History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Raymond Cottam Allsop/Notes

Raymond Cottam Allsop - Transcriptions and notes

1900s

1906

1906 12

Ray, a student at Brighton College, Randwick, wins an end-of-year prize for writing

BRIGHTON COLLEGE, RANDWICK. The annual distribution of prizes in connection with Brighton College took place on Wednesday evening, in the local Town-hall. An interesting programme of musical and elocutionary items was given by the pupils, Rev. C. H. Talbot presided, and a satisfactory report of the principal (Miss Amos) was read by Mr. N. Shiels. Rev. R. H. Rickard distributed the prizes to the successful pupils. The prize list is as follows:— . . . Class V.— Arithmetic and spelling, Nella Rickard; arithmetic and reading, Muriel Parker; writing, Raymond Allsop; reading, Eric Weston; composition, Allen Burten; tables, Jack Roberts; improvement, Stella Sher-man, Freida Sherman, Amy Farmer, Clive Allpress. . . .

1907

1907 12

Ray, in Class V at Brighton College, presented with prize for Arithmetic at annual awards

BRIGHTON COLLEGE, RANDWICK. The annual distribution of prizes in connection with Brighton College, Randwick, took place in the local Town-hall on Wednesday afternoon. A short programme was rendered by the pupils, after which the prizes were presented to the successful students by Mrs. David Storey. The prize-list was as follows:— Class I.: English, Dollie Main; arithmetic, Dollie Main; French, Dorothy Farmer; history, Dollie Main; geography, Dollie Main; mapping, Essie Cooper; botany, Dollie Main; physiology, Dollie Main; examination work, Dorothy Farmer; highest Marks (June), Dollie Main. Class II: History, Mildred Middleton; physiology, Dorothy Grace. Class III.: English, Winnie Main; arithmetic, Hazel Rickard; history, Winnie Green; geography, Ida Barnes; French, Muriel Crowther; Latin, Clem Burton; highest marks (June), Winnie Main. Class IV.: English, Nella Rickard; history, Violet Weston; geography, Clem Dillon; highest marks (June), Violet Weston. Class V.: Arithmetic, Jack Stevenson, Ray Allsop; reading, Muriel Parker, Amy Farmer; dictation, Madie Coombes; writing, Eric Weston; composition, Clive Allpress. Class VI.: Prize-winners — Eric Coombes, Enid Carloss, Lilian Crowther, Hilda Chalcroft. Scripture prizes, presented by Rev. C. H. Talbot, awarded to Dorothy Farmer in Class I, Ida Barnes in Class III. Music prizes, presented by Miss Nellie Amos, to her pupils for having passed the examination of the Associated Board of the Royal College and Academy of Music: Florrie Paterson, higher division; Claire Cheney, lower division; Irene Howell, Ruby Davis, Charlie Graham, elementary division; Violet Weston, regular practice.

1909

1909 08

Funeral Notices for Ray's eldest brother Cyril

FUNERALS. . . .

ALLSOP.— The funeral of the late Mr. CYRIL EDWARD ALLSOP will leave his parents' residence, Wilton, Barker-street, Lower Randwick, THIS (Mon-day) MORNING, at 9.30 o'clock, for the Waverley Cemetery. WOOD and COMPANY, Funeral Directors. 'Phone 726 Central.

ALLSOP.— The friends of Mr and Mrs JOHN ALLSOP are kindly invited to attend the funeral of their dearly beloved eldest SON, Cyril Edward; to move from their residence, Wilton, Barker-street, Lower Randwick, THIS (Monday) MORNING at 9.30, for Waverley Cemetery. WOOD and COMPANY, Funeral Directors. 'Phone 726 Central.

ALLSOP.— The Friends of Messrs ROY, LESLIE, DUDLEY, and RAY ALLSOP are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of their dearly loved BROTHER, Cyril Edward which will move from his parents' residence, Wilton, Barker-street, Lower Randwick, THIS (Monday) MORNING at 9.30, for Waverley Cemetery. WOOD and COMPANY, Funeral Directors. 'Phone, 726 Central.

THE Officers and Members of COURT JUBILEE, A.O.F., are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of their late BROTHER, CYRIL ALLSOP; to leave his late residence, Wilton, Barker-street, Randwick, 9.15 THIS MORNING. W. HOLLYER, C. R.; W. AUBREY, Sec.

1910s

1911

1911 10

Ray appears in a list of 22 licensed wireless experimenters as at October 1911

WIRELESS STATIONS. TWENTY-TWO IN NEW SOUTH WALES. MELBOURNE, Saturday. While the Federal Government has spent two years in partially establishing two wireless stations, 26 private stations have been erected and equipped in the Commonwealth. According to a return presented to the Senate at the request of Senator Chataway, two stations have been established in Victoria, one on King Island, 22 in New South Wales and one in South Australia. Two have sub-stations in neighbouring localities. The stations are all experimental. The variety of systems used extends from the usual telephonic receiving instruments of a New South Wales inventor to the potential detector syntonic of Mr. H. Sutton, in Victoria. Father Shaw's system is described as the one transmitter. The following are the New South Wales licensees:— C. P. Bartholomew, Mosman; J. H. A. Pike, Marella, Edie-street, Arncliffe; F. Leverrier, Phillip-street, Sydney; W. H. Bannam (sic, Hannam), Kinkowrie, Railway-parade, Burwood, the Rev. H. Shaw, Ascot, Dutruc-street, Randwick; G. C. Hamilton, Strathroy, Ocean-street, Woollahra; Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Milson's Point, Sydney; Maclurcan and Lane, Hotel Wentworth, Sydney; E. Reeve, 25 Belmore-street, Rozelle; J. Y. Nelson, electrical engineer, Postmaster-General's Department, Sydney; H. Leverrier, Park-avenue, Gordon; M. C. Meyetempt, Randwick; A. S. Arnold, Palace-street, Ashfield; A. H. King, William-street, Marrickville; F. H. Day, C. of E. Grammar School, North Sydney; Jas. Nolan, Old South Head-road, Waverley; R. C. Allsop, Wilton, Barker-street, Randwick; H. A. Stone (sic, Stowe), Duncan-street, Drummoyne, Sydney; A. Goodwin, Lindsay-street, Newcastle; C. N. Allen, Lorelei, Anderson-street, Chatswood; H. J. B. Foley, Keira, Carrington-road, Randwick; The Maritime Wireless Company of Australia Ltd., Avoca street, Randwick; Australasian Wireless Limited, Pitt-street, Sydney.

1912

1912 08

Report on wedding of Ray's brother Roy

SOCIAL ITEMS.. . . . At St. Jude's Church, Randwick, on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Roy John Allsop, second Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Allsop, of 'Wilton,' Randwick, was married to Miss Vera Foulsham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Foulsham. The service was choral, Miss Hough being the organist, and Miss Barrie singing 'A Song of Thanksgiving." Rev. Hillhouse Taylor officiated. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore white crepe-de-chine, the long court train having ruching of silk and trails of white chiffon roses. The corsage was draped with rose point lace, caught with sprays of orange blossoms. The Limerick veil was lent by the bridegroom's sister, Mrs. Connell, and was worn over a coronet of orange blossoms. Her shower bouquet of white blossoms was tied with white tulle streamers, and with diamond and pearl earrings was a gift from the bridegroom. Mr. Leslie Allsop, brother of the bridegroom, was best man. The bridesmaids were Miss Esme and Enid Carloss and Miss Edna Cotton (cousins of the bridegroom), and Miss Audrey Foulsham (sister of the bride), Miss Esme Carloss, chief bridesmaid, wore white ninon-de-soie over white satin charmeuse, the tunic skirt being embroidered in crystal and silver, and bordered with small pink roses. The fichu of white ninon-de-soie was edged with lace and crystal, and she wore a "Kismet" cap of pearls and crystal, and carried a shower bouquet of La France roses, which, with a gold bangle, was the bridegroom's gift. Miss Edna Cotton, white ninon-de-soie over pale pink satin, and embroidered in crystal and pearls, "Kismet" cap of pearls and crystal. Misses Enid Carloss and Audrey Foulsham, palest pink silk veiled in white muslin, inlet with deep insertion of Melines lace, "Kismet" caps of pearls and crystal. Their baskets of pink roses, and cameo lockets and silver necklets, were gifts from the bridegroom. After the ceremony the guests were entertained at Baumann's Cafe by the parents of the bride, the young couple receiving many handsome presents, which were displayed in the reception room. Mrs. Foulsham, mother of the bride, wore black satin charmeuse, with black silk Chantilly lace and pink and silver embroideries; black Tagal hat with black feathers, and pale pink roses. Mrs. Allsop, mother of the bridegroom, wore black crepe-de-chine veiled in black ninon-de-soie, with jet and Oriental embroideries; black velvet hat massed with large white feathers. Mrs. Cottam, grandmother of the bridegroom, black satin charmeuse, with Maltese lace and black silk embroideries; black velvet bonnet with white ospreys and black silk net and lace. . . . . The guests included Mr. Dudley Allsop (brother of the bridegroom), Mr. Isaac Foulsham, Miss Vera Foulsham (sister of the bride), Mr. and Mrs. Payten, Mr. and Mrs. Grey, Mr. H. Dickinson, Mrs. Lord, Mr. Adams, Mr. Carloss, Mr. B. Nierieker, Mr. Dodds, Mr. and Mrs. Messant, Miss 'Thomas, Mr. Peters, Mrs. Ellis, Mr. and Mrs. W. Dowling, Mr. and Mrs. McGrath, Mr. and Mrs. Dan O'Brien, Mr. Jeffries, Mr. Jim Foulsham (Queensland) (brother of the bride), Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. L. Orr, Mr. Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. Kelso, Mr. and Mrs. W. Brown, Mr. Earnshaw, Mr. and Mrs. Lowe, Mr. W. Parker, Mr. Spence, Nurse Keith, Mr. Roy Allsop, Mr. Ray Allsop, Mr. O. Cropley, Mr. Max Cottam, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, Mr. Piddington, Mr. Reggie Hubbard, and Mr. Radcliffe.

1916

1916 01

Ray is engaged as the wireless operator on the Huddart, Parker steamer Riverina during WW1

SHIPPING. . . . THE RIVERINA. Huddart, Parker Ltd.'s steamer Riverina, which is replacing the Ulimaroa, arrived at Hobart from Wellington, via Sydney, at 3 p. m. yesterday, bringing 272 passengers. She left Sydney at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, and on the first night out encountered strong head winds, which somewhat delayed the vessel. Moderate winds and smooth seas prevailed during the remainder of the voyage. Captain G. F. Entwisle is in command, and has under him the following officers:— First, Mr. C. G. Neale; second, Mr. J. W. S. Beas; third, Mr. A. G. Flett; purser, Mr. E. H. Neale; chief engineer, Mr. B. C. Cumberland; wireless operator, Mr. R. C. Allsop. The Riverina, which has not been to Hobart for six or seven years past, leaves on the return trip at 10 a.m. to-morrow.

1916 03

Ray the driver in a serious motor vehicle accident injuring a ten year old girl

FATALITIES & ACCIDENTS. KNOCKED DOWN BY MOTOR. A little girl, Gladys Allbach (10), was crossing Wattle Street, Ultimo, on Monday night, when she was knocked down by a motorcar, driven by Raymond Allsop, of Barker Street, Randwick. She was taken in the car to Sydney Hospital and admitted, suffering from scalp wounds, injuries to the knees, and internal injuries.

1920s

1921

1921 03

Ray's engagement is announced

A PAGE OF INTEREST FOR EVERY WOMAN. . . . TEA-TABLE GOSSIP. . . . The engagement is announced of Miss Emily Tebbutt Rodda, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Rodda, of Charisma, Coogee, with Mr. Raymond Allsop, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Allsop, of Randwick.

Ray attends his brother's wedding

ALLSOP—POPE. The marriage of Vera, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Pope, Allison-road, Randwick, to Dudley, fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. John Allsop, Botany-street, Randwick, was celebrated by the Rev. W. J. Cakebread at St. Jude's Church, Randwick, on Saturday evening. The bride was given away by her father, and wore a draped gown of ivory charmeuse, with a bodice of silver darned net. The train of silver darned net was edged on each side with ivory charmeuse, and finished with a cluster of silver roses. A similar cluster trimmed the front of the skirt. A plain tulle veil with wreath of orange blossom and a sheaf of lilies completed the toilette. The bridesmaids, Miss Hazel Rickard and Miss Jean Kelso, wore frocks of Alice blue georgette and silver lace hats, with pink posies and pink ribbon streamers. Their bouquets of pink dahlias and autumn leaves and gold Nellie Stewart bangles were gifts of the bridegroom. The bridegroom's gift to the bride was a blue morocco travelling case with silver fittings. The bridegroom was attended by his two brothers, Dr. L. Allsop and Mr. Raymond Allsop. The reception was held at the Wentworth, where the bride's mother received the guests. Mrs. Pope wore a gown of bronze meteor with touches of gold, and a gold hat finished with a bronze osprey. Her bouquet was of purple asters. Mrs. Allsop, mother of the bridegroom, wore a black charmeuse frock with jet embroideries, and black hat. Her posy was of blue delphiniums. The bride and bridegroom left later for the Mountains, the bride travelling in a navy blue coat and skirt, braided in black, and a cherry-coloured hat.

