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Index
Aitken, Hugh G. J., 64, 158n14
Allen, Woody, 141
amateur radio (ham radio), 19, 17, 29–36, 40–41, 136, 159n29. See also Radio Club of America
amplitude modulation (of radio waves), 3–5, 16, 43–44, 89–91, 167n40
arc oscillator, 25–28
binary amplitude modulation, 12–13
FSK as alternative to, 23, 25–27
high-fidelity, 122, 127–28 Annie Hall,141
arc oscillator, 18, 24–28, 32–33, 48, 51, 77
Armstrong, Edwin Howard (EHA), 1–11 passim, 62
amateur radio friends, 63, 93, 101, 106
balanced amplifier, 78–95, 105, 114, 137, 140, 168n4
Carson, John, 46–47, 84–85, 90, 93–94, 162n30, 167n40
de Forest, Lee, 80–81, 98–99, 168n8
Elwell, Cyril, 28
as mathematician and theorist, 80–85, 89–91, 94–96, 100–101, 114, 137, 161n29
Radio Club of America, 32–35, 41, 62, 98, 116, 123, 136
superheterodyne, 43, 62, 165n4
superregeneration, 62–63, 165n5. See also Armstrong wideband FM radio (AWBFM narrow-band FM (NBFM)
Armstrong wideband FM radio (AWBFM), 10–11, 18, 135–36
EHA publicity campaign, 111–13, 116– 20, 123
EHA’s 1936 paper about, 76, 81, 102
FM pioneers, 120–26, 130–40 passim
KDKA (Westinghouse) contributions, 57, 64, 77, 137
NBFM, 87
network demonstrations, 124–25
resistance to interstation interference discovered, 124
static properties, EHA discovers, 100–101. See also under Radio Club of America RCA
relationship between static and AWBFM, 1, 77–78, 89–95, 100–33 passim, 137–40
tube noise (hiss), 89–96
—RCA: decision not to back, 108–11, 114–15
disclosure, 96
evaluation of AWBFM, 100–107, 113–14, 116
FCC hearing, 133–34
installation in Empire State Building Television Lab, 96–97, 99–100
long distance overemphasized, 78, 89, 95, 102, 107, 138
slow acceptance of AWBFM by, 126–32
AT120
patents before AWBFM, 48–49, 58, 59–60, 64. See also Carson, John R.Western Electric Company
attorneys (lawyers), 2, 63, 133–34. See also Tunick, Harry
AWBFM. See Armstrong wideband FM radio
Baker, W. R. G., 110–11, 113–14, 129, 175n47
balanced amplifier. See under Armstrong, Edwin Howard (EHA)
Beal, Ralph, 67, 72–73, 111, 113–14
Bellamy, Edward (Looking Backward), 40
Bell Laboratories. See AT
Beverage, Harold, 31–32, 35, 63, 69
early FM work, 56–57. See also RCA: long-distance FM
—AWBFM, 35, 73, 93, 97, 117, 127
EHA discloses to, 96
black-boxed technology, 132, 135
broadcasting boom (1920s), 37–43, 47. See also congestion of AM broadcasting
Broadcasting magazine (Broadcasting-Broadcasting Advertising), 52–53, 123, 125, 133–34
Bureau of Navigation (Department of Commerce), 38, 41, 42, 161n16
Burghard, George, 34–35, 101–2, 112, 160nn49–50
Burns, Ken, 1. See also canonical history of FM radio
canonical history of FM radio, 1–8, 24, 76–77
Ken Burns and Tom Lewis (Empire of the Air), 1, 8, 156n14
EHA role in creating, 4–5, 111–12 —claims of, 1–2, 4–8, 102
AWBFM disclosure caught RCA off guard in 1933, 61
AWBFM high fidelity, 118–19, 173n23
AWBFM threatened RCA investment in AM radio, 1, 5, 7, 108–9
Carson error curbed FM research, 46–47, 161n29
FM abandoned by all but EHA, 18, 47, 49, 111–12
patents assert that wider frequency swing suppresses static, 100–101
RCA retarded spread of AWBFM, 1, 7–8
—Lessing, Lawrence, and Edwin Howard Armstrong: Man of High Fidelity, 1, 5–8, 60–63, 78–79, 156n11, 165n5
factual errors of, 46–47, 61, 101–2, 108–9, 118–19, 123, 161n29
influence on later historians, 1, 4–6, 8, 156n13
capacitance (capacitor and condenser). See resonance
Cardozo, Benjamin, 98–99
Carson, John R.: balanced amplifiers, 79–80, 84–85, 93–94
coinage of “frequency modulation,” “amplitude modulation,” 44, 161n25
NBFM, 44–47, 53–60 passim, 71, 161n29, 167n40
mathematics, 81
modulation theory misinterpreted, 46–47, 54–60 passim, 76, 105, 161n29, 167n40
single-sideband modulation, 43, 46, 79, 85, 161n22
