[Lowfer] Free Energy

[Dexter McIntyre, W4DEX]

This thread reminded me of several tales my Grandfather told me when I
first showed an interest in radio.  He operated spark as 4RL but moved
on the other adventures when it became required to be licensed.  I don't
recall if he knew this to be true of if it was hearsay.  Sometime during
the 1930s after WBT in Charlotte, NC turned up the new 50 KW transmitter
there was a fellow who lived very near the transmitting tower.  He had
problems with the strong signal causing RF bites and making noises
around his house.  His bedsprings would detect the signal and make
noises.  He decided to light his house with the free energy by building
a resonant antenna to collect the RF.  I have no idea if he rectified
the RF or if florescent lights were used if they were available then. 
As the story goes he got the attention of the station manager which told
him he was stealing their power causing reception problems.  After he
was legally threatened he removed his antenna.

Of course I found no mention of this on WBT's history page but I did
enjoy reading about the station's past.  The idea for the station
started with a conversation at a amateur radio supply store as stated on
their history page at:

http://www.wbt.com/history.cfm

Dexter, W4DEX