Fessenden... 100th... Machrihanish...

Forum publicising and discussing local issues and news in general.

Fessenden... 100th... Machrihanish...

Postby Dave Riley » Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:18 pm

Gudday Folks... Here is local newspaper insert recently printed...


Remembering a forgotten radio pioneer: Marshfield to mark anniversary of historic broadcast
By SHAMUS McGILLICUDDY
The Patriot Ledger
----------------------------------------------
He is the forgotten pioneer. Yet anyone who has ever tuned a radio dial has experienced Reginald Aubrey Fessenden’s legacy.

A Canadian-born scientist and inventor, Fessenden is said to be the first man to make a radio broadcast.

And he made that broadcast from Marshfield.

‘‘People first envisioned radio as a way of communicating, - point to point communications,’’ said Edward Perry, owner of Marshfield radio station WATD. ‘‘What Fessenden did was he demonstrated that you could entertain people with it.’’

‘‘He’s a forgotten hero,’’ said Dave Riley of Marshfield, a ham - or amateur - radio enthusiast. ‘‘He gave us most of what we have today (in radio).’’

Next month begins the 100th anniversary of one of the most important years in radio and communications history.

Fessenden’s legacy in Marshfield began in 1905 when he and his associates came to Brant Rock and built a 400-foot radio tower in what is today the Blackman’s Point trailer park and campground. He arranged the construction of a second tower in Macrihanish, Scotland.

The towers were completed within a few months, and on Jan. 2, 1906, Fessenden recorded his first historic moment. He made the first two-way radio communication across the Atlantic Ocean by transmitting Morse code signals between Marshfield and Scotland, and by the end of that year, used radio waves to broadcast music.

Now, 100 years later, people in Marshfield are preparing to celebrate the anniversary of Fessenden’s pioneering year of radio in Marshfield.

Riley and several other locals have restored the masonry base of Fessenden’s radio tower, which was torn down in 1912.

They have a dedication planned at the tower’s base in Blackman’s Point at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

And on Jan. 2, Riley and hundreds of other ham radio operators across the world will transmit Morse code signals to each other to mark the anniversary of the first two-way transatlantic communication. Specifically, he will send a message to radio enthusiasts gathered in Macrihanish.

Others in town are talking about a summer celebration to mark the year. Perry and Robert Demers of the Marshfield Historical Society said the town will form a committee to plan an event.

Until that two-way radio transmission on Jan. 2, the signals had been sent only one-way by Guglielmo Marconi.

Fessenden continued to experiment with radio throughout the year. In November, while sending Morse code signals to Scotland, he accidentally transmitted his voice as well, becoming the first person to transmit voice across the Atlantic.

But late in 1906 a storm destroyed the tower in Scotland.

Riley said this dashed the hopes of Fessenden’s fledgling company, the National Electric Signaling Company, which intended to sell his technology based on demonstrations of the two-way communication.

Then Fessenden decided to try something else.

U.S. Navy vessels and ships of the United Fruit Company had been equipped with radio equipment Fessenden had built. The equipment had been used only for point-to-point Morse code communications.

The day before Christmas Eve 1906, Fessenden sent a message to those ships, telling them to listen for a message on Christmas Eve.

They were surprised when they heard Fessenden’s voice.

‘‘All the shipboard operators were astonished when they heard this coming over their radio instead of the beep beep beep (of Morse code),’’ Perry said.

Fessenden began his legendary broadcast with a brief introduction about what he planned to do. Then he played a phonograph record of George Frideric Handel’s ‘‘Largo.’’ He followed that with his own violin solo, playing ‘‘O Holy Night.’’

He read some passages from the Bible, wished his listeners a merry Christmas and signed off for the evening.

Ships reported hearing him up and down the Atlantic coast, as far south as the Caribbean.

Perry said Fessenden’s broadcast was historic.

‘‘We think it was Fessenden that laid the groundwork for radio to become a broadcast medium rather than point-to-point communication. We see him as the founder of entertainment radio communications.’’

Perry said it took another 15 years for the radio entertainment industry to get going with the country’s first commercial radio station, KDKA in Pittsburgh.

‘‘But Fessenden was at the beginning of this thing,’’ Perry said.

Unfortunately, Fessenden’s Pittsburgh-based investors were not interested in transmitting voices and music.

As the radio entertainment industry exploded in the 1920s, Fessenden’s legacy was forgotten.

