Early Days of Amateur Radio in Niagara
Credits: Ethel Williamson, VE3DTW
FORWARD
During the May, 1966 meeting of the Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club, (NPARC) the President read a letter from the Saskatoon Amateur Radio Club, stating that it had decided, as a Centennial Project, to produce a book, covering the beginning and development of Amateur Radio in Canada. The club requested any information we might have on the subject, relevant to the Niagara District.
It became evident that no record in writing of the early days of radio in this area existed. After some discussion, it was decided that an effort should be made to write a story of amateur radio and its various aspects as it had taken place in this district. This then would become a history of bygone days for our own club, and serve as a source of information as requested by the Saskatoon Club.
This writer's services were volunteered by her husband Cy, VE3TW, as a writer, the challenge was irresistible, especially as he had also volunteered to do the research.
This was easier said than done. The task of compiling an accurate account of radio activities in the old days proved almost insurmountable. Many of the early experimenters were gone, and those remaining have rather hazy memories of events which took place many years ago. With TW's help and many interviews with old-time hams, I have attempted to formulate a history of amateur radio as it probably happened in the Niagara District.
This account could very well contain errors in dates and calls; there may be omissions of many hams who had much to do with developing our hobby in the early days. If this is so, please forgive me.
The story follows. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have in writing it for our club.
Ethel Williamson, VE3DTW
EARLY DAYS OF AMATEUR RADIO IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA
BY ETHEL WILLIAMSON, VE3DTW
An old time resident of St. Catharines, on learning of my quest for Information about the early days of radio, told me the following story.
In 1911 as a young boy living In St. Catharines he was often taken by his parents to visit his grandparents In Merritton. In fine weather they walked along Thorold Road, now Oakdale Avenue. They crossed Westchester Avenue and climbed the hill towards Merritton. There, on the hill top, to the left, stood an imposing red brick house, now the St. Catharines Medical Centre. Strung between the house and the barn was a three-wire flat-top antenna, majestic in size and a tantalizing curiosity to the small boy.
His father explained, after persistent questioning that the antenna was for collecting electricity from the sky. This was the reason, he said, that the big house had such a bright electric light over its doorway.
There were few electric lights in those days, and I'm sure like most laymen of that era he felt there was a germ of truth in his explanation.
The news on April 15th, 1912 that the Titanic had sunk after striking an Iceberg in the Atlantic was followed by an artist's drawing of the sinking ship, plainly showing an antenna strung between its masts. This also intrigued the youngster- "Father told me," he said, "that this was used for sending wireless messages." He continued,--
"When World War I started In August, 1914, I began reading about Marconi and his wireless radio. Only then did I connect these Incidents, and realize the true purpose of the antenna on the red brick house. Circumstances prevented me from becoming a ham but I have followed the growth of amateur radio through the years of endeavor with keen Interest. Now I read they have taken to Space Research, with their Oscars traveling many miles above the earth to be used for exciting new UHF experiments."
I happened to mention this little anecdote to Charles Howarth, VE3OL, when I was interviewing him for this article. He said, "Oh, I remember that house- Charlie Burch lived there.
After a phone conversation with Charlie Burch, I realized that after weeks of fruitless searching I had at last found the earliest experimenter In the Niagara District. By all accounts and to the best or my knowledge this gentleman had built and operated the first amateur radio station in all this area.
His equipment included a one-inch spark coil and a galena detector. His antenna was the wire flat-top that had so intrigued the little boy. In 1910-11, he made regular contacts with his friend, named Knoll, In Buffalo. N. Y. He quit radio during W. W. I, but his antenna remained; a source of Interest to passers-by for years.
In 1913, Morse code classes were given to Boy Scouts in St. Thomas Church. One member, Homer Houser, age 12, 3GX, now VE3BKL, armed with his proficiency badge, and scraps of radio news he had gleaned from Popular Mechanics, Electrical Experimenter and The Boys' Own Manual, began playing around with experiments and new ideas. His friend and neighbour, Harold Jolliffee, 31G, worked with him on experiments, until Homer joined the Canadian Services, and went overseas, In World War 1.
In 1915, Robert 0. Fletcher, 3L1, of St. Catharines, and his friend, Roy Boneberg, both sixteen years of age, began playing with radio telegraph.
Their transmitter was made up of a model "T.' Ford spark coil; the primary energized by batteries in series with a telegraph key, donated by the local telegraph operator, John Jordon. A home-made helix and spark gap were used. The 3park gap was attached directly across the secondary of the spark coil, one end going to earth and the other attached by a clip to the helix. A single-pole, double-throw switch with a six-Inch knife blade was secured to the three-wire flat top antenna. Another clip attached the helix to one end of the knife switch.
For receiving, a home-made, loose coupler with two primary sliders; one slider connected to ground, the other to one side of the knife switch. An inductively-variable secondary coil could be slid in and out of the primary coil. One end of this coil, by means of a slider, went to earth. The coil was tapped every few turns, and brought out to a switch mounted on the end of the coil. The arm of the switch was in series with a home-made detector; a single, 80 ohm headphone to earth. A .001MMFD condenser went across the headphone. To find the most sensitive spot on the galena, a high-frequency buzzer was used. One would listen for a signal from the buzzer, and juggle the cat whisker to a spot on the galena which gave the loudest signal on the headphone, then, by moving the slider on the primary of the loose coupler, and adjusting the secondary tap switch, the frequency of the receiver was varied. A degree of selectivity was secured by varying the coupling between the primary and secondary.
This equipment was closed down by the military, due to World War 1.
Fletcher, in the early days was probably the best-known experimenter In the Niagara District. He operated from his home on the corner of Lowell Ave., and Thomas Street, St. Catharines, and from his summer home In Port Colborne, Ontario.
He was the first amateur heard on the air by 3TW and many others, and his achievements in radio, inspired many youngsters to take up the hobby.
The above story could be related about hundreds of other enterprising youngsters in many parts of the world. These were the wonderful days of discovery. Achievements were not only being made by adults; the youth of the world was caught up in the excitement of individual accomplishment. Every boy had a chance to experiment with this new medium of communication.
Fletcher and Boneberg were Joined In their hobby by Harry Lang. In 1917, when they all operated stations in Port Colborne, he used a galena detector and a loose coupler, made from an oatmeal box.
The reason so many hams used this oatmeal box design in the early days was because it was featured In Popular Mechanics, one of bibles of the early experimenters.
These boys operate during the war years in Port Colborne, quite innocent of the fact that it was prohibited. It wasn't until the Mounties confiscated Roy Boneberg’s equipment, and carted it away, that they learned it was unlawful. When the others learned about Roy, they dismantled their own stations in a hurry. After the war, Roy’s gear was returned to him.
There may have been other local experimenters in those days but the only ones we have learned about are the following:
Max Church, of Thorold, Ontario, who had a station there prior to 1914, when the war came, police made him dismantle it, and since that time nothing has ever been heard of him.
Jack Casey, of St. Catharines, Bell Telephone Rack Room foreman, he lived at 96 Church Street, and it was here that he experimented with amateur radio. He built a loose coupler of giant proportions: the base. 2" x 12" by 24”, complete with sliders and switches. In all, it weighed about 25 pounds. There is no doubt that he had other experimental equipment but there is no record of his achievements.
THE YEARS BETWEEN 1919 AND 1923
During World War I. many experiment-minded young men like George Threader. 3KP had been exposed to radio communications. George heard his first voice transmission on radio when he was aboard the British Man-of-War, Shearwater, near Bermuda, British West Indies. It was an experiment being conducted between two navy vessels.
George, like many others, came home with the desire to build his own radio station. This was the era of wireless communications and active young minds were just as keen to learn all about this new medium in those days, as today's youths desire to explore space.
In 1919 3KP began building his own station on Ida Street, St. Catharines. Charlie Burch gave George his three-wire, flat top antenna. It is rumoured that George had difficulty in installing the antenna. The specifications called for soldered joints. Try as he might, no joints could be made. The wire was aluminum: a precious metal in those days.
Many interesting things happened at this Ida Street location.
The station was changed from spark to CW, using audions , a triode vacuum tube. This resembled a test tube, with three wire leads protruding from each end, attached to binding posts on the receiver panel. There was an extra filament in case of failure: thus the two extra leads over the four normally required in a triode. The tuner was of the honeycomb-type, plug-in coil to cover various frequencies.
The outstanding feature of this station was the 90 ft. lattice tower, made from 1 by 3 inch uprights and 1 by 1 1/2 Inch laths for cross members.
At one time this station was a combined effort of 3KP, Chuck Howarth, 3MF, Jack Varey, 3ZB, and Ole Wicklund, 3AQ. Many old-timers spent Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings at this station, looking for ZL's and VK's.
This station was in use unti11933, when the antenna was removed and George moved his station to another location.
The first meetings were held In the Welland House Hotel, on Ontario Street. No records are available of the meetings, but a story about the club and its first meeting appeared in "Radio News", February, 1919. It would appear that the names of Fred George, 3--, Chuck Howarth, 3MF, George Threader, 3KP, Reg Ansell, 3--, and others were among the membership.
In 1919-20, Alfred Spannler, 3SJ, began teaching a night class in code, at the old Collegiate, now Robertson School. By this time the number of experimenters in this area had increased considerably. At the first meeting there were about 30 attendants. Among these was Reg Ansell, Harry Overholt, 3HO; Fletcher, 3L1; Threader, 3KP; Howarth, 3MF; Lloyd Troupe, 3XX; J.R. Tuck, 3OL;;Harry Starr, 3KA; Jack Varey, 3ZB; T. 0. Wiklund, 3AR; Emile Hicks, VE3AFI; Fred George, 3--; who taught code, Jack McCalla, VE3DH; Reg Seward, FE3LO; Cy Williamson, 3TW; Frank Everett; Fred Cross, 3FK; Cam Rutherford, 3ZD; and many others.
It was our intention to give a short history of each one of the early experimenters in this area, but that seems to be impossible. Instead, we will relate all the Information that was available, regarding hams of the 1919-23 era.
Reg Ansell comes to mind first because he was the guiding light of so many young experimenters. He operated a spark station at his home on Ontario Street. St. Catharines.
Alfred Spannler, 3SJ, an engineer with the Ontario Paper Mill, taught code in night classes at the old Collegiate. The DOT gave examinations there and licenses were issued. Although all the old-timers remember Spannler and the code classes, no one can recall just how long this lasted.
Harry Overholt lived on Beech Street, St. Catharines. He had a 100 ft. wire flat top and a spark transmitter that had come from a World War I aircraft.
Harry opened a store on St. Paul Street, where he built and sold neutrodyne receivers. He lived in St. Catharines for many years and was one of the best-known amateurs, but, since leaving this city, no one seems to have heard from him.
Charles Howarth, 3MF, now VE30L, had his first station on Junkin Street, St. Catharines, in 1919.
He used the Model T Ford spark coil with a home-made fixed spark gap and helix.
His receiving equipment included the giant loose coupler given to him by Jack Casey of the Bell Telephone Co., later given to 3TW when 3MF graduated to audions, Murdock loose coupler and a self-excited transmitter, with a “Pole Pig” transformer.
3MF made many friends over the airwaves. He attended conventions in other cities, finding keen enjoyment in eyeball visits with other hams.
In 1919, Homer Houser, 3GX and Harold Jolliffee, 31G, were together again, after Homer's return from overseas duty in the war.
They began building a new station on Dufferin Street in Partington's greenhouse. Their antenna was a trolley wire, obtained from the Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto railway yard, nearby. This was strung between the greenhouses. Something was in the wind, and they had heard rumours ! Now, all that remained was to wait and wait and listen. Not a sound…. Then, someone said;
"Hello! Hear me? This Is KDA, Pittsburgh!". This was the first known voice transmission heard In St. Catharines.
Later that year 3GX moved to Lynden, Ontario. He bought a 2 kilowatt spark set in Buffalo, New York. His home-build receiver had honeycomb coils. When he turned on his transmitter, to operate, every light in the little town went out!
