History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Lewis George Pimblett/Notes

1902 05
Death notice for Pimblett's mother "PIMBLETT.— On the 14th May, at the residence of her husband, the beloved wife of W. C. Pimblett, of Beaufort, aged 46 years."

1923 09
Apparent first transmission from Riverina Wireless Supplies, but from Deniliquin "WIRELESS IN WAGGA. While Wagga people were enjoying the eisteddfod competitions, pictures and other amusements last evening, little did they know of the delight that was the lot of a small band of persons gathered around the wireless outfit of Mr. Russell Anderson in Crampton-street, to whose aerials a fine receiving set had been attached by Mr. L. G. Pimblett, of the Riverina Wireless Supplies Co. This company had arranged a concert in Deniliquin, the items in which were to be transmitted by wireless. The musical numbers — instrumental and vocal — were heard with wonderful distinctness, though it was unfortunate that the concert was marred by the unusually stormy conditions, the atmospheric disturbance at times being very great. However, the music heard was delightful, and the experience novel, especially when during the evening some very fine concert items were picked up from Rose Bay, Sydney. The delight of the little company of 'listeners-in' was great when at the end of the Deniliquin concert, a little after 9.30, the playing of the National Anthem was clearly heard and then the voice of the conductor of the concert saying 'good-night' in clear and distinct tones to his friends in Wagga — his voice traversing the couple of hundred miles, without the aid of any wires, as in ordinary telephony! This little demonstration, revealed the wonderful, possibilities of wireless, and Mr. Pimblett is of opinion that when his company opens business shortly in Wagga it will have no difficulty in placing a large number of private 'sets,' by which people will be able to hear concerts taking place hundreds of miles away and receive messages from their distant friends with the greatestof of ease."

1923 12
Pimblett & Jewell's company negotiating for a Class B licence & seeking business "RIVERINA WIRELESS SUPPLIES. Commonwealth Bank Buildings, Wagga Have made all necessary arrangements for up-to-date Showrooms and demonstrating Parlour. And are negotiating for the erection of a high powered BROADCASTING STATION to disseminate from Wagga News, Market Reports and Musical Entertainment throughout the Riverina. We have had the experience and can talk to you on the subject. Beware of the inexperienced. We are at your service and will advise you free of any obligation."

Detailed announcement of commencement of operations of Riverina Wireless Supplies with Pimblett and Jewell "WIRELESS IN WAGGA. NEW SERVICE INSTALLED. Ever since wireless was introduced into the county districts, Wagga and the Riverina have been actively interested in the science which possesses such a wealth of possibilities. Some months ago a company was formed in Deniliquin called the Riverina Wireless Supplies. The company decided to restrict its operations to the Riverina and to establish its headquarters at Wagga. The object of the company was to install a distributing station at Wagga for the whole of Riverina and to establish a supply centre. Many people have been interested in the erection of a wireless aerial at the back of the Commonwealth Bank. This aerial marks the definite establishment of the company's headquarters here. Mr. W. Jewell, a representative of the company, has been in Wagga for the past month supervising the erection and installation. A few days ago he was joined by Mr. L. G. Pimblett, and in a room above the bank they are experimenting day and night, putting in the pioneer work for the establishment of a wireless service. Both Mr. Jewell and Mr. Pimblett will welcome any inquiries from interested people, and in a few days they will have a good stock of wireless equipment on hand. For the time being the company will confine itself to experimental transmissions. Afterwards regular concerts will be given. The programmes will be varied, with piano-forte solos, vocal and instrumental numbers and possibly items of news. The company will be able to arrange concerts at private houses."

