San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-16
EUROPE SHOWS
DIG INTEREST
IN RADIO

DIR. Lee De Forest, inventor of the
radio vacuum tube, returned last
Thursday on the steamer Mauretania
from Europe, where he made a close
study of conditions surrounding radio
broadcasting in England, France, Ger
many and Italy.
"The public interest IN radio
throughout Europe just now is at
very high point" DIR. De Forest states.
1T is of course somewhat restricted
due to the scarcity of broadcastiDg sta
lions, but this is rapidly being elm
mated by the constant erection of new
and powerful ones"
"The interest is greatest in England.
however, probably due to the fact that
here the programs are more diversified
than in the rest of the European coun-
tries. France of all the nations pays
the least attention to their programs
and broadcasting, and with the pos
sible exception of one or two French
stations very little musical matter Is
broadcast. For that reason French
listeners build receivers capable of
hearing the English stations where
better balanced programs are offer
ed"
MANY DIFFERENT TUBES. :.
Most Of the receiving apparatus is
home made, the listeners preferTing TO
make their own, much the same as the
American public did at first. The
English market offers to the builder
very wide selection. personally noted
over 81 different makes of vacuum
tubes or valves as they are termed
there, all of very high quality and
many Of them being sold at consider
ably lower prices than the ones sold on
this side. Manufacturers vie with
each other in the number of types that
are made and it is not unusual for
them to place from IS to 20 different
styles on the market. OF course cv-
cry other manufacturer follows suit
and the result is one that would puzzle
even the most hardened American fan.
One item of considerable note how
ever is that there is absolutely no cut
ting of prices"
BETTER PROGRAMS HERE.
ain the matter Of broadcasting.
America is much further advanced
than any of the European nations,
none of which seem to have the abiI-
ity to offer what is known here as
we'll balanced program. Considering
the fact that the listeners are taxed
this is a surprising fact. But as
Europe is still in its infant stages in
this regard, am of the opinion that
IL is only a matter Of time and adjust
ment to conditions"
"The English stations which I had
the opportunity Of inspecting are all
admirably equipped to give high class
programs, especially the newly erect
ed BIC station at Davcntry, the most
powerful station in the United King
dom. 1t is located 80 miles from
London and is using 25 kilowatts on
1900 meters to enable users of crystal
sets throughout the kingdom to easily
tune it in"
ROME HAS NOVELTY.
"Rome had quite q novelty to offer,
even to a hardened and cynical radio
engineer, in the form Of penny in the
SlOL Edulo lisltulDs bldllouh run muCH
after the manner Of the penny arcades
that Americans are familiar with.
For the equivalent Of one penny,
pair of phones are placed on the head
Of the listener and he is allowed TO
hear one selection. There is just one
master receiver and many pairs Of
phones but the listener must be con-
tent with just what the operator tunes
in. The owner Of a powerful set can,
by establishing listening post make
considerable money, as there are very
few privntely owned sets in Italy and
very few evening programs. Radio
interest is slightest in this country al
though the Italians are a music loving
nation. Probably due TO the fact that
information is scarce and apparatus
even scarcer this condition prevails
a y