Otis Singleton
The 1920s saw a boom in radio popularity, with people rushing to buy the latest devices. However, the technology was still in its infancy, and the radio's impact on entertainment and society was only just beginning to be understood. Early radios were battery-operated, and most homes in the 1920s were not wired for AC power, so these devices relied on a combination of A, B, and sometimes C batteries. The radio's tube count and loud-speaker power output determined the voltage required, with B batteries providing the high-voltage supply.
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What You'll Learn
Radio's early history
The early history of radio is a story of inventors and entrepreneurs, many of whom were both. The first steps towards inventing the radio involved discovering electromagnetic waves and their potential. In 1820, Hans Christian Oersted proclaimed that a magnetic field is created around a wire with a running current. This theory was confirmed by English physicist Michael Faraday in 1830, who established the principle of electromagnetic induction. In 1864, James Clerk Maxwell published a theoretical paper stating that electromagnetic currents could be perceived at a distance.
Experiments by Heinrich Rudolf Hertz between 1880 and 1890 proved the existence of electromagnetic waves. His work showed that electromagnetic radio waves could be transmitted through free space and detected over a short distance. This discovery motivated scientists and innovators to find new applications for this new knowledge.
In the early 1890s, Nikola Tesla began researching the use of electromagnetic waves and filed a basic patent application for key elements in the development of radio in the US in 1897. At the same time, Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi began working on the idea of building long-distance wireless transmission systems based on the use of Hertzian waves. In 1895, he successfully sent a wireless Morse code message to a source more than a kilometre away. In 1896, he took out a patent for the first "wireless telegraphy" system in England. In 1897, he established the British Marconi Company, which dominated ship-to-shore communication.
In 1896, Lee de Forest received his Ph.D. from Yale, with a doctoral dissertation about Hertzian waves. By 1902, he had started the DeForest Wireless Telegraph Company, which became insolvent in 1906. His second company, the DeForest Radio Telephone Company, began to fail in 1909. Reginald Fessenden, Valdemar Poulsen, and Lee de Forest are credited with inventing amplitude-modulated (AM) radio, which allows more closely spaced stations to simultaneously send signals.
In the 1920s, the radio industry boomed, and people rushed to buy radios. The first commercial radio stations began broadcasting in 1920, and by 1922 there were 576 licensed radio broadcasters. The period between the late 1920s and the early 1950s is considered the Golden Age of Radio, with millions of listeners across America.
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The 'battery eliminator'
The 1920s saw a boom in radio popularity, with people rushing to buy the latest equipment. Radios at this time still required batteries to function. However, in 1926, a new technology was introduced to the market: the "battery eliminator".
A battery eliminator is a device that connects to an electronic device's power input port and provides a constant source of power. It replaces batteries, removing the need to replace them when they run out of power. Battery eliminators are used in place of normal dry cell batteries in radio receivers, tape recorders, calculators, and other low-power devices. They are a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to batteries, as they don't need to be replaced or disposed of.
Battery eliminators typically have an AC/DC adapter that plugs into an electrical outlet and a cable that connects to the device. They work by converting AC power from the outlet into DC power that the device can use. The transformer within the battery eliminator converts high-voltage alternating current to lower-voltage alternating current, or vice versa. A rectifier is then used to convert the alternating current to a direct current.
Battery eliminators have several advantages, including cost savings and convenience. However, one disadvantage is that they sacrifice the portability of battery-powered devices, as they require a power supply or external power outlet.
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Radio's impact on the phonograph record industry
The introduction of radio in the early 1920s had a significant impact on the phonograph record industry. Many predicted that radio would negatively affect the record industry as it provided free access to music that people would typically pay for. This concern was not unfounded, as by 1921, commercial radio was already impacting record and phonograph sales.
However, the impact of radio on the phonograph industry was complex and multifaceted. Initially, the record industry experienced a boost in 1921 when Victor's patents on flat records were defeated in court, leading to an influx of independent record companies and increased competition. This greater variety of music available to listeners spurred the sale of phonographs, particularly those produced by Victor, which were the most popular at the time.
Additionally, the radio and phonograph industries began to find ways to complement each other. While records were not played on the air, artists performing their hits live on the radio helped boost their record sales. By the end of the 1920s, radio-and-phonograph combinations were even being sold as a single unit. The radio also helped promote new music genres, such as blues and jazz, and the increased purchasing power of the emerging consumer youth fueled record sales.