1921 11

Very dodgy "death-ray" announcement by Ray, but remainder of biography of relevance

MAKING WEAPONS INNOCUOUS. Invisible Ray that Destroys Metal. SYDNEY YOUTH'S STARTLING DISCOVERY. Mr. Raymond Allsop, son of Mr. John Allsop, the well-known Randwick trainer, who was one of the first amateur wireless experimenters in Australia, claims to have discovered a remarkable electric ray, which will destroy steel or iron, and, in view of the fact that at the present moment the representatives of the nations are meeting in one of the most notable conclaves of history, to disarm themselves, and thus do away with war, it is decidedly interesting, and is the achievement so long aimed for by the electrical experts of the world. Mr. Allsop is only 23 years of age, and after he left the Sydney Grammar School he was appointed to the staff of the Shaw Wireless Company at Randwick. The Shaw Company then had the contract for the manufacture of the Australian radio stations, and Mr. Allsop was engaged in that work. During the war he served as senior wireless operator on several Australian troopships, and travelled by water the whole circuit of the globe. During that time he gained even much more knowledge of wireless wonders than he had acquired in Australia. When the war ended, however, he returned to Australia and resumed work in the laboratory of the Shaw Company, which, during the war, had been taken over by the Commonwealth Government as a naval wireless works. During that time he conducted considerable private experiments, and in fact, was the possessor of a wireless station of his own at his home in Botany-street. Interest of Experts. For several years experts had known that there was an electric ray capable of destroying such solid metals as steel and iron, and Mr. Allsop became keenly interested in it, so much so, indeed, that the discovery of it assumed the character of an ambition. Day after day and night after night he secluded himself in his works and was continually experimenting. Then one morning, as long ago as November, last year, he was experimenting with a certain set of instruments, the nature of which he declines to divulge, and was successful in destroying a piece of iron six inches square and a quarter of an inch thick, with a ray generated by the instruments, at a distance of 2ft. The ray was invisible, and it reduced the metal to tiny fragments within an eighth of a second. The fragments did not fly or scatter, but merely lodged upon the table on which the iron had been rested. Mr. Allsop was elated over his success, but, like a true scientist, he decided to say nothing about his wonderful discovery until he had confirmed it and perfected the instruments that he was using, which instruments, by the way, were of his own invention. Throughout the whole of the last twelve months, he has been continuing his experiments, and has now learned sufficient of the magic ray to enable him to use it more scientifically and more extensively. So far he has not succeeded in destroying metal at a distance of more than two feet from the instruments. Upon the task of attempting to do so he is now diligently engaged, and hopes very shortly to be able to throw a ray which will destroy steel or iron at the extraordinary distance of two miles. In order to do that, of course, this distinguished Australian will be obliged to render his apparatus much more powerful. Beyond those facts, Mr. Allsop will give no further information. His reasons are naturally obvious. The existence and possibilities of the ray have been for a long time the pet problems of such a notable Italian scientist as Ulvi, but Mr. Allsop has learned that the Italian has so far been successful only in causing with the ray the fusing of electric circuits. It was reported that by means of it he accomplished the task of fusing a whole electric power station, but that he had not succeeded in destroying metal. As pointed out by the young inventor, the possibilities of his ray are enormous as a weapon of war, at any rate, and he maintains that if it had been known and developed during the war it would have been responsible for more damage and destruction to war material than all the guns in France and Flanders could have been responsible for. For instance, it could be used from an aeroplane against an enemy plane or against the field guns, and, what is more, Mr. Allsop declares that the ray, were it directed on to a battleship, would cause its loss in a more sure and certain manner than does a torpedo. Thus, if the momentous Washington Conference decides upon disarmament, and it can be faithfully maintained, the knowledge of the young Australian inventor will not be of much consequence to Britain, but there are thousands of other uses to which it can be put, and wars or no wars, the invention is a distinctly historical one of world-wide importance. (Start Graphic Caption) MR. RAYMOND ALLSOP, Who claims to be able to destroy iron and steel with an invisible ray. (End Graphic Caption)

1922

1922 04

Ray is successful in hearing the AWA Concerts of 1922

THE MAGIC SPARK. City Wireless Concerts. CAN BE HEARD OUT BACK. By DOT DASH. Music by wireless is now being played in the homes of 100 experimenters. From the time the first programme was broadcasted there has been a steady improvement, until now the quality and tone of the programme sent out from Wireless House is better than anything yet attained in any part of Australasia. On Monday last, after a careful tuning up of the apparatus, two vocalists sang into the 'phone with remarkable success. Every home caught the songs. Some of the reports indicate that the human voice vibrates better than the machine record. The singers on Monday night were Miss Peggy Ford, a New Zealand contralto. Her voice is of high quality, and to her stands the distinction of being the first woman in Australia to sing by wireless. Mr. Robert G. Cotterill (tenor) was the other vocalist. He is well known to amateurs, having previously entertained them. There will be no more concerts till next Thursday night. This break is due to the intervention of the holidays. On the next night, however, the "best ever" programme will be 'phoned. The first item will go out at 7.30 p.m. sharp, the last at 9 o'clock. Next Programme The programme for Thursday night will include two fairy stories for children. The addition of these items completes the bill, which will now include something of interest to all the family. The musical and vocal items will be:— 7.30 p.m.: "The Beautiful Ohio," band selection, Cornet solo, Mr. Miller. 7.45: Song, "Annie Lauri," Morgan Kingston. Song, "Because," R. G. Cotterill. 8.0: Song, "Quest o Quella," Caruso. Song, "When Song is Sweet," Miss Peggy Ford. 8.15: Song, "When My Ships Come Sailing Home," Peter Dawson. 8.30: General announcements, R. G. Cotterill. 8.35: Song. 8.45: Song, "The Bandoliero," Peter Dawson. Neapolitan song. 8.55: Song, Tosti's: "Goodbye." Caught the Music Amateurs who have reported success in "picking up" music include:— Mr. Bartholomew, Neutral Bay; Mr. Allsop, Coogee; Mr. Sidey, Lindfield; Mr. Allworth, Strathfield; Mr. Barker, Burwood; Mr. Davis, Vaucluse; Mr. Hurl, Killara; Mr. Stowe, Chatswood; Mr. Trickett, Arncliffe. At Mortlake an amateur had his set working while some children were having an evening, and so loud did the music come in that the youngsters stopped their games and danced a fox trot. Country Wireless "Get that pack horse ready, lash on the portable wireless telephone apparatus. We are going hundreds of miles into the bush, where there is nothing to hear but the chirping of the birds — not good enough for us." "Right, oh!" "Now that we have the apparatus we can keep in touch with the hourly doings in the big cities, and time won't drag." Such is not an actual conversation, but it will be within a few days. Made possible by the still further development and application of wireless, sets for bush use are being built at Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, Sydney. The portable set is just big enough for a pack horse, or a camel, and so adds another blessing to the man outback. Time is not far distant when that pack horse will be a sort of a concert stage to his owner. As wireless telephone concerts progress, so will the outfits, and at night even the lonely man outback will have to do nothing more than unpack his apparatus and listen in.

1923

1923 01

Ray voluntarily declares himself bankrupt

LAW REPORT. BANKRUPTCY. VOLUNTARY SEQUESTRATION. Re Raymond Cottam Allsop (trading as Wireless Electric Company, Beach-street, Coogee), residing at Botany-street, Randwick. Mr. W. H. Palmer, official assignee.

As previous

Notice under Section 11 of the Bankruptcy Act, 1898. In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. (23,168) IN BANKRUPTCY. Re Raymond Cottam Allsop, trading as Wireless Electric Company, Beach-street, Coogee, of Levenshulme, Botany-street, Randwick, wireless engineer. NOTICE is hereby given that a Sequestration Order has this day been made against the abovenamed bankrupt, on the petition of the debtor himself, and Mr. W. H. Palmer appointed to be the Official Assignee.— Dated at Sydney, this 4th day of January, 1923. N. C. LOCKHART, Registrar in Bankruptcy.

As previous

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. (23,168) IN BANKRUPTCY. Re Raymond Cottam Allsop, of Botany-street, Randwick, wireless engineer, trading as Wireless Electric Company. NOTICE is hereby given that the First Meeting of creditors in the above matter will be held at the office of the Official Assignee, 47 Elizabeth-street, Sydney, on the 12th day of February, 1923, at noon, or as soon after as the course of business will permit. To entitle a creditor to vote thereat, his proof must be lodged with the Registrar in Bankruptcy, Elizabeth-street, Sydney, not later than the 9th day of February, 1923. N. C. LOCKHART, Registrar in Bankruptcy. Official Assignee — William Harrington Palmer.

1923 02

Ray's bankruptcy proceedings continue

LAW NOTICES. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21. SUPREME COURT. . . . In Bankruptcy.— Before the Registrar.— At the Supreme Court-buildings, Elizabeth-street at, 10 a.m.— Application for certificate of discharge: Re John Neeld, re Ludovic Francis Le Bras, re Clifford Mars Miller, re Joseph Humphress Gilligan, re Stephen Sonter. Singlemeeting and public examination: Re Samuel Hebblethwaite, re George Herbert Hodge, re John Wallace Easson, re Owen Alfred Stevens. Public examination: Re Edward William Stringer; re Raymond Cottam Allsop, trading as "The Wireless Electric Company;" re Robert Kerr Gundlach; of Duck Jarm known as William James, trading as Wah Yeck and Company. Private examination under section 30: Re Herbert Henry Currier Jones. Before the Chief Clerk, at 11 a.m.— Re Thomas Vaughan, taxation of petitioning creditor's costs.

As previous

IN BANKRUPTCY. (Before the Registrar, Mr. N. C. Lockhart) . . . PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS. . . . Re Raymond Cottam Allsop, trading as "The Wireless Electric Company." Bankrupt was examined by the official assignee, and the matter was adjourned to March 22.

1923 04

Ray's bankruptcy: plans of distribution filed

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. IN BANKRUPTCY. Notice to Creditors. ACCOUNTS with plans of distribution in the undermentioned estates, showing dividends as specified, are now filed in the office of the Registrar in Bankruptcy, Supreme Court Building, Elizabeth-street, Sydney, for the inspection of persons interested; and notice is hereby given that such accounts and plans will be submitted to the Court for confirmation on Monday, the 14th May, 1923, if not previously objected to:— . . . Also accounts current only in the undermentioned estates:— . . . No. 23,168. Raymond Cottam Allsop, trading as Wireless Electric Co., of Beach-street, Coogee, wireless engineer. . . . WILLIAM HARRINGTON PALMER, Official Assignee. 47 Elizabeth-street, Sydney, 26th April, 1923.

1923 06

Ray points out that Melbourne newspaper report of first duplex wireless telephony is not correct

SYDNEY FIRST. Wireless Experiment. Duplex Telephony Used. Contrary to a report which came from Melbourne yesterday, the first conversation in Australia by true duplex wireless telephony was not carried on in that city, but in Sydney. The credit for this achievement in wireless rests with Master Jack Davis (2DS), of Vaucluse, and Mr. Wallace Best (2ER), of Rose Bay, who conducted the experiment successfully on May 20 last. "When I read a report today that a conversation by means of true duplex wireless telephony had just been held by two Melbourne amateurs," said Mr. Raymond C. Allsop, a well-known radio engineer, yesterday, "it occurred to me that the credit for the feat should be given to the experimenters who were actually the first in Australia to perform it. They were Sydney residents, and to Sydney belongs the distinction of their successful experiment." Master Davis, added Mr. Allsop, was only fifteen, and was still at the Sydney Grammar School, but he had had a wireless license for two years. In every sense of the word he was an enthusiast. Mr. Best, his partner in the experiment, was considered to be one of the keenest and most persistent students of wireless in the city, in using the duplex system of telephony they were introducing something that had been in vogue on the other side of the world, but which had not been previously accomplished in the Commonwealth. The difference between this method of communication and the ordinary radiophone messages which had hitherto been sent was that it allowed an experimenter to break in at any time on the principle of the usual telephonic conversation. In fact, it was exactly as though a person were indulging in a conventional talk with another over the wires without being reduced to the necessity of waiting until his partner had finished speaking. In the experiment, each of the investigators used a five-watt transmitter with a two-wire aerial, and, for receiving, a single wire aerial in conjunction with a three-coil circuit receiver. It is an interesting fact that Master Davis, who has been transmitting for three months, has been heard in New Zealand. Mr. Best has been transmitting for two months.

1923 07

Birth notice for Ray's daughter (name not yet identified)

BIRTHS. ALLSOP — July 19, at Charisma, Coogee, the wife of Raymond Cottam Allsop — a daughter.

1924

1924 04

Ray hearing USA and working New Zealand

WIRELESS WORLD. THE AMERICAN TESTS. (By JOULE VOLT.) . . . AMATEUR NEWS. 2YG on long distance work has heard America using 10 watts input and without relay stations. 2YG has also been doing 'phone work between New South Wales and New Zealand, and is reckoned the strongest amateur station working here.

Ray's station 2YG being heard in Brisbane

Wïreless Notes and News. By "ANODE." This column will be conducted weekly for the benefit of wireless amateurs and experimenters, Notes on any exceptional receptions or transmissions, in fact, anything pertaining to the progress of the fascinating subjects of wireless will be published, with any description thought suitable. Notes, reports of meetings, and demonstrations, &c., should be addressed to "Anode," care of the "Brisbane Courier," Brisbane. . . . Mr. Robt. J. Browne, Church-street, Toowong, writes:— I am herewith forwarding a list of amateurs which have been logged at my station at Toowong. They may be, perhaps, of interest to the readers of the wireless notes which appear in Saturday's "Courier." They are as follows:— New South Wales: 2CM, 2GR, 2CQ, 2HM, 2SO, 2YA, 2RA, 2CR, 2UW, 2YG, 2ZZ, 2FA, 2LO, 2CDM (S.S. Tahiti), also Wireless Supplies, Wagga Wagga, 2BL, (Broadcasters), and 2FC (Farmer's) come in very strong, and can be heard distinctly all over the room from the 'phones alone. Victoria: 3AR, 3BD, 3BH, 3BM, 3BU, 3JU. South Australia: 5BQ. New Zealand: 1YA, (Auckland Broadcasting Service), 1AA, 2AQ, 2AC, 2AD, 2AP, 3AA, 4AA. America (U.S.): 6AGK, 6CGW, 6AHP, 9MC (These stations may be heard working nearly every night especially Sundays, between the hours of 6 and 7 o'clock, between the wave lengths of 150 and 200 metres. 9MC, a Kansas station, seems to come in the strongest.

