Radio Club History by Paul Discher,kb0vdd, April 12, 1996Information Researched by Tefford "Teff" W. Reed, n0wye1996 Marks the 50 anniversary of the Washington University Amateur Radio Station W0QEV. Radio heralded the beginnings of what we call today our Òelectronic ageÓ. The Washington University Amateur Radio Station and subsequent student club played a historical role in post-radio communications research conducted on the Washington University Campus. In the summer of 1913 two 60ft iron experimental radio communications towers were erected by Dean Langsdorf (long time dean of engineering, and also chairman of Electrical Engineering simultaneously). The towers spanned 350ft between CupII and Eads (old physics building) and loomed over the stately granite buildings of the campus, then almost entirely comprised of the buildings that flank the Quad. Much of the ÒUniversity CommunityÓ were not happy with these towers as many people did not understand the coming importance of Radio and its needed research. Letter to acting Chancellor Hall from Dean Langsdorf 3 September 1913: " With regard to the wireless towers, you will of course remember the conversation in the course of which I asked your permission to have them erected on Cupples II and Eads Hall. Certainly they would not have been authorized by me without your sanction.......It was thought that if the University had a wireless equipment at all, it ought to be in the same class as that of other similar institutions. At the University of Illinois they have an outfit even larger than ours will be..... Things, have not changed...even in 1913 the motivation for advancement and change was driven by academic competition. Much of the concerns relating to the radio transmission towers came from suspicions that the antenna towers posed a treat from lightning.
In response to Dean Langsdorf 3 September 1913 from acting Chancellor Hall dated August 30th, 1913 .....
"My dear Langsdorf:
I find on returning to the University from abroad that the wireless
towers erected on the buildings are creating some criticism, how serious or
how wide-spread I do not know. That we can talk over when you return. There
is one serious matter which should be attended to, if not already looked after.
The insurance man has called our attention to the fact that these towers add
an additional risk because of their height, and I write to ask whether they
have been grounded. We should, of course, take precaution against their
being struck by lightning. .....
The Engineering school was celebrating 40plus years in 1913 yet the
Department of Electrical Engineering was in its infancy. The Cupples
Laboratories were the engineering schoolÕs first technical teaching
laboratories and consisted of large scale mechanical equipment and early
electrical apparatus and was housed in a large wood building that covered
the area where Bryan and Jolly Halls now sit. To the north of campus there
was a rail line and power plant. High voltage was used and supplied by the
railroad for certain tests and electric railway experiments.
Around 1914 there were probably only 5 Electrical Engineering faculty, maybe even fewer, however Professor Blatterman apparently knew a lot about wireless (as they called radio) and lead much of the early radio research in the Electrical Engineering Department. Professor Blatterman for the next several years conducted many experiments some of which are published in the 1916 proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers. ( The IRE was the precursor of what is know today as the IEEE Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineering). During World War I Washington University invest a lot of money building temporary facilities to teach classes on wireless and standard telegraphy for the United States Signal Corps. In 1917 The Department of the Navy orders all experimental radio stations dismantled and offered for war service. It is believed that Professor Blatterman left Washington University and goes to Leavenworth, KS as a first Lieutenant in the US Army. Further information regarding Professor BlattermanÕs career is unknown after this point. After World War I some sort of experimental radio station was reassembled but we have found no record of a license until it shows up as 9YAB in the late 20's. From here we really have no information until 1946 when the club formally forms or reforms. The period between the wars is what I am hoping alumni might be able to help us with although even post WWII info would be of interest as it can't hurt to have more. Mostly complete text of letters between Langsdorf and Hall.
>From letter to Acting Chancellor Hall from langsdorf sept 3, 1913: ...
" With regard to the wireless towers, you will of course remember the
conversation in the course of which I asked your permission to have them
erected on Cupples II and Eads Hall. Certainly they would not have been
authorized by me without your sanction. I do not recall clearly whether the
height of the towers was discussed when you consented to their installation,
but it must be clear that a span of 300 feet, more or less, demands a
sufficiently high tower to clear the ground. Moreover, there is a scientific
relation between the length of the span and its height above the ground,
which
in this case fixed the height of the towers above the roof. This height is
greater than the one selected, partly because of the appearance, but largely
because of the cost the full height would have involved. It was the element
of cost which forbade the consideration of towers built directly on the
ground, unless, indeed they were made so small as to make the entire i
installation a mere plaything. The long aerial, considerably elevated, is
a fundamental requirement where a reasonable radius of action is desired. It
was thought that if the University had a wireless equipment at all, it ought
to be in the same class as that of other similar institutions. At the
University of Illinois they have an outfit even larger than ours will be.
The grounding of the towers is, of course, an elemental requirement that I
would not be guilty of omitting; the grounded towers constitute efficient
lightning rods, and add to the safety of the building rather than the
reverse."
In response to, hall to langsdorf August 30th, 1913 .....
"My dear Langsdorf:
I find on returning to the University from abroad that the wireless
towers erected on the buildings are creating some criticism, how serious or
how wide-spread I do not know. That we can talk over when you return. There
is one serious matter which should be attended to, if not already looked
after.
The insurance man has called our attention to the fact that these towers add
an additional risk because of their height, and I write to ask whether they
have been grounded. We should, of course, take precaution against their
being struck by lightning. Perhaps I was in error in consenting to their
erection without knowing more definately the height and appearance. Some
seem
to think that the same purpose could have been secured with towers erected
from the ground. You will have to make clear to me so that I can make it
clear to me, so I can make clear to others, the advantages of the present
arrangement. ..."
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