RADIO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18788, 18 June 1929, Page 5

RADIO

BY “AERIAL". Reception Notes. Listeners who thought that the “roarer” had come to life between 7.15 and 7.30 last night were somewhat at sea; so, probably, was the cause of the interference, as, after a session during which the operator seemed to have screwed his key down, the Morse call “CQ” came through and branded the row as one caused by a powerful commercial or ship station. The interference was most noticeable while 2YA was tuned in, but it did not last more than seven or eight minutes. Full batteries once again enabled “Horace No. 3” to return to commission, and 2BL, Sydney, was tuned in at 6.50 p.m., at a fair A 5, with not a sign of static. 2YA was somewhat erratic during the news session, fading badly just at the interesting bits when earthquake news was being broadcast. Conditions were all in favour of good •wireless reception, and fine results should have been obtained by listeners. An interruption—the order of the day recently—prevented “Aerial” Irom hearing more than half an hour’s music from 3YA, and it was not until eleven o’clock that the Australians could be tested. Very fine volume from 2BL, Sydney. Nice, steady and merely the faintest crackle from static. Transmission beautifully clear. Like listening to 3YA. A trifle of static was audible—as also was a constant whine from an Oswald —when 3LO, Melbourne, was tuned in. Volume was on the poor side—fading, too, was frequent and severe. 4QG, Brisbane, was good—very good, indeed. No static, very steady, and volume a nice A 5. No sign of SCL, Adelaide. 2FC, Sydney, was the best of the Australians—an easy job to hold signals from 2FC at A 5 plus. There was the merest hint of static, and scarcely any sign of fading. Heard a fine piano recital. Came over excellently 3AR was very weak. No sign of 7ZL. Could just bear JOAK and JOHK. About A 4. Steady, no static. Several “B” class Australians were on the air at strengths round about A 4 to A 5. A little static was audible on stations below 350 metres. Women and Wireless. Nothing came as a greater surprise to me at the recent wireless exhibition than the number of women that were seen thronging the huge hall at Olympia, writes E.B.R. in a Home journal. They were not there, in company of their husbands or sweethearts merely. to pass through; they were interested in the various latest improvements; they asked questions; they wanted information ; they wanted to test for themselves; they were as keen and enthusiastic as their men companions. One stallholder informed me that he had sold twenty sets to women that day, and that as far as his rivals were concerned they were doing the same thing. This reveals a great change. Not long ago the womenfolk regarded us radio fans as more or less nuisances with our miles of wires, numerous coils, ugly aerials, batteries and accumulators. We must admit that we kept the principal roojn of the home in a regular state of topsy-turvydom, and after many cross words we took our whole outfit to some room far away from thp wife. Not only that, the time is not long since the wife would not dare touch the set in case she burst the valves. She was under orders not to touch anything unless we men were home. Her curiosity, however, would not leave the set alone. There was the afternoon programme she wanted, and she insisted on a set she could switch on and off at her will. Thus early, women insisted that we should have sets fit to be seen in the best room of the house along with the other pieces of furniture and matching them in colour and design. Sets that would not obtrude with their clumsiness even when They further are mainly responsible for the simplicity of the modem set. It is they who have demanded them mostly, and the supply is to satisfy them. But women will not be satisfied there. Already a large number of them are becoming radio fans and as keen as the rabid man enthusiast. They were-seen buying parts and new sections at the exhibition. Indeed, a college which trains girls for certain careers has this session a course of training for girls in wireless engineering. A well-known radio engineer is in charge, and already fifteen girls have enrolled as students. The women are coming into their own. and they are discovering that radio is part of their inheritance. T hey mean to possess it. Studio Notes. Excerpts from many operas? —from light to grand—will be on the air this evening from IYA. These will include “To-night’s the Night,” “Rose Marie,” "High Jinks,” “Yeomen of the Guard” and “Tristan and Isolde.” The vocalists will be Miss Alma M’Gruer, Miss Beryl Smith. Mr J. Simpson and Mr D. Black, who will sing solos, duets and a quartet. “Tristan and Isolde” (final portion) will be presented by means of records, the story being described by Mr Karl Atkinson. At 2YA the orchestra will play the “Nell Gwynn” overture, a selection ' from the “Ballet Egyptien,” “Two Light Syncopated Pieces,” and “The Dance of the Sun Feast.” Mr E. W. Robbins will be heard in several tenor solos and Miss Dorothy Russell, a pleasing young soprano who is making her radio debut, will sing two popular numbers from “The Maid of the Mountains.” Mr L. W. Probert will play a xylophone solo. “Splittin’ Kindlin’ Wood.” Mr Jack Wilkinson will contribute to the humorous portion of the programme and popular fox-trot songs will be rendered by Mr Edward Silver. This evening at 7.30 there will be an interesting lecture from 4YA on “The Location and Destruction of Icebergs.” Dr Hocken of the W.E.A. will be the speaker. For the St Kilda Band recital the assisting vocalists will be Miss Phyllis Clare (contralto) and Mr Les Stubbs (baritone), while the elocutionary numbers to be given by Mr Carl Moller will be ,r Men of the British Race” and “If We Only Knew.” Vocal numbers will also be introduced by means of gramophone records.