1924 05

Ray achieves successful transmission Sydney to Melbourne at very low power

EFFICIENT TRANSMITTER. Some Remarkable Results. Experiments between 2YG, Sydney (4 watts), and a Melbourne experimenter yielded remarkable results recently. Signals from 2YG were received so strongly in Melbourne that the input was reduced successfully to 3.2, 0.5, and 0.25 watts. Reception was still perfectly clear, and could be heard with the 'phones removed from the operator's head. With the input reduced to 0.8 watts, reception was still word perfect. The Sydney transmitter then replaced the generator supplying the H.T., with a 140 volt battery. Signals were still excellent, and remained plainly audible when the voltage was reduced successively to 100, 60, 40, 20 volts. At 10 volts transmission failed. Two valves were used for reception, tuning being exceptionally sharp.

Ray also being heard in Tasmania

THE MAGIC SPARK. RADIO NOTES & NEWS. Valve Information. BY DOT DASH. . . . A report from Tasmania says that the following N.S.W. amateur stations have been heard there during the past month: — 2.AI., 2.C.M., 2.B.C., 2.Y.G., 2.G.R., 2.L.O., 2.Z.Z., 2.Z.M., 2.Z.N.

1924 06

Ray's log documents first reception of English MW stations in Eastern Australia (at least)

AD ASTRA. "Wireless" Column. (Conducted by Alan Burrows) From all the doubt and uncertainty which at present surrounds wireless telephony transmission from England to Australia two statements stand out sharply. One was made to a "Sun" representative in London by Mr. George Taylor, president of the Association for Developing Wireless in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji; and the other, also told the representative, was a remark made by Signor Marconi. Mr. Taylor expressed the hope that the tests between the Poldhu station, in Cornwall, would assist Anglo-Australian wireless communications, although he considered that the directional beam was in an experimental stage, and that it would be unfair to permit it to interfere with the Empire scheme. Signor Marconi said that his test with Mr. E. T. Fisk, of Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, was the first time speech had ever been transmitted from England to Australia. With regard to Mr. Taylor's statement, the impression is that the "experimental stage," with or without a beam is only too evident. Mr. Fisk has had doubts himself, evidently, for the news of Marconi's transmission appeared in "The Sun," through the usual cable routes, before Mr. Fisk committed himself to any statement. Mr. Fisk's achievement (or is the honor Marconi's?) may mean one more milestone on the road to worldwide telephonic communication, though he is not the first to help mark that milestone. Yet, with barely a mention of the immaturity and consequent uncertainty of the system, there has been a suggestion that recent results of experiments might justify the suspension of plans by the British Government, and Marconi's — in order to erect one or two stations (at a comparatively small cost), ostensibly for commercial purposes, but which, in the nature of radio, must undoubtedly be a huge experiment. Nevertheless, while accepting the bare fact that a beam system has been discovered (which is all the cables have actually said, and all that Marconi and Mr. Fisk appear inclined to tell), several points should be remembered, of which the most significant is that the British Government seems disposed to carry on with its original scheme — the beam, apparently, has left it cold. Other questions which come to the mind are: Will the path of the beam be absolutely selective, and if it is, will we have complete and convincing evidence for it? Again, will the crossing of two or more beams affect their working? (It probably will not, but it might.) Will automatic signalling be possible? — a big consideration if telegraphy will be used, as well as telephony. Then finally, how many hours per day will the beam be workable? This is important, in the light of the fact that stations near the equator have to close down practically for six months of the year, and that reception over long distances is often cut down by more than half during the day. Now, with regard to the claim that Mr. Fisk has been the first to hear speech from England, as Marconi said in the cable last week, I wish unreservedly to correct it. I have received from Mr. R. C. Allsop, radio engineer to New Systems Wireless, of Sydney, a log which includes records of 2LO (London B.B.C. station) and 5IT (Birmingham). As an offset to Mr. Fisk's silence on his messages, here are a few selections from Mr. Allsop's log:— "April 9, 4.55 a.m., 5IT: Strength very weak. Atmospherics strong on 9 valves, but speech and music distinguishable, later failing. "April 22, 5.3 a.m.: 5IT Birmingham speaking. Gave time, as 7 p.m. and weather forecast. Higher temperatures in city. 5.15 a.m.: 5IT announces orchestra will play "Mystic Beauty," by Finck. Music very clear for 4 minutes, after which singing commenced. Daylight increasing." From his station at Randwick Mr. Allsop has heard these results for two months, at first on a 9-valve super-heterodyne, but later on a 5-valve "tuned plate" outfit.

Ray being heard in Launceston

WIRELESSING TO AMERICA. The secretary of the Wireless Institute, Launceston, received a communication from Mr Charles D. Maclurcan, of Sydney (2CM) stating that he would be calling up United States of America every Sunday evening between 6 and 6.30 on a wave length of 130 metres and asking Launceston amateurs to try and log him. An amateur's station in Frederick street was successful last Sunday night in receiving 2CM's full message to America; 4AA (F. D. Bell, Palmerston South, New Zealand), and 2AP (Mr P. C. Collier, Wellington, N.Z.) were called by 2CM, who said he would be glad to get reports, etc.; 2CM's code letters to U.S.A. were B.Z.F. Other amateurs recorded by this amateur were 2CH, 3SW, 3HL (A. F. Hutchings, Stawell); 3BN, 6AG (W. E. Coxon, North Perth, W.A.), calling 3JH (Victoria), 2HM, 2FO, 2YJ, 2UW, 3RY, 3BN, 5BQ. These were all on 'phone. On CW, 7BK, 3HH, 3SL, 3JP, 3AL, 3BA, 2IJ, 2YI, 2BK, and 2YG. On Sunday the 16th inst., Mr McLurcan (2CM) who is famous for his wireless jokes, put a new one over the many listeners-in all over Australia, namely: "The next item will be bedtime stories for children over 85 years of age on beam transmission."

Ray participates in reception tests, principally of 2BL, at Bourke in a league of luminaries

AD ASTRA "Wireless" Column (Conducted by Alan Burrows) . . . THE IMPOSSIBILITIES In a succeeding article I hope to give some idea of what radio cannot do, which, after all, is more to the point, and which should be a change from the somewhat hackneyed theme of its "wonderfulness." And, in mild apology to the hardened experimenters, to whom such facts are nothing new, and which probably don't interest them, anyway, I remind them that every broadcast-listener is a potential recruit to their ranks. Recently an expedition, consisting of a committee, headed by Mr. J. Nangle, Superintendent of Technical Education for New South Wales, and representatives of six Sydney wireless firms, visited Bourke to demonstrate the possibilities of wireless from an educational point of view in the country. The results were surprising, even to the radio men. While Bourke in particular appeared to be ideally situated for reception, it was shown that once beyond the tablelands, reception conditions are immensely better than nearer the coast. Amateurs and 2BL were received strongly, which seems to indicate the value of short waves for this class of work; Farmer's were received fairly easily, although for the tests, were transmitting with over 4 kilowatts — which is a number of times their normal power. KGO was also heard with as much ease, evidently, as in Sydney. Of the experts who conducted the tests — all well-known men — Mr. O. Mingay (Burgin Electric Co.), Mr. C. Marsden (David Jones, Ltd.), and Mr. R. C. Allsop (New Systems Telephones), appear to divide the honors. Mr. Marsden and Mr. Allsop worked amateurs and 2BL (who, of course, was on ordinary power) with 3 and 4 valves; and Mr. Mingay brought in Farmer's with ease on a loudspeaker, using a 5-valve set, and with head 'phones, on a 4-valve set, having only a small loop aerial, with an earth connection.

Ray attends a family wedding

Wedding. FARNCOMBE — TEBBUTT. At St. Stephen's Church, Phillip-street, Sydney, on June 21st, the marriage took place of Sybil Jean; only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Tebbutt, of "Observatory Hill", Windsor, and Ronald S., second son of Mr. and Mrs. Farncombe, of Gordan. Rev. John Ferguson officiated. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a smart dress of dove grey morocain, beautifully hand-embroidered in shades of powder-blue, and small black pan hat with powder-blue ostrich feather, and carried an early Victorian posy of blue delphiniums and pink iris lilies. Miss Louie Rodda, cousin of the bride, was bridesmaid, wearing a dress of finely tucked georgette in autumn shades, with hat to tone, and carrying a posy of autumn shaded flowers. Mr. J. T. Tebbutt, junr., brother of the bride, was best man. The reception was held in the drawing-room of the Hotel Australia where the bride's mother, in a smart gown of black panne velvet, with sable fitch fur and black turban toque, and carrying a posy of autumn tint-ed flowers, received the guests. The mother of the bridegroom chose black morocain, with black fox fur and small black hat, and carried a posy of sweet lavender and violets. About 50 guests, relatives of the bride and bridegroom, were present. During the after-noon songs were rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur McNevin, uncle and aunt of the bride. The table decorations were in flowers of pink and blue. The bride travelled in madonna blue with white fox choker fur and small black hat. Among the invited guests were the following:— Rev. John Fer guson, Mrs. H. Copestake (Bondi), Mr. and Mrs. R. Farncombe (Gordon), Miss Farn combe, Mr. and Mrs. Farncombe, (Wentworth Falls), Mr, and Mrs. Frank Rodda, (Randwick), Miss Mary Rodda, Miss Louie Rodda, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Brown (Lindfield) Master Geoffrey Brown, Mr. Tom Rodda (Randwick), Mr. Gordon Smith (Rand-wick), Miss Tebbutt (Pymble), Mr. and Mrs William McNevin (Randwick), Miss Sybil McNevin, Mr. Jack McNevin, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur McNevin (Bondi), Masters Don and Jack McNevin, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Allsop (Randwick), Miss Francis Allsop, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bruce McNevin (Bondi) Mr. Tom McNevin, Miss Cakebred, (Randwick), Miss Roberts (Marrickville), Miss J. Pendergast (Windsor), Mr. J. T. Tebbutt, junr., Mr. Keith Tebbutt, Mr. R. Bruce Tebbutt, Master Halley Tebbutt.

1924 07

Ray's station 2YG is reported heard by young Leighton Gobson

Master Leighton Gibson reports having heard American amateur station 6AVJ. If any experimenter knows the identity of this station Master Gibson would appreciate the information. Other new stations heard by Master Gibson are 3OT, in Victoria, and 2YI and 2YG, in New South Wales.

Ray's station 2YG is reported heard in Launceston

RADIO COLUMN. WAVE LENGTHS. BY "GRID LEAK" DO YOU EXPERIMENT? . . . LAUNCESTON NEWS. Calls logged by an experimental station in Frederick-street during the week: 2BB, 2ZZ, 2BK, 2GR, 2LO, 2CK, 2YI, 2HA, 2XA, 2CR, 2GO, and 2YG.

Ray being heard in Sydney by the secretary of the Balmain District Radio Society

BALMAIN DISTRICT RADIO SOCIETY. During the last few weeks great interest has characterised the society's meetings. A cordial invitation is extended to Balmain experimenters who have not yet become members, and they may obtain full particulars of membership from the hon. secretary, Mr. Percy G. Stephen, "Riverina," 18 Clifton-street, East Balmain. Any schoolboy wishing to join the society should obtain a reference from their teacher, and permission from their parents. A new series of interesting lectures and demonstrations has just commenced, and will prove invaluable to both beginners and veterans. Another projected scheme for increasing the attractiveness of meetings is nearing completion. The following stations were received by the hon. secretary during the past three weeks:— 2AR, 2AY, 2BF, 2BK, 2BM, 2BN, 2CI, 2CM, 2DS, 2GR, 2HF, 2IJ, 2IM, 2JM, 2LO, 2MR, 2RA, 2UW, 2YG, 2YI, 2ZG, 2ZM, 2ZZ (N.S.W.), and 7AB (Tasmania). The hon. secretary will be pleased to hear from any society or experimenter wishing to conduct tests with the Balmain Society.

Ray is one of several hearing California AM station KGO San Francisco

AD ASTRA. "Wireless" Column. (Conducted by Alan Burrows) . . . KGO, California, who sometimes now makes a point of calling Australia, is becoming as well-known to N.S.W. amateurs as 2BL and 2FC are. Mr. Finch, of Bankstown, reports hearing him on one valve and working a loud speaker with two valves. Mr. R. C. Allsop, Randwick, also hears the American station regularly. For those who have not yet heard KGO it should be mentioned that, although this station is now on high-power — about 1000 watts — too much must not be expected for any sort of entertainment purposes. The fading is very marked, and seldom can the station be held for long. No amount of expert handling, of course, can obviate this.

1924 08

Ray's station 2YG heard in Brisbane during daylight hours by station future 4RB

WIRELESS NOTES AND NEWS. By "ANODE." . . . ITEMS ABOUT AMATEURS. The following is a list of the stations heard by Mr. R. J. Browne (Toowong) recently:— Queensland: 4EG. New South Wales: 2AR, 2BB, 2BF, 2BM, 2CX, 2DH, 2DK, 2ED, 2GC, 2OI, and in daylight, 2BL, 2BM, 2YG. Victoria: 3CK, 3BQ, 3DB, 3EP, 3GB, 3GQ, 3JS, 3LM, 3TM. South Australia: 5BF, 5WJ. Tasmania: 7AB. New Zealand: 1AO, 2AB, 2AE, 2AR, 2AW, 2BB, 2CB, 2XA, 3AD, 3AL, 4AD, 4AE, 4AG, 4AK, 4AP, 4AR, 2YK. United States of America: 5AJ, 6AUJ, 6CK, 6GT. Mr. Browne also states that the American Station 6CGW may be heard every Sunday, be-tween 6 p.m. and 8.30 p.m., calling CQ (New Zealand) and 2CM (Australia).