1924 02
Pimblett broadcasts a programme of music from the Riverina Wireless Supplies station for the opening of the new CofE Hall "ST. LUKE'S NEW HALL. OPENING CEREMONY LAST NIGHT. The little band of voluntary workers who have been giving much of their spare time for many months on the erection of a hall adjoining St. Luke's Church were adequately rewarded for their labors when, last night, about 200 people gathered to witness the opening of the hall, which ceremony was performed by the Ven. Archdeacon Pike. In formally declaring the hall opened the Archdeacon said that the building was chiefly intended for the purposes of a Sunday School for the Church of England parishioners of South Wagga. It was also their intention to make it a hall for various social functions for the people of that part of Wagga irrespective of their creed. He hoped that in the future they would be able to install a small motion picture plant. The building was largely constructed by voluntary labor. The people of that part of Wagga had done splendid work in the past ten years. After having told the assemblage that the building had cost £650 to construct and that £52/6/8 had already been promised to liquidate this debt, the Archdeacon then made an appeal for further funds, stating that he would start the first £100 with a donation of £3/3/. Ald. Hardy said that he would start the second £100. Donations came freely, and the fund was the richer by £52/13/4, when the Archdeacon closed the appeal for that night. Other speakers included Mr. H. A. Hansard, whom the Archdeacon described as the father of the Sunday School,' having commenced it during the Easter of 1914, Mr. Day and Aldermen Hardy and Gormly. During the evening Mr. L. G. Pimblett, of the Riverina Wireless Supplies Co., broadcasted a programme of music. A euchre party and dance followed. The following were the prize winners in the euchre tournament:— Ladies, Mrs. Gore and Miss O'Shea; consolation prize, Mrs. Peech. Men, Mr. E. Taylor and Mr. O. Black; consolation prize, Mr. C. McDonald."

Pimblett broadcasts a further programme of news from the Riverina Wireless Supplies station "NEWS BY WIRELESS. 'Hello, Hello, Hello, everybody! Riverina Wireless Supplies speaking.' Mr. Pemblett (sic), of the Riverina Wireless Supplies experimental station, was clearly heard by wireless receiving experimenters in many parts of New South Wales and northern Victoria when he began broadcasting at 3.15 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the day's news, read from yesterday's 'Daily Advertiser.' Throughout the reading and the musical programme given the transmission was clear and distinct. The distribution had been well announced by radio, and a large number of amateurs with small and large sets were 'listening in.' Outback farmers heard the general news and the market reports several hours before they received their daily papers."

1924 03
Pimblett plans an outside broadcasts of speeches from the Empire Hall from the Riverina Wireless Supplies station "SPEECHES TO BE BROADCASTED. For the after-dinner speeches at the Empire Hall, Riverina Wireless Supplies, Ltd., will attempt to broadcast the proceedings by means of an amplifier connected to a telephone in the hall, which, in turn, will be connected with another amplifier at the broadcasting station. Preliminary experiments will be carried out this morning. Last night the Greater Wagga League received a telegram from the farmers, who were then at Narandera, stating that the arrangements which had been made at Wagga, and of which they had been informed, met with their full approval. They would leave Narandera at 6 o'clock this morning."

Riverina Wireless Supplies station to broadcast to the Wagga Life Saving Club's carnival "BEACH CARNIVAL. FOR THE HOSPITAL The Wagga Life Saving Club's Carnival in aid of the Wagga District Hospital, which was postponed on February 23 will take place on Saturday next. There will be an attractive programme of swimming events, canoe races, etc., and during the evening session a powerful wireless receiving set will be installed. The most important news of the day from Sydney and Melbourne will be broadcasted to the Wagga beach. Madame Hilda Sedgley and Mr. Walter Smith have kindly consented to contribute musical items gratuitously and these will be broadcasted from the Riverina wireless station and will be heard by persons with wireless receiving sets throughout New South Wales and Victoria. With the aid of amplifiers and loud speaking reproducers which will be installed on the lawn near the Wagga Beach the wireless programme should be heard by all present at the carnival."

