Probus club members enjoy interesting talk on the history of radio

THE Shepshed Probus Club meeting was held at the Junction 23 restaurant on November 6, and after enjoying a very pleasant meal, the club’s respective secretary and president covered club business before the speaker was introduced.

The speaker this month was Bert Bower who spoke about the history of radio.

Bert is an in-house speaker who spent many years teaching electronics at Loughborough University but he’s had a long-term interest in radio and can remember using crystal sets with a cat’s whisker!

In the early days primitive development of radio was happening all over the world with some of the main players being Nicholas Tessler, A.G. Bell, Clark Maxwell and Marconi although the latter was accused of plagiarism.

Valves were invented and Edison discovered how to make them more efficient by creating a vacuum inside and then Marconi surprised the world by claiming to have sent a message to America from Poldubh in Cornwall.

With so many people working on the problem it wasn’t too long before plastic versions of the valves which were invented and innovations are being designed and produced ever day, miniaturisation being a good example. Radio is still in it’s infancy so who knows what’s to come next after television.

Bert took questions from the floor at the com- pletion of his talk.

The club president reminded members the next meeting was the Christmas luncheon on November 17 to which the ladies were invited.

The next regular meeting is on Monday, December 4.

The club is always looking for new members so please contact secretary Wilf on 01509 769802 for further information.