[Thursday] Artifacts in Wireless Building SE store room

[Ken Carr]

I have found the identification of old spark-gap equipment a bit challenging whileattempting to document the display items in the Massie Wireless Station of Point Judith (PJ).I am still trying to figure out what half the stuff is.
The following is a list of helpful resources. You might want to check outa few of them:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Understanding Spark Era Radio Technology

 Spark Era radio technology differs greatly from currentradio receiving and transmitting devices. Although many of the basic conceptsare similar the equipment used back in 1905 is often unrecognizable to modernradio enthusiasts. Much of this technology disappeared after 1924 because alongwith the development of vacuum tubes. Spark transmissions became outmoded and wasmade illegal for amateur use at that time (although most people operate a sparktransmitter every day, the common automobile).

 There are several online resources that can be of help.Also, the New England Wireless and Steam Museum (NEWSM) library has all theanswers in its thousands of magazines and books. Once the library is organized these resources will be readily available.

 In the meantime we can look to online resources for somehelp. Here are some recommendations:

Hawkins ElectricalGuide,  1917 edition, Volume VIII.This is a 10 volume study library that was published by Theo Audel & Co.for many years. It has a question and answer format and plenty ofillustrations. Volume VIII includes chapters on The Telegraph, WirelessTelegraphy, Electric Bells, and Electric Lighting.  The Telegraph and Wireless Telegraphychapters are most helpful. I have not found any entirely free PDF copies online. Thereare sites that claim to have it but they require registration. I don’t entirelytrust them. As an alternative you can often buy the entire 10 volume set orselect volumes on eBay. Pay no more than $25 for the entire set. I believe I saw a full set in the NEWSM library.


Where DiscoverySparks Imagination, A Pictorial History of Radio and Electricity, John D.Jenkins. This HD book is full of illustrations and explanations of exhibitsfrom  the SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention ofBellingham, WA. ( https://www.sparkmuseum.org/ ). The spark era is nicelycovered. The book can  be purchased newat the website or it can be found for as little as $7 shipped in used conditionfrom Amazon.


Stories: Wireless andElectricity. This is a reference to our own online database. Mr. Robert Merriamgave several guided tours of the NEWSM and they have been recorded on ourwebsite as “stories”. Mr. Merriam identifies many items in these discussions. (https://newsm.org/wireless-e/)


Museum of Yesteryear.This online museumfeatures many telegraph and wireless items with great photos and descriptions. (http://museumofyesterday.org/museum/page2a.htm)


Wikipedia has anice summary page about spark-gap transmitting and it illustrates some devices.(Spark-gap transmitter)
Radio Boulevard,Western Historic Radio Museum has a nice page about an oldspark-era transmitting station (The Dodd Station). Plenty of equipment is pictured and describedin the text.
(https://radioblvd.com/DoddStation.html)
A short and simplevideo that shows the essentials of a spark gap transmitter. ( Spark Gap Transmitter)



 

 

 

 

  
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