Radio in the 1920

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Radio in the 1920s

• Michael W.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Radio stations (cont.)
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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.

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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.

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One more point