Several Sydney stations impacted by major storm, Ray's not impacted but inexplicably silent

WIRELESS & RADIO. Conducted by Alan Burrows . . . RUSH FOR LICENSES. Nearly every post office official is busy now selling licenses to the huge number of prospective enthusiasts. Well over a hundred were sold one day last week at the G.P.O. alone, and altogether the number is reaching the thousand mark, which is not bad going, considering they have only been on sale for a week. Some quick work was put in by the N.S.W. radio officials when the licenses came to hand. Arriving in Sydney on the Thursday after the regulations were made known, they were distributed to the different post offices on the following day, and were being sold on Saturday. Since then there has scarcely been a break in the demand for them. Mr. W. Crawford, State Radio Inspector, has his hands full with the work following upon the popularity of wireless. There were the zones, for instance, which had to be decided; and this rather intricate matter being settled, every postmaster in the State had to be supplied with a copy of the boundaries, so there could be no doubt concerning which zone they occupied. "It would be as well to emphasise," said Mr. Crawford, "that no postmaster has the power to refuse to grant a broadcasting licence, although he may ask that the applicant go to the post office nearest to where he lives. This is merely to facilitate the renewal of licences when the time comes, as it will probably cause confusion if an application is made for renewal at a different office from where it was originally issued." Mr. Crawford was very definite concerning regenerative sets. All owners of noisy sets will be warned once, after which they will be de-licensed and fined if they still persist in annoying their neighbors. However, the radio inspector pointed out that it would probably be simply a matter of educating the public, as no set, when it is oscillating sufficiently to cause interference, can reproduce music or speech without distortion. It would be in a listener's-in own interests to be instructed in the manipulating of his set. EXPERIMENTERS. "No applications have been made yet for experimental licenses," said Mr. Crawford. "Nor do we expect many, as the difference in the cost of the two licenses is only 15s, it is not likely that a great number will go to the trouble of sitting for an examination. For that matter, very few would have a chance of passing it, as a big proportion of so-called experimenters were really only broadcast-listeners. On the other hand, there are a few in Sydney who, when their present licenses expire, will be granted an experimenter's status without question. These, however, are very few." Quite a number of people state that they find as much pleasure in listening to amateurs' transmission as they do to that of regular broadcasters. There is one amateur transmitter, however, whom they will probably not hear for some little time. Mr. J. S. Marks (2GR) had the bad luck to have his aerial blown down in the storm last Saturday night, and consequently has been unable to broadcast his usual concerts. There are two transmitters at Armidale who have been "coming in" well lately. These are 2HM (Mr Marshall) and 2GQ (Mr Barlow). They are worth listening for, and should compensate for the unaccountable silence of well-known Sydney stations, such as 2ZN (Mr Cotterel) and 2YG (Mr. R. Allsop), whose aerials, so far as can be ascertained, are still intact.

1924 09

Ray's wife attends a party at the Ambassadors

AT THE AMBASSADORS. . . . Mrs. G. A. Brown's guests were Mesdames Croll, Rodda, Fitzgerald, Boshell, Bald, L. Brown, R. V. Brown, R. C. Allsop, A. Taylor, E. Boshell, A. Fitzgerald, Misses R. Clark, M. Rodda, and H. Brown.

1924 10

Ray hears a New York broadcasting station

COOGEE MAN HEARD NEW YORK BY WIRELESS. SYDNEY, Tuesday.— On a five valve set, Mr Raymond Allsop, Coogee, picked up a New York broadcasting station yesterday at 1 p.m. He heard music for 45 minutes at a strength about equal to that from Melbourne. He also picked up California with an indoor loop aerial.

As previous, further detail

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. . . . Hearing the World by Wireless.— Another radio record was established last week by a Coogee man, Mr. Raymond Allsop (2YG), who heard station WGY, New York, sending dance music. Even a greater feat was the reception by Mr. Allsop, of KGO, Oakland, California, on a loop aerial. The music from New York was held by Mr. Allsop for 45 minutes, despite the fact that static was bad. On the loop aerial station KGO came in with good strength. The set which was used in each case employed five valves, two radio frequency amplifiers, a detector, and two audio frequency amplifiers. Earlier this year Mr. Allsop, who is radio engineer for New Systems Telephones Pty., Ltd., heard the London broadcasting station 2LO, and Birmingham, 5IT, using an eight-valve set.

Ray reports hearing, with difficulty, the opening transmission of 3LO

WIRELESS & RADIO. (Conducted by Alan Burrows) LURE OF BROADCASTING Increase of Powerful Stations. MAKING SETS PORTABLE. . . . HEARD IN SYDNEY All N.S.W. amateurs strained their ears towards Melbourne on Monday night, on the occasion of the opening of the big broadcasting station, 3LO. Several listeners-in were successful, but the expected trouble, jamming by Farmer's Sydney service on account of the high power, proved the bugbear. Here is the experience of Mr. R. C. Allsop (2YG), one of Sydney's foremost experimenters. "At twenty to eight," said Mr. Allsop, "I picked up the carrier wave 3LO, and shortly afterwards I got the voice clearly, with loud speaker strength. Then Farmer's carrier wave started up, which had a dampening effect upon the transmission from Melbourne. When Farmer's announcer began to speak, however, 3LO was drowned completely. I was using a 5-valve set at the time, although a smaller set would have been sufficient. But there is no hope of getting the Melbourne station in Sydney while 2FC is going; although, otherwise, it could be heard with ease." Mr. Allsop agreed that the only solution is silent nights, if both cities are to derive the full benefit from each other's broadcasting, or some arrangement of times so they will not clash so much. The difference in 1100 metres (2FC's wave length) and 1720 (that of 3LO) is not so great as it seems, as the tuning becomes very broad on the high wave lengths. Mr. Allsop was recently successful in receiving KGO on a frame aerial, and WGY, a station in Schenectady, U.S., on an ordinary aerial. This seems to be the first time WGY has been heard in New South Wales.

Ray's station 2YG appears in a list of NSW amateur transmitters

NEW SOUTH WALES AMATEUR TRANSMITTERS.— (Continued.) . . . 2YG.— R. Allsop, 14 Bryon-street, Coogee. 220 metres. Transmits C.W., I.C.W., and 'phone. 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

Ray publishes public notice of his intention to apply for a certificate of discharge in his bankruptcy

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. (23,168) IN BANKRUPTCY. Re: Raymond Cottam Allsop, of 14 Byron-street, Coogee, electrical engineer. To the Official Assignee and Creditors. TAKE NOTICE, that I, Raymond Cottam Allsop, intend to apply to His Honor the Judge in Bankruptcy, at the Court, Elizabeth-street, Sydney, on Thursday, the 20th day of November, 1924. at 10 a.m., or so soon afterwards as the course of business will admit, for a Certificate of Discharge, under and according to the provisions of the Bankruptcy Act, 1898.— Dated this 27th day of October, 1924. RAYMOND C. ALLSOP.

1924 11

Ray included in a short list of Sydney amateurs regularly transmitting telephony, essentially amateur broadcasting

WIRELESS & RADIO. (Conducted by Alan Burrows) . . . AMATEUR TRANSMITTERS. While there are over 60 licensed amateur transmitters in N.S.W., only a very small proportion of these ever use their privilege by "getting on the air." Below is a small list of the amateurs who send telephony fairly regularly, and the district in which they live. There are, of course, many others who transmit Morse frequently, but the fan who is keen enough to learn code will need no introduction to any of the amateurs. Most of the following send after 10 o'clock, and between broadcasting hours:— 2GR, J. M. Marks, Rose Bay. 2BF, L. E. Forsythe, Northbridge. 2BK, F. N. Leverrier, Vaucluse. 2JM, R. C. Marsden, Edgecliff. 2ZN, W. J. Cotterel, Coogee. 2YG, R. C. Allsop, Coogee. 2YI, P. S. Nolan, Woollahra. 2CM, C. Maclurcan, Strathfield. There are others who transmit less frequently, but those mentioned above will be found on the air oftener than most. Their wave lengths range from about 200 to 250 metres.

Ray is issued a certificate of discharge in his bankruptcy

IN BANKRUPTCY. . . . (Before the Acting Registrar, Mr. N. G. Pilcher.) CERTIFICATE APPLICATIONS. . . . Re Raymond Cottam Allsopp. Mr. Hill (instructed by Mr. H. O. Marshall) appeared for the bankrupt. A certificate was granted, subject to the payment of 10/ in the £1 to proved creditors.

Ray's station 2YG reported by a Brisbane listener (future 4RB) as regularly operating on 45 metres

WIRELESS NOTES AND NEWS. By "ANODE." . . . ITEMS OF INTEREST. . . . Mr. R. J. Browne reports the following list of stations which have been operating around the very short wave length of 45 metres:— Australia. 2CM, 2IJ, 2YI, 2YG, 3JP; New Zealand. 2AC, 2AP, 4AA, 4AK; U.S.A., 5UK, 6ARB, 6AWT, 6BDT, 6CGO, 6GT, 7BAU. Mr. Browne also remarks that the ether on these ultra-short wave lengths is liter-ally packed with American amateurs, the majority being too weak to unscramble and read through the present summer static. The New Zealanders 2AC, 4AA, and 4AK are at present putting up some excellent records in two-way work with the Americans per medium of these wave lengths. A very noticeable fact is that below 100 metres fading has never been experienced, even with the weakest station yet heard, while static and simi-lar interference is reduced to a minimum.

1924 12

Ray establishes two-way contact with 2 amateurs in the USA and one in Britain

WIRELESS & RADIO. (Conducted by Alan Burrows) . . . In Touch With U.S.A. FALLACY OF "LOW POWER" . . . MISLEADING THE PUBLIC. Mr. E. Barlow, of Armidale, has worked two U.S.A. stations, according to a weekend news item. This is no mean task; it necessitates working through a huge amount of local interference on the American side, although Mr. Barlow (whose call is 2GQ) should be singularly free from anything of that nature at this end, on account of his location In the country. H. Marshall (2HM) is the only transmitter within miles of him, although there are undoubtedly a few receiving sets scattered around Armidale. This feat of two-way working with U.S.A. — and England also — is becoming quite commonplace, Chas. Maclurcan conversed with a number of American fans for the first time some weeks ago; Ray Allsop (2YG) recently did the same with two stations over there, and one Britisher — 2OD — the amateur with whom Jack Davis and, C. Maclurcan recently got into touch. Max Howden, of Victoria (3BQ), has also worked one or two Americans, although he has met with little success in his endeavours again to raise England. According to the report, Mr. Barlow effected his conversation with America "on less power than it would take to light a pocket torch," a mis-statement, evidently emanating from 2GQ himself, which at one time was popular amongst a certain class of experimenter seeking as much self-glorification as possible. Until this instance, statements of this sort have been withheld in deference to the people's intelligence, or, at least, its increased knowledge of wireless. No valve set yet, to work successfully, has used less power than that of a pocket torch, or motor tail-light, or any of the comparisons made before a credulous public. One battery of a set, as every enthusiast knows, supplies sufficient power necessary to light an ordinary pocket torch, approximately 6 volts. If a little less than this is used, it can truthfully be said, so far as this battery is concerned, that the power is "less than that used to light a torch." But just as necessary as this battery to the working of an ordinary valve set is another battery supplying anything up to 120 volts; at the very least 60 volts. Without this power, ten times that of the torch, the set would be useless. Untrue comparisons of this nature are unnecessary, and hardly tend to give the public a desirable idea of experimenters' veracity.

1925

1925 01

Ray's station 2YG appears in a list of recently renewed amateur transmitting licences

TRANSMITTING LICENSES. The following transmitting licenses have been issued or renewed under the new regulations up to and including November 30. . . . 2YG.— Allsop, Raymond C., 14 Byron-street, Coogee, New South Wales.

Ray's station 2YG acts as intermediary in exchange of greetings between mayors of Lancaster, California and Sydney

ON THE AIR. Exchange of Greetings. CHIEF CITIZENS. Mr. Raymond Allsop, whose experimental station is 2YG, Coogee, N.S.W., has conveyed to the Lord Mayor, Alderman Stokes, the following message which he received by radio on January 22, from 6.A.K.W. (Mr. Potter) of Lancaster, California:— "Greetings from Mayor, Lancaster, California.— Walsh." The Lord Mayor has, through Mr. Allsop's station, forwarded the following reply: — "The aldermen and citizens of Sydney join me in reciprocating your greetings, and send best wishes for future prosperity of your land, and the State of California, in particular. P. V. Stokes, Lord Mayor."

Ray's station 2YG heard in Brisbane by 4AN

WIRELESS NOTES AND NEWS. By "ANODE." . . . ITEMS OF INTEREST. . . . Station 4AN, Greenslopes, Brisbane, using a low loss receiver with one stage of Audio-frequency amplification, has, during the past month, heard the following stations:— Australia: 2BK, 2CR, 2DS, 2GQ, 2HM, 2JS, 2OI, 2WS, 2YG, 2YI, 3BD, 3BM, 3HH, 3JH. New Zealand: 1AO, 2AC, 2AO, 2AP, 3AD, 4AG, 4AK. America: 5ADN, 6AWT, 6BBU, 6CGO, 6CGW, 7ARO, 7WM, 8BYN. All the above stations were working on between 60 and 80 metres.

