Marconi - Transatlantic and Kites

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/marconi-transatlantique.html","20130130034523","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1359517523"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <title>Marconi - Transatlantic and Kites</title> <style type="text/css">  </style> <script type="text/javascript">  </script> </head> <body onload="MM_preloadImages('opbton.jpg')"> <table width="1015" border="0" align="center"> <tr> <td width="1009"><table width="1000" height="150" border="0"> <tr> <td background="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opbandeautsfannexe.jpg" class="Style8"><div align="center"><strong><span class="Style10">First Atlantic Ocean crossing<br/> by a wireless signal</span></strong></div></td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td width="5"> </td> <td width="30"><a href="loomis.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Image21','','opbton.jpg',0)"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opbtout.jpg" name="Image21" width="30" height="30" border="0" id="Image21"/></a></td> <td width="131"><strong>Mahlom Loomis</strong></td> <td width="10"> </td> <td width="30"><a href="marconi-transmanche.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Image1','','opbton.jpg',0)"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opbtout.jpg" name="Image1" width="30" height="30" border="0" id="Image1"/></a><a href="marconi-transmanche.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Image1','','opbton.jpg',1)"></a></td> <td width="243"><strong>Marconi and the Bristol Channel</strong></td> <td width="10"> </td> <td width="30"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opbton.jpg" width="30" height="30"/><a href="marconi-transatlantique.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Image21','','opbton.jpg',1)"></a></td> <td width="268"><strong class="Style2">Marconi and the transatlantic wireless</strong></td> <td width="10"> </td> <td width="30"><a href="sources.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Image10','','opbton.jpg',1)"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opbtout.jpg" name="Image10" width="30" height="30" border="0" id="Image10"/></a><a href="#" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Image22','','opbton.jpg',1)"></a></td> <td width="153"><strong>Epilogue et sources</strong></td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td><div align="justify"><span class="Style2">June 1900: Marconi decides on transatlantic test, to proceed without delay.</span><br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> In July <span class="Style3">Marconi</span> visited south-west <span class="Style2">Cornwall</span> (England) to inspect suitable sites. The chosen location was on a headland above a cove at <span class="Style2">Poldhu</span>. The place is well located to make it possible the waves to join the East coast of the United States without meeting ground or mountains<br/> <br/> Work began in October to construct the first of the transatlantic stations. A transmitter was powered by a 32-brake-horsepower oil engine, driving a 25kw alternator and connected to 20, four-piece, 200 ft masts in a <span class="Style3">circle of 200ft diameter</span>. <span class="Style4">(on the right)</span><br/> <br/> On 17 September 1901, on the verge of completion, <span class="Style3">Poldhu's giant aerial collapsed in a gale</span>. A temporary aerial was constructed using two of the original masts. This was the aerial configuration in place during the transatlantic experiments in December 1901. <br/> <br/> Marconi’s mind turned to methods that he had employed a number of times before. <span class="Style2">Kites</span> and <span class="Style2">hydrogen balloons</span> had been successfully used to provide height for aerials in earlier transmission situations. On Monday, (across the Channel).</div></td> <td width="343"><div align="right"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/op29def.jpg" width="333" height="300"/></div></td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td width="310" rowspan="2"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opMarconiKempdef.jpg" width="300" height="321"/></td> <td rowspan="3"><div align="justify">Dec. 9, Marconi's boxes of material were relocated from the ship to the facility atop <span class="Style2">Signal Hill</span> (Newfoundland ). The equipment was composed of an <span class="Style3">aerial wire</span>, <span class="Style2">six kites</span>, <span class="Style3">two hydrogen balloon skins</span> and twenty-five cylinders of hydrogen gas.<br/> <br/> By cable, Marconi asked Poldhu, with its temporary aerial, to transmit the Morse letter 'S' for three hours every day. <br/> <br/> On Tuesday testing began. One <span class="Style3">kite</span> was raised with <span class="Style3">600 feet</span> of aerial wire to ensure that the system would function.<br/> <br/> On Wednesday, in<span class="Style3"> foggy conditions</span>, a <span class="Style2">balloon</span>, 14 feet in diameter and holding 1000 cubic feet of hydrogen, was tested. The wind suddenly increased. <span class="Style3">The balloon tore away</span> and was lost into the Atlantic Ocean. Carefully considering the strong winds atop Signal Hill, it was determined that the <span class="Style3">kites</span> would be most likely to withstand the elements.