Special thanks to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing this week's feature to our followers
Jeff: Wavescan's editor-in-chief, Dr. Adrian
Peterson, has recently been researching the pages of the monthly radio journal
'The Australasian Radio World', which was published in Sydney from
1936-1950. He has suggested a number of articles
that we may wish to consider airing here in Wavescan, and Ray Robinson has one
of those for us today.
Ray: Thanks, Jeff. 'The Australasian Radio World' was widely circulated in both Australia and New Zealand, and the April 1937 edition includes an article by a Mr. G.V. Hume celebrating the 10th anniversary of shortwave broadcasts from PCJ in The Netherlands - the forerunner of the much-loved Radio Nederland. The article, titled "When PCJ was PCJJ," provides an interesting insight into the value of shortwave broadcasting in those years immediately preceding the Second World War. So, as I read this, remember it was written in 1937, 88 years ago. It reads as follows:
A portion of the huge aerial arrays used by PCJ and PHI.
The former broadcast on 19.71 and 31.28 metres, and the latter on 16.88
and 25.57 metres.
When PCJ was PCJJ
From ‘Australasian Radio World’, April 1937 (vol. 1, no. 12)
Famous Pioneer Shortwave Broadcaster Celebrates Ten Years of Service
By G. V. HUME
Prominent among memories of the good old days that are treasured by veteran shortwave enthusiasts must surely be that of the notable occasion, on March 11, 1927, when the Philips experimental transmitter PCJ (then PCJJ), first relayed the chimes of Big Ben around the globe — for on that day shortwave world broadcasting passed out of the experimental stage and became a practical success.
Tenth Anniversary Broadcast from PCJ and PHI
In order to commemorate the anniversary of that first transmission, a special broadcast was carried out on March 20 last, from stations PCJ and PHI — the latter a newer station, but one that cannot eclipse the immense and deep-rooted popularity that PCJ has earned since those early pioneering days.
The radio enthusiast of those days owned various receivers, ranging from one to five-valve sets, a five-valver being something to wonder at. It was a very different type of set to the modern metal chassis superhet that is so popular nowadays. In some cases, crystal sets were still being used. All factory-built receivers were designed for the reception of broadcast stations only — dual-wavers were not then on the market.
Many of the so-called broadcast listeners were also intrigued by the possibilities of overseas reception, and built shortwave receivers. In some respects, their sets were costly, despite the fact that they were home-made, because in 1927 parts were much more expensive than to-day. Headphones sold for around 50/-, and variable condensers for 45/-.
Design information was eagerly sought after, and the local radio periodicals of the time featured special articles on this phase of radio. Perhaps the American magazine "QST" deserves special mention, as it was the recognised authority then on shortwave matters, and presented many famous receiver designs.
How the radio experimenters thrilled at the performances of their favourite receiver, and what a variety of designs one found in the radio "shacks" around Sydney. Some sets were compact — others were spread out over half the table. One experimenter would favour "space-wound" coils, while another would enthuse about new coils as used in the "so-and-so" deluxe receiver.
In all cases one would find big accumulators and heaps of "B" batteries, slow-motion dials, head-phones, international time calculators, perhaps a horn type loud-speaker, and occasionally a 250-watt "bottle."
First SW Broadcast from KDKA
The first shortwave broadcast from overseas was carried out in 1925, through station KDKA in America, and these transmissions were well received in this country. Later, two other American call-signs came over the medium of the short waves. These were W2XAF and W2XAD, at Schenectady.
Early in 1927 the famous Philips Laboratories in Eindhoven, Holland, completed a special shortwave transmitter, and it was announced in the local press that special transmissions would be made which should be audible in Australia. This was "hot" news. The local shortwave enthusiasts became very excited when it was found that the signals from Holland could be received satisfactorily, and the station call letters PCJJ became established on the 30-metre band.
Many of the executives in the commercial radio companies of Australia to-day were among those keen shortwave experimenters who heard those transmissions back in 1927.
Some broadcasts of historical importance to radio were made through PCJJ in the year 1927, the most outstanding of these being the chimes of Big Ben from London, a relay from the London station 2LO, and the occasion when Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands spoke to her subjects throughout the world.
PHI Brought on the Air
Following the success of PCJ, another station, PHI, was brought into operation on 16.88 metres, to demonstrate the remarkable possibilities of the shorter wavelengths. Through these stations Mr. Edward Startz, the announcer, has become known to thousands of listeners in all parts of the world. To talk to this huge audience, he uses seven languages!
