Topband: Webinar - The first Top Band DX Contest â?" the 1921 Transatlantic Test

[Paul Christensen]

Tha's a great topic and I'm sure Frank will add a lot of interesting 
information.  About twenty years ago, I became interested in the 1921 
transatlantic tests and slowly began collecting information.  The fall, 1921 
issues of QST are a great source as is the Radio Club of America's (RCA) 
early 1950s  publication on 1BCG.  That publication gives a detailed 
explanation of the antenna and is copied from an article by George Burghard 
from the February, 1922 issue of QST.

In 1951, the RCA dedicated a granite memorial to 1BCG.  That marker can be 
clearly seen on Google maps.

41°4'15"N   73°37'23"W

Look for it near at corner of Clapboard Ridge Road and North Street in 
Greenwich, CT.  Just to the west of the marker is a large section of land, 
previously owned by the Minton Cronkhite family - and now the location of 
St. Michael's rectory.  The antenna was a caged T-top with elevated 
counterpoise and from detailed photos, it's clear that the "T" ran E/W along 
Clapboard Road at the spot where the rectory now stands.  That must have 
been one interesting and busy intersection back in 1921!  If the 1BCG 
antenna was operational today with 1KW, it would have one helluva' smoking 
signal.

Paul, W9AC