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Wireless telegraphy or radiotelegraphy is transmission of text messages by radio waves, analogous to electrical telegraphy using cables. Before about 1910, the term wireless telegraphy was also used for other experimental technologies for transmitting telegraph signals without wires. In radiotelegraphy, information is transmitted by pulses of radio waves of two different lengths called "dots" and "dashes", which spell out text messages, usually in Morse code. In a manual system, the sending operator taps on a switch called a telegraph key which turns the transmitter on and off, producing the pulses of radio waves. At the receiver the pulses are audible in the receiver's speaker as beeps, which are translated back to text by an operator who knows Morse code.
Edward Davy was an English physician, scientist, and inventor who played a prominent role in the development of telegraphy, and invented an electric relay.
Sir Charles Todd worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory 1841–1847 and the Cambridge University observatory from 1847 to 1854. He then worked on telegraphy and undersea cables until engaged by the government of South Australia as astronomical and meteorological observer, and head of the electric telegraph department.
The following lists events that happened during 1854 in Australia.
Australia was a relatively early adopter of electrical telegraph technology in the middle of the nineteenth century, despite its low population densities and the difficult conditions sometimes encountered in laying lines. From 1858 onwards, the major capitals were progressively linked, culminating in the addition of Perth in 1877. Australia was linked to the rest of the world for the first time in 1872, through the Overland Telegraph which ran some 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi) from Adelaide through to Darwin. The network continued to expand in size and sophistication until 1959 and in heavy usage until 1945, after which time telephone usage began to erode public patronage of telegraphy services. The final publicly provided telegraphy service was closed in 1993.
Henry Sutton was an Australian designer, engineer, and inventor credited with contributions to early developments in electricity, aviation, wireless communication, photography and telephony.
Women in telegraphy have been evident since the 1840s. The introduction of practical systems of telegraphy in the 1840s led to the creation of a new occupational category, the telegrapher, telegraphist or telegraph operator. Duties of the telegrapher included sending and receiving telegraphic messages, known as telegrams, using a variety of signaling systems, and routing of trains for the railroads. While telegraphy is often viewed as a males-only occupation, women were also employed as telegraph operators from its earliest days. Telegraphy was one of the first communications technology occupations open to women.
Sir Hugh Robert Denison, originally Hugh Robert Dixson was a businessman, parliamentarian and philanthropist in South Australia and later New South Wales. He was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1901 to 1905, representing North Adelaide (1901-1902) and Adelaide (1902-1905). Outside of politics, he was involved in his family's tobacco business, a forerunner of the British-Australasian Tobacco Company, was involved with a number of newspapers, and founded the Macquarie Broadcasting Services Pty Ltd radio network. He changed his surname by deed poll in 1907 to avoid confusion with his uncle Sir Hugh Dixson.
Oppenheimer poles are galvanised iron telegraph poles. They consist of three oval sections that collapse into each other telescope style for transportation. Once extended the joints between the sections are clamped with collars. The pole is fixed to a base for support with a u-bolt.
Edward Gustavus Campbell Barton was an electrical engineer and a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
The history of broadcasting in Australia has been shaped for over a century by the problem of communication across long distances, coupled with a strong base in a wealthy society with a deep taste for aural communications in a silent landscape. Australia developed its own system, through its own engineers, manufacturers, retailers, newspapers, entertainment services, and news agencies. The government set up the first radio system, and business interests marginalized the hobbyists and amateurs. The Labor Party was especially interested in radio because it allowed them to bypass the newspapers, which were mostly controlled by the opposition. Both parties agreed on the need for a national system, and in 1932 set up the Australian Broadcasting Commission, as a government agency that was largely separate from political interference.
Henry Walter Jenvey was a senior public servant, initially with the Victorian Post Office and following Federation, the federal Postmaster-General's Department. He was heavily involved in the development of Victoria's telegraphy and telephony networks, and subsequently their integration into those of the Commonwealth. One of Australia's earliest wireless experimenters, he could reasonably be described as Australia's first amateur radio operator, since the majority of his experiments was self-funded and in his private time.
Frank Prosser Bowden was a senior public servant, initially with the Tasmanian Post Office and following Federation, the federal Postmaster-General's Department. He was heavily involved in the development of Tasmania's telegraphy and telephony networks, and subsequently their integration into those of the Commonwealth. Notable for his participation with William Philpot Hallam's early wireless radio experiments.
Edward Hope Kirkby was a jeweler watchmaker in Williamstown, Victoria who eventually became a manufacturing electrician making systems of fire protection. He is best known for his early X-ray experiments and later wireless experiments, among the earliest in Australia. He experimented on his own account and together with George Augustine Taylor. There are no primary references to George Taylor experimenting with wireless telegraphy himself. Kirkby was the technical genius behind Father Shaw and his Australian Wireless Company.
Philip Billingsley Walker was a senior public servant with the New South Wales Post and Telegraph Department. He was heavily involved in the development of New South Wales' telegraphy and telephony networks. Notable for conducting one of the earliest wireless telegraphy experiments in Australia.
John Yeates Nelson was a senior public servant with the Post and Telegraph Department of New South Wales, Australia and later the Australian Federal Postmaster-General's Department. He was heavily involved in the development of Australia's telegraphy and telephony networks. Nelson is notable for assisting with one of the earliest wireless telegraphy experiments in Australia.
Oswald Francis Mingay was a public servant, wireless signalman in the Australian Army during World War I, and an early wireless experimenter. He was, however, best known as a journalist, editor, and publisher of radio-related publications over several decades. He was radio manager for Burgin Electric, and influenced that firm to establish Australia's first Class B broadcasting station in 1924.
Australasian Wireless relates to two separate entities: Australasian Wireless Limited and Australasian Wireless Company Limited. The former obtained an option to acquire the exclusive rights to the Telefunken wireless telegraphy system in Australasia, the latter acquired those rights and with public capital developed a firm which was successful in supplying wireless telegraphy equipment to shipping in Australasian waters and the establishment of Australia's first coastal radio stations. When the Australian Government decided to complete the remainder of the coastal network using the Balsillie wireless system manufactured by Father Archibald Shaw, AWCL merged with Marconi interests to form Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia). This merged firm eventually won the exclusive right to operate Australia's coastal radio network and went on to become the dominant company in Australia's radiocommunications and broadcasting industry.
John Graeme Balsillie was an inventor, communications engineer, wireless telegraphy pioneer, business proprietor and senior public servant. He is perhaps best known for oversighting the establishment of Australia's first coastal radio network which utilised a wireless telegraphy system patented by himself and generally known as the Australian system. Born in Brisbane, Queensland, he migrated with his family to London. His studies focused from an early age upon wireless telegraphy and soon found employment in that rapidly developing industry. After a decade of wireless experience, he was recruited by the then Prime Minister Fisher as the "Commonwealth Wireless Telegraphy Expert." He helped to develop the Australian Wireless System free of royalty, jump-starting the nation's radio communications network. The coastal radio network was completed in time to play a significant part in Australia's defence of its borders in World War I.
Joseph Oppenheimer, was a German born merchant and inventor, and naturalised British citizen who spent most of his adult life working in the telegraphy industry in Australia and the United Kingdom. He held several key patents, including one for telescoping telegraphic poles.
References
- ↑ Jean Gittins. "McGowan, Samuel Walker (1829–1887)". Australian Dictionary of Biography, volume 5 . Melbourne University Press . Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ↑ "Museums Victoria - Telegraphy Collection". Museums Victoria . Government of Victoria . Retrieved 13 September 2019.
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