Paul G. Watson Collection
name: label: Creator
content: Watson, Paul Gristock, 1900-1966 (naval officer)
topic: label: Topic
content: Electric equipment
label: Topic
content: Electron tubes
label: Topic
content: Vacuum-tubes
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: No acquisition paperwork is extant.
creator: label: Creator
content: Watson, Paul Gristock, 1900-1966 (naval officer)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Paul G. Watson Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: The collection documents the early development of radio apparatus.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Paul Watson (1900-1966) was a retired naval commander and collector of electron tubes and material documenting them.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Cubic foot (3 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1960-1965
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: The collection was transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Electricity (now the Division of Work and Industry) in 1984.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0104
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Sales catalogs
label: Type
content: Technical literature
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Black-and-white photographic prints
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into one series.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Processed by Robert Harding, archivist, 1991; revised by Catherine Keen, archivist, June 2010.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Sales catalogs
label: Genre/Form
content: Technical literature
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 1930-1950
label: Genre/Form
content: Black-and-white photographic prints -- Silver gelatin -- 1950-2000
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The collection consists of five loose leaf binders labeled Historical Notes Concerning the Invention and Early Development of the Electron Tube.  The binders contain articles reproduced by Watson from the diaries and publications of several radio developers as well as chapters written by Watson himself.  Concentrating most heavily on Lee de Forest's invention of the "audion" electrolytic receiver and amplifier between 1902 and 1907, Watson narrates the story of the electron vacuum tube.  The three-electrode tube patented by de Forest combined all of the technology of Edison and Marconi into an extremely efficient and high-frequency-producing radio device.  After 1915 transmissions through the air from Arlington, Virginia to both San Francisco and the Eiffel Tower, the age of the electron vacuum tube had arrived.  Several companies sought rights to its development, and Watson's combination of personal insight and original material brings order to these early days of wireless communication.

The collection also includes a one-volume book on the Arlington, Virginia radio transmitter; a five volume study of the electron tube's development; and a folder of miscellaneous materials.  The single volume is a 1965 work which tells the story of the National Electric Signaling Company (NESCO) and Naval involvement at the Arlington short wave radio transmission station.  Built in 1909 by NESCO, this station was originally equipped with a huge 100 kilowatt spark transmitter in an effort to concentrate all Atlantic Naval communication and to provide a means of directly signaling the West Coast.  A more effective and compact kilowatt arc or "continuous wave" transmitter was added in 1913, and in 1924 several vacuum tube transmitters superseded both former types.  This work is the story of that transition.  

The five volume set contains an overview of wireless development throughout the twenties and beginning with the vacuum tube development.  The first volume discusses de Forest's life's work, the manufacture of his "audions", General Electric radio-receiving tube progress, and selected quotes from de Forest's letters to Watson.  The second volume narrates Watson's experience with amateur radio, radio in the U.S. Navy, early radio organizations, and General Electric and Westinghouse developments.  The third volume provides a list of brand names and manufacturers of electron tubes and a series of photographs of Watson's personal tube collection. The fourth volume develops de Forest's pre-"audion" days and discusses his company's line of radio equipment.  The fifth and final volume contains a catalogue of Marconi brand equipment and several illustrated chapters on naval radio in World War I, including the 1915 Arlington experiments.  The miscellaneous materials consists of one folder of advertisements for various radio vacuum tube manufacturers and complete photographs of Watson's private tube collection.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Materials in the Archives Center

George H. Clark Collection of Radioana (AC0055)

Materials at the National Museum of American History

Electron tubes related to Watson are in the Division of Work and Industry.