Pimblett again broadcasts from the Riverina Wireless Supplies station, demonstrating broadcasting to the Wagga High School's P&C Assoc "HIGH SCHOOL P. AND C. MOVEMENT GAINING SUPPORT. The enthusiasm that characterised the formation of the Wagga High School Parents' and Citizens' Association was again in evidence at the first meeting of the Association, held at the Town Hall last night. In the absence of the president, Mr. R. H. Blamey took the chair. After considerable discussion a constitution and by-laws which had been framed by the Executive, were adopted. Among other things, the by-laws provide that the annual membership fee shall be 1/- and a general meeting of the Association shall be held at the High School on the second Thursday in the month. During the evening Mr. Lou Pimblett, of the Riverina Wireless Supplies Co., gave a demonstration of broadcasting. A cabinet four valve receiving set with an indoor aerial was installed in the Council Chamber and it picked up a musical programme sent from the company's station at the Commonwealth Bank buildings. The various items were transmitted very clearly and the demonstration was remarkably successful. Replying to a vote of thanks, Mr. Pimblett said that his company was desirous of helping in every way the Association and the school."

As previous, Pimblett undertakes outside broadcasts of speeches from the Empire Hall from the Riverina Wireless Supplies station "THE DINNER. PARLIAMENTARIANS ATTEND. THE WEST WANTS IRRIGATION. Nearly one hundred and fifty persons were present at the dinner given by the Greater Wagga League to the visitors at the Empire Hall, Wagga, last night. The Wagga district men were representative of all sections of the community. The Hon. R. T. Ball, M.L.A., Minister for Works and Railways, and the Hon. J. F. O'Regan, M.L.C. attended. After the dinner several speeches were made by guests and hosts. For the Greater Wagga League, Mr. H. E. Gissing, president, welcomed the guests. They had already travelled 500 miles, and he hoped that before they covered the 500 miles of the return journey they would have seen and learned much and would have found much pleasure in the learning. Ald. D. T. Byrnes, the Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of the town, welcomed the Western men. He expressed gratification at the visitors' coming and at their mission and hoped that they would achieve their ultimate aim of obtaining a weir across the Macquarie River for a western irrigation scheme. Knowing the country, Mr. Byrnes knew that the execution of the scheme would be for its great benefit and to the benefit of the State. 'Such an inter-district visit as this is of great value to both hosts and guests,' Mr. Byrnes said. 'This is the first I have known that is of such significance. I believe that its result will be the widespread adoption of the policy of our western visitors.' Mr. A. E. Fuller, vice-president of the Macquarie Valley Water Conservation and irrigation League, and a brother of the Premier of New South Wales, Sir George Fuller, thanked the Greater Wagga League for its welcome, and congratulated it on its excellent organisation of the reception. He spoke highly of Wagga as the party had seen it, commenting specially on the width of its streets. THE VISITORS' MISSION. Yesterday we saw part of a tremendous irrigation scheme which, though it has been under development for sixteen years, is now only one third complete,' said Mr. Fuller, 'In the west we have too many droughts. We need irrigation to protect us against them. Some years ago the Government officers made a survey of the Macquarie Valley. Surveyor Ritchie and Mr. Wade, chief engineer, formulated a scheme which we are now following. At Burrandong, sixteen miles above Wellington, two hills are close together. Above them the valley widens out. The scheme is to build at the place where the hills are close a dam, as big as Burrinjuck, across the junction of the Cudgagong and Macquarie Rivers. From this scheme, 200,000 acres toward Narromine could be irrigated. Four to five years ago the league of which the visitors are members was formed to press the obtaining of the dam. The West has some of the finest irrigation land in Australia. Experts have declared that it would be eminently suitable for such a scheme as is proposed. The water would be run to Narromine, where a take-off weir would be built. Immediately past this are thousands of acres of red-brown cultivated irrigable land which will take all the water it can obtain. Some months ago the league sent a deputation to the Premier asking for the construction of this dam. He promised that he would refer the scheme to the Public Works Committee. The cost would be £2,000,000, but this was not as much as had been lost by droughts between Bourke and Wellington. In a few years the weir would pay for itself indirectly. Many conferences of the great district affected have been held, and the farmers are all keen to get the irrigation. The league's purpose in visiting Riverina is primarily to obtain information concerning irrigation, particularly as applied to grazing purposes. With such information, and first-hand knowledge of the subject, we can place a much stronger case before the Government. . . . The last speech of the evening was given by Mr. F. Bennett, a prominent member of the visiting party, and a native of Wagga. Speaking of his pride in Wagga, Mr. Bennett said that he was 'the youngest son of the oldest hand on the Murrumbidgee.' His father had settled on the Murrumbidgee before any others had done so. One thing of special value the visitors had been taught was the value of conservation of fodder by an ensilage method. If the Department of Agriculture were to broadcast through the West information as to the simplicity, cheapness, and effectiveness of the making of ensilage, all the farmers there would soon be using it. Soon, with better methods of farming and fodder conservation, the drier districts would not want so much drought fodder from Riverina, which would thus lose a great source of revenue. The growth of wheat, Mr. Bennett concluded, was not an economic proposition. The best thing that could be done was to combine sheep and wheat farming. (Applause). During the evening special musical items were given by Messrs. Robinson, Franklin, Paull and Stevenson, and Dr. Welsh. All were well given and warmly received. Later in the evening speeches made by Messrs Ball and Griffiths were broadcasted by Riverina Wireless Supplies. Ltd. ON TO BURRINJUCK. At 8 o'clock this morning the visitors leave Wagga. They first visit the power house and pumping plant, at the invitation of the Mayor, and will then continue their journey accompanied as far as Borambola and Wolkolena Stations by representatives of the Greater Wagga League. After inspecting the irrigation schemes on these stations they will proceed to Gundagai and thence to Burrinjuck."