It wasn’t until 1928 that he won $500,000 in a lawsuit over some of the patents he had lost to his investors.

Riley said he wants to mark the centennial because he hopes Fessenden’s inventiveness will inspire other aspiring technological pioneers in the area. He also wants Fessenden to get the credit he is due. Many historians remember Marconi has the father of radio.

‘‘He never really got the credit I think he deserves,’’ Demers agreed.

Shamus McGillicuddy may be reached at smcgillicuddy@ledger.com.

Copyright 2005 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Saturday, December 10, 2005
Dave Riley
Too Shy To Talk Much
Too Shy To Talk Much
 
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 2:25 am
Location: Marshfield, Mass. USA


Postby 4th gen Suthen' » Sat Dec 17, 2005 6:24 am

That is very interesting Dave, thanks for posting.
User avatar
4th gen Suthen'
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 2648
Joined: Sun May 29, 2005 11:58 am
Location: South East Kintyre


Postby Dave Riley » Thu Dec 29, 2005 2:01 am

The festivities as far as the amateur radio community is concerned for the 100th commemoration of the worlds first trans oceanic radio communications will commence on 2-Jan-06...

Details @ www.radiocom.net/Fessenden and www.sowp.org


CQ CQ BO DE AA1A/BO ( in the colonies ) Ovah!!!
Dave Riley
Too Shy To Talk Much
Too Shy To Talk Much
 
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 2:25 am
Location: Marshfield, Mass. USA


Postby Dave Riley » Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:52 pm

Today's article in the Boston Globe...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articl ... rant_rock/

And we see the piece from Donald Kelly in the Campbeltown Post too...

Fezz would be proud.!!. Thanks across the Sea from the Colonies...

Happy 2006

1906 was...
Dave Riley
Too Shy To Talk Much
Too Shy To Talk Much
 
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 2:25 am
Location: Marshfield, Mass. USA


Postby Dave Riley » Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:40 pm

Just got through contacting Duncan MacArthur via Radio Telegraph at the portable station in Machrihanish, GB1FVT, special event station...

ERE QTC1 FM WESTERN TOWER BRANT ROCK 0102061402Z

FM AA1A/BO
=
TO NANCIE SMITH
LAGGAN/MACHRIHANISH/CAMPBELTOWN COMMUNITY COUNCILS
=
GREETINGS FROM THE WESTERN TOWER, THE DANIEL WEBSTER SCHOOL, AND THE BRANT ROCK VILLAGE ASSOCIATION ON THIS 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MONUMENTAL RADIO COMMUNICATIONS HISTORY

WE ARE FEELING WARM AND PROUD AS WE JOIN TOGETHER IN THIS AUGUST AND SUBLIME EVENT OF 100 YEARS COMMEMORATING THE FIRST TRANS OCEANIC RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WHICH HAPPENED IN OUR RESPECTIVE TOWNS

MAY WE EVER KEEP IN GOOD CONTACT=

REGARDS FROM THE STAFF AT RADIO STATION BO IN BRANT ROCK=
Dave Riley
Too Shy To Talk Much
Too Shy To Talk Much
 
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 2:25 am
Location: Marshfield, Mass. USA


Postby Nancie » Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:45 pm

Many greetings from Campbeltown Community Council and congratulations on establishing this historic link.

There are three schools in this area wishing to communicate with Daniel Webster, one of them the school closest to Machrihanish, and hopefully this will lead to closer links between our two communities.

Nancie Smith
Nancie
Quite a Regular
Quite a Regular
 
Posts: 227
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 12:21 am


Postby Dave Riley » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:04 pm

Gudday Nancie,

Here is what the local folks are saying here in the colonies...

Have a go @ http://www.marshfield.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16892


Machrihanish signals loud and clean... Duncan sounding extra good, especially on BBC Radio this morning;

see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/default.stm#

Click down near bottom right to Video/Audio section...

It's been a great start, Nancie... Thanks for your interest...
Dave Riley
Too Shy To Talk Much
Too Shy To Talk Much
 
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 2:25 am
Location: Marshfield, Mass. USA


Fessenden at Machrihanish.

Postby Dunc » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:42 pm

Had to give it a rest today and tomorrow knackered...will operate again on FRI SAT and SUN approx 1100 to 1600.Hundreds of contacts made to date incl Brant Rock and Poldhu in Cornwall Marconi's historic place!!.

