Mobile telephony in 1922 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Stylo N M · 9th Dec 2016, 2:39 am

Hi.

Sorry if we have been here before, but I remember seeing quite some time ago, on the BBC news, a short clip of film wich dated from around 1922 where two ladies, appeared to be attaching a wire by wrapping it round the top of a fire hydrant and appeared to be useing an umbrella as some sort of aerial/antena.

Then a lady at some sort of switchboard, moves over to a wind up gramophone, and plays music or speech, down a telephone handset.

Presumably, the music or whatever it was that was playing on the gramophone, was audible on the other end of whatever the mobile device was, but at the mobile end of the device, there didn't appear to be any mouth piece, although the ladies were talking to each other.

I think there is a clip of this film on YouTube, but I can't do the link, so is this really the first example of mobile telephony which inevetably lead to today's mobile phones?What are your thoughts?

Thanks, Paul.

BigClick · 9th Dec 2016, 1:34 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILiLaRXHUr0

Peter.N. · 9th Dec 2016, 2:08 pm

Now that't the sort of technology I understand

Peter

m0cemdave · 9th Dec 2016, 8:13 pm

How to use a crystal set in the street...

The fore-runner of the 1960's trannie, but definitely not the mobile phone!

Stylo N M · 11th Dec 2016, 2:12 pm

Ah yes, good point, but was the gramaphone record being played just for the two ladies, or was it being played to many?

Paul.

Dave Moll · 11th Dec 2016, 5:53 pm

Presumably the gramophone music was available to anyone - which is the definition of broadcast in my books. After all, even radio amateurs are broadcasting, even though their transmissions are usually directed at another individual.

AC/HL · 11th Dec 2016, 9:26 pm

They appear to request it, but only one listens. As they say, if you believe this......

Fast forward, we now carry a device that is capable of displaying the entire knowledge of man, and we use it to start arguments with strangers and look at pictures of cats!

Cobaltblue · 11th Dec 2016, 9:36 pm

The Transceiver (at around 0:39) looks like a WESTERN ELECTRIC CW-938A

That's WW1 vintage and was used amongst other things to replace damaged sections of phone lines.

I have a pair but neither are totally complete.

They are not easy to get to at the moment as they are in storage.

They were very versatile and even found use down mines.

Cheers

Mike T

9th Dec 2016, 2:39 am	#1
Stylo N M Heptode Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Derby DE1, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 626	Mobile telephony in 1922 Hi. Sorry if we have been here before, but I remember seeing quite some time ago, on the BBC news, a short clip of film wich dated from around 1922 where two ladies, appeared to be attaching a wire by wrapping it round the top of a fire hydrant and appeared to be useing an umbrella as some sort of aerial/antena. Then a lady at some sort of switchboard, moves over to a wind up gramophone, and plays music or speech, down a telephone handset. Presumably, the music or whatever it was that was playing on the gramophone, was audible on the other end of whatever the mobile device was, but at the mobile end of the device, there didn't appear to be any mouth piece, although the ladies were talking to each other. I think there is a clip of this film on YouTube, but I can't do the link, so is this really the first example of mobile telephony which inevetably lead to today's mobile phones?What are your thoughts? Thanks, Paul.

9th Dec 2016, 1:34 pm	#2
BigClick Hexode Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Walsall, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 327	Re: Mobile telephony in 1922 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILiLaRXHUr0

9th Dec 2016, 2:08 pm	#3
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: Mobile telephony in 1922 Now that't the sort of technology I understand Peter

9th Dec 2016, 8:13 pm	#4
m0cemdave Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1,219	Re: Mobile telephony in 1922 How to use a crystal set in the street... The fore-runner of the 1960's trannie, but definitely not the mobile phone!

11th Dec 2016, 2:12 pm	#5
Stylo N M Heptode Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Derby DE1, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 626	Re: Mobile telephony in 1922 Ah yes, good point, but was the gramaphone record being played just for the two ladies, or was it being played to many? Paul.

11th Dec 2016, 5:53 pm	#6
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Re: Mobile telephony in 1922 Presumably the gramophone music was available to anyone - which is the definition of broadcast in my books. After all, even radio amateurs are broadcasting, even though their transmissions are usually directed at another individual. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

11th Dec 2016, 9:26 pm	#7
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Mobile telephony in 1922 They appear to request it, but only one listens. As they say, if you believe this...... Fast forward, we now carry a device that is capable of displaying the entire knowledge of man, and we use it to start arguments with strangers and look at pictures of cats!

11th Dec 2016, 9:36 pm	#8
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Mobile telephony in 1922 The Transceiver (at around 0:39) looks like a WESTERN ELECTRIC CW-938A That's WW1 vintage and was used amongst other things to replace damaged sections of phone lines. I have a pair but neither are totally complete. They are not easy to get to at the moment as they are in storage. They were very versatile and even found use down mines. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk