History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/James Joseph Malone

Potted Biography

 * James Joseph Malone - 1883(NSW)-1967(NSW) - Licences: Nil yet identified - Qualifications: cc; CPRT 240, 1916 - employment (NSW P&T, Telegraph Messenger; PMGD, Cadet Engineer, Controller Wireless; OTC, Manager); WW1 - Electoral Rolls: engineer (Clayfield, Qld, 1917-1925; Kew, Vic, 1926-1928); chief inspector wireless (Kew, Vic, 1931-1937); Deputy Director, Posts and Telegraphs (Indooroopilly, 1943); public servant (Lindfield, NSW, 1949-1963) - Links: Bio

Resources
A comprehensive biography of James Joseph Malone has not yet been prepared for this Wikibook, however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:


 * Research - James Joseph Malone - Summary of research to date


 * Transcriptions and Notes - James Joseph Malone - More than 110 transcriptions and notes in chronological order (reads like a detailed biography)


 * Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - James Joseph Malone - Nothing uploaded as yet, but several photos identified


 * Incubator of Wikipedia Article on James Joseph Malone - Coming real soon now!

Key Articles
Some gems prospected from Trove:

The 30 May 1923 issue of Radio in Australia and New Zealand has a lovely biography of Malone: '''Commonwealth Controller of Wireless. Mr. Malone's Distinguished Career. It may be confidently asserted that there is not one out of the thousands of experimenters in Australia to-day who is not familiar with the name of the Controller of Wireless (Mr. J. Malone'''). To many of them he is known personally, and all who can claim his acquaintance are unanimous in the opinion that no better man could have been chosen for the important and responsible position which he now fills. Mr. Malone possesses an accurate and sympathetic understanding of the many problems with which at times he is faced. Those who know the volume of work he is called upon to perform are able to appreciate the difficulties he is frequently up against. It is only reasonable to expect that the administration of an Act dealing with such a new and technical subject as wireless should present many difficulties at the outset. That these difficulties have not been greater is a tribute to Mr. Malone's ability as an administrator, and the sterling service rendered by his assistants and deputies in the various States. A brief sketch of Mr. Malone's career appears herewith, and it affords convincing proof that by temperament, ability and experience, he is well fitted to occupy the position of Controller of Wireless. Mr. Malone joined the Post & Telegraph Department at Lismore, New South Wales, as Telegraph Messenger in 1898. Two years later he was appointed as a Relieving Officer. In 1906, as the result of a competitive examination, he joined the Engineering Branch of the Postal Department in Sydney. Between that time and 1915 he occupied various engineering positions in Sydney, and also acted as District Engineer at Goulburn. Later on he was Engineer for Lines in Queensland. Shortly after the outbreak of war he enlisted, and was immediately appointed Instructor in Wireless at the Wireless School at Moore Park, Sydney. During his period of active service he was in charge of all A.F.C. Wireless activities in France, and was awarded the M.C. After the Armistice was signed he undertook the study of wireless and other kindred engineering subjects for 12 months in Europe. During that time he mis at the R.A.F. Wireless Experimental Establishment at Biggin Hill, and also at the Signals Experimental Establishment at Woolwich. He returned to Australia, via the United States of America and New Zealand. Shortly after his return he was appointed Deputy State Engineer at Perth; and, later, when the Postmaster-General's Department took over the Radio Service from the Navy Department he was brought from Perth to take charge of it. He continued in that position until May, 1922, when by reason of the agreement entered into between the Government and Amalgamated Wireless (A'sia) Limited, the commercial activities were handed over to the control of the Company. During the time Mr. Malone was in charge of the Radio Service he prepared and obtained approval for a reorganisation scheme to be applied to all Coastal Radio Stations. This was not proceeded with, however, owing to the transfer already mentioned. Mr. Malone's next appointment was as Controller of Wireless in the Postmaster-General's Department, and when a short time ago the administration of the Wireless Act was handed over to the P.M.G.'s Department he was elevated to the position of Chief Manager of Telegraphs and Wireless for the Commonwealth. In that capacity he acted as adviser to the Commonwealth Government on all wireless matters, and is the officer responsible for the Wireless Act and Regulations. During the negotiations leading up to the agreement between the Government and Amalgamated Wireless Limited, Mr. Malone acted as technical adviser to the Parliamentary Committee which investigated the proposals prior to the agreement being signed. The present Wireless Telegraph Regulations were prepared by Mr. Malone, subsequent to his appointment as Controller of Wireless. He is a member of the Institute of Radio Engineers, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. (Start Photo Caption) AUSTRALIA'S CONTROLLER OF WIRELESS — Mr. '''J. Malone''', M.I.R.E., M.I.E.E., M.A.I.E.E. (End Photo Caption)

Lovely caricature of Malone and tongue-in-cheek poem Uncle Malone of the Morse Code.

In the world of the wire and the 'phone, These features are lovingly known;

They fail to disguise the gimlet eyes Of Mr. J. J. Malone.

Where the duplex and multiplex crash, You'll find him surveying the clash,

Exploring, like Dampier, the volt and the ampere, The buzzer, the dot, and the dash.

The microphone cowers to his sway, The pirate turns pale with dismay,

The wave-length bows down at his terrible frown, And the radio uncles obey.

In the midst of our postal content, One thing he has yet to invent —

'Tis a simple desire, just a genuine wire, That arrives the same day that it's sent. — S.

(Start Caricature Caption) Ruler of the Wireless Waves — Federal Director of Telegraphs, etc., J. J. Malone (End Caricature Caption)