Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-18

Australian radio fans are suffering
an experience that was forecast for
American owners Of radio sets during
the recent deliberations on radio legis-
lation in Congress. In the South Sea
Commonweal an effort is being made
to collect ROYALTIES on receiving sets
on the basis Of patent rights held by
@Amalgamated Wireless. Ltd, Of Aus
tralia. according 10 a report TO the De
partment of Commerce from j. h.
Foster assistant trade commissioners
at Melbourne.
The company is demanding a royal
~ on each valve receiving set sold.
and has instituted legal proceedings
against large Melbourne department
store dealing in radio az a test of it's
claims to such royalties, Mr.. Foster
reports. Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd,
contends IL holds the Australian rights
TO las Marconi radio patents, without
one or more which. it maintains, no
valve receiving set can be built.
The effort is being made to levy the
royalties on dealers in wireless
goods by requiring them to sign
q license agreement with the com
pHny. The average fee dema nded
is about So for eac hEnelish valve
in a set and about 81 for each
American valve, the latter being used
chiefly. The royalties imposed on the
traders inevitably would he passed
on to the users of radio sets, and
accordingly, loud cutlery has been
heard throughout the country for fear
of increased prices.
1t is an odd fact that the Federal
government has the controlling inter
est in Amalgamated Wireless. Ltd, of
Australia. A private company, the
Victorian Radio interests, Ltd has
taken up the public's case, requesting
the Australian ministry to consider
the purchase Of the patents in ques-
ton from the Amalgamated. Not
only the valves are involved in the
wide range of patents, for the use of
which the radio public may be obliged
to carry an extra burden, but numer-
GUS other accessories and circuits 1t
is reported that the acting prime min
lister promised TO give consideration to
the problem, meanwhile attempting to
assist radio in the commonwealth by
appointing royal commission to in
vestigate wireless matters.
The Australian Royal Commission
corresponds in it's functions to the
Federal Radio Commission recently
appointed by President Coolidge, ex-
cept that it's initial problem, the pat.
ent royalty matter, has not come up in
this country, and TO all intents prob.
ably will not come up 1t will investi-
gate broadcasting in all it's aspects
and stimulate the development and
utilization of wireless services for pub
lie requirements within the common
wealth. One of it's four members is
Sir James Elder late a commissioner
for Australia in the United States.
Experienced radio men looking for |
an opportunity TO serve the Govern /
ment might do we'll to apply to the |
Civil Service Commission at Wash |
ington for applications for examina- |
ton as assistant radio inspectors prior |
TO April Is. These positions requiring |
duty in the field. pay 2.100 year, but |
lead 10 promotion.
Although the Department OF Com !
merce is now short of funds and will |
be until Congress passes the delayed |
appropriation, number of additional |
assistant inspectors and probably in
spectors will be required this Fall and !
Winter to police the air and carry out
the directions of the Federal Radio
Commission. Competitors will be rat
ed on theoretical and practical ques
fions on the construction, use and ad |
tustment of radio apparatus and aux
ilisries, and their education, training
and experience,
Reception of out-of-town stations
last night was decidedly unsatisfac- /
tory. Static, heterodyning and fad |
ing combined to produce weird and
ear piercing Sounds in the loud
speaker.
Conditions were far better soon after /
dark than around midnight. Static /
seemed to increase in intensity AZ the /
hours passed, and between IL and IL !
O'Clock only the superpower stations
were able to get their signals through /
with sufficient clarity for identified |
ton.
WRvA. Richmond Va: WHO'D, |
Miami Beach. Fla. and WAAT, Jer- /
eey City. all using low wave bands. /
had less difficulty in penetrating the /
bsrrage Of atmospherics than did /
some of the stations of equal power |
on higher wave channels.
Music. vocal and instrumental. is
all that WRC has TO offer tonight. |
There Is not even talk or a one-act |
play to diversity the program.
Chief among the attractions is an
other concert by the Goldman Band, |
which will come from New York via |
WEAF. other features which the |
station VIII import are the weekly |
concert Of the Anglo Persians and
dance program by the Greenwich Vii /
lage Inn Orchestra.
The Lord Calvert Hour of Music |
end a concert by the Burlington Or
chestra. which viii he interspersed
with selections by the Imperial Male
Quartet and Marguerite Clark Crom-
well. soprano. are WRC's principal
offerings of local origin.
wMAL will continue hroadcasting
tonight from the Chamber OF Com
ynerce industrial exposition AZ the
Washington Auditorium. The night
has been designated as Red Cross
night"