Introducing Marconi

"Whisper in the Wind" A life of Marconi Archer-ARC Films 1994.

Greatest hurricane in living memory destroyed Pauldew transmission station Set up another at Signal Hill, St. John's Newfoundland 6/9/01. Most important experiment of his life - transmitting the letter "s" man sized kites and 600' aerials at 12.30 received the message. The press reported "a wireless wizard" won Edison's praise for his audacity; Bell offered his estate for more experiments. His life a war on cable; the cable companies won an injunction against him

But he signed with Cunard Lines to give a daily new bulletin in mid Atlantic. wanted trans-Atlantic success conscious of his reputation and his lack of formal education; a proud man. Set up Glace Bay, the world's most colossal radio transmitter: half a mile wide, 200 wires four colossal towers; a bizarre structure public were fascinated. In Gaelic. Father of Wireless, "Whisper in the Air"

Two years later, emotionally and physically on brink of collapse suffering constant criticism in press and by sceptics At 30 years old, considered abandoning wireless. He fell in love with Beatrice O'Brien. married at fashionable St. George's London & took his new bride to Glace Bay. she was spontaneous; he was measured.

His only true passion an obsession with trans-Atlantic radio; a Faustian quest 100,000 watt spark transmitter with 300 kW and 15,000 volts Set up a station at Clifton Ireland with 20,000 volt storage Achieved increasing regularity and reliability Defied the laws of the universe; long radio waves. Bounced the waves off the ionosphere and had rewritten science; won the Nobel Prize for Physics

Signed a wireless contract to reach ships beyond the horizon built a factory outside London to build radio parts; Telefunken the competitor Imposed his "non-communication policy" to ensure his company's survival; treated the airwaves as his private property But at the instigation of the Kaiser, the international community outlawed his policy. But too late; his monopoly was already in place. Radio operators,"sparkies", considered to be freaks in the maritime services 15/4/12 the sinking of the Titanic but its Marconi radio operator saved 712 lives Now Marconi a humanitarian benefactor: Guardian Angel of Wireless

In 1914 wireless a fashion, vogue, boys clubs Hollywood's homage to wireless; Marconi an object of adulation. Beatrice now a mother of 2 now contemplated divorce. Contract with British Govt. for a radio network with her Empire Global wireless would lead to world peace.

But W.W.I broke out and he served with Italy. Wireless used by all sides. Marconi Company prospered. Marconi a delegate to the Versailles Peace Conference divorced 1924; forgot his wide and daughter in his obsession: a life and death struggle with the cable companies. "impossible" never in his vocabulary found that "short waves' spanned vast distances; outperformed anything before. Signed deal with the British Government: now could contact Australia and South African in a fraction public's growing awareness of radio. RCA led by past employees competed.

Marconi never understood the medium's use for entertainment only communications. 1928 Cable Conference he was merged with the cable companies. "Father of Radio" died at 63. "knighted" as Marchesi Marconi. price of fame consumed his youth and health.

Notes by G. Smith 1997.

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