351   The back of the photo says: "Victoria BC, Government Street Wireless Office in 1913" Man on the left appears to be Walter Howard, an operator at the Victoria Wireless Station. This office would have been HQ for all the stations on the British Columbia coast.

352   Bowerman on right, Radio Inspector Basil Irvine on the left. After 1925 Jack was a Radio Inspector. (This is a Willys-Knight sedan?) This sedan is fitted with a directional loop antenna on the roof and receiver in the back seat. Irving arrived from back east and it was quickly realized by the other operators that he was receiving a salary higher than the 'locals'. There was some consternation!  See the previous vehicle here.  This photo was used in a November 1930 newspaper article describing the Vancouver radio inspector's duties.

   In those days radio interference annoyed listeners to no end and the inspectors were busy tracking down local sources, as this 1927 clipping shows. As an example the inspectors tracked down a Ladysmith barber shop's electric clippers as the culprit for blotting out reception for its neighbours. The radio direction finder would be a useful tool in that regard.

353   Room 19 at King Edward High School. Established in 1925 with Walter Lambert as instructor. Eventually moved to the Vancouver Vocational School. Facility trained radio operators in Morse code and radio theory. Graduates went on to operate radio stations on vessels and marine coast stations. Lambert is standing at the front, second from left in a black suit. Course closed around 1967.

354   Reverse of 353. "The Radio communications Department, High School of Commerce depicted on the obverse owes its existence and continued usefulness to the organizing genius and helpful direction of the recipient to whom this souvenir is respectfully presented. W.J.Bowerman Esq, Senior Inspector, Federal Radio Communications Dept. Vancouver, BC"

355   Album plate--applicable photos edited off and appear elsewhere on site.

356   Tlimaghka of Hesquiaht.  He was well respected within the area.

   Hesquiaht village was a few miles to the east of Estevan. This was the only convenient sheltered landing for the station and village. Access to station was by a plank road.  The cow in the background is from the herd introduced by Father Brabant in the latter half of the 19th Century. The herd eventually wandered off on their own, and so far as I know, some are still in the area.

357  Tlimghka's story from the Victoria Colonist newspaper.

358   "Tlimeghka"   Prior to 1926. 

359   Point Grey Transmitter Site on Lulu Island. (Wilson Rd.?)  This photo also appears in a 1932 newspaper article on the new station.

360   Interior of Point Grey Transmitter Site on Lulu Island. Well laid out set of tube type transmitters. 1932 photo accompanied an article on the new station.  One of the more impressive stations in Canada at the time.  Fully remote controllable from either Point Grey or Merchant's Exchange.

361   Gonzales Radio's spark transmitter. Motor & generator on the lower right. Synchronous spark gap. Two banks of three capacitors, one electrically on each side of the spark gap. Gap feeds the capacitors via some copper strips separated by some sort of insulating strip. Quenching gap (series of discs) at far left. Oscillation and loading coils at the top half. Close inspection of the loading coil connections indicates it is not in the circuit.

362   Landline telegraph office someplace. Quite likely in Victoria. Note the landline operators sitting at the front left with the sounders visible in their boxes on the stands. Telegram delivery boys are standing at the rear awaiting their next trip.

363   Victoria Radio Shop staff about 1920.

364   Radio inspector on a trip in the interior of BC. Inspectors tracked down sources of reception interference and also ensured users were properly licensed. Inspector Basil Irvine by rear wheel.

365   Radio inspector and vehicle.

366   Radio inspection trip into the BC interior. Roads were pretty grim in the early days.

367   Labeled on back as the 'first wireless switchboard'. Spark transmitters required a motor/generator set for power--this photo shows the starting switch levers and associated knife switches required. Top left meter is registering 105 volts AC. The top right is an ammeter but the face is illegible.

368   This and photo 369 illustrate Gonzales (Victoria BC) radio operations room at some unknown date although tube transmitters were installed in 1928. Tube type transmitter sitting on the desk in middle of photo. Antenna lead affixed to the wall above. Receivers to it's left. Note the unique folded horn loudspeakers above the window in front of the chair.

369   Gonzales (Victoria BC) radio operations room from the other side. Some sort of equipment against the far wall. There is no antenna wiring going into the box (co-ax hadn't been in general use at this time) so its function is at present unknown. Note the elevated Morse 'sounder' box in the window. Operators had to be bi-lingual--Morse beeps and landline clickity-clicks.

370   Estevan Point power plant. Photo 352 may be taken from the other side of the room. Appears, due to the cleanliness of area, that the photo was taken upon completion of construction & installation in 1912. The engine belt drives the external coolant water pump.

371   Jack Bowerman outside the Woodpecker Lodge while on a radio inspection trip in the interior of British Columbia. There is an area called Woodpecker located on the highway paralleling the Fraser River about 25 miles south of Prince George. It was a steam boat stop in Bowerman's time. Not more than a couple of buildings. Vehicle appears to be the same as in photos 372 & 352.

372   Radio Inspection Trip. Chap has climbing spurs on. Sign post points to Isle Pierre and Hazelton--west of Prince George.

373   Barkerville, BC. Barkerville is a Provincial Park and 'living' ghost town north east of Williams Lake, BC. At one time it was one of the largest communities in British Columbia, and then the gold played out.

374   100 Mile House, BC. Local car and local locals. Note the glass gas pump at the rear of the car. The early road up the interior of BC measured the distance from Lillooet, BC.

375   West tower of Point Grey Radio Station. Photo is one of 6 taken (according to the note on its back), I assume, to provide a panoramic shot of station. This is the only known survivor. Dated 11/5/23

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