ZNB Mafeking, Bechuanaland - 1st December 1949

ZNB began broadcasting in 1936 on 5900 kHz with 250 watts and operated as a communication facility for the government of Bechuanaland. Test transmissions of station announcements and music recordings resulted in requests for regular programming from Africa, the U.S.A., Europe and Japan. 

However programming had to be discontinued due to copyright infringements. After the positive response from local listeners, broadcasting was reintroduced with programming by the South African Broadcasting Corporation. 

ZNB operated with communication traffic in addition to broadcasting entertainment and information programs. The regular frequency of 5900 kHz was used in addition to 8230 kHz at times. 

The station ended the broadcasting of entertainment programs on the 30th September 1963. 

The above QSL card verified the distant reception on the 1st December 1949 from a dxer in Stockholm, Sweden.

Berlin Grosse Deutsche Funk-Austellung - 1924

Hamburg Radio Ausstellung Poster Stamp - 1924

 

Zurich Radio Ausstellung Poster Stamp

 

New York Radio World's Fair Poster Stamp - 1925

 

WLOU Louisville, Kentucky - January 1953

WLOU commenced broadcasting in November 1948.

Louisville's heritage African-American radio station began programming to the community continuously since October 21, 1951 and became one of the first full-time R&B stations in the USA.

The QSL letter was signed by WLOU chief electrical engineer Steve Dawson. 

KOA Denver, Colorado - May 1940

HROW Radio Montserrat, Tegucigalpa, Honduras - October 1951

2LO Savoy Hill - Arthur Burrows (Uncle Arthur) - 1923

A vintage picture postcard of Arthur Burrows in front of the 2LO Round-Sykes microphone.

Arthur Burrows was in charge of the original experimental transmissions from 2LO at Marconi House and was appointed as the first Director of Programmes for the British Broadcasting Company.

At 6pm on 14 November 1922, he read the British Broadcasting Company's first on-air news bulletin.

At 5pm on 24 December 1922, he played Father Christmas in 'The Truth About Father Christmas' - considered to be the first official broadcast of a radio drama. 

He was one of the original BBC 'Uncles' ('Uncle Arthur'), the first London wireless Uncle on Children's Hour. 

After leaving the BBC, Arthur Burrows went on to be head of the International Wireless Bureau in Geneva.

2LO Savoy Hill - Rex Palmer (Uncle Rex) - 1923

An original vintage picture postcard of Rex Palmer in front of the 2LO Round-Sykes microphone. 

Rex Palmer was the first London Station Director of 2LO. In November 1922 he became the first person to be appointed to the British Broadcasting Company (the BBC's predecessor) by John Reith.

  

Rex Palmer was known as "The Golden Voice of Wireless" and presented children's programs (as "Uncle Rex") from 1923. He also presented concert programs and sang as a baritone.

When he left the BBC in 1929 to join the Gramophone Company, he was described by the Evening News as "one of the original five members of the BBC".

BBC Radio 4 Daventry - 20th March 1973

Radio Normandie, Fécamp - 30th January 1937

A rare QSL letter from Radio Normandie dated 30th January 1937, confirming the trans-Atlantic reception in Gananogue, Ontario, Canada (over a distance of 5 572 km / 3 463 miles).

English Translation :

" We acknowledge receipt of your letter of 17 January and the listening results it contained. 

It is Radio Normandie that you have heard and we congratulate you on this admirable result. 

Please accept our best regards, sir ". 

Radio Normandie operated on a frequency of 1113 kHz with a listed power of 10kw during the time of the reception and included programs directed towards Southern England.

 

QSL recipient Frank Petch was a dxer and an editor of the "Canadian DX Relay", a monthly dx publication from Ontario.

  

The Radio Normandie studio at Le Chateau de Caudebec-en-Caux

Radio Normandy - The Legend

A comprehensive collection of articles, images and mp3 sound clips concerning the interesting history of Radio Normandy is available at the Off Shore Echos website.

G6YL Felton, Northumberland - 15th Nov 1930

 

An interesting QSL from G6YL (Barbara Dunn) to VK3BQ (Max Howden).

Barbara Dunn was England's first lady radio amateur (licensed on the 14th April 1927). She remained the country's only female transmitting amateur until 1932 when Nelly Corry (G2YL) obtained her amateur radio license.

The card reported the reception of VK3BQ over a distance of 10 480 miles / 16 865 km from Barbara Dunn's historical residence, Acton House, situated in Felton, Nothumberland.

