History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/John Vickery Brooks/Notes

1923 01
Jack is awarded Education Department Scholarship to University "Education Department Scholarship. MR. J. V. BROOKS SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE. HOBART, Tuesday. A scholarship known as the Tasmanian Education Department Scholarship is offered annually for competition among all pupils of the Tasmanian High Schools under the age of 19 years who have attended a State High School for at least two years, and whose parents are bona fide residents of Tasmania. The value of this scholarship is £20 per annum, and an additional sum of £40 is paid as a boarding allowance if the successful candidate is obliged to live away from home to attend lectures at the University. The Board of Public Examinations of the Tasmanian University determines the successful candidate, and the winner of the scholarship must enter upon a course of dentistry, engineering, or medicine at an approved Australian university. The successful candidate this year is John V. Brooks (a son of the Director of Education), of the Hobart State High School, who obtained credits in trigonometry and physics and passes in English, algebra, geometry, French, chemistry, and applied mathematics."

1924 04
Jack gives an illustrated talk on wireless to a university student group "SWAN-STREET GUILD. After the Easter recess the meetings of the Swan-street Guild were resumed on Saturday night when, although many of the students were still out of town, about 70 members gathered to enjoy an illustrated lecture on 'Wireless,' with special reference to broadcasting which was given by Mr. Jack Brooks who specialises in this as a hobby. In spite of all the reading by the average person, the members were amazed to hear of the tremendous growth of the broadcasting systems, in England especially. After the lecture, for which very hearty thanks were expressed, questions were put to Mr Brooks by many inquirers. Mr. Northey, one of the travelling secretaries for the Student Christian Union, spoke on the great value and the aims of this splendid movement among the students of the universities of the world. He is in Hobart seeking to help on the work in the University."

1924 07
Jack receives KGO with 7RB in attendance "ON THE AIR. Notes from Club and Station. . . . Mr. R. Buring, who supplies us with the diagrams from time to time, was recently with Mr. Jack Brooks, of Adelaide street, when KGO was received. First-class music was picked up from the American station, the only trouble being the 'surging,' which was also noticed by Mr. Cyril Monks, of Lenna, Battery Point."

Jack's circuit for receiving KGO is illustrated "RADIO NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE. . . . Mr. Jack Brooks circuit, with which he picked up KGO, the powerful Californian broadcaster, is given this week. Next week further particulars of the hook-up will be given."

Illustration, as previous "K.G.O. WITH THIS CIRCUIT. (Start Graphic) . . . (End Graphic) With this circuit Hobart listened to America. It is one of the best long-distance 2-valve circuits tested. Condenser across secondary of A.F. Transformer: .0005 m.f.d. With circuit as it stands it may be found that it will 'howl' continuously. If so, try reversing primary of AF transformer. If this does not improve matters, radio frequency transformer coupling should be tried. Batteries should be insulated from earth. With circuit as it stands. KGO has been heard."

1924 09
Jack picks up Watty's broadcast "OUR AMATEUR BROADCASTER. 7AA on Music and Speech. Modulation — perfect. Articulation — perfect. That is the popular verdict on Mr. T. Watkins's transmissions from his experimental station, 7AA, at West Hobart, last week. Mr. Watkins, through his untiring energy and resourcefulness, has evolved a method of broadcasting all his own — and the experimenters of Tasmania are deeply indebted to him. Last week's transmissions were a vast improvement on anything 7AA has ever done. To that fact we have only to add that he was on exceptionally low power during the week — and it is apparent that something is afoot in 'Watty's' little cabin in the west. J. Brooks, in Adelaide street, picked up 7AA so that his telephones rattled. He changed over to a more satisfactory headset, and the music could be heard 50 feet away. D. O'May (Bellerive), reported that with a loud talker phone attachment the music was audible 60 feet from the apparatus. During the evening Mr. Watkins called up Mr. Douglas Chesterman, of Sandy Bay, and announced that he had a letter for him. Mr. Chesterman was not at home, but the message was delivered over the land line to his father by Mr. F. W. Medhurst. A Curious Incident. Though the Western Electric loud talker which Mr. Medhurst was employing to pick up 7AA was many feet away from the telephone, Mr. Chesterman was able to hear Mr. Watkins's voice over the land line just as though he was speaking by phone from West Hobart."

