QCWA: Sparks from Twin Lights

Sparks From Twin Lights,

On top of a hill in the Highlands, NJ is the site of the Twin Lights lighthouse used by many ships to navigate the waters into the New York Harbor area.  On a clear day one could see over 25 miles from the hill.  This was the location where the marvel of wireless telegraphy was first introduced to America by 25 years old Guglielmo Marconi.  The events that transpired in September and October of 1899 on the hills of Highlands opened up the world to radio communications.

During the years of 1897 and 1898 Marconi performed many spark transmission experiments to demonstrate the value of wireless telegraphy via Hertzian waves.  In England Marconi demonstrated wireless between two docked ships at a distance of 4½ miles.  Sir William Preece, Chief Engineer of the General Post Office in England, after intensive evaluation said “…enough has been done to prove it’s (wireless telegraphy) value and to show that for shipping and lighthouse purposes it will be a great and valuable acquisition (for the British Navy)…”.  Also, in Italy the Italian Navy conducted wireless tests aboard a cruiser and a battleship in motion and succeeded to distances of 2 ½ to 11 miles depending on the antenna height used.  Needless to say Marconi was elated with the success and he anticipated a large maritime market.  He was issued his first patent (#12039) on July 2, 1897 by the British Patent Office.  Based of this patent he established ‘The Wireless Telegraph and Signal Company, Ltd.’ to produce wireless equipment components such as Righi spark gaps, coherers, sensitive polarized relays, induction coils, and other parts.

The year of 1899 saw the establishment of wireless across the English Channel, and on March 17th the first actual rescue at sea occurred.  When the invitation came from the NY Herald to provide live reporting of the America’s Cup races in the October 1899, Marconi was ready and confident to come to America.  The races were between the “ Shamrock” of Sir Thomas Lipton, the Lipton Tea Company, and the “Columbia” of J.P.Morgan, American financier; and the NY Herald was looking for first class publicity that only Marconi could bring.

Marconi arrived in New York on September 21, 1899 to a wild reception.  To reporters sent to meet him at the dock, he had a prepared statement, half-confident, half- defiant.  It said, “We will be able to send the details of the yacht to New York as accurately and as quickly as if you could telephone them.  The distance is nothing.”  Once unpacked, Marconi and his staff immediately went to work setting up sending stations on the vessel “Ponce”, the vessel Marconi spent much of his time on, and a stream ship “Grand Duchess”.  At Twin Lights a receiving station with a direct telephone line to the Herald in NY City was established.  A receiving antenna was erected to height over 100 feet.

Before the races could begin Marconi was asked to report on the triumphant return of Commodore George Dewey as his fleet returned to New York form a victorious Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish American War.  On September 30, 1899 the first wireless telegraphy messages were sent to report on the progress of the fleet.  These transmissions were the first demonstrations of practical wireless telegraphy in our history.  In mid October the America’s cup races began.  They races were boring events, but during the races Marconi had an opportunity to send a report of an accident at sea right after it had occurred and other information pertaining to a lost vessel.  The advantage of ship-to-shore was quickly realized.  The Herald and the general public were impressed.  On the “Ponce” a US Naval Observer stated “Marconi passed the stage of uncertainty – this was sure to be adopted at sea”.  Subsequent to these activities, the Marconi equipment was tested on US naval vessels.  This led directly to showing the value of wireless telegraphy ant the requirement of “Marconi’s” on all commercial vessels.  Many timely rescues at sea resulted, the most famous being the 705 survivors of the Titanic.

Now 100 years later the Marconi Chapter 138, which now has a station call of WA2GM, and is coordinating the activities of Amateur radio clubs in the NJ area to replay the events that opened the world to radio.  Special events are planned for Twin Lights, vessels off the coast of New Jersey, the Marconi buildings in the Camp Evans area where the new Information Age (electronic) Center plans a ribbon cutting to start renovations, and the Marconi Park site in the New Brunswick area.  Special QSL cards and Certificates, and actual simulated spark transmission messages are planned.  The activities will last for a period of one month.  The Marconi Chapter 138 is proud to spearhead the activity.  Look for the details of the special events in the next issue of the Journal.

Page updated January 3, 2004   page created July 4, 1999