History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Frederick William Medhurst

Frederick William Medhurst

A comprehensive biography of Frederick William Medhurst has not yet been prepared, however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:

• Research - Frederick William Medhurst - Summary of research to date

• Transcriptions and Notes - Frederick William Medhurst - More than 10 transcriptions

• Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Frederick William Medhurst - Nothing uploaded as yet

• Incubator of Wikipedia Article on Frederick William Medhurst - Coming real soon now!

Pending further progress on the foregoing, the following biography by an anonymous author in the WIA's Amateur Radio for Frederick William Medhurst comprehensively covers his role in the development of wireless in Tasmania from 1900s through 1930s.

Reminiscences of 7 AH. A visit paid to Beach Road, Sandy Bay, some three miles from Hobart was rewarded with a most interesting morning spent with Tasmania's "Grand Old Man of Radio" — "Pop" to the gang. VK7AH — Mr. F. W. Medhurst — although now 71 years of age, would surprise many much younger than himself. Born in Chobham, Surrey, England, in 1867, educated at Nelson College, Lea, Kent, and at Surrey County School, Cranleigh, then at Electrical Engineering School, London Bridge. At fourteen years of age he entered the Chobham Post Office as telegraphist and general postal assistant; this establishment included printing works, chemist and druggist and stationery business, the whole of which was conducted by his father. Here he spent eight years, during which time he spent much of his leisure hours with the Telegraph Battalion, Royal Engineers, being close friends with the officers and N.C.O.s, there gaining a lot of his early experience. In addition to this he had two years with the Second Royal West Surrey Regiment Volunteer Battery Signallers. At the end of this time he left England for Australia and arriving in Melbourne in 1889 he joined the temporary staff at the G.P.O. and later on at Flinders street and Prince' Bridge railway stations as operator and telegraphist, where he spent his first two years in Australia, coming to Tasmania in March, 1891. Here he joined the Telegraph Department of the P.M.G.'s Department as operator and the same year transferred to the Electrical Fitting Staff of the department for telephone and telegraph work. During 1900-1901 he carried out experiments with Mr. Hallam, engineer for the department in W/T, and in 1901 as assistant to Mr. Hallam conducted successful experiments in contacting and maintaining telegraphic communication with the H.M.S. St. George, which, with H.M.S. Juno, accompanied the Ophir in which the Duke of York visited Tasmania. The land station which they constructed personally was situated at the Long Beach Light, known as "Blinking Billy" on One Tree Point, then also a defence battery. Operating was continuous and was very highly commended by the vessel's officers concerned. The equipment used constituted 90 feet of scaffold poles lashed together from which a vertical aerial was supported. This was end fed and used a plate immersed in the river as earth. 12 in. and 14 in. spark coils were used alternately as transmitters having an adjustable brass ball spark gap and tuned with a tapped inductance. Power was derived from Plante Accumulators, communication being essentially SPARK and very broad, hi! Receiving equipment constituted two coherer detectors consisting of nickel and iron filings in a glass tube with two silver contact electrodes and decohered by an electric bell used as a tapper in one case and by being mounted on top of a sounder relay in the other, duplication of the coherer was essential as often they became inactive in a very short time due to oxidisation and a change of filings had to be made repeatedly. The sounder relay previously mentioned operated a Morse Recorder (Siemens). The coherers were tested for activity by using a spark gas lighter, a miniature Whimshurst machine which flashed a spark between contacts and acting as a small transmitter, was held close to the receiver aerial, an active coherer would register the flash. A photograph of the equipment Command of Signallers in Tasmania, and held this office till he reached the retiring age after the World War. In 1912 the firm of Medhurst & Sons, Radio and General Electrical, came into being and here he has continued taking an active part in the business until the present day. When originated, the firm specialised in radio. Among his earlier business career he conducted the installation of the first electric lighting equipment in Hobart. He is still very active and takes a delight in going back through the years relating early experiences and comparing them with the present day. He talks of the first Edison Talking Machine and electric lamp, early experiments with radio and the equipment then (not) available, how many ingenious ideas were thought out and how they were made to work, and a variety of others was produced while this description was being written