Wireless Weekly

McKenzie working with the wireless radio c1922

Wireless Weekly was Australia's first news-stand wireless magazine (not counting the AWA monthly), published in 1922 in Sydney by W.J. Maclardy, a founder of commercial radio station 2SB (later changed to 2BL). It arose from conversations between Florence Violet (Vera) McKenzie OBE (née Wallace), aka 'Violet Wallace, 'Vera Wallace' and later 'Mrs Mac' (1890-1982),[1] who owned a wireless shop in the Royal Arcade, Sydney,[2] Ron Marsden her engineer, and Maclardy. The front cover featured a photo of amateur radio activity.[3]

First issue

The first issue of Wireless Weekly was planned in weekly meetings in Mr MacLardy's reportedly 'dark and dusty basement' in Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Mrs Mackenzie wrote industry news, components notes, a short story or maybe a wireless 'poem'. Mr Marsden wrote technical article. Mr A. Mitchell, as Editor, arranged the material, adding relevant material from Sydney's Evening News daily where he worked.[3]

The first 12- page issue had a print run of a few hundred copies, and went on sale from Mrs Mackenzie's shop at 8am on 4 August 1922. It carried the imprint: Published by WJ.MacLardy, 249 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.[3]

Violet McKenzie and husband Cecil McKenzie c1935

Initially Wireless Weekly was exclusively for amateurs, but gradually became a broadcast listeners' journal. With the start of commercial broadcasting in 1923, it featured information about commercial stations and programs and flourished, often exceeding 64 pages.

Sale and continued publication

In 1923 the publication was sold to Wireless Newspapers Ltd. As time passed, Wireless Weekly became a listeners' weekly program magazine sometimes including small booklets as supplements, listing amateur and commercial radio stations.

The Wireless Weekly became the monthly magazine "Radio & Hobbies", then "Radio, Television & Hobbies", and finally Electronics Australia,[4] and remained in circulation until 2001.[5]

Wireless Weekly Publications

References

  1. ↑ Florence Violet McKenzie http://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=16655
  2. ↑ "Women and Wireless" in The Mercury, 18 March 1922, p. 14 column 3.
  3. 1 2 3 Williams, Neville (April 1992). "Vintage radio magazines: how they came and went, and transmitters BC (Before Crystals)" (PDF). Electronics Australia. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  4. ↑ Dunn, Peter (2006). "Women's Emergency Signalling CORPS IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII". Ozatwar.com. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Catherine Freyne (2010). "McKenzie, Violet". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  6. ↑ VK2DYM'S MILITARY RADIO AND RADAR INFORMATION SITE http://www.qsl.net/vk2dym/radio/magazines.htm


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/29/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.