<br/> <br/> On Thursday 12 December the wind was even stronger. A kite was lost because a gusty gale</div></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="355"><div align="right"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/op30def.jpg" width="345" height="300"/></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="Style4"><div align="center"> Marconi (left) with his assistant Kemp, 1901.<br/> They are pictured with some of the equipment assembled for the transatlantic test at Signal Hill.</div></td> <td class="Style4"><div align="center">Premises at Signal Hill, used by Marconi<br/> to house a wireless receiving station</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td><div align="justify">The following account is by Hal Holwell (julyn 2001). His father <span class="Style3">William Holwell</span>, was one of the crew Marconi used <span class="Style2">to fly the kite </span>that lifted the wireless aerial on Signal Hill, this <span class="Style2">12 December, 1901</span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td><div align="justify">William Holwell held the line attached to the <span class="Style2">large kite sail</span>. On the leeward side of the kite sail was Marconi's assistant, William Paget. The wind was constant and cold. Holwell marvelled at the men, Marconi, George Kemp and Paget, and their determination to defy distance <span class="Style3">with strange equipment</span>. <br/> <br/> He and the others pulled as Paget let go of the kite. The heavy cord went taut, the kite rose and pitched wildly from side to side. <span class="Style2">Tumultuous winds</span>, a constant feature of Signal Hill, made it difficult to steady the kite and maintain the required altitude for the aerial.<br/> <br/> <span class="Style3">An aerial wire was attached to the kite</span> at one end and to a ground plate in the earth at the other. Flying the kite with this extra anchor point and in these strong winds was an arduous task. Finally, the kite flyers hung on in the bone chilling wind.</div></td> <td width="587"><div align="right"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opkite2def.jpg" width="577" height="250"/></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td width="653"><div align="center"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/op09def.jpg" width="643" height="250"/></div></td> <td><div align="justify">Inside the building, a wireless receiving device, known as a coherer(*), was attached to a wire running through the window frame and to the <span class="Style3">wavering and unsteady aerial</span> suspended by the kite.<br/> <br/> The kite continued to buck in the strong wind. It pulled roughly against Holwell’s grip.<br/> <br/> Since the aerial fluctuated wildly, Marconi could not use the intended receiving device to give full proof of <span class="Style3">any signal reception</span>. <br/> <br/> <span class="Style3">A Morse recorder</span>, which was capable of receiving signals and inking them on a strip of paper, <span class="Style3">would not work with the unstable antenna</span>.<br/> <br/> Marconi improvised and used a <span class="Style2">telephone receiver</span>, listening intently. </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="Style4"><div align="center">Marconi and his assistants launching the kite-supported aerial at Signal Hill. Marconi is seen on the left.</div></td> <td class="Style4"> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td><div align="justify">He held it close to his ear and listened for the signal that he believed could span the Atlantic. The tension was palpable, but the wireless pioneers remained calm and intent, fervently hoping for a sound.</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td><div align="center"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/op10def.jpg" width="509" height="250"/></div></td> <td><div align="center"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/op11def.jpg" width="479" height="250"/></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="Style4"><div align="center">Marconi is seated inside the receiving room at Signal Hill.</div></td> <td class="Style4"><div align="center">Telephone receiver used to receive the first transatlantic message in 1901</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td><div align="justify">Then, out of the ether, faint but distinguishable - came the sound of <span class="Style2">three dots</span> - the International Morse Code signal for the letter “<span class="Style2">S</span>”. It was 11:30 a.m. Marconi quietly passed the receiver to George Kemp. He listened. Once more the signal came and <span class="Style3">Kemp nodded</span>. </div></td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td width="360"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/oppoldhu2def.jpg" width="353" height="250"/></td> <td rowspan="2"><div align="justify"> Only two people had heard the signals through the receiver.<br/> <br/> <span class="Style3">None had been recorded on the Morse inker device.