Beauty Plus Utility. From time to time one hears a good deal concerning the beauty which lies in some of the broadcast items. It is a beauty of sound—the message of a great poem or symphony, the stirring lines of fine radio-play, or the inspiration of a song. But there is, in addition to this kind of sound-picture, a certain visual charm which all too often receives a secondary consideration. It is a charm which lies in looking at a fine set, well and truly constructed. A few years ago, the average wireless receiving set was a fearsome object. Most of us remember the torture of wires, coils and switches which lay, like a mangled panorama of chaos, on a wooden base. During the technical overtures to artistic broadcasting, this maze persisted unchanged save in its “variety of wretchedness.” Then someone conceived the idea of putting the contraption in a cabinet. Those early cabinets! The result was only a little less fearsome. It was a change from a view of chaos to the portrait of an ogreish robot. The valves projected like eyes on stalks, myriads of copper studs acted as teeth, all the better to eat up the current, the green and black coils stood out like ears,; while rheostats, switches and the like filled in the lines of grotesque sneers! It was not until that twentieth century product, commercial art, stepped in that wireless became a thing of household beauty. The present-day set is not only pleasing to the eye, but definitely stimulating to the ear. Like a well-dressed man who is unconscious of his clothes, the listener should be, as far as possible, unconscious of his set. lie must not need to listen with one e3 T e on the wiring, as rt were, and the other on the mark where last week the accumulator acid spilled on the dining-room table. The Chippendales and Sheratons have seen to it that most of to-day’s sets blend and blur into the atmosphere of the home surroundings. In particular is this obvious in modem loud-speaker design. The many varying and originally-patterned “frets” make a \'isit to a wireless shop a matter of considerable enjoyment to the artistically inclined, even though they have neither knowledge of nor leaning to the technicalities of flares, diaphragms, reeds, moving-coils, and the like. The influence of the artist and craftsman on the progress of wireless is perhaps too little appreciated. They have done much to assist in the graduation of radio from the laboratory bench to the home. There are many listeners—especially women—who were first attracted to wireless by its appearance as an article of furniture, and it is safe to say that, no matter how effective its results might have been in the past, it would have received, little encouragement from these people so long as it remained a “contraption”. No less than in its external appearance, there is much beauty hidden in the actual component parts of a modern wireless set. It was a poet, the late Rupert Brooke, who included in the things he loved, “The keen, unpassioned beauty of a great machine.” Such affection might well be bestowed on many small “machines” which make a receiving set. The glittering precision of a . slow-motion condenser, for example, is a thing of sheer beauty. If its appeal is primarily to the male eye, there is still something of the delicacy of a flower about it, which should, of itself, attract anyone who appreciates finesse. It is the same with most other components. There is a wealth of wonderment in store for anyone who will thoughtfully unwrap an inch of fine D.C.C. wire. Some day a painter will win fame by a still-life study, not of fruit or ivories or porcelain, but of a kit of wireless parts. At the present time there is going on a good deal of effort to stem the tide of ugliness which has come as a complement to modern industrial progress. Within the j home it is 4he privilege of the wireless engineer and designer to do his I share. The blue print and the lay-out diagram have a quality of their own which-translates itself into a picture of orderliness. So that, however we may debate on the merits or demerits of programmes, we have still the satisfaction of knowing that wireless has, beyond doubt, added something to our store of things worth seeing! What future developments will show cannot easily be conjectured, but the wireless set is well on the way to becoming a necessary and desirable object, even as a piece of furniture, and we can rest assured that the ogres of the past are for ever banished.—R.D. in “Popular Wireless.” ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. “ Aerial ” will be glad to answer any question pertaining to wireless, or give advice on the subject. Correspondents should give their names and addresses, not necessarily for publication. Size cf Condenser. “Condenser,” Timaru (who should have given his name—which would not have been published if he had not desired it) writes:—“l intend making up a three-valve set, but for the reaction it says, ‘Use a 100 or 135 mmf. condenser.’ Would an ordinary .0005 condenser do? If not, how many plates will the condenser have to have ?” In reply: An ordinary .0005 mfd. condenser might do—probably not, however. Always stick to specifications when building a set from a diagram. The condenser you need should have either three stationary anl two rotary plates or four stationary and three rotary plates.—“ xYerial.” TO DAY’S PROGRAMMES. Following are details of to-day’s programmes received from New Zealand and Australian broadcasting stations:— IYA, Auckland (333M.J. 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Afternoon session. 6.0: Children’s session. 7.0: News and market reports. 7.15: Talk, Mr George Campbell, “ Motoring.” S.l: Relay from Majestic Theatre. 8 11: Clarion Quartet, “To-night’s the Night—Finale, Act I.” 8.15: Instrumental, Studio Trio, “ Pastel Minuet,” “ Pas des Amphores.” 5.25: Tenor. Mr J. Simpson, “Rose Marie.” 8.32: Cinema organ, Stanley MacDonald, “ Was it a Dream? ” “ Nicolette” (record). S.3S: Contralto, Miss Beryl Smith, “Jim.” 8.45: Relay from Majestic Theatre. 8.55: Vocal duet, Miss Alma M’Gruer and Mr Duncan Black, “Love’s Own Kiss.” 8.59: Violin, Miss Ina Bosworth, “Chanson Louis XIII et Pa vane.” 9-4: Weather report. 9.7: Clarion Quartet, “ Strange Adventure.” -9.11:. Spprano, Miss Alma M’Grucr, “The Bubble.” 9.17: Instrumental, Studio Trio. “Hit the Deck” l selection. 9.27: Bass, Mr D. Black.

“The Yeomen of England.” 9.30: Vocal duet, Miss A. M'Gruer and Mr J. Siinpson, “ Indian Love Call.” 9.34: Presentation of the opera, “ Tristan and Isolda ” (Act 3> (Wagner): Second instalment (record). 10.6: Close down. 2YA, Wellington (420 M.). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Afternoon session. 5.0: Children’s session. 6.0: Dinner session (records) : Grand Symphony Orchestra, “ Der Freischutz ”; tenor, Derek Oldham, “ I Know of Two Bright Eyes.” 6.15: Wurlitzer organ, Jesse Crawford, “How About Me?” “ I’ll get by As Long as I Have You"; tenor, Derek Oldham, “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal.” 6.30: Connecticut Yankees, “Deep Night,” “Weary River ”; soprano, Dusolina Giannini, “I Love You Truly.” 