A Brief History of Radio Devices

"A Brief History of Radio Devices" is about the important years between 1900 and 1927 when we progressed from crystal set and headphones for wireless code to radios in wood cabinets with loudspeakers for broadcasting programs to the public. The late NBC engineer Robert Jensen does an excellent show and tell. I taped this in Hollywood in 1984 at Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters.

[@PacoOtis]

An excellent presented piece of history! Thanks for sharing and the very best of luck!

[@saintmichael1779]

Fascinating. Mr. Jensen knows his radio history.

[@robertgoidel]

What an excellent explanation of what was "early" radio. Mr. Jensen was highly knowledgeable on this subject for those of us interested in this area of radio engineering. Great interview.

[@PS-Straya_M8]

I first saw a crystal set as a child an even today am amazed how well these work, and without batteries

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

Wonderful History , I miss the Radio Set Collectors in my City St.Louis , , I became great friends with these guy's before they died and got to use see and hear great radio from the sets collected by these gentleman , I sure hope the equipment found good new homes :) QC

[@davidfarrell7318]

nice to hear someone who knows what they are talking about

[@radioguy1620]

Thanks for the video, Armstrong was the true genius of radio ,

[@jamesslick4790]

Armstrong, Westinghouse and Farnsworth are the most UNDERRATED geniuses of this modern world. Armstrong got SCREWED over by Sarnoff, so did Farnsworth. Westinghouse got screwed over by J.P. Morgan, but least his life did not end up as sad as Armstrong's. And at least Farnsworth FINALLY got recognition for his work. As to JUST radio itself, It SUCKED before Armstrong! The Superhet made AM actually usable by everyone, And VHF/UHF FM was THE game changer, not just for HI-FI but for reliable short-range communication. Imagine the lives saved by police, fire and EMS having reliable effective radios. Before FM emergency comms were AM on frequencies just above the AM broadcast band almost in the shortwave band! Not reliable for short range comms at all. One minute you are talking to local dispatch, another time no dice, but you could be talking to someone 300 miles away. That's fun on CB, not on a fire scene!

[@SWC44]

Thanks,, Got my Clas 2 with element 9 In 1974!!!!!,,Houston St,NY!,,WOW,IM OLD!!!!!!!!,,, Thanks for the GREAT DOC!!!!!!!!,, Jack!

[@radiorob7543]

That was excellent!

[@DoubleMrE]

Very interesting and informative video! Thanks for ULing! ;)

[@mimoslavija]

01:40 he couldn't even imagine that someone would watch this video on the phone

[@jamesslick4790]

In a way though he sort of could. He addressed that radio/end electronics would advance even MORE in the next 20-50 years. Someone watching this on thier phone IS direct linear progression of what he lived through. Think about it: We call these things "phones" but they STILL use radio (Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth ARE radio). When we listen to Spotify on our phones, We ARE still listening to a form of radio. When we watch a KZbin video or Netflix, we ARE watching a form of Television. Just on a device that we carry. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and what we have today is COOL, and amazing, but most of it was predictable when this video was shot, as it's an extension of what was ALREADY happening. And remember this video is from1984. Personal computers, VCRs, Cellular phones and even "online" networks were already "things" in 1984. (I know, I was "there" I was 22 in 1984!) WE WERE going in this direction by then. He mentions without saying the brand, the "Walkman", Hell Sony ALREADY had handheld TVs in the 1980's. The MAJOR difference is today we have stable networks and on-demand video. But when this was shot, "We" were already on the path to pocket audio/video entertainment.

[@joyjasline3428]

Praise the Lord. Very Blessed n Happy invention of 📻 Radio. Thanking you so much Respected Sir. God bless you dear Sir Marconi ❤🙏❤

[@PacoOtis]

Religion is the cancer of the intellect of our planet! Best of luck!

[@nb684nt]

Actually the horn speaker predates the cone type speaker by a few years.

[@jamesslick4790]

In the examples, he was referencing the ELECTRO MECHANICAL differences, NOT the form factor. The Magnavox speaker WAS a horn, but it was the newer DYNAMIC driven type, whereas the first cone speaker he showed was not. The second cone speaker (Crosley) was a Dynamic. The difference is a dynamic speaker uses a moving COIL the older system used an "armature" to vibrate the driver. His time line was CORRECT as to the electromechanical evolution. Either type of diving mechanism can be a cone OR a horn speaker. (as was shown). Hell, I had some cheap Japanese portable radio from the 1950s! that used the outdated non-dynamic (but very much a cone) speaker. The Dynamic type is what is most used to this day.

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

Happy World Radio Day :) QC

[@jamesslick4790]

Weird fact in radio history: Philco was a BATTERY company that made a stack of money making...Battery Eliminators! (Of course, they went on to make radios!) LOL.

[@tonywright8294]

Ah the good old 201A

[@jamesslick4790]

Most people, many without even realizing it use radio NOW more than ever! Most people just think of "radio" as AM/FM/SW Broadcast radio and perhaps "CB" and "HAM" as being "radio". But OTA broadcast and Satellite TV are also radio. Then you have Cellular, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. These are ALSO radio. You even have a fairly high-powered radio transmitter in your house (Using a VACUUM TUBE!) It's in your kitchen and helps you make "Hot-Pockets". I had a "kid" (30 Y.O.) tell me he NEVER listens to the radio. He has Spotify on his Cellphone and uses Bluetooth. What he did now know is he IS listening to the radio...TWICE! Radio technology has NEVER been used more than today. Now excuse me while I go I start my car. I keep a radio transmitter in my pocket!