cascaded amplification (staged amplification), 89, 91–92, 99–100
CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System), 124, 131
clear-channel AM stations, 108, 120–21
coherer, 12–16, 19–21, 23, 28–30, 40
Commerce, Department of, 34, 38, 40, 41, 42. See also Federal Radio Commission Hoover, Herbert National Radio Conferences Navigation, Bureau of Radio Act of 1912
condenser. See resonance
congestion of AM broadcasting (1920s), 37–39, 40–42, 136
—nontechnological fixes, 38–39, 41–42, 121
FM research spurred by, 60, 136 —technological fixes, 43
NBFM proposed as, 43–44, 54–55, 60, 135, 136, 140
continuous-wave radiation, 24, 28, 45–46, 158n14
corporate research, 6–8, 28–29, 55, 57–61, 78, 97
Crosby, Murray, 35. See also RCA: long-distance FM
—FM (not AWBFM), 58, 65–70, 72–73, 75, 167n39
published papers on, 35, 69, 76, 130
crystal oscillator, 43, 49–53, 88
crystal oscillator frequency modulation, 49–53, 88
cultural context and technology, 2, 19, 36, 109, 137
externalism and social construction, 9
postwar culture, 141–42
de Forest, Lee, 35, 40, 114, 117, 122
FSK, 26
regeneration litigation, 98–99, 111
Doolittle, Franklin M., 122, 125
doubler. See frequency multiplier
drift, frequency: in AM radio, 38
in FM radio, 65
Edison, Thomas, 139–40
Edison Electric Company, 55
educational radio, 121, 134, 140, 141
Edwin Howard Armstrong: Man of High Fidelity.See canonical history of FM radio
EHA. See Armstrong, Edwin Howard
Ehret wireless telegraph and telephone system, 25–28, 37, 72, 157n7
first FM patent application filed, 18–24
reactance modulation, 23, 88–89
slope detector, 22–23, 26, 28, 87, 137
Electro Import Company (Electro Importing Company) and Electro Import Catalogue,31–32
Elwell, Cyril F., 26–28
externalist history of technology, 8–9, 139
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 41, 99, 122, 131
radio spectrum paradigm, 39, 42
report to Congress, 108–9. See also Federal Radio Commission
Federal Radio Commission, 38–39, 41–43, 121, 140
Federal Telegraph Company, 26–27
feedback. See Armstrong, Edwin Howard: super-regeneration
Ferguson, Eugene, 19
Fessenden, Reginald Aubrey, 16, 26–28, 35, 122
fidelity. See high fidelity
FMBI (FM Broadcasters, Incorporated). See FM pioneers
FM facsimile, 49, 88, 116–17, 119
FM network demonstrations, 124–25, 130
FM pioneers, 1, 35, 68, 70, 99, 116–17, 137–38
Baker, W. R. G., 129
canonical history of FM, 5
FCC FM hearing, 133–34
Shepard, John, 3rd, and Paul DeMars, 120–22, 124–25, 130
FM radiotelegraphy. See FSK (frequency shift keying)
FRC. See Federal Radio Commission
frequency doubler (frequency multiplier), 53, 89
frequency multiplier (frequency doubler and frequency tripler), 53, 89
frequency tripler (frequency multiplier), 89
FSK (frequency shift keying), 22–23, 25–28, 48, 83–85, 164n63
General Electric Company (GE), 27, 100, 128
high-frequency alternator, 24, 158n14
RCA unification plan, 61–62, 64
—FM, 48, 122, 124–27, 129, 131–32
influence of research on later work, 61–62, 64–67, 136–37
geographical patterns of FM patent holders, 51, 58–59
long-distance (long-range) FM. See under RCA
Gernsback, Hugo, 31–33
Godley, Paul (Radio Club of America), 33, 35, 117, 122
ham radio. See amateur radio
Hansell, Clarence (RCA), 56, 140
FM patents, 58, 69, 73, 79, 105
limiter circuit, 57
misinterprets Carson modulation theory, 46–47, 76, 104–5, 162n29, 167n40
opposition to frequency swing, 71–72, 104–5. See also RCA: long-distance FM
skepticism about commercial success of, 106, 130–31
wide frequency swing, change of mind about, 106. See also RCA
Hanson, O. B. (RCA), 126, 130–31, 132
Harbord, James (RCA), 65–66, 105
high-brow culture and FM broadcasting, 141
high fidelity (hi-fi): AM radio, 122, 127–28
FM radio. See also under Armstrong wideband FM radio (AWBFM)
high-frequency alternator, 24, 158n14