6.45: Nat ShHkret’s Oxchestra, “A Night of Memories,” George Olsen’s Music, “ Where the Shy Little Violets Grow”; Johnny Marvin, “ Sweetheart of All My Dreams.” 7.0: News session. 7.40: Lecturette, “ For the Man on the Land.” 8.1: Orchestra, “Nell Gwynn.” 8.9: Tenor, Mr E. W. Robbins, “ Nirvana.” 8.13: Xylophone, Mr L. W. Probert, “ Splittin’ Kindlin’ Wood.” 8.18: Songs, Mr Edward Silver, “ Where the Shy Little Violets Grow,” “The Wob-a-by Walk.” 8.25: Orchestra, “ Callirhoe Ballet Music.” 8.33: Soprano, Miss Dorothy Russell, “ Love is My Life.” 8.37: Humour, Mr Jack Wilkinson, “I’m a Dadda.” 8.44: Bass-baritone, Peter Dawson, “Song of the Flea.” 8.48: Tenor, Mr E. W. Robbins, “Until” (Sanderson), “My World.” 8.55: Orchestra, repeat number. 9.0: Weather report. 9.2: Songs, Mr Edward Silver, “ The Dusk}' Stevedore,” “ That’s How I Feel About You.” 9.9: Orchestra, “Two Light Syncopated Pieces.” 9.15: Soprano, Miss Dorothy Russell, “Fare--well.” 9.19: Humour, Mr Jack Wilkinson, “It Only Makes Me Love Her all the More.” 9.25: Orchestra, “Dance of the Sun Feast.” 9.30: Dance programme (records) : March medley “ Martial Moments ”; fox trots, “ Golden Gate,” “ Forty-seven Ginger-Headed Sailors ”; vocal duet, Layton and Johnstone, “ Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky.” 9.43: Tenor, Seamus O’Doherty, “ The Pride of Tipperary ”; fox trots, “ I Just Roll Along Having My Ups and Downs,” “’S Wonderful”; Hawaiian trio, “My Hawaii.” 10.0: Monologue, Milton Hayes, “ Monty Attends a Board Meeting”; Singing Symphories, “My Ohio Home”; organ, G. T. Pattman, “Poll}',” “Janette”; fox trot, “ Without You, Sweetheart.” 10.20: Tenor, Hubert Eisdell, “Parted”; Humorseque, Band, “ Slidin’ Thro’ the Rye ”; piano, Gil Dech, “ Hallelujah ”; fox trot, “ Chiquita ”; vocal duet, Jack Lumsdaine and Len Maurice, “ That’s My Mammy.” 10.45: Orchestra, “March of the Toys”; fox trot, “ Di Napoli”; waltzes, “ Beautiful Ohio," “ Kossovo Waltz ”; male chorus, Sheffield Orpheus Choir, “ There is a Tavern in the Town.” 11.0: Close down. SYA, Christchurch (306 M.). Silent day. 3ZO, Christchurch (250 M.). 2.30 to 4.30: Special programme of music for the Bottle Lake Hospital. 6.30: Children’s session. 7.30: Wireless Talk. 8 p.m.: Tabloid news session. 8.10: Concert session, including “ Shepherd Fennel’s Dance,” Royal Opera Orchestra; “ When the King Went Forth to War,” Theodor Chaliapin (bass); “ One Lives But Once,” Sergei Rachmaninoff (piano) ; “La Paloma,” Amelita GalliCurci (soprano); “ The Busy Bee,” Plaza Theatre Orchestra; “ Gipsy Caprice,” Fritz Kreisler (violin); “ Ombra Mai Fu,” Essie Ackland (contralto) ; “ Nocturne in F Sharp Major ” (Chopin), Ignace Jan Paderewski (piano).; "Evening Song,” John M’Cormack (tenor); “Allegro,” Master Yehudi Menuhin (violin); “Serenade” (Volkman), “ Flight of the Bumble Bee,” Chicago Symphony Orchestra: “Romance” (La Nuit), Sophie Breslau (contralto); “Polonaise” (op. 53), (Chopin), Parts 1 and 2, Raoul von Kaczaiski; “ Little Log Cabin of Dreams,” Marie Burke (soprano); “Nocturne No. 2" (Fetes), Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra; “ Song of Prince Galitzky,” Theodor Chaliapin (bass); “ Valse Bluette,” Cavalier SolJoway (violin); “Seem Lak’ to Me,” Paul Robeson; “ Aucassin and Nicolette,” Fritz Kreisler (violin); “II Bacio,” Lucrezia Bori (soprano) ; “ Merrie England,” Regimental Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards. 9.30 to 10.15 p.m., programme of dance music. 