[@RolandMitchell]

We all have been asked of a riddle of which came first the Chicken or the Egg? and if we were to study in our minds: and that we believe in God then we have to believe that the Chicken was first Created: therefore mystery Solved? But Here I have a question? A Radio consists of a Transmitter and a receiver! without either of those Components you can not create or invent such as a radio of any Kind: you will try and argue with me that it was through Accident that the Radio was invented and that the early pioneers of invention were to Create the Wireless of which consisted of things of which were called Valves and also diodes and electrodes and other components of which I am sure you will forgive me for not mentioning? If you have ever seen the vintage Radio and taken a look at it you will see that there are approximately six to eight valves of which have a function of their own? They filter out Radio waves of which are passed through a tuner that separates One Frequency from another where possibly the First radio could receive as many as a hundred and more Frequencies on the short wave medium wave and Long wave Bands: In My understanding to be able to Achieve such as the construction or developing of such things as the Radio it has to take into consideration that ever single Part and component has a different Function that one cannot work without the Other: Try to Understand it this way? The human anatomy Consists of an heart a brain lungs and also liver and also an number of other Vital organs without either we are dead If you are curious to Know wisdom then why Not Email me [e-mail]

[@MarkTuson]

+Roland Mitchell The transmitter came first; the receiver (Hertz Resonator) was constructed to prove that the receiver was working. And the parts of the radios can all by summed up in simpler, earlier components. To use your analogy, it's like humans, with all their different and equally essential components, evolving from single-cell organisms.

[@RolandMitchell]

You stupid Man, Have you no depth to what your mind could comprehend: I don't care too much to whom discovered or created what: the Fact's of which I am trying to get through to your thick skulls is that man just could not come up with the idea of being able to invent such complicity as a radio without some form of outside knowledge ( call that outside Knowledge God if you like ) or some being from out of space: Just look on how Complex the design is of the early Valves of a Radio: the Mind shudders when you look at just one component (one Valve ) Just one Valve consists of some form of metal encased within a glass dome where there are as many as between four and six pins of which when fitted into the framework: these valves of which are totally different in appearance have various functions.Take one valve out of line the Radio ceases to receive any signal from the transmitter (of which I might add also had to have Valves and the Power to push the signals out? I don't care on who supposedly invented what: the Facts Still remain the same: to have created such a devise could not be created by Man: You have to have have the two functions (both Transmitter and a Receiver) one cannot work without the other: for how would you know a Transmitter works if there is nothing to Receive the signal or how could a receiver work without a transmitter. It's Like a newspaper that sends out its newspaper to your door of which there was a malfunction with the Printer where no print came onto the Paper (both print ink and paper and the printer have to be on line with each other of which to obtain a result ? Television is very much the same! whoever made or invented such a thing, Let me tell you it was not man That I can say without a doubt: Look I'm an old man now: but in my Youth I was a farmer of which had a small Muck spreader for to spread Manure within the Field: it only carried about two tonnes and would be completely emptied within six minuets: Two miles from the farmyard to the field took up much time and Diesel and money: There were no spreaders of which were available that could carry as much as ten tonnes: I was to one day Lay on my bed thinking on how Make or design a muck spreader that was capable of carrying up to ten tonnes: this would of course make life that more easier and also cost effective::: As I lay on my Bed: It was not that I was asleep! But Suddenly as in a trance state of mind; I became aware that someone was channelling my Mind: I actually saw Many blueprints shoot before me with many Measurements and even a running commentary showing me on how these Gears and belts would work: The design of this Muck spreader was nothing like any previous spreaders: Let me tell you when I came out of this Trance state of mind: I would sit at my Table and Bring that Vision of a blueprint to draw out the details: The worse thing about it was that I lacked Money to fund the Project at the time and could not bring the vision to Reality? Many Years now went by: I had gone to some Farm Sale just to have a look on how farming had progressed: Talk about Deja vu ! The very same Muck spreader of which I had someone imprinted upon my mind through this out of state mind was staring at me? I knew no one could have stolen my Idea of what I had vision of; of where I came to the conclusion: that someone somewhere in the universe is able to Channel into their subconscious Minds and in this case; there may have been more than just the two of us: it was somebody from Russia of which came up with the Real thing: You whoever you are may or may not be willing to Believe on what I have said: But I know my mind is true: and No I have not been on drugs or Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (L S D) Now pray tell me if you can explain How two functions could be invented without the other

[@RolandMitchell]

Mark Tuson I have commented and replied but I did not Press the Flag but if you wish to see my reply it is on the same page

[@MickLBrad]

+Roland Mitchell You did your argument a disservice and your point became moot the moment you insulted the other commenter! Therefore, your opinion cannot be taken seriously! Regards, Mick

[@n9eerptr]

Radio was invented, not created. God had little to do with it (not sure why religion became part of this, guess some like to force their views on us). And yes the egg came before the chicken. there were lots of eggs before there were chickens. As to related to radio, the transmitting and receiving components are the same, just wired and used in different arrangements. Had to have a receiver to verify the transmitter was putting out something. Radio came about after almost 100 years of experimentation by many. Few of them knew why things happen, just they knew something was happening when they put things together in a certain way and applied power (voltage to generate current flow). The spark gap, the first radio developed by Hertz, is the same as lightning electric discharge (been around for few billion years). But radio did not really come of age until the vacuum tube was developed. But the spark gap got things started.