Hoover, Herbert, 34, 40–41, 136
Horn, Charles W. (KDKA, NBC), 51–53, 97, 129
Hughes, Thomas Parke, 8, 9, 15
independent inventor, 2, 7, 48, 57–58, 60, 99, 114;
EHA as, 137
inductance (inductor). See resonance
instantaneous frequency, 3, 16–17, 45, 87, 155n5
Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE), 34–35, 55, 112, 129
AWBFM demonstration, 116–21, 123, 173n23
Carson, John, 46
National Radio Conferences, 40–41. See also Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers
internalist history of technology, 8–9, 139
KDKA radio station (Pittsburgh), 44, 48–59, 72, 97, 129, 163n45
shared FM research results with RCA, 61–62, 64–67, 136–37. See also Westinghouse
Keith, Michael (Sounds of Change), 8, 157n7
lawsuits, 18–19, 64, 98–99, 111, 170n46
AWBFM, 7–8, 104–5. See also lawyers
lawyers (attorneys), 2, 63, 133–34. See also Tunick, Harry
Lewis, Tom, 8, 156n14. See also canonical history of Fm radio
limiter circuit, 18, 24, 53, 57, 89, 158n12
Little, Donald (KDKA), 50–51, 163n45
Looking Backward (Bellamy), 40
low-power FM broadcasting, 142
low-static FM (or low-tube-hiss FM). See Arm-strong wideband FM radio
MacKenzie, Donald, 138–39
masculinity and radio technology, 30
resonance, 16–17
Modern Electrics magazine, 31, 33
multipath (multiphase) fading, 68–70, 72
multiplier, frequency (frequency doubler and frequency tripler), 53, 89
musical arc, 24–25
narrowband FM (NBFM), 10, 66, 111, 135–36
canonical history overemphasis of, 111–12
Carson, John, 44–47, 53–54, 57, 60, 85, 90
congestion and static, 43–44, 54–55, 57, 60, 135, 136, 140
KDKA (Westinghouse), 44–45, 52–54, 66
National Radio Conferences, 34, 40–42, 135
natural law, 2, 9–10, 135, 140
Navigation, Bureau of (Navigation Service), 38, 41–42, 161n16
NBC (National Broadcasting Company), 51–52, 56, 65, 124–26
AWBFM skepticism, 127–28, 130–32
AWBFM testing, 96–100, 106, 112
high-fidelity FM, 119
profits, 108–9
analogy to describe broadcasting, 40, 42
Noble, Daniel E., 122
nonprofit broadcasters, 120, 140
normal practice, 23, 28, 44, 79, 88, 124, 132
Nyman, Alexander, 28–29, 51, 158n27
patent court: AWBFM, 7–8, 104–5
regeneration, 98–99, 111, 170n46
patents: FM-related patents, 47–49
Peterson, Harold O., 31–32, 56–57, 63, 75, 96, 103, 164n63
phase modulation, 3, 63, 87, 97, 126, 158n27
similarity to FM, 47, 89, 155n3 PIRE. See Proceedings of the Institute of RadioEngineers
Pollack, Dale (RCA), 129–30
Poulsen, Valdemar, 12, 18, 24–28, 77, 157 (epigraph note)
printing press analogy of broadcasting, 40, 42
Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers (Proceedings of the IRE): Crosby, Murray, articles, 76, 126
EHA articles, 76, 79–80, 83, 65, 117
FM articles nearly but not published, 66–67, 75–76
FM articles published, 46–47, 76;
Proceedings of the Radio Club of America, compared with, 34 Proceedings of the Radio Club of America. See under Radio Club of America
Radio Act of 1912, 39–40
Radio Club of America, 32–35, 159n40
Burghard, George, 35, 101, 112, 160nn49–50
discussions about FM in early 1920s, 60
EHA, 35, 41, 62, 98, 116, 123, 136
National Radio Conferences, 34, 41, 136
presidents, 32, 34, 101, 160n49;
Proceedings of, 34, 60
Runyon, Carman, Jr., 35, 92–93, 100, 122, 160n50
transatlantic shortwave demonstrated by, 33, 116–17, 136. See also under Armstrong, Edwin Howard
members who advocated, 33, 35, 117, 136
members who helped test, 35, 93, 100–101, 106, 112, 117, 136
Radio Corporation of America. See RCA Radio Engineering Laboratories (REL), 122, 125, 131–32
Radio Group patent pool, 55–56, 64, 66, 98
radio network, 56, 65, 97, 108, 135, 138, 141
FM network demonstrations, 124–25, 130
Yankee Network, 120–22, 126. See also NBC Radio Service Bulletin (Bureau of Navigation), 42, 161n16
radio spectrum, 37–43, 136, 161n16
arc oscillator system, 18, 24–28, 77