1924 10
Jack's father involved in a program to deploy wireless receivers in Tasmanian schools "WIRELESS IN SCHOOLS. During the last few months the Minister for Education (Mr. A. G. Ogilvie) has been interesting himself in the question of the provision of wireless receiving sets in the State schools throughout Tasmania, and has written to firms in Australia and overseas for quotation for sets. Owing to the fact that the Directors of Education throughout Australia are to meet next month in their annual conference, Mr. G. V. Brooks (Tasmanian Director of Education) has been instructed to raise the question of wireless in schools, and if possible to get the whole of the directors interested in it. The scheme has been carried on very successfully in New South Wales and Mr. Ogilvie is very anxious to get a start here."

1924 12
Jack reports on reception of 3LO Melbourne "WHO WAS IT? Auntie Speaks to the Kids. Uncle Bunny's offsider, Auntie Mary, of 3LO, last Friday afternoon brought joy to the hearts of a host of kiddies in a Malvern garden. A big party was in progress, and Auntie Mary had been asked to say a few words to her little nephews and nieces. This was picked up by Mr. Jack Brooks, of South Hobart. 'Someone came to me, children, and asked where the party was being held. 'Who do you think it was, children?' A moment's silence. Then: 'Father Christmas!' Fifty Yards Away. At the same station on Friday afternoon, orchestral items were picked up from 3LO. At 5.45 last-minute cricket scores were received; also racing news and general sporting results. A stage of tuned anode had been added to Mr. Brooks's apparatus, and this was found to cut down the interference from VIH, at the same time increasing the strength of 3LO's signals to such an extent that the broadcast could be heard fifty yards away, with two stages of audio frequency."

1925 02
Hobart News reflects the excitement of the KDKA shortwave reception in Hobart "KDKA. Pioneers in Long-distance Wireless. Pittsburg to Hobart. All Australia and all America are talking about the great broadcasting achievement of the Westinghouse Company's station KDKA, Pittsburg, U.S.A., which has been conducting a series of highly successful tests with the Commonwealth in conjunction with the Melbourne 'Herald.' It is gratifying to know that Tasmanian experimenters ranked high among those who picked up the American station, reception in every case being almost word perfect. Perhaps the three most notable Tasmanian successes were those achieved by Messrs. T. Watkins, R. O'May and J. Macmillan, of Hobart. Other Hobart radio men to pick up the Americans were Messrs. Jack Brooks and W. Smith, of South Hobart. It is understood that several other persons were able to log KDKA, though no further reports have been received at this office. Altogether the success of the experiment has been very gratifying, and is a great improvement on the previous trans-ocean transmissions from station KGO (California). Truly astonishing results were obtained in several instances by Australian radio fans, certain listeners-in being hardly able to believe their ears when the music and speech came in so easily. (Start Photo Caption) This is the KDKA aerial on the roof of the factory at Pittsburgh, which sent the wireless voice to Australia. It is a rigid perpendicular copper tube 100 feet high. (End Photo Caption)"

1925 03
Watty included in a list of licensed Tasmanian amateurs AMATEUR TRANSMITTERS. The following is a complete list of experimenters holding transmitting licenses in Tasmania:
 * LAUNCESTON:
 * Mr. L. Crooks, 64 Frederick-street 7BQ
 * Mr. C. Scott, 14 Law-street 7CS
 * Mr. E. Sheldrick, Richards-Avenue 7BJ
 * Mr. A. Smith, High-street 7AB
 * Wills and Coy., Quadrant 7BN
 * HOBART:
 * Mr. T. Watkins, Warwick-street 7 AA
 * Mr. R. O'May, Bellerive 7OM
 * Mr. J. Brooks, Adelaide-street .. 7JB
 * Mr. R. Buring, Davey-street .. .. 7AX
 * QUEENSTOWN:
 * Mr. Preston 7BK