Ray's station 2YG being heard in Perth by Phipps & Simmonds

LOGGING YANKEE STATIONS. Local Experimenter's Effort. A well-known local experimenter has succeeded in logging Yankee stations. Hopes ran high when they heard 3BD, Vic., calling a British amateur, and the said elusive is expected to be log-ged by them very soon. Following a a list of interstate and N.Z. radio amateurs logged:— 14.1.25, 5BG, S.A., 8 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 5BG, S.A., 8.10 p.m. Perth time. 14.1.25, 2YG, N.S.W., 8.5 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 3YY, Vic., 9.40 p.m. Perth time. 14.1.25, 3JU, Vic., 10.15 p.m. Perth time. 14.1.25, 3JU, Vic., 10.20 p.m. Perth time. 14.1.25, 2BK, N.S.W., 10.30 p.m. Perth time. 16.1.25, 2BK, N.S.W., 10.45 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 4AK, N.Z., 8 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 4AK, N.Z., 8.20 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 4AK, N.Z., 9.37 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 4AK, N.Z., 9.50 p.m. Perth time. 14.1.25, 5LO, S.A., 10.5 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 5LO, S.A., 8.30 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 2BM, N.S.W., 9 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 3AK, N.Z., 9.5 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 3DB, Vic., 9.6 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 3BM, Vic., 9.8 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 3JU, Vic., 9.15 p.m. Perth time. 15.1.25, 2YI, N.S.W., 9.25 p.m. Perth time. 16.1.25, 3BD, Vic., 10.20 p.m. Perth time. 16.1.25, 3BD, Vic., 10.30 p.m. Perth time. 16.1.25, 3BD, Vic., 10.50 p.m. Perth time. 16.1.25, 2AK, N.Z., 10.58 pm. Perth time. 16.1.25, 3BD, N.Z., 10.59 p.m. Perth time. 17.1.25, 2YG, N.S.W., 9.40 p.m. Perth time. 20.1.25, 2YU, N.S.W., 9.24 p.m. Perth time. 20.1.25, 2BD, N.S.W., 9.30 p.m. Perth time. 20.1.25, 5LO, S.A., 9.31 p.m. Perth time. American stations logged:— 6BCH, 2CI, 6AKW, 6ASE, 9DCJ, 6AWT, 6CW. Tuning was so sharp that it took one person to look after the set and the other to copy the message — both wearing 'phones. The wave length was 70 to 90 meters; 4AK came in about the same strength as VIP, also 3BD. My congratulations to these experimenters, who incidentally were Mr. W. R. Phipps and Mr. H. Simmonds at station 6WP.

Marsden and Allsop hearing the KDKA shortwave operation

HELLO U.S.A. Wireless Talks. PITTSBURGH TO SYDNEY. "Station KDKA. Pittsburgh, U.S.A., here." There was the voice clearly at last. Mr. R. C. Marsden, of Bellevue Hill, had been trying to pick up the signals for weeks, but had not been able to get them clearly. Then at last on Tuesday night the voice suddenly came clear and true, and everyone was excited. He heard further messages again last night at his station 2JM, and they were also picked up by Mr. Allsop at station 2YG, and by Mr. Philip Spencer Nolan at station 2YI. Now they regard the wonderful feat of taking wireless phone messages from a station 9000 miles away as almost an ordinary, everyday affair. Mr. Marsden, who is engineer-in-charge of David Jones's radio department, said today that he had heard KDKA off and on for the past two weeks, but he could never properly tune in, although he tried every conceivable way. In fact, he had practically given up hope, and was going to listen-in to San Francisco again; but on Tuesday night he heard everything plainly from Pittsburg. "I was at the set for about ten minutes," he said, "when I heard something like a gramophone record. At first I thought it was some amateur acting the fool, and was just going to cut out when it stopped, and the next thing I heard was: "KDKA, Pittsburg, here." EVERYONE EXCITED. Mr. Marsden grinned at the recollection, and went on: "I very nearly fell off the chair. To think that I had picked up a station 9000 miles away was almost too good to be true, but I quickly learnt it was so. "Of course, I called for complete silence, but everyone was so excited — I had one or two friends there — that some noise was made, so I promptly bundled them all out of the room, and sat there and listened. It was great." Mr. Marsden added that last night the messages came over very clearly, better than he ever hoped for, and there was no fading at all. He could get KDKA in a few seconds now, and all he hoped was that the station would keep going for longer than it did last night. His set is an ordinary two-valve "low loss" home-assembled affair, has a detector, and one stage of audio frequency. His friend, Mr. Ray Allsop, besides receiving messages from KDKA, last night sent some over in co-operation with Mr. Marsden and Mr. Philip Spencer Nolan. Tonight he is going to listen-in again and send further messages over. "I have now spoken to about every country in the world," he said, "even to China; but there is one place that I have to pick up yet, and that is India. Ah, well! I'll have another cut at KDKA tonight."

As previous

MORE RADIO MARVELS. VOICE FROM U.S.A. HEARD IN SYDNEY QUITE CLEARLY. Further astonishing results in long-distance telephony were recorded in Sydney last night, in the distinctly clear reception of conversation and music broadcast experimentally from station KDKA, in Pittsburg, Pa., U.S.A. The messages again came into several amateur low-loss receiving sets in Sydney, with surprising strength — the clearness with which conversations are conducted over the telephone line between any two points around our city, for instance. The operator at KDKA, a distance of over 9000 miles from Sydney, in the course of conversation, requested listeners-in to pass on a message from W. W. Davies to a certain Melbourne newspaper man. The round-the-world chat reported here again came through Mr. R. C. Marsden's set at station 2JM, Bellevue Hill. Mr. Marsden, with the assistance of Mr. Ray Allsop, at station 2YG, and Mr. Philip Spencer Nolan, station 2YI, immediately sent a reply to the American station through an American amateur, announcing the clear reception of the broadcasting and suggesting that the announcer at KDKA should not speak so loudly into his microphone. MR. ELDER'S MESSAGE. NEW YORK, January 28. Mr. J. A. M. Elder, Commissioner for Australia, will leave for Pittsburg tomorrow night to broadcast a speech. It is hoped that the message will be heard in Australia. Mr. Elder has cabled to Mr. Bruce, suggesting that the speech be given publicity, and asking whether the speech was received. Mr. Elder's speech will, in part, be: "Australia, Australia, Australia, do you hear me calling you? This is your commissioner." In so far as actual accomplishment of projecting the human voice to a great distance is concerned, it is a feat which both countries are to be proud of, and opens up the greatest possibilities for the future, declares Mr. Elder. RESULTS SOUGHT. MELBOURNE, Thursday. The Australian Commissioner in New York (Mr. Elder) has cabled to the Prime Minister that he intends personally to deliver a radio message to Australia from Pittsburg on Saturday, January 31, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., Australian time. As Mr. Elder is anxious to obtain reports of the result of the experiment, the Prime Minister's Department will be glad to receive information from listeners-in throughout Australia who were successful in hearing the message.

Again, 2YG being heard in Perth, amongst the flurry of listeners hearing KDKA SW

WONDERS OF WIRELESS. PITTSBURG BROADCASTS TONIGHT. Before wireless experimenters even say "Good-day" now they ask "Have you got Pittsburg yet?" Such is the interest which has grown in respect of the reception of short wave transmission from America. The attention which has been bestowed on the subject during the past week has disclosed that many experimenters have been hiding their light under a bushel, for perfectly wonderful results duly authenticated have been reported. The trouble has been, however, that apart from the dissemination of the knowledge among a few friends the public has been in ignorance of the good work of our local enthusiasts. Recent publicity in connection with the reception of D stations — as the long distance ones are known — has brought to light some remarkable achievements. Tonight again the Pittsburg station will transmit on a wave length of 63 metres between the hours — Perth time — of 6 and 7 p.m. On this occasion the Australian Trade Commissioner (Mr. J. A. M. Elder) will speak for an hour and a half. An outline of the speech is contained in this column. Experimenters who achieve any degree of success are asked to communicate their results to this office tomorrow morning. Mr. A. E. McKinley, of 262 Nicholson-road, Subiaco, and who is employed at the well-known electrical firm of Unbehaun and Johnstone, was a successful listener-in on Wednesday evening, when he picked up KDKA, the Pittsburg Pennsylvania station. Mr. McKinley has a sausage aerial which he thought was too big, but which he says was evidently satisfactory. It is 90 feet long and 47 feet high. He has a five valve set, but on this occasion used only three valves, one as a detector and two for the audio frequency. Speaking of the reception, he said that "fading" made reception uncertain, but the music came through particularly clearly. Speech, however, suffered from bad distortion, and there was a fair amount of interference from trams and high tension electrical mains in the neighborhood. The set he used employed an ordinary standard circuit. The bugle call given during the evening, was very clearly received. He has commenced to make up a special short wave low-loss set for the purpose of experimenting further with America. Mr. G. Moss, of Willis-street Cottesloe Beach, was also successful on Wednesday night with a two valve set, using one for detector and the other for audio frequency. The set was a specially built low-loss short wave set. Adjustment was critical, and although the speech was indistinct he heard the word "Australia" several times. Music was clear, and while some airs were familiar he could not remember their titles. The valves used were Philips D1 and D2. Mr. M. Urquhart, of Hawkstone-street, Cottesloe, when seen today gave praise to Master Jack Watson for having logged 2BGI. This station was in the second district of America — New York — so that the distance was slightly greater than that to Pittsburg. The fact, however, which made the feat all the more remarkable was that whereas KDKA is transmitting with a power of 25 k.w., the New York station was only employing about one-quarter of that power. Mr. Urquhart has himself been very successful with long distance reception. 2YG, the Sydney station operated by Mr. Ray Allsop, manager of New Systems Telephones, has come in clearly. This station he said was one which recently held a two-way conversation with the Mayor of Lancaster, California. A few mornings ago he heard 2YG trying to work through to England, and heard, the following message sent in Morse: "Subastis Dulcox, London. Greetings, Newsyhurst Ray Allsop." This message was sent on a wave length of about 85 metres. On Wednesday night he heard 6AWT — in California — calling "CQ Anzacs," which latter, interpreted, represents a general call to experimenters in Australia. Mr. Urquhart had also had good results with Mr. Max Howden of Box Hill, Melbourne, whose station is known as 3BQ. This station Mr. Urquhart understands was the first Australian amateur to work both England and America. One of the most powerful amateur stations in the Eastern States is 3BD, operated by Mr. E. H. Cox, of 5 Gosbirne-street, Elsternwick, Melbourne, with a wave length of 80 metres. During the past month Mr. Urquhart has received this station so many times that without reference to his "log" he could not give the number, for the station operated both morning and evening. He was shortly writing to Mr. Cox suggesting that some daylight tests should be conducted with Western Australia, for although sunlight absorbs the ether vibrations to a great extent he was anxious to confirm the assertion that sunlight did not affect to the same degree short waves. Altogether, Mr. Urquhart reports he has logged nine Victorian stations, seven New South Wales, about 20 American and four in New Zealand.

1925 02

Daily Telegraph reporter spends an evening with Allsop, Marsden and Nolan

CHATTING WITH THE WORLD. Radio Enthusiasts' Practical Tests. AMATEURS' NIGHTLY AMUSEMENT. MR. ELDER'S SPEECH FROM U.S.A. The clear reception nightly of speech and music transmitted a distance of nearly 10,000 miles has made the present week a momentous one in the history of radio, and has placed the stock of the Australian amateur higher than ever. The Pittsburg Station, KDKA, owned and operated by the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, was again on the air during the weekend, the broadcasting being heard in several parts of Sydney — and in country districts as well — in astonishing strength. Some of the stations actually operated loud speakers, and one enthusiast went so far as to ring a brother-experimenter to ask him to listen to the American over the telephone line. "DAILY TELEGRAPH" LISTENS-IN. A "Daily Telegraph" representative had a first-hand demonstration of the success of the tests through the courtesy of Mr. R. C. Marsden, of Station 2JM, Bellevue Hill, who has received KDKA each night since the Pennsylvanian Station began the special transmission for Australia. A few minutes after the American had signed off at 9 p.m.— he announced that it was then 6 a.m. his end — the reporter was in the equally-efficient station of Mr. Phil Spencer Nolan — 2YI — listening to Morse messages from all parts. In the past few weeks Mr. Nolan actually has worked — received messages from and transmitted to — 35 distinct American experimenters. A further chapter in the fascinating and romantic night's story was opened, when Messrs. Marsden and Nolan called up, by radio, Mr. Ray Allsop, of Station 2YG, Coogee, and announced that "The Daily Telegraph" representative was coming round to witness the sending of a reply to KDKA. The reply duly went with facility and certainty that demonstrated most convincingly the relative perfection which international radio already has reached. WANDERING ROUND THE GLOBE. Mr. Allsop simply closed a switch in his completely-equipped operating room, tapped his Morse key, and in a few minutes had the ear of Mr. B. Molinari, of 653 Union Street, San Francisco — over 5000 miles away, as they measure it through the ether — whose station is known as 6AWT. As district superintendent of the American Radio Relay League, Mr. Molinari cheerfully accepted a couple of messages for Pittsburg, and promised to retransmit them without delay. Hearing Mr. Allsop at work, other amateurs in various parts of the Pacific countries put over their callsigns, and invited a chat about the business so dear to their own hearts. And then 2YG sat down for a couple of hours' excursion over half the world, while Mr Nolan and Mr. Marsden retired to their own stations, also to carry on a few more of the regular experiments that amateur radio stations conduct nightly to the advancement of the science and to the ultimate advantage of mankind. SPEECH INTERRUPTED. On Saturday night the speech broadcast from Pittsburg by Mr. Elder, Australian Commissioner in the U.S.A., came through in good strength, but, owing to the unusually high static, the substance of it was not distinguishable on most sets. Amateurs also had a good deal of trouble owing to the "howling valves" of neighboring sets.

Ray transmits to KDKA (through California hams and the ARRL) the congratulations of the Assoc for Developing Wireless

PROBLEMS OF RADIO. Association's Work. PRESIDENT MAKES USEFUL SUGGESTIONS. The president of the Association for Developing Wireless in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, Mr. George A. Taylor, in his report to the annual meeting of the association on Friday, stated that radio was rapidly attaining a remarkable place in human life. In Great Britain the number of applications for listening-in licenses had reached 1,000,000; in America there were at least 3,000,000 homes with radio sets, and the sales of outfits had been eight times greater than those of the previous year. In Australia, however, there had been only 36,719 listening-in licenses issued. His experience in other countries had convinced him that the main principle of "no monopoly" adopted by Australia had been wise. ALLOCATION OF WAVE LENGTHS. In Europe, Mr. Taylor added, the chief difficulty regarding broadcasting was that there was no unanimity in the allocation of wave lengths. The trouble was becoming more manifest, and with the improving of receiving sets promised to develop into an international nuisance. After referring to the useful work accomplished by the radio conference at Geneva, Mr. Taylor said that the development of radio all over the world was being handicapped by having to carry claims for patent rights, and this question had seriously hampered the British Government in establishing inter-Imperial wireless relations. The report went on to refer to the need for encouraging wireless inventors, and a conference was to be held regarding the subject. Mr. Taylor suggested that in order to obtain the closest study of wireless the association's new executive should be divided into at least three subcommittees, one to deal with legal questions, another to inquire into broadcasting, and the third to be a development committee. The officers elected were:— President, Mr. George A. Taylor; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. D. Scott and L. D. Rudolph; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. G. Pritchard; executive, Messrs. R. Burgin, W. J. Maclardy, L. P. R. Bean, J. I. Carroll, and C. V. Stevenson; chairmen of committees, Messrs. L. D. Rudolph (legal), W. J. Maclardy (broadcasting), W. D. Scott (development), and J. G. Pritchard (publicity). The congratulations of the association were transmitted by Mr. Roy Allsop to KDKA, Pittsburg, U.S.A., on the success of the latter's daily 9000-mile messages.

Ray makes another attempt at rebroadcasting KDKA shortwave for 2BL Sydney but is defeated by static and howling

VOICES ACROSS THE SEA. Eerie Sounds on Aerial Waves. "KDKA CALLING". The Pittsburgh wireless station KDKA conducted another test with Australia last night, this time for the purpose of attempting to rebroadcast from Broadcasters' Sydney station. The same factors, however, that contributed to the practical failure of last Saturday's test, static and howling valves, interfered again, and from the point of view of clearness, the test was not a success. The rattle of static and howling of countless valves effectually prevented any distinct reception. The voice of the announcer was heard plainly. Several amateur stations listened to the American station direct, and some of them heard the greater part of it successfully. THERE was a wail like a tired soul in pain. Outside a dog howled in sympathy. "That's the carrier-wave," explained Mr. Allsop. He adjusted his headphones, while his colleague, Mr. Gordon Atkinson, went out and silenced the dog. Somewhere, eight thousand miles away, someone in America was calling to Australia. It's winter in the United States, and it was between 4 and 5 a.m. there when the wireless enthusiasts of KDKA station, Pittsburgh, started to send their programme through. But what is loss of sleep to the wireless enthusiast? Mr. R. C. Allsop, of the New Systems Telephone Proprietary, Ltd., picked up KDKA on his special low-power receiving set at his experimental station, 2YG, in Byron-street, Coogee, last night, transmitted what he received to Broadcasters, Ltd., who rebroadcast it for the benefit of other listeners in. But what Mr. Allsop received was not exactly what KDKA sent out. There was a sound like a scraping of a phonograph record. Someone in space seemed to be practising the saxophone. You could hear birds singing, especially the peculiar note of the whip-bird. Then a man's voice — coming through the air eight thou-sand miles — like a flash of light. As the words fell from his lips Sydney heard them. But except for those who have developed a "wireless ear" and can concentrate the sense of hearing on the voice to the exclusion of other noises, it was hard to distinguish, what was said. Out of the rushing storm of strange sounds came a sweet tinkling melody. One could distinguish foxtrot time. It was a xylophone solo probably, but just as one was starting to get the tune some rude boys — maybe it was their spooks — interrupted. The Spirit of the Air The voice again. Something to the effect that the programme is only a scratch affair (emphasis on the scratch), and that next night a special programme will be sent. The speaker doesn't seem to mind the interruptions. The spirits of the air howl with baffled rage. Hark! A woman singing. The singing changes — horribly. The fiends are murdering her. Painfully she struggles back to life, but the effort is too much, and as she expires a demon begins to play the bagpipes — you can almost hear the swish of kilts. "Pip! pip!" Vulgar fiends! "That's a bit of Morse," said Mr. Allsop. "Static's crook," remarked Mr. Atkinson. Those eerie noises have quite matter-of-fact explanations. The rushing and roaring is electricity in the atmosphere. The howling is the result of well-meaning amateurs attempting to tune in. It was better when one or two experimenters only were trying to get Pittsburgh. "I got it so clearly the first time that I thought someone was having a joke with me," said Mr. Allsop. Your true wireless enthusiast is not to be disheartened by setbacks such as static and howling valves. After all, the science is in its infancy. At any time some experimenter may light on a discovery that will eliminate those noises that interfere with valve sets and make loudspeakers sound like bad gramophones. Important Development If, as is hoped, New System Telephones can pick up American programmes and transmit them to station 2BL for rebroadcasting it will be one of the most important developments in radio yet achieved. It will mean that the owner of the humble crystal set will be brought within earshot, so to speak, of the United States. And the next step would be the broadcasting of London programmes in Sydney, via America. The radio experts are not superstitious. Spiritualists might imagine that the noises that interfere with wireless conversations with America really came from the ghosts of boys who made rude noises and whistled out of tune, and the restless spirits of those who played the bagpipes on earth. But the radio man knows different. He dons his head 'phones, readjusts his tuning apparatus, looks to his batteries. Tonight another attempt will be made to hear what they are saying in Pittsburgh.

Ray finally succeeds with a rebroadcast of KDKA shortwave over 2BL Sydney

MORE RADIO MARVELS. MESSAGE FROM U.S. RE-BROADCAST. Received on crystal sets. The possibilities of long-distance radio reception were again demonstrated in Sydney last night by the rebroadcasting of speech and music received from station KDKA, in Pittsburg, Pa., U.S.A. The reception was effected through a low-loss set at the station of Mr. Ray Allsop — 2YG — Coogee, and then sent directly by a special telephone line to station 2BL in the city, where it was broadcast generally. The American messages could be detected quite clearly on even modest crystal sets, but static between here and America and "howling" valves in the region of 2YG caused considerable interference that militated against success.

As previous

WIRELESS. SYDNEY MESSAGE. REACHES AMERICA. NEW YORK, Feb. 5. A message sent from Sydney by an amateur and relayed across the American continent was picked up at Boston by Mr. J. Peckman, who caught the relay from Minneapolis. The message is signed "2YG, Maclardy, Amateur Broadcasting Association," and is addressed "KDKA, Pittsburg," announcing that the sender had successfully rebroadcasted the Pittsburg programme of January 31, and would like to have a special programme for Sydney on Friday. [On Tuesday last Mr. W. J. Maclardy, manager of "Broadcasters," Sydney, cabled to Pittsburg in the terms mentioned in the foregoing message. Apparently the message has been broadcasted through the United States from "KDKA." In response to Mr. Maclardy's message the Pittsburg station made further experiments in transmission to Australia, and a musical programme sent last night was stated by "Broadcasters" to have been received at Sydney "almost perfectly."] APPEAL TO AMATEURS. The Association for Developing Wireless in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, in an appeal to wireless amateur enthusiasts, states: "The executive of the Association for Developing Wireless in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, which is working hard in endeavouring to win every success for the Pittsburg-Australia interchange, makes a special plea for 'listeners-in' to be loyal to broadcasting generally, by refraining from trying to link with KDKA during the hours of 8 and 9 o'clock this evening, when such messages are coming through, leaving such interlinking to be with the broadcasting stations, so they can get best results in retransmitting to all listeners-in.' " Mr. G. L. Sewell, 2CJ, of 362 Victoria-street, Darlinghurst, using an aerial 45 feet high and 40 feet long, and an instrument of three valves, reported last night that K.D.K.A. was clearer than it has been for some time. Although the speech was interrupted again by statics, the musical items were clearer than they had ever been, and the programme finished with a very fine performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Mr. T. Fainty, an amateur at Vaucluse, using a two-valve set, bore out the remarks by Mr. Sewell, but he appeared to hear more of the speech than the former, as he remarked that the statics did not interfere very much, and that the announcements were exceedingly clear and distinct. He also said that the orchestral items were a feature of the evening's performance.

As previous, another report

U.S. WIRELESS MUSIC. AGAIN HEARD IN SYDNEY. Clear Programme. The brass band of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co., of East Pittsburg (U.S.A.), playing a special programme in the studio of KDKA broadcasting station, was heard distinctly in many homes in New South Wales last night. The music, which was particularly clear, was received at the amateur station 2YG, controlled by Mr. Ray Allsop, at Coogee, and was then transferred by special land lines to station 2BL, of Broadcasters, Ltd. HEARD AUSTRALIA. (Australian Press Association Cable.) BOSTON, February 5. A radio message sent from Sydney by an amateur operator, and relayed across the American continent, was picked up here by Mr. J . Peckman, who caught the relay from Minneapolis. The message, which was signed 2YG, Amateur Broadcasting Association, was addressed to KDKA, Pittsburg, and announced that Maclardy had successfully rebroadcast the Pittsburg programme of January 31, and would like to have a special program for Sydney on February 5, Station 2YG is controlled by Mr. Ray Allsop, and it was through this station that the programme from KDKA was rebroadcast last night. PLEA TO LISTENERS-IN. Mr. G. A. Taylor, president of the Association for Developing Wireless in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, states that it is a pity that listeners-in have not refrained from endeavoring to pick up KDKA or other overseas stations direct, during the hours when such stations are transmitting for re-transmission by Australian broadcasting stations. The executive of the association makes a plea for listeners-in to be loyal to broadcasting generally by refraining from trying to link with KDKA during the hours of 8 and 9 p.m., when such messages are coming through this evening, leaving such interlinking to be with the broadcasting stations, so they can get best results in retransmitting to all listener's-in.

As previous, another report

ACROSS THE PACIFIC. Wireless From America. SUCCESSFUL TEST. A most successful rebroadcasting test was carried out last night. Listeners-in on 2BL's wavelength had the pleasure of hearing the Pittsburg station, KDKA, as clearly, occasionally, as though the programme was from the studio of the local station, and the transmission lost little, if anything, in the rebroadcasting process. There was a continuous rumble of static throughout, but for the greater part of the time it was as a background to the transmission, rather than a crashing, overwhelming noise, as previously it had been. Although the announcer's voice could be heard without difficulty, the words were blurred in some instances. The usual announcements regarding the Westinghouse Company — "This is KDKA, broadcasting from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania," were made, along with the announcement of tonight's transmission at the same time. At 8.10 the station was first heard sending a violin number, which was followed by a gramophone — the announcer termed it a phonograph — item. Then a violin or 'cello piece, followed by a selection by a symphony orchestra. At its conclusion, it was announced that "Irish Melodies" had just been sent. As the airs included "Come Back to Erin," "Wearin' o' the Green," "Killarney," and some not so well-known tunes, the announcement was hardly necessary. A serenade was the concluding item, and the proceedings closed with "The Star-Spangled Banner." EXPERIMENTERS PLEASED. Mr. R. C. Allsop, who again received the programme at 2YG and sent it to 2BL, was pleased with last night's transmission. "It was the best yet," he said. Mr. G. Atkinson, Mr. Allsop's colleague, expressed the opinion that it is now only a matter of a few months when rebroadcasting on these lines will be quite regular. "It is only a matter of KDKA improving their transmission somewhat," he remarked, "and their programmes will be heard frequently in Sydney. At present, if our engineers at this end push up the power at all, the modulation suffers." Mr. Atkinson also mentioned that static was much better last night, although the speech was "mushy." Mr. Basil Cooke, who was experimenting at his home at Northbridge also reported good reception, especially on the musical items. Mr. R. C. Marsden, Edgecliff (2JM) also had a good word to say for the programme. Mr. D. B. Griffin, of 83 Rose-street, Sydney, said that music was heard, which sounded like a violin and piano. A band played "Come Back to Erin" and "The Wearin' of the Green." What followed was blurred by static. At 8.48 the announcer said, "Station KDKA here, Pennsylvania, United States, America. Just a moment, please." More music followed.

Ray's colleague Gordon Atkinson issues a clarification in a letter to the editor of SMH

ORIGINATED AT COOGEE. Mr. Gordon Atkinson has written to the Editor of the "Herald" the following:— Among your cabled items from New York, printed in this (Saturday) morning's edition, you refer to a message picked up at Boston by a Mr. J. Peckman, who apparently received it from somewhere in Minneapolis; and you suggest that it is a message which was cabled by Mr. W. J. Maclardy to KDKA, and broadcasted throughout America by that station. This is not the case, as the message was originated by Mr. R. Allsop at the experimental station 2YG, of the New System Telephones Pty., Ltd., at Coogee. On completion of the reception and rebroadcasting of KDKA by 2YG, in conjunction with Broadcasters (Sydney) Limited, Mr. Allsop, a few minutes later, got into direct touch with amateur radio station 6AWT in California, and, using the organisation of the American Relay League, requested the members of that body to advise by their system of relaying, station KDKA of the successful reception at Coogee. The fact that the message referred to contains the callsign 2YG is proof of this.

Ray clarifies reported reception of KDKA on loop antenna in letter to editor of SMH

RADIO PROBLEMS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Sir,— During the past few days, and while we have been engaged on "KDKA," I notice the appearance of letters in the Press from various people, stating that their reception of the American station was effected when using a loop aerial, while some claim that the signals were unaffected by the disconnection of aerial and earth leads. These results are perfectly natural, and do not, as suggested, form a world's record. It must be remembered that with all short wave receivers the aerial is a periodic, the coupling or transfer of energy to the tuned circuit being made by a few turns of wire in series between the aerial and earth; consequently if the aerial is earthed or left free there is sufficient coupling to transfer energy. This is even the case though the receiver be moved to any part of the room. When, however, the apparatus is removed altogether from the influence of the aerial the signals will cease altogether. It was my experience when using a loop on "KGO" that the signals were strong when the loop was within the influence of the aerial, but they became very much weaker when the apparatus was removed to a remote spot. The foregoing remarks are based on the results of my experiments, and may prove of interest to your readers, I am, etc., RAYMOND L. ALLSOP, Radio Engineer, New System Telephones Pty., Ltd.

