Radio mirror (Jan-Oct 1923)

RADIO DIGEST ILLUSTRATED Courts Will Soon Decide If Title Belongs to Logwood Meisner First to Register Logwood Eager to Give Improved Circuit to Radio World With Few Restrictions By Albert H. Monday What promises to be one of the most interesting and important steps in the deTeJopment of Radio, the Armstrong vs. Logwood case at present pending in the United States patent office, is gradually being consummated, and judging from present indications Charles V. Logwood will win the case. If this is the outcome it will mean that Major Edward H. Armstrong will be required to withdraw his patent rights, which have been sold to the Radio Corporation of America for $500,000, and the new circuit, known as the Logwood super-regenerative circuit, will predominate in the Radio world. Claim Herr Meisner Inventor It is safe to say that practically every Radiophan in the world today is familiar with the Armstrong circuit, but it might be mentioned, however, that Mr. Armstrong was believed to be the first man to conceive the principle of what is known as the super-regenerative circuit for Radio receiving sets. It will be remembered that this circuit was hailed by Radio experts all over the world as the greatest contribution to the improvement of the science; chiefly because it was an improvement in the sensitizility of the audion. and consequently the audibility of telephone and telegraph signals was increased by 1,000 times The new circuit was a development of the regenerative circuit patented by Herr Meisner, of Germany. This regenerative circuit was also known and developed by Charles V. Logwood and De Forest (simultaneously), E. Armstrong, Mr. Round, of England and Mr. Franklin, of England. In this case Herr Meisner was the first to register the circuit, and therefore he was given the credit for being the inventor. First Case Decided In the case of the super-regenerative circuit it has been understood for some time that Mr. Armstrong was the first to register the circuit, and accordingly he was granted the legal patents. But since, however, it has been discovered that Mr. Logwood really registered his application before that of Mr. Armstrong's. The first step in the case was decided in November last when the United States patent office declared an interference, as to whom was the first inventor. In the first interview ever given to the world, and given exclusively to the Radio Digest, Mr. Logwood pointed out that his application was filed at Washington, D. C, in March, 1921, whereas that of Mr. Armstrong's was filed on June 27, 1921. The first written description of the circuit was made by Mr. Logwood on December 16, 1920, and that of Mr. Armstrong in March, 1921. Logwood Explains Difference Without going into technical details Mr. Logwood explained, in a few words, the difference between the Logwood and the Armstrong circuits. The Logwood circuit is equipped with a mechanical exciter and gives a broader field because both the mechanical and the electrical exciters can be used. The Armstrong circuit has a tube exciter by an electrical means. If the case is won by Mr. Logwood it will mean that the Logwood circuit will be available to the whole world (of course subject to Mr. Logwood's restrictions and patent exceptions), and will give a very broad field. This will also mean that Mr. Armstrong will be restricted. It is understood that the Logwood circuit is so sensitive for continuous wave reception that it is necessary to screen the tube circuit away from the influence of the antena re-action. There are five steps in the great case now being held, which is expected to be settled within the next eight months. The first was recently declared by tie United States patent office; the second is the motion to take the testimony of E. Armstrong; the third is the motion to take the testimony of Charles Logwood; the fourth will be the summing up, and the fifth and last step will be the decision. Views Expressed by Dogwood Asked by the Radio Digest to express his view of the case, Mr. Logwood said: "I have the greatest admiration of Mr. Armstrong. He is a remarkable man and has accomplished excellent work for the development of the science, but in this case it is a question of rights and I feel that when the full testimony is in and summed up, the decision given by the United States patent office will be considered justice to everyone. It is a pe . /?rS\ cxciteb /\Sry} i-iccMAneAi N— ^ MEANS. LOGWOOD The striking similarity between the two circuits now in patent rights dispute is clearly illustrated by the diagrams shown above. Where Mr. Logwood