(QSL card acquired from the estate of Max Howden).  

Acton House, Felton (photograph - Stephen Richards via Wikimedia Commons).

GDX London - 5th July 1925

 

A SWL card from GDX (R. Pollock) to A3BQ (Max Howden).

The card reported the reception in England of A3BQ, heard by GDX at Worcester College for the Blind (presently NCW / New College Worcester), over an impressive distance of 10 574 miles / 17 017 km) on the 5th July 1925.

(SWL card acquired from the estate of Max Howden).

2NM Queens Park, Caterham - 19th February 1925

 

A message of congratulations from 2NM (Gerald Marcuse) to 3BQ (Max Howden), most likely with reference to 3BQ's historical voice transmission received by 2OD (Ernest Simmons) on the 8th February 1925 - the first amateur radio voice transmission from Australia received in England (over a distance of 10 520 miles / 16 930 km).

A remarkable piece of radio history (acquired from the estate of Max Howden). 

Wireless World (Feb 1925)

Wireless World (Feb 1925)
 

 

2KF Collier's Wood, London - 21st Dec 1924 and 18th Jan 1925

An interesting early QSL from 2KF (John Partridge) to 3BQ (Max Howden) confirming their second contact on the 21st December 1924 and their third exchange on the 18th January 1925 over an impressive distance of 10 507 miles / 16 909 km. The first contact between the two pioneer radio amateurs occurred on the 30th November 1924.

Another remarkable QSL (acquired from the estate of Max Howden).

3BQ radio shack including what is most likely the identical 2KF QSL (Wireless World - April 1925).

John Partridge (2KF)

Apart from being the third British radio amateur to work Australia, 2KF was the second from the U.K. to contact New Zealand and achieved the first British - U.S.A. trans-Atlantic short wave QSO with 1MO (Ken Warner) on the 8th December 1923.

Total Solar Eclipse - 24th January 1925

2KF also heard 3BQ during the total solar eclipse on the 24th January 1925 and included the following interesting note at the bottom of the QSL :

" Heard you on 24 Jan at 4:15 pm calling CQ UA 3BQ and working G2OD - During eclipse of sun. Your signal went weak after the eclipse was over ".

Wireless World (Feb 1925)

2OD Gerrard's Cross - the first two-way radio contact between Great Britain and Australia - 13th November 1924

 

A wonderful QSL of congratulations from 2OD (Ernest Simmons) to 3BQ (Max Howden) confirming the first two-way radio communication between Great Britain (including Europe) and Australia on the 13th November 1924 over an impressive distance of 10 520 miles / 16 930 km. 

A significant piece of radio history and the highlight of the collection (acquired from the estate of Max Howden).

The QSL from 2OD reads as follows :

" First European heard (in) New Zealand and (to) QSO Australia.

To Radio 3BQ

Your signals worked here at 1850 GMT Nov 13th 1924 and many times since.

Remarks : Dear 3BQ. Hearty Congratulations. First Aussie. Thanks for Cable of Confirmation. Your signal is the best Australian. 'G' stations are only allowed to work 1830 to 1900 GMT Sat, Sun and Wed because of broadcasting. It would be great advantage if you could use pure DC as X's (signals) are always bad here in evening also under QRM from high power harmonics.

Receiver : Super

PA input : 105 watts

Transmitter : - Osc

DX Receiving / Transmitting : 

QSO : Australia 3ABQ, 2CM, 2DS, 2AC

        

New Zealand 4AA, 4AG

Your best signals were at 1900 GMT 25.11.24 

Could read with 6 from phones on Super.

Best wishes and good luck for future DX.

E.J. Simmonds. "

Wireless World (Dec 1924)

Wireless World (Nov 1924)

Wireless World (Mar 1925)

Wireless World (April 1925) 

CANADA CBW Winnipeg, Manitoba - January 1958

KGMB Honolulu, Hawaii - January 1931

 

KSTP Saint Paul, Minnesota - March 1931

 

KGIR Butte, Montana - Copper Sheet QSL - 1940s

WCLO Janesville, Wisconsin - January 1932

WKBW Buffalo, New York - March 1964

A special thank you to Al Quaglieri for kindly donating the WKBW QSL card.

WOW Omaha, Nebraska - December 1963

A special thank you to Al Quaglieri for kindly donating the WOW QSL card.