USA Radios

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The history of radio encompasses multiple discoveries, findings, and inventions that made the birth of broadcasting possible and shaped the evolution of radio devices in their various forms. Central to this development was the initial discovery of electromagnetic wave transmission.

This history spans at least a century of scientific and technological advances, driven by some of the brightest minds in physics, engineering, and applied sciences. It begins in the late 19th century and extends to the advent of digital radio in the late 20th century.

Radio was an unprecedented creation that transformed human communications and laid the groundwork for subsequent technologies such as television, wireless internet, and radar.

Origin of Radio

The authorship of radio has been a subject of prolonged historical controversy. Nikola Tesla, the renowned Serbian inventor, filed the first patent for a receiver of Hertzian waves. Conversely, Italian Guglielmo Marconi successfully built the first functional Hertzian wave receiver in 1896.

Marconi demonstrated the applications of his invention to the navy and army, solidifying his reputation as the creator of radio. However, many argue that there is evidence Marconi appropriated others’ ideas.

Confusion heightened when, in 1943, the US Supreme Court ruled against Marconi Wireless Tel. Co. The company claimed the US military had used radio during World War I without paying corresponding patent rights. Nevertheless, this ruling did not settle the question of who invented radio.

Early Radio Broadcasts

Regular commercial broadcasts for public entertainment began in 1920. The first long-distance radio transmission was achieved by Marconi in 1899, spanning the English Channel between Dover, England, and Boulogne, France, covering approximately 30 miles. This demonstrated the capability of this new invention, known as “wireless telegraphy.”

In North America, a significant early transmission occurred on Christmas Eve 1906. Regular commercial and entertainment broadcasts commenced in 1920, with one of the earliest taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Richard Wagner’s opera Parsifal was transmitted from the rooftop of the Teatro Coliseo.

Five years later, the city had a dozen radio stations, with a similar number emerging in other parts of the country. Broadcasts were initially limited, occurring from dusk until midnight.

Simultaneously, the world’s first regular news broadcaster was established in the United States. Initially known as 8MK (now WWJ), it was launched in 1920 in Detroit, Michigan, and owned by The Detroit News. In 1922, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was founded in London, becoming one of the world’s most prestigious broadcasters.

The Golden Age of Radio

The golden age of radio spanned from 1920 to 1930, a decade marked by a global proliferation of radio stations, particularly in industrialized nations.

During this period, Americans Chester W. Rice and Edward Washburn Kellogg invented a new type of moving-coil loudspeaker that resolved numerous issues in radio listening. Prior to this advancement, various methods existed for listening, such as connecting headphones directly to the device.

Car Radios

The popularity of radio sparked the desire to listen to it in different contexts, including while driving. Thus, in 1927, the first radios for automobiles were manufactured and promoted, with Philco Transitone radios especially standing out.

From then on, the combination of radio and music playback in cars remained strong, taking advantage of the fact that while sight must focus on driving, the ear remains free to enjoy the sound.

Transistor Radios

In 1948, the field of electronics experienced a revolution with the arrival of transistors, developed by the American company Bell. These semiconductor devices have the ability to interrupt, attenuate, or allow the passage of an electric current.

The creation of transistors led engineers John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956. This technological advancement made it possible for the German company Intermetall to produce the first transistor radio in 1953.

The new transistor radios stood out for being more efficient, lightweight, economical, and compact compared to traditional radios. This advancement spurred mass production of radios in the 1960s and 1970s, making them a popular medium for following news during the Cold War. Their popularity persisted into the 1980s until they were displaced by more advanced technologies.

Digital Online Radio

Despite the notable decline radio experienced in the 1980s and 1990s due to the rising popularity of television, it survived into the digital era. With the advent of the internet and technological innovations of the new millennium, radio revived with the introduction of the first digital broadcasts online. Additionally, podcasts emerged, allowing listeners to download and listen to radio programs at any time.