This caused such a sensation, everyone for miles around heard about it. The head of the Hydro Electric made a special visit to see the contraption. Eventually, a larger transformer was installed in the town, so that when Homer operated his station, the townspeople could have lights !
Soon after the war Fletcher and Boneberg began building a new station. They purchased a single-audion tube, a loose coupler, which was soon replaced with plug-in honeycomb coils. Each set of coils consisted of a fixed coil, which was tuned by a Murdock-molded condenser. The other two coils, antenna and tickler were variable in relation to the fixed coil. Regeneration and sensitivity were secured by varying their position.
For transmitting, they bought a Thordarson half-kilowatt transformer, erected a good antenna and the musical sound of their rotary spark gap was heard throughout the Niagara District.
They operated this equipment from 1919 to 1923, when, due to the Thordarson transformer burning up, they decided to quit.
Harry Lang, 3OT, now VE3ADO, and his family moved to Toronto after World War I, but they retained a summer home in Port Colborne, and ADO continued to experiment in this location during the summer months. Harry, Fletcher and Boneberg were close radio friends, and they had wonderful times trying out new ideas.
An item in the St. Catharines Standard, in 1920, said "Fred Cross of Thorold, is busy these days building a radio station in his home. Many local young men are keenly interested in this new hobby."
Fred Cross, 3FK, now VE3AHF, has many happy memories of the early days of ham radio. He, Alfred Spannier and their friend Frank Everett all had the same type one-inch spark transmitters. These had been used originally in World War I aircraft and were sold as war surplus when hostilities ceased. This was probably the first time that war surplus goods had been sold on the open market and it was a bonanza for the young radio enthusiasts of that day.
Cross and Spannier were very good friends, and during the next few years worked on many experiments together.
Fred George was another well-known experimenter in those days. He lived on Henry Street. St. Catharines and operated a spark station at this address. He was very active on the air in this district before moving to Montreal. There, he worked for RCA, and became a member of the Montreal Amateur Radio Club.
Reg. Seward, VE3AEK, later LO, operated and conducted radio experiments in his parents' home on Water Street, St. Catharines. His bedroom was so cluttered with wires, radio parts, bits and pieces, his mother was forbidden to go inside to clean up. There was no space for Reg's bed. Being a sailor at heart, he took to sleeping in a ship's hammock, strung high above the wireless equipment. Reg was active in this area until six years ago when he moved to San Diego, California and became a W6.
William Allen. VE3XY obtained his commercial license in 1921. Bill operated on the Great Lakes as a " Sparks", going to CKGW, Bowmanville in 1930, and subsequently to CKTB, St. Catharines as a Broadcast Engineer. Since that time he has been hamming in the Niagara District. As a point of interest, Bill inherited his radio vocation from his father, who was issued Canadian Commercial Radio License number 9, in 1910. His dad installed and operated new wireless stations for the Marconi Company of Canada throughout the Great Lakes. He was Chief Operator at Toronto Island Coastal Station, from its inception until a few years ago.
Dr. Howard McGarry, of Niagara Falls, Ontario was another well-known experimenter in the early 1920’s. He became 3KS in 1921, after passing his test at the old Collegiate, St. Catharines.
3KS became Interested In radio, at the age of 12, when he used to visit the home of Walter Goring, Bridge Street, Niagara Falls. Goring, a real pioneer in ham radio, allowed the boys to come in to hear the Arlington time signal, at ten o’clock each night, over NAA, the American Government station In Arlington, West Virginia.
3KS built his first spark set In 1919. It was the usual type, so popular with all young men. He later changed to a 2 Inch spark coil; had an aerial, 100 ft. long, consisting of 4 wires spread two feet apart with the lead in the middle.
In 1921 he bought a Thordarson 112 KW tran3former, a high speed rotary sparkgap. With these two pieces of equipment he could vary his power output, the Thordarson transformer had a small handle which varied the core gap and thus the voltage. The rotary sparkgap speed could also be changed to produce a distinctive note. 3KS worked, handling traffic with 3BP, Ted Rogers, the only Canadian mentioned in QST's “Fifty Years of ARRL” as one of the amateurs heard by Godley during the second Atlantic listening tests.
Graham Peacock, VE3S1 ex 3SF -3GH -3CLT began his amateur career at Milton, Ontario, in 1915, with a Ford spark coil, the usual galena detector, a single Bell telephone receiver and a roll of phosphor bronze wire. This wire which was rolled on a spool was a very tenacious metal, and Graham found it impossible to take out the curls. Eventually, with the help of his dad’s team of Clydesdales, he was able to stretch it straight enough to use for his flat-top antenna.
A Christmas present, a pair of Brandes headphones, were purchased for Graham by his mother, from a firm In the United States. They were shipped to his aunt's home In Niagara Falls, N. Y ., where they were later picked up, wrapped in fancy paper, and presented to him on Christmas Morning.
Shortly after, an agent of the FBI, or whatever they were called In those days, arrived at his aunt's home to question her about the headphones. It seems they assumed a secret enemy agent was engaged In building a radio station to communicate with Germany, for these were the years of World War I. Graham's aunt assured the Government man that they were in no danger, in the hands of a twelve-year-old boy!
He received his license In 1922, and the call, C3SF, after Mr. Sam Ellis called at his home and gave him his test. By this time he had a Thordarson 1/4 KW spark set and the usual audlon tube receiver. Graham then built a phone station which was a copy of the set used by CFCA, the Toronto Star Station, putting on a concert for local listeners, which was heard in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, better than the signals from CFTA.
After University he became a pharmacist. After serving overseas in World War II, he settled In St. Catharines and became a NPARC member and an active ham. He now operates VE3SI in Fonthill, Ont...
Some other early amateurs in this area are:
C. W. Boughner, 3CG, a member of the early radio clubs and now living in Florida. He was an early volunteer In World War II.
Charlie Lynden, 3MM, Port Colborne, attended meetings in the old Collegiate.
A. F. Habgood, 3TL, of Niagara Falls, very active in the old days.
W. R. Brown, St. Catharines, went to early code classes in the Collegiate. Licensed in 1920, with the call 3BS.
Cam Rutherford, 3ZD, later VE3ASH, became a crack CW operator. He attended Toronto University, exchanging ham radio for study. Cam became associated with the Lightning Fastener Co. and returned to amateur radio, keeping schedules with his friend, Jack McCalla in Ottawa and his brother in Mexico City. He is now considering returning to the air on SSB.
Jack McCalla, VE3DH, of this city was another early volunteer in World War II. Many fine Hamfests and melon feeds were held at the McCalla farm on Niagara Street, in the old days.
T. 0. Wiklund, 3AQ, became one of Canada’s top announcers on radio. He accompanied King George and Queen Elizabeth, as an official CBC announcer, on their 1939 tour. (Now a Silent Key.)
Harry Starr, 3KA, a very well-known ham, later became a VEl, in Nova Scotia, he then moved to England. (Fine old photos are Included.)
Harold Stewart, VE3NF, is now a professor at Queen’s University. Kingston. Ontario.
There were no doubt others, unknown to me.
These were the years of the great leap forward in amateur radio. Traffic nets had been established. (Mainly through the efforts of Hiram Percy Maxim, WIAW), which covered the area between the Mexican border and parts of Canada. This, in effect, was the establishment of our present A.R.R.L. nets.
There was a great rivalry between spark and CW but the majority of traffic was handled by spark stations. The great dream now was to span long distances and the vast space between continents.
Early in February, 1921, a number of amateurs in North America transmitted pre-arranged signals to England on the 200 meter wave-length. Over two hundred British experimenters, competing for awards offered by manufacturers of wireless equipment, listened for the signals from America. Their receivers were of the regenerative type and radiated with such intensity. It is doubtful if the transmitted signals from America could be heard. Commercial harmonics and man-made QRN added to the din, and a meager knowledge of frequency calibration frustrated this experiment.
After this failure, at a meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors, Traffic Manager, Fred Schnell, IMO, suggested that an American amateur, with the best available equipment be sent overseas to try to receive the new tests scheduled for late 1921. He felt that success would be assured if the receivers used were calibrated to the known transmitter frequencies in America.
Paul F. Godley, 2XE, was chosen for his outstanding knowledge and skill. He arrived in Scotland and set up his station in a tent, on the bleak Androssan Moor of the Scottish west coast.
On December 8, 1921, he definitely heard the signals of H.P .Maxim. IAW. His synchronous spark gap with a 60 cycle note was on approximately 270 meters. At last the amateurs had spanned the Atlantic!
More than 30 stations were heard from this side of the Atlantic, the most consistent, according to American records, being the transmitter of 1BCG, of Greenwich. Connecticut.
Among the 26 stations recorded in Godley’s log was the spark station of 3BP, Newmarket, Ontario (the only Canadian listed).
As there were no prefixes denoting countries in those days, there is no doubt that other Canadians were among the 30 stations heard. For example, Lloyd Troup, 3XX of Port Colborne, Ontario, states, "I was one of the lucky ones, with my pure DC transmitter, even if it was low-powered!" Lloyd continues.
"I built my first receiver in the winter of 1920-21, using two De Forest audions. These were a test-tube-like envelope with the flexible, cotton-covered grid and plate leads coming from one end, and from the other end came three filament leads. It had two filaments in case one didn’t last too long. The tube was hung by the leads on four binding posts attached to the front panel of the receiver. The grid circuit consisted of a varlcoupler and a varlometer. The plate circuit had another varlometer, in series with the phones and B batteries, which consisted of 14 flashlight cells in series. The varlometer controlled the regeneration. At this time variable condensers were not commonly used to tune the grid circuits.”
Lloyd continues: "The following winter I built a transmitter, using two 210 tubes in a self-excited circuit. The filaments were lighted by an A battery. The high voltage came from 1200 volts of Edison batteries in one-inch test tubes, which were charged from the gasoline-driven generator that provided the electricity on our farm. In those days we didn’t have Hydro power. My pure DC signals were loop-modulated by a buzzer in series with the key and a turn or two of wire, which was loosely coupled to the plate tank. This produced a MCW signal that was easi1y copied on the receivers of that day.
"I was introduced to ham radio by J. R. Tuck, 3MY,” (Later VE3AI) says Lloyd. "Mr. Tuck, who owned a jewelry store in Port Colborne, was a real pioneer in the early days of amateur radio. It was his interest and willingness to help which made me become a ham, and it was a proud moment for me when I received the call, 3XX, in July, 1922.
Following Godley's success, many more experiments and tests were made. On April 13, 1922, communication was established between Maui, Hawaii and California. Atlantic coast amateurs worked Pacific coast hams, and trans-Atlantic tests of 1922 produced startling results. Atmospheric conditions were probably favourable to radio experiments at this time, although not too much was known about this influence on radio in those days.
During these trans-Atlantic tests of 1922, hundreds of continental amateurs were heard in America, and all districts of the United States were copied In Europe. Many Canadians were also actively engaged in these tests, but due to lack of proper identification, were classed as Americans.
November 27, 1923 was a highlight date in the history of our hobby. Arrangements had been made between Leon Deloy, 8AB, in Nice, France, and Fred Schnell, 1MO, and John Relnartz, IQP-IXAM, in the United States, for a schedule on that day.
Both Schnell and Relnartz heard the 25 cycle note of Deloy on the frequency of 100 meters. After a few calls, Deloy asked Relnartz to stand by and said to Schnell,---
"R R QRK UR SIGS QSA VY ONE FOOT FROM PHONES ON GREBE FB OM HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS THIS IS A FINE DAY MIM PLEASE QSL NR 12.”
For the first time two-way contact had been made across the Atlantic by amateurs and a new era had begun for ham radio.
It was in this same year, 1923, that amateur radio became an important aid in explorations. Don Mix, ITS, accompanied Donald B. MacMillan’s party on his expedition to the North Pole, taking along amateur radio equipment for possible contact with amateurs on the mainland. This venture also proved to be a success and the forerunner of hundreds of future expeditions. Our Port Colborne friend Lloyd Troup. 3XX, reports,----
"In the winter of 1923-24, my signals were heard, and I made poor contact with the amateur operator on board the Schooner Bowdoin, commanded by Dr. MacMillan. He was using the call, WNP. Wireless North Pole."
Lloyd tells of this amusing incident,---
“On Sunday, August 13, 1922, a call came from a friend. 8AII, of Buffalo, New York, it was a terrible sounding signal, covering the whole radio band from end, to I know not where.
I came to find out; he was on his way to visit me, had got as far as Crystal Beach and had lost his way.
He was driving a model “T” Ford. Being ingenious, he turned the ignition switch to battery, slowly cranked the engine until one of the spark plugs was sparking, attached a handy clothesline to the plug terminal, and got back into the car. He keyed his model “T” spark set via the ignition switch and requested instructions for reaching the QTH.”
Lloyd doesn’t way what 8AII used for a receiver,--- Maybe an early pocket transistor radio! HI! HI!
Although we have no date or record, it is thought that an attempt was made about this time to formulate an amateur radio club in Port Colborne. A news item in the Buffalo Courier Express, (no date available), reads as follows….
"Plans were laid in Port Colborne for the formation of an organization to be known as the Great Lakes Short Wave Amateur Transmitting Club."
Murray Corbett, 3AC, who was In charge of a radio convention that was held in Port Colborne at that time, was authorized to petition the American Radio Relay League of Hartford, Connecticut, for a charter to form the club and become affiliated with the parent body. (No one can verify the existence of such a club.)
THE YEARS BETWEEN 1924-1932
During these years great developments took place in modulating the CW carriers and many hams went from experimenting as amateurs into the now popular broadcasting field.
Fred Cross, 3FK, and Alfred Spannler, 3SJ, were the first local hams on phone. They had lots of fun experimenting and transmitting music to each other. By this time a few Niagara District citizens owned early receiving sets; some of them built by youthful amateurs. They enjoyed listening-in to music and the bits of nonsense the young men put over the air. Fred was very proud of his Magnovox speaker, which was a prestige item in those days.
Another Thorold man, named Fendell bought Fred’s station later and used it for broadcasting, calling it "The Hub of the Niagara District.”
Harry Lang. 3OT, of Port Colborne, was also an early experimenter in broadcasting and nearby listeners enjoyed many hours of pleasant listening to Harry's station.
Dr. Howard McGarry, 3KS, of Niagara Falls, Ontario tells me he was licensed by Ottawa, in 1924, to broadcast concerts from his station 3KS, thus becoming the first licensed broadcasting station in Canada. Ted Rogers, 3BP, was his close friend and they spent many happy hours at this pastime.
Ted Rogers became an outstanding engineer in this field. As an amateur he had established a reputation as the only Canadian recorded by Godley, as being heard during the second ARRL trans-Atlantic tests in Androssan, Scotland, in 1921. His station was then in
Newmarket . Ontario.
Rogers then went on to develop the now famous Rogers AC receiving set.
During a trip to the United States he ran across a small experimental radio tube with a heater designed to operate from AC current. This sparked his imagination. He envisioned the future, when every household would have a radio receiver operated directly from the mains; no batteries or complicated low voltage rectifiers to light up the tubes; no B batteries for plate supply. The public would eat it up!
In spite of the advice of American engineers that this would be very difficult, he returned to Canada with the patent rights for the tube in his pocket. Within a year he had developed a set that would operate directly from a light socket; which he placed on the market in 1925. This was the first commercial AC-operated receiver to be produced.
The death of Ted Rogers, on May 6, 1939, at the age of 38 brought sadness to hundreds of amateurs and the public at large. CFRB, which was really an enlargement of 3BP, went off the air until five o’clock on May 8th. On returning to the air, Mr. Harry Sedgwlck, Managing Director of CFRB, following the playing of Handel’s Largo, paid this tribute,---
"It is fitting that we should observe a period of silence during the funeral ceremonies of him who guided the destiny of CFRB from the very outset. Mr. Rogers was more than an executive head of this station. He was only thirty-eight years old at his death, but from his earliest years the miracle of wireless communication was his governing obsession. As a very young man in his early twenties, he perfected the first A.C. tube which made possible the electrical radio receiver and Canadians may well be proud of the first all-electric radio in the world. It was made by him, here in Toronto. Since that time he made many outstanding contributions to the science of radio communication and broadcasting as we know it today, is heavily indebted to him. Like so many of those who had contributed to the advancement of science, he was a shy man, desiring the shadows of obscurity rather than the floodlights of fame. He was however to all, high or low, kindly, generous and considerate. In his too-brief life he made only friends. Better, one cannot say of any man than that those who knew him best, mourn him most, and this may in truth be said of Edward Samuel Rogers.”
Many old-timers sitting in present-day luxury before their modern AC-operated rigs still think of 3BP when they say SK. at the end of an enjoyable QSO.
A.F. Habgood, 3TL, says that an informal radio club was formed in 1927. In this area, about 12 young men met once a month in each other's homes. Other than that, he doesn't recall any details except that W. R. Brown, of St. Catharines was one of the members.
Hamfests and picnics were very popular in these years. The photographs taken at these events show many well-known amateurs of the early days.
From about 1924 on, many of our early experiments were attending college, learning trades, commencing work, getting married and having families.
It wasn't until 1932, that we have any knowledge of group activity. At that time Jack Varey, 3ZB, worked for his father in the Radio Service and Engineering Laboratory, on Taylor Avenue, St. Catharines. Jack had a transmitter set up in the shop and this became an attraction for amateurs and would-be hams.
They began holding regular meetings here every Saturday night. The meetings were informal, and many of today’s local hams had their first taste of ham radio, and learned their code here.
3ZB set up the first local 5 meter transmitter in the shop and operated it by an automatic code wheel for some time before Ralph Janowsky W8NOR, now W2RPO, of Buffalo, N.Y., called one night to report that 3AB's signals were being heard In Buffalo. This sparked great interest in 5 meters. Local hams on 5 were 3AB, 3TW, 3OL, etc…
Jack, 3ZB was a very active ham; a meticulous builder of equipment, and a very patient and encouraging teacher to budding amateurs. He later served with the R.C.A.F. in World War II, and remained In England, where he still does UHF work with large home-built arrays. His call, G8OU.
THE YEARS FROM 1933 to 1939
On December 28th, 1933, a small Hamfest was held at the home of Cy Williamson, VE3TW, 55 George Street, St. Catharines, Cy's log records,
"It looks like this will be a regular thing. Those present, ---
George Threader, VE3KP, Jack Varey, 3ZB. Charlie Howarth, 3OL, Jack McCalla, 3DH, J. Kramer 3RE, Herb West, 3UL, Al Davey, 3A Y, Cy Williamson, 3TW, Leonard Keith, 3UZ, and coming hams, - Jack Blank, Emile Hicks, Ron Jones, and Phil Hudson"
Later on others joined the group; among them, George Wheeler, Guy Fetterly, Larry Armbrust, Norman Busk, Al Williams and others.
There were no specific rules or by-laws. Friday night meetings were well attended. These were the years of the Great Depression. Many young men were unemployed or working short time for low wages. This exciting new world of amateur radio brought pleasure and new hope to those whose future looked anything but rosy.
Cy's own business, Radio, Electrical and Refrigeration repairs, was located in a special room in the basement of his home. It had a separate entrance from the outside. Cy's ham station was also in this room, and it was a perfect place for the meetings. High School boys were welcomed, and they were taught the rudiments of ham radio. The meetings always ended with a light lunch and lots of coffee.
While some amateurs were content with small stations, others experimented and built, always hoping for greater achievements. The field was wide open for new ideas. Some built phone stations; others were die-hard CW fans. Amateur radio had made this world a brighter place for all.
Many young men obtained their amateur radio licenses during the 1930's. It would be difficult to include everyone, but here are some profiles on the most active, known hams of that time.
Emile Hicks, VE3AFI, became interested in amateur radio at the age of 12, when, like one or two others, he had to obtain special permission to attend night-time code classes at the St. Catharines Collegiate Institute. (St-C-C-I-). An uncle: Frank Nicholson of Henry Street had been an experimenter in radio and Emile remembers helping him to dismantle his station during World War I.
Emile also recalls what was probably the first commercial showing of radio receivers in this city. It was held in an anteroom of the Welland House, where receivers were set up on picnic tables. Batteries and a speaker were prominently displayed. Here, the public came to marvel and listen to stations KDKA, Pittsburgh, and WGY, Schenectady, for the first time.
In those days Ecclestone's Radio, on King Street, sold parts for hams. Here, crystal detectors, Murdock parts, and later, domestic receivers could be purchased. Meadows Sharp was the service man at Ecclestone's. He was the father of Lorne Sharp, VE3AUR, of Jones Beach, who now lives In British Columbia.
This store was a good supply place for local hams, when the early receivers became obsolete. A famous receiver, the Stromberg all AC set would supply 3 Cardwell condensers, about 350 MMFD., 6 beautiful four-prong sockets, 6 201A’s, and 2 30-Henry chokes! (The filaments of this receiver were operated on rectified DC, the reason for the 30-Henry chokes, which would pas$ 300 milliamperes.)
Emile, VE3AFI, later lived in one of the St. John Apartments, on Ontario Street. This had formerly been a mansion, belonging to the St. John family. (It has since been removed, and Hotel Dieu Hospital now stands In Its place.)
AFI had his push-pull, tune-grid, tuned-plate transmitter, with No.45 tubes, and a 3-tube receiver; (both home-build) in the tower room of the building. It was high, but cold and draughty.
VE3AGW, Norman Busk also lived In the St. John Apartments. He and Emile were good friends and radio buddies. They both had the same home-built stations, and enjoyed many happy hours of hamming.
Norman Busk now owns the Oakville Inn, in Oakville, Ontario, where the UHF gang meet for banquets, following each ARRL-UHF contest.
George Wheeler, VE3AOI, VE3VM, of this city, was a salesman for the Lallemand's Yeast Co., during the 30's. Calling at 3ZB's Radio Lab he was exposed to ham radio and became a most enthusiastic amateur. He was very active on all bands, including six meters. George, now a Silent Key, was a genial chap. with a flair for organizing good hamfests and bang-up parties. He was a popular MC at these affairs. In his memory, the NPARC adopted his call, VE3VM for on-the-air club activities.
W. T. Tait, (Doc) was another local man remembered by hams in this area. Doc was the Radio Inspector of the district, and gave official tests to Niagara District hams In the 30's.
Doc Tait, (now a Silent Key) started out as a messenger boy for the telegraph company, in his hometown, Halifax, in 1900.
At the age of sixteen he got a Job on a Marconi Wireless station at Belle Isle, on the Straits of Belle Isle. Later, he spent about a year as " Sparks" on the Lady Laurier, a Government Lightship, out of Halifax, which serviced all the coastal lighthouses, such as Sable Island. For this, he received the sum of $55.00 a month.
He became an A.P. wireless operator in Toronto, and was well-known to the Associated Press station In Ottawa, through regular scheduled wireless conversations. From Toronto, he went to Midland, Ontario, where he operated a commercial wireless station, relaying messages over the Great Lakes.
Coming to St. Catharines, he had his own storage battery company, limited. He had four stores including a large building, across St. Paul Street, from the Cenotaph. The one most remembered was on No. 8 Highway. It was there he conducted the code tests for budding amateurs, as the radio Inspector of the Niagara District.
Doc Tait was keenly interested in many local activities. He was Commander of the St. Catharines Sea Cadets for a number of years, and was Secretary of the Aquatic Association of the Henley Regatta. It was chiefly through his efforts that the Henley remained in Port Dalhousie, for the Toronto clubs fought desperately to have the races returned to that city.
At the start of World War II, it was Doc's painful task to supervise the closing down of all ham stations in the area. He was then asked by the Government to join the R.C.A.F., with the rank of Flight-Lieutenant. In civilian clothes, his job was to travel from one air force station to another, giving all pilots and observers, their final radio examinations. At that time the stations were operated by civilian personnel.