In recalling the early days of PCJJ, a tribute is due to the late Mr. W. Dawson, of Philips' Wellington office, who was responsible for the design of the "PCJJ-4" receiver which enjoyed great popularity with local constructors. Thousands of these sets were built up, and indeed many of them are still being used to-day.
What PCJ means to the radio fraternity of this country is evidenced by these extracts from letters received recently by Philips Radio, Sydney.
" . . In the hearts of all the early experimenters the achievements of the Philips shortwave stations will not be forgotten; not only did they pioneer this field, but their broadcasts proved of inestimable value to experimenters as well as a source of entertainment." (Charles D. Maclurcan, VK2CM, Sydney).
. . The completion of a ten-year period of service of this magnitude is certainly something of which to be proud, and I take this opportunity of congratulating your Company on this achievement, and wish you every success in the future in this wonderful work." (Claude Plowman, Airzone, Sydney).
" . . That receiver was known as the 'All Empire' receiver, and it was made possible by the introduction of the Philips A442 valve. It gives me the sincerest pleasure to offer my hearty congratulations to the veteran stations PCJJ and PHI . . . In the realms of shortwave broadcasting they are, to those who have lived with short waves through the years in Australia, the outstanding veterans of the shortwave highways." (Don B. Knock, "The Bulletin," Sydney).
" . . PCJJ has a very warm spot in the hearts of Australian shortwave listeners. Its consistently good programmes, aided by its excellent transmissions and cheery greetings of its multi-lingual announcer, endeared PCJJ to its Australian audience." (A. K. Box, "Listener In," Melbourne).
" . . Since their first overseas transmissions, Philips stations PCJ and PHI have consistently played a leading part in the development of world radio. The regular transmissions year in and year out from these Philips stations have been of inestimable value to professional and amateur alike, and in addition, have been interesting and entertaining to many thousands of regular listeners in all parts of the world." (N. S. Gilmour, Lekmek Radio, Sydney)
" . . Looking back now I well remember the extraordinary impetus given to shortwave interest when PCJJ came on the air. I have received this station in many parts of Australia, on shipboard at sea between Sydney and Singapore . . . . It is interesting now to remember that we heard the voice of Her who was then Princess Juliana speaking to her people beyond the seas. I made at that time a wax cylinder record of her speech." (H. Russel Crane, Sydney)
" . . I recall the world's longest distance relays carried out in 1927 by 2BL, Sydney, of which I was engineer-in-charge. We first heard and relayed PCJJ to our Sydney radio audience at 3.30 p.m. (Sydney time) on April 8, 1927. The reception was made on a simple 3-valve receiver, and the results - were so good that I venture to say they have not been surpassed at the present time even with the modern superheterodyne receivers." (Ray Allsop, Raycophone, Sydney).
" . . My outstanding item of interest in connection with the reception of your station was on one occasion in 1929, when I received excellent signals while conducting radio experiments in an aeroplane (Mark I DH60) over Mascot, New South Wales, at an altitude of 6,000 feet . . . . Suppressors were used in the ignition system, and while on the glide with the engine just ticking over reception was excellent.'' (S. V. Colville, VK2FA, Sydney).
" . . Station PCJ (then PCJJ) has been closely identified with many significant scientific observations, particularly in regard to the analysis of radio echoes during Dr. Stormer's original work on the earth's magnetic field. However, not only from the purely technical standpoint, but also from the more important and wider angle of world peace and hegemony, station PCJ rightly deserves the plaudits of the whole world upon this happy occasion." (B. J. T. Moore, Sydney).
" . . It is the opinion of Association members that PCJ and PHI have done a tremendous lot to popularize shortwave broadcasting, and the activities of both stations have been looked upon in Australia as outstanding achievements in the radio world." (Alan Duke, President, Victorian Radio Association).
" . . It is indeed a landmark in long-distance radio broadcasting, and I have pleasant memories of the thrill there was in picking up the old PCJJ." (S. H. Witt, P.M G's. Dept. Melbourne).
Down through the years from 1927 to 1937 the Dutch transmitters PCJ and PHI have maintained their transmissions on the short waves, and what were originally experimental transmissions have now become regular entertainments. Today, listeners are insisting on dual-wave receivers so that they may hear what the shortwaves are saying. To the old timer in radio, however, the tenth anniversary of PCJ will bring back happy memories of the faithful "low loss" set and the midnight oil that was burnt in 1927 and other years.
(Wavescan/NWS 850)