1925 03

Sydnery Sun journalist reports on Ray's efforts to communicate with England

HELLO, LONDON! 'Sun's' Wireless Experiment. STATION 2YG GETS BUSY. It will soon be possible to sit in an office in Sydney and converse with business agents or friends in London. Experiments in wireless on shortwave lengths and great power are gradually making conversation at one end of the world audible at the antipodes. Messages by means of morse code have been transmitted between Australia and England for some time. But these have only given an incentive to experimenters to get conversation through. "The Sun" has joined hands with the experimenters, and in conjunction with station 2YG has been endeavoring to say "Hello, London!" and to give listeners-in over in England, a daily greeting from Australia. Station 2YG is the experimental station of the New System Telephone Coy., operated by Mr. R. C. Allsop, at Randwick, who is one of the most successful wireless experimenters in Australia. It was 2YG station which received KDKA for retransmission in N.S.W. In order that the experiments could be checked up quickly, and any faults in transmission corrected, "The Sun's" representatives in London were given cabled instructions. England woke up last Friday with a notice in the morning newspapers requesting all English experimenters and listeners-in to listen for "The Sun's" test of wireless telephony from Sydney on an 85 metres wave from the Australian transmitting station 2YG (New Systems Telephony), between 18.00 and 19.30 Greenwich mean-time Friday, Saturday, and Monday. ENGLAND LISTENS IN. English experimenters were anxious to hear Australia, and our representative in London cabled that Mr. W. E. Simmonds, the amateur wireless experimenter at Gerard's Cross, Buckinghamshire, who a fortnight ago transmitted a special message to "The Sun," which was successfully received by Mr. Jack Davis, of Vaucluse, suggests that the Sydney station 2YG should send plenty of Morse before attempting the transmission of a telephone message. This would enable listeners-in to identify the station. Mr. Simmonds suggested also the interspersion of Morse with the speech, otherwise it would be easy to confuse the Sydney telephony with harmonics from English and American broadcasting. The idea, however, of the experiments, is to establish conversational calls, as only a few listeners in are acquainted with the Morse code, and can read it by sound. The busiest time in English broadcasting was chosen, a multitude of listeners-in being at their instruments between 6 and 7.30 p.m. The stations number, Australia 2YG, was called between the items. FAINTLY HEARD. Speech was picked up faintly by several listeners-in; but our London representative advised us that the conditions were exceptionally bad owing to electrical storms and again appealed for more Morse code until the listeners-in familiarised themselves with the note of Station 2YG, when they would be able to pick it out of the numerous messages which, in many instances, were merely harmonics of the numerous broadcasting stations. Lieutenant Montague Rose, of Millfordsea, in tuning in, 2YG, says that he heard piano music between 19.20 and 19.26. He was using a VB4 Marconiphone. Our representative cabled yesterday saying that "The Sun's" tests were inconclusive. "Several amateurs heard faint speech, but it was impossible to identify it as 2YG, because they had not heard the call sign. "Mr. Simmonds, while exploring "The Sun's" band of wave length, between 73 and 90 metres on Monday night, counted no fewer than five pronounced harmonics from British broadcasting stations, which were working in the vicinity of 350 to 495 metres. The harmonics were so strong that with the receiver set for 73 metres he could easily read London's news bulletin transmitted on 365 metres. "Mr. Simmonds considered it impossible to receive Sydney under such conditions, unless contact was repeatedly established by means of the Morse code. He considers that 85 metres would be an admirable length for further experiments; but the hours of transmission, although suitable electrically, are continually subject to broadcasting interference." Mr. Allsop read the messages with interest, and noted that the conditions were not favorable in England. He said that he had been told that several English experimenters had been calling him, but their code messages were too faint for him to hear. The message about Lieutenant Rose, he added, does not check up quite correctly. Mr. Allsop also thinks that what may have been taken for harmonics were possibly part of the transmission from station 2YG. "The Sun" is determined to say, "Hello, London!" and with that object in view station 2YG will proceed with the experiments at an early date. The messages will be interspersed with Morse code signals at intervals, and it is hoped that as soon as listeners-in get familiar with the station these code signals will be dispensed with and conversation picked up as readily as an ordinary telephone message.

Ray claims a record for first Australian amateur to be heard in USA - needs to be verified

2YG AGAIN. Speech Heard in U.S.A. FIRST TIME IN HISTORY. For the first time in the history of radio, telephony from Australia has been heard in another country. Mr. Ray Allsop, of radio 2YG (Coogee), has received a message from America to the effect that music and speech broadcasted by him was received by radio 6AKW, which is operated by Leroy Potter, of Lancaster, California, on February 28 last, at 7 a.m., Pacific coast time. Never before has telephony from Australia been heard in America, or for that fact outside the continent. Mr. Allsop has been conducting tests for some weeks, and on February 26, 27 and 28 specialised in "getting over" to U.S.A. with telephony. He used a wave length of 85 metres. Replies were eagerly awaited, and yesterday he received information that his transmission had been heard clearly and without interruption by 6AKW. The Californian station used a two-valve receiver of the popular "low loss and one step" design. 6AKW supplied particulars of the transmission received, and these check up with Mr. Allsop's log, verifying the correct reception beyond doubt. "HELLO, LONDON!" In co-operation with Mr. Allsop, "The Sun" has been endeavoring to get a direct message through to London, and so far the tests have been partly successful. The reception of Mr. Allsop's transmission in U.S.A. is a stepping-stone to even greater efforts, and as he will shortly be increasing his input power English amateurs may yet hear a "Hello, London!" from Sydney quite distinctly. "The Sun" is determined that "Hello, London!" will eventually "get over," and Mr. Allsop's experiments are to be continued.

Ray is heard in Sweden

WIRELESS & RADIO. (Conducted by Alan Burrows) . . . IN TOUCH WITH SWEDEN. . . . REAL LONG DISTANCE. During his attempt to reach England on telephony for "The Sun," Mr. R. Allsop has incidentally put in some good long-distance transmission. The latest intimation of the range of his station (2YG) is contained in a "QSL" card from a Swedish amateur, SMYY. This must represent the last word in "DX" work, as no further point from Sydney can be reached. Feats of this nature are becoming commonplace amongst amateur transmitters. It is the boast of several Sydney transmitters that they have been heard in almost every civilised country! Jack Davis (2DS) and Frank Leverrier (2BK) are probably as successful in this respect as any one. Their QSL cards range, in one or two instances, from Turkey to Argentine. Some interesting data is included in an accompanying letter with 2YG's card. SMYY says: "Pleased to tell you that you are often heard here very well on two valves. You are heard here best with high barometric pressure over Russia and generally over the path from Australia to here. Often hear 3BD (E. H. Cox, Victoria) and 3BQ (Max Howden, also Victoria). If fate is generous to me I may get into communication with you before dinner." The above is a revised version of the letter. Strangely enough, it is written in the conventional American-radio language — which to a layman would be almost as undecipherable as Swedish. The signals were in I.C.W. (Interrupted continuous wave) — a method rather more difficult on long distances than ordinary C.W. (continuous wave). It is, in a sense, telephony, as the sound of the buzzer is transmitted.

1925 04

Ray bashfully declines to speak at WIA All Clubs evening

WIRELESS & RADIO. (Conducted by Alan Burrows) . . . GATHERING OF CLUBS. . . . Due to the request that club members should not bring friends, as had been done previously, the All Clubs' night, organised by the Wireless Institute last Monday, was not marked by a very big attendance. Five pictures altogether were shown, all worthwhile, one of which dealt directly with radio, one with "light," as a kindred subject to wireless. Afterwards, Mr. C. Maclurcan, who occupied the chair, thanked the club members for their attendance, and hoped they would come to any further affairs the institute might arrange. Mr. Phil. Renshaw, secretary to the institute, expressed the opinion that experimenters should give more attention to the mathematical and theoretical side of their hobby. Mr. H. Stowe suggested that the practical side could very well be mixed with the mathematical, and should not be neglected. Several club representatives also spoke, and Mr. Ray Allsop (2YG) was called upon to "say a few words," but declined on the ground of bashfulness. Quite a number of local transmitters were present, including 2CM (C. Maclurcan), 2DE (Phil. Renshaw), 2YI (Phil. Nolan), 2JM (R. C. Marsden), 2BV (Waverley Radio Club), 2CX (H. A. Stowe), 2DS (Jack Davis), and 2ZC (E. Lavington and Co.).

Comprehensive report by Ray to the Sydney Sun on his work since Dec 1924

TELEPHONY ADVANCES. Heard in Missouri. HAMS WHO WON'T BELIEVE (By Raymond Allsop) Experimenters will be interested to hear something of recent experiments from 2YG. For five weeks Mr. Allsop has been using telephony in transmission of music and speech, and in the following article he recounts his experience, and quotes a few records. He also gives some interesting and amusing Morse experiences. Americans have a saying that "anything which goes in Missouri is pretty safe." It is natural therefore that 2YG should feel pleased at the result of recent experiments. My telephony, for which I use 250 watts, is being reported as "received clearly," not only in Missouri, but in California also! I have had, in the past five weeks, nine reports from America stating this, and all are unanimous on the point of clarity. Also Tasmania and many parts of New South Wales are reporting clear reception in daylight. About 200 reports are coming in each week on this telephony transmission of music and speech — all from widely scattered stations in Australia. An indication of the wide range, and success of the experiments so far, is to be found in one report from Mareeba (N.Q.), where 2YG was heard clearly on a one-valve set: New Zealand is receiving clearly on two valves, loud speaker; and Mr. Coxon (6AG), Perth, W.A., has reported music and speech coming in exceptionally strong and clear.

ROUND THE WORLD. On Morse, from December 10 to date, have worked 69 separate American stations in two way conversations, these being scattered from the east to the west coast; also two English and two Canadian stations. I have received in the same period many reports, from Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Korea, China, Argentine, and Mesopotamia. Some of the letters and cards which come to 2YG from abroad are of more than passing interest. One man in Vaxholm, Sweden, writes:— "I am pleased to tell you that you are very often heard here clearly on two valves. You are heard best in high barometric pressure over Russia." This proves that the signals do not take a direct course, but travel on a northward curve. The time he receives best in Vaxholm, is in the evening — which would be early morning here. He actually got my address by hearing me give it to a man in California. American enthusiasts often display a sense of humor in their station cards. I have one from 6TKW, who is evidently proud of the fact that he never sleeps. His card is headed: "Antelope Valley, where the Boiled Owls Roost." He has even taken the trouble to add that he can be depended on at all times, "except naps, taken on the table, on my arm." Fully 25 per cent. of the stations I have worked are using low power. Hero is a letter from 9DBZ (South Dakota):—

HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL. "Sure was glad to hook up with you on the morning of the 16th. I sure was surprised . . . You are the first Australian I had heard . . . . I heard you on the morning of the 18th, too. You come in better than 2YI or or Z2AC here. When I worked you here it was broad daylight; sun was up. You sure come in fine business! "I would appreciate a card from you very much, as several of the 'Hams' around here won't believe that I work-ed you. "I use one so-called 5-watt tube (UV202) with 550 volts chemical rectified A.C. on the plate in the loose-coupled Hartley Circuit. My receiver is one BGF tuner, and one step of amplification; my aerial is a six-wire cage, 50 feet high or 50 feet long; counterpoise is wire 8ft high and 60ft long. "Sorry I had to stop transmitting, but I had to go to school." Another low-power station is that of Otto C. Miller (Marchall, Minnesota) who uses 15 watts. His main supply is a 340 volts storage battery. Another man, 6CAE, says that he uses a "5-watt baby blast furnace" for a transmitter! At Fort Worth (Texas), where once (according to many writers) the bad men ranged, science is not yet supreme. I was informed by 5AGQ, who states that the place still contains "Hams" who refuse to believe, without the evidence of my card, that his 5-watt 3-coil Meissner set worked 2YG two ways. Before closing I must mention that Mr. Charles Maclurcan recently received a letter from Major Mott (Catalina Island) reporting that 2YG and 2YI were copied for two hours one morning on a loudspeaker. He remarked on the wonderful clarity and steadiness of the signals. With reference to the recent report of 2YG being read in Finland, I first received confirmation from the Finnish station, 2NM, on February 10. He heard me on December 14.

1950s

1951

1951 01

Ray lobbying for the introduction of TV in Australia and representing AWA's interests

Television Necessary, Says Radio Officer. Sydney, January 4.— The cessation of plans to develop television services in Australia would be a most retrograde step, said Mr. Ray Allsop today. Mr. Allsop, who is the representative in Australia of the British Radio Manufacturing Organisation of Electrical and Musical Industries Ltd., was commenting on suggestions made in Melbourne yesterday by Mrs. R. G. A. Jackson, former governor of the BBC. Mr. Allsop claimed that television production was a key section of the strategically vital electronic industry.

As previous

First television unit under way early 1952. Neil Murray's radio news. Although we are unlikely to have it in Sydney for several years, television is going to come increasingly into popular focus during 1951. With the new year only a few days old, we have already had three important statements on the subject:—

A blast against the whole concept of television from Mrs. R. G. A. Jackson, former Governor of the BBC, and advise that we in Australia should drop the entire idea.

A spirited defence of television by Australia's leading authority on electronics, Ray Allsop, who also looks after the interest of Sir Ernest Fisk, chief of the giant British electronic organisation, Electric and Musical Industries Ltd.

An announcement by Ernest Turnbull, chief of Hoyts huge theatre chain, that his company has acquired a substantial interest in Melbourne's 3XY so that his chain "can keep abreast of developments in television and commercial radio."

