio phenomena. Let us get some fresh minds on the subject — the old ones have gone stale and admit defeat of all their theories. Cures Nerves New Found Remedy Abroad for Nervousness IF THE English recognize in Radio an aid in the treatment of nervous cases and insomnia what would they think of conditions in America where jazz is mostly the product of programs. Foreign doctors declare that Radio programs are important to nerve patients, not only in their direct effects but as antidotes for the unpleasant everyday street noises. English Radio must be different from ours. Static, jazz, crossed waves and local interference that have come to be almost the regular thing are enough to send some folks to the asylum with hopeless nerves. If not insomnia— isn*t it Radio that keeps American folks awake nights? Foreign Licenses System of Taxing the Use of Sets THE postmaster general, who has control of Radio in England, finds that he has 2,000,000 slackers who have sets but pay no revenue. While an intended drive may bring in half of the slackers the large amount that will escape payment makes the system a bad proposition. It is expected that the money brought in on delinquents will aid the broadcasting company to accomplish greater things. The British trouble would be ours if we would adopt their plan for the payment of broadcasting. Jim's Letter to Frank Dear Indi: — I gave my brother Jim a regenerative set with a loud speaker. Like all farmers, he didn't take to it at first, but he gradually got the fever. He had a few months of good reception and then trouble came. Here is his letter to me. "FRANK." Deer Frank: — "This is Sunday morning and I have just got in, with 2 rabbits for dinner, and the snow out of my shoes, and a fresh chew of tobacco, and a good fire with plenty of wood, and nothing to do, so 1 thought I might have time to write and tell you about the Radio. "The first thing I done for her was to buy twentyeight dollars worth of medicine. The first dose was a new 'A' battery but she got no better. Then I got her 2 new tubes, and no better yet. Then I got her 3 new 'B' batteries and gave hem to her and she ate them all three up in three days. "Then I hung the old ones back on her and doctored her for a few days until she got them 3 batteries digested and she got so she could whisper some. I kept on doctoring and tried all the remedies I could think of and now she is beginning ito talk pretty plain. "The lights are all good and bright and her digestive organs seems lots better but she is pretty hoarse yet. I think I will operate on her again tomorrow. She will talk good and strong for a while and then she commences getting weak until she fades away and then comes back again as strong as before. I think that is caused by pains from eating the batteries, and she has got another trouble that I havn't found yet. "Well Frank I guess you can beat me hearing music from China and Japan but I can hear the alligators on the coast of Florida a croaking, and the bears in the rockies growling, and the monkies in Africa squealing, all with one tunein and it is loud enuff so I can tell just what it is. Of course there is several other kind of animals that I can't just tell what they are but they sure have got loud voices." "JIM." "Since Radio Came In" By JB. Claire Oh Where's the dear old huskin bee We had in days of yore, And the darkies used to playin' And a singin' 'round the door? We used to hear them laughing, Now we only see them grin; Where once was mirth, it's hushed and still, "Since Radio came in." Where's the hay-rides and the Sunday picnics for the school, And where's the dear old crank That used to teach the Golden Rule, And Where's the taffy pullin' And the yarn we used to spin? All seem to be forgotten now "Since Radio came in." The young folks used to go to church On every Sunday night; They used to give old folks the lurch, To walk in pale moonlight;. But now they sit at home and spoon, We used to think that sin; And they get their sermon with their meals, "Since Radio came in." The baseball and the good old games We used to pay to see, And a great many other things, They've gone for charity; And those that used to have in store, Their light wines, beer and gin, Now have to drink the "ether waves" "Since Radio came in." Pacific Oats Station — AGO Dear Indi: — My set is made of two vacuum tubes. They work great, amplicating the vacuum something wonnerful. Most nights I can't hear nothing else. I got a unsuspected shock las' night, however, me readin' the programs as usual (which is mostly how I hear the concerts). All on a suddint my set perked up with a horse growl sayin', "Pacific Oats Station AGO — Henry Hothead's Orchestra," and the tubes got in their work again, makin' a perfect vacuum. I don't see this Pacific Oats stations in your program at all which will you please tell me why. Yours simply, A. PUNK SETT. Harry M. Snodgrass Dear Harry, how we miss you Since you have gone away; And so do many millions Who loved to hear you play. But the memory of your music "Will always with us dwell; Where ere you go, what ere you do We shall always wish you well. And many a wintry evening, When the earth was wrapped in snow, We heard J. M. Witten calling Upon the Radio. And every Monday evening We could hear his favorite text, "Home, Home Sweet Home" on the Baldwin By Harry, will be next. E. T. BRTANT. Walla Walla Expedition Rebels! At the last minute, when the expedition was about to leave, mutiny broke out in the fo'c'sle. The cook claims that he was approached by a stranger and offered $25 per week to stay away from the expedition. When the sailors heard of this, they rebelled, and demanded pie twice a week. According to the latest information brought ashore in the long boat, Capt. Oneoar was busily trying to recruit a new crew. We will leave next week, sure! INDI HISSELF. Someone's Sittin' Pretty Condensed By DIELECTRIC WHB provided a feature not so long ago that introduced an innovation in terpsichorean art — that is, it must have attracted the attention of jazz fans. When the Old Time Dance orchestra came on the air at the the Sweeney school the unorthodox were impressed with its title. Personally, the most pleasing element was the absence of "silent periods." There are not so many organ recitals coming through the ether as at one time, whether this be the wish of listeners in, or not, I should like to be able to say, but can't. An excellent organ recital was given by WNAC which merited applause cards. Did you send one? In listening to the United States Navy band orchestra it seemed to me there had been improvement since early in the fall. As I listened to the concert, and particularly to Miss Hood's singing of "Because," the impression prevailed that WCAP was putting out pleasing programs. They are fortunate to Radiocast this and the Marine band concerts. WNYC was less fortunate than some other stations in its Radiocasting of the running of that marvel, Nurmi. Nevertheless, you could almost vision his peculiar style of covering the track and the yells of thousands of spectators as. he flashed ahead of his nearest competitor for track honors. The transmission was inclined to be foggy. Among the hotel orchestras providing music for their dining patrons, and we diners who are not patrons, mention should be made of the William Penn aggregation, whose playing is heard through WCAE. One of the last piano selections heard from WOS during the stay of Harry Snodgrass in Jefferson City was his own conception of the way "Three o'Clock in the Morning" should be played. It was quite original, if the subject lacked peculiar distinction. Harry will be missed from the programs of this station, along with Announcer Witten. There are few sports so speedy in action and exciting to witness as basketball. No doubt this one game taxes the ability of a Radio observer as does no other, yet there can be only praise for the description given us of the Pittsburgh-Boston game. The cheers of the onlookers add to such events, not detract from them. Most of us don't find the diversion in listening to the ceremonies attendant upon a wedding as when the Radio first carried such a feature. WLW had everything to make this occasion as nearly actual to the listening observer as could be wished for, yet it didn't stir us from our lethargy. Maybe we are getting unromantic. It is too bad that such special concerts as those arranged by the Brunswick Phonograph company should not have the facilities of the best Radiocast stations. It is better to tune them in from some stations other than WJZ. So far these concerts have presented uniformly pleasing artists. May they continue for some time to come. WOC is as well-known a station to old timers as any on the air. There never was any severe criticism for the station at any time and the future is unlikely to develop any with their improved outfit. I had heard the Chaminade club concerts from this station before, but never to such advantage as on the opening night of the new regime. -■>■■'■