used a mechanical exciter such as an alternator, Mr. Armstrong used a triode tube oscillation generator. The picture at the right is that of C. V. Logwood, claimed to be the original inventor of the circuit ARMSTRONG ^rrWAv^J culiar psychological fact that when a new invention is declared there are many inventors who were thinking along the same lines, and in the case of the superregenerative circuit there was no exception. It is because inventors think along the same lines of development and many hit upon the new improvement at the same time. According to the patent laws in the United States, and other countries for that matter, it is the person who registers the invention first that is given the credit, and then, in the case of an invention that has been stolen or obtained by illegal means, it is necessary for the inventor to prove his claim. But in this case it is a question of priority that, I consider, has been overlooked by the United States patent office." Will Improve Circuit Questioned regarding his next move in the betterment of Radio, Mr. Logwood said: "As soon as this case is settled I am going to improve on the Logwood circuit so that every one from the expert in charge of the largest station in the world to the fan who has his small crystal set will be able to benefit by my inventions, and especialy by the Logwood circuit. At the present time the circuit is especially suited for the large powerful stations, and it is necessary for a well-informed man to be in charge in order to get the best results, but I am eager to give the Radio world the value of my experience: so that the new science may develop as quickly and as efficiently as possible." Test Proves Audibility One of the outstanding features of this new invention of Mr. Logwood's is the fact that telegraph signal reception does not depend on the "beat" principle as in the Fessenden heterodyne circuit. In tests made in reception for telegraph signal from continuous wave stations is 10,000 to one in audibility ratio against the heterodyne circuit. Daylight reception with one tube in the circuit the first of December, 1920, in San Francisco, actually received daily signals from Marion Ross, so loud one could not keep the phones on the ears at maximum intensity while with the best reception the audibility was but twenty. Etherized Sermons Bring in Collection Liberal Donations Are the Result of Joke Made by Dr. Massee BOSTON", MASS.— Rev. Dr. J. C. Massee and Rev. Dr. A. C. Conrad, pastors of Tremont Temple and the Park Street Church respectively, whose Sunday evening sermons are broadcast every week by Radiophone, find that spreading religion byRadio is an enterprise profitable to the church as well as to listeners. Liberal contributions have come in to both churches by mail from Radio listeners who were invited to assist in the regular offerings. Since they could not be reached when the plate was passed among the congregations they sent in their offerings by mail. Dr. Massee has received contributions varying from twenty-five cents to $10 and during Christmas week a special contribution of $50. One man sends in regularly, the church's weekly offering envelope, with his contribution within. Dr. Massee said that his first suggestion for a mail offering from Radiophans was at first made half jokingly, and the congregation took it as a joke. Next day a Radiophan came in to Dr. Massee's office and gave him a dollar, saying he had heard the joking remark and had heard the congregation laugh. "Now let's see if the people at the service do as well," he said, as he walked out. At the next service. Dr. Massee got $76 in bills, after telling his congregation of the Radiophan's challenge. A Dorchester woman who has a set wrote that she would invite some women friends to lunch and have them listen in to the service. Another woman who heard the Radio service of Dr. Massee wrote that if she were not a Presbyterian she certainly would be a Baptist, and enclosed a dollar. As a result of the stories told about the crippled boy who sent in a contribution to help some other cripple to a chance for listenining in, this boy has been given a set, placed in his own home, and other sets have been promised by various donors to help other worthy sufferers, and a special fund is slowly growing also toward this end by contributions sent in. Meridian Opens New Station MERIDIAN, MISS. — A new broadcasting station has been opened at Meridian under the auspices of the newly organized Meridian Radio Club. The station will send reports of aid to farmers, such as weather forecasts picked up and relayed and news