History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Robert Cecil Marsden/Notes

1922 02
2JM presides over a meeting to publicly welcome the brave ships wireless operator of the Sterling: R. H. Shaw "PERSONAL. . . . The wreck of the Helen B. Sterling, and the stirring incidents associated with the rescue of her crew were recalled last night, when a public welcome, together with presentation of a wallet of bank notes, was tendered to Mr. R. H. Shaw, the youthful wireless operator of the vessel. The function, which was arranged by Miss F. V. Wallace was held at the Persian Garden, and was largely attended by members of the Wireless Institute, and others interested in wireless. Mr. R. C. Marsden, who presided, and other speakers, paid a tribute to the manner in which Mr. Shaw stuck to his post during a trying and critical period."

1922 03
2JM is appointed president of the newly formed Metropolitan Radio Club "THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for the Amateur. NEW CLUBS HELP SCIENCE ALONG. BY DOTDASH . . . New Clubs Formed. How wireless experimenting is going ahead may be judged by the enthusiastic gatherings to form clubs in the City and suburbs. This is all good for the enthusiast, for the more he gets together in organised bodies, the more will the authorities sit up and take notice when approached for the inevitable relaxation of restrictions. It has been suggested from some quarters that a large number of clubs will not enable the amateurs to present a united front to authority. But this is wrong, for a conference of delegates from the clubs could easily be arranged. In the meantime clubs are being formed and many are projected. It is a healthy sign, and amateurs would be well advised to join the club in their suburb or district, or get together and form one. We shall need all the organisation we can get when the time comes. A lusty infant is the Metropolitan Radio Club, formed recently by a gathering of over 70 persons. The present intention of this body is to have mixed social and wireless evenings, and the idea seems to be a popular one. Already the membership of the club is nearing the hundred mark, and names are still being entered in its register. The very small subscription is another popular feature. The following office-bearers were appointed by the meeting:— President, R. C. Marsden; secretary, A. Mitchell; treasurer, Miss F. V. Wallace; committee, W. G. Best, W. Bird, and P. Sewell."

1922 05
2JM, as President of the Metropolitan Radio Club gives a talk on crystal set construction "THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for Amateurs. . . . BY DOT DASH. . . . FOR THE BEGINNER. Some sensible and useful hints to beginners in radio work were given by Mr. R. C. Marsden, president of the Metropolitan Radio Club, at the last meeting of members, when he read a paper on the construction and maintenance of a crystal set. The paper was an excellent one, inasmuch as it was entirely devoid of all technical terms, and the veriest novice could follow it. The lecturer described the making of a loose coupler and stressed a most important point in this connection. It was this: When the amateur starts on his coupler he may think of winding one that will receive on wave lengths up to about 2000 metres. This is a mistake, as there are very few stations within the range of a crystal set that work on more than 600. Thus the beginner who thinks he is doing well by winding a big coupler is only losing efficiency in dead-end effect. Another important thing, said Mr. Marsden, was the earthing arrangement. He advised the amateur not to be content to fix the earth wire to a water pipe, but to put in a little spare time digging a hole about 6ft deep, near the operating room. Into this put a fair-sized coil of old galvanised fencing wire, lifting portion of it to the surface to form a kind of spiral. Fill in the hole with the wire in this position, and solder the earth wire to the end. The ground around the spot should be kept damp if not naturally so."