<br/> <br/> </span> The signal was transmitted from Poldhu near Mullion, a distance of some 3,000 kilometres (1865 miles)<br/> <br/> It was the first time that the Atlantic Ocean had been bridged by a wireless signal!<br/> <br/> William Holwell and the others flying the kite were invited nside to warm themselves and<br/> </div></td> <td width="427" rowspan="4"><div align="right"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opbelldef.jpg" width="417" height="320"/></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="Style4"><div align="center">The transmitting room at the Poldhu wireless station</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"><div align="justify"> have some hot cocoa. The <span class="Style2">kites</span> were quietly packed in shipping crates and sent back to the <span class="Style3">Marconi Company</span> in Chelmsford, England.</div> <div align="justify">Their role completed, they went into storage.</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="Style4"> <div align="center"> A telegram of congratulations by Alexander Graham Bell to Marconi:<br/> <span class="Style5">'Hearty Congratulations, I rejoice in your success - Graham Bell' </span></div></td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td width="260"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opkemp-kitedef.jpg" width="250" height="308"/></td> <td><div align="justify"> <p>This signal proved beyond all doubt that his wireless system could travel around the curvature of the earth and over tremendous distances. <br/> <br/> <span class="Style4">(*)The coherer, invented by M. Branly, was a primitive form of radio signal detector used in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, consisting of a capsule of metal filings in the space between two electrodes.</span><br/> <br/> <br/> <span class="Style2">It was a discovery that led to birth of radio, television and modern telecommunications</span>.<br/> <br/> By 1907 the <span class="Style3">transatlantic wireless telegraph service</span> was established for public use. In 1909, Marconi received a Nobel Prize in physics for his pioneering work in wireless telegraphy jointly with the German physicist Karl Ferdinand Braun.<br/> <br/> <span class="Style3">Marconi died in Rome on July 20, 1937</span>. All around the world wireless operators stood to attention and transmitters fell silent for two minutes. The Poldhu station was closed in 1933. In 1937 the site was cleared, 10 acres were donated to the National Trust and a monument erected to mark the significance of the site.<br/> <br/> On the left: <br/> <span class="Style2">George Kemp</span> pictured outside a store of the <span class="Style3">National Museum of Science and Industry</span>, holding a <span class="Style2">kite</span> that was used during the Transatlantic experiments, as part of the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of bridging the Atlantic by wireless</p> </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td width="260"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opMarc-kitedef.jpg" width="250" height="292"/></td> <td><div align="justify"><span class="Style7">The Kites</span><br/> <br/> There were six kites and may have been of varying sizes since there is mention of one kite being 9 feet tall. Others measure out at about 6’2” in height. <br/> <br/> All of the kites were of the <span class="Style2">Baden-Powell type</span>. The kites were manufactured by G.C. Spencer and Bros. Ltd., Highbury, London, England. Spencer was a well known supplier of <span class="Style3">balloons</span> and <span class="Style3">kites</span>. <br/> <br/> At least two of the kites broke away during the four days of flight. One was recovered from the Captain of a fishing boat and the other from a valley on the north side of Signal Hill.<br/> <br/> <span class="Style3">Only two kites are known</span> to remain from the set. One consists of only the sail; the other is complete with sail, frame and part of the bridle intact.<br/> <br/> The sail of the complete kite measures 6’ 2.4” high by 5’ 9.5” wide. The sails are of heavy cotton cloth. All outside edges were reinforced with linen tape and sewn with cotton thread. </div></td> <td width="260"><div align="right"><img src="/web/20130130034523im_/http://www.carnetdevol.org/Wireless/opkite4def.jpg" width="250" height="255"/></div></td> </tr> </table> <table width="1000" border="0"> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <div align="justify">Five separate cloth panels were sewn together to make each kite sail. At key stress point locations, where the frame and bridle attached to the kite sail, additional cotton cloth reinforcing panels were sewn in place. Brass grommets were used to provide access points to attach the frame and bridle to the kite sail. <br/> The frame consists of three bamboo poles. The longeron is 6’ 6’’ in length and the cross spars are 7’ in length. Thus, when fully assembled, <span class="Style3">the spars extend beyond the height and width of the sail</span>. The bridle was made of strong hemp cordage and was attached to the kite in six places. There is no evidence of a bowing system for the kite in any photos or archival documents extant. </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>

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Marconi - Transatlantic and Kites