At the end of the war he returned to the East Coast: still giving examinations, from Quebec to Nova Scotia; and still loving his job; especially the traveling.
After the war he felt out-numbered in the radio field; and possibly unsure of the new techniques and equipment that had been developed over these years. He moved to the United States and joined a hearing aid company. He had gone deaf himself, in one ear, and blamed this on his occupational hazard: telegraph operating. He said it had been the years of listening on one earphone.
He returned to St. Catharines, opening his own hearing aid store on York Street. He resumed all his former associations with sports, especially the Henley races. On the 8th of April, 1949, he joined the NPARC; renewing his warm relationship with local hams. Many of us remember Doc Tait with affection.
Larry Armbrust, VE3AGS, for many years operated his ham station from his jewelry store in Thorold. Ham friends always found a warm welcome in Larry's ham shack. He later went into the ice cream business and many eyeball QSO's were held in his processing room over soft ice cream, spiked with Rye. He attended all local hamfests and picnics; was a member of NPARC, and is now a Silent Key.
Jack Blank, VE3ABP, and Phil Hudson, VE3BXK, who had been our schoolboy hams in the 30's, are still hamming.
Jack Blank attended the Marconi Company Commercial Operators' School, and operated on one of the passenger ships running between Lakeside Park, Port Dalhousie and Toronto. He is now VE6JL, in Calgary, Alberta, working as a radio Inspector for the DOT. His wife, Jean, is also a licensed ham.
Phil Hudson, VE3BXK, who learned amateur radio in 3AB's Radio Lab., and worked there as a technician. He learned tool-making at McKinnon Industries, and for many years did engineering with the Switson Industries, in Welland. He was an avid builder of ham gear. Many will remember his interesting talks at regular meetings of NPARC. He now resides In Welland, and can be heard on 144 Megs.
Al Davey, VE3AY, of Niagara-on-the-Lake, licensed in 1927, was a regular member of the Radio Lab and George Street meetings. He operated CW exclusively, developing exceptional skill for this mode of communication. He taught code to would-be hams in Niagara-on-the-Lake: among them Herb West, VE3UL, who attended meetings at 55 George Street, and who now lives in St. Catharines, and is a member of NPARC.
A roundup of other known hams in the 1930's follows.
Guy Fetterly, VE3ALN, was an engineer with the Norton Co. of Chippewa, Ontario. He lived and operated from his QTH in Chippawa, and is now a Silent Key. Former member of NPARC.
Arnold Yates, VE3AIN, and Tommy Yates, AHZ, Beaverdams, were well-known in the 1930's and were both members of NPARC.
Arnold is now a Silent Key.
Ronald Jones, VE3AAT, lived on Thairs Avenue, and was Service Manager for Wentworth Radio Co., a supplier of amateur gear during the 30's.
Charlie Roach, VE3RE resided in Niagara Falls, Ontario where he operated his amateur station and was Radio Inspector for that area. His son Bob, VE3DE, was a member of NPARC.
George Fabi, VE3AIO, radio technician with the Misener Steamship Co., and a member of the NPARC.
Harve Cox, VE3FZ, Beamsville, was a member of NPARC, and the host of some fine club wiener roasts. Now a Silent Key.
Fred Green, VE3TI. Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Al Wilkiams, VE3RX, a member of the George Street Club, was an electrical draughtsman with the English Electric Co., before moving to St. Louis. MO. There he operated VE3RX/WO, later WOAKE. He now lives in Covina, California, and operates WB6MKJ.
Cy Williamson, VE3TW, "Tiddley Winks", was associated with early amateurs in this area from 1918. Cy, Chuck Howarth, 3MF - VE3OL and Reg Seward, VE3LO, were boyfriends during the early days of amateur experimenting, and they shared many experiences in building radio gear. Cy was licensed in 1933, and was close to radio developments during the 30's. He was a radio technician before joining the R.C.A.F., as a Radar Signals Officer, overseas.
Returning to Canada In 1945, he obtained his commercial license, and became OIC –Port Weller Lighthouse and Radio Beacon Station.
From this QTH, Cy and his wife, Ethel, VE3DTW, operate their ham station.
Early in the summer of 1936, the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta Association approached the local hams with a request to furnish communications from the Judges' boat to the Grandstand; to be put over their public address system..
Due to the winding course, both the start and the first third of the races were obscured from the viewers in the Grandstand. If we could furnish the communications, an announcer in the Judges boat, (which started and followed the race) would carry on a running commentary, to be relayed over loud speakers in the Grandstand, thus increasing the enjoyment of the spectators, until the sculls came into view.
A license was requested from DOT, and it was issued with the experimental call, VE9AGW. After some discussion by active hams, who at this time were becoming UHF enthusiasts, VE3TW, Cy was given the go-ahead to construct the equipment to operate on a frequency of 60 mc's. The transmitter was a single 6A6 in a tuned grid circuit, powered by a gene motor, which furnished 200 volts of rippley DG. The modulation was furnished by a similar tube in class B, with a carbon mike for its driver. The receiver was an RF stage, followed by a super-regenerative detector, and an audio state, into a 500 ohm output transformer. All were housed in two metal boxes, about a foot square and ten Inches deep.
After construction was completed, tests were made from the starting point to the Grandstand. Results were good. Now came the wait for the Henley races to begin. It was a period of great anticipation and high hopes.
On the day of the Regatta, the equipment was set up in the boat, and on top of the Grandstand. The local radio broadcast station later set up their remote unit for a broadcast of the Regatta, as they would see it through field glasses.
When they heard our tests, they immediately saw the possibility of using our pickup, for a running account of the races, as seen from the Judges' boat. This would not do. Being amateurs, it was impossible to feed our circuit into a commercial channel.
As the test proceeded, and the broadcast company finished their connections to the telephone line, it became apparent that our receiver had considerable output, which was getting into their high-gain mike amplifier, and of course would be broadcast over the air.
They immediately tried to close us down, but, due to the difficulty of securing a ruling from DOT, were unable to do so. They finally had to accept what they were getting, and, as we had no direct connection to their lines, we felt that we were not breaking the rules.
