1 of 1- paterson1
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On This Day in 1924 Ted Rogers Sr. May Have Saved Radio
It was on this date in 1924 that Ted Rogers Sr. introduced the Rogers experimental vacuum tube which eventually allowed radios for the first time to be successfully operated from any household outlet using AC current. One year later his company started to produce radios with the new tubes and using AC current, The radios were first demonstrated at the CNE in August 1925.
All radios prior had used direct current batteries that were unreliable, with poor sound quality and often leaked acid. By the mid 1920's radio was losing it's appeal with the public because of the expense and unreliability of the direct current batteries. Rogers invention made viable the world's first all electric radio using alternating current. 
- Paul Jeffries
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Re: On This Day in 1924 Ted Rogers Sr. May Have Saved Radio
Hence the "RB" in CFRB's call sign, which stood for "Rogers Batteryless" and was started up to help promote his new invention.
Although I suspect a good portion of the audience on this board knows that already. 
[Edit: Oops sorry, I guess that was already mentioned in the article. I guess these middle-aged eyes didn't see that at first.]
Interesting, that Wikipedia notes that CFRB is not the oldest currently running radio station in Toronto. That honor belongs to French-speaking CJBC.
Was there a station before CJBC that was established then later closed? It would seem a little unusual that a French station would be the first to set up shop in Toronto.
PJ
Last edited by Paul Jeffries (August 26, 2024 7:42 pm)
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Re: On This Day in 1924 Ted Rogers Sr. May Have Saved Radio
From the Toronto Star, Oct. 17, 1925. I love how she seems to be plugging it into what appears to be a lamp. 
- paterson1
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Re: On This Day in 1924 Ted Rogers Sr. May Have Saved Radio
CJBC started out in 1925 as CKNC and was owned by the Canadian National Carbon Co. at 840 on the dial.
The Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission took over the station in 1932. For years CJBC was the flagship station of the popular Dominion Network. French broadcasting began in 1962. The Jarvis Street Baptist Church in Toronto had the CJBC call letters but when that station folded, CBC changed the station call letters from CBY to CJBC in 1943.
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Thread Starter- Hansa
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Re: On This Day in 1924 Ted Rogers Sr. May Have Saved Radio
CFCA, owned by the Toronto Daily Star, was the first radio station in Toronto with a regular schedule when it launched in 1922. Star publisher Joe Atkinson didn't see a future in commercial radio in Canada as he expected the government would follow the British example and establish a publicly owned monopoly (the BBC maintained its radio monopoly until 1973) so he didn't see the point in investing in upgraded equipment and closed the station in 1933.
Last edited by Hansa (August 26, 2024 8:37 pm)
- arc23
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Re: On This Day in 1924 Ted Rogers Sr. May Have Saved Radio
As houses at the time were wired only for lighting purposes, the radios sold had connectors enabling them to be plugged into lightbulb sockets.
When did Homes start getting the conventional power outlets for plugging in their own appliances?
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Re: On This Day in 1924 Ted Rogers Sr. May Have Saved Radio
Actually, upon doing a little more digging (and I would've answered my own original question had I done that! D'oh!), it would appear that CFRB is actually the oldest continuously-running station in Toronto still operating today, as CJBC (then CRCY) left the air for about a year in 1935.
It would also appear that CFRB holds the record in Ontario (maybe even Canada?) for having a set of call letters remain on a currently-operating station the longest. I believe CKOC would've held that honor, but they abandoned those call letters for about a year in 1992-93 when they changed their format to Oldies 1150 and took on the call letters CKMO.
PJ
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Re: On This Day in 1924 Ted Rogers Sr. May Have Saved Radio
What I like best about the above ad from 1925 is the paragraph at the end. Imagine - they were DXing back in 1925! California is a pretty impressive catch for Toronto even today. 
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Re: On This Day in 1924 Ted Rogers Sr. May Have Saved Radio
I just came across this. Ever wonder what you could pick up in the days when there was far less RF and a lot fewer stations to get in the way? Here's a sample from another Rogers Batteryless ad in 1925. Wish we could get this kind of reception today!