items of interest to the rural community. CFCN Operates on 2,000Watt Output Calgary Plant Offers "CFCN Night" and Plays to Listening Room Only By Jeffrey J. Ding-man CALGARY, ALTA. — "CFCN Night" was observed all over the Middle West and Pacifie Coast States and in western Canada on the night of February 19, when W. W. Grant, owner of CFCN, The W. W. Grant broadcasting station at Calgary, broadcast a special program from 6XB, Telegraph Hill, San Francisco. TV. W. Grant, former chief of the Radio station of the Canadian government at High River, Alberta, and now operating at Calgary one of the most powerful stations on the continent, was asked to broadcast from the Mercantile Trust Company's station at San Francisco as a special feature for 6XB, (test call for KFDB). Output of 2,000 Watts Mr. Grant, who has devised a special and most effective system for broadcasting, was heard clearly in Calgary and in many other cities of western Canada. CFCN at Calgary discontinued the regular broadcast that night to afford fans here the opportunity of hearing Mr. Grant in San Francisco. While in the States Mr. Grant "rode the goat" at The Night Owls Club of Portland, Oregon. Last week Mr. Grant commenced operation on his new set at Calgary and CFCN now has a modulating output power of 2,000 watts, being equipped with four new 500-watt tubes which were especially manufactured at Montreal. It is believed that with the new set, which has four times the output of the old, CFCN will be able, to establish new records and accomplish feats which will startle Radiophans. Communication with Australia and Continental Europe is within the bounds of possibility. Miss Florence Parsons Wins DX Prize Awarded by WNAC BOSTON, MASS. — Miss Florence Parsons of Sydney, B. C, has been awarded a prize of a Sonochorde Loud Speaker by WNAC station of the Shepard Stores, as the person hearing this station the greatest distance from Boston. The distance is 3250 miles, an exceptionally long one for a 100-watt station to be heard, which proves that WNAC is ideally located for broadcasting. One requirement of the contest was that claimants should submit a portion of the program heard for verification before being considered eligible. INDIANS DANCE TO WHAZ-TROY TECH POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE WINS NEW NAME New Midnight Program Proves Popular Among Brave Ex-Warriors of Famous Custer Battle TROT, N. T. — Sioux Indians to the number of 160 — many of them exwarroirs of the Custer Battle of June 25, 1876, and a number of former Carlisle, Pa., students — gather at Lone Eagle's ranch at Winnett. Montana, to dance to music of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Students Orchestra broadcast from radiophone station WHAZ at Troy, X. Y., approxmately 2,500 miles distant. And at the request of Lone Eagle — who discovered when he first "listened in" a month ago that "Big Chief WHAZ with the Mighty Voice" could be heard clearly threefourths of the way across the continent — the Students Orchestra will play "In the Land of the Sky Blue Waters" and other modern Indian airs for the entertainment of the descendants of the first Americans. It came about thus that the oldest angineering college, which has developed the art of broadcasting to the furthermost reaches of the continent from Alaska to Panama in a few months, provided Radio music for the first time for an Indian dance last month. The Troy Polytechnic inaugurated this winter an international Radio program Monday night of each month. Immediate response came from remote points in all the Western states, Canada, Alaska, Mexfrom midnight to 1:30 A. M. on the second ico, Cuba and Panama. RELAY OF BROADCAST BY WBAP— FT. WORTH Liner Berengaria Picks Up WBAP in English Channel FT. WORTH, TEXAS.— The Ft. Worth Star Telegram believes it is privileged to claim a new record for station 'WBAP due to the successful relay by this plant of a program broadcast by KHJ, Los Angeles, Calif. The program was heard almost all over the entire Southwest. This plant has been doing very successful distance work and on one event was heard aboard the steamer Berengaria in the English Channel. Mr. L. S. Rothael, managing director of the Capitol Theatre, New York, listened to the complete program of WBAP over a receiving set installed in his cabin of the Cunard Line vessel. He said the reception was unusally clear and free from interference. All ships sailing from American harbors and carrying fifty or more persons are required by law to maintain and operate a Radio transmitting and receiving set capable of covering at least 100 miles.