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Radio in the 1920’s. Michael W. The beginning…. An Italian inventor, named Guglielmo Marconi, sent and received the first radio signal in Italy in1895.
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Radio in the 1920’s Michael W.
The beginning… • An Italian inventor, named Guglielmo Marconi, sent and received the first radio signal in Italy in1895. • In 1899, he sent the first wireless signal across the English Channel and, years later, received the letter "S" (it had been telegraphed from England to Newfoundland). The year 1902 marked the first successful transatlantic radiotelegraph message. • In 1919, Marconi set up the first commercial radio station in Toronto.
The beginning (cont.)… • In 1924/25, Edward (Ted) Rogers, a Canadian inventor, discovered how to plug the radio directly into a household electric current. He invented the word's first battery-less radio, which was sold for about $150. • In 1927, Rogers set up his own radio station in Toronto.
The invention itself • In the 1920s, the radio was the greatest communication device at the time. It connected remote parts of Canada with other cities. • The radio as available to both the rich and poor. The price was between $65-$125. • Earphones were needed, the sound was so low. Families would often share an earpiece. • Sometimes, one person would listen to the radio and tell family what the broadcasts were.
The invention itself (cont.) • More expensive radio sets appeared in stores later. They were built in detailed wooden cabinets with tubes replacing the crystal and “whisker” (a fine wire which moved over the surface of the crystal. ). The sound was transmitted through speakers, instead of earphones. Unfortunately, they had to be recharged frequently, since they were operated by large batteries.
Broadcasting • On May 20th, 1920, the first radio broadcast was made by Montreal station XWA (later CFCF). The broadcast was a musical programme. • Sadly, broadcasts were not pre-recorded, making them sound amateurish. • Radios across Canada could now broadcast events such as news, weather, dramas, comedy, and coverage on major sports.
Radio stations • By 1922, over 30 Canadian radio stations were function. The number grew to 91 by 1925. • In Halifax, Guglielmo Marconi set up a small broadcasting station in Toronto. • The first radio stations were crude and thrown together. • A typical 1920s radio station consisted of taped connections, coils of wire fixed in soap boxes, switches, "dishpan" mikes, and shaky masts of antennas.
Impact of the radio • Canadians listened to more American programs than Canadian programs. • The main reason was because of the availability of many U.S. signals. There was also the factor of American radio offering more choices (according to Canadians). The smaller, domestic stations in Canada were unable to compete with the larger stations in the U.S.A. • One exception was hockey. Hockey games were the most popular radio programs in the 20s in Canada. The broadcasting of the sport began in 1923 with Foster Hewitt. By 1933, Saturday night hockey broadcasts became a tradition which was nationwide.
Afterward • In 1929, the government took control of all radio broadcasts in Canada. • The federal government collected $1/year for each active set. • Sir Henry Thornton, then-president of Canadian National railways, decided to attract more customers by installing radio receivers on his trains in July of 1923.