As previous, listener report "INTERESTED IN IRRIGATION. The Macquarie Valley Water Conservation and Irrigation Committee, consisting of twelve car loads or more of farmers, shire engineers, and shire clerks and others interested in the project of a water conservation scheme in the Macquarie Valley, have been on a lengthy motor tour this week. The party, which consisted of residents from Narromine, Dubbo, and Wellington, drove from Narromine to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas. While on the Areas they crammed a week's inspection into two days. On Tuesday they travelled all over Griffith, inspecting farms, etc., and arrived at Leeton on Wednesday, when 69 sat down for dinner at Andy McInnes' 'Deniliquin Cafe'. It was all bustle then to get away to the Yanco Experiment Farm, the Cannery, Butter Factory, etc. At 4.30 p.m. the party decided to go straight on to Narandera on account of the approaching storm. On Thursday morning an early start was made for Berembed Weir, where another rush inspection was made. The party was put on the road for Wagga and last night we heard them (by wireless in McInnes' Cafe) being entertained in Wagga. After hearing a couple of orchestral items, the Hon. R. T. Ball, M.L.A., Secretary for Public Works and Minister for Railways and State Industrial Enterprises, spoke on several proposed water conservation works that had been investigated by his Department. One of the party, a Mr. Fisher we believe, then spoke on the Macquarie Valley project and how they proposed with the aid of irrigation to grow fodder, etc. The speaker said they had had a good trip, travelling to Forbes, then on to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas. The committee hoped to make their report in a few days time and then the scheme would be submitted to Parliament. The speaker desired to thank all those who had so kindly helped to make the trip so interesting and assisted them in gathering important data. He also desired to thank the Hon. Mr. Ball for his promise of assistance. The next wireless item was a song and chorus, then the Wagga Wireless broadcasting station informed us, they would adjourn our entertainment for half an hour while they tried to get Farmers Broadcasting station in Sydney. Evidently they succeeded in hearing Farmers, because they forgot all about us sitting in McInnes' cafe and we heard no more. The speakers were clear and as distinct as if speaking in the room, instead of being 100 miles away. Mr. McInnes says the grating noise you hear so much is caused by the air being disturbed by electric disturbances in the air. The best night for listening to wireless is on a wet night when the rain is pouring down. We are now anxiously waiting for a wet night."

