Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-29
SECRET MESSAGES
POSSIBLE ON RADIO
Corporation Granted Patent
on Device That Shuts
Out LiStenerS-in.

The Radio Corporation of America
has acquired a patent for a special
radio-telephone transmitter and re-
ceiver permitting secret communities
ton. The method is covered in a re-
cent patent issued to Alfred n. Gold
smith and julius Weinberger of New
York City 1t is described briefly as
follows:
I'm a radio signaling system. the
combination of a transmitter, means
for generating an interfering tone of
a frequency differing from that of
tone of standard musical pitch, and
receiver having filtering means for
eliminating said interfering tone
A non-technical analysis of this pat
ent indicates that the invention covers
what might be termed a secret means
Of radio communication, in that the
transmitter sends out an interfering
tone, such as buzz or hum besides a
regular message or communication.
This added tone would make the mat
ter sent out unintelligible when picked
up on ordinary receiving apparatus.
With a special radio receiving set
equipped with a filter to eliminate this
added and interfering tone, the opera
tor at the receiver would be able to
hear the message transmitted.
Applications for this invention. as
seen by radio experts, include a secret
means for private or commercial radio
communication on land or between
ships and the shore, and also military
and naval uses in time Of war.
commercial company operating sew
eral mines or oil fields, for example,
might want to operate such system
and keep it's private business to IT.
self Another use might be by
fleet of fishing vessels desiring to
render confidential reports on its
catch to base or home radio station.
1t might be adapted to the public
transoceanic radio phone circuits for
privacy, and on shorter circuits. like
the one operated between Long Beach
and Catalina Island. in California,
which utilized so-called scrambled
transmission" unintelligible to aver
age radio receiving sets, although re-
ported solved by some radio amateurs.
A legal question might arise if such
a noise-creating transmitter was put
in operation on general radio chan-
mel, for actually it would transmit
nothing but interference to ordinary
receivers, which is against the law.
On a special or exclusive wave length.
other messages and might legally be
utilized. If it's use was attempted in
the broadcast band, it might not be
very popular, with its interfering
noises. This, it might be mentioned,
is what Representative Sol Bloom of
New York probably had in mind when
he told the House of Representatives
recently that a corporation was about
to introduce a broadcast transmitter
1off tor itln III.
BILE or unavailable except to those buy
ing or paying a royalty special for
radio receiving devices from the own
ers and inventors of the system. In
this way he feared the radio fans
would have to pay for broadcast re-
ception.
1t is realized, however, that today
broadcast station operators desire
everybody to listen in. They would
not do anything to restrict their audi
ences. However, it is also anticipated
that certain creeds or organizations
might want to transmit special pro-
grams for their members only. They
might be lacking in interest to out
siders. in which event the public, al
though perhaps curious, would gladly
tolerate inaudibility if it did not inter-
fere with other broadcast programs.
It's actual applications rest with the
Radio Corporation of America, which
owns and will use the patented sys-
tenn as it sees fit.
Snonsored features from New York
form the major part of WRC's pro-
gram tonight. Heading the list is the
weekly Eveready Hour, during which
will be presented a program OF clas-
steal music. The other attractions in
clude the Jolly Buckeye Bakers, the
National Radio Cavalcade and radio
auction bridge game.
Mrs. Nina Reed will open the pro-
gram with a resume of Things Talked
About Readings by Ann Ives and
O. concert by the Mayfiower Orchestra
win follow.
The bridge game for tonight has
been prepared by four New York ex-
perts. The players and hands to be
Sidney S. LEM, dealer, South. holds
Spades 9 4. Hearts ] spot 6, Dia-
monds 6 A, Clubs @ 10 5 4.
Milton G.. Work, West, holds Spades
spot S 2, Hearts 3, Diamonds A K
Q 8, Clubs spot 2.
John II. Smith, North, holds Spades
X J 8, Hearts A 10 4, Diamonds s
spot S. Clubs 9 z 3.
Wilbur G. Whitehead, East, holds
Spades A @ 10 6, Hearts X Q 2, Dia-
monds j 10 2, Clubs A K
WMAL will introduce a new feature
tonight to be known as the Inoco hour
of music. The musicians who will pro-
vide this program will be under the
direction of Moe Baer, popular Wash
ington musician.
The Radio Movie Club and the
Army Band Symphonet are other
leading attractions listed by this sta
ton. The Movie Club will present
Jack Sidney, recording artist; the
Columbia Recording Orchestra and
other features.
4. Two interesting talks also are on
WMAL's program. One, concerning
the life of the co-eds at the University
of Maryland, will be given by Miss
Adele Stamp, dean of women at the
institution. The other will be given by
Louis A. Bauer of the Carnegie In
stitution of Washington on What the
Compass Tells U.s."
Dialing last night was a satisfactory
pastime, and productive of good re-
suits. With only an occasional crash
of static to mar reception, signals
from all directions came through in fair
strength and audibiIity, especially
those originating in the North and
Northwest The silent night in Chi
cago also gave the DIX hunters an OPP
porunity to log some seldom heard
stations.
Grid Leak Puzzling.
Many radioists wonder why a grid
leak is not used with an amplifier