Evening star., 1923-11-04
RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS

An enumeration Of radio receiving
sets in the United States Is under
consideration by officials Of the De-
partment OF Commerce as the result
or the recent radio census in Wash
ington.
At the request Of the radio section
of the bureau of navigation Of the
Commerce Department WRC and
WCAP sent out an appeal to the lis
teners-in to write q postal card to
the department, giving a brief de-
scription of the sets they own. This
self-taken census. 1t is believed. will
give an accurate return, as well as
save the government considerable
time and money by eliminating the
need for enumeratora
The radio section will classify and
enumerate the cards. II the test
radio census proves accurate the
plan will be extended through all the
states in an effort to learn how many
sets there are In operation and what
percentage are tube and crystal sets.
The latest authoritative estimate
as to the number Of receiving sets
in this country on June /, last. was
2.250,O00. but 1t is not regarded as
accurate. Predictions kave been made
that by next June /. a million more
sets Will be In use, making the total
three and one-half million.
The sole purpose Of the census Is
to ascertain the number Of receiving
sets In the country and to gain an
idea OF the popularity, value and ex-
tent Of broadcasting. There Ii no in
tention to levy . tax on receiving
sets. as Is done abroad, according to
officials.
To Standardise Tubes.
radio equipment purchased by several
departments of the government in
considerable quantities annually was
taken last week when a conference
Of manufacturers and government
officials met to adopt for the govern
ment single vacuum tube for recep-
tion.
The subcommittee on technical
problems of the interdepartmental
radio advisory committee invited
trio, General Electric, Westinghouse
and De Forest companies to meet
with them in Washington to give
them data and advice on radio receiv-
ing tubes. This was done, and Maj.
Lieut.. Commander n. p. lie Clair, U.
s.. N, and J. H. Dellinger Of the bu--
rsau of standards. Of the technical
subcommittee, now have the informa-
tion sought, and will at once draw
up specifications for q standard gov
ernment receiving tube.
Tentative specifications for q small,
lower power consuming tube will be
sent to all manufacturers of radio
tubes for criticism and suggestions.
Many tubes are purchased yearly by
the Navy, Signal Corps, Shipping
Board, Post Office Department and
coast guard. A single standard tube
Is desired.
This conference marked the begin
iaason hnf Hs soon as reeeivins saSe
specifications are adopted. the COM
mittee will take UP transmitting
tubes and various forms Of apparatus.
At present there are at least twelve
tubes suitable for use In receiving.
made by four large companies.
Wins Prize for Inventio1.
Harold H. Beverage. an engineer OF
the Radio Corporation Of America,
was rendered a vote Of honor by the
officers Of the Institute Of Radio En-.
gineers at its last meeting, for his
contribution to radio communication
devices of the so-called wave antenna.
He also was awarded q cash prize of
$500. Each year this sum Is given to
the most deserving individual whose
radio inventions or developments are
of outstanding practical Importance
and serve to materially enhance the
progress of the art.
The wave antenna" which Bever-
age invented has many outstanding
characteristics which makeeit OF sx-
treme value in long distance radio
communication. It does not require
lofty towers for elevating purposes.
consists OF q single or double wire
about nine miles long for wave re-
ception, and one antenna unit permits
of simultaneous reception from sew
eral stations. The reduction Of At.