As previous, Riverina Wireless Supplies station broadcasts to the Wagga Life Saving Club's carnival "HOSPITAL CARNIVAL. ON THE WAGGA BEACH. RESULTS OF EVENTS. On Saturday, an afternoon that was sunny, but was chilled by winter breezes, the Wagga Life Saving Club's Hospital benefit carnival was commenced on the Wagga beach. 'Cold was the river and cold was the breeze,' and swimmers were not sufficiently enthusiastic to stay in the water longer than their races required. However, a good display was given in competitive events, and in the Club's exhibition of life saving by reel and line. In the 100 yards race Ross Miller (sen.) was the winner, with R. Wunsch as runner up, but in the 220 yards he was not able to make up the ten seconds of Wunsch's start. On the beach and the bank above it many children played through the afternoon. Older folk made the beach and river bank a promenade ground and bought freely of the wares displayed on the beach stalls. At night the crowd, which was a little greater, was well entertained. The results of the afternoon session's swimming races were:— 33 yards youth's handicap (boys under 16): H. Thompson (scr.) 1; A. Blamey (5 secs.) 2. 100 yards handicap: R. Miller (scr.) 1; R. Wunsch (5 sec) 2. 220 yards Beach Handicap: R. Wunsch (10 secs) 1: R. Miller (scr.) 2. Several novelty competitions for children were conducted. The winners of these were: Sand modelling, Florrie Ruskin (map of Australia) 1: J. Bell (model of barge) 2. At night an interesting wireless programme was conducted by the Riverina Wireless Supplies. It consisted of vocal items contributed by Madame Hilda Sedgely, heard to best advantage in 'Sink, Red Sun,' and Miss Mollie Lockwood. Several items of the day's news made available by the 'Daily Advertiser' were received clearly. 'The Great Gavan' made the crowd merry by his brilliant ventriloquism. In both the afternoon and evening sessions the ladies of the Life Saving Club worked well and did much in raising the £20 which is to be given to the Wagga Hospital as the financial result of the carnival."

Wagga Radio Club experiments with vehicular reception of the Riverina Wireless station "WIRELESS WHILE MOTORING. WAGGA PARTY ENTERTAINED. That the Wagga Radio Club is an active body and intends to make full use of its experimental license, is apparant from the following facts. Yesterday afternoon, four enthusiastic members of the Club, working in conjunction with the Riverina Wireless Supplies Co., set out on an experimental tour in a motor car. They journeyed as far as Copland's Hill, carrying with them a valve radio set, with one valve amplifier. Throwing a wire over two trees which acted as an aerial, they enjoyed an impromptu concert in the bush, the music being distinctly heard through a loud-speaker. The success of their first venture, led the experimenters to try a further experiment. This time, about 120ft of high tension wire was wound round the motor car and, with a piece of wire gauze dragging along the road, at the rear of the car, which acted as an earth wire, a concert was heard clearly by the occupants of the car, all the way into Wagga. This is probably the first occasion on which a radio concert has been heard while travelling in a motor car in Riverina, and possibly, in the State."

The start of the WJAZ misidentification debacle, WJAZ Chicago to broadcast for Australia on March 30 "HELLO, CHICAGO! WIRELESS TELEPHONY MELBOURNE, Thursday. If all goes well, wireless enthusiasts will hear Chicago talking on the night of March 30. A bold effort to broadcast speeches and musical programmes from America will be made on that date by the Chicago 'Tribune' Wireless Station. If the experiment is successful, a new step in wireless telephony will have been made. Australasian experimenters are asked, therefore, to listen in on March 30, and to notify results. The Chicago Station's call letters are WJAZ, and the wave length will be 448 metres."

As previous "CHICAGO TO AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, Thursday. An interesting experiment in long-distance wireless communication will be made on Sunday evening March 30, between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight (Sydney time), when an attempt will be made to establish wireless telephonic connection between America and Australia. The 'Chicago Tribune,' one of the leading newspapers in the United States, has arranged to broadcast a three hours' speech and music programme for the benefit of radio enthusiasts in the Southern Pacific from its zenith wireless broadcasting station on Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago. Extra power will be used, and a special organisation has been created in the endeavour to reach Australia and New Zealand. The station call at Chicago from which the broadcasting will be transmitted is W.J.A.Z., and the wave length will be 448 metres."

Pimblett included in experiments by Wagga Radio Club in vehicular reception "RADIO CLUB'S EXPERIMENTS. The Junction and the Racecourse hotels were the scenes of impromptu concerts yesterday afternoon. Numbers of people also enjoyed entertainments in the streets. The stage setting was a motor car, and the artists were Messrs Anderson, Pimblett and McGarry, members of the Wagga Radio Club. Following on the success of their experiments in radio telephony last week these enthusiastic members conducted further experiments yesterday. In conjunction with the Riverina Wireless Supplies Co., and using an indoor aerial with no earth wire, music, broadcasted by Mr B. Melrose, who played a violin in the Commonwealth Bank Buildings, was reproduced through a loud speaker, while the three experimenters mentioned were travelling in a motor car. Not wishing to confine the unique joys of the position to themselves, they stopped the car at several points on the road, and on each occasion were quickly surrounded by a curious and wondering throng, which listened attentively until the car again moved on."

As previous, further reporting "RADIO ON ROAD. A few feet of wire, a receiving set, a piece of fly-proof door netting, and an amateur knowledge of wireless, enabled a picnic party, some miles from Wagga, to enjoy a programme of music sent out by the Riverina Wireless Company from its Wagga experimental station. The party went a few miles out of town, wound the wire round the hood of the car, until it looked like a cage, and made an earth line by attaching a piece of gauze wire, which they threw out behind. They got results from this with the 'phone receivers, but they were not satisfactory, so the gear was overhauled, and the party experimented further, and with pronounced success. Trailing the wire netting behind them, they drove the car 15 miles an hour, covered a lot of country, and finally made a short tour of the town streets, hearing all the time the music from the station."

1924 04
Listeners across Eastern Australia hear Riverina Wireless Supplies with similar programming to WJZ Chicago and assume the latter "WAS CHICAGO SPEAKING? In these days of wonderful results with distance wireless telephony almost anything is possible and the listeners-in at Sydney on Sunday night could be forgiven for believing that they heard messages broadcasted from Chicago. It is fairly certain, however, that Chicago was not speaking at the time. It appears that a radio company had arranged to cut out all transmission between certain hours on Sunday night in Sydney because arrangments had been made that the Chicago 'Tribune' should send out messages from the roof of its office and an effort would be made to pick the messages up at Sydney. It was expected that part of a speech by Mr. W. M. Hughes and some band items would be broadcasted by the 'Tribune.' A number of listeners-in at Kempsey and other parts of the State and many Sydney experimenters picked up messages between 7.30 and 8 o'clock. They believed they had caught fragments of a speech, and naturally assumed that it was Mr. Hughes's. They also heard a jazz band playing 'Carolina,' 'Chicago,' and other jazz music. It now transpires that the messages were from Wagga and not from Chicago. We learn that the Riverina Wireless Supplies Co., which has a station in the Commonwealth Bank Buildings, Fitzmaurice street, was transmitting between 7.30 and 8 o'clock on Sunday night. They were experimenting with a tone arm from which excellent results are expected. Their wave length was 275 metres. The programme broadcast included phonograph selections among which were a jazz band selection 'Carolina,' and other jazz music. The time corresponds with the time of receiving in Sydney, and to judge by urgent messages from Sydney yesterday it appears that Wagga's programme was in some quarters mistaken for the Chicago pro-gramme."

As previous "NOT FROM CHICAGO. Wagga Wireless Numbers. SYDNEY, Wednesday. Wagga is 7000 miles from Chicago, a mere trifle of course, but of interest when wireless 'fans' record that broadcasting from Chicago was picked up by Sydney stations. What Sydney stations picked up was not broadcasting from Chicago, but from Wagga. A well-known Sydney operator tells his own tale: 'Like many others, I was anxious to hear something from Chicago, and when I first received some signals I jumped to the conclusion that they came from America, and was very pleased with myself. 'Then, suddenly, about 8.15, and at intervals afterwards, messages were signed 'Riverina Wireless Supplies, Wagga, New South Wales.' The items I heard, such as 'Chicago' and 'Carolina in the Morning' should have been enough to have told anyone that they could not have come from America. 'Both of those songs have got whiskers on them in the States now.'"