Radio today (Jan-Mar 1939)

FACTS ON FACSIMILE Radio's method of printing a newspaper in the home comes of age Twenty-three radio stations are licensed to send out facsimile signals, and two manufacturers are now turning out receivers. Thus, another offshoot of radio shows definite signs of coming of age. Two systems are now being used— that developed by W. G. Finch, and the system worked out by ECA engineers. In the ECA facsimile, printing is accomplished by a narrow bar which pinches carbon and white paper against a single spiral turn of raised wire on a rotating drum. As the drum rotates, the point of intersection between the printer bar and the raised wire travels across the page in synchronism with the scanning light spot at the sending station, and, by means of dots and lines, reconstructs a facsimile of the original graphic material. Electro-chemical recording In the Finch reception, a stylus moves back and forth across the paper emitting small electrical impulses synchronized with each dot as scanned and transmitted by the broadcasting station. Each dot penetrates the chemically-treated white coating on the paper, removing the white and allowing the black paper to show through in black dots. A specially prepared paper is necessary in the Finch system. Using the Finch system, the Crosley Corp. is selling "for demonstration and experimental purposes" a facsimile receiver known under the patented name of "Eeado". Complete with electric switching clock, printer and receiver, it costs $150. If one now has a radio delivering an output of 5 watts or better, the printer may be connected to it, saving some $60. To stimulate interest, Crosley is also selling its dealers a record player at $36. Used in conjunction with the Eeado, this player gives off sound impulses, which are translated into facsimile reproduction by the Eeado. In 16 cities ECA has not announced its sets for general distribution, but is using them in areas where facsimile transmitting licenses have been granted. On granting such a license, the FCC demands that 50 facsimile receivers be purchased by the station and distributed for experimental reporting. So far, twenty-three stations have received these experimental licenses — fourteen on the broadcast band and nine on the ultra-short waves. The latter permits broadcasting of facsimile at any time ; but on the broadcast band, transmission is limited to the hours between midnight and 6 a.m. A list of the facsimile stations is also on this page, and shows that al FACSIMILE STATIONS Broadcast band —early morning hours only. Location Station Freouency Power Owner Fresno, Calif .. KMJ 580 kc 1 kw Mc Clatchy B 'casting System Sacramento, Calif . . KFBK 1490 kc 10 kw Mc Clatchy B 'casting System .. WGN 720 kc 50 kw WGN, Inc. .. WHO 1000 kc 50 kw Central B'casting Co. Detroit, Mich .. WWJ 920 kc 5 kw Detroit News St. Paul, Minn . . KSTP 1460 kc 25 kw Nat. Battery B'casting Co. Newark, N. J .. WOR 710 kc 50 kw Bamberger B'casting Service, Inc. Buffalo, N. Y . . WBEN 900 kc 1 kw WBEN, Inc. .. WLW 700 kc 50 kw Crosley Corp. . . WSAI 1330 kc 5kw Crosley Corp. Cleveland, Ohio . . WCLE 610 kc 500 w Cleveland Plaindealer Cleveland, Ohio . . WHK 1390 kc 1 kw Radio Air Service Corp. Nashville, Tenn .. WSM 650 kc 50 kw National L. & A. Insurance Co. Newport News, Va .. WGH 1310 kc 250 w Hampton Roads B'casting Co. Short Wave . . W8XTY 8 metres 150 w Evening News Assn., Inc. . . W8XUF 8 metres 100 w Sparks-Withington Co. . . W9XSP 8 metres 100 w Star-Times Publishing Co. .. W9XZY 8 metres 100 w Pulitzer Pub. Co. Sargents Purchase, N. H.. . .. W1XMX 8 metres 500 w Yankee Network, Inc. Long Island City, N. Y.. . . New York, N. Y . . W2XR 150,8,3 m. 1 kw Radio Pictures, Inc. . . W2XUP 8 metres 100 w Bamberger B'casting Service New York, N. Y . . W2XBF 8 metres 1 kw W. G. H. Finch Cleveland, Ohio W8XE 8 metres 50 w Radio Air Service Corp. W. G. H. Finch scanning the news literally "hot off the press," via a Crosley "Reado" using his facsimile system. most every principal city in the country has facsimile coverage. Broadcasts come from Fresno and Sacramento, Cal. ; Des Moines, la. ; St. Paul, Minn.; St. Louis, Mo.; Chicago; Detroit and Jackson, Mich.; Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; Buffalo, N. Y. ; New York City ; Newark, N. J. ; Newport News, Va. ; Nashville, Tenn.; Sargents Purchase, N. H. Newspapers interested In most cases, newspaper-owned stations have taken up facsimile. While not expected to displace newspaper, it is thought that facsimile will supplement it. Thus, papers are vitally interested. Eadio folk believe there will be a comfortable market in facsimile during 1939. Principal obstacles to be hurdled are: speeding up reception (now three feet per hour) and lowering the price. As the demand increases, it is expectd that a speeding up of production will help cut the price. PRESS AGENT'S PAL The much-maligned press agent has a new helper, facsimile. Comes WOE of the Mutual network with news that its daily handouts are being "peep swished" over 710 kilocycles at the close of the station's regular programs. Under a specially designed masthead, "WOE EADIO PEINT," executed by WOE's chief engineer, J. E. Poppele, the facsimile-casts also include photos of the station's activities. 16 Radio Today