Dunc and pals.
Only the truth has been changed
Dunc
Quite a Regular
Quite a Regular
 
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:21 pm
Location: Peninver


Postby Malky » Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:57 pm

See you're front page news in the Courier this week Dunc 8) Good photo of you and Brian. That'll be Brian hogging the mike as usual then ? :wink:

I saw the postcards when I was up at Russell's the other night - they look pretty cool 8)

How did you get on today? Loads more contacts I hope.

Malky
User avatar
Malky
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 1762
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:08 pm


Postby Dunc » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:39 pm

Hi Malky.
As I type this Brians calling away!!!.

We must be over the 400 contacts now with really no strain.Only place we still to get contacts with is West Coast of USA and West Coast of South America this is due to the times we are on.
Dozens of mid eastern and continental stations as I would expect with the popping up of station in Cuba today.Also dozens of Asiatic russians.

Aussi and NZ,land stations are on before start so we miss them although we have had a few stragglers..

The whole idea was to give Machrihanish and Fessenden some publicity and with BBC TV and USA papers in one week I'm fair chuffed!!

Nancie also starting to do great things with the Kindergartens in Brant Rock area and our primary schools.More to come on this shortly.

Duncan Mac Millans project to get a memorial on site will ramp (sic) up shortly when my brain stops hurting..However I've got help on this one from both Community Councils Malky.

Basically we're happy but its all due not to me but to the others involved ..especially the operators giving up time and also to Russell for designing the QSL cards which are really in demand.Not forgetting ICOM who loaned us the kit.
So even Dalintober "underachievers" cant get some thing's right ...if you get my drift...

Duncan
Only the truth has been changed
Dunc
Quite a Regular
Quite a Regular
 
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:21 pm
Location: Peninver


Postby Malky » Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:24 am

Dunc wrote:Hi Malky.
As I type this Brians calling away!!!.


Meant to ask - did Brian build the antenna? :lol: :lol:

Malky
User avatar
Malky
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 1762
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:08 pm


Postby Dunc » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:48 am

Hi.
Naw...the antenna is very simple well known design which is not great but a compromise on all the bands...you could say radiates equally awful all way round!!

Duncan
Dunc
Quite a Regular
Quite a Regular
 
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:21 pm
Location: Peninver


Postby Dave Riley » Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:01 pm

Congratulations to Duncan, Duncan, and Nancie...

You folks really did a bang up job between the hundreds of communications around the world, the BBC radio and telly coverage, general awareness, and the link up with our respective schools...

This was certainly a great kickoff to a year of commemorating Fessenden...

We also have two local Masonic Lodges who teamed up to preserve the original base here... Fessenden and crew were Masons... His Chief Engineer was a member of our local Corner Stone Lodge... Wonder if you have Lodges over there who may know about this.??. Besides the ideal location for trans-oceanic communications, I understand that Fessenden was an avid golfer, which gives three reasons for Machrihanish as the location...

Image

We also enjoyed very much, Donald Kelly's write up and pictures... He should have his own newspaper... Great work.!!.

Bravo Zulu, or WELL DONE to the 'Eastern Tower'... More to come...

Dave Riley @ the 'Western Tower' ( here in the colonies )

www.radiocom.net/Fessenden
Dave Riley
Too Shy To Talk Much
Too Shy To Talk Much
 
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 2:25 am
Location: Marshfield, Mass. USA


Postby Malky » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:54 pm

Hi Dunc,

Congratulations, you lot are in the Courier again this week. Pure dead famous you are now :lol:

One question - did anyone notice that the Courier have taken the photo of Nancie from the Fessenden story and used it again in the Ferry story on page 2 ?

Now, how cheap is that? :shock: Didn't even get a chance to brush her hair or anything :wink:

Malky
User avatar
Malky
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 1762
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:08 pm


Postby Ship called Dignity » Sat Jan 14, 2006 2:07 pm

Wee photo sent to me by Duncan showing their efforts at this side 8) Cheers Duncan

Image

There is also interesting reading on Fessenden at the Machrihanish Net website

http://www.machrihanish.net/Machrihanish_fessenden.html
User avatar
Ship called Dignity
Forum Addict
Forum Addict
 
Posts: 6025
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:50 pm
Location: Campbeltown


Next

Return to Local News and Issues

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests