[QCWA] Spark/Arc Transmitters

[Walcott, Paul]

Norm, 

Once or twice every summer they have what they call "Steam up" when they
run the steam engines.  Don't remember when, but they have a web site
which gives details.  

For the radio equipment, most of the stuff is functional, but displayed
on shelves.  The exception is one state-of-the-art, 1950's ham station
and the spark station (originally station PJ at Point Judith Rhode
Island) which was on the cover of the journal.  If you get there when
there's someone around to show you the place (there usually are a few
people around) all they have to do is flip a few circuit breakers to
activate the station.  It runs into a dummy load, but other than that is
fully operational.  For anyone who's interested it's well worth a visit.

I hadn't thought about it, but maybe I'll search out their web site and
see if I can e-mail my question to Bob.  Thank-you for the suggestion.

73's,
Paul
WD8H




-----Original Message-----
From: qcwa-bounces+pwalcott=smartbus.org at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:qcwa-bounces+pwalcott=smartbus.org at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
Norm Gertz
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 2:38 PM
To: Discussion of QCWA
Subject: Re: [QCWA] Spark/Arc Transmitters


Paul....yes, thats the place.

If my memory serves me correctly;  once a year he fires up that old 
equipment......I dont know the details but do know that he has a
complete 
setup and functioning transmitter.

73   Norm   K1AA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Walcott, Paul" <PWalcott at smartbus.org>
To: "Discussion of QCWA" <qcwa at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 1:56 PM
Subject: RE: [QCWA] Spark/Arc Transmitters


Norm,
Is that the Museum of Wireless and Steam in Rhode Island?  That's the
one which has the station that was on the cover of the journal a few
issues ago.  If that's who your thinking of, I visited them in 2003, but
at the time was more interested in the early vintage tube type radios
etc. Thank-you for the idea. Paul


-----Original Message-----
From: qcwa-bounces+pwalcott=smartbus.org at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:qcwa-bounces+pwalcott=smartbus.org at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
Norm Gertz
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 1:52 PM
To: Discussion of QCWA
Subject: Re: [QCWA] Spark/Arc Transmitters


Paul....I suggest you touch bases with Bob Merriam of the New England
Wireless Museum.  He has a functioning transmitter which I am sure would

interest you.
newsm at ids.net

He would also have some relevant information for you.

73   Norm   K1AA



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Walcott, Paul" <PWalcott at smartbus.org>
To: <QCWA at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 1:38 PM
Subject: [QCWA] Spark/Arc Transmitters


There was a very interesting article in the January 2006 issue of QST, A
Short History of Radio Transmitters, written by Bob W6BNB.  Most of the
article describes various spark and arc transmitters.  (Until I read
this article, I'd never realized that there was a difference.)

In this article the author states, "Spark transmitters were made illegal
for amateur use in 1927, although they were still used by ships at sea
for 25 years or more."

That leads me to a question:  Does anyone in the QCWA have authentic
information as to when and where the last authentic spark or arc
transmitters were used? (Maybe "authentic" isn't the best word for what
I'm asking, but I'm meaning to exclude special commemorative or
demonstration uses, but include anyone who was using these devices in
actual commercial or government operation.)  Perhaps this should
actually be several different questions: #1  What was the last
land-based use of spark transmission? #2  What was the last use of spark
transmission by ships at sea? #3  What was the last-land based use of
arc transmission?  (Remember, as noted in the article by W6BNB, spark
and arc are not the same.) #4  What was the last use of arc transmission
by ships at sea?

Paul Walcott
WD8H
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