4YA, Dunedin (463 M.). 3 to 4.30 p.m.: Afternoon session; 6.1: Children’s .session. 7.0: News session. 7.30: Lecturette, Dr Focken, “The Location and Destruction of Icebergs.” 8.0: Chimes. Studio concert by the St Kilda Band, and assisting artists. 8.1: Band, “Black Dike.” 8.6: Baritone. Mr Les Stubbs, “ What Am I Love,, Without Thee?” “Friar of Orders Grey.” 8.23: Grand organ, Marcel Dupre, “ The Swan,” “ Prelude in E Flat” (Saint-Saens) (record). 8.19: Soprano, Florence Austral, “ The Night is Calm” (record). 5.23: Band,, “Scotia.” 5.31: Recital, Mr Carl Moller,. “ Men of the English Race.” 8.37: Band, “Golden Dreamland.” 5.42: Contralto, Miss Phyllis Clare, “ Shepherds Gay,” “Irish Folk Song.” 8,49: Jno. Goss and Cathedral Male Ouartet, “ Sally Brown,” “ Hanging Johnny,” “ Whisky Johnny ” (record). 8.52: Band, “Prelude” (Rachmaninoff). 8.59: Weather report. 9.1: Light Opera Company, Gems from “ Cavalleria Rusticana ” (record). 9.5: Band, “Rustic Scenes.” 9.15: Baritone, Mr Les Stubbs, “The Lute Player.” 9.19: Hawaiian. liahona Glee Club, “Na ’Lii ” (record). 9.22: Band, “Bohemian Girl.” 9.34: Tenor, Alfred O’Shea, “The Old Refrain,” “ Lilies of Lorraine ” (record). 9.40: Recital, Mr Carl Moiler, “If We Only Knew.” 9.47: Contralto, Miss Phyllis Clare, “Sacrament.” 9.52: Band, “Prince of Smiles.” 10.0: Close down. Australian Stations. 2BL, Sydney (353 metres)—9.3o p.m. to midnight: An “ All Australian ” programme arranged by Glen M’Garrity. 2FC, Sydney (442 metres)—9.3o p.m. to 1 a.m.: Concert by the Burwood Band and assisting artists. 3L(v, Melbourne (371 metres)—7.ls to 8.30 p.m.:. Children. 8.35 to 9.30: News, markets, etc. 932: The Thirtysecond Batt. I3and. 9.42: Wilfrid Thomas (bass) in some songs of the Seven Seas. 9.49: Band. 9.s7:Wilfrid Thomas. 10.4: Band. 10.14: The “James Girls” in coon songs. 10.30: Presentation to Band. 10.45: Concert by the Heidelberg Choral Society. 11.15: Band. 11.35: The Jedal Trio. 12.0: “Skipper” Frances (baritone) 12.7 to 1 a.m.: Dance music. 3AR. Melbourne (454 metres)—7.3o to 9.29 p.m.: Gramophone recital. 9.30 to 10.0: Addresses. 10.0 to 11.0: Studio presentation of “The Cingalee.” 11.1 to midnight: Studio items. 4QG, Brisbane (385 metres) —9.30 to 13.30 p.m.: Studio concert by the Richmond party. FOR WEDNESDAY. 3ZG, Christchurch (250 M.). 10 a.m.: “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2,” Sir Henry J. Wood and New Queen's Hall Orchestra. 10.5. Tested, recipes: Toad-in-a-hole, baked roly-poly, Peep-Bo’s. 10.25: “Ah! Little Thought the Maid.” Charles Hackett (tenor); “Only a Rose,” Teddy Brian (violin). 10.3(): A little talk on “Irish Memories”

by Miss Muriel Kidner; “In a Monastery Garden,” G. T. Pattman (organ). Miss Elsie Kidner, songs, “Apple Blossoms,” “I Hear a Thrush at Eve,” “The Road to Ballyslee” (Miss Muriel Kidner at the piano). “The Bee’s Wedding,” Dorothy Folkard and Muriel Warne (piano duet); “Two Russian Folk Songs,” Kedroff Quartette“Bond of Friendship March,” Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards. 12 noon to 1.30 p.m.: News and information session and programme of music including “Bacchanalia,” Herman Finck and his orchestra; “Suite Gothique.” Francis Sutton (organ); Someday” and “Huguette,” Gladys Moncrieff (soprano). “Mazurka in D Major” and “Serenata,” Ignace Paderewski; “You Lovely Thing,” Alfred O'Shea (tenor); “A Room’with a View” and “Try to Learn to Love,” Piccadilly Band.