Statements by Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Allsop are mere indications of the clouds that are going to obscure further the already clouded Australian video dial. Despite Mrs. Jackson's advice the Federal Government IS going ahead with plans to instal an experimental television station in Sydney. Government communications experts are ploughing through the maze of technical details contained in the competitive tenders of overseas and local manufacturers anxious to get in on the ground floor of Australian television. Latest advice is that the station should be well under way on the heights of North Sydney by this time next year. Mr. Turnbull's statement is by far the most important of the three. Just back from the United States, Mr. Turnbull saw over there the tremendous strides television is making and decided that Hoyts wouldn't be left in the cold when the still-distant possibility of welding of radio, television and theatre programmes became an accomplished fact. A terrific battle is being waged in the United Sates between rival television interests, one controlling the ordinary black and white and the other controlling the new color television. Hollywood, sensing the threat, and with movie audiences already shrinking, is also well in the picture. Two major companies there, Fox and Paramount, have millions invested in television and are prepared to sink millions more if any satisfactory scheme can be found to weld television and movies. Sydney radio circles are watching television with their antennae crossed. When it does come to Sydney, two of the best-prepared stations will be 2CH (Amalgamated Wireless) and 2GB (Macquarie Network).

1954

1954 02

Ray, as member of ABCB, officially opens 2NM Muswellbrook

Radio Station 2NM Opened. Representative Gathering At Official Ceremony. Muswellbrook's new radio station, 2NM., which is a unit of Hunter River Broadcasters' Pty., Ltd., was officially opened on Wednesday last by Mr. Ray Allsop, a member of the Australian Broadcasting Control Board, in the presence of a large and representative gathering drawn from Muswellbrook, Aberdeen, and Scone districts. A message was read from the Postmaster-General, who stated his pleasure at the new arrangement made to ensure a better radio service for the Upper Hunter. Messages of congratulations and best wishes for the success of the station were also received from Mr. Allen Fairhall, M.P., Mr. D'Arcy Rose, M.L.A., and Mr. Roger Nott, M.L.A.

COMPANY CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. In his address of welcome to Mr. Allsopp and the gathering, Mr. Eric Robinson, chairman of directors of the Hunter River Broadcasters' Pty. Ltd., said that from the earliest days of radio the Upper Hunter had not enjoyed good reception, except in favorable weather conditions. He was not unmindful of the fact that Local Government bodies had made many requests for a better service, but a better service by a commercial station must be balanced by the commercial potentialities of the area, and that phase had not been sufficiently attractive to encourage the establishment of a broadcast station in the area. The Broadcasting Control Board had sought to obtain a better signal for the Upper Hunter, and the Postmaster-General had approved the issue of a license for a transmitter at Muswellbrook. The new station would give a quality of service and programme of which the people would justly be proud. The programmes had been arranged to serve the needs of the Upper Hunter. The establishment of the station was part of the normal progress of the district, and from now on station 2NM would play its part with other civic institutions in advancing the progress of this fertile part of the Commonwealth. Mr. Allsopp, whom the chairman described as one of the pioneers of radio in New South Wales, said he was very happy to have been invited to open this "important unit in the Australian broadcasting system." He recalled that the first broadcasting station was situated in "Smith's Weekly" building over 30 years ago, and from that small beginning Australia had developed what was the finest broadcasting system in the world, consistent with its population. In America there was one station to every 60,000 people, while in Australia the ratio was one to every 58,000. Radio was developing so that people in the outback could receive signals without noise or static. To see a broadcasting station like 2NM come into being was a proud moment for himself and his colleagues. It was another step in the plan of development. "I am sure," he said, "that the licencees are fully sensible of their responsibilities. They will realise that children listen to their programmes. May I congratulate you on behalf of my colleagues and myself, the directors of this station, and wish them every success in the future."

BEST WISHES FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES. Congratulations and best wishes for the success of station 2NM were expressed by the various Local Government bodies — by the Mayor of Muswellbrook (Ald. G. S. E. Adams); President of the Muswellbrook Shire Council (Cr. R. G. Bray), Mayor of Scone (Ald. J. M. Flint), and Cr. Dalton, on behalf of the President of the Upper Hunter Shire Council. The speakers emphasised that the new station would bring to the Upper Hunter a better service in radio reception. Ald. Adams said it was noticeable that where a broadcasting station was established there was inaugurated a new era of greater prosperity and development. Cr. Bray said he regarded the opening of 2NM as a historic occasion in the district, and said he was proud of the fact that the station had been set up in the Shire of Muswellbrook. CARRIER WAVE STARTED. At this stage, Mr. Allsopp started the carrier wave, thus placing station 2NM officially on the air for the first time. "It gives me," Mr. Allsopp said, "great pleasure to start the carrier wave of station 2NM." A recording of the opening proceedings was heard later at the C.W.A. rooms, where a large number of guests were entertained by the company at afternoon tea.

1954 05

Ray recalls an early association

THE ACCENT IS ON COMEDY. GEORGE HART'S Radio Round-up. . . . Death of bandleader Carroll Gibbons in London this week sparked the memory of Australian Broadcasting Control Board member Ray Allsop. Ray recalls that on May 21, 1927, Carroll Gibbons and his Savoy Orpheans were the first English dance band to broadcast from London to Australia. The broadcast emanated from 2LO, London (forerunner of the BBC). It was picked up by PCJJ, Eindhoven (Holland) and relayed to 2BL, who broadcast it to Australia. Ray has good cause to remember the occasion. He was then chief engineer of 2BL.

1954 12

Ray mentioned in an obituary for his former colleague Eric Dare

Radio Pioneer Dies Suddenly. Mr. Eric Dare, general manager of Mullard-Australia Pty. Ltd. and Condor Lamps (Australasia) Pty. Ltd., died suddenly at his home in Baulkham Hills yesterday. Mr. Dare, who was 56, was one of Australia's radio pioneers and was associated with the radio-electrical industry in Australia for 30 years. In 1927 he and Mr. Ray Allsop arranged a triple rebroadcast, through Holland, of the B.B.C. in London. This was the first time that London was heard in Australia. Mr. Dare was editor of "The Wireless Daily," one of Australia's early radio papers, in 1922-23. He was born in Napier, New Zealand, and came to Australia when he was about 16. During World War I he enlisted under age and went overseas in the Wireless Corps. He later became a lieutenant in the Australian Flying Corps. During World War II he was officer in command of the Cumberland Division of the Air Training Corps. He was a member of Sydney Legacy for many years. Mr. Dare is survived by his wife and two grown-up children, Mr. Eric Dare, junior, and Miss Patricia Dare. The funeral will take place tomorrow morning at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium after a service at St. Phillip's Church of England, Clarence Street.

1980s

1989

1989 10

Superb historical overview of Australia's first "talkie" mentions Ray, albeit briefly

First talkie. Ken Berryman and Chris Lowe hit the nitrate trail. In July 1989, Melbourne film collector Jim Ness deposited a pile of nitrate film at the National Film & Sound Archive's Melbourne office. As Ken Berryman and Chris Long explain, this completes a chain of events which began sixty-five years ago with the establishment of Australia's first disc recording plant, the World Record Company, in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton. That tiny Brighton factory produced Australia's first locally recorded discs, released in July 1925, but it never cracked the local market sufficiently to turn a sustaining profit. Through a series of bankruptcies, several business promoters tried to revive recording activity at the Brighton factory by producing flexible "plastic" 78 rpm discs and similar low priced gimmickry. Then, in 1929, the new medium of talking pictures offered the promise of fresh support for their activity. Like many other early talkies, Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer had its soundtrack recorded on 33 rpm discs, sixteen inches in diameter, synchronised to run with the film in the projector. When Jolson's film opened at the Sydney Lyceum in the last week of 1928, huge profits heralded a new era in Australian cinema. The two systems, synchronised sound-on-disc and the more modern "Movietone" or sound-on-film, were introduced simultaneously, with the cumbersome sound-on-disc system phased out by the end of 1932. The first sound camera used commercially in Australia was a mobile sound-on-film unit of the Fox-Movietone newsreel, which arrived in August 1929. The Fox outfit was initially unsuitable for making documentaries with properly mixed commentary, useless for lip sync feature film editing, and in any case not available to Australian producers. On the other hand, the sound-on-disc system offered Australian filmmakers the immediate prospect of synchronised sound, as there were three Australian disc recording studios in operation during 1929. In Sydney, Columbia Records studio in suburban Homebush, made a few short sound film tests with engineer Ray Allsop at the end of 1928, to demonstrate Allsop's "Raycophone" talkie projectors, with three minute films synchronised to run with concurrently recorded 78 rpm discs. Sydney filmmaker Jim Pearson used Columbia's facilities to record Stuart Doyle's backing commentary on 78 rpm discs for a filmed Appeal Against Entertainment Tax in August 1929. And some disc sound tests for the feature Showgirl's Luck were produced in 1930, but not used in the final release of the film in November 1931. But there was no further sound-on-disc film production in Sydney, as Columbia Records, with superb facilities and an enormous output of commercial discs, didn't need to encourage the limited local potential for recording film soundtracks. They didn't install 33 rpm synchronised disc cutting equipment for films, leaving this "fringe activity" to the smaller rival studios in Melbourne, the Vocalion Record Company, with studios at the western end of Bourke Street and a factory in Coppin Street, Richmond; and the smaller Bellbird Record Company occupying the old World Record plant in Bay Street, Brighton. In September 1929, Vocalion imported the first 33 rpm disc cutting lathe to reach Australia,1 and a young British radio engineer named Sidney Guest immediately set to work on a synchronising device. None of the local attempts at producing sound-on-disc were much more than makeshift efforts. Hollywood producers had full electrical synchro-servo control between their cameras and disc recorders, so their results were superlative. By contrast, local synchronising systems rarely consisted of more than a device, fitting over the footage counter on a Prestwych camera, which indicated elapsed time on the disc record, so the camera operator would crank at a speed to accord with the film footage counter. A crude arrangement with correspondingly crude results. Early in October 1929, a series of sound-on-disc musical shorts were filmed in the Vocalion studio, using Guest's synchroniser and camera operators employed by Australasian Films, principally the late Reg Edwards. The full program of shorts, premiered at the South Yarra Regent on October 29, included a filmed introductory speech by the newly elected Prime Minister James Scullin. This primitive experimental effort used sound-on-disc reels of around six minutes' duration, annoying projectionists with frequent reel and disc changes. One of Reg Edwards' assistants was camera operator Bert Nicholas, who recalled that Vocation's sound synchroniser was far from foolproof: each of the films had to be repeatedly run on projectors, watched for sync faults and then "corrected" by either removing frames from the final print or inserting short lengths of blade leader to "pull up" the film to hold lip sync with the disc. Additional problems were high surface noise, poor sound quality and non existent mixing. Vocalion went on to record many soundtracks for local advertising films and documentaries on disc, but rarely attempted lip sync. Synchronisation was only good enough to provide backing commentaries for otherwise silent films, although occasionally extremely brief lip sync scenes were introduced early in the film before the sync drift was sufficient to be objectionable. At the end of 1929, Sydney filmmakers Arthur Higgins and Austin Fay used Vocalion to add music and a single, brief dubbed dialogue finale to their otherwise silent feature Fellers, completed by April 1930 but failing to gain a release until August 23, 1930. This dismal effort was screened at Sydney's Theatre Royal for two weeks and it was panned from almost every conceivable angle. The "talkie" sequence was filmed silent in Sydney, with voices dubbed subsequently by other actors in Vocalion's Melbourne studios. On this occasion synchronisation was not criticised — though practically every other aspect of the film was! No record or film fragment of this first Australian part-talkie feature has ever been found. Only stills, and the commercially released theme song by Grace Quine, "Boy O'Mine", survive. Shortly afterwards Sydney's resourceful McDonagh sisters took the process one step further by travelling to Melbourne to add music and four short lip sync dialogue sequences on disc to their silent film The Cheaters. This is probably the only film ever to have been shot in three complete versions - silent (1929), part talking sound-on-disc (1930) and all talking sound-on-film (1931). Unfortunately, only a single Vocalion synchronised music disc survives from the 1930 version of The Cheaters, so that appraisal of this interesting usage of sound-on-disc is impossible. The sound-on-disc version of The Cheaters was given only a single night's release at the Sydney Roxy on June 1 1930, six weeks ahead of Fellers.3 While Vocalion's sound-on-disc system was invariably disastrous for lip sync, the process provided adequate synchronisation for backing commentary, particularly for shorts. Robyns Filmads used the system extensively for cinema advertisements and sponsored documentaries through 1930, and in October that year the Commonwealth's Cinema Branch made a very successful travelogue with Vocalion disc sound, released around the world as the two reeler This is Australia, the first "official" Commonwealth talkie production. Vocalion and Bellbird discs made their greatest impact in the newsreel field. On June 9 1930, the Melbourne Argus indicated that Australian Talkies Limited, (Sid Guest and the Robyns brothers) were making an Australian Talkies Newsreel with Vocalion disc sound and narration by the radio wrestling commentator Norman "he-can't-get-out-of-this" McCance. This shortlived effort (examples of which are held in both the NFSA and the Ron Davis (Bendigo) Collection), was, within a month or two, either forced off the market or undercut by a new arrangement between Australasian Films and the Bellbird Record Company in Brighton. Bellbird Records was a commercial concern producing flexible 78 rpm dance records. Directed by Percy Arnott of biscuit fame, with Bert Goody — formerly of World Records and Vocalion — as chief engineer, the little firm looked to new fields not served by larger competitors. Goody and an associate, Rothwell, took out a series of patents on record formulations and disc/film synchronisers in 1929, anticipating work recording sound for films, and Goody converted the old acoustic (mechanical) disc recorder used by World Records in 1925 to the new system of electrical recording. Lyall, Goody and the Australasian Films camera operators produced a weekly sound-on-disc Australian Sound Gazette from late 1930 to the early months of 1932, when it was superseded by sound-on-film reels produced in Sydney by Cinesound and in Melbourne by the Herald in association with Herschell's.4 Commentary on the Australian Sound Gazette was provided by a very young Charles Moses, formerly a travelling representative for Stoko motors who occasionally did radio announcing work and was later to gain fame with the infant Australian Broadcasting Commission. Many of these reels, featuring the camerawork of Reg Edwards, Bert Nicholas and others employed by Australasian Films in Melbourne, are held by the NFSA. Unfortunately none correspond with the only disc soundtrack known to survive, currently held by record collector Mike Sutcliffe in Sydney. . . .