Radio mirror (Jan-Oct 1923)

mm 10 RADIO DIGEST ILLUSTRATED Radio Digest Illustrated REG. U. S. PAT. OFF. Published by the Radio Digest Publishing Company, Inc. 123 West Madison Street Telephone State 4844-4845 Chicago, Illinois E. C. RAYNER. Publisher Chas. F. Smisor, Editor Evans E. Plummet, Managing Editor Hairy J. Marx, Technical Editor Eastern Representative, Jacob Miller, 2126 Broadway, New York Telephone Columbus 2390 Pacific Coast Representatives E. J. Wood, 251 Kearny St., San Francisco Telephone Kearny 1472 H. M. Morris, 417 Western Mutual Life Building, Los Angeles Telephone 12011 PUBLISHED WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES ....16.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents Vol. IV Chicago-, Saturday, March 3, 1923 No. 8 Small Receiving Sets in Favor Simple Set Is Desired by Most Radiophans ENTHUSIASM for the large and complicated set has abated and most of the amateurs are now using or experimenting with the simplest form of a receiver. A large portion of those who listen in are beginning to demand a small set that will receive broadcasts at a reasonble distance. The call for a set having a large number of tubes with Badio and audio frequency is abating, and in its place there has come a steady demand for a very simple form of apparatus that will do the work required of it. "Super" sets cease to be objects of experiment. The added effect produced by the extra parts and accompanying complication does not compensate for the expenditure. There are many Radio bugs who like to fuss with super sets, but the large portion of Radiophans want to sit down and enjoy a concert and do not care to be bothered with complicated apparatus. Then, too, these sets cost more to build. One of the main reasons the FleweHing set has been such a success is found in its simplicity. It is not necessary to use several steps of amplification with this circuit, and in many instances only one tube will be sufficient to pick up stations that usually require a five-tube set. The crystal set has its advantages, not only in cost but in upkeep. It is not necessary to use an A or B battery or to have a large number of parts, and there is no oscillation to cause squealing and noises. The entire receiving set is undergoing many changes and engineers are working on processes to simplify it. When a very simple and easily controlled set is produced there is a large market waiting and the business will flourish. The receiver has ended being a plaything and now is in the realm of useful entertainment. Directing Motion Picture Plays Large Armies of Players Directed by Radiophone THE Radiophone has not had mueh time in which to acquire a history, but it has found a new application of itself in directing large numbers of actors in scenes for making motion picture film. Recently Rex Ingram, producer of ' ' The Prisoner of Zenda, ' ' used the Radiophone in giving commands to a young army of extras in the great coronation scenes. Practical tryouts of the Radio idea brought ' approval from Mr.^Insrarn. The working out of the scheme was not so complicated as he had anticipated. By placing sub-directors to issue orders to every group in the. crowds and so arranging the positions of these subordinates as to hide them from the camera and equipping them with receiving apparatus tuned in to his master phone, Mr. Ingram was able to direct the mass of people with instantaneous response. Expensive Apparatus Not Required Farmers Benefited by Simple Equipment TO RECEIVE Radiophone messages requires only a limited equipment, simple and inexpensive. Thousands of farmers have installed receiving sets recently, with the result that isolated rural homes have been brought instantly in touch with the many kinds of information and instruction which are being broadcast continually. Weather information thus reaches the farmer as promptly and effectively as any urban business man. Farm operations are absolutely dependent for success upon the knowledge of weather conditions, and the protection of crops from disaster due to frost, drought, storms and other weather phenomena is only possible if adequate warnings are received in time. Heretofore a large number of farmers of the country were so located that they could not be supplied by newspapers or telegraph with the daily forecasts and warnings of the weather bureau of the United States department of agriculture in time to be of service to them. Radiophony has changed all of this. Also the number of broadcasting stations has increased to meet the needs of those equipped to receive the messages. Condensed By DIELECTRIC Much has been said in support of the plan to have only a few of the better equipped broadcasting stations transmit programs for the entertainment of all Radiophans. Whatever the ultimate outcome of propaganda so directed may be, it seems certain that the American Telephone and Telegraph Company is satisfied that it can provide a single program simultaneously from a number of toll stations situated in various parts of the country. This was made evident through its recent experiment with Station WNAC in Boston. There seems to be little difference of opinion among those who listen to WEAF as to the quality of their programs and the excellence in transmission. If, when this chain of stations is completed, they can persuade the Metropolitan Opera Company to broadcast their performances from the New York station, everybody will have a chance to listen to grand opera. It is a natural source of pride for a broadcasting station to be able to point to instances of reception of its entertainment by fans in distant parts of the world. While not so long ago it was a rare thing for Radiophony to be heard over distances of several thousand miles, today such records are becoming quite general. So fine are the spinal adjustments of Station WOC at Davenport, Iowa, that an amateur in France, 4700 miles away, heard part of an address by Major Atkinson at this station. Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands, is about 5100 miles removed from the City of Brotherly Love, yet WIP was heard by a government Radio operator at the former place. Philadelphia may be accused of being slow, but here she is setting up a great record for the "speedy" towns to equal or surpass. Of course, WJZ has been getting across fairly often, they have to live up to their announcement — "the international broadcasting station." It is really WGY to whom must be awarded the medal for distant reception. It is said that a member of the British Marconi Company picked up the Schenectady station one night and the volume of sound which came from his loud speaker when a piano solo was broadcast, awakened a sleeping child in an adjoining room. From the U. S. to England, and then an. indefinite distance into slumberland! To that perturbed Doctor, whose letter of protest against broadcasting "No. 2 yellow corn" appeared in the columns of this paper, little of joy may be found in the announcement of the purchase by the Chicago Board of Trade of Station WDAP. However, this city is to be congratulated on having (since we shall continue to hear futures, etc., by Radio) so modernly appointed a transmitting system as the glass booth, from which quotations are directly sent from the floor to the world. I am quite sure that stock quotations are limited to certain hours in the day, and that periods in the evening are not so utilized. Be that as it may, the fact remains that to a great many this particular feature is of prime importance and greatly appreciated. Health talks are mostly elementary, yetjhey are essential to many comprising Radio audiences. No, we must not cut out the corn, rye, or Bourborn quotations, though, of course, they should fall to at least one-half of one per cent; nor should the instructions in the care of infant feeding be prescribed, but broadcast all the information available. I have heard a number of well-meaning individuals declare their objections to broadcasting church services, on the ground that church attendance was thereby reduced. It is not possible to quote figures to substantiate my contention that few regular attendees remain at home because they can hear the service through a receiving set, but I feel confident that such is the fact. Those who attended irregularly may be influenced by home eomforts. Others because of dislike for the minister may avail themselves of the opportunity to remain at the dials and tune in whom they please. It is the countless number of afflicted, who in no other way could feel themselves a part of a worshipping congregation, to whom broadcasting church services are of inestimable worth. What will they say of the services in Tremont Temple, Boston, being broadcast every noonday as well as Sunday mornings, which has resulted in the conversion of one man and the contributions by many to the furtherance of this work? Not being a licensed preacher perhaps I had better leave you to think it over. What is a Radiowl? Well, it depends upon the authority you select for answering this question as to the exact definition you will get. "The Voice of the South" would give you a roseate view of this particular species of ' ' bug, ' ' while from other quarters would come beseeching pleas for the quick extermination of every specimen of Radiowl. To the ordinary listener in of local broadcasts (not situated in the sunny southland) one of these birds of ether flight might arouse no antagonism, because that one would have turned out his lights and retired before the Buzzard, Hoot, Ananias and Screech Owls had begun their nightly play. It is when you sit up to hear what follows the Bedtime Stories that you form an opinion of Radiophone fraternities. Listening to the reading of a long list of Owls who have communicated with the Big WHOO-Whoo-whoo may equal as a thriller hearing the letters of a distant station, and if it does, then don't write Station WOAI for a definition of Radiowl. As a matter of fact, there are comparatively few fans ignorant of the purpose and personnel of this club, whether intentionally or otherwise. This is Station DIELECTRIC, located between the humorous and serious columns of Radio Digest, signing off till next week. Good day! RADIO INDI-GEST (This column is open to all aspiring Radioknuts who tender suitable contributions. Try to "make" the column if you can. All unsuitable manuscripts are turned over to the Office Squirrel who does not guarantee their return or anything else for that matter. — Indi.) Give Her a Radio Set Lily's vacuum tubes were burning, While my heart was wildly yearning For a kiss! Lil forgot me quite completely As she tuned her set so neatly — Frigid miss! Lily's hair, intoxicating, Tantalizing, aggravating, Brushed my cheek. How I longed to kiss these tresses — With my own lips' fond caresses Hers to seek! "No!" her answer was emphatie As the crashing of the static — What a din! As I murmured: "Dear, take pity," Lily shouted: "Kansas City — Tuned 'em in! " As the signals came in clearer, Lily's head kept coming nearer — Glossy head of black — Then she said: "Such oscillation Justifies some osculation" — Smack! Smack! Smack! — Arthur L. Lipmann. Sh! I.. Spy, Only a Ham Can "Get This" Sing to tune of "Wabash Blues" One dreary night, Bill Sparks sat down to pound the key awhile, He slowly turned the rheostat and fiddled with a dial. He thought he'd try to raise some bug that lived around the state So he confidently pressed the key, but alas! it was too late! A bluish flame! A little ping! The bulb was heard to sputter and sing. Poor Bill arose and began to totter. Alas, the wreck of a fifty-watter. —I. Spy. No, They Drink That Stuff Bathing by Radio is one of the last broadcasts from the Public Health Service, but whether ether waves were recommended was not made known. It Books Along with the Short Circuit Dear Indi — I have heard so much about the FleweHing Circuit I would like to know where they play. Is it similar to the Orpheum Circuit? — Polly W. ,