and is a treasured possession of 7AH. The set up was made in a low roofed room or perhaps cellar would be better, normally used as an oil store room and when the visitors expressed the desire to visit the "so wonderful" land station great concern was felt by the local officials about making the place presentable. Pop's military career commenced in England, was continued in Tasmania, spending two years with Submarine Mining Co. of Engineers, he transferred to Mounted Infantry and after eight years became Officer in subjects dear to those who spent so much time and energy delving into possibilities which have grown to be present day realities. As one might observe from the foregoing, radio has been foremost with him sleeping and waking, and he now expresses regret at not being able to be still active on the popular bands, in fact, during, the conversation he suggested he was considering a bit of 5 meter work and if he continues to remain in his present health I would not be surprised any time to hear him at work — the flesh is still willing, ay Pop! He reflects back to the days of our now passed super experimenter, Trevor Watkins, 7DX (originally 7AA), and recounts their years of experimenting spent closely associated, how they mapped out circuits and built them up solely to see them work and how they tested equipment one with the other. His experimenting dates back to before such things as licences were needed and he has been a member of the W.I.A. since soon after its inception, was elected a life member in 1925, and has stuck by through thick and thin. For years he was president of this division until ill health some three years ago forced a curtailment of activities, but he is now much recovered and again occupies this position which we hope he will retain for years yet. Prominent among Pop's activities is his Medhurst Patent Field Telephone, which has found a very wide use in military activities and. is used extensively to the present time. A peep into his den and shack makes one's eyes open, for he has there a collection of innumerable relics of the past and without hoping to enumerate them here is a few of the articles seen:— An original Western Electric valve receiver beautifully built in stage units, each with a polished wood cabinet all "breadboard" mounted, purchase price was £150. Another receiver was an original De Forest of about the same age. (Pop says Crystal Sets in those days were priced up to £13 each.) One of Edison's original Talking Machines built up on a lyre shaped base with record drum mounted across its extremities was viewed, reproduction apparently was made through the base vibrating and passing them in turn to a horn magnifier set on the opposite end of base to the drum. Fidelity! A second Edison machine of the electric variety with automatic record changing, 5 drums being mounted around a common centre, drive was from a 2 volt motor with ring type armature and designed to operate from a Bichromate Cell. Gavanometers and microphones of various shapes and sizes dating right back, the workmanship of which in most cases was noteworthy. On the operating bench stands two T.N.T. rigs, single tube Q.R.P. jobs both of them, one for 40 metres and the other 20. The old and once very popular glass rod or tube method of coil supporting is employed; an additional feature of these rigs is the grid leaks, these constitute small glass jars with platinum wire electrodes suspended in the now almost dried up electrolyte — water grid leaks I'm told. These rigs have not called C.Q. for a long time now, but the rest of the equipment presents many vivid pictures of, and bear testimony to, their owner's past activities and one never knows when they may be given a new lease of life. Further on we see an French Barthon Ader field exchange and a two station, i.e., complete, heliograph in perfect order and other incidentals that tell of his active military career. This is not all, for Mr. Medhurst, with Mrs. Medhurst, who has now passed on, had during their life together conducted a happy home life and reared a most creditable family. After reading this far one could be forgiven for wondering just how with such an active commercial life, but the fact remains. Recently as the outcome of the development of the "Radio-phone," Pop was able to converse with his aged mother in England who, though declining in health, enjoyed a talk which was most delighting, it containing, among other topics, a 91st birthday greeting. This must have been to him a grand climax to his own part played in, and his earlier experiences with radio. His daughter, Miss Medhurst, conducts the old home on Beach road and stands by Pop, ruling, when necessary, with an iron hand, particularly when he sets out to overtax that ever willing active frame that seldom tires, thus he is protected from himself. Since compiling this article news has come to hand, it is regretted to state, of the death of Mrs. Medhurst Sen. in England at the grand old age of 92 years, and I'm sure the feelings of one and all are with Pop. "A grand old mother leaves a G.O.M. of inspiring character."