Nevertheless, the radio industry's growth could not be stopped, and record companies eventually had to accept this reality. They shifted their focus to innovation, improving the quality of records and record players. For example, in 1925, Victor introduced "orthophonic" sound, which involved recording music electrically, resulting in a clearer sound that was closer to what people heard on the radio.
Overall, while the introduction of radio in the 1920s did have an impact on the phonograph record industry, it also created opportunities for innovation and complementary relationships between the two industries, shaping the way music was consumed and experienced during that decade.
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Radio's role in education
In the 1920s, radio was a thrilling new mass medium that was predominantly known for providing entertainment. However, educators were curious about its potential role in education.
The radio boom of the 1920s saw people eagerly purchasing radios, and social and business structures adapted to this new medium. Universities began offering radio-based courses, churches started broadcasting their services, and newspapers created tie-ins with radio broadcasts. By 1922, there were 576 licensed radio broadcasters, and the publication "Radio Broadcast" proclaimed that radio would bring government closer to its citizens:
> "government will be a living thing to its citizens instead of an abstract and unseen force."
Despite the initial focus on entertainment, some early radio stations did explore educational content. For example, the RCA Music Education Hour debuted on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1928, with conductor and music educator Walter Damrosch at the helm. The University of Chicago Roundtable, created by NBC's education director Judith Waller, followed in 1931, specialising in discussions of world events. These programmes received positive reviews and were appreciated by educators, who recognised their value as a supplement to traditional instruction.
While radio's educational impact was debated, with some questioning the lack of educational broadcasts, others embraced its potential. By the late 1920s, the Radio Act of 1927 created the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) to oversee broadcasting and ensure stations operated in the "public interest". This led to a push for more educational programming, with station owners recognising the importance of educational content to meet the "public interest" requirement.
In conclusion, while radio in the 1920s was primarily associated with entertainment, it also played a significant role in education. Universities, churches, and newspapers incorporated radio into their offerings, and dedicated educational programmes emerged, shaping the way people accessed information and contributing to the evolution of educational tools and resources.
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Radio's competition with television
The 1920s saw a shift in American culture towards electronic media for entertainment and news. The first radios were sold in the United States for home use in 1920, and by the mid-1920s, a decent radio could be purchased for about $35, with higher-quality models selling for up to $350. By the end of the decade, the popularity of radios had become a true craze across the country, with more than five million battery-powered radios sold.
The first radio broadcast from a Vermont location, for instance, originated from the University of Vermont's station WCAX on October 10, 1924. The station was the result of a vigorous campus interest in radio in 1919, stimulated by the return of several students with World War I experience as radio operators.
While the early days of radio in the 1920s were marked by a focus on music, especially classical and opera, with orchestras often named after sponsors, the competition with television emerged in 1928 with the sale of the first television receivers and the beginning of televised programs. However, television only became truly popular in later decades.
Radio has historically faced competition from other media forms, such as television, and continues to do so today. In recent years, radio has had to share the stage with satellite radio, apps, podcasts, and even talking books. Despite this, radio maintains several advantages, including its reach, familiarity, and usage, particularly in cars. Radio also has the opportunity to assert itself as a local medium, connecting with audiences through personal storytelling and distinguishing itself through unique content.
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Frequently asked questions
No, electricity was not required for radios in the 1920s. Early radios were battery-operated and required more than one type of battery. The "'A'" battery was for the tube filament supply, while the "'B'" supply (B+) was the high-voltage supply. The "'C'" battery was used in some circuits to improve sound quality.
Electric-operated radios first appeared in 1926 and were promoted as "light socket" operated, with an AC wire plugged into the ceiling light socket. However, most homes at that time did not have wall receptacles, so a plug adaptor was screwed into a light socket.
Yes, the introduction of electric radios, along with technological advancements, contributed to the growth of the radio industry in the 1920s. People rushed to buy radios, and universities, churches, and newspapers adapted to the new medium. Radio ownership increased significantly, with two out of five homes owning a radio in 1931, rising to four out of five by 1938.
Before electricity was available, people used batteries to power their radios. These batteries were typically rechargeable, and people would either recharge them or swap them out for charged ones at radio shops or through a delivery service.
