RMS Tahiti: set a distance record of 5,500 miles with Estevan.
Room 19 Radio School
Many of the operators from the mid 1920's onwards received their marine operating certificates at this Vancouver school. Some photos and memories from attendees are on this page.
Jack Bowerman kept a yellowed scrap book of newspaper clippings and the like, all related to his wireless job or of his friends in the field. I've also added one clipping from Chas Aitkens material--#22. Peruse them here.
In the summer of 1910 newspaper readers were enthralled with the story of Dr. H.Crippen, accused wife murderer, fleeing England on the S.S. Montrose with his girlfriend, bound for Quebec. He thought the law wouldn't find him, but he hadn't counted on wireless.
Ship Wireless Station Specification
The year was 1914 and the Institute of Electrical Engineers heard a paper by Robert Mariott giving a comprehensive description of what a first class shipboard wireless station equipment be.
Wireless in the Victoria Papers
The two Victoria British Columbia newspapers kept readers abreast of wireless developments. There was much interest in this new technology, especially the ability to provide almost instant communication to passengers and vessels, and to isolated settlements along the coast. The Victoria Daily Colonist is online and many of the articles have been edited onto this document. It will give the interested reader an idea of how the stations were conceived and constructed.
The second Victoria paper, The Times, isn't on line but a perusal of some microfilms has produced this much smaller document.
1912 London Radio Telegraph Convention
This convention laid down requirements for a shipboard wireless installation.
- Certain vessels were to maintain a continuous radio listening watch.
- Specification of a compulsory "listening" period by ships not required to maintain a constant watch and to cease all transmissions during that period.
- A requirement that vessels be fitted with auxiliary apparatus capable of working six hours, independent of the ships electrical system.
- All apparatus to be directly under the authority of the vessel's captain.
- A requirement that all radio transmissions in the vicinity of a ship in distress be under the control of that ship.
- Priority assigned to the transmission of weather and time signals to ships upon request, with area ships required to refrain from transmitting during these transmissions.
