The Airwaves of Academia

Dated February 25, 1931, a fascinating piece of correspondence from a student at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia to a friend in Bristol, Tennessee provides us a glimpse into a different era – a time of burgeoning technological development, budding camaraderie, and shared enthusiasm for the world of long-distance radio communication.

Established in 1904, Davis and Elkins College is a small, private liberal arts institution nestled in the mountains of West Virginia. The student who penned this letter was part of the Physics Department, contributing to a nascent radio station known by its call sign, W8CKE. In 1931, the college was on the cusp of its third decade, serving a role in the education and cultural development of the region.

From a historical perspective, the year 1931 was a time of significant change. The world was in the grips of the Great Depression, which had begun two years prior with the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Yet, even as economic uncertainty reigned, scientific discovery and technological innovation marched onward, often providing a source of hope in bleak times.

The student's letter presents an intriguing insight into the world of radio communication during this era. The language used reflects a lexicon born of amateur radio culture. Terms like 'om' (short for old man), 'gso' (a term indicating a conversation or contact), and 'skid' (referring to a scheduled conversation or a radio 'sked') depict a thriving subculture of enthusiasts navigating the airwaves.

The transmitter discussed in the letter, a plain Hartley using a 203-A with about 600 volts on the plate, was likely an iteration of the Hartley oscillator, a radio frequency generator patented by Ralph Hartley in 1915. The modifications to the Hartley oscillator mentioned in the letter reflect the spirit of innovation and experimentation that defined early radio communication. The student mentions the construction of a chemical rectifier, a device designed to convert alternating current to direct current, a process crucial for improving the performance of their radio setup.

The letter also refers to a "rig" using two 226's. The '226' mentioned here likely refers to the 'Type 26' vacuum tube, an early thermionic valve used in many radio transmitters and receivers of the era. The student's curiosity about this setup underlines the collaborative, knowledge-sharing nature of the amateur radio community.

The student’s query about the frequency of their friend's future broadcasts reflects a key aspect of radio communication. Consistent frequency is vital for successful transmission and reception of signals, and is an integral part of establishing a dependable connection between radio stations, particularly for scheduled conversations or 'skeds'.

This letter serves as a fascinating time capsule, capturing the spirit of the era and the specific moment when long-distance communication was becoming more readily accessible. It reminds us of a time when radio was a frontier, a realm ripe for exploration and discovery, uniting eager minds from Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia to a friend in Bristol, Tennessee. The nostalgia evoked by this letter encourages us to marvel at our current digital age, where long-distance communication has become not just reliable, but virtually instantaneous.