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Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal - Friday 11 January 1924
Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

WIRELESS NOTES.

People are asking, will there lie enough radio to round? There is no
wonder at this query when one looks about even in own town, at the large numlier of aerials which keep springing up, but can assure all
enthusiasts that there is heaps more than enough to satisfy all. fact, broadcast concerts, etc., are like the widow's cruse, and never reem to
get any less nor any fainter. There is undoubtedly a good lot of
wireless fever about, and dealers appear to be very busy. Now for the
doings of one of our local societies!

The Midland Institute Radio people and lady friends, to the number of sixty-eight, paid visit last Saturday to the British Broadcasting studio
and transmitting station at Birmingham. After our arrival New-street.
and having climbed lots and lots of stairs, found ourselves on the
fourth storey above Lorelles Picture House. At the end of a small lobby
we halted before a dark and mystic door which, being opened to us,
revealed narrow passage leading into the studio. The party entered
without a sound on account of the padded floor, and in sympathy spoke
only in whispers! It was bit like going into a cemetery chape! or tomb,
until we got used to the strange atmosphere. The first impression of the
studio was rather a mixture photography and "behind the scenes" at a
theatre. The room was about thirty feet square and nine feet high, with
a flat ceiling. It was lighted on one side only by three windows, which fortunately opened as it was rlather stuffy. When broadcasting, even
daytime, are closed and thickly curtained to keep out all extraneous
sounds. With the exception of the floor, which was thickly carpeted, the
walls and ceiling were covered with a single layer of coarse dark
drapery, this by experiment having been found most suitable and is
sufficient deadening effect to ensure direct sound waves being picked
up. yet with just enough reflection to give brilliance to the
transmission. It took six months to bring the studio to its present
state of perfection. Round the room there are numbers of chairs, and in
certain positions, grand piano, cabinet gramophone, pianola player
piano, and all the impedimenta of jazz band and tympani. "Uncle" Vernon
was busy with fluxite and soldering iron making a portable transmitter
for use at Bournemouth when we arrived, and soon after "Uncle Jack”
Cooper appeared.He is still in the army reserve, and quickly had us all marshalled for his address, which proved to be very interesting. He
explained the whole broadcasting process and showed how by brass nails
in the carpet each performer knew exactly where to stand or sit. and
also how by signals from a row of little coloured lights instructions
were given without speaking a sound to the performers. lights were the
cause of the studio being christened "Rugby Station" by Uncle Joe. who
declared they looked like that station on a wet night. They each
illuminate small labels which read - speak - wait - re-arrange — move
back - come closer and all correct. Close to the lights is a small
window through which the engineer his ante-room listens in, watches, and controls the whole show. He is in direct telephonic communication with
London, all other B.B.C. studios, also the transmitting station mile
away, and fills in his spare time with the "national" as well. The most important instrument, the microphone, hangs on insulated springs from three-legged iron stand atiout five feet high. It is round, about five
inches in diameter, and an inch and a half thick, and is connected to
the apparatus (which is not on show) by ordinary flex. This circuit is
joined to the transmission station at Lowe’- Loveday-streel by ordinary
land line, where it amplified and fed into the aerial. Uncle Jack was particularly anxious to aasuie us that all concerts, etc., were ‘sent
out from the studio clear and clean cut. If listeners-in did not get
good he said, it was undoubtedly the fault of their sets, especially transformers, and warned all again.st the folly of buying cheap rubbish.
Mr. Wallis, on behalf of the party, thanked the officers of the B.B.C.
for their kindness in allowing the visit to be made, also for their
trouble taken to make it so interesting.

We all walked to the power station at Summer lane, and eventually got
inside. The great feature is the fine aerial of cage or sausage type,
suspended vertically between two huge chimneys nearly two hundred feet
high. undoubtedly a very fine piece of engineering work, and we should
have liked to have seen it put up. Inside the small transmitting station
were found motor generators by Newton Brothers. Ltd.. Derby, which fed
current to four huge dull emitter power valves, tuning being
accomplished by a variometer, and the natural wave length of the aerial
being shortened by a large condenser in series with same.

Mr. Basebe. the engineer in charge, explained the workings fully, and
after a further vote of thanks by Mr. Gelsthorpe. the party dispersed to
finish the evening according to their own desires.

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