Their announcer was welcomed aboard our boat, and he did a fine job of commenting on the races, adding a little jollity to the occasion.
The whole affair went off with a bang, but, to be honest, yes, you guessed It;... When the final and most important race of the day came along, the batteries were dead!
Just to make it a perfect occasion, the announcer was jerked off the back of the boat, when it started up too quickly, and, holding onto the mike like a true commentator, carried the transmitter into the water with him.
So much for the good, solid connectors used between mike and transmitter!
In 1937, Ernie Roy, W8XH, Robert Hyde and Jack Von Scheldt of Buffalo, set up a 5 meter transmitter and receiver on the highest hill in Colden, New York.
At the same time, Harry Lang, VE3ADO, had set up his equipment atop a grain elevator in Port Colborne. The Colden station established contact with W8HQG, In Elma, N. Y., (a distance of about 14 miles) and they had a QSO. They were elated about this accomplishment, and tuned around for other stations.
ADO was ready for them, and it was a great day for Harry when the first 5 meter contact was made between Port Colborne and the U.S.A., over Lake Erie.
Later that day, ADO contacted W8GU, In Erie, Pennsylvania. Station W8GU was operating a crystal-controlled transmitter, having a power input of one watt!
NOTE: The site In Colden, New York, chosen by the Buffalo hams for their radio experiment is now the home of WBEN- TV.
The 1930's were the years of memorable hamfests and picnics in this area. A number of local hams also traveled to Toronto, Buffalo, Chlllecothe, Ohio, and other cities, attending conferences and ARRL Conventions.
Many ham picnics were held at Sugar Loaf Hill, Harry Lang's home In Port Colborne. The one I remember was in the summer of 1938, when the Niagara District Radio Club was invited to attend a hamfest and picnic.
There was a fine turnout of hams and their XYL's, and we enjoyed swimming, baseball on the beach and a fine lunch. This was an opportunity of local hams to meet others from Toronto, Buffalo, and many other cities.
One of the highlights of the day was meeting Noel Eaton, VE3CJ, (now Canadian Director of ARRL). Noel had his station wagon outfitted with a mobile radio unit. This proved of keen Interest to everyone present.
Bobs Seward, VE3AFL, was at this picnic with her OM, Reg, VE3LO. Bobs was the first YL to be licensed in this area. The Corbett sisters, Elsie and Lyla, of Port Colborne were most enterprising. They built their own transmitter of approximately 100 watts, and used the joint call. VE3YL.
THE YEAR 1939 - THE CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION
In 1939, an amateur radio station was erected on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition to publicize the hobby. The call was VE9CNE.
The usual low frequency gear was set up In the Women’s Building, and messages were accepted for transmission, from visitors to the Exhibition to their friends and relatives in Canada and the United States.
Harry Lang, VE3ADO, President of the Wireless Association of Toronto at that time, and a UHF enthusiast, thought it would be a good idea to have a five meter mobile unit around the grounds, and a base in the Women’s Building, receiving and putting the reception over a loud speaker. The visitors would then become more interested in the project. This was easily attained. The reception from St. Catharines, Hamilton and Buffalo, both to the fixed station and to the mobile, was beyond expectation. The results were most gratifying: especially working a mobile from the C.N.E.
Participants, as remembered by the writer were, VE3DC, VE3ZB, VE3TW, W8NOR, W8SOK, W2ROX, Billey.
The demonstration of amateur radio to the public was a definite success, but the joy of this accomplishment was bittersweet. On September 3rd, 1939, the Declaration of War between Great Britain and Germany put an end to all amateur activity. At 18:15 E.D.S.T., on September 3rd, 1939, ADO and TW pulled the Big Switch, and VE9CNE was off the air.
This was a sad day for hams all across Canada. Our country was at war too, for Parliament had so declared. A call was broadcast for volunteers amongst radio amateurs to join the armed services in aid of their country. Hams by the hundreds offered their knowledge and skills in all branches of Government Forces. Others volunteered for special civilian duties. Thus they justified the faith and trust our country had bestowed on them.
And so, over this land, amateur radio was stilled for the duration of the war.
NOTE A
Thus ends the first part of amateur radio In the Niagara District. The second part of our story will deal with the years following World War II; the formation of the Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club, and ham activities in this area to the present day.
NOTE B
While this is primarily a story of Amateur Radio in the Niagara District, many of the photographs and incidents mentioned were taken from the scrapbook of William Young Sloan, of Toronto. In 1912, Bill operated 3VM from his home at 167 Close Avenue. Later, on March 24 th, 1923, he was issued Certificate of Proficiency in Radiotelegraphy. (No.3, VE3CA.)
Bill Sloan is now a Silent Key. Our thanks go to Bill Choate. VE3CO of Toronto, who was kind enough to lend us these carefully-preserved records of the old days.
POSTSCRIPT
We hope that you have enjoyed this book. It has been a long time from start to finish. Ethel wrote this book 22 years ago (December 6. 1966). It has taken these many years to finally arrive in published form, just in time to celebrate the 40th year of the Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club.
Special thanks of course go out to Ethel, VE3DTW and Cy, VE3TW, for this must have taken untold hours of research AND COMPOSING. Such can only be admired.
Note: For those interested in her other book
A Light on the Seaway
A Light on the Seaway is a family story, affectionately told with an unusual and romantic setting. Interwoven and intertwined are threads of history of the Welland Canals; their progressions, and their effects on the lives of everyone living in the Niagara Area.
Early in June, 1969, this message was broadcast to all ships on the St. Lawrence Seaway, --- "NOTICE TO MARINERS, As of June 23, 1969 the Main Light at Port Weller Lighthouse will be extinguished, and the tower and markings subsequently removed from that location."
The Port Weller Lighthouse was demolished in 1971. This book tells the story of the Port Weller Lighthouse. This Book is Brand New . I only opened it to take the photos. It is 122 pages. Measures 6 inches by 9 inches. Written in 1972 by Ethel Williamson. Contains historical photos.
More info can be found at: http://www.hlps.ca/LightOnTheSeawayBook.htm
