Evening star., 1919-08-24

conducted q series of tests that re-
suited in the evolution Of the SINGLE
coil loop for submarine radio signals.
At one swoop the entire system Of
things had been changed. Previously
submarines had communicated by
means Of trailing wires. But these
had the inevitable faculty Of becom-
ing entangled in the propellers or
other obstacles.
The single-turn loop. which simply
extended from pole at the center to
both ends of the submarine simplified
matters. There Is practically no limit
to its transmitting power Messages
can be received by submarines using
the single-turn loop on the water, half
submerged or totally submerged.
The experiments along this line have
developed q radio system by which
messages have been received from
European countries along the Atlantic
coast here.
The bureau Of steam engineering.
Navy Department, in a report last
January spoke enthusiastically Of the
single-turn loop. calling It the most
satisfactory, system ever utilized by
the Navy. More generally, Secretary
Daniels characterizes the work of the
bureau Of standards in this manner:
Before the war the bureau Of )
standards was in closest touch with ,
naval experiments and naval officers
and experts of that bureau of the De-
partment of Commerce worked to.
gether. When the war brought the
spur for newer and better methods
that cooperation has been so intimate
and helpful as to make 1t as useful az
If it were naval establishment"
Underlying the many advanced re-
forms in radio signaling instituted by
the radio section was its work in
standardizing vacuum tubes for trans
mission. amplification and receiving.
These three constitute the main pur. .
poses of vacuum tubes. Specifically,
the receiving tubes may be described
as audible detectors. being the ones
to pick up a radio message. Should
this message be weak. or indistinct.
the amplifying tubes are brought into
play. Through successive use Of these
any message can be strengthened
until it is comprehensible. And for
the reply. there are the transmission,
or generating tubes. Modulating tubes
are also used. for making the radio
waves take the form given by tho
voice, thus making radio telephony
practicable.
The biggest result Of the vacuum
tube work was Standardization Of
tests by which the characteristics
from each tube and the results to be
expected from 1t could be accurately
foretold. How this means Of prognos-
tication was contaminated represents
modern narrative Of unfailing
achievement.
In 1917. shortly after this country
entered the war. the radio section con-
sisted of about seven men. Since that
time it has expanded to meet the de-
mands made upon II. 1t now occupies
p one-story building Of its own on tho
southwest corner Of the spacious
acreage which is the bureaus home.
But at no time has It's staff Of re-
search workers exceeded the number
Of forty. Under the supervision Of r.
A. holster. chief of the section, now
in France. and Of DR.. ]. H. Dellinger,
in charge Of the radio research work
Of that section, and DR.. ]. NJ. Miller.
in active charge Of the vacuum tube
tests. the work was started.
The bureau did that for which 1t was
organised. 1t standardized. Hitherto
the use Of vacuum tube had been q
sort Of shiftless. hit-or-miss lottery.
The bureau conceived tests by which
the properties Of every tube could be
accurately measured in advance and
by which its capacity for different
kinds Of work could be determined.
1t could state-not merely guess
which tubes were best qualified for
receiving. for amplifying or for trans
mitting.
Again the bureaus commercial pro-
clivities have been amply evidenced in
this branch Of research work. During
the last six months, especially, the
work Of Standardization has been per-
fetched. And all this time outside firms
supplying the government with vacuum
tubes have been In constant consulta-
tion with the bureau Of standards az
to the best methods of manufacture
and Standardization. The Importance
OF this work can be imagined when It
Is known that the manufacture OF
vacuum tubes in this country reached
$4,000 per week.
II might he interestinp IN note in