July 1934 Radio News & Short-Wave |
 [Table
of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early
electronics. See articles from
Radio & Television News, published 1919-1959. All copyrights hereby
acknowledged.
|
Receiving information wirelessly
or even over a wire is taken for granted today, but 80 years ago it was considered
a "miracle of God" - that's what Alexander Graham Bell called it. Some regarded
radio as being of the devil. The same is true of today's omnipresent communications
- some consider it a blessing while others call it a curse. I'm somewhere in the
middle. In 1934 when this Radio News & Shortwave magazine was published,
the telecommunications world was in its heyday of growth with a reported 17 million
listeners of AM radio (no FM yet). Radio dealers and servicemen were gearing up
for customers with unbridled enthusiasm for the fledgling commercial broadcast industry's
offerings. Even in the midst of the Great Depression, people were joining in on
the wireless craze in large numbers, and amateur radio operators were almost feared
for their awesome ability to comprehend and practice the black art of antennas and
radio receivers.Summer Radio
In the Good Old Summer Time
Auto-radio receivers are now so efficient and inexpensive that
they are an important part of the equipment for any holiday spree
Latest indications are that this summer is to witness the greatest expansion
of interest in radio broadcasting so far encountered. At no time has there been
such excellent equipment available for utilizing radio at home, in the country,
at the seashore, or while touring or cruising by auto or boat.
More than 17,000,000 families will use radio regularly throughout this 1934 summer
season, including both those who stay at home and those who vacation in the country
or at the shore. This figure is believed to be a peak radio audience for any other
previous time, including the winters and summers of 1932 and 1933. Radio, therefore,
will offer to every family this summer a wealth of added radio program material
to make the holiday season more enjoyable than ever. There's no such thing as a
summer radio slump, nowadays.
Radio will furnish news of what is going on to the most out-of-the-way places
as well as giving light entertainment and music for dancing, the country over. All-wave
and short-wave sets will bring radio programs from all over the world right into
your camp. Automobile radio will insure plenty of entertaining news and music while
touring. Portable sets and marine radio receivers will cover those inaccessible
picnic places as well as bring radio to all pleasure craft on the water. This summer
season, therefore, sees the greatest expansion of radio, since its beginning, for
entertainment purposes.
Radio dealers and servicemen should be on their toes and ready to supply their
customers with complete information regarding these types of equipment for summer
use. They should know just the right types of equipment for each use and should
be ready to supply such equipment on short notice. The wide-awake serviceman will
have an excellent opportunity for servicing equipment of this type and for getting
sets into proper operating condition for their summer customers. The rural serviceman
also will have an excellent opportunity for this service work and should not be
"caught napping," as vacationists will carry their radio equipment with them and
will have to rely on local sources for repair, in case of damage or accident. Here
is an excellent opportunity to increase summer radio sales, at the same time to
give people a service that will enhance the value of radio to them, in the future.
In this issue is shown a number of new types of automotive radio equipment that
can be used both on land and sea, for mobile purposes. Another article gives the
results of a remarkably complete survey, recently made, of summer radio conditions.
Still another article points out the newest types of all-wave equipment. A careful
perusal of this issue will bring to light many opportunities awaiting the alert
serviceman and dealer during this holiday period. If there is any additional information
you require regarding this equipment, drop us a letter and we will see to it that
the information is furnished to you.
Posted October 10, 2023
(updated from original
post on 7/29/2013)
|