EHA invention, 83–85
Ehret system, 18–23
RCA commercial service, 68–71, 105. See also FSK
radiotelephony. See amplitude modulation
arc oscillator; AWBFM; long-distance FM; NBFM
RCA, 51–52
corporate structure, 55–56
EHA relationship, 62–63, 93, 99, 113–14
NBFM, 44, 46–47, 56–57, 63, 72
regeneration litigation, 98–99
unification plan, 61–62, 64–67, 136–37. See also Armstrong, Edwin Howard AWBFM; Beverage, Harold; Crosby, Murray; Hansell, Clarence; RCA Victor
—long-distance FM: 56–59, 61–76, 97
Beverage, Peterson mid-1920s work, 31
collaboration with EHA, 61, 63–64, 67–76, 87–88, 112
frequency deviation, 92
KDKA (Westinghouse), 54, 61–62, 64–67, 72, 136–37
unification plan, 61–62, 64–67
RCA Communications, Incorporated (RCAC). See RCA
RCA Manufacturing, Incorporated (RCAM). See RCA
RCA Patent Department, 63, 75–76, 100, 110–11, 120
RCA unification plan, 63–66, 136–37
RCA Victor Company, 64, 65, 97, 106, 109, 110–11, 112, 117. See also RCA; Victor Talking Machine Company
REL. See Radio Engineering Laboratories
resonance (resonant circuits, tuned circuits, tuning), 38–39, 62, 87, 89, 124, 139, 165n4
arc oscillator, 24–27
formula, 16–17
Runyon, Carman, Jr., 35, 92–93, 100, 117–18, 122, 125, 160n50
Sadenwater, Harry (RCA, Radio Club of America), 35, 105–6, 109, 112, 117, 123, 127–30
Sarnoff, David (RCA), 61–64, 93, 96, 99, 109, 113;
unification plan, 63–66, 136–37
Schairer, Otto S. (RCA), 110–11, 119–20
Schmeling-Stribling fight, 72–73, 75, 119
EHA’s tendency toward, 6, 35, 78–79, 92–93, 100, 112, 137
EHA and RCA’s FM research, 61, 75, 112
serendipity, 77–78, 85, 95, 100, 115, 167n1
Shepard, John, 3rd, 120–26, 130, 133, 138
sidebands, 3–4, 43, 45–46, 71, 100–101
single-sideband modulation (SSB), 43, 46, 79, 85, 161n22
balanced amplifier, 79
slope detector (reactance demodulator), 21–24, 26, 28, 87–88, 137
social context as an influence on technology, 2, 8, 9–10, 38–31, 35–36, 114, 122, 135–40
sound effects, 118–19, 125, 173n23
Sounds of Change (Sterling and Keith), 8
spark gap, 12–13, 15–16, 19, 21, 40
spectrum paradigm. See radio spectrum static
(static noise), 43
balanced amplifier, 82–88, 90, 105, 140
belief that wider FM channels allow more, 85, 87, 90–91, 95, 101, 140
belief that wider frequency swing of FM suppresses, 100–103
electrification, 38
NBFM and, 43–44, 54–55, 57, 60, 135, 136, 140
Staudenmaier, John, 8–9
stereophonic radio: FM, 134, 141, 176n10
AM, 127–28
Sterling, Christopher (Sounds of Change), 8, 157n7
Stokes, W. E. D. (Weddy), Jr., 32–33, 159n40
superheterodyne circuit, 43, 62, 165n4
superregeneration circuit, 62–63, 165n5
Taylor, C. H. (RCAC), 65, 103, 104
technological determinism, 9–10, 138–39
telephony, overland: audio fidelity compared with AWBFM, 119
metaphor for radio broadcasting, 40
television, 2, 39, 60, 96–97, 100, 109, 111
channel 1 and AWBFM, 126, 133–34
Thomson, Elihu, 27
transatlantic shortwave radio. See shortwave radio
tripler. See frequency multiplier
tube noise (or tube hiss), 89–95, 105, 114, 123
Tunick, Harry (RCA), 75, 100–101. See also lawyers
tuning. See resonance
unification plan (of RCA), 61, 64–66, 136–37
United States, FM bin, 141
U.S. Congress, 33–34, 38–42, 99, 108, 127
U.S. Patent Office, 1, 19, 63, 85
Victor Talking Machine Company, 64–65. See also RCA; RCA Victor
Vincenti, Walter, 139
Wajcman, Judy, 138–39
Walpole, Horace, 77–78, 115, 167 (epigraph note)
Western Electric Company (manufacturing arm of AT
Westhampton Beach demonstration (12 June 1934), 35, 101–6
Westinghouse (Westinghouse Electric
Manufacturing Company), 28, 37, 48–59, 61–62, 64–67, 72, 136–37
regeneration patent litigation, 98, 170n46
World War I, 27–28, 35, 37, 79, 136
EHA military service, 34–35, 62
Wozencraft, Frank W. (RCA lawyer), 133–34
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