The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-21
SECOND SECTION
A WIRELESS EXPERT AT tS.
NEW HAVEN BOY WHO RIGGED
UP HIS OWN APPARATUS.

Malcolm DoOlIttIe Able to Talk with Pass-
Ing sound steamers From the Back
Yard OF His Home Engaged Now I'm
Making an AttuneP on q New Principle.
NEW HAVEN, Oct. 2O.-Malcolm Doolittle,
aged Is, Of l47 Bradley street, has unaided
studied the science Of wireless telegraphy,
has built a wireless station in the back
ward of his hons md is able to pick I'D
messages from passing steamers in the
Sound FIVE miles away.
A few months ago he read In a children's
paner a description OF a wireless outfit and
explanations as TO how a bright boy could
rig up an outfit that would send messages
across the room. He told his father that
night that he was going to try the trick and
his father laughingly told him to 60 ahead,
and that he'd give him 81 for every message
that he could send across the room.
The youngster worked at the problem
every spare moment out of school. and ono
evening surprised his father by telling him
that he vas ready for that first payment on
the dollar plan, as he could send a message
across the room. The father inspected the
outfit that had been rugged up and was
convinced only after his son had sent him
messages across the 20 foot room.
Then young Doolittle began to plan to
send messages all over the house and 70
interest the other boys in his neighborhood
in the fun. Soon that part OF town had
various wireless stations rugged up tenn
porarily in drawing rooms, kitchens and
laundries. The other boys soon tired of
the experiment, but Doolittle kept on.
When the novelty Of the house equip
ment wore of young Doolittle tackled the
bigger problem OF transmitting and re-
Ceiving messages outside and wires were
strung up on the outside OF the house.
It was many weeks before the lad could
figure it all out, but finally he struck it and
then began making plans for a tower in
the back yard and a real wireless outfit.
A tower IS feet high has now been
equipped at a cost Of 500. and from it Doc
little can establish communication up to
100 miles. When the young inventor got
this rugged up to suit him he began trying
20 catch the messages that were being
flashed to the De Forest tower station in
the western part Of the city, THREE or more
miles away from his home.
The operators sending and receiving
messages at this station. were speedy and
Mt first the novice had difficulty in getting
them. Finally he learned the secret and
could pick up a message whenever 1t came
into that station.
Next young Doolittle began to pick up
messages from passing boats in Long
Island Sound. After some experiment he
found that this was mighty interesting.
During the last month or two, since the
wireless station was removed from here,
all his practice on his new apparatus has
been confined to talking with passing
vessels.
But he's not content with his present
equipment and just now is engaged on a
new attuner, which, when 1t is finished, will
he the first OF its kind ever built and, he
thinks, will outclass anything that has yet
been devised.
New Ravens young electrical wizard is
modest and disinclined to talk about his
invention. He's delighted with any one
who is interested enough in wireless to
discuss the subject unfortunately, but about
his own inventions and his little plant he's
a bit reserved. When asked how he came
10 get Interested in his present diversion.
he said, h~esitatingly:
Well, you see. l read about a wireless
apparatus and thought l might do some.
thing OF the kind. l made n like Il and
Ahen improved IL, and after q time l could
send messages across the room.
Then I tried to sen messages from
room to room, and finally l rugged up a
wire outside and began experimenting
that way. At present 1 am working on a
new attuner for receiving messages. ms
attuner Of mine will be different In principle
from anything o used by the wireless
companies, and l may get it patented.
I've been at work on il for a long time now,
inventors face lighted up, it will be pretty
Young DoolIttle In in the Hopkins Gram
mar School preparing TO enter the Yale
Sheffield Scientific School. He has never
studied electricity. except